Mahira Khan and Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Raees’ was a hit last year, people not only loved SRK in a not so romantic gangster avatar but also want to see him return to the big screens soon with a sequel.

Recently when a German firm gave a list of most pirated films of 2017 ‘Raees’ topped that list that is when Rahul Dholakia the director tweeted and said,

“#Raees most Pirated film of the 2017. Now how does one react to this?”

To which producer Ritesh Sidhwani replied,

“Look at the brighter side the audience we have for the sequel #RaeesReturns.”

Look at the brighter side the audience we have for the sequel #RaeesReturns

— Ritesh Sidhwani (@ritesh_sid) January 17, 2018

Naturally twitter lost it’s cool and this is what happened afterwards,

Ye bhi accha hoga na??? pic.twitter.com/NcP4NeBqQL

— MohammadNihal Yargatti (@iamnihal555) January 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/Asif_4rSRK/status/953831136936976384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1616708%2F4-mahira-srks-raees-reportedly-getting-sequel%2F

sir we want raees return

— #SRKfan🙂07 (@naved_srkian77) January 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/MeFanSrkKhan/status/953685811555381249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1616708%2F4-mahira-srks-raees-reportedly-getting-sequel%2F

Sir… we want #Raees2

— Mannat (@_Mannat) January 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/SRKsYODHA/status/953702836222681088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1616708%2F4-mahira-srks-raees-reportedly-getting-sequel%2F

Sequel to #Raees ? #RaeesReturns 🙄 But He died in the Climax. Wait , are you thinking about His Child 🤔 Faizan ? Revenge or kind of that ? Idea is nice han 😉😉 https://t.co/nEkU6z5FGX

— Aavishkar (@aavishhkar) January 17, 2018

Only time will tell if we are getting a sequel or not but if we do, we hope to see more of Mahira in it if at all.

Ever since it’s production stages Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ previously titled ‘Padmaavati’ has been under public scrutiny for it’s portrayal of Rajpoots. After countless bans and what not Padmaavat was finally released in India and has now gotten clearance to be released in Pakistan as well. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic drama Padmaavat was cleared for release in Pakistan on Wednesday, said the censor board’s top official.

Mobashir Hasan tweeted. The movie has been given ‘U’ certification.

“Padmaavat has been declared fit for public exhibition in the cinema houses without any excision by Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC),”

Central Board of Film Censors #CBFC has declared a feature film containing Indian cast & crew #Padmaavat without any excision suitable for public exhibition in the cinemas with a ‘U’ certification. #CBFC #Unbiasedforartscreativity&healthy entertainment

— Mobashir Hasan (@BabucratPk) January 24, 2018

According to some distributors in Pakistan, there were apprehensions over the movie given the negative portrayal of Alauddin Khilji. When asked about it, Hasan said,

“CBFC isn’t biased in arts, creativity and healthy entertainment.”

The film was released yesterday that is 25th of January 2018 worldwide while amidst all the protests in India.

Lux Style Awards are among the most anticipated award shows in Pakistan, celebrating the forerunners in media, glamour and style.

Last year, Hassan Shehryar Yasin or as renowned, HSY had directed the ceremony after replacing Frieha Altaf and gained enormous appreciation for the way the function was carried out.

This year however, less than a month before the award show is expected to take place, it has been announced by HSY’s Team that he will not be directing the show this time. The message reads;

“With this message we want to inform you that Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) will not be directing LSA 2018. His decision is due to budget constraints against his creative vision given”.

So apparently, his ideas are out of Lux Style Award’s organisers’ budget. So they must have chosen a directer who can conduct the show less expensively and more economically. Let’s wait and see who that new creative genius is going to be.

The best of the wedding season has mostly passed but it’s far from over. Till our weather continues to be coolly pleasant, wedding bells will keep on ringing.

