In the early 2010s, Babar Javed wasn’t just a director; he was a powerhouse who reshaped the landscape of Pakistani television. Through hits like ‘Mera Saaein’, ‘Main Abdul Qadir Hoon’, ‘Qaid-e-Tanhai’, ‘Bashar Momin’, and ‘Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan’, he mastered a brand of storytelling that was as gritty and grand.
Now, after a twelve-year hiatus, the director makes his highly anticipated return to TV with ‘Humrahi’ on GEO Entertainment. Backed by a high-profile pairing of Danish Taimoor and Hiba Bukhari, the project boasts an ambitious scale, spanning the scenic vistas of Turkey, London, and USA. But in an era where the viewers have evolved, will he strike back again with the same magic? Let’s review.
Humrahi: The Blueprint
The story follows Sayhaan Ghazi (Danish Taimoor), a wealthy man with a heart of gold who lives in the shadow of his empathy-lacking father, Ghazi Yousuf (Shahzad Nawaz). Sayhaan finds comfort in Chanda (Salma Zafar), the devoted househelp who stepped in to raise him in the absence of his mother. His close friend Mariyam (Laila Wasti), is a Turkish national who runs her restaurant in Pakistan. The conflict starts when Sayhaan’s father tries to seize Mariyam’s land for a high-rise project. Meanwhile Mariyam’s daughter, Elif (Hiba Bukhari), is a doctor who literally crashes into Sayhaan’s life. Their cars collide, an argument ensues over compensation, and a ‘hate-at-first-sight’ dynamic begins, neither realizing how closely their families are actually linked.
All That Glitters Isn’t Gold
To be honest, the story by Zanjabeel Asim Shah rests on a wafer-thin plot. It’s a formula we have seen dozens of times before, and so far, it doesn’t offer anything fresh. You go into each episode hoping for a hook, but as the narrative moves forward, the writing feels ordinary, and the sequences often fall flat. Instead of organic character growth, the plot relies heavily on ‘convenience’ to move from point A to point B. The direction, unfortunately, lacks that famous Babar Javed ‘touch’. It feels like it has been hijacked by the typical GEO TV template with slow-motion shots, dramatic music, and the colorful screen.
While the production value is high, several moments simply defy logic. For starters, the lack of communication is baffling. Sayhaan shares his frustrations about Elif with Mariyam in detail, yet Mariyam casually treats his teasing behavior towards a girl. Similarly, Elif remains oddly silent, sharing absolutely nothing about these major life events with her mother.
The accident sequence was poorly handled. If Elif’s patient was in such a critical state, why was she arguing on the phone while driving in the fast lane? A doctor in a real emergency would have stopped, settled the matter, or focused entirely on the life at stake. In another sequence, we see Sayhaan stop to help her with her car later, only to walk away after a petty argument, which conveniently leads to her getting mugged.
Even the side characters operate on drama logic rather than reality; Ghazi Yousaf sends ten lakhs on a single phone call to settle an accident without a shred of verification. Perhaps most unbelievable is the fact that Sayhaan, who tells Mariyam everything, has no clue about her family, and she hasn’t asked a single question about his. It’s a classic case of a drama that is all gloss and no substance; it looks beautiful, but the writing doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
The Star Power of ‘Humrahi’
It’s refreshing to see Danish Taimoor in a positive role for a change, though you can still see traces of that ‘aggressive alpha’ persona he usually plays. He looks good and delivers. Hiba Bukhari is decent as the ‘girl next door’, but her styling is a bit distracting. Seeing a doctor wearing a formal gharara while on duty feels completely out of place. It’s high time she works with a stylist who understands character’s appropriate looks. This is Danish and Hiba’s fourth time working together, and while their chemistry is naturally there, they need stronger material to really make it shine. Laila Wasti is adequate in her role, and Shahzad Nawaz is, as always, a treat to watch.
Humrahi: Verdict So Far
Given the massive hype surrounding Babar Javed’s comeback, ‘Humrahi’ is off to a pretty average start. It looks beautiful, but it’s missing a cohesive, tight script to hold it all together. Having said that, the curtain has only just risen; there’s plenty of time for a turnaround. With a promising cast, there’s a chance the pace will pick up. For now, it’s a watchable drama, but it hasn’t yet captured the magic we expected.
