Pakistani television's appetite for youth-driven romance shows no sign of slowing in 2026.
ARY Digital has announced Pehli Se Mohabbat, also known as Youth Centric, a romantic drama serial produced by Fahad Mustafa and Ali Kazmi under their Big Bang Entertainment banner. The project taps a rising wave of Gen Z performers already familiar to drama audiences across the country. Samar Jafri leads the cast alongside Ameema Saleem, Aashir Wajahat, Abul Hassan, and Tehzeeb Shaheryar.
Naqvi and Siddiqui previously collaborated on Parwarish, also produced by Mustafa under Big Bang Entertainment for ARY Digital. That serial became one of 2025's most talked-about family dramas, and its creative backbone now carries over intact. Parwarish was Siddiqui's first television script, having crossed over from theater. Her second outing will be watched closely.
Jafri is a Pakistani actor, singer, and composer known for the TV dramas Mayi Ri (2023) and Parwarish (2025), as well as the film Na Baligh Afraad (2024). He "truly blew Pakistan away" with a star-making turn as Wali Jahangir in ARY Digital's blockbuster Parwarish, according to Youlin Magazine. His big-screen debut, Na Baligh Afraad, was directed by Nabeel Qureshi and featured other rising stars such as Wajahat and Rimha Ahmed. That comic ensemble became a proving ground for the same young talent now reassembling on the small screen.
Saleem is a newer face in the industry, having portrayed Maham in the drama Very Filmy. She has since appeared in HUM TV projects, building a growing following. Saleem and Jafri also share the screen in Raja London Ka, where their on-screen chemistry has drawn considerable attention.
The production house behind this serial has been on a sustained run. Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, a 2024 romantic drama, was also produced by Mustafa and Kazmi under Big Bang Entertainment. That series starred Mustafa alongside Hania Aamir and marked his return to television after ten years. Its commercial and cultural impact opened a pipeline that Parwarish continued, and Pehli Se Mohabbat now extends.
Mustafa's dual role as actor and producer has reshaped ARY's drama slate over the past two years. He has produced dramas for over a decade and is now setting sights on film production, though he has noted the financial risks involved in Pakistani cinema. The new serial keeps Big Bang's television engine running while the company preps its first feature film.
Centred on first love, youthful emotion, and domestic conflict, Pehli Se Mohabbat fits a familiar ARY template. What distinguishes it is the generational shift in its cast. Every lead is under 30. The story promises to explore modern relationships inside the traditional family-drama framework that Pakistani audiences still gravitate toward.
No official premiere date or weekly time slot has been confirmed. ARY has listed the serial among its upcoming 2026 projects with a "Coming Soon" tag. Teasers and promotional material should begin surfacing in the weeks ahead.
Check topics and authors from this story to see more stories like this in your personalized feed and receive updates when new work is published.
