“Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi” has been a raging success both with TRPs and YouTube views. This story of forced marriage has pulled in viewers all over the subcontinent – and yet, throughout its run, it has been unclear as to what its ultimate intention is. Is Shamsher supposed to be acknowledged as the “bad guy” he genuinely is? Or will he be whitewashed and turned into a “hero”? Up until now, viewers have been convinced that Shamsher will pay for his crimes and Mehak will remain adamantly against him, particularly after watching an interview with Durr E Fishan, stating her character will be “different.” Unfortunately, this week, it appears that the whitewashing has full-fledged begun without any real reasoning. Starring Danish Taimoor, Durr E Fishan, Nauman Ejaz, Atiqa Odho, Hammad Shoaib, Shahood Alvi, Laila Wasti, Zainab Qayyum, Laiba Khan and others, the story has been written by Radain Shah and directed by Ahmed Bhatti.
In episode 21, Shamsher(Danish Taimoor) has realized his father was behind Mehak’s (Durr e Fishan) attempted murder. He cannot believe the heartlessness, the cruelty, the lack of empathy for a living human being…..wait a minute. Why are Dilawar’s (Nauman Ejaz) actions any different from Shamsher’s? Didn’t Shamsher attempt to murder Ahsan (Hammad Shoaib)? Didn’t Shamsher threaten to murder Mehak’s sister? Didn’t he try to keep Mehak from her family and torture her father? Didn’t Shamsher threaten to destroy Mehak’s life and forcefully marry her at gunpoint? However, in just one sweep, with the knowledge that Dilawar and Shamsher are just the same, the “insaaniyat” has awoken in Shamsher. Shamsher is now reformed. Shamsher is now good. Shamsher is now innocent, repenting and here to right his wrongs. The reformed Shamsher leaves his home and decides to live in “poverty” at his friend’s house, borrowing his friend’s bike to highlight the dire straights he and Mehak are now in. Mehak is, of course, enamored by his resolve and can see her husband is “changing.” What a great man. What is this nonsense.
This is not, in any way, a slight against Danish Taimoor. This entire show is resting on Danish Taimoor’s shoulders. It’s his performance that is moving the story forward and pulling the audience in. Danish Taimoor is doing such a good job that, as a viewer, one has to really stop and remind themselves what a bad person Shamsher is. Danish Taimoor’s performance as both a truly “bad” guy and now a “repenting” guy have both been excellent. But the problem arises with the narrative itself. There isn’t any reason for Shamsher to have repented or suddenly changed. One day ago, he was being as abusive as ever and now suddenly, he is a changed man. It’s evident the show will now see Shamsher apologizing, changing his ways and becoming a “good husband.” And we, as viewers, will lap it all up and add yet another horribly toxic “romance” to the list of hit shows. This is disappointing.
