Tag: Bilal Abbas Khan

  • Bilal Abbas, Aiman Khan, Sajal Aly among top Global Asian Stars under 30

    Bilal Abbas, Aiman Khan, Sajal Aly among top Global Asian Stars under 30

    Sajal Aly, Aiman Khan, Bilal Abbas Khan and Danyal Zafar have made it to UK-based publication Eastern Eye’s list of ’30 under 30 Global Asian Stars’.

    “The future belongs to the young and one look at rising South Asian stars globally shows it is looking very bright,” said the publication while announcing the list.

    “These terrific talents, bringing something unique to diverse artistic fields, are already breaking boundaries at a very young age and giving us hope at a time when we all need it. Eastern Eye decided to put a spotlight on the brightest of these artists for a first-of-its-kind 30 under 30 global Asian stars to look out for in the coming years,” adds their statement.

    Here’s what the magazine had to say about the four stars and what they had to say in return:

    Bilal Abbas Khan

    “He may have only made his acting debut in 2016, but the Pakistani actor has had a rapid rise since then and starred in a massive number of marvellous projects. The 27-year-old has positioned himself perfectly as the future of film and TV in his country. With more big film and TV projects on the way, he is one to look out for.”

    Speaking about the recognition Khan said: “This is a great honour and I feel humbled to be part of Eastern Eye’s prestigious list. It is the love of my fans that keeps me striving to keep pushing the benchmarks and try harder. I hope and look forward to keeping the pace going in 2021.”

    He added that he never saw this coming and was truly ecstatic.

    Sajal Aly

    “The 27-year-old actress has had a boss-like presence on Pakistani television for over a decade and established herself as an A-list superstar. She will add to her already burgeoning list of world-class projects with more work in major film and TV productions, where she will be the centre of attention,” said the publication.

    Sharing the news on social media, Sajal posted an emoji to express her happiness over the accomplishment.

    Aiman Khan

    “She may only be 22-year-old, but the talented actress is already the most followed Pakistani celebrity on Instagram [with almost eight million followers]. The small screen superstar has been lighting up television for nearly a decade and has the world at her feet right now. With no shortage of offers, she will pick projects carefully and build on her immense popularity.”

    Danyal Zafar

    “The 24-year-old singer, songwriter and musician has inherited all the talent of his superstar elder brother Ali Zafar. The young Pakistani star has been quietly bubbling away with stunning songs, which are getting him noticed globally and ones that will see him cross multiple musical frontiers.”

    Meanwhile, others on the list include Iman Vellani (who will be playing Ms Marvel in the upcoming series), Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt and Guru Randhawa and British-Pakistani singer Zayn Malik. Bigg Boss contestants Shehnaaz Gill and Asim Riaz also made it to the list.

  • ‘Sky is your limit’: ‘Proud sister’ Saboor Aly tells Sajal

    ‘Sky is your limit’: ‘Proud sister’ Saboor Aly tells Sajal

    Saboor Aly has expressed that she is a “proud sister” after Sajal Aly bagged a role in Jemima Goldsmith’s upcoming production What Love Got to do with It?. Sajal will be sharing the screen with Emma Thompson, Lily James, Shabana Azmi, and Shazad Latif in the upcoming film directed by Shekhar Kapur.

    Sharing the news on Instagram, Saboor congratulated her sister, writing: “Proud sister. Your hard work paid off. We believe that sky is your limit, so go out and spread your wings and soar high.”

    Meanwhile, Sajal’s colleagues and other Pakistani celebrities including Humayun Saeed, Mahira Khan, Bilal Abbas Khan, Ali Rehman Khan, Zara Noor Abbas and Yasir Hussain celebrated Sajal’s big achievement and congratulated the actor on achieving the milestone.

    Humayun and Mahira said that this was a very proud moment for them.

    Ali Rehman said that this was the “best news” he has heard all year.

    Yasir predicted that Shabana [Azmi] jee will soon also agree that Sajal is one of Pakistan’s finest actors.

    Mira Sethi said she was thrilled with the news. The two worked together in Ye Dil Mera.

    Bilal Abbas, Gohar Rasheed, Saadia Ghaffar and Hassan Hayat Khan wished Sajal all the best for her upcoming project.

    As per details, Sajal will essay a groundbreaking role in the film. She is currently shooting for the film in London.

    Meanwhile, even producer Jemima was excited with the development.

    Jemima also shared that her and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sons Qasim and Suleman are ecstatic that musician Asim C has agreed to be part of the film.

    Written and produced under Goldsmith’s production house, Instinct Productions, What’s Love got to do with It? is set between London and South Asia and will explore cross-cultural conflicts of love and marriage.

    A release date for the film has not yet been announced.

  • Fahad Mustafa says ‘Dunk’ is a tribute to victims of false allegations of sexual harassment

    Fahad Mustafa, in a recent interview, shared that the plot of Dunk revolves around false accusations of sexual harassment. Starring Bilal Abbas Khan, Sana Javed and Naumaan Ejaz, Dunk premiered on ARY Digital Wednesday night.

    Talking about why he decided to produce this drama, Fahad said: “95% cases of sexual harassment are genuine but in some cases, people are falsely accused, so we have to tell every kind of story.”

    “We [Big Bang Productions] have always tried to show different kinds of stories,” said Fahad. “We also made a drama Meri Guriya which told the story of [the rape victim] Zainab.”

    “As producer it is my responsibility to tell every kind of story and I believe people will enjoy watching this drama,” added Fahad.

    The actor-producer further said that his new drama depicts reality very closely and that Dunk “is a tribute to every victim who has been falsely accused of sexual harassment”.

    When asked about his opinion regarding Meesha Shafi’s harassment case against Ali Zafar, Fahad said: “I do not know much details about the case, but all I know is that Ali has suffered a lot at professional front, it Is a huge lose for Ali and his family.”

    Mustafa went onto say: “I think, brands should set an example by working with the people who have been falsely accused of sexual harassment.”

    Dunk had earlier stirred controversy for its problematic presentation of harassment in universities in the promos.

    The drama serial features, Bilal Abbas Khan, Sana Javed, Shahood Alvi, Fahad Sheikh, Tara Mahmood, Saifi Hassan, Salma Hassan, Kanwal Khan, Noman Ejaz, and Azekah Daniel. Written by Mohsin Ali Shah Dunk has been directed by Badar Mehmood.

  • Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Sarwat Gillani, Bilal Abbas among Asia’s Top 50 celebrities of 2020

    Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Sarwat Gillani, Bilal Abbas among Asia’s Top 50 celebrities of 2020

    Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Sarwat Gilani and Bilal Abbas and Ali Zafar have been listed in Eastern Eye’s Top 50 Asian Celebrities of the World in 2020.

    According to the publication’s website, “The list is based on those who did good work, made a positive impact, broke boundaries, shattered glass ceilings, gave hope, did philanthropic deeds or were just inspiring in their own unique way.”

    The highest Pakistani on the list was Sarwat Gilani on number 21 beating the likes of Salman Khan and Pankaj Das.

    “The Pakistani actress headed the cast list of the best new South Asian serial of the year, Churails, which exploded onto the scene and destroyed all existing rule books,” wrote the publication about the actor. “With the electrifying drama, she opened the door for a new era of TV content in Pakistan box and consolidated her position as a feminist icon.”

    Read more – Did you know Sarwat Gilani has royal roots?

    Bilal Abbas Khan was number 28 on the list and was acknowledged for his work in Eik Jhooti Love Story and Pyar Ke Sadqay.

    “The fastest rising acting star in Pakistan continued reaching new heights in 2020. The unstoppable actor started the year with HUM TV series Pyar Ke Sadqay and ended it with ZEE5 sleeper hit Eik Jhooti Love Story. With some more high-profile projects on the way, Khan looks like the future of Pakistani film and television,” wrote Eastern Eye about the heartthrob.

    On number 39 was actor and singer Ali Zafar.

    “The Pakistani singer, actor, musician and humanitarian saved the Pakistani cricket league this year by giving them a better anthem than they had. He also promoted new talent with his record label. More meaningful was the immense humanitarian work the actor did for those who were suffering during Covid-19. His actions inspired others and consolidated his star credentials,” said the publication about Zafar.

    Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at number 49 was the only director included in the list.

    “The only director in the list once again used her platform to raise awareness about social issues, nurture new talent and gain international attention for her work. A big highlight was the stunning animated short Sitara: Let Girls Dream, which premiered earlier this year. The Oscar winner was also signed up to direct superhero series Ms Marvel.”

    Meanwhile, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood topped the list because of his relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

    “No celebrity did more to help others during lockdown than the big-hearted Bollywood star,” said Eastern Eye. “What started off with him helping impoverished migrant workers stranded by lockdown get back home evolved into a spectacularly philanthropic mission that made a difference to so many during the pandemic.”

    “Whether it was paying for surgery, setting up a scholarship, campaigning for women’s rights, or buying a new tractor for a farmer, so his daughters could study and not plough a field, super Sonu helped in any way he could in 2020. He became a strong symbol of hope during a crushing year where it was needed more than ever and that is why he is named as the greatest Asian celebrity in the world for 2020,” it added.

    The star-studded list also included major names like Anushka Sharma, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Zayn Malik.

  • Upcoming Pakistani dramas on our radar

    Upcoming Pakistani dramas on our radar

    With several Pakistani dramas coming to an end soon, TV channels have started dropping teasers and promos of their upcoming releases. Four new dramas with brilliant casts and directors are expected to hit our screens in the coming weeks and we are looking forward to them.

    Read more – ‘Jalan’ continues to be a cringefest

    Dunk

    Starring Bilal Abbas Khan, Sana Javed and Naumaan Ejaz in the lead, Dunk is about sexual harassment in universities and colleges. The first promo of the drama dropped to a mixed response but we’re going to hold our thoughts and opinions till we watch the first few episodes.

    Pehli Si Mohabbat

    The drama will mark Maya Ali and Sheheryar Munawar’s return to the small screen after a long break. From the BTS and first looks, the drama promises to be an intense love story and I am definitely looking forward to this. It has been written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Anjum Shehzad of Khaani fame.

    Maya, in a recent interview, revealed that the drama will not have “typical saas-bahu fights and affairs in it”.

    “You will feel that you have heard or seen this story, because there’s a love story as evident from the title Pehli Si Muhabbat, and everyone has experienced their first love story. Some people find their first love and some people live with keeping it in their hearts,” she shared.

    Raqs-e-Bismil

    Raqs-e-Bismil will see Sarah Khan and Imran Ashraf share the screen together for the first time. A fresh pairing is always intriguing and given that both are brilliant actors, I am sure this drama will be a treat. From the teasers, the drama appears to be intense and uncomfortable. According to the makers, the drama “follows the soulful story of a conservative and conformist family who adhere to strict family values”. Raqs-e-Bismil will also see Hadiqa Kiani make her television debut.

    It is expected to air on Hum TV by the end of the month.

    Amanat

    A multi-starrer drama, Amanat will feature Imran Abbas, Urwa Hocane, Saboor Aly, Haroon Shahid, Saba Hamid, Sheheryar Zaidi, Babar Ali, Asad Siddiqui and Gohar Rasheed.

    According to Imran, Amanat is a “circumstances-based love story”, while producer Sana Shahnawaz says it is “a family drama with love, romance and all other elements audiences wish to see in our dramas.”

    Which drama are you looking forward to the most?

