Two Pakistani films are winning prestigious awards at international platforms. ‘In Flames’, directed and written by Zarrar Kahn, has won local and international praise since its release. The film has now won the prestigious ‘International Newcomer Award’ at the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg. Taking to his Instagram account, Zarrar quoted a statement from the festival’s jury along with a picture where he posed with the award:
“Our award goes to a filmmaker who manages to shift and play with genre while maintaining a connection both to his audience as well as his protagonist throughout the film. The main character is a young woman who is allowed to be both brave and fragile, and she is brought to life through a wonderful debut performance that complements the mise-en-scene. The winner is In Flames.”
The Instagram account for the movie shared another clip from the event, adding in the caption that this was the first time in 70 years a Pakistani director had the honour to take home such a prestigious award.
While Sarmad Khoosat’s film ‘Kamli’ continues to win accolades even a year after its release. In Belarus, the Saba Qamar starrer bagged three awards at the prestigious Minsk International Film Festival. Qamar received the Best Actor Award, director Sarmad received Best Director and the Viewer’s Choice award.
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!”
As war rages on in Gaza, celebrities from Pakistan came forth in throngs to extend their solidarity to the Palestinian community, offering prayers to see them free from the oppressive Israeli occupation.
Celebrities from Pakistan arrived in throngs to extend their solidarity to the Palestinian community, and are praying in their lifetimes to see a free country removed from the oppressive Israeli reign.
Actress Saba Qamar wrote the rallying cry for Palestinian freedom: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”
From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free! InshaAllah
Actress Armeena Khan lauded the bravery of the Palestinian people who were prepared to fight with all they had for their freedom.
“The Palestinians, in my opinion are the bravest people on planet earth. Zero support and the entire world against them. My God, I am terrified for the little children about to lose their lives. Sigh..”
The Palestinians, in my opinion are the bravest people on planet earth. Zero support and the entire world against them. My God, I am terrified for the little children about to lose their lives. Sigh..
Actress and VJ Anoushay Ashraf prayed that the international community would do more to help the Palestinian cause:
“Goodness violence begets violence..I wish the world would do more to help Palestinian’s cause so we wouldn’t see such bloodshed.”
Actress Ushna Shah expressed her disappointment with how many celebrities and politicians she had to unfollow after witnessing their reaction to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians
“The amount of Hollywood celebrities and propaganda news publications I’ve had to unfollow…” she tweeted.
The amount of Hollywood celebrities and propaganda news publications I’ve had to unfollow…
The Lux Style Awards really lived up to its name last night with how the creme de la creme of Pakistan’s entertainment industry came out, dressed to the nines. Some of the biggest stars of Pakistan were present to celebrate the night’s occasion like Saba Qamar, Saim Sadiq, Yumna Zaidi, and even Maya Ali. Most importantly, who were the best looks of the night? This time we can safely say that celebrities served a whole three course dinner with the way they slayed on the red carpet, and we’re sharing some of the looks that had us going oh la la!
Haseena Yumna Zaidi was the belle of the ball last night, walking away with two of the biggest awards and looking like she stepped out of a fairy tale. The actress wore a shimmering ensemble by Noor H Gul, paired with a simple makeup look and her hair in an elegant bun.
Alina Khan may have only stepped into the main screen last year with her standout performance as Biba in ‘Joyland’ but she isn’t ready to fade away yet. The actress left everyone spellbound by how serene she looked at the awards last night with a decorated peplum she paired with a black silk skirt, and silver earrings, to make her outfit shine.
Saba Qamar was a vision of elegance in the silk gown she had donned for the red carpet, and then the glittering ivory saari she wore during the performances. The actress walked away with the Best Actress award because of her stellar performance in ‘Kamli’.
Shae Gill won us over last year with her gorgeous singing but she is also ready to win more hearts with her sense of style. The ‘Sukoon’ singer looked gorgeous posing in a shimmery white gown with her hair pulled back in a bun, and was the recipient of the Most Streamed Song Of The Year award for ‘Pasoori’.
The headliner of the awards, and the one with whom we close this piece with a bang was definitely Ayesha Omar. She didn’t just come to serve, she came to break all expectations and leave us absolutely flabbergasted, even though the actress was not nominated for any awards. The ‘Bulbulay’ actress looked as if she stepped out of a Gatsby party with her glittering, dark blue ensemble along with her hair set in a 50’s style hairdo. We feel a separate category should be set up by Lux just to award the stylish person of the night: so that Ayesha wins every time!
