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  • ‘We can’t make films’: Syed Mohammed Ahmed calls out Pakistani film industry

    ‘We can’t make films’: Syed Mohammed Ahmed calls out Pakistani film industry


    Is the Pakistani film industry stuck copying Bollywood? Well, veteran actor and writer Syed Mohammed Ahmed thinks so and has openly talked about the challenges facing the entertainment industry. 


    Appearing as a guest on Gup Shab by Vasay Chaudhry, the Sunn Mere Dil actor shared his thoughts on why the local film industry continues to struggle. 


    “I think this work is not ours. We can’t make films. I only realise this now.     There was a lot of hope earlier, but now I don’t think so because it requires passion, training and history. If you compare it to India, they have been making films since the 1930s, and they started by learning from Hollywood,” he said in response to an audience member’s question regarding the shortcomings of the Pakistani film industry. 


    “We’ve always tried to copy India. We’ve never tried to train ourselves and make films like Hollywood. We still try to make Bollywood-style films,” he added.

     
    The Meray Paas Tum Ho actor also highlighted the repetitive content on television saying, “Right now, on TV, whether it’s this channel or that channel, the same storyline is being played.     Either there’s a divorce happening or someone’s falling for their brother-in-law. There’s nothing beyond this.”

      
    “If they want to write something big or different, they’ll make the mother-in-law a tyrant and the husband toxic. What else is there? So, where’s the actual drama?     This is the same thing you’ve been watching for the past 25–30 years,” he added.

     
    When asked by co-host Rabbina Shirjeel if it was true that audiences didn’t connect with something new or meaningful, he said if that was the case, why was ‘Kabli Pulao’ such a huge hit.     “It was completely out of the ordinary, a really well-made play with a different subject.”

     
    “There was another recent one about Halala, written by Zafar Mairaj. It was an eight-episode drama featuring Bilal Abbas. That too was very different and did really well.     I think projects like these, which are experimental, face challenges in marketing,” he added.

     
    Syed Mohammed Ahmed is currently starring in Sunn Mere Dil, written by controversial writer Khalil Ur Rehmar Qamar, and directed by Haseeb Hassan.

     
    Earlier, in an interview with ‘Hasna Mana Hai’, Ahmed also shared his favorite death scene.
    A fan in the audience had asked, “Sir, you appear in almost all Pakistani dramas and coincidentally, you often die in them as well. So, which was your favorite death scene?” 


    “The best one was in Sabaat, and the funniest death was in Neeli Zinda Hai.     I was hit on the head. The third one, which will be a good death, is coming soon. It’s in the drama Sun Mere Dil. I’m going to die in a different way, and the camera angle was different too,” he said.

  • WATCH: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Meets Sanjay Dutt in Dubai

    WATCH: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Meets Sanjay Dutt in Dubai

    A viral video has shown renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt meeting backstage during a concert in Dubai.

    According to the details, the video was recorded at Rahat’s concert where Sanjay Dutt was also in attendance.

    In the video, the two stars can be seen having a friendly conversation, planning a future meeting and showing mutual respect as well as admiration.

    Rahat shared the video on his official Facebook account, prompting widespread appreciation from fans on either side of the border.

    Netizens said the interaction shows the love and respect both celebrities have for each other, highlighting a moment of warmth between two well-known figures from different entertainment industries.


    Rahat is known across the globe for his classical music and exceptional singing. His distinctive style has earned him a special place in the music landscape of the world.


    He has recorded numerous hit songs, ghazals and qawwalis, and has a massive following on social media with 8.2 million fans on Facebook.

    Bollywood celebrities, including Sanjay Dutt, have frequently praised Rahat’s voice and talent, further solidifying his reputation as a globally respected artist.

    Earlier Rahat Fateh Ali Khan revealed that Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali ‘Allah Hoo Allah Hoo’ was so loved by Westerners that they started calling him ‘Mr. Allah Hoo.’


    He spoke to the media in Canada and said, “Toronto is my second home because Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s wife used to live here and I used to come and stay at her house, my memories are associated with this city.”


    He further added, “My son Shah Zaman is performing on the big stage at a young age, he has learned by listening and singing along with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan from the age of six.”


    He said, “Qawwali is my favorite genre in the art of music, there is freedom in Qawwali in which there is an opportunity to sing openly.”


