Author: newsdesk

  • Chahat Fateh Ali Khan grabs Karan Johar’s attention; offers to work for free

    Chahat Fateh Ali Khan grabs Karan Johar’s attention; offers to work for free

    Singer Chahat Fateh Ali, known for his quirky singing on social media, has sent a message to Indian filmmaker Karan Johar.

    Recently, he released the song ‘Toba Toba,’ a rendition of the popular Bollywood song ‘Tauba Tauba,’ originally sung by renowned Indian singer Karan Aujla.
    This song was filmed by Vicky Kaushal in Bollywood and became very popular on the internet due to his dance moves.

    In response, Karan Johar recommended everyone watch the rendition.

    On Instagram, Chahat Fateh Ali posted a video addressing Karan Johar, saying:

    “Assalam o Alaikum. Karoron dilon ki jaan, Chahat Fateh Ali, all the way from London. Today’s special message is for Sir Karan Johar. Sir, first of all, happy birthday to you. May Allah grant you a long life of 120 years. Karan Johar Sahib, I am deeply grateful that you appreciated my talent, acting, and singing. Thank you very much. You are a producer, singer, actor, model, and, in fact, a kingmaker.

    It is my great fortune that you liked my work. I haven’t slept for three nights just thinking about your appreciation. Thank you, sir, thank you very much. It would be a great honor for me to work in one of your films for free if you give me the opportunity. Thank you, sir, thank you very much.”

  • Foreign exchange reserves surge $18 million in a week

    Foreign exchange reserves surge $18 million in a week

    Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have witnessed a slight increase of $18 million in one week.

    The latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) shows that this increase was witnessed in the week ending on October 18, which has pushed the central bank-held reserves to 11.04 billion.

    Total reserves held by the country dropped by more than $94 million to $16.02 billion on a weekly basis.

    The reason behind this reduction can be attributed to the commercial bank holdings, which dropped 2.20 per cent, or $112.2 million, to $4.98 billion in the week under review.

    This fiscal year, the reserves held by the SBP have increased approximately 34 per cent, or $2.82 billion.

    During the same period, the Pakistani rupee has remained largely unchanged against the US dollar, apart from minor gains and losses of a few paisas. 

    As of today, the PKR stands at Rs277.84 per US dollar, while one British Pound holds a value of Rs360 against the Pakistani currency.

  • Danish Taimoor drops hints about his two upcoming dramas

    Danish Taimoor drops hints about his two upcoming dramas

    Fans of Danish Taimoor are now eagerly waiting for his next projects after he recently shared some exciting news.

    During his appearances as a guest on Mazaq Raat hosted by Imran Ashraf.

    A fan from the audience asked, “Danish bhai, what’s your next drama?”

    Danish revealed that he is working on two dramas, one of which is called Shair, and he is starring alongside Sarah Khan.

    Another drama he is working on is “40 per cent” completed, and it is called Man Mast Malang.

    This drama, he said, “will be aired on a great channel, Insha’Allah”.

    His co-star will be Sahar Hashmi, and the Danish character’s name is Kabir.

    Danish Taimoor is currently starring in Jaan Nisar and Teri Chhaon Mein.

  • Why does Farhan Akhtar prefer staying in over going out?

    Why does Farhan Akhtar prefer staying in over going out?

    While many enjoy late-night outings and social gatherings, actor and director Farhan Akhtar prefers a quieter setting.

    In a podcast with Chapter 2 hosted by Rhea Chakraborty, Akhar revealed his love for staying in rather than going out.
    Farhan argued why should a person “who is happier spending time at home, is happy to meet you in the day, in the evening up to a certain time, doesn’t want to go out to a club, doesn’t want to go out to a bar, want to hang out at home” be considered “boring”.

    Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara actor added a lighthearted example, saying that if he were to ask people to join him on a seven-day trek and they refused, should he think, “Oh my God, you’re so boring that you’re not coming for a seven-day trek”?

    Shibani Dandekar, his wife, also shared their love for simple nights at home, saying, “For us, just the thought of sitting on the couch under a blanket and watching stuff on TV is the most exciting day by far.”

    “It’s so exciting, snacks, pyjamas, we live for it. In fact, Farhan often says to me, ‘Should we watch something, should we just like sit on the couch and watch something?’ as if it’s a new thing we’ve never done before, we do it every week,” she added.

    Farhan and Shibani tied the knot on February 19, 2022, in Khandala.

  • Girls these days have very sharp tongues, try to control their husbands: Asma Abbas

    Girls these days have very sharp tongues, try to control their husbands: Asma Abbas

    Senior actress Asma Abbas has advised girls to speak to their husbands with calm and patience to convey their point effectively.

    In an interview with journalist Maleeha Rehman, while discussing marriage, she said, “I want to tell the young generation to set boundaries before making decisions, recognise both the good and bad traits of their partners and think carefully before making choices.”

