Barzakh, a series featuring Zindagi Gulzar Hai stars Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, will have its worldwide premiere on Zindagi’s YouTube and ZEE5 Global on July 19.
Asim Abbasi, known for Churails and Cake, has directed the much-anticipated show produced by Shailja Kejriwal and Waqas Hassan.
The series follows the poignant journey of a 76-year-old reclusive man who invites his estranged children and grandchildren to his remote valley resort to celebrate an extraordinary and unconventional event—his wedding with the ghost of his first true love.
"This emotionally profound narrative makes viewers think about life's mysteries, what happens after death, and the deep feeling of love that ties us together," read its official synopsis.
Barzakh, which translates to 'obstacle' or 'purgatory', unfolds against the backdrop of the picturesque Hunza Valley in Pakistan, showcasing its ethereal beauty and bringing the narrative to life.
According to the makers, the six-episode show also explores themes of mental health, postpartum depression, generational trauma, and gender inclusivity through a gripping narrative that challenges societal conventions.
Salman Shahid, M. Fawad Khan, Eman Suleman, Khushhal Khan, Faiza Gillani, Anika Zulfikar, and Franco Giusti among others.
Abbasi described Barzakh as a story about love and faith.
"About humans desperately looking for connections and meaning. Fragile, broken souls, looking to hold on to whatever they can, to make sense of this big, bad, beautiful thing called life. Thanks to Shailja and Zindagi, Barzakh has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me," the director said in a statement.
For Kejriwal, Barzakh is that story where the entire cast and crew came together to be a part of something unique, fresh, and slightly mind-bending.
"At its core, Barzakh is about an estranged family reuniting for a wedding. It is unique because this reunion brings together the living as well as the dead. It is elevating because, at the end of it all, there is a 'happily ever after'!" she said.
"I feel like working with an international production partner not only broadened my horizons but gave Pakistani filmmakers and thespians a platform to prove to the world that they can match global expectations and quality," added Hassan.
Barzakh was the only show from South Asia to premiere at 2023's Series Mania Festival in France.
Nobody saw Charli XCX coming during Role Model’s Saturday Night Live slot. She just walked on stage.
Her choice of a Max's Kansas City t-shirt immediately set fan theories alight.
Swifties linked the top to Taylor Swift’s fiancé, NFL star Travis Kelce.
It turns out, the whole thing was far simpler because she grabbed the shirt from Role Model himself.
A simple t-shirt choice during a surprise cameo has sent the pop world into a spin. Charli XCX appeared on Saturday Night Live this weekend, joining musical guest Role Model for his performance, and fans are convinced her outfit contained a pointed message for Taylor Swift. The British singer’s Max’s Kansas City top, seen during the broadcast, is being widely interpreted as a new chapter in their rumoured feud, following pointed lyrics on both of their latest records.
Fans think Charli XCX trolled Taylor Swift with Kansas City shirt during surprise SNL cameo Instagram/rolemodel
What happened during the SNL performance?
The moment happened during Role Model’s set. As he sang his track Sally, When the Wine Runs Out, he called out for his ‘Sally’. On cue, Charli XCX emerged through the stage doors to a roar from the crowd, dancing through the bridge of the song. She was in full brat mode, no surprise there. A black leather skirt, those boots, the tights. But the beat-up band shirt she had borrowed? That is what did it.
— (@)
So, why is the internet losing its collective mind over a t-shirt?
Well, if you are deep in the pop gossip sphere, it makes perfect sense. Taylor Swift’s whole world lately seems to include Kansas City, thanks to her fiancé Travis Kelce playing for the Chiefs. So, when you see ‘Kansas City’ printed across Charli’s chest right after all this feud chatter? It does not look like a coincidence. It looks like a shot.
Social media lit up instantly, with fans calling the move "the tea" and calling the situation "actually romantic," a direct nod to the song from Swift’s new album The Life of a Showgirl that many believe is about Charli.
— (@)
So was the shirt really a jab at Taylor Swift?
Not according to the facts. Role Model, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury, quickly clarified on his Instagram Story that Charli had simply borrowed the shirt from him. He had worn the very same Max’s Kansas City top, a reference to a famed New York nightclub, not the Missouri city, in promotional material for the episode. His own sophomore album is titled Kansas Anymore, making the shirt a piece of his own branding. Despite this explanation, the visual symbolism in the heat of the rumoured feud was simply too powerful for fans to ignore.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.