Express's 'Bhanwar' explores travails of single mothers

Mansha Pasha reflects on how Shaheen's journey in Bhanwar became more than a fictional portrayal, offering a glimpse into the emotional, financial and social realities faced by women raising children on their own.

In Express Entertainment's Bhanwar, Shaheen is a widowed single mother who runs a small home-based online food business while raising her young son. Her pursuit of financial independence takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a man claiming to be a Dubai-based investor who offers her a seemingly lucrative business opportunity. What begins as a promising connection gradually raises questions about trust, vulnerability and online deception.

Speaking to Express Tribune, Pasha said portraying Shaheen helped her understand the challenges faced by single mothers, particularly the sacrifices that often remain invisible to others.

"One of the things I learned about the reality of single mothers through Shaheen is how difficult it is to have a child and raise them alone," she says.

"Alongside that, you have to sacrifice your own ambitions and desires, while also finding a way to manage everything," she adds.

Shaheen's story also highlights how the search for financial independence can sometimes expose women to manipulation. Pasha believes the drama reflects a wider problem created by the digital age, where people increasingly seek connection online while becoming disconnected from those around them.

"I think the world has become so scary in so many ways. On one hand, we yearn for connection, but because of the digital world, I feel we are becoming less connected to the people around us," she says.

According to Pasha, social media has also created unrealistic comparisons, with people constantly believing that others are living better, happier and more luxurious lives.

"We constantly feel that there is something better out there better people, better friends, or people living more interesting and luxurious lives than us. But so much of that is simply a facade," she says.

That idea lies at the heart of Bhanwar, where the online scam storyline explores not only financial fraud but also the ease with which trust and identities can be manufactured online.

"There are so many lies in the digital space, and online scams are also a part of it," Pasha says. She hopes viewers learn to question what they see online and avoid believing every promise or identity presented to them.

"I hope people learn to appreciate what they have and become more careful about believing everything they see."

The actor admits that playing Shaheen was challenging because the character's circumstances are very different from her own.

"The most challenging part about the character was that she is obviously very different from me," she says. "Her life, where she comes from, and the challenges she faces are very different from my own."

However, Pasha found a connection through the shared experiences of women.

"I think there is a certain humanity that connects women," she explains.

"A lot of the struggles women face are similar because of the kind of society we live in. A woman is often treated as a woman, regardless of which social or economic strata she belongs to."

Pasha acknowledges that wanting a partner or someone to rely on is natural, but warns that desperation for companionship can make people vulnerable.

"It is very natural to want a partner and to have someone you can rely on. But we have to be very careful about that need."