Mahira Khan has been working in a Bollywood film opposite Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan. The film named Raees will release next year. BBC Urdu has recently posted a video of Shahrukh Khan in UK speaking about Mahira Khan.
Shahrukh Khan is asked what he thinks of his co-star Pakistani actress Mahira Khan from his upcoming film Raees.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3a2rtt
Source: http://bbc.in/1GsJCMR
Rashid Nazir Ali
Gule Rana (گل رعنا) is a new play on Hum Tv starting from Saturday, 7th November 2015 at 8 pm replacing the currently aired Mol (مول)
Starring: Feroz Khan, Sajal Ali, Sundus Tariq, Mehmood Akhter, Rubina Ashraf
Writer: Samra Bukhari
Director: Farooq Rind
Producer: Momina Duraid & Six Sigma Plus Production
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3a2p4k
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3a2p4l
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3a2p4m
Rashid Nazir Ali
Indian producer Rakesh Upadhyay, who has titles like Khiladi 786 to his credit, wishes to make a film on the life of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
The producer recently met with Khan at his Bani Gala home to seek permission for the biopic.
According to Babar Sheikh, Managing Partner of Tiger Entertainment which is producing upcoming rom-com Jaanan with Imran Khan’s wife Reham, Khan has given Upadhyay permission to make the film, so long as it is based on his personal life only.
The reason for the producer’s visit was earlier misreported as a collaboration with Reham Khan for a film. which he has clarified: “I’d like to clarify that I am not producing any movie with Reham Khan. Although I do want to work in Pakistani film industry in near future.”
Speaking about his experience in Pakistan, Rakesh tells Images:
“It was nice visiting Pakistan, the people here are wonderful and I was here to seek approval from Imran Khan to make a biopic on him. The idea to make a film on international level is that Imran Khan is a global icon.”
He added that he would love to visit Pakistan again.
Referring to a previous project, Kaptaan, centered on the PT Ichairman, Babar said the film is a low-budget one with an amateur director. His will be an improved, commercial film with a higher budget, he added.
Acknowledgement: Whole content is taken from Dawn News
Source: http://images.dawn.com/news/1174058/indian-producer-rakesh-upadhyay-set-to-make-imran-khan-biopic
Rashid Nazir Ali
Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan is set to star in acclaimed Pakistani director Shoaib Mansoor’s next film.
According to Mid-day, the actor will travel to Dubai next week to meet Mansoor for a formal script narration and to sign the contract for his next film.
The industry was abuzz with rumours about the collaboration since some time but now it’s official as Kareena’s spokesperson has confirmed the news.
A few months ago, Mansoor had e-mailed his concept to Kareena, saying that she will have a powerful role in the film. She liked the idea but wanted to read the script before giving her nod to the film. She will be the first A-list actress to work in a Pakistani project,” a source told Mid-day.
“Although Kareena has verbally accepted the offer, she wants to hear the script. After that, she will sign the deal. For a while now, she has been keeping an eye out for projects that will allow her to push the envelope and [she] believes that Mansoor’s story is one of them,” the source added.
Earlier, it was reported that Kareena is a huge fan of Mansoor and had said, “I really want to work with him. He has made some fantastic content driven films and is a wonderful filmmaker.”
Her wish did not go unanswered because as soon as the Pakistani director heard about this, he flew to India to offer Bebo a role in his next film, reported Mumbai Mirror.
It was also declared that Kareena, who typically stays away from social networks, will join Twitter for a day to announce the collaboration at the end of this month.
According to the source, “She also plans to connect with her fans online. But, she will be off social networking after that.”
Kareena is currently shooting for her upcoming film Ki and Ka with Arjun Kapoor, but she has taken a break and will be staying in Dubai for two days to finalise the deal.
We hear that Shoaib Mansoor’s next is a heroine-eccentric film which will take off next year. Well, this is one collaboration that will definitely set the box office on fire.
This article originally appeared on Mid-day.
Acknowledgement: Whole content is borrowed from Express Tribune
Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/974930/kareena-kapoor-set-to-star-in-shoaib-mansoors-next-film/
Rashid Nazir Ali
Zee Zindagi is an Indian channel which airs Pakistani dramas in India. The channel made headlines in June last year when it started its transmission. Since then Zee Zindagi has also sponsored few tele-films produced in Pakistan like Lala Begum.
One such tele-film is Mohabbat Ki Aakhri Kahani (محبت کی آخری کہانی) starring Ahsan Khan and Saba Qamar. The story is based on the famous Sindhi folklore of Moomal Raano (مومل رانو) and it will be directed by Sirajul Haq. Salman Saeed and Zainab Jamal are also part of this tele-film.
Source: http://images.dawn.com/news/1174036/ahsan-khan-saba-qamar-revive-moomal-rano-in-zee-tvs-mohabat-ki-akhri-kahani
Rashid Nazir Ali
Maan (مان) is an new play on Hum Tv starring Meekal Zulfiqar and Kiran Haq in the lead roles, starting from Monday 19th October 2015 at 8 pm (replacing Karb). The OST is in the voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
Cast: Meekal Zulfiqar, Kiran Haq, Seemi Raheel, Maha Waarsi and others
Director: Amin Iqbal
Producer: Abdullah Kadwani, Asad Ali Qureshi for 7th Sky productions
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38abw9
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38abwa
Rashid Nazir Ali
Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani (جوانی پھر نہیں آنی) a Pakistani film released on Eidul Azha on 24th September 2015, has now became the highest earning film in Pakistan in recent years.
Before JPNA the top five highest earning films in Pakistan were
1- Furious 7 (25.3 crore),Hollywood movie released in April 2015
2- Dhoom 3 (25 crore), Bollywood movie released in December 2013
3- PK (23.5 crore), Bollywood movie released in December 2014
4- Bajrangi Bhaijaan (23.3 crore), Bollywood movie released in July 2015
5- Waar (23 crore), Pakistani movie released in October 2013
It will be interesting to note that the top four out of these five films are foreign films, out of which three are Bollywood movies indicating the massive appeal of Bollywood films in our country.
Now JPNA film now also holds the records of highest earning Pakistani film, leaving behind Waar which earned 23 crore rupees in 2013. After JPNA’s record the new top five highest grossing films in Pakistan are
1- Jawwani Phirr Nahin Aani (26.5 crore), Urdu movie released in October 2015
2- Furious 7 (25.3 crore),Hollywood movie released in April 2015
3- Dhoom 3 (25 crore), Bollywood movie released in December 2013
4- PK (23.5 crore), Bollywood movie released in December 2014
5- Bajrangi Bhaijaan (23.3 crore), Bollywood movie released in July 2015
Again it will be interesting to note that four out of five of these films are foreign films, out of which three are Bollywood movies. Previously the Pakistani film was on fifth spot and now it is on first spot.
Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani is expected to cross the 30 crore by upcoming weekend and will be the first film ever to achieve this figure in Pakistan.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Gogi might not be a gentleman but he is a very interesting man who you can’t help but like because he knows exactly where he stands in life. He knows he is rich but he also knows that he does not have class. He has no shame in admitting his weaknesses but unfortunately like any other person like him he is not very willing to do anything about it. Farwa’s growing concern for her husband did make me wonder if she had a soft spot for him all of a sudden or it could be because she wants him to continue helping him therefore she does not want to do anything to displease him.
Most people probably did not even notice this but I was really touched by the way Sir Mustansar treated Tanvir. The respect he gave him and the love Tanvir has for Farwa’s parents is something we all wish to see in helpers and people who appoint them! Gogi’s dialogues and Ahmed Hassan’s acting was the highlight of this episode. This man always manages to make me laugh!
Farwa has taken a backseat at the moment and Sir Mustansar is the one running the show for now. I am looking forward to finding out what is it that he is trying to do. The reference to TV dramas and the way they show sisters going after the same man was funny! Every time I watch this play I wish that there was someone else playing the role of Gogi’s friend. Their jokes fall flat and there is hardly any chemistry between the two actors mainly because of the weak acting of the actor playing the friend’s role. It came as a surprise that Sir Mustansar chose someone like Silky to groom Gogi because I never thought she was groomed herself. There is obviously a bigger plan here and it remains to be seen what turn the relationship between the two takes. It was very nice to hear a song from one of the very popular Pakistani films in the background when Gogi meets Silky for the first time instead of one of those Sheila ki jawani songs.
Sir Mustansar thought of an excellent way to make sure that Farwa will mend fences with her parents. Something tells me that he will be able to achieve everything else with this plan except for getting the two love birds married. I must say that Surraya’s insecurities and negative attitude was a major put off at least for me. I was hoping that her character would be far more appealing and more like all the other female characters in this play.
I must say that this episode belonged to Gogi right from the get-go. The preview of the next episode went to show that things between Farwa and Gogi will drastically change because of Silky. It was disappointing to see Gogi falling for this girl but definitely something one would expect from someone like him who sees nothing more than a “pupoo bachi” in his teacher! I missed watching Farwa’s parents in tonight’s episode but overall it was an entertaining installment which made me look forward to more.
Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.
Fatima Awan
Just like all the previous episodes of Sangat this one too kept me glued to my television screen right till the end. Ayesha was shown as a very sensible person right from the start; someone who believed in fixing problems and not creating more and watching Ayesha mustering up the courage to look her rapist in the eye and telling him to do what needed to be done in order for Ayesha to move on was definitely in line with her character. Similarly Ayesha’s outbursts and impatient behavior showed how much she has changed over the years. There was a time when she had the patience to deal with everything but now she does not feel the need to satisfy anyone’s curiosity whether it is her husband or her mother-in-law, which I believe is a way for Ayesha to vent out. She cannot share what happened to her with anyone but even then her husband has been supporting her by putting up with this behavior without asking for explanations which is why it appears to be that Ayesha’s faith in Adnan has been restored. Adnan and I would say even her sister-in-law have played a pivotal role in making Ayesha come out of the depression she was in.
Ayesha knew that she could only start afresh if Shahwez was out of her life for good. That was only possible if she talked to him herself because her mother was not willing to listen to her. I really liked the way her anger towards this man was justified in front of her mother and later on the way she justified it in front of her sister-in-law. The fact that there was a reason for her feeling that way about Shahwez made everything more realistic otherwise her mother and her sister-in-law would have many questions to ask. There was a time when I thought that the only way for the story to progress decently was that Ayesha should tell Adnan and her mother the truth but the story has been very convincing even without that development.
My favorite part of this drama has to be the powerful and relatable characters, meaningful dialogues and flawless acting by every single actor; it is almost as if all these actors were meant to perform these roles. The casting director deserves a lot of credit for choosing a brilliant cast. Like I said before Mikaal Zulfiqar is the weakest link in the play but his character makes up for the average acting. You can’t help but like Adnan for not being the typical husband we see in our dramas all the time. His love for his wife and his daughter is genuine; you feel for him just as much as you feel for Ayesha. A man like Adnan does not deserve to go through all this. This story is just as much about Adnan as it is about Ayesha.
The preview of the next episode showed how Ayesha will be forced to bring Shahwez back in her life because she is desperate to save her daughter’s life. The birth of Sangat has changed everything for Ayesha; she feels the need to protect her daughter more than her own self. I felt like that was the reason why Ayesha decided to have that conversation with Shahwez, she feels that she needs to move on so that she can focus on Sangat. I must say that I am very impressed with how Zafar Mairaj has taken the story forward till now and the director Kashif Nisar deserves all the credit for adding life to every single scene of this play. I am anxiously looking forward to the next episode of Sangat.
Do share your thoughts about this latest episode.
Fatima Awan
Hamza Ali Abbasi is known for openly expressing his views on every forum. He gets into trouble for doing that often but he believes in freedom of expression for everyone and he always welcomes criticism in return for that because he thinks other people have the right to put across their opinion too. Hamza was invited as a guest on Maria Wasti’s Morning Show which has been recorded in Istanbul. Maria Wasti had a very defensive and somewhat offensive stance during the interview which showed that she did not agree with Hamza Ali Abbasi on many points. It could be because Maria Wasti and Ayesha Omer are best friends. Talking about disagreements Hamza Ali Abbasi said,
“There are disagreements in our country and people are very assertive about their opinions but people are tolerant too. That is because there is diversity in our country.”
Talking about how he got where he is today Hamza Ali Abbasi said,
“I believe in being persistent. Many people come to me and say that they really want to act. They think that they can just apply like any other job and get into this career but it is not like that. You have to be very persistent and it can get very turbulent at times.”
Hamza Ali Abbasi also talked about how different he is today compared to how he was a few years back. He said,
“There was a time when I got into relationships without giving it much thought but I have matured now and now I am more careful about who I get close to. The heartbreaks have an impact on your life, you don’t realize it at the time when it happens. It is not all fun and games. “
Hamza Ali Abbasi also said that he used to be very adventurous but he is at that stage of maturity now that all adventures and playfulness has lost appeal for him.
Talking about the film industry he said,
“I will probably distance myself from film industry for a while because we are not doing the things we should be doing and we are focusing on things we should not be focusing on. I am not going to do films for the heck of doing films. I did Hamayun’s film for the heck of it.”
He said that when he made his independent film Hamayun Saeed became a part of it without asking questions so,
“when he asked me to do this film I had no idea what it was about and I only found out about my character when I reached the sets. I ended up doing things I did not agree with which is something I am not going to do again.”
Maria Wasti went on to say that it was Hamza’s fault that he took a project without reading the script. Talking about his future plans he said, “production is not my cup of tea.”
Hamza Ali Abbasi wants to concentrate on television more now and give his film career a break for the reasons already stated.
Watch the entire interview here>>> http://dramaonline.com/hamza-ali-abbasi-humayun-saeed-on-sunrise-from-istanbul/
Ahsan Khan is most often seen playing the romantic hero in our dramas because of his good looks and charming personality. Ahsan mentioned in an interview that he was tired of playing the same kind of characters so he was looking for something different now.
Ahsan Khan will be seen in a different avatar in his upcoming drama serial “Preet Na Kariyo Koi”. He plays the character of a politician in the play who will do anything to get what he wants. The play has been written by the famous writer Amna Mufti and directed by Ehtesham Uddin. The cast boasts of some very popular names like Hira Salman, Noor Khan, Hassan Noman, Saman Ansari, Irfan Khoosat, Rehan Sheikh and Farhana Maqsood.
Talking about the drama Ahsan Khan said,
“In an attempt to make our dramas look trendy we sometimes present characters which may be larger than life, but they are far from real. Fortunately, after a long time, a play is about to come which will show the real culture of Pakistan.”
Talking about his own role he said,
“Our characters in plays are usually either white or black and it’s hard to find a role which shows a man in its actual circumstances. Humans are bound to make errors and there is nothing wrong; especially if you learn a lesson from it. My role in the play is of an ordinary dehahti larka who inspires to be someone very influential.”
The drama serial will air on HUM soon. Hira Salman will also be seen playing a different role in the play.
Sadia Imam has impressed the viewers with her versatility and talent time and again. After doing wonders on the small screen Sadia Imam left her fans very sad when she announced that she was going to leave television and move out of country after getting married. Different television channels with which Sadia Imam did a lot of work bid her farewell in a very nice way but guess what we have not seen the last of this talented lady. After making a few appearances on different Morning Shows with her husband and daughter Sadia Imam is now making a proper comeback to television but this time she will not be seen acting.
Sadia Imam will be hosting the show “Samaa Ke Mehman” which airs on Samaa TV. In this show Sadia Imam will spend a day with famous personalities and show the public a glimpse of their life.
Here are some pictures of the show in which Sadia Imam spent a day with Resham:
Mehwish Hayat has done it all from modelling to singing and she also showed that she is a very talented actress. Mehwish Hayat has been busy with the films she has worked in lately and after promoting her film “Jawani Phir Nahi Aani” she decided to take a break and go on a vaccation.help with writing essays
Mehwish Hayat looked stunning for her latest photoshoot in which she sported different looks.
Mahira Khan always had a dream of working with her childhood idol from across the border namely Shah Rukh Khan and that dream came true when she was offered to star in a Bollywood film next to him. Mahira Khan plays the role of the wife of Shah Rukh Khan in the film “Raees” but what most people don’t know is that Sanam Saeed was offered this role before her. After Sanam Saeed won the hearts of many when her drama Zindagi Gulzar Hai aired in India she was offered this role by the producers but according to her she did not have the time to go for an audition to India because she was busy with her wedding preparations. This is what she said in an interview when she was asked if she refused to do the film because she did not like the character, “I did from whatever little I read. I was getting married those days.. I wasn’t able to go for a physical audition to India.”
Mahira Khan was asked by one of her fans on twitter if it bothered her that she was the second choice for the film. Her answer was, “Hi! I don’t like speaking about the films/dramas I’ve left, neither about other actors/actresses and their careers/choices. That being said- I didn’t know Sanam was offered Raees, I did know she auditioned for it.”
Sanam Saeed has always shown a keen interest in working in Bollywood projects too but she is waiting for the right kind of project that will work for her.
Ohkay so, finally the drama’s about to end & so is the story. I love the way they are heading towards the completion because like they have given coverage to each & every aspect of everyone’s life, they are now doing the same thing as far as the ending is concerned. I must say, this episode made me emotional because finally the moment we all were waiting for was revealed this time.
Wali took the bullet to save Faarah & what more proof would Ruhina want to know & understand that Wali is the perfect man for her daughter? I really am so glad that it was Wali who convinced Ruhina & that too unconsciously. He only did what he was bound to do & that was to save Faarah by any means necessary & just a day with him was enough for Ruhina to know that this guy loves her daughter a lot & would protect & cherish her for the rest of his life. I loved seeing how each & everything that Behroz said to Ruhina about Wali was echoing in her mind & it was like Wali was proving himself & his Bare Baba right, but what made it even more special was that Wali was just being himself, he was oblivious of the fact that Ruhina was reading between the lines & was getting convinced because she was seeing all the words of Behroz turning into a reality in front of her eyes. I loved how gently Wali treated Ruhina & Faarah because that’s what he has been taught to do & he didn’t have to pretend at all to show that he is a good person because he actually is.
Finally, Faarah & Wali both brought Ruhina to Haveli & she agreed because she had nowhere to go. The journey of Ruhina’s self-realization began the moment Moeez shattered her trust & she found herself guilty for not having enough insight & wisdom to judge people rightly. She always hated Behroz’s family & now when she landed in trouble; it was Wali who helped her out. Ruhina obviously didn’t want to face Agha Jaan but she decided she should because Faarah convinced her & told her to snap out of the past. I am glad that Ruhina admitted all her mistakes & apologized but the thing that struck a chord was her confession of how she only came here because she was wronged by her brother & if it wasn’t for that, she would have never come. I must commend the writer for making this aspect a part of their conversation because till that moment, Ruhina’s apology held no weight in my opinion but the moment she came clean about how selfish she was & how she didn’t deserve all the acceptance & warm welcome from Agha Jaan, made me forgive her too. I am glad that after all she has said & done, she had the courage to accept that she came here because she needed to & because she was helpless. Ruhina for the first time gave credit to Faarah & acknowledged her efforts of forcing her to do the right thing & it was good to see that as well.
I loved how easily & how effortlessly Agha Jaan forgave Ruhina. He showed her that its ohkay to make mistakes because by the end of the day, a family is all about walking past the hardships & embracing the future together. Agha Jaan made Ruhina understand that she was entitled to have her opinions & she was entitled to hold onto what she felt was right too & that doesn’t make her a bad person. Like Agha Jaan always said, love conquers all & I am so glad he was there to witness another such moment in his life too.
Honestly, I do feel for Arjumand too but I think she has no other option left as well to move on & get rid of the grudge she holds against Ruhina because Ruhina herself is a living example of how time & circumstances change & force people to change along as well. It was the same Ruhina who vowed that she will never ever step a foot in this Haveli & now she was there with an overbearing guilt that let her know how helpless she was. Arjumand also knows that Wali has always loved Faarah so for his sake she knows she will have to tolerate Faarah for the rest of her life considering she has no idea about the deal that still exists between them. I do understand that Arjumand has gone through a lot because of Ruhina & she is protective of her son Wali because he is the most important person in her life after Suhaib, that is why she doesn’t want him to go through any difficulty because of her again but I am sure Ruhina’s heartfelt apology will make her come to terms with the fact that she & Faarah are just as much a part of the family as she & her children are.
Overall, this episode was very emotional & I am so glad that finally Agha Jaan got to see his whole family under his roof. Sadly, Behroz & Suhaib didn’t live to see this day but their families can continue the tradition of loving & respecting each other, exactly how Agha Jaan taught them to so that too. Finally, Moeez has reached the place where he deserves to be the most & I am glad their part is done with. I really felt bad when Wali referred to Faarah as Taya Abbu ki Beti. I think he really needs to read between the lines & understand that Faarah is in love with him too. Wali should break the ice & confess his love to Faarah so that we can get to see some great moments that they’ll share. As always, this episode was filled with phenomenal performances too & Sanam Saeed played her part well because I actually teared up during her & Agha Jaan’s conversations. Please share your beautiful thoughts about this beautiful episode of Diyar-e-Dil. :)
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.
This drama has become a lot more interesting & I think it is very intelligently directed because all the cards are being revealed properly & just at the right time. I think Mohabbat Aag Si has the potential of keeping the viewers engaged till the end if they keep up with the element of mystery & give away the details when needed.
Looks like Arshad Junior also has some ulterior motives, that is why he decided to help Saba in her plan of exposing Apa Ji. Arshad Jr. is playing his cards well because he knows Sharifa is the most important person in Rukhsana’s life & if he can stay closer to her, he can get an easy access into Apa Ji’s life. I must say the actor who is playing the role of Arshad Jr. has done a commendable job. The way he changes his tone & expressions while speaking to different people really tells what a complicated person he is & the actor has done full justice to his character. I think it was wise of Saba to depend on Arshad Jr. because where she is eager to prove herself right, she has no other option left than to rely on him. Arshad Jr’s call to Rukhsana told how once Rukhsana even made a pass at him just because of his name & now when the real Arshad has returned, she is trying to avoid Arshad Jr. also because he knows about her secret & also because she doesn’t want Sharifa to find out about her intentions related to him Arshad Jr.
The conversation Saba’s father had with Wajahat was done nicely. Very subtly he told him the difference between having a right perspective & following someone blindly to a fault. I am sure this is what convinced Wajahat to have a thought about what he has done & that is why he went to meet Arshad Senior. Even though Arshad Sr. didn’t give him a clear answer but quite intelligently he tried to clear off Saba’s name as he genuinely felt bad for her. I really thought after all that he has witnessed, Arshad Sr. will part ways with Rukhsana because she is hopeless but the things he said to Bee Ji about her told that he still falls weak in front of her because he is guilty of abandoning her 12 years ago. Even though he can see that she is not the same person anymore he still thinks there’s some hope for her. I really thought he was intelligent enough but the way he confessed his love to her once again after going through her letters showed that he really wants to be with her because once again, it’s the guilt that is tearing him apart as he blames himself for wronging Rukhsana & bringing her to this point in life where she is wrecking people’s lives & has become so bitter & negative.
I really don’t get Sharafat & his idea of protecting his baby. I don’t think it takes a lot of intelligence for a normal man to know that whenever his wife is feeling sick, he should take her to the hospital. The whole tantrum that he threw at Samia for going to the hospital was cringe worthy. I think it would either be a miracle if his child would be born or he will learn it the hard way after losing his baby but honestly, to see so much stupidity from a person who got this happiness after quite a while is unrealistic. Right now, Sharafat’s main focus should be on Samia; his pregnant wife & his unborn but he thinks it a high time he should let her know what his ego means to him, which is bizarre.
I think deep down Samia has also started believing in what Saba has been telling her about Sharifa & Apa Ji, that is why she thought it was best for her to be at her mother’s home where she won’t be forced to eat & drink the things she doesn’t want to. Going by the rigidity that Sharafat shows, I am sure it would take a lot to convince him that Apa Ji isn’t such a saint that he thinks she is. Wajahat obviously is feeling bad for Saba but then I guess it serves him right that she is ignoring him, I am sure it will force him to take some desperate measures & probe about the whole situation on his own.
Overall, the drama is going strong & the actors have made it a treat to watch because all of them fit well in their characters seamlessly. Iffat Omar has done a wonderful job & so has everyone else especially the actor playing the character of Arshad Junior. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Please share your thoughts about Mohabbat Aag Si.
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.
After a very long time, I came across a drama that I found both intriguing and intelligent. Airing every Saturday on Hum Sitaray, directed by Kashif Nisar, written by Sameera Hameed, Dooriyan was an absolute delight that I looked forward to watching week after week. This 21 episode saga seamlessly moved the narrative from past to present and showcased the journey of the three main protagonists. Daniyal (Faisal Rehman) was married to Sana (Iffat Omat). Daniyal hailed from a modest background and was highly disciplined but fell for his exact opposite. Sana belonged to a higher social standing and was a pampered princess. Her family bragged shamelessly about their wealth and mocked Daniyal for his ways. Sana didn’t shy away from partaking in their discussions even at the expense of straining her relationship with Daniyal. They had a son, Faizan and Sana spent days at a stretch ignoring her home. Daniyal tried in vain to bring about a change in Sana. He grew increasingly frustrated with her stubbornness and lack of appreciation for his efforts. Sana took zero interest in her home, her son or her husband. She spent money like there’s no tomorrow and routinely depended on her brothers to fulfil her material desires. Overtime, their differences crept in and the cracks in their marriage started to become evident. It didn’t help that Sana blurted out the intricate details of her life in front of her mother (Samina Ahmed) and brothers who egged her on and only added further strain on an already tumultuous relationship.
Apart from Daniyal and Sana, the third protagonist was Huma (Sabreen Hisbani) who was married to a good for nothing man, Abbas (Kashif Mehmood). Abbas felt it beneath him to work. Ironically, he found nothing wrong with having his wife work while juggle her home and two daughters. Huma struggled to make ends meet but maintained her home and children in a dignified manner despite her lack of necessities. Huma stared to work at Daniyal’s office and over a span of 8 years, they developed trust and began sharing their day-to-day happenings. Daniyal was shocked to find out that Abbas was not only a womanizer and gambler but also abused his wife. He stood by her and comforted her not only with words but with finances too at a time when Huma was completely helpless. Although he hoped things would get better for her, he realized Abbas was at the point of no return. He encouraged Huma to take a stand for the sake of her daughters and even spent his own money to pay off Abbas to ensure Abbas doesn’t defame Huma in court in an attempt to take his daughters away. Huma who tried her best to conceal these embarrassing details from Daniyal, took offence when Daniyal proposed to her but later on felt indebted to him and agreed.
Sana, who was suspicious all along finally demanded a khula. Daniyal tried his best to convince her that their marriage was wrecked years ago by Sana’s own negligence but he was still willing to stay married for the sake of their son or at the very least, he wanted to continue financially supporting them. Sana’s ego got the better of her and she expedited to file for a divorce without considering the repercussions on her son and filled his mind with hatred for Daniyal. Years passed and Daniyal raised Huma’s two daughters as his own and had a new one but longed for his son. Huma proved to be an excellent wife and companion but she never replaced the love he had for Sana. Sana grew into a bitter and cold woman who lived with her mother and brother but was treated like a liability and had to struggle for her basic needs. Faizan grew up to be a reflection of his father and stood by his mother although deep down he missed his father. As fate would have it, Faizan found himself in a compromising position and had to turn to his father after years apart. Daniyal hoped his son would run to him with open arms but realized that his son was harbouring hatred as a result of feeling neglected. Daniyal managed to mend fences with his son and do right by Sana in the only way he could- by providing them with a home they could call their own.
One of the biggest wins of this drama was the execution of the narrative and how it didn’t try to influence the audience in any which way. I continually struggled with my feelings as none of the characters were black or white but each had shades of grey and depth which gave them a unique personality. Initially, Sana came across as a negative character but after her divorce, I empathized with her since she proved to be an excellent and selfless mother who fought tooth and nail to provide the best for her son. She stayed single for the sake of her only son and didn’t once falter. Daniyal seemed sincere initially but I didn’t approve of his decision to take a second wife – he was selfish and paid the price by being separated from his son. Huma was the proverbial mazloom aurat but she persevered through many a storms. I felt she married Daniyal for her own selfish reasons but given her situation, I could see why she did what she did. I also liked the contrast between Sana’s mother and Huma’s mother. Sana’s mother filled her head with negativity against Daniyal which influenced her relationship and Huma’s mother was a pillar of support which is why Huma managed to stay married all those years and had the strength to accept Daniyal’s proposal. Overall, Dooriyan was brilliantly scripted, sharply directed and flawlessly acted which made it a very good watch. I’m not sure how it fared since it didn’t air on one of the big three channels but I look forward to tuning in to Hum Sitaray and hope they will continue providing us with quality entertainment.
Kanwal Murtaza
Ho Mann Jahan (ہو من جہاں) is an upcoming film due to release on Eidul Azha but postponed to provide space to Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani. The release date of Ho Mann Jahan is now announced and the film is releasing on 1st January 2016.
The theatrical trailer of the film is also released today
Directed by: Asim Raza
Story by: Asim Raza
Screenplay by: Rashna Abidi, Imtisal Abbasi & Asim Raza
Dialogues by: Yasir Hussain & Asim Raza
Starring: Mahirah Hafeez Khan, Sonya Jehan, Sheheryar Munawar, Adeel Hussain, Bushra Ansari, Nimra Bucha, Arshad Mehmood and Munawar Siddiqui
Here is the teaser of the film released earlier in April 2015.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Fawad Khan was invited as a guest on the Indian talk show “Look Who’s Talking With Niranjan”. He talked about his career from beginning till now and family life in the show. When asked how Fawad felt about all the fan following in India he said,
“I am always surprised, obviously it is the same thing for anyone I think and I am sure even for the super stars and mega stars out there it is the same thing. They come across more and more fans in other parts of the world. It is always a new experience for them and for me as well.”
Fawad Khan also shared,
“I was picked on in school, I was bullied. In the 90s I studied in an American school, the idea of brown and white people didn’t mix in too well. Also because, I was the quite one in the class.”
When asked why he has always been such a quite person he said, “I have always been a quite person, I don’t like confrontation, I avoid it, I hate it.”
Fawad Khan also shared that he always wanted to be a cartoonist. He said that he used to draw cartoons even in classroom. Talking about his on going Bollywood venture Fawad Khan said,
“As a kid back home in Pakistan, I did not have access to films so I used to rent VHS tapes and watch movies of Rishi Kapoor. Hence today I am more than thrilled to work with him.”
Fawad Khan refused to talk about his first sitcom on television because he wasn’t very proud of it!! He also said that he did his first film purely out of curiosity.
“I couldn’t find a job, I had no other way to make money so I became an actor.”
Fawad Khan also told that there was a time when he was penniless. It was at that time when I decided I needed to find a clear direction in life. Fawad Khan said that after Khuda Ke Liye his film career came to a halt too because not too many films were being made so he said,
“television was probably the only medium left where you could actually explore the art of acting therefore I thought until a film came along I should polish my acting skills on television.”
Fawad Khan also said that he put his career on a hold for an entire year because he thought he was going to be a part of the film “A Reluctant Fundamentalist” but it came through which was a rude shock for him.
He said that his experience of working in India was,
“extremely amazing and professional. I felt very welcomed, I was being treated really well, had great co-actors to work with.”
Fawad Khan also said that he refused to do intimate scenes because of the “larger audience” who put him where he is today. Talking about his marriage Fawad Khan said,
” I love my wife, I think I am the happiest man in the world. I was 17 years old and I fell madly in love with her.”
Mahira Khan has made her way up in the film industry with a hit film Bin Roye to her credit and her next film “Ho Mann Jahan” will be released in a few months too. That fact that Mahira Khan is playing the lead with Shah Rukh Khan in her first Bollywood venture also goes to show how well-loved she is across the border. Mahira has always been very selective about the dramas she works in. Although she has a huge fan following but we do not see her on TV screens very often.
Now that Mahira Khan has a booming film career ahead of her, her fans are not so sure whether the diva will be seen once again on television. While talking to Khaleej Times Mahira Khan made it very clear that she was not going to leave television altogether. Talking about what her plans were regarding working on television Mahira said, “If a really good script comes along, something that excites me I would definitely go ahead and do it. Television has given me a lot of love and I have a lot of respect for that medium, but at the same time I would like to be involved in a project that offers a challenge or something novel.”
To make her future plans more clear she said, “TV is something I will never cut all ties with. Let me say this, I will never divorce television.”
Mahira Khan was always a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan now that she has had the opportunity to work with him she is even more impressed with him. Talking about her co-star and childhood idol Mahira said, “For him I would only say that it is very rare that you come across a childhood idol who lives up to your expectations!”
Mahira Khan also said that she would like to do her next Bollywood project with Shah Rukh Khan as well, “Shah Rukh Khan, again. His energy is infectious.”
This episode was what you’d call ‘happening’ because it featured the long awaited confession of love along with the much dreaded dusri shadi. Before I go on about anything else, allow me to applaud the top notch performance of Faisal Qureshi. He speaks his dialogues with conviction, his powerful expressions alone can tell you how defeated, depressed and helpless his character feels, and yes, it’d be fair to say that we couldn’t have asked for a better Sheheryaar Hassan.
Belonging nahe ho tum meri, muhabbat ho, pehli aur akhri muhabbat. Since the beginning of this play, there has been a Sheheryaar vs. Emaan debate (and how mentally draining these debates have been!); some viewers felt that Sheheryaar doesn’t love Emaan and that she is simply one of the many commitments that Sheheryaar likes to take seriously, while others believed that Sheheryaar loves Emaan but fails to put it into words. If you remember, the very first time Emaan asked Sheheryaar if he loves her, he rejected the very idea of love, calling confessions of love, ‘jhootay labels, teenagers ki baatain’. But, the same Sheheryaar who refused to believe in love, now confesses his love, and for me, this illustrates the point that this has indeed been Sheheryaar’s journey of self discovery. He thought that he can spend his entire life without having to depend on anybody and that his life can do without love, but his marriage to Emaan has changed his views about life and love. It was promised that Mol would be about how two people discover themselves, and while I can say that Sheheryaar has indeed discovered himself, I wish I wish I could say that about Emaan!
Kia waqai aap ko mujhse muhabbat hogayi hai? I feel like banging my head on the wall! It’s pathetic how it never dawned on Emaan that her husband loves her and it’s even more pathetic how Emaan started off as an intelligent woman but by the end of the day, she simply wanted a verbal confession of love? Is this juvenile or what?
This episode revealed the real reason why Emaan wanted Sheheryaar to marry Sajal and as it turns out, Emaan yeh sab kuch Shahnu kay liye hi tou kar rahi hain! Emaan thinks that Sajal would drive Sheheryaar away from her and that way, she’d get her happy ending with Shahnu. Hey, does anyone else remember that Emaan was in love with Sheheryaar not too long ago? How is it so easy for Emaan to leave Sheheryaar for the sake of this kid? And now that Sheheryaar has said the words Emaan was dying to hear, isn’t the decision to leave Sheheryaar supposed to be difficult? Emaan’s conversation with Rohail left a bad taste in my mouth. It almost felt like she was asking him to marry her and when I say that, I am referring to: koi bhi aurat jo kisi aur ki biwi hai who Shahnaam ki maa nahe hosakti. I kinda felt that Emaan was trying to suggest that she’d like to be Mrs Rohail just to be with Shahnaam 24/7.
As if there weren’t enough maniacs in this drama, say hello to the latest addition, Sanober! She shouts, shouts, and shouts some more, and yeah, that’s pretty much it! Jahan itnon ko bardaasht karliya, wahan ek aur sahe. On a serious note, I kind of agree with Sanober’s views about Emaan.
Mujhe aap say shadi manzoor hai, kisi bhi soorat mein. As a female viewer, I found this dialogue to be extremely demeaning. Forgive me if I sound brutal, but I felt great watching Sheheryaar give Sajal the cold shoulder. Girl, you were dying to marry him, remember? I don’t understand what sort of treatment Sajal was expecting from a guy who rejected her outright, never had a proper, pleasant conversation with her and made clear that he just couldn’t care less about her!
Falsafa mat bolo! I’d like to thank Sheheryaar for pointing this out because I feel that almost every episode of Mol is always oozing with falsafa ; from Emaan (the undisputed queen of falsafa) to Rohail’s maid – all the characters here have more than their fair share of falsifana dialogues. It’s not that I mind falsifana conversations but I feel that an overdose of forced falsafa can easily be avoided because this just makes characters that are already very difficult to identify with even more difficult to relate to.
I’d love to read your take on dunya ki sab say ajeeb larki aur dunya ki sab say ajeeb shadi (thank you for saying this, Hajra Aunty!).
Maryam Mehdi
Ho Mann Jahan (ہو من جہاں) is an upcoming film due to release on Eidul Azha but postponed to provide space to Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani. The release date of Ho Mann Jahan is now announced and the film is releasing on 1st January 2016.
The theatrical trailer of the film is also releasing on Monday 12 October 2015 on ARY Digital.
Directed by: Asim Raza
Story by: Asim Raza
Screenplay by: Rashna Abidi, Imtisal Abbasi & Asim Raza
Dialogues by: Yasir Hussain & Asim Raza
Starring: Mahirah Hafeez Khan, Sonya Jehan, Sheheryar Munawar, Adeel Hussain, Bushra Ansari, Nimra Bucha, Arshad Mehmood and Munawar Siddiqui
Here is the teaser of the film released earlier in April 2015.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Mor Mehal (مور محل) on Geo Tv is an upcoming play on Geo Tv. It is one of the big budgeted plays of Geo Tv. (The last high budgeted play of Geo Tv was Bashar Momin).
Mor Mehal (مور محل) is a story set some three centuries ago during the Mughal Empire. Mor Mehal is an inspiration from the Turkish play The Magnificent Century aired in Pakistan as Mera Sultan. The treatment, styling and production is on the similar lines as it was in the Mera Sultan.
The play is directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. Meesha Shafi, Jaanan Malik and Uzair Jaswaal are playing the lead roles. Zahid Iftikhaar Ahmed is also playing an important supporting role of a court singer (gawayaa گویا). The play is written by Sarmad Sehbai
Rashid Nazir Ali
Neelum Kinaray (نیلم کنارے) is an upcoming play on Hum Sitaray directed by Adnan Wai Qureshi and produced by Mehroz Karim and Momina Duraid. The play is shot in beautiful Neelum Valley in the Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Cast: Affan Waheed, Mumtaz Gohar, Sumbal Iqbal, Usnah Shah, Samina Peerzada, Naeem Tahir and others
Director: Adnan Wai Qureshi
Writer: Amna Mufti
Producer: Mehroz Karim and Momina Duraid
Adnan Wai Qureshi and Mehroz Karim are known for their distinct dramas, like Aashti which was based on the Pakistani Bengali community.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x389tf0
Rashid Nazir Ali
Like every year, ARY Digitial is airing the new season of famous reality show of India Big Boss 9 to be hosted by Salman Khan. The show will be aired at 10 pm daily on Monday to Friday from 12th October 2015. Since its first season, Big Boss a show made for Indian audience is also aired simultaneously on ARY Digital a channel majorly viewed by Pakistani audience.
To telecast Big Boss, ARY has already shifted the time slots of two soap dramas Gurya Raani and Dile Barbaad which were earlier telecasted from 10 pm to 11 pm.
Indian films are extremely popular in Pakistan and some how overshadow the fact that Indian television content is also widely viewed in Pakistan. The Indian television content makes the highest proportion of Foreign content on Pakistani entertainment channels. The content comprises of reality shows like Big Boss, Dance/Music contests like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, Award Shows and Soap dramas.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Quetta – A City of Forgotten Dreams is an upcoming film. The film is about the lives of three individuals living in Quetta. It is directed by Murtaza Chaudhary who also directs famous comedy show BNN on Geo Tv.
Film: “QUETTA (a city of forgotten dreams)” …
Cast: AsalDin Khan, Abdullah Ghaznavi, Ali Karimi, Fayaz Hussain, Danyal Ali
Music by: Kashan Dawar
Edited by: Amir Saif
Excutive Producer: Faysal Chaudary and Sana Bucha
Produced by: Filmsaaz
Directed by: Murtaza Chaudary
Balochistan otherwise a neglected area in our media, has suddenly become an interest of film makers. Recently a film Moor was released which was shot in Balochistan. Few upcoming films Abduallh The Final Witness, Hijrat and Mahleb are also shot in Balochistan. However all these films portrays a grim picture of Balochistan and Quetta. Its encouraging to see Balochistan become the subject of films and lets hope one day there will be a light hearted story based film shot in Balochistan too.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Chaand Jalta Raha (چاند جلتا رہا) is a new drama on PTV Home starting from Saturday 10th October 2015 at 7:45 pm.
Yasir Shoro and Sania Shamshaad are playing the lead roles.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Kaanch Ke Rishte (کانچ کے رشتے) is a new soap drama on PTV Home airing at 7:20 PM, Monday to Friday from 5th October 2015. Naheed Shabbir, Bilal Qureshi, Beenish Chauhan and many other artists are in the cast.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Hasratein (حسرتیں) is a new drama on PTV starting from tomorrow, Sunday 07:45 PM, 11th October, 2015.
Affan Waheed and Sumbal Shahid are playing lead roles in this drama.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Bechaari (بے چاری) on PTV Home is a new drama on PTV Home airing every Wednesday 7:45 PM from 7th October 2015. Faryal Mehmood is playing the lead role in this drama opposite Kamran Jeelani. Rubina Ashraf, Adnan Jeelani, Sohail Asghar are playing supporting roles in this drama.
It is a heart rending tale of a girl, Haya. The man she marries had lied to her and her fate was left in the hands of a ‘Panchayat’. In a turn of fate, she is given as compensation for the feud to the other landlords.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Tum Mere Kya Ho (تم میرے کیا ہو) is a new play on PTV Home airing every Thursday at 8 pm from 8th October 2015. It is the first drama produced by Mikaal Zulfiqar who is also playing the lead role. The play is shot in Lahore.
Apart from Mikaal, Sajal Ali and Kiran Haq are also in the leading cast. It is directed by Sirajul Haq.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38ser8
TMKH is the story of a property tycoon and widower (Mikaal) who rediscovers love upon his meeting with his manager’s daughter (Sajal Ali). Sajal is being married into a greedy family, whose antics make her father depressed and sick. Eventually, Mikaal and Sajal’s lives are intertwined, but their romance is complicated by the re-appearance of Mikaal’s former love (Kiran Haq).
Rashid Nazir Ali
This episode of Farwa Ki ABC was more serious than comic and honestly speaking while I have really been enjoying the comedy in this play I always thought that this play could do with some serious element. Silk really is one of a kind name which made it easier for Sir Mustansar to recognize Safia’s sister. The viewers got to find out the real reason for Surraya leaving Sir Mustansar. Safia’s husband abandoned her soon after they got married and now Surraya and Silk are barely coping with Silk running the household with her income which made me wonder why Surraya could not find a job as well. I must say that I was expecting Surraya to be just as decent as Sir Mustansar but looks like he is the only one in this play with such sophistication. I must say that Adnan Jaffar has impressed me yet again with his brilliant acting. I am really looking forward to seeing more of him. It is good to know that there are some actors who are constantly experimenting with different kinds of roles and nailing them too. The actress playing Silk has mostly been seen in dead serious roles but she is doing really well in this character as well. I must give the casting director credit for picking up an excellent cast.
Sir Mustansar’s idea to groom Gogi came as a complete surprise. Will Gogi want someone better than Farwa when he is a more groomed person? Is that the reason why Sir Mustansar wants him to learn how to talk and act like a gentleman? I am waiting to find out! Until now nothing in this drama has been shown without a reason and I am pretty sure that there is a good reason for this too. Sir Mustansar’s visit to Farwa’s house was somewhat confusing, on the one hand he defended his wife and on the other hand he gave her parents a clear hint of what she was planning to do. I have always been very disappointed with Farwa’s parents and this episode wasn’t any different.
I am glad that Asma is out of the picture at the moment and some new and interesting characters have been added to the play. The most funny scene in tonight’s episode had to be the one in which Sir Mustansar was telling Farwa his sad love story and she couldn’t be less bothered! Sonia Hussain has been flawless as Farwa. It was refreshing to hear some nice things about Sir Mustansar from Gogi and the reference he made to the Indian film was height of wishful thinking!
Overall, this was another interesting episode of Farwa Ki ABC which definitely made me wonder what was going to happen next. I am still wondering though after all these episodes why this drama was titled Farwa Ki ABC but I am quite sure that we will find out why at some point.
Did you watch tonight’s episode of Farwa Ki ABC? Do share your thoughts about it.
Fatima Awan
Faryal Mehmood is a newcomer who is impressing the viewers with her good acting. She has also worked with director Sohail Javaid and well-known actress Sonya Hussain. Faryal Mehmood’s new drama serial “Bechari” started on PTV Home this week.
Sohail Javaid who is against showing becharis in dramas used objectionable language on social media while criticizing Faryal Mehmood’s role in her new play. He did this when he was having a public chat with actress Sonya Hussain.
Sonya Hussain started this discussion by making fun of the title of the drama. Here is what she wrote:
This led to a chat which was very objectionable. Here is what they said:
Faryal Mehmood posted these parts from the chat on her facebook page and highlighted the parts she objected to the most.
Faryal Mehmood decided to pay her co-star and director in the same coin by this status update:
Annie Khalid was engaged to Saad Ahmed Khan for a few years and the couple also strengthened the bond through Nikkah almost a year ago. A year after the nikkah Annie and Saad decided it was time to start a new life with their partner and the rukhsati of the singer was held in a private ceremony on October7th. Saad Ahmed is a businessman who is based in London.
Annie Khalid and her husband sported a very traditional look on the ceremony. Close friends and singers from across the border also attended the ceremony and performed on it.
Here are two pictures from the ceremony:
The famous singer Ghulam Ali is widely loved by the Indian audience and his concert was due to be held on 9th October but threats from the ruling right-wing Hindu party Shiv Sena lead to the cancellation of the concert. The party said that they are not going to let anyone from Pakistan perform in India until the issue of Kashmir is resolved between Pakistan and India.
The Chief Minister Of Mumbai, where the concert was going to be held, Devendra Fadnavis assured Ghulam Ali that he will take care of security arrangements personally and the singer should perform but the threats from Shiv Sena were very serious which made it impossible for Ghulam Ali to perform there.
The organizer of the concert Randhir Roy told reporters, “Ghulam Ali’s programme has been cancelled. Neither Ghulam Ali nor any Pakistani artiste will be performing at the 9 October event.”
While talking to NDTV Ghulam Ali said that he wasn’t angry but he was hurt because people of India always gave him love. He also said, “The concert was a tribute for Jagjit Singh. He was like a brother to me.”
While talking to the press Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said, “We do encourage artistes to visit both sides and perform. As far as Pakistan is concerned, our policy is very constructive, very positive. When Indian artistes go to Pakistan, they do not come across such opposition.”
Shireen Mazari expressed her opinion through this tweet:
