Humsafar

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2011-12 Pakistani television series

title: "Humsafar" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["fiction-about-arranged-marriage", "farhat-ishtiaq", "hum-tv-original-programming", "pakistani-romantic-drama-television-series", "television-series-set-in-punjab,-pakistan", "television-series-about-bullying", "television-series-based-on-the-novels-of-farhat-ishtiaq", "television-series-created-by-momina-duraid", "television-series-by-md-productions", "urdu-language-telenovelas", "pakistani-telenovelas", "hum-sitaray"] description: "2011-12 Pakistani television series" topic_path: "geography/pakistan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humsafar" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 2011-12 Pakistani television series ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

FieldValue
imageHumsafar.png
captionTitle Card
image_size270
alt_nameRafeeq Al Ruh
genre{{plainlist
creatorMomina Duraid
based_on
writerFarhat Ishtiaq
screenplayFarhat Ishtiaq
directorSarmad Sultan Khoosat
starring{{plainlist
theme_music_composerWaqar Ali
openthemeWoh Humsafar Tha by Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch
end_themeWoh Humsafar Tha by Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch
composerWaqar Ali
countryPakistan
languageUrdu
num_episodes23
producer{{plainlist
cameraMulti-camera setup
locationKarachi
Hyderabad
runtime38-42 minutes
company
networkHum TV
first_aired
last_aired
::

::callout[type=note] the television series ::

| image = Humsafar.png | caption = Title Card | image_size = 270 | alt_name = Rafeeq Al Ruh | genre = {{plainlist|

Humsafar () is a 2011 Pakistani television series based on the novel of the same name by Farhat Ishtiaq (who also wrote the screenplay) and directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. It stars Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Naveen Waqar in lead roles and Atiqa Odho, Hina Khawaja Bayat, Behroze Sabzwari and Noor Hassan Rizvi in supporting roles. The series was first broadcast on 24 September 2011 on Hum TV.

Humsafar became the most successful program on the channel at the time, earning it widespread acclaim and international recognition. It was claimed as the highest-rated serial of its time in Pakistan, with the TRPs of 10.71, peaking at 13.9 TRPs.

Plot

Khirad Ahsaan belongs to a lower-middle-class community in Hyderabad and lives with her widowed mother, Maimoona, in a small apartment. As the series begins, she has recently completed her Bachelor of Science and is very strong in Mathematics as her father was a maths teacher. Maimoona's brother, Baseerat Hussain, is a self-made millionaire, who lives in Karachi. He is married to Farida, a social worker who runs a human rights NGO. They have one son, Ashar, who has an MBA from Yale and runs the family's high-powered firm with his father.

After Maimoona receives a cancer diagnosis, Baseerat brings her and Khirad to his large home in Karachi for treatment. When she realizes there is no cure, Maimoona asks Baseerat to arrange a marriage for Khirad. Feeling guilty for not taking better care of Maimoona, Baseerat compensates by promising that Ashar will marry Khirad, unbeknownst to Farida, Khirad, or Ashar. Farida opposes the match until Baseerat threatens to throw her out of the house if she does not accept it. While initially opposed, Ashar is emotionally manipulated by his father for the marriage, as well as Khirad by her mother. Sara, who is Ashar’s maternal cousin and childhood best friend who is in love with him, attempts suicide after both learning about the match and hearing from Ashar that he only sees her as a friend. After he rescues her, she promises to move on. Despite being against the idea, Ashar and Khirad get married in a simple nikkah ceremony. Within a short period, Maimoona dies, and Farida appears to have had a change of heart, treating Khirad as a daughter.

After an initial period of complications, Ashar and Khirad eventually find themselves deeply in love with each other. After Baseerat's sudden death, and encouraged by Ashar to follow her dreams, Khirad enrolls in a master's program in applied mathematics. Shortly after joining the program, she discovers that one of her classmates named Khizar, is Sara's paternal first cousin. Ashar becomes secretly jealous of their friendship. Khirad's involvement in college and her achievements also bother him. She and Farida also learn that Khirad is pregnant but decide to keep it as a surprise for Ashar.

