Best entertainment news in the industry, we break entertainment stories as soon as celebrities post on their social media and do Pakistani drama reviews.
Singer, music director and composer Shani Arshad was recently invited as guest in Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast. He discussed his musical journey. He also gave advice to Pakistani singers including Ali Sehti, Atif Aslam, Asim Azhar.
While giving advice to Ali Sethi, Shani Arshad said, “Ali Sethi should sing a song in English.” While offering advice to Atif Aslam, Shani said, “He should be more humble and not think too highly of himself.”
He expressed concern about the future of Pakistani singers, saying, “Our music scene is lacking because singers aren’t consistently releasing hit songs. For instance, Kaifi Khalil released a new song after ‘Kahani Suno’, but it didn’t gain popularity, even though it was a great song.”
Actor and model Affan Waheed was invited as a guest on Showtime with Ramiz Raja. A video clip of him is going viral on Instagram. He declared Sajal Ali the best actress in the Pakistani industry
The host of the program asked Affan Waheed to choose the best actress among five different actresses, and he chose Sajal Ali. When asked to choose between Sajal Ali and Saba Qamar, Affan Waheed was hesitant and said, “This is a very difficult question. Can I take both names?” However, when the host refused, he said “I chose Sajal Ali as the best actress.”
Joining the many celebrities speaking up for Palestinians, American rapper Macklemore has found success with his latest song, ‘Hind’s Hall.’ The track openly condemns Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
According to The Guardian, ‘Hind’s Hall’ is named after a Columbia University building that student protesters renamed from Hamilton Hall, to honour Hind Rajab, a five-year-old child killed by Israeli military in Gaza.
“If students in tents posted on the lawn / Occupying the quad is really against the law / And a reason to call in the police and their squad / Where does genocide land in your definition, huh?” Macklemore raps, pointing out the police crackdown on student protests in the US. Students across college campuses made headlines for standing in solidarity with people suffering in Gaza.
Making a splash on several Billboard charts, Forbes reported that in its first week, ‘Hind’s Hall’ sold 6,773 copies. The song achieved high positions on several charts thanks to strong sales, marking a notable win for the Grammy-winning rapper.
‘Hind’s Hall’debuted at number 7 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart. This is only the second time Macklemore has reached the top 10 on this list without his former collaborator, Ryan Lewis.
The track also topped the Rap Digital Song Sales chart, which ranks the best-selling rap-only tracks in the country. Although it didn’t hit number 1, it came close behind Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
‘Hind’s Hall’ also performed well on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, debuting at number 3. True to his values, Macklemore announced that proceeds from the song will go towards helping Palestinian refugees.
Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan is making his acting debut in the film ‘Maharaj’, releasing on Netflix on June 14. The film is directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra’s Netflix India. Jaideep Ahlawat posted the film poster with the caption, “The fight for the truth between a powerful man and a fearless journalist. Based on true events from the 1860s – ‘Maharaj’ is releasing on 14 June, only on Netflix!”
The film ‘Maharaj’ is based on true events. In 1862, India had only three universities and was fighting for independence. A brave journalist and social reformer, Karsandas Mulji, stood up for women’s rights and social change. He was a student at Elphinstone College and worked with a prominent leader, Dadabhai Naoroji. Mulji wrote about important issues like widow remarriages and fought for the oppressed. He was involved in the Maharaj Libel Case, a historic court case that marked a turning point in Indian history.
British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa is once again calling for an urgent and permanent ceasefire as Israel’s military actions in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where numerous Palestinian civilians have reportedly lost their lives in recent days. Dua Lipa is once more advocating for an immediate and enduring ceasefire.
On May 28, the pop star posted an Artists for Ceasefire image with the hashtag “#AllEyesOnRafah” on her Instagram Story, stating, “Burning children alive can never be justified.” The harsh condemnation of Israel followed Israel’s massacre in Rafah where videos showed children decapitated and burnt alive.
Lipa said, “The whole world is mobilising to stop the Israeli genocide, please show your solidarity with Gaza.” She signed an open letter from Artists for Ceasefire, encouraging President Joe Biden to support peace in Gaza, a few weeks after the strikes on October 7. She was among many celebrities who supported the initiative. She freely expressed her thoughts on the fight three months later in her January cover story for Rolling Stone.
On Monday, 45 people were killed in a fire that started in a tent camp in the Gazan city of Rafah due to an Israeli attack. This led to international protest from leaders around the world, who requested the enforcement of a ICJ ruling to stop Israel’s genocide
Health officials in Gaza stated that women, children, and the elderly made up more than half of the deceased and that the number of fatalities was probably going to increase due to those who had serious burns. Over 45 million users, including local and international celebrities, shared the viral ‘All eyes on Rafah’ story on Instagram. At least 36,171 Palestinians have been killed and 81,420 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7.
Today is the second death anniversary of the late Punjabi singer/rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who was the ‘King of Punjabi music industry’ and ‘Heartthrob of Young Hearts’.
On May 29, 2022, Sidhu Moose Wala was brutally murdered by gunfire in Jawaharke village of Mansa district on May 29, 2022. Over 30 bullets were fired at him.
Lawrence Bishnoi, a renowned mobster, was later identified as the murder’s facilitator. The singer, a political activist who ran for office in the last election from Mansa on a Congress ticket but was unsuccessful, was the target of the attackers’ long-standing anger.
The Indian police have been unable to locate the criminals and prosecute them, even after making many arrests. Today, the family of Sidhu Moose Wala has announced a unique ceremony to honor his memory.
