Tag: Sajal Aly

  • ‘Mujhe shaadi par koi nahi bulata,’ says Hira Mani

    ‘Mujhe shaadi par koi nahi bulata,’ says Hira Mani

    Hira Mani has expressed her disappointment with Iqra Aziz, Sarah Khan, Sajal Aly and Mira Sethi for not inviting her to their weddings.

    In a recent interview with actor and host Mira, Hira said that Pakistani celebrities don’t invite her to their weddings. Naming all those who didn’t invite her, Hira remarked that her colleagues don’t invite her because they don’t consider her as their friend.

    Pointing her guns at the host, Hira said, “You didn’t invite me to your wedding, Sajal didn’t invite me to her wedding, Sarah [Khan] did the same and Iqra also didn’t invite me.”

    “I don’t know why I am not being invited to weddings? Maybe I am not their friend,” said the actor.

    Sethi right away apologised to Hira and said that she had invited people via WhatsApp, and people who were on her contact list got the invitation.

    “Please forgive me, I forgot to invite you to my wedding because I cannot even say that I will invite you next time,” said Mira.

    In reply to this, Hira said, “Don’t worry, I will invite everyone to Muzammil’s (Hira’s sons) wedding.”

  • Five Pakistani dramas PM Khan should watch

    Five Pakistani dramas PM Khan should watch

    Ever since he assumed office, Prime Minister Imran Khan has given us plenty of recommendations on drama serials and books – the most prominent being Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul and Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love. Earlier this week, PM Khan recommended the youth to watch another Turkish show on Sufism Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu, which is also being aired on PTV in Urdu.

    While we love the fact that the PM takes out time to recommend stuff to the youth, we decided to turn the tables and recommend him a few recent (in the past two years) Pakistani drama serials which are worth watching. Check out our suggestions below:

    Sabaat

    While Hum TV’s Sabaat in its essence is a family drama exploring familial relations and dynamics, its presentation was very refreshing, in particular Anaya and Hassan’s storyline. The drama highlighted the importance of having a healthy, loving relationship with your children and gave out a strong message on the importance of empowering women and daughters and gave viewers a new heroine after Zindagi Gulzar Hai‘s Kashf. It also showed how ego, money and misunderstandings can ruin relationships and your life. All these themes are the ones which PM Khan has time and time again urged our drama writers to show on television.

    Read more – ‘Sabaat’ manages to tie up loose ends in a rushed finale

    Alif

    Starring PM Imran’s BFF Hamza Ali Abbasi and Sajal Aly in the lead, Alif, written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Haseeb Hasan focuses on the spiritual journeys of two individuals Qalb-e-Momin (Hamza) and Momina Sultan (Sajal), who despite coming from completely different backgrounds help each other find peace in righteousness. Alif was a brilliant example of good storytelling and sensitive direction. Moreso, the entire cast of the drama including Hamza, Sajal, Ahsan Khan, Manzar Sehbai and Kubra Khan gave strong and solid performances. It is pertinent to add here that Hamza in several interviews has shared that his life reflects what is shown in the drama.

    Suno Chanda Season 1

    Perhaps one of the most-loved dramas in the country, Suno Chanda (Season 1) is chaotic, fun and will leave you with a warm feeling. The show which ran through Ramadan and had everyone hooked is about a household in which the children of two brothers get married just before the family’s patriach passes away. Directed by Aehsun Talish and written by Saima Akram Chaudhry, Suno Chanda is a comedy drama done just right. From the performances to the witty dialogues to the direction, everything about this drama was brilliant. The show gave us some memorable characters and there was bound to be one person in the cast you could relate too.

    Out of the list, if there is one drama the prime minister should be watching, it should be Suno Chanda. Will also give him some much-needed respite from the day-to-day political tensions.

    Aangan

    Yet another multi-starrer drama starring some big dramas of the drama industry, Aangan brought back and romanticised living in joint family systems while at the same time highlighting the issues that come with it. The drama very delicately and tactfully challenged societal norms while keeping viewers engaged and hooked. Aangan is without a doubt one of Faiza Iftikhar’s finest works. I am pretty sure Khan sahab is going to love this one. It is everything he wants to promote through television and dramas.

