On Sunday night, Qavi Khan breathed his last, bringing an end to a long and celebrated career in film and television. The veteran actor who had been regarded as one of the most celebrated performers in the Pakistani entertainment industry, had acted in more than 200 films and dozens of drama serials. He was a fan favourite, gracing screens across the country for many decades in iconic dramas like ‘Aangan’ and ‘Ishq Jalebli’. Tributes are pouring in from celebrities and fans alike. Actors who had worked with Khan shared their grief on social media and also shed light on the experience they had while performing with him.
Actor Nadia Jamil shared a video clip of Khan and a picture of them together, remembering Khan for “his words, his kindness, his work, his talent and his heart.”
Heart broken There will never be another Qavi Sahab. His words, his kindness, his work, talent and his heart. To Allah we belong and to Allah we return. Love you Qavi Sahab. Our dream of Woking together again does with you. But you live on forever in your beautiful work!❤️ pic.twitter.com/kzHqnSdZbj
Actor Sophia Mirza shared a clip of her first drama serial with Khan, and praised him for being an “academy for actors.”
My first drama serial wth Qavi uncle was an amazing experience, he taught me how to act as I am not frm showbiz background,his teachings are never to be forgotten,he was an academy for actors.Wat a great actor/human being. U wil b missed #QaviKhan#RIP May Allah grant him jannat. pic.twitter.com/IuLA9HAGnQ
Actor Sami Khan sent a tribute to Khan as a ‘great human being’
Today we lost a legend. He was a great human being, a great actor. I learnt so much from you. I am lucky that I got the chance to share screen with you. May Allah bless you the best in heaven. Ameen. We will miss you Qavi uncle. #qavikhanpic.twitter.com/OznsdvRydP
Actor Adnan Siddiqui remembered Khan as someone whose ‘stature in the industry will remain unmatched’.
What a terrible news…Qavi Khan sahib’s stature in the industry will remain unmatched. For several of us, he was a living institution to learn not just acting but about life too. May Allah grant him highest place in jannah tul Firdous . Aameen pic.twitter.com/zezB1RR9gF
Pakistani superstar Humayun Saeed is essaying Dr Hasnat Khan, Princess Diana’s love interest in season five of the hit Netflix series, The Crown.
Saeed will be the second Pakistani to be cast in a Netflix Original which will premiere on 9th November 2022.
The actor will play alongside Australian actor Elizabeth Debicki who has been cast as Princess Diana.
Now Elizabeth has praised the London Nahi Jaunga hero in her latest interview, “I absolutely adored Humayun — he was such a lovely actor, and such a beautiful person,” she told Entertainment Weekly.
“You never know how that’s going to feel when you’re playing things like that with an actor. So I was very lucky to have him and I think he does such a beautiful job.”
When the news was confirmed earlier this year, Pakistani superstar Mahira Khan congratulated the Bin Roye hero.
Finaaaallly it’s out!!!! So proud! So excited!!! MashAllah mashAllah ✨ ♥️ What a show! What a star @iamhumayunsaeed@TheCrownNetflix
Dr Hasnat Khan, a British-Pakistani surgeon, is widely known for his romantic, two-year relationship with Diana. In May 1996, she visited his family in Lahore too. Diana’s friends are reported to have described Hasnat as the “love of her life” and to have spoken of her distress when he ended their relationship in June 1997. Dr Khan attended Diana’s funeral ceremony in September 1997.
Season 5 will be about the turmoil of Diana and Prince Charles’ marriage breakdown and the tragic death of Diana in August 1997.
Pakistani cinema industry has witnessed a boom with back-to-back releases this year, especially on the two Eid festivals. Fortunately the stride of cinematic releases will continue for the coming months.
Here is the list of films, set to be released in near future:
Tich Button
The long delayed Tich Button that features an interesting ensemble cast finally has a release date, 28th October 2022. With Farhan Saeed, Feroze Khan, Sonya Hussyn, and Iman Ali as its stars, the film is set to be a commercial entertainer with romance sprinkled in. Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed, and produced by Urwa Hocane, it is being touted to be a mass entertainer.
Aasman Bolay Ga
The celebrated Shoaib Mansoor is determined to set the Pakistani industry ablaze with his next project, which, if whispers on the grapevine are to be believed, is going to hit cinemas in November 2022. With a patriotic undercurrent, the Emmad Irfani and Maya Ali starrer is going to revolve around the Pakistan Airforce, and their efficiency while striking back after India’s attack on Balakot.
Neelofar
Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan starrer Neelofar has been written by Ammar Rasool and produced by Qasim Mehmood. Though the details about the film are being kept tightly under wraps, audiences are looking forward to Neelofar because of Mahira and Fawad’s pairing. The project will be the actors’ next after Bilal Lashari’s The Legend of Maula Jatt. It also stars Madiha Imam in a key role. Mahira apparantly plays a blind woman in the film, which will also have sufi touches in its narratives.
Abhi
Abhi is headlined by Gohar Mumtaz and Kubra Khan. Full of thrills and romance, it also features Saleem Sheikh, Usman Peerzada, Yasra Rizvi, Mahmood Aslam, Hina Bayat, Ehteshamud Din and Asif Raza Mir. Written by Gohar Mumtaz, the film is directed by Asad Malik and produced by international UK based company Daniel Johnes. It’s first teaser garnered positive response as netizens appreciated the cinematography and the intrigue factor of the premise.
Money Back Guarantee
Money Back Guarantee is a comic-capper directed by Faisal Qureshi. The film stars Fawad Khan, Ayesha Omar, Hina Dilpazir, Ali Safina, Wasim Akram, Shayan Khan, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Gohar Rasheed, and Afzal Khan aka Jan Rambo. It will release in April 2023.
Other films that are set to release in Pakistan are the celebrated Joyland, that won big at Cannes, the previously censored Javed Iqbal with Yasir Hussain, and Sarmad Khoosat’s much-awaited Zindagi Tamasha. More upcoming releases include John, Gavah Rehna, Dhai Chaal and Once Upon A Time In Karachi.
Zarrar
Shaan Shahid’s larger-than-life comeback film’s trailer has already enthralled audiences. The film promises grand action sequences with double crosses and twists galore. The film also stars Nadeem Baig, Kiran Malik, and Nayyer Ejaz. While the release date is up in the air momentarily, rumor has it that it might have a fall release – tentatively 23rd September.
Yasir Hussain, is set to appear in the biopic of Javed Iqbal, a serial killer.
On being asked about the reason for headlining the biopic of a serial killer, the Jhooti star said, “Someone asked me what would be the message of this film? What’s the purpose of it? I want to know what kind of message does Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, Punjab Nahi Jaungi or such films really give out?”
The Baandhi actor’s statement was shared on different social media portals and it offended Vasay Chaudary who is a writer of the blockbuster film Jawani Phir Nahi Ani.
Vasay shared Yasir’s statement on his Instagram stories and said, “Besides providing quality Family entertainment, these films played a vital role in the growth and resurfacing of Pakistani Box Office so that films like Lahore Se Agay could also run in cinemas #dontgetcarriedawaybysocialmedia.”
The Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah writer Fasih Bari Khan recently appeared in Wo Wala Show and made shocking revelations about 7 Din Mohabbat in. He also revealed that Mahira Khan and Sheheryar Munawar were not his first choices for the film.
The writer, who has a reputation of creating unusual hits with his knack for storytelling revealed that it was the miscasting in 7 Din Mohabbat In which spoiled the humour, turning it into a blunder.
According to Fasih, he always had a bubbly actor, especially Sajal Aly in mind for the role that landed into the Raees diva’s lap. He said: “Mahira is a good actor but the character was not for her. I always had Sajal in mind while writing the character. For the male lead, I had someone like Mohib Mirza in my mind but then that couldn’t happen as well.”
The writer had to change the script on demand and hence the story went haywire.
Known for his unique humour and satire, he stated that if he went on working on a film in the future, he would make sure he does it independently to save his film from tanking at the box office.
The Ghisi Piti Mohabbat writer claimed it was the makers who brought Mahira and Sheheryar on board.
As part of the celebratory activities of 70 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic ties, five movies from Pakistan will be screened during a first-ever Pakistan Film Week starting from Wednesday, August 4.
According to details, Pakistan Embassy, Beijing and China-Film Administration have jointly organized the four-day film week to further enhance cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The premier of Sohai Ali Abro’s Motorcycle Girl will be held on August 4, with Chinese and English subtitles. Other films included in the list are Humayun Saeed’s blockbusters Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Bin Roye.
Mahira Khan’s Ho Maan Jahan and Mathira’s Blind Love will also be screened in the following days.
In November 2020, Parwaaz Hai Junoon became the first Pakistan film to hit the cinemas in China. The movie received the round of applause from around 400 people including officials of the Chinese government.
Nabeel Qureshi has revealed that his upcoming project Khel Khel Mein featuring Bilal Abbas Khan and Sajal Aly will be a historical drama.
Responding to a follower during a question & answer session on Instagram, Qureshi revealed that Khel Khel Mein is “something different from my previous movies” and will be a historical drama.
Responding to other questions related to the lead pair, Qureshi shared that he had an amazing experience working with Khan and that Sajal was his first choice for the film.
Meanwhile, other details about the new project have been kept tightly under wraps and are limited. The actors had earlier expressed their excitement over the film while announcing the news on social media.
“Bismillah,” Sajal had said while sharing a picture of the script, while Bilal had said: “Working with the finest producer/director duo in the country for the first time. Iss baar milte hain theatre mei.”
Speaking about Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa’s Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad that was expected to hit cinemas on Eid ul Azha 2020, Qureshi shared that he plans to release the film this year.
Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad has been directed by Nabeel and produced by Fizza Ali Meerza. A teaser for the film had also been released earlier.
Qureshi also mentioned that there are two upcoming movies that are pending for release.
TikToker Hareem Shah is all set to foray into the world of acting with a web series on Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform – UrduFlix.
According to a press release, UrduFlix will be featuring the TikTok star in a never-seen-before avatar in a new Urdu web series. Expected to release on the streaming platform after its launch, the web series will star the debuting actress in a lead role.
Shah is one of Pakistan’s most influential social media celebrities, famous for her TikTok videos.
Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform, UrduFlix will provide viewers with access to original Urdu series, films, web series, drama serials, and Urdu dubbed Turkish dramas. The platform aims to bring in a plethora of new-age content from original to already popular dramas and films.
Earlier, it was announced that Alizeh Shah will be featuring in UrduFlix’s first exclusive web series Dulhan aur Aik Raat.
