Best entertainment news in the industry, we break entertainment stories as soon as celebrities post on their social media and do Pakistani drama reviews.
This has been an amazing year for the Pakistani entertainment industry. With the Ali Sethi and Shae Gill song Pasoori topping charts worldwide, our singer Arooj Arif winning a Grammy, and now the film Joyland has been shortlisted for the Oscars.
This is the first time a Pakistani film has been officially recognized for the category Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
The official page for the movie uploaded a clip where activist and executive producer of the movie Malala Yousafzai was on the phone congratulating director and writer Saim Sadiq and also extending her well wishes to the rest of the team.
Other Pakistani-British actors like Riz Ahmed also sent their congratulations to the team behind the film, as he posted this screenshot of an article by Deadline this morning.
Joyland had began generating excitement among Pakistani audiences when it received the Jury Prize in the Uncertain Regard Awards Category at the Cannes Film Festival. It also received a 10 minute standing ovation at its debut.
Standing ovation for debuts can be so damn overwhelming … #joyland is a tender heartbreaker of a film … Reminding me of our own #Masaan back in 2015 … pic.twitter.com/LT1ILJzspo
Dwayne Johnson shared an update regarding the possibility of a sequel of his superhero film Black Adam and whether fans would see further explorations of the character in the DC universe.
In the post he shared on Twitter, the actor revealed that he had immediately connected with the new DC-studios co-chief, James Gunn, and both of them had agreed that any new version of Black Adam won’t be a solo film but perhaps may fit into the multiverse DC is trying to establish. Dwayne revealed that DC and Seven Bucks currently had no plans for creating a sequel but will definitely consider it in the future
“James Gunn and I connected, and Black Adam will not be the first chapter of storytelling. However, DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters.”
Dwayne ended the note by thanking fans for all the love and support they had showered on Black Adam and said he was very proud of the film he had made and will look back at it with tremendous gratitude.
“After fifteen years of relentless hard work and to finally make Black Adam, I’m very proud of the film we’ve delivered for fans worldwide. I will always look back on the fan reaction to Black Adam with tremendous gratitude, humility and love.”
Avatar: The Way of Water, the recently released sci-fi movie directed by James Cameron, made over $435 million at the box office in its opening weekend in theatres, as reported by Mid-Day.
Though the film’s collection in its opening weekend is huge, it is still considered underperforming as Avatar 2 was expected to have a business of around $500 million in its opening weekend.
As per a report by Box Office Mojo, the film will cross the $1.5 billion mark surely and it may also reach the $2 billion mark in its lifetime which is still low considering the scale of the film.
Avatar: The Way of Water is a sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar which is the highest-grossing film of all time.
Made on an estimated budget of $250 Million Avatar 2 stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver from its sequel while also adding Kate Winslet in the sequel. Avatar: The Way of Water is the widest release ever in cinema history.
The film is performing well in India, and has exceeded the lifetime collections of its prequel in just four days.
Senior actor Shabbir Jan recently appeared as a guest on comedian Nadir Ali’s podcast where he spilled the beans on his live feud with morning show host Nida Yasir.
Jan said that it was a planned gimmick to garner television ratings. He said that yes the artists are paid for their appearances on these morning shows, but there has to be a limit for what they expect the guests to do on their show for ratings in return for the money.
The senior actor shared that Nida and other people from the ARY administration visited him and they were apologetic about what had transpired. He said that there should be a limit to what is happening in order to make people watch your show.
Shabbir Jan also refuted the rumours that ARY administration put a ban on calling him again after the whole incident. He also added that he generally gets angry quickly and it was his control that he only walked off the show.
Earlier on Nauman Ijaz’s show, G Sarkar, Jan revealed that Nida asked him a question about flirtation, and after his reply, she declared his answer was false.
Shabbir expressed his dislike and left the show. Talking about the show, he added “it was a stupid segment, you should know with whom you are talking and what exactly are you asking.”
On Alina Khan’s birthday, director and writer of ‘Joyland’ Saim Sadiq took to Instagram to appreciate the actor’s talent and creative spirit by sharing how the two had bonded together before shooting a scene in Joyland where the audience meets Biba for the first time.