    “I want to tell girls that everyone has minor flaws and no one is perfect. Our girls are no less, with so many demands and such sharp tongues. Girls should speak to their husbands but do so with control,” she advised.

    “In our time, it was understood that you must make your point, but with a bit of patience and tolerance. When things were said with love, they were accepted,” she added.

    Abbas believes that nowadays, girls are “hasty and say things quickly”.

    “They should have a bit of patience and tolerance, swallow their anger, take a five-minute break, and then make their point. It will be accepted if spoken calmly. One shouldn’t speak in anger; learn to stay quiet in anger, and things will get easier,” she said.

    “Not only girls but men too need to learn to stay quiet in anger. They often mistreat and speak harshly to their wives. Some even resort to abuse and violence, which she is strongly against,” she added.

    Apart from being patient, Asma Abbas also advised setting boundaries.

    “On my YouTube channel, I tell girls that if they are abused or hit, they should leave immediately and not stay with that person because such things should not be tolerated. Abuse and harsh language are horrifying, and if you tolerate it, it will only increase,” she further advised.

    Not allowed to work

    In her interview with Maleeha Rehman, Asma Abbas also admitted that her husband did not allow her to work in showbiz for 18 years after marriage, which is why she had been absent from the drama industry.

    “After marriage, my husband stopped me from working in the entertainment industry. He did not like the entertainment industry,” she said.

    “With my husband in the army, he kept getting transferred, which made it difficult for me to work in show business, so I did not work for 18 years of marriage,” she added.

    “Later, my husband came to understand the entertainment industry, after which he allowed me to work in dramas after 18 years of marriage,” Abbas said.

    She also talked about her daughter Zara Noor Abbas and said, “At the beginning of her career, my daughter made many friends in the entertainment industry, but she got cheated.”

    “Zara Noor Abbas did not understand; she made mistakes and considered everyone in showbiz as her friend, but she soon realised that the entertainment industry is not like that. There are deceptions, and after receiving losses, she understood,” she added.

    Asma Abbas, while talking about awards shows, said, “In Pakistan, only lux and hum awards are held, and there too many people are ignored.

    “I know that I will never get an award, and I do not need an award now.”

    “I played a good role in the play ‘Chupke Chupke’, and the entire team was given an award, but the award was not far away. I was not even nominated and invited,” she said.

    “I hoped that my daughter Zara Noor Abbas would win awards in the future,” Abbas expressed.

    “I never instructed my daughter not to work in the entertainment industry, nor did I impose any strictness on her.”

    Talking about her marriage and career, she said, “I married a serving army colonel at the age of just 23.”

  • 60 American lawmakers ask Biden to push for Imran Khan’s release

    60 American lawmakers ask Biden to push for Imran Khan’s release

    Over 60 democratic lawmakers of the United States House of Representatives called on US President Joe Biden in a letter to use Washington’s leverage with Pakistan to secure the release of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.

    The lawmakers, on Wednesday, wrote a letter to Joe Biden, noting: “We write today to urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Khan, and curtail widespread human rights abuses.”

    Pakistan government denied any such unfair treatment toward the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

    Meanwhile, the State Council today, while appearing before Islamabad High Court, stated that the Punjab government imposed a ban on meeting lawyers with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi amidst security concerns, following that meeting between Khan and lawyers could not be possible.

    Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan responded to the State Council, saying: “Is there a ban on lawyers meeting him? If the Punjab government has prohibited the meeting of the lawyers, it would have committed contempt of court; whoever issued this notification has also committed contempt of court.”

    However, later in the day, it was reported that Adiala Jail authorities had arranged for a meeting between Imran Khan and lawyers Salman Akram Raja, Faisal Fareed Chaudhary and Shoaib Shaheen.

  • Man arrested for threatening Salman Khan with Lawrence Bishnoi’s name

    A man who threatened Salman Khan through the Mumbai Traffic Police using the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has been arrested.

    The police confirmed the arrest in Jamshedpur, according to Indian media.

    “The accused threatened the Bollywood actor by invoking gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and demanded a ransom of Rs five crore from Salman Khan,” revealed the Mumbai Traffic Police.

    The police registered a case against an unknown person and launched an investigation after receiving the threatening message.

    The message was sent to the Mumbai Traffic Police control room on October 18. By October 21, the police received an apology from the man, stating that “the message was sent in error.”

    Police traced the message sender’s location to Jharkhand, where he claimed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and warned of a threat to Salman Khan’s life if he did not pay the extortion.

  • Pindi Test: Pakistan score 73-3 in chase for England’s 267

    Pindi Test: Pakistan score 73-3 in chase for England’s 267

    In the first innings of the Rawalpindi Test match, Pakistan scored 73 runs against England for the loss of three wickets in response to England’s 267.

