While love stories are not rare on Pakistani television, a love story with the focus on age and young love in particular is. “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” is a Romeo and Juliet tale, but more than anything, it highlights the emotions and reactions with a young, immature couple – something which viewers can certainly relate and connect to. Starring Khushhal Khan, Dananeer Mobeen, Omair Rana, Ayesha Toor, Ali Tahir, Naureen Gulwani and others in prominent roles, the story has been written by Rahat Jabeen and directed by Shahid Shafaat.
In episode 8, Saim’s parents decide it’s time, for the sake of their son, to step up and send a proposal for Zobia (Dananeer Mobeen). However, this step is not met positively by Zobia’s family who turn around and insult Ibrahim (Omair Rana) and Faiqa (Ayesha Toor). The way Ibrahim and Faiqa react is rather impressive, recognizing that this is where their son’s happiness lies and they hold back their egos, requesting that the family speak to Zobia first. Zobia is young and her immaturity here shines through when, under the pressure of her family, she is unable to own up to the relationship. Saim (Khushhal Khan) and his parents are thrown out in disgrace and, again, Ibrahim and Faiqa react maturely, worrying less about their insult and more about Saim’s feelings.
Saim, on the other hand, feels absolutely humiliated. Khushhal Khan’s acting in these sequences, particularly when he breaks a window with his head, is incredible. We can feel this young man’s pain, his trust being shattered. This is a man who just left home for days for Zobia, even sleeping on a park bench in protest against his parents – and this is how she repays him. Saim’s dialogue about Zobia later is accurate – if Zobia doesn’t have the courage to stand up for her relationship, why even get involved in one? Again, Faiqa makes some really solid points, stating that the expectations and allowances for men and women in Pakistani society are different and while Saim can own his feelings openly, Zobia cannot. And yet, the sympathy in this episode lies entirely with Saim as he chooses to ignore Zobia and move on with his life. However, can these two really stay away from one another for too long?
This episode belongs to Khushhal Khan as the devoted, loyal, passionate Saim, a young man who is absolutely certain about his future in this relationship – but is let down by the woman he loves. Khushhal Khan is a star, one of the best young actors Pakistani dramas have seen in a while and expectations from him are high – and he manages to meet them with each show. Dananeer Mobeen is great as well. While Zobia lets Saim down in this episode (along with the audience), it’s her naivety and her inexperience that makes her do it and Dananeer’s performance highlights exactly that. She does a great job of portraying just how young and innocent Zobia is meant to be. Of course, Omair Rana and Ayesha Toor are both just wonderful as Saim’s parents. These two characters are the voice of reason and have been from the start, whether it be as parents wanting their son to focus on his education to now trying to handle an emotional situation gone wrong. We need more logical writing like this. Overall, “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” is a strong show so far with great characters grounded in realism, allowing us to connect to this narrative and being emotionally invested.