Tag: Mawra Hocane

  • Three recent female performances in Pakistani dramas that left us shocked

    Three recent female performances in Pakistani dramas that left us shocked

    Pakistani dramas and their storylines are controversial and at times, phenomenal. Many recent dramas and characters have become so popular that they are the talk of every living room, Facebook and WhatsApp groups, with some viewers saying hai and some saying sahi kia!

    Through the years we’ve seen many female villains such as Naveen Waqar’s character in Humsafar as Sara, Ushna Shah as Nigaar in Balaa, Iqra Aziz as Nirma in Jhooti as Nirma and recently Sabeena Farooq as Zoya in Kashf. These characters have made their mark, but today we will be discussing three vamps who have left people speechless and fuming with anger.

    1. Faiza Hassan – Gohar (Nand)

    ARY’s Nand is all about the one, and the only sister-in-law Gohar, played by Faiza Hassan. Faiza has made a comeback after a long time and to see her play a negative character with such finesse is nothing short of a treat. She is not only convincing as Gohar but has actually made the viewer’s resent her character, which is a win as an actor.

    Gohar is a nightmare for anyone and everyone around her. First, she makes her brother Saqib (Shahroz Sabzwari) divorce his wife Rabi (Minal Khan) and later starts creating misunderstandings between her younger brother Hassan (Ayaz Samoo) and his wife Farwa (Maha Hasan). She also leaves her husband Jahangir (Aijaz Aslam) because of his financial status. Ultimately she goes back to him when he becomes rich and starts creating problems for Rabi who is now her husband’s second wife (OUCH)!

    It is only because of Faiza’s grip on the character that she has succeeded in showing the ugly side of a narcissistic woman who doesn’t mind ruining people’s lives because of her sadistic persona. She is envious and is probably a victim of her own weaknesses because she fails to see the good in people around her. She is so cruel and heartless to the extent that she manipulates her own son to use him against her husband.

    Read more – ‘Nand’: No shades of grey

    2. Sarah Khan – Miraal (Sabaat)

    Miraal, played by Sarah Khan, is a young arrogant woman belonging to a controlling and egotistical elite family. Her father Seth Fareed (Moazzam Ali Khan) is a wealthy businessman who supports her despite her selfish actions. Miraal’s mother (Laila Zuberi) and grandmother try to make her understand that she is on the wrong track but their advice falls on deaf ears. Miraal dotes on her younger brother Hassan Fareed (Ameer Gillani), who is somehow influenced by her. One fine day, he falls for and marries Anaya Aziz (Mawra Hocane), an ambitious, strong-headed, women’s rights activist studying at the same university as him – but doesn’t have the same financial background.

    When Miraal and Hassan’s grandmother dies, Miraal begins to feel disturbed and consults a psychiatrist Dr Haris (Usman Mukhtar). Her fiancé Ali runs away on their wedding day and dumps her leaving her shocked. On the other hand, her brother Hassan and Anaya get married against the wishes of his father and Miraal – Anaya was too poor to be part of the family.

    Meanwhile, Seth Fareed makes every effort to make Miraal feel comfortable and happy. Miraal hates Anaya, humiliates her several times and does whatever she could to kick her out of Hassan’s life. She also leaves her husband Dr Haris, who tried to help her before and after marriage. Destroying the lives of all four of them, she is blind to the fact that she is wreaking havoc on her own self as well.

    SPOILER ALERT: In the last episode she has an accident and her spinal cord is affected due to which she couldn’t walk. She then seeks forgiveness from those who she hurt and tries to redeem herself.

    Sarah has outdone herself with this character and did complete justice to a challenging role, villainous role, and with such class and elegance that she left all the other actors far behind. She turned out to be everyone’s favourite villian (and actor) in the drama.

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

    3. Minal Khan – Nisha (Jalan)

    Nisha (Minal Khan) and Misha (Areeba Habib) are two sisters who belong to an upper-middle-class household. Nisha is a selfish girl who habitually wants everything that Misha has and Misha, who dotes on her sister, does anything that will make Nisha happy. Nisha gets engaged to her cousin Ahmer (Fahad Sheikh) who loves her intensely but after her engagement, Misha gets married to the super rich and handsome Asfandyar (Emmad Irfani).

    Nisha, seeing her sister’s expensive gifts and big house breaks her own engagement with Ahmer, accusing him of physically abusing her and plays the victim in front of Asfandyar to gain his sympathy.

    Meanwhile, Misha finds out she is pregnant but totally oblivious to her sister’s evil plans, invites her into her home to stay for a while. Nisha continues to estrange her sister from Asfand, luring him into liking her and finally succeeding. Asfandyar divorces Misha, who goes into premature labour and delivers a baby boy. Nisha, on the other hand, runs away from home and pushes Asfi to marry her asap. When Misha finds out that her sister is marrying her ex-husband, she lights herself on fire and dies. Nisha does not regret any of her actions and tries to secure her husband’s wealth.

