Recently, ARY Zindagi organized a show called Eidi Sab Kay Liye and the stage collapsed due to poor management, injuring and reportedly killed at least one person. The host of Salam Zindagi, Faysal Qureshi has something to say regarding the tragedy.
Saba Qamar Is An Excellent Actor: Irrfan Khan
Irrfan Khan’s upcoming Bollywood movie Hindi Medium opposite Pakistani actress Saba Qamar is all set to release on May 19, 2017. The actor is glad that the film is going to have a safe release.
“The environment has become such that anything can happen any time. I remember at the time of Billu Barber, something had happened over a word. So, you always feel lucky when there’s no controversy, you never get to know when a mountain is made out of a molehill,” said Irrfan in a recent interview.
He further said, “I think working with Saba Qamar was an amazing experience, she is an excellent actor.”
His previous film Madaari was in hot waters for his remarks regarding Qurbani, and he is now being cautious while speaking anything publicly. “Yes… I am very careful, and I realised one thing: we don’t have a place where you can go and express yourself and say what you want to, you’re a media person and your intentions may be good and you might write the thing in the right context. But after you write it, your words will be broken into different contexts and I can’t even comment on what extent it will happen. So, it is very unfortunate that we don’t have a platform where we can say anything,” said Irrfan.
Fawad Khan Helps To Save A Life And Receives Love
The King Khan of Pakistan, Fawad Khan is one of the most popular names of the country. He’s not only appreciated for his acting prowess, but girls all over the country just can’t get over how handsome he is!
Recently, he helped to save a life and won our hearts all over again. Apparently, there was an accident in Karachi and Fawad Khan made sure to help out the injured people. A passerby named Alee narrated the whole incident where FK did not hesitate from helping the people.
Urwa Hocane Signs 6th Pakistani Movie
Urwa Hocane made her film debut with Na Maloom Afraad and impressed us instantly. She is signing films back to back, with 4 of her films gearing for 2017 release, the actress has now signed another mega project.
Urwa took to Twitter to share the news:
The Udaari star has four films lined up for 2017 release, Jhol releasing this Eid-ul-Fitr, Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Na Maloom Afraad to release on Eid-ul-Azha, while Rangreza to release later this year.
The Cast Reveals Everything You Need To Know About Mehrunisa V Lub U
After the success of Yasir Nawaz’s ‘Wrong No.’, he’s back with his second film project, ‘Mehrunnisa V Lub You’.
Starring the hunk of Pakistani industry Danish Taimoor and the beautiful drama actress Sana Javed making a debut in the film, we are sure this will be a comical journey, as evident from Nawaz’s previous drama productions and film.
Speaking to Instep, the cast and crew of the film shed light on the project. The film was shot over a span of 45 days and the teaser looked aesthetically pleasing. There will be four songs in the film, one of which is being called a ‘celebration song’ by the producers. However, according to Danish Taimoor, the true strength of the film lies in the message it delivers.
“For me, it’s all about content,” shared Javed when asked what factors she takes into consideration when signing a film. “And of course, the director’s vision,” Taimoor added.
“The film isn’t very preachy though,” explained Javed to which Taimoor added: “You know how Rajkumar Hirani’s films are? 3 idiots, Munnabhai M.B.B.S and PK were all fun, entertaining films but they all had an underlying message or theme. MVLU attempts to do the same. We will try to convey an important message to our audience in a loving and fun way.”
The crew shared the details about the most expensive set ever in Pakistan, “We recreated a very busy junction of Karachi for the film and that set cost us roughly Rs. 20 million to create. We made our own road and gave attention to every detail. You won’t be able to tell that it’s a set when you see it in the film,” shared Shariq.
When asked if there was a need to create a set so grand? “It’s not easy to shoot in public locations in Pakistan as it is very difficult to control the crowd. It’s also very difficult to control the amount of information that gets leaked to people prior to the release of the film. A closed set ensures privacy as well as a greater level of control over all aspects of the film,” explained Shariq. The film was shot completely in Pakistan and the songs have been shot in the northern areas of the country. “For us, the set was an absolute necessity; it wasn’t an extravagance just for the sake of it.”
Sana Javed was seen adorning saris in the freezing temperature, “The temperature was minus 8 and I was afraid I might get frostbite,” laughed Javed.
When asked was she stressed out during the shooting of that sequence? “It took us total of 12 days to complete the shooting of two songs and yes, I tried every possible trick to keep myself warm during it. I would drink tea and coffee but none of that works when you’re wearing a sari in the snow.”
When asked if she wore the heels as well? “No, thank God! I was always wearing a very comfortable pair of boots underneath.”
Because of these Yash Raj film inspired sequences, it’s only natural to draw comparisons between MVLU and Bollywood films. “These comparisons have to stop. Pakistani films were being made like this many years ago as well. We used to have item numbers and make films in the same manner. Our conflicts are the same; our style of storytelling is the same. Of course our films will look similar. And even if they look similar then what’s the problem? Bollywood does well in Pakistan. People run to the cinemas to watch Indian films. So if our films look the same then that just goes to show that we’re making films that the audience wants to see. We can try making earthy, artsy films but right now the market is small. We have to create films that can feed revenue to all the screens in Pakistan right now,” exclaimed Taimoor.
Ali Zafar’s Brother Danyal Zafar To Make His Bollywood Debut Soon
It seems that the ban on Pakistani artists has been lifted since artists from both sides of the border are collaborating for various projects. Earlier, we reported that Madiha Imam is making her Bollywood debut with Dear Maya and now there’s another artist all geared up to leave the mark across the border.
Ali Zafar’s younger brother Danyal Zafar is all set to take Bollywood by storm.
Last year, there were rumours that Danyal’s big debut in tinsel town is in jeopardy. However, according to Instep, Danyal will be playing the lead role in an untitled project, directed by Habib Faisal, who also happens to be the director of Dawat-e-Ishq. The movie will also launch five other newcomers, including foreigners and an actress from North East India.
The untitled project will be based on the story of a group of criminals who form a music band, the film is expected to go on floors later this year.
Titlee Episode 17 Review – Time For Some Character Development
After watching this episode, I realized what the main strength of this play is; it isn’t the script and direction but the main reason why an otherwise simple script looks appealing on screen is that all the actors have done a commendable job of translating their characters on screen. Because of this reason, I never had any problem connecting to these characters and what they went through. Even though Ahmed’s parents can be a little too compromising at times but the actors playing these roles have enacted their characters in such a brilliant manner that they are always convincing. The newest addition to the show Emad Irfani unfortunately is not a remarkable actor, he fits into specific roles and does not always deliver. After watching the preview of the previous episode, I was certain that Emad Irfani was the perfect choice for playing this role but after watching this episode, I am very disappointed with his performance. Although his character isn’t demanding at all but even then he failed to make me connect to his character. If he was slightly more charming apart from being good looking, it would have been far more convincing.
Another reason why I feel they need to wrap things up is because some of the scenes and scenarios are becoming repetitive like Ahmed’s family going out of their way to please their bahu and Ahmed falling for every little lie his wife tells him. In the previous episode Ahmed’s state of mind was definitely more believable than in this episode. It looked like Ahmed could finally see through Naila but the preview of the next episode in particular shows he might fall for another lie and give Naila the money she is going to ask for. Also, there was a time, not very long ago when I felt like Naila was naive and she should be forgiven if in the end she realizes her mistake but now after he latest ‘adventure’ it would be very wrong if she is forgiven and she gets away with everything.
When Naila and Rehan had an accident, I was glad that this particular track will not be dragged and this would finally be the time when Naila will learn her lesson but Naila has not changed at all in all these years. I absolutely love the way Hania Amir has translated this character on screen and also the fact that she did not add extra glamour to her role although it could have been added conveniently but she has also been carrying the same bag right from the time she got married. Someone like Naila would most certainly not stick to one bag for 10 or so years therefore although this is something nominal but it does get noticed.
I thoroughly enjoyed 16 episodes of Naila’s manipulation and Ahmed’s sharafat but even I want to see some much-needed character development now. The charm of the characters and the story will be completely lost if this continues for another couple of episodes. It was quite obvious that Rehan was after Naila’s money therefore one can only hope that this will prove to be the final twist in the story! I would hate to see Naila getting away with all this which is quite possible considering how forgiving her in laws are!
How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
Pakistani Cinemas To Be Banned In Ramazan
After restricting the intake of food items and smoking in Ramazan, the ministry has now recommended the closure of cinema houses all over the country.
Earlier, the committee suggested to close cinema houses for three hours during seher and three hours after Iftar during Ramazan. Now, the Minister of State for Religious Affairs, Pir Amin Ul Hansat Shah has asked to close the cinemas at all times during the whole month of Ramazan in Pakistan.
Those who violate the Ehtram-e-Ramazan Bill, will be fined RS 50,000 or more.
Maya Khan Is Back!
With the Holy month of Ramazan just around the corner, TV channels are busy preparing for their special Ramazan transmission for 2017. This year channel 24 news is launching ‘Ramzan Ishq Hai’ with Maya Khan.
Maya Khan has now shifted to a new channel, 24 News, instead of A-Plus TV. Ramzan IShq Hai is aimed at peace and sharing Allah’s blessing with great prizes and gifts for audiences.
Saba Faisal’s Son Salman Faisal Gets Married
Veteran actress Saba Faisal’s son Salman Faisal recently got married. He was last seen in Thora Jee Lee and was lauded for his performance. Heartiest congratulations to the newly wed couple.
Pakistani Actress Reveals How Her Mother Was Killed
Pakistani actress Aleena’s mother was brutally murdered. The actress was invited to Faysal Qureshi’s morning show and revealed the whole scenario which will bring tears to your eyes!
Armeena Rana Khan Stirs A Debate On Eastern & Western Attire!
Having made her big screen debut with a British production called Writhe, Armeena Rana Khan has not looked back. She has been climbing the ladder of success with each passing year and delivering one hit after the other on television and films simultaneously.
The actress created an uproar on twitter yesterday when she posted a question through her twitter account. After Hamza Ali Abbasi and Noor Bukhari, Armeena Rana Khan has now raised the question of why celebrities choose to wear western clothes instead of traditional dresses.
Here’s what she asked on Twitter:
What do you think of celebs wearing western to the Pakistani red carpet? Is the Pak national dress dead?
— Armeena Khan (@ArmeenaRK) May 11, 2017
Many people responded to the question and criticised celebrities for choosing western attire. And this is what Armeena replied to the follower who was pretty rude to her.
She then thanked her followers for giving feedback and declared the leading opinion!
Thank you all for your feedback. I think Eastern wear wins hands down.
— Armeena Khan (@ArmeenaRK) May 11, 2017
Sanam Saeed’s Mother Passed Away
Pakistani actress Sanam Saeed’s mother Parveen Mody passed away on May 8th, 2017. She was reportedly battling cancer.
The Mah e Mir starlet posted a picture on Instagram with the caption “Ma 1954-2017”.
The late Mrs Saeed leaves behind grieving family members. We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased!
Project Ghazi’s Teaser Will Make You Go Woah!
There’s a new genre on the horizon and it has released its official teaser as Pakistan’s first contemporary superhero film. The star-studded film will feature Humayun Saeed, Sheheryar Munawar and Saira Shahroz in lead roles.
The teaser offers astonishing graphics and visuals. Sheheryar Munawar sports a modern super soldier look, Humayun Saeed looks intense, while Syra Shehroze is in a totally new avatar. The teaser is absolutely thrilling with something new for the masses!
The superhero genre was relatively untouched this whole while with the only film closest to a superhero flick being 3 Bahadur, an animation. Project Ghazi will definitely set a new benchmark in the film industry.
Nazr e Bad Episode 31 & 32 Review – Ridiculously Boring!
Ohkay so, these two episodes of Nazr e Bad were ridiculously boring & served no purpose at all. I miss the time when I used to praise this drama so much because I actually felt that the team deserved it for such a perfect portrayal but after that, everything has gone wrong & it is so obvious that they are just making the most of the ratings that they are getting. I really don’t get what they are achieving by adding such twists & turns which actually do not affect the story in any positive way, like I believe if they wanted to drag & stretch the drama, they could’ve done that as well by showing Parvez’s downfall too, exactly how they showed him succeeding in the first half of the drama, but even that doesn’t seem to be happening because all of a sudden, the writer has developed this sympathy with this character that he doesn’t feel like punishing him!
Well, just because Maham is bored & has nothing to do except wandering around her house, she wants a baby. I don’t remember cringing so hard during any conversation in this drama than this but then again I was like she is demanding a baby from a magician so he will make it happen in a jiffy & that’s exactly what happened, the news of the baby was signed sealed & delivered the next day. Ohkay fine, if she wants a happy & ‘complete’ married life that is not an issue but what bothered me the most is that Maham even after finding out that Parvez doesn’t work for Yazdani’s anymore, didn’t say anything even though she wanted to. In the beginning they showed us Maham as someone who believed in transparency, so what has happened now? Also, thanks to her Amman Nusrat who said that a husband doesn’t like if his wife pokes her nose in his professional matters, lol, seriously what century is this? Also chalo, if Maham was shown as an uneducated girl, it would’ve made sense but she is not only educated, she even once wanted to do a job to support herself & now again she is back to zero, with no brains, no backbone & probably no aim in life!
So Parvez got a big project where he has to rescue the building. In these two episodes, I even found the scenes to be so long & never-ending as if they were just trying to reach the 40 minute mark by hook or by crook. Every other conversation, every other scene was unnecessarily long & seemed unedited, like Parvez’s meeting with his new boss, his magic rituals & even the scenes of every single family member, everything was stretched beyond limit. Also, I am not sure why all of a sudden, the characters who looked like humans have been replaced with the characters who seem like caricatures, are they seriously trying to throw in some comedy or are trying to make things light-hearted by showing such characters where they assume that people are going to laugh at them? The boss was another failed attempt of that.
So, since they were too tired to think about adding new characters & creating new scenarios, they brought back Abeera & even Aftab. Aftab didn’t get much coverage but Abeera is another sick attempt of dragging the drama. I just can’t emphasize enough on how much I ‘hated’, yes, I don’t usually use this word but I ‘hated’ when they played a soft melodic music at the background when Abeera BHABHI was shamelessly making advances at Ahmer DEVAR. I don’t think this track needed to be rekindled & even after they have done it, it doesn’t seem to be serving any purpose at all except beghaiarti. I just can’t stand Ahmer as well, Abeera is another case but I can’t stand how weak & stupid Ahmer becomes every time Abeera nagin hisses at him, it’s like he gets hypnotized & can’t seem to think straight. It won’t be a surprise if Ahmer will ask Nusrat’s permission to get married to Abeera, because that will guarantee them a couple of episodes more, so yay for them!
Shazia & her Parvez-nama, seriously I am sick of this character too. I just hate the way the writer has turned all these ladies into desperadoes & mindless bimbos & the have shown Parvez as the only sane & the best character in this entire lot of mad people. What a beautiful message the writer has given through this drama, where he is elaborating more on the cliché which is ‘larkon ko sab maaf hai’, be it magic or murder! So, Shazia doesn’t get tired by mentioning it again & again that she can go to any extreme for Parvez, oh well, someone throw her out of my TV please!
These two episodes of Nazr e Bad were boring & unimpressive. It is so obvious that they are not going to end this drama anytime soon & even if we will get an ending, it will be a ridiculous one because the damage has been done & I don’t expect any sanity from the team of Nazr e Bad anymore. The preview suggested that Maham will lose her baby & I am sure they will use this as an eye-opener for Parvez where he will vow to leave magic & everything behind & will start afresh with Maham, getting a happy ending, huh! What a waste of time! Anyways, please share your thoughts about these two ridiculous episodes of Nazr e Bad!
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.
Fiza Ali Just Revealed Something & Sanam Jung Is Shocked!
Sanam Jung’s morning show Jago Pakistan Jago is known for giving a tough competition to other morning shows on air. The recent guest at her show was well-known actress Fiza Ali who has a beautiful daughter and loves her a lot. However, the lady just revealed something which shocked Sanam Jung and also the audiences.
Hira Mani’s Amazing Body Transformation Has To Be Seen!
We see actresses losing weight every now and then. The recent one to amaze us all is Hira Mani, who lost weight before entering the drama industry. She’s currently showing her acting talent in drama Sun Yaara. She’s surely giving us fitness goals.
Sanam Baloch Sings ‘Socha Na Tha’ & We’re Loving It
If there is one actress who has swiftly become a household name due to her acting and popularity in morning shows, it’s Sanam Baloch. She is now all set to mark her comeback in the drama industry with Istekhara opposite the critics favourite Sarmad Khoosat. Recently, she’s been impressing her audience with something extraordinary, and that’s her talent of singing. She did a short rendition of famous melody ‘Socha Na That’ and we instantly fell in love.
Aiman Khan In A New Bridal Look For Upcoming Drama
Aiman Khan has managed to gain a fan following with her innocent looks and acting skills. She appeared in dramas like Khuwab Sarae and Beqasoor, and now she’s shooting for an upcoming drama titled ‘Hari Hari Choriyan’. And the BTS shots of the drama have surfaced online, where the actress is seen sporting a bridal look and we are totally in love.
