Author: newsdesk

  • Why Aamir Khan almost left Bollywood and how his family changed his min

    Why Aamir Khan almost left Bollywood and how his family changed his min


    Aamir Khan, one of Bollywood’s biggest starts with over 35 years in the entertainment industry, almost walked away from it all.

    In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aamir Khan and his ex-wife Kiran Rao, discussed the emotional journey that led him to reconsider leaving films and shared how his family convinced him to stay.

    Aamir Khan said, “I was going through a personal journey of my own, and towards the end of COVID, I found myself sitting alone and reflecting. The time alone made me realize that I’d spent the bulk of my adult life, from the age of 18 when I first became an assistant, entirely focused on cinema and films.     This made me think that maybe I hadn’t been there enough for my relationships, my kids, my siblings, my family, whether it was with Kiran when I was married to her or Reena when I was married to her. I felt I hadn’t been present enough for these people.”

    The Taare Zameen Par actor shared that he realized this during the shooting of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha, when the pandemic halted production.

    “I felt a lot of guilt and didn’t feel good about what I had done. So, in an emotional reaction, I thought I’d done enough films in my 35 years in the industry and could now focus on my family and personal relationships”, Khan admitted.

    Aamir Khan reached a point where he felt conflicted between his career and family.

    “I called my family and told them that I wanted to quit films to spend time with them, this wasn’t out of disappointment with cinema, but rather an emotional feeling that I wanted to be more present for my loved ones. I am quite an extreme person, so when I was doing films, I was doing only films. My son Junaid and my daughter Ira convinced me not to quit. They pointed out that I was swinging from one extreme to another, from only films to only family, and suggested I could find a balance. They explained this to me, and eventually, I came back to films”, the Lagaan actor explained.
    Earlier, in a podcast with Reha Chakraborty, Indian actor Aamir Khan, known for perfectionism, made a surprising admission. He acknowledged that his performance in the movie Laal Singh Chaddha was subpar, which contributed to the film’s failure. 


    The anchor was taken aback by his honesty, remarking that no actor or star ever admits to their own performance being the reason for a film’s poor reception.

    Khan responded by saying, “Yes, my performance was not up to the mark, and I have a lot to learn from it. But I’m confident that my next movie will showcase a better performance.” 

    The film Laal Singh Chadda was released on August 11, 2022.

  • Maryam Nawaz responds to criticism over overseas surgery

    Maryam Nawaz responds to criticism over overseas surgery

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz responded to widespread criticism on Wednesday about why she went abroad for her surgery instead of having it done in Pakistan.

    Nawaz, speaking to party workers in London, clarified that she had to undergo parathyroid surgery, which cannot be done in Pakistan, noting that “only Switzerland and America have the technology for this particular surgery.”

    Responding to rumours about her health, she denied having throat “cancer”.

    She stated, while addressing Punjab’s smog crisis, that the smog had developed over the past seven to eight years, and its effects can not be mitigated overnight, noting, “The Punjab government is using AI technology to trace smoke-emitting vehicles.”

    Maryam Nawaz’s remarks came after she was strongly criticised by politicians and activists, who pointed out that her province was grappling with a severe smog crisis while she was enjoying fresh air in Switzerland.

    Lahore is consistently ranked as the worst city in the world in terms of air quality index, according to the Swiss air quality monitor IQAir.

    The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) revealed that a value of 50 or below indicates good air quality, while a value above 300 signals hazardous air quality.

    The air quality index in Punjab’s capital has exceeded 1000 a number of times this year alone.

  • Internet can’t stop laughing at Faysal Quraishi and wife Sana’s viral video

    Internet can’t stop laughing at Faysal Quraishi and wife Sana’s viral video

    Actor Faysal Quraishi and his wife Sana Faysal had their Instagram followers laughing with another funny video.


    After the huge response to their last lip-sync comedy video, Sana posted another funny video with Faysal on Wednesday night. 


    In the new video, Faysal complains about the food she made, but after Sana gives him a stern look, he changes his mind.


    “Due to popular request,” Sana wrote in the caption. 


    The video quickly went viral, with thousands of views, likes, and comments praising the couple’s humor.


    Faysal Quraishi married Sana in 2010. The couple are parents to two children, a daughter named Aayat and a son named Farmaan. Faysal also has an older daughter, Hanish, from his first marriage, who lives with his mother, veteran actor Afshan Qureshi.


    Check the video below:

  • Australia defeats Pakistan by 29 runs in the first T20

    Australia defeats Pakistan by 29 runs in the first T20

    Australia defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in the first T20 match in Brisbane.

    Playing first, Australia scored 93 runs for the loss of wickets in 7 overs. In response, Pakistan could only score 64 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.

    The match was supposed to start at 1 pm, but the game began at 3:20 pm due to rain.

