Best entertainment news in the industry, we break entertainment stories as soon as celebrities post on their social media and do Pakistani drama reviews.
It is not uncommon for celebrities to send each other products to promote. But when Justin Bieber decided to send Queen of Fashion Victoria Beckham a pair of crocs from his new collaboration, he probably never expected the reaction he got.
Sharing a picture of the crocs she received with her 28.9 million followers, Victoria Beckham said: “A lot of people have been asking me what I’m planning on wearing after lockdown, what do we think about this suggestion from Justin Bieber?”
While thanking Justin by saying that “it is very kind of him” to send her these, she moved the camera closer to display the features of the crocs before going on to say: “Never worn a pair of crocs. This did make me laugh”.
The former Spice Girls star also posted a poll asking her followers if they think she will ever wear these crocs or not. 57% of the voters voted ‘no’ bringing a sigh of relief to Posh, who said: “Well, that was close! I think I’d rather die but thank you anyway, Justin Bieber.”
While Victoria may have come across as sarcastic and mean, her act sure did bring Bieber’s new collection to light.
Zainab Qayyum, popularly known as ZQ, has explained that why she underwent multiple COVID testings during the pandemic.
Responding to a news report which said that the actor got herself tested 11 times because of fear, Zainab Qayyum said: “Uff. Mein wehmi loony nahin different projects may acting karnay kay tehat yeh ehtyaati tadbeer ka hissa hai.”
uff mein wehmi loony nahin diff projects may acting karnay kay tehat yeh ehtyaati tadbeer ka hissa hai https://t.co/y04cCAyMlX
The actor further explained that she got “11 tests in the past nine months because I’ve been working on eight different projects with eight different sets of cast and crew. We have to be careful for ourselves as well as our costars.”
Qayyum also bashed a local media publication for publishing a misleading headline.
“Dunya News poori khabar dayni chayay na kay sunsannnnni waali headline,” said Zainab.
♀️poori khabar yeh thi kay 11 tests in the past 9 months coz ive been working on 8 diff projects with 8 diff sets of cast & crew. we have to be careful for ourselves as well as our costars @DunyaNews poori khabar dayni chayay na kay sunsannnnni waali headline ♀️ https://t.co/KSrQCw7v5f
“Honestly, as an actor, I don’t have a choice but to go to work where we work under the strictest SOPs,” said ZQ. “I haven’t met anyone apart from my costars on set for fear of being a silent carrier since last year. Have had 11 covid tests (all negative).”
“Please don’t host [or] attend social events and then come on set to work with us,” she added.
When a social media user appreciated ZQ for not attending any gatherings, she replied: “Because I am choosing NOT to go. I am responsible, not only for myself but also [for] my co-stars who I have to come on set and work with daily. I’m not going to put them or their families at risk, nor do I expect them to put me at risk either.”
because i am choosing NOT to go i am responsible not inly for myself but also my costars who i have to come on set and work with daily. im not going to put them or their families at risk, nor do i expect them to put me at risk either…..
Kareena Kapoor Khan has come up with a fun and engaging way to educate people, especially children on the importance of getting vaccinated. The actor used a short clip from Tom&Jerry to create awareness about the vaccination drive and the importance of getting yourself vaccinated.
“We don’t realise that our kids are also absorbing what’s going on and they are scared too,” wrote Kareena in the caption. “We were talking to Tim to try and explain why all the adults need to be vaccinated and I think this sums it up pretty well. It’s really that simple.”
“But as we explain to our kids, we too need to be patient and help everyone who is trying to help us — medics, pharma, authorities and the millions of volunteers — please register and wait for your turn,” she added.
In the short video, Tom has been shown as COVID and he attempts to shoot Jerry (our immune system) with a weapon. When Jerry gets his first dose of the COVID vaccine, he becomes bigger and when he gets the second one, he becomes even more bigger explaining how our immune systems get stronger with each dose.
India is currently battling a deadly second wave of COVID-19 with cases hitting a new high with every passing day. The country has reported over 360,000 new cases and close to 3,300 related deaths in the last 24 hours, its biggest single-day hike since the onset of the pandemic.
Starting May 1, all residents over the age of 18 will be eligible for vaccination. Private vaccination providers will also be able to sell and administer vaccines. But state ministers have warned there simply aren’t enough vaccines even if more people become eligible.
Former president of the United States, Donald Trump has bashed the Oscars, calling the ceremony boring and offered advice on how to revive the plummeting ratings.
In a statement emailed to reporters from his office, Trump said: “What used to be called The Academy Awards, and now is called the ‘Oscars’ —a far less important and elegant name—had the lowest Television Ratings in recorded history, even much lower than last year, which set another record low.”
“If they keep with the current ridiculous formula, it will only get worse—if that’s possible,” added the former president.
