Mahira Khan is on a roll these days! After her success in Bollywood, she’s all set to be seen in Bilal Lashari’s next and Shoaib Mansoor’s ‘Verna’. Verna is written, to be directed and produced by Shoaib Mansoor, under ShoMAN Productions. The film will be distributed by Hum Films.
Besides Mahira Khan, the cast of the movie also includes Haroon Shahid, Zarrar Khan and Naimal Khawar in pivotal roles.
Pakistan’s newest youth icon Hania Amir is soaring high after her debut in the entertainment industry. The beautiful actress rose to fame with her impressive performance in Janaan and managed to bag some films and dramas. She’s all set to be seen in Parwaz Hai Junoon opposite Hamza Ali Abbasi.
In an interview with Instep, Hania Amir shared her experience working on the air force film PHJ. “We had to do a lot of training because we play cadets in the film. We used to wake up early morning and play basketball and perform all sorts of exercise like push-ups and kicks. We also did horse riding there. All of this was done to get into the skin of our characters.”
She further explained that at times the cast had to shoot in extremely cold weather. “We also shot in freezing temperatures in Naltar. It was -22 when we shot there and we have scenes in which we’re falling in the snow. After the scene would be shot, it would take us half an hour just to get warm because our socks and gloves would get wet from the snow.”
I believe everyone here on Reviewit knows what I personally feel about our commercial morning shows & the level of the detest that I have for them. I think when I first started writing for Reviewit, may be the 2nd or the 3rd article that I wrote was about morning shows discussing their ridiculousness & sadly, in all these years, that opinion of mine in general hasn’t changed. However, I will definitely say that I am glad we have ‘The Morning Show’ on ARY News which is hosted by Sanam Baloch. Yes, I will admit that I am quite biased when it comes to Sanam Baloch because she is one such celebrity that I like & enjoy watching on screen as an actress and also as a morning show host. I remember liking Sanam Baloch’s hosting when she was conducting her morning shows on Hum TV & ever since, I have really liked her personality & energy on screen because I feel if there is one such lady who knows how to conduct an interview & make the conversation interesting, it is Sanam Baloch.
Even though I am not too much into morning shows but every now & then, I do tune to them to see the interviews of the celebrities that might interest me but I will say, every time I have tuned to The Morning Show, it has been a pleasant surprise because of Sanam Baloch. I really feel the team of this morning show puts a lot of hard work & does a whole lot of home work before inviting their guests because of which their host always seems well-informed & the show looks well-researched. Even though Sanam is mostly seen fan-girling over every single celebrity that comes to her show but I find this quality of hers quite admirable because she seems genuine & honest.
To be honest, I always skip those episodes where she is seen discussing the benefits of fruits & veggies or the episodes where she invites beauticians or health experts but then again, since these shows are watched by ladies as they have an access to the television in the early hours of morning, these sort of topics are covered to cater to the people who might have interest in them so these episodes seem justified & necessary as well. Though I may be wrong, but I think this has to be one such show where Sanam Baloch doesn’t rub skin whitening & lightening to everyone’s face, which is something that I appreciate the most as it shows her caliber, her maturity, her mentality & her vision as a person & also as a host.
I will say that the way the team of The Morning Show makes sure to invite legends to their show is commendable but their job doesn’t end there because they make sure that their guests feel special & are given utmost respect which they are entitled to. I have seen a few interviews of celebrities like Mr. & Mrs. Rahat Kazmi, Bushra Ansari & her sisters, Rashid Farooqi, Touqeer Nasir & today, I got to watch the interview of Salman Shahid. In all these shows what I liked the most was how all these senior actors were treated by Sanam Baloch & how interesting & decent her questions were. It is actually refreshing to see such big names being welcomed to the show for the sake of a conversation so that the viewers can get to know them better in stead of just using them as TRP generators or just fillers which is something that usually happens in the rest of the shows mostly. May be this is exactly why those celebrities who never ever make appearances on any other shows choose to share a conversation with Sanam Baloch because of the nature of her show & also because of Sanam Baloch herself as she engages in a conversation in such a wise manner that you enjoy watching the entire episode.