    First inning:

    Australia has set a target of 90 runs in the first T20 match in Brisbane, giving Pakistan the difficult task of obtaining it in seven overs.

    Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl against the host Kangaroos. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took one wicket each, while Abbas Afridi took two wickets.

    For Australia, Glenn Maxwell was dismissed after playing a brilliant innings of 43 runs off 19 balls; his innings included five fours and three sixes.

    In addition, Matthew Short scored 7, and Jack Fraser and Tim David scored 9 runs each.

    According to Pakistani time, the match was supposed to start at 1 pm, but the game began at 3:20 pm. There will be seven overs per inning between the two teams.

    For Pakistan, Haseebullah and Salman Ali Agha will make their T20 debuts against Australia.

  • How Zeeshan Ali’s 10-year-old song turned into a hit on Kabhi Main Kabhi Tu

    How Zeeshan Ali’s 10-year-old song turned into a hit on Kabhi Main Kabhi Tu


     
    If you’ve been watching Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, you have likely heard the beautiful track ‘Sajna Da Dil Torya, which has taken the internet by storm. What’s fascinating is that the song isn’t new, it was actually recorded 10 years ago.
     
     In an interview with Connect Cine hosted by Faridoon Shahryar, singer and composer Zeeshan Ali opened up about the story behind the hit track. 
     
    “I haven’t talked to anyone yet regarding this track. It just didn’t happen to come up, actually. This is a song I recorded ten years ago. The song that recently appeared in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum was actually made a decade ago, and it was the very first song I recorded in my life. We started our career with this. We had initially recorded this song in 2013-14 and kept it aside, always thinking it had great potential.”
     
    Zeeshan never gave up on the song, always believing it needed the right situation to be truly appreciated.  
    “We always felt that if a video were to be made, it should have a storyline or a situation that expresses the song well, so people could understand it better,” he added.
    When the opportunity finally came up, Zeeshan was busy preparing for a US tour.
     
     Ali recalls, “When things were falling into place, I got a call from Fahad Bhai, and he said he needed a song for a drama. I was given a story brief by his assistant, who explained the scene for which the song was required. I mentioned that we were about to start our US tour in six days and would be gone for a month with a packed show schedule, so I might not have time to create something new. Still, I agreed to try.”
     
     The Saadgi singer went on to create a few tracks during that time, but none felt right for the project.
    “Fahad Bhai and his team felt they didn’t fit the situation. So I apologized, saying that if I had more time, I could try more. But we were on edge, preparing for our tour with nine shows in the US, and it was a lot of pressure, so I apologized.”
    That’s when his wife (Irza Khan) reminded him of the long forgotten track. “My wife reminded me about the old track I had put aside, saying it might be suitable.  She asked if I still had the MP3 of the track we made ten years ago. We searched for it, found it in an old email, and sent it to Fahad Bhai. Five minutes later, he called, saying, “This is exactly what we needed for our drama,” he added.
     
    He stated that the song which he had always envisioned with a big cast and a suitable storyline, finally found its moment to shine.
     
    “Now, people are loving it so much. We sit and read the comments every day. I have a habit of going through the comments to see people’s real-time reactions, and it feels great to see something I believed in a decade ago receiving so much love now,” Zeeshan smilingly told the host.
     
    “So, you recorded it again, right? You did the same version you recorded 10 years ago,” he was asked. 
     
    Interestingly, Zeeshan didn’t record the song again for Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. Ali replied, “Actually, what’s interesting is that I didn’t record this one, these are my vocals from 10 years ago, and the entire musical production is from 10 years ago as well. We didn’t touch it at all. I specifically requested this from Fahad Bhai. I said, ‘If you want this song, my request is that we can’t change anything in it.’” 

    Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Badar Mehmood, turned into a huge hit with fans from Pakistan, India and across the globe tuning in to watch the love story.

  • ‘Imran Khan’s real imprisonment has just begun,’ says Muneeb Farooq

    ‘Imran Khan’s real imprisonment has just begun,’ says Muneeb Farooq

    Political analyst Muneeb Farooq confirmed on Wednesday that the conditions for Imran Khan in jail have been made stricter amid the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership’s consistent claims about the inadequacy of facilities in the party founder’s cell.

    Farooq, on the Hum News programme Hum Dekhen Gey, claimed that former Prime Minister (PM) Khan’s “real” imprisonment has just started.

    “Imran Khan is being dealt with strictness in Adiala Jail,” Farooq added.

    He further stated that the recent claims made by PTI leadership about Khan being mistreated in jail were “not exaggerated” and noted, “multiple instances of electricity cut-offs have occurred in Imran Khan’s cell.”

    Noreen Khanum Niazi, sister of Imran Khan, filed a petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) two weeks ago, alleging that her brother is being deprived of the facilities in Adiala Jail.