    In the first innings of the third and final Test match of the series being played in Rawalpindi, England’s team was all out for 267 runs against Pakistan. The English openers provided a start of 56 runs for the team, but Zak Crawley scored 29 and opener Ben Duckett scored 52 before getting out.
    Middle-order batsman Ollie Pope was out for 3, Joe Root and Harry Brook for 5 each, captain Ben Stokes for 12, Rehan Ahmed for 6, and Jack Leach for 16.

    For the English team, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith put up a partnership of 107 runs for the seventh wicket, but Atkinson lost his wicket after playing a resisting inning of 39 runs. Later, Jamie Smith also returned to the pavilion after scoring 91 runs. For Pakistan, Sajid Khan took 6 wickets, Nauman Ali took 3, and Zahid Mahmood took 1.

    Earlier, England won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan. The English team captain Ben Stokes, after winning the toss, decided to bat first, saying they would try to put up a big score against the Green Shirts in the first innings and put them under pressure. On this occasion, the national team captain Shan Masood said that they would have preferred to bat first after winning the toss, but the attempt would be to attack with spinners initially and get quick wickets from the English batsmen.

    Pakistan’s squad: Captain Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood.

    England’s squad: Captain Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir.

  • ‘My mother-in-law asked me to marry her son the moment she saw me,’ says Maham Aamir

    ‘My mother-in-law asked me to marry her son the moment she saw me,’ says Maham Aamir

    Actress Maham Amir revealed that her mother-in-law surprised her by asking her to marry her son, Faizan Sheikh, on set in front of everyone after a few months of brief interactions.

    Recently, Maham Amir and her husband, Faizan Sheikh, were invited to Madeeha Naqvi’s morning show.

    The couple candidly admitted that their lives have changed since becoming parents, gaining patience and a new perspective on things.

    Faizan Sheikh recalled that his mother, Parveen Akbar, once told him he must have a son “because daughters belong to their homes.”

    His mother also said that “daughters belong to other people’s houses,” to which he responded, “I felt like someone was taking my heart out of my chest,” sharing his emotions.

    Similarly, his wife, Maham Amir, jokingly said, “I will find a live-in son-in-law for our daughter,” which made him feel as though his “heart was being torn out.”

    “My daughter is only two and a half years old now, but hearing such things scares me,” Sheikh added.

    The marriage story

    Maham Amir revealed that before their marriage, she and Faizan Sheikh would often meet briefly while acting in theatre. She also had the chance to interact with his mother, Parveen Aapa, who had “casually” asked Amir to marry her son.

    They all were working together on a drama, and one day, the team went to the set to wish the director a happy birthday.

    “After offering prayers, Parveen Aapa said to me, ‘Tum Faizan se shadi kar lo’ (“marry my son Faizan”).

    “I was quite shocked to hear that. I then said to her, ‘Parveen Aapa, first ask your son. I’m not refusing the proposal, but your son should agree to it,’” she replied.

    To which her mother-in-law responded, “If you agree, I’ll manage the rest.”

    Maham Amir and Faizan Sheikh got married in August 2018, and both are considered a romantic couple. Their first daughter was born in December 2021.

  • Ali Raza of Noor Jahan fame reveals Yash Raj offer

    Ali Raza of Noor Jahan fame reveals Yash Raj offer

    Actor and model Ali Raza, who stole hearts as Murad in the hit drama serial Noor Jahan, recently appeared as a guest on the Miss Dramatic YouTube channel, where he revealed that he received an offer from Yash Raj Films.

    The host, Wajiha Jawaid, asked, “What offer did you receive from Yash Raj?”

    Ali replied, “I once received a message from Yash Raj Films casting, specifically from YRF casting, which is an authentic and official page.”

    “A lady named Shaam Ma’am handled it. She messaged me saying, ‘There’s a feature film, and we want you to do it, so please send your contact details.’I sent my contact details, and we had a conversation. They sent me a monologue from ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and said there’s a scene Ranbir has already done, and they wanted to see how I would do it in my style,” he recalled.

    “It was during Ramadan, so I was fasting. I set up the camera and lights and did the scene. I sent it to them, and they liked it. We had more conversations, and they asked for more details. At that point, I thought they must have known I was from Pakistan, but they didn’t. That became a bit of an issue.”

    When the agency proceeded to book Ali’s tickets, he informed them that he was from Lahore, Pakistan. They responded, “Why didn’t you mention this before?” He replied, “You didn’t ask, but my phone number starts with +92, the code for Pakistan. You should’ve noticed.”

    According to Ali, they were still interested, and so was he, as he felt that he was closer to this big opportunity.

    He recalled them saying, “If we ever shoot outside [India], we’ll contact you,” the Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri actor added.

    Ali Raza currently starring in two dramas, Duniyapur and Iqtidar.