Tag: #comedian

  • My father left his job, my mother left her family: Tabish Hashmi on family’s move to Pakistan

    My father left his job, my mother left her family: Tabish Hashmi on family’s move to Pakistan

    Host and stand – up comedian Tabish Hashmi is one of our favourite people on screen but did you know that until very recently, his family was living in India?

    The star host was invited as a guest on Hafiz Ahmed’s Podcast where he detailed the difficulties his family faced when they shifted to Pakistan from India in 1984.

    “My father moved to Pakistan in 1984, leaving behind a comfortable life in India where he had a good job. His brothers, who were already settled in Pakistan, encouraged him to make the move. It was my grandmother’s illness that finally prompted him to take the leap. While my father’s sacrifice was significant, as he gave up his job, it was my mother who made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind her entire family to join my father in Pakistan. My elder sisters were born in India, and I was born in Pakistan.”

    Talking about how his father became a citizen of Pakistan, he said, “At that time, it was relatively easy to settle in Pakistan by showing investment in the form of dollars or money. Fortunately, my father had the necessary funds, so we were able to obtain Pakistani nationality.”

    Well, we are glad that Tabish’s family made the move. Or else we would have been deprived of one of our brightest stars.

  • Hardly see any good acting on Pakistani TV anymore: Yasir Hussain

    Hardly see any good acting on Pakistani TV anymore: Yasir Hussain

    Yasir Hussain, a host, actor, comedian, and director, gained instant fame with his debut film ‘Karachi Say Lahore,’ his dramas and also marriage to Pakistan’s sweetheart Iqra Aziz.
    Recently, Hussain appeared on Iffat Omar’s YouTube show ‘Say It All with Iffat Omar.’ During the show, he shared his disappointment with today’s Pakistani TV creators and actors.

    Yasir Hussain, discussing TV show, said, “I hardly see good acting in Pakistani TV shows. I’m a big TV fan, watched a lot in my childhood. We grew up on shows like ‘Ankahi’, with actors like Shehnaz Sheikh, Javaid Sheikh, Saleem Nasir, and Qavi Khan. We haven’t seen anyone like Qavi Khan since. In India, they’ve had actors like Irfan Khan and Manoj Vajpai, who paved the way for stars like SRK, Salman Khan, and now Ranveer Singh. They create their own success.”

    Speaking about the roles he’s offered, he said, “I receive less roles because I decline many offers, so producers assume I’ll reject theirs too. Most drama makers don’t approach me because of this. I’m selective in my choices. However, if friends propose a role that interests me, I consider it. Additionally, I enjoy theater and film. Hosting also provides a good income.”

    Watch the video here:

  • Iftikhar Thakur’s mother’s last wish could not be fulfilled

    Iftikhar Thakur’s mother’s last wish could not be fulfilled

    Theatre, film and television star Iftikhar Thakur is a beloved comedian, adored by his fans for his humility.

    The actor recently talked about a personal tragedy in Wasi Shah’s show, a major regret in his life.
    Iftikhar Thakur said, “One day, my late mother asked me not to leave for a show as she wanted me to stay.

    Despite always obeying her requests, I decided to leave for the show that day. Unfortunately, my mother passed away shortly after I left.” Recounting the journey back home, he tearfully expressed the pain he still feels to this day.

  • Was Ali Safina mocking Wahaj’s famous shawl scene?

    Was Ali Safina mocking Wahaj’s famous shawl scene?

    People worldwide went wild for Murtasim, the swoon-worthy role immortalised by Wahaj Ali in Tere Bin, and his iconic shawl. Regardless of what shenanigans were going on, the shawl always remained perfectly in place, capturing fans’ hearts. Wahaj Ali’s performance added to the shawl’s allure, making it a sensation, and people couldn’t get enough of it.

    Actor Ali Safina recently donned a shawl in a play, leading to accusations of him mocking Wahaj.

    Ali Safina played the comic role of ‘AK’ in the comedy drama ‘Fairy Tale in Ramadan’, in which he performed comedy while wearing a shawl.

    In an interview, Safina clarified, “I did not make fun of anyone, a comedian makes his own jokes. The drama was shot in the cold nights of December and I was feeling cold.” He said that he asked his female co-star to bring him a shawl or something and he just wanted to put a comedic spin on the drama. At the time he had envisioned Batman as his inspiration when he walked away with a flying shawl but it later became Murtasim’s signature move.

  • Cut-off-their-water-Sarah Silverman hosts The Daily Show, show faces calls of boycott

    Cut-off-their-water-Sarah Silverman hosts The Daily Show, show faces calls of boycott

    Comedian Sarah Silverman drew the ire of the internet in October after she reshared a post slamming criticism of Israel cutting off Gaza’s water supply. She later deleted the post, claiming to be “stoned” when she reshared it on her Instagram account.

    On November 6, it was announced that Silverman is set to return from Monday as the new host of The Daily Show, replacing Hasan Minhaj. The announcement came on the heels of Minhaj being removed from hosting due to a misleading New Yorker article controversy. The article accused Minhaj of fabricating stories about racism. The comedian then posted a 30 minute long video sharing evidence of how the journalist writing the piece refused to use evidence provided by Minhaj to discredit him.

    READ MORE: Hassan Minhaj says New Yorker lied and he has the receipts

    Twitter users were appalled at the racism in American media that allows a brown Muslim comedian to be booted without any further thought due to a misleading, poorly fact-checked article, but a racist woman is offered a platform without consequence. As one user wrote:

    “Hasan Minhaj loses the daily show gig due to an inaccurate hit piece that mostly confirmed that he, like EVERY comedian, embellished stories for his stand-up. Sarah Silverman posted her support for the collective punishment of Gazans and gets to host. Islamophobia is reality.”

    Countless journalists and public figures were attacked and removed from their offices, many of whom were Jewish and Palestine supporters. But Twitter users were outraged at how racist women like Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman were granted platforms.

    Users called for the show to be boycotted.

    Many also brought up Silverman’s history of racism including wearing the blackface and imitating a black man for a skit.

  • Four women accuse comedian Russell Brand of rape, sexual assault

    Four women accuse comedian Russell Brand of rape, sexual assault

    In a shocking expose by the Sunday Times, four women have publicly accused comedian Russell Brand of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse during the years 2006 to 2013, when his career was on its peak. The publication said all the women had chosen to remain anonymous, and felt ready to speak after being approached by reporters.

    A joint investigation carried out by Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatch said that two of the women, Los Angeles residents, alleged being raped and sexually assaulted by the comedian, with the second woman revealing that Brand threatened to take legal action against her if she went public with her allegations.

    Another woman revealed she was 16-years-old when Brand assaulted her, at a time when hewas in his early 30s, referring to her as a “child” during their emotionally abusive and controlling relationship.

    “Russell engaged in the behaviors of a groomer, looking back, but I didn’t even know what that was then, or what that looked like,” the woman said.

    The fourth woman alleged she was assaulted by the comedian.

    A day before the allegations by The Times were to be released, Russell released a video where he slammed the “serious criminal allegations” that were about to be made against him.

    The former husband of singer Katy Perry said in the video released on X, formerly Twitter:

    “Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.

    “These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies, and as I’ve written about extensively in my books I was very, very promiscuous.

    “Now during that time of promiscuity the relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual.”

    In light of the rape accusations, several users have reshared a clip from a 2013 Vogue interview of Katy Perry, who married and then divorced the comedian in 2012. Brand had publicly divorced the singer with a breakup text, which was shown in the singer’s ‘Part Of Me’ documentary.

    “I felt a lot of responsibility for it ending, but then I found out the real truth, which I can’t necessarily disclose because I keep it locked in my safe for a rainy day,” the ‘Roar’ singer said. “I let go and I was like: This isn’t because of me; this is beyond me. So I have moved on from that.”

    The BBC have meanwhile responded to the allegations, saying that they were “urgently looking into the issues raised” by the allegations. Brand worked as a radio presenter for the channel in 2006 and 2008, and The Times quoted a complaint made to the organisation’s management about the comedian’s “alarming display of aggression and disrespect”.

    Channel 4 released a statement saying that they “asked the production company who produced the programmes for Channel 4 to investigate these allegations and report their findings properly and satisfactorily to us”.

    The organisation added they were conducting an internal investigation and encouraged “anyone who is aware of such behaviour to contact us directly.”

  • Umer Sharif’s funeral prayers to be held today in Karachi

    Umer Sharif’s funeral prayers to be held today in Karachi

    Legendary comedian Umer Sharif’s funeral will be held today in Karachi’s Clifton area at 3pm today. As per the Zameen Aasman star’s wish, he will be laid to rest in the premises of mausoleum of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    His funeral prayers were held yesterday in Germany. A large number of people attended the prayers.

    He passed away on Saturday at the age of 66 years after a prolonged illness. He had left Pakistan in an air ambulance for treatment in the US on September, 28th.  However, his health condition worsened.

  • Legendary Comedian Umer Sharif sets off to the US for medical treatment

    Legendary Comedian Umer Sharif sets off to the US for medical treatment

    Veteran comedian Umer Sharif has boarded an air ambulance and is on his way to the US for medical treatment.

    The air ambulance will take him to Washington DC via Germany. He is accompanied by his wife Zareen Umer and a six-member medical team.

    Earlier today, Sindh Government Spokesperson Murtaza Wahab announced that Sharif was on his way to the airport.

    Doctors in Karachi declared him fit to travel despite initial concerns on Monday that he was too unwell. According to his wife, his blood pressure had dropped and the air ambulance had threatened to leave.

    The ambulance landed in Karachi Monday morning but Sharif was unable to board immediately as his doctors had advised against air travel. He underwent a series of tests before getting the green light from his medical team.

    The veteran’s medical condition became a subject of national concern after he made a video appeal to Prime Minister Imran Khan to help him secure a visa to travel abroad for medical treatment. The federal government assured help and the Sindh government also stepped in, sanctioning Rs 40 million for his treatment.

    Actor Reema Khan also announced that her husband, cardiologist Dr Tariq Shahab, had agreed to perform the surgery on Sharif. Several other celebrities called for prayers for Sharif.

  • Reema’s husband offers to perform high risk procedure for Umer Sharif, help with travel

    Reema’s husband offers to perform high risk procedure for Umer Sharif, help with travel

    Former Pakistani film actress and host, Reema Khan has disclosed that her husband Dr Syed Tariq Shahab has agreed to perform the high risk procedure of ailing comedian Umer Sharif in the United States.

    Reema turned to Instagram and shared a throwback photo with Umer Sharif and disclosed that Dr. Shahab agreed to perform the high risk procedure and is helping the family in transfer arrangements to America.

    She wrote, “Umer Sharif – one of the greatest comedians of the sub-continent and a real legend of all times. He always was working hard to make other people laugh and smile. Today it disturbs me to know that he is in pain and distress because of his grave illness.”

    “I am proud of my husband – Dr Syed Tariq Shahab who has agreed to perform the high risk procedure and is helping the family in his transfer arrangements to America,” she said. “I have requested him to do all he can to help Umer Sharif Sahib recover from this illness,” she added.

    Reema went on to say, “Thank you Tariq. I pray to Allah PAK to give Shifa in your hand and to give Umer Sahib full and complete recovery. Aameen.”

    Ailing comedian Umer Sharif is expected to travel to the US for medical treatment this week, said his wife Zareen Umer on Tuesday.

    She took to social media from Umer Sharif’s official account and thanked the federal government for helping arrange travel. She also thanked Murtaza Wahab and Chief Minister Sindh Murad ali Shah for arranging an air ambulance. She also thanked Anchor Waseem Badami for highlighting the issue.

  • ‘Sharam ki baat, Jahil’: Aadi Adeal Amjad bashes Amna Ilyas for her latest video

    ‘Sharam ki baat, Jahil’: Aadi Adeal Amjad bashes Amna Ilyas for her latest video

    Actor and comedian Aadi Adeal Amjad has slammed Amna Ilyas on her recent viral video in which she can be seen kicking a man’s head.

    Taking to Instagram, the Biwi Se Biwi Tak star wrote: “Funny to nahi lekin sharam ki baat zaroor hai. Yehi masla hai digital media ka k viral k lie kuch bhi attempt kia jasakta hai. This shows hum actors bhi kam jahil nai hain.”

    The Baaji diva recently received backlash of netizens after posting a video of herself ‘accidentally’ kicking a man in the head while attempting to do a popular internet challenge.

    Netizens found the video anything but humorous as Amna’s comment section was flooded with users calling her out for an act that could have seriously injured a man.