    The petition further states that access to newspapers, television, and exercise has been revoked for Khan, and the electricity in his cell has also been cut off.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, in a video message on October 28, warned the federal government, saying, “I am warning the federal government that if Imran Khan is not treated well, everyone should be prepared for a reaction.”

    “Khan’s sisters informed me about Imran Khan’s poor conditions, including inadequate meals and lack of exercise,” Gandapur added.

    Commenting on the release of Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, after nine months of incarceration, Muneeb Farooq claimed that her release was the result of “understanding”.

    Bushra Bibi was apprehended on January 31, 2024, after an Islamabad accountability court sentenced her and Imran to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana reference.

    She has recently been released on bail from Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

    Imran Khan was arrested from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, in August 2023, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case.

    He has been in jail since then on multiple charges.

    Currently, he is held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail under high security and with B-class facilities owing to his status as a former premier.

    Earlier, he was held in Attock Jail. 

    The incarcerated PM is facing several cases, including the £190 million reference (Al Qadir Trust case) and a new Toshakhana case.

  • ‘We’ve turned marriage into a time bomb,’: Hina Altaf’s viral advice sparks debate

    ‘We’ve turned marriage into a time bomb,’: Hina Altaf’s viral advice sparks debate

    Renowned actress Hina Altaf has given advice about marriage to her fans. 


    She spoke about marriage on her YouTube channel in a recent vlog and said, “Never rush into marriage, there is no age for marriage.”


    A video clip of the actress is going viral on social media in which she says that when a person is lucky and the right person comes into their life, then they should decide on marriage.


    Hina Altaf said, “When your heart says that this is the person, get married at that time. We have also made marriage a time bomb that time will pass, age will pass, get married; it doesn’t happen like that.”


    She further said, “Don’t rush into marriage and ignore those who pressurize you to get married early. Say, relax and let me take it easy too.”


    Hina Altaf and Agha Ali have divorced, which was confirmed by the actor himself.


    Agha Ali and Hina Altaf got married in May 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rumors of a separation surfaced in 2022, which Agha Ali denied.

    Earlier his ex-husband Agha Ali  talked about his experience after divorce from his ex-wife Hina Altaf. 

    During a podcast with Ahmed Ali Butt, he reflected on his life after divorce. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m doing good, I’m now doing pretty well, actually. Very happy to say that and happy to feel it at the same time. Life is tough, but what can I say.” 

      
     Talking about her ex-wife Hina Altaf: 

     Aagha said, “The good thing is that we should never stop respecting each other. There’s nothing better than this because in most relationships, when they end, people lose respect for each other.”   

     
    “I think that any relationship in your life that you have built with your own happiness, you should put in all your effort to maintain it. You should pray as well, but if you can’t make it work, then the only way out is to separate.” Agha added.
     


    Thinking about how divorce affects us emotionally, the Ishqaway actor said, “When relationships end, usually nothing remains except hatred  so, yes, it was very tough and something I could never have imagined in my life, but again, if you both try with all your heart, then the only option left is to wish each other well and move on.”

  • Firewall, VPN blockage necessary to save youth: Tahir Ashrafi

    Firewall, VPN blockage necessary to save youth: Tahir Ashrafi

    Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, while addressing Ulema-e-Mashaikh Convention on November 13, said that “Firewall and blocking of VPNs are necessary steps to save the youth.”

    “You have to take all these steps, including blocking apps, VPNs, or installing firewall if you want to save the younger generation,” said the state-affiliated religious scholar.

    Authorities in Pakistan have taken dramatic steps to control social media, including thee blockage of X (formerly Twitter). Ironically, the Prime Minister of Pakistan also uses X regularly to share his views, which isn’t possible without the use of VPNs.

    In September 2024, the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) clarified that virtual private networks (VPNs) in the country would not be blocked.


    As the government decided to ban the social media platform X in February, the use of VPNs by local internet users witnessed a significant increase in 2024.

    A report by Top10VPN, an independent VPN review website, stated that the demand for proxy networks increased by 131 per cent on Feb 19, two days after X was blocked.

    “Recent news circulating in media about PTA to block VPNs, it is clarified that VPNs are not being blocked in Pakistan,” PTA said in a statement.

    “However, PTA is encouraging all IT companies, software houses, freelancers and banks, etc, to register their IPs for using VPNs so that in case of any disruption, the internet services to these entities are not affected.”

    Users have also complained about the slowdown of the internet ever since the government undertook trial runs of firewall technology, while information technology minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said during a press conference in August that the “use of VPNs was the reason for the slowdown of internet services across the country.”

    However, contrary to the PTA’s earlier clarification, users have reported problems accessing VPNs since last week. ProPakistani reported that their sources confirmed, “unregistered VPNs are being blocked through a firewall and are temporarily blocked for whitelisting.”

