Rehana Aftab Disowns Tapish Finale, Blames Unauthorized Changes

ISLAMABAD: (Showbiz Desk) – Pakistani screenwriter Rehana Aftab has publicly distanced herself from the controversial ending of drama serial Tapish, saying the fate given to antagonist Shahzer Sultan was not part of her original script.

Taking to social media, Rehana expressed frustration over what she described as unauthorized creative alterations to a writer’s work. She questioned the practice of changing a storyline after a writer has completed the dialogues and scenes.

In a strongly worded post, Rehana said that those who wish to determine how a drama ends should write their own scripts instead of making changes to a writer’s work.

She also specifically rejected responsibility for Shahzer Sultan’s suicide, reiterating that the antagonist’s death had nothing to do with her writing.

The controversy emerged after Tapish concluded with Shahzer Sultan, played by Muneeb Butt, taking his own life after being rejected by Shifa, portrayed by Laiba Khan.

The ending sparked considerable discussion among viewers, with some criticizing the abrupt conclusion of Shahzer’s storyline. They argued that ending the antagonist’s arc through suicide weakened the narrative and did not provide a more natural resolution to the consequences of his actions.

Other viewers interpreted the ending differently, suggesting that Shahzer’s downfall represented a form of poetic justice after the harm he had inflicted on Shifa throughout the drama.