Latest news with #Parwarish
Gulf News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Why Pakistani family drama Parvarish on episode 9 is striking home with its take on parenting, angst and emotional showdown
Dubai: When the superheroes of our childhood—our parents—begin to stumble, who picks up the cape? That's the quietly devastating question Parwarish, the new ARY Digital drama, asks with every tear, hug, and dinner-table showdown. Airing Mondays and Tuesdays evenings, this star-studded family drama isn't your typical sob-fest; it's a sharply crafted portrait of modern-day parenthood wrapped in love, sacrifice, and some serious intergenerational angst. Created by Fahad Mustafa, directed by Meesam Naqvi, and written by Kiran Siddiqui, Parwarish reunites Mayi Ri sweethearts Aina Asif and Samar Abbas Jafri in a narrative that's a delicious mix of old-school values and Gen-Z rebellion. The plot orbits around Wali Jahangir (played with heart by Jafri), a musically gifted young man who returns to Pakistan after studying in the U.S., only to clash head-on with his conservative father Jahangir (played by the ever-regal Naumaan Ijaz). And Maya (played by Asif) is no damsel-in-distress either—she's a fierce medical aspirant from a traditional household, determined to chart her own course. When these two collide, it's less fireworks, more emotional implosion—with plenty of commentary on parental expectations and social pressure. But let's not pretend it's just the youngsters holding our attention. Savera Nadeem's turn as Mahnoor, the mother trying to keep the peace while simmering with her own frustrations, is a study in restraint. Add to that the dignified presence of Shamim Hilali and Arshad Mehmood as the family elders, and you have a cast that not only carries the weight of this emotionally charged show but elevates it. Critics have so far been cautiously optimistic. According to ARY, the show aims to explore the 'silent struggles of parenthood,' and it does—particularly through themes of emotional labor, aging, and the unspoken grief of watching one's children grow distant. Meanwhile, early viewer reviews on Reddit and YouTube are filled with delight over the pacing and the chemistry between the leads. One Redditor aptly noted, 'The story unfolded quickly for the first episode. I was very surprised.' Another chimed in about Samar's comic timing, adding a much-needed splash of humor in an otherwise heavy plot. That said, not all feedback is glowing. A few viewers have mentioned that the storyline flirts with melodrama and familiar tropes. But let's be honest—who tunes in to a desi drama expecting stoicism? What Parwarish does right is give those clichés emotional teeth, inviting the audience to see the fractures forming in even the most ideal households. So yes, the series tugs at your heartstrings, but it doesn't manipulate. It's not about villains and heroes—it's about nuance, regret, and that bittersweet moment when a child sees their parent not as a god, but as a human.
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Fahad Mustafa is not film material: Faisal Rehman
In an interview with Hina Niazi, Faisal Rehman discussed which of his peers he believes are film material. Faisal, who recently starred in Qarze Jaan, also shared his insights on each fellow actor's strong suit. Faisal began his honest critique with a co-star from drama serial Chemistry. "I've worked with Danish Taimoor. He needs a good director, but he is film material," Faisal approved. Next up was a star whose filmography speaks for him. "Humayun Saeed himself makes films, so what can I say about him? Of course, he is film material. He has even worked abroad," Faisal said. "I have no advice for him. Whatever he does, he does it well." Faisal praised his Malaal co-star next, though not without some friendly advice. "Imran Abbas is film material. It's the same thing; he needs a good director. He also needs to sweep the hair off his forehead, so we can look at him. It's important for one's face to be visible to the camera." About Fahad Mustafa, Faisal echoed what's on every fan's mind. "He's an all-rounder. He hasn't just established himself as an actor; he does other things as well, which is good. It isn't necessary for everyone to keep pursuing acting. Try everything, like he does." However, some candid remarks followed his compliments. "I don't think [Fahad is] film material. I hope he doesn't hold this against me, but this is just my opinion. The thing is, he has established an image for himself, a public persona. But he's not film material in the way that we are." For his namesake, Faisal said, "Faysal Quraishi, too, is an all-rounder but for actors. He is recognised as an actor, though not as a personality like Fahad is. But he's an all-rounder as an actor in that he takes on every role, which is good. All actors should do that if they're getting work. Versatility is essential. Again, he's a good actor, but the story and director need to be good as well." Meanwhile, Faisal admitted that though he knows who Ahsan Khan is, he hasn't seen the Udaari actor's work. He also blanked out when hearing about Naumaan Ijaz, only for the name to click seconds later. Once again, he admitted that he hasn't seen Naumaan's work, but word-of-mouth does speak in favour of the Parwarish actor. And finally, Faisal didn't bite back on honesty even when it came to Adnan Siddiqui. "He's a good model. It's important to impress when it comes to acting. There's nothing wrong with this, I mean, I'm a bad model and a slightly better actor. And he's a good model, but he doesn't impress as an actor. I'm sure he'd agree with me."
Express Tribune
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Young actors praise Gen Z's mental health awareness
During an interview on a local talk show, young actors Aina Asif, Abul Hassan, Reham Rafiq, and Samar Jafri discussed the positives and negatives of their generation. The quartet identified Gen Z's significant awareness of therapy, while also acknowledging that today's youths need to work on their patience. Aina began the conversation by discussing therapy. "Before looking for a solution, we must identify the problem. I'm too young to speak on this, but I would sometimes wonder why our generation is so depressed; this wasn't so common before," she said. According to the Baby Baji actor, the reason for this is that young people today have greater awareness of their issues. "If I feel anxious, I know why that's happening," she illustrated. "For example, I can have social anxiety or anxiety over my exams. That's what I've learned about myself. Parents should take that into consideration and understand that they shouldn't shut off their child's attempt at communicating such feelings." Parwarish actor, Abul, had his own insights to share. "These things are so complicated that our people tend to stigmatise them, like calling someone a 'mental patient'," he noted. "We shouldn't use words like these because that only promotes the stigma. We should instead aim to understand what's happening. This isn't a Western concept. We are human beings too, and we all have these things in common." Making a note of his generation's ability to tackle social issues, Abul added, "Body positivity is a good thing as well. Plus, this generation recognises racism, sexism, and surface-level misogyny, which I feel shows significant growth." Both actors stressed that gaining exposure should not result in a lack of empathy towards one's parents. In agreement, Judwaa actor Reham remarked, "I feel like both sides should try to level with each other. Parents should understand that times have truly changed, and kids should also understand that their parents only handle them in ways they know best." Speaking about Gen Z's intolerance towards wrong, she added, "This is the cause of tension within society. Older generations tend to downplay things, but these aren't little things. Many drops make a river. When someone does something wrong, we only try to correct them. But they see it as ill-mannered behaviour." Finally, Meri Ho singer Samar commented that the generational gap can be addressed if all sides work on their ego and express gratitude. "We've forgotten how to be grateful," he lamented. "I feel like we should be thankful for where we are in life and continue living as such."
