TV dramas often become memorable for their heroes, but sometimes it is the villains who leave the deepest impression. From Mehboob Alam’s Chaudhry Hashmat in Waris to Badar Khalil’s Sheena in Dhoop Kinarey, our playwrights and directors have created their fair share of unforgettable antagonists over the years—characters so manipulative, selfish, and cruel that audiences love to hate them.
In recent years, the list has evolved from disgruntled friends, jealous colleagues, and scheming family members to abusive husbands, narcissistic acquaintances, and power-hungry opportunists. In our dramas today, such characters are so visibly broken on the inside that their mind games keep viewers emotionally invested until the very end.
Here are eight of the most hated characters currently dominating Pakistani television.
Shahzad Nawaz – Dr. Shahnawaz in Dr. Bahu and Ghazi Yousuf in Humrahi
Before we talk about antagonists who make viewers’ blood boil, let’s talk about one actor who plays not one but two characters we all loathe. Shahzad Nawaz is the performer who seems to have mastered the art of portraying men whose authority masks cruelty. In Dr. Bahu, he plays a patriarch who loves himself so much that he doesn’t care what others think of him or his decisions. The scene in which he blames his daughter-in-law for his neglected wife’s death is a masterclass for anyone aspiring to be a good actor.
In Humrahi, he goes one step further, murdering his own daughter-in-law so his sick son can get her heart! His intentions might seem noble, but they are criminal to say the least, making him the public’s number one enemy. Whether manipulating his family or abusing his power, he has become one of television’s most dependable villains. His performances prove that a calm exterior can often hide the darkest intentions.
Faris (Abbas Ashraf) in Aik Mohabbat Aur
On the one hand, viewers love the chemistry between Ahad Raza Mir and Maya Ali in this play; on the other, they want Faris – the toxic husband – to meet an end as worthless as his existence. Abbas Ashraf plays the character so well that many viewers can instantly relate to the persona and might have seen someone like that around them.
His controlling nature, emotional abuse, and complete lack of empathy have made him one of the most disliked characters on television. He might not be abusive by hand, but his tongue is as deadly; every appearance leaves audiences hoping someone finally stands up to him.
Shahzer (Muneeb Butt) in Tapish
Muneeb Butt might excel at playing toxic characters, but the one he is currently playing is the most toxic of them all. The deeply flawed Shahzer has been pampered all his life and wants to own everything he likes, even if it means snatching it from others.
Yes, we have seen many such characters around us, but the way Muneeb Butt portrays him convincingly makes it one of his most effective negative performances. His selfish decisions and manipulative behavior make him difficult to sympathize with, despite occasional moments of vulnerability.
Shayan Mursaleen (Haris Waheed) in Bus Tera Saath Ho
There are good people. There are bad people. And then there is Haris Waheed’s Shayan Mursaleen, the perfect example of someone who puts his own interests ahead of everyone else. He struck a biker with his car and asked his father to blame it on his nephew, whom no one in the family likes. When the truth is exposed by a friend of that nephew, he asks another friend to create an AI video of both of them engaging in obscene acts. And when the nephew marries that very girl and brings her to their house, he doesn’t give a damn, even when the Deputy Commissioner promises the girl that he would help her get justice.
If that’s not being shameless and arrogant, I don’t know what is. The way he keeps blurting out threats in a soft tone, his fake innocence, and his manipulation frustrate viewers, making him one of the drama’s biggest talking points. Haris Waheed may not like playing the character, but viewers love to hate him because he’s playing it so convincingly. His end is what keeps them glued to their screens twice a week, because when it happens, they want to be there!
Zanjeerain: A Drama Filled with Villains
If one drama deserves special mention for its own rogue’s gallery, it is Zanjeerain. Instead of a single antagonist, the serial is packed with hateful personalities who constantly create conflict. It often feels as if every episode introduces another character to dislike, and now there are so many hateful characters that Adnan Siddiqui’s Zafran Khan, the mastermind behind everything, seems less threatening.
Sohrab Khan (Raza Ali Abid)
Although he began the drama as the dutiful son and brother, Raza Ali Abid became the main villain when he killed his own sister, Bano (Seher Hashmi), to keep his secret from getting out. He might have the looks of the good guy, but deep down, Sohrab Khan is nothing like his name; his character thrives on intimidation and manipulation.
His ruthless personality makes him one of the drama’s most feared characters. The scene in which he accompanies Daniyal Zafar’s Sarbuland Khan to search for the very Bano he murdered is brilliantly executed. His performance is so convincing that every move he makes – be it cheating on his wife or blaming Rabya for everything else – raises viewers’ blood pressure.
Torsam Khan (Usman Javed) and Shirin (Anaya Shahid)
Usman Javed’s Torsam Khan isn’t far behind his stepbrother in receiving hate, and neither is Anaya Shahid’s Shirin. Yes, they might seem like characters from Indian soaps, but they are relatable to us because of what they represent. While Torsam Khan adds another layer of brutality to Zanjeerain, Shirin shows that villains do not always rely on physical power. Together, they create an atmosphere in which trust is almost impossible.
Whether lifting Rabya’s brother into the air for standing in front of him or murdering her husband for trying to defend her, Torsam has been ruthless in every way. Shirin, on the other hand, is always present, like the bahus in Indian dramas, and has an agenda for everything that goes on. Despite being the household maid, he manages to get the ‘attention’ of Sohrab Khan, is in cahoots with his wife, and is always in the vicinity when something bad is about to happen. Their actions reinforce the drama’s reputation for having one of television’s most unlikeable ensembles.
What Pakistani writers understand better than others is that a shockingly bad, negative character is as essential to storytelling as a god-fearing one. And if that character is portrayed convincingly, viewers watch the drama only to see them meet their unhappy-yet-deserving end. Good job to all those who found a place on this list not for the right reasons, but for a good cause: to make viewers realize that evil never wins.