“Go back 15 years, look at the formula they then used, change the name back to THE ACADEMY AWARDS, don’t be so politically correct and boring, and do it right. ALSO, BRING BACK A GREAT HOST,” continued Trump.
Remarking that the broadcast has become too political, Trump said: “These television people spend all their time thinking about how to promote the Democrat Party, which is destroying our country, and cancel Conservatives and Republicans. That formula certainly hasn’t worked very well for The Academy!”
Last year, when Trump was still president, he had live-tweeted his criticism on the Oscars and bashed voters for giving the best picture to Parasite. At a rally, Trump while talking about the South Korean film had said: “What the hell was that all about? We’ve got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of that, they give them best movie of the year. Was it good? I don’t know.”
Meanwhile, this year’s ceremony drew only 10.4 million viewers, a record low, according to final Nielsen numbers released on Tuesday — a staggering if widely expected drop for a ceremony that many viewers found short on humour and star power.
With movie theaters shut for most of the year, many viewers had not seen or even heard of nominees such as Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland, which was the night’s big winner with three prizes but which has taken just over $2 million at the domestic box office.
Several blockbuster films whose stars could have drawn interest at this year’s Oscars saw their release dates shunted to next year due to the pandemic, from Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and the mega-budget sci-fi Dune to an array of popular superhero titles.
This year’s unorthodox Oscars ceremony was moved from a Hollywood theater to a glammed-up Los Angeles train station to abide by strict Covid-19 protocols and reunited Hollywood filmmakers and actors en masse for the first time in more than a year.
Reviews of the show were mixed, with several critics complaining about the show’s lack of humor and musical performances.
While many Oscars begin with gag-heavy monologues, producers turned this year to Regina King, who was one of many stars who referred to racism and police violence — specifically last week’s conviction of Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Other political statements made during the Oscars did not focus on Trump, but on topics like gun violence and policing.
“I know that a lot of you people at home want to reach for your remote when you feel like Hollywood is preaching to you,” she predicted.
Regina King
Variety slammed the decision to go without a host for a third straight year, calling the ceremony “lost and guide-less.”
But the decision to strip out musical performances and most clips of nominated movies — and allow winners to speak at length without being “played off” the stage by an orchestra — drew some praise.
The Oscars drew more than 43 million viewers as recently as 2014, but audiences have become increasingly fragmented in the streaming era.
Yasra Rizvi, who is expecting her first child, is disheartened with the media coverage of her pregnancy, saying that outlets should have also talked about her upcoming project instead of focusing only on her baby bump.
“In our country, the newsworthy bit is that I am pregnant,” said Rizvi. “Not the fact that I am also directing probably the most important script I have gotten to direct so far while due any time now!”
“Indeed we are a nation totally obsessed with marriage and one’s ability to procreate,” she added.
Later, Yasra explained her story saying: “Aik tou poori baat nahi samajhta koi. Aap ki duaaon aur naik tamannaaon ke liye main tah e dil se shukar guzaar hoon .. maddaahon aur khair khwaaon ki mohabbat aur wishes se masla nahi hai!”
“Shukriya Shukriya Shukriyaaaa,” she added.
Rizvi’s post hints that she received flak for her earlier comments.
Rizvi is currently directing the drama Working Women, which has been penned by Bee Gul of Raqeeb Se fame.
Meanwhile, Yasra’s sister-in-law Jenaan Hussain, sharing a picture of Rizvi, wrote: “This post is actually about a woman inspiring other women to do and be whatever and whoever they wish to be at any point in their lives regardless of their age and domestic commitments.”
Explaining how people should celebrate the capability Rizvi holds as a woman rather than only focusing on the fact that she is expecting, Hussain added: “It’s not about ‘Oh look I am pregnant and that’s the only accomplishment you must celebrate me for’ but taking things in your stride. Being this pregnant and directing a high-pressure set is just the kinda thing only a woman can pull off, just like her a lot of women around us everyday juggle between the most daunting tasks and nail it and some get trapped in myths and preconceived don’ts.”
“Women are doers, and if there is a time to stop underestimating us and what all we are capable of it’s now,” she added.
If there’s one thing that can steal the thunder of history’s deadliest pandemic, it is none other than the fashion politics surrounding the 93rd Annual Academy Awards. Stars and their designers can either make it big on the Oscars Red Carpet like Audrey Hepburn did with her every-trendy white gown for the Oscars 1954 edition, or they can go home as Björk did after her ‘Sawn Dress’ for Oscars 2001 edition was classified as the worst outfit of the decade. I mean, what even was that dress?
Given that we’ve mostly seen stars in their pyjamas and lounge wear most of last year, we were expecting some bold style statements. However, turns out we couldn’t agree more with The New York Times definition of Oscars 2021: ‘A lot of Style, Little Substance‘.
Check out The Current’s picks for the Best and Worst Dressed Celebs during the world’s most glamourous award ceremony!
BEST DRESSED
Zendaya
Zendaya tops the list with her yellow dress from Valentino Haute Couture paired with Bulgari jewellery. The actor paired her outfit with nude makeup making her look like a million dollars.
Brad Pitt
Who else could be rated as the second hottest person and the first hottest man of the evening other than Brad Pitt? The Hollywood heartthrob looked elegant as ever in his classic black and white suit.
Vanessa Kirby
In the era of pastels colors, the Pieces of a Woman actor Vanessa Kirby wore a baby pink Gucci gown that seemed to blend with the background of the Red Carpet. The star paired this look with a bold red lip, shimmery eyes, and Cartier jewellery to bring her A game.
WORST DRESSED
As much as it pains us to make this list, it had to be done.
Questlove
You’ve got to see this! Questlove actually had to the guts to wear golden Crocs at a formal award ceremony. This sure does not look cool and casual if that’s what he tried to portray.
Halle Berry
While Halle Berry got the colour, pixy-like hair and makeup right, the weird oversized draping bow protruding from her waistline ruined the harmony of her entire look landing her straight on the worst-dressed list. Dolce & Gabanna did disappoint us big time with this outfit.
Laura Dern
Last but not least, Laura Dern’s Oscar de la Renta dress with a fluffy lower half that looks more like a wardrobe malfunction was the stuff of nightmare. The dress could have been rescued had the fluffy lower been stitched a little closer to waistline. Designers these days, jeez!
BEST RED CARPET MOMENT
Our resident hero Riz Ahmed may not have taken home an Oscar or made it to the best dressed list but he certainly gave audiences the best red carpet moment when he took a minute to fix his wife’s hair before posing for the cameras. It’s been more than a day since this video came out and we are still swooning.
The 93rd Academy Awards were held on April 25, (April 26 PST) in Los Angeles at multiple locations: Dolby Theatre, where it has been traditionally hosted since 2001, and Union Station. Only the nominees, their guests and the ceremony’s presenters were allowed inside the hall due to coronavirus restrictions.
The event began with a movie-style opening credits sequence, as Regina King strode into the venue clutching a gold statuette.
“Live TV, here we go. Welcome to the 93rd Oscars!” she said. “And, yes, we are doing it maskless… people have been vaxxed, tested, re-tested, socially distanced.”
This year’s Oscars arrived at their Union Station venue two months late due to the pandemic — organisers have said it would have been “impossible” without the delay.
Before the show, stars paused briefly for pictures and socially distanced interviews on what organisers called a “teeny-tiny red carpet.”
Soon after Yasra shared the news, colleagues and other celebrities including Sarah Khan, Amar Khan, Sadia Ghaffar, Muniba Mazari and Tara Mahmood dropped love-filled wishes and mubaraks for the actor.
“Lots of love and prayers for you, beautiful soul,” said Mazari.
“Loving that filled up belly,” wrote Tara Mahmood.
Yasra and Haadi tied the knot in 2016. Rizvi was criticised when she married her husband Abdul Hadi who is much younger than her. The actor had hit back at haters calling her husband “one of a kind”.
Meanwhile, other celebrities who are reportedly expecting include Sarah Khan and Sadia Ghaffar.
As India battles a deadly second wave of COVID-19, Feroze Khan wants you to remember and pray for Kashmir, which has been out of oxygen “since God knows when”.
“I am sure it’s a tough time in India and I pray for humanity everywhere. But just imagine what Kashmir has been going through and why?” wrote Khan on social media.
– I am sure it’s tough time in India and I pray for humanity everywhere. But just imagine what Kashmir has been going through and why ?
When a user remarked that “this is a very wrong time to tweet this [and] most of the people suffering are innocent”, Feroze said: “What? Kashmir is out of oxygen since God knows when. They just are not nuclear power so we don’t talk much about it.”
“They’ve been caged and killed dirty. Again I am praying for humanity in India and in Kashmir,” he added.
– What ? Kashmir is out of oxygen since god knows when. They just are not a nuclear power so we don’t talk much about it. they’ve been caged and killed dirty. Again I am praying for humanity in India and in Kashmir ! https://t.co/QdYlYMVcIB
When another social media user called out the actor for being “cold-hearted”, Khan said: “I have prayed for humanity there and everywhere but I would still don’t want to be quiet for a few likes and views.”
“The drama could fail too and I would still not want innocent to be killed, suppressed and caged. Praying for everyone everywhere,” he continued.
– I have prayed for humanity there and everywhere. but I would still not wanna be quiet for a few likes and views the drama could fail too and I would still not want innocent to be killed, suppressed and caged. Praying for everyone everywhere. https://t.co/dt4Rsf2rS1
Responding to yet another user, Feroze said that he loves his fans “but if I bring them no real image what’s the point of this media handle?”
