Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed Starrer Barzakh Bags Nomination At Asian Academy Creative Awards 2024

Fawad Khan-Sanam Saeed starrer Barzakh made against the breathtaking backdrop of the Hunza Valley, is all set to receive a huge milestone. Directed by Asim Abbasi, the Pakistani drama is based on the liminal space between life and death in Islamic tradition. It is a Pakistani-Indian co-produced drama which got its worldwide premiere on Zee Zindagi’s YouTube and ZEE5 on July 19. The storyline revolves around a 76-year-old man who shocks his family members by announcing his engagement to the ‘churail’ (female spirit) of his first love, leading to a whirlwind of emotional confrontations among the bittersweet relations of his family.

Waqas Hassan and Shailja Kejriwal co-produced the drama for Zee Zindagi, a programming block on ZEE5 Global that focuses on the Indian subcontinent. Now, Barzakh has been nominated for the Best Drama Series category at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2024. The awards show will be held in December in Singapore, and the series will compete against entries from 13 other countries in the same category.

Elated with the latest recognition, Asim Abbasi in a statement, mentioned how the nomination is an appreciation for the immense hard work of the entire Barzakh team. “Writing & directing this show was one of the most surreal experiences. I am truly grateful for the dedication of the exceptional cast and crew, whose unwavering commitment brought this story to life. This recognition not only highlights their excellent performances but also the creative collaboration that made ‘Barzakh’ possible. I would like to take this moment as an opportunity to thank everyone who believed in this vision and helped us create this show,” he said.

Indian acclaimed producer Shailja Kejriwal also expressed gratitude to the Barzakh team after it was nominated at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. She said, “Being nominated for Best Series at the Asian Academy Creative Awards is a deeply meaningful milestone for our entire team. We’re incredibly thankful to everyone who has supported us, especially the global audience that has embraced ‘Barzakh’. This story explores universal themes of family, loss, and the emotional bonds that connect us all, regardless of culture or geography.”

Although the series received much recognition worldwide, it drew criticism from Pakistani audiences. Barzakh was taken down from YouTube in Pakistan on August 9, three days after the finale aired online. It landed in trouble in the country after showing a gay romantic track featuring Fawad Khan, portraying Saifullah with an Italian character named Lorenzo, played by Franco Giusti. The queer angle in the series ignited much debate as a section of Pakistanis believed it was a clash with the Islamic values. Soon, the show makers confirmed that the six-episode series will be pulled down in an Instagram post by Zee Zindagi.

“We at Zindagi and Team Barzakh extend our heartfelt gratitude to our global audience for their unwavering support for Barzakh – a show that was created to bring people together everywhere. But in light of the current public sentiment in Pakistan, we have made the decision to voluntarily withdraw Barzakh from YouTube Pakistan, effective August 9, 2024. This decision underscores our dedication to honouring our audiences without causing alienation,” read the statement on behalf of the entire team.

While Fawad Khan played the role of Shehryar, Sanam Saeed was seen as Scheherezade in the series.