His mother has posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, saying, “We remember you, dear son Sidhu. We will never forget you, and your memory will always be alive in our hearts. This day is written in black ink in history.”
Moose Wala’s father, Sardar Balkaur Singh Sidhu, has also posted a picture of his son and appealed for justice, using the hashtag #JusticeForSidhuMooseWala. He expressed his disappointment and frustration over the lack of justice, saying, “Justice has become a distant hope.”
Veteran actor Naumaan Ijaz was invited as a guest on ‘Meer Means Business’ show where he also talked about how the younger generation doesn’t appreciate hard work these days and instead looks for shortcuts.
He also made a surprising confession about his son Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz decision to enter the entertainment industry.
Naumaan Ijaz said, “I never wanted my son to become an actor. It was written in his fate, otherwise, I never took my sons to any set I was working on and never invited any artists to my house.”
Terming himself a “normal man” when at home, the celebrated actor said he does regular chores and fixes things. “I didn’t want my son to enter this field because it’s tough to make a living here.”
While he may have had objections to his son becoming an actor, we are glad he did. has given us many hits like Sang-e-Mah and Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha
Host and stand – up comedian Tabish Hashmi is one of our favourite people on screen but did you know that until very recently, his family was living in India?
The star host was invited as a guest on Hafiz Ahmed’s Podcast where he detailed the difficulties his family faced when they shifted to Pakistan from India in 1984.
“My father moved to Pakistan in 1984, leaving behind a comfortable life in India where he had a good job. His brothers, who were already settled in Pakistan, encouraged him to make the move. It was my grandmother’s illness that finally prompted him to take the leap. While my father’s sacrifice was significant, as he gave up his job, it was my mother who made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind her entire family to join my father in Pakistan. My elder sisters were born in India, and I was born in Pakistan.”
Talking about how his father became a citizen of Pakistan, he said, “At that time, it was relatively easy to settle in Pakistan by showing investment in the form of dollars or money. Fortunately, my father had the necessary funds, so we were able to obtain Pakistani nationality.”
Well, we are glad that Tabish’s family made the move. Or else we would have been deprived of one of our brightest stars.
Actress Zara Noor Abbas recently gave an interview to Political Insight YouTube channel, where she discussed how accepting parenthood has changed her.
Zara Noor said, “Becoming a mother has completely eliminated my anger. Now, I value time and get my things done before time. Motherhood has also made me more empathetic towards others, especially fellow mothers, and I’ve become more loving and compassionate.”
Talking about parenting she said, “Parenting is a learning process, and my goal is to raise my daughter to be a good person and a responsible citizen. Instead of pressuring her to excel academically, I’ll focus on nurturing her kindness and empathy, helping her grow into a caring and understanding individual.”
Pakistani dramas have a huge fanbase at home and abroad, but lately, there’s been debate about the scripts. TV dramas still attract massive viewership, however, the endings can make or break the whole experience. Unfortunately, many recent dramas have left viewers disappointed with their conclusions, tarnishing their otherwise strong narratives.
Here are some popular Pakistani dramas that aired recently but disappointed viewers with unsatisfying endings.
Ishq Murshid
‘Ishq Murshid,’ a hugely successful drama, faced a similar fate with its ending. The storyline, centered around Shibra and Shahmeer, started off promising but ended in confusion. The rushed wedding and the addition of another cultural ceremony felt unnecessary. Shahmeer’s character, portrayed as a killer in the end, lacked development and failed to contribute positively. Meanwhile, Shibra’s naivety, despite knowing she was marrying a politician, seemed unrealistic. The drama, which initially had a strong plot, concluded poorly, leaving viewers puzzled. Despite this, the makers profited from cinema screenings.
Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha
‘Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha’ starred Wahaj Ali from ‘Tere Bin’ and Hania Aamir from ‘Mere Humsafar.’ It aimed to be a love story featuring Kaifi Khalil’s famous song, ‘Kahani Suno.’ However, despite high hopes, the chemistry between the leads never clicked with the audience. The drama ended suddenly, with Hania accepting Wahaj’s love, while Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz found himself in another controversy caused by his cousin, leaving viewers puzzled.
Namak Haaram
The drama promised us a thrilling murder mystery and a tale of revenge, starring the popular duo Imran Ashraf and Sarah Khan. However, what unfolded was disappointing. By the fifth or sixth episode, the plot became predictable, with unnecessary characters hogging too much screen time. In the end, the hero was killed without achieving anything significant. The heroine, on the other hand, fell into a deep depression, living a life in servant quarters and raising her child alone. It was a letdown for the audience, wasting their time and energy.
Mein
‘Mein’ was a highly anticipated drama, boasting a big budget and starring Ayeza Khan and Wahaj Ali. However, the outcome was disappointing. Despite having Ayeza and Wahaj as leads, the focus shifted to Asif Uncle’s character, overshadowing the hero. The ending was unsatisfactory, with no character finding happiness. Wahaj Ali’s character was portrayed as foolish and lacking control over life’s circumstances. It was a letdown for viewers who expected more from the drama.
Tere Bin
‘Tere Bin’ was a huge hit among Pakistani dramas, thanks to the amazing chemistry between Yumna Zaidi and Wahaj Ali. However, the ending left much to be desired. The original story involved Meerab experiencing marital rape and leaving her husband, Murtasim, eventually giving birth to their daughter. However, due to public pressure, the makers changed this plot. Unfortunately, this decision left the story feeling disjointed, with Meerab’s actions seeming illogical. Despite its success, many viewers were unhappy with how the drama ended, feeling that the sensitive issue of marital rape was mishandled.