This is something that I & Fatima intend to continue where we will be randomly watching a celebrity interview & will cover it to spark a discussion. So, as this was the first time I was writing about Sanam Baloch’s morning show, I decided to give a general overview so that the readers who want to tune to her show for the sake of these interviews but are skeptical about it know that they shouldn’t be because her show is not like Jago Pakistan Jago or Good Morning Pakistan where they will find the hosts discussing about their newborns or husbands!
So, Salman Shahid, the legendary actor who has given almost 40 years to the industry was the guest of The Morning Show & I must say, I enjoyed each & every bit of this episode as it was actually quite interesting getting to know him & listening to all of his experiences. Salman Shahid has been a part of the industry for such a long time & he started off by telling that he was a student of Government College Lahore when he first made an appearance on PTV by doing a 25 minute play called Jawan Fikar, which was written by Sarmad Sehbai. After this he was approached by Shoaib Hashmi for his first drama & then there was no turning back. It was quite interesting to know that Salman Shahid’s mother was also the part of the industry & she had the honor of working in the first ever live drama that was broadcast on PTV.
Salman Shahid told that he wanted to become an architect but became an actor as he had this aptitude for acting which he believes he inherited from his mother. Since, he was exposed to the industry at such a young age because of his mother, he felt that this was something that he could do. It was interesting how Salman Shahid discussed the dynamics of the industry back in that era because according to him, this job didn’t pay much but since he was a college student, for him getting Rs. 60 per drama was more than enough.
While talking about the nature of his work, he said even though he has earned quite a lot because of the dramas but what he enjoys doing the most is theater & movies because there’s a time restriction & these projects get completed in a short span of time in comparison to dramas. He also recalled his first experience of facing the camera which was interesting. Salman Shahid also discussed how he started enjoying his fandom in later stages of his career because at first when people started noticing him, he would get agitated by the idea of someone following him around to have a conversation with him.
Sanam Baloch then did a rapid fire round & it was amusing because it looked like he was trying to get past most of the questions. What’s even more interesting is that he didn’t have much to say about the young actors like Mehwish Hayat, Mahira Khan or Fawad Khan, so he just tried to ignore those questions with a smile & a little bit of excuse. The rapid fire might not have given us much insight but it did however shed a light on his easy going approach towards life.
Adnan Shah Tipu later joined in the show only to give tribute to him & share his side of the story about what it was like being Salman Shahid’s friend. The Morning Show’s team also arranged video messages of Mehreel Raheel, Abdullah Farhatullah & Sadia Khan where they only had good things to say about Salman Shahid which in general told that he was quite a supportive senior & shared a great rapport with all of his co-actors.
At the end of the show, Salman Shahid parted by saying that everyone should remember that their work is bigger than them because if they’d do that, they will respect it even more. Overall, it was quite an interesting conversation & the way the interview was conducted was brilliant too. I really hope we get to see more interviews of such celebrities who have been a part of our industry for such a long time as we only know them by face but because of shows like these, we’ll be getting to know them as a person too.
Only a week is left till Pakistan’s most celebrated Lux Style Awards 2017. However, the credibility of the show is always questioned due to the biased nominations. Recently, Imran Abbas expressed his feelings about the nominations and now it’s Saba Qamar who has decided to skip the show.
We all know that Saba is not just a talented actress but a very confident lady as well. “Although I am nominated for three different plays, I will not be attending the LSAs as a protest,” Qamar told The Express Tribune. “They never bothered to honour me during the past 12 years and now that I have the Bollywood stamp, everyone is acknowledging me all of a sudden.”
“I have been working in the Pakistani entertainment industry since 2004 and no brand or award show has ever approached me in all this time. Now that I have come back from India, every brand and every award show is running after me. It’s almost as if they just noticed my presence,” she stated.
Saba is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Hindi Medium opposite Irrfan Khan. The trailer of the film released recently and Saba was showered with lots of praises for her impressive performance and strong screen presence.
Ohkay so, I think they really need to stop here because even though I am quite good with this sort of stuff, Nazr e Bad makes me feel that I am faint-hearted as it is getting a bit too scary for me, which again is not a complaint and just a testimony on how convincingly they have shown everything. It is actually commendable how they have used the quotient of horror & thrill in this drama which might not be too prevalent but whenever needed, they rely on it and use it in the most apt manner. So far everything that has happened in the story so far makes a lot of sense & yes, at times the viewers might feel that the negatives characters are getting away with everything but the fact is they have just started having their time of glory but I am sure their time of misery is just around the corner & I can not wait to see that & I am sure it will be just as convincing & worth the wait.
