Actor Akbar Khan, known for portraying character roles, has passed away in Karachi on Tuesday after suffering from an undisclosed illness.
He was a painter and a sculptor of note, with acting credits that include critically acclaimed dramas like ‘Parizaad’, ‘Dil Ruba’ and the popular sitcom ‘Bulbulay’.
Hum TV sent condolences to the late actor’s friends and family members on Instagram.
Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui spoke with The Indian Express about his 2019 hit drama ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ which is set to appear on the Indian channel ‘Zee Zindagi’ which has also aired previous Pakistani dramas like ‘Qissa MeherBano Ka’ and ‘Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay’.
Touching upon the topic of the ban on Pakistani music and films in India and vice versa, the actor said that there should be a healthy cultural exchange between the two countries as he feels Pakistanis are more tolerant in comparison to Indian audiences:
“Art has no boundaries, but artistes have a certain boundary, which shouldn’t be there. There should be healthy cultural exchange. I believe that the kind of tolerance–pardon me for being so blunt–but our tolerance, in comparison to Indian audience is much higher. We accept Indian artistes, Indian cricketers, we accept everything good about India. But when this thing goes across the border, it becomes very political. I don’t know why.”
Adnan, who starred in Bollywood film ‘Mom’ in 2017 which starred the late veteran Bollywood actress Sri Devi and our very own Sajal Aly, and was met with applause by audiences both in India and Pakistan. But the actor recalled how after the Fawad Khan controversy, the filming had to be kept quiet.
“I remember when I was filming Mom, it was kept very hush-hush, because the whole Fawad Khan controversy had happened. Boney was saying that we can’t do interviews, public appearances. This shouldn’t be happening; the responsibility should be taken by both the governments and the political parties, to at least be a little lenient when there is art involved somewhere.”
Speaking further on the ban and his dissapointment on not being able to establish a career in Bollywood, Siddiqui revealed that it was actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s manager who reached out to him with some jobs, but it eventually didn’t work out.
“I was thinking to have my career over there, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s manager was in touch with me, he was offering me some work over there and I was looking at those also, but then it didn’t happen. No regrets, really.”
Pakistani drama ‘Mere Paas Tum Ho’ is set to air on Indian channel ‘Zee Zindagi’. The Humayun Saeed and Ayeza Khan starrer will join the ranks of Pakistani dramas like ‘Qissa Meherbano Ka’, ‘Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay’ among others, all of whom have enjoyed popular airtime on the Indian channel ‘Zee Zindagi’.
On the official Instagram page, the channel had announced:
“What happens when you feel money CAN buy happiness? Here’s a glimpse of the much-awaited show! #MerePaasTumHo, Coming Soon on Indian Television screens!”
Penned by Khalil-ul-Rehman Qamar, the show revolves around Danish (played by Humayun), a traditional man who lives a simple life in a small flat with his wife and son. However, his wife Mehwish (played by Ayeza Khan) is an ambitious woman who dreams of acquiring wealth. When the couple meets Shehwar (played by Adnan Sdiddiqui) she falls for him and soon after, leaves her family to marry him.
Siddiqui recently made an appearance on Junaid Akram’s podcast where he spoke about the success of the drama, playfully suggesting that he should have charged more for his role had he known how big a hit the drama would become:
“If I knew how successful it would be, I wouldn’t have charged the money that I did. I would’ve taken a lot more. For the first time ever, Humayun asked me to play a role that he had in mind, and he was right. It was very big of him to suggest that. He told me that people had already cast me for it since like 6 years ago. Like, they had my name in mind,” Adnan shared.
Reports are coming in that 62,000 people have been evacuated from the country’s coastal line, according to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, and 75 relief camps have been set up at schools and colleges, according to Samaa.
Celebrities and public figures are taking to social media to send helpful advice and prayers to those who could be affected by the natural disaster, as well as encouraging followers on social media to not listen to misinformation while stocking up on all the necessary things they need incase of emergency.
