Ayesha Omar unveils Bulbulay’s untold story

Pakistani actor Ayesha Omar has revealed that the popular sitcom Bulbulay was initially designed as a short 26-episode project.

Speaking during a television interview, Omar recalled that she joined the sitcom without expecting it to become a long-running hit. She said the original plan was to complete the show after 26 episodes.

Omar explained that the initial storyline centred on three characters played by Mehmood Aslam, Nabeel Zafar and herself. Their characters were supposed to share an apartment despite having no marital relationship.

The sitcom took a different direction after actor Hina Dilpazeer appeared as a guest as Nabeel’s mother. Omar said the audience response to Dilpazeer’s character was so strong that the makers decided to retain her as a permanent cast member.

Dilpazeer’s character Momo eventually became one of the defining elements of the sitcom. Omar said her introduction also changed the relationships between the main characters and helped establish the format audiences came to associate with Bulbulay.

The show went on to run for many years, despite Omar admitting that she frequently considered leaving during its early period. She said she often told the show’s team that she wanted to move on because she did not initially enjoy the experience.

Looking back, however, Omar acknowledged that the sitcom became a significant part of her career. Her portrayal of Khoobsurat remains among her most recognised television roles.

Omar also reflected on her roughly two decades in the entertainment industry. She said her first professional project was connected to music rather than acting, when she appeared in a song for a television soap.

The actor discussed how her personal style and appearance changed over the years. She said her role as Khoobsurat also influenced her approach to dressing and presentation.

Omar further spoke about independence and relationships. She described herself as highly independent and said she had found it difficult to accept help from others. She also acknowledged that past experiences had affected her ability to trust people.

The actor said she sometimes struggled with overthinking and stress but had become more aware of these patterns. She said recognising such habits helped her manage them and encouraged her to focus more on positive possibilities rather than constantly anticipating negative outcomes.

Away from acting, Omar said painting remained an important part of her life. She revealed that she had studied the subject and hoped to complete a degree she had previously left unfinished.

She recalled receiving distinction-level results during her studies and said painting had been an important part of her life before she entered showbiz.

Discussing relationships, Omar said kindness was one of the most important qualities she would seek in a life partner. She also identified emotional and physical abuse as unacceptable, drawing on difficult experiences from a previous relationship.

Omar has since expanded her career beyond acting into producing and television hosting. Her recent projects have included the film Taxali Gate, the drama Mera Lyari, in which she also served as executive producer, and the YouTube dating show Lazawaal Ishq.