I so wish there was more to Aneesa’s character. Yes, if I look at the pace of the drama, then the things that happened with Aneesa & how her chapter was closed within this week makes a lot of sense as the director rightfully didn’t drag her chapter but then again, she was the only one who could give Parvez a hard time but sadly, he got away from the entire mess a bit too seamlessly. Parvez being a man with a lot of insecurities & even more secrets to hide obviously grew anxious when he saw that Aneesa wasn’t someone who’d listen to his orders just because she signed a marriage contract with him. Aneesa’s decision of hiring Maham despite Parvez’s disapproval went to show that Parvez sensed how far she could go because Aneesa was trying to get in touch with Maham. It was a bit too obvious that Aneesa could’ve used Maham later on as well in order to blackmail Parvez or to keep his hands tied, but then again, Parvez being Parvez resorted to the shortcuts & got rid of her.
I think everything that Aneesa went through was quite realistic, like Parvez definitely knew how to put an end to her chapter where he made her hit Hashim with her car & later made her death look like a suicide so that people could easily see it as a reason behind her decision of putting an end to her life. I so wish before dying Aneesa could’ve called Maham & had spoken to her but sadly, looks like Maham has to put up with a lot more before she will eventually find out the truth about Parvez. Even though Aneesa did say that she would personally meet Maham but if only she had known that she didn’t have much time left to do that. It was sad seeing a mother of a child dying just because a shallow & weak man like Parvez was such a quitter that he couldn’t deal with Aneesa. At this stage, it is actually quite frustrating seeing Parvez winning at everything. He got a huge amount of money as a result of getting married to Aneesa so now he got rid of her because he was too impatient to deal with her & also because he couldn’t wait any longer to get married to Maham especially when he could see himself in a position to provide everything to Maham that he thought she wished for & wanted!
So, Maham obviously under the influence of Parvez’s spell decided to get married to him. Obviously, Parvez created such scenarios so that he could emerge as a hero & a savior in front of Maham & Nusrat especially to score some brownie points. Maham wasn’t herself anymore & that was elaborated beautifully by Sarah Khan because just by looking at her expressions you could see that she wasn’t in her right state of mind. Parvez being a coward that he is made sure that Maham was the one initiating the talks about marriage because he knew that then she might stick to it & even fight against anyone who’d oppose this marriage, which eventually turned out to be the case. I wish Nusrat had held her ground against this marriage but seeing how Maham was too convinced to move on in her life, she gave in too easily. Obviously the note at which this week’s episode ended came as a surprise to me because looks like Maham automatically woke up from a deep sleep & found out that her worst fears materialized, which were getting married to Parvez & being his wife. The scene where Parvez made all those promises once again showcased his weak personality where he asked Maham to love him because deep down even he knows that she has only gotten married to him because he clouded her judgment & not because she actually loved him or wanted to get married to him.
The preview of the next episodes seemed quite interesting, looks like we have a new character that is going to be introduced. Not sure what his contribution in the story is going to be but it does look like he is going to be an interesting character. I just can not praise the pace of the drama enough where when done with one chapter, the writer & the director effortlessly move onto the next one because they have so much in store for us. I wish Shazia stops being such a dimwit & stops following Parvez’s orders because he has literally started exploiting her feelings & her trust by using her for his own benefit. Even though Parvez has dodged so many bullets but I so wish at least Shazia does the honors & tells Maham everything. Abeera did however find out about her mother & also suspected her brother being her teacher but since she is a hopeless case & character, it would be a mistake on my part to expect that of all the people she’d save the day because she is so petty & her caliber is so low that by giving away Maham’s clothes to her sister, she thought she scored a win. Aneesa’s part in the play ended but she definitely made an impact & left quite an impression. Hajra Lallji was phenomenal as Aneesa, she portrayed that character brilliantly, where she was twisted but authoritative, yet you could understand her thought process, it was sad that her life ended so tragically but she surely left an impact. Sakina Samo deserves all the praises for giving such a wonderful treatment to the character of Almas, like she has embraced such a dark aura & has added so much negative energy in this character that actually speaks volumes about Almas’s personality, which is commendable!
