Tag: Pakistani Celebrities

  • ‘People should rise in love’: social media users defend viral Sajal Aly quote about relationships

    ‘People should rise in love’: social media users defend viral Sajal Aly quote about relationships

    Actress Sajal Aly is once again going viral on the internet but for a very absurd reason. A user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a clip of the actress speaking at a red carpet interview.

    When asked about her opinion on relationships, the ‘Ye Dil Mera’ actress said:

    “People will start rising in love instead of falling in love,” responded Sajal. “You know what I mean? You know we say ‘fall in love’, why do you fall in love man? Just rise in love!”

    The user who shared the tweet mocked the actress but other tweeps defended the actress by pointing out ‘rising in love’ is a healthier alternative approach to relationships, where one is encouraged to gain a fresh insight to life after meeting someone new, even by sharing how previously writers and films defending this concept.

    A user shared a quote from Toni Morrison’s book ‘Jazz’ which talked about the same concept of rising in love.

    “Nobody gave you to me. Nobody said that’s the one for you. I picked you out. Wrong time, yep, and doing wrong by my wife. But the picking out, the choosing. Don’t ever think I fell for you, or fell over you. I didn’t fall in love, I rose in it. I saw you and made up my mind. My mind. And I made up my mind to follow you too.”

    Another user shared a quote from the 1999 Bollywood movie ‘Taal’ where a dialogue was: “Pyar Mein Giro Mat Bachche … utho, Rise in Love.”

    Another shared the proclaimed Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz had defended the same concept in an article and spoke about the need to rise in love rather than fall in it.

    Another user shared a clip by screenwriter and producer Jemima Khan, who had also worked with Sajal for ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ and had spoken in an interview about encouraging more women to walk into love rather than fall in it.

    Other users defended the actress’s healthy approach to love by pointing out that it should make people better, not encourage them to submit themselves entirely to another person.

    Exactly our point. Please go touch grass or read a book before coming after female celebrities this way.

    Some also slammed the user for indirectly mocking the actress’s English skills, and criticised trolls today for relentlessly targetting female actresses for small reasons.

  • ‘Woman spoke to me for a long time because she thought I was Hamza Ali Abbasi’s wife’: Nawal Saeed

    Ever thought that how embarrassing it is to be chatting with someone and then discovering that they mistook you for someone else? Actress Nawal Saeed had the same experience when elaborating at the Geo show ‘Hasna Mana Hai’ about the time, a stranger praised her and then realised she was not Hamza Ali Abbasi’s wife, Naimal Khawar.

    The actress recalled meeting a sweet old woman who kept compliment her work “And after 5 minutes, she went like, ‘I had really wished to meet Hamza’s [Ali Abbasi] wife’,” she joked.

    The ‘Banno’ actress had then revealed she kindly corrected the elderly fan that she was Nawal, not Naimal, but the fan was disappointed that her time was wasted.

  • Shagufta Ejaz gets Botox injections and she’s not afraid to own it

    Shagufta Ejaz gets Botox injections and she’s not afraid to own it

    Veteran actress Shagufta Ejaz wants more women- especially those who aren’t young- to break down the misconceptions and stigma surrounding cosmetic surgery.

    The actress recently uploaded a vlog where she opened up about getting Botox surgery and provided a breakdown of what the procedure entails. The actor said her intention was to reduce the wrinkles on her forehead and eyes, adding that this was the fourth time she was getting Botox.

    “So, I didn’t want a frozen expression. I wanted to frown and lift my eyebrows and go sad and all. So, this is why I told [the doctor] that I wanted a 40% erase, and 60% expressions.”

    The actress showed her fans how the procedure progressed, showcasing the bruises around her eyes and the wrinkles on her forehead fading.

    Shagufta also talked in her vlog about the stigma surrounding Botox.

    “I believe that one should be honest about whatever you do,” pointed out the ‘Mere Damad’ actress. “A lot of people are getting it done; some want to disclose it, some do not. This is their personal choice and I thought this is the fourth time in my entire life that I’m getting this done and this time I wanted that I should share with you.”

    We’re incredibly happy that more actresses are encouraging women to stop listening to the stereotypical remarks that as women age, they must stop focusing on their looks and be sent out to pasture. Previously, Shahista Lodhi slammed age-shaming remarks while speaking about being mistaken as her son’s girlfriend. Lodhi reflected on how in Pakistan, women here are shamed if they invest too much attention on their looks as they grow older:

    “If you’ve had kids at a young age then is that also my fault? Apparently, that becomes a taunt too here…Why should I lie about it? It feels good that I have maintained myself even at this age.”

    On ‘The Talk Talk Show’, the aesthetic physician recalled counselling a woman who was kicked out of her house because of stretch marks, stressing that its not worth saving an abusive marriage if it depends on you getting surgery.

