The comment which has now been deleted read criticised the actor for posting about her work, not long after the death of her father.
“You are worried about Moosa and Zohra! And your father? He hasn’t been gone a week and here you are posting about dramas. Oh, God. What is this world of showbiz!” it read,
In response, Sarah hit back saying: “Would my pain have lessened if I posted after a month? Does that even make sense?”
Sarah’s father passed away in December 2020. The actor had earlier posted a heartfelt note for her late parents.
Have you ever seen a television show that you just want to immerse yourself into? One that makes you forget the mundaneness of everyday life and transports you to a realm where everything is perfect? Netflix’s latest Christmas release Bridgerton is just that.
Created by Shondaland, the production house behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn’s bestselling series of romance novels of the same name.
Set in 1813 London, the series opens with Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynover)of the illustrious Bridgerton family making her society debut. She is to find a husband during the upcoming social season and settle down by the time it wraps up. Though she was declared “flawless” by Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), her brother Anthony Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) constant meddling and critique of potential suitors dampen her prospects which are further thwarted by Lady Whistledown, who writes that her “value” is falling. Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) is the city’s resident Gossip Girl, who reports on the happenings of the city and whose words are big deal.
Daphne and her mother
In comes the Duke of Hastings Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the town’s most eligible bachelor, who has sworn not to get married. Daphe and Simon, who with a stroke of fate end up crossing paths and hatch a plan to fool society and Lady Whistledown by pretending to be together in a bid to make Daphne more desirable in society and him less pestered by eager mothers looking to set up their daughters. Will they be successful in fooling Lady Whistledown who knows everything and anything or will they be exposed? And even more, will Daphne find her perfect match?
Whether Daphne finds her match or not you’ll find out in the show, but Bridgerton has given us some major arranged marriage goals. Imagine landing yourself a rich and handsome Duke with the sexiest smoulder, one who has no immediate family (which mean no in-laws) and is smitten by you? One who is kind, caring and sensitive too. The stuff of dreams, right? Besides, Page plays the Duke to perfection owning every scene he is in and I won’t be lying if I say that we have a new hero to swoon over.
One the other hand, Daphne is also the season’s “diamond” – young, fair, pretty and innocent to the point that she had no idea how babies are made. The two are the perfect match, even if it is just a ruse and their chemistry is crackling – you can almost feel it through the screen.
Though Daphne and Simon are the main attractions, other characters on the show are also a delight to watch. My favourites have to be Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury and Eloise Bridgerton, Daphne’s younger sister. Eloise, who is not interested in getting married or following her sister’s footsteps adds the perfect comic relief, while Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury – both women of colour – add a different flavour to the show with their cool demeanour and wise words. Daphne’s mother is also a voice of reason and is shown as someone progressive and one who encourages her daughter to marry for love and not money and teaches her how the first step to a successful marriage is always friendship. Desi moms can definitely learn a thing or two from Mama Bridgerton.
Bridgerton, in a nutshell, is a dreamy and escapist – a delightful mix of drama, romance, fantasy, gorgeous costumes and opulent sets. The series is indulgent and will have you hooked throughout and by the end of it, even eight episodes will appear too less.
The show’s creator Chris Van Dusen, in a recent interview, said that series is a period drama which marries history and fantasy and is for a modern audience.
“The show is for a modern audience, and everything on this show is filtered through a modern lens. People talk quickly, the story moves fast, it’s funny, and it’s really sexy, which you don’t always get with a typical period piece,” said Dusen. “We’re re-imagining this world; it’s not a history lesson and it’s not a documentary. There weren’t actual Bridgertons in 1813, so we took some creative liberties there. The first thing you see is the cast, this amazing diverse cast, everyone from Phoebe Dynevor to Regé-Jean Page to Julie Andrews.”
Queen Charlotte
“We knew we wanted the show to reflect the world we live in today, and even though it’s set in the 19th century, we still wanted modern audiences to relate to it and to see themselves on screen. I feel we did it in a way that makes sense,” he adds.
Dusen’s vision and take on the show is perhaps the reason why the show resonated so well with audiences. Modern romcoms are fun to watch but there is something magical about period shows and Bridgerton is one done just right. The show is the perfect escape in such dreary times and as I told my friends, it is like a mug of hot chocolate on a freezing winter night.
