Tag: Pakistani dramas

  • ZQ explains why she got tested for COVID 11 times

    ZQ explains why she got tested for COVID 11 times

    Zainab Qayyum, popularly known as ZQ, has explained that why she underwent multiple COVID testings during the pandemic.

    Responding to a news report which said that the actor got herself tested 11 times because of fear, Zainab Qayyum said: “Uff. Mein wehmi loony nahin different projects may acting karnay kay tehat yeh ehtyaati tadbeer ka hissa hai.”

    The actor further explained that she got “11 tests in the past nine months because I’ve been working on eight different projects with eight different sets of cast and crew. We have to be careful for ourselves as well as our costars.”

    Qayyum also bashed a local media publication for publishing a misleading headline.

    “Dunya News poori khabar dayni chayay na kay sunsannnnni waali headline,” said Zainab.

    Earlier, Zainab Qayyum had hit out at her colleagues and fellow actors for partying amid the pandemic.

    IN PICTURES: Fahad Mirza celebrates birthday sans social distancing

    “Honestly, as an actor, I don’t have a choice but to go to work where we work under the strictest SOPs,” said ZQ. “I haven’t met anyone apart from my costars on set for fear of being a silent carrier since last year. Have had 11 covid tests (all negative).”

    “Please don’t host [or] attend social events and then come on set to work with us,” she added.

    When a social media user appreciated ZQ for not attending any gatherings, she replied: “Because I am choosing NOT to go. I am responsible, not only for myself but also [for] my co-stars who I have to come on set and work with daily. I’m not going to put them or their families at risk, nor do I expect them to put me at risk either.”

    Qayyum is part of multiple on-air dramas including Geo Entertainment’s Qayamat and ARY Digital’s Shehnai.

  • Yasir Hussain highlights plight of ‘Ainak Wala Jinn’ cast, importance of royalties

    Yasir Hussain highlights plight of ‘Ainak Wala Jinn’ cast, importance of royalties

    Yasir Hussain has highlighted the plight of Ainak Wala Jinn cast and has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to help them amidst the ongoing debate on royalties.

    Read more – Faysal Quraishi, Ayesha Omar give a crash course on royalties

    Sharing a photo of PM Khan with Ainak Wala Jinn’s cast, Hussain drew attention towards the financial troubles these icons have had to undergo since the 90s comedy show ended years ago. The purpose was to add onto the nationwide movement backed by showbiz personalities to be paid royalties for their work and serials that are re-run repeatedly.

    Hussain also mentioned how gruesome it has been for the cast to find suitable roles after Ainak Wala Jinn.

    “Did you know that the cast of Ainak Wala Jinn was never cast for any other drama? Some of them died of hunger while others are hardly surviving on charity,” lamented Hussain.

    The actor also reminded the PM how these actors are the sole reason why he could build all the hospitals he has so far.

    “[PM] Imran Khan, these people have supported you from the days when you placed the first brick of your hospital to the beginning of your political journey,” Hussain asserted, adding that our government needs to offer help to veteran artists and have mercy on those who have been part of our showbiz for generations.

    Read more – ‘Govt working to introduce royalty payments for artists’

    Ainak Wala Jinn was one of the biggest serials that children grew up watching on PTV for years. The show continued for four seasons with the same cast as. Be it Zakota Jinn or Bil Batori, the dialogues are still remembered till this date with many in their homes mimicking their favourite characters.

    This is not the first time that Hussain has raised his voice in support of senior artists. He was also among the first Pakistani celebrities, who spoke in support of Naila Jaffery and urged the government to help the ailing actress.

  • ‘Fitoor’: Is Haider confused or simply unfaithful?

    ‘Fitoor’: Is Haider confused or simply unfaithful?

    Love triangles and cheating husbands are not new to Pakistani television. I have seen at least one if not more dramas on the subject and they have pretty much been done to death. Fitoor, which airs on Geo Entertainment, is the latest love triangle on the block with our hero oscillating between two women: one his wife and the other his pehli mohabbat (first love). He is unable to make a decision or decide who he wants to spend his life with. In this review, I try to break down whether our hero is confused and masoom or if he’s simply being unfaithful and enjoying the attention of both the women in his life.

    Fitoor

    Haider (Faysal Quraishi) was (or is) in love with his cousin Mehmal (Kiran Haq) since the two were young and Haider was poor. However, Mehmal, who wanted a better life (read money) ditched him and got married to her other cousin Ansab (Tipu Sharif), a well-off man with many indulgences including women and alcohol. From the beginning, Ansab made it clear that he was not going to change his ways. Haider is heartbroken with Mehmal’s bewafai and doesn’t get married focusing all his energies on building his business and becoming rich.

    Is Haider confused or simply unfaithful?

    He has a chance encounter with Dilnasheen (Hiba Bukhari) at a wedding and falls for her and soon the two get married. Now that Haider is rich and married, Mehmal starts feeling insecure and regretting her decision so she leaves her husband and settles into Haider’s house with her young daughter.

    Fitoor

    She continues to make advances on Haider, who makes half-hearted attempts to tell her off but Mehmal is persistent. When Haider’s mother (Ismat Zaidi) realises what is happening, she throws Mehmal out of the house. However, Mehmal spins this around and gains Haider’s sympathies. Instead of taking her back home to face the wrath of his mother, Haider books Mehmal into a hotel under the name of Mr and Mrs Haider Salman. Not only that, but he also spends a substantial amount of his day with her in the hotel.

    Is Haider confused or simply unfaithful?

    While initially, we gave Haider the benefit of doubt, understanding that Mehmal was his first love and it is hard for him to get over her, we have now had enough. Haider is simply not making a decision or taking a stand but is instead yo-yoing between the two women. He spends his mornings with Mehmal, allowing her to fawn over him, and in the evening he goes home and gets cosy with his wife who is spending all her energies trying to win his heart.

    Fitoor

    Haider has also saved Mehmal’s name as Muneer on his phone and one wonders why he needs to do that unless he is hiding something. Besides, he also lied to Mehmal telling her that his phone’s battery was dead when in fact he was sharing a romantic moment with his wife. By doing this he is leading Mehmal on and giving her hope instead of drawing the line.

    Is Haider confused or simply unfaithful?

    In the latest episode, Dilnasheen catches Haider having lunch with Mehmal at the hotel and decides she has had enough. She leaves and goes back to her mother’s house. The scene that plays out at her mother’s house is disappointing, to say the least. Dilnasheen’s mother (Saba Faisal) not only justifies Haider’s behaviour but also tells her to accept it and try to win Haider’s heart. On the other hand, Dilnasheen’s brother Yawar (Kamran Jilani) blames the entire situation on her, telling her that she still harbours feelings for her ex-boyfriend Hamza (Wahaj Ali) and has not accepted Haider as her husband.

    Fitoor

    Mehmal’s damsel in distress act and reluctance to go back to her husband is also getting tiring and one wishes that Haider would stop constantly trying to be the knight in shining armour for her. At this point, it’s getting a little hard to believe that Haider is confused. He knows exactly what he is doing but is continuing to do so under the act of being caring and supportive towards his “yateem” cousin. So unless he pulls his act together, he’s going to get the label of a ‘cheating husband’.

    Is Haider confused or simply unfaithful?

    While Fitoor may seem typical on the surface, it is saved by great performances. Each actor has slid perfectly into their roles, giving solid performances. We may hate Haider but we are thoroughly enjoying Faysal’s performance. The writing is strong in most places as is the direction. The production value is a little weak with jumps in many scenes and Dilnasheen terribly needs a good stylist – the flowy clothes and hair are doing her no good. Especially when Mehmal’s outfits ooze glamour. Quraishi’s makeup is also terrible, making him look older and plastic in some places.

    Fitoor Is Haider confused or simply unfaithful?

    Written by Zanjabeel Asim and directed by Siraj ul Haq, Fitoor airs every Thursday on Geo Entertainment.

  • ‘A born legend’: Junaid Khan pens rich tribute for Qavi Sahab

    Junaid Khan recently penned a heartfelt and rich tribute for Qavi Khan, calling the senior actor “a born legend”.

    Read more – Farhan Saeed celebrates the living legends of Pakistan

    Sharing a picture of himself with Qavi from the sets of an upcoming project, Khan said: “Recently had the honour to spend some quality time with this great man.”

    “His perseverance and dedication have always been beyond inspirational,” said Junaid. “A true benchmark for us in terms of performance and patience. His level of patience and his humility while on set or off-set has always inspired me.”

    The actor added: “May he always continue blessing us with his skills and his love.”

    Junaid is currently being praised for his performance in Geo Entertainment’s Khuda aur Mohabbat 3, while Qavi Sahab is winning hearts with his performance in Ishq Jalebi.

  • IN PICTURES: Sunita Marshall celebrates 40th birthday

    Sunita Marshall recently rang in her 40th year with with close friends and family.

    Sharing pictures from her birthday, Sunita joked: “Yes, I’ve turned 40. Koi shak?”

