Tag: Pakistani Celebrities

  • Beat the blues with these six bingeable dramas

    Beat the blues with these six bingeable dramas

    Are you worn out and tired by constantly hustling under capitalism? Adulting can be incredibly hard, especially when you’re working from 9 to 5 on a regular basis, its hard to find a good show to bring some peace of mind.

    With the constant flow of sexist and repetitive plot lines and utlra-cringey jokes that Pakistani dramas can’t seem to put a cap on, we can understand the frustration our audiences could be going through to find something they can binge watch.

    Especially now that one has to fast, you might be looking for a good show to help pass the time.

    So ranging from some iconic Pakistani dramas to a spooky murder mystery and even some captivating Korean dramas, we have carefully crafted a list of shows we know our followers will drain in a day!

    1 Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat

    How can we forget the iconic Saima Chaudhry, the fashion designer from Faisalabad? The hilarious comedy drama may have aired in 2010, but years later fans still binge watch the iconic drama and its sequels every Ramzan. The series starts with Dolly’s wedding preparations and the cultural clashes between two families as relationships form, misunderstanding emerge and discrimination based on class are pointed out.

    2 Akbari Asghari

    This one is for the ‘Dastaan’ fans, if you couldn’t get enough of Sanam Baloch and Fawad Khan’s jorri in a tragedy, then get prepared to wheeze in this hilarious family drama. A modern adaptation of the popular Urdu novel ‘Meerat-ul-Aroos’, the story follows two sisters, Akbari and Asghari living in the US, and their parent’s plan to get them married to their cousins living in Pakistan. While Akbari is a wild child who is unafraid to be bold in front of her parents, Asghari tries to be a dutiful daughter but resents the idea of marrying her cousin, when she actually wants to marry Roger.

    3 The Haunting of Hill House

    Not a fan of light-hearted comedy? Do you need something dark and spooky to beat the work fatigue? Then this is the perfect series that blends in the works of popular Gothic writers like Shirley Jackson, Edgar Allan Poe and explores themes like trauma, mental health and love. The series drifts between the present and the past, following the lives of five siblings and the aftermath of a tragedy they suffered in a house they moved into for the summer of 92. Slowly, strange events begin occurring, leading to each family member begins doubting each other.

    4 Abbott Elementary

    Have memorized ‘The Office’ and ‘Friends’ and now need another feel-good comedy series that makes you giddy in the same way? This comedy drama has received rave reviews from audiences for its stellar writing and especially performances from the likes of Quinta Brunson. Set at a Philadelphia public school, it follows five teachers who are passionate about their job, despite the limited funding they receive from the district to provide supplies to their children.

    5 Mr Queen

    We obviously cannot form a list of good television shows without including Korean dramas, because literally every one has a comfort K-drama on their list. And this is the one we want our audience to look up, for a feel-good time travel rom-com involving gender bending and romance. When modern chef Na In-Woo accidentally falls from a building while trying to escape cops, he wakes up to realize he’s in the body of a woman, who is set to become the queen in the Joseon era.

    6 Tomorrow

    Need something dark and broody to really draw you in? Fans of heartthrobs Rowoon and Lee Soo-Hyuk would definitely want to include this show in their watch list. When an accident causes Choi Joon-Woong to go into a coma and turn into a half-spirit, he is enlisted in a team of Grim Reapers whose job is to counsel people struggling with suicidal thoughts. Brilliantly performed with a gripping script that engages with a dark topic with humour and gentleness, this is definitely a drama you should look up.

  • Dastaan, Kuch Ankahi: Drama OSTs Twitter users declare will remain top class

    It’s common knowledge that Pakistanis will disagree and kickstart phadda’s over every topic, but the one thing we can all agree on is that our drama OSTs will remain unmatched.

    When a new drama pops up on our screen, it might not manage to shake off the already established regressive stereotypes, but there is always a good chance that we get a fun new track to listen to for the next few weeks.

    Yesterday this Twitter user asked their followers about their favourite drama OST, and the responses were a like a tribute to our music industry.

    We’re adding these new recommendations to our listening list.

    Like always, we weren’t surprised to notice how the most popular response remained the Dastaan title track sung by Sohail Haider.

    Another popular verdict was the title track ‘Dildara’ sung by Azaan Sami Khan for ‘Kuch Ankahi’

    Another underrated but incredibly loved title song was from the drama ‘Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu’ which was sung by Bilal Khan.

    Giving you serious flashbacks to every single wedding you attended since the moment this song dropped online.

  • ‘This is how I stand out from other people’: Qudsia Ali hits back at body shamers

    Qudsia Ali has been on a roll- with her spectacular performance in ‘Betiyan’ and now as Taniya in ‘Kuch Ankahi’, she has been recieving rave reviews for her performance as the headstrong, youngest daughter of the family who actively pursues her dream to become a filmmaker.

