Sonia Hussain is an extremely talented actress who has come a long way. With dramas like Marasim and Nazo to her credit, she is a versatile actress who is not afraid of taking risks.
Recently, in an interview with Express Tribune, Sonia Hussain talked about her career and upcoming ventures.
“I made my debut with a project called Don’t Jealous. Director Ali Sade pushed me to partake in it. I went to audition for a news reporter’s job for a TV channel, and I don’t know whether it’s unfortunate or fortunate that I didn’t get the job. Ali spotted me at the audition.I played a drug-addicted child, and very rarely do actors get such difficult roles for their first projects. I find myself lucky to have always been part of substantial projects.”
“I never wanted to become an actor to begin with. But now, my roots lie in TV and it will always remain very dear to me. When I was offered Moor, I felt the connection and the desire to be a part of that film.”
She will be seen in Imran Malik’s upcoming film (the title has not been revealed). “I sign a project if the director, role and the script click with me and I find them worth it; be it film or television. It’s the quality of the content that matters the most. I’m playing the role of a journalist and really enjoying it. She’s very similar to who I am in real life. It’s basically a love story that also shows bits of action and comedy.”
She reveals that she has been offered three Bollywood movies. “I feel if I work in India, I’ll be representing the whole of Pakistan,I prefer doing a project where I have the opportunity to prove myself as a powerful performer.”
Drama serial Nazo was very different from what we usually see on TV. “Many believe such content is inappropriate to be telecast on TV, but if a woman can be slapped on screen, why can’t she be empowered? We can’t restrict ourselves; we need to accept all sorts of people that are part of the society. We are not here to win awards, but we are here to create an impact on the audiences.”
Bilal Khan is a Pakistani singer with a great fan following. His most well-liked song is Bachana. He was also associated with Coke Studio, and he has also sung OSTs of dramas like Mata e Jaan Hai Tu and Roshan Sitara.
We are not seeing him much these days, but in a recent interview with Dawn Images, Bilal Khan talked about what he’s been up to. “I was in the U.S. for the past few years, getting life experiences, travelling and writing songs. Along the way, I have released a few rough versions of new songs with videos (Bijliyaan), some cover songs (an Urdu cover of a Coldplay number), played a lot of shows in UK, U.S. and Canada and just spent a ton of time trying to hone my songwriting chops.”
“I have been working on music a lot. Although, it’s not obvious right now but I feel it will all make sense one day.”
“I met John Mayer in the U.S. and saw him perform up close — he was my music hero while growing up. It was a very inspiring experience. I also saw Adele at O2 recently in London. Again, it’s one of those experiences, which has really affected me. I’ve jammed with many musicians in the west and I think it has expanded my abilities.”
“I’ve also heard a lot of new music. I’ve really explored my capabilities as a performer too. I have experimented with new gear like a loop pedal and drum machine. Staying away from Pakistan also made me miss home a lot, so I got into old Pakistani and Indian songs.”
“It takes a lot of discipline to disconnect. It’s so easy to squint your eyes, pout and post a selfie on Instagram with a cool caption and the right filter. It’s infinitely harder to write a song that captures how you feel. Playing the ‘likes’ game can be temporarily satisfying but it doesn’t hold much value in the real world, and takes away my focus.
“I think I have gained experiences I only saw in movies and I’ve collected new stories and themes that will definitely come out in my songs. Another thing that I have really learnt to do is to work on my ability to disconnect from my phone and the online world. I don’t post as much on social media.”
“I have nothing against social media, in fact I think I was one of the first musicians in Pakistan to use YouTube and set up a Facebook fan page. However, for me it has always been about making the best music I can, first. I want people to remember me by saying something like ‘I love your song, it made my day’ rather than ‘Oh wow, you have a million followers on Facebook’.
Talking about his upcoming songs, “I wish I could give an exact date. There are times when I record something and I’m like ‘I want to release this so bad right now’! But I have to think holistically and not put out something that’s not finished. I’m not going to make cliché statements either like ‘It’s coming out on Eid’. I’ll just drop it all together, when it’s ready, without hyping or lining up a release.”
“I know it’s sometime soon. I’m in a very good creative zone right now and I don’t know how long it will last. I have faith that taking all this time to make the new songs will be worth it. And then I can go do the ‘pop star’ thing when its time.”
A drama needs a strong storyline and well etched-out characters in order to stand out in the crowd. Also, the right cast which is given the task of translating these characters on screen makes a huge difference too. Sometimes a character which is rather simple becomes extraordinary because the actor playing the role brings out the best in his or her character. At other times the acting skills might not be top-notch all the time but the character is written so well that the viewers find it easy to connect to it even if the dialogue delivery or body language does not fit the bill every now and then.
Nowadays many of the writers bank on shortcuts to make their characters attractive. The bechari aurat is the easiest and most commonly used shortcut. Black and white characters are also considered an easy way to gain the sympathies of the viewers or to make them hate a character. What makes an on-screen character truly impressive is firstly when it is not clichéd, secondly it is not one-dimensional and most importantly the viewers should be able to relate to the character. Whether the character is good, bad or grey the motives and personality traits of the character should not confuse the viewers. If a character is unpredictable then that is great but if they do something which is completely opposite to their main personality traits which define that character then the viewers lose interest and feel frustrated.
Out of all the plays I am currently following, here is the list of the characters which can easily be termed as the best!
