Haute List: Promising debuts who made a mark on television in 2021

Despite being a year which was devoid of any Pakistani movies, at least till November, great acting and good performances were in abundance in 2021 on television. We saw the usual assortment of impeccable performances by household names; but those who stood out the most and will be strong contenders during the award season next year, will be new faces. It won’t be wrong to say 2021 is the year of debutants in Pakistani television. Why? Because some of the finest performances and note-worthy roles were played by first-time performers who left quite an impression and we are eagerly waiting for the next roles that they are going to choose. Here is a carefully-organized list of names who are definitely rising stars and we can’t wait to see them more often on television, perhaps with bigger and better roles. In no particular order, except Hadiqa Kiani and HSY, who take the cake, read on to find out about the new talent that emerged out of the year’s best work.  

Hadiqa Kiani

Who can dispute that Hadiqa didn’t choose a very tough role for her debut i.e. Sakina in Raqeeb Se in which she had to act opposite TV veterans like Naumaan Ijaz and Sania Saeed. The rest of the cast also included ace performers like Iqra Aziz and Faryal Mehmood. And it is suffice to say that she knocked it out of the park with her first entry in the drama. Then, she has now chosen to play Mehru in Dobara for her second project, cementing that her roles are going to be memorable.    

HSY

The couture king forayed television and won us over in his debut as Akram in Pehli Si Muhabbat. Much has been written and spoken about how much effort he had put in acing the role as well as his command over Urdu, and it is quite commendable. However, the biggest winner is the range that he displayed as Akram which is a polar opposite to HSY’s real personality. Soon, he will make his big screen debut as well in Ishrat Made in China.  

Talha Chahour

A student of GCU, Lahore and a theater actor, Talha Chahour comes with experience but his debut performance in period drama Jo Bichar Gaye has left everyone in surprised. The newcomer’s command over the character of Captain Z. I. Farrukh as well as his screen presence is admirable. His performance not just as an army officer but also as a hero is commendable as his first scene with Maya instantly established beautiful chemistry with the female lead.    

Arslan Naseer

Arslan Naseer’s debut was one that everyone was looking forward to as he has a huge following as a YouTuber. And the lad impressed everyone as Hadi in Chupke Chupke. Now, we are looking forward to see his range as an actor.    

Aymen Saleem

Talking about Chupke Chupke, it is important to mention another big debut by Aymen Saleem who played Mishi, the other half of hashtag Hashi, which ruled Twitter and our feeds during Ramazan this year. Aymen is now all geared up for her next project with Hira Mani and Shahzad Sheikh.    

Khushhal Khan

A model by profession, Khushhal Khan was seen in Qissa Meharbano Ka as Ayaz. Then, his role as Shahid in Aik Hai Nigar cemented his position in the industry as he made quite an impression with the emotional arc that the role demanded. He is also playing a pivotal role in Bebasi opposite Alizeh Shah.    

Momin Saqib

Momin Saqib was known for his fun banter post a Pakistan’s cricket match and it was hard to imagine playing a serious role like Essa in Raqs e Bismil. The content creator’s debut was back to back in two dramas; first he appeared in Be Adab and then he played Essa in Raqs e Bismil in which he nailed his role and held his own in front of Imran Ashraf, Anoushay Abbasi and Mehmood Aslam, which is a feat in itself.    

Saadoon Ali and Bonita Ali

    Saadoon and Bonita, who are real-life siblings, were the stars of Dil Na Umeed Tou Nahi (DNUTN) . Saadoon played Jamshed (Jimmy’s childhood) – and there is no denying the fact that he showed immense promise as an actor. So is the case with his sister, Bonita Malik, who played young Allah Rakhi in the drama. Both of them are very talented and gifted; they can have a promising career in the industry.    

Fajjer Khan and Hamna Amir

Fajjer played Naseem Zehra in DNUTN and she got a chance to perform opposite powerhouses like Noor ul Hassan, Samiya Mumtaz and Kashif Mehmood; it is undeniable that her performance left us in tears and joy at the same time. Credit goes to Fajjer who may not have been a debutant in DNUTN, but her work registered on a massive scale. Same is the case with Hamna Amir who played young Naseem Zehra. Way to go!      

Tehreem Ali

As a child artist Tehreem who played Minal, a mute girl in Neeli Zinda Hai, has done a remarkable job. Her next appearance was as young Mehreen in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. Back to back, she has chosen roles that were difficult to portray and required a certain finesse.    

Zaviyar Naumaan Ijaz

Zaviyar first appeared in Qissa Meharbano Ka as Mehran opposite Mawra Hocane.  As a debutant, his performance is impressive but it is not something to eagerly wait and look forward to. However, he will soon be seen in Sang e Mah in where it seems he has a meatier role.    

Adeel Afzal

Adeel has been a part of Sarmad Khoosat’s projects like Aakhri Station and the unreleased film Zindagi Tamasha but his big break which made him shine would undoubtedly be Ahmed Nasaaz in Parizaad.    

Asad Mumtaz Malik

Asad is a name who has been long associated to TV through his role behind the camera. But he made his debut in Parizaad as Guru and proved his talent in front of the camera as well. He has signed his second project as well.    

Dananeer Mobeen

Dananeer is not just the Pawri girl anymore as the young talent has now moved to acting with a debut in mega project Sinf-e-Aahan. She is seen in the role of Syeda Sidra Batool, who is a quirky character, and Dananeer has proved all the naysayers wrong with just her first appearance.    

Merub Ali

It is tough to establish yourself when you are acting opposite Yumna Zaidi in your first project, however, model turned actor Merub Ali made her presence felt with a small yet important role in Sinf-e-Aahan.    

Azaan Sami Khan

Azaan Sami Khan debuted with a big project like Ishq e Laa and this opportunity might have proved to be a double-edged sword for him. Though he got a big break but he had to perform with acting powerhouses like Sajal Aly and Yumna Zaidi which is not mean task. Hence, there are a lot of shortcomings and room for improvement. He is sincere in his performance as Azlan, but it lacks depth many a time. Azaan is all set to star in a film with Hania Aamir titled Patakh De. Let’s hope we see an upgrade in his acting chops on big screen.    

Raza Abid

Parizaad is a drama that has introduced some new faces or established others who may not have been registered so far. One such actor is Raza Abid, who played Shoki, Pari’s best friend from home who loves him to bits. While he played an idler, there were shades to his character that Raza was able to showcase in limited screen time.    

Danyal  Zafar

Danyal Zafar also falls into the category of actors whose range of acting cannot be judged by their first project as the role didn’t have much to offer. Danyal played Zain in Taana Baana who was just a boy next door. However, he will be seen in web series Baarwan Khiladi in 2022 and it seems that he had a margin to perform there.    

Honourable Mentions

Honourable mentions who should not be skipped include Maheen Siddiqui (Minal) from Dobara, Nabeel Bin Shahid who played Bissam in Akhir Kab Tak, Zoha Rahman who is playing Annie in Dil e Momin, Junaid Jamshaid Niazi (Kamil) from Sinf-e-Aahan, Saqib Sumeer and Hamza Sohail who were a part of Raqeeb Se, and Areesha Sultan who played Mirchi in Chupke Chupke.