Sanam Saeed to play a woman struggling with depression in ‘Aakhri Station’

With the lines between entertainment and infotainment blurring, a moral high along with a good story is what the audience craves. Thus, it was no surprise that a show like Udaari – which unveiled the ugliness of sexual abuse in Pakistan – became one of the biggest hits of the entertainment industry. Now, trying to quash yet another taboo, Kashf Foundation is ready to reveal Aakhri Station.

The new mini-series, which features names like Sanam Saeed, Mikaal Zulfiqar and Nimra Bucha, comprises 7 episodes, which highlights women and gender specific issues in all of its sensitivities and are based on real life narratives. The seven protagonists are unrelated to each other but all are on a journey of empowerment. In their chance meeting in a train compartment, they find out how similar their stories are despite their age/background differences.

Anyone who has been a fan of Pakistani cinema would possibly relate the title to yesteryear’s actress Shabnam’s film of the same name. However, according to Sanam Saeed, who plays the lead role in the series, there is no relation between the two.

“It has nothing to do with that film. It’s a working title. The story has 7 women meet on a train, hence the title was chosen,” Saeed told Something Haute.

Mikaal Zulfikar plays a vital role in the mini-series.

“I play a woman struggling with depression amongst other women struggling with issues in society,” Sanam added, talking about her role in Aakhri Station. “Since it is with the Kashf foundation, it is made for creating awareness and highlighting certain issues.”

Apart from Sanam’s role, which will look into depression, the show also highlights HIV, drug addiction, mental health of women, prostitution, violence against women in order to shed light on what people don’t even consider actual problems but are prevalent in our society.

Directed by Sarmad Khoosat and written by Amina Mufti, the mini-series hopes to keep the audience entertained and instill empathy for these survivors.

“What I’m striving to achieve with this series is an honest, socially relevant, hard hitting story that provokes thought and reaches a wider audience. Even if it impacts one person, I will feel that the drama has accomplished its goal,” stated Sarmad Khoosat, in a press release.

The tentative launching date for Aakhri Station is in November, however, no channel has been selected yet.