Veteran actress Bushra Ansari shared a video of the sea outside her apartment to disseminate the misinformation that the storm had already reached Karachi, and sent her prayers to the resident’s of this city
Philanthropist and actress Shaniera Akram urged her followers to help the ones living along the coast and whose lifestyle could be harmed due to the floods.
Hope that Pakistan is blessed with protection yet again, but it’s wise to listen to authorities and take caution. If you are along the coast please do what you can to protect your houses, family, staff, businesses, neighbours and animals against the threat of #cyclonebiparjoy…
Actress Mishi Khan urged her followers to keep an emergency bag with them which included medicines, valuables, and cash etc, and to also remain in contact with friends and family members.
Please be alert ‼️ Karachi & other adjoining coastal areas. Be in contact with family & friends and keep an emergency bag to take with you ( medicines, valuables, passport & keep cash ) take your pets with you if you leave for some safe spot . Allah SWT be with U #CycloneBiparjoypic.twitter.com/tJ5YV2pr3Z
There is no harm in finding some humor in dark times, like actress Ushna Shah can as she makes a funny quip about boarding a plane while a cyclone looms over Karachi
“My flight to Karachi is taking off and there is a Cyclone warning there. I just want my husband to know that God forbid if the plane crashes & I don’t make it, I hope he finds happiness with someone new one day.. and I hope he knows she will never be as awesome as me. He will have settled. (It’s really sad that I have to give this disclaimer but I do: this is a joke).”
My flight to Karachi is taking off and there is a Cyclone warning there. I just want my husband to know that God forbid if the plane crashes & I don’t make it, I hope he finds happiness with someone new one day.. and I hope he knows she will never be as awesome as me. He will…
The Pakistani drama ‘Maat’ aired over eleven years ago and featured a thrilling love triangle between two sisters Aiman (played by Amina Sheikh) and Saman (played by Saba Qamar) who fall in love with the same man, Faisal (played by Adnan Siddifiqui).
Faisal first proposes for Saman’s hand in marriage, but after her rejection, he turns to Aiman. Watching Aiman and Faisal happy drives Saman to jealousy and she begins to plot the downfall of her sister.
Years after the serial aired, Siddiqui took to Instagram to share a sweet memory of meeting a neighbor who lived next to the house where the drama was shot, and how an accidental encounter led to a memorable dinner, which the actor still remembers years on.
The actor shared that once when he was heading back to the set after fearing he lost his wallet, he spotted the late Mr. Maroof pacing around worried because no one had visited him for dinner. The neighbor requested Siddiqui to join him for dinner, which the actor recalled was an incredibly memorable experience:
“In that moment, I was struck by the extraordinary character and values that Maroof sahib embodied. Though he had limited means, his heart overflowed with generosity. His insistence on sharing his modest meal revealed a profound philosophy of life—one that emphasises the importance of giving, sharing, and finding fulfillment in serving others.”
The experience taught him that true wealth is never about how much money we have, but how much we care.
Right now, it looks like the Pakistani film industry is morphing, with a string of upcoming movies that cover a range of diverse topics. Babylicious is gearing up for release, an exes-to-lovers story. Kukri which explores the story of serial killer Javed Iqbal. And now, director Azfar Jafri is developing an adaptation called ‘Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning’ from the Urdu novel “Dastan-e-Amir Hamza”.
The beloved Urdu novel, is based on the Persian folklore written by Ghalib Lakhnavi in 1855. It is an epic tale about the legendary exploits and adventures of Amir Hamza and his crew. Umro Ayyar, the central character of this film, is described as a thief who is known for his cleverness and steals from the rich to help the poor.
The upcoming film will star Usman Mukhtar, Sanam Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Ali Kazmi and veteran actor Simi Raheal.
The Current reached out to Mukhtar to ask why he chose to take part in such a project, and spoke about his love for the original novels:
“I chose this project because I have loved Umro since I was a child, and have read all of its books. I was very excited when I became a part of this film.”
Mukhtar also talked about the need to familiarise today’s generation with stories like Umroo Ayyar.
