Sharing a picture of herself doing yoga, Mawra said: “I was majorly a gym person up until COVID happened.”
“Today marks a year of me training at home all by myself, with little help from friends and YouTube, as much as I feel comfortable and when I feel the need for it,” shared Mawra.
“Let’s all aspire to be our healthier versions, always,” said the actor further, adding: “When in doubt…breathe.”
Last year, Mawra was criticised on social media for being too skinny, when she posted a picture of herself with the caption “Losing all of my weight and all of my mind.” Mawra later deleted that post.
Hania Aamir recently sparked backlash after she talked about colour shaming and flawed beauty standards in a series of posts on her Instagram stories. Netizens and social media users called the actor out for using a beauty filter and not showing her own raw skin while talking about embracing flaws.
Responding to the criticism, Hania said: “I was even wearing makeup that day. The point is being comfortable with who you are, doing things because you want to do them, not doing things because [of] the beauty standards that are set.”
“Does that makes sense?” questioned Hania after clarifying her stance.
“If I am using a beauty filter because I want to use it then it’s fine. But if I use a beauty filter because I feel pressurized by the society, then it is wrong,” she explained.
The actor further said: “Let’s not kill the whole conversation and pit women against women just because you don’t understand my point of view. There is something good going on over here, so please expand your brains and think positively.”
Hania further said that she has been talking about skin positivity for the last two years.
“Agar mein ne beauty filter user kar lia aik dintoh aap ko opportunity mil gae hai. Itnay opportunist na bano yaar,” she remarked. “This is me with a bare face, deal with it.”
This is not the first time Hania has talked about unrealistic beauty standards. Earlier in 2019, Aamir had opened up about her struggle with acne and talked about unrealistic beauty standards.
Yumna Zaidi has hit back at the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for their notice on Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi (DNUTN), saying “we cannot make saas-bahu dramas only.”
Speaking to BBC Urdu, Yumna said that she doesn’t understand why PEMRA would take notice on her ongoing drama’s content.
“I was very disappointed [with PEMRA’s notice],” said Yumna. “I don’t understand what they want to promote [or show on television].”
“If we don’t talk about problems faced by people in government schools, gali mohallas or in the villages, then we’re only going to listen to bad news. If we force society to think about [such issues] through such content, then at least let it through instead of holding it back.”
“We cannot make saas-bahu dramas only,” lamented the actor further. “We make romantic dramas also. Different genres are given space [on television]. So this [DNUTN] should also be given a small space.”
Directing her comments towards PEMRA, Zaidi said: “I just want to ask PEMRA: ‘How can you do this?’”
The actor further said: “Other projects of mine have also previously received notices from PEMRA [Pyaar Ke Sadkay] but this one hurt more. It should not have happened. I was not happy with that.”
“Matlab kyun?,” she questioned, referring to the drama as a “very special project”.
Featuring Yasra Rizvi, Wahaj Ali, Nadia Afgan, Naumaan Ijaz, Omair Rana and Samiya Mumtaz besides Zaidi in the lead, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi is a harrowing tale of child abuse and human trafficking in Pakistan. The drama has been written by Amna Mufti and directed by Kashif Nisar and is a Kashf Foundation Presentation.
According to a press release issued earlier, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi will “bring some of the most heinous and deeply sensitive issues to light – while showing how humanity can still prevail in even the most insurmountable of situations.
The press release further said: “With three parallel stories on prostitution, human trafficking, and child abuse, the drama exposes the lowest ebb of our society.”
Meanwhile, while talking about her character in the drama, Yumna said that she plays a prostitute and while shooting for the party scenes, she was very grateful that this wasn’t her “real life”.
“The feeling was so haunting. And I felt so sorry for those women who are entrapped in such lives,” said the actor. “But I am happy that I am portraying the character of such a woman, who fights the system and breaks free.”
Syra Yousuf has responded and hit back at those who posted negative comments about her skin after her sister Palwasha Yousuf, a stylist, posted an unfiltered picture of the actor on social media. While many, especially women, lauded Syra for embracing her skin and putting down unrealistic beauty standards, others mocked her skin for being textured and not smooth.
Responding to the backlash on social media over her skin, Syra posted a natural selfie of herself, writing: “I really like my skin.” She also used the hashtag “No Filter” to further get her point across.
In a similar incident, Dubai-based beauty influencer Huda Kattan also opened up and discussed how edits make a person appear perfect, setting unrealistic beauty standards for the rest.
Meanwhile, earlier in 2019, Hania Aamir in a social media post had opened up about her struggle with acne and talked about unrealistic beauty standards.
Irrfan Khan’s son Babil Khan has revealed that he is a fan of Pakistani television. Responding to a comment by journalist Maria Memon, Khan said: “Pakistani television is one of my loved indulgences.”
Maria had commented on Babil’s post in which he had shared a screenshot of a Whatsapp conversation with his late father.
The legendary Bollywood actor, who had visited Pakistan on several occasions passed away on April 29, 2020, at the age of 53. The actor was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in March 2018. He sought treatment for it in the UK for a year and returned to India in February 2019. In April 2020, he was admitted to the hospital for a medical complication arising from a colon infection, following which he passed away.
Meanwhile, Khan had also worked with Adnan Siddiqui in the Hollywood production A Mighty Heart.
Hira Mani celebrated her birthday in the sweetest way possible. The actor visited Shaukat Khanum on her birthday and celebrated it with young cancer patients.
Taking to her Instagram account Hira shared pictures of the birthday celebrations with young cancer patients and expressed her joy over celebrating a ‘tension less’ birthday.
She also thanked Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, for making her feel ‘special’ on her birthday.
Omair Rana, who plays a key role in TV One’s Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi, has responded to the notice issued by the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to the makers of Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi directing them to review the drama’s content and modify it according to the regulatory body’s guidelines.
In a series of tweets, the actor appreciated the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) efforts to combat human trafficking in Pakistan and said: “Our humble effort is to help them with their honourable cause by educating the masses of our everyday actions that feed the menace that is the modern slave trade.”
Rana further said that all evil is ugly and invited PEMRA “to do what is right, not popular”.
“Join us in this jihad and help us make our beloved Pakistan, pak (clean) of such vile elements in our society,” he added.
Founder of the Kashf Foundation Roshaneh Zafar, who has produced the show, responding to PEMRA’s notice said: “Indeed evil is ugly and reality has to be faced so we can do something about changing it.”
Indeed evil is ugly and reality has to be faced so we can do something about changing it. Thank you @omairana for being part of team #dnutn#dilnaumeedtonahin We must fight in the trenches for all victims of human trafficking as such bondage strips an individual of all dignity. https://t.co/rfDzK0EzaV
Zafar also shared a news report which highlighted widespread child labour in Islamabad and said: “This why we need shows like Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi to raise awareness on issues like human trafficking, child labour and human bondage.”
“Realisation is the first step towards redressal and resolution,” she added.
This why we need shows like #DilNaUmeedToNahi#dnutn to raise awareness on issues like human trafficking, child labour and human bondage. Realization is the first step towards redressal and resolution. pic.twitter.com/tmFe2BFbSz
According to the Federal Investigation Agency, human trafficking is the third-largest source of organised crime revenue in Pakistan. Furthermore, statistics from the US Department of State on Pakistan provincial police reported identifying 19,954 trafficking victims in 2019, with the majority of victims recorded as women and children.
Featuring Yumna Zaidi, Yasra Rizvi, Wahaj Ali, Nadia Afgan, Naumaan Ijaz and Samiya Mumtaz besides Rana in the lead, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi is a harrowing tale of child abuse and human trafficking in Pakistan. The drama has been written by Amna Mufti and directed by Kashif Nisar and is a Kashf Foundation Presentation.
Six episodes of the drama have aired so far. According to a press release issued earlier, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi will “bring some of the most heinous and deeply sensitive issues to light – while showing how humanity can still prevail in even the most insurmountable of situations.
The press release further said: “With three parallel stories on prostitution, human trafficking, and child abuse, the drama exposes the lowest ebb of our society.”
Yumna, in an earlier interview, while talking about the drama had said: “The story is based on multiple causes. It has three major tracks: human trafficking, child abuse and a young girl who wants to become a cricketer. As far as my track is concerned, it is about women trafficking. Parents from slums sell their young daughters. The drama explores where these girls end up and what kind of a life they spend. And, if any of them dreams big, how does she manage to pursue that.”
Earlier, PEMRA had also banned ARY Digital’s Jalan for going against the “social and moral ethics of Pakistani society” and had also directed the makers of Fitoor to check for “inappropriate dialogues and content” in the drama.
Sadaf Kanwal and Shahroz Sabzwari have put to rest all rumours regarding their relationship and have opened up on how they met and tied the knot.
Speaking to Aagha Ali and Hina Altaf during the first episode of The Couple Show, when asked why she decided to marry Shahroz, Sadaf said: “I don’t know what was about him, but I decided that he is [going to be] the father of my children.”
The model added that she found something in him which she felt was similar to herself.
In the same interview, while answering a question on how the two met and connected, Shahroz said: “We met at an award [ceremony] where we had to perform together, and after that, we became good friends.”
Shahroz added that he is a very “closed up guy” and that he only interacts and opens up in front of a few selective people.
“When we got back [from the awards] people gave a different colour to our friendship, even though we were just friends at the time. But [the rumours] made us both think about [getting together],” he said further, joking that the media and rumours mills had a big role to play in their marriage.
Talking about their relationship equation, Shahroz said: “Without friendship, this relation [marriage] can never be successful.”
During the interview Shehroz also revealed what she liked most about Sadaf.
“The best thing that would any attract any man is honesty. Especially in our industry, where we are out and about, and us men being however we are, growing up in Pakistan, we have a certain mentality,” said the actor. “So keeping that mentality in mind, her morals were in the right place.”
Shahroz and Sadaf tied the knot in May last year after a highly controversial and public scandal forcing Sabzwari to issue several clarifications regarding his relationship with the model.
Turkish actor Celal Al on Sunday welcomed Pakistani actors Humayun Saeed, Reema Khan, Sadia Khan and Adnan Siddiqui in Turkey.
Sharing a picture of Pakistani celebrities enjoying their meals together in his Instagram stories, Celal wrote: “Adnan, Humayun, Reema and Sadia welcome to Istanbul. Turkey-Pakistan brotherhood zindabad.”
Earlier, Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui left their fans excited when they informed them of their visit to Turkey.
Reema also shared a picture with the production team of Diriliş: Ertuğrul on her Instagram account.
Later Reema shared some fascinating pictures and video of their tour to Hagia Sophia Mosque. Posting a video on Instagram, she also shared the history of this Mosque and wrote: “The world-famous Hagia Sophia mosque ( Which has converted into museum also in Istanbul. A world Heritage site, was originally built as a cathedral around 1,500 years ago by the Bazantine Empire.”
She also shared some pictures of the meetup with Kamal Tekdin, the famous series’ executive producer and other participants.
Adnan Siddiqui also took to Instagram and shared a video of their tour. Sharing how he felt, the actor wrote: “It was spellbinding to offer prayer at the iconic Hagia Sophia Holy Grand Mosque. It is grand in ever sense of the word—history, beauty, political significance.”
“A little lesson in history for those who may not be aware. The world-famous Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, was originally built as a cathedral around 1500 years ago by the Byzantine empire. The architectural marvel was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. In 1934, it became a museum,” he added.
“Only in July last year, it became a mosque again and opened for prayer and worship,” he wrote.
Earlier this year, a Turkish delegation comprising Diriliş: Ertuğrul executive producer Tekdin and actor Celal visited Pakistan where they met Prime Minister Imran Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz, Shehryar Afridi, Humayun and Adnan. It was reported that the two countries are working together on a joint production to strengthen ties and people-to-people contact. This tour of Pakistani celebrities to Turkey depicts that something very interesting is coming our way.
Mikal Zulfiqar calls for a movement to pay actors for reruns after watching his hit drama serial Diyar-e-Dil being televised again.
“Actors should get paid for reruns. It’s unfair. Start a movement!,” the actor expressed his opinion.
Taking to Instagram stories, Zulfiqar shared a picture from one of the scenes of the drama and wrote: “Hum TV is airing Diyar-e-Dil for the umpteenth time.”
In another story, the actor said: “If only we got paid for reruns. would never have to work another day in life.”
Yasir Hussain also took to Instagram and wrote: “Shukar hai khuda ka kisi senior actor ne ye bat keh hi di. Mikaal Zulfiqar aap chah gaye hain.”
Meanwhile, the famous drama is a Hum TV production that portrays Pakistan from a realistic point of view. The story highlights the honour and obedience one practises towards their parents as well as the importance of family and the age-old eastern culture of close-knit families. The drama is set in Khaplu Palace, Gilgit.
Farhat Ishtiaq’s powerful story shows us the real jageedar (landlord) of Pakistan. One of the main characters in the show, Agha Jaan, his role is played wonderfully by Abid Ali. He played a hard-working landlord, who has worked his way up the ladder of success.
The cast of the drama is strong and the acting definitely makes the serial worth a watch. With names such as Maya Ali (Faarah Wali Khan), Osman Khalid Butt (Wali Suhaib Khan), Hareem Farooq (Arjumand), Sanam Saeed (Ruhina), Mikaal Zulfiqar (Behroze Bakhtiyar Khan), Ali Rehman Khan (Suhaib Bakthiyar Khan) and Ahmad Zeb (Moeez Tajamul), one can expect nothing less than brilliant acting. Farhat Ishtiaq has managed to give each of her characters the luxury of telling their own story in their own way.
Diyar-e-Dil was developed by Hum TV’s senior producer Momina Duraid of MD Productions, the channel hired the award-winning director Haseeb Hassan to direct the series.