Pakistanis were jubilant over their men’s cricket team’s splendid performance against India, however, very little was said about the Pakistani women’s cricket team’s whitewash win against South Africa.
Female celebrities have risen to the challenge, advocating for more recognition to be given to the team.
Cricket player Shadab Khan shared a picture of the team, calling for them to be treated with equal respect as the men’s cricket team.
Actress Urwa Hocane gushed about how the win made her day, and hoped to see more women entering into every field and succeeding the same way.
“The news made my day! The kind of win I wish to see for #Pakistan everyday in every field regardless of gender, we need our full force! With all that potential our only option is to work harder & win at everything for the world to see!”
The news made my day! The kind of win I wish to see for #Pakistan everyday in every field regardless of gender, we need our full force! With all that potential our only option is to work harder & win at everything for the world to see! #PakistanWomenCricketTeam@TheRealPCBpic.twitter.com/mt2BsBJku3
Mawra Hocane posted a caption on her Instagram stories where she congratulated the team captain Sidra Amin, and the rest of the women’s cricket team for their fabulous performance.
On August 14, the National Independence Day of Pakistan, entertainment and sports stars are celebrating the occasion by sharing messages of hope and prosperity with their millions of followers. Let’s see what some prominent figures have to say.
Singer and activist Shehzad Roy shared a song by Imran Akhood, who wrote a song about every Pakistani’s right to make a fair living.
Happy Independence Day. @imranakhoond one of the most brilliant guitarists of Pakistan, plays for the song with the concept that every Pakistani should receive a fair living wage, not just the minimum wage set by the government. pic.twitter.com/KQtalhHKcU
Actor and producer Humayun Saeed prayed for Allah to bless the nation with strength and traits that lead to progress and prosperity.
Happy Independence Day. May Allah bless our beloved Pakistan with strength and our nation with traits that lead to progress & prosperity. Pakistan Zindabad pic.twitter.com/JGIiVrjuAp
Cricket player Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrated the day with a post on his Instagram stories, praying for peace and prosperity.
Singer and actor Ahmed Ali Butt shared an Instagram post where he hoped one day, Pakistan would truly meet the definition of ‘Azaadi’ by being ‘debt-free, progress-minded and not suppressed.”
‘Gunah’ was a long-awaited drama, hailed by critics and fans of Sarmad Khoosat alike. Featuring powerful performances by Saba Qamar, Rabia Butt and Juggun Kazim in her comeback debut, the series revolved around the sudden disappearance of Gul Noor (played by Kazzim), who leaves her two children and husband, the powerful landlord Malik Hayat Khan (played by Khoosat) in agony. To help him deal with his grief, his in-laws suggest he marry their younger daughter Gul Meher (played by Saba Qamar). But when a new SHO Sabiha (played by Rabia Butt) begins investigating the disappearance, the clues she picks up prove that there is a lot more to the story than what she has been told.
As the drama ends today with the final episode airing on Express TV, we know how disappointed fans will be with one more spectacular television show coming to an end. But if your ‘Gunah’ nostalgia is going to hit a bit too hard, there have been some well-written crime-thriller dramas that you could rewatch this weekend. Here are some of our best recommendations.
Jurm
Starring the starry-eyed Wahaj Ali with Dur-e-Fishaan Saleem and Tooba Siddiqui in a supporting role, this is the kind of dark, chaotic drama that keeps you hooked through the twists and turns, and completely blows your mind away with the ending. The casting is absolutely well-chosen, with Wahaj playing the humble and warm-hearted husband Daniyal who is grieving the sudden kidnapping of his wife, but a twist later reveals he is not who he appears to be. What more do you need to pull you in to watching the drama than the fact that it was directed by Mehreen Jabbar, who was behind ‘Daam’ and ‘Jackson Heights’?
Ye Dil Mera
If you are chronically online then you must have seen on several occasions how this drama was consistently mentioned as the rare, few occasions the Pakistani entertainment industry managed to hit it out of the park. We have to agree with Twitter that its true, this drama lives up to its hype with a gripping storyline, as well as powerful performances by Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir. Sajal stars as Aina, the sheltered daughter of an industrialist who bags a coveted internship with Aman-Ullah Khan. As the two grow closer together, the trauma Aman suffered in his childhood and its link to someone special in Aina’s life threatens to tear apart their relationship.