    Read more: ‘A patient revealed she was kicked out of her house by her husband because of her stretch marks’: Shahista Lodhi

  • Which celebrity paid Rs100,000 electricity bill? Celebs share details of inflation affecting their budgets

    Which celebrity paid Rs100,000 electricity bill? Celebs share details of inflation affecting their budgets

    After protests and demonstrations broke out across Pakistan as petrol and electricity bill hikes took effect, celebrities are amplifying voices calling for the government to provide relief packages to the masses. Many big names of the industry are sharing how their expenses are spiking because of the excessive rates. A-listers like Maya Ali condemned rising prices and demanded for people in power to step out and help the underprivileged ones who couldn’t afford basic necessities.

    Actress and television host Nadia Khan shocked audiences when in a recent video, she asked prominent celebrities like Nida Yasir, Fiza Ali and Sadia Imam about how their household expenses are being recalculated with the on-going price hikes, and the results are astounding.

    Actress Sadia Imam said her previous electricity bill was RS 75,000, after which she decided to install a solar system at her house. The result, the actress elaborated, was that her bill was Rs 19,000 but after adding Rs 5000 tax it was Rs 26,000.

    Nida Yasir had the most shocking revelation in the video. She confessed that despite the fact that for half of the month their family was out of the country, her electricity bill was Rs 1 lac.

    Fizza Ali said her electricity bill this month was Rs 67,000, adding that in the previous month her electricity bill was even higher, but during this time the actress was on vacation in Dubai.

    Nadia Khan then revealed to her audience that last month during the time she was away from her home in Karachi and was in Thailand, her bill Rs 75,000.

    ‘It’s horrifying to think that we weren’t in our homes, and our bill was Rs 75,000. So what would be the amount this month?” the actress said.

    Watch the complete video here

  • Why wasn’t ‘Maula Jatt’ nominated for the Lux Style Awards?

    Why wasn’t ‘Maula Jatt’ nominated for the Lux Style Awards?

    Nominations for the 22nd Lux Style Awards were announced on 3rd September, with industry members being quick to notice one notable omission. ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’, the biggest hit of the year, was not nominated among the films. Surprising considering that the movie received critical acclaim for its writing, acting, action sequences and made $13.8 million worldwide.

    Journalist Hassan Kazmi has uncovered the reason now, by releasing a statement from film producer Ammara Hikmat, who stated:

    “While we are honoured that Lux considered our film for their nominations, we find that their limited range of film categories doesn’t align with our values. The absence of categories for best director or writer, etc, disregarding their major and substantial creative contributions, while including one for best playback song doesn’t resonate with our vision for comprehensive film recognition. Therefore, we’ve decided not to make an exception in this case.”

    Kazmi further tweeted that the team behind ‘TLOMJ’ had stepped back so to give other films a proper chance:

    “The Legend of Maula Jatt is not even up for votes in #LSA2023 I have learnt that the makers have #TLOMJ have regretted as it was the biggest film, so the makers have decided to give others a chance. I have learnt from the sources that The Legend of Maula Jatt will be acknowledged at the main event in October this year.”

    While Maula Jatt is out of the running, once more male actors charged with abuse have been nominated for the Lux Style Awards. Feroze Khan, who was publicly accused by his ex-wife Syeda Aliza of domestic violence and torture, was nominated twice for best male actor in dramas, and also for his performance in ‘Tich Button’.

    While Mohsin Abbas Haider, who was publicly accused by his wife of domestic abuse, and then found guilty by a Lahore court in 2019, was nominated for his performance in the drama ‘Siyani’.

  • Nothing left for Imran in Pakistani politics: Kamran Tessori

    Nothing left for Imran in Pakistani politics: Kamran Tessori

    Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori has said that after the events of May 9, there is nothing left for former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Pakistani politics, Geo has reported.

    Addressing a press conference in London, Tessori said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) attacked Jinnah House and other military installations on May 9, shocking Pakistan. The governor claimed that the attacks on May 9 were comparable to those at the Peshawar Army Public School.

    Tessori, who is in London on a private family visit, said: “The elements involved in the 9 May attacks are left behind and the nation has come on one page. No decent and civilised society allows the destruction and arson of its important national monuments such as the residence of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, mosques and corp headquarters; people don’t burn their police stations in the world. These people burnt down their Corp Headquarters and attempted attacks on military installations. After all of this, I think there is nothing left for Imran Khan in Pakistani politics.”

    The Sindh governor also advised those that are still part of the PTI to, “think of Pakistan first and then the leader. The nation comes first, no harm in following any leader but not at the cost of Pakistan.”

  • Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    A special court has extended the judicial remand of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan under the official secret act till September 13 in the cipher case. He will remain in jail until September 13, Geo has reported.

    Today’s hearing, conducted in Attock Jail, was headed by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain. Due to security concerns expressed by the Interior Ministry, the hearing took place at the jail.

    Imran Khan has been imprisoned in the Attock jail since August 5. However, on Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) overturned the decision of a lower court to jail Imran Khan for three years.

    According to the report in Geo News, Imran Khan’s five-member legal team including Naeem Haider Panjotha, Salman Safdar, Intizar Panjotha, Ali Ijaz Buttar, and Umair Niazi also attended the hearing.

