Tag: Farhan Saeed

  • Shoaib Akhtar receives flak from celebrities for his comments on ‘Groove Mera’

    Shoaib Akhtar receives flak from celebrities for his comments on ‘Groove Mera’

    Shoaib Akhtar has come under fire for mocking and ridiculing the anthem of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The former cricketer had trashed Groove Mera, calling it the worst anthem ever. He also said that he uses the song to put his children to sleep as they are scared of it.

    Following Akhtar’s comments, several celebrities including Adnan Siddiqui, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY), Hira Mani, Ahmed Ali Butt and Wasim Akram stepped forward to defend the song. Though they did not name Akhtar directly, they subtly shaded him for his comments.

    “Least we can do for our artists is respect them,” said Adnan. “It’s very easy to be keyboard warriors and shred someone’s hard work to pieces.”

    “Naseebo Lal doesn’t deserve to be trolled like this,” added the actor.

    Sharing his thoughts on the brouhaha, Wasim Akram said: “Hope all this well. Aap log theek hain, exercise kar rahay hain or mou chukk kay criticise kar rahy ho har cheez nu. That’s you guys.”

    “Abhi mene PSL anthem pay bohat saray views sunay or theek hai, har aik ki marzi hoti hai magar ennay Tan Sen therday ni tussi, har gal tey bolna hai. Tareef na karna tussi,” he added in Punjabi.

    Sharing Wasim’s video on Twitter, Omair Rana said: “I love this man! Wasim Akram. Jewndy raho!”

    HSY also praised Groove Mera, saying that he is listening to it on repeat.

    “When will we learn to take things in perspective and react accordingly,” questioned Faysal Quraishi.

    “Let’s go with the spirit of sports and celebrate little things. I personally think Naseebo Lal who is very popular with masses will rock the stadium with her ‘groove’ and high notes,” remarked the actor.

    Similarly, in a detailed note posted on Instagram, Ahmed Ali Butt said: “For people who don’t know… Naseebo Lal is a Pakistani folk singer with over 30 years of singing experience. She never got the limelight that she deserved because most of her songs were during the “raunchy” Punjabi film era. But that does not change the fact that she is a Pakistani folk legend with hundreds of songs to her credit.”

    “Groove Mera is a great song and a bold step by PCB. For all the people making fun of her pronunciation are the same people who love UK or Canadian Punjabi singers,” he said further. “So shut up and be proud of your nation’s talent. God knows you didn’t contribute to their success or hard work, so the least you can do is be respectful towards them.”

    “Ab volume kholo or bolo…aaj vaykhay ga crowd mera groove TV tay,” he concluded.

    Hira Mani, in a lengthy note posted to social media said: “We respect you madam. Bas yeh so-called elite burgers music critics internet kay dour kay hum jese chunnay munnay followers walay. Inko kia pata kay asal fan following houti kiya hai.”

    Meanwhile, other celebrities, including Farhan Saeed, Anoushey Ashraf and Haroon Shahid directly responded to Akhtar for his comments.

    “It’s his opinion, that’s ok! He has the right, but that’s a stupid opinion is what is my opinion,” stated Farhan Saeed.

    “This song will be a winner in the stadiums, mark it,” he added.

    Haroon Shahid also directly responded to Akhtar saying: “So when Shoaib Akhtar was being paid millions by Kolkata Knight Riders and this song came up I bet he would have danced on this track at the Eden Gardens just to impress Shahrukh jee.”

    In a later tweet, the singer-turned-actor said: “This guy talks about aesthetics! Here’s a guy who commentates in English defining ‘Groove’ for us in musical terms.”

    Sharing her thoughts on the controversy, Anoushey Ashraf said: “Oh dear, this is in bad taste. One thing to not like a song, another thing to run down artists, musicians this way. Big fan of Shoaib Akhtar but not the way he’s bashing the anthem.”

    Television actor, Naveed Raza also participated in the debate, commenting: “Learn to appreciate Shoaib Akhtar bhai. The worst virus is a human, dehumanising another human. Groove Mera is a solid stadium-feel song.”

    Groove Mera is currently trending at number one on YouTube Pakistan with more than five million views till the filing of this report.