From the showbiz, the latest marriage news is that actor Asad Mehmood got nikahfied with model Sarah Shehzad in a private ceremony. Both the bride and groom dazzled in white formals;

After losing Zainab to a heinous crime, the society slightly woke up from its slumber and decided to talk about the most disgusting issue of our society: Child Abuse! Yes, it is not new. Yes, people have been suffering from it since ages. And with Zainab’s tragedy at least everyone started talking about even if it is just for a while. Many celebrities came forward and shared their opinions on the situation. The boss ladies of our entertainment industry Nadia Jamil, Frieha Altaf and Maheen Khan should be applauded who came forward and shared their experience. Who talked about it with bravery and raised awareness that yes people it is happening and educate your child, talk about it. Farah Sadia is may be the only morning show host who did not make a drama out of this situation. She has done awareness programs about it. Frieha Altaf came in Farah’s show and told her story. It takes extreme courage to talk about this in our society if it has happened to you. But she did and pointed out that it is prevalent in every class of the society.

She also talked about her mother’s reaction towards the tragedy and openly shared that how this situation moulded her mind and how she suffered from it years after too and all this because the issue was never properly addressed. Here is what Frieha said on Farah’s show:

https://www.facebook.com/enswithfarah/videos/1654623177958306/

It is commendable how the victims who were once a victim are coming out and trying to raise awareness, trying to do their part and trying to help save others.

We wish more strength to Frieha Altaf!

No one can doubt that Amir Liaquat Hussain is one of the biggest newsmakers of Pakistan. Be it AAm Khaayega or bashing his previous place of work, he stays in news and always finds a way to share his opinions with the public through morning shows, Ramadan transmissions and news talk shows. Recently though Amir has been banned by PEMRA from all sorts of airing media including TV channels and FM radio.

So after getting a ban from all media, Amir has launched his own news website on 14 January. The site will showcase all the viral news and Amir’s take on them in the shape of written columns and videos. The site features categories like business, technology and showbiz too. The website is in Urdu.

Let us see whether Amir’s site gets to some place like his shows or goes unnoticed!

After announcing the nominations for the categories of film and drama for the Lux Style Awards 2018, the nominations for Fashion categories are out. There are ten fashion categories for honouring the best model to the best brand this year. Here have a look:

Model of the Year-female

1. Amna Babar
2. Anam Malik
3. Hira Shah
4. Sadaf Kanwal
5. Zara Abid

Model of the Year-Male

1. Aimal Khan
2. Champ Imi
3. Hasnain Lehri
4. Omer Shahzad
5. Shahzad Noor

Achievement in Fashion Design-Pret

1. Chapter 2 by Khaadi
2. Cross Stitch
3. Generation
4. Sana Safinaz
5. Sapphire

Achievement in Fashion Design-Luxury Pret

1. Elan
2. Mahgul
3. Misha Lakhani
4. SaniaMaskatiya
5. Shamaeel Ansari

Achievement in Fashion Design-Bridal

1. Ali Xeeshan
2. Elan
3. Faraz Manan
4. Mahgul
5. Sana Safinaz

Achievement in Fashion Design-Lawn

1. Elan
2. Maghul
3. Sana Safinaz
4. ShehlaChatoor
5. Zara Shahjahan

Best Menswear Designer

1. Amir Adnan
2. Deepak and Fahad
3. Deepak Perwani
4. HSY
5. Republic by Omar Farooq

Best Hair & Make-up Artist

1. Fatima Nasir
2. Hannan Siddique
3. Qasim Liaquat
4. Saima Rashid
5. Shoaib Khan

Best Fashion Photographer

1. Abdullah Haris
2. Alee Hassan
3. Nadir Firoz khan
4. Rizwanul Haq
5. Shahbaz Shazi

Best Emerging Talent

1. Fahmeen Ansari – Model
2. Hussain Rehar – Designer
3. Javeria Hanif – Model
4. MHM Photography – Photographer
5. Saheefa Jabbar Khatak – Model

Who do you think is going to win? Share in comments!

Ali Kazmi is over the moon and he should be because his animated film The Breadwinner has been nominated for the Oscars 2018. Produced by Angelina Jolie, The Breadwinner is a story of an Afghan girl who cuts her hair after her father’s arrest to become the breadwinner for her family. It was critically acclaimed on its release and Ali plays the voice actor for the character Darya. Ali shared the news with delight on his Instagram:

Best of luck Ali for this nomination!