    On the other hand, a special court extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case for 14 days.

    The FIA’s Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) detained Qureshi earlier this month after receiving a complaint from Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar alleging violations of Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923, r/w 34 PP.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” the FIR stated.

  • ‘Psychiatrist told me I had manic depression’, Mahira opens up about mental health

    ‘Psychiatrist told me I had manic depression’, Mahira opens up about mental health

    Superstar Mahira Khan was a guest on Frieha Altaf’s podcast where she opened up about learning to face her mental health struggles, especially after stepping into Bollywood with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Raees’, and the 2017 incident where pictures of her smoking with Ranbir Kapoor emerged online. She also talked about the 2016 Uri attack, after which Pakistani actors were banned from working in Bollywood.

    Reflecting on that time, the actress revealed she dealt with immense backlash, calling it “unexpected”.

    Mahira said she was getting scary calls, hateful messages to the point that she couldn’t travel to India to promote ‘Raees’, which was heartbreaking and it began creating anxiety and depression. The ‘Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay’ actress revealed she was constantly seeing her image on television screens, and getting hateful messages telling her to leave India, and it escalated to the point that her faith broke.

    “I developed severe anxiety to the point that one day I had a panic attack and fainted’ recalled Mahira. “That’s the first time I went for therapy.”

    “But that didn’t work out, as I went to several therapists. But either I was not opening up, or the therapist sitting across me would be looking at me with awe thinking ‘what would she have to complain about’?”

    Raees released in 2017, the same year Mahira’s Pakistani film ‘Verna’ released across Pakistan, and at the same time, the picture scandal happened.

    “I couldn’t sleep, my hands would shake,” the ‘Bin Roye’ actress confessed.

    Mahira said she eventually visited a psychiatric hospital, where she was informed that she had manic depression. The actress said for the past six or seven years she has been on anti-depressants. She once tried quitting the meds in the middle which put her in a dark hole.

    “I did understand that there is something beyond me. Beyond the prayers i will do, beyond the friends that will cheer me up, beyond work and success. There is something not right, and it’s okay.”

    The ‘Superstar’ actress said that by talking about her mental health struggles and breaking the stigma surrounding the topic, she hoped more people would learn to approach others for help rather than treat it with shame.

    “I talk it every chance I get. This is the first time I’m opening up about the fact that I’ve been taking medicine for so many years. And when I tried leaving it like I said it was bad… And I was again in and out of hospitals trying to get help. But yes, everybody has ups and downs, bad times and happy times, but clinical depression is real like any other mental illness or physical illness.”

  • ‘No one was available’: Ali Rehman on why transgender actors weren’t hired for Guru

    ‘No one was available’: Ali Rehman on why transgender actors weren’t hired for Guru

    Actor Ali Rehman Khan is currently playing the role of a transgender woman in the Express Entertainment drama ‘Guru’. The drama is facing intense backlash from social media users, especially transgender activists like Shahzadi Rai, who condemned the limited spaces allowed to members of the transgender community within the entertainment industry to be able to tell their own stories.

    Speaking to The Current, the activist expressed her dismay at how cis men were constantly taking up roles about people belonging to the third gender, and used the incorrect term used to describe the community like ‘intersex’.

    “People who do not want to declare themselves as intersex, why are you pushing the label on them? And roles that are about the third gender, you should give them to people who identify under it. A man’s role would be played by a man, while a woman’s role would be played by a woman.”

    READ MORE: Transgender activist Shehzadi Rai, Twitter users criticise ‘Guru’ for hiring cis man to play intersex character

    Several social media users also pointed out that films like ‘Joyland’ which starred transgender actress Alina Khan were met with intense backlash and banned in the country, but it was dramas like ‘Guru’ which were not met with the same scrutiny since members of the transgender community aren’t involved in production.

    Speaking to BBC Urdu, the actor has come forward to address these allegations, saying that despite the studio’s best efforts, they couldn’t find transgender actors to take on the role, and encouraged more members of the community to come into the field.

    “We were planning that one or two of the chelas in the show should be members of the transgender community. But we did a lot of auditions and couldn’t find any actors. And with a huge production there is a lot at stake, since you have to shoot for 40-50 days. You can’t just rely on one actor: you have to have a cohesive list.”

    The actor went on to express his desire to see more transgender people coming into acting, who can play these kinds of roles even more efficiently than he has.

    The actor also elaborated on how he had prepared for the leading role, revealing the process involved. He spoke with members of the transgender community, along with watching documentaries and movies related to the topic.

  • ‘Ya Allah Reham’: Mohib Mirza, celebrities react to recent electricity bill hike

    ‘Ya Allah Reham’: Mohib Mirza, celebrities react to recent electricity bill hike

    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.

    READ MORE: PM calls emergency meeting as public outcry grows over high electricity bills

    Celebrities have also decried inflation and how it impacts an ordinary citizen’s life.

    Actor Sami Khan shared a tweet by a journalist who shared a video of a man protesting against the price hike, and in the caption he wrote:

    ‘Ya Allah Reham farma.”

    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.