Written By Hira Sangi

Shehr-e-Zaat starring Mahira Khan, Mohib Mirza, Hina Bayat and Samina Pirzada. This drama is another adaptation from Umera Ahmed’s novel of the same name, one that aims at invoking some soul searching. The drama revolves around Falak Sher Afgan (Mahira Khan) who comes from a liberal family. She is not a very religious person and instead loves to spend his life being a free soul. She does not offer her prayers and does not hold strong religious values. She is more like any other girl from this generation who is more interested in music, the arts and hanging out with friends.

The drama will follow her life changing journey as she transforms from being a westernised girl to one with strong moral and religious values after a bitter break up with her husband whom she dearly loves. This is the story of a very beautiful, proud and bestowed girl, who has everything anyone would want in life. There’s just one more thing she wants, Salman Ansar (Meekal Zulfikar), who she thinks is the man of her dreams. She loves him dearly, and somehow, manages to lure him with her beauty and makes him fall in love with her.

They get married, living happily for almost three years, but that is when their lives start changing. Falak, who has changed herself completely according to Salman’s wishes, notices him drifting away from her. Seeing how the love of her life had rejected her, she becomes insane, almost, and vows to get him back from who took him away from her, only to see that the girl Salman falls in love with is nothing compared to her. She then realises how it is God’s wish as to whom he makes someone love and slowly she starts interpreting the religious, spiritual meanings of everything in life.

The director, Sarmad Khoosat made a short appearance in the first episode as a prospective husband for Falak. Umera Ahmed writings have always been about finding oneself and knowing the true meaning of life. She develops an understanding of the characters and makes you fall in love with them as if we knew them inside out. The novel was written beautifully and hopefully it will translate into an even better drama.

Read more by Hira here