Between “Gentleman,” Zard Patton Ka Bunn” and “Jaan Nisar,” Sundays have become exciting for television once again. Written by Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar, directed by Hussam Hussain and starring Humayun Saeed, Yumna Zaidi, Adnan Siddiqui, Zahid Ahmed and Sohai Ali Abro, “Gentleman” appears to be the sort of slick romance we’ve been waiting for. But have the first two episodes lived up to the hype?
Episode 2 follows Munna (Humayun Saeed) as he continues building his name in the world of crime, all while grappling with his feelings for Zarnab (Yumna Zaidi). Zarnab, of course, does not want anything to do with him and is fiercely ethical. Unfortunately, Zarnab’s ethics and ideals are beginning to drive a wedge in her relationship with Faris (Zahid Ahmed), her fiancé, as she upsets his superiors with an interview.
There’s a lot to praise in “Gentleman,” but if there’s one absolutely glaring eyesore in episode two, it’s that ludicrous slap. First of all, aren’t we all over slaps in dramas? Second, Zarnab is supposed to be a street-smart woman of today – so why would she approach a goon who has just fired four shots and slap him? This is not her significant other, Munna is not even her friend. He is just a man who she met on the streets once…..and argued with. This move is playing with fire and reduces Zarnab’s intelligence level in the eyes of the audience. Yumna Zaidi’s performance is great, but we would love if her character would make smart choices as well. Zahid Ahmed is a perfect fit for the role of Faris, soft-hearted, but ready to do what it takes to progress in his field.
Honestly, the highlight of “Gentleman” at present is Adnan Siddiqui’s performance as Rehmati. Rehmati is a fierce leader, but has a comedic streak which keeps audiences hooked. Humayun Saeed is also as natural as ever as Munna. But is it really believable that Munna would fall this heads over heels for Zarnab after just meeting/arguing with her once? Ahmed Ali Butt plays his faithful sidekick, Dilbar. But Dilbar is a confusing character as well – did he mean the curse he gave Munna in the beginning? Or is he beginning to soften with the passage of time?
“Gentleman” is wonderfully shot with a visual appeal which has immediately pulled us into this world of crime. It’s rare to get attached to characters this early on, but there’s a familiarity with which these characters have been written, particularly Munna, Rehmati and Dilbar. “Gentleman” has all the ingredients to be a full-fledged success – but can we avoid the slapping and love at first sight types of tropes moving forward? These should have been left behind in 90s Bollywood.