Actor and producer Humayun Saeed believes Pakistani dramas deserve greater international visibility, including on streaming platforms such as Netflix, but says the country needs to develop its own over-the-top (OTT) platform first, in an interview reported on October 28, 2026.
What happened?
In an interview with Ali Salman, Saeed said local productions have a distinct identity, particularly in their writing, dialogue delivery and use of Urdu, and that the way lines are spoken in Pakistani dramas gives them a style of their own. He argued that a local platform must come first so Pakistani filmmakers and actors can show their work, and that interest from global services would follow once people see that work, pointing to India, where he said local OTT platforms came first.
Key details
- Saeed acknowledged that OTT productions often take a different and edgier approach, but said the dramas Pakistan has already made could still find an audience on international platforms.
- He suggested that political considerations might influence how Netflix approaches Pakistan, though he said he was unsure when local productions might become available there.
- He called on the government to give the entertainment industry greater attention and support.
- On talent discovery, he said social media has changed how newcomers enter the industry: where aspirants once had to audition, meet directors and rehearse, platforms such as TikTok now let people show their skills directly, though performing well in short videos does not necessarily mean someone can handle a scripted role.
- He cited Hania Aamir as an example, saying he first saw her on Dubsmash and then cast her in a drama.
- Saeed also spoke about playing Dr Hasnat Khan in the Netflix series The Crown, saying the most important lesson was the value of discipline, organisation and professionalism, and describing carefully planned arrangements for transport, make-up timings, meals and call times.
- His latest released film is Love Guru (2025), directed by Nadeem Baig and co-starring Mahira Khan, and he appeared in the television drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon in 2025.
- The interview did not outline any plan, investment or timeline for a Pakistani OTT platform, so his call remains a proposal and not an announced project.
What it means for people in Pakistan
For drama fans, Saeed’s argument is about access: a home-grown platform could put Pakistani stories in front of global audiences without waiting for a foreign service to pick them up. For the industry, his point is practical rather than glamorous — platforms create the demand that gets content made, and government backing could help build the infrastructure the sector still lacks.
Source: https://cwpakistan.com/humayun-saeed-calls-for-pakistan-own-ott-platform-to-take-dramas-global/
