Television host, journalist, and writer Aftab Iqbal recently engaged in a heated argument with Sohail Ahmed, which became quite public.
Talking about the clash of words, Aftab Iqbal said in a recent interview, “It was just something I had to respond to. I have a great camaraderie with Sohail Ahmed, and I wished we could have discussed it together on a forum. I still regard him as a great talent, but I felt like some allegations needed a response, so I made a video.”
He said, “There’s a possibility of collaborating with Kapil Sharma. A producer and a mutual friend wanted to organize a joint show with Team Kapil and Team Aftab in Dubai. We were supposed to meet there, but due to certain unforeseen circumstances, it didn’t materialize.”
Legendary actor Sohail Ahmed’s criticism of Aftab Iqbal has been in the news since the past week. The spat started when Sohail Ahmed took Aftab Iqbal to task during Ahmed Ali Butt’s Eid Special Podcast. In the podcast, Butt asked Sohail Ahmed about Aftab Iqbal’s opinion on him and Aman Ullah. This led to a conflict between their fans, with Aftab’s fans criticizing Sohail Ahmed and vice versa. While this social media trolling was still going on, Aftab Iqbal published another video in which he requested his fans and followers to immediately stop trolling Sohail Ahmed.
He said, “The issues between Sohail Ahmed and me are personal matters, like brothers might have disagreements. However, trolling anyone over this is not acceptable, especially someone like Sohail Ahmed. Do you not recognize his talent? Criticizing Sohail Ahmed is akin to criticizing Qavi Khan! These veterans have contributed greatly to Pakistan through their skills for many years. They should be appreciated and respected.”
He further said, “People have used derogatory language and gone below the belt in expressing their opinions, which is unacceptable. I am hurt by Sohail Ahmed’s trolling, and it should stop immediately. I also call out the YouTubers who crossed the line. Iwas somehow instrumental in initiating this debate after posting my response.”
In a recent interview with Ahmed Ali Butt, veteran star Sohail Ahmed discussed various topics such as theater in Pakistan, his experiences working with several individuals including Aftab Iqbal, and the country’s political landscape, including periods of dictatorship.
During the interview, the comedian heavily criticized Aftab Iqbal, his co-worker on Hasb e Haal. Ahmed accused Iqbal of lacking respect for his colleagues and behaving arrogantly, considering himself a know-it-all, charges that have been levelled at the host many times. Ahmed also disapproved of Iqbal’s conduct, suggesting that he should adopt a more humble attitude towards life and his colleagues.
Not one to take criticism lying down, Aftab Iqbal fired back at Sohail Ahmed’s comments, stating that he used to feel shy in front of the camera but clarified that he had been writing columns before starting Hasb e Haal, a show he had come up with. Aftab also praised Sohail’s acting abilities and highlighted the significance of having a good writer and director for an actor’s success. He also expressed respect for Sohail’s talent, noting the lack of greatness in various fields in the country nowadays.
He said, “I was the one who suggested to Sohail Ahmed to bring on more comedians. Initially, he didn’t want to bring on more actors. However, later on, he implemented everything I had suggested for Hasb e Haal. I understand how my clothing provides material for comedians, and that’s something I aim for every time I make a fashion statement.”
For years, television anchor Aftab Iqbal has hosted shows on various channels and platforms. But he has been dogged with publicized issues between him and some of the comedians he has worked with.
Aftab began hosting his first show with Sohail Ahmed, a legendary actor known for his many memorable performances. In his role as Azizi on the show Hasb e Haal, he showcased his skills time and again. Recently, Sohail Ahmed appeared as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast, where he openly discussed the controversies involving Aftab Iqbal and other comedians he collaborated with.
He said, “I think of Aftab Iqbal as a younger brother, and I would like to advise him to be humble.” He went on to say that Aftab needs to understand that one person alone does not run a show. “You need to respect your whole team.” Addressing some of the claims Aftab Iqbal has made, he added, “I was a star way before joining Hasb e Haal, but I still respect the team I work with and always put in my 100%.
Therefore, Aftab needs to understand that you cannot be disrespectful and a know-it-all if you want to be respected in return.”
Green Entertainment’s famous drama serial, ‘Stand-up Girl’, has come to its end. Directed by Kashif Nisar, written by Awais Ahmad & Adeel Afzal, the series stars Sohail Ahmad, Zara Noor Abbas, Danyal Zafar, Saba Faisal, Adnan Shah Tipu, Saqib Sameer, Maira Saeed, and Adeel Afzal. The story revolves around stand-up comedian Zara, who falls in love with her friend Kabeer and decides to leave him.
The last episode of the drama series ‘Stand-Up Girl,’ leaving fans disappointed with its conclusion. Many fans wanted Zara and Kabir to have a happy ending.
But Zara decided to end things because Kabir’s sudden disappearance hurt her. Fans were sad because they expected the drama to end on a lighter note. Some liked the ending, saying Zara chose peace over betrayal. One person on social media said, “We shouldn’t trust rich brats like Kabir.” Fans loved the part where Nana Ji performed stand up show with Zara. They praised Zara Noor Abbas for her great acting and Danyal Zafar for his presence on screen.
