The cameras may be quiet, but there is hardly any peace inside the Tamasha house. The clock keeps moving, while the contestants go through a challenge that requires them to stay awake continuously. As exhaustion takes over, some pass the time by talking, some dance to keep themselves awake, while others try to follow the rules of the game despite hunger and fatigue.

At first glance, it may seem like a simple game in an entertainment programme. But during these challenges, the contestants’ behaviour, decisions, relationships and disagreements become a major focus for viewers. These are the moments that leave the Tamasha house and become part of social media and public conversations.

Tamasha Pakistan is a reality-based entertainment programme broadcast on ARY Digital. People from different backgrounds are brought together under one roof and kept disconnected from the outside world. While living together, the contestants face various games, challenges and nominations.

The contestants have to do more than simply win the game. They must build relationships inside the house, deal with disagreements, form alliances and try to maintain their position under pressure. In this way, Tamasha is not only a competition of games but also a test of personality, behaviour and strategy.

The programme features different games and challenges. Some test physical endurance, while others require intelligence, concentration and attention. At times, contestants have to spend a certain period under specific restrictions. Winning a challenge can sometimes give a contestant an advantage, such as protection from nomination or a special power. On the other hand, breaking the rules or refusing to follow certain instructions can create difficulties.

Inside the Tamasha house, contestants have to follow the orders of the King. Obeying his commands is considered one of their primary responsibilities, as he is the ruler of the house. The Minister also plays an important role. The Minister is given specific powers and can make decisions regarding certain matters inside the house.

There is also an Adviser who assists the Minister. Contestants who disobey the Minister’s orders or violate house rules may, in certain situations, be sent to jail. In this way, the King, Minister, Adviser, games, nominations and jail together create a system of power and strategy inside the house.

But there is another playing field outside the house, where viewers vote for their favourite contestants. The public plays one of the most important roles in Tamasha. At different stages of the programme, public votes can have a significant impact on a contestant’s journey and eventual success.

Inside the house, contestants compete against one another, while outside, viewers express their preferences. They vote for their favourite contestant and help them remain in the house. The decision over whether a contestant stays or leaves is ultimately made by the public.

Tamasha began its journey in Pakistan in 2022. In the first season, Umar Alam emerged as the winner. The second season was won by Arooba Mirza, Aqeel Malik won the third season, while Saif Ali Khan claimed the title in the fourth season.

Every season has also featured contestants who did not win but managed to establish a strong presence among viewers because of their personalities, gameplay, humour, friendships or controversies.

Arooba Mirza’s popularity, Humaira Asghar’s aggressive style and Saif Ali Khan’s extraordinary public support became some of the notable moments in the programme’s journey. Saif Ali Khan’s fans gave him the title of “Minister of Hearts,” which became a prominent symbol of his popularity among viewers.

Following Saif Ali Khan’s popularity, viewers also developed an increasing interest in Pashtun contestants. In Tamasha Season 5, the number of contestants with Pashtun backgrounds is reportedly the highest.

In the fourth season, a short video related to a fight between Saif Ali Khan and Malaika also became widely discussed on social media. A clip featuring Malaika’s “I ask her” remark attracted viewers’ attention, and the incident later became the subject of further discussion. A brief moment from the house thus became one of the memorable talking points of the season.

Tamasha also faced criticism when it first began. Some sections of society objected to the concept of men and women living together under one roof, arguing that it did not align with religious and social values.

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However, over time, the games, humour, contestants’ personalities, friendships, disagreements and unexpected incidents contributed to the programme’s growing popularity. 

The show that initially faced criticism over its concept eventually became a regular subject of public conversation because of its entertainment value and the personalities of its contestants.

The fifth season is now underway, and this time, contestants with Pashtun backgrounds are receiving particular attention from viewers. Babarak Shah, Esra Ayesha, Dr Zee, Zaib Khan and Hamza Johar are among the prominent names who appear to have gained a strong following on social media.

Babarak Shah and Zaib Khan are both being recognised as contestants with Pashtun backgrounds, while Hamza Johar is also Pashtun. Among them, Babarak Shah and Zaib Khan are considered by some viewers to be potential winners, while Hamza Johar’s presence further highlights the growing visibility of Pashtun contestants in the season.

Babarak Shah is being described as a favourite by many fans, with some even considering him a potential winner of the fifth season. His popularity appears to be linked to his gameplay, poetry, presence inside the house and relationships with other contestants.

