Tag: Osman Khalid Butt

  • A first for subcontinent: Pakistani film ‘Joyland’ wins Jury prize at Cannes Film Festival

    A first for subcontinent: Pakistani film ‘Joyland’ wins Jury prize at Cannes Film Festival

    Independent filmmaker, Saim Sadiq’s feature film, Joyland has become the first film from the subcontinent to win a jury prize at Cannes.

    Pakistani film “Joyland”, written and directed by debutant Saim Sadiq, won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 75th Cannes Film Festival on Friday, becoming the first-ever film from the subcontinent to bag the award.

    Joyland, a drama about a Lahore family in the firm grip of deep-rooted patriarchy, was pipped to the section’s top award.

    The award for “Joyland” represents a global breakthrough of immeasurable proportions for the relatively small Pakistani movie industry.

    Incidentally, Joyland also won the Prix Queer Palm, awarded by Jury chaired by filmmaker Catherine Corsini on Friday. One of the central characters in the film is a transwoman played by a real-life transwoman Alina Khan

    Earlier it also became the first ever Pakistani feature film to get a nomination at the Cannes film festival. It will be screened at the 75th Anniversary of the annual Cannes film festival. This film has made history by getting selected among the 14 films in the feature film category.

    Sana Jafri who starred in the film took to her Instagram to share the proud moment for Pakistan with a screenshot from Cannes official website. The film, Joyland was written in the category of Uncertain Regard.

    Many celebrities congratulated the entire team of the film.

    Mahira Khan wrote, “This is amaaaazin’G! Congratulations to the entire team. And to Pakistan.”

    Actor, Osman Khalid Butt also congratulated on Twitter, “This is FANTASTIC. What a huge moment for Pakistani cinema. Congratulations, Saim and the entire team of Joyland!”

    Actor and model, Adnan Malik also shared the news on his Instagram story and congratulated to the whole team of the film, “This is some incredible news to wake up to.”

    Oscar-Award winner, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy also took to her Instagram story to share her pride in achieving a milestone by Saim Sadiq.

    Ms Marvel actor, Nimra Bucha also celebrated the proud moment for Pakistan and Saim on her Instagram story

    Nadia Afgan wrote, “So proud of you, Saim Sadiq! Mommy loves you” as she posted Cannes’ official tweet on her Instagram story.

  • ‘Was shaken with her death’: Bollywood’s Alankrita Shrivastava announces Qandeel Baloch’s biopic

    ‘Was shaken with her death’: Bollywood’s Alankrita Shrivastava announces Qandeel Baloch’s biopic

    Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava has announced the biopic of Pakistani model and social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered in an honor killing incident in 2016.

    Shrivastava, along with producers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna has acquired the rights to the book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch, by Sanam Maher, published by Aleph, it was revealed ahead of the Cannes Film Market.

    Shrivastava’s credits include feminist films Lipstick Under My Burkha and Netflix series Bombay Begums.

    Baloch, whose real name is Fouzia Azeem, had stoked controversy in Pakistan by living a Westernized lifestyle and posting her thoughts on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Divorced from her husband, she had been nicknamed “Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian” and “Pakistan’s first social media star.”

    “When Qandeel Baloch was murdered in Pakistan in 2016, I was shaken up,” Shrivastava said. “It was a heinous honor killing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I started watching Qandeel’s videos repeatedly, and I was fascinated. She was so charming and full of life. A poor girl from a small village, who worked her way up to being provocatively famous. She was just 26 when she was killed. And ironically, it’s only after her death that she has been reclaimed as a feminist.”

    Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava to direct a film on the tragic death of Pakistan's Qandeel Baloch - Entertainment News

    “Qandeel’s story needs to be told by a sensitive filmmaker who is passionate about women’s stories,” Sharma said. “Alankrita is just the filmmaker for it. And not just because she is an award-winning feminist filmmaker, but because she has so much empathy for her characters. She tells their stories with candor and warmth.”

    Khanna added: “Qandeel Baloch’s story is important and relevant. Even today women often continue to be at risk when they dare to express their individuality and challenge the status quo. I believe the world needs to watch stories like this.”

    Shrivastava noted: “I see this film as an ode to the courageous spirit of Qandeel Baloch. It will chronicle her sensational and astonishing rise to fame. I hope to piece together the memories of the rebellious, funny and vulnerable young girl, whose life was cut short because she shimmered too bright. The film will celebrate her spunk and lust for life by telling her story without judgment, hopefully the way she would have liked to tell it.”

    Recently actor Osman Khalid Butt has challenged the acquittal of Baloch’s brother in the Supreme Court (SC), Barrister Khadija Siddiqi stated on Twitter. She also termed it as a “test case”.

  • Osman Khalid Butt calls out Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    Osman Khalid Butt calls out Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt tweeted on Qandeel Baloch’s brother Waseem’s acquittal last week, “Qandeel Baloch’s murderer walks free today after serving less than six years of his life sentence. He is on record admitting to drugging and murdering his sister. Someone please make this make sense to me.”

    He went on to comment, “We are in the concluding stages of a high-profile and incredibly brutal murder case even now – how does this ruling inspire any confidence (except to the guilty) in our judicial system? Six years – and an anti-honour killing Bill – later, we’re back to square one.”

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) acquitted the prime suspect and brother of model Qandeel Baloch, Waseem Azeem, in her murder case, abolishing the life imprisonment awarded to him by a sessions court.

    The LHC’s Multan bench cancelled life imprisonment of the accused after witnesses deviated from their statements in the trial court and Qandeel’s mother submitted a reconciliation agreement stipulating parental pardon.

    In 2016, Muhammad Waseem was arrested after he confessed to killing Qandeel Baloch, 26, for posting what he called ‘scandalous’ pictures on social media. The case became Pakistan’s most high profile “honour killing” of recent years.

    The Baaji star also recently commented on Zahir Jaffer’s on-going case. He took to his Twitter to lash out at primary suspect, Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Mukadam murder case.

    He penned, “After all this time, not a hint of remorse. Not a hint of shame. I hope you rot in the deepest pits of hell, Zahir.”

    The actor made his remarks in the response to Jaffer who retracted his confessional statement and refuted all the allegations of the murder of Noor Mukadam.

    'Rot in the deepest pits of hell': Osman Khalid Butt lashes out at Zahir Jaffer

    Zahir recently said that Noor called her friends at his house for a drug party, and she was murdered by someone else, maybe someone present at the drug party, and not him.

  • Osman Khalid Butt, Meesha Shafi shocked and disappointed over acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    Osman Khalid Butt, Meesha Shafi shocked and disappointed over acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday acquitted the prime suspect and brother of model Qandeel Baloch, Waseem Azeem, in her murder case, abolishing the life imprisonment awarded to him by a sessions court.

    The LHC’s Multan bench cancelled life imprisonment of the accused after witnesses deviated from their statements in the trial court and Qandeel’s mother submitted a reconciliation agreement stipulating parental pardon.

    In 2016, Muhammad Waseem was arrested after he confessed to killing Qandeel Baloch, 26, for posting what he called ‘scandalous’ pictures on social media. The case became Pakistan’s most high profile “honour killing” of recent years.

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt tweeted, “Qandeel Baloch’s murderer walks free today after serving less than six years of his life sentence. He is on record admitting to drugging and murdering his sister. Someone please make this make sense to me.”

    He went on to comment, “We are in the concluding stages of a high-profile and incredibly brutal murder case even now – how does this ruling inspire any confidence (except to the guilty) in our judicial system? Six years – and an anti-honour killing Bill – later, we’re back to square one.”

    Osman concluded with, “This is not the first time sentences for heinous crimes have been reduced or overturned. Why do these loopholes still exist in our judicial system whereby murderers can eventually walk free?”

    Singer Meesha Shafi also spoke about Waseem’s acquittal. “So Qandeel Baloch killed in cold blood,” the popular singer tweeted, adding, “Her father, who tried to pursue justice above and beyond his means.. passed away. Her murderer, her brother, alive and roaming free once again. We’re living in the opposite world.”

    During the hearing on Monday, defending lawyer Sardar Mehboob argued before LHC Justice Sohail Nasir that the father of the model and complainant had passed away, adding that the witnesses had also deviated from their statements in the trial court.

    He said the sessions court had ignored the settlement reached between the parties. After hearing the arguments, the court acquitted Waseem by cancelling his life imprisonment. “He has been fully acquitted”, his lawyer Mehboob told AFP, without giving further details. The court order has yet to be made public.

  • ‘Rot in the deepest pits of hell’: Osman Khalid Butt lashes out at Zahir Jaffer

    ‘Rot in the deepest pits of hell’: Osman Khalid Butt lashes out at Zahir Jaffer

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt recently took to his Twitter to lash out at primary suspect, Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Mukadam murder case.

    He penned, “After all this time, not a hint of remorse. Not a hint of shame. I hope you rot in the deepest pits of hell, Zahir.”

    The actor made his remarks in the response to Jaffer who retracted his confessional statement and refuted all the allegations of the murder of Noor Mukadam.

    Zahir recently said that Noor called her friends at his house for a drug party, and she was murdered by someone else, maybe someone present at the drug party, and not him.

    Several celebrities have shown their concerns over the delayed justice to the victim including Hadiqa Kiani and Adnan Siddiqui.

    Earlier this month, a local court in Islamabad, requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) grant additional time to complete the trial. The murder trial began in October 2021.

    Noor Mukadam was brutally murdered in Islamabad on July 20 at Zahar’s residence. Her death sparked national outrage, including protests and candlelight vigils across the country. The Islamabad police arrested main suspect Zahir on the night of July 20 from his house.

  • ‘Billion dollar looks’: Sidra Niazi stuns the web with her latest commercial, Celebrities cheer

    ‘Billion dollar looks’: Sidra Niazi stuns the web with her latest commercial, Celebrities cheer

    Actor Sidra Niazi is trending on social media for her latest successful campaign for a beauty and hair care product.

    The Qayamat star’s fans have been sending her pictures from various cities where they have spotted her on huge billboards.

    Fellow celebrities adored the Chupke Chupke diva’s stunning looks in the campaign.

    Sidra has received back-to-back critical acclaim and commercial success with hit projects like Qayamat, Maqafat and Chupke Chupke. Her pairing with Haroon Shahid and Osman Khalid Butt have also been appreciated by netizens.

    On the acting front, Sidra will be seen next in Tumhare Husn Ke Naam opposite Imran Abbas and Asad Siddiqui, she also has a starring role in Geo TV’s Badzaat costarring Imran Ashraf.

  • Video: Ayeza, Danish inseparable on 7th Wedding Anniversary bash, Maya and Osman cheer

    Video: Ayeza, Danish inseparable on 7th Wedding Anniversary bash, Maya and Osman cheer

    Ayeza Khan and Danish Taimoor celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary in an intimate yet well decorated celebratory event. The duo cut a fancy cake together and then posed for the shutterbugs.

    The dynamic duo’s friends and colleagues showered them with wishes and appreciation.

    On the work front, the couple was last seen together in Geo Entertainment’s Meherposh.

  • ‘Another day, another woman brutally killed’: Celebs express outrage over Noor Mukadam case

    Noor Mukadam, 27, daughter of the former Pakistani diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, was found dead at a residence in the capital’s upscale Sector F-7/4 and the alleged murderer, Zahir Jaffar was arrested for the murder.

    Pakistani celebrities took to social media to condemn the brutal murder of Noor and the rising crime against women in our society.

  • ‘Rape isn’t caused by this’: Osman Khalid Butt schools PM Imran Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan associated a woman’s attire with potential rape case in his recent interview. The statement has created a furor on the internet with netizens being divided on their stance to the PM’s controversial remarks.

    The Diyar-e-dil actor, Osman Khalid Butt took to twitter to express his views on the statement.

  • Celebs support SMQ after CNN reporter calls him ‘anti-Semitic’

    Osman Khalid Butt and Yashma Gill have extended support and defended Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi after CNN’s Senior Global Affairs Analyst and anchorperson Bianna Golodryga labelled him “anti-Semitic” while interviewing him on the ongoing violence in Gaza.

    “Please stop using antisemitism as an excuse to silence voices of dissent and to absolve Israel of blame,” said Butt. “Yet another attempt to paint Israel and its zionist ideology as victims.”

    Yashma Gill also lashed out at the CNN anchorperson saying: “Accusing Israel of ‘controlling the media’ is no way an attack on the Jews or their religion.”

    “It is a political statement from one person of influence to another,” said Yashma. “And Bianna Golodryga wasting an entire interview where she could have allowed CNN viewership to hear another side of political issues is an example of controlling the media by spinning a story.”

    “If it is so simple for her to do it [spinning the story, then] why not Israel?” questioned Gill.

    Omair Rana also tweeted in support of Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    Earlier, Sheheryar Munawar had also called out international media outlets for their “biased” coverage of Israeli atrocities against the people of Palestine