I must say, even though in a few episodes I found Azfar Rehman’s acting quite weak but now he is back & if I look at Parvez’s journey till date, Azfar has surely given him such a perfect treatment. When the drama began, Parvez’s attire & overall personality showed that he was a non-achiever & didn’t have much going in his life but ever since he learned black magic, not only he attained this self-confidence & money but his personality changed complete where now you can see how well-kempt he looks & how he has this aura which shows that he has achieved quite a lot so far. I must say the way Sarah Khan has makes a switch between the two mental states of Maham is phenomenal & worth the praise, like Maham would look completely herself in one scene the very next moment, she’d look clueless & indifferent, which shows that at this minute she is under the influence of a spell. It definitely shows that the director had this attention to detail which makes this a complete package & he along with the actors worked really really hard to get this result. Even though the subject is different but it surely has become my favorite drama & I will make sure I don’t forget to add it in the annual lists praising it for being so phenomenal. I don’t know why but seeing the way Parvez woke up right in the middle of the night & continued with his rituals gave me a feeling that things won’t be as smooth between him & Maham as he promised them to be. Like Shazia always says, jo maza justuju mai hai wo pa lene mai nahi hai, so may be now that he has eventually earned Maham & when the novelty will wear off, he might not value her. This could be completely wrong but this is purely my assumption since Parvez is a man with a lot of complexes & insecurities, so you never know that he might take revenge on Maham for all these years of rejection that he faced because of her. Let’s see. It is so interesting & I am so looking forward to the rest of the drama. Thank you Team Nazr e Bad for doing a wonderful job! Please share your thoughts about these two episodes of Nazr e Bad.
Gorgeous lady Saba Qamar has done several popular TV shows and telefilms in Pakistan. She debuted on the silver screen with Main Manto in 2015 and won our hearts. Now, her Bollywood debut Hindi Medium is all set to release on 12th May 2017, and we are more than excited!
Hindi medium is a light-hearted romantic comedy film about a young couple from Chandni Chowk, eager to blend into Delhi’s creme de la creme. In an interview with Images, Saba Qamar spoke about Hindi Medium and revealed that she’s in talks for a biopic.
“It’s a very different topic yet very relatable; people will be able to connect to the story. It’s every household’s story in a way. Every home has kids, those kids need to get an education and have to learn certain languages.”
“We have even more issues; we need to know Arabic to read the Holy Quran, we need to know Urdu to converse in society but for a good job, we also need to know English… So we’re quite the jack of all trades, don’t you think?”
“English is very important of course because it’s an international language but to think that if they don’t know English that person is completely useless is wrong. You can’t and shouldn’t judge someone’s capabilities based on the language they know.”
Talking about her experience of shooting the movie in India, Saba revealed, “It was wonderful; they treated me with respect and love and the overall experience, whether it’s shooting with team or working in Bollywood, was great. I faced no such issues.”
“I respect everyone’s views and political opinions but I feel like those shouldn’t affect the entertainment industry. Art shouldn’t have boundaries.”
“I’ve always been a huge fan of his work. He’s very down to earth and humble, a very comfortable co-star. He’s a big superstar obviously but he never behaved like one, at least not with me. Maybe I’m blessed,” she added.
The Lahore Se Aagey star also revealed that she has a biopic drama in the works.
Year 2016 was full of surprises because the Pakistani Drama buffs were in for a treat as a few drama makers decided to break free from the monotony of rating-chipping tactics and decided to give viewers some beautifully unforgettable dramas that had nothing to do with clichés. Where in the previous years, viewers were rolling their eyeballs hard over the same stories wrapped in a new packaging repeatedly, which more or less revolved around damsels in distress or marital problems, year 2016 came as a breath of fresh air because the viewers all of a sudden got a variety of the subjects that our drama-makers decided to explore. Some dramas were educational and some were just plain love stories done extremely well that they blew the viewers away.
