Dramas

‘The Glassworker’ Makes History As Pakistan’s First Animated Submission To Oscars

Pakistan’s first-ever hand-drawn animated feature film, ‘The Glassworker’ written by Usman Riaz, has been selected for the animated films category among other eligible flicks for the 97th Academy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday that 31 animated features, 169 documentaries, and 85 international films stand eligible for Oscar nominations this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A production of Geo Films in collaboration with Mano Animation Studios, The Glassworker’s inclusion as the first animated submission to the Oscars from Pakistan marks a historic moment for the country.

In the animated feature category, the film finds itself competing with industry giants such as Pixar’s Inside Out 2, already celebrated as the highest-grossing animated film of all time, and DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot.

Other significant contenders include Kung Fu Panda 4, Despicable Me 4, and the Japanese entry Kensuke’s Kingdom.

‘The Glassworker’ took 10 years in the making and was critically acclaimed by enthralled viewers for every filmmaking aspect — from storytelling and cinematography to music, composing, art, animation, and voice-over performances.

It takes the viewers through the story of a young boy named “Vincent” and his father “Tomas”, running a fine glass workshop in the country. That is when they find their lives uprooted by an impending war in which they do not want to participate.

Earlier, the film was officially selected for the 2025 Oscars in the International Feature Film category, alongside entries from 84 nations, including India’s Laapata Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao.

Palestine’s submission, From Ground Zero, has also secured a place on the list.

This year’s competition features several critically acclaimed works, such as France’s Emilia Pérez, Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and Brazil’s I’m Still Here.

The shortlists for these categories are set to be revealed on 17 December, narrowing the field before the final nominations, which will be announced on 23 January 2025.

Dramas

Top 10 Most Viewed Pakistani Dramas

Pakistani dramas have gained widespread international popularity, with a majority of viewership coming from across the world. The success of Pakistani dramas is often measured by TRPs and YouTube views. TRPs show how well a drama performs in Pakistan, while YouTube views highlight its global reach. This year, several Pakistani dramas have gained millions of views on YouTube, making them popular worldwide. In 2026, many dramas continue to keep audiences hooked. Dramas like Ghulam Basha Sundari and Humrahi are taking the lead, while many others are also performing well. Here we have ranked them based on YouTube views

Ghulam Basha Sundari (Green ) – 10 million, Humrahi (Geo TV) – 9 million, Kafeel (ARY Digital) – 5 million per episode, Muamma (Hum TV) – 4.5 million, Dr Bahu (ARY Digital) – 3.5 million, Sara Aapi – 2.9 million, Leader (ARY Digital) – 2.6 million, Faasle – (Green) 2 million, Mirza ki Heer (ARY Digital) – 2 million, Sirf Shabana (Hum TV)– 1 million.

Green Entertainment & Geo TV’s dramas are leading with a big margin and both their dramas are by Babar Javed productions. Winter Love and Jahannum Barsata Jannat are the two dramas that couldn’t leave an impact on viewers.

Dramas

Yumna Zaidi, Ahmed Ali Akbar in talks to reunite for Parizaad 2

Yumna Zaidi remains widely popular not only across Pakistan but also in India, particularly following the international acclaim of her drama Tere Bin.

Her role as Meerub, played opposite Wahaj Ali, deeply resonated with audiences and has left fans highly anticipating her next work.

Now, there seems to be a major update and it’s one that has thrilled fans. Yumna Zaidi’s ‘Parizaad’ season 2 on the cards?

According to the latest reports from entertainment circles, a sequel to the critically acclaimed drama Parizaad is confirmed and currently in early stages of development.

The much-loved on-screen pair of Yumna Zaidi and Ahmed Ali Akbar, who played Quratulain and Parizaad respectively, are reportedly in talks to return.

If everything falls into place, the sequel is expected to reunite the original creative team, with Hashim Nadeem Khan as the writer and Shahzad Kashmiri as the director.

The first season of Parizaad, which aired between 2021 and 2022, was widely praised and became one of the most celebrated Pakistani dramas in recent times.

Known for its unique storytelling and powerful performances, the show struck a chord with audiences across borders.

Ahmed Ali Akbar’s portrayal of a soft-spoken, sensitive man navigating societal biases earned him widespread acclaim and multiple awards.

The drama also enjoyed massive viewership on digital platforms and consistently trended on social media.

In fact, such was its popularity that the final episode was screened in cinemas, an achievement rarely seen for television dramas.

While an official confirmation on season 2 is still awaited, the buzz alone has already created a wave of excitement among fans, who are eager to see Yumna Zaidi return to yet another powerful role

Dramas

Feroze Khan & Sahar Hashmi Upcoming Drama Teaser

Feroze Khan and Sahar Hashmi are two renowned Pakistani stars who have established themselves as excellent actors. Feroze has delivered numerous hit dramas like Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3, Ishqiya, Habs, Gul-e-Rana, and the blockbuster Khaani. Sahar Hashmi, on the other hand, has quickly risen to fame with her impressive performances in Zulm and Mann Mast Malang. Her drama Mann Mast Malang, opposite Danish Taimoor, became a massive hit which collected more than 2 billion views across all platforms. Both have a strong fan base and they will soon be seen in an upcoming drama serial.

Feroze Khan and Sehar Hashmi will be seen in Geo TV’s upcoming drama Shaidai, presented by 7th Sky Entertainment. The drama also features actors like Bushra Ansari, Nawal Saeed, Mahmood Aslam, Tauseeq Haider, and Zainab Qayoom. The drama is written by Saqlain Abbas, directed by Ali Faizan, and produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi. The story follows the journey of a young man who has never been shaken by anything or anyone, but his life takes a transformative turn when love quietly finds its way into his life through a woman who becomes the reason for his change.

Feroze Khan’s fans are praising his appearance after a long time. One fan wrote, “This is the Feroze Khan we needed back, and he is here!” Another wrote, “This is giving Mir Hadi vibes” Another expressed, “I Can’t wait to see the chemistry between Sehar Hashmi and Feroze Khan”.