    Recently in a talk with Fuchsia Magazine, Ali opened up about how she struggles with criticism about her weight. She revealed that a lot of feedback she received at auditions was about her weight:

    “Whenever I would go for auditions, I was told directly if I wish to come on to the main screen, then I would have to lose weight. But if we look at international work, you see people with different skin tones and body types, no one cares about such things because it is your skills that matter. Then why is it so important here?”

    Ali revealed that she had recently started losing weight, but did it more for the sake of her health rather than to please the critics because she doesn’t want to change herself to prevent standing out, alluding to a remark made about her curly hair:

    “I will never lose weight because of someone’s criticism, but I started this journey because I cared about my own health, to stay fit and healthy. Not for work, industry or for anyone.

    People often tell me that I look overweight in scenes because of my hair, and I should get keratin treatment. No! This is how I stand out from other people. How many people do you know who have curly hair? If I’m going to find work based on my skills, then I will find it. I’m going to wait for that. I’m someone who can wait.”

    Ali opened up that in the beginning of her career, hearing such negative feedback sometimes took a toll, but eventually with a positive mindset, especially with the help of colleagues like Sajal Aly, she was able to let it go and keep doing what she liked:

    “In the beginning of my career, whenever I heard comments like these I had thought sometimes to listen and change my appearance. But what is the guarantee that after changing your appearance you will find work? You become slim and straighten your hair, whats the guarantee that you will find work?.. This was my own thought process. Ahmed saab and Sajal Aly would advice me a lot that I should do what makes me happy, rather than for others.”

    Watch the complete interview here:

  • Bollywood set to make biopic on legendary Pakistani host, Begum Nawazish Ali

    Indian streaming platform EORTV has announced that they are in the process of making a biopic based on the life of the queer icon and Pakistani television host Ali Saleem, who was famous for his cross-dressing alter ego Begum Nawazish Ali. His popular talk show ‘Late Nights With Begum Nawazish Ali’ featured interviews with actors, politicians and even religious figures. In 2010, Saleem, along with actress Veena Malik, were the first Pakistanis to take part in the famous reality show ‘Big Boss’.

    Saleem had described himself as gay, bisexual and even transgender.

    According Deepak Panday, the CEO of EORTV, the channel was planning to approach actor Mallika Sherawat for the role. He also elaborated on the reason they had chosen to film this story:

    “This is a strong story, a story of boldness and courage. The character is multifaceted and needed someone as courageous and undaunted as the Begum thyself. I am planning to approach Mallika Sherawat for this role as she would be apt for a fearless performance like this. It is important to create stories like these that can encourage more and more people to be open about their sexuality and sexual preferences. This is going to be a story of an unapologetically fearless man who’s leading a life of his own choice in spite of living in a politically warm environment”.

    He further went on to say:

     “Begum Nawazish Ali’s background and childhood is interesting but the journey he makes in due course of his life is even more interesting. He has interviewed the who’s who from business, politics, entertainment with gusto. He has courted satire and controversy but managed to make a place in the hearts of the common man. His life will make for very compelling content on screen”.

  • Seven times Pakistani celebrities had cringe-worthy ideas about marriage, home making

    Pakistani celebrities should stick to their day jobs of making cringe worthy dramas and films, rather than sharing their totkay about how to make marriages last and tips on how to keep their susral happy.

    Muneeb Butt made news yesterday when he revealed that they did not have a chef, because his wife Aiman Khan cooks during Ramazan, stating that it improves the emotional connection between wife and husband.

    Jee sir, humein batain aap nay kya kiya hai jis say aap ki marriage mein emotional connection improve hui? Or is it just women who need to work to keep the spark alive.

    Sadly, this wasnt the only time celebrities did not think before speaking. We have witnessed a spectacle of events in the past few years of some cringe-inducing home making and housewifery tips from the mouths of the leading public figures of Pakistan.

    Like the time model Sadaf Kanwal lectured women on how to become their hubby’s nanny by cleaning up after him because obviously feminism and Aurat March is breaking up our families.

    Or the time Sanam Saeed stepped in to suggest that every woman should give their husband the same attention as they would provide to a child. Video courtesy of ARY DIGITAL

    Let’s not forget the moment when veteran actress Meera tried to prove her cooking skills with a 35 minute recipe that involved clean water, olive oil and thora sa namak. Video courtesy of Samaa

    Or if you need a tip on how to woo your wife on national television? Agha Ali has the best advice. Video courtesy of ARY DIGITAL.

    Ya phir any advice on how to pick your ideal man? Hira Mani has the best tip which involves back stabbing your best friend. Video courtesy of BOL Network.