  • ‘Dunk’s’ promo leaves social media divided

    ‘Dunk’s’ promo leaves social media divided

    The teaser of Bilal Abbas Khan, Sana Javed and Naumaan Ejaz’s murder mystery Dunk dropped yesterday and created quite a stir on social media.

    Read more – Private school in Lahore comes under fire for covering up harassment

    The short teaser gives a glimpse into the drama’s plot and reveals that Dunk will highlight the issue of harassment at educational institutes. Professor Humayun (Ejaz) is accused of harassment by Amal (Javed) and he denies any wrongdoing. It appears that Haider (Bilal) will help Amal get justice.

    Besides Bilal, Naumaan and Sana, the lead cast also includes Yasra Rizvi and Fahad Sheikh.

    https://twitter.com/fahadmustafa26/status/1335933652539224064?s=20

    While most fans praised the teaser and expressed their anticipation, others called it out for being problematic.

    https://twitter.com/Scrivenshaft_/status/1335999082440105988?s=20

    In any case, we all should just listen to this person.

  • Bilal Abbas needs a fresh haircut, says Ben Dunk

    Bilal Abbas needs a fresh haircut, says Ben Dunk

    After being tagged on the posters of upcoming drama Dunk, Australian cricketer Ben Dunk has advised Bilal Abbas Khan to get a fresh haircut.

    Ben was tagged in a poster of drama serial Dunk by Zohaib Azhar, who is a host at Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    “Pakistan drama industry is also impressed by Ben Dunk,” wrote Zohaib in the caption.

    “I’ve been getting tagged in this a bit today, surely the actor needs a fresh haircut,” said the cricketer while sharing the poster of Bilal on his Instagram story.

    In response to Ben’s comment, Bilal joked: “I agree! I’m sure you can understand how difficult it is to maintain long hair.”

    “Love you man. Big fan,” he added.

    Dunk is an upcoming drama on ARY Digital, featuring Bilal and Sana Javed in lead roles. Other cast members include Yasra Rizvi, Shahood Alvi, Fahad Sheikh, Laila Wasti, Saifi Hassan, Salma Hassan, Kanwal Khan, Noman Ejaz, and Azekah Daniel.

    Bilal was last scene in Zee5’s Eik Jhoothi Love Story alongside Madiha Imam.

    While details about the drama are being kept tightly under wraps, Bilal in an interview had shared that the drama is a murder mystery. Dunk is being produced under the banner of Fahad Mustafa’s BigBang Entertainment.

  • ‘National Amateur Short Film Festival’ launched with a star-studded ceremony

    ‘National Amateur Short Film Festival’ launched with a star-studded ceremony

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has announced the National Amateur Short Film Festival (NASFF) to give amateur filmmakers a platform to showcase their talent and skills. The purpose of NASFF is to give a chance to the creative and talented youth of the country to make high-quality short films projecting a positive image of Pakistan. Winners of the competition will be awarded prestigious scholarships in film schools across the globe.

    Read more – Did you know ‘Ehd-e-Wafa’ was shot in 16 cities?

    According to a press release, the film festival is “to proffer a chance to our enormously creative and talented youth to produce high-quality short films projecting a positive image of Pakistan.”

    The launch event of NASFF was held on Monday and was a star-studded affair with Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Zara Noor Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Farhan Saeed, Wahaj Ali, Bilal Abbas Khan, Mashal Khan, Ayub Khoso, and Qasim Khan from Alpha Bravo Charlie in attendance. All of them will serve as brand ambassadors of the festival.

    Encouraging everyone to apply, Farhan said: “If you have talent, I promise you this is the best opportunity.”

    Sharing pictures from the event, Mahira said: “There are so many young artists who come to me all the time wanting to direct, act, write stories, etc. I’m so glad that I can be part of this initiative along with all my other colleagues.”

    “NASFF is a great step forward in stimulating the youth of Pakistan, who aspire to be innovative filmmakers. With opportunities like these, there is so much creative room to explore talents beyond the traditional approaches,” she added.

    Similarly, Zara said that she was very happy to be supporting the initiative.

    Meanwhile, Humayun Saeed urged aspiring filmmakers to take the advantage of the opportunity.

    “If you have the knack for films and television and want to produce some quality content then this platform is your stepping stone,” said the actor.

    “Getting an opportunity to study your creative field with a full scholarship at one of the top filmmaking institutions in the world would be a dream come true right?” said Iqra in her social media post.

    “NASFF is the right place to be for all the budding creative minds that are ready to break the norms,” she wrote, adding that she is very happy to be part of the project.

    Bilal Abbas, who is also one of the brand ambassadors, gave a “huge shout out to NASFF for understanding and evolving the talents of ambitious potential filmmakers in Pakistan.”

    “For anyone who aims to work for the entertainment industry to yield good classic content then grab this opportunity,” said the actor.

    Wahaj said that NASFF will pave the way for all ambitious and creative filmmakers to a brighter future.

    How to apply

    Registration for the event is free and the last date to register is January 1, 2021. The last date for the submission of the project is March 10, 2021, while the festival is scheduled to take place in April. Participants can make films of all genres including fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental films. However, the film must be original. Entries can be submitted in Urdu, English & Regional Languages but with English subtitles.

    Further details are given on ISPR’s official website: ispr.gov.pk/NASFF

  • ‘Eik Jhoothi Love Story’ hits all the right spots with its heartwarming and sweet story

    ‘Eik Jhoothi Love Story’ hits all the right spots with its heartwarming and sweet story

    As someone who has grown up on romcoms, I’ve often yearned for a story that I can relate to. Hollywood and Bollywood romcoms are dreamy but often unrelatable and something that you cannot envision happening in Pakistan, given the cultural differences. But with Eik Jhoothi Love Story (EJLS), I feel there is finally a romantic, feel-good and quirky show that I can connect with.

    Written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Mehreen Jabbar, EJLS tells the story of Salma (Madiha Imam) and Sohail (Bilal Abbas Khan), who live in the same mohalla in Karachi. Salma is the youngest in four siblings with a very overbearing mother Nusrat Jahan (Beo Zafar) who is only in the pursuit of finding behtar say behtar rishtas for her children. In this quest, she has spent years parading her daughters – Shabana (Kiran Haq) and Shazia (Mariam Saleem) – in front of rishta aunties and prospective in-laws but not finding the ‘ideal’ match.

    On the other hand, Sohail (Bilal Abbas Khan) is the only son of his parents. His father passed away when he was very young, leaving him with the responsibility of an entire household. Sohail wanted to study further but because of family obligations, he was unable to so now he runs a computer repair shop. His mother (Hina Khawaja Bayat) dotes on him, while he shares a very loving relationship with his younger sister Sobia (Srha Asghar).

    To escape their middle-class existence, Salma and Sohail make fake profiles on Facebook. While Salma impersonates her best friend’s cousin Natalia (Kinza Razzak), Sohail makes a profile using his childhood friend Nofil’s (Ahmad Zeb) name. Nofil and Natalia belong to rich, upper-class households and Nofil is settled in America. Salma and Sohail using their fake profile become friends online and begin interacting with each other. Over the course of their messages, they fall in love. However as fate would have it, real-life Natalia and Nofil also get married. Salma and Sohail are heartbroken with this and agree to their parent’s suggestion of getting married to each other. To find out what happens next, you need to watch the series but be prepared to feel a myriad of emotions from fuzziness and warmth to sadness.

