Tag: Pakistani entertainment

  • ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    Television presenter and cryptocurrency expert Waqar Zaka fired back at actress and morning show host Nida Yasir over her claims that he tried to sabotage her show. In a video statement posted on his social media accounts, Waqar revealed he had complained about Nida’s conduct of hosting morning shows when she invited the parents of a deceased girl who was raped and then murdered. The show was subjected to intense controversy as Nida made the parents cry by asking them invasive and hurtful questions, which caused outrage.

    Waqar said that Nida claimed the parents had themselves requested to be invited on the show in order to gain media support to grant their daughter justice. However, he refuted these claims by sharing the video of an activist interviewing the parents, who revealed they were invited by Nida, rather than the other way round.

    Waqar debunked another claim made by Nida on her show, where she claimed the family had filed an FIR after their appearance. But as Waqar shared in the clip, the activist spoke with the victim’s parents who revealed they had filed it before making their appearance on the morning show.

    Waqar shared that these revelations had created an outrage on social media, which is when in 2020 he had encouraged his followers to file a report with PEMRA, and to message Salman Iqbal, the CEO of ARY, to remove Nida as a host.

    “It is insensitive how Nida exploited a case like this for the sake of getting ratings, and lied so much that she couldn’t even apologise after getting caught later,” said Waqar. “And also remember: a host is always aware of what goes on during the show. If the host approves something, then it appears on the show.”

    Waqar further added it’s time all the elderly hosts sitting on their morning shows should now consider letting go, and giving other young people a chance. He added Nida should host a contest to see who could replace her, and revealed he had complained to Salman Iqbal that other women should be given a platform because Nida was no ‘Oprah’ and nor did she hold any philosophy in her life.

    On Saturday, Nida made headlines when as a guest on Geo’s ‘Hasna Mana Hai’, she revealed Waqar Zaka had tried to sabotage her morning show as well as her career. She added the two were on good terms during the time he worked with the channel, but his demeanour changed when he left.

    “When Waqar left ARY, he started sending emails to the channel’s management, urging them to remove me from my morning show,” she confessed.

  • ‘I don’t regret what I said’: Actress Mehar Bano reflects on controversial 2021 viral video

    ‘I don’t regret what I said’: Actress Mehar Bano reflects on controversial 2021 viral video

    Actress Mehar Bano appeared as a guest on Samaa news’ ‘Had Kar Di’ where she opened up about her viral 2021 video from Aurat March where she was seen defending gay rights. The video led to extensive backlash, with Mehar Bano receiving a lot of hate on social media. She has been open about how she sought therapy to deal with suicidal thoughts.

    Reflecting on the video, Mehar Bano revealed she did not regret what she had said, but feels she could have conveyed her words in a more understandable manner.

    “I don’t regret anything that I said. After the backlash I felt that maybe I should have worded things differently. Maybe the things I had tried to say regarding Aurat March, it wasn’t communicated well to the audience.

    “Whatever happened it was a learning experience for me,” Mehar Bano addded, “and I continued to learn from everything that happens around me and everything that I do.”

  • In times of division and hatred, Kabli Pulao was the necessary television content we needed

    In times of division and hatred, Kabli Pulao was the necessary television content we needed

    Who would have thought that at a time when Pakistan is seeing discrimination and hatred displayed openly for the vulnerable Afghan refugees, we get to watch a television show displaying cultural solidarity and harmony in such a beautiful manner? When Green Entertainment announced ‘Kabli Pulao’ among their list of to-be-released dramas, many were curious about whether it would follow the lines of the misogynist trope involving an old man marrying a younger woman, given the wide age gap between the main lead actors Sabeen Farooq and Mohammed Ehteshamuddin. But, this is a show every person needs to watch to accept our cultural differences, and that no one is an ‘illegal alien’.

    The drama centres around elderly bachelor Hajji Mushtaq, who spent his life caring for his sisters and their children, and is lovingly referred to as ‘baray abba’ by them. When he meets Barbeena while travelling in Mardan, her brother begs him to marry her to protect her from falling into the hands of her abusive brother-in-law. Hajji Mushtaq reluctantly agrees to do so.

    Their marriage is obviously not met with approval at first. Barbeena’s entry into Mushtaq’s family is met with scorn and racism. Mushtaq’s sisters Chammo and Zubaida at first suspect she is a spy, sent to take over their brother’s wealth and force them out of the family. Barbeena has to pretend she is a newly hired maid, and after a feud reveals that she is actually Mushtaq’s wife, she is met with accusations of shaming the honour of the family.

    But the willingness displayed by Barbeena to win over the family, and especially how she brings joy into Hajji Mushtaq’s life, and then slowly for the rest of the family members, is something no other drama has ever displayed. It is Barbeena’s Afghan background that helps her win over everyone else. In episode four, the family fawns over her roghni naans and her kabli pulao. Barbeena bonds with the younger children by singing Afghan songs, sharing her traditional dresses and dancing with them. Soon she partners with Hajji Mushtaq to set up her business selling the kabli pulao to customers.

    It was some time ago when I was re-watching episode three, where the family hounds Hajji Mustaq and begs him to send Barbeena away. Ironically at this point, there was a heartbreaking video going viral on the internet featuring a young Afghan boy with tears in his eyes saying goodbye to his classmates as his family was being sent back to Afghanistan. Since that moment, we’ve seen consistently how much burden the term ‘illegal alien’ carries, the way it strips a human of their humanity and dignity.

    Videos from Aurat March show how Afghan refugees were kept in cramped conditions, denied basic respect as their children were picked up by officers and ‘accidentally deported’ over racist assumptions. Irony lies in how this is the same country where ‘Kabuli Pulao’ was became one of the best television shows to come out this year, yet it’s sole inspiration, the Afghan refugees, are treated with such malice.

    The enduring message of Barbeena’s resilience, and her blossoming relationship with Hajji Mushtaq, was that there is beauty in our cultural diversity. Barbeena’s uniqueness in her Afghan heritage, turned this drama into more than just a simple love story but a message on how Pakistani’s need to know more than ever to open up their hearts rather than shut them down. Accept our neighbours as our friends rather than turn them away because of our own internalised racism.

    This message resonates with the horrific treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza, and how their oppression is justified with terms like ‘human animals’ and ‘barbarians’. Because now more than ever, us Pakistanis need to become the anti-thesis of hateful rhetoric and learn to hold those close who had no choice but to leave their homes in search of better opportunities.

    All episodes of ‘Kabli Pulao’ are available to watch on Youtube.

  • ‘Bollywood films should be screened in Pakistan’: Humayun Saeed

    ‘Bollywood films should be screened in Pakistan’: Humayun Saeed

    Pakistani actor and producer Humayun Saeed was a guest on Samaa TV’s ‘Gup Shab’ where he was asked about his opinion on whether Bollywood films should screen in Pakistani cinemas by a member of the studio audience. The actor responded:

    “They should screen in our cinemas. I have never been against this decision. Bollywood produces a lot of films and releases four films every week, while we release less films. But a cinema should always screen more films regardless of which country they’re from. Whether they’re from Hollywood, Turkey, we should keep screening films in our cinemas, so that people keep going to cinemas.”

    Humayun previously spoke in favour of strengthening ties between Bollywood and Pakistani actors. In August, during an interview with Bollywood Hungama, the ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ actor recalled meeting Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan telling him in 2005 that Pakistani films should play in India.

    READ MORE: Humayun Saeed reveals Shah Rukh Khan once told him Pakistani films should release in India

    “There was a lot of excitement when I met Shah Rukh. He was very sweet to me. We were in his room and he made me sit with him and discussed Indian and Pakistan films with me. That time there was a Mehreen Jabbar and a Shaan film in the theatres and SRK was talking about them. He said that Pakistani films should be released in India and vice versa. He made me comfortable. Since I had just come the previous day to the sets, I did not know exactly what to do. Shah Rukh said ‘main sambhal lunga.’ The overall moment was very special.”

  • ‘Gunjal’; What is it about and when is it releasing? We have the details

    ‘Gunjal’; What is it about and when is it releasing? We have the details

    Upcoming thriller ‘Gunjal’ is the talk of the town, a film that promises to revive the industry with an insight into the crisis of child abuse in Pakistan. The film boasts of a star-studded cast with the likes of Ahmed Ali Akbar, Resham, Ahmed Ali Butt, Samiya Mumtaz and Amna Ilyas. The team behind ‘Gunjal’ was present at the prelaunch event held at University of Management and Technology (UMT) where we got some interesting details about the film, including the wholesome reason why Resham wanted to work with Ahmed Ali Akbar.

    When is ‘Gunjal’ releasing?

    Gunjal will release in theatres across Pakistan on 8th December.

    What roles will Ahmed Ali Akbar and Resham be playing?

    Ahmed Ali Akbar will be playing the role of journalist Shahbaz Bhatti, who investigates the murder of prolific child activist Iqbal Masih. Speaking at the event, Ahmed opened up about his reason for choosing the role.

    “Gunjal is inspired by the life of a prolific child activist and is an insight into the trials and tribulations of Iqbal Masih and what he went through, and the conditions he was working in under and the events that took place. It’s also about the life of a regular person who overtime, through the eyes of Iqbal Masih, starts to see things that are very common around us, yet we don’t notice them.”

    “It’s about the rights of children… and is inspired by Iqbal Masih’s legacy,” stressed Ahmed. “It’s very relevant, on what Iqbal wanted to accomplish, it was relevant then and is still now. It’s happening in front of us. So I feel it is our duty but it takes time to act upon it.”

    Resham said her role in ‘Gunjal’ was quite different from her previous films. She plays Sarwat, the founder of a newspaper ‘Nai Subh’. Resham explained that her character tries to ensure her journalistic stories are focused on truth and justice.

    The sweet reason behind why Resham wanted to work on Gunjal: Ahmed Ali Akbar

    Resham also shared the sweet reason that propelled her to take part in the film, revealing it was her desire to work with Ahmed Ali Akbar.

    “I had watched all of ‘Parizaad’ from that point on I really wanted to work with him. While Ahmed’s drama was airing I didn’t watch it because I was suffering from depression and had lost a lot friends. Then I decided to watch all the episodes on Youtube. After finishing it, I made a prayer to Allah while watching alone, that I hoped to work with this man some day. Two-and-a-half months later the film’s director Shoaib sahab reached out and asked if I would act in his film. I asked who would be the hero, and he said ‘Ahmed Ali Akbar’. I said ‘The Parizaad one!’ and was overjoyed!”

    Resham shared she had watched the last episode of Parizaad with Ahmed, which she said she was extremely lucky for. “Despite the fact that I’m his senior, but I’m still a huge fan of his.”

  • ‘If Ahsan Khan had not been married, I would have taken him’: Saba Qamar

    ‘If Ahsan Khan had not been married, I would have taken him’: Saba Qamar

    Actor Ahsan Khan invited Lollywood A-lister Saba Qamar as a guest for his Youtube session ‘Lo Kar Lo Baat’. As the two actors drove around, discussing various topics, Saba hilariously revealed she would have married Ahsan had he not been committed to someone else.

    Ahsan asked the ‘Kamli’ star which actor she would have married had he not been committed, after which the actress cheekily pointed to him.

    Saba then revealed that she had a crush on the ‘Udaari’ actor before she became a big star.

    “Back when I wasn’t an actress, I managed to swipe Ahsan Khan’s number from somewhere and I would send him missed calls and messages. Just to tell him that one day I will work with him.”

    “And the day I began working with Ahsan,” Saba recalled while laughing, “You started a fight with me after which I hated you. I cried a lot but I forgive you now.”

    Ahsan apologised for the fight, and joked that he had fights with all of the actresses with whom he had good chemistry on screen. Saba then said that after their fight, she began understanding him and fell even more in love. But by the time she would have confessed her feelings, Ahsan got married.

    Ahsan said he was shocked, and thought Saba wanted to remain an independent woman to which the actress laughingly said “When girls say ‘No I won’t get married’, it actually means they want to!”

  • ‘Stop assuming things’: Mohib Mirza slams cheating rumours

    ‘Stop assuming things’: Mohib Mirza slams cheating rumours

    Actor Mohib Mirza has addressed rumours surrounding his second marriage to actor Sanam Saeed, debunking claims he cheated on his first wife Aminah Sheikh, his spouse from 2005 to 2019, and the mother of his child. The secrecy behind his and Sanam’s relationship led to allegations that Mohib had cheated on Aminah, leading to a divorce.

    The actor appeared on the FHM podcast where he cleared the air by saying that the two began a relationship after his divorce.

    “Who is assuming this?” the actor responded to the accusations. “Do you have my divorce certificate or does Wikipedia say so? My marriage had ended when I pursued Sanam.”

    “No one can question this because I have my divorce deed with me, I know what had happened,” the ‘Razia’ actor fired back. Mohib reminded the audience his and Sanam’s relationship was a private affair, and it is their prerogative to reveal it to the public or not.

    Opening up about the couple’s wedding, Mohib revealed that it was a private event with only five people present at Sanam’s house.

  • Ayeza Khan apologises for her previous post on the Palestine genocide

    Ayeza Khan apologises for her previous post on the Palestine genocide

    Actress Ayeza Khan was caught in a controversy over a social media post addressing her silence on the war on Palestine. Several users criticised the actress for writing that praying daily is better than pointing fingers and blaming others.

    “Because I know that praying daily is more powerful than posting daily, please pray for the world as much as you can and avoid pointing fingers and blaming each other on this platform. We all have children and loved ones, and we can all feel the pain. We cannot imagine how painful it is for them, but I’m keeping my faith in Allah, and very soon, Allah will bring justice, Ameen.”

    After severe backlash, Khan deleted the statement and apologised by clarifying her support for Palestine:

    “I would like to take a moment to address an issue that has been misinterpreted and circulated. I won’t attempt to justify or explain because God knows that my intentions were not malicious, but I may have failed to articulate it well. I take full responsibility for this, both personally and on behalf of my team. I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt by my statement. I appreciate you all for bringing this matter to my attention, as I, too, am only human. I take full responsibility and assure you nothing of such sort shall ever happen again.”

    “While my awareness may not bring on immediate resolution,” the Chupke Chupke actress further penned, “I maintain faith in Allah in the possibility of change through prayer. Therefore, alongside our continuous awareness efforts, let us unite in prayer to end this cruelty. For indeed, we need Him and His divine help. My prayers are with the Palestinians.”

  • Find out when Tere Bin season 2 is coming to your screens

    After a critically acclaimed first season, ‘Tere Bin’ is set to make a big comeback. The producer behind the hit series, Abdullah Kadwani, has announced the series is set to release on Friday, December 29, the perfect way to start the new year.

    “Exciting news for fans of “Tere Bin”! The highly anticipated announcement of “Tere Bin Season 2″ is set for Friday December 29, 2023.. Get ready for more heartwarming moments .. Mark your calendars for this eagerly awaited revelation. InshALLAH, it’s going to be fantastic & I promise you would love it…”

    The Geo Entertainment drama series stars Yumna Zaidi and Wahaj Ali as two complete opposites who fall in love. Meerab is a headstrong, fearless woman whose dream is to become a lawyer. Her family has arranged her marriage to Murtasim, a member of a conservative, land owning family where women are different from Meerab’s fiery nature. Despite them being opposites, the two keep falling in love with each other.

    Abdullah Kadwani announced the sequel to the drama in July in a group picture with Yumna and Wahaj. He thanked the fans for their dedication and love that turned ‘Tere Bin’ into a success.

    “Tere Bin phenomenal journey comes to an end achieving unprecedented milestones in the history of Pakistani entertainment. We thank Almighty ALLAH for making #TereBin the biggest blockbuster❤️. I and Asad Qureshi extend our heartfelt gratitude to audiences worldwide for their immense love and support towards our creation.
    A big shout out to the visionary leadership of Asad Qureshi, who has been the driving force behind #TereBin‘s remarkable success.
    Hats off to the outstanding performances of Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi, who have brilliantly portrayed the lead characters in #TereBin. Their extraordinary talent & magical on-screen chemistry ❤️❤️have mesmerised the viewers, making Murtasim and Meerub’s story even more unforgettable …
    A heartfelt shoutout to the director Siraj ul Haq and the writer Nooran Makhdoom for their exceptional direction & storytelling that kept us hooked till the very end.
    We are also honored to have worked with the legendary actor Bushra Ansari & our other star cast members in this drama … Their remarkable portrayal of characters has added depth and richness to the narrative …
    We feel that it is essential to acknowledge the relentless efforts and dedication of the remarkable teams at Geo Entertainment and 7th Sky Entertainment. Well done Team Geo & Team 7th Sky … Your combined brilliance has paved the way for this unforgettable drama to touch the hearts of billions.
    To our incredible cast, crew, and every individual who poured their heart and soul into making #TereBin a true masterpiece, we extend our deepest gratitude.
    And now, in response to the overwhelming love and support from our amazing audience, we are thrilled to announce that we will be launching #TereBin Season 2! Stay tuned for more exciting updates and details …”

  • ‘IBA ya Pagal khaana’: Asim Azhar shuts down ‘Hania Amir’ chants at literary festival

    ‘IBA ya Pagal khaana’: Asim Azhar shuts down ‘Hania Amir’ chants at literary festival

    Asim Azhar was attending a literary festival held at the Institute of Public and Business Adminstration (IBA) when he was heckled by some members of the crowd while talking to Yasir Hussain. The crowd began taunting the singer by chanting the name of Hania Amir, the actress Asim had previously dated.

    In a viral video clip, Asim can be seen shutting down the misogynist chants by responding “IBA hai ya pagal khaana?”

    Yasir also slammed the hecklers by telling them to act like educated people.

    We have to applaud Asim for refusing to be bullied by hecklers. It’s not so hard to understand that nobody deserves to be taunted in such a demeaning manner about their private lives, let alone at an institute that is recognised as one of the superior universities of Pakistan.