Sitara from Mein Sitara
Mein Sitara is the story of a young girl who is born in a poor family but fate has something completely different planned for her future. Sitara’s character was intriguing and appealing right from the first episode. Her own personality and the relationship she shared with all the other characters has been very well defined from the beginning. Even as a child Sitara was not just another child, she was a misfit in her family and also very stubborn. The reason why Sitara’s character is on top of this list is that it is a unique character and it is one of those rare characters whose journey is shown to the viewers from childhood therefore the viewers understand her character even more. You don’t get to hear how Sitara’s childhood was but you see it on screen. The actress who played the young Sitara was just as phenomenal as Saba Qamar as Sitara.
This character holds your attention and makes you look forward to more because it is etched-out impeccably and has been translated on-screen faultlessly. Sitara’s journey and her character both are enthralling.
Imtiaz from Udaari
Imtiaz’s character is all black but the reason why it is in this list is that it is the perfect portrayal of a very ugly face of not just our society but of every such pedophile. Imtiaz’s character helps people understand the mindset behind such heinous crimes and also gives all the right messages to the parents and anyone involved. Firstly, this character shows that a pedophile isn’t always someone who has a bad reputation. Imtiaz has a great reputation, he is respected by all and trusted by everyone too including his wife. Also, it shows how these people use rewards to gain the trust of children and use intimidating tactics after committing the crime to frighten children.
Ahsan Khan has been beyond brilliant as Imtiaz. He makes you forget every other character he has played till date because he owns this character. He said in an interview that he wanted to kill Imtiaz while reading the script but he decided to do this role because he knew it would be noticed.
Sheedan from Udaari
Sheedan is a breath of fresh air, not because she is funny and loud but because she is self-reliant! There are hardly any women in our dramas who are as independent and strong as Sheedan is. Sheedan relied on her husband for emotional needs only, other than that she can make important decisions, earn money and protect her kids all on her own. Bushra Ansari has proved that she was the perfect choice for playing this character.
Sheedan is also a role-model as a mother – she believed her daughter and took a stand for her even when the odds were against her. Sheedan is not modern or educated, sometimes she even lacks basic manners but in many ways she is more ‘enlightened’ than many other modern mothers we see in our dramas very often. Bushra Ansari has nailed this character not only because she is a gifted actress but also because she sings very beautifully too.
Mohid and Anmol’s mothers from Dil Lagi
Saba Hameed is a versatile actress who always manages to give her best performance in every drama. She also has her own style in every drama which somehow shows her ‘interpretation’ of the character she is performing. Mohid’s mother can be very unreasonable at times but whatever she does, she does it because she wants to protect her children. She is the perfect example of a strong woman who thinks that a woman does not need a man to live a happy life. The way her relationship with her daughter-in-law has been shown is also another reason why she is one of my favorite characters right now; although she clearly has issues with Anmol yet she also has a life!!! She is not shown conspiring all the time to break this marriage which is definitely brand new!! Mohid’s mother is not perfect, she has her flaws but her character is still one-of-a-kind!
Asma Abbas is playing the character of Anmol’s mother in drama serial Dil Lagi. She is also a remarkable actress who adds a special touch to all the characters she plays. She plays the role of a mother who is somewhat conventional but she has raised two very unconventional and outspoken daughters. Instead of letting these daughters have their way all the time, she knows when to put her foot down. She tells Anmol right from wrong not because she is afraid of what people will say but because she wants the best for her daughters. Her character stands out because generally the mothers in our dramas play second fiddle to the fathers or are completely helpless when they have strong headed daughters.
Ramish from Tum Kon Piya
Drama Serial Tum Kon Piya is definitely not in the same league as the rest of the dramas on the list but so far it has been a decent watch. Imran Abbas is playing the character of Ramish – a character which stands out in a family of stereotypes. Ramish knows how to take a stand for himself and he also believes in loving unconditionally. There are times when Imran Abbas’ acting is not up to the mark but on the whole he is well-suited for this role and the writer deserves credit for creating a levelheaded character which the viewers can relate to.
I am sure there are many viewers out there who will have a lot of new names to add to this list, please feel free to do so and also share your reasons for adding these characters to the list!
This episode was picture perfect in every way, it served the purpose of causing awareness about the issue this drama deals with in a very clear manner and at the same time Meeran’s story definitely proved to be a good ‘distraction’. The fact that the developments in Meeran’s track were very positive kept this episode from becoming too dark and depressing. The writer of this drama Farhat Ishtiaq deserves due credit for covering everything in the speech which was delivered by Munira at the conference. Addressing such a sensitive topic is not an easy task but the team of Udaari has managed to accomplish this task brilliantly so far. I am certain that every parent out there no matter how educated, enlightened and careful they already are is going to benefit from watching this drama. It is true sometimes parents do tend to ignore the signs which Zebu is showing right now because like Munira said in her speech they trust the person who might be involved in such a crime too much and at other times even when they find out there isn’t much they can do about it because the pedophile might be a very close family member. This opening speech needs to be heard by every parent out there over and over again.
The scenes covering Zebu’s mental state and the way Imtiaz kept on employing pressure tactics to make sure she stayed quiet were yet again chilling but very apt in showing how a wicked person like him would act in such a situation. Imtiaz obviously did not think that Zebu would react in this way, he probably expected her to start acting normal after a few days and now that things are not going according to his plan, he is getting more and more frustrated. The acting by both the actors involved in these scenes – Ahsan Khan and the child star – was so impressive that you could not help but feel everything that Zebu was going through in all these scenes and all that was going through this evil person’s head while he tried to pressurize Zebu into giving up. Sajida has absolutely no idea why Zebu is no longer the person she used to be, Imtiaz kept on telling her it was because of the fever and he continued showering them both with gifts therefore she did not pause for a second to think that Imtiaz might have harmed her daughter in some way. Sajida is naive and gullible and Imtiaz is too clever therefore this whole situation is very realistic and might prove to be a wake-up call for many!
Meeran’s track got just as much screen time as Zebu’s which was much-needed. Watching Meeran grow as a singer and the change in Arsh’s attitude was definitely something which put a smile on my face. Meeran is finally friends with these people who are very different from her, she is catching up fast and has a new found confidence. The on screen chemistry between Urwa Hocane and Farhan Saeed made their scenes a treat to watch. The only thing I missed was the interaction between Meeran and Sheedan. Sheedan continued to make herself ‘useful’ in this episode! I love the way the differences in the lifestyles of these people have been shown. Sheedan is not used to a life of luxury, she likes to keep herself busy doing something. Meeran too is used to getting up early in the morning and starting what she is supposed to do. Bushra Ansari owns her role as Sheedan.
The preview of the next episode showed Arsh and the band making it to the final competition. Will Meeran’s blooper put their career at stake? I am also waiting to find out when Sajida will really find out what has happened to Zebu and what she is going to do about it. Right now this little child is putting up more of a fight than Rameen did in Chup Raho therefore kudos to her character. The director Mohammad Ehteshamuddin has directed this play brilliantly by keeping the sensitivities of this issue in mind. All the actors have breathed life into their respective characters but Ahsan Khan is the one who took the biggest risk here and has definitely done a great job of making people hate his character. I would also like to thank the producers of this drama for talking about a topic which we most often sweep under the carpet.
How many of you watched this latest installment? Please do share your thoughts about it.
Mehreen Jabbar’s much anticipated film, Dobara Phir Se was expected to come out on Eid ul Fitr, but in a recent interview with Express Tribune, Mehreen Jabbar shared that the film is in the post-production stage.
“We are planning to release it now in August, but are yet to make an official announcement. Eid release dates had never been announced in the first place. The post-production is still in progress.”
Usually, filmmakers are very enthusiastic when it comes to promoting their films (remember the promotion of Ho Mann Jahan?) but we haven’t seen promotional campaigns of Dobara Phir Se. Mehreen Jabbar shared, “The promotions will commence towards the end of the month and we are hoping to create a good buzz around the film. Which film-maker wouldn’t want his/her film to succeed commercially? I, along with the cast, the film crew and the producers would want DBS to be appreciated, and do really well.”
According to Mehreen Jabbar, the film is about relationships, friendships and finding one’s way in life.
Atiqa Odho is also part of the cast and she is playing the role of a mother and mother in law. She praised Mehreen Jabbar for keeping things simple and real. “Mehreen is not driven by commercial cinema. She likes to show the story the way she wants to tell it, without adding unnecessary masala. She likes to keep the flavour intact by depicting reality-based situations … there are real life scenarios sans exaggeration.”
While everyone in the industry is going on and on about the ‘revival of Pakistani cinema’ , Atiqa Odho is not very happy with this so-called revival. “It’s a sad state of affairs and I am certainly not proud to say that a so-called ‘cinema revival’ has taken place. In India, film-making is a massive industry supporting the household of every individual associated with it. This is a trade and the government needs to promote it.”
Urwa and Mawra Hocane’s brother, Ins-e-Yazdan is making his acting debut with drama serial, Udaari on HumTv.
In an interview with Dawn Images, Ins-eYazdan shared, “I had a great time on sets and really got to see whats it like to be on the other side of the screen.”
“Script reading sessions with my cast and the director did help me a lot. I feel extremely lucky to have gotten to work with a wonderful team that i am learning from, everyday.”
He has recently given his CA exams, and setting foot in this industry is a decision that he made on his own without his sisters’ influence. “I am doing this regardless of what my sisters have chosen as their careers. I am truly proud of them but this experience for me was more about learning something new and having something interesting and different to do during my holidays after my CA exams. I have time until I have to make any serious decisions about my future plans.”
He revealed that he will be playing the character of Ejaz.
From medicine to formula racing to music to acting – Adnan Sarwar has done it all. Today, Sarmad Khoosat invited this multi-talented man who is not afraid of taking risks.
Adnan Sarwar believes that a person should not limit himself to one field or profession because centuries back, the people that made a difference did not stick to one field, like, Michelangelo, who was an artist, poet, sculptor, architect and engineer. Adnan Sarwar is an ambitious man who believes that entertainment should not be the sole purpose of cinema and that cinema should be seen as a powerful medium of change.
He talked about his claim to fame film, Shah, and revealed that the budget for the film was very limited because of which some flaws are evident on the big screen. I have to applaud his honesty because rarely have I ever seen a filmmaker point out the flaws in his own film! In spite of the low budget, Shah clicked with the masses and that’s solely because of the good intentions behind the movie and the dedication of the team. Adnan Sarwar is pleased with what Shah was able to achieve because through this film, he started a scholarship programme for the children of Liyari and also raised funds for students of NUST. All of this goes to show that Adnan Sarwar’s plans for his future projects are very different from those of producers that want to make commercially successful movies.
Today, Sarmad prepared Lamb Chops with a refreshing drink, Cucumber Cooler. All through the episode, Sarmad kept asking Adnan about the nutritional value of the ingredients being used, but that didn’t really bore me. I enjoyed this episode because even though Sarmad and Adnan haven’t worked together on a project (at least not that I know of), they seemed to be good friends and like Juggan, Adnan Sarwar was pretty comfortable in the kitchen.
I really admire how humble Sarmad Khoosat is. Here’s the man behind blockbuster Humsafar, but the fame hasn’t gone to his head. He is very well-spoken and so far, I enjoy watching this show.
Ramzan Humara Emaan is a quality show where the hosts shed light on some important issues. This time, some female reporters were invited and the challenges they face at work were discussed.
And again, there are some more pictures from the show, Mehmaannawaz. Your favourite star couple, Aiza and Danish look beautiful but then again, what’s new?
Have a look at the pictures and this time, we can also see Amina Sheikh and Mohib Mirza with their daughter.
This time, Sarmad Khoosat was pleased to invite the ever-vivacious Juggan Kazim to the show. Sarmad Khoosat said that he admires Juggan’s jolly personality and the way she always stays happy. ‘‘Kabhi kabhaar zara behki behki baatain karti hain lekin yeh bhi in ki shakhsiat ka khoobsurat hissa hai.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and I think the credit goes to Juggan! She called Sarmad Khoosat and herself, ‘neem-pagal’.”Dunya kay sabse achay log zara say crack hain.”
Juggan definitely took over the show, and I say that in a positive way, because the other guests we have seen on this show seemed a bit uncomfortable in the kitchen, but it was definitely not the case this time. Juggan did most of the cooking and most of the talking and I really enjoyed it.
Sarmad Khoosat asked her about Juggan’s Pret Collection. Juggan revealed that she actually wanted to open her own restaurant and had no plans of launching her own clothes range until she was approached by this person she did her first internship with back when she was 17. They partnered up for this and so we have Juggan’s Pret Collection.
When asked about what disturbs her the most, Juggan spoke about child labour, and also expressed disgust at the way families scoff at the house help. ”Charity begins at home. Apne liay 50 hazaar ka jora lena hai lekin ghar mein kaam karne wali ko 500 ka jora detay huay bhi jaan jati hai.”
Sarmad Khoosat asked Juggan about her break from acting and she revealed that she has a lot on her plate at the moment; she has her own morning show and now with her Pret Collection, she’s busier than ever.
“Jub koi acha lagta hai tu us ka bura bhi acha hi lagta hai. Mohabbat andhi nahi faragh dil hoti hai, aaib dekhti hai magar nazar andaz kar deti hai!” After watching this episode of Dil Lagi I don’t have the words to praise Nadeem Baig’s direction in particular and Faiza Iftikhar’s script which deserved to be directed with such dedication. This play is a visual treat; the sets, the clothes which the actors wear, the camera work and the picture quality especially in this episode was simply flawless! All the beautiful colors in the background, on the rooftops, those which the actors wear are definitely a deliberate attempt to make this drama visually pleasing and the director has definitely succeeded in doing so. Having said that I must add that the direction and camerawork alone cannot save the day if the script lacks depth and meaning. Like many other scripts written by Faiza Iftikhar, this one too has plenty of situations and surprises in store which are not over-dramatic but truly impactful! It is good to know that there are directors and writers out there who realize that we expect more from them than a stellar cast and beautiful locations. This episode had a few scenes which could qualify as somewhat clichéd but the bits which were anything but clichéd like always managed to stand out more than the dialogues uttered by Anmol’s mother in this episode especially because the context is completely different from what we see normally in dramas.
Mohid’s character is turning out to be very balanced and likeable. Unlike Anmol he believes in soul-searching. He knows that Anmol lied about her love affair with Fareed even then he does not judge her primarily because he loves her. When Anmol questions him about his priorities he pauses to think about what she said and in the morning he also pleads Sabiha’s case in front of his mother. Also, although he has been brought up by a mother who holds him very dear but he does not have an inflated ego. There was a time when Mohid thought it was alright to do whatever he needed to do in order to get what he wanted but Anmol has taught him many things which he would not have learned otherwise. Anmol, of course does not believe in practicing what she preaches. The character development has been convincing and has made this character more appealing. Hamayun Saeed is very convincing in this role, he has made Mohid’s conviction in his love for Anmol very relatable.
Although Anmol is still as stubborn as she was in the first episode but there are times when she has to be slightly flexible. My most favorite part of this episode was when Anmol decided to free Mohid’s pigeons! I could totally see that coming when Mohid’s mother mentioned how dear these pigeons were to him even then I was left wondering if Anmol would have the guts to take such a step. Now the question is whether these pigeons really want to be free?? Or do they love Mohid so much that they will return!! I am looking forward to Anmol’s reaction and the conversation between Mohid and Anmol in the next episode already! This was one of the many scenes in tonight’s episode which was beautifully shot. The expressions on Anmol’s face said more than any words could!
Tonight both the mothers in the drama decided to take charge at the same time! After Anmol’s mother made her promise that she will not brainwash Sabiha to go against her mother’s wishes, Mohid’s mother made sure that her bahu took care of her son. Anmol felt helpless and decided to do something that would make Mohid upset. The conversation between Mohid’s mother and Dastagir in tonight’s episode went to show that Mohid wasn’t really the rough and tough person he appears to be. It also showed that Mohid was taking payments from people who had rented properties owned by them and wasn’t doing anything unlawful.
“Mohabbat nahi ho sakti koshish karne se aur na karwaye ja sakti hai. Yeh tu wahi ki tarah hoti hai, Aasman se utrti hai kub kis se kahan kese ho jaye, yeh koi nahi janta.”Mishaal and Dastagir’s brief scene together made this episode complete. It is truly refreshing to watch a drama in which all the characters get the screen time they deserve and their stories are being taken forward gradually. Mariam Ansari is doing complete justice to her role and Imran Ashraf is adorable as Dastagir. The conversation between Mohid and Dastagir was also beautifully written, it was definitely one of those scenes that deserve to be watched over and over again! There was a major development in Sabiha’s track in this episode too. It remains to be seen how her mother reacts to this latest development.
I must say that Dil Lagi is much more entertaining now that Anmol is not getting her way! Loved the expressions on her face when she ran to the rooftop to see how Mohid would react when he doesn’t find his pigeons there! Can’t wait to see what happens next. Like every other episode of Dil Lagi this one too had some remarkable dialogues and beautiful conversations to its credit which stay with you long after you’re done watching the show. The director Nadeem Baig has turned this drama into a masterpiece by details which we rarely get to see in dramas. The person in charge of editing has also done his job really well. Anmol and Mohid’s story is getting more interesting with every episode. At this point Mohid is way ahead of the game because he is not focusing on scoring points!
How many of you watched this beautiful episode of Dil Lagi? Do share your thoughts about it.
Naseeruddin Shah is a veteran Indian actor who has also appeared in Pakistani film, Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Naseeruddin Shah compared the actors of India with that of Pakistan and said, “Hindi actors have always been dying to go to Hollywood. They would give their arms to go to there. It’s like Pakistani actors are dying to come to India. Pakistani people consider Bollywood to be the ultimate! I go there and they say ‘waah kya films banai hai.”
In Pakistan, there are many actors, like Shan, who are not ecstatic about Pakistani actors working in India. Similarly, Naseeruddin Shah is not happy with Indian actors making their way into Hollywood. “These people who are tom-tomming their entry into Hollywood are all going to come back very soon. Because Hollywood has no place for an Asian to play a lead. It’s a one-off thing.”
It’s a wrap for the shooting of upcoming film, Teri Meri Love Story, which is directed by Jawad Bashir. The cast of the film includes Mohib Mirza, Ushna Shah, Mohsin Abbas Haider and Laila Zubairi amongst others.
Mehmaan nawaz is a Ramadan show on See TV hosted by Imran Abbas. I am not following the show, but Aiza Khan and Danish Taimoor keep their fans posted through instagram.
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a Pakistani filmmaker and activist who has won not one, but two Academy Awards for the documentaries Saving Face and A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness.
Her latest documentary follows Ayesha Chundrigar, who has been running an animal shelter since 2014 and taking care of stray animals.
In a video that was posted by the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation’s page on Facebook, Ayesha Chundrigar explained, ”We also hold donkey camps, where we provide medical treatment, food and water to donkeys all over Karachi. We also educate owners on how to treat the animals better.”
The shelter houses 200 animals and has rescued over 1000 animals so far.
We are proud to have women like Ayesha Chundrigar and Sharmeen Obaid who wish to make a difference. Sharmeen Obaid’s documentaries are always powerful, and I am sure this one will be awesome, too!
Mann Mayal is considered one of the most watched dramas of the current season yet there are so many glaring flaws in this drama which also make it the biggest disappointment of this season. Here are the top 5 reasons why Mann Mayal is an epic fail!
Best love story of the season or the worst sob story of the year?
This drama was promoted as not only the best love story of this season but the kind of love story which will make people forget all others. The love story ended in less than 6 weeks and after that viewers had to sit through one episode after another of watching the heroine sob and suffer. The hero also struggled until he got rich and then he sobbed and suffered for different reasons! Everyone in this drama is sad whether it is Mikael, Mannu or Salahuddin which is why it is the worst sob story of the season!
The promos which were shown to promote Mann Mayal showed a very happy bubbly side of Mannu maybe because the producers knew that this side would attract the viewers more than the struggling times which Mannu faced after she got married but most of the drama revolves around Mannu’s marital problems.
Ramzan Humara Emaan is hosted by Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayesha Khan. I think it’s quite a decent show where the main focus is not on giving away gifts but on having quality discussions with esteemed scholars.
I certainly appreciate the fact that Hamza Ali Abbasi addresses relevant issues like the ruling of Islamic Ideology Council on wife beating, and he also talked about our current Defence Minister’s vulgar outburst against fellow parliamentarian.
Today, Pakistan women’s cricket team was invited to the show. Here are some pictures:
Pakistani television industry is a very important part of our entertainment industry because almost every household can afford the luxury of watching Pakistani dramas on their television screens. Pakistani drama artists also become more popular than models and film artists because they are admired by many people who watch these dramas. Pakistani drama actors, males and females, are very talented but not all these actors always impress the viewers with their acting skills because their talent is wasted if the dramas they are working in do not provide the kind of entertainment which resonates with the wider audience.
It is also a fact that people get tired of watching some actors perform similar roles repeatedly. Such typecasting bores the viewers and they lose interest in the actor even though there is nothing wrong with their acting skills.
Pakistani dramas are divided in seasons nowadays. In the latest slot of dramas in different channels, some actors are shining more than others because of their impressive performances and because the dramas they are working in are gaining popularity.
Here are 5 top actors who are undoubtedly ruling this season of dramas.
Zahid Ahmed
Zahid Ahmed is the true example of an actor who came, saw and conquered not only the realm of acting but also the hearts of people. Even when he played negative roles in many dramas the viewers saw his talent. Nowadays he is seen in the most popular plays Zara Yaad Kar and Besharam both of which air on the same day but on different channels. Viewers also love this gentleman because of the variations in the characters he performs.
Today Sarmad Khoosat invited the beautiful and immensely talented Maya Ali to the show. Maya Ali has worked with determination to reach where she is today. Having worked with directors like Haissam Hussain and Mehreen Jabbar, Maya is indeed a force to reckon with.
The episode was nice; Maya Ali is very humble and sweet. She looked really pretty today.
Maya Ali revealed that she does not work during the blessed month of Ramadan and takes a break from all her projects. Sarmad Khoosat and Maya Ali haven’t done a project together as yet, but they wish to work together in future.
Maya admitted that given the field she works in, she has to be conscious about her diet so she keeps a check on what she eats.
Syra Shahroz is working on her upcoming film Chalay Thay Saath. These days she is in Gilgit for the shooting and her pictures on instagram show that the natural beauty of the northern areas has absolutely mesmerized her.
Here are some of the pictures she posted on her instagram account. I think this film will be a visual delight.
Hina Altaf is one of the most talented newcomers, best known for her acting in drama serials, Ek Thi Mishal and Abroo, both on HUM TV. She also hosts a show called, Breaking Weekend on ARY Zindagi. She has a very innocent face and she totally owned her character in drama serial Abroo. Hina Altaf is very active on her instagram account. Here are a few pictures, most of them are from the set of her show Breaking Weekend on ARY Zindagi.
Aamir Liaquat started his career from a religious program which is why most people saw him as a religious scholar but as the trend for game shows during Ramazan started Aamir Liaquat was the one who was leading this new trend. He showed a more modern side of him by cracking jokes and even doing things which were criticized by many people. There were times when he defended his stance and there were others when he apologized. He also changed many channels in between.
Right now Aamir Liaquat is hosting Inaam Ghar on Geo TV which is also a game show inspired by who will be a millionaire. Aamir Liaquat has invited many celebrities to his show and all of them have been full of praise for him. Reema and Ushna Shah both were very impressed to meet him and now Neelam Muneer is the one who chose to have a lunch date with Aamir Liaquat instead of Imran Khan!! Although the audience voted for Imran Khan, Neelam Muneer made a different decision.
Neelam Muneer also gave concrete reasons for her choice. She said,
“The reason for this choice is that you are honest, you are the same person in front of the camera and behind it too. This is your best trait.”
Aamir Liaquat agreed with her and said he did not believe in getting artificial in front of camera.
Nadia Khan left her Morning Show on Geo saying that she had a back ache which did not allow her to continue hosting the show. Now that Nadia is done hosting her own show, she is being seen as a guest in other talk shows. She was invited as a guest in Dawn News’ talk show hosted by Ali Saleem and she was also invited as a guest on Sanam Baloch’s show Shan-e-Sehar.
Nadia Khan told in the Dawn News’ talk show that the hectic travelling and back spasm were the main reasons for her to leave hosting Morning Shows but in Sanam Baloch’s show she told the real reason behind her leaving these shows. She said,
“I don’t want to do regressive shows which takes people 100 years back in time! The totkay and petty problems like how to make your skin fair are not the most important issues in life. I am done with all this, I refuse to support this format of Morning Shows.”
Sanam Baloch also said that she was against shows which focused on these fairness treatments. She also refused to do such shows even though these are the only shows which get ratings.
After sugar coating the truth Nadia Khan finally came out with the real reason behind leaving Morning Shows.
Urwa and Mawra are two very ambitious sisters that worked hard to get where they are today. Now, their brother, Ins-e-Yazdan, is making his TV debut and that too with drama serial Udaari!
The three siblings are very close and they have worked together in theatre plays.
Mein Sitara is one of those very few dramas on air right now which keep you hooked right from the get-go. Time flies really fast while you’re watching an episode of Mein Sitara because every scene adds something to the story and every character in the play is intriguing. There has hardly been an episode which could be missed unlike many other dramas which have plenty of filler episodes which can easily be missed! Mein Sitara is the most underrated and under appreciated play of this season in terms of TRPs but it is definitely on top of my must-watch list!! Mein Sitara promises quality entertainment, anyone who hasn’t watched this drama yet should definitely catch up because Sitara’s journey is fascinating right from the first episode!
The first scene of this episode was remarkable; this was the scene which changed Jharna’s mindset and Sitara got another chance to regain her trust. In the beginning of this episode Sitara wasn’t sure what she should do, she didn’t want to do anything to let Jharna down and at the same time she did not want to hurt Farhad’s feelings, also she could not resist the temptation of meeting him. Meeting Jharna in the studio changed everything for Sitara, this was a really close call, she knew that had Jharna come at a time when she was there with Farhad she would have lost her ‘Baji’ forever. Sitara has her mind made up now but Farhad is convinced that his ‘ishq’ for Sitara will never die. He knows that he shouldn’t be cheating on his wife who has always been by his side but at the same time he cannot live without Sitara now. The ‘fascination’ with Sitara tripled when she made it clear that she could not go on meeting him like this. Had Sitara been willing to go along with these secret meetings Farhad might not have proposed to her. The logic Farhad gave Sitara was spot on – a man who is as desperate as he is right now would do exactly what he is doing.
After a long time I felt for Jharna while watching this episode. She felt guilty and after a long time it seemed like she had faith in Sitara and her husband yet again therefore this time around it really did look like she deserved better from both these people. She has invested a lot in both these relationships. Sitara’s attempts to prove to Farhad that she is not interested in him are likely to make him more interested in her. The whole situation has become very interesting. Farhad is not willing to back out at any cost and it remains to be seen if Sitara really is strong enough to deal with this situation. She genuinely feels bad and has proven that she does not want to betray Jharna, but is this situation reversible? Will she use Jamal to get out of this situation? I can’t wait to find out.
My most favorite part of this episode had to be Farhad and his junooni ishq, the way he justified it and the manner in which Mikaal Zulfiqar has translated this character on screen is beyond brilliant! Yes! I am dead against extra-marital affairs but I am all for showing raw emotions on screen in such a way that the viewers are convinced that the characters are unable to control these emotions. Saba Qamar is faultless as Sitara; she was especially amazing in the first scene of this episode. It was great to see a glimpse of the old Jharna in this episode and the relationship which Jharna and Sitara once shared. Sitara’s conversation with Jharna after her brother left went to show that she was not going to let anyone exploit her. Although Sitara was the first one to show how she felt about Farhad but right now Farhad is the one who is pressurizing her to something she does not want to do.
Mein Sitara is beautifully written and brilliantly directed, all those people who are not watching this play are missing out on something truly amazing! Every episode of this drama is spell-binding and I can’t thank the whole team of this drama enough especially the producers for taking a chance and giving the viewers something different to watch.
The preview of the next episode promises a lot more drama, some brilliant performances and even more of the raw emotions we all love!
How many of you watched this latest installment? Please feel free to share your thoughts.
In the third episode of Star Iftar, Sarmad Khoosat invited one of our best exports to India (his words, not mine :P), Mawra Hocane. Sarmad Khoosat spoke highly of Mawra’s acting in her Bollywood debut and called her an endearing actress.
Mawra confessed that she is a big foodie and that her mother uses a phrase for her, ”lakkar hazm, pathar hazm”. She is grateful that she eats a lot but never gets fat – yup, some people are lucky that way.
About work and future projects, Sarmad asked Mawra if she has any TV projects in the pipeline and she revealed that when she went to India, she saw that people across the border look at Pakistani TV industry with awe and admiration, so she will continue to work in TV dramas, and has a few TV projects to look forward to, but didn’t reveal more than that.
When Sarmad asked her about the people she looks up to and draws inspiration from, Mawra said that she has a high opinion of Mahira Khan and that she admires how Mahira has worked in the biggest dramas and films and continues to be unstoppable. She also said that she is a fan of Priyanka Chopra and admires the way she has paved way out of her country into Hollywood. ”These people have taught me kay har jagah kaam karo. Work wherever you feel the project’s right.”
Samina Peerzada is a veteran actress who breathes life into every character that she portrays. All her performances are flawless, but my favourite is her portrayal of Durr-e-Shahwar.
She is invited as the guest of honour to the opening event of the National Library of Norway’s exhibition exploring Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ , which happens to be the world’s most performed theatre play.
She will inaugurate the exhibition on June 9. The people at National Library are pleased to welcome her, “It is a great pleasure for us to welcome Samina Peerzada to the National Library of Norway. Mrs Peerzada has visited Oslo twice before, when she performed at The International Ibsen Festival in 1994. The Norwegian audience will be thrilled to see her back in Norway, says Head of programming Eline Skaar Kleven”.
She is the finest actress of the industry, and without a doubt, this is no small feat. More power to her!
Seeta Bagri is an upcoming drama serial on TV One. Being the first ever production of Adnan Siddiqui, it promises a different story with strong characters.
Sarwat Gillani posts a lot of pictures on Instagram from the sets of Seeta Bagri. She also speaks highly of Adnan Sidddiqui and says that he is a very considerate and generous producer who takes good care of his crew.
Having won numerous accolades for her outstanding talent as a makeup artist, Nabila is the finest stylist in Pakistan.
Now, recently Lindsay Lohan,who is a popular Hollywood actress (she appeared in comedy flicks like Mean Girls, Freaky Friday, Parent Trap etc) , posted a picture with our very own Nabila.
In an interview with Dawn Images,Nabila opened up about working with Lohan,”I am planning to expand my business globally in the near future, but right now, Lindsay and I are working on a charity that focuses on ending modern-day slavery. We are particularly invested in encouraging GSM sustainability within businesses, where a triple bottom line framework is followed.”
I was already involved with this charity when Lindsay reached out to me. The logistics don’t bother me, since I am on the verge of venturing into the international market anyway.”
Pakistanis in all fields are enormously talented. Rida Shah is one such photographer who takes pride in the fact that she is a “concept based photomanipulation artist” who uses her photography usually to show the darker side of life but this time she used her skills for something completely different. She transformed famous Pakistani celebrities into very well-known Disney characters old and new. This was a fun exercise which gave these celebrities digital makeovers.
Here are the makeovers of Pakistani celebrities as famous Disney characters. Do share which actor looks best in the make over and which one you think should have been given a different make over.
Mahira Khan as Rapunzel:
Rapunzel is one of the most well known and oldest Disney princesses who was known for her long hair and big eyes. The old Disney Rapunzel was given a new face when the animated series Tangled came out. It was a brand new take on an old fairy tale and it also gave a twist to the age old tale by giving Rapunzel’s long hair magical powers.
Here is how Mahira Khan was transformed into Princess Rapunzel.
In the second episode of Star Iftar, we saw Mikaal Zulfiqaar, who, in the words of Sarmad Khoosat, is haseen o jameel inside and out.
Sarmad Khoosat and Mikaal have worked together in several projects but the ones that immediately come to mind are Pani Jaisa Pyar and Shehr-e-Zaat.
Chatting with Sarmad Khoosat, Mikaal revealed that he used to be a big foodie and there was a time when food was his extravaganza. Mikaal oh-so-casually spoke about having dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s – yes Gordon Ramsay!!
Talking about his work, Mikaal said that he has a couple of TV serials on-air while one or two are in the pipeline. He also talked about venturing into films. He has started to work as a producer (he produced drama serial Tum Mere Kia Ho on PTV) and now he is thinking of producing a film but he can’t reveal further details until he is sure.
With flawless features and brilliant acting, Aisa Khan is TV’s sweetheart. She has a huge number of fans that adore her and are always waiting to see new pictures of her. Currently, fans can see her on Urdu 1 where her chemistry with Imran Abbas is being appreciated.
RRecently, Aiza Khan is working with make up artist and stylist Akif Ilyas. Here are a few pictures where Akif Ilyas dolled her up:
Aiza also got her makeup and styling done by Akif Ilyas for a couple of pre-recorded Eid shows:
Thank God!! This is not going to be another one of those dramas in which the viewers have to witness not one but two dysfunctional marriages. The best part of this episode despite all the ghisse pitte saas bahu issues was the fact that the writer saved the viewers the trouble of watching another marriage on screen which was bound to be a failure. Ramish’s character has been my favorite character right from the get-go. He is an unconventional person in a family of stereotypes who has some principles but he is not someone who will do anything and everything to please the people he loves. He holds his own likes and dislikes very dear to him which makes his character even more human and likeable. Although there are many times when Imran Abbas’s acting isn’t up-to-the-mark but Ramish Hassan’s character has always been very logical and balanced. It is good to see a hero on screen who can take a stand for himself when it is needed with creating unnecessary drama.
Tum Kon Piya has to be one of those very few plays which is a mixture of clichés and some very pleasant surprises which are basically the reason why the viewers have reason to believe that while the writer banked largely on the good girl stuck in a bad situation scenario but she also made an effort to ensure that some of the characters and situations are brand new. Javeria’s re-entry in Zarbab’s life will give it a new twist. Also, Ramish’s father now has a good reason to tackle this whole situation in a different way.
Arif’s track is headed exactly where it was expected to go. If he really does end up working for Ramish then there will be constant contact between Ramish and Elma. I also like the way the relationship between Elma and Ramish has been shown after she got married. Unlike the most famous drama of the century Mann Mayal these interactions are more real. Although Elma still thinks of Ramish especially when she feels lonely or needs a friend to talk to but at the same time her efforts to make her marriage work are genuine. Also, Ramish truly does want Elma to be happy although he never wanted a life without her. His concern and love for Elma is genuine and he doesn’t think he needs to intervene in her life unnecessarily in order to make her happy.
Zarbab seemed like a harmless person in the beginning. He was always shown as a coward who was scared of every woman in his life who was intimidating or dominating enough. Now that he has a wife like Elma who is neither intimidating nor dominating, he is the one who wants things his way. He knows that his mother makes sure Elma does not get the time to get ready before he comes home but he made an issue out of it tonight which went to show that he is a selfish person. Also, he is one of those people who can’t always respect and love people who don’t demand his love and respect with the sort of pressure tactics his mother uses and the ones Javeria used to use. Had he been married to Javeria he would have been a perfect husband. While I hate Zarbab’s character I absolutely love the way Ali Abbas has translated this character on screen effortlessly.
Sharafat Begum has the same issues with his bahu in every episode and it seems highly unlikely that she will change. Unfortunately this character is clichéd to the core and one dimensional.
The fact that this drama is about much more than just Elma’s journey makes it interesting enough. There are characters which are black and white like that of Elma and Sharaft Begum but there also those which have more to offer like that of Ramish and even Arif.
How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
Mehreen Jabbar is arguably the most skilled director we have. Her last drama, Mera Naam Yusuf Hai was very well-received. Now, people are waiting for her film, Dobara Phir Se, which boasts a remarkable cast including Hareem Farooq, Adeel Hussain, Sanam Saeed, Ali Kazmi, Tooba Siddiqui.
When HSY invited Azfar Rehman and Mawra to his show, Mawra mentioned that Azfar (Azfu to his friends) has a way with people, because of which he is liked by almost everyone in the industry.
Yesterday it was his birthday so a lot of celebrities sent their kind wishes.
