Actor Mohib Mirza is once again in the limelight, this time for his performance as Hassan in the drama Jafaa. What makes his character truly remarkable is the way it sheds light on the importance of mental health awareness and the need to break free from toxic relationships.
BBC Urdu’s Shumaila Khan talked to the actor and asked, “Hassan’s toxic behavior that we see, what do you hope the audience will take away from this message?”
Mizra replied, “Nearly everyone around us has trauma, and it has shaped us in a certain way. Hassan’s character shows that realizing the situation you are in is important, and viewers are talking about how he needs therapy. That’s exactly what we wanted to convey to the audience.”
The host asked, “Mawra’s character is Dr. Zara, a very empathetic wife. Despite seeing red flags, she is trying to understand Hassan. In your opinion, how much social pressure is there on married women in our society to maintain the marriage, you know, socially?”
In reply, Mohib shared a personal anecdote, “I remember a phrase my friend once said: ‘Brother, it’s like this once you’re married, that’s it. There’s no one else, just this.’ However, he continued, that this it shouldn’t be burdening as he shared. “Of course, you have to make it work. But I don’t understand why there’s so much pressure. It’s not like we’re trying to promote divorce or anything. We’re not promoting it. But, if there’s toxicity, if the situation is toxic, it’s like poison.”
The Jaffa actor stressed that this pressure can lead to mental illness. “Continuous stress is scientifically proven to cause some kind of mental or physical illness. So, no one should have to bear such negativity and poison,” he asserted.
Actor Mohib Mirza has addressed rumours surrounding his second marriage to actor Sanam Saeed, debunking claims he cheated on his first wife Aminah Sheikh, his spouse from 2005 to 2019, and the mother of his child. The secrecy behind his and Sanam’s relationship led to allegations that Mohib had cheated on Aminah, leading to a divorce.
The actor appeared on the FHM podcast where he cleared the air by saying that the two began a relationship after his divorce.
“Who is assuming this?” the actor responded to the accusations. “Do you have my divorce certificate or does Wikipedia say so? My marriage had ended when I pursued Sanam.”
“No one can question this because I have my divorce deed with me, I know what had happened,” the ‘Razia’ actor fired back. Mohib reminded the audience his and Sanam’s relationship was a private affair, and it is their prerogative to reveal it to the public or not.
Opening up about the couple’s wedding, Mohib revealed that it was a private event with only five people present at Sanam’s house.
Another male actor has decided to raise the misogyny flag with a gross comment and this time, its Mohib Mirza. The actor was featured in a podcast for FHM Pakistan where he talked at length about his career and the controversy surrounding the actor’s marriage to Sanam Saeed. Everything was going well, and we were quite proud of how Mohib shut down allegations of cheating against his first wife Amina Sheikh.
But this was all shot down when Mohib was asked about whether it was him or Sanam who controlled the house.
To which Mohib responded:
“If you’re a man you cannot be shareef. No one should remain in this delusion that a man can be innocent. A woman can be innocent but not a man. It can’t be possible because of genetics. The way it was made it’s not possible for that reason. Do you know how many cells you generate in THAT specific area? Billions! You are made like a machine so you are a machine.”
Where do I even begin with this nonsense. Why do women need to deal with this?
Sab say pehlay tou Mohib sir, equating manliness with strength and femininity with weakness is a relic of the past. If such a thing were real, then men wouldn’t be throwing around chairs and breaking television sets every time their favourite team lost a cricket match. And women wouldn’t be quietly toiling while suffering intense period pain. Have you ever had a chance, Mr Mohib, to read up on our history? Or even perhaps spoken with the women of this country? Sit down with an ordinary Pakistani woman who is not only working at a job, but also taking care of her children, cleaning her house and then dealing with her in-laws. While men in this country, who were apparently born with superior genes, can’t provide proper financial support for the family. The gender you’re calling weak by associating it with femininity is the one holding families together.
And also sir, this is not the first time you and Sanam went viral with your sexist comments. Earlier this year, both Mohib and Sanam were guests on Fahad Mustafa’s show. Sanam was asked whether men need to be dealt with like babies, to which she responded: “You need to take care of men like they are children.” The statement reeks of entitlement and ignorance, and as a couple with a lot of power and social status, you need to be mindful of the kind of words you say publicly.