His disagreements with Dr Zee often attract viewers’ attention, while his fights with Laila also become topics of discussion among his fans. In this way, both Babarak Shah’s gameplay and controversies are contributing to the public attention surrounding him.

Zaib Khan is also among the contestants with a Pashtun background who are receiving positive attention from viewers. On social media, some viewers place him alongside Babarak Shah among the potential winners. His popularity also suggests that the presence and personalities of Pashtun contestants are playing a significant role in attracting viewers’ attention during the fifth season.

Hamza Johar is also Pashtun and is among the prominent contestants with a Pashtun background in the fifth season. Fans sometimes refer to him as “Baila Chao” because of a song by that name that he sang during his time on Tamasha. Alongside Babarak Shah, Esra Ayesha, Dr Z and Zaib Khan, his presence further highlights how several contestants with Pashtun identities have become part of the wider conversation surrounding the season.

Dr Zee has developed a distinct identity through his humorous style. His comic conversations, unusual antics and involvement in different matters inside the house entertain viewers. His disagreements with Babarak Shah have also kept him in the spotlight.

Esra Ayesha is another prominent face of the fifth season. On social media, some viewers have compared her appearance to the actress who played Gonca Hatun in the popular Turkish drama Kuruluş Osman. This resemblance has generated additional discussion around her, although her strong opinions, disagreements and noticeable presence in the game are also among the reasons for her popularity.

Meanwhile, Saqib Sameer has attracted viewers’ attention in a different way. Helping other housemates, supporting them and maintaining a positive attitude have become part of his identity. As a result, many viewers see him as a contestant who is not only focused on competing but also demonstrates a supportive attitude towards others in the house.

The current situation in the fifth season raises an important question: Are contestants with Pashtun backgrounds really becoming more popular among viewers?

But the question is not limited to a few popular contestants from Tamasha Season 5. It is part of a much broader conversation. In Pakistan, Pashtun characters have often been portrayed in mainstream entertainment through limited or negative stereotypes. In some stories, Pashtuns are associated with militancy, terrorism or unrest, which can reinforce a particular perception of the community.

In contrast, when people with Pashtun backgrounds appear on an entertainment programme like Tamasha without a scripted role and present themselves through their personalities, humour, gameplay, friendships, disagreements and everyday behaviour, viewers get an opportunity to see them from a more human perspective.

And the interest is not limited to Pakistan. Pashtun contestants are also receiving support from audiences around the world. People from India, Bangladesh and Dubai have shared messages on social media in support of Tamasha’s Pashtun contestants.

Saif Ali Khan’s popularity and the title “Minister of Hearts” given to him by his fans can be seen as one example of this changing dynamic. 

Now, the popularity of Babarak Shah, Esra Ayesha, Dr Zee, Zaib Khan and Hamza Johar in the fifth season has brought the discussion into sharper focus: Could Tamasha also be becoming a platform where Pashtun identity is represented in a positive entertainment context?

Many viewers consider Babarak Shah a potential winner, while others also see Zaib Khan as a strong contender for the title. Dr Zee remains popular for his humour, while Esra Ayesha has stood out because of her strong personality and presence.

The presence of Babarak Shah, Esra Ayesha, Dr Zee, Zaib Khan and Hamza Johar has once again placed Pashtun contestants at the centre of the Tamasha conversation.

If this trend is also reflected in voting patterns and direct audience responses, Tamasha could become more than just an entertainment competition. It could also offer an insight into how Pakistani viewers perceive Pashtun identity.

At the same time, the five-season journey of Tamasha shows that the game inside the house and popularity outside it are closely connected. The Minister has authority inside the house, the Adviser assists him, games test the contestants’ abilities, jail serves as a punishment for rule violations, and nominations create the next challenge for every contestant.

But outside the house, viewers have their own power. They watch, form opinions and express their preferences through their votes.

In the end, the question remains: Who will win Tamasha 5? Babarak Shah? Zaib Khan? Dr Zee? Esra Ayesha? Hamza Johar? Or perhaps a contestant whose popularity is quietly growing away from the spotlight?

Every season of Tamasha produces a winner, but the winner is not always the most popular contestant. Sometimes one contestant wins the game and takes home the title, while another remains in viewers’ hearts for much longer because of their personality, behaviour or a memorable moment.

That is why the real story of Tamasha 5 may not be unfolding only inside the house where the contestants are competing.

A second story is being written outside the house — among the people who are watching, commenting, forming opinions and voting.