Imran Abbas and Saba Qamar are collaborating for the first time in this Saqib Khan directorial. After giving stellar performances in Baaghi and Cheekh, Saba Qamar took a break from television and shot for two feature films which will release post the pandemic woes.
Written by Sara Qayyum, it also features Chupke Chupke fame, Sidra Niazi and Asad Siddiqui in significant roles. In his latest interview with Dawn, Imran said, “The subject is very nice and unusual, different from what is happening these days.”
The Thora sa haq actor shared the first look on his Instagram handle, the play will showcase different eras of entertainment industry.
Getting a wax statue at Madam Tussauds is undoubtedly a reason of pride for any celebrity across the world, and till date no Pakistani celebrity has achieved it so far.
Here are ten superstars who are in running to be the first Pakistani celebrity to be waxed at Madame Tussauds.
Mahira Khan
Mahira Khan is undoubtedly Pakistan’s biggest female superstar. Her journey from being a VJ to be the country’s numero-uno female superstar surely makes her a potential contender for this list. The Humsafar actress has represented Pakistan at international platforms like Cannes Film Festival.
Sajal Aly
Sajal has proved with every character that she can perform any role with ease, and her character in MOM is a testimony of it. Sajal has both Bollywood and Hollywood in her kitty along with some of the highest rated Pakistani dramas.
Atif Aslam
Atif enjoys a transnational popularity with a number of chartbuster songs, he is considered amongst the finest singers in Pakistan. Atif has also composed music for Bollywood and Hollywood films.
Saba Qamar
Starting off her career with Mein Aurat Hoon, Saba entered the big league with 2011’s Maat and consolidated her position with blockbuster dramas like Digest writer, Baaghi and Cheekh. She received a nomination for the best actress category at prestigious Filmfare awards with her debut Bollywood film, Hindi Medium. The Government of Pakistan honoured her with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2012 and Pride of Performance in 2016.
Fawad Khan
Fawad bagged a Filmfare Award with his debut Bollywood film, Khoobsurat, he has three Lux Style Awards and six Hum Awards in his kitty. He made his film debut with a supporting role in Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye (2007) and then went on to give Pakistani television two cult classics in Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai.
Ayeza Khan
Ayeza, won hearts with her performance in drama serial Chupke Chupke post delivering the biggest television blockbusters with Mere Paas Tum Ho and Pyaray Afzal. She enjoys an envious popularity and is currently the most followed Pakistani on Instagram.
Mewhish Hayat
Mehwish Hayat was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2019. She has starred in some of highest grossing Pakistani films like Jawani Phir Nahi Ani and Punjab Nahi Jaungi.
Fahad Mustafa
Fahad has delivered blockbuster movies like Jawani Phir Nahi Ani and Na Maloom Afraad and has produced some super successful dramas like Ishqiya too apart from hosting the highest rated television game show of all time.
Humayun Saeed
Humayun is currently the reigning superstar of Lollywood and local television. The actor has the biggest blockbusters of both the mediums in his kitty like Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 and Mere Paas Tum Ho respectively.
Shaan Shahid
Shaan, is not only an actor, he is also a producer, writer and a film director. In a career spanning over 30 years the Khuda Kay Liye actor has won many awards and has hosted television shows as well.
Javaid Sheikh
He started his acting career in 1973 and since than has worked in over 150 transnational movies. He is indeed a living legend and is an asset of our entertainment industry.
Hamza Ali Abbasi once hijacked Saba Qamar’s Facebook account about which the Baaghi actress revealed on HSY’s chat show.
Saba was invited to Hassan Sheheryar Yaseen’s (HSY) show, Tonight With HSY, when the host quipped her about her controversial post, she revealed that it was a prank by Hamza. Saba elaborated that when she and Hamza were sitting together somewhere, the Man Mayal actor asked her if he could check her Facebook, Saba said she thought that maybe he wanted her to like some page and was going to do it for her, therefore, she handed over her phone to him. Hamza posted the “I love you” comment on his wall from Saba’s account without even telling Qamar.
Saba said that she never felt the need to give justifications to anyone because she knew that there was nothing between them.
A drama page posted the comment along with Hamza and Saba’s picture on Facebook and after that rumors about Saba Qamar and Hamza Ali Abbasi being more than just friends surfaced social media.
After a phenomenal performance in Hindi Medium with the late Irrfan Khan in 2017, Saba Qamar won million hearts. At the time, Bollywood superstar Vidya Balan also messaged Qamar after seeing her performance.
Balan took out sometime to catch the film. And after watching it, she sent a long text to Saba.