    She also thanked everyone for their birthday wishes.

    The model-turned-actor looked radiant in an off-white dress by Zuria Dor.

    Check out pictures from her celebrations below:

    Sunita Marshal is big a name in the Pakistani modelling industry. In addition to that, she has appeared in many famous drama serials including Qaid-e-Tanhai, Mera Saaein and Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain.

  • Scandals related to my marriage have nothing to do with reality, says Meera

    Scandals related to my marriage have nothing to do with reality, says Meera

    Meera has said that all scandals related to her marriage are baseless and far from reality.

    “There are many scandals which have nothing to do with me,” said Meera, while talking about her various controversies on Ahsan Khan’s show Time out with Ahsan Khan. She added that one video scandal associated with her had nothing to do with reality and were mere rumours. The actor had come on the talk show with Javed Sheikh.

    When asked if she succeeded in love or not, Meera said she does not know that if she succeeded but admitted that she has been in love.

    Meanwhile, talking about when and why she decided to become an actor, Meera said she wanted to be an actor since her childhood even though she was very good at her studies. The actor added that there’s a lot left that she wants to do, adding that she will continue to work in films and television.

    Meera also praised her co-guest Javed Sheikh for supporting her and being there for her.

    “Javed Sheikh and her family supported me a lot,” said Meera. “All my initial movies were with Sheikh Sahab.”

    At this point, Sheikh recalled the time when the two shot for Chief Saab, sharing that, as the director, he would tell Meera what to wear and what nail polish to apply.

    Sheikh also narrated a funny incident from the shoot, saying: “She [Meera] was playing this rich girl who comes to meet her lover, who’s not as fortunate, in this basti. She was wearing a skirt and it looked like she’s going to a club which made me angry. When she asked what she should have been wearing instead, I told her a simple white shirt with jeans would do.”

    “After 20-25 minutes, Meera came back wearing a white shirt with jeans, which she borrowed from a local resident living nearby the set,” he added.

    Meera in Chief Saab

    Meera also revealed that her favorite song from her movies is Suno Suno Bolo Bolo, she also sang the song.

  • ‘Govt working to introduce royalty payments for artists’

    The federal government is working to introduce a comprehensive bill to ensure that artists are given financial credit for their work, PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan has announced.

    “Most countries around the world give royalties to artists every time a show, their work is re-run, a second time or more,” wrote Faisal on Twitter. “Sadly in Pakistan where many artists are already underpaid, there is no policy or law ensuring that artists be given financial credit for their work.”

    The Senator further said that it is “very critical to fill the gaps and bring proper framework via amendments in legislation to ensure that our producers [and] artists get their rights to royalties.”

    Khan added that he is in touch with all stakeholders and is looking to introduce a comprehensive bill to address the matter.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current on the matter, Senator Faisal said: “Royalty is very important and I am working on this bill to ensure our artists get their due right. I am hoping to get it passed soon without any further delays.”

    Asserting that the government is committed to addressing this issue, Senator Faisal said: “Actors, musicians, singers – all artists must be supported,” adding that they will soon be entitled to royalties.

    Responding to Senator Faisal’s announcement, several artists including Mikaal Zulfiqar, Ali Zafar, Ali Safina and Sakina Samo lauded the initiative and hoped that it would resolve artists’ concerns.

    https://twitter.com/SakinaSamo/status/1381551181483413504?s=20

    Ever since Naila Jaffery appealed to producers and the government to pay royalties to actors for the work and content that is re-run, the conversation around royalty payments for artists has gained momentum with several actors demanding it.

    “Why is it even a matter of discussion?” Siddiqui had questioned. “Artists rightfully deserve to be paid royalty.”

    “So many producers and channels rake in copious amount of money through reruns. It is only ethical to pay actors their due,” he added.

    “We as a community of artists, singers, actors, writers, producers, directors, composer, editors and so on, need to be recognised by our government as an industry,” asserted Ahmed Ali Butt had.

    Zulfiqar was the first one to demand payment for reruns and after Jaffery’s appeal, several artists including Yasir Hussain, Sabeeka Imam, Ayesha Omar and Mansha Pasha had demanded TV channels for royalties.

    Earlier in July 2020, the government had announced that it will be creating a film task force to promote the entertainment industry and resolve its issues. Members of the government including Senator Shibli Faraz had held a virtual meeting with artists and stakeholders involved and shared the government’s intentions. They also discussed issues being faced by the film industry and their proposed solutions. Among those present during the meeting included Humayun Saeed, Vasay Chaudhry, Ali Zafar, Fizza Ali Meerza and Nadeem Mandviwala.

