Written by: Ayesha Amir
Posted on: August 01, 2024 | 
| 中文
Poster of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum (Sometimes it’s me, and sometimes it’s you)
The latest ARY digital’s drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum (Sometimes it’s me, and sometimes it’s you) is the talk of the town, because of Fahad Mustafa’s return to the small screen after a hiatus of a decade. The drama is getting a lot of traction because fans are excited to finally see the Jeeto Pakistan host on their television screens, not as the loud television host but as a lead hero in a drama. Fahad Mustafa himself teamed up with Dr. Ali Kazmi to produce this series, with the script written by the famous and beloved Farhat Ishtiaq, known for her works such as Humsafar, Udaari, Diyar-e-Dil, Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu, Rehaai, and Yaqeen Ka Safar. The drama has an ensemble cast featuring Fahad Mustafa as Mustafa, Hania Aamir as Sharjeena, Emmad Irfani as Adeel, Javed Sheikh as Iftekhar, Bushra Ansari as Shagufta, Maya Khan as Sidra and Naeema Butt as Rubab, along with Tauseeq Haider and Yousuf Bashir Qureshi.
Bushra Ansari, Fahad Mustafa and Maya Khan
The list of popular dramas written by Farhat Ishtiaq’s is long, and fans have anticipated Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum to hit the same mark. Farhat Ishtiaq’s writing and Fahad Mustafa’s comeback are not the only the reasons for the drama’s rising popularity, but the casting of Hania Aamir alongside Fahad Mustafa has caught many by surprise. The pairing, though unconventional, promises to be intriguing.
Javed Sheikh and Hania Amir
The premise of the drama is that Mustafa’s character is that of a laid-back person, who does not take his domestic or financial responsibilities seriously. He stands in direct contrast to his elder brother Adeel (Emmad Irfani), who is successful in a corporate job. Not only is he ambitious but desires upward social mobility. This trait marks the first bone of contention within the family, where an imminent betrayal is expected. Adeel is engaged to be married to Sharjeena, a going-by-the-book good girl, who is a responsible daughter and sister. Sharjeena and her younger sister are set to be married at the same time. Misery befalls the two families when Adeel is confronted by his boss Rubab (Naeema Butt) on how she has feelings for him for the past four years, but Adeel had been indifferent. Adeel, driven by his opportunism and power-hungry nature, disregards his engagement with Sharjeena and opts to marry Rubab. Rubab is a rich and nonconforming daughter of a business conglomerate handling a company, thus providing Adeel with the perfect opportunity for social climbing. The mayhem that ensues when Adeel breaks off his engagement to Sharjeena, causes the plot to thicken. Iftekhar (Javed Sheikh), who is Mustafa and Adeel’s father, is devasted and angry with his elder son Adeel’s betrayal, because Sharjeena is his good friend’s daughter. There is social commentary in the plot, as the story reflects our society’s troubled relationship with honor and marriage. The engagement breakup is mourned by Sharjeena’s family as a reflection of our society’s stigmatization of women whose engagements break, or they are divorced. Everyone in the family is dejected over the notion of log kya kahain ge (what will people say) and how will the in-laws of Sharjeena’s younger react.
Emmad Irfani and Naeema Butt
It is at this point that Sharjeena has to make a difficult decision regarding her marriage, to keep up the honor of her family and decides to sacrifice for the sake of everyone else. She asks Mustafa to marry her in Adeel’s stead. Although surprised and confused, not only does Mustafa comply, but he seems to be empathizing with Sharjeena’s situation initially. The reason why it is central to the plot, is because Mustafa and Sharjeena are polar opposites, and not a good match for each other. However, the storyline progresses with the marriage happening between the two, and it also marks the start of their struggles, with Mustafa trying to make sense of his new life with the responsibility of a wife, and Sharjeena trying to make sense of a clumsy and irresponsible husband.
Bushra Ansari, Hania Amir and Javed Sheikh
An important question that the audiences are left asking, however, is will Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum progress out of a storm of clichés? Up until now, not only is the story line not unique, but it is filled with tropes that the audiences are used to seeing (and have been wanting to stop seeing any more of). An unjust and oppressive mother-in-law, an innocent and studious wife and daughter in law, a careless husband, and a fiery ring of rivalry between siblings with one of them as a cast away villain. This drama is a camping site of overused tropes with nothing new to offer, except, Fahad Mustafa’s pairing with Hania Aamir. Having said that, it might still be too early to judge the plot, on the basis of the initial episodes. The drama might progress through plot twists that offer the audience what they’ve been looking for, initial misgivings aside, the drama is a fascinating feat showing the lives of two simple families in the humble neighborhoods of Karachi.
Maya Khan and Hania Amir
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