However, Khirad never has the opportunity to tell him the news because she has been framed by Khizar, Farida, and Zarina who is Sara’s mother. Khirad learns that the love and attention from Farida, Zarina, and Khizar was a facade that hid a complex conspiracy. Farida feels that because Khirad had a lower-class upbringing, she is beneath Ashar. Zarina hopes that Sara will stop obsessing over Ashar's marriage to Khirad. Farida made a deal with Khizar to pay for his graduate studies in the United States and a marriage to Sara, unbeknownst to Sara and Zarina. With Baseerat gone, Farida, who never forgave him for threatening to throw her out, convinces Ashar that Khirad and Khizar had an affair, despite Khirad’s pleas of innocence. Unable to bear the idea and unwilling to hear Khirad's side of the story, Ashar leaves the house for a while. Farida uses his absence to further fabricate and throws Khirad out of the house in the middle of the night as an act of revenge against Baseerat. Khirad quickly writes a note to Ashar proclaiming her innocence and leaves it with one of the house helpers. She is then taken to Hyderabad by a good samaritan and finds a home with her former neighbour, Batool Bano. As Farida told Ashar that Khirad had run away with Khizar, Ashar declines Khirad's multiple calls. Thus, she realises that she will never be able to convince him of her innocence and gives up on their marriage. She gives birth alone to a premature baby and decides she would raise Hareem herself, working as a math teacher.

Four years later, driven by Hareem's need for open heart surgery, Khirad confronts Ashar. Her youthful innocence and fear of the world have now been both replaced by a firm and courageous persona that allows her to stand up to Ashar. She has also learned how to protect herself with documentation, evidence that forces Ashar to accept the reality that Hareem, whom he did not know existed, is his daughter. He brings them back home during the medical procedures. Khirad is then forced to confront both Sara and Farida, but the strength, independence, and confidence born of her hardships prevent them from bullying her.

Sara confesses her love to Ashar again, but he informs her that he cannot love anyone and that she should stop pursuing him. Khizar returns from America and starts to blackmail Farida by threatening to reveal Khirad's innocence to Ashar if Sara does not marry him. Under pressure, Farida visits Sara and urges her to marry Khizar, but Sara and her mother refuse. Distraught, Sara attempts suicide again, and this time she succeeds.

After Hareem's successful operation, Khirad secretly returns to Hyderabad and leaves Hareem with Ashar, telling him through a letter that he has full custody because she is not financially capable of taking care of her. However, the period with Khirad rekindled Ashar's feelings for her. While looking through a box of albums, Ashar finds Khirad's letter from four years earlier and finally reads it for the first time. The truth of the letter overwhelms him as he realizes he committed a terrible mistake in believing the scene from four years before. He then overhears a phone call between Farida and Khizar, which confirms that what he saw was a fabrication and that Farida deliberately threw Khirad out in order to disavow the unborn child.

Horrified by the reality of his unintentional complicity with the conspiracy against Khirad, he flees to Hyderabad to beg her for forgiveness. He manages to convince Khirad to return home, where they face Farida. In his absence, Farida had found the letter, and thus upon seeing them both, begins to repeat her series of lies. However, Ashar stands up to her, perhaps for the first time. He rejects Farida's narrative, proclaims Khirad's innocence, and states that she belongs in this home with their daughter. Farida becomes so frightened by Ashar's decision to support Khirad that she has a nervous breakdown and loses all connection with reality. Ashar takes full responsibility for all the events and begs Khirad to stay with him. Khirad is hesitant, stating that she is a different person now and that she isn't certain she can love him as she used to. She also wonders how Ashar could have imagined she was capable of the narrative fabricated about her and how he could have abandoned her if he genuinely loved her. Deeply ashamed, Ashar agrees and states that it was entirely his fault and that he has no right to expect she can ever forgive him. However, he hopes she will stay so they can raise Hareem together.

Khirad reluctantly consents to the arrangement, and a few months later, the three are shown enjoying in the rain as a happy family.

Cast

Main

  • Fawad Khan as Ashar Hussain : Khirad's husband; Baseerat and Farida's son; Hareem's father
  • Mahira Khan as Khirad Ahsaan : Ashar's wife; Ahsaan and Maimoona's daughter; Hareem's mother
  • Naveen Waqar as Sara Ajmal : Zareena's daughter; Farida's niece; Ashar's cousin & bestfriend
  • Atiqa Odho as Farida Hussain : Baseerat's widow; Ashar's mother
  • Behroze Sabzwari as Baseerat Hussain : Maimoona's brother; Farida's husband; Ashar's father
  • Hina Khawaja Bayat as Zarina Ajmal : Farida's sister; Sara's mother
  • Noor Hassan Rizvi as Khizar Alam : Sara's cousin
  • Saba Faisal as Maimoona Ahsaan : Ahsaan's widow; Khirad's mother; Baseerat's sister
  • Salma Zafar as Sherish
  • Shahbaz Rajput as Ali
  • Qaiser Naqvi as Batool Bano : Maimoona's friend and neighbour
  • Sara Kashif as Hareem Hussain : Khirad and Ashar's daughter

Guest appearances

Deviations from the novel

Main article: Humsafar (novel)

Although author Farhat Ishtiaq adapted the screenplay from her novel, Humsafar, there are differences between the two. While the novel is narrated from Hareem's perspective, the serial focuses on Khirad and Asher.

