Review by Imran Malik
These days, ARY Digital’s drama serial Dr. Bahu is getting major attention from Pakistani viewers — partly because of its star-studded cast and partly because of the loopholes in its storytelling.
Let’s start with writer Sanam Mehdi Zeryab. Her name sounds fresh and appealing, but unfortunately the script often feels rushed and predictable. Several scenes look artificial, as if they were written in urgency just to move the story forward. Many dialogues and twists can easily be guessed before they happen, reducing the excitement factor for viewers.
Veteran actor Shahzad Nawaz is once again playing the role of a filthy rich father/father-in-law — a character type he has portrayed repeatedly for years. While he performs professionally as always, audiences are beginning to feel exhausted seeing him trapped in the same stereotype.
One wonders: If Shahzad Nawaz were ever offered the role of a poor, struggling roadside father, would he take the challenge? A true actor grows through versatility, and it may now be time for him to break free from these elite-rich-man roles.
Saba Hameed, despite her immense talent, has been underutilized with very limited dialogues. The same goes for Marina Khan, whose screen presence deserved much more space. Senior actor Muhammad Ahmed also appears wasted in a role that offers little depth or impact.
Kubra Khan is clearly getting the maximum screen time, but surprisingly she is not showing her full acting potential here. Her character revolves around a repetitive anti-sasural narrative, and despite attempts by writer Sanam Mehdi and director Mehreen Jabbar to present women empowerment, the execution ironically makes the character look emotionally weaker rather than stronger.
Kubra, being an experienced actress herself, perhaps could have guided the portrayal toward a more balanced and positive female character rather than one constantly appearing frustrated and confrontational.
On the other hand, Shuja Asad once again proves why he is becoming one of the strongest performers among the younger generation. Even in Dr. Bahu, he handles his role naturally and confidently. However, like others, he should also experiment beyond the “rich chocolate hero” image and explore more diverse characters.
Adeel Husain, despite being a highly talented actor, appears completely wasted in Dr. Bahu, with barely one or two brief scenes that fail to utilize his true potential. On the other hand, Hajra Yamin, despite limited screen presence, delivers a polished performance through strong expressions and natural dialogue delivery, leaving a noticeable impact whenever she appears on screen.
As for director Mehreen Jabbar, expectations are naturally very high because of her legendary status in Pakistan’s television industry. But in today’s rapidly evolving drama landscape, her direction in Dr. Bahu feels somewhat outdated and lacks the sharpness modern viewers expect.
Still, despite its flaws, Dr. Bahu remains another ratings success for ARY Digital and yet another commercial hit for Sigma Plus Productions. Sometimes strong casting, emotional family politics and prime-time appeal are enough to win the ratings game — even when the storytelling itself leaves many questions unanswered.
About the Writer – Imran Malik
Imran Malik is a digital media specialist, editor, and filmmaker with extensive experience in journalism, television, and digital storytelling. He has earned diplomas in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy and the National College of Arts.
He has directed a telefilm for HUM TV and was nominated for Best Director at the HUM TV Film Awards. Imran Malik has also directed three episodes of a drama series for ARY Digital.
