EP 16: Inside the Pakistani 🇵🇰 Drama Industry | Mubariz ft. Mehreen Jabbar & Abdullah Seja

In this episode, I sat down with two powerhouses of the Pakistani drama industry—Abdullah Seja, one of the most prolific producers in the country, and acclaimed director Mehreen Jabbar—for an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes conversation about how our dramas are made. The goal of this episode is to understand the full picture: what shapes the stories we see on screen, who the key decision-makers are, how economics drives creative choices, and how the industry is evolving in response to changing audiences. We explore everything from the drama production value chain and budgeting realities, to casting constraints, audience expectations, and the challenge of telling new stories in familiar formats. Abdullah and Mehreen share honest reflections on experimentation, the role of OTT platforms, what resonates with the masses vs. niche segments, and how talent—both in front of and behind the camera—is discovered and developed. This is a rare look into the intersection of commerce, creativity, and culture. For anyone curious about what makes the Pakistani drama ecosystem tick—or why we keep telling the same stories (and how that’s beginning to change)—this episode offers a candid and comprehensive view. As always, this is just the start of the conversation. If there are areas you’d like us to dig deeper into in a follow-up, feel free to share your questions. In this episode: Mubariz Siddiqui – Founder, Carbon Law LinkedIn:   / mubarizsiddiqui   Twitter: https://x.com/mubarizsiddiqui?lang=en Website: https://linktr.ee/mubarizs Abdullah Seja LinkedIn:   / abdullah-seja-805b1a39   Mehreen Jabbar LinkedIn:   / mehreen-jabbar123   Twitter: https://x.com/mehreenjabbar Chapters: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:26 – Unpacking the Drama Industry’s Value Chain 00:11:52 – Shifting Character Narratives 00:20:20 – India Comparisons, Budgets & Audience Preferences 00:31:59 – Innovation, OTT Platforms & Global Potential 00:48:10 – Casting Realities & Nurturing Talent 01:04:56 – Reflections: Proud Moments, Dream Collaborations & Actor Wishlists