Atiqa Odho questions casting choice in Dar Ke Nijat

Veteran Pakistani actress Atiqa Odho has shared her thoughts on what she believes was a casting mismatch in the drama serial Dar Ke Nijat, saying one particular casting decision made it difficult for her to fully connect with the story.

During a recent episode of the television review show Kya Drama Hai, Odho discussed different aspects of the drama and praised most of its casting. However, she admitted that she struggled to accept actress Saba Hameed in the role of Faran Tahir’s mother, explaining that the casting felt unconvincing to her.

According to Odho, the overall cast of Dar Ke Nijat has been carefully selected, but she felt that Saba Hameed portraying the mother of Faran Tahir did not appear believable on screen. She noted that while actors are capable of playing a wide variety of characters regardless of their real-life age or appearance, audiences also need to feel that the relationships presented in a drama are convincing.

The actress explained that her reservations were influenced by another television drama currently airing at the same time. In Bus Tera Saath Ho, Saba Hameed and Faran Tahir are seen portraying husband and wife, making it difficult for viewers to immediately accept them as mother and son in Dar Ke Nijat.

Odho pointed out that watching the same pair in two entirely different family dynamics simultaneously affected the realism of the characters for her. She said that although actors often take on diverse roles, parallel broadcasts can sometimes create confusion and reduce the emotional impact of a performance.

She also commented on Saba Hameed’s appearance, describing her as an elegant, stylish and youthful actress whose screen presence does not naturally align with traditional grandmotherly roles. Odho said that despite efforts to transform her look for the character, she still found it difficult to view her as an elderly matriarch.

In her opinion, the makeover appeared forced rather than natural, preventing her from becoming fully immersed in the story. She stressed that this was her personal perspective and acknowledged that other viewers may have different opinions about the casting.

Odho further remarked that she understands actors frequently portray characters outside their real-life age brackets and appreciates the creative freedom that comes with acting. Nevertheless, she believes that casting decisions should also consider audience perception, particularly when the same performers are appearing in multiple dramas at the same time in dramatically different relationships.

The veteran actress emphasized that this single issue stood out to her while watching Dar Ke Nijat, even though she otherwise admired the production and its performances. Her comments have since sparked discussion among drama fans, with many debating whether simultaneous casting in contrasting family roles can affect a viewer’s ability to suspend disbelief.

The conversation has also reignited broader discussions about casting choices in television dramas, particularly when popular actors appear in multiple projects airing concurrently. While some viewers agree that repeated pairings can be distracting, others argue that talented performers should be judged solely on how convincingly they portray their characters, regardless of their roles in other productions.