Category: Entertainment

Best entertainment news in the industry, we break entertainment stories as soon as celebrities post on their social media and do Pakistani drama reviews.

  • A wholesome detail in Kiara and Sidharth’s wedding has fans swooning

    The wedding of Bollywood actors Sidhart Malhotra and Kiara Advani was the most anticipated event of the year, with millions of fans around the world flocking to send their well wishes to the new couple as soon as they uploaded a video on Instagram.

    But what fans realized later was the inclusion of the song ‘Ranjha’ in the wedding video, which had previously been used in the film ‘Sheershah’ where both starred as star-crossed lovers in the backdrop of the Kargil war.

    The iconic song ‘Ranjha’, sung by Jasleen Royal and B Praak, was originally about the heartbreak both characters had to endure when they parted ways because of the war,. However, fans were deeply moved to find out that the song was re-written for the bride’s entry.

    The filming team “The Wedding Planner” shared exclusive details revealed that the couple chose ‘Ranjha’ as their song, so they called some people to re write it in order to fit their day!

    ‘Very few humans are so generous with their love that they are willing to share it with the world. She wanted to walk towards Sidharth on ‘Ranjha’, which is their song. “But it’s a sad song!” I argued. “But it’s our song!” She maintained! So we rewrote the lyrics with respect to fit the situation we were in, and suddenly, everyone’s dreams came true! ‘

    Prerna Arora and Ashwani Basoya, who sang the new version, shared clips of the wedding on their Instagram page, and thanked the Bollywood stars for including them in their big day.

    “I feel really happy and honoured to share this with you all. ❤️ Recorded my vocals for @kiaraaliaadvani and @sidmalhotra wedding day song – “Ranjha”
    As we say, it was a happy ending for Shershaah and Dimple in the parallel universe..” wrote Arora

    “Every wonderful opportunity in my life is just Grace ✨
    Thankful and grateful to have sung a happier version of YOUR song for you both @kiaraaliaadvani @sidmalhotra. It’s an honour to be a small part of your beautiful Love.
    Wishing you a lifetime of Love and Happiness ! ❤️” wrote Basoya

    The lyricist Shraddha Sehgal, had shared the song lyrics of ‘Ranjha’ on her Instagram page.

    Fans on Twitter were moved to tears by this wholesome dedication

    Cue to us sobbing alone as well

  • ‘The biggest mistake parents make is not teaching their daughters about their rights’ Komal Rizvi opens up about domestic abuse in her first marriage

    ‘The biggest mistake parents make is not teaching their daughters about their rights’ Komal Rizvi opens up about domestic abuse in her first marriage

    Singer and actress Komal Rizvi was a guest on Nadir Ali’s podcast where she opened up about her abusive first marriage and how she managed to escape it.
    Recalling her past, Rizvi revealed that she was quite naive at the time she got married, as she was only 21 years old and this was a semi-arranged marriage for which she had been given only four months to accept the propsal. The actress had lived in Dubai for a year, and later shifted to Oman when the beatings began, getting worse to the point that even the police had to be called.

    “I was 21 years old when I had gotten married, so I was very young… When we lived in Oman, I didn’t have any family or friends that I could escape to, and my ex-husband never gave me any money to keep me under his control. One time, I called the police on him when he was beating me. But instead of taking action, they dismissed it as a domestic problem and left, leaving me completely alone with him.”

    Recalling what she had learned from her past ordeal, after getting a divorce four years later, the actress said she wished more parents would educate their children about understanding boundaries, because her husband would psychologically abuse her to believe the beatings she was receiving were her own fault.

    “Women from the start in our society are told that they will have a beautiful wedding, after which they will have a husband who will take care of all of their needs. Which is why, so many women are willing to give their 200% in order to make their marriages work. But I detest that we never teach women about the importance of establishing boundaries, that let alone their husband, no man can cross. Which is the thing I regret the most because then I would not have wasted three and a half years trying to make my marriage work. My husband would play all sorts of mind games to gaslight me and make me feel like I am responsible for the beatings because I made him angry. For instance, he would say ‘it’s your fault that you served me with cold food, so I hit a frying pan on your head.’ I kept believing that if I loved him better or worked harder, he would be proud of me.”

    Rizvi especially emphasized how important it is that women are emotionally strong and be vary of men who try to encourage them to abandon their careers and dreams, because this is how her husband treated her.

    “Men like my ex-husband, who are psychopaths, especially try to ensure that they trap the girl to prevent her from escaping in any way. They go after girls like me who were quiet independent and successful, and ask her to abandon all of this in order to become a wife. They want a simple, meek girl who has no independence or opinions of her own, so they can bend her in to two pieces.”

