“Dulhan” is the kind of show that would fall under being a thriller-style story, as there isn’t a love story to root for, nor is there any real social message here. Rather, it tells the story of a woman caught between two men in a scenario that is traumatizing for her. Starring Sami Khan, Sumbal Iqbal, Faizan Khawaja and Mashal Khan in lead roles, the story has been written by Adeel Razzaq and directed by Adeel Siddiqui. Amal, played by Sumbal Iqbal, now finds herself having to fight for her rights and survival after her life has been turned upside down by these men.
One would like to say that “Dulhan” is eventful this week, but episode 16 is essentially fixated on Mekaal’s (Sami Khan) family scolding him as he hangs his head in shame, denying that he was ever married. On the other end, Amal continues her game of self-disappointment as her life continues its rain of misery upon her. Sumbal Iqbal is playing the role of Amal nicely and in this episode, she looks very pretty. It’s nice to see Amal standing up for herself finally, though her decisions aren’t necessarily the best ones. Her decision to reject Mekaal’s offer of a flat for “izzat” instead, followed by her decision to throw away her job to confront Mekaal on her wedding day has landed Amal in a terrible spot. Of course, now she has been fired from her job and her boss, also her mother-in-law, has put out word that Amal is not trustworthy, so it will be difficult for Amal to find a job anywhere else. This, as we know, puts Amal in a tight spot, because her family relies on her financially. To top things off, Mekaal has now found her house and she sees him parked there, thinking he’s there to threaten her. Shahmeer (Faizan Khawaja) is enthusiastic now that Mekaal can no longer legitimately protect Amal from him and is now plotting further harassment. Amal is stuck in a terrible place and it’s difficult to not sympathize with her, while also feeling frustrated with her actions
What’s great to see is that Annie (Mashal Khan) has turned out to not be a disappointment. She makes it clear to Mekaal that she married him to save the reputations of their families and does not trust him one bit. Mekaal, for his part, does a very feeble job of defending and explaining himself, giving Annie further reason to mistrust him. It no longer seems as though Annie will turn a blind eye to Mekaal’s antics out of “love” for him, rather she may become the very person who exposes his betrayal. Mashal Khan is doing well in this role, though Annie is a slightly over-the-top character.
Mekaal’s mother (Shaheen Khan) visits Amal to confront her, but Amal is no longer in any mood to put up with any threats. She asks the woman to leave, but before she can say anything, her own mother (Nida Mumtaz) steps in and the two ladies bicker. Of course Mekaal’s mother tries to “expose” Amal, but Amal’s stepmother may be conniving, but she’s well-aware of the ordeal Amal has been through. She gives it back, calling Mekaal a criminal who ruined their lives. Mekaal’s mother is left stunned, caught off guard. She now believes Amal and her stepmother plotted this together.
Dulhan Episode 15: Sumbal Iqbal’s Amal Stands Up For Herself
It’s great to see how Amal stands up to Mekaal’s mother, her ex-boss, and makes it clear that she wasn’t lying. The strength Amal shows, coupled with her mother’s support, is what will make Mekaal’s mother – and later Annie – realize that things may not be as clear-cut as they seem. Sami Khan and Faizan Khawaja are two great actors, but they don’t have much room to perform in this episode, letting the ladies take the lead this time around. Sami Khan’s Mekaal is beginning to deeply regret his decisions and even seems to be harboring guilt over how he treated Amal. But what will come of it all exactly? That’s what remains to be seen. This episode was not particularly strong with a lot of repetitiveness, so one hopes the upcoming episodes are a little more hard-hitting.