    There is no way that you don’t hate Nisha but a part of you will admire her as well – the girl definitely gets what she wants and she doesn’t let anything stand in her way – not her fiancé, parents, or sister. She is so insensitive and heartless but utterly determined. Minal has done complete justice to the role, with every dialogue and expression. Can’t wait to see how this one ends.

  • ‘Sabaat’ manages to tie up loose ends in a rushed finale

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

    Sabaat, with its refreshing storyline and empowered female characters, won acclaim over the weeks for being different from other dramas being shown on television. It drew to a close Sunday night with a finale that felt a bit rushed but successfully managed to tie up loose ends.

    Warning: Spoilers ahead

    Miraal & Dr Haris

    The final episode of the drama saw Miraal (Sarah Khan) get involved in a car accident and damage her spinal cord which leaves her paralysed from the hip down. That one incident changes everything and gives all major characters in the series a happy ending. When Miraal regains consciousness after her accident, she discovers that her current love interest and ex-fiancé Ali, who was driving the car has run away, while her estranged husband Dr Haris (Usman Mukhtar) is by her side. She realises that she has done wrong to a lot of people and starts redeeming herself – first by telling Hasan (Ameer Gilani) that she was the one who ruined his relationship with Anaya (Mawra Hocane) and then apologising to Anaya personally (That one scene was very well executed). Later, she also seeks forgiveness from her husband, who she was seeking khula from. Everything comes full circle and all characters in the series get a happy ending, including Anaya’s mother (Simi Raheal).

    Anaya and Hassan

    Though in its essence, Sabaat is a family drama with all the usual tropes like a mistrusting husband, nand-bhabhi tensions, etc, its treatment was what set it apart from other dramas. Besides, the drama resonated well with audiences because of its realistic presentation.

    Sabaat was beautifully written by Kashif Anwar (Fun fact – Kashif played Yasir Qureshi in the drama), with some impactful dialogues and brilliant story development (I will forgive the makers for stretching the drama in the last few episodes). The performances were solid – it will not be wrong to say that Mawra Hocane delivered her career-best performance as the quiet but headstrong Anaya, while Sarah Khan played the manipulative and spoilt Miraal to perfection. The boys (Ameer and Usman) also gave great performances and Usman, in particular, blew me away. Not only was Dr Haris an incredibly likable character but Usman also did complete justice to it. I will never forget that tear that dropped from his eye when he received the divorce papers. Laila Zuberi and Simi Raheel were wonderful as the supportive and encouraging mothers while Moazzam Ali Khan was brilliant as the arrogant Fareed Sahab.

    Another reason why the drama stood out was because of its strong and empowered female characters. Though Anaya was a mild-natured person, she did not resort to being a bechari when things went bad and made the best of her circumstances. Even Hassan and Dr Haris were a rare breed – they were shown as sensitive and caring individuals. It is unusual to come across such characters on Pakistani television these days.

    Personally, what I liked best about Sabaat was that nothing about it was over-the-top. Even in her angriest moments, Miraal was restrained and did not resort to screaming (read: screeching) like a mad person.

    Read more – ‘Sabaat’ will have you hooked

    The OST and background music was lovely and perfectly complemented the drama and storyline. Also a shoutout to the drama’s styling team – Miraal’s wardrobe was amazing. I loved each and every outfit and Sarah carried them all so well.

    Sabaat is definitely one for the keeps and is highly recommended. For me, it is going in the same category as Humsafar, Diyaar-e-Dil, Yakeen ka Safar, Ehd-e-Wafa and Zindagi Gulzar Hai.

  • Mawra Hocane sparks outrage for comments on eve-teasing

    Mawra Hocane sparks outrage for comments on eve-teasing

    An old video of Mawra Hocane on Nida Yasir’s morning show has gone viral on social media with netizens criticising the actor for her comments on the eve-teasing culture in Pakistan.

    In the video, when Yasir asks Hocane if anyone has ever teased her, Mawra responds by saying: “I think that’s just Lahore’s fun, boys tease you. They play loud music from their cars. I think that’s just the feel of Lahori Eid.”

    “So we don’t mind. It’s okay, keep looking at us,” she added.

    When Nida further asks if she would mind if someone was to tease her now, Mawra said: “Yes, no problem.”

    https://twitter.com/FarooqAleena/status/1286711202853326852?s=20

    While the video is from 2018, Twitter users are calling out Mawra for “normalising harassment”.

    Read more – Mawra Hocane defends Urwa’s comments on mental health

    https://twitter.com/nashrahb/status/1286686430371225601?s=20

    Someone even dragged in Humayun Saeed, who was seated next to Mawra in the show.

    Mawra has not yet responded to the backlash.

  • ‘Meray phone kay darwazay hamesha khulay hain,’ Yasir Hussain tells his colleagues

    ‘Meray phone kay darwazay hamesha khulay hain,’ Yasir Hussain tells his colleagues

    The tragic suicide and death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has prompted a debate on mental health and the importance of being there for your friends and loved ones. Yasir Hussain, in a social media update, has told his friends and colleagues in the industry that he is available for them and is just a phone call away.

    “Koi bhi depression ka shikar ho, toh mujhe call karay. Aap ko hasana mera kaam hai (Anyone who is experiencing depression, please call me. Making you laugh is my job then),” said the actor, adding “Love you all”.

    Other than Yasir, Mahira Khan, Maya Ali, Osman Khalid Butt and Mawra Hocane also urged their followers to be kind and listen to the silent cries of those around them.

  • ‘Sabaat’ will have you hooked

    ‘Sabaat’ will have you hooked

    Six episodes in, Sabaat has managed to capture the audiences with its compelling and entertaining storyline and strong performances. The drama had intrigued viewers before it even aired thanks to one of the main leads Mawra Hocane, who is an ace at the social media game – but a few episodes in, it has everyone, myself included, hooked.

    Sabaat is centred on two families: Hasan Fareed (Ameer Gillani) and Anaya Aziz’s (Mawra). Anaya belongs to an average middle-class family. She has big dreams and wants to make a difference in society. She actively campaigns for harassment against women in workplaces and is a class topper. Hasan, on the other hand, is from an affluent and well-off family. He and Anaya are class fellows and start off as fierce competitors but an incident changes that and the two become acquaintances following which Hasan develops feelings for Anaya and wants to marry her. Though Hasan’s character development is a little weak, given how the swiftly the drama is progressing and how sparkling the chemistry is between him and Anaya, we are willing to overlook this.

    While these two are in their own little university bubble, Hasan’s elder sister Miraal (Sarah Khan) is the real devil of the show. She is a spoilt brat who cannot take no for an answer. Miraal is rude, arrogant and selfish and thinks she can get away with anything because she is rich to the point that she goes to her brother’s university and slaps Anaya for no reason. She generously uses the dialogue “Tumhari aukaat kya hai” and is enabled by her father who is also a snob.

    While Mawra’s character, for now, is one-dimensional, it is Sarah who steals the show with her bratty act. Her facial expressions, body language and moods are on point and she delivers a convincing performance making you hate Miraal. Nonetheless, it is refreshing to see both women essay strong and confident characters. At this point, I’d like to add here that Sarah’s wardrobe, hair and makeup are brilliantly done and she looks super chic in all of her scenes.

    Sarah Khan Sabaat

    Usman Mukhtar is yet to make an entry and fans are waiting with bated breath for it. While the theme of the drama is still unclear, Mawra in an interview had shared it is primarily a love story which is meant to entertain audiences and not deliver sermons or lessons. However, she added that the drama will highlight several issues including classism in our society.

    Read more – We take it back; ‘Ghalti’ is ARY’s best running drama

    Sabaat has been penned by Kashif Anwar and directed by Shehzad Kashmiri of Anaa fame. Apart from the four leads, the drama also starres Simi Raheel, Laila Zuberi and Mohammad Ahmed.

    It aires every Sunday at 8 pm on Hum TV.

  • Humayun Saeed, Mawra Hocane share personal stories of meeting Rishi Kapoor

    Humayun Saeed, Mawra Hocane share personal stories of meeting Rishi Kapoor

    With a heavy heart, the world has bid goodbye to veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who breathed his last Thursday morning. Despite being divided by borders, Rishi Kapoor was a hit favourite among the Pakistani audiences, who absolutely adored him. Our Pakistani celebrities who got a chance to meet with the actor shared pictures of themselves with the romantic hero and remembered him.

    IN PICTURES: Rishi Kapoor’s funeral

    Humayun Saeed threw it back to the time they met Kapoor to cast him in Jawani Phir Nahi Aani 2.

    “He was the best of the best,” wrote Humayun.

    Mawra Hocane shared a picture of when she met him in New York.

    “You shall continue to be the legend that you are. I’ll always remember you fondly,” said the actor.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mBzNVgst5/

    Zeba Bakhtiar recalled the time she shot the film Henna with the actor and wrote, “You were a superstar for us. RIP dear Rishi…my Chander Prakash. You are and forever will be in our hearts!”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mESYVJ_g9/

    Azaan Sami Khan thanked him for always supporting and pushing him to achieve better.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mWL4HgXVE/

    Nur Jahan’s granddaughter and renowned makeup artist Natasha Khalid remembered the late actor fondly.