While Netflix has not yet revealed whether the show will be coming back for a second season, given the show’s popularity, it is only a matter of time till they make an official announcement.
Later, Nadia released her complete wedding album on YouTube. The bride looked lovely in a sea green ensemble with glowy makeup and a bright pink lip.
While many believe that it is Nadia Khan’s third marriage but replying to a comment under her post she clarified that it is her second marriage. “Kiaan is my adopted son and this is my second marriage,” wrote Nadia.
Hasnain Lehri has dedicated his fourth Lux Style Award (LSA) to his younger brother, who passed away in May 2019 due to a cardiac arrest.
In a post shared on social media, the model said: “I dedicate this award to my younger brother, whom we lost last year. It has been my biggest trial and a tough time for my family.”
“For me, this isn’t just an award for creating art but the acknowledgement to myself that I am strong enough to be on my feet again. After his passing I had no motivation, I lost faith in myself.. one day I was just sitting going through Facebook and saw my younger brothers’ old status saying ‘Keep on making me proud’ which gave me the strength I needed, and because of his words today I am holding my fourth award.”
The model further shared: “I read this somewhere that ‘Jo loug gir ke khud apnay pairoun per kharay hotay hain Khuda unn ki bohut madad kerta hai’ and I tried to stand back on my feet and Allah has always been there for me! And for people out there who have lost their loved ones, always remember one thing, they are far away from you ‘per woh aapkay dil mei hamesha rehte hain’.
Thanking his fans he said, “Last but not least, I love my fans. This is possible because of the love and respect you show me. Thank you.”
Asim Azhar was reportedly dropped from the country’s latest pop music platform because he was “too young”.
According to reports doing the rounds on social media, Asim, who was initially going to be a part of the platform, was eliminated from VELO Sound Station because he was too young to endorse nicotine. The singer is 24 years old.
“Azhar recorded two songs for the outlet but the company decided not to release his tracks, excluding him because of his age,” stated the report. “Apparently you have to be 25 or above to promote nicotine as per their internal legal requirement, [even though] the government allows 18 and above.”
Azhar and the show’s Executive Producer Bilal Maqsood have refused to comment on the matter as for now.
VELO Sound Station has been making waves on social media for its quirky renditions of classic pop songs.
Meanwhile, Azhar recently released the official PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBGM) anthem Khelta Ja. The video has collected over three million views on YouTube, marking another milestone in the singer’s career.
Meanwhile, the Oscar winner director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said that no one should be endorsing nicotine products at any age.
Shah Rukh Khan, known for his wit and humour, recently released a short video in which he wished his fans a ‘Happy New Year’ and promised that he has a big surprise lined up for them in 2021.
The hilarious video begins with the King of Bollywood in a night suit fighting mosquitoes. Khan adds that had to record the video all by himself as he had no staff available to record it.
“Hi everybody,” said the actor as he started his video. “It is that time of the year again where the old year is on its way out and the New Year is waiting at the entrance. Actually, it has entered because I am late in conveying my wishes to all of you.”
Reflecting on the past year, the actor said: “I am sure 2020 has been the worst of years for everybody. In these awful times, for most it is difficult to find a ray of hope and positivity. But I have a way of looking at bad days, difficult times, and awful years. I believe when one is at the lowest, at the most bottom-est of their life, the good thing is there is only one way to move – upwards, higher to better places. So, 2020 whatever it has been is in the past now. 2021 is going to be bigger, better, brighter and more beautiful.”
Elaborating on the lessons 2020 taught him, SRK emphasized on how important it is to have your loved ones by your side.
“Real fun is with real people. Your family, your friends, your loved ones. All the friends and enemies you make virtually, taking sides or fighting against you online, is good fun, time pass, but it’s not for keeps,” said the actor.
Wishing his fans “happiness, joy and peace”, Shah Rukh joked that he sounded like a “cheap greeting card” while saying this.
He also requested everyone to be “romantic, emphatic, pragmatic, democratic, fantastic” in 2021 and not be “mathematic as it’s very boring and also very difficult to rhyme with the other words.”
Khan also gave his fans some advice on partying.
“Go party hard, but not too hard in moderation. Don’t get too drunk, don’t take off your clothes and run on the street, because chances are you’ll get arrested and even worse you will wake up in the morning and realize you have lost your phone and that really sucks,” said the superstar.
The Fan actor concluded his video with a promise.
“See you on the big screen in 2021,” confirming reports that his upcoming film Pathan is in the works.
Pathan, which marks SRK’s return to the big screen after a long break, will see him play a special agent. Deepika Padukone and John Abraham are also part of the film while Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan are expected to have cameos.
SRK was also recently spotted outside Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai sporting a new look for the film.
After a picture of Gigi Hadid’s spice cabinet went viral on social media, Shan Foods has released an ad featuring the supermodel.
“People ask us if we are the best. We say ‘Ji, Ji‘,” says the ad as a box of Seekh Kabab Masala peeks from the side.
Gigi’s love for Shan Masala came to the spotlight when the model took the ‘Post a Picture of’ challenge on Instagram. When a follower asked her to share a picture from September 15, Gigi shared a picture of her spice cabinet which was full of desi masalas including zeera, haldi, garam masala and tandoori masala. Pakistanis were also quick to the spot the box of Shan Seekh Kabab masala on the side. The supermodel shared that she ate them during her pregnancy.
ARY Digital has finally dropped the first teasers of its most-awaited drama Pehli Si Muhabbat’, featuring Maya Ali, Sheheryar Munawar and Hassan Shehryar Yasin.
The first teasers give audiences a glimpse into the upcoming drama and introduces the main characters of the show: Aslam (Munawar), Rakshee (Ali) and Akram (HSY).
The teaser introducing Aslam is titled ‘Every time I see your smile…I fall in love all over again’, while the one introducing Rakshee is titled ‘Love doesn’t need to be perfect…It just needs to be true!”
Meanwhile, the one introducing Akram is titled ‘You can’t buy love…but you can pay heavily for it’. It is pertinent to add here that Pehli Si Muhabbat will mark HSY’s television debut.
Written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Anjum Shahzad, Pehli Si Muhabbat is expected to be an intense love story. The OST of the drama has been composed by Ali Zafar.
Aray. Humbled my friend. But I strongly feel that that you are one of the best song writers and deserve more credit. From Aadat to “Pehli Si Mohabbat”. Brilliant work. Let’s hope people enjoy it as much as we did. https://t.co/NfsGuVmRsX
Sharing the teaser on social media, Munawar thanked the director for being “the right kind of crazy” and his co-stars for making “every day on set a wonderful experience”.
Addressing the audiences, the actor wrote: “I hope you like the project as much as we liked shooting it.”
Former Pakistan right-hand fast bowler Muhammad Asif has levelled serious allegations against Senator Faisal Javed Khan and accused him of meddling in the affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
In a recent interview with former Test Cricketers Shahid Nazeer and Shahnawaz Khan, Asif blasted the board for not doing enough for the promotion of cricket.
Asif also claimed that under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the Pakistan cricket team is selected by Senator Faisal Javed Khan, adding that Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younus Khan were pathetic coaches.
“This team is not picked by Waqar, Younus or Misbah, it is selected by Faisal Javed Khan,” said the former pacer, adding: “As players, Misbah, Waqar and Younus were good but they are pathetic as coaches.”
“They do not have any dignity or ego, they only know to say ‘Yes Sir’. Team will fail under their coaching,” said Asif further.
Asif was banned for five years for his involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal that left the cricketing world in shock. He hasn’t played for Pakistan since then. While he made his domestic comeback, he wasn’t given a second chance like left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir.
Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to The Current, Senator Faisal Javed rubbished the claims and said that he has no idea why Asif is levelling such allegations.
“These allegations are absolutely baseless,” said Senator Faisal. “I have no interaction with Misbah or any other official of the board. Whatever decision they take is their own and they are responsible for it. Our government has empowered the board completely and do not meddle in their business.”
“Misbah is the most empowered PCB official and he is the one responsible for the selection and everything that follows,” added Senator Faisal.
Talking further, Senator Faisal said that he offers his suggestions and advice to the board on social media and radio just like any other cricket aficionado.
“I have been doing cricket commentary for 15 years now and often give my suggestions on social media or in talk shows,” said the senior leader. “Aur mazay ki baat yeh hai that the board always does the opposite of what I suggest. So I don’t know why Asif made such a shocking comment.”
When asked about his thoughts on Pakistan’s performance in New Zealand, Senator Faisal said that “major improvements are needed”.
“The team was not prepared and the team combinations were bad,” said the Senator. “I don’t understand why they did not take Shoaib Malik. He’s is in excellent form for T20.”
“I understand they wanted to give younger players a chance, but it is always better to have a mix of both.”
Senator Faisal also lauded Fawad Alam for his performance, saying that he should have been brought on the field earlier.
Well played @iamfawadalam25 Brilliant Knock!!!! Not only justifying his inclusion but also raising questions why he has been out of the test team for so long despite superb performance in domestic cricket. A great come back and hope he remains consistent. Keep Rocking!!!
2020 has been a very strange year for sporting events around the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic. Stadiums, courts and all other sporting activities were suspended as people practised social distancing and stayed away from each other. The Olympics, scheduled to be held in Japan were also cancelled along with a plethora of other events and those which did take place happened behind closed doors in biosecure bubbles. Nonetheless, some major sporting events and incidents took place in Pakistan and here is a round-up of those.
2020 Kabbadi World Cup – February 2020
The 2020 Kabaddi World Cup was the seventh edition of the Kabaddi World Cup (Circle style), held from February 9 to February 16, 2020, with the Opening Ceremony on February 9, 2020, at the Punjab Stadium, Lahore.
This was the first time the Kabaddi World Cup was held in Pakistan. All of the previous six circle-style kabaddi world cups have been hosted by India with the most recent event taking place in 2016. The tournament was eight-day long with matches in Lahore, Faisalabad, Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib.
Other than India, teams from Iran, Canada, Australia, United States, Sierra Leone and Kenya also participated in the event.
Pakistan emerged victorious from a close contest against India in the final of the Kabaddi World Cup in Lahore’s Punjab Stadium. The hosts won 43-41 to become Kabaddi world champions for the first time.
2020 Pakistan Super League – February 2020
The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League started on February 20, 2020. This was the first time the league was held entirely in Pakistan. A total 34 matches were played in four venues: Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan.
Days before the season was to conclude, the league was postponed over coronavirus fears.
The playoffs and the final later took place in Karachi in November 2020 with Karachi Kings taking home the trophy for the first time. It was also the first time Lahore Qalandars made it to the final.
Sami Aslam quits Pakistan cricket – December 2020
On December 3, Pakistani test cricketer Sami Aslam announced that he is quitting Pakistan cricket and joining hands with USA Cricket. According to reports, Aslam struck a deal with USA Cricket that will see him spend two years and 10 months playing league cricket in the States and eventually represent the US.
The Lahore-born cricketer was disgruntled after not being selected in the 35-member squad for the New Zealand tour despite his string of solid domestic performances in the previous campaigns.
Mohammad Amir announces retirement – December 2020
Perhaps the most shocking news from the year. Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket on December 17 while he was in Sri Lanka, playing the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Speaking to journalist Shoaib Jatt, Amir said that he cannot continue playing for the country under the current management. Amir said that he will continue to play franchise cricket but has made up his mind not to carry on playing for Pakistan, adding that he has been “mentally tortured”.
Amir had retired from Test cricket last year citing workload issues.
Aaron Summers to play Pakistan domestic cricket
Fast bowler Aaron Summers is set to make history by becoming the first Australian to take part in domestic cricket in Pakistan. The 24-year old will play for Southern Punjab in the 2021 One-Day Cup, which is scheduled to begin on January 8 and will run until the end of the month.
The deal is understood to be in its final stages, with official confirmation from the PCB imminent. While Australia’s borders are currently closed to both departures and arrivals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Summers has received a travel exemption from the Australian government, clearing the path for him to come to Pakistan.
Summers reached Pakistan on December 28 and is currently in Lahore and has joined the Southern Punjab squad.
