Sanam season strikes again

With the dashing Fawad Khan (deservedly) reaping in the fangirls as the supernatural Barzakh makes its first jaw-dropping appearance, it is naturally time to shine that same limelight on that other equally deserving actor whose refined skill and understated beauty have held a vice-like grip on her fans for years: Sanam Saeed.

In a world with a pathological obsession for the glamour of pale skin, Sanam has shred to pieces the notion that the only vampires have an acceptable skin tone in the world of beauty. And as a graduate of film and theatre studies — as opposed to a beautiful but rookie model snapped up by an eagle-eyed producer — who better to understand the nuances that every new role demands? As Fawad — no slouch in the acting department — himself has said in interviews, “Sanam is an amazing actor.” Well, Fawad, we concur — and here are four times Sanam has proved herself a total screen queen.

1. ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’ (2012)

It would be a crime against television to mention Sanam’s name without bringing up Zindagi Gulzar Hai in the same breath, no matter how hard the former tried to break away from the latter. Marking the first time she collaborated with Fawad, Sanam’s skilful portrayal of the strong-willed and ambitious Kashaf was the role that catapulted her to stardom, earning her three Best Actress Awards. Kashaf defies the odds and wins a scholarship to a prestigious university, cementing a rent-free place in the hearts of fans. Of course, the special partnership with Fawad gave the show that extra zing. To this day, even when watching a Sanam-Fawad interview in 2024, fans — much like much audiences aeons ago in 2008 day getting Titanic vibes when watching Kate and Leo join forces once again in Revolutionary Road — still swoon over Sanam’s Kashaf and Fawad’s Zaroon, even though it has been more than 10 years since either character was seen on screen. “They’re giving peak Zaroon and Kashaf energy!” wrote one hardcore fan, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone who disagrees.

2. ‘Kadoorat’ (2013)

Turning away from her previous feel-good characters, Sanam took a step in another direction by taking on the role of Minah in Kadoorat. Minah loses her mother in a tragic accident when she is just eight years old. Her father’s subsequent remarriage sows the seeds of vengeance in Minah’s broken heart, paving the path for her to grow into a troubled young woman and wreak havoc in her family. Exploring themes of loss, betrayal, trauma, and redemption, the role marked a departure from Sanam’s otherwise likeable on screen personas. However, as her adept portrayal of a morally grey character proved, audiences were in no way put off by the darkness of the show. Sanam wanted to prove she could take on a range of characters, and Kadoorat showed exactly that in spades. One lone (and brave) Redditor dared to call Sanam’s acting in the role ‘flat’, and was torn apart in the comments section, perhaps best summed up by one baffled fan’s question, “What parallel world Humanlings said that?” We wonder the same, friend.

3. ‘Diyar-e-Dil’ (2015)

Proving once again after Kadoorat that she was ready to take on deeply unlikeable characters, if only to prove that acting was her thing, Sanam’s role as Ruhina in the multi-generational drama Diyar-e-Dil is one for ages. “People hated Ruhina because she was a dislikable character,” was Sanam’s own assessment in an interview — although she went on to stress the importance of playing such hideous characters, if only to allow people to self-reflect, or to allow others to know that they are not alone when they face the real-life version in their own lives. Diyar-e-Dil fans, of course, have loathed Ruhina and gigantic toxic ego, but absolutely adored Sanam’s ability to get right under the skin of the character. “Sanam was amazing in this show!” is the rallying cry of the denizens of social media. To be cast in the leading show of the year is no mean feat, and to all those who hail Sanam’s Ruhina (after all, it takes a special person to breathe life into a villain), we hear you, and we couldn’t agree more.

4. ‘Cake’ (2018)

Ah, what to say about this brilliant light-hearted film that hasn’t already been said? Watching the struggles of a dysfunctional family played out on screen with the perfect amount of sweetness and pace never did anyone any harm — as the comedy-drama Cake displayed in the most fabulous of ways. Proving her mettle as an actor, Sanam went back to her film studies roots to land a role as Zahra and won over audiences with her impeccable range. It is hard to imagine that this was the same person who played the consumed-with bitterness Minha. As with all scripts using a family (as a unit) as the central character, so to speak, Cake sees a plot rife with long-standing issues, unresolved conflicts, and emotional challenges as everyone in the family confronts their past and tries to resolve their present-day issues. Sanam effortlessly portrays Zahra, one of the pivotal characters of the film, bringing emotional depth and complexity to the fore. Showing yet again that part of being an actor is the ability to attract the right scripts, Sanam’s Zahra could do no wrong in the eyes of fans. As one fan so poetically put it, “Sanam Saeed — what a talented lady!”