    Nofil and Natalia

    Umera has done a phenomenal job with the script and Mehreen brought it to life perfectly. While the series in its essence in a love story, it touches upon many themes, highlighting society’s obsession with finding the ‘ideal’ life partner, who by the way is not someone you connect with, but someone who checks all the right boxes. The series also playfully criticises the different customs we’ve made – like the younger sister cannot marry till the older siblings are married or the brother cannot marry till he has fulfilled his responsibility of marrying his sisters or the simple fact that shaadi is not the end goal. Life is more than that. EJLS is a beautiful reflection of society which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. I have to add here that there were certain angles about online romance which I did find unconvincing but I let it go considering how very binge-able the series is. You end up watching several episodes in one go because the pace is so good. The initial episodes are fairly short between 25 and 35 minutes, while the later ones are slightly longer – but even then you don’t want them to end. They are so gripping. Really hoping that Mehreen and Umera are considering a season two for the series.

    Onto the performances – for me the star of the show was Madiha. She was brilliant as the simple Salma, the Choti of the house who everyone treats as a doormat. Her expressions, body language and dialogue delivery were on-point. Bilal, on the other hand, is a seasoned actor and has given a plethora of mind-blowing performances – with EJLS he just proved how versatile he is.

    The rest of the cast was also brilliant. Mehreen, while speaking to The Current, had shared that she had hand-picked the cast according to the characters and her choices couldn’t have been more on-point. My favourite character has to be Shazia – Salma’s fiesty and outgoing elder sister. Shazia had some of the best dialogues in the show and Mariam played her to perfection – absolutely loved her performance.

    Shazia

    One of the highlights of the show is definitely the OST Meherma. It complements the mood and feel of the show so well and adds to the overall experience. I haven’t come across many Pakistanis shows with such a fitting OST.

    The beauty of Eik Jhoothi Love Story lies in its simplicity – from the wardrobe to the sets, everything was so well-suited to the plot and theme of the show.

    Apart from being highly-relatable, EJLS is a fun, easy watch and something you can watch with the entire fam. Who knows they might stop pestering you to get married after watching this.

    EJLS has 18 episodes and is currently streaming on Zee5.

    Watch the video review on the series below:

  • Atiqa Odho lashes out at PEMRA for banning ‘Pyar Ke Sadqay’

    Atiqa Odho lashes out at PEMRA for banning ‘Pyar Ke Sadqay’

    ICYMI, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the repeat telecast of Pyar Ke Sadqay and Ishqiya saying that the content of the dramas is against the “morals” of society.

    Read more – ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’: All’s well that ends well

    While the makers of the dramas have not commented on the matter, Atiqa Odho, who had a leading role in Pyar Ke Sadqay lashed out at PEMRA for their decision.

    “Really PEMRA? Is this the democratic way of life?,” questioned Odho.

    “Television dramas bring up important social problems which need correction. It helps educate people about mental health, social injustices, hypocrisy, abuse, misuse of power, etc. If we start to brush things under the carpet and not bring them out for discussion, we will never grow as a nation towards positive change,” said Odho.

    She added: “Stop treating viewers as if they are dumb and don’t have exposure to the rest of the world! PEMRA should be making policies to create more social awareness through Pakistani dramas and not reducing content to falsified garbage.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CE3lW6tg5DO/

    While PEMRA did not clarify what they found offensive in the drama, it is being assumed that the scenes which showed the father-in-law hitting on his daughter-in-law are what PEMRA felt was against “Pakistani values”.

    Directed by Farooq Rind and written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah, Pyar Ke Sadkay also featured Bilal Abbas Khan, Omair Rana, Yumna Zaidi, Salma Hassan, Srha Asghar, Khalid Anam, Gul e Rana and Shermeen Ali.

    Both Ishqiya and Pyar Ke Sadqay have completed their primetime run and are being re-aired. PEMRA’s notification banned their repeat telecast and said that the dramas can also not be aired on ARY Zindagi or HUM Sitaray sub-channels either.

    PEMRA has also directed the makers of Jalan to review its content and script and modify it in accordance with Pakistani values.

    Meanwhile, Chairman PEMRA Muhammad Saleem Baig on Tuesday held a meeting with United Producers Association in Karachi for “sensitizing topics and trends in dramas.”