The Pakistani entertainment industry is really good at reinventing itself. Every year we see new faces, but it is always nice to see familiar Pakistani stars return after a long time. When they make a comeback, it reminds us why we liked them in the first place and shows that their talent is still there.
In the past 12 months, we have seen some great comebacks from Pakistani actresses. Through her performance in Kafeel, Sanam Saeed proved that it is better to do a few good projects than many bad ones. Her acting was the backbone of the drama, as she not only played a character who grew from young to old but also took a stand against her good-for-nothing husband when he stole money from their children and made their lives miserable.
Similarly, in Bus Tera Saath Ho, Sana Javed makes a comeback after a two-year hiatus, reminding us why she is one of television’s leading ladies. Her character, Ansa, is portrayed as a strong-willed woman who first takes a stand against the wrongful arrest of a colleague and later literally stands in front of that colleague’s tyrant uncle, who wants his nephew (and Ansa’s husband) to sign over his share of the house by force.
The list doesn’t stop here. In Express Entertainment’s Bhanwar, Mansha Pasha excels as a widow who falls prey to a scammer, once again demonstrating her versatility. This wasn’t the first time she has wowed fans, and hopefully it won’t be the last, as many producers will take note of her performance in the drama.
The list continues with Naeema Butt, known for Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, who returns to the screen with multiple projects, including the feature film Bullah and the telefilm Masti Gate. Mariam Ansari makes a strong impression with great confidence as the rival-turned-friend in Kafeel, while Zoya Nasir’s recent turn to villainy may have kept many actresses up at night, as she looks good in negative roles, as in Bus Tera Saath Ho.
These actresses chose their projects carefully, making their comebacks even more meaningful. Their resurgence shows that returning at the right time can significantly advance an actor’s career. It also signals to the industry that actors are not forgotten; they simply wait for the right project to return.
Here are some of the actors we believe should be part of the next six months to make the year more memorable before it ends. The local entertainment industry could really use their experience, on-screen presence, and popularity.
The first name that comes to mind is Osman Khalid Butt, who is linked to an unconfirmed TV drama. It would be great to see the actor back in action after winning hearts in Aunn Zaara, Diyar-e-Dil, Ehd-e-Wafa, Chupke Chupke, and Baaghi. If the rumors about his comeback are true, it will be his first role since Kaala Doriya, which was, incidentally, Sana Javed’s last drama before Bus Tera Saath Ho.
His Balu Mahi costar, Ainy Jaffri, is also someone we would love to see on TV or in a film, wherever she can manage. Settled in England after her marriage, she has been away from the screen for a long time. Even though she returned to theater with Rukhsati a few months ago, it was exclusively for the South Asian community in the UK.
Ainy Jaffri’s fans want to see her back on screen not because she was a pretty face but because she knew how to embody any character. She was truly natural on screen, and her performances were always effortless. Her younger sister, Meher Jaffri, recently appeared in Meri Zindagi Hai Tu and won praise from all quarters. Wouldn’t it be great to watch both sisters in a drama that has nothing to do with saas-bahu but more to do with sibling rivalry? I would watch such a drama for sure, and I am sure many others would too.
And then there is the British beauty Armeena Rana Khan. Over the past five years, she should have done more than one play a year, but instead she has done just one. Despite winning hearts with her performances in Karb, Rasm e Duniya, Bin Roye, and Daldal, she chose marital bliss over showbiz and quit the drama industry.
Although the beautiful actress did return to play Kubra Khan’s mother in Meri Tanhai, opposite her frequent co-star Syed Jibran, she chose the project because it was being filmed in England, where she lives.
It’s not that we only want young actors to return to the TV screen, but also legendary ones who gave their lives to showbiz and should grace the screens, because it will definitely raise the bar for others to follow.
One of these actors is the veteran actor and legend Nadeem Baig, who has been making fellow Pakistanis proud since the 1960s. For the first half of his career, he played the lively hero in films, and he made TV his own when he moved to the smaller screen at the turn of the century.
The last time he was seen on the big screen was in Superstar, where he played Mahira Khan’s grandfather, a man who loves theater and returns to the arena to help a protege, played by Bilal Ashraf. Despite the presence of the two younger stars, Nadeem Baig was the soul of the film, and his performance as a fun-loving dada was praised by all. Especially his scene with Ali Kazmi, son of Rahat Kazmi, with whom Nadeem Baig had worked in a handful of films during the 1970s.
Why I want Nadeem Baig back on screen, you ask? Because, first, he is the kind of actor we want to represent Pakistan both at home and internationally. He appeared in a Bollywood film, ‘Doordesh’, in the 1980s and made everyone else look mediocre without even trying. It is actors like him that youngsters should follow, rather than the younger lot, who have a lot to learn themselves. He knows how to be romantic on screen without making it look cringe, and adds grandeur to family dramas. In India, his contemporaries are still getting lead roles, so why don’t we do something about this shortcoming, which is hampering our industry in general and Nadeem Baig’s fans in particular?
Veteran film and TV actress Deeba Begum is another starlet from the 1960s we would love to see on our screens. Although her daughter, Madiha Rizvi, is doing a great job in dramas, Deeba Begum would bring grace and experience to the screen if she decides to return. She made a rare appearance on Ahsan Khan’s talk show recently and looked like a million dollars. It would be great to see her and Nadeem Baig appear together on screen, creating magic like before.
Another actor we miss is Irfan Khoosat, the ‘direct havaldaar’ in Andhera Ujala, who is no longer acting due to age. I was lucky enough to meet him during his 2020 trip to Karachi, where he was supposed to play the lead in Anwar Maqsood’s theater play Kyon Nikala. When asked why he doesn’t act as often as before, he cited both age and a lack of good scripts. He accepted Kyon Nikala only because it reminded him of the old plays; however, he couldn’t continue, and the role ultimately went to Sajid Hasan.
For an actor who has made millions laugh and cry during his career, Irfan Khoosat needs his audience as much as his audience needs him. His children – Sarmad and Kanwal – are doing well as directors themselves, and it would be great if either of them gave him a role that both reminds the audience of his greatness and pays tribute to his glorious career.
Finally, there is Hameed Sheikh, who began his career as a TV actor at PTV Quetta in the 90s and now tutors actors in Hollywood. He has appeared in quality films such as Khuda Ke Liye, Abdullah, and Moor, and has also starred in international projects, including Kandahar Break in 2009 and Hearts and Minds in 2013.
He was unrecognizable as a Pundit in the international film The Man from Kathmandu, a role that helped him gain popularity abroad. He not only shared the screen with Gulshan Grover from India but also with a couple of actresses from Nepal, and he held his own against them, proving that a Pakistani actor is at par with actors from any country.
The entertainment industry is always looking for stars, but sometimes it is more exciting to welcome back actors who have already proven themselves. As we have seen recently, people are always happy to see talented actors return. We hope that the Pakistani stars we mentioned return to our screens soon, because Pakistani television is at its best when experienced actors get the chance to shine.