Kubra Khan Is The Sister Of This Pakistani Celebrity
The budding actress Kubra Khan is giving power packed performances in Pakistani dramas. She made her film debut with Na Maloom Afraad in 2014 and went on to sign several dramas which did exceptionally well in terms of ratings. However, there’s a fact you all need to know. Kubra Khan has a celebrity sister, not believing us? See for yourself!
Here’s How Much Mahira Khan Charges For A Single Episode
Mahira Khan has been ruling the screens in Pakistan and winning hearts back to back with her strong performances. Ever since Mahira Khan has made her debut across the borders, we have been excited to see more of her work here in Pakistan.
She was recently topping the list of highest grossing Bollywood actresses. Nevertheless, being the first Pakistani actress to achieve such a milestone is simply amazing. However, after working across the borders and gaining success, the diva is changing the game by charging a whopping sum of amount for displaying impressive performances, giving other veteran celebrities a run for their money.
According to Dunya News, Mahira Khan will now charge Rs 3 lacs (0.3 million) per episode for a drama/sitcom.
She is currently gearing up for Bilal Lashari’s ‘Maula Jatt 2’ and Shoaib Mansoor’s ‘Verna’.
Comedian Umer Sharif Is In Hospital, Family Says Illness Is Minor
Comedian Omer Sharif was rumoured to be severe ill as a picture of him in a hospital bed went viral on social media. Many social media pages reported that he’s severely unwell.
However, Images got in touch with Sharif’s family, “He has a minor chest infection, that is all. Thankfully, he is recovering well and should be home in a day or two,” his sister shared with Images.
“I’d like to request people to not exaggerate news. Also, it is criminal that nurses or doctors in hospitals are able to take photographs of their patients and make them viral. Hospital administration should make an effort to check this unethical behaviour,” she said.
She requested Umer Sharif’s well-wishers to pray for his health and not worry. “He will be back among you soon,” she assured his fans.
In April, actress Nayla Jaffri was rumoured to be suffering from the last stage of ovarian cancer and in need of Blood group B+. However, the actress denied all the rumours and is recovering from the disease.
Ahmed Ali Akbar Is Returning To Big Screen
Ahmed Ali Akbar is one of the few actors who won a huge fan following in a short span of time. He has appeared in numerous dramas including Mera Yaar Mila De, Phir Wohi Muhabbat and Guzarish. After appearing in Ho Mann Jahan and Karachi Se Lahore, he is now all set to star in Parchi opposite Hareem Farooq. Parchi will feature four leading men including Ali Rehman Khan and Usman Mukhtar and Ahmed Ali Akbar. Instep got in touch with Ahmed Ali Akbar and he described Parchi as a “situational comedy.”
“I’ve known Imran for quite a while now and he spoke to me about the film sometime last year when they were developing the story,” he told Instep. “He then approached me when the concept was materialized. I went through the script and I really enjoyed it. I thought there was room for every character. I took a few months to make up my mind since I had to say no to a few other films and then I went ahead with it.”
“It doesn’t really matter anymore. The script and character are more important. I feel it’s just so much fun to carry a film with a bunch of talented actors instead of being the solo lead. Also, I’m going to bank on a trustworthy filmmaker and look at other aspects as well like promotion and what would be better for my career. I don’t want to be selfish and put in a catalyst because I want to take my time and do good projects.”
“The producers were looking for somebody with a lot of energy, who could get into the character’s skin and make it real and relatable. It’s actually a very plain character and I’ve incorporated a lot of facets in it. It was a very important role on paper but I couldn’t see a fourth dimension to it, which after having discussed with my director, I added myself,” he noted. “It’s very subtle; I didn’t want to over-play the character like I did in Karachi Se Lahore so the situations are comical instead. I also love Azfar’s take on the script, it’s very fresh.”
“I was hesitant looking at a few recent releases. It’s a very ruthless and unforgiving industry, one bad move and you’re labeled that way,” he shared. “Janaan, for instance, proved that a film doesn’t rely on star power, but a powerful script. We need to ease our public into different genres sensibly and that’s where I see Imran having a very genuine approach to storytelling. All in all, I’m glad that Parchi landed in my lap.”
“Television pays the bills but it can get very hectic. Also it doesn’t offer me the kind of stories I’d like to do,” he observed. “If it were up to me, I’d only stick to theatre and film because they’re more concentrated and focused on the plot. Every line exists because of a reason.”
The shooting of Parchi kicked off earlier this month. It is produced by Hareem Farooq along with Imran Kazmi and directed by Azfar Jaffri.
Saba Qamar’s Hindi Medium Song ‘Oh Ho Ho Ho’ Will Make You Dance
Saba Qamar is flying high prior to the release of her Bollywood debut Hindi Medium. The fourth song from the movie has been released and its the new version of ‘Oh Ho Ho Ho’ sung by Sukhbir.
The song also features Sukhbir, who was last seen in a single Gal Ban Gayi, which featured Vidyut Jammwal and Urvashi Rautela.
Watch the full video song here:
Ushna Shah Reveals The Truth About Scandal With Humayun Saeed
With Pakistani celebrities dissing each other, passing snide comments and making some revelations, Tonite With HSY has become the Pakistani version of Koffee With Karan.
Ushna Shah was recently invited to Tonite with HSY season 4. The Pakistani-Canadian actress finally revealed the truth behind the scandal with Humayun Saeed.
HSY asked Ushna about her scandals and pictures doing rounds on the internet. The Bashar Momin star replied fearlessly and shared the truth behind the whole controversy.
“It was a really ugly scandal, a sad person had posted about it anonymously on Facebook, but I know who it was. There was a tiff between myself and his family which got sorted.”
Momina Mustehsan To Star In Ali Zafar’s Teefa In Trouble?
Yesterday we reported that the cast of Teefa in trouble has completed the Lahore spell of the shooting and is now heading to Europe to wrap up the film. Surprisingly, last night, Ali Zafar shared a picture of Momina Mustehsan on Instagram and raised dollops of speculations!
What are they up to? Does this mean Momina will be making her big screen debut soon?