In the novel, Ashar is the brother of two sisters, while in the serial he has no siblings. In the novel, Sara is a minor character who is never close to Asher, becomes mentally ill and is hospitalised. In the serial, Sara is the main character who loves Ashar, is the love interest of Khizar, and dies at the end. In the novel, Khizar loves a girl named Mehreen and never returns from United States.

Khirad and Maimoona reside in Nawabshah in the novel, while the serial's location is in Hyderabad.

While the drama ends with Farida's nervous breakdown and Ashar and Khirad's slow reconciliation, the novel ends with Asher begging Khirad to take him back and Khirad falling into his arms.

Soundtrack

| name = Woh Humsafar Tha | type = Soundtrack | artist = Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch | cover = | alt = | released = 2011 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Theme song | length = 3:45 | language = Urdu | label = Hum TV | producer = Momina Duraid | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year =

The show's theme song, Woh Humsafar Tha, was sung by Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch and composed by Waqar Ali. It serves both as the song for the title sequence and as background music during each episode.{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/humsafar-is-a-good-nasha-to-have-fawad-khan-mahira-khan/articleshow/44802218.cms? |title=Humsafar is a good nasha to have: Fawad Khan-Mahira Khan |access-date=2021-03-13 |last=Olivera |first=Roshni |date=2014-12-04 |publisher=Times of India

This song is inspired by a ghazal written by Naseer Turabi, which he composed to convey his sorrow following the Fall of Dhaka in 1971. It also incorporates verses from Khalid Ahmad's ghazal '''Tark-e-Talluqat'''.

Production

Development

*Humsafar’*s producer Momina Duraid, notes that its development was somewhat serendipitous. Duraid was working with author Farhat Ishtiaq on another of her works when she suggested Humsafar as a potential project (because Duraid had just read “and thoroughly enjoyed” the novel). Ishtiaq then told her that Humsafar “had already been declined by two production houses,” to which Duraid responded: “If I can feel it," then the "public can feel it as well".

Ishtiaq states that when she started working on the novel, she "wanted to understand if the idea of love is complete without trust." Although she wrote the screenplay for Humsafar, she states that the novel differs from the television series, as "the former is more about the child, while the show concentrates on the parents as lovers".

Reception

Release

Humsafar greatly impacted Pakistan's television industry (which had previously been dominated by Indian Television).{{cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/play/big-hit-2/ |title=In conversation with 'Humsafar' couple – Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan |access-date=2020-06-15 |last=Singh |first=Harneet |date=2014-10-10 |publisher=The Indian Express |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/344534/woh-humsafar-tha |title=Woh humsafar tha... |access-date=2020-09-26 |last=Zubair |first=Hamna |date=2012-03-02 |publisher=The Express Tribune |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1176410 |title=10 iconic Pakistani TV dramas you should binge-watch this weekend |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Haider |first=Sadaf |date=2017-07-09 |publisher=Dawn |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1164419 |title=Humsafar was rejected by two production houses: Momina Duraid |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Anwer |first=Zoya |date=2015-02-18 |publisher=Dawn |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/326968/10-things-i-hate-about-humsafar-fans/ |title=10 things I hate about Humsafar fans |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Ilyas |first=Ferya |date=2012-01-29 |publisher=The Express Tribune |url=https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/9343/humsafar-heres-what-the-noise-is-about/ |title=Humsafar: Here's what the noise is about |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Tejani |first=Quratulain |date=2011-12-14 |publisher=The Express Tribune |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/698347/double-click-the-drama-frenzy |title=Double click: The drama frenzy |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=InPaper Mag |date=2012-02-25 |publisher=Dawn

Critical reception

Many stated that the series led to a new phase in Urdu drama.{{cite web |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/341284/humsafar--mohabbaton-ka-safar/?cf_chl_jschl_tk=9a700961c0c09ec81e7753a467b34b5611aa5c04-1592150745-0-AZwp6h-DjnlrXaUrxogWtQhJDLMrIVKHIB2kMKZmXer7mUMefQ5D_Dco0y-jrylL5dm7924xBRtzE_pAZc9fuUaLx0o_8uD6h_scH9es7JdpH-Jr04YS0X-QT96FZPEgMbK7cS522EXZevr6I-4sIsKCocQg8uK3wmSH4h96xNoCkS78LGIxX_fgGoH-ofJxYXCEEDMQxv85iU6GBg5W4m48ziHk7Wx1N4rGJUIft7I_hX01K-I6FDUpX7tSJkbaMxGrQwvhY3KnOXSfd4lwatJVcQJfOQqCRSAmt7cz6SEUA1JNVJLPIy1mXf3ALESA-zKWNy91ATM9lF24r9qZdP4 |title=Humsafar — Mohabbaton ka safar |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Odho |first=Atiqa |date=2012-02-24 |publisher=The Express Tribune |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/699862/drama-serials-golden-age |title=Drama serials: Golden Age? |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Zakariya |first=Sabahat |date=2012-03-03 |publisher=Dawn |url=https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/10138/the-terrible-appeal-of-humsafar/ |title=The terrible appeal of Humsafar |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Ashfaq |first=Abira |date=2012-02-07 |publisher=The Express Tribune |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/humsafarnot-your-regular-romance/ |title=Humsafar/Not your regular romance |access-date=2020-06-14 |last=Rajani |first=Kanika |date=2014-10-31 |publisher=The Indian Express

