Written by: Dr. Saba Noor
Posted on: November 18, 2021 | 
| 中文
The Lead cast
The hype around the drama “Ishq-e-laa” is probably caused by the stellar cast of the drama, which includes actors such as Sajal Ali, Yumna Zaidi and the debutant Azan Sami Khan—who is the son of veteran musician Adnan Sami Khan. The drama, which is written by Qaisera Hayat, directed by Amin Iqbal, and aired on HUM TV revolves around the themes of spiritual love and social issues.
Sajal Ali and Azan Sami Khan with director Amin Iqbal on the sets of Ishq-e-Laa
The protagonist of the serial is Shanaya, a soft-hearted, impulsive, and sensible girl, who is portrayed by actress Sajal Ali. Shanaya is in love with her best friend, Azlan, a cold-hearted, arrogant, and self-centered rich brat, who is portrayed by the actor Azaan Sami Khan. Shanaya and Azlan both belong to rich families, who want the best friends to marry one another. Even though Azlan does not love Shanaya, he gives her a lot of time and attention to her, perhaps because she is his only female friend. Yet the OST hints that Azlan might fall in love with Shanaya and the two might end up together.
Sajal as Shanaya and Azan as Azlan in Ishq-e-Laa
Azka, an ambitious girl belonging to a lower middle-class family, is portrayed by the actress Yumna Zaidi. Her brother Sultan, depicted by the actor Sohail Sameer, has worked at Azlan’s home for years as a chef. Azka was introduced to Azlan after her brother, Sultan, was unable to go to work due to a minor injury. As a result, Azka and her mother ended up going to work on his behalf. Azlan is rude towards Azka in their first encounter but we have yet to see how the story unfolds, since the drama is just five episodes in. Whether it turns out to be the story of another love-triangle or takes another turn remains to be seen.
The drama depicts the female protagonists as highly career-oriented and assertive, which reflects positively on it since female characters are usually presented as submissive and docile in Pakistani dramas. Despite Shanaya’s for loves Azlan, she ensures that her career does not get sidelined. The same is the case for Azka, who belongs to a lower socio-economic background, but firmly believes that human endeavors have no boundaries. Other crucial issues that Ishq-e-Laa highlights through its’ female protagonist Shanaya, who is a journalist, are related to child marriage, child labor, and domestic violence. Shanaya has been portrayed as a socially sensitive person who aspires to make a meaningful change to society.
Shanaya (Sajal Ali) as a journalist
Dramas which were previously directed by Amin Iqbal, such as Deedan and Uff Yeh Mohabbat, clearly set the trend for the characters speaking more through their actions than their dialogue delivery. This applies to Ishq-e-Laa as well. But it seems as if the new cast and a storyline is quite different from the typical dramas, which are centered on family politics. Iqbal’s hitherto established trend appears to not have been followed this time.
Azka confronts Azlan when he tries to insult her in front of his friend
Even though Azaan Sami Khan is a well-known singer, he has made his debut as the lead character in Ishq-e-Laa. It seems as if the acting skills of the novice actor are not up to par; his expressionless reactions and dialogues bring monotony to the drama. Though he brilliantly portrays the role of a rich brat, his dialogue delivery and depiction of expressions require further improvement. Since it is his project as lead actor, he should not be criticized too harshly and the phrase "All the experts were once beginners" should be applied to him as well.
Sajal Ali is a phenomenal actor who always succeeds in stunning the viewers. From Zubiya of Yakeen Ka Safar to Chammi of Aangan, she has always garnered the attention of audience. It is no less of a treat to see her in Ishq e Laa, portraying a fearless and inspiring journalist who has philanthropic inclinations and aspires to shed light on societal issues.
Yumna Zaidi
Even though Yumna Zaidi is nailing her role as Azka, she should consider taking on different roles now. She has played the role of an innocuous girl from a low socio-economic class in multiple dramas, such as Dar si Jaati hai Sila and Es Pyar k Sadke. Seeing her repeatedly take on this typical role makes one question her acting prowess. In Ishq e Laa, Azka weeps endlessly and her emotions are reflected in her dialogues. She has intricately and masterfully depicted the aspirations, dilemmas, and issues faced by lower middle-class people in Ishq e Laa through her innocent questions.
Adnan Samad Khan, Laila Wasti, Seemi Raheel and Yumna Zaidi
The cast of Ishq-e-Laa has several well-known actors, in addition to the leading cast. This includes Adnan Samad Khan, Seemi Raheel, and Sohail Sameer. Adnan, who also played the role of Gulzar in Ehd-e-wafa, is depicted as Aabid. He has nailed the negative character. The same is the case for Seemi Raheel, who is, perhaps expectedly, playing the role of Azka’s mother—though this is expected from an artist of her caliber.
The drama is fast-paced and is moving towards major changes in the lives of the three leading characters, who all influence one another. Overall, Ishq-e-Laa is a drama which can capture the attention of the audience with its story, which focuses on fearless women who affect the lives of several people around them.
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