Tanhaiyan

About This Drama

Tanhaiyan is the crown jewel of Pakistani television drama. Penned by Haseena Moin and directed by Shahzad Khalil, this 1986 PTV masterpiece follows two orphaned sisters — Sana and Zara — as they navigate loss, inheritance disputes, and the slow work of rebuilding a life on their own terms. The performances of Shehnaz Sheikh and Marina Khan were so authentic, so emotionally precise, that they set a benchmark for ensemble acting that the medium has rarely equalled in the decades since. The drama was groundbreaking in its portrayal of capable, self-determined women at a time when such characters were far from the norm in Pakistani storytelling. More than four decades later, Tanhaiyan continues to be rediscovered by new generations — a rare and enduring testament to the power of storytelling that speaks honestly about what it means to be human.