When “Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi” began, many viewers were on the fence as to whether they should support another show about a toxic, obsessive lover marrying a woman against her will. Starring Danish Taimoor and Durr E Fishan in lead roles, the show also has Noman Ejaz, Atiqa Odho, Shahood Alvi, Laila Wasti, Hammad Shoaib and other stars in prominent roles. The story, which has been written by Radain Shah and directed by Ahmed Bhatti, follows Shamsher (Danish Taimoor), a spoiled, obsessive, short-tempered man who falls in “love” (rather lust) with Mehak (Durr E Fishan) in a chance encounter. After this, he leaves no stone unturned to harass her family and stake his claim on his “love,” a woman he has never had a conversation with and whom he has emotionally and psychologically tortured in the name of life while physically abusing, beating and harassing her family – evening threatening her younger sister, father and fiancé with a gun. This has been a very difficult love story to root for – and yet, it has been an absolute rage not only in Pakistan, but also on the other side of the border.
Still, regardless of how we have felt about the show during its run, what transpires in the finale leaves the viewer wondering…..what was the point of this show? The ending is not entertaining, it’s not warranted and it’s not justice. So why? In the finale, Shamsher dies taking a bullet meant for Mehak, fired by henchmen sent over by his father. In one blow, Dilawar (Noman Ejaz) loses his son while continuously trying to murder the woman his son loves. Mehak raises her child along with her family while finally admitting her love for Shamsher – after his death. And Dilawar, after all his plotting and scheming, kills himself after realizing he’s responsible for his son’s death.
Over the past several episodes, we have seen a reformed Shamsher. Whether the reformed angle was believable or well written is an entirely different discussion, but Danish Taimoor’s performance is what has really lured viewers in. While Mehak has been vocally against Shamsher, whether we were convinced or not is besides the point – in the show, Mehak was not only been convinced, but she fell for him. Mehak forgave Shamsher for his crimes against her, fell in love with him and is expecting his baby when…..he is shot and killed. What exactly was the point here? Sure, not every story is a moral show with a strong message – but was there anything entertaining about this ending? In a show where most viewers (of which I am personally not one) have been rooting for Mehak and Shamsher and considering Mehak genuinely forgave Shamsher and began a happy life with him after all the grief she has been through, why would killing Shamsher be the ending of choice?
When Shamsher was bad, Mehak was forced to marry him. When he was good, she loved him and was on her way to “happily ever after,” Shamsher dies. This is not justice; this is unnecessarily written tragedy. The only one being punished in this scenario is Mehak, who has been the victim from beginning to end. Of course, Noman Ejaz, Atiqa Odho and Durr E Fishan have all performed well, but the show truly belongs to Danish Taimoor who has just been incredible as Shamsher and allowed audiences to fall for and sympathize with a character who really started off as a terrible human being. As a viewer, “Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi” has never been a show that worked for me personally, but Danish and his performance has been addictive. He is an actor who deserves more and better roles. “Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi” has ended on a disappointing note – and this is coming from someone who was never really impressed with it to begin with. If we must show unethical love stories, can we at least not punish the victim?