Most of the other roles are played by Afghan actors and the serial has been shot mostly in villages around Kabul. The first seven episodes were shot in 35 days by an Indian crew from the Kabul-based AINA Media & Culture Centre.

“We conceptualised the story as a family drama, and though the subject is very hard to tell to the public, we took comedy as a medium. We thought about using the struggle of a woman doctor to drive home the point with female viewers,” says Prasant Satapathy, the director of the serial.

Satapathy is relieved that there have been no protests so far. “Making a film or TV serial in Afghanistan is not easy as religious sensitivities are involved. But thankfully people liked our first episode and are even telling us that it is better than any local director showing their religion and culture,” he says.