    How to ensure women are respected in their homes and not treated as domestic labor? Nida Yasir thought she was hitting the jackpot when she decided to invite saas and their bahus on national television and encourage them to reveal their petty critiques to everyone. Video courtesy of Ary Digital.

  • Desi Twitter is revealing which film couples emulate the tragedy of the ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ couple.

    Every one knows about the popular film ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ and the famous moment in the film when Waymond says to Evelyn “In another life, I would have liked doing laundry and taxes with you.” Yes, we all remember how much we sobbed.

    But the tragedy of Waymond and Evelyn not getting together in another life is something desi users are all too familiar with, because we can recall tragic dramas that made us wail for days. The main couple who could have had it all, end up never getting together.

    So did Twitter users find an example of the Pakistani drama that is their Evelyn and Waymond? Turns out there are plenty.

    One user quoted that it was Jamaal and Heer from ‘Qurbaan’ who should have been together but tragedy drove them apart.

    Fawad Khan’s forgotten but beloved telefilm “Behaad” made an entrance where he plays Jamaal, a man who falls in love with a single mother, who is played by the iconic Nadia Jamil, but soon begins facing difficulties from her family.

    Even Jamil herself approved this tweet!

    Did Bollywood also have its own taste of tragic couples who will still make us wail to this day. Turns out it’s way more worse than we thought.

    God this list is just getting worse

    Mera kaleja le lo

    He literally forgot his memories except for the name of his lover oh God

    Happy crying everyone

  • Yashma Gill debunks the ‘gold digger stereotype’, encourages women to be financially independent

    Yashma Gill debunks the ‘gold digger stereotype’, encourages women to be financially independent

    Yashma Gill was a guest on the Nadir Ali podcast, a clip of which has gone viral, where she passionately spoke out against the misogynist stereotype that women are gold-diggers.

    Ali said that in our society today, a man’s ugliness is considered his empty pocket:

    “Regardless of whether he is good-looking or not, he looks awful without having money. He is told to go and earn money.”

    Gill corrected this statement by pointing out that that many women in successful, happy marriages are earning more than their husbands so this stereotype that women are only in love with money isn’t true:

    “I will not give any names, but around us there are a lot of examples where a woman is more successful than her husband, and they had love marriages…Regardless of these people belonging to my field or not..I don’t like the stigma attached to women that we are gold diggers.”

    Ali brought up a sexist stereotype about women gaining financial independence and abandoning men:

    “When a man earns, he hands over everything he has to the woman. Whereas when a woman begins earning she decides to abandon her man.”

    Gill counteracted this statement by pointing out that financial independence only helps women become more confident within themselves, and doesn’t translate into not wanting a companion anymore.

    “People are confusing this with when a woman becomes financially independent, she is no longer helpless,” stressed the ‘Pyaar Kay Sadqay’ actor. “She can stand up for herself. She can remind her parents that she is no longer a burden on them so doesn’t need to be married off. She can even provide for her children…So I think that independence for women and girls can give them strength and power, not the fact that they don’t need a man. Everyone needs companionship.”

    Gill then gave the example of Hazrat Adam (S.A.W) and Hazrat Havva (S.A.W), to prove that every human being was meant to have a companion:

    “Take the example of Hazrat Adam (S.A.W) and Hazrat Havva (S.A.W), this is a natural thing that evcryone needs companionship. But there must be compatibility, respect and a lot of other things.”

    Listen to her complete interview here:

    Gill shared the viral clip on her Instagram stories to address the misunderstanding that might rise in case audience is assuming that Ali was being sexist, to which the actor had written that the host was respectful and well mannered:

    “So just to clear the air, the respectable host only meant to ask my opinion on what is a common misconception in society. Nowhere did he agree with it himself or said that it is something that he believes in. It was just one of the many things that he discussed with me – “discussed” not imposed, argued or debated. Therefore let’s not get him wrong and frame him in ways he doesn’t deserve because he was nothing but extremely kind and respectful towards me that I was honestly in awe of his nature. A true gentleman.”

  • ‘We wanted to end Strings at its peak’: Bilal Maqsood opened up about the decision that rocked Pakistan

    On March 25, 2021, Strings announced that after a successful run for 33 years, they had decided to break up the band, with members Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood going their separate ways.

    The decision broke hearts across the subcontinent, as fans grappled with the end of the band they had grown up listening to.

    Now, Bilal Maqsood has opened up about why the decision to end ‘Strings’ was difficult but necessary. He said that because both him and Kapadia wanted to end the band with good memories rather than being cast out of the limelight with disgrace:

    “We were incredibly happy to end ‘Strings’ because the respect we wanted our band to have was our top priority. Both of us had discussed prior to our announcement that if we would ever end the band, we’ll do it at the peak of our career, rather than dragging it on to a point that people beg us to leave and retire.”

