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  • ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ is Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars

    ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ is Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars

    The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee has selected Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha as Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars.

    According to a press release, the film will be submitted for Oscar consideration in the ‘International Feature Film Award’ category for the 93rd Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will choose the final nominees for all award categories including International Feature Film in February 2021. The complete and final list of Oscar nominees will be announced on 15th March 2021 with the presentation show for the 93rd Academy Awards scheduled to take place on 25th April 2021.

    Directed and co-produced by Khoosat and written by Nirmal Bano, Zindagi Tamasha features Arif Hassan, Eman Suleman, Samiya Mumtaz and Ali Kureshi in the lead roles. The film is centred around a naat khwan Rahat Khawaja (played by Hassan) and his family who are outcast from the society when a secret of Khawaja’s is leaked.

    The official synopsis states: “The film is an intimate portrait of a family as well as a scorching political commentary on little gods on this earth who police our private passions.”

    Speaking about the selection, Sarmad said: “All the heartache that Zindagi Tamasha gave me has somehow restored my faith in the power of art too: the sheer, almost physical power of art to make life imitate it. This announcement, for me, is a very bright light shining at the end of this dark tunnel of a year.”

    “I made this film in Pakistan and foremost, for Pakistan, for my people and the misfortune that my people have remained deprived of it weighs quite heavy on my artistic conscience. Some pride is slowly kicking in though and no matter how far we go with this official selection, Zindagi Tamasha will be representing all of us – our ‘Pakistan’,” he added.

    The Oscar committee for 2020 was chaired by two-time Academy Award and Emmy winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and included musician Faisal Kapadia, director Asad-ul-Haq, filmmakers Asim Abbasi and Hamza Bangash, Syed Muhammad Ahmed, Mehwish Hayat, Hasan Shehreyar Yasin, Arshad Mahmud and Jamal Shah.

    Asim, who directed the critically acclaimed Churails, said: “For me, Zindagi Tamasha is the strongest submission from Pakistan since 2013.”

    It is pertinent to add here that Zindagi Tamasha has had a bumpy ride. It was initially scheduled to hit screens on January 25 this year but immense backlash from religious circles forced the federal and provincial government to stop its release.

    While the Federal Government had said that the film will be reviewed by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), the Punjab Government had directed the filmmaker to hold a screening on February 3 so that the film can be reviewed again. However, no screening has taken place to date. It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial and central censor boards had earlier cleared the film for release with a few cuts.

    At that point, Sarmad had made a heartfelt appeal to the Prime Minister, President, Chief of Army Staff and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to facilitate the release of the film.

    Later, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights and PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar had taken notice of the ban and said that the committee will review the film. In July, the committee cleared the film and allowed it to be screened post-COVID-19.

    Zindagi Tamasha premiered at the Busan International Film Festival held in October 2019 where it also won the prestigious Kim Ji Seok Award.

    Watch trailer:

  • Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s engagement outfit details revealed

    Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and former president Asif Ali Zardari’s eldest daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari got engaged to Dubai-based businessman Mahmood Choudhry in a beautiful day-time event on Friday at Bilawal House, Karachi.

    Read more – Everything we know about Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s fiancé

    The newly engaged couple looked radiant on their big day and Bakhtawar glowed in light pink outfit paired with a beige Mughlia chaddar. As per details, Bakhtawar’s outfit was designed by Karachi-based designer Nida Azwer. The designer shared pictures of Bakhtawar on her social media handles and wished the couple all the best for the new chapter in their life.

    The bride completed her look with glowy makeup and diamond jewellery.

    IN PICTURES: Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s magical engagement

    Meanwhile, Bakhtawar’s brother Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was unable to attend the event since he tested positive for coronavirus and is now in quarantine. He will hopefully be able to attend the wedding which is expected to take place in January 2021 in Karachi.

  • PDM protesters break into sealed jalsa venue ahead of joint opposition’s gathering

    Workers and leaders of joint opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Saturday broke into the venue of the alliance’s Multan gathering to be held on November 30, which had reportedly been sealed by the administration.

    According to reports, the district administration had placed 30 containers around the venue, Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, with more being brought in to block roads leading to the city and police deployed outside.

    As per the details of Saturday’s incident, a rally led by sons of former prime minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gillani, namely Ali Haider and Ali Musa, overpowered law enforcement to enter the venue. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers led by local party leaders also accompanied the PPP stalwarts.

    The episode saw several scuffles between opposition workers and the police on different routes leading to the stadium where the rally was headed. A final scuffle broke out right outside the venue where hundreds of cops were discharging their duties.

    Unconfirmed reports of casualties — both police personnel and political workers — are pouring in.

    A senior PPP leader confirmed to The Current that Gillani brothers have taken control of the venue and a welcome camp is also being setup at the stadium. “They refuse to leave until the gathering has been held on Monday.”

    To a question, they said the people of Multan are overjoyed to have with them the late former PM Benazir Bhutto’s daughter, Assefa Bhutto-Zardari, who’ll be replacing her coronavirus positive brother and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

    Earlier, more than 200 workers of PDM constituent parties were arrested and raids were being conducted to arrest more. The lists of workers, particularly from the PML-N and PPP, were provided to respective police stations.

    The arrests had come after the government vowed to not let opposition “put people’s life at risk” by holding a gathering amid the second wave of COVID-19.

    As the opposition claims the government is using the virus outbreak to stop the PDM from holding its rallies against “the fascist regime”, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has declared that the Multan rally will be held at all costs.

    Talking to the media outside the party’s Model Town secretariat in Lahore, he said if the government did not de-seal Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, the entire city of Multan will become the venue of the public meeting.

    He said the first phase of the PDM’s anti-government protests will be completed by holding the last event of the series in the Punjab capital on December 13, and the next phase will begin after the alliance leadership devises a new strategy.

    “We stand united against the government,” he said.

  • Cher thanks PM Imran Khan for his assistance in Kaavan’s relocation

    Cher thanks PM Imran Khan for his assistance in Kaavan’s relocation

    Two days before Kaavan is expected to fly to Cambodia, where he will retire in a wildlife sanctuary, US pop star Cher met Prime Minister Imran Khan and thanked him for his efforts in making this possible. The singer, who has campaigned for Kaavan’s freedom for years and is helping pay for his move, arrived in Pakistan this week to see the animal off.

    “Just came from meeting to thank PM Imran Khan for making it possible for me to take Kaavan to Cambodia,” said Cher in a tweet.

    Meanwhile, a statement from PM Khan’s office said that the prime minister appreciated Cher’s efforts in retiring Kaavan to an elephant sanctuary and thanked the singer for her campaign and role in this regard.

    Read more – Cher thanks PM Khan for ‘making her dream come true’

    According to the PM Office, Cher also appreciated PM Khan’s efforts in combating climate change and working towards a cleaner and greener Pakistan.

    “She also offered her support for furthering the green initiatives through her organisation ‘Free the Wild,’ added the PM office.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, who was also present at the meeting, also thanked the US singer for coming to Pakistan to see the elephant off.

    As per details, 36-year-old Kaavan is set to fly out of Pakistan on November 29 on a Russian cargo plane, specially chartered for his transportation.

    A team of vets and experts from Four Paws, an Austria-based animal welfare group, has spent months working with Kaavan to get him ready for the journey to Cambodia. Experts have trained Kaavan to enter a large metal crate that will be used to transport the animal to the airport.

    Kaavan was also put on a diet of fruit and vegetables and has lost half a ton (450 kilograms). Previously, Kaavan was eating 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of pure sugar cane every day, with an occasional fruit and vegetable.

    “All arrangements have been made, a Russian plane has been chartered that will land at Rawalpindi’s military (Chaklala Airport) in the morning of November 29, the same evening Kaavan will depart the Marghazar Zoo at 3 PM in VIP protocol paying his last regards to the city where he was brought as a calf from Sri Lanka in 1985. Kaavan was brought up at the same Marghazar Zoo. Here he had a female companion Saheli who later died of gangrene in 2012,” shared Director of the Four Paws Project Dr Amir Khalil.

    “Now at the age of 36, Kaavan is leaving for yet another home into retirement,” said Dr Khalil.

    The doctor added that there are many elephants at the sanctuary, but in particular three female elephants are awaiting Kaavan’s arrival. He joked that Kaavan might just find a girlfriend there.

    On November 24, Islamabad Zoo gave Kaavan a farewell party, which was attended by the public and government officials. The party was held right outside Kaavan’s enclosure and also included performances by Haroon, Natasha Baig, Khumaariyan and Arieb Azhar.

    Later, President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi also paid a visit to Islamabad Zoo to bid farewell to Kaavan. During his visit, President Alvi said that he hopes that Kaavan finds happiness in Cambodia.

  • ‘Over 20 mobile phones, Rs90,000 in cash’: Johar Town cafe robbed in ‘two minutes’

    ‘Over 20 mobile phones, Rs90,000 in cash’: Johar Town cafe robbed in ‘two minutes’

    Police have registered a case against two unidentified suspects for robbing a restaurant in Lahore’s Johar Town area on the night of November 26 and getting away with a loot of almost Rs1 million.

    Chai Khas, an eatery located on Main Boulevard, was jam-packed at 10:30 pm (despite coronavirus SOPs) when two alleged robbers entered the premises. According to eyewitnesses, the suspects armed with handguns took the “entire floor hostage and started taking away people’s mobile phones, jewellry, and wallets”.

    FIR of the incident

    The FIR of the robbery registered at the SattoKatlan police station claims that at least 21 mobile phones, worth almost Rs1 million, and Rs90,000 in cash was looted in the alleged robbery. The FIR, however, doesn’t mention the details or the worth of the jewellry. The suspects managed to finish their job in two minutes before getting away on a 70cc motorbike numbered 7102, as per the FIR.

    The incident took place at 10:30 pm on Thursday while the FIR was registered around 5 am on Friday, as the owner was allegedly reluctant to approach the police at first. However, after the insistence of the robbed customers, the owner decided to visit the police station in the wee hours of the morning, accompanied by one of the customers, who also shared the account of the robbery on a Facebook group.

    According to the FIR, the two suspects in their early 30s entered the restaurant on Thursday night. They sat in the cafe for a while before they took out their weapons and started robbing people at gunpoint.

    Subsequently, the police booked the suspects under Section 392 of the Pakistan Penal Code that pertains to robbery. “Whoever commits robbery shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which [shall not be less than three years nor more than] ten years, and shall also be liable to fine; and, if the robbery be committed on the Highway […..] the imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years,” the section reads.

    The police ASI, Furqan Anjum, remained unavailable for comments when The Current called him, seeking updates on the probe.

    RELUCTANCE OF CAFE OWNER:

    The people who were robbed at the restaurant have accused the cafe management of dilly-dallying in the registration of the FIR and the release of the CCTV footage of the incident. An eyewitness claimed that the owner didn’t want to go to the police because it could “damage the reputation of his cafe”. “The owner remained insensitive to the episode and remained reluctant to file an FIR,” the customer complained.

    People, who were robbed at the restaurant, have asked the Punjab IGP and Lahore police chief to take notice of the incident in light of a spike in street crimes over the past several months.

  • Did you know Sarwat Gilani has royal roots?

    Did you know Sarwat Gilani has royal roots?

    Sarwat Gilani, in an exclusive interview with The Current, has revealed that she has royal roots.

    “My maternal grandfather was the Nawab of the princely state of Manavadar, which included 70 villages in India,” shared Sarwat in the interview.

    “Junagarh and Manavadar were two princely states. Junagarh was his brother’s and Manavadar was his [Sarwat’s Nana’s] own state,” she continued. “And they chose to come to Pakistan at the time of Partition.”

    “So they left everything over there: their palaces, their cars, guns, everything. They left all their treasure over there in love for Pakistan,” she added.

    Sarwat then said: “When people ask me how I feel about being such a big star, they come to my mind. Because they are real stars who left everything for Pakistan and spent a very simple life after migrating.”

    The actor had earlier revealed that her family did not approve of her career choice. When asked how she managed to convince them, Sarwat said: “I convinced them by being consistent at being decent. For me, convincing my maternal grandmother, my mother and her family was very hard. So I thought if I do well, and constantly do well, they will someday be convinced on their own.”

    “And I think, I did that,” she added.

    The actor in the interview also talked about her infamous kiss with husband Fahad Mirza, meeting Karan Johar, her Whatsapp group with Mahira Khan and Sanam Saeed and how she feels that the “government has nothing better to do, [other than being] busy with banning things and [getting involved] in petty issues.”

    Watch the full interview below:

  • Ayesha Omar gets emotional as she recounts opening up about sexual harassment

    Ayesha Omar gets emotional as she recounts opening up about sexual harassment

    Ayesha Omar, in a recent interview with Waseem Badami, opened up about being sexually harassed at the age of 22 by a powerful person in the industry. The actor has shared her experience of being harassed on several occasions but has never named her perpetrator. However, while recounting the experience on Badami’s Masoomana Sawaal, Ayesha got emotional and started crying on live television.

    During the interview, the actor said that she has never cried while talking about this incident before.

    “Maybe it was your question,” said Ayesha, while explaining why she felt emotional.

    “Nobody said it was easy,” said Ayesha later, in an Instagram post, while referring to the interview.

    “Not sure if I’ve ever cried on live television before,” said the actor. “To be able to let your guard down and be vulnerable…to be able to talk about your painful, difficult experiences from an honest place…to relive and recall traumatic times…to describe your feelings and talk to your younger self…it’s not easy.”

    “It’s not even easy doing it one on one with someone trained to ask the right questions, in private, let alone publicly on live television,” she continued. “But I hope by doing so, I was able to make other humans who have had painful experiences or faced sexual/verbal/physical harassment at any point in their lives, feel a little less alone and a little more hopeful…to try to let go of self-blame and self-deprecation and hold their perpetrators responsible.”

    Read more – Ayesha Omar opens up about her childhood struggles

    On the show, Ayesha, while sharing her experience, had said: “I had just joined the industry, I was hardly 22 years old. He was a man in power and I was scared to go against him. I did not have the courage to tell anyone about it. I’m sorry about that.”

    “I am sorry to the person I was; had I shared it then, I would have been a stronger person today. A lot of other girls also suffered at the hands of the same person. Had I spoken up against him then, maybe he might have stopped.”

    Meanwhile, fellow female stars supported her in the comment section of her post.

  • Mariyam Nafees tests positive for COVID-19 days after attending Rabab Hashim’s mehndi

    Mariyam Nafees tests positive for COVID-19 days after attending Rabab Hashim’s mehndi

    Mariyam Nafees has announced that she has tested positive, days after attending Rabab Hashim’s mehndi. The actor shared that she is isolating at home.

    “Greetings from isolation,” wrote Mariyam on social media. “Unfortunately, I’ve added to the COVID count by testing positive.”

    “Harsh symptoms and away from home, so here’s requesting lots and lots of prayers,” she added.

    Nafees also urged people to protect themselves, wear mask and take the necessary precautionary measures.

    The actor was last spotted at Rabab’s mehndi.

    Mariyam with Rabab on her Mehndi

    Mariyam shared a screenshot on her Instagram story of co-actor Usman Khalid Butt texting to know about her health but he made a big blunder. Instead of writing How are you doing, he wrote, “How are you dying?”

    Rabab, who is famous for her roles in Qarrar and Piya Mann Bhaye, got hitched to Sohaib Shamshad in an intimate wedding. Pictures from her nikkah and rukhsati are being widely circulated on social media.

    Rabab looked ethereal in a cream and pale peach outfit paired with emerald jewellery, while the groom looked dapper in an off-white sherwani.

    Wishing Rabab all the best for the new chapter in her life.

  • PICTURES: Bakhtawar Bhutto’s Magical Engagement

    PICTURES: Bakhtawar Bhutto’s Magical Engagement

    Former President Zardari’s daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari got engaged at a day event in Karachi.

    Guests at the event

    Guests had been asked to get tested for coronavirus before they attended the event.

    Bakhtawar wore a pink outfit and looked radiant as she walked in.

    RELATED:These are not my videos, says Bakhtawar

    The venue was beautifully decorated with pink and white flowers. Aseefa, Bakhtawar’s sister wore a purple and beige outfit and is that Bilawal we spy on the IPad?

    Bilawal Bhutto was unable to attend the event since he tested positive for coronavirus and is now in quarantine. We are absolutely in love with Bakhtawar’s shawl, and its true: the happiest brides are the prettiest brides.

    Bakhtawar also tweeted a picture of her and her fiance, Mahmoud Choudhry.

    RELATED: Everything we know about Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s fiancé

    Bilawal took to Instagram to post a picture of him ‘at’ his sister’s engagement.

  • Adnan Siddiqui opens up on how ‘Mom’ left him ’emotionally drained’

    Adnan Siddiqui opens up on how ‘Mom’ left him ’emotionally drained’

    Adnan Siddiqui has often opened up about the challenges that come with being an actor. In a recent Instagram post, the actor recalled how his Bollywood film Mom left him emotionally exhausted and drained.

    “I have always felt that acting tests you emotionally,” said the actor. “Whether it’s a deliberate call by the script or of a wily director to bring out the best of his/her actors.”

    “I have often been confronted with situations in dramas and movies which I would rather not happen to me in real life. We are never comfortable with our fears and insecurities, on-screen or off it. It can be quite taxing emotionally, and never a pleasant experience to film such scenes,” he continued.

    “I remember being thrown into a very poignant moment while shooting a scene of the movie Mom. The director, Ravi Udyawar briefed me that my character Anand Sabarwal, who is seeking justice for his daughter Arya, has his back to the wall.”

    He further shared: “’Adnan, Anand the man is still fighting gallantly but Anand the father feels defeated.’ I can still recall his brief. I nodded and thought to myself, ‘It’s easy’, till the cameras rolled and I started with the shot.”

    Read more – ‘A portion of my life I will never forget’: Sajal Aly celebrates three years of ‘Mom’

    “Being a father of two beautiful daughters, I could relate to the severity of Anand’s pain. I almost lived his frustration, anger, helplessness and fear of losing the battle for his daughter’s justice. I was completely numb and emotionally drained by the end of the shoot. In fact, I still shudder at the thought of Anand’s anguish,” he wrote.

    “Nothing breaks you as much as your child’s suffering and your inability to alleviate it. I pray to Allah that no parent gets to live the reality fictional Anand had to. May Allah keep everyone’s children safe and healthy,” he concluded.

    Mom is a crime thriller film directed by Ravi Udyawar. It is centred around a mother (Sridevi) who sets out to avenge the rape of her stepdaughter (Sajal Aly). Adnan played Sri Devi’s husband and Sajal’s father in the film. The film also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna in supporting roles. The movie marked Sridevi’s 300th and final major film appearance before her sudden demise on February 24 2018.

    Upon its release, the film was a critical and commercial success with critics and audiences lauding the performances.

    Earlier, in 2017 when the film released, Adnan had shared his experience of working with the team.

    Posting pictures from the sets of the film, the actor had written: “It would have been impossible if it wasn’t for people like Boney Kapoor sahab, the man who taught me quite a few things about filmmaking.”

    “Sri Devi jee, who proved why she was and is one of the best the world will ever see. And undoubtedly, our home-grown bundle of exceptional talent Sajal Aly, who didn’t allow a single scene to be ordinary. These were my beacons throughout this project. The man who didn’t give up on anyone of us, the captain of the ship – our director Ravi Udyawar was an iceberg when it came to tackling petty to big issues and guided us all to victory.”

    Mom is available to stream on Netflix Pakistan.