    After escaping her abusive marriage, Rizvi recalled that it was incredibly difficult to be happy and come out of her dark hole, and said that it’s important that society helps women understand that their life isn’t over after a divorce, and provide them with the support system and care one needs.

    ‘Because I was very young when I got divorced. I used to think ‘Oh my life is over! Who would marry me?’ Now I look back and I’m shocked that I said things like this because I remind myself today that I still have a long way to go!” joked Rizvi.

    On the lesson she wished parents, and especially men, would take away from her revelation, Rizvi said that men need to learn to respect women, and ensure that when they’re bringing a woman who had a lot of protection when she lived with her parents, ‘Make sure you provide her the same amount of honor, respect and love. And when she becomes the mother of your children, provide her with twice the amount of love and care than you usually gave.”

  • ‘Kuch Ankahi’ is the fresh breath of air the entertainment industry needed

    ‘Kuch Ankahi’ is the fresh breath of air the entertainment industry needed

    It isn’t an easy task to find authentic representation of women’s stories in Pakistani dramas. Limited creative freedom to explore sensitive social issues and a refusal by most script writers to recognize that making stories interesting with misogynist tropes won’t work is to blame. But Kuch Ankahi is a wonderful welcome for audiences craving good story telling. A slice of life centered around a family in Karachi where three sisters navigate their way through body shaming, pressure to marry, career ambitions and supporting each other thick and thin. There are multiple reasons why you should include this drama in your to-watch list right away!

    1 The similarity to the golden age of PTV dramas

    Many users have praised the show’s use of warm tones and feminist narratives that reflect some of the 80s and 90s classics on PTV like Tanhaiyaan, Dhoop Kinaray and Ankahi, which were written by Haseena Moin and featured strong women with incredible stories.

    2. Rejecting traditional masculinity

    Unlike how recent Pakistani dramas have championed toxic masculinity by romanticizing abusive relationships and toxic men, Kuch Ankahi depicts a world where men and women can exist in harmony. Men are shown doing basic chores, developing close friendships with women and even motivating them to pursue their dreams without adding a romantic element to it, because yes men and women can be platonic friends. The most wholesome example of this has to be the father Agha Jee, who is more than a best friend to his daughters and is quick to remind any man that his daughters are stronger than him.

    3. The subtle, yet powerful way the drama champions original storytelling

    In an industry where the popularity of a drama depends on following a repeated formulae, and consistently re-using misogynist tropes like the virgin and the whore, the gold digger, or the shallow man-hating feminist, Kuch Ankahi has carved its own space by encouraging audiences, especially the entertainment industry, to respect original story telling, and stop shutting out marginalized voices who deserve platforms for representation. A powerful scene that had circulated widely on social media showed a poster of the film Joyland hanging on a wall. Joyland was censored and widely criticized among conservative critics for featuring a relationship between a transgender woman and a man, but in this moment the drama sent out a solidarity note to storytellers in Pakistan who wanted to bring different perspectives to the screen but were denied the right to do so.

    4 Tackling social issues like body shaming, marriage pressure or women’s access to social media

    In the past shows like Dil Na Umeed To Nahi were sent notices by PEMRA for changing their content material, as the show tackled the lives of child sex workers and human trafficking. Kuch Ankahi refuses to back away from highlighting the pressures and stigma women face and executes them in a gentle but brilliant manner. Take for instance Parmeesh, the daughter of the Hindu woman Meena, who loves making videos on Tik Tok but is barred from using a mobile phone after her mother discovers her videos. Or Saima, the eldest daughter, who is consistently pressurized by her mother to marry Saif-ur-Rehman.

    5 Side characters aren’t just props, but are fleshed out with their own storyline

    Pakistani dramas usually categorize characters as either black or white, and keep characters other than the main leads to the background. In Kuch Ankahi, each character is fleshed out with their own background and original purpose, rather than becoming just another prop to the main character’s journey. An interesting example of this could be Saif-ul-Rehman, the man Saima is suppose to marry. Like a lot of sons, he is being forced by his mother to marry of her choice when he actually wishes to marry someone else.

    Kuch Ankahi airs every Saturday on 8 pm on ARY digital.

  • Netflix shares full list of globally trending shows and movies

    Netflix reveals the list of the top 25 movies and series trending globally.