    Maqsood made a reference to other members of the sports and music industry, especially senior officials who grow vastly unpopular with audiences because of their denial of the fact that they could lose their fanbase

    “We had noticed this with the sports and music industry, with senior officials who remain in a sort of denial that they could never be unpopular, and since they’ve been here longer they deserve respect from the public. We never wanted ‘Strings’ to go out of the public this way, so we decided that it’s best to end this before that happens. Lockdown provided us with the perfect opportunity because that’s when things began to stagnate, concerts weren’t happening so it was a good opportunity to end with good memories with our fans.”

    Maqsood went on to thank the fans who had kept the band popular for 33 years since they began and promised that even though they had gone on their separate ways, he will have a lot of respect for Faisal Kapadia and wished him the best of luck with everything in his life.

    Maqsood also assured his fans that he was still making more music, and soon they will see other projects that he is working on come to light.

    Listen to his complete video here:

  • Feroze Khan sends public apology to fellow actors for leaking confidential information

    Feroze Khan sends public apology to fellow actors for leaking confidential information

    Feroze Khan has issued a public apology to the ten celebrities whose personal information was leaked to the internet when he posted their personal phone numbers and home addresses on Twitter in a screenshot.

    Khan had written in a statement: “As an actor, I know the importance of privacy and value it the most. I never intended that anyone’s peace be disturbed. If any one of my colleagues had to go through any inconvenience I’m deeply sorry for that.”

    Actor Muneeb Butt and his wife, Aiman, along with her sister Minal, were among the celebrities whose private info was leaked, but yesterday Butt shared a picture of him and Khan together, and revealed that they had settled their differences and decided to drop the charges against the “Habs” actor.

    His statement read:

    “..To give us pain and mental distress wasn’t FK’s intention it was a mistake I announce to drop all of the charges.”

    Butt had previously filed a stalking report with the cyber crime department against Khan for leaking his and his family’s personal information.

    “Whoever is suggesting this to you has thrown you into deep trouble my friend I feel bad for you now you will have to face all of this… Initially I thought it’s a stupid mistake waited for 24 hours but no apology or excuse proved that it was a deliberate move, I thought you were better than that seriously. Complaint registration/ verification process has been completed FIA cyber circle has intiated the inquiry. The process has started, you will have to taste your own medicine now wait for the call,” he had written.

    Celebrities like Yasir Hussain had slammed Khan for being ‘stupid’ for first beating up his wife, and then leaking his number to the world.

    Actor Sarwat Gilani had shared a screenshot on her Instagram page of the numerous phone calls she had received since her number was leaked by Khan, and publicly announced that she was suing him along with the other celebrities.

    Gilani had written: “It is bizarre and despicable that private information, including phone numbers, of various famous individuals has been publicly shared on the absurd pretext of issuing legal notice to them by @ferozekhan Not only are such actions clearly illegal but also demonstrates the total lack of maturity to handle matters in a civilized way.”

  • Shaniera Akram opens up about first acting experience in ‘Money Back Guarentee’

    Australian-born philanthropist Shaniera Akram is making her film debut with ‘Money Back Guarentee’ which also stars her husband Wasim Akram and Fawad Khan as the main leads. The supporting cast of the movie include Ayesha Omar, Javed Sheikh, Gohar Rasheed among others.

    Akram opened up about why she chose to act in the film, revealing that the director Faisal Qureshi had reached out to her and her husband with the script:

    ‘The director of the film reached out to me and Wasim about whether we would like to take part in his film, and then when he sent us the script, I found it to be incredibly funny and excellent. After that, we both agreed to take part in the project.”

    Akram also talked about the kind of role she would be playing in ‘Money Back Guarentee’:

    “I have a neutral character in this film. I play an American woman who, along with some other Americans, comes to Pakistan… I am not allowed to talk about my role in the film, but I had a lot of fun playing this part.”

    Akram revealed that she loved acting and would like to do more films in the future, as well as write stories for Pakistani cinemas:

    “I will definately keep on acting in the future because i loved this role, and I enjoy performing in front of the camera. I think i would love to play more challenging roles ahead. I would like to do more roles where speaking Urdu is a requirement, I have a really good memory so I can memorize dialogues and speak them in a better manner. I would need to take guidance from a coach as well…I would love to write a few stories, I have a few amazing ideas for Pakistani cinemas. But I would love to act in a role which would reflect my experience of staying in Pakistan, especially when I came to this country for the first time. I think this would be quite an interesting.”

    Akram revealed she was nervous about how Pakistani audiences would respond to seeing her on the screen, adding:

    “I’m not sure if Pakistani audiences would be willing to see me on television screens. I can only find out after they watch me in my first film.”

    Listen to the complete interview below: