In the first episode of the recent Zindagi anthology series Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, directed by Meenu Gaur, Sarwat Gilani plays Mahek, a romantic woman stuck in a loveless marriage.
Also starring Samiya Mumtaz, Sanam Saeed, Meher Bano, Beo Rana Zafar, Osman Khalid Butt, Ahsan Khan and Saleem Mairaj, Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam is set in the mysterious Androon Sheher, where women attempt to turn the tables after enduring years of patriarchal tyranny.
Mahek, despite facing repeated abuse by her husband (Butt), stays married, indulging in poetry and alcohol.
“Mehak is an ordinary girl who falls in love with the wrong guy and is both the Romeo and the Juliet of her love story,” said the Pakistani actress, who is known for her performance in the Zindagi show Churails.
“In this story, there are two different Mehaks, the one that you see in the current times, who is sad and dealing with her issues, and the younger Mehak who was earlier a fun, college-going girl. The young Mehak’s look and hairstyle reminded me of the legendary Sharmila Tagoreji and Parveen Babiji. I spent a lot of time researching their looks to understand the 1970s fashion, hairstyles and body language," said Gilani.
Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam tells stories of love, lust, power and redemption woven in a web of betrayal, angst and revenge. Each story from the anthology depicts the fearlessness of the characters and their determination to avenge deceit.
Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, which has been written by Gaur and Farjad Nabi, is being streamed on Zee5.