Dawn Images

There will be some big names starring in Yaar Julahay, a series of dramatic readings featuring short stories from the Subcontinent directed by Sarmad Khoosat.

The project will air on OTT platform Zee Theatre.

The dramatic readings are a celebration of the writers who have dared to look into the eyes of society and pull the blindfolds off the South Asian public. They are a celebration of the works that remind us to look beyond what is shown to us.

The project consists of 12 episodes with stories read by veteran actors who will use their vocal prowess to translate words into emotions, and into emotions juxtaposed with a quirky, otherworldly set that will create a nostalgic and fantastical experience for viewers.

"I don't think dramatic readings have ever been done like this before," Sania Saeed told Images. "Very unlikely people are doing readings, which a lot of people would not associate with reading. You know like me, Sarmad, Nimra, Yasra — people would say okay they can do elaborate readings — but a lot of other actors are also doing a few stories," she added.

Directed by Sarmad Khoosat and Kanwal Khoosat, the show features the works of many renowned writers including Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Qurratulain Hyder, Ismat Chughtai, Rajinder Singh Bedi, Gulzar, Amrita Pritam, Munshi Premchand, Ghulam Abbas, Balwant Singh, Asad Mohammad Khan, Saadat Hasan Manto and Intizar Hussain.

Readings will be done by Mahira Khan, Sarmad Khoosat himself, Nimra Bucha, Fawad Khan, Sarwat Gillani, Sania Saeed, Irfan Khoosat, Yasra Rizvi, Samiya Mumtaz and Faysal Quraishi.