Pakistani dramas have always held a special place in viewers hearts all around the globe because they have been a source of family entertainment. Sadly, for quite a few years our industry saw a dip in the quality of the dramas that were being produced and aired because it looked like every other drama-maker was making dramas for the commercial reasons and didn’t really care about the family entertainment for which our viewers tuned to dramas in the first place. Year 2016 brought a drastic change with it because all the blockbuster dramas sealed the deal that the viewers were done with the done-to-death stories. By making unique and different dramas popular, Pakistani drama audience showed that in they were done with dukhyari dukhtar dairies, they were done with the stories filled with clichés and most importantly they were done with the dramas which only showcased extra marital affairs, dysfunctional marriages and family politics. This is the reason why some of the over-hyped and star-studded plays didn’t really get a positive feedback from the viewers whereas in their comparison, those dramas which had unconventional themes and narratives did really well.
It is about time that the drama-makers come out of their fixation with such commercial sort of dramas that they make only with the intention of grabbing the ratings because the Pakistani drama viewers are intelligent and they proved it by welcoming the changes that some of the drama-makers made last year. 2016 surely was a great year for the drama buffs as it restored the faith people had in Pakistani dramas because a few drama-makers showed that they still cared and still took pride in their work. 2016 can safely be labeled as the year that changed the trend drastically and broke the monotony which is why now when we have transitioned into 2017, we are seeing some different dramas already. Let’s revisit all those beautiful dramas that we fell in love with last year and let’s discuss those dramas that all the drama-makers should learn lessons from:
Besharam
Besharam was probably the first drama after so many years which showed a perfect and healthy marital relationship that the two strong individuals shared. Both Mishi and Haider came from completely different backgrounds, where Mishi was a model and Haider was a politician – both headstrong and independent people who got married on a whim made the viewers fell in love with their love story. The writer of Besharam Sarwat Nazeer seemed to be on a challenge where she wanted to show how normal marriages work, where both a husband and a wife come together to solve their issues by communicating with each other. Mishi and Haider did everything that normal couples do, where they would talk their problems out, they would share a cup of coffee, surprise each other, give space to each other, understand and respect each other as well.
Since viewers were so used to clichés, when everything between Mishi and Haider seemed to be sailing smoothly, everyone expected a U-turn or a very drastic accident because the viewers couldn’t really grasp the fact that things could be this ‘normal’, ‘conventional’ and ‘amazing’ in a Pakistani drama of this day and age. Saba Qamar and Zahid Ahmed’s phenomenal chemistry made Mishi and Haider’s couple even more special.
Besharam came with a lot of beautiful lessons which never seemed preachy or boring but always had a meaning that actually stirred the emotions in the right direction. It was beautiful seeing such a head strong woman walking an extra mile to make her marriage work by pleasing her husband and respecting her in-laws. Similarly, it was quite refreshing to see a husband resolving his wife’s family issues too. Besharam surely is one such drama that our drama-makers should pay heed to and take notes from, especially because it showed how normal marriages work in most of the circumstances and how these sort of stories can resonate well with viewers too. Besharam’s popularity actually sealed the deal that the viewers know how to welcome stories that have nothing to do with dysfunctional marriages and they can actually watch and enjoy simple love/marriage stories with a smile on their face as well.
Dillagi
Dillagi was a love story which did not only have an unconventional leading lady but it also had a hero who was like no other. Unlike many other love stories, this one was not about the zalim samaj or gherulu zindagi ke masail but it showed how a woman who wants to take revenge will do anything to make the man who bruised her ego suffer. Dillagi was a trendsetter which showed that love stories don’t always have to be typical. Anmol’s character, her reasons for getting married to Mohid, ways in which she tried to make him miserable, the progression of this track from hatred to love and most importantly the message in the end that she was still just as adventures and bold as she was before are few reasons why Dillagi was anything but run-of-the-mill.
Pakistani drama viewers have seen innumerable heroes who fell in love with a seedhi sadhi larki (because she is the ideal candidate for the job!) and fought hard for getting married to her but Mohid is probably the only hero in the history of Pakistani dramas who fell in love with a girl because she was anything but seedhi sadhi. Most importantly, he loved this woman right till the end even with all her flaws. The iconic dialogue “Mohabbat andhi nahi faragh dil hoti hai, aaib dekhti hai magar nazar andaz kar deti hai!”summed up why Mohid was so willing to not only ignore but even accept everything wrong which Anmol ever did. This wasn’t the only cliché which Dillagi questioned and gave a brand new connotation of. Apart from this, the age-old saying “everything is fair in love and war” was also questioned by the writer in such a way that anyone who has watched Dillagi will always remember that particular conversation between Mohid and Anmol.
