Zahid Ahmed is an actor we enjoy watching on-screen, an underrated talent who is generally selective about his work and successfully molds into the character he portrays on screen. With “Gentleman” and “Jaan Se Pyara Juni,” Zahid is back on our screens after a bit of a gap, his last releases being “Mor Maharan” and “101 Talaqein” (which was shot years ago). Joining him are Hira Tareen and Mamya Shajaffar, who was recently seen in “Contractors” on Har Pal Geo. The story has been written by Aliya Bukhari and directed by Meer Sikandar.
In the first episode, we are introduced to Junaid (Zahid Ahmed) through a long 5-minute monologue about “tanhai.” Junaid is a young man who works hard and lives alone due to a meddling older sister, Safina. In Pakistan, getting married is a family project and Junaid only has his sister – who has developed a habit of hoarding Junaid’s money and does not want a wife to come in and spoil her lifestyle. It’s for this reason that Junaid has remained single all these years and, as a result, deeply lonely. He is in love with Husna (Hira Mani), an independent young woman in his building who has big aspirations for her life. However, while Junaid does like Husna, Husna is not interested in him. On her criticism of his bike, he buys a car – much to Safina’s dismay, who does not want “her” money, earned by Junaid, being wasted on….well, Junaid. If it weren’t realistic, it would be almost comical.
Meanwhile, there is Minal (Mamya Shajaffar), who has been engaged to Bilal for years, but suddenly, Bilal refuses to marry her – that too, through his parents. We’re already certain Juni and Minal will find one another during the course of this story, but how exactly will that play out? That’s what will be interesting to see. This is a sweet first episode with a breezy feel and all three main leads fit into their characters well. The story of a man with a greedy sister who refuses to let him get married for her own financial benefit is a unique yet realistic story, Junaid is a likable character while the two leading ladies have been well-written. Assuming “Jaan Se Pyara Juni” doesn’t evolve into a gharelu story with Safina manipulating and plotting against Juni’s wife, this could be a highly promising show.
