Naagin

Plot

The story revolves around a house where the elders are aware that when they constructed the house they had to kill some snakes who were living there. But what they don't know is that there were two survivors (both girls); one is Muskaan, who was taken by an ordinary man who saw that snake in a baby form. The other girl (Sanam Jahan) was taken by a female snake charmer named Pashi. Sanam Jahan returns to this home to take revenge where Rayaan lives who falls in love with Muskaan who doesn't know that she is a Nagin yet. Muskaan gets into that home after marrying Rayaan and Sanam Jahan is already there. Sanam Jahan kills Khalida (maternal aunt of Rayaan) with her poisonous bite. The family is unaware of Sanam Jahan's evil intentions who wants to take revenge on her relatives. A female snake charmer named Sajna enters, she is finding an Iccha Dhaari Naagin. Banu, the girlfriend of Mehak's (Rayaan's sister) husband Salman blames Rayaan that he had destroyed her life and cheated on her and now she is pregnant with her and Rayaan's illegitimate baby. This is a wicked plan of Salman who wants to become the owner of Rayaan's property and Banu is her partner in this fake pregnancy game. After listening to the conversation between Salman and Banu, Sanam Jahan decides to kill Banu. Sanam Jahan murders Banu, and the blame has been put on Rayaan that he has done this murder. Muskaan also started believing that Rayaan has killed Banu to cover up his sin but later Mehak and Muskaan finds out that Rayaan is not involved in Banu's murder and this was a plan of Salman. Sanam Jahan also attempted the murder of his workmate Razzaq because Razzaq knew that Sanam Jahan is the killer of Khalida and that she is a Naagin, but somehow Daa Ji rescues Razzaq. Sajna knows that Muskaan is also an Iccha Dhaari Naagin but when she reveals this secret to Muskaan, Muskaan makes a joke of Sajna and also warns her to keep away from her in future otherwise she will call the police to have Sajna arrested. Sajna vows that she will teach a lesson to Muskaan about her misbehaviour.

Meanwhile, Muskaan's ex-lover Feroz returns from Sharjah after completing his studies and decides to break the relationship of Muskaan and Rayaan. Feroz and Arfa tries to create differences between them by creating an intimate moment of Feroz and Muskaan and Rayaan also falls into their wicked trap but after many twists and misunderstandings between Rayaan and Muskaan, finally Feroz confessed that this was the plan of Arfa and he is very guilty over his evil intentions. Rayaan forgives Muskaan and a new phase of their life has started but now Sanam Jahan is planning to kill Rayaan. During this process, Muskaan and Sanam Jahan also finds out that they are blood sisters in relation but Muskaan refuses to help Sanam Jahan in her revenge and rescues Daa Ji and Arfa from Sanam Jahan's poisonous bite.

Cast

Main

Wajeeha Khan Durani as Muskaan (shape-shifting snake)

Sheen Javed as Sanam Jahan (shape-shifting snake)

Hareb Farooq as Rayaan / Saawan

Resham as Sajna (a female snake charmer)

Jana Malik as Pashi (a female snake charmer)

Razia Malik as Amma Jugnnu

Shazia Zohar as Zainab (Muskan Daughter)

Recurring

Kashif Mehmood as King Salaaj (shape-shifting mongoose)

Mathira as Mastaani (shape-shifting mongoose)

Meera as Madam Kaali / Rani Nageshwari

Imran Ahmed as Wajahat

Zia Khan as Ashfaq

Fiza Ali / Sobia Khan as Rani (shape-shifting snake)

Maira Bangash as Mehak

Saima Saleem as Arfa

Zaib Chaudhry as Khalida

Fani Jaan as Razzaq

Ayesha Javaid as Saariya

Raheela Agha as old Sanam Jahan

Abid Ali as Professor Abdul Quddus

Babrik Shah as Dilbar (Naag Raja) / Sohrab)

Afzal Khan Rambo as Golden Khan

Arslan Mughal as Nayel (shape-shifting snake)

Arsalan Idrees as Salman

Rasheed Ali as Rehmat

Huma Ali as Farkhanda

Javed Khan King

Wajeeha Khan Durani as Muskaan (shape-shifting snake)

Sheen Javed as Sanam Jahan (shape-shifting snake)

Production

Writing

Naagin is the first Pakistani television drama based on the subject of Ichchhadhari Nag. Iftikhar Ahmed Usmani, the writer of the series said that

The play is for the dissemination of the message of peace among silent majority of our nation which regularly watches the drama but rarely present their valuable remarks. My inspiration is Baba Ashfaq Ahmed, he was the one who guided me towards the right path.

Casting

Actress Resham alongside Jana Malik, Sheen Javed, Wajeeha Khan and Hareb Farooq were initially finalized to play starring roles in the series. Later after the end of first season, actress Mathira was selected to portray a supporting character; along with Kashif Mehmood. Actress Fiza Ali was also portraying the parallel lead role of Rani but was replaced by Sobia Khan. In late 2017, actress Meera joined the cast, playing the positive character of Madam Kaali.

Filming

Filming of the show began in February 2016 in a Haweli, while the show is entirely filmed in Lahore. Previously another mega-budget Pakistani show Mor Mahal, was also being filmed in the same location. The filming was concluded on 4 June 2018.

Reception

Despite receiving criticism from some media outlets, Naagin opened with a strong rating of 4.13 during its opening weekend, and witnessed 200% increment in ratings in just 6 episodes (From 0.98 to 2.78 average ratings). It also became the most watched show of Geo Kahani abroad, and during September 2017, the show fetched high ratings.