Muneeb Butt to play hermaphrodite assistant commissioner in upcoming drama with Saba Qamar

The actor told Images that the limited series consists of six to seven episodes, each highlighting social taboos and issues.

Irfan Ul Haq

26 Dec, 2022

A lot of new TV shows are coming our way as we bid 2022 farewell, one of the most recent being Muneeb Butt and Saba Qamar’s show for ARY Digital. It may seem like your average serial but Butt told Images that the six-episode limited series is “breaking stereotypes” by highlighting social issues.

He took to Instagram on Sunday and shared photos from the sets of the upcoming drama. “[I] am really excited to announce that I am playing a very unique character of the first trans assistant commissioner in my upcoming project. Something that breaks stereotypes in our society,” he wrote.

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Sharing his experience, he said he had been “anxiously waiting to reveal the character” that he will be playing soon. Elaborating on his role in the drama, Butt said it was the “most challenging role” he has ever done because he had to get out of his comfort zone. “Hope you enjoy the journey with me. Will be looking forward to your feedback,” he said while thanking his costar Qamar.

More about the drama and his character, Butt told Images, “It’s a six to seven-episode series, more like what you see on Netflix or Amazon for the OTT platforms. It’s a USAID series in which each episode will be based on a different story and [all of them] are excellent. It highlights all basic, social issues such as the stereotypes in our society, the way things are done and it breaks taboos. My character is of a guy who by birth is a hermaphrodite.”

Butt said that the drama reflects his character’s struggles and journey, and how he fights back society. He receives education with the support of his family and eventually, he opts for CSS and becomes an assistant commissioner.

“This has a beautiful message — we boycott such individuals from our society completely and they are left with a few options to work; becoming a sex worker, a dancer or begging at signals. So for them, it’s a message that if you study, work hard and don’t care about what people say then you too can achieve whatever you want,” said the 30-year-old star.

In a separate post, Qamar wrote that she had been waiting to announce that she’s part of a “very unique and special project” by Idream Entertainment for ARY Digital. However, details about her character have not yet been disclosed.

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The release date and time for the limited series are yet to be revealed along with the rest of the cast.

Comments

Multani Dec 26, 2022 06:02pm

Hermaphrodite ! What a horrible role to play, it is going to be a big fail.

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jsav12 Dec 26, 2022 08:10pm

Mixed feelings about this considering hermaphrodite is considered a stigmatising word and that such a role when cast was not offered to a trans person which would contribute more to inclusivity than the role itself. Lastly, mentioning usaid isn't a plus as it will be interpreted as the US pushing its culture. Could have been better handled overall.

AHMAD Dec 26, 2022 08:43pm

Ofcourse USAID

Chawnti Dec 26, 2022 09:42pm

They have to be given their rights, and protected.

SivaD Dec 26, 2022 10:12pm

@Multani why is it horrible? Its a biological condition. It is horrible to be a mean or a cruel person. Your biological condition shouldn't make you horrible. Its just another biological state that most people are not aware of.

S.A.M. Dec 26, 2022 11:04pm

The way things are shown the most urgent issue that tops our priority is to protect lgbt rights. Can we talk about the plight of common folks in our country not just the lgbt.

Syed Hafeez Imran Dec 26, 2022 11:25pm

there is a gross misconception and misinformation about trans gender people . Trans does NOT mean hermaphrodite! A trans can be of different degrees Ther Are trans people in the world, however a true hermaphrodite is very very rare if not almost non existent

Multani Dec 27, 2022 12:09am

Please stop this, it is not part of our culture.

Zeeshan Ahmed Dec 27, 2022 02:09am

Why are a few people with no moral value pushing this topic on a country that does not care to normalize it?

Truth be told Dec 27, 2022 02:43am

@jsav12 hermaphrodite is intersex and not trans, hence your theory and comparison and exclusively providing the role to a trans makes no sense at all. Educate yourself and our nation. Intersex and transexual are not synonymous.

Ma Dec 27, 2022 05:12am

Yeah that is the new hot commodity that sells. So join the band wagon

pursuing Dec 27, 2022 06:56am

Good going, ignorants of this society require this treatment!

ishtiaq Dec 27, 2022 07:48am

First, hermaphrodites are not trans. They're people born with both male and female reproductive organs. Trans, on the other hand are cisgenders and change their sexual identity later in their lives.

TruthMatters Dec 27, 2022 07:54am

Great work, ARY! Good to show the soft image of Pakistan for a change while Afghans and their eastern backers wreak havoc on the country.

Pakistani Dec 27, 2022 12:07pm

@Multani You really want them begging at the signals and do other more questionable deeds instead of educating them and giving proper jobs? Usually such people are abandoned when their parents get to know, if you don't make them part of the social fabric and culture it will continue to be like this. Do something positive for a change.