But you’re lucky Mr Mohib, you’re not the only celebrity who made us want to slam our heads on the wall this week. Javed Sheikh decided it was super cool to publicly announce that he refuses to believe in the slogan ‘Mera Jism Meri Marzi’. He emphasised that a woman is beautiful when she is covered.
Please tell us when and where did any woman ask you for your opinion? Did Haseena Moin ask you for reference when she cast you in her critically acclaimed drama ‘Ankahi’ where you acted opposite a head-strong, opinionated woman who didn’t need to cover up to demand respect from a man? Exactly, sit down.
Why are we still addressing this topic? There’s a war in the Middle East. India is making more progressive movies like ‘Rocky and Rani’ centring around consent and holding men accountable for misogyny, and we’re still debating whether femininity makes a woman weak?
All we will say is these are distractions from real issues, and we are done lecturing men on the basic elements of feminism. Which is why I didn’t bother to go into any details in this piece. Google is free, and at this point celebrities need to realise we can see through their PR attempts. We know what you’re doing when you bring up sexism because it will bring along another month’s easy coverage. Women don’t owe any man an explanation for why they deserve to be respected, and we’re done doing so as well.
Bold, confident and hard-hitting, Mahira Khan is back once more and this time she is not afraid to hold up a mirror to society’s face. Her new drama ‘Razia’ is creating buzz on social media. Mahira is no longer the sweet and naive female lead as we have known her. She’s the narrator who tells the story of how a young girl born in a conservative household in Pakistan learns to overcome every hardship to chase her dream.
From the get go, this show keeps you hooked by telling you a story we’re all familiar with, but every episode is a gut punch on how Pakistani girls are robbed of their dreams and hopes because of patriarchy. Mahira waltzes around the stage and speaks with the audience about the journey of the young girl Razia, whose birth was a disappointment for the grandmother who wanted a boy. From that point, she continues to be punished for the crime of being born a daughter.
Two episodes in, and we’re already awed by how the show speaks out on the ways young women are deprived of their dreams, whether it is something as small as eating after their brother does, or as monumental as Razia’s father banning her from playing outside because she is older now. And already, some of the powerful monologues in the episodes are gaining praise on social media.
#Razia begins with Mahira Khan’s narration -every word she says hits you. powerful & brilliant & beautiful. she is not just Mahira Khan who is narrating the story of Razia but a woman who finds Razia in herself, has seen met many women like Razia & is surrounded with such stories pic.twitter.com/nggNpcL5TB
there is something so haunting about the pauses the narrator gives in the middle of the story. that far away look in the eyes, as if she’s trapped away in some nightmare, a storm brewing, urging to get out. @TheMahiraKhan’s acting was easily the most memorable part about #Raziapic.twitter.com/WMGuPi2Pah
A user praised this scene where in a monologue from episode 1, Mahira points out how young girls today are no longer murdered on their birth, but are today buried alive by the consistent backlash society imposes on them
Given the scenario when the cr!me against women has grown to an unimaginable extent, these lines hit SO hard!#raziapic.twitter.com/9o4CwTkqiT
Social media users and public figures expressed outrage over the weekend at the hike in electricity bills. The exorbitant sums led to protests across the country with citizens burning their bills. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakaar has responded to the outrage by tweeting that an emergency meeting would be called at the Prime Minister’s residence on Sunday to address the sudden hike.
Mohib Mirza addressed the situation with his own hilarious but rather dark twist: “Thank god we have not gone on the moon, otherwise the fuel adjustments for the rocket would have been taken from our bills!”
Actress Mariyam Nafees shared a screenshot of a request of an imam, asking him to pray that inflation goes away, so a family could afford to eat. In the caption, she had requested all her followers to be thankful for having food to eat and a place to stay, because such things are luxuries for others.
Fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, a.k.a HSY, appeared on the ‘The Knock Knock Show with Mohib Mirza’ where he was asked about marriage.
When asked who he would marry if forced at gun point, the designer said it would be actress Mehwish Hayat, because friendship is the most important element in building a strong relationship.
The ‘Pehli Si Muhabbat’ actor went on to clarify that he was not in a relationship with Mehish, however, the two friends shared a close bond with each other.
They have previously worked together in the telefilm ‘Ijaazat’.
