Actor Bilal Ashraf has signed his first drama serial opposite Maya Ali. The duo has started shooting for Hum TV’s upcoming drama, an Ehteshamuddin’s directorial Yunhi.
Although the Janaan star did a telefilm, Ek Hai Nigaar co-starring Mahira Khan, earlier this year on ARY Digital, Yunhi marks his drama debut.
Recently Bilal and Maya appeared together in a fashion film for HSY’s latest bespoke couture collection Khayaal and the fresh reel couple is oozing crackling chemistry.
They also appeared together in Quetta Gladiators official anthem. Their camaraderie has been appreciated by netizens as they don’t shy away from indulging in fun banter on social media.
Pakistani artists from the entertainment industry on Monday came together to start a campaign on social media. The hashtag #GiveRoyaltiesToArtists was posted all over Instagram and Twitter as actors, musicians, models and others stood together to demand royalties for artists.
Following the feedback which some artists got on their posts, along with some hate comments, Ayesha Omar and Faysal Quraishi took to their respective Instagram accounts to give a crash course of what royalties are and what is it that artists are really asking for.
Omar wrote: “I did some research…. was very helpful. All over the world, artists get residuals and royalties. It is their due right. That’s how they survive.”
“P.s. A couple of decades ago, royalties were given to Pakistani artists by PTV. Then it all changed. This movement has been started to secure the future of actors/artists/performers in their times of need. More like a pension of sorts, for their hard work and contributions and for all that comes with being in the entertainment industry,” she added.
“Lots of people don’t understand the meaning of royalties and are not even bothering to check what this term means, before writing insensitive, mean and derogatory comments,” said Ayesha. “Some do know but are still being demeaning and downright horrible. Some don’t understand why this campaign has started. Others are genuinely curious and want to find out more. Some agree wholeheartedly. Some are offering excellent explanations. Some think artists are asking to be ‘treated’ like ‘Royalty’ and mocking us. So, let’s talk about royalties.”
Omar went on to address the difference between royalties and residuals, as some tend to confuse the two terms. Sharing definitions of each term, Omar shared a screenshot highlighting the difference between the two. “Royalties are payments made to you by a one to one contract between you and the licensor or publisher” while “Residuals are payments made to you because of a UNION collective bargaining contract Union representing Actors, Writer or Directors and Producers and Studios covering reuse (reruns) and new use” read the slide. According to the same, “residuals tend to scale down over time while royalties always remain the same percentage.”
While Omar also shared some comments which were made under her post regarding royalties for artists.
Faysal Quraishi chose to address the matter through a video.
Speaking directly to his followers, Quraishi explained how the whole movement began as a result of Naila Jaffery’s plea for royalties. Referring to artists around the world, Quraishi mentioned how writers get royalties for each book sold and the same applies to actors and painters for their services. However, more than actors, it is the producer who usually suffers more. After paying off the team and investing in a project, producers in Pakistan tend to face delays in their payments. Quraishi mentioned how independent producers like him even tend to give up on the profession due to these problems.
Coming to ‘royalties’ and what they mean, the actor provided quite a simple definition. Quraishi explained how royalties are much like pension which is received by an individual after they have retired and have reached the end of their career. The same way, artists are also entitled to receive a certain amount even after they have stopped providing their serviced.
Quraishi also explained how the campaign is not just for actors, but everyone involved in creating projects for the entertainment industry. Elaborating on the number of people employed for a single production, Quraishi emphasised on how royalties are meant to benefit everyone, and not just actors and are essential in keeping the cycle going.
Earlier, Ruswai actor Osama Tahir had also explained what royalties are and why Pakistani artists are demanding them.
The latest teaser of Express Entertainment’s Oye Motti ruffled feathers and sparked outrage on social media for mocking and ridiculing plus-size and heavy women, especially when it comes to marriage.
I can help all 'oye motti' squad to lose weight, spriniting and learn some basic kickass tricks only if they promise me they'll stab them 'people who ridicule fat folk' in the guts whenever they get a chance and run and never get caught. https://t.co/1j7OFPdSye
Turns out that the series does not aim to mock women but is an honest attempt to shed light on body and fat-shaming and how it affects those at the receiving end of criticism. Each episode has a separate storyline and features different women stuck in different scenarios where they are fat-shamed. However, they manage to overcome whatever hurdle comes their way.
The latest episode, Episode 9, featuring Tiktoker Kanwal Aftab and Furqan Qureshi is what stirred outrage. It follows a woman’s horrifying experience, whose fiancé, right after their engagement, announces in front of everyone that her bride-to-be must lose 100 kgs within a year else he won’t marry her. The show has been written by Sajjad Haider Zaidi and directed by Muhammad Iftikhar Iffi.
Aftab, while sharing the teaser of the episode, said that she did this project only for those who have to face body shaming. She urged her followers to stop criticising each other for their weight and let everyone live their life the way they want.
While the show may have faltered in dealing with the topic sensitively, what’s even more alarming is that the teaser is a reflection of our society. The culture of choosing a bride in drawing rooms continues to dominate the Pakistan rishta scene with women forced to mould themselves physically as well as mentally to meet society’s expectation and fit the role of a perfect bahu.
Meanwhile, other episodes of the series feature veteran actor Hina Dilpazeer, Maria Wasti, Sabeena Farooq, and Hajra Yamin among others.
