Abdullahpur Ka Devdas

Abdullahpur Ka Devdas is a 2024 Pakistani Urdu-language romantic drama television series produced by Shailja Kejriwal for Zee Zindagi. Directed by Anjum Shahzad and written by Shahid Dogar, the series is a modern adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1917 Bengali novel Devdas. It premiered on February 26, 2024, on Zee Zindagi and is available for streaming on Zindagi’s YouTube channel. It stars Bilal Abbas Khan, Sarah Khan, and Raza Talish in the lead roles and has been noted for its poetic narrative, cinematography, and performances, though it has received mixed reviews for its pacing and storytelling.

Plot

Set in the fictional small town of Abdullahpur and parts of Lahore, the series follows Fakhar and Kashif, two best friends unknowingly in love with the same woman, Gulbano. Gulbano is captivated by the poetry of an anonymous poet named Devdas. As the story unfolds, Kashif claims to be Devdas to win Gulbano’s affection, unaware that Fakhar is the true Devdas. The series explores themes of unrequited love, friendship, betrayal, and societal pressures.

Cast

Bilal Abbas Khan as Fakhar Wazir/Devdas
Sarah Khan as Gul Bano
Raza Talish as Kashif Zubair
Naumaan Ijaz as Qais/Shehenshah
Anoushay Abbasi as Jameela Deewan
Savera Nadeem as Jahan Aara Begum
Anumta Qureshi as Qandeel
Nida Mumtaz as Sakeena Zubair
Noor Ul Hassan as Deewan
Adnan Shah Tipu as Yaqoob
Ali Ansari as Shehroze Khan
Saad Qureshi as Bedaar Bakht
Shahzad Nawaz as Salabat Khan
Arjumand Rahim as Afaaf
Zuhab Khan as Sim Card
Irfan Moti wala as Shaukat Shaukeen
Kashif Hussain as Samajid
Fazal Hussain as Rehan
Srha Asghar as Literature Festival Host

Production

Directed by Anjum Shahzad, known for Khaani and Khuda Aur Muhabbat, Abdullahpur Ka Devdas was filmed in 2022 but released in 2024. The series was produced as a Zindagi Original for Indian television, marking a significant cross-border collaboration. The soundtrack, features tracks like “Biba Sada Dil Morr De” by Zain Ali, Zohaib Ali, Sami Khan, and Iqra Manzoor, and “Oh Sahib” by Adnan Dhool, Zain & Zohaib.

Release

The series premiered on February 26, 2024, on Zee Zindagi, with new episodes airing every Friday and Saturday. It is also available on Zindagi's YouTube channel and Zee5, with a feature film adaptation released in 2025. The series has been accessible to audiences in India and Pakistan, contributing to its cross-cultural appeal.

Reception

Abdullahpur Ka Devdas received mixed reviews. Critics praised the performances of Bilal Abbas Khan, Sarah Khan, and Raza Talish, as well as the cinematography capturing the essence of Abdullahpur and Lahore. The soundtrack and nostalgic tone were also highlighted as strengths. However, some reviews criticized the slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, and overly poetic dialogue, with Pakistanicinema.net describing it as a “noxious cocktail” of Pakistani drama and Indian soap aesthetics. Others, like Fuchsia Magazine, lauded the emotional depth and character-driven narrative, calling it a “vintage love tale” that resonates with audiences.