    “We come abroad with the smell of the soil of our country,” he added


    He said that like the West, “I also liked Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Allah Ho Allah Ho’ the most.”

    Check the video below:



  • November 24 protest: High-level dialogue begins between PTI, govt

    November 24 protest: High-level dialogue begins between PTI, govt

    Preparations are underway for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest on November 24 in Islamabad, but The News reports that the government has urged the party to “call off” the planned demonstration.

    The incumbent government’s initial contact with PTI was reportedly positive, while the party would “call off” the protest in exchange for some assurances for considering their demands.

    The News, however, did not disclose the names of contacts from both parties in the discussion, fearing that it could impact the ongoing negotiations.

    The source claimed that Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur is expected to participate in the apex committee meeting on Tuesday (today).

    In an apex committee chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, CM KP Gandapur is reportedly expected to raise the issue of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan and the ongoing tension between PTI and the military establishment.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir, and all intelligence agency chiefs will also participate in the apex committee meeting.

    Barrister Saif, KP’s Advisor for Information and Broadcasting, while appearing on Geo News, confirmed on Monday that Ali Amin Gandapur will present PTI’s demands before the apex committee meeting before presenting in the upcoming protest at Islamabad.

    If a consensus were built between PTI and the government to initiate dialogue, the military establishment would be exempted from participating in it, the source claimed.

    Following the “final call” by the founder of PTI for the countrywide demonstrations to achieve their demands, the party leadership had vowed to stage a big sit-in show in the federal capital on November 24 until the release of Imran Khan.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf demands the revocation of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, including the restoration of democracy and the Constitution, the return of the public’s mandate, and the release of all political prisoners.

    Previously, former PM Khan was arrested on August 5 last year from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and has been in jail since then on multiple charges.

    It should be mentioned here that incarcerated PM Imran Khan is facing several cases, including the £190 million reference (Al Qadir Trust case) and a new Toshakhana case.

    Meanwhile, as per the notification issued by Additional District Magistrate Usman Ashraf, the Islamabad administration on Monday imposed section 144 in the federal capital for two months ahead of the PTI protest.

    According to the notification, there will be a ban on gatherings of five or more people, including the prohibition of any processions, rallies and demonstrations.

  • Punjab expected to achieve Rs630 billion cash surplus

    Punjab expected to achieve Rs630 billion cash surplus

    Despite missing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) cash surplus by a staggering Rs182 billion, hope still remains for Punjab. 

    Reports quoted provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari as saying the IMF still believes that Punjab will be able to achieve the predetermined cash surplus of Rs630 billion by the end of the year.

    Bokhari was pleased to report that the IMF has officially recognised Punjab’s efforts to achieve a budget surplus. This was evident by IMF backing the government’s claim regarding the surplus.


    Additionally, Bokhari also addressed claims that had been circulating against the government. Said claims suggested that the provincial government had invested in a United Arab Emirates (UAE) based fund.

    The minister, however, firmly refuted the same, stating that no such matter had been discussed during the IMF’s meetings with officials from the government of Punjab.

    It may be noted that the reason for the shortfall of surplus in the previous quarter of the fiscal year was primarily the repayment of commodity related loans that had reduced the amount of money the provincial government could post as surplus.

    However, owing to the repayment of the loan, the next surplus will be greater by a large magnitude. This is due to the fact that interest payments will not have to be doled out on the expired loans. Besides that, reports said, the funds that had been used to clear the loans can now be booked as a budget surplus.


    This endorsement from the IMF spells great news as it comes at a time when the federal government in Islamabad is missing its objectives set out by the IMF. For instance, Islamabad failed to the IMF stipulated condition that was set to ensure that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would collect at least Rs2.652 trillion in taxes.


    Moreover, the FBR was supposed to collect at least Rs10 billion rupees from traders as per one of the 40 IMF conditions. However, the government failed to meet the target by almost one million per cent. This was because the FBR was only able to collect a measly Rs1 million from traders.


    While assurances from the IMF for achieving a cash surplus of 40 billion rupees is likely to motivate Punjab’s lawmakers to continue following the roadmap set out by the global lender, the government is also showing a willingness to strictly adhere to austerity measures.

  • ‘Earn enough to save your relationships,’ advises Danish Nawaz

    ‘Earn enough to save your relationships,’ advises Danish Nawaz

    Actor Danish Nawaz has said that every person should earn enough money so that their relationships do not break.