    Here’s the list of the top 25 trending movies and series:

    Movies:

    1. Viking Wolf
    2. You People
    3. True Spirit
    4. Pamela, A Love Story
    5. Infiesto
    6. Bloodshot
    7. Sniper: Ghost Shooter
    8. The Hurricane Heist
    9. Vadh
    10. Nobody
    11. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
    12. An Action Hero
    13. Spider-Man: No Way Home
    14. F9
    15. The Prince & Me
    16. Narvik
    17. Mission Majnu
    18. Let Him Go
    19. Sniper: Ultimate Kill
    20. The Throwaways
    21. Last Seen Alive
    22. The Nanny Diaries
    23. All Quiet on the Western Front
    24. Raangi
    25. Crisis

    Series:

    1. Ginny & Georgia
    2. La chica de nieve
    3. Wednesday
    4. Lockwood & Co.
    5. Physical: 100
    6. Alchemy of Souls
    7. La Reina del Sur
    8. Til Money Do Us Part
    9. Vikings: Valhalla
    10. Crash Course In Romance
    11. Class
    12. Cunk on Earth
    13. Fauda
    14. The Unbroken Voice
    15. Chainsaw Man
    16. Freeridge
    17. Şahmaran
    18. Les Combattantes
    19. Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord
    20. The Interest of Love
    21. Record of Ragnarok
    22. Café con aroma de mujer
    23. The Glory
    24. Kings of Jo’Burg
    25. Gunther’s Millions 

  • Gul-e-Rana, Nabeel Qureshi, Hira Mani and Mani attacked and robbed by mob while shooting in Karachi

    Film director Nabeel Qureshi took to Twitter to share that while shooting a scene near Jamsheed Quaters Martin Road in Karachi, they were attacked and robbed by a mob who stole their phones and equipment. Among the crew were veteran actress Gul-e-Rana, Hira Mani and her husband Mani.

    “We have been attacked by mob in PIB colony/ jamsheed quater martin road during shoot they got into the house we were shooting a hundred people they harassed women, beat the shit out of crew, stole mobiles, equipment.”

    The director went on to share that the actors were currently at the PIB police station to report all of their missing items. He further went on to demand that the Sindh Police take strict action, and also reached out to fellow actors to raise awareness about proper security.
    “We are sitting here in PIB police station, they attacked like anything honestly this never happened before in karachi, they were equipped with weapons, they stole mobiles wallet they do not care about ladies they raise their hands etc.”

    He continued by asking that Sindh Police and Sindh Rangers “take strict action against these ppl, to make example out of it @ManiSalmanKhi@HiraMani_real i request to my fraternity all the actors producers to make sure that this shouldn’t happened again to any of us!”

    “We are sitting here in PIB police station, they attacked like anything honestly this never happened before in karachi, they were equipped with weapons, they stole mobiles wallet they do not care about ladies they raise their hands etc.”

    “We want #sindhpolice & #sindhrangers to take strict action against these ppl, to make example out of it @ManiSalmanKhi@HiraMani_real i request to my fraternity all the actors producers to make sure that this shouldn’t happened again to any of us!”

    Other actors like Falak Shahzad Khan, who was also present at the scene of the crime, shared Qureshi’s post on Instagram, and said that he was attacked by the mob, along with Gul-e-Rana and Hira Mani.
    “We were at the shoot. …they attacked on the team. Got into the house.”

    Hira Mani also addressed the incident on Instagram, saying that it was an unfortunate incident to witness. She further wrote that she was grateful for her team members for fighting against the culprits.

    ‘It was a very unfortunate incident to witness today and I wish and pray no one faces that ever in their life.

    I want to thank my team members who fought till their last with the culprits to save us and are very bad condition in the hospital right now.

    Please take a moment to pray for their speedy recovery.”

    Other actors like Ahsan Khan and Mahira Khan have reached out to send their solidarity to the actors.

    Taking to his Instagram page, Ahsan Khan called for law enforcement to take swift action against the group that was responsible for attacking the crew.

    “In these days and times security is a must for areas like Jamsheed Quaters. I demand the law enforcement agencies to take swift action in this regard and bring the people responsible for this cowardly act to justice! What happened with Nabeel and his team is not ok and we should stand up for them!”

    Actor Mahira Khan had shared Nabeel’s post, and in the tweet she demanded authorities to investigate the perpetuators behind this incident.

    “I don’t believe this!! Who is responsible ? Who will answer for this?”

  • ‘Hum 2 Humaray 100’ dedicated an episode to teaching children about consent

    At a time when television is littered with misogyny and misrepresentation of women and their issues, it is heart warming to witness shows like ‘Hum 2 Hamaray 100’ take the lead in creating awareness about social issues.
    The show recently broadcast a poignant scene where they recognized the rights and responsilibities of children in Pakistan.
    A grown adult sits down with children in a room and teaches them about the good touch/ bad touch concept. She explains to the children that if any adult, aside from their parents touches them without their consent and makes them feel uncomfortable, then they must immediately tell their parents.
    The writer, Syed Zain Raza, shared the clip on his Instagram account, and in the caption he wrote that because of a rise in rape and sexual assualt cases in Pakistan, he felt it was necessary to teach children about body autonomy and learning to say ‘no’.

    “GOOD TOUCH / BAD TOUCH

    In this episode of Hum 2 Humaray 100 we tried to talk about an extremely important topic that is more prevalent than ever, but we rarely see conversations around it. Our children are unsafe in parks, schools, neighbourhoods, transit, and sometimes even their homes. This is why they need to know about good touch and bad touch. They need to know when they are in danger.

    If we don’t have these conversations with them in a positive way, then someone else will have them in a negative way. Children should be taught about bodily autonomy and what to do if they feel threatened, scared, and uncomfortable around an adult. They need to be told that they will not get in trouble for telling their parents and that it is never their fault.

    I was really glad that the channel allowed us to talk about this sensitive topic without any censoring and/or dictations. And most importantly, thank you to my director @angelinemalikofficial who allowed me to go ahead and write about all these topics with her full support! It is a boon to have a progressive and woke director in a time like this.”

    In the comments section, social media users applauded the show runners for addressing a sensitive topic in a gentle and uncensored manner, which would help more parents and children watching this show learn how to communicate with each other regarding matters of bodily autonomy.

    Activist and makeup artist Leena Ghani praised the writer for bringing such an important topic to mainstream channels and dealing with it in a sensitive way.

    “Such an important conversation about consent and done with so much sensitivity and care. Well done Zain. This is the kind of content and awareness we need,” she wrote.

    Another user recalled the impact this scene had on her mother, that she went on to give the same guidance about consent to her neices.
    “Mother was watching this scene on TV and it impacted her so much that right after that when nieces came she needed to explain this to them. Quite powerful ”

  • In its first episode, Sar-e-Rah salutes female taxi drivers

    In its first episode, Sar-e-Rah salutes female taxi drivers

    Pakistani dramas aren’t the first place to turn to if we happen to be looking for entertainment, but it seems like the tide is finally turning. After the ever popular Kuch Ankahi, ARY’s new drama Sar-e-Rah, is exploring the issues faced by women in this society. In its first episode it welcomes female taxi drivers to public spaces.

    The drama explores the lives of four women and an intersex man, and the struggles they face in society. This episode opens with the life of Rabia, a woman who has been waiting for five years for her aunt and fiance Faraz to finalize her wedding date. When her father, the head of the family, suddenly has a heart attack and it begins impacting the family’s household expenditure, Rabia decides to follow his footsteps to become a taxi driver.

    The episode wasn’t afraid to explore the kind of push back and harassment women face at the hands of men when they venture in to public spaces. In one scene, a customer arrives as Rabia’s car and notices that a woman driving . He starts exclaiming “God’s wrath is upon us!” and walks away muttering that this was a sign of the Day of Judgement. Rabia’s family members, especially her fiance, taunt her with the age-old saying ‘Log Kya Kahengee’ if a woman is boldly stepping out in the streets to make an earning. To whom Rabia gives a powerful response by reminding them that no one is more honorable than a woman who chooses to look after her family by making an earning.

    Twitter users are already fans of Saba Qamar’s powerful acting, calling it a well needed show that has arrived at the right time.
    “I’m very excited about Sar e Rah and the engaging, progressive and uplifting narrative it has taken off with. So many issues are being addressed in a natural and (so far) non preachy or patronising way. Can’t wait for the next episode,” wrote drama critic Aamna Isani.

    “Such a unique & powerful concept. This show is giving OG Pakistani show’ vibe . Hats off to #SabaQamar for always trying to do something different,” another user wrote.

    Users especially showered praises on a powerful scene where a customer guides Qamar’s character to never be afraid to charge her customers the price she deserves, and also reminds her to keep her confidence strong and stare back at the same men leering at her.

    We had been waiting for a long time to see Pakistani dramas get on with the times and start wriiting stories that reflected the lives and struggles of women in Pakistan, and it seems like that time has arrived. The drama is a breath of fresh air for welcoming female taxi drivers in to the public sphere, and we are anticipating how it will play out in the next few episodes!

