Instep pinpoints five TV actors who are relatively new and have been winning hearts lately with their performances
Pakistani dramas have a mass audience and it is growing fast as more and more viewers tune in to watch their favourite TV plays. Any actor starting his or her career with television fast becomes a household name and generates huge fan following. Most A list actors (Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Mehwish Hayat, Fahad Mustafa, Saba Qamar, Hamza Ali Abbasi), who have now moved to films and/ or simultaneously work in both mediums, gained fame and fortune from television.
That said, television has introduced some fresh faces in the past couple years. While some of them have failed to deliver, others have managed to make a mark even with a single performance in some cases. Instep picks up five actors who are ruling hearts on the small screen these days with their respective plays presently on-air.
Naimal Khawar Khan
Hailing from Peshawar and born to a Persian mother and Pakhtoon father, Naimal Khawar made her acting debut with Shoaib Mansoor’s film Verna in 2017 that starred Mahira Khan in the lead role. This is followed by a prominent, and rather interesting role in ongoing drama serial Anaa that features her as a headstrong, outspoken, educated and decent young woman, Izzah. Without a doubt, Naimal, who is cast opposite Usman Mukhtar in the drama, is winning hearts and the couple is being loved by fans. She is doing a great job with a rather unconventional role and we would love to see more of her!
Ammara Butt
Having delivered a strong performance as a rebellious young woman in De Ijazat that concluded last year, young and dynamic Ammara Butt is another new entrant to watch out for. Currently, she is essaying the role of Bhola’s (Imran Ashraf) cousin Komal in ongoing play Ranjha Ranjha Kardi that is generating rave reviews. Though she is playing a supporting role, she has delivered an impressive performance of a naïve, college going young woman. Besides, she essayed important roles in plays like Hoor Pari, Teen Kahani and Sarmad Khoosat’s miniseries Aakhri Station.
Mirza Zain Baig
Model turned actor Mirza Zain Baig essayed a key role in last year’s Naulakha alongside Sarwat Gilani and Kiran Haq and since then, there is no looking back. He featured as the caring and considerate husband Saadi in Dil Kiya Karey opposite Yumna Zaidi; the character died in one of the recent episodes. In addition, he is playing the other guy, Faizi, in Mera Rab Waris alongside Madiha Imam and Danish Taimoor. His character is in love with that of Madiha Imam but she is getting married to someone else (Danish). He has done justice to the role as a hesitant, simple young man who is unable to express his love for the person he cares for.
Zoya Nasir
Makeup artist turned actor Zoya Nasir recently made her acting debut with ongoing drama serial Hania that features her opposite singer turned actor Junaid Khan. Though she is new to the world of acting, she has brilliantly portrayed a petrified wife whose husband is into some illegal business and tortures her all the time. She does want to escape but is afraid to upset her husband so that he doesn’t harm her family. Hania is Zoya’s first play and we are happy to see how she has pulled off the character effortlessly.
Osama Tahir
Presently featuring in Hania with Junaid Khan and Zoya Nasir, Osama Tahir made his acting debut with Umer Adil’s Chalay Thay Saath, followed by a role in Kashir Nisar’s Dar Si Jati Hai Sila for which the actor has bagged a Best Emerging Talent nomination at the upcoming Lux Style Awards 2019. He is portraying the role of female lead Hania’s first cousin who stands by her as she is going through some serious trouble post her marriage. He is sweet, he is decent, and above all, compassionate and is willing to help his cousin despite all odds. However, he essayed a similar role in Dar Si Jati Hai Sila and we would like to see some diversity in future.
