Hina is younger than me but agreed to play Momo'

Nabeel talks casting on-screen mother for 'Bulbulay'

If there is any character in Pakistani drama history that is instantly beloved and cemented in the hearts and minds of fans, it would surely be Hina Dilpazeer's Momo in the hit sitcom Bulbulay. With her trademark "oof" and her iconic facepalm, few can fail to be tickled by the elderly Momo's charming over-the-top reactions.

However, what many are unaware of is that whilst Hina plays a beloved mother on the show, she is actually younger than actor Nabeel Zafar, who portrayed her son Nabeel on the show. In a recent appearance on the FHM Pakistan podcast, actor and producer Nabeel revealed that Hina took the discrepancy in age in her stride when accepting the role.

"I think it's the 17th episode when Hina enters the show," recalled Nabeel. The actor explained that he had already worked with Hina on the 2006 telefilm Burns Road Ki Neelofar, meaning that he already had some idea as to how she could breathe life and charm into the role she ended up making her own. Laughing at the memory of the phone call that led to Hina's casting in Bulbulay, Nabeel added, "I said to Hina, 'You may be two or four years younger than me, but you'll have to play my mother!"

Hina, however, had no qualms about accepting the role. "She just laughed and said she would do it!" exclaimed Nabeel. Hina's portrayal of Momo has amassed a devoted following in the intervening years, having become one of Pakistani television's most beloved and recognisable figures. The actor's comedic timing and antics have endeared her to audiences of all demographics, making the character of Momo an indispensable element of Bulbulay's success.

However, earlier in the year, Hina revealed that she is contractually obligated against reprising her beloved role as Momo anywhere else, whether in on-screen projects or off-screen engagements such as events or award ceremonies. "I have it in writing that I cannot do this character (Momo) anywhere else," she explained. "Yes, I did a commercial where I asked for permission to play Momo and they said yes but it was just a commercial."

Aside from Hina, the regular cast of Bulbulay includes Nabeel, Ayesha Omar and Mehmood Aslam. Originally premiering in 2009, the sitcom has emerged as a triumphant small-screen offering with the distinction of being the longest-running television series in Pakistan.