The Pari is an upcoming horror movie which is marketed as Pakistan’s biggest horror feature film. The movie is unique in the sense that the genre of horror films has not been truly explored till now.

Now that the movie is set to release in the next month, it’s trailers and songs are being released and they all seem very promising.

The latest song Ali Maula from the movie is a manqabat, is composed by Mehmood Alam and written by Shamim Bazil, it’s lyrics will give you an idea of the trials the characters will be facing in the film. The music and vocals keep you mesmerised and transported to the world of supernatural, as intended.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kC3UwHvrkrM

2017 has been huge for Pakistani American comedian/actor Kumail Nanjiani and by the looks of it 2018 is going to be equally huge for him as the year started with him and his wife Emily V Gordon getting nominated for the original screenplay Oscar Award for ‘The Big Sick’.

In November 2017, the film clinched an award at the 2017 Hollywood Film Awards.

The “Big Sick” is a drama-romance which chronicles Nanjiani’s real-life romance with wife Emily Gordon. The cast includes Kumail as himself, Zoe Kazan as his girlfriend Emily while Holly Hunter and Ray Romano played Emily’s parents.

The ‘Silicon Valley’ star was naturally thrilled and took to his twitter to express his excitement,

https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/955898882881302528

The “Big Sick” follows other Hollywood films such as “Get Out” and “Wonder Woman” which are starting to break the white, male-dominated movie mold and show that US audiences will pay to see films with minority leads. To which Nanjiani had previously said,

“It’s important for kids to see themselves in the stuff they watch. But more than that, I think it’s important that people from different points of view are behind the camera telling the stories, writing them, directing them,” 

We wish the couple loads of luck and more success in their future endeavors.

Mathira is a dramatic celebrity. She is one of the most controversial celebrities of Pakistan. She shifted from Zimbabwe to Pakistan and made a career for herself by doing some bold shows. Her pregnancy announcement and later confirmation of her marital status were also very controversial.

She married Flint J and the couple also has a son together. They have now parted ways and Mathira announced it on her Instagram:

May she stays strong through all this!

Another sad day in the Republic as the nation feels relieved to see Zainab’s culprit being finally arrested it mourns another fallen son today.

Today the nation mourns the death of nine years old Muhammad Hussain who was beaten to death by his teacher. According to reports, Hussain, was unwilling to study which infuriated the madrasa teacher who would then beat him with sticks.

Addressing the issue, singer Ali Zafar took to Twitter to share his two cents on the subject.

9 yr old Hussain passed away after being severely beaten by his madrasah maulvi. We demand a complete and cohesive plan from the state to protect our children from this culture & such monsters. Enough is enough! pic.twitter.com/mrTcLqCj3c

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) January 22, 2018

He further tweeted how these religious preachers are using the wrong path from what the religion actually allows.

pic.twitter.com/PTjOaeW115

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) January 22, 2018

Addressing the agenda Ali Zafar further quote tweeted CM Shehbaz Sharif’s Reforms tweet and said,

Appreciate it. I feel cc cameras need be installed in all madrasahs. Their curriculum, teachers and conducts to be monitored by the government. Awareness campaigns on child abuse behaviour. Anyone to teach should be tested for qualification and apppointed. https://t.co/UKmasqeYOu

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) January 23, 2018

While the teacher has been arrested, the parents have refused to file against him saying that they forgive him. A video was also released on Twitter wherein the teacher confessed to beating Hussain.

This is the Mullah who beat an 8-year-old student Muhammad Hussain to death at a Madrassa in Karachi's Bin Qasim Town pic.twitter.com/oAlLpDv4Qh

— Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) January 22, 2018

This Sanam Saeed and Amina Sheikh starrer is definitely amongst our list of most anticipated 2018 movies, not only is the title intriguing but the cinematography shown in the teaser trailer is also refreshingly breathtaking.

