Sheheryar Munawar, Adnan Siddiqui, and Ahsan Khan among other celebrities have slammed the owners of Cannoli Café Soul in Islamabad, Uzma, and Diya, for mocking and ridiculing their restaurant manager for his Englishspeaking skills.
Sharing his thoughts on the incident, Adnan Siddiqui in a long note posted to Instagram said that he “wish[es] someone had taught them basic courtesy”.
“The joke’s on them because they just exposed their class, rather lack of it,” said the actor. “Do yourself a favour and find a cure for your colonial hangover.”
Similarly, Munawar condemned the behaviour of the owners, writing: “Seems like an exaggerated scene out of a 90’s movie, where the mean rich kids pick on the protagonist, making fun of his humble background.”
“Shame,” he added.
Expressing his outrage, Ahsan Khan said: “I find it very distasteful that even in today’s world we demean people who work for us just because they can’t speak English.”
“Such pretentious snobs,” added the actor.
Ahmed Ali Butt, Sarah Khan and Mushk Kaleem also expressed their distaste over the incident and criticised the disgraceful remarks by the two women.
Mushk also reminded her followers of the time when Iman Aly had passed a “condescending statement about the current models of our industry.”
Meanwhile, the owners later issued an apology, saying that they “are saddened and appalled by the reaction of the people, how they have misconstrued our banter with a team member”.
Social media users, however, are not buying their “fake apology” and have criticised them further for being tone deaf and arrogant.
Hum TV on December 16 celebrated the 16th anniversary of its premier entertainment channel in Islamabad in a special show hosted by Ahmed Ali Butt and Shiffa Yousafzai.
The anniversary celebrations was a star-studded event attended by prominent faces of the country’s entertainment landscape and dignitaries including DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Zulfi Bukhari, Adnan Siddiqui, Bushra Ansari, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Farhan Saeed, Sarah Khan, Vaneeza Ahmed, Momina Duraid, Usman Mukhtar, Sultana Siddiqui President HUM Network Limited and CEO HUM Network Duraid Qureshi.
While everyone enjoyed watching their favourite stars take the stage, it was DG ISPR and SAPM Zulfi Bukhari who Twitter couldn’t stop talking about.
Mahira Khan, who is currently in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, has revealed how she has been keeping herself busy during this time.
“I have listened to old songs, read lots, written and written and written, watched some amazing films, smiled while thinking of life and cried too, lit candles and then re-lit some more every night,” shared the actor.
She further said that she missed her son and loved ones dearly but “in my moments of pain and discomfort..I could only thank the universe for the life I have lived and continue to live. Every little thing – all the tender mercies and blessings.”
“Alhumdulillah,” added Mahira, before thanking her fans and followers for their birthday wishes once again.
Concluding her note, she said, “Here I am, sitting on top of a roof.. watching the sky in all its glory. Added Madam Noor Jehan’s Chaandni Raatein to it.”
“‘We only truly die when we are forgotten’ – She lives every day and forever,” wrote Mahira. Noor Jehan’s 20th death anniversary was observed on December 23.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Ali Butt shared a picture of himself with his grandmother on social media to remember her on her death anniversary.
“Always in our hearts,” wrote Ahmed in the caption.
Madam’s granddaughter, Natasha Ali Lakhani also gave tribute to her grandmother by dressing up like her in a white silk saree and similar makeup. She also shared a video of her mother and aunts talking about their late mother.
The actor has announced that he has started shooting for his next film – a Punjabi film titled Punjabi Hatte Dinde Chakk in the United Kingdom. The actor shared pictures from the sets with his team and asked his followers for their prayers.
According to details, Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi is a comedy-drama directed by Smeep Kang and produced by Gippy Grewal. Other members of the cast include famous Punjabi movie stars Grewal, Neeru Bajwa and Anu Kapoor.
Prime Minister Imran Khan is of the view that social media apps like TikTok are affecting the society’s values badly and should be blocked, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said in an interview with The News.
Speaking to the publication, Faraz said, “PM Imran is extremely concerned about the ‘growing obscenity and vulgarity’ in the society and has directed all the relevant sections to check the trend before it destroys the socio-religious values of Pakistani society.”
The information minister added that the Prime Minister had talked about this issue with him not once or twice but 15 or 16 times and wants a complete strategy to check the vulgarity spreading through mainstream outlets, social media and its applications.
PM Khan’s opinion has social media divided but actor Ahmed Ali Butt supported the premier’s point of view. Feroze Khan had also earlier referred to TikTok as ‘cancer’.
Earlier, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had issued a final warning to TikTok ordering it to filter out obscene and immoral content after it banned live streaming application Bigo over similar concerns.
The PTA has also directed internet operators to ensure that no “immoral or illegal” content is made accessible to users.
Humayun Saeed’s younger brother Salman Saeed got married in Lahore Friday night and the wedding ceremony was a star-studded affair with Adnan Siddiqui, Shaan Shahid, Imran Ashraf, Ahmed Ali Butt, Vasay Chaudhry, Nadeem Baig, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and Azhar Ali in attendance.
Of all the films releasing this Eid, Parey Hut Love was probably the most hyped. Everything about the film – cast, set, costumes, locations – was larger than life and the cast of the film promoted it to death. So much so that even if you weren’t interested in the film, you’d still want to see what it is all about.
Naturally, that raises expectations and that’s when things begin to go down. I entered the cinema excited and left the cinema deflated because the film did not match up to my expectations and what I had been promised.
To begin with, there was no story and half an hour into the film, I had figured out the plot. Parey Hut Love is the story of Sheheryar (Munawar), a commitment-phobic struggling actor who meets Saniya (Maya Ali) at a family wedding. The two spend time together and fall in love. Saniya, who lives in Turkey heads back with the promise that the two will keep in touch. However, Sheheryar’s phone is stolen and Saniya thinks that he has ditched her and is heartbroken. The rest of the film follows the duo as they find their way back to each other despite almost getting hitched to other people.
The entire film was just lots of beautiful wedding scenes put together with many of the scenes inspired by Bollywood movies. You will find references from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Hum Tum and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and even from the Hollywood film Dear Rosie. I personally felt the plot was heavily borrowed from Dear Rosie and Hum Tum.
There was no flow of scenes and some of them, like Mahira’s entry, were so abrupt that it took you a while to put things together and figure out what was going on. It’s like the makers forgot that they had a story to tell.
Parey Hut Love belonged to Sheheryar and Sheheryar only. His character was the only one which was given attention and developed properly while the rest of the movie was rushed. Sheheryar and Saniya’s love story was poorly written. Maya barely had any dialogues and she was a little more than a showpiece.
Zara Noor Abbas and Ahmed Ali Butt were wasted in the film and their roles terribly written. Zara is a talented actor and her comic timing is brilliant which is why I honestly felt upset with the way she was presented. I wish she had more screentime and her character had been more developed because she lit up the screen every time she came on. Also, why wasn’t her styling given the same amount of importance as Maya? While Maya breezed through the film in one gorgeous outfit after another, Zara’s outfits and looks were lazily done. The makeup was also a letdown – the lip colours too light and the eyes heavily done. Maya is a stunning actor and she stole the screen in Teefa in Trouble. In Parey Hut Love not so much.
Zara looks out of place in this coral pink outfit
On the flip, the cinematography, especially the ariel shots, locations, costumes, sets were amazing because of which the film was aesthetically very pleasing. The songs were also beautiful. Kudos to Azaan Sami Khan for delivering one stellar track after another and to Nigah Jee for the brilliant choreography. Morey Saiyaan, Ik Pal and Haye Dil Bechara were a treat to watch and frankly the biggest takeaway from the film.
Munawar has grown as an actor and honed his talent. He has also worked on his physique and all his hard work showed in the film. Maya could have done much better. Ahmed, Zara and Hina Dilapazeer gave some of the best moments from the film with their impeccable comedy.
The surface of Parey Hut Love was polished till it sparkled while little to no attention was paid to the core – the inside of the film was hollow.
Note – This article was updated on August 1, 2020. With no new movies hitting cinemas this year due to the COVID-19 lockdown, TV channels are airing their previous releases. Parey Hut Love was 2019’s highest-grossing film.
Just when we thought that the matter of Diriliş: Ertuğrul being aired on national television was settled, it sparks up again. And this time, it is not just the actors who are debating, it is members of the government including Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Senator Faisal Javed Khan.
The debate started Fawad Chaudhry commented that he was “surprised” that PTV is taking pride in other countries’ productions and urged the state-owned channel to focus on Pakistani productions.
Surprised on @PTVHomeOfficial taking pride on other countries productions,you guys must focus on Pak productions otherwise foreign dramas ll ruin Pak productions,its always cheap to import foreign dramas but this ll have devastating long term effect on our own programming
When a follower reminded the minister that he had earlier praised the drama series, Chaudhry clarified that he does not have anything against the drama and thinks it is brilliant. Instead, his stance is that foreign dramas must be taxed so that TV channels do not import them in large numbers and negatively affect the local drama industry.
ارطغرل زبردست ڈرامہ ہے میری Tweet میں ارطغرل کا معاملہ ہی نہیں، میری پوزیشن ہمیشہ یہ رہی ہے کہ آپ غیرملکی ڈرامہ چلائیں لیکن اس پر اتنا ٹیکس ضرور ہو کہ ہمارا مقامی ڈرامہ متاثر نہ ہو اگر تمام ٹیوی باہر سے سستے ڈرامے خرید لیں گے تو ہماری تو پوری انڈسٹری بیٹھ جائیگی https://t.co/mDJ1ldGoEA
Following Fawad’s tweet, Senator Faisal Javed Khan explained that “great productions like Ertuğrul will help our industry,” adding that such exchange of content should be bilateral. He further said that the local drama industry needs to work on its substance and content.
1/3 Such great productions like Ertugrul @DirilisDizisi will help our industry. We shld show some amazing work that has already been produced – Presenting Islamic History, Culture, Faith. Also this should be bilateral – exporting our content abroad. It’s a win win trade. Cont.. https://t.co/6sZf4vM2Hi
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 31, 2020
….3/3 Awwww wish we had reacted when rubbish Indian content (low standard dramas, films, songs) was aired across our tv channels, cinema & radio. Our own people promoted “Games of Thrones” here. Why shld we object Ertugrul type content. Even PTV used to air Good English film
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 31, 2020
Soon enough, actors including Ahmed Ali Butt and Vasay Chaudhry stepped in to share their thoughts on the debate. While Butt said that the television industry doesn’t mind foreign content and only wants the government to assist them in production, Fakhr-e-Alam agreed with Fawad’s point of view.
Thank you @fawadchaudhry for boldly stating something the brutal truth. PTV output compared to its cost of running operations makes absolutely NO sense what so ever. This organization must realize it is already obsolete. Govt must not burden tax payer with it. https://t.co/xwZhDCTFNu
Meanwhile, Vasay reminded Khan that the industry had protested against Indian content in the past, adding that the issue is not with the play itself but is instead with “PTV and the laws related to the entertainment business”. Chaudhry urged the lawmaker to resolve the issues regarding the laws which Khan agreed with.
1/1 Just for the record Faisal Sb, we protested against indian dramas always, since the last 10 years or more.Back then twitter or social media n all wasnt that influential but that doesnt mean that the Protest or reactions never happened.
Yes Dear Brother! First we need to being the audience back on PTV as people had forgotten this channel due to poor content & quality. Substance, Content, Quality get you audience. Like all other institutions Our predecessors ruined PTV as well. PTV must revive itself now.
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 31, 2020
Diriliş: Ertuğrul is being aired on the recommendation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in the country ever since its first episode aired on the first of Ramzan. According to PTV, 133.38 million people have watched the drama series from April 25- May 14. PTV’s YouTube channel has also registered an exponential rise in its viewership with 4.75 million subscribers and episodes trending every day on the social media platform.
In an exclusive interview with The Current, Senator Faisal Javed Khan had revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.
Yasir Hussain seems to have stirred up quite a storm with his comments on Turkish dramas and Diriliş: Ertuğrul. After Mansha Pasha and Anoushey Ashraf stepped in to defend him, more members of the entertainment industry are sharing their stance on the matter.
Osman Khalid Butt discussed how the drama series can benefit Pakistan
Without taking any names, Osman addressed Yasir’s concerns that foreign content spells death for the local industry.
“Sharing my response to a post that insinuated our jobs are under threat,” wrote Osman. “I don’t recall us actors finding ourselves jobless when Ishq-e-Mamnoon or Mera Sultan were all the rage in Pakistan.”
He further said that the series can help “create more job opportunities for local dubbing/VO artists” in Pakistan.
Osman also suggested that PTV can “use the revenue generated from this series to create our own original content”.
Sharing my response to a post that insinuated our jobs are under threat:
I don’t recall us actors finding ourselves jobless when Ishq-e-Mamnoon or Mera Sultan were all the rage in Pakistan. Nor did Turkish actors ‘infiltrate’ the local industry & replace us. – contd.
Of course, I’d love it if our national television uses the revenue generated from this series to create our own original content – shows that can rival Ertugrul in narrative if not in scale, and showcase our own historical events.
“We need to have more faith in our content, writers and work as an artist,” wrote Maya on Instagram.
Ahmed Ali Butt said that though he respected Yasir’s opinion, he did not agree with it
“One should not be crucified for voicing their concerns,” said Ahmed.
He said that Ertuğrul is a great drama which promotes Islamic values.
Butt also added that he believes that the “Government of Pakistan should grant special budgets to Pakistani production houses with specific guidelines to produce historical dramas with local talent and artists also”.
While Munib Nawaz supported Yasir and called him a true artist, Ali Kazmi said that this should be a wake up call for the industry.
Gohar Rasheed also added his ‘two cents’ on the matter
He said that “if you want job security, take ownership, and create better content. Stop being petty.”
Neelum Munir says “we should look beyond and understand its Islamic content, which has so much wisdom and teaches us the history and the values of Muslims”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVJnJlliTB/
Armeena Khan said that if you want to watch good Pakistani content, watch Hamza Ali Abbasi, Kubra Khan and Sajal Aly’s Alif
Yasir had urged PTV to make a historic drama using artists and technicians who pay taxes to the country.
“Landy k kapray aur Turkey k dramay, dono hee local industry ko tabah kardein gay,” the actor had written.
Following his colleagues remarks, Yasir responded saying: “Yeh humara kaam nahi hai bhai idary ka hai.”
Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in the country ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to PTV, 133.38 million people have watched the drama series from April 25- May 14. PTV’s YouTube channel has also registered an exponential rise in its viewership with 3.13 million subscribers and episodes trending every day on the social media platform.
In an exclusive interview with The Current, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.
There is no doubt that Iqra Aziz is a great actor. From her role in Suno Chanda to her portrayal of a greedy, selfish manipulator in Jhooti, she gets her roles down. But why she picked Jhooti is a question she might soon need to answer. 16 episodes in, the drama is going from lame to lamer and watching it makes it even more painful.
Lovesick husband Nasir with classic manipulator Nirma, handing her money to save his marriage
Maybe the pain comes from the fact that Yasir Hussain really can’t act or that the storyline is so typical that only an Indian soap opera miracle can help it. Nirma (Iqra Aziz) is a self-absorbed thief who manipulates sad, lovestruck Nasir (Ahmed Ali Butt) into giving her a lot of cash and property because he wants to marry her. They marry, get divorced and she meets Ali (Yasir Hussain) who she thinks is this loaded bachelor and is going to invest all her ill-gotten money in property.
She falls for him, marries him but turns out he’s just as big a manipulator as her. He’s using Nirma to get money so he can pay back his ex-wife who is threatening him if he doesn’t. So here he is, lying to Nirma, trying to get money out of her while she turns from manipulator to manipulated.
Ali, played by Yasir Hussain, is probably the most important but the most mediocre character in the series
Painful isn’t it? And so very typical. The running into your lying husband who says he is in Dubai but ends up at Park Towers Mall is so overdone. Bus kardo yaar, we all know she will find out that she got what she deserved and everyone was right about what a jhooti she was and oh ho, she totally deserved it.
There is no doubt that Iqra Aziz is a fantastic actress as she fully takes on the role of Nirma
The only saving grace is Iqra. Her acting as Nirma is on-point perfection. She seems like a greedy sister, a classic narcissist right down to her nails. Even Iqra’s height suits the role, this little innocent girl who is lying to everyone around her. But that’s just it. The drama doesn’t inspire anything else. It’s one that can be watched while you’re doing something else and it just plays in the background, or be seen because you have to write a review on it. Otherwise, it’s a dead bore and the only way it can be redeemed is if…well can’t really think of anything that can help this storyline.