    “Every person should earn enough money so that their relationships do not get lost or broken,” he said in response to a question about income while appearing on comedy program‘ Mazaq Raat’.

    “Every person should earn enough money so that when their child asks them for something, they can give it to them,” Nawaz added.

    He also spoke openly on other topics. “I started my career with comedy and continued to play comic roles for a long time, which made people think that I only knew comedy,” the actor-director said.

    According to Nawaz, he wanted to change this perception and so he turned towards directing and earned a name there through hard work.

    “My father Farid Nawaz Baloch passed away before my showbiz career and I learned a lot from Yasir Nawaz. I also played the best role of my life in ‘Nadanian.’”

    “I did not face any difficulties getting into directing after acting. I read and understood the script completely before starting to shoot, which impressed actors with my work,” he said.

    He further said, “Your loved ones give love without money, but you have to spend money on outsiders.”

  • Sheheryar Munawar, Maheen Siddiqui to tie the knot in December

    Sheheryar Munawar, Maheen Siddiqui to tie the knot in December

    Rumours are buzzing that actor Sheheryar Munawar and actress Maheen are planning to get married in December 2024, but neither of the stars has addressed the gossip.

    The news about Sheheryar Munawar and Maheen Siddiqui was shared by journalist Irfan Ul Haq on November 18, 2024, via his Instagram account, Irfanistan, with the caption: “Sheheryar Munawar is getting married in December. Guess who will be the luckiest Bride???”

    Maheen Siddiqui has appeared in dramas such as ‘Agar’, ‘Dooriyan’, and ‘Dobara’ whereas Shehryar Munawar has starred in ‘Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley’, ‘Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay’, ‘Kahi Unkahi’, ‘Aasmanon Pay Likha’, ‘Pehli Si Muhabba’t, ‘Sinf-e- Aahan’, ‘Kuch Ankahi’, ‘Radd’ and currently he is starring in Aye ishq junoon, which airs on ARY Digital.

    Earlier, Munawar gave fans a peek into his love life with a surprising Instagram post. After months of speculation, the popular actor shared a heartfelt post showing affection for actress Maheen Siddiqui, calling her his “jaan” (beloved).

    In the post, Sheheryar shared photos from his birthday celebration, where close friends, including Maheen, surprised him late at night. Maheen was the first person he tagged in the post. She responded by resharing the post with a red heart emoji.

    Previously, Sheheryar Munawar got engaged in Karachi to Dr Hala Somroo, however, the engagement was called off a few months after that.

    In another story, Sheheryar reposted Maheen’s post with the sweet caption “Meri Jaan” (my beloved), thanking her for making his birthday extra special. This public display of affection has fans talking, especially since rumours have been circulating that the two might get married in December.

    In August, The Current spoke to a source who gave exclusive information about the heartthrob bachelor.

    Speculation gained momentum after Munawar spoke about his love life during an interview with Frieha Altaf.

    “Alhamdulillah, I’m very grateful and happy. My parents are very happy. Allah has been really kind,” he said.

    “I’m grateful for the love and support, but I request my fans to pray for us and respect our privacy as we embark on this new journey together,” the Zindagi Gulzar actor added.

      
    A few months back in July, during an interview with Fuchsia Magazine, the Zindagi Gulzar actor talked about domestic violence and the man-angle.


    Sheheryar said, “Parents teach children to be brave, not to cry, and never to show weakness. But after marriage, wives often don’t let husbands express their emotions. They say things like, If you lose your job, just start another business quickly. When men are told not to feel pain or cry, they become very harsh, leading to domestic violence.”
     


    Talking about the psychological effects of societal pressure on men:


    Radd actor said, “When men are burdened with numerous responsibilities and aren’t given the chance to express their emotions, it leads to issues in their personalities. In our society, there are many women who inflict forms of oppression on men that we can’t even imagine.”

     

  • VIDEO: Bushra Bibi ‘threatens’ PTI lawmakers in viral audio leak

    VIDEO: Bushra Bibi ‘threatens’ PTI lawmakers in viral audio leak

    Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has allegedly threatened lawmakers of the party while directing them to mobilise support for the upcoming November 24 protest.


    As per the details, an audio leak from a party meeting in Peshawar on November 18, allegedly featured Bushra Bibi as telling PTI MNAs and MPAs that distribution of party tickets would be made on the basis of their participation in the protest scheduled for the federal capital.