    What did you think of Groove Mera? Let us know in the comments below.

  • Zulfi Bukhari, DG ISPR stand out at Pakistani cinema celebration

    Zulfi Bukhari, DG ISPR stand out at Pakistani cinema celebration

    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.

    Check out Twitter reactions below:

    https://twitter.com/baatsamjhoyaar/status/1350827400976805888?s=20
    https://twitter.com/Corpor8Xploiter/status/1350822152531009537?s=20

    Meanwhile, others were concerned that none of the participants were wearing masks.

    https://twitter.com/alishae_e/status/1350829885116342272?s=20

  • Farhan Saeed lauds polio workers

    Farhan Saeed lauds polio workers

    Farhan Saeed has lauded polio workers for their dedication and hard work.

    Sharing a video of female polio workers walking in blankets of snow to deliver the vaccine to the children of Azad Kashmir, Saeed said: “All heroes don’t wear capes, some wear yellow vest[s].”

    Agreeing with the Suno Chanda star, his followers couldn’t stop praising the efforts of these women.

    Read more – Farhan Saeed, Urwa Hocane lash out at opposition for holding jalsas amid a pandemic

    Pakistan’s first polio vaccination campaign for 2021 started on Monday, January 11. The national polio immunization drive will last for five days and aims to vaccinate over 40 million children under the age of five across Pakistan.

  • Five Pakistani dramas PM Khan should watch

    Five Pakistani dramas PM Khan should watch

    Ever since he assumed office, Prime Minister Imran Khan has given us plenty of recommendations on drama serials and books – the most prominent being Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul and Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love. Earlier this week, PM Khan recommended the youth to watch another Turkish show on Sufism Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu, which is also being aired on PTV in Urdu.

    While we love the fact that the PM takes out time to recommend stuff to the youth, we decided to turn the tables and recommend him a few recent (in the past two years) Pakistani drama serials which are worth watching. Check out our suggestions below:

    Sabaat

    While Hum TV’s Sabaat in its essence is a family drama exploring familial relations and dynamics, its presentation was very refreshing, in particular Anaya and Hassan’s storyline. The drama highlighted the importance of having a healthy, loving relationship with your children and gave out a strong message on the importance of empowering women and daughters and gave viewers a new heroine after Zindagi Gulzar Hai‘s Kashf. It also showed how ego, money and misunderstandings can ruin relationships and your life. All these themes are the ones which PM Khan has time and time again urged our drama writers to show on television.

    Read more – ‘Sabaat’ manages to tie up loose ends in a rushed finale

    Alif

    Starring PM Imran’s BFF Hamza Ali Abbasi and Sajal Aly in the lead, Alif, written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Haseeb Hasan focuses on the spiritual journeys of two individuals Qalb-e-Momin (Hamza) and Momina Sultan (Sajal), who despite coming from completely different backgrounds help each other find peace in righteousness. Alif was a brilliant example of good storytelling and sensitive direction. Moreso, the entire cast of the drama including Hamza, Sajal, Ahsan Khan, Manzar Sehbai and Kubra Khan gave strong and solid performances. It is pertinent to add here that Hamza in several interviews has shared that his life reflects what is shown in the drama.

    Suno Chanda Season 1

    Perhaps one of the most-loved dramas in the country, Suno Chanda (Season 1) is chaotic, fun and will leave you with a warm feeling. The show which ran through Ramadan and had everyone hooked is about a household in which the children of two brothers get married just before the family’s patriach passes away. Directed by Aehsun Talish and written by Saima Akram Chaudhry, Suno Chanda is a comedy drama done just right. From the performances to the witty dialogues to the direction, everything about this drama was brilliant. The show gave us some memorable characters and there was bound to be one person in the cast you could relate too.

    Out of the list, if there is one drama the prime minister should be watching, it should be Suno Chanda. Will also give him some much-needed respite from the day-to-day political tensions.

    Aangan

    Yet another multi-starrer drama starring some big dramas of the drama industry, Aangan brought back and romanticised living in joint family systems while at the same time highlighting the issues that come with it. The drama very delicately and tactfully challenged societal norms while keeping viewers engaged and hooked. Aangan is without a doubt one of Faiza Iftikhar’s finest works. I am pretty sure Khan sahab is going to love this one. It is everything he wants to promote through television and dramas.

    Sammi

    Perhaps the darkest drama on this list, Mawra Hocane and Adnan Siddiqui’s Sammi sheds light on the custom of vani (or exchange brides) and how women are forced to continuously bear children in the quest for a son. It is gritty and makes you uncomfortable but that is because you know that this is exactly what happens to women in this country. The drama has been sensitively written by Noor ul Huda Shah and directed by Saifee Hassan.

    Is there any other drama you would recommend PM Imran to watch? Let us know in the comments below.

  • ‘Great debut’: Aseefa impresses Farhan Saeed, Momina Mustehsan

    ‘Great debut’: Aseefa impresses Farhan Saeed, Momina Mustehsan

    Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari’s maiden address at the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) jalsa in Multan, which was seen as the formal entry into politics by the daughter of the late former PM Benazir Bhutto and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, has left people impressed. While followers of the party have made that clear on social media, others have also admired the budding politician.

    Among those who lauded Aseefa are singers Farhan Saeed and Momina Mustehsan.

    “Great Debut,” said Farhan, while sharing a picture of Aseefa on social media. “Any day a better choice to lead PPP.”

    Similarly, Momina welcomed Aseefa into the political arena and hailed it as a big win for women in Pakistan.

    “The hearts and spirits of many young women all over Pakistan must have been reignited seeing more females step into leadership positions in a male-dominated political arena,” said Momina. “Here’s welcoming Aseefa. More power to you!”

    Earlier, Ali Tareen, who is the son of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s close aide and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) bigwig Jahangir Tareen, was offered to join the PPP in response to a tweet calling Aseefa “pretty cool”.

    Aseefa was filling in for her coronavirus positive brother PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at the PDM jalsa in Multan. Many said she reminded them of her mother Benazir.

    At the jalsa, Aseefa delivered a short and brisk speech. She vowed to stand by her brother “every step of the way”.

    She began her speech by heaping scorn on the “selected” government. “Despite the cruelty and oppression by the selected [government], so many of you have gathered here. This selected [government] will have to go!”

    Speaking about her mother, she said Benazir had carried on her father’s mission — to establish a welfare state — and faced several setbacks.

    “[Former] president Asif Zardari introduced the 18th Amendment and BISP [Benazir Income Support Programme] and fought for the people’s rights,” she said and promised supporters that she would continue their mission and would not back down.

    “They think that we are afraid of arrests. If they arrest our brothers, then they should know that every woman of PPP is ready to take up the struggle,” she said.

    Meanwhile, Ahmed Ali Butt said that Aseefa’s entry “looks like Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 1”.

  • Farhan Saeed and Urwa Hocane reportedly part ways

    One of Pakistan’s most-loved celebrity couples, Farhan Saeed and Urwa Hocane have reportedly parted ways with mutual understanding.

    According to reports, the couple has decided to mutually end their three-year marriage.

    While the couple has not yet made an official statement, reports have stated that the reason behind their separation is mounting tension and irreconcilable differences.

    Recently in an interview, Hocane had said if her husband wants to remarry, she will remain silent.

    The couple tied the knot in an intimate Nikkah ceremony at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore on December 16, 2016.

    Meanwhile, fans have rejected the reports and are waiting for the couple to make an official announcement.

    https://twitter.com/Arslan62572201/status/1331278271217065984?s=20
    https://twitter.com/ibushrra_/status/1331266244964720641?s=20

    https://twitter.com/Arslan62572201/status/1331276788132143104?s=20

  • ‘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

  • Bollywood was allowed to flourish in Pakistan, says PM Imran

    Bollywood was allowed to flourish in Pakistan, says PM Imran

    With the government set to introduce a new film policy to assist producers and filmmakers, Prime Minister Imran Khan, who chaired a meeting on the matter, remarked that foreign content – Bollywood particularly – was allowed to flourish in Pakistan.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current, Senator Faisal Javed, who has worked with the government on making the film policy, said that PM Imran during the meeting commented that the previous governments did not work towards building up the Pakistani film industry, which led to its decay. As a result, there was an onslaught of foreign content that impacted the youth’s upbringing and compromised their moral values.