  • What is the one piece of advice Shah Rukh Khan always gives his kids?

    Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan held yet another round of #AskSRK on Twitter where among many hilarious questions was one about his relationship with his children.
    SRK has always been open about how protective he is towards his children. In an interview with David Letterman, he revealed that he made sure to spend a lot of time with them.

    ‘If there is one thing I hold against my parents, it’s that they didn’t spend a lot of time with me. Now as a father, I want to be there for my kids as much as possible. That I am going to make sure that I live very long, and I make sure that I keep on living with my kids and never let them feel they don’t have a parent. So any given moment I spend with them, I study with them, I sleep with them, I chat with them, I sort out all their problems, and I hate it when they have boyfriend girlfriend problems.”

    On Twitter when a fan asked Khan about the advice that he would always provide to his children, he replied:

    ‘The journey is important…the end is not.”

    Aside from this, there were also many humorous moments during the #asksrk session, we have provided some of our favorite below

  • ‘My life, my choice’; Maria Wasti opens up about her leaked pictures controversy

    ‘My life, my choice’; Maria Wasti opens up about her leaked pictures controversy

    Years after private photos of Maria Wasti were leaked online, the actor has talked about the scandal that followed on Nadir Ali’s podcast.

    Wasti opened up about how her’s and Ayesha Omer’s photos in swimsuits at a vacation were leaked online. She said that there wasn’t any way people could ensure their personal photos weren’t leaked to the public.
    “These were some personal pictures, and this happened a long time ago when there wasn’t much awareness of privacy settings. But it was someone who was Ayesha’s personal friend, who had leaked our pictures to the press. It was sad that it happened.’

    Wasti defended her choice to wear a bikini back then, saying that she won’t apologize for wearing clothes of her choice. The actress also revealed that she received a lot of negative comments on social media over her photos, but she chooses not to let it effect her.
    “My life, my choice…Yes people did troll me. I do intend to check who is criticizing and what are they saying. I make sure what words I should be effected by and what I shouldn’t. Again that’s your own choice. I was not happy about it, because it was stealing my personal pictures or personal life that you hadn’t shown to the media. So it shouldn’t be done, but it happened.’

    Listen to the whole interview below:

  • Priyanka Chopra shares heartwarming moments with daughter Maltie Marie

    Priyanka Chopra shares heartwarming moments with daughter Maltie Marie

    Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas finally revealed the face of her infant daughter Malti Marie. The Baywatch star, who welcomed her first child with her husband Nick Jonas in 2022, made her first-ever public appearance with her daughter on January 30, Monday.

    Malti Marie made her public event debut as her father Nick Jonas and his brothers received the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star. Priyanka Chopra and Maltie Marie attended the event with Joe Jonas’s wife Sophie Turner.

    The star kid looked super adorable in a white top, which is paired with a cream sweater and matching shorts. Malti Marie’s look was completed with a cute bow. Proud mom Priyanka Chopra, who was visibly excited about her daughter’s first public appearance, looked stylish in a brown bodycon dress. The popular star completed her look with earthy-toned makeup, a pair of statement glasses, and golden earrings. Along with the mother-daughter duo, the Jonas family members including Sophie Turner, Kevin Jonas’s wife Danielle and their daughters, and the Jonas brothers’ parents attended the ceremony. Priyanka Chopra and Malti Marie’s pictures from the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony are now setting social media on fire.

    Priyanka Chopra and Malti Marie (Credits: Getty Images)
    Priyanka Chopra with her daughter Malti Marie (Credits: Getty Images)

    Nick Jonas, who joined his brothers on stage as they accepted the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star, gave a special shout-out to his wife Priyanka Chopra, and daughter Malti Marie. “To my beautiful wife, you are the calm in the crazy, the rock in the storm and I love being married to you. It is the greatest gift. And I love being a parent with you, so Malti Marie, ‘Hi, babe.’ I can’t wait to come back here with you in 15 years and embarrass you in front of your friends,” said the actor-singer as he addressed the audience.

    Recently, Priyanka Chopra opened up about her surrogacy journey in her interview with Vogue. “I had medical complications. This was a necessary step. And, I’m so grateful that I was in a position where I could do this,” stated the celebrated actress. For the unversed, the new mother was accused of ‘outsourcing’ her pregnancy and even ‘renting’ a womb and opting for a ‘ready-made’ baby.  

    On the work front, Priyanka Chopra will next be seen in the Russo Brothers-backed spy thriller series Citadel, It’s All Coming Back To Me alongside Sam Heughan and Farhan Akhtar’s Jee Le Zaraa with Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt.