• “Barzakh,” directed by Asim Abbasi and featuring stars like Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, has received significant criticism from Pakistani audiences for its themes, which many believe conflict with Islamic values.
• The series saw a sharp decline in viewership after the release of the first three episodes on YouTube, with viewers citing concerns over its bold narrative and perceived promotion of the LGBTQ agenda.
• Criticism has also been directed towards the involvement of Indian creators and Pakistani actors in the series, with fans expressing disappointment and concern over the potential negative impact on the quality of Pakistani dramas.

“Barzakh,” a series helmed by Asim Abbasi, who is renowned for his work on the film “Cake” and the web series “Churails,” boasts a cast featuring Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, Muhammad Fawad Khan, Khushhal Khan, Uzma Beg, and Salman Shahid. The series, filmed in Pakistan’s picturesque northern regions, has been criticized considerably by Pakistani audiences.

To date, three episodes of “Barzakh” have been available on YouTube. The first episode attracted 2.2 million views, while the second and third episodes received 776,000 and 288,000 views, respectively.

The series witnessed a steep drop in viewership following the release of its subsequent episodes, as numerous Pakistanis have stated that the series failed to connect with them due to its themes, which they perceive as conflicting with Islamic values.

“Barzakh” has drawn heavy criticism for its daring storyline and what some viewers perceive as the promotion of LGBTQ themes, which they argue contradict Islamic teachings. Additionally, the series has been criticized for involving Indian creators, with some fans expressing concerns that such collaborations could lead to a decline in the quality of Pakistani dramas, similar to what they believe has happened with Indian dramas.

The backlash has also targeted the Pakistani actors featured in the series, with viewers expressing their disappointment and anger over their involvement. A fan commented, “Fawad Khan chooses these roles to please his Indian fans.”

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The fantasy drama premiered on the OTT platform ZEE5 and the official YouTube channel of Zindagi on July 19. ‘Barzakh’ marks the second collaboration of hit pair Fawad and Sanam after their popular drama ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai.’ The show also stars Salman Shahid, Syed Arham, Khushhal Khan, Anika Zulfikar, and others. A new episode is released on the OTT platform every Friday.

Meanwhile, Fawad Khan will reportedly make his Bollywood comeback with a romantic drama, also starring Vaani Kapoor. The film will mark his return to Hindi films after eight years.