My name is Yousuf), previously titled Zulekha Bina Yusuf[1] (زلیخا بنا یوسف, "Yousuf without Zulekha"), is a Pakistani television drama serial, which originally aired on A-Plus Entertainment from 17 March 2015 till 27 October 2015, comprising a total of 20 episodes.
Mera Naam Yousuf Hai stars Maya Ali[2] and Imran Abbas as the title characters Zulaikha and Yusuf, respectively, as well as Hina Khawaja Bayat, Waseem Abbas, Behroze Sabzwari, Mizna Waqas and Mansha Pasha in recurring roles.
Saadia Jabbar produced the series, and it aired on A-plus Entertainment as part of a night programming of 20:00.
Zulaikha's father sees him and remembers him as the train man, and now Yousuf is slapped multiple times.
Producer Sadia Jabbar chose Imran Abbas Naqvi and Maya Ali to play the leading roles of Yousuf and Zulaikha, respectively.
[3][4] The actors Mansha Pasha, Waseem Abbas, Behroze Sabzwari, Hina Khawaja Bayat, and Seema Seher were selected to portray Madiha, Noor Muhammad, Waji Ahmed, Afiya, and Hajira, respectively.
The filming of ’Mera Naam Yousaf Hai’ began in November 2014 and was completed in February 2015 under the title Zulaikha Bina Yousuf.
The series aired in UAE, USA, Ireland, UK, Austria, Europe, Canada and Latin America, excluding India.
Sadaf Siddiqui of Dawn News states that Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is off to a smooth start[12] in her issue.
She praised the Writer's story line, stating "Writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar's pen aspires to the tragic, the epic, and the unusual, and as his previous drama Pyare Afzal has shown, in some cases it succeeds .She also praised Mehreen Jabbar as director, stating Director Mehreen Jabbar managed to keep Khalil sahib’s flair for drama under her subtle control.
It helps that the drama's production values are excellent, as is the visual story telling with hints at the characters inner lives.
[12] Siddiqui, in her other issue, praised the show's plot and melodrama, stating, "TV drama Mera Naam Yousuf Hai plays the filmi card and wins."
She further added that "it isn't merely film in the sense that it features over-the-top melodrama; there are also a fair number of larger-than-life events to contend with.
These events aren't just plot points pushing the story forward; they're like cogs in a vast machine that represent the characters' interconnected, messy lives.
"[13] She commented on Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar's screenplay, stating that "Khalil sahib's script brings into question society's hypocrisies and double standards, as well as the different roles, expectations, and allowances for men and women."
"[13] In an issue of Dawn 6 April 2015, Sadaf Siddiqui stated that "Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is a One- sided love story so far."
She comments not the plot, stating, "What does one do when one's own parents are engaged in a game of one-upmanship, placing one's freedom and right to choose in jeopardy?".
"[14] On 29 July 2015, Sadaf Siddui praised the show's screenplay and storyline, commenting, "Do class concerns trump love?
It is sheer mastery that makes allowance for conservatism and added that he carefully tends to family relationships and friendships.
She also praised the series conclusion, where she added that "The biggest surprise perhaps was that Khalil sahib allowed the lovers to reunite, however not without a near death experience".