Pakistani actress Nawal Saeed is receiving widespread praise after her powerful portrayal of Aeliya in Shaidai won the admiration of viewers and fellow artists alike.
As the hit drama came to an emotional conclusion, the actress shared BTS moments from her journey, giving fans a closer look at the preparation behind one of the serial's most memorable characters.
Taking to Instagram, Nawal shared a series of behind-the-scenes photos showing herself reading the script while getting ready on set. The actress also revealed how impressed she was by Aeliya's intense and unpredictable storyline.
Reflecting on her character's dramatic journey, she captioned the post, "How do you come up with all this, woman? Every single time I read Aeliya's scenes." Her caption reflected her admiration for the writer's creativity, suggesting that even she was surprised by the dramatic twists Aeliya experienced throughout the story.
From the very beginning, Aeliya emerged as one of the strongest driving forces behind Shaidai. Intelligent, determined, and emotionally complex, the character constantly challenged the relationship between Ali, played by Feroze Khan, and Miraal, portrayed by Sahar Hashmi.
Stepping away from her usual positive roles, Nawal embraced the demanding character with confidence, delivering a performance that kept viewers invested until the very last episode.
The drama's finale saw Aeliya's jealousy reach its peak after she failed to accept Ali and Miraal's marriage. Unable to let go, she kidnapped Miraal and held her at gunpoint, triggering an intense confrontation that turned into one of the drama's biggest action sequences.
The episode also featured the emotional sacrifice of Ali's loyal companion, making it one of the finale's most memorable moments. In the end, Ali chose forgiveness over revenge and walked away with Miraal, while Aeliya's tragic journey came to an emotional end after she was left to face the consequences of her actions.
Although Aeliya was one of the drama's most feared characters, viewers praised Nawal Saeed for bringing remarkable depth and emotion to the role.
Actor Haddy Firdousi, who portrayed Yaqoob in the drama, praised her performance by commenting, "The most hateable Aeliya, u carried it so well."
Producer Shahvir Kadwani also appreciated her work, writing, "The nicest person playing the most hateable character." Their comments reflected the admiration many in the industry had for Nawal's convincing portrayal of the complex antagonist.