Ghotki artist spots ‘lost’ artwork in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum episode, calls out Frere Hall

Artist Seffy Soomro made a shocking discovery while watching Hania Aamir and Fahad Mustafa starrer Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum on TV — his own artwork that went ‘missing’ years earlier.

The TV serial offered him a glimpse of artworks he thought he’d lost years ago. The pieces were on display at Frere Hall in Karachi, where he had sent them for an exhibition in 2017 without ever receiving them back.

The artist immediately took to social media to call out Frere Hall for misappropriating his paintings. Taking to Facebook, Soomro detailed the incident, “Assalam o Alikum… I’m Seffy Soomro from Daharki, district Ghotki. I’m an artist. In 2017, I gave my paintings to Frere Hall for an exhibition. After the exhibition was over, I asked for them back. However, I was told that my paintings couldn’t be found. After a while, I gave up thinking perhaps they were, in fact, lost. After all, we’re all human.”

In 2024, after unexpectedly seeing his work in episode 17 of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum at the 22:30 mark, Soomro felt betrayed. “I was lied to. I was told my paintings were lost, only for them to be reused or sold for profit. I have not been credited for these paintings yet.”

The artist revealed that these works were part of his thesis for the University of Sindh’s Fine Arts Department, underscoring the personal and academic value they held. “I have proof of this,” he added.

In the TV show, actors Emmad Irfani and Areej Chaudhary observe the paintings Soomro says are his. Chaudhary’s character Natasha says about one of them, “The painting is beautiful. The artist has expressed human emotions in so much depth.”

Production company issues statement

Following Soomro’s post, Big Bang Entertainment, the production company for Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, put out a statement to distance itself from the matter and assure that the location used for the scene in question and the assets, including the paintings, were rented.

“It has come to our attention that a painting featured in a scene from our ongoing drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum was used without proper permission from the respected artist. As artists and producers ourselves, our sympathies go out to the concerned individual. This being said, Big Bang Entertainment would like to clarify that we have no involvement in this matter.”

The company went on to encourage Soomro to pursue the issue with the venue owners and expressed hope for a swift and fair resolution. They emphasised their support for “fair usage rights” and reiterated that the drama’s success should not be tarnished by this controversy.

Inquiry launched

In light of public outcry, Sindh Cultural Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah formed a two-member committee comprising the director general of culture, and the director general of antiquities.

These committees have been tasked with investigating the matter and presenting a report to the minister. Shah said in a statement that appropriate action would be taken if any negligence or wrongdoing was uncovered.