THE WEEK THAT WAS

Khuda Aur Mohabbat Season 3 | Geo TV, Fridays 8.00pm

After a detailed introduction of characters, the story slowly shapes up with Mahi’s (Iqra Aziz) sudden exit from her bestie Rida’s (Meherbano) wedding in Lahore, because of which the love-struck Fahad (Feroze Khan) is no more interested in working at Rida’s father Nisar’s (Javed Sheikh) house. Most conveniently, Nisar recommends Fahad to Mahi’s father, the influential feudal Kazim Shah (Usman Peerzada) in Bahawalpur, and Sohail Sameer — making a dramatic entry as Mahi’s arrogant brother Nazim Shah — confirms Fahad’s job as his driver. Wearing his heart on his sleeve for Mahi and moving to Bahawalpur, Fahad breaks the girl-next-door Naheed’s (Momina Iqbal) heart, so God help Fahad when she curses him on his journey for love. Just the way we didn’t miss the evocative visuals of Noor Mahal as Mahi’s palatial house in Bahawalpur, we also didn’t miss the unkempt middle-class housewife Suraiya Bibi’s (Asma Abbas) beautifully manicured nails, as she bids farewell to her son Fahad.

Raqeeb Se | Hum TV, Wed-Sun 9.00pm

Implausibly enough, wife Hajra (Sania Saeed) remains unperturbed about husband Maqsood’s (Noman Ejaz) old flame Sakina (Hadiqa Kiani) turning up at their door with her grown-up daughter Meera (Iqra Aziz), and staying with them. Except for Maqsood’s daughter Insha (Faryal Mehmood), who constantly questions her parents, they all go about their lives cooking chapaatis, having endless cups of tea and discussing what might have happened 20 years ago between Maqsood and Sakina. Maqsood sends divorce papers to Sakina’s husband Rafiq Ali (Saqib Sameer), an irritating country bumpkin pouring out irrelevant lines, while Maqsood’s brother Masood (Salman Shahid) badgers Maqsood to marry Sakina. Insha’s outrage is predictable, but more of a mystery is Hajra’s reaction if Maqsood ends up marrying Sakina. Can’t wait for Sania Saeed to get on to the meaty part of her role as Hajra, the bottled-up wife.

What To Watch Out For

Ghabrana Mana Hai | ARY, Sundays 10.00pm

With a title referencing the PM’s favourite expression, Vasay Chaudhry hosts Ghabrana Mana Hai, a talk show, featuring celebrity guests in candid conversation. Mahira Khan, Yasir Hussain, Sheheryar Munawar, Ayesha Omar and Humayun Saeed have appeared so far in some entertaining episodes, speckled with Chaudhry’s signature wit. Sohai Ali Abro and Mustafa Chaudhry appear in their own segments, which sometimes unexcitingly interrupt interesting conversation between the guest and the host. However, watch Sohai Ali Abro at your own risk because she might be just a teeny bit ‘OTT’ — as she would say in her avatars as a young wadera and a ‘pawry’ girl, the latter of which is not too different from her character Zoya in Jawani Phir Nahin Ani.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 21st, 2021