Making his way from documentaries to films the director Asim Abbas explained that the dominant theme in the movie is that of time during one of his interviews with The Express Tribune he said,

“Time is the connecting thread… Absolutely. It’s time in terms of how people grow old, in terms of how we deal with the past and the regrets people have,”

He further added,

 “We are exploring parent-child relationship, how children grow up but remain children for their parents. We are approaching the relationship between siblings and different dynamics within a family and between lovers, but all in a realistic way. We have tried to stay away from melodrama and keep it natural. It’s very emotionally-charged but not melodramatic.”

Explaining the idea behind title Asim said that,

“Cake is like a silent observer at every big moment of our lives. It will be interesting to see how many times the audience will see a cake popping up in the frame.”

When asked of why he chose a title that doesn’t even hint about what the movie is going to be about he said,

“Everyone approaches material differently. For me, having a clear-cut film name was never a thing. I don’t like being direct and giving answers. A film has to have a life beyond two hours in the cinema. I want viewers to carry Cake with them after the film is over.”

Asim also went on to praise the star cast of film adding,

“Adnan was a strange one because he was always in my head, when I was writing. It’s strange because I had not seen Sadqay Tumhare then. But his look stayed with me for the character, And when I met him, I realised he was a director’s actor, who would be open to exploring new territories. Aamina, in hindsight, was the perfect Zareen so I have been lucky.”

Talknig of how the mainstream cinema these days is all about rom-coms while ‘Cake’ seems so unique he said,

“As a director, along the way, we are forced to lose our honesty at some point. We try and make a film, and you have everyone else telling you to do things differently to make it more sellable. Luckily, I had people who had no such requests. I don’t think most people get that opportunity and I don’t think I’ll get that opportunity again,” 

On whether Cake will resonate with the larger audience, Abbasi said that he feels most film-makers shoot in the dark.

“I think a writer or director can only do honest work and pray that it resonates with the audience. We are doing a family film, and everyone has families. They know love and loss and grief. Is it a different film from the rest? Yes. But we are too young to say what works and what doesn’t.”

He continued,

“I hope that it works at the box office so that more people have the confidence to make different kinds of films. Because I feel that for every different film that doesn’t do well, we will see more of the same. And I don’t think in the long-term, the industry can’t survive with that.”

He also added,

“Right now, you have businessmen making films. Cinema is called a creative business but in Pakistan, the focus is only on business. It can work for short-term gains, but over time, we won’t build a legacy. Hardcore commercial cinema should definitely be made, as long as people are trying something new and interesting. Every kind of film should be made but with the idea of wanting to be creative.”

The film is set to release March the 30th this spring and we are certainly restless, inject this film in my face already.

The Sahir Lodhi Morning Show controversy has taken a new turn. The Lahore High Court (LHC) today ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take legal action against Sahir Lodhi’s morning show in response to an application filed against the dance performances of young girls in the show.

The court was hearing the petition approved to be heard against Lodhi and the show on Monday and directed Pemra to resolve the issue after hearing the complainant in accordance with the law.

Justice Shahid Karim commenced the proceedings on a petition, in which the petitioner had made parties to the Federal government, Pemra, Sahir Lodhi and others. The petitioner contended that dance performances by minor girls in Lodhi’s show were creating a negative impact on the society, resulting in incidents like the Kasur tragedy.

The petitioner adopted the stance that Pemra was not taking strict actions to ban such shows, and appealed the apex court to take necessary actions in this regard.

In this era of entertainment when dramas are pouring in left right and centre, you can hardly find any that captures your attention for as long as it stays on air.

Well that seems to be changing very soon since there is a drama starting on Geo from Wednesday, 24th January that will looks quite different from the rest through its teasers.

It is called Umm e Haniya, with Neelum Munir and Daniyal Afzal in the lead roles. On seeing the teasers, I was transported to a Facebook video based on the real story of a Japanese girl who found an abandoned child and raised her like her own despite the taboo associated with unwed mothers. Imagine the havoc this would create in the social setup of Pakistan. That is what Umm e Haniya deals with.

A young ambitious girl called Romi played by Neelum Munir is the highlight of the play. She is full of dreams of playing cricket on a big level and wants to go to the training camp to train for championship before getting married.

Her family seems to honor her wish and she does her training and is returning happily when she accidentally finds a abandoned newborn packed in a bag and thrown in garbage about to be attacked by stray dogs.

https://www.facebook.com/UmmeHaniya.GeoTV/videos/1948163612114521/

When she turns up with that infant in her house where her future mother in law is also present, everyone thinks that child is hers because she had gone off to training for eight months. It leaves her thinking whether this kindness would cost her her own happiness forever.

https://www.facebook.com/UmmeHaniya.GeoTV/videos/1948173045446911/

The movie Azad by Rehan Sheikh is set to release on the ninth of next month after some delays. It is a multi starrer with Rehan Sheikh, Sanam Saeed, Salman Shahid and Sabreen Hisbani in the lead roles.

The movie’s first official trailer called “contract” is recently released and it shows Rehan Sheikh who is playing a video jockey breaking contract of a relationship with Sabreen Hisbani. It seems to be a very eccentric relationship and leaves you feeling intrigued as to what really is the story behind it.

Saba Qamar’s Bollywood debut, Hindi Medium, with acclaimed actor Irrfan Khan bagged the Best Film award (Popular) at the Filmfare Awards 2o18.

The starlet took to Instagram to share the news. She expressed her joy and wrote, “Yayyyyy congratulations!!!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeLplb9HQVJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_ufi

Actor Irrfan Khan won the Filmfare Best Actor in Leading Role (Male) award for Hindi Medium while Vidya Balan bagged the Filmfare Best Actor in Leading Role (Female) Award for Tumhari Sulu at the 63rd Jio Filmfare Awards.

Rajkumar Rao bagged two awards. He won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) for Bareilly Ki Barfi, and also Critics’ Award for Best Actor (Male) for Trapped.

The evening was heavily star studded tho whole B-Town showed up including Akshay Kumar, who walked the red carpet along with his Pad Man co-star Sonam Kapoor, R Madhavan, Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Saqib Saleem, Armaan Malik, Amaal Malik, Karan Johar, Preity Zinta, Rekha, Jaya Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan among many others.

Shaukat Khanum depends on donations to some extent for its day to day running and services. This time, it’s founder Imran Khan took to Dubai for a fundraising dinner. The highlight of the evening was that people got to meet their favorite starlets Mahira Khan and Maya Ali.

They were both looking gorgeous in embellished eastern formal wear.

Mahira Khan was exceptionally beautiful in a pale blue evening gown with a sleek bun.

Here are some other pictures from the dinner;

It is not wrong to say that upcoming Aangan on Hum Tv is the most anticipated play of the year 2018. The play has Ahsan Khan, Mawra Hocane, Sajal Aly, Ahad Raza Mir and Sonya Hussyn in lead roles. Aangan is a period drama being directed by Ehtashamuddin who also brought us Udaari. The looks of all the actors are beautiful and intriguing. Here you have a look at your favourites star’s too:

Armeena Khan has come leaps and bounds in terms of acting. Even though her characters till now have mostly been of the same genre, Armeena’s performance is consistently improving.

She is also very vocal about social issues and has been awarded for her concern and activism. Recently, we are seeing her in Daldal as the loving and simple Hira whose life is ruined by the ambitions of her greedy mother in law and husband. He goes abroad illegally and hence it becomes impossible for Hira to join him or for him to come back. The story elaborates the trials faced by the distanced couple.

Armeena spoke to BBC Asian Network and in a very cultured tone explained the whole idea behind the play. She said she had always wanted to be part of plays like Udaari and Sammi, so when she was offered Daldal, she did not think twice.

She said that they want to raise awareness about the hazards of illegal immigration and hope that her play will do its part in educating the people that they are going to be stuck in limbo if they use underhanded means to go abroad. She expressed her wish that government should provide opportunities for people to flourish in their own homeland so they are not tempted to leave this country without valid travel authorisation.

Here is what Armeena has to say about this very sensitive, yet very important topic;

https://www.facebook.com/BBCAsianNetwork/videos/10159918683860381/

Thomas Wesley Pentz better known by his stage name Diplo, is an American DJ, record producer, songwriter, and record executive based in Los Angeles, California. He is the co-creator and lead member of the dancehall music group Major Lazer, and along with producer and DJ Skrillex, formed the electronic duo Jack Ü. He also holds a series of concerts around the globe called Mad Decent Block Party, and it is finally set to make its debut here in Pakistan next month.

Major Lazer announced on Twitter that a part of the proceeds will go to Sahil, a non-profit organisation that works for children’s rights. The trio’s tweet states the contribution will go in the name of Zainab Ansari, the eight-year-old whose tragic rape and murder case shook the country last week and even made news in the global community.

The concert, which consists of an incredible line-up of local as well international musicians, will be held on February 3 in Islamabad.

Diplo will be performing as part of his trio Major Lazer. Joining him will be Chrome Sparks, Valentino Khan, ZoH, as well as Pakistani counterparts Adil Omar and Talal Qureshi (SNKM), Lyari Underground, Shamoon Ismail, Haider Mustehsan, Mikki Murshed and Osama Com Laude.

Altaf, who is managing the Mad Decent Block Party, contacted Diplo and they subsequently decided to donate a part of the proceedings to Sahil in the light of Zainab’s case.

Ayeza Khan has a massive fan following on social media. People love her for her looks, her projects and even her family life. Ayeza is always open about sharing her family moments with her fans but she has also established herself as one of the most modest stars we have. She never wears revealing clothes and always sets limits for herself. So recently some “fan” morphed her and Danish’s face on Katrina and Salman from Dil Diyan Gallan. There was also someone who alleged that Rayyan was not her biological son and that she adopted him. So Ayeza clarified everything on her Instagram and made it clear that she wants some parts of her life to be private. Here is the post, Ayeza shared:

She also expressed beautifully that she would love to adopt a child if destiny desired!

‘PadMan’ is a movie based on true events that took place in India when Lakshmi; a newly wedded welder caused a stir in his East Indian village when he tried to revolutionize the manufacturing of sanitary napkins for women.

The producer of the movie and Akshay’s wife Twinkle Khanna was recently invited to Oxford University to discuss PadMan and all the taboos attached to the subject, ‘PadMan’ is the first Indian film that has become a topic of discussion at The Oxford Union. Malala Yousufzai was also present at the discussion and showed full support for the film and what it stands for.

While presenting her argument at the Oxford Union, Twinkle Khanna said,

“I hope this movie (PadMan) becomes a movement where women are no longer held back or shamed for their biological functions.”

The actor turned columnist also discussed with Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai why is it important to end the taboos around menstruation.

“My primary motivation to make a movie on menstruation was to bring awareness to a subject that so far has been tucked away in shadows and like Voldemort, is never mentioned.”

Talking about what attracted Twinkle to make Arunachalam Muruganantham’s story of revolutionising sanitary hygiene in rural India, in to a movie, Twinkle said,

“He is a man who most people would have perhaps dismissed because he was not fluent in English- but he went on from being a school dropout to an award-winning innovator.”

The film is ready to hit the box-office this January the 25th.

Imran Ashraf has been in the eyes for his natural and versatile aging since Dillagi. Then he came in Alif Allah and Insan and impressed the audiences and critics with his phenomenal portrayal of a kind hearted and talented enunch. Even in Tau Dil Ka Kya Hua, he has done justice to his character fully.

Now he will be seen in a new avatar in his drama Takbeer airing from next month. Imran has written the script of this drama by himself.

On talking to Hip, Imran said that he turned writer for the drama because he kept on getting similar roles which were mainly negative and he wanted to break out of this cycle. So since he was not accepting any drama for acting for about eight months, he decided to try his hand at scriptwriting. He is sure that people will be able to relate to this drama, atleast with one character.

Tabeer will be directed by Ahson Talish and the lead roles are by Imran Ashraf, Shehzad sheikh, Iqra Aziz and Ali Safeena. Imran was all praises for the great work this team has done for the play.