You can read the full post below:
A day before the shoot for Darling, Alina disappeared for hours. @sanajafri14 and I texted her to bring this particular pair of shoes with her that she had to wear for her first scene. The first scene this magnificently talented girl would ever shoot in her life. But Alina just wouldn’t answer anyone’s call.
No one could trace her until 12 am at night when she finally called me from an unknown number. I could tell that she was trembling when she said she was stuck in “a situation” and just ran away from it and now needs a place to stay the night. I told her to come over.
She finally arrived at 2 am. She had bruises on her neck from the assault that she had managed to run away from. Yet, all she cared about was that she makes it to set on time and not lose this opportunity. And in that escape, she lost her phone and handbag. All she managed to bring with her were the shoes and she kept assuring herself and me that everything was still fine because she had her shoes for her first scene. I gave her an ointment, she slept in my sister’s room and the next morning we started the shoot, cracking jokes and being chill as if nothing had happened.
Years later, we shot for her introductory scene as Biba in Joyland and had the most cathartic experience of our lives. Both of us found a quiet room to discuss what we normally only joke about: the casualness with which we have to process the violence around us. We both cried and got the tears out of our systems because we didn’t want Biba to cry in the scene. She was going to show up with the blood on her shirt and there was going to be no explanation to where it came from. Because the everyday violence around us never ever makes sense. We hugged and cried again after packup because we knew… this was our scene.
It’s hard for me to think of a person who is more unaware of their inspirational status in other people’s lives than Alina! You are a true heroine of our times! Happy Birthday, @onlyalinakhan ! Thank you for your talent, your spirit, and your magical artistry!
Late Singer Nazia Hassan’s husband, Ishtiaq Baig, has filed a defamation case against his former wife’s brother Zoheb Hassan in London. As per a report in Express.pk, Ishtiaq says that the latter has made serious allegations against him due to which his reputation has been damaged and he has faced severe backlash from people.
It is impertinent to mention that a year and a half ago, Zoheb levelled serious allegations regarding Nazia’s death on his brother-in-law on the occasion of the Disco Deewane crooner’s 22nd death anniversary.
According to police records, no evidence of poison was found in Nazia’s body, while Zoheb continued to describe his sister’s death as unnatural. However, Ishtiaq, the singer’s husband, has denied the accusations made by his wife’s brother several times. It should be noted that Nazia was battling cancer for a long time before her untimely demise. There is also a death certificate issued by the British authorities to verify the news.
However, this is not the first time a legal suit has been filed between the two. In 2018, Zoheb revealed that Ishtiaq is in talks to make a film on his late wife “so he can feature himself and further profit from her name and fame.” The 56-year-old singer added that the Hassan family will be taking the legal route if any such thing is implemented.
Taking to Facebook, Zoheb wrote, “The Hassan family has come to know that Nazia’s ex-husband is trying to make a film on her life so he can feature himself and further profit from her name and fame. Anyone entertaining this individual shall be duly and legally sued by our family as he has no legal right or basis to do so.”
The Disco Deewane vocalist passed away in August 2000 at the age of 35, presumably from lung cancer.
It started with a simple reminder: be mindful about wearing a seatbelt when driving with your children. Activist Shaneira Akram directly addressed actor Feroze Khan when he was driving with his infant in his lap, in a clip he posted himself. The activist stressed on the how this scenario put the child at risk had there been a car accident.
“If your child is in your lap in the front seat and another car hits you even if only going 30km or less, your child will be flung from your arms, hit the dash or hit the windscreen or worse.”
But this exchange had led to a heated back and forth with Feroze Khan writing that the activist doesn’t have “strength of understanding” after Shaneira called him out for tagging her in a video depicting animal cruelty.
And now another actor Imran Ashraf has engaged in the argument when he was called out by Shaneira for taking inspiration from Feroze and uploading a clip of himself driving with his child in his lap without a seatbelt. “Please say that this is wrong or little lives are at risk!” she posted on her Instagram stories
Given the stress of the situation, is it not better that celebrities take precaution of their platform and the influence they maintain over their fan base, and remain mindful that their actions can have consequences? Other celebrities had taken it on themselves to educate their fellow actors, as well as audiences on how a simple action like wearing a seatbelt can prevent something traumatizing from occurring. Actors Ayesha Omar and Fia Khan had responded to a post uploaded by Niche Lifestyle on their Instagram by sharing that it was absolutely tragic that seat belt precautions are not being taken seriously by celebrities.
Fia had written: “Thank god @iamshaniera is being heard. Also these Parents who don’t bother to fasten the seatbelts when their kids are sitting at the back. What if you have to break all of a sudden? Where do you think God forbid your kid will go?”
Social media users had also taken Shaneira’s side in the whole situation, and had criticized celebrities for refusing to understand the precariousness of the situation and not taking the issue of seat-belt safety properly.
This twitter user pointed out how Pakistani roads can be described as “lawless” because of careless driving and little attention given to the importance of seat-belt precautions, and yet Pakistani celebrities choose to remain oblivious to this reality.
Celebrities are so braindead putting their kids on their laps while driving. Have you seen Pakistan’s urban traffic? Do you not know how lawless our roads are? Why put your child in danger just to prove Shaneira wrong when she is absolutely right??
Other users expressed the same disappointment that Pakistani celebrities refused to understand how dangerous driving without a seatbelt can be
So F puts his son at the front seat without belt and Shaniera points that out (rightfully). F sends the cryptic messages (not surprised ♀️) and Imran Ashraf puts his son on his lap without seatbealt in solidarity ♀️
So like Shaniera bhabhi called out FK for ignoring safety protocols while driving w a kid and FK came back saying he is a racer and he shared a video of Khabib fighting bears followed by a shair by Iqbal? How does any of this make sense
What stupid response by Feroze Khan. Driving with a child in your lap is against the law & for good reason too. It is dangerous for not just the child or the driver but also for other drivers/pedestrians. Relating it to a wrestler or to his racing skills is irrelevant. https://t.co/P4zpaUu1Er
It’s disappointing that in 2022, driving safety is something public figures still need to be educated about. Anyone who is a household name would have a massive number of followers, and who could imitate their actions without a thought. Therefore argument should encourage celebrities to remember the power of their voice and be more mindful of the type of content they share with their audience.
The Taqdeer star made severe allegations against her daughter-in-law and defended her decision to make a video and asked people not to judge her family matters. She claimed that Neha was a bad person and such a kind of woman that she could disturb the peace of anyone’s house.
In a visibly emotionally shattered video, the television actor explained that her son wanted to live with Neha (her daughter-in-law) and both should live happily but she wanted to cut all ties with her son and her daughter-in-law. She said those who were commenting on the video of Neha, must be clarified that she was not associated with her anymore.
Saba Faisal claimed that people should not pass judgment and even they should not listen to the one-sided claims on the differences. She said the reality was quite graphic and she and her daughter had no association with Salman and Neha.
Latest Development
Saba has confessed on Nadir Ali’s podcast that she regrets posting videos against her son Salman Faisal and daughter-in-law Neha Salman. She regretted that she is Salman’s mother and she shouldn’t have posted a video against them. It was just at the moment she felt very weak and ended up posting that video which went viral and also talked about how posting the video resulted in a lot of backlash.
She also talked about how playing negative saas (mother-in-law) on television makes people think that she is like that and in real life, the actors who play negative characters are the victims.
Faisal also said the way she has brought her children up is visible that how they stand by their relationships like her son Salman has stood by his wife Neha. While she also revealed that she selected Neha and the decision was on her son’s.
She also shared in response to a question that she does not put one person as responsible for this fiasco and both Neha and Salman have equal responsibility for the decisions they take. Though she has always said she has had a successful journey this time she shared that she has only one regret in her life and it is sharing that video.
Arsalan’s Statement
In an Instagram post, her son and actor Arsalan Faisal claimed that his sister-in-law has been mentally torturing the family for the past four years. He also said the family had been tolerating her but they won’t do so anymore.
