Farhat Ishtiaq

Farhat Ishtiaq
Born (1980-06-23) June 23, 1980
Karachi, Sindh
OccupationAuthor, novelist, screenwriter
LanguageUrdu
NationalityPakistani
Notable worksHumsafar, Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu, Diyar-e-Dil, Rehaai, Udaari, Yaqeen Ka Safar, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Farhat Ishtiaq (Sindhi: فرحت اشتياق) (born June 23, 1980) is a Pakistani writer, author and screenwriter. She is best known for her romantic novels Humsafar, Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu, Diyar-e-Dil, Dil se Nikle Hain Jo Lafz and Woh Jo Qarz Rakhty Thay Jaan Per. Her work mostly focuses on Pakistani society.

Early life

She was born into a Sindhi family in Karachi, Sindh. She spent some of her childhood in Tokyo, Japan where her father worked for the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).[1] Ishtiaq has a master's degree in civil engineering.[2] She made a choice to give up engineering in 2005 and devote herself to writing.[2]

Career

In 2010, Ishtiaq was motivated by Momina Duraid of MD Productions to adapt her novel Humsafar for the television.[3] Ishtiaq was skeptical about the adaptation as it had been earlier rejected by two production houses; nevertheless, wrote the screenplay for the adaptation which begin to broadcast with the same title on Hum TV in September 2011.[4] Ishtiaq shot to fame with the series as it became an overnight success.[3]

Following the success of Humsafar, Duraid decide to adapt Ishtiaq's Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu for television.[5] With the same title, the series aired on the same network first in March 2012, and couldn't get the ratings as of Humsafar.[5]

Ishtiaq wrote her first original script in 2013, which was Rehaai, tackling the issue of child marriages, gender discrimination, and economic empowerment.[5] Co-produced by Kashf Foundation, the series marked Ishtiaq's departure from romance and her foray into social issues.[5] The series earned her a nomination of Best Television Writer at the 13th Lux Style Awards.[6]

Then, Ishtiaq adapted her novel Dayar-e-Dil, which debuted on Hum TV in March 2015 as Diyar-e-Dil.[7] A Dawn-based reviewer found that with Diyar-e-Dil, Ishtiaq has given "a much more nuanced story" compared to her previous television adaptations.[8] Ishtiaq received a Best Television Writer nomination at the 15th Lux Style Awards for the series.[9]

In 2016, Ishtiaq made her second collaboration with Kashf Foundation by writing Udaari.[3] The series tackled the issue of child abuse and Ishtiaq gained critical praise for her script and writing.[3] Despite the notice that the series received from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, claiming that the series had inappropriate content,[10] it maintained high ratings during its broadcast.[11] Ishitaq won her first-ever award, Lux Style Award for Best Television Writer, at the 17th Lux Style Awards.[12]

Publications

Novels, books and short stories

  • Humsafar
  • Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu
  • Mere Humdum Mere Dost
  • Diyar-e-Dil
  • Bin Roye Ansoo
  • Jo Bache Hain Sang Samait Lo[13]
  • Woh Jo Qarz Rakhtay Thay
  • Woh Yakeen Ka Aik Naya Safar
  • Safar Ki Shaam
  • Dil Say Niklay Hain Jo Lafz
  • Kuchh Pagal, Pagal Sai
  • Tum Hansti Achhi Lagti Ho
  • Junoon Tha Kay Justujoo
  • Khushboo, Baadal, Chaand, Hawa
  • Abhi Kuchh Din Lagain Gai
  • Mosam-e-Gul
  • Aap Apnay Daam Mein
  • Woh Ek Aisa Shajar Ho

Translations

Farhat Ishtiaq published the Hindi edition of her famous novel Woh Yakeen Ka Naya Safar on Amazon.[14] She has also published Roman Urdu edition of her short story Rait se But na Bana.

Filmography (as a screenwriter)

Television

Year Title Network Remarks / References
2011-12 Humsafar Hum TV
2012 Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu
2013 Rehaai
2014 Mere Humdum Mere Dost Urdu1
2015 Dayar-e-Dil Hum TV
2016 Udaari
2016-17 Bin Roye
2017 Yaqeen Ka Safar
2019 Yeh Dil Mera
2024 Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum ARY Digital
2024-25 Meem Se Mohabbat Hum TV
2025 Meri Tanhai Script supervision
2025 Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo Netflix [15]
2025 Woh Ek Raat Hum TV Telefilm
2025 Zanjeerain
2025 Tan Man Aur Tum Green Entertainment Script supervision[16]

Films

Year Title Network
2015 Bin Roye Hum Films
2018 Parwaaz Hay Junoon

Awards and achievements

Lux Style Awards

Ceremony Category Project Result
13th Lux Style Awards Best Television Writer Rehaai Nominated[20]
16th Lux Style Awards Diyar-e-Dil Nominated[21]
16th Lux Style Awards Udaari Won[22]
20th Lux Style Awards Yeh Dil Mera Nominated[23]

Controversially she was never nominated for her most successful drama to date Humsafar.[24]

References

  1. ^ Samiuddin, Shahrezad (11 January 2025). "Pakistan's Storytelling Powerhouse". Dawn News.
  2. ^ a b Lakhani, Somya (2014-11-15). "Love Struck: Pak author on success of her TV show Humsafar". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2025-05-30. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  3. ^ a b c d Buraq Shabbir (8 January 2017). "Life of the mind". The News International. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024.
  4. ^ Zoya Anwer (18 February 2015). "Humsafar was rejected by two production houses: Momina Duraid". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui (7 July 2013). "Profile of Farhat Ishtiaq: The queen of love". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Nominees announced for 2014 Lux Style Awards". Daily Times. 12 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014.
  7. ^ Zeresch Gil (15 June 2015). "In Conversation with the Real Brains Behind Bin Roye & Diyar-e-Dil – Farhat Ishtiaq (The Writer)". Hum Network. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015.
  8. ^ Sadaf Haider (24 April 2015). "Review: In Diyar-e-Dil, male relationships finally get their due". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Lux Style Awards 2016 nominations revealed at star-studded event". The Express Tribune. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025.
  10. ^ Fatima Azhar (16 May 2016). "Udaari: Child abuse is disturbing, but it exists in Pakistan, PEMRA!". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016.
  11. ^ Sadya Siddiqui (15 February 2017). "Nailing the art of social behaviour change communication". Aurora Magazine (Dawn Media Group). Archived from the original on 21 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Udaari and Actor in Law win big at the Lux Style Awards 2017". images.dawn. 20 April 2017. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Jo Bachay Hein Sang Samait Lo to be made into a drama". February 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Farhat Ishtiaq to release Hindi edition of Yakeen Ka Safar". January 31, 2020.
  15. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2023-08-23). "Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, Mahira Khan, Ahad Raza Mir to Star in Netflix's First Pakistan-Themed Original (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  16. ^ Desk, News (2025-06-10). "Danish Taimoor and Sajal Aly Drama Tan Man Aur Tum Announced". Brides & You. Retrieved 2025-08-13. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  17. ^ "Hum Honorary TV Award". Dawn News. March 16, 2013.
  18. ^ "4th Hum Awards 2016". April 23, 2016.
  19. ^ "Sang-e-Mar Mar and Udaari win big at the Hum Awards 2017". 29 April 2017. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  20. ^ "13th Lux Style Awards". December 4, 2014.
  21. ^ "NOMINEES 15TH LUX STYLE AWARDS 2016". July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "THE WINNERS AT 16TH LUX STYLE AWARDS 2017". April 19, 2017. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "https://tribune.com.pk/story/2324144/lsa-2021-winners-bayaan-and-pyaar-ke-sadqay-reign-supreme?" (20)
  24. ^ "https://web.archive.org/web/20170118100355/http://www.desifreetv.com/news/12th-lux-style-awards-2013-pictures-and-winners-list/"
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