"Heer Ranjha" is one of several popular tragic romances of Punjab. There are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being the one by Waris Shah in 1766. And in Pakistan's capital Karachi, actors are enthralling audiences in this contemporary retelling of a classic. Let's take a look. 

Two lovers forced to separate due to a family feud and a conspiring relative. It's a story rooted in the narrative of Punjab in the heart of the Subcontinent. "Heer" by Waris Shah has been reproduced and reinterpreted ever since, including by Kaifi Azmi in the early part of the twentieth century. Director Zarqa Naz is using Azmi's adaptation as her inspiration for her own production. Sabiha Zia plays the character of Heer, the eponymous female lead.

SABIHA ZIA, ACTRESS "There's laughter, there's comedy, there's action. There is so much happening in this play. But it's emotionally exhausting. To be happy with your friends, then fall in love, then get beaten up by your parents, and then to get married to somebody else; and then, you know, to find your love back again is a journey. Just thinking about it makes me tired."

The story is epic in its proportions and the reenactment tries to capture as much as possible, like the issue of honor killing. In the play, the jealous uncle poisons Heer -- believing that she should not get married, even if that meant killing her. Director Naz says highlighting issues that are relevant today is as important as educating people about true love.