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Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed wrap up shooting for their upcoming Zee5 show

Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed wrap up shooting for their upcoming Zee5 show

The still unnamed series is helmed by Asim Abbasi who directed Zee5's Churails and film Cake.
02 Mar, 2022

Actors Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed have reunited for a Zee5 show 10 years after Zindagi Gulzar Hai that pushed the duo to superstardom in Pakistan. Their yet-to-be-titled web-series has just wrapped up filming. Their project is being helmed by Asim Abbasi, who also directed Churails and feature film Cake.

According to Variety, the show is a blend of magical realism and supernatural fantasy with a family reunion. Humsafar actor Khan is seen in a role of a single parent who tries to be the father that his own father wasn't. Saeed, who recently starred in Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, bears otherworldly secrets in the show and takes it upon herself to heal and bring everyone together.

The pair posted some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot a few months ago. Khan had described the story as a "genre-bending saga of familial traumas and reconciliations, a tale of love and loss set in a world of magic and mystique."

Saeed had written, "In a mystical land far far away! Forgot my own excitement of collaborating with Asim Abbasi once again while all you got excited about this jori (pair)! We're back in completely new avatars with a phenomenal cast, crew and kahani (story)." The photos confirmed that the set location was the mountainous valley of Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan.

Director Abbasi told Variety that it is a "personal project" for him that spanned the period of five months and is the "most challenging experience" of his life but also the "most rewarding".

"The ensemble have done a beautiful job, and given some career best performances. While we have had many eventful days shooting for the series, the last day of the shoot was particularly action-packed. I remember the car we were supposed to shoot with didn’t work, so we used my personal car instead. During the shot, Fawad really had to burn the rubber, as he had to do a u-turn on a single lane road. It was a perfect shot but now I need new tyres," Abbasi told the publication.

Zindagi, which used to air as a TV channel, shut down in 2017, only to be resurrected as OTT platform Zee5. It kicked off with Churails in 2020 and has over 50 shows now. It continues to screen original Pakistani and Indian shows such as Dhoop Ki Deewar and the more recent Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam. Saba Qamar and Nauman Ijaz star in the platform's upcoming web-series Mrs and Mr Shaheen.

However, despite all the Pakistani content on Zee5, it is not available for viewers in Pakistan. The State Bank of Pakistan blocked subscription payments for the OTT platform in 2020.

Comments

Asad Mar 02, 2022 01:50pm
Why it is double standard Actors and Actresses can make money from Zee5 which is based in Mumbai India, but masses can not watch indian dramas, Are these Actors/actresses less patriotic than the masses, why one law for elite and quite opposite law for the subject.
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M.S Mar 02, 2022 01:58pm
Pakistan its high time to develop & launch Pakistan's own "OTT PLATFORM" so our talented writers & directors can showcase their talent & shows on their own OTT PLATFORM & then aim higher goals like NETFLIX & AMAZON. Take the first steps ASAP NOW!
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Juman Mar 02, 2022 02:28pm
If this is another love-story/shadi drama then please note that you can set it in the mountains or below sea level but we are not interested. The whole world have moved to content beyond simple love stories but we can't produce a single drama series that tackles another subject. Shame.
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Zak Mar 02, 2022 02:34pm
Better to make productions for Pakistan and not for Indian Tv.
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M. Saeed Mar 02, 2022 05:44pm
What is Zee5 Show? Is it not already banned by the courts not to show anything Indian?
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Sofia Kasim Mar 02, 2022 11:36pm
All the best!
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Glen D'Abreo Mar 03, 2022 06:16am
@Juman Very well said. but playing these safe stories is a way of staying relevant? There must be some fantastic writers in Pakistan who can contribute some interesting stories that lead away from love-story/shaadi drama.
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Haroon Jamshed Mar 03, 2022 10:00am
@Asad artists don't have borders brother. Let them preform wherever...it's got nothing to do with their patriotism.
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