Drama serial Dillagi also had some extremely poignant, deep and meaningful dialogues to its credit which stayed with the viewers long after they were done watching the play. Mehwish Hayat and Humayun Saeed’s on screen chemistry and captivating performances made their characters and this love story magical, novel and unforgettable.
Mein Sitara
Mein Sitara showed the real face of the world of glitz and glam. It highlighted the pain and suffering in the life of a film star by showing how misleading public images can be. It showed what a big price some people have to pay for continuing to survive in the world without giving up. Mein Sitara was extraordinary in more ways than one. There are hardly any dramas which have delved so deep into the life of their leading characters the way Mein Sitara did and it did so without getting stagnant or repetitive. The story started when Sitara was a 10 year old girl and it ended when Sitara’s daughter grew up to be a director and it was engrossing right till the end.
The most notable aspect of this drama was that every phase of Sitara’s life was elaborated in a convincing and engaging manner. Her personality traits, her strengths and weaknesses and most importantly her unwillingness to give up turned out to be one of the most endearing aspects of this drama. Sitara was a leading lady like no other; she had been used, misunderstood and even abandoned but every time she came out even more strong, ready to take up her next challenge.
The best part of this drama was that no matter how slow the pace of the story got it always managed to transport the viewers to another world; Sitara’s world! Mein Sitara had some remarkable performances to its credit. It was a complete package and a trendsetter. All those writers out there who are scared of experimenting and look for shortcuts should take inspiration from Mein Sitara. It can also be a source of motivation for all those directors and producers who want to stick to the same old formulas because they are afraid to experiment.
Preet Na Kariyo Koi
Preet Na Kariyo Koi was one such drama that had a plethora of emotions, there was love, there was revenge, there was betrayal, jealousy, possessiveness, helplessness, devotion, dedication, deceit, denial, fearlessness and regret. Preet Na Kariyo Koi was one such drama that dealt with all these emotions in such a convincing manner and the writer Amna Mufti made sure to convey all of that through the characters brilliantly. Preet Na Kariyo Koi was a story about Goshi, a grey character which you could hate but feel for at the same time because her psychology was elaborated clearly and realistically. Understanding a grey character like Goshi was no easy feat but the writer made sure to show her entire journey in such a manner where everything that she did ended up having a justification by the end of the episode which helped the viewers a great deal. Even though Goshi was the central figure of the drama but the rest of the story was supported by such beautiful characters too which filled your heart with warmth and made you connect to them too.
Preet Na Kariyo Koi showed a fearless young girl who could go to any extreme for the sake of the man she loved, where she could hurt her father and her mother-like aunt too but later she realized the importance of her family despite living in the denial for years and years and despite failing at almost everything at a certain point in her life. It was a complete journey that Goshi lived through and a transition that she showed which was tackled with so much of maturity by the director. The writer took a risk by showing a girl like Goshi because chances were that her character wouldn’t sit well with the viewers but the way viewers reacted to it showed that they were ready to see unconventional leading ladies on screen too. This was Hira Mani’s first project as the protagonist and she showcased her talent as an actress brilliantly.
This drama dealt with the aspect of regional politics, power and authority that comes with it yet how they can end up becoming shackles for someone. This drama had so much going for it where the crux of the story was all about Goshi’s struggles, but the overall treatment was so refreshing as they brought the essence of interiors of Lahore to life. Drama makers surely can learn from Preet Na Kariyo Koi how and where to stop, like if they want to show things that can be a bit too heavy and unconventional for the viewers, there’s always a way for it. Preet Na Kariyo Koi surely was an intelligent piece of writing directed intelligently as well that is why people stayed glued to their screens and actually looked forward to it.
Sang e Marmar
This show blew all the viewers away and it is still fresh in everyone’s memory. When Sang e Marmar began, no one actually knew that they were in for a rollercoaster ride of emotions and if there’s one word that actually describes Sang e Marmar the best, it is unpredictable. Sang e Marmar’s story was set in the small town of KPK, highlighting Pukhtoon culture and its weaknesses in such a convincing manner that those who belonged to the region ended up testifying in the favor of everything that was being shown without getting offended. The reason behind the realism in the story of this drama was the fact that the writer Mustafa Afridi himself hailed from KPK and that is why, he knew what he was showcasing in this story.
Sang e Marmar was all about revenge, ego, misunderstandings and then redemption. While watching Sang e Marmar, the viewers felt that they watched this entire journey and grew with the characters to this extent that they started understanding them and their perspective effortlessly. The best part about this drama was that the villain Torah Khan was never considered to be the villain until he started crossing the line because the writer presented him in such a way that his story actually stirred sympathy for him as he was deeply hurt by another villain Torah Khan. It was probably after a long long time that the drama covering tribal animosity and family politics did so well with the viewers because it was a presented with such uniqueness.
Sang e Marmar has to be the first such drama in Pakistani history that spoke against the concept of Riba and showcased its cons in such a manner that it did compel the viewers to think about this subject. It showcased how Riba literally ruined generations of one family and how those involved in it ended up losing everything, their family, their pride, their respect, everything. Another beautiful aspect of Sang e Marmar was that despite living in such an environment where women hardly had any rights, all the female characters in this drama were headstrong and believed in making their own decisions, be it Shameem, be it Bano, Shireen, Pari, Durkhane, Gulalai or even Palwasha, all of them had something or the other going for them without having much authority or control over their lives.
Sang e Marmar surely was a breath of fresh air even though its story was quite heavy and the situations were quite heart-wrenching. This is one such drama that definitely can teach drama-makers a lot of things especially a thing or two about the fact that how without sensationalizing any subject, they can just stick to the point and convey the story in such a convincing manner. Sang e Marmar’s cast, direction and writing turned it into a blockbuster and not to be missed, the situational comedy that kept things light hearted and the amazing, deep and meaningful dialogues that acted as a cherry on top.
Tum Yaad Aye
Tum Yaad Aye was a classic family drama which reminded many of the viewers of the golden era of PTV dramas when relationships in general were mostly explored by the writers and a love story was usually a side track. It was the story of a family which went through good times and bad ones and later on it showed how these changes effected their lives and personalities. Zaini’s character was another reason why drama makers should learn lesson from this drama because most of the writers are bent on showing perfect heroines who can do no wrong. Zaini made some terrible decisions in her life but in the end she proved that if you have a solid upbringing then you eventually achieve your goals and learn from your mistakes. The focus on a girl’s career and education was another refreshing aspect of this drama especially because it was done in a brilliant manner.
The highlight of this drama was its unconventional yet appealing characters which were beautifully etched-out. Another reason why this drama was different from the rest was that the writer covered all aspects of the story thoroughly without banking on shortcuts. The overall treatment given to the play was also impressive, it did not have any over-dramatic twists and turns but had plenty of quality content to keep the viewers hooked to their television screens.
Udaari
Udaari was an exceptional play which had some groundbreaking developments to its credit. This was not the first time that a Pakistani writer had written a story revolving around child abuse and rape but it was definitely the first time that a rapist was taken to court and the victim herself testified against him even though she did not have the support of her mother. This drama showed that rapists deserved to be punished for their crime and that raping someone was not a ‘mistake’ but a criminal offense, an idea which is very basic but is completely missing from those dramas which deal with the issue.
Udaari was also extraordinary because it showed that a victim with her own will and inner strength can turn herself into a survivor. The idea that it wasn’t the victim who needed to feel ashamed because of what happened to her was also an important aspect of this drama. Everything changed the moment Zebu started believing that she was a survivor and not a victim, Imtiaz’s confidence was completely shaken when he saw the self-belief with which Zebu confronted him and it also turned the legal case around.
This wasn’t the only powerful message which Udaari put forward, it also showed how people who had resources can help people who are not that fortunate, achieve their goals. None of these women would have achieved so much if they did not have the moral and practical support of their educated and well-off friends. Sheedan’s character was also very inspirational, for a change the viewers saw a woman who did not need a man to look out for her and who stood by all the women associated with her whether it was her daughter, her neighbor or her neighbor’s daughter.
Udaari was truly inspiring, it was filled with positive messages, it was thoroughly entertaining and most importantly it has quite a few phