Cheekh

Mannat (Saba Qamar), Haya (Azekah Daniel), and Nayab (Ushna Shah) are all close friends. Wajih (Bilal Abbas Khan), Yawer (Aijaz Aslam), Shayaan (Emmad Irfani), and Haya are siblings. Mannat is married to Shayaan. Her In-Laws are shown as quite wealthy. However, Nayab is poor. Her mother died and she lives with her father Ramzaan (Noor-ul-Hassan), greedy step-mother (Saima Qureshi) and her 2 step-sisters. Nayab gets murdered after a rape attempt and physical violence on the night of her friend Haya's engagement. Nayab is rushed to the hospital where she soon dies. As Nayab breathes her last, she indicates in her testimony before Mannat & the police the identity of her assailant by calling him 'Raja' (a nickname which the women in the family jokingly use for Wajih). Mannat - after hearing this, files an F.I.R. F.I.R against him which creates havoc in Mannat's relationship with her In-Laws. As the story unfolds, the viewers are made to see straight through Mannat's in-laws' so-called perfect aristocratic facade and how each member of the family is either directly part of or indirectly aiding & abetting in eliminating Nayab. Mannat's husband is really supportive of his wife because he has studied in America and is beginning to doubt his brother based on all that he hears regarding this case. He is on the path of the righteousness and truth. In addition to the main plot, there are several sub-plots in which we are made to see that all the main characters involved in the death of Nayab (Yawer, Wajih, Haya and even Shahwar) have their own dark side and that they seem to have skeletons in their closet (they are hiding something) which makes the main story line all the more sensational & interesting. The story meanders through a series of interesting twists & turns, with police, lawyers, courts and even street goons participating in an effort to shield & cover-up the real culprit and drag Mannat away from getting her hands round Wajih's throat, until - as fate would have it, the truth is as plain as a nose on our face. Finally the curtain falls with the culprit getting his comeuppance and justice being served.[8]

• Saba Qamar as Mannat Shayan: Shayan's wife; Wajih, Yawer, and Haya's sister-in-law; Nayab's friend.[1]
• Bilal Abbas Khan as Wajih Taseer: Haya, Yawer, and Shayan's younger brother; Mannat's brother-in-law.[5][9]
• Aijaz Aslam as Yawer Taseer: Haya, Shayan, and Wajih's elder brother; Shewar's husband.[10]
• Emmad Irfani as Shayan Taseer: Mannat's husband; Wajih, Haya, and Yawar's brother; Shehwar's brother-in-law.[11]
• Maira Khan[12] as Shehwar: Yawer's wife; Wajih, Shayaan, and Haya's sister-in-law.[13]
• Azekah Daniel as Haya Taseer: Mannat and Nayab's friend; Wajih, Yawar, and Shayaan's sister.[14]
• Ushna Shah as Nayab; Mannat and Haya's friend (Episodes 1–3).[15]
• Gul-e-Rana as Mannat's mother.
• Noor-ul-Hassan as Ramzaan: Nayab's father; Shamsa's husband.
• Saima Qureshi as Shamsa; Nayab's step-mother, Ramzaan's second wife.
• Nayyar Ejaz as Inspector Aamir Khan.
• Shabbir Jan as Lawyer.
• Junaid Akhter as Asad: Haya's ex-fiancé; Mannat and Nayaab's friend.
• Shehryar Zaidi as Sulaiman; Asad's father. (Episodes 9–11)
• Birjees Farooqui as Asad's mother. (Episodes 9–10)
• Asfar Khan as Wajih's driver.

On being asked about why she chose the character of Mannat, Qamar told ARY News, "If I can connect with a character, I do it and If I don’t, I opt out."[16] A Badar Mehmood's directorial and produced by Big Bang Entertainment, who had previously taken initiative against social issues through their serials Aisi Hai Tanhai, Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai, and Meri Guriya. In early October 2018, Qamar posted a video about being a part of the project.[17] Bilal Abbas Khan was chosen for playing the antagonist, along with Azekah Daniel, Aijaz Aslam, Emmad Irfani as supporting cast, while Ushna Shah came in as an extended cameo role.[16] It marks the second on-screen appearance of Khan, Daniel and Shah after Balaa. The first teaser of the drama, which was a narration, features some of the renowned actors and personalities, including Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Sanam Baloch, Sarwat Gilani, Maria Wasti, Sania Saeed, Shaista Lodhi, and Marina Khan.[18][19][20]

The show immediately gained popularity, and became the most popular serial of 2019 after airing its first few episodes.[21][22] It started off very well, averaging 6.4 TRPs.[23][24] The first episode gained 7.5, while second episode gained 7.2.[25][26] The role of Qamar and Khan was appreciated by critics. A reviewer from The Express Tribune wrote, "Her (Qamar)'s performance clearly stands out from other cast members, especially her dialogue delivery and outstanding facial expressions".[27] Sheeba Khan of DAWN wrote about Khan's performance as praise-worthy while criticized the story, saying, "I fail to understand why writers insist on making mothers so weak".[28] According to the review of The Nation, it was the third blockbuster serial for Khan after O Rangreza and Balaa.[29] Critics also praised the character of Shayan, portrayed by Emmad Irfani.[30][31] A reviewer from DAWN called him a "New Pakistani Hero".[11] Due to its immense popularity in Pakistan, series was also aired in Middle East on MBC Bollywood.

The title song is Mere Maula, sung and composed by Asrar. The music was composed by (?) and the lyrics were written by Sabir Zafar.

• Official website