“I think that it’s about time. I think there are so many stories we have in the sub-continent, in our own culture, that are un-explored that we don’t make films about. I honestly don’t understand why producers don’t focus on our own stories. I think it’s about time that it’s happening and I’m really excited and I hope people, when they watch the film, they like it.”
Mukhtar last appeared in ‘Sinf-e-Ahan’ along side Sajal Aly and Kubra Khan. In 2022, he released his horror short film ‘Gulabo Rani’ which received rave reviews from audiences, and also received the ‘Best Short Horror Film’ Award at the Los Angeles Sci-Fi & Horror Festival.
On Tuesday, actress Saeeda Imtiaz made national headlines when it was reported that she had passed away at her home. Later in the day, the ‘Tamasha ghar’ actor and her legal representative slammed the rumors to confirm that she was alive. The news reports had been released after the actress’ Instagram page posted an announcement of her death.
Saeeda Imtiaz said that a group of hackers had posted fake news on her Instagram and Facebook accounts leading her family and friends to become extremely upset, as they kept calling her to confirm the news.
Television host Mathira had slammed Imtiaz for refusing to come forward with details, calling this a badly staged publicity stunt, in a screenshot shared by Galaxy Lollywood.
Taking to her Instagram account, Imtiaz criticised those who were claiming that this was a publicity stunt, pointing out that the incident was traumatising for her, especially listening to news sources saying that she had passed away. She called for the critics to be mindful of their actions, because no one knows about how their life would turn out.
Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has gone from strength to strength, initially by becoming the first Pakistani and woman of color to first win two Oscars, then to helming Marvel projects and now to taking on the mantle of the first female director to take on the iconic franchise ‘Star Wars’.
Chinoy’s remarkable achievements have made Pakistanis incredibly proud, putting the country on the global map of the entertainment industry.
The ‘Star Wars’ announcement has prompted a lot of people to congratulate Chinoy, including local and international stars. However, Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopra’s sentimental note about the director irked a lot of people, including actor Adnan Siddiqui.
Chopra has shared a note for Chinoy on Instagram, calling her the first ‘South Asian’ woman to achieve such monumental heights.
Adnan Siddiqui then schooled her in a tweet, reminding her that Chinoy was a Pakistani first, then a South Asian
“With due respect, @priyankachopra . Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a Pakistani first just to brush up your knowledge. Much like the way you flaunt your Indian nationality whenever you get the opportunity before claiming to be a South Asian.”
With due respect, @priyankachopra . Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a Pakistani first just to brush up your knowledge. Much like the way you flaunt your Indian nationality whenever you get the opportunity before claiming to be a South Asian. pic.twitter.com/B7wy8gD8QB
Level of insecurity shown by @priyankachopra here is mind boggling. She is a big name herself and yet can’t digest someone from neighbouring country make a name for Pakistan. Unreal hate they have for Pakistan. https://t.co/CC7TOgaWau
Actor Adnan Siddiqui has commented about Bollywood’s misrepresentation of Pakistanis in their films. The recent Bollywood movie Mission Majnu became a trolling affair as the film stereotyped Pakistanis.
While many rightly called out the makers of the propaganda film on Twitter, Siddiqui took to Instagram and shared his two cents on the matter. “How much misrepresentation is too much misrepresentation?” he asked his followers on Instagram.
Adding on, the actor, who starred in Bollywood offering Mom, alongside late superstar Sridevi and Sajal Ali, commented, “I mean come on, with all the money you have, hire some good researchers to do homework on us. Or allow me to help. Make sure to take notes—no, we don’t wear skull caps, surma, tawiz; no, we don’t ask janab about their mijaz; no, we don’t go around throwing adaab.”
Siddiqui went on to comment, “There’s so much in Mission Majnu that’s distasteful and factually incorrect. The hero’s saviour complex would’ve been accentuated more if the villain was shown at par. A weak antagonist embellishes an even weaker protagonist.”
He concluded, “Poor story, poorer execution, poorest research. Next time, come and visit us. We are good hosts. Will show you how we look like, dress up and live.”
Malhotra previously addressed stereotyping of Pakistanis and India’s knack for making films on this side of the border. When asked if his character in the film helps perpetuate stereotypes of Pakistanis in Hindi films, the actor told Film Companion, “We have consciously made an effort in the writing that it is never to take on a particular community. I recently did a film called Shershaah, which is based on India and Pakistan, and the battle that we had, which was documented.”
He added, “Once you see the film, consciously we never really concentrated, barring maybe four scenes on the other side (Pakistan), it was purely about this side (India) and this man’s journey, (Army captain) captain Vikram Batra sacrificing his life… So there is the same conscious effort (with Mission Majnu), and there is no personal animosity with anyone, these are just documented historical points, which we will never get complete facts of, so for that, you need to establish possibly certain characters in an x amount of time.”
The actor further responded about certain scenes in the trailer and added, “And the shots they are referring to (from the trailer) are meant to be tongue-in-cheek in the film. So, I think it will be a fair dialogue once everyone sees the film… it is never about a community or taking a dig, which digresses from the film… a religion or a community is never an issue in the film.”
There has been a steady rise in Bollywood film productions which often overtly or covertly portray an anti-Pakistan sentiment. Malhotra’s Mission Majnu isn’t Bollywood’s first attempt at wrongly depicting Pakistan and history. His Student of the Year co-star, Alia Bhatt, too, essayed a spy in the 2018 film, Raazi. One such film released in 2021, Bhuj: The Pride of India, which stars Ajay Devgan in the lead role, ironically features a rendition of Madam Noor Jehan’s iconic song Zaalima CocaCola.
Films portraying an anti-Pakistan narrative gained traction after the Uri attacks in 2016. Uri: The Surgical Strike, starring Vicky Kaushal was one of the first military-inspired films showing Pakistan in a negative light. While Akshay Kumar’s spy thriller Bell Bottom, inspired by the hijackings of Indian Airline flights in the 80s, was banned from screening in KSA, Kuwait and Qatar. The countries in question deemed the film to be unfit for exhibition.
Actors Adnan Siddiqui and Sajal Ali indulged in a war of words with each other after Adnan expressed his issue with Shehzad Roy’s ‘remixed’ version of the National Anthem.
On Thursday, the renowned musician Shehzad Roy performed a ‘remixed’ version of the National Anthem at the 21st Lux Style Awards.
The anthem, which Roy produced to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan’s creation, features the lyrics as the original, but some of the more modern instruments used to create the melody were replaced with traditional ones.
For Siddiqui, the performance was underwhelming to the point that he found the new version disrespectful.
“It (National Anthem) is always played in the original rendition at matches, tournaments, and other state functions. At a famous award show, artists, however, fiddle with the National symbol and possibly get away with it too. Personally, I find ‘remix’ of the Tarana disrespectful.”
Star-actor Sajal Ali disagreed with Adnan’s stance and shared her opinion on Instagram. She said the new version of the National Anthem was healing, and that it ‘reflected the values of our Constitution and remained true to the original anthem’.
“As a Pakistani and an artist, I found the diversity of my country reflected in this rendition of the national anthem beautiful. I found it healing,” Ali said.
The famous VJ and actor, Anoushey Ashraf, agreed with the Gul-e-Rana actor and said, “I absolutely agree with you. Many countries have different renditions of the original anthem as long as it’s done within the frame of decency and acceptability.”
She added, “This is just adding more diversity to it to accommodate everyone, it doesn’t change its essence or the feel. Never will.”
Adnan’s series of posts for Sajal
Earlier today, the Merey Paas Tum Ho actor responded to the criticism and advised Ali to revisit the post as she had missed his point.
Taking to his Instagram, he shared a series of stories stating that he was not ‘throwing shade on the “ethnicity” of the artists involved or on anyone’s patriotism.
In one of the stories, he tagged the actor and reminded her how “there is a protocol to be followed for national symbols, the respect accorded to them much so that the first alphabets of national symbols are written in upper case.”
“What is next because we are creative and should celebrate diversity? Hoist the National Flag upside down and design our own version of the emblem?” He added.
The actors have worked together in a Bollywood movie Mom, alongside late Indian actor Sridevi.