    “I remember how absolutely kind, loving, generous & down to Earth he was,” wrote Natasha. “Such a larger than life talent.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_m3YxejJ66/

    Columnist Mehr Tarar shared a screenshot of her conversation with Rishi in which he wished her Eid Mubarak.

    Meanwhile, other celebs who paid a tribute to the late actor include Sajal Aly, Mahira Khan, Zara Noor Abbas, Imran Abbas, Saba Hamid, Yasir Hussain, Shaan, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mDLCvl3TK/?utm_source=ig_embed
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_nMeuPhh2-/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mNbwQlSb3/?utm_source=ig_embed
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mBx8GHgxF/?utm_source=ig_embed
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mMVE_AJUw/?utm_source=ig_embed
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mEIIZHPxL/?utm_source=ig_embed
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_l-uhSjUnM/?utm_source=ig_embed

  • Mawra Hocane says she is no longer embarrassed by her anxiety

    Mawra Hocane says she is no longer embarrassed by her anxiety

    In a bid to promote mental health awareness, celebrities have started coming forward with their own stories of battling with depression and anxiety.

    Mawra Hocane is the latest celebrity to open up about her struggle with anxiety. Though Mawra had earlier talked about dealing with it, she shed light on it again in a recent Instagram post.

    Mawra elaborated on how she came to terms with her anxiety and decided to tackle it head-on. She shared that she is no longer embarrassed of it and that “it’s a part of me like the sky is blue but I’m definitely better equipped to deal with it as I’m growing with it and beginning to understand it.”

    The actor also shared that her ongoing drama Daasi has “been a very very special project” for her as “I’ve been able to channelise my inner fears and pain as Sunehri.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6-1-tGgE75/

    Earlier, when a social media user asked the 26-year-old actor if she has social anxiety disorder, she replied, “Yes. I developed anxiety recently and I’ve been battling with it one day at a time. For everyone who is reading it and has suffered anxiety we are all in this together.”

  • Mawra Hocane reveals the one thing she’s looking for in a life partner

    Mawra Hocane reveals the one thing she’s looking for in a life partner

    Mawra Hocane has had a stellar year. Her dramas – Aangan and Daasi – are (have) done phenomenally well. Along with that, she graduated with honours and launched her own clothing brand UxM with sister Urwa Hocane.

    To sign off her year, Mawra engaged in a Twitter interaction with her fans in which she spilled the beans about her private life, what she’s looking for in a life partner and how manages to be on top of her game. Here’s what Mawra revealed:

    Passion is what she is looking for in a life partner

    Prayers and her mom’s duas are what helps her keep her life in order

    How she deals with anger

    The happiest moment of her life what when she saw her parents as she received her degree in London

    Her next project is also with Hum TV

    Mawra’s relationship with Mahira Khan is full of love

    Mahira and Vasay Chaudhry are also her best friends

    Aaliya from Aangan is her most favourite character to date

    Atif Aslam is Mawra’s favourite singer

    This is what her perfect day looks like

    One superpower she wished she had

    For her fans and followers, Mawra had two pieces of advise: one to be respectful of one another and two to work hard towards their goals.

  • Nida Yasir is also launching her own clothing collection

    Looks like launching your own clothing brand is the new fad in town.

    Following the Hocane sisters, Urwa and Mawra, and the Khan twins, Aiman and Minal, popular morning show host Nida Yasir is launching her own clothing line.

    Nida teased her fans with a short video of her latest venture Nida Yasir Collection. Though the collection can be anything, the threads at the beginning of the video hint towards a clothing collection.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5FXfvihIKl/

    What do you think it is?

  • Mawra Hocane defends Urwa’s comments on mental health

    Mawra Hocane defends Urwa’s comments on mental health

    The Hocane sisters – Mawra and Urwa – who have launched their own clothing brand UxM recently made an appearance on Nida Yasir’s morning show to promote it.

    During the show, the sisters spoke on a variety of topics from their daily life, food and workout routine to relationships, and their clothing line.

    When the host, Nida asked them the secret behind their lean physiques, Mawra remarked that they are very conscious about what they eat and try their best to avoid eating unhealthy and processed foods. Urwa chimed in that one should be very careful about what they put in their body adding, “Aaj kal kitne maslay hain, ke yar depression hogaya, mental ‘disease’ hogai, it’s all because of food. Aur koi reason hi nahi hai. (These days we hear that so many people saying that they are suffering from depression or they have mental ‘disease’; it’s all because of food. There’s no other reason).

    She then went onto say that people of older generations had a longer life span and were fitter because the food they consumed was healthier. Both Mawra and Nida agreed with Urwa’s comments before moving onto the next topic.

    The clip from the morning show went viral and sparked uproar on social media as everyone started calling out the sisters for not understanding depression.

    Soon after Mawra took to social media to defend her and her sister’s comments.