    It was also reported that during the meeting, PM Khan asserted that cinema played a vital role in highlighting social values and national heritage, besides providing quality and inexpensive entertainment to the people. The prime minister, in the meeting, made it clear that the promotion of Pakistan’s unique identity locally and globally, and acquainting the youth with cultural heritage was the government’s priority.

    This is not the first time PM Imran has called out Bollywood for spreading obscenity and vulgarity. Earlier in April, PM Khan had said: “I say this with a heavy heart but thirty to forty years ago, you would have never seen such vulgarity in Bollywood. There is so much trash. Bollywood has adopted the worst of Hollywood.”

    “This is affecting our society and youth negatively. Drug culture is emerging, sex crimes are increasing because of such promotion of vulgarity. It is important to note that when vulgarity increases in a society, the family system goes down”, the prime minister had said.

    Then in September, while speaking to journalist Moeed Pirzada about the horrendous motorway gang-rape incident, PM Khan had said that mass media influences the public and commented that indecent content and “obscenity” shown in Bollywood films has increased sex crimes in Delhi.

    “New Delhi has become the ‘rape capital’ of the world due to obscenity in Bollywood,” said PM Imran. “Compare the movies made in India 40 years ago to the movies being made now. Look at the impact of those movies.”

    Film Policy to be introduced soon

    Sharing further details about the film policy and the government’s plans, Senator Javed said that the film industry will be given the status of an industry and that Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Lt Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa has prepared a very detailed and comprehensive film policy keeping all the stakeholders in mind. He said that the policy will be introduced in the coming months. It is pertinent to mention here that this is the first time such a policy is being introduced. While the PML-N government introduced some incentives – such as lowering imports on film equipment, slashing of income tax by 50 percent for those investing in films – the industry was mostly dependent on individuals and corporates for finances.

    Under the policy, filmmakers and cinema owners will be offered several incentives including access to locations. The government hopes to build a soft image of Pakistan through film and promote ‘Pakistaniat‘, which is why it also hopes to make cinemas affordable for the masses.

    “We hope that are we are able to promote our country, tourism and rich culture and history through our films,” said Senator Javed.

    Senator Faisal also said that plans are being made to centralise the censor boards so that only one censor board deems a film suitable for public viewing. He said that multiple censor boards create confusion for both the filmmakers and the audiences.

    Others who were part of the meeting include Information Minister Senator Shibli Faraz, Industries Minister Hammad Azhar, Dr Shahbaz Gill, Zulfiqar Bukhari, secretaries of relevant ministries, SBP governor, FBR chairman and other senior officers.

    PM Imran, in the meeting, directed relevant ministries and departments to furnish a roadmap for implementation of the proposals. The premier later also directed Lt Gen (retd) Asim Bajwa to work on a comprehensive strategy to “cleanse” Pakistani dramas and films of indecency and vulgarity. Latest reports have stated that Gen (retd) Bajwa is already in touch with TV drama writers and producers to change the trend of Pakistani film-making from its current Bollywood-style to what countries like Turkey and Iran are doing.

    Meanwhile, Pakistani actors and directors including Shaan, Humayun Saeed, Farhan Saeed, Urwa Hocane and Nabeel Qureshi welcomed the government’s initiative and thanked PM Khan and Gen (retd) Asim Bajwa for their support.

  • Shahid Afridi, Feroze Khan, Fatima Bhutto lash out at Sindh Govt over Karachi floods

    Shahid Afridi, Feroze Khan, Fatima Bhutto lash out at Sindh Govt over Karachi floods

    With rains lashing Karachi, as many as 19 people died in various rain-related incidents in the port city on Thursday, taking the tally of deaths during the three-day monsoon spell in the city to 30.

    Meteorological officials said downpours in August have shattered the 90-year-old record for the city. Some 484mm (19 inches) of rain has fallen this month so far, 130mm on Thursday alone, they said.

    According to data released by the Met Office, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Faisal Base recorded 130 millimetres of rain while Nazimabad has recorded 105.6mm since Thursday morning. Mausamiyat received 74.3mm of rain, while Saadi Town recorded 72mm. About 98.5mm of rain was recorded in PAF Masroor Base, Surjani received 73mm while Kemari recorded 82.5mm.