    Sammi

    Perhaps the darkest drama on this list, Mawra Hocane and Adnan Siddiqui’s Sammi sheds light on the custom of vani (or exchange brides) and how women are forced to continuously bear children in the quest for a son. It is gritty and makes you uncomfortable but that is because you know that this is exactly what happens to women in this country. The drama has been sensitively written by Noor ul Huda Shah and directed by Saifee Hassan.

    Is there any other drama you would recommend PM Imran to watch? Let us know in the comments below.

  • Sajal Aly wins big at DIAFA for her contribution to film and television

    Sajal Aly wins big at DIAFA for her contribution to film and television

    Sajal Ahad Mir (Aly) achieved another milestone as she received the prestigious Distinctive International Arab Festivals Award for her contribution to Film and Television.

    Distinctive International Arab Festivals Award (DIAFA), which is held annually in Dubai, honours distinguished international and Arab figures for their annual achievements and contributions towards communities and societies betterment.

    According to DIAFA’s official website, “DIAFA is a unique and prestigious annual event that honours distinguished international and Arab personalities in recognition of their annual achievements and contributions towards communities and societies betterment. These personalities are selected by a qualified committee and honorees are chosen from all fields such as music, arts, culture, business, humanitarian services, etc.”

    Sharing a picture of herself with her golden trophy, Sajal said: “This award is special to me not just as an artist, but as a proud Pakistani. Thank you DIAFA and Thank you Dubai for honouring artists from around the world.”

    While receiving the award, Sajal on-stage said: “I am really honoured to be here with such amazing actors and amazing people. I really want to thank all my fans for believing in me. Thank you DIAFA, Thank you so much for this honour.”

    Soon after Sajal shared her picture with her award, congratulotory messages poured in from fans and colleagues.

    “Proud of you,” said husband Ahad Raza Mir, while sister Saboor Aly called her the “pride of Pakistan”.

    Sajal wore a black outfit for the function and tied her hair in a bun. She accessorized her look with small earrings.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to add her that Sajal shared the table with the star of 365 Days: Italian actor Michele Morrone, who was also recognised for his contribution to the film and television. Morrone also performed at the ceremony.

  • Adnan Siddiqui opens up on how ‘Mom’ left him ’emotionally drained’

    Adnan Siddiqui opens up on how ‘Mom’ left him ’emotionally drained’

    Adnan Siddiqui has often opened up about the challenges that come with being an actor. In a recent Instagram post, the actor recalled how his Bollywood film Mom left him emotionally exhausted and drained.

    “I have always felt that acting tests you emotionally,” said the actor. “Whether it’s a deliberate call by the script or of a wily director to bring out the best of his/her actors.”

    “I have often been confronted with situations in dramas and movies which I would rather not happen to me in real life. We are never comfortable with our fears and insecurities, on-screen or off it. It can be quite taxing emotionally, and never a pleasant experience to film such scenes,” he continued.

    “I remember being thrown into a very poignant moment while shooting a scene of the movie Mom. The director, Ravi Udyawar briefed me that my character Anand Sabarwal, who is seeking justice for his daughter Arya, has his back to the wall.”

    He further shared: “’Adnan, Anand the man is still fighting gallantly but Anand the father feels defeated.’ I can still recall his brief. I nodded and thought to myself, ‘It’s easy’, till the cameras rolled and I started with the shot.”

    Read more – ‘A portion of my life I will never forget’: Sajal Aly celebrates three years of ‘Mom’

    “Being a father of two beautiful daughters, I could relate to the severity of Anand’s pain. I almost lived his frustration, anger, helplessness and fear of losing the battle for his daughter’s justice. I was completely numb and emotionally drained by the end of the shoot. In fact, I still shudder at the thought of Anand’s anguish,” he wrote.

    “Nothing breaks you as much as your child’s suffering and your inability to alleviate it. I pray to Allah that no parent gets to live the reality fictional Anand had to. May Allah keep everyone’s children safe and healthy,” he concluded.

    Mom is a crime thriller film directed by Ravi Udyawar. It is centred around a mother (Sridevi) who sets out to avenge the rape of her stepdaughter (Sajal Aly). Adnan played Sri Devi’s husband and Sajal’s father in the film. The film also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna in supporting roles. The movie marked Sridevi’s 300th and final major film appearance before her sudden demise on February 24 2018.

    Upon its release, the film was a critical and commercial success with critics and audiences lauding the performances.

