Q: Khirad has a silent strength about her that is an inspiration for any woman. Was her character based on any real person from your life? -Neeru

A: Khirad’s silent strength was a trait I have seen in my mother. Her big ego and pride were things I have seen in some of my close relations

Q: Humsafar has a happy ending, which we ardent fans are very thankful for but when you were writing the story, did you think of an alternate ending? If yes, why did you choose the one we have all seen?      -Neeru

A: When I was writing the novel, it was never ever a question for me that Humsafar could have a sad ending. Asher and Khirad loved each other. There were only misunderstandings, anger and hurt feelings from both sides. Jab ghalat fehmian durr hoin tu unn donon ko mill hi jana tha.

Q: The nuances in Ashar’s character were subtle compared to the other characters in Humsafar. Was it deliberate or he just happened to get overshadowed by strong female characters including his mother? -Neeru

A: Asher was a good human being but sadly he was a weak person. Fawad’s fans will be angry with my answer but Asher was not a strong man. He was easily manipulated by a few ladies. HS was basically Khirad’s story. Asher is not one of my favourite heroes (amongst my own created heroes)

Q: Were Farida’s manipulations aimed at getting Asher to marry Sara or was it simply to just be rid of Khirad because she could not share her son with anyone? We ask because Farida never seemed to push Asher to marry Sara very much or was that just pushed to one side in the serial. – Nargis Rasheed

A: Farida just wanted to get rid of Khirad. She used Sara. She was an arrogant and selfish person and she never wanted Asher to marry Sara.

Q: Farida is depicted as a very conniving woman. How can it be possible that her own sibling was not aware of this trait? Were Zarina and Sara, two highly educated ladies, that gullible that they could not see past Farida’s false promises? – Nargis Rasheed

A:  Zareena knew her sister’s negative and selfish nature magar wo beti ki mohabbat aur zidd kay aage majboor ho gai theen.

Q: What scenes would you have included from the novel in the drama if you could and apparently so I have heard that Sarmad added the last rain scene later. For me personally that gave closure to the Ashar and Khirad had we left it where the novel leaves it I think I would always wondered if Khirad had been able to move on. – shazch

A: I don’t want to change anything in the novel.

To correct the record let me tell last scene was included on Momina’s khawahish. Day before last episode went on air, I got an emergency call from Momina, “ Farhat, write a new and romantic kind of scene to end HS on a romantic note. It should have rain and romance”. Original last scene was a gardening scene with Asher, Khirad and Hareem. It didn’t have romance.

Q: Did you like the last rain scene in the drama? – Sadaf

A: Yes, I loved that new scene. As a viewer I would also want romantic closing of a romantic story. Am happy Momina nai ye add karwaya.

Q: Was the first rain scene which is so romantic with the black dress a part of your script? – Sadaf

A: Yes that first rain scene was mine. I wrote it

Q: What scenes would you have included from the novel in the drama if you could and apparently so I have heard that Sarmad added the last? Also are there any scenes you would have input from the drama to the novel if you could go back and rewrite it. –shazch

A: There are some scenes which I wrote and they were shot but not shown like Asher – Hareem gardening scene and Asher applying nail polish on Hareem’s nails. They were cute scenes.

Q: When Khirad gets chocolate ice cream instead of strawberry at coffee shop was it a part of the story? – Roh

A: It was a continuity mistake :-) Didn’t know log uss ko bhi discuss karen gai :-)

Q: Why did Ashar smile at Khirad that night when he was looking at her? Was he already changing his mind about how he perceived her presence in his life? What was she writing? – Roh

A: Which night? I don’t understand which night you are talking about. In the beginning of their marriage, when Asher had a change of heart for Khirad she was still reluctant to open herself to him. She remained reserved. Usually to avoid Asher, she wrote dairy or sometimes letters to Batool Khala

Q: Why did Khirad agree to have breakfast with Ashar that morning, but refused the nuts he offered to her a few days ago while watching TV? Did she also have a change of heart and decided to listen to Batool Khala and Afsheen’s advise of giving the marriage sometime?-Roh

A: Was that breakfast scene after that pool side (night) scene? I remember breakfast scene baad main hota hai. Asher showed his concern for Khirad with his behaviour that night. She sensed his changed attitude and was ready to have breakfast with him. Slowly Khirad ko samajh araha tha kay ye banda itna proud and arrogant bhi nahi jitna lagta hai. Ye Batool khala ya Afsheen kay samjhane ki reason sai nahi hua tha. It was a slow and natural process. They both were falling in love.

Q: In the last scene of reconciliation between Asher and Khirad (after the confrontation with Farida) they both look out as it begins to rain and smile ….I can guess but please I want to know why? – Sadaf

A: Ye viewers ko khush krne kay liye likha gaya scene tha :-)

Q: Is Asher’s character based on anyone or is it one of those composite characters writers create sometimes?-Sadaf

A: Asher wesa tha jese ziada tarr humare eastern mard hote hain. Gherat aur ana kay masle boht hain magar sochna kamm kamm hai. Some of his personality traits were taken from different people (males) around me. Remaining were my own observation of man.

Reporters : ROH and Sadaf 

Thanks To Neeru ,Shaz CH ,ROH and Nargis Rashid for their questions :)