In her message, Vidya wrote: “Hi Saba… This is Vidya Balan. Watched Hindi Medium today and took your number from Zeenat… Just wanted to tell you that you were amazing in the film. It’s a character that one could dislike easily for being so pushy but you humanized her and made her believable and likable… Really wow!! Congrats on your performance and on huge success of the film. All the best VB.”
Of course, Saba was touched by Vidya’s gesture. She instantly took to Twitter to post a sweet message. Saba tweeted: “Being praised by one of the best actresses of bollywood is a huge deal. I’m overwhelmed!”
Saba also posted a picture of Vidya’s message with caption, “I still can’t believe that I spoke to THE Vidya Balan. Being praised by one of the best actresses of Bollywood is a huge deal for me. I’m truly touched and honoured.”
She went on to say, “Such a sweet gesture by her to take out the time to appreciate my work. It’s the best feeling ever when someone you admire so much, praises and appreciates your work. You’re beautiful inside out. Thank you! Loads of love!”
Saba’s launch film in Bollywood, Hindi Medium is a lighthearted romantic film about a young couple in Chandni Chowk, who want their daughter to get the best possible education.
American sitcom Friends is amongst the most viewed television shows of all time. Being a blockbuster series, it lasted for ten seasons and enjoyed worldwide viewership with multiple re-telecasts. The series is currently available on Netflix and has a significant viewership in Pakistan. It revolves around the bonding and regular life routines of six friends in their thirties.
If a local producer decides to buy its copy rights and remake it with a Pakistani cast, Here’s the ideal leading cast:
Rachel Green – Mahira Khan
Rachel is a beautiful fashion enthusiast with an inconsistent love life, she became a rage in pop culture for her dressing sense and hairstyles. Mahira has it in her to essay a role like this going by her great sense of fashion and her impeccable looks making her the right choice for the role.
Ross Geller – Fawad Khan
Ross is a suave paleontologist with three failed marriages and an interest in philosophical conversations which his friends don’t find intriguing. Ross is Monica’s elder brother and Rachel’s on and off love interest.
Joey Tribbiani – Sheheryar Munawar
Joey is a struggling actor and a foodie with flirtatious traits, Sheheryar has played similar roles in his films like Ho Mann Jahan. The Parey Hut Love actor has the charm to pull of this iconic character.
Phoebe Buffay – Saba Qamar
Phoebe is the funniest of the lot with a heart of gold and a failed music career. Saba displayed her comic histrionics on Hum sub umeed se hain and Miss Fire, giving us assurance about a promising comic timing on celluloid.
Monica Geller- Mehwish Hayat
Monica had elements of a bossy, competitive, and obsessive-compulsive nature who wants things to be perfect but still manages to choose the wrong men for herself except for Chandler. Monica is stylish and has the ability of binding the group together.
Chandler – Fahad Mustafa
Chandler is the guy who can make you laugh and can effortlessly confuse you with his sarcasm. Fahad Mustafa is an apt choice for this role going by his performances in Na Maloom Afrad series and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 which showcased his convincing witty performances.
Sharing about her experience the Lahore Se Agay actress said that she was offered the project as a telefilm but the makers later cheated her and released it as a feature film after the news of her signing a Bollywood film surfaced.
8969 is a 2016 Pakistani thriller film directed by Azeem Sajjad. The film stars Qamar, and other actors namely Hussain Tiwana, Sadaf Hamid, Anam Goher and Ali Jabran Khan in significant roles. It was released on 2nd December 2016 under the production banner of A J Media Productions.
The actress was regretful of working in the project and candidly revealed that she reached out to the makers to stop the film’s release and even asked them to take the film’s production cost by her in return. “I told them, you invested 5 lacs on the shoot, take 10 lacs from me but don’t release it as a film”.
The film however went unnoticed and couldn’t damage Saba’s star-power.
Mehar Bano shared in her interview with Something Haute that actress Saba Qamar rescued her when she was harassed at a drama set. Saba and Mehar Bano have collaborated on multiple projects such as Bunty I Love You and Miss Fire.
“One of my first cases when i had to experience harassment, Saba Qamar actually came to my rescue”.
She continued: “Aik mic wala tha, you can get harassed at anytime by anyone, especially when you don’t know what’s going on and you are just a child.”
She had to involve a senior actor as she was new in this field, “I told her because I did not know what was going on, she just went on set and got him kicked out. I think it is the only time I remember a woman taking such a strong stance for me.”
This incident did make Mehar Bano more aware about the fact that how unpredictable work place harassments can be, “It made me realize that I should be more aware that what happens to me and what happens to other girls so that I can also stand up for them.”
On the work front, Saba Qamar Zaman is all set to make a comeback on television with the upcoming drama serial,Tumhare Husn K Naam. Besides Saba, the drama will also feature Imran Abbas, Salman Shahid, Nayyer Ijaz and Asad Siddiqui. Meharbano is currently being seen on Geo Entertainment’s Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3.
The local drama industry is going through major content crises due to the repetition of themes and lack of experimentation. This was the reason that kept megastars like Mahira Khan and Saba Qamar away from the small screen platform for the last few years. However, the scenario seems to be getting better as some key upcoming projects are based on unique stories and trailblazing screenplays with fresh star-cast. We present to you the six most exciting dramas to look forward to in the second half of the year.
Ishq-e-Laa
Riding high on the success of his last venture, Dushman E Jaan, Director Amin Iqbal has managed to pull off a casting coup by getting on-board a stellar cast in his upcoming biggie. Powerhouse performers Sajal Aly and Yumna Zaidi are the leading ladies of this ambitious project, penned by the veteran writer, Qaisera Hayat of Alif Allah Aur Insaan fame. It features debutant Azaan Sami Khan as the leading hero, along with Adnan Samad Khan of Ehd-e-Wafa fame.
Superstar Mahira Khan is making a comeback to the medium of television after 5 years in this Farooq Rind directorial, co-starring Kubra Khan and Usman Mukhtar. Based on Umera Ahmed’s novel of the same title, this drama is apparently based around a dysfunctional family and sheds light on the impact of flawed parenting on children.
Actress Zainab Qayoom plays a pivotal role in the drama and also shared her excitement for the shooting spell.
Amidst a barrage of melodramatic scripts and emotionally turbulent screenplays, this drama promises to be in the light-hearted space. Produced by Momina Duraid, Laa Pata boasts of a stellar star-cast headlined by Ayeza Khan, Sarah Khan, Ali Rehman Khan and Gohar Rasheed.
Gohar shared an interesting BTS from the sets of this Khizer Idrees directorial on Instagram. Ayeza plays the character of a TikToker, “Geeti Princess” and asked fans to follow her character’s account on video sharing app.
Imran Abbas and Saba Qamar are collaborating for the first time in this Saqib Khan directorial. After giving stellar performances in Baaghi and Cheekh, Saba Qamar took a break from television and shot for two feature films which will release post the pandemic woes. Written by Sara Qayyum, it also features Chupke Chupke fame, Sidra Niazi and Asad Siddiqui in significant roles. In his latest interview with Dawn, Imran said, “The subject is very nice and unusual, different from what is happening these days.”
Fahad Mustafa has roped in Danish Taimoor and Minal Khan for his upcoming production venture. The serial is touted to be a love story with some major plot twists. It is being directed by Jalan fame Abiz Raza. The project has been on floors since March 2021 and is expected to release towards the end of this month. Ishq Hai‘s team shared its multiple posters today on social media platforms, giving their fans a solid tease.
Urwa Hocane and Imran Abbas put their fans into frenzy when they announced their next drama for ARY Digital, Amanat. This dynamic on-screen pair has been having great fun on their sets and even shared some moments with their fans, including a video in which they are singing together. It boasts of an ensemble star-studded cast with names like, Saboor Ali, Haroon Shahid, Gohar Rasheed, Salman Saeed, Saba Pervaiz, Babar Ali, and Sheheryar Zaidi among others.
Music composer, Naveed Nashad has worked on its OST after delivering a chartbuster with Do Bol.
Saba Qamar Zaman is all set to make a comeback on television with upcoming drama serial, Tumhare Husn K Naam. Besides Saba, the drama will also feature Imran Abbas, Salman Shahid, Nayyer Ijaz and Asad Siddiqui.
Directed by Saqib Khan, Tumhare Husn K Naam has been written by Sara Qayyum, while Umera Ahmed is the screenwriter.
The actor, in a recent social media post, raised a question which many Pakistanis had been asking over the past month: “Why is Sexify trending at number one on Netflix Pakistan during the Holy month of Ramzan?”
“Awam toh humari bohut shareef hai phir yeh trending mein No 1 peh kyun hai?” questioned Saba.
Sexify, an eight-episode Polish series, is about budding software developer Natalia who knows a lot about programming and very little about sex. With her friends Monika and Paulina, she embarks on a quest to better understand the mysteries of the female orgasm and build an app that will win an inter-university competition and maybe, just maybe, serve the needs of her peers.
