Director Farooq Rind Admits Hit Drama ‘Ishq Murshid’ Was Extended Beyond Its Planned Episodes

In a candid revelation, director Farooq Rind has admitted that his highly popular drama “Ishq Murshid” was extended beyond its original storyline on the producer’s request. The director confirmed that the drama was originally written to conclude in 26 episodes, but was stretched to 30 episodes to fulfill a pre-existing broadcast agreement.

The drama, which aired from October 2023 to May 2024 on Hum TV, became a cultural phenomenon, with its song “Tera Mera Pyaar Hai Amar” and character dialogues gaining massive popularity on social media.

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During an interview, Rind explained that the producer, Momina Duraid’s “Momal Productions,” informed him that they had a contract to deliver 30 episodes. When Rind contacted the writer, Abdul Khaliq Khan, for more material, the writer reportedly told him, “You’ve managed it so far, you can manage the rest too,” leaving the director to extend the plot himself.

Rind acknowledged that while directors do add their own elements, the major work is done by the writer. He conceded that the extension caused the drama to become somewhat “boring” towards the end. Despite this, he credited the drama’s immense success primarily to the brilliant performances of the cast, including Bilal Abbas Khan, Durefishan Saleem, and Ali Gul Mallah.

FAQs: The ‘Ishq Murshid’ Episode Extension

1. How many episodes was ‘Ishq Murshid’ supposed to have?
The drama was originally planned and written for 26 episodes.

2. Why was it extended to 30 episodes?
The extension was done at the request of the producer, Momal Productions, to fulfill a broadcast contract that required 30 episodes to be delivered to the channel.

3. Did the writer provide the material for the extra episodes?
No. The writer had only prepared material for 26 episodes. When contacted, he declined to write more, leaving the director to find a way to extend the story.

4. What was the impact of this extension?
Director Farooq Rind himself admitted that the drama became slightly “boring” in its final episodes due to the stretched-out plot.

5. Who does the director credit for the show’s success despite this?
He gives the most credit to the lead actor, Bilal Abbas Khan, followed by the entire cast, including Durefishan Saleem and Ali Gul Mallah, for their stellar performances that captivated the audience.