    After a controversy over blocking virtual private networks (VPNs) and growing public anger in Pakistan, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Wednesday rolled out a streamlined process for legitimate users to register their VPNs.

    The PTA held a consultation session on the VPN registration framework yesterday. Representatives from the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication (MoIT&T), the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Pakistan IT Association (P@SHA) attended the session.


     
    According to a statement issued by the PTA, the session aimed to foster a secure environment for the IT and e-commerce sectors in Pakistan.


     
    “The PTA introduced a streamlined VPN registration process, allowing legitimate users to register their VPNs through a new online platform at ipregistration.pta.gov.pk,” the statement further said.

  • ‘Isko aik aur notice aye ga’, Haris Rauf’s conversation with Fakhar goes viral

    ‘Isko aik aur notice aye ga’, Haris Rauf’s conversation with Fakhar goes viral

    National cricket team’s opening batsman Fakhar Zaman has been in the news ever since he posted a message supporting Babar Azam, eventually getting dropped from the team. 

    Fakhar Zaman had questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its decision to rest Babar Azam for two matches of the series against England, after which he was issued a show-cause notice.

    Recently, another video of the batsman went viral on social media, where he is participating in a private TV show, and fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi are also present with him.

    The host asked Fakhar Zaman, “Will we ever see Babar Azam on the Lahore Qalandars team?”  On this, Fakhar bowed his head and said he would not mention Babar’s name. All the teammates laughed out loud at Fakhar’s answer, while Haris Rauf was seen telling Shaheen Afridi, “The camera is on; now he will get another notice.”

    In a statement released on social media, Fakhar gave the example of Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, saying that when he was out of form, he was not given rest, so why was Babar given rest, after which a show cause notice issued? 

    Later, Fakhar Zaman, while responding to the show cause notice, said that Babar Azam is one of the best batsmen in the world; he is also a good friend, which is why he expressed his opinion.

    He was not included in the squad for the Australia and Zimbabwe series and was not given a central contract by PCB.

  • Hania Aamir wants to meet Shahrukh Khan, and we can totally identify

    Hania Aamir wants to meet Shahrukh Khan, and we can totally identify


    Bollywood Badshah Shahrukh Khan is not just the favourite of mere mortals like us but also the preferred idol that big name celebs want to meet. His list of admirers include one of Pakistan’s biggest star, Hania Aamir.  
     
    Indian journalist Faridoon Shahryar hosted a meet and greet session with the breakout star in Toronto, where the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actress expressed a heartfelt wish to meet the Bollywood King. 
     
    “Shahrukh Khan, if you are watching this video, please meet me, I haven’t met you yet, and that’s very sad,” the charming actress said smilingly. 
    Hania was then asked about her favorite Shahrukh Khan film and she immediately replied, “Om Shanti Om is my favorite film.” The 2007 smash hit starred Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Arjun Rampal. 
     
    While on tour in Canada, Hania regularly met fans as her astounding hit Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum continued to go strong both in India and Pakistan. 
     
    In response to a question related to marriage, she said, “I have no intention of getting married right now.”
     
    Continuing in the same vein, Hania stated, “I am a simple girl. Whenever I get married, I will make sure to announce it loudly and clearly.”
     
    In response to another question, the actress said, “Borders at the frontiers cannot separate people. No one can put restrictions on whom you love from the heart. That’s why I travel abroad, so I can meet those who like me. It brings me joy to meet all of you.” 
     
    Last week, Hania Aamir attended an event hosted by Indian journalist Faridoon Shahryar, where she shared that she won’t be able to attend the KMKT finale back in Pakistan.  
     
    Fans were eagerly waiting to see the final episode. Aamir explained, “I know, I won’t be able to attend it but fans in Canada were also waiting for me for so long.”
     
    Talking about her time in Montreal, she said, “I am feeling great to be here, and I have interacted with extremely warm people.” 
    Reflecting on the overwhelming response to her performance as Sharjeena. 
     
    “I haven’t experienced this much love before, It’s amazing to feel this connection with viewers, I do resonate with Sharjeena and even respond to her sometimes,” the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actress added. 
    Hania Aamir starred in dramas such as, ‘Titli’  ‘Phir Wohi Mohabbat’, ‘Mujhay Jeenay Do’, ‘Visaal’, 
     ‘Ishqiya’, ‘Dil Ruba’, ‘Mere Humsafar’, ‘Sang-e- Mah’, ‘Mujhe Pyaar Huha’ and she last starred in ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.’

    She also starred in films such as, ‘Janaan’, ‘Na Maloom Afraad 2’, ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon ’, ‘Load Wedding’, ‘SuperStar’ and  ‘Parde Mein Rehne dou.’