– I love them back so much they are everything to me but if I bring them no real image what’s the point of this media handle ?? https://t.co/wkbg0vDsxd
Later, Feroze Khan also shared some statistics regarding the healthcare situation in Kashmir, asserting that he stands with Kashmir but is praying for everyone everywhere.
Meanwhile, India’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse with doctors predicting that the worse is yet to come.
“The situation is critical right now. This pandemic is the worst we have ever seen until now. The next two weeks are going to be hell for us,” Dr Shaarang Sachdev from the Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital told Sky News.
In some of the worst-hit cities, including the capital Delhi, bodies were being burnt in makeshift facilities offering mass services.
Twitter in Pakistan has been trending with hashtags showing solidarity with India. Prime Minister Imran Khan and other cabinet members also extended their prayers for India while Faisal Edhi wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering help in tackling COVID-19 in India.
Riz Ahmed may have lost the Oscar Award for Best Actor to Anthony Hopkins but he walked away with the best red carpet appearance when he took a moment to fix his wife Fatima Farheen Mirza’s hair. Ahmed had revealed in January that he had tied the knot in secret a few months back.
In a video that went viral on social media, the couple can be seen walking in together and as the photographers clicked their pictures, Riz paused for a moment to make sure his wife’s hair looked perfect. Ahmed’s act won the hearts of audiences across the world and they started hailing the couple as “relationship goals”.
The British-Pakistani actor was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his role of a drummer who loses his hearing in the Sound of Metal.
In addition to winning hearts with his romantic gesture on the red carpet, Ahmed also made history at this year’s Oscars as the first Muslim nominee in the Best Actor category. He was up against Chadwick Boseman for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Sir Anthony Hopkins for The Father, Gary Oldman for Mank, and Steven Yeun for Minari. Hopkins eventually took home the award.
Meanwhile, Sound of Metal bagged two awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound.
The 93rd Academy Awards were held on April 25, (April 26 PST) in Los Angeles at multiple locations: Dolby Theatre, where it has been traditionally hosted since 2001, and Union Station. Only the nominees, their guests and the ceremony’s presenters were allowed inside the hall due to coronavirus restrictions.
The event began with a movie-style opening credits sequence, as Regina King strode into the venue clutching a gold statuette.
“Live TV, here we go. Welcome to the 93rd Oscars!” she said. “And, yes, we are doing it maskless… people have been vaxxed, tested, re-tested, socially distanced.”
This year’s Oscars arrived at their Union Station venue two months late due to the pandemic — organisers have said it would have been “impossible” without the delay.
Before the show, stars paused briefly for pictures and socially distanced interviews on what organisers called a “teeny-tiny red carpet.”
An honourary award for the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which has supported struggling actors and crew particularly during the pandemic, was awarded at the Oscars’ traditional Hollywood theater base. Black entertainment mogul Tyler Perry was also honored.
But the bulk of the awards were handed out at the 1930s-built Union Station, chosen for its grand scale and outdoor courtyards, where white tents sheltering everything from Covid testing booths to catering were installed.
“We’re here, isn’t it crazy?” said Ahmed. “Human beings in the flesh!”
While The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences remembered late actors Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput, Chadwick Boseman and other stars in the 93rd Academy Awards.
The late stars were honoured for their services to the cinema industry in the ‘In Memoriam’ sequence during the award show with Stevie Wonder’s song ‘As’ in the background.
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has made headlines every now and then. Apart from her argument on nepotism, the actress has also been very vocal about her dislike of Pakistan. However, as Twitter in Pakistan trends with hashtags showing solidarity to India, Kangana’s heart, too, turned soft. But she was still misinformed about one detail.
Taking to Twitter, Kangana wrote: “Heartwarming to see top trend from Pakistan #PakistanstandswithIndia. Narendra Modi provided the country with the vaccine. Nice to see them appreciate his kindness and reciprocate with love. We too acknowledge their empathy in these testing times.” But the actress was misinformed about the vaccine available in Pakistan.
— Kangana Ranaut (Modi Ka Parivar) (@KanganaTeam) April 24, 2021
Pakistan is currently administering Sinopharm and Sputnik, which have been sent from China and Russia, respectively. Some users also clarified that the vaccines in Pakistan were not supplied to them by India.
As of Saturday, the coronavirus death toll in India stood at 1,66,10,481 with 2,624 fatalities reported in 24 hours, out of which Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (773) followed by Delhi with 348 daily deaths, reported the Hindustan Times.
People across the country are scrambling for life-saving oxygen supplies, while patients lay dying outside hospitals. There is a shortage of life-saving medicines and hospital beds too.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has also expressed solidarity for the people of India in the current wave of COVID-19.