Response to Khirad

Mahira Khan's portrayal of "Khirad" received positive feedback from critics and was popular with viewers when the serial debuted.{{cite web |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/336863/the-real-mahira |title=The real Mahira |access-date=2020-09-26 |date=2012-02-19 |publisher=The Express Tribune |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/582909-mahira-khan-on-humsafars-downtrodden-image-of-khirad-there-were-things-brought-in-to-show-she-had-a-spine |title=The real Mahira |access-date=2021-03-13 |date=2019-12-13 |publisher=The News International |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/mahira-khan-on-being-khirad-in-humsafar-working-with-fawad-and-gaping-at-madhuri/cid/1557027 |title=Mahira Khan on being Khirad in Humsafar, working with Fawad and gaping at Madhuri |access-date=2021-03-13 |date=2014-10-31 |publisher=The Telegraph (Kolkata) |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/719976-mahira-khan-on-why-humsafars-khirad-remains-the-closest-to-her-heart |title=Mahira Khan on why Humsafar's Khirad remains close to her heart |access-date=2020-09-26 |date=2020-09-25 |publisher=The News International |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265612/khirad-is-by-far-my-most-special-character-mahira-khan |title=Khirad is by far my most special character: Mahira Khan |access-date=2020-09-26 |date=2020-09-25 |publisher=The Express Tribune

Promotion

Hum TV gave the show its Hum Honorary Phenomenal Serial Award.

Broadcast

  • Pakistan originally Broadcast in 2011 on Hum TV.
  • Pakistan OTT Digital Broadcast in on Hum Tv Official Youtube Channel.
  • India broadcast in 2014 on Zee Zindagi.
  • India OTT Digital Broadcast in on Broadcast in on ZEE5.
  • International (Global) Broadcast in on Netflix

Stage Adaption

it adapted as Indian stage play will directed by Imran Zahid

Awards and nominations

::data[format=table]

Date of ceremonyAwardCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)ResultRef.Lux Style AwardsPakistan Media AwardsHum Awards
2012Best Original SoundtrackQurat-ul-Ain Balouch
Best Song Of The YearWoh Humsafar Tha - Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch
2013Best Television Serial - SatelliteMomina Duraid and Nina Kashif
Best Television DirectorSarmad Khoosat
Best Best Television Actor - SatelliteFawad Khan
Best Television Actress - SatelliteMahira Khan
2013Best Drama SerialHumsafar – Momina Duraid and Nina Kashif
Best Drama DirectorSarmad Khoosat
Best Drama ActorFawad Khan
Best Drama ActressMahira Khan
Best Drama Supporting ActorNoor Hassan
Best Drama Supporting ActressNaveen Waqar
Best Drama ProducerMomina Duraid
2013Hum TV Phenomenal Drama Serial AwardHumsafar
Best On-Screen CoupleMahira Khan and Fawad Khan
::

References

References

  1. Zakariya, Sbahat. (29 November 2015). "Drama Serials:Golden Age?". DAWN.COM.
  2. "Read full ghazal by Naseer Turabi".
  3. "Read full ghazal by Khalid Ahmad".
  4. (16 February 2012). "Popular Pakistani television drama Humsafar reaches Toronto fans via web". The Star.
  5. "10 things I hate about Humsafar Finale".
  6. (16 March 2013). "Hum Honorary TV Award". [[Dawn News]].
  7. (4 September 2024). "Indian stage adaptation of Humsafar underway to 'promote Indo-Pak peace'". Dawn.
  8. "Fawad Khan And Mahira Khan Starrer Pakistani Show Humsafar To Get A Stage Adaption In India". NEWS18.
  9. (2017-02-20). "The Winners of Lux Style Awards 2012 Are". fashioncentral.
  10. (29 July 2013). "Winners of the Lux Style Awards 2013". desiblitz.
  11. "1st HUM TV AWARDS WINNERS! RESULT OUT!". dikhawa.pk.

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