Pakistani critically acclaim director Saifee Hassan has revealed that the iconic drama Humsafar almost had a different director before production began.
Speaking during an interview, Saifee Hassan shared that director Abid Raza was originally set to helm the blockbuster series.
However, Abid Raza was unable to complete another project on time, while the dates of lead stars Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan had already been finalised.
According to Saifee Hassan, producer Momina Duraid made a last minute decision to bring in Sarmad Khoosat just one week before filming began.
"Sarmad quickly read the script and went on to shoot, and it became such a cult,"
Saifee recalled, while the interviewer described Humsafar as an "evergreen" drama that continues to be loved by audiences.
Originally aired in 2011, Humsafar starred Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Atiqa Odho, Naveen Waqar, Noor Hassan Rizvi and Behroz Sabzwari.
Based on the novel by Farhat Ishtiaq, the drama became one of Pakistan's biggest television successes and turned Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan into household names.
Apart from its record breaking popularity, Humsafar is widely credited with transforming Pakistan's television landscape.
Its success revived mainstream interest in locally produced dramas, attracted millions of viewers at home and abroad, and helped usher in a new era in which Pakistani serials gained widespread recognition across South Asia and among international audiences.