    Earlier, in 2017 when the film released, Adnan had shared his experience of working with the team.

    Posting pictures from the sets of the film, the actor had written: “It would have been impossible if it wasn’t for people like Boney Kapoor sahab, the man who taught me quite a few things about filmmaking.”

    “Sri Devi jee, who proved why she was and is one of the best the world will ever see. And undoubtedly, our home-grown bundle of exceptional talent Sajal Aly, who didn’t allow a single scene to be ordinary. These were my beacons throughout this project. The man who didn’t give up on anyone of us, the captain of the ship – our director Ravi Udyawar was an iceberg when it came to tackling petty to big issues and guided us all to victory.”

    Mom is available to stream on Netflix Pakistan.

  • Sajal, Ahad win big at HUM Social Media Awards

    Sajal, Ahad win big at HUM Social Media Awards

    The first HUM Social Media Awards Powered by Facebook were streamed live Friday night and while there were a lot of winners, power couple Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly took home four major awards – Most Popular Actor (Male and Female), Most Popular On-Screen Couple and Most Popular Off-Screen Couple. The couple, in a video message, thanked and appreciated their fans who voted for them.

    Read more – Did you know ‘Ehd-e-Wafa’ was shot in 16 cities?

    Other winners include Atif Aslam (Most Popular Music Artist – Male), Aima Baig (Most Popular Music Artist – Female), Shahzad Noor (Most Popular Model – Male), Sadia Khan (Most Popular model – Female), Shahid Khan Afridi (Most Popular Sports Personality), Fahad Mustafa (Most Popular Television Host (entertainment)) and Zaid Ali T (Most Popular Content Creator). Aiman Khan was given a special award for being the Most Followed Celebrity of Pakistan. All the winners were part of the show via audio/video calls and special messages.

    Though the awards were virtual, they were not without some fun performances. Due to COVID-19, celebrities at the ceremony were limited and those who attended included Aiman Khan, Muneeb Butt, Ayesha Omar and Aijaz Aslam. Those who attended kept the viewers engaged with their antics. The highlight of the ceremony, hosted by Yasir Hussain and Mooro, was an electrifying performance by Asim Azhar and the Young Stunners.

    According to a press release, “HUM Social Media Awards Powered by Facebook is the first digitally based award show in Pakistan that has Facebook under its banner, making it distinguished and authentic in its true sense by recognising and encouraging deserving individuals working in the fields of music, entertainment, fashion, sports and content creation who have gained popularity over the years and have made their mark digitally.”

    “The criteria of these awards and selection of nominees was based purely on their social media followers/subscribers, interaction rate and content created between July 2019 to June 2020, using Facebook Authentic Tool. All the nominees were put up for audience voting via website and the winners were selected on the basis of audiences’ votes,” it adds.

  • Adnan Siddiqui shares candid moments from the sets of ‘Ye Dil Mera’

    Adnan Siddiqui shares candid moments from the sets of ‘Ye Dil Mera’

    Sajal Aly, Ahad Raza Mir and Adnan Siddiqui’s romantic thriller Ye Dil Mera wrapped up Wednesday night with a bittersweet ending. While fans are devastated that Amaan (Mir) and Aina (Aly) did not end up together, others are satisfied with the way the drama ended.

    Read more – Intense, thrilling and mysterious: Why ‘Ye Dil Mera’ is a must-watch

    Adnan, who played the suave but manipulative Mir Farooq Zaman, in an Instagram post, bid goodbye to his character and thanked his fans for appreciating his work.

    “The character of Mir Farooq Zaman was a tricky one. It was also sensitive and negative in its own way but am glad you all liked and appreciated my work,” wrote Adnan.

    The actor also shared some fun moments from the sets of the drama.

    Check them out below:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQ8qu8nRHm/
  • Celebrities honour their ‘Ammis’ on Mother’s Day

    Celebrities honour their ‘Ammis’ on Mother’s Day

    Along with the rest of the world, Pakistan also celebrated Mother’s Day on Sunday and paid a tribute to the real superheroes in our lives. Check out some sweet Mother’s Day wishes below, starting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, of course.

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  • Sajal Aly says ‘it’s not easy to capture Ahad’s beauty’

    Sajal Aly says ‘it’s not easy to capture Ahad’s beauty’

    Looks like Sajal Aly is using her time off to explore other art forms including sketching and painting.

    The actor, who tied the knot with co-star Ahad Raza Mir just before the lockdown, sketched a portrait of her husband and joked that it is not easy to capture “Ahad’s beauty”.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zQPfDFjgf/

    Meanwhile, Sajal’s best friend Zara Noor Abbas commented that the sketch does not look anything like Ahad. In response, Yasir Hussain remarked that it is definitely Ahad and that men change after marriage.

    Sajal later shared another picture of herself – this time while painting.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_1tzbyFeia/

    Sajal and Ahad tied the knot in late March in Abu Dhabi in the presence of their close friends and family. Their drama Ye Dil Mera is currently on-air and is being widely appreciated by critics and audiences.

    Read more – Intense, thrilling and mysterious: Why ‘Ye Dil Mera’ is a must-watch

  • Intense, thrilling and mysterious: Why ‘Ye Dil Mera’ is a must-watch

    Intense, thrilling and mysterious: Why ‘Ye Dil Mera’ is a must-watch

    Pakistani drama makers including the actors, directors, writers or producers rarely venture into the thriller/mystery genre because they are usually a gamble. The usual love triangles or saas-bahu storylines are tried, tested and safe which is why they deem it better to pour their energies and resources into that. Amidst all such stories, Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly’s Ye Dil Mera is like a breath of fresh air. The drama doesn’t have the usual ingredients of a masala entertainer but the way the story unfolds and the scenes transition make it a compelling and exciting watch.

    Ye Dil Mera is centred around Noor ul Ain, Aina (Sajal Aly) who is the only daughter of Mir Farooq Zaman (Adnan Siddiqui). The father dotes on his daughter and ensures that she is always wrapped in a protective bubble. Aina is married to Amaanullah (Ahad Raza Mir), who has a dark past. Amaan’s character is the desi version of Christian Grey, minus the fetishes. While on the surface of it, all three lead characters lead perfectly, rich lives, it is the multiple layers below the surface that move the plot. Aina suffers from nightmares, reminiscent of a dark past in which her mother was killed when she was very young. Amaan’s parents and sister are also dead and despite being a successful businessman, he is a bitter person. On the other hand, Farooq who appears to be the perfect father leads a double life. All three characters have an intertwined past and the plot is built upon that.

    The script, penned by Farhat Ishtiaq is perhaps the strongest part of the entire drama – it boasts marvellous storytelling which keeps the viewers captivated. Couple that with phenomenal performances and excellent direction (by Aehsun Talish) and you have a top-class product. Though the drama starts typically with boy meeting girl and the two falling in love and drags at a few points, it soon quickly moves to the main plot. Each scene flows into the next and there are no loose ends left untied in any episode. The drama does get predictable at points but the good thing is that the makers haven’t waited till the last episode to reveal all the secrets – those keep unravelling as we go on.

    While the three leads – Sajal, Ahad and Adnan – all have given powerful performances, Ahad stole the show. The way he jumps from one mood into another with utmost ease is a treat to watch. His character has multiple layers and shades and Ahad executes each one of them perfectly. And of course, how can we forget to mention Sajal and Ahad’s chemistry – it’s lit as always.

    One thing I’d like to add before finishing the review is that I liked how there was no shame attached to having mental problems. At several points through the drama, the lead characters encourage each other to seek proper treatment for the problems they are facing. The therapist, Dr has also been shown as a pleasant character.

    If you enjoyed Yakeen Ka Safar, chances are that you will love Ye Dil Mera as well. And given that 23 episodes of the drama have aired so far and we’re all self-isolating at home, it’s a good idea to start binge-watching the drama.

  • IN PICTURES: Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly’s colourful mehndi

    IN PICTURES: Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly’s colourful mehndi

    If you thought pictures from Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly’s nikkah were dreamy, you haven’t seen pictures from their mehndi. The couple and their friends shared pictures from the intimate affair which appeared to be a colourful fun-filled event.

    Read more – Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly are married

    Check out pictures here:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B94IvG7J9lU/
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    https://www.instagram.com/p/B94Y1UdHbs2/

    Looks like their friends also had a blast.

    Ahad and Sajal tied the knot in Abu Dhabi on March 14 amidst their close friends and family. The couple reportedly met on the sets of their super hit Yakeen ka Safar and hit it off from there.

    In case you missed pictures from their wedding, check them out here.