AntoniaWhetsel0 at 18:56, 8 January 2026

2026-01-08T18:56:19Z

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{{Short description|Pakistani drama serial}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=November 2022}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Pardes (tv serial).jpg
| genre = {{plainlist|
*Social
*[[Tragedy]]
*[[Family drama]]}}
| writer = [[Sarwat Nazir]]
| director = [[Marina Khan]]
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Sarmad Khoosat]]
*[[Shaista Lodhi]]
*[[Bushra Ansari]]
*[[Affan Waheed]]
*[[Dur-e-Fishan Saleem]]}}
| theme_music_composer = Naveed Nashad
| opentheme = {{plainlist|
*[[Amanat Ali (singer)|Amanat Ali]]
*Sithi Shah
}}
| country = Pakistan
| language = Urdu
| num_episodes = 35
| producer = {{plainlist|
*[[Humayun Saeed]]
*Shehzad Naseeb}}
| cinematography =
| animator =
| editor = {{plainlist|
*Akhter Zia
*Aslam Channa
*Abdul Wahab}}
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 35-40 minutes per episode
| company = [[Six Sigma Plus]]
| network = [[ARY Digital]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2021|05|17|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2021|09|13|df=y}}
}}
'''Pardes''' ({{translation|Foreign Land}}) is a Pakistani television series directed by [[Marina Khan]] and written by [[Sarwat Nazir]].<ref name="comeback">{{cite web |url=https://jang.com.pk/en/news/1400-marina-khan-to-make-directorial-comeback-with-tv-serial |title=Marina Khan to make directorial comeback with TV serial |work=[[Daily Jang]] |access-date=31 December 2024 |date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214091820/https://jang.com.pk/en/1400-marina-khan-to-make-directorial-comeback-with-tv-serial-news |archive-date=14 December 2024}}</ref> It stars [[Bushra Ansari]], [[Sarmad Khoosat]], [[Shaista Lodhi]], [[Affan Waheed]] and [[Dur-e-Fishan Saleem]] in prominent roles. Produced by [[Humayun Saeed]] and Shehzad Naseeb under [[Six Sigma Plus]], the series aired double episodes weekly on [[ARY Digital]]. The series explores how a man's working abroad affects his relationships and his children's lives.

== Plot ==

Ahsan, the sole breadwinner of his family, works tirelessly to provide for his loved ones. His younger brother, Asim, is unemployed and lazy, but has a soft spot for their cousin, Nausheen. Despite his lack of employment, Asim's desire to marry Nausheen seems impossible. However, fate intervenes when Nausheen's father catches them together, leading to an impromptu marriage. As the family grows, Ahsan's mother, Mumtaz, pressures him to seek better opportunities abroad. Reluctantly, Ahsan leaves behind his wife, Zubeida, and daughter, Aimen, to work overseas in Muscat, toiling endlessly to provide for them while Zubeida works hard to keep the family afloat.

As time passes, Ahsan's children, Aimen and Zaid, enter adulthood. Aimen shoulders the responsibilities that Zaid neglects. Aimen's classmate, Ibad, harbors unrequited feelings for her. After years of living abroad, Ahsan returns home, his health significantly deteriorated. On his deathbed, he attempts to arrange Aimen's marriage to their cousin, Salman, but she refuses, fearing a life similar to her mother's because Salman has a future plan to go abroad for his career. Instead, she proposes Ibad as an alternative, and they get married.

After Ahsan's passing, Aimen begins her new life with Ibad. However, she faces challenges in her marital home, particularly from Ibad's stepsisters and brother-in-law. When Ibad embarks on a business trip to England, Aimen's past traumas resurface, and their marital life is put to the test.

== Cast ==
===Main cast===
* [[Dur-e-Fishan Saleem]] as Aimen, Zubeida and Ahsan's daughter
** Emaan Nayyab<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/845153-young-stars-of-today|title=Young 'stars' of today|work=The News International|location=Pakistan|author=Afreen Seher|date=6 June 2021|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> as Aimen (young)
* [[Affan Waheed]] as Ibad, Aimen's class fellow
* [[Shaista Lodhi]] as Zubeida "Zubi", Ahsan's wife and Aimen's mother<ref name="mag">{{cite web|url=http://magtheweekly.com/detail/12202-shaista-lodhi-to-pair-up-with-ace-actor-sarmad-khoosat-for-pardes |title=Shaista Lodhi to pair up with ace actor Sarmad Khoosat for 'Pardes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808002502/https://magtheweekly.com/detail/12202-shaista-lodhi-to-pair-up-with-ace-actor-sarmad-khoosat-for-pardes |work=Mag The Weekly |archive-date=8 August 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Sarmad Khoosat]] as Ahsan, Zubeida's husband and Aimen's father<ref name="mag"/>

===Supporting cast===
* [[Bushra Ansari]] as Mumtaz, Ahsan and Asim's mother
* [[Gohar Rasheed]] as Asim, Ahsan's younger brother
* [[Shermeen Ali]]<ref name="comeback"/> as Nausheen "Noshi", Asim's wife
* [[Atiqa Odho]] as Raheela, Ibad's mother
* [[Faiza Gillani]] as Nabeela, Ahsan's sister
* [[Hammad Shoaib]] as Salman, Nabeela's son
* [[Atabik Mohsin]] as Zaid, Aimen's brother
* Aliha Chaudry as Aliya, Ahsan's sister
* [[Jinaan Hussain]] as Sheema, Ibad's step-sister
* Yasir Ali Khan as Rohail, Ibad's step-brother
* [[Hina Javed]] as Rija, Rohail's wife
* Usman Mazhar as Manzoor, Nabeela's husband

===Recurring cast===
* [[Syed Mohammad Ahmed]] as Sadeeq, Nausheen's father
* Shazia Qaiser as Nausheen's mother and Mumtaz's sister

== Production ==
In March 2021, Shaista Lodhi revealed that she would return to acting after a three-year break with Marina Khan's directed ''Pardes'', playing Zubaida, a strong and sacrificing woman coping with her husband's absence who works abroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1186878|title=Shaista Lodhi's upcoming series Pardes is about a husband and wife separated by distance|date=30 March 2021|work=Dawn Images|author=Irfan Ul Haq}}</ref> Lodhi was approached by [[Humayun Saeed]] and agreed to join the cast because Marina Khan was the director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/30-Mar-2021/shaista-lodhi-returns-to-acting-with-marina-khan-s-upcoming-serial?version=|title=Shaista Lodhi returns to acting with Marina Khan's upcoming serial|work=[[Daily Pakistan]]|date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201002213/https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/30-Mar-2021/shaista-lodhi-returns-to-acting-with-marina-khan-s-upcoming-serial?version=|archive-date=1 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Sarmad Khoosat was cast to portray Ahsan, the eldest sibling and sole breadwinner of the family.<ref name="mag"/>

==Reception==
=== Critical reception ===
Gaitee Ara Siddiqi of ''[[The News International]]'' praised the series for its realistic portrayal, well-developed characters, and engaging storyline, with standout performances of Lodhi, Khoosat and Ansari.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/845144-pardes-the-untold-story |title=Pardes – The untold story |date=6 June 2021 |work=www.thenews.com.pk |author=Gaitee Ara Siddiqi |access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref>

=== Television rating points (TRPs) ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Ep# !! TRPs !! {{Tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
|-
| 14 June 2021 || 9 & 10 || 6.6 || rowspan="5"|<ref name="ratings"/>
|-
| 21 June 2021 || 11 & 12 || 7.4
|-
| 28 June 2021 || 13 & 14 || 6.3
|-
| 26 July 2021 || 21 & 22 || 7.1
|-
| 2 August 2021 || 23 & 24 || 7.0
|-
|}

==Accolades==
{|class="wikitable style
!Ceremony
!Categories
!Recipients
!Result
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[21st Lux Style Awards]]
|Best TV Actor-Critics' Choice
|''[[Sarmad Khoosat]]''
|rowspan="3" {{nom}}
|rowspan="3" | <ref>{{cite web | url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2387740/lsa-2022-and-the-nominees-are | title=LSA 2022: And the nominees are | date=23 November 2022 |work=The Express Tribune}}</ref>
|-
|Best TV Actress-Viewers' Choice
|''[[Dur-e-Fishan Saleem]]''
|-
|Best TV Writer
|''[[Sarwat Nazir]]''
|}

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="ratings">
* For episodes 10 and 11 see, {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQLxYiTA2Lw/|title=Impactful Drama|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/arydigital.tv/2597386800481919728|work=Instagram|date=16 June 2021|archive-date=10 January 2023|access-date=10 January 2023|url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}}

----
* For episode 11 and 12 see, {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQbSAjRggIQ/|title=Excellent Performance|date=22 June 2021|archive-date=10 January 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/arydigital.tv/2601752412448490000|url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}}

----
* For episode 13 and 14 see, {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQvv9fSAbsI/|title=Impactful Story|archive-date=10 January 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/arydigital.tv/2607513642933009160|url-access=limited}}

----
* For episode 21 and 22 see, {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CR3TqBfF2Vo/|title=Strong Story!|date=26 July 2021|archive-date=10 January 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/arydigital.tv/2627655358291076456|url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}}

----
* For episode 23 and 25 see, {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJPlB8nNR3/|title=Depicting True Emotions|archive-date=10 January 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/arydigital.tv/2632703972583724151|date=4 August 2021|url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
</references>

==External links==
* [https://www.arydigital.tv/videos/category/pardes/ Official website]
* {{IMDb title}}

{{ARY Digital Programs}}
[[Category:ARY Digital original programming]]
[[Category:2021 Pakistani television series debuts]]
[[Category:2021 Pakistani television series endings]]
[[Category:Pakistani drama television series]]
[[Category:Urdu-language television]]

Pardes (2021 TV series) - Revision history

AntoniaWhetsel0 at 18:56, 8 January 2026