Neha’s Response
Amidst the ongoing controversy, Neha responded to a few netizens’ queries about her personal life. She even stated in reply to a follower that her in-laws will get punished for their deeds by God.
Salman Faisal’s Response
Taking to his Instagram handle, Salman wrote: “Enough is enough mind your language and your disgusting thoughts she is my wife and my son’s mother and you all should respect that fact.”
Earlier this year, Saba addressed the social media backlash for her alleged role in her son’s strained equation with his wife.
The Thora Sa Haq diva stated on Naumaan Ijaz’s show that the criticism and severe backlash put her in a depressive phase.
Netizens abused and blamed her for Salman and Neha’s alleged separation.
Saba’s son Salman married Neha in 2019 in a series of lavish events. The ceremony was attended by a plethora of celebrities including Cheekh‘s Saba Qamar. Earlier in July 2021, gossip mills were abuzz with the separation and divorce rumours of the young couple.
Earlier the Ishq Hai star hit back at multiple trolls.
Actors and former spouses Syra Yousuf and Shahroz Sabzwari have shared the first look of their forthcoming film, Babylicious, touted to release on Valentine’s Day. The makers have promised it to be a feel-good romantic film.
Sabzwari took to his Instagram on Thursday with a monochrome poster of the film that sees the pair in an embrace.
“Yes, guys. It’s releasing. We were just waiting for Valentine’s to come around,” he wrote. In the poster, Yousuf, dressed in a black crop top and beige pants, looks straight into the camera with a smile while her hero, clad in a leather jacket, hugs her.
The Mera Naseeb star also shared the news of their film on social media and revealed that Babylicious took 12 years to complete. “This February 2023, it will be 12 years since we became attached to this film. So very excited for you all to see it! Presenting the first look of our new movie, Babylicious,” she wrote.
Four years back on Valentine’s Day in 2018, Syra and Shahroz shared a still from the film.
Sabzwari shares a daughter Nooreh with Yousuf. He married model Sadaf Kanwal shortly after his divorce and recently welcomed Syeda Zahra Sabzwari, another daughter, to his family with Kanwal.
Bollywood actor-dancer Nora Fatehi recently filed a defamation case against fellow actor Jacqueline Fernandez before a Delhi court, according to Indian media, as the Canadian-Moroccan actor believes Fernandez made defamatory statements in order to destroy her career. Both actors were questioned in a money laundering case filed against supposed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
According to The Indian Express, Fatehi’s plea said that the Race 3 star made defamatory imputations” due to malicious reasons with an intent of “destroying her career to further her own interests.” The plea also included media houses that published the details about Fatehi’s connection with the extortion case.
The publication said that Fatehi’s plea included Fernandez’s written statement where she had said that she was “falsely implicated by ED while celebs such as Nora Fatehi who had received gifts from Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar had been made witnesses.”
“Jacqueline Fernandez sought to criminally defame the complainant in order to destroy her career to further her own interests, since they are both working in the same industry and have similar backgrounds, amongst other reasons,” Fatehi’s plea read.
The petition claimed that Fatehi lost out on a lot of opportunities such as a Dubai-based concert and 10 city tours in the US and Canada after the allegations made by Fernandez. It mentioned that she had to renegotiate a settlement with a brand at 50 percent of her original fees.
Amidst the ongoing legal battle, Nora shared a cryptic post on her Instagram stories, which is being touted by netizens as a dig at Jacqueline.
She wrote, “My parents didn’t raise me to take advantage of people. My intentions will always be pure. We ain’t the same.” She also added a smiling face emoji with her post.
As far as the claims by Fernandez are concerned, Fatehi denied receiving any gifts from the alleged conman and said the only time she had ever spoken to him was when his wife made her speak to him over the phone at an event.
In the plea, she acknowledged an iPhone and a handbag from Gucci that she received as gifts from Chandrashekhar’s wife, Leena. About a luxury car, Fatehi said that a payment was made for directing a movie and it was her brother-in-law who was approached by Chandrashekhar, instead of her.
A Delhi court was due to hear arguments on charges against Fernandez but adjourned the hearing to December 20th.