    Many major arteries witnessed severe traffic jams. Power was suspended in several areas as a precautionary measure, a K-Electric spokesperson said. Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Suhail Rajput urged people not to leave their homes during the spell which, according to a Met Office prediction, is expected to continue for another two days.

    Videos and photos making rounds on social media showed submerged cars and motorcycles and water entering houses and buildings, wreaking havoc in the provincial capital.

    Given the devastation in Karachi, several celebrities and notable personalities including Feroze Khan, Shahid Afridi, Fatima Bhutto, Ayesha Omar, Samina Peerzada and Ali Safina have lashed out at the Sindh Government for being incompetent and “destroying” the city.

    Feroze expressed his outrage by hitting out at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and demanding answers from him and his government.

    When a Twitter user asked him to hold the PTI government accountable as well, Khan said that they “have literally just come in and I at least can’t expect them to over night work everything around”.

    Former captain Shahid Afridi expressed his disappointment with the management and those in charge of the city.

    “Who will save Karachi,” questioned the cricketer. It is pertinent to mention here that Afridi’s foundation Shahid Afridi Foundation has stepped up to help those affected by the flooding in the city.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1298310388656664576?s=20

    Fatima Bhutto, Ayesha Omar, Gohar Rasheed, Yasir Hussain, Ali Safina and Samina Peerzada also expressed outrage over the government’s negligence.

    Meanwhile, other celebrities including Humayun Saeed, Wasim Akram, Shaniera Akram, Farhan Saeed, Ali Rehman Khan, Ali Zafar, Bilal Ashraf, Hira Mani and Maya Ali sent prayers for the city and those affected by the catastrophic rains.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CEZdlVontM-/

    Ayeza Khan shared a dua that can be recited while it is raining.

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

  • Three new drama serials are airing soon and here is everything you need to know about them

    As the season wraps up, so do many dramas and with the weather expected to change in the upcoming weeks, our TV screens will also witness the winds of change. Three new dramas –Mushk, Saraab and Prem Gali – are scheduled to air in the near future and their teasers have already dropped. Check them out below:

    Mushk

    Featuring Imran Ashraf, Urwa Hocane, Moomal Sheikh and Osama Tahir, Mushk is a layered love story. Speaking to a local media outlet, Ashraf said that “Mushk revolves around the concept of love, in all forms – good, bad and ugly. It presents a sharp contrast between good and evil.”

    He adds: “It is not a formula play, it has been created differently. The dialogues are very poetic.”

    The drama has been written by Ashraf himself and directed by Aehsun Talish (Suno Chanda, Ye Dil Mera). It also marks the return of Hocane to the small screen after a break of almost three years.

    https://youtu.be/8qyqg0zFv70

    Read more – ‘Family-friendly’ movies you should NOT be watching with your family

    Prem Gali

    Penned by Faiza Iftikhar (Akbari Asghari, Aunn Zara, Dil Lagi, Ranjha Ranjha Kardi) Prem Gali has been directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and features Farhan Saeed and Sohai Ali Abro in the lead. Not much is known about the drama except that it is a romantic comedy. From the teasers, it is also safe to say that Saeed is playing a similar character to that of Arsal in the superhit Suno Chanda.

    According to the director, the drama “will remind people of old school romance, where setting up a meeting with the beloved used to be a big task.”

    “It is a light-hearted project. We’ve tried to create something exceptional with major themes including love, family values, neighbourhood, etc,” he adds.

    It has been produced by Humayun Saeed under his production house Six Sigma Plus.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDg7_XVpcDx/

    Read more – The ‘Churails’ are coming to shake things up on August 11

    Saraab

    As the conversation on mental health gains traction, it is also being explored in more depth on our drama screen. Sonya Hussayn and Sami Khan’s upcoming drama Saraab aims to highlight schizophrenia and the plight of those suffering from the illness. It has been written by Edison Idrees and directed by Mohsin Talat.

    In an interview, Sonya said that the makers of the drama did thorough research on the project, including visiting mental asylums and rehab centres to understand the conditions of these patients, before beginning work on the drama so that it could be as realistic as possible.