Cheekh
If you’re not over Saba Qamar’s dizzying, seductive performance in ‘Gunah’ then we can’t blame you because neither are we. She could walk in a room dressed as a sack and will manage to outshine everyone. If you’re looking for more of her capitivating performances, then we recommend you watch ‘Cheekh’ starring Bilal Abbas Khan, Emmad Irfani and Ushna Shah. After the brutal murder and rape of her closest friend, Mannat (played by Qamar) pursues the murderer through court and explores the struggles she must overcome to ensure her friend is given justice.
‘Tumhare Husn Kay Naam’, the new drama serial on Green TV is a timeless love-story woven in threads of melancholic romance, philosophy and nostalgia. Salma (played by Qamar) and Sikandar (played by Abbas), the main leads, epitomize true love as a condition that defies all man-made social divisions and differences. Gear up for a classic romance story bound to stir an ocean of emotions within you.
In the first episode we see that Salma’s mother doesn’t like her daughter’s avoid painting and singing but her father supports her.
Salma is hit by a ball by Sikander at her university, leading him to worry that he may be expelled. He is poor but he loves the arts and wants to become an architect.
He apologizes to Salma, and the two become closer.
The serial breaks the heart with an amazing story, that triumphs with the brilliant direction of Saqib Khan and spectacular performances by Saba Qamar and Imran Abbas.
The episode also got positive reviews from social media.
Reports are coming in that 62,000 people have been evacuated from the country’s coastal line, according to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, and 75 relief camps have been set up at schools and colleges, according to Samaa.
Celebrities and public figures are taking to social media to send helpful advice and prayers to those who could be affected by the natural disaster, as well as encouraging followers on social media to not listen to misinformation while stocking up on all the necessary things they need incase of emergency.
Veteran actress Bushra Ansari shared a video of the sea outside her apartment to disseminate the misinformation that the storm had already reached Karachi, and sent her prayers to the resident’s of this city
Philanthropist and actress Shaniera Akram urged her followers to help the ones living along the coast and whose lifestyle could be harmed due to the floods.
Hope that Pakistan is blessed with protection yet again, but it’s wise to listen to authorities and take caution. If you are along the coast please do what you can to protect your houses, family, staff, businesses, neighbours and animals against the threat of #cyclonebiparjoy…
Actress Mishi Khan urged her followers to keep an emergency bag with them which included medicines, valuables, and cash etc, and to also remain in contact with friends and family members.
Please be alert ‼️ Karachi & other adjoining coastal areas. Be in contact with family & friends and keep an emergency bag to take with you ( medicines, valuables, passport & keep cash ) take your pets with you if you leave for some safe spot . Allah SWT be with U #CycloneBiparjoypic.twitter.com/tJ5YV2pr3Z
There is no harm in finding some humor in dark times, like actress Ushna Shah can as she makes a funny quip about boarding a plane while a cyclone looms over Karachi
“My flight to Karachi is taking off and there is a Cyclone warning there. I just want my husband to know that God forbid if the plane crashes & I don’t make it, I hope he finds happiness with someone new one day.. and I hope he knows she will never be as awesome as me. He will have settled. (It’s really sad that I have to give this disclaimer but I do: this is a joke).”
My flight to Karachi is taking off and there is a Cyclone warning there. I just want my husband to know that God forbid if the plane crashes & I don’t make it, I hope he finds happiness with someone new one day.. and I hope he knows she will never be as awesome as me. He will…
The Pakistani drama ‘Maat’ aired over eleven years ago and featured a thrilling love triangle between two sisters Aiman (played by Amina Sheikh) and Saman (played by Saba Qamar) who fall in love with the same man, Faisal (played by Adnan Siddifiqui).
Faisal first proposes for Saman’s hand in marriage, but after her rejection, he turns to Aiman. Watching Aiman and Faisal happy drives Saman to jealousy and she begins to plot the downfall of her sister.
Years after the serial aired, Siddiqui took to Instagram to share a sweet memory of meeting a neighbor who lived next to the house where the drama was shot, and how an accidental encounter led to a memorable dinner, which the actor still remembers years on.
The actor shared that once when he was heading back to the set after fearing he lost his wallet, he spotted the late Mr. Maroof pacing around worried because no one had visited him for dinner. The neighbor requested Siddiqui to join him for dinner, which the actor recalled was an incredibly memorable experience:
“In that moment, I was struck by the extraordinary character and values that Maroof sahib embodied. Though he had limited means, his heart overflowed with generosity. His insistence on sharing his modest meal revealed a profound philosophy of life—one that emphasises the importance of giving, sharing, and finding fulfillment in serving others.”
The experience taught him that true wealth is never about how much money we have, but how much we care.