    Chaudhry, while speaking to The Current, had said that Senator Shibli had shown a “keen interest in the issues of royalties when it was brought up by me.”

    “He told us that the issue of royalties of artistes is very close to his heart and he will make sure to do something about it,” shared Vasay.

  • VIDEO: Mahira Khan jams to Humsafar

    Mahira Khan recently participated in ‘Carpool Karoke’ with vlogger Imaara Dharani during which she jammed to songs from her films and dramas and shared some fun facts about them.

    Mahira, jammed to, Humsafar, which is her most special project.

    She also sang Hona Tha Pyar from her first film Bol, in which she was paired opposite Atif Aslam. Mahira, while talking about the song said that shooting it was a fun experience.

    Ballay Ballay from Bin Roye also made it to the playlist, with Mahira sharing that the film took two years to complete.

    How can any Mahira Khan playlist be complete without Zaalima from Raees? Zaalima was the last song on the Carpool Karoke playlist and Mahira revealed that the song was shot in Morocco.

    After winning applause for her acting, Mahira has recently turned producer with a web series titled Baarwan Khiladi.

    Baarwan Khiladi, which features young and upcoming actors including Danyal Zafar, Shahveer Jafry, Kinza Hashmi and Khaqan Shahnawaz, has a cricket-themed story.

  • Adnan Siddiqui recalls memories with Strings with an unseen music video

    After entertaining us for more than three decades, Strings called off their partnership as a band on March 25, leaving fans heartbroken across the world.

    Among those upset with the news was Adnan Siddiqui. To express his sorrow over the development and to recall memories with them, Adnan shared an unseen music video from 1993, which featured him alongside Natasha. The video was directed by Bilal and shot in Gwadar and Hawk’s Bay.

    “Millions of us are still anguished with Strings ending their divinely gifted partnership of more than three decades. An entire generation grew up on their legendary music,” wrote the actor in the caption. “Whether it was the first brush of love, careless abandon of youth, heartbreak or experiments with finding our calling—Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia were always there with their symphonies, ballads [and] rock songs.”

    “I am also overcome with a flurry of emotions and gush of memories as I see them going their own way,” shared the actor further. “My personal and professional association with them dates back to the late 80s, almost from the time Strings made a splash in the world of Pakistani music for the first time.”

    Recalling the memories, Adnan said: “My first performance with them was in 1989 during a stage show at Funland where they played Maine Tujhe Kabhi Dekha Na Tha. We were in our early 20s, ready to take on the world. From then on till 2015 World Cup, we worked together at intermittent intervals.”

    “In Aankhen Chhupa Ke from their third album Duur in 2002, I shared space with my wife. The video was shot on a shoe-string budget at Mubarak village. The World Cup theme Phir Say Game Utha Day was the last time we performed together. I think I would be the most common face in their videos,” he remarked.

    Talking about the video he shared, Adnan said: “Sharing here a rare gem from their talented stable with an almost juvenile looking yours truly. The song is Aaj Main Khudi Say Ladta Gaya.”

    “The year was 1993. Bilal decided to expand his genius to direction, but more so to give me orders and directions,” said Adnan. “Natasha and I shot it at Hawk’s Bay and Gwadar desert in Balochistan. A rather bold video for its time with animal carcass and snakes featuring along with two good looking people and a very hummable song.”

    Replying to Adnan’s post Faisal said: “Thank you for always being there.”

  • Haseena Moin passes away at 79

    Haseena Moin passes away at 79

    Celebrated dramatist and playwright Haseena Moin has passed away at the age of 79, her family has confirmed. While the exact reason behind her death is still not known, the writer was a breast cancer survivor and had also penned a web-series on the topic, which is expected to release soon. Moin’s funeral prayers will be held in Karachi.

    One of Pakistan’s most renowned writers, Moin was born in 1941 in Kanpur, present-day India. She earned a Master of Arts in History from Karachi University in 1963. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Moin delivered a plethora of hits.

    In 1987, she was awarded the Pride of Performance award. Some of her most notable works include Tanhaiyaan, Anakhi and Dhoop Kinare. She also penned dialogues for the Bollywood film Heena which featured Zeba Bakhtiar and the late Rishi Kapoor.

    Moin was last seen at Karachi Art Council’s 23rd March celebrations. She also got vaccinated for the novel coronavirus just a few days before her death.

    Moin’s death has left fans shattered, who took to social media to express their grief.