    Jailed former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan had last week given the “final call” for a nationwide protest against alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, and the passage of the 26th Amendment. His wife Bushra Bibi has reportedly taken charge amid reservations by incumbent party leadership regarding a protest demonstration.


    While PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai has confirmed the authenticity of the nine-minute audio recording, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information and Broadcasting Minister Barrister Saif has rejected claims that she chaired a party meeting in Peshawar last week.


    In the leaked audio, Bushra Bibi can allegedly be heard as quoting her husband and saying that every MPA should join the main procession in Islamabad with 5,000 workers whereas all MNAs should bring along 10,000 workers. No excuses shall be accepted in this regard, she can be heard as saying.
    “If a worker is injured, local MNAs and MPAs will take care of them. No one should get arrested nor allow others to be detained,” she said.

    Bushra Bibi also directed lawmakers to “plan in advance” in case there was a possibility of their arrests while en route to the federal capital. 


    “Prepare a plan in advance to avoid getting arrested,” she said, also telling party lawmaker to appoint three successors who could lead the caravans to Islamabad in case of senior leadership’s arrest.


    “Social media activists and YouTubers should share videos of the caravans in real-time,” she said.
    The former first lady also said that the November 24 protest was a “test of loyalty to the PTI founder”, expressing confidence that around 500,000 people will take to the streets.


    “Grouping at this critical time does not demonstrate loyalty to Khan,” she said in reference to reports of infighting within the PTI.


    Bushra Bibi had last month secured bail in the Toshakhana case after being incarcerated for nine months. The former first lady was taken into custody on January 31 after an Islamabad accountability court sentenced her and Imran to 14 years in jail.

  • $5 million deal in Shark Tank Pakistan shatters US version’s global record

    $5 million deal in Shark Tank Pakistan shatters US version’s global record

    A Pakistan-based commodity sourcing company, Saraaf, has secured a deal of whopping Rs1.5 billion ($5 million) in Shark Tank Pakistan, shattering the global record for volume of any deal in the hit investment show around the world.


    As per the details, Saraaf made history by securing the deal which is one of the largest in the show’s history. The founders of the company raised Rs80 crores of 20% equity and an additional Rs70 crores as a line of credit with 3% royalty to expand its operations and achieve ambitious goals.


    Previously, the highest-ever investment made by investors in any country’s version of Shark Tank was $2.5 million in the American version of the show. 


    Saraaf, which specialises in premium onyx, cotton and minerals, has over 25 years of experience and is known for dominating Pakistan’s onyx and marble exports. Their mission is to become Asia’s largest business-to-business (B2B) sourcing platform.
    Shark Tank Pakistan is the latest instalment of the business reality show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of investors known as “sharks.” The show aims to inspire and support Pakistan’s startup ecosystem by providing funding and mentorship to promising business ideas.


    The sharks on the panel include experts like Faisal Aftab, Rabeel Warraich, Romanna Dada, Junaid Iqbal and Usman Bashir, who were impressed by Saraaf’s business model and potential for growth.


    Usman Bashir, the founder and CEO of Braketime! – an unstoppable force in the Pakistani-American business landscape – was the one to strike the deal with Saraaf.


    The Pakistani version of the show has already seen some exciting pitches, including one from Arshad Khan, the famous “blue-eyed Chaiwala,” who secured a deal for his chai business. Shark Tank Pakistan is a great platform for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations and potentially receive the investment they need to grow their businesses.


    While the show had been a hit with audiences in the United States (US) for better part of a decade, it gained popularity with Pakistani audiences after first season of Shark Tank India was aired in 2021.


    Much like other instalments, Shark Tank India features a panel of potential investors or angel investors, who listen to entrepreneurs’ pitch ideas for a business or product they wish to develop. The self-made multi-millionaires judge the business concepts and products pitched, deciding whether to invest their money to help market and mentor each contestant.

  • PTI supporters slam Barrister Gohar for joining British King’s birthday celebration

    PTI supporters slam Barrister Gohar for joining British King’s birthday celebration

    The United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, posted a video on November 18 of an exclusive event celebrating His Majesty The King’s 76th Birthday in Islamabad. The long guest list included PTI’s Chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, which irked the party supporters.

    In the short video clip released by the official account of Marriott, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, former caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, former CM Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan and former diplomat Tariq Fatemi were cutting a cake with British High Commissioner.

    Former DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General (retd) Asif Ghafoor was present at the event as well. 

    Barrister Gohar’s presence at the party, however, drew strong criticism from netizens on social media.

    One user commented: “Khan is in jail this guy is eating cake.”


     
    Another irritated netizen wrote, “How did you manage to gather every Pakistan that the people of Pakistan absolute hate? Well, but then you’re a bunch of hypocrites anyway.”

    “Every colonial slave in one video….fascinating,” remarked another PTI supporter by the username Mooman. 

    Freelancer geopolitical analyst Talha Ahmad, with a considerable following on X, wrote: “In the last two days, funerals have taken place from dozens of houses. This aristocrat is busy celebrating the birthday of his real king in his little world unaware of the situation. In this system, the life of a common man is just a minor news. The news that gets lost somewhere in the noise of this apathetic society the other day.”

    Meanwhile, PTI supporters also criticised the original post, pointing out that since the government had banned the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and the use of VPNs in Pakistan, it was contradictory for the High Commissioner to be using both.

    One party supporter wrote, “Jane what VPN are you using as X is banned in Pakistan officially so are you disobeying the laws of the land as an ambassador in Pakistan or are you exempt from every law too? @FCDOGovUK”

    X user Javed Hassan, wrote: “It is disappointing to see the PTI chairman celebrating the King’s birthday when his majesty’s government has done little to promote human rights and the rule of law in Pakistan. The event is cringeworthy in its colonial undertones when the host country struggles with democracy.”

    “Pakistan is a vassal state of the West. These brown puppets ignored Allama Iqbal’s birthday on November 9 but are bending over backwards to celebrate the King’s birthday, as if he were one of the ideological founders of Pak. Which VPN are you using, Viceroy @JaneMarriottUK?” posted another netizen.

    Another user pointed out the bad optics for the ruling elite as Pakistan reels from a surge in terrorism, writing, “Let us party, sing and make merry to the good health of the King. It isn’t like our country lost 50 plus to terrorism these past few weeks and despondency is touching the sky. Must be some other country where all this is happening.”

  • Here’s why Laila Zuberi turned down Raj Kapoor’s Bollywood offer

    Here’s why Laila Zuberi turned down Raj Kapoor’s Bollywood offer

    What would you do if a Bollywood legend like Raj Kapoor offered you a role in his film?  For veteran actress Laila Zuberi, the answer was simple: stay true to Pakistan. 

    Appearing as a guest on  Tabish Hashmi’s Hasna Mana Hai, Laila revealed a significant offer she once received and declined from Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor.

    One of the audience members asked, “You have done many famous and hit dramas, Mashallah. Have you ever received an opportunity or an offer from another country, and you chose Pakistan over that?”

    To this, Laila replied, “Yes, absolutely, something like that happened once. We were invited to the Sharjah Cup, where we met Raj Kapoor Sahab, and he offered me a role in his film. 

    “We even had some pictures taken, and he asked me for an autograph. He said they show our dramas at his Pune Academy for teaching purposes. It was a very proud moment for me, but I thought that I should work for Pakistan.”

    In the same conversation, the Jafaa actress shared a surprising and slightly unsettling experience with an overly excited fan.

    “Another time, a fan followed me around so much that she said, ‘I want to wash your feet,’ and she was that persistent. One day, she came to me and said her only wish was for me to give her the water I used to wash my feet so she could drink it. I was quite disgusted by the thought and couldn’t bring myself to do it,” Laila shared.

    The host, Tabish Hashmi, asked, “I heard that beggars have often interacted with you in life. Once, when you were playing the role of a gypsy in a drama, a group of nomads approached us. Where was this?”

    Laila Zuberi also spoke about her immersive acting experiences, including playing a nomadic girl in the drama Khak Ja.

    “This wasn’t on set. We were shooting a drama called Khak Ja in Quetta. I was playing the character of a nomadic girl wearing tattered clothes and looking rugged. We were shooting on the streets, and many beggars gathered around us. The producer asked them to move because the shoot was in progress. The beggars replied, ‘You’re making something for her. Why not make something for us too?’” she explained.

    Laila Zuberi starred in dramas such as  Aabroo, Chhaon,  Koshish, Guest House, Durr-e Shehwar,  Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri, and  Pagal Khana, and is currently starring in Jafaa.