{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | alt_name = | genre = Period drama | director = Seema Tahir Khan | writer = Faiza Iftikhar | starring = Saba Qamar <br>Mikaal Zulfiqar <br>Meera <br>Anum Fayyaz <br>Noman Ijaz <br>Ayesha Gul | theme_music_composer = Waqar Ali | opentheme = "Mein Sitara" by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan | composer = | country = Pakistan | language = Urdu | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 31 | producer = Seema Tahir Khan | editor = Arbab Khan | company = TV One Productions | location = Karachi | cinematography = | camera = Multi-camera setup | runtime = | channel = TV One Pakistan | first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|2016|03|17}} | last_aired = {{End date|df=y|2016|11|03}} }} '''''Mein Sitara''''' is a 2016 Pakistani television series that aired on TV One. The series was written by Faiza Iftikhar, directed by Seema Tahir Khan, and produced by TV One Productions. It had an ensemble cast of Saba Qamar, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Meera, Hassan Ahmed, Anum Fayyaz, Noman Ijaz, Rashid Farooqui, and others.<ref name="Era">{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1074372/mein-sitara-serial-on-lollywoods-golden-era-a-dark-horse-among-pakistani-dramas/|title=Mein Sitara: Serial on Lollywood's golden era a dark horse among Pakistani dramas - The Express Tribune|date=1 April 2016|work=Express Tribune|access-date=6 June 2018|language=en-US|first=Sadaf|last=Haider}}</ref> The serial marked the fourth on-screen collaboration of Saba Qamar and Mikaal Zulfiqar after ''Pani Jaisa Piyar'' (2011), ''Izteraab'' (2014), and ''Sangat'' (2015). Set in the mid-1960s, the drama serial follows the fortunes of characters from Lollywood's golden era and their tremulous journey till the turn of this century.<ref name="Era"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1149652|title='Mein Sitara' continues to enthrall with its fast-paced story|publisher=HipInPakistan|access-date=7 March 2021|first=Saira|last=Khan|date=5 May 2016}}</ref>
At the 16th Lux Style Awards, the series received two nominations, best television play and best actress for Qamar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/16-Mar-2017/nominations-revealed-for-16th-lux-style-awards|title=Nominations revealed for 16th Lux Style Awards|date=2017-03-16|work=The Nation|access-date=2018-06-04|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Plot== It is based on the life and situations of actors and directors of the film industry. Sitara (Saba Qamar)'s character in particular was inspired from one of the most renowned actresses of the film industry. Sitara is a poor girl who makes it big in the industry. The series showed what really goes on behind the scenes and how sometimes actresses have to fight many difficulties at the same time. It is story of friendship, dreams, love, despair, as well as hope. It was an emotional journey which covered 3 decades of the film industry.
==Cast== * Saba Qamar as Surraiya/Sitara * Mikaal Zulfiqar as Farhad Sethi * Meera as Naseem Dilruba * Noman Ijaz as Ilyas Khawaja * Anum Fayyaz as Falak * Rashid Farooqui * Hassan Ahmed as Jamal * Ayesha Gul as Jharna * Sara Gul * Rija Ali * Faiza Ali
==Soundtrack== {{Infobox album | name = Mein Sitara | type = soundtrack | artist = Rahat Fateh Ali Khan | cover = | alt = | released = {{Start date|df=yes|2016||}} | recorded = 2016 | venue = | studio = | genre = Television soundtrack | length = (3:23) | language = Urdu | label = TVOne Pakistan | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|T8a-n9u3-Jk|"Mein Sitara" OST}}|type=song}} }}
The theme song was composed by Waqar Ali and sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The lyricist was Khalil Ullah Farooqui and the music video was released in 2016.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}
== Production == In February 2016, writer Faiza Iftikhar revealed that her upcoming television series titled Nigar Khana is about the heydays of the Pakistani film industry and will star Saba Qamar and Mikaal Zukfiqar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1174838/my-heroine-wont-allow-anyone-to-slap-her-faiza-iftikhar-nadeem-baig-on-upcoming-tv-drama-dil-lagi|title=My heroine won't allow anyone to slap her: Faiza Iftikhar & Nadeem Baig on upcoming TV drama Dil Lagi|author=Sadaf Haider|date=17 February 2016|work=DAWN Images|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Reception == In a review of first four episodes, a ''The Friday Times''-based reviewer praised the series for its bold and realistic portrayal of the Pakistani film industry in the 1960s and 1970s, the risky subject matter, intelligent writing, and the nuanced depiction of relationships and societal changes, and acting performances of the actors particularly Aisha Gul and Mikaal Zulfiqar, but criticized it for the lackadaisical editing, overlong dance sequences, and too many songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/29-Apr-2016/marriage-among-stars|title=Marriage among stars|date=29 April 2016|work=The Friday Times|author=SZ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919205801/https://www.thefridaytimes.com/29-Apr-2016/marriage-among-stars|archive-date=19 September 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Accolades== {{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! scope="col"|Award ! scope="col"|Category ! scope="col"|Recipients ! scope="col"|Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- | rowspan="2"|16th Lux Style Awards | Best Television Play | Mein Sitara | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" |<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1355888/16th-lux-style-awards-nominations-predictions/|title=16th Lux Style Awards: Nominations and predictions|work=The Express Tribune|date=15 March 2017|accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref> |- |Best Television Actress | Saba Qamar | {{nom}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.tvonepk.tv/drama/serial/mein-sitara Mein Sitara on Official website]
Category:2016 Pakistani television series debuts Category:2016 Pakistani television series endings Category:Pakistani romantic drama television series Category:Urdu-language telenovelas Category:Pakistani telenovelas Category:Pakistani historical television series Category:Television series set in the 1960s Category:Pakistani tawaif film and television works