'Humsafar' Episode 1 review: Less of Fawad Khan on screen but a gripping story makes up for his absence

At a time when Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has become a national heartthrob in India, Zee Network's Zindagi channel has decided to air popular Pakistani show 'Humsafar' for the Indian audience.

The show opened to mixed response in Pakistan back in 2011 and soon became a national sensation getting almost the entire country hooked to the show. It also gave birth to superstar Fawad Khan who till then was a lesser known actor and singer of a moderately popular band.

The first episode was aired on Tuesday in India. And even though the show has Fawad as the lead protagonist, he had very less screen time in the first episode.

Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, 'Humsafar' is based on a novel written by Farhat Ishtiaq by the same name. Khirad-played by popular Pak actress Mahira Khan-lives with her mother in Hyderabad. Theirs is a modest household while Khirad's maternal uncle is a rich businessman in Karachi. The mother-daughter duo shift to Karachi after Khirad's mother Maimona is diagnosed with cancer.

The first episode ends with Maimona, on her death bed, asking her brother Baseerat to find a good match for her daughter. Guilty of not taking care of his sister all this while, Baseerat hastily promises to get Khirad married to his son, Asher (Fawad Khan).

What is most appealing about the show- or for that matter any Pakistani TV show is the realistic approach the narrative has. Unlike Indian shows, the characters are less melodramatic, they dress up like us, there is no unnecessary drama.

While it is too early to judge how the show is and why entire Pakistan got glued to their TV set- one can safely say that the story progresses in the first episode itself and keeps the viewer intrigued for an hour.

It will be interesting to see whether the drama can keep the audience hooked in the coming weeks. Having seen Fawad Khan before in 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai' and 'Khoobsurat' before, have to admit he does seem a bit raw in the few scenes of 'Humsafar' he appears. Of course, one must remember that this show in reality preceded the other two projects that Fawad acted in.

On the other hand, Mahira Khan as the proud, self reliant Khirad is quite captivating on screen. She emotes the right amount as the girl who is torn between her pride and her desperation to save her ailing mother by seeking help from an ignorant uncle.

The story progresses well and I am eager to know what happens next. Let's hope Fawad charm works in India third time as well.