Pakistani dramas have always been a significant part of the country’s entertainment industry. With their rich stories, dramatic twists, and emotional depth, they captivate viewers from all walks of life.
Casting plays a crucial role in determining the success of these dramas, as it directly affects how well the audience connects with the characters.
However, some casting choices in current Pakistani dramas have been widely criticized by both the public and critics.
These casting decisions have sometimes derailed the flow of otherwise good stories and failed to deliver the emotional punch expected from such performances.
Here is a look at 10 of the worst casting choices in Pakistani dramas right now that are drawing negative feedback:
1. Amar Khan in Dil e Nadan
Amar Khan is playing the role of Dur e Nayab, a naive college student, in the Geo TV drama Dil e Nadan.
Although Amar Khan is a seasoned actress who has proven her talent in several projects, this role doesn’t suit her at all.
The character demands youthful innocence, which is difficult for Amar to portray at her age.
Many viewers feel that a younger actress would have been a better fit for the role. Additionally, the over-exaggeration of Amar’s performance, combined with the misdirection, has further amplified the miscast.
As a result, her portrayal has neither gained public nor critical approval.
2. Hareem Farooq in Bismil
Hareem Farooq portrays the character of Masooma in Bismil, a role far removed from her usual screen persona.
Masooma, a gold-digger with a strong desire to climb the social ladder, comes from a lower-middle-class background, yet Hareem’s portrayal lacks the authenticity required to sell this character.
Her performance hasn’t effectively conveyed the nuances of a woman from a modest background, leaving a gap between the script and her interpretation.
Hareem has also struggled to portray the internal conflict within her character, leading to a lackluster performance that hasn’t resonated well with audiences.
3. Saad Qureshi in Bismil
In Bismil, Saad Qureshi plays Moosa, the son of two charismatic and well-educated parents, portrayed by Nauman Ijaz and Savera Nadeem.
The character is supposed to exude the charm and intellect of someone raised in a polished environment and educated abroad.
However, Saad’s performance and accent fail to reflect these traits. His portrayal of Moosa has not lived up to the expectations set by the other cast members, making him an odd fit for the role.
His inability to match the aura of his on-screen parents is a significant reason for this casting critique.
4. Momal in Bismil
Momal plays Musa’s fiancée in Bismil. As a new artist, her lack of screen presence has been quite noticeable.
In scenes opposite seasoned actors like Nauman Ijaz and Savera Nadeem, Momal’s inexperience becomes evident.
She struggles to deliver the depth needed for her character, and this has impacted the overall storytelling.
Pakistani directors sometimes fail to cast the right actors for upper-class characters, and this is one such instance where the casting could have been much stronger.
5. Hira Khan in Aik Chubhan Si
Hira Khan portrays Maheen in Aik Chubhan Si, a Hum TV drama. The character is central to the drama’s plot, as she is meant to captivate the male lead and contribute to the destruction of his marriage. However,
Hira’s portrayal of Maheen lacks the appeal and charisma required to make this character believable. Even her styling doesn’t do much to save the role, making it difficult for viewers to understand why Maheen has such an impact on the story.
This miscasting diminishes the drama’s potential and compromises its believability.
6. Natasha in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum
Natasha’s character in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has garnered much attention recently, but unfortunately for the wrong reasons.
She plays the role of Rubab’s friend, who becomes Adeel’s love interest despite his marriage.
Natasha is supposed to be a character equal to Rubab in terms of beauty and status, yet she fails to embody these qualities.
Her performance doesn’t match the persona that her character demands, which has led to disappointment among viewers who find her casting to be one of the weak links in an otherwise solid show.
7. Haroon Shahid in Jaan Nisar
Haroon Shahid takes on the role of Sarfaraz, the main villain in Jaan Nisar. While Haroon has attempted to channel a menacing streak into the character, he simply doesn’t look the part.
Sarfaraz is meant to be a young, charming man that all the women fall for, but Haroon doesn’t bring that level of appeal to the screen.
There’s often a disconnect between the character’s supposed persona and Haroon’s portrayal, making this casting choice a misfire.
8. Laiba Khan in Teri Chhaon Mein
Laiba Khan made her acting debut alongside Danish Taimoor in Teri Chhaon Mein, a typical masala drama.
Unfortunately, Laiba’s performance didn’t live up to the hype, and her discomfort on screen was evident throughout.
Although this was her first project, Laiba seemed out of place in several scenes, failing to capture the essence of her character.
While there’s potential for growth, this debut performance didn’t leave a lasting impression.
9. Sami Khan in Kaffara
Sami Khan plays Zohaib, a character who is evil and morally bankrupt, in Kaffara. Despite his fame as a child star, Sami’s portrayal of Zohaib hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Zohaib is supposed to be someone the audience loves to hate, but Sami’s appearance and styling give off a positive vibe, making it difficult to believe in his villainy.
A few tweaks to his look and a deeper dive into the darker aspects of his character could have improved his portrayal.
10. Sahiba in Kaffara
Sahiba plays Salar’s fiancée in Kaffara. Her character is supposed to be a confident, independent woman, yet Sahiba’s portrayal doesn’t reflect these traits.
She falls for Salar despite his obvious disinterest, and her performance lacks the depth needed to convey a woman who should have more self-respect.
Sahiba’s portrayal neither captures the independence nor the vulnerability of her character, leading to a performance that feels disconnected from the storyline.
Agha Mustafa Hassan (Neeli Zinda Hai and Mere Apne)
The audience feels his acting lacks authenticity due to exaggerated expressions, making his performances seem forced and unnatural.
Despite starring in popular projects like Mere Apnay and Neeli Zinda Hai, viewers remain unsatisfied with his work. To improve, he needs to relax into his roles and let his expressions flow naturally, avoiding overacting to make his characters more believable
Armeena Rana Khan (Muhabbaten Chahaten)
Armeena Rana is undeniably one of the most beautiful actresses in the industry, known for her work in major drama, film, and international projects.
However, audiences often struggle to connect with her characters emotionally. In her recent role in Muhabbaten Chahaten, she seemed out of place, failing to grasp the depth of her character.
Her accent and attempts to appear “cute” came off as forced, making her performance seem awkward. Instead of empathizing with her character, viewers found her portrayal unintentionally humorous.
Sania Saeed (Dour)
Sania Saeed is a true gem of the industry, known for delivering heartfelt performances that never fail to impress.
From playing a gentle mother in Raqeeb Se to bold characters in Sammi, she has always excelled due to her nuanced and dedicated acting.
However, her recent role in Dour felt off. Viewers found it difficult to connect with her character and her usual charm whether it was her curly hair or natural acting style was notably missing, leaving fans disappointed
Maya Ali (Pehli Si Muhabbat)
Pehli Si Muhabbat generated a lot of buzz, especially with Maya Ali’s return to the drama screen. While viewers were eager to see her chemistry with Shehryar Munawwar, the excitement faded quickly.
Despite their past popularity as an on-screen pair, Maya Ali’s underwhelming performance disappointed the audience, affecting the drama’s overall appeal.
These casting choices reflect the importance of finding the right actors for the right roles.
Even a good script and direction can falter if the casting doesn’t align with the characters’ essence.
In these cases, the miscasting affected the emotional connection that viewers could have had with the drama, leaving many disappointed.
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