Tag: social media

  • Ask-i-Memnu fans are in for a treat with Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Beren Saat’s spicy chemistry in ‘Last Call For Istanbul’

    Ask-i-Memnu fans are in for a treat with Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Beren Saat’s spicy chemistry in ‘Last Call For Istanbul’

    If you were alive during the 2000’s, chances are you probably fell down the rabbit hole that was ‘Ishq-e-Mamnoon’ or the Turkish drama ‘Ask-i-Memnu’. Particularly, the most spiciest (and bonkers) part of the drama was the forbidden romance between step mother Bihter (played by Beren Saat) and adopted son Behlul (played by Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ), and the way it captured the hearts of Pakistanis was mesmerising. But fans who are still not over the amazing chemistry between the duo will definitely enjoy the Netflix film ‘Last Call For Istanbul’, which stars both actors.

    It looks like Pakistani fans are still not over how Kivanc and Beren prove they still have the game even after starring in a film after 15 long years. The two meet at New York airport after Serin (played by Beren) finds out her luggage was accidentally taken by someone, and Mehmat (played by Kivanc) helps her re-locate it. Both affirm their commitment to their partners, although Serin complains she feels her marriage is no longer satisfying her, and try to keep their feelings repressed when they have to lodge together in a hotel for the night.

    It has already been two days since the film was released on Netflix and already it’s getting rave reviews for the insane chemistry between the lead actors, as well as how the themes of marriage and independence are explored. Twitter users are already over the moon watching their favourite ship heal the wound left by Ask-i-Memnu’s tragic ending. Yup I’m still not over it as well.

    Yup we’re claiming these two to be our OTP for life.

  • Here are the winners from the Filmfare OTT awards 2023

    Here are the winners from the Filmfare OTT awards 2023

    The annual Filmfare OTT awards were held on Sunday to celebrate India’s storytelling and art in the streaming space. Several big names were among the attendees including Alia Bhatt, Rajkummar Rao, Kajol and Manoj Bajpayee, who were the big winners of the night.

    Alia Bhatt was the belle of the ball, looking breathtaking in a silky black gown, walking away with the biggest award of the night ‘Best Actor in Web Original Film’. In her speech, the actress thanked Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and Darling’s director Jasmeet K Reen on the stage. Netflix shows Scoop and Kohraa bagged some of the biggest awards.

    Here is a list of the winners of the celebrated event.

    Best Series – Scoop

    Best Director Series – Vikramaditya Motwane (Jubilee)

    Best Actor, Series (Male): Drama – Suvinder Vicky (Kohrra)

    Best Actor, Series (Female), Critics: Drama – Karishma Tanna (Scoop) and Sonakshi Sinha (Dahaad)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Male): Drama – Barun Sobti (Kohrra)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Female): Drama – Tillotama Shome (Delhi Crime Season 2)

    Best Actor, Critics’ (Male): Film – Rajkummar Rao (Monica O My Darling)

    Best Actor, Web Original Film (Female) – Alia Bhatt (Darlings)

    Best Actor, Critics’ (Female): Film – Sharmila Tagore (Gulmohar) and Sanya Malhotra (Kathal)

    Best Supporting Actor, Web Original Film (Female) – Amruta Subhash (Lust Stories 2) and Shefali Shah (Darlings)

  • ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    Television presenter and cryptocurrency expert Waqar Zaka fired back at actress and morning show host Nida Yasir over her claims that he tried to sabotage her show. In a video statement posted on his social media accounts, Waqar revealed he had complained about Nida’s conduct of hosting morning shows when she invited the parents of a deceased girl who was raped and then murdered. The show was subjected to intense controversy as Nida made the parents cry by asking them invasive and hurtful questions, which caused outrage.

    Waqar said that Nida claimed the parents had themselves requested to be invited on the show in order to gain media support to grant their daughter justice. However, he refuted these claims by sharing the video of an activist interviewing the parents, who revealed they were invited by Nida, rather than the other way round.

    Waqar debunked another claim made by Nida on her show, where she claimed the family had filed an FIR after their appearance. But as Waqar shared in the clip, the activist spoke with the victim’s parents who revealed they had filed it before making their appearance on the morning show.

    Waqar shared that these revelations had created an outrage on social media, which is when in 2020 he had encouraged his followers to file a report with PEMRA, and to message Salman Iqbal, the CEO of ARY, to remove Nida as a host.

    “It is insensitive how Nida exploited a case like this for the sake of getting ratings, and lied so much that she couldn’t even apologise after getting caught later,” said Waqar. “And also remember: a host is always aware of what goes on during the show. If the host approves something, then it appears on the show.”

    Waqar further added it’s time all the elderly hosts sitting on their morning shows should now consider letting go, and giving other young people a chance. He added Nida should host a contest to see who could replace her, and revealed he had complained to Salman Iqbal that other women should be given a platform because Nida was no ‘Oprah’ and nor did she hold any philosophy in her life.

    On Saturday, Nida made headlines when as a guest on Geo’s ‘Hasna Mana Hai’, she revealed Waqar Zaka had tried to sabotage her morning show as well as her career. She added the two were on good terms during the time he worked with the channel, but his demeanour changed when he left.

    “When Waqar left ARY, he started sending emails to the channel’s management, urging them to remove me from my morning show,” she confessed.

  • Contestants on Netflix’s ‘Squid Game Challenge’ are suing the show for injuries suffered

    Netflix released a reality television show based on the popular Korean series ‘Squid Games’, featuring contestants competing in a series of games for a coveted prize. However, news reports reveal that contestants are taking legal action against Netflix and the producers by claiming they suffered extensive injuries during filming.

    The players spoke about their experience in shooting some of the popular games from the show including ‘Red Light, Green Light’, in which players must try to reach the finish line without drawing the attention of the robot doll. British law firm Express Solicitors is representing two clients who had taken part in the contest. Both have said they had no idea about the risks they had to take while shooting during cold periods for long months. Filming for the games took place at Cardington Studios in Bedfordshire during a cold winter in Britain. Several participants required medical treatment.

    “Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did. Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures,” said the CEO of Express Solicitors Daniel Slade to The Guardian.

    Slade recalled one client who witnessed “seeing someone faint, then people shouting for medics. We have a case where someone complains of hypothermia. One had his hands turn purple from the cold.”

    The reality television series comes after the successful Korean drama, the most-watched show on Netflix, surpassing the popular British period drama “Bridgerton”. It received several Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series, with Lee Jung-Jae winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series, becoming the first Asian actor to do so.

    The series follows broke father Seong Gi-Hun, who decides to enroll in the games in order to provide for his mother, and win custody of his daughter.

  • ‘Israel is the only country that keeps children as prisoners of war’: Gigi Hadid

    ‘Israel is the only country that keeps children as prisoners of war’: Gigi Hadid

    Palestinian-American supermodel Gigi Hadid has criticised Israeli for abusing and torturing Palestinian children as a tactic to destroy Gaza. During the four day ceasefire which began on Friday, several captives who were locked in Israeli prisons were released, including children.

    Gigi shared a picture of a Palestinian boy, who has developed mental health issues after remaining locked away in Israeli prisons. Taking to Instagram to share the picture of Ahmed Almansara, the model slammed Israel’s tactics of raping and torturing Palestinian children, a routine practice before the October 7 attacks.

    “Israel is the only country in the world that keeps CHILDREN AS PRISONERS OF WAR. ABDUCTION, RAPE, HUMILIATION, TORTURE, MURDER OF PALESTINIANS. YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS BEFORE OCTOBER 7 2023.”

    Gigi shared another news report revealing how Israelis were against the release of women and children by claiming that they were terrorists.

    “Israel sees any Palestinian as a ‘terrorist’. Any person supporting Palestinian rights as an ‘anti semite’ and any Jew that is opposed to the government’s actions as ‘self-hating’-even telling them to denounce their Judaism. So… everyone’s lying and wrong, except Israel?!

    If it wasn’t so evil and disturbing, it would be comedic.”

    Gigi shared another video by a Palestinian boy who prayed that the ceasefire is established for good and ends the war, writing that she prayed that every child deserves peaceful days.

  • No ‘illegal alien’ sent back on Friday thanks to verification process installed by Afghan Consulate General

    For the first time since the start of the repatriation plan of undocumented immigrants early this month, not a single ‘illegal alien’ was sent home via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday as Afghan authorities has announced to link the acceptance of deportations with the verification of their status by the Afghan consulate-general here.

    The decision was made after multiple cases of Afghan-looking Pakistanis being deported to Afghanistan surfaced. “Multiple cases of Pakistanis being sent to Afghanistan as illegal migrants have been reported,” an official source in the Afghan Consulate told Dawn.

    Unfortunately, whenever Afghan authorities took such Pakistanis to the border, Pakistani officials refused to receive them.

    The other reason stated by Afghan consulate is the harassment Afghan deportees are facing at the hands of Pakistani authorities even though many of them are repatriating voluntarily.

    “Many illegal aliens are leaving Pakistan voluntarily but they’re stopped and taken into custody on their way before their repartition. They’re not given time to carry their belongings,” an official told Dawn.

    Afghan consulate expressed concern over the separation of families that has been observed over the month. They said in “many” cases, men from undocumented families were deported, leaving behind their female dependants.

    Pakistani authorities have said that they have not been informed about the deportation condition, claiming that all allegations leveled by Afghan consulate are “baseless”, delaying the process of deportation.

    “Only deportation is linked with the verification letter. The voluntary repatriation is still continuing without any hurdle,” Pakistan responded.

    However, around 119 illegal migrants were deported from Punjab to Afghanistan via the Torkham border crossing on Thursday, according to officials.

  • Jemima Khan shares joyful news of son launching app

    Film screenwriter Jemima Khan took to her X (formerly Twitter) account to share the happy news that her son Kasim Khan, has finally launched his own app Mifu, which will help influencers connect with marketing brands.

    “So proud of my son,” Jemima tweeted.

    Many tweets congratulated Jemima while others were heartbroken at how his father, former prime minister Imran Khan, was not able to attend the joyous occasion because of imprisonment.

    Journalist Fifi Haroon congratulated Jemima by writing: “

    Hey very cool Jemima. Best of luck to the young man (who looks so much like you BTW) for every success!”

  • In times of division and hatred, Kabli Pulao was the necessary television content we needed

    In times of division and hatred, Kabli Pulao was the necessary television content we needed

    Who would have thought that at a time when Pakistan is seeing discrimination and hatred displayed openly for the vulnerable Afghan refugees, we get to watch a television show displaying cultural solidarity and harmony in such a beautiful manner? When Green Entertainment announced ‘Kabli Pulao’ among their list of to-be-released dramas, many were curious about whether it would follow the lines of the misogynist trope involving an old man marrying a younger woman, given the wide age gap between the main lead actors Sabeen Farooq and Mohammed Ehteshamuddin. But, this is a show every person needs to watch to accept our cultural differences, and that no one is an ‘illegal alien’.

    The drama centres around elderly bachelor Hajji Mushtaq, who spent his life caring for his sisters and their children, and is lovingly referred to as ‘baray abba’ by them. When he meets Barbeena while travelling in Mardan, her brother begs him to marry her to protect her from falling into the hands of her abusive brother-in-law. Hajji Mushtaq reluctantly agrees to do so.

    Their marriage is obviously not met with approval at first. Barbeena’s entry into Mushtaq’s family is met with scorn and racism. Mushtaq’s sisters Chammo and Zubaida at first suspect she is a spy, sent to take over their brother’s wealth and force them out of the family. Barbeena has to pretend she is a newly hired maid, and after a feud reveals that she is actually Mushtaq’s wife, she is met with accusations of shaming the honour of the family.

    But the willingness displayed by Barbeena to win over the family, and especially how she brings joy into Hajji Mushtaq’s life, and then slowly for the rest of the family members, is something no other drama has ever displayed. It is Barbeena’s Afghan background that helps her win over everyone else. In episode four, the family fawns over her roghni naans and her kabli pulao. Barbeena bonds with the younger children by singing Afghan songs, sharing her traditional dresses and dancing with them. Soon she partners with Hajji Mushtaq to set up her business selling the kabli pulao to customers.

    It was some time ago when I was re-watching episode three, where the family hounds Hajji Mustaq and begs him to send Barbeena away. Ironically at this point, there was a heartbreaking video going viral on the internet featuring a young Afghan boy with tears in his eyes saying goodbye to his classmates as his family was being sent back to Afghanistan. Since that moment, we’ve seen consistently how much burden the term ‘illegal alien’ carries, the way it strips a human of their humanity and dignity.

    Videos from Aurat March show how Afghan refugees were kept in cramped conditions, denied basic respect as their children were picked up by officers and ‘accidentally deported’ over racist assumptions. Irony lies in how this is the same country where ‘Kabuli Pulao’ was became one of the best television shows to come out this year, yet it’s sole inspiration, the Afghan refugees, are treated with such malice.

    The enduring message of Barbeena’s resilience, and her blossoming relationship with Hajji Mushtaq, was that there is beauty in our cultural diversity. Barbeena’s uniqueness in her Afghan heritage, turned this drama into more than just a simple love story but a message on how Pakistani’s need to know more than ever to open up their hearts rather than shut them down. Accept our neighbours as our friends rather than turn them away because of our own internalised racism.

    This message resonates with the horrific treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza, and how their oppression is justified with terms like ‘human animals’ and ‘barbarians’. Because now more than ever, us Pakistanis need to become the anti-thesis of hateful rhetoric and learn to hold those close who had no choice but to leave their homes in search of better opportunities.

    All episodes of ‘Kabli Pulao’ are available to watch on Youtube.

  • Another book launch today against Imran Khan

    After former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan released a book in August 2018 detailing her tumultuous and short-lived marriage, Pakistani actress, Hajira Panezai, has made serious allegations against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman in her book, The News has reported.  

    Actress Hajira Khan’s memoir, titled “WHERE THE OPIUM GROWS: Surviving Pakistan as a Woman, an Actress And Knowing Imran Khan,” was published in America in 2014.

    In the book, she reflects on her experiences with the PTI Chairman. The actress revealed that in her last book, many important things were deleted, but now she is going to publish a book with significant details.

    She explained how she was chased by popular individuals, calling it a “dark experience”.

    Panezai also claimed that her social media accounts were hacked by Imran Khan’s team, adding that she was forced to leave Pakistan as the PTI chairman was afraid of being exposed by her.

    The actress worked with Geo in 2009, and appeared in a film titled Pinky Memsaab in 2018. Hajira Khan claimed that her book is based on true stories, while the book is being launched in Islamabad today.

  • Israeli soldier posts video playing guitar he stole from Palestinian after bombing

    Israeli soldier posts video playing guitar he stole from Palestinian after bombing

    A heartbreaking video is going viral on the internet where an Israeli soldier was seen playing a guitar he stole from a Palestinian home after bombing it. The guitar belonged to Hamadah, who shared online that the guitar was gifted to him by his late father, who passed away after the 2014 Gaza attacks.

    “I was shocked today when I saw this TikTok video of an IOF soldier playing guitar in the midst of the rubble in Gaza. I know this guitar very well, because there are not many guitars like this in Gaza. My dad gifted me this guitar 15 years ago. My dad died shortly after the 2014 attack on Gaza, and now they have come to take the last thing I have from him.’
    Isn’t it enough that they take away our loved ones, our homes, our families, and even our music and memories? Where does the injustice stop?!”

    Hamadah shared two videos where he was seen humming a melody on the guitar, and then an Israeli soldier strumming it at a bombed site.

    The video has since then gotten responses with users writing they’re horrified by the brutality displayed by Israeli soldiers.

    “this is actually sinister. I’ve seen countless videos of them “playing” amongst the rubble. What could be so awful inside you to push you to do that? It’s inhumane. It’s lacking compassion empathy emotions and humanity,” one user wrote.

    Comedian Anees and activist Shaun King expressed their outrage over the video.