Teefa in Trouble is an action-comedy movie, starring Ali Zafar and Maya Ali in the lead roles. The leads of the film gave a sneak peak of their chemistry at the Lux Style Awards.
Kitni Girhain Baqi Hai- A quick peek at some of the episodes that stood out
Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain has been on air for the past 6 months or so and has brought up some very interesting topics. While some episodes were a bit on the mellow side, some were outright controversial and others sent a chill down my spine. Women play an integral role in society yet their lives aren’t always as straight-forward as they hope. KGBH highlights some of the fundamental issues women face and how they try to break the barriers that weigh them down. Although not necessarily the right choice, these women make choices that they deem appropriate given the circumstances. Some of the episodes that struck a chord with me are listed below:
Episode 7- Jee Le Zara
Starring Saba Hameed as a widow living by herself and Ehteshamuddin as the plumber and next door neighbour, this episode focused on the loneliness experienced by an older woman whose children had grown up and lived abroad. She finds herself spending time with a man who clearly is a huge contrast from her but I suppose opposites do attract and she finds herself falling in love with him and taking a stand to marry him! This irks her grown children who severe all ties with her and on the fateful day of her wedding, she finds out that the man backed out and has reconciled with his wife! Saba Hameed was phenomenal in the role and her expressions and pain was perfectly portrayed. It’s considered almost unthinkable for a widow to seek comfort in a man and consider marriage especially once she’s old. So it came as no surprise that her children, despite being modern and living abroad did not seem to understand their mother’s need for companionship and shunned her.
Episode 10- Ghairat Mand
Sara Khan played the role of a young, working, middle class girl with a good for nothing brother. Her brother spends his time idling around with his friends and is heavily influenced by their thinking. As his friends insult and exploit girls in the neighbourhood, he starts thinking his sister is similar to those girls and in his head builds her up to be involved with a man. His suspicions end up getting the better of him and seeing a man jump out of his house, assumes his sister was having an affair and ends up strangling her to death with his bare hands only to realize that their house had been robbed and the sister was innocent all along! How often do we come across stories about honour killing and that too based on nothing but mere suspicions and hearsay!
Episode 11- Jhalli
Yet another story that we hear about- Ali Khan lives with his mother Sameena Ahmed and his wife who has been unable to conceive- On his mother’s nudging, he ends up divorcing his wife and remarrying a much younger woman- Sonia Hussain. She appears to be a little too childish but his mother keeps insisting that she’s “jhalli”. On a friend’s request, he visits a doctor and finds out that he is impotent and he was at fault all along- before he’s had a chance to absorb this wave of information, his new wife announces that she’s pregnant and his jaw drops! Was he really impotent all along or was the report a mistake? Is his wife having an affair? The ending left much to the imagination as it was open ended yet it highlighted a very strong issue that exists in our society where women are the ones to blame if they are unfortunate enough not to conceive.
Episode 20- Gudday Gudiya Ka Biyaah
This was probably one of the most disturbing episodes- Sabreen Hisbani plays the role of a woman who is poverty stricken with a very ill husband. She has 2 young children- a daughter and an infant son. She works in the home of a wealthy family and her daughter plays with the daughter of the family. From time to time, Sabreen gets hand me downs but that still doesn’t stop her from wanting more and she often steals too. When the maalkin of the house passes away during child birth, Sabreen becomes the caretaker and finds the head of the house showering her with wealth- it seemed like Sabreen would end up marrying the man but instead, in a shocking twist, while planning a gudday gudiya ki shadi, she ends up marrying off her barely teen daughter to the man in exchange for treatment to save her husband! Child marriage is such a cruel reality that exists even today and I hope such programs raise awareness of the evils of child marriage and help eradicate them.
Episode 23- Haadi ki heroine
I really liked how the episode showcased the current addiction with TV and social media. Uroosa Siddiqui is obsessed with dramas and imagines herself to be a character in a drama- she crosses paths with a guy- Umair Naru who flirts with her since he made a bet with his friends that he can easily lure any girl. Uroosa starts thinking he’s in love with her and starts playing out her fantasies- skipping class and even running away from her home on the night of her mayyoun and ends of slashing her wrists thinking her hero will come rescue her- little does she know that he’s simply a player and already has his eyes set on another easy target! While TV as a medium offers value in terms of entertainment, it also manages to make zombies out of the weak!
Have you had the chance to watch KGBQ and what episodes did you like? Or dislike?
Kanwal Murtaza
Yakeen Ka Safar Episode 04 Review – Great Developments!
Ohkay so, it was quite an interesting & meaningful episode of Yakeen Ka Safar. I am glad that the story is making a good progress in every other episode & this time around, the focus was shifted on the rape victim Noori. I must say I like how the director has maintained a balance between all the tracks & uses them to shift & play with the mood of the viewers in a perfect manner. Just when things get too heavy, we are taken to Gaiti & Daniyal’s track where things are pretty smooth & easy, it shows that the director was conscious of maintaining a balance between the situations & didn’t want to make it too intense & heavy.
So, Noori, the victim herself was turned into an outcast & was treated like one, not only by her family but everyone around. Sadly, Noori knew that her family will be facing the pressure because no one was educated enough to understand how they should be treating a rape victim. I find it admiring that despite being the one who was harassed & despite being mentally shattered, Noori still held her ground & kept herself composed because she was well aware of the fact that she has a long battle ahead of her to fight, that too on her own. Just when Noori’s father started telling SHO Ayaaz to behave himself, I assumed that this will push him to take a stand for his daughter but he chose to turn himself into a bigger victim, even though he has a lot of reasons to react that way but it definitely would’ve been such a refreshing change to see a father standing up for his daughter at least once. Noori’s father knew that he won’t be able to fight Rab Nawaz Shah, nor he will be able to deal with the policemen who will keep on pestering & harassing him, that is why he decided to give in, not that he was thinking of supporting his daughter in the first place, but just a single threat from the police officer was enough for him to surrender.
Everything that they have shown through Noori’s track is a real depiction of bitter reality because this is exactly how rape victims are mistreated, where no one understands them or their pain & tries to silence them even if they want to stand up for themselves. The only ray of light in Noori’s life was her young supporter Bilal, it warmed my heart how he was trying to make Noori feel better, like even though he is quite young but he still had more courtesy than their parents combined. I think it was quite brave of Noori to decide to leave her house because she knew that if she’d stay with her family, they will continue to weaken her motive of getting Jahangir Rab Nawaz punished. The visit from her in-laws was another push that she got which drove her to take such a huge step, but definitely in the right direction. I so wish Noori had taken Bilal with her because to see his forlorn face when he couldn’t find his sister broke my heart.
It was quite interesting how in the beginning of the episode, Rab Nawaz spoke about sentencing rape victims to death, only time will tell if he will stay true to his word or not, which obviously we all know the answer of. Rab Nawaz has already brushed his son’s crime & sin under the carpet, so now he will do everything to keep it that way. I liked how Rab Nawaz & Daniyal were introduced to each other. Rab Nawaz in his wildest dreams wouldn’t have thought that Daniyal would be the one who’ll bring him down. Anyways, Noori by chance met the activist who works really hard for women’s rights & now she will be the one who will take Noori to Daniyal.
The entire focus on Gaiti’s conversation with Asfand & then her birthday was quite nice, like it definitely made things easy after seeing such dire situation of Noori. Daniyal is a loving husband & Gaiti is just as much of a loving wife to him. I like how Gaiti always tries to cover up for her husband, it’s like she has accepted him with all of his weaknesses & strengths, that is why she stays unaffected with such small matters because she understands & respects the fact that Daniyal is so focused when it comes to his work.
So, nothing much happened in Zubiya’s track but yes, it was good that she got the support of her friends to participate in the play. I liked how Zubiya all of a sudden felt this rush of confidence when she got a round of applause for her perfect performance. However, I am not too sure what the guy was doing in an all-girls’ college during an all-girl’s stage play? Like usually when it comes to these colleges, guys are not allowed to attend these sort of plays, so his placement in this situation did seem a little forced but looks like they didn’t have any other choice to use this scenario to open up a new chapter in Zubiya’s life. I think it was good that they showed how Zubiya was moving on in her life, she obviously misses her mother every step of the way but she has also come to terms with her mother’s death, that is why she was seen discussing it with her friends normally.
Mahjabeen was still seen crying over the demise of her sister & the sad life that she lived. I liked how the writer shed a light on the fact that wealth doesn’t guarantee happiness, like Mahjabeen’s mother married her daughter off to a wealthy man thinking she will lead a happy & peaceful life but that same man turned out to be the reason behind her death. One more time they drew our attention to Khalil’s insecure personality. It was quite amusing how Khalil was judging Sheema’s younger sister because she was now getting married to the guy she was in love with & this too came after they showed how a guy was now trying to get Zubiya’s attention. Khalil will definitely end up getting a good reality check because even he has a daughter but is too thick-headed to even assume that he can be faced with the similar kind of situation in his life too.
Overall, this episode was quite interesting. The preview of the next episode looked promising & I am definitely looking forward to Daniyal & Noori’s first meeting. I am not sure if this is a mistake on their part or this is how the story has been laid out in the novel, because when I look at Rab Nawaz Village & its residents, I always get a feeling that it’s a small village in the province of Sindh & then Daniyal resides in Islamabad, so somehow I am not sure if they paid attention to this detail or not. If they’ll show that the women activist (ZQ) brought Noori all the way to Islamabad to meet Daniyal, then it would make sense but if they are suggesting that Rab Nawaz Village is located in the outskirts of Islamabad then it doesn’t make much sense because they have given it a completely different feel which doesn’t do justice to the geographical location. Also, Rab Nawaz & Daniyal attended this function together, so I think it has been suggested that they both reside in the same territory, just different areas, so I do have a feeling this was a little mistake on the director’s part. I think if they had shown that Daniyal was situated in Karachi & that Rab Nawaz Village was located in inner-Sindh, it would’ve made far more sense because it is a done deal that no villages near Islamabad have people who speak like Noori’s family does or wear Chunari dresses or Ajraks like they have shown in this drama because if not Chunari, Ajrak definitely is exclusive to the province of Sindh. I think they should’ve shown that Asfand went to Islamabad to pursue his education whereas his family was settled in Karachi. This was just a little thought that crossed my mind when I watched this episode, but other than that I don’t have any issues with the way the drama has been directed & how the story is unfolding. All the actors have done a brilliant job, especially the actors playing Noori’s parents & younger brother. Suhaee has done a good job too as a victim who is strong enough to face her fears. Hira Mani does well in the scenes that are allotted to her & so does everyone else. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Yakeen Ka Safar.
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.
Na Maloom Afraad 2 Wraps Up
2014’s Na Maloom Afraad created an uproar at the box office and if you haven’t got out of the magical spell of ‘Na Maloom Afrad’, then get ready for the second instalment.
The dream team of the movie is back with a bang, with yet another promising venture to hit the silver screen this year on Eid-ul-Azha. The shooting of the social satire film has been wrapped up and the team is all set to promote their film post-Eid-ul-Fitr. The teaser of Na Maloom Afraad 2 is expected to release soon.
The Nabeel Qureshi film now has an even more stellar cast with Fahad Mustafa, Moshin Abbas Haider, Urwa Hocane, Hania Aamir and Sadaf Kanwal (in an item song).
Lahore Spell Of Teefa In Trouble Wraps Up!
Director Ahsan Rahim’s much anticipated cinematic debut Teefa In Trouble has completed its first spell in Lahore. The portion in Lahore has been completed after 42 days of shooting and the team of Teefa In Trouble is now heading to Europe for the next spell.
The romantic action-comedy will mark Ali Zafar and Maya Ali cinematic debut. The film stars Ali Zafar as Teefa. According to reports, the rockstar is performing some action sequences and stunts himself without a body double.
Maya Ali who recently won the award for Best Actress at Lux Style Awards will be seen as Ali Zafar’s love interest Anaya.
Adnan Sami Blessed With A Baby Girl
Adnan Sami has an adorable reason to celebrate. The singer and his wife Roya are blessed with a baby girl. He took to Twitter to announce the arrival of his daughter and also disclosed the name of their newborn.
Roya & I hv bin blessed wt an angelic baby girl. We'v named her Medina Sami Khan. Prayed for a daughter. Over Joyed!#daddyslittlegirl ????
— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) May 9, 2017
The popular singer who is the voice behind iconic melodious tracks like Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao, Tera Chehra and Bhar Do Jholi Meri, is currently married to Roya Sami Khan and has a son from a previous marriage.
Dil Dil Ramzan Hosts Revealed, The Show Will Be Hosted By Six Celebrities
Geo Tv announced its Ramzan transmission for 2017 titled ‘Dil Dil Ramzan’, the transmission will be broadcasted throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
The names of the hosts of the show were kept under the wraps this whole while. However, the wait is finally over as the channel has announced the hosts of the show, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Syed Shafaat Ali, Bushra Ansari, Nouman Ijaz.
All the popular celebrities will be coming together to host the largest Ramazan transmission ever!
The official Dil Dil Ramzan Geet has just been released on the official Facebook page.
Mikaal Zulfiqar Trolls Ayesha Khan & Urwa Hocane
Mikaal Zulfiqar never fails to speak his mind. The actor was in news for his divorce with wife Sana Bhatti. Recently, he appeared at tonite with HSY and said a few controversial things about two Pakistani actresses which might not go well with their fans.
HSY asked a few tricky questions from the actor, he asked Mikaal to fill in the blanks with a name of an actress and Mikaal replied with Urwa Hocane’s name and admitted that he might get criticised for the same.
“_____ ki shakal bari achi hai laikin usko apna muh band rakhna chahiye. (____ is pretty but should keep her mouth shut.)
However, he then went on to troll Ayesha Khan calling her an ‘extra’, picking Sanam Baloch as the star and Hareem farooq as the villain while sidelining Ayesha Khan.
Muqabil Episode 23 Review – Intense!
This episode was intense and disturbing but it also had a very strong message. When Pareesa explained to her parents what actually happened and especially told her mother how her cold and indifferent attitude towards her ruined not just her childhood but also her life, I couldn’t help but feel for her enormously and my heart went out to all such victims out there who are completely alone. The details were even more upsetting than everything else the viewers knew so far; everything Pareesa went through and said basically showed how important it was for parents to pay attention to their kids, to give them time and most importantly never to trust anyone with their kids. Children are usually either too scared or too shy to talk about these things therefore if a child wants to distance himself from someone they were once very close to, it means that there is something wrong.
Pareesa’s mother’s initial reaction was shown realistically but in the next scene she was once again shown trim and proper which did not make sense. Her conversation with Pareesa was too casual even though she asked Pareesa to punish her, I felt like she wasn’t sorry enough. I have noticed that ARY banks on make-up and styling a little too much, even when there is no need for it. All through this drama even when Pareesa was going through hell, her make-up and braid was always right on point and in this episode it stood out more than ever for all the wrong reasons too. It looked like it did not take Pareesa’s mother too long to move on which was very disappointing. She should have been shown feeling even more guilty and lost instead of passing verdicts once again! Pareesa’s father’s reaction even later on was much more realistic. Mahmood’s suicide did not change anything, he was no longer alive but that did not mean that Shehnaz had no reason to guilty.
I am glad that Mahmood killed himself only after everyone knew the truth. His end was terrible not only because everyone found out the truth but also because even those relatives and friends who came to his funeral were questioning why he killed himself. He did not die an honorable death but I wish he wasn’t so apologetic and praying before he died. This was however far more logical than Sangat in which Adnan killed Shahwez.
This was the 2nd last episode of Muqabil, Mahmood’s story came to an end with this episode and what I concluded from it was that when you do something so dreadful, you cannot escape the consequences, no matter what! I am waiting to find out which way Arman and Pareesa’s track goes because this episode was dedicated solely to ending Mahmood’s track. This entire episode was filled with powerful performances, there was a major twist in the story and the direction was superb throughout. Apart from the loud make-up and perfect styling and Shehnaz’s reaction, everything else worked for me. The scene which covered the impending doom and after effects of whatever happened in Mahmood’s house after Pareesa left him was mind blowing. When Shehnaz came and was calling out for Mahmood, no one even moved a muscle because they were all in shock! This episode had a lot of scenes which were mind-blowing and the credit for that goes to the director.
Any predictions about how Pareesa and Arman’s track will end? Do share your thoughts.
Alif Allah Aur Insaan Episode 03 Review – Truly Impressive!
Ohkay so, it was such an interesting episode of Alif Allah Aur Insaan that I just couldn’t keep a track of where the time went when I was watching it. I love how all the tracks are unfolding & the developments that were made in this episode. I can already see how all these tracks will get linked in the future episodes but the way the director is taking the story to that stage is quite amazing. I will say that the director has extracted the best acting out of all the actors, like it doesn’t matter if their scenes are long or short, if they are getting less or more coverage, each & every single actor has done such a convincing job that it just elevates the level of the drama. This episode was truly impressive & I can’t wait to see more.
Before anything, I’d like to speak about the conversation that took place between Shahzeb & Baba Jee where he stated ‘mohabbat ki azmaish mai kisi ka zarf mat azmana, sirf apna zarf dikhana, insaan ban kar sochna, Khuda ban kar faisla kabhi na karna’ – beautiful! This entire conversation was so profound & important because this was a lesson that Baba Jee taught Shahzeb about love & being judgmental in general, but did Shahzeb actually get the hold of it? That was the real question that the writer very tactfully made us think about & in the later stages of the episode highlighted it very thoroughly. I loved how Baba Jee emphasized the importance of loving the Almighty & how he tried to make Shahzeb understand that the actual form of love is the one that you have towards your Creator, because it makes you complete & it empowers you like nothing else. Shahzeb surely will endure a lot because of the one-sided love that he has for Nazneen & even though he has been warned, this is just the beginning!
I must say, I love how all the women in this drama are go-getters; they all are strong & they don’t budge, which is something that was elaborated perfectly in all the tracks in this episode especially, which I absolutely loved. Nazneen, despite knowing that her parents weren’t in a mood to send her to the city for further studies decided to eradicate the cause that was stopping them from doing so, which was her life-long commitment with Shahzeb. Even though Nazneen is spoiled but she is also someone who knows how to pave a way towards something that she desires. It would obviously take a lot of guts for a girl in such a setting to take such a bold step where she was putting her father’s image & pride on the line to meet her fiancé, but she didn’t hold herself back. Even though everything turned out to be in Nazneen’s favor but the one who decided to do this for her has no idea what this chapter will bring to him. Shahzeb thought he was respecting Nazneen’s choices & by doing so, he was proving his love for her, which obviously was a genuine gesture but he doesn’t know that this means nothing to Nazneen. For Nazneen, all she wanted was to go to the city which was her wish that was granted & after that she really didn’t pay much attention to what Shahzeb did for her because she is neither in love with Shahzeb nor does she think much about him to respect his feelings. I am sure Nazneen’s move to the city will open up new chapters in her life where there will be no place for Shahzeb & then he will be reminded of what he was taught about how love will test him.
So, Raani’s father decided to marry her off for Rs. 20,000, like this was a custom which wasn’t alien to them because even her father paid money to get married to Raani’s mother. Even though it was for a brief moment but I loved the interaction Raani’s mother had with her, like for a moment it made me think that it doesn’t matter if someone is rich or poor, every single mother is the same, like the way Raani’s mother speaks to her with so much of love & kindness, it is something that I love the most. Well, Raani obviously doesn’t want to get married because she now has a bigger purpose in life, which is to make a lot of money just like Nigaar. I must say I loved how she earned herself a job at Nigaar’s place by telling her that she wants to serve her. Another example of an enthusiast go-getter who paved a way for herself.
Finally, Nigaar went to meet Shahzeb. I must say, the way Shahzeb grew uncomfortable at Nigaar’s mention definitely suggested that they both shared a history. Even though Chaman Begum did mention that Nigaar only met Shahzeb once & she fell in love with him after just one interaction but that still doesn’t give Shahzeb a clean chit because he has a colorful past which definitely was unveiled this time. Shahzeb definitely said a lot of hurtful things to Nigaar & the way he compared her love to Nazneen’s love made him sound a bit delusional because that is purely his assumption to believe that Nazneen loves him, which is not true & he will obviously find out the truth sooner or later. Shahzeb’s criteria of a life partner is to have someone who only has him in her heart & who only thinks about him, but little does he know that more than Nazneen, it is Nigaar who fulfills all those conditions but sadly, just because Shahzeb got a bit too judgmental, he failed to see that. I did feel for Nigaar though because she loves Shahzeb & may be she is only looking for one chance to leave everything behind but sadly, Shahzeb turned a blind eye.
So, Shammo got a little transformation, even though that scene was quite short & I missed Shammo in this episode but it showed that he was taking one step at a time. Also, his boss did speak about female hair styling in which Shammo could make a lot of money so I am sure he will gravitate towards that path too as he is focused & wants to stabilize himself financially as soon as possible.
I loved this episode & I loved the dialogues. It is actually quite refreshing to hear accurate Urdu & all the actors have definitely worked hard on their dialogue delivery which is commendable. I am glad we’re getting to see strong women in this drama as well, like they all are completely different from one another but they are strong in their own unique way. I love how fierce Raani is, her body language, her mannerisms, my goodness, I truly believe if there’s one actress who deserves an award for such a phenomenal portrayal of any character, it is Ushna Shah, like she just uplifts my mood even though I consider myself a germophobe but the fact that I have a smile on my face when I see this unkempt messy Raani on my screen is her win as an actor, also the little dance move that she did when she was parting ways from the flower vendor was flawless. Sana Fakhar has definitely made Nigaar’s character quite appreciable, like she is classy, poised & elegant, which is exactly the treatment the character like Nigaar deserved. It was good to see more of Shahzeb though but Mikaal Zulfikar didn’t really do something outstanding in terms of acting there. Yes, I will say that Shehzad sheikh has improved a lot & even though he didn’t have much scenes but the performed perfectly in the ones that he had, like his body language & his overall personality as Basit is perfect & in sync with his character. Two other actors who definitely deserve a mention here for their perfect performances as Raani’s parents are Nargis Rasheed & Saife Hassan. The director surely has worked hard & that is why he has achieved this level of perfection, it is amazing how the he has tackled all these diverse tracks & so many characters with so much of perfection. It is quite evident that all the actors have given their 100% because of which they made Alif Allah Aur Insaan what it is today. I love it & I can’t wait to watch it again next week. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Alif Allah Aur Insaan.
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.
Meera Jee Is Getting Married
The famous Pakistani actress, Meera Jee is always in the limelight. She is now making headlines once again, according to The Express Tribune, Meera is getting married allegedly for the third time. The wedding is going to be a private ceremony.
A source told The Express Tribune, “Preparations are in full swing at Meera’s house and she has strictly instructed her parents and family members to refrain from disclosing any details about the wedding.”
“The ceremony will mostly be held at home but Meera has also booked a five-star hotel for it and is currently sorting out her clothes and jewellery. As it’s a sensitive matter, Meera didn’t hold a big engagement function and most of us still don’t even know who she is getting married to now.”