HSY also opened up about his childhood and how growing up in a poor family, he learned fashion designing by skimming through magazines as a kid when he went with his mother to a grocery store where she worked:
“My mother used to work at a grocery store and I use to go through old magazines over there. I would observe how did people design a look and when I went home, I’d take out my old shirts and try to make them like Calvin Klien or Donna Karan.”
HSY also revealed that one of his fashion inspirations was the late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana, who inspired him to become a fashion designer. As an infant, he had spent some time in London where his mother was looking for a job. During this time, the royal wedding was happening.
“I was on her shoulders watching the wedding and I remember the excitement, and how millions of people were screaming for a carriage, I have never forgotten it…I remember when I got home I got my sister’s dolls, took some tissue papers and started making that dress because I was shocked how that one dress shocked so many people.”
Actor Mohib Mirza opened up about his past struggles, his fallout with his former wife Aamina Sheikh, his daughter, and his new life with Sanam Saeed for the very first time.
The Neeli Zinda Hai star appeared on a podcast with Munib Nawaz, his childhood friend and fashion designer, with whom he discussed all the possible things he could’ve done differently, including his life when he started out, personal relationships, his vulnerabilities, the importance of voicing insecurities, his experience with filmmaking and counting his blessings.
The host asked Mirza if the life he has was once a goal, such as making films or reaching a milestone like the Oscars. Mirza said, “I don’t think I had a specific image in mind. But some small elements from it were my goals. The rest you know every single day we’re evolving and it [our brain] is like an open sea, desires and wishes never seem to end. Just like that, whatever I manifested and dreamt of deserves to come true, be it the good things you want or the fear that you end up manifesting. The rest, if I have to say, I’ve been blessed with what I was and have been given, not just the fame but also got to work with the kind of stuff I always wanted to do.”
When asked about the fears that he manifested, Mirza said as a professional actor it would be falling behind time and not being able to meet deadlines to finish certain tasks. On a personal note, when he was asked about his younger self and his goals, Mirza opened up about his past relationship with Aamina Sheikh.
“When I met Aamina, my focus was ‘she’s the one’ and I was in love with her and then came marriage and all the other things after that, as they should. We had a great, great partnership and everything was going fine, we had a daughter and after that we started to grow differently,” he said.
“I had never imagined that things wouldn’t work out between us. Eventually, I came to realise, it happens with everybody and those who say it doesn’t, are just talking rubbish. I was with her for 12 to 13 years in a marriage and we had a falling out afterwards. It wasn’t our partnership that was the issue but the things that we did in our daily life related to work. Like, for example, if I’m in Skardu for 90 days and I’m filming Dukhtar, so what I learnt at that time spiritually and emotionally and the direction I grew towards, we didn’t align.”
Talking about his daughter, Mirza shared that he hasn’t seen her in five years and it was a conscious decision on Sheikh’s part. When asked what was the most difficult thing he has experienced, the actor said it’s the time away from his daughter. “I don’t want a grown kid who, because of me or examples we see on social media, goes through what we see online. I’ve worked enough and with the common sense I have, what happens on social media, it’s better if the kid grows older and understands things on her own and if not then it’s very unfortunate,” he said on a lesson he has learned.
Then came a discussion about his current love life. Nawaz asked Mirza about how he met Saeed. “Sanam means beloved, and Mohib means the one who gives love. I don’t think I have to say anything else,” he said.
“It’s not easy for either of us to give it another try. Especially if you realise the ‘one more time’ factor, if you want to start a new chapter then [that’s what] you want to do this time. Correction is for those who want to correct things, those who understand the value of relationships and want to understand it. Not someone who never accepts their mistakes and finds themselves right in every situation.”
Saeed also gave a small glimpse of her new relationship in her 2022 rewind video on Instagram that featured vacation pictures with Mirza and intimate moments with her family.
After the mess that local films like Chakkar,Dum Mastam and Pardey Mein Rehne Do faced with regards to their screening times being allotted to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there has been a major development in the situation.
The Sindh High Court has ordered that local films get 85% of playing time at Pakistani cinemas, with foreign cinemas being allowed 15% of the exhibition space.
According to the high court order, foreign releases must comply by rules of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979, which states that internationally produced films screening in Pakistan can be allowed 15% screen space of locally created films are screening as well.
The order states that the defendants must follow the rules of the Motion Picture Ordinance “strictly in letter and spirit” and to provide 85% exhibition time to Pakistani films till the next date of hearing on June 2.
The Sindh High Court suits numbering 754, 754 and 755 have Cereal Entertainment (Adnan Siddiqui and Akhter Hasnain), Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat, and Farid Nawaz Productions (Yasir Nawaz and Nida Yasir) as plaintiffs, for their films Dum Mastam, Parde Mein Rehne Do and Chakkar respectively.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Central Board of Film Censors, Punjab Film Censor Board, Sindh Board of Film Censors, Competition Commission of Pakistan, J.B. Films, Nueplex Cinemas, Cinepax Cinemas, Cinegold Cinemas, HKC Entertainment and the Karachi District South deputy commissioner.
Local filmmakers called for compensation in the face of damages the films and makers faced with the distribution of screen time, of which the relevant teams have been vocal about on social media.
While chaos has already ensued for local films in the wake of the release of Doctor Strange, this ruling may prove beneficial (if gone unchallenged) for upcoming local releases such as Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and London Nahi Jaunga. Moreover, while the Marvel film has amassed big figures at the box office, upcoming foreign releases such as The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Memory, and Top Gun: Maverick stand to potentially be impacted by this decision.
Earier this year the Zindagi Gulzar Hai star, Sanam Saeed expressed her disappointment over the absence of posters and standees of her newly released film, Ishrat Made in China, in one of the outlets of Nueplex Cinemas at Minhas Road, Karachi. There were no posters displayed of the film in the cinema.
She took to her Twitter handle to express her concern and tagged JB Films who is the owner of Nueplex cinemas.
She wrote, “A little disappointed in #nuplexcinemas for not putting up any of our film posters, especially on Rashid Minhas Road.”
She also urged the cinema owners to support Pakistani content as Hollywood does not need promotion for superheroes films.
Meanwhile, Nueplex cinemas also released their official statement and clarified their stance.
According to the cinema management, the distributor/producer is solely responsible for providing promotional material such as standees and posters. It added, “Hence, this issue may be better addressed if it is taken up with them.”
They also explained that the film was given only two dedicated screens throughout the opening weekend at Askari IV and DHA. They urged to bring this matter to the distributor first to resolve the issue.
Ishrat Made in China was released on March 4 along with Hollywood’s superhero film, The Batman starring Robert Pattison in Pakistan.
Actor Sonia Mishal is currently riding high on the success of Sinf-e-Aahan, the young star has reacted to Sana Javed’s response to recent allegations around her unprofessional conduct.
Taking to Instagram, the Dumpukht diva opened up on her co-star’s claims that a campaign has been launched to defame her. She revealed why Sana was replaced with Urwa Hocane in the drama after several weeks of shoot. They had to reshoot all her scenes.
“First of all no one in the world has time to run a ‘proper planned smear campaign’ againt you,” she slammed the Khaani star.
Mishal also extended her support toward the ones who have mustered up the courage to speak up against the actor’s bad behaviour on the sets.
“It makes me so happy to see all these people speak up because I’ve personally experienced her bad behaviours with such good makeup artists on set to a point where I was shocked and felt sorry for the poor hard working guys who she got replace ¾ times, “ she wrote.
“I stand with everyone who is coming forward with tis issue because everyone deserves equal amount of respect and love,” she expressed.
“We all work like a family especially our makeup artists who are not even paid enough for their skills,” she continued. “To watch them cry and worry on set broke my heart but then she was the ‘bigger star’,” Mishal IG story read.
“All this legal (expletive) doesn’t mean anything it’s not going to scare people who’ you’ve hurt,” she concluded.
Celebrity duo of Mohib Mirza and Sanam Saeed appeared together on Geo’s Jashan-e-Cricket to promote their forthcoming film, Ishrat: Made In China.
The Zindagi Gulzar Hai star was questioned whether she would agree to play the role of politician, Maryam Nawaz. Saeed responded saying that if that were ever to happen, she would require beauty procedures such as injections to whiten her complexion. She concluded by saying that it would be fun to play her on-screen.
Superstar Humayun Saeed liked her statement on Instagram.
Mohib candidly responded to the question about getting whitening injections, to which he replied that he has never gotten them.
Sanam described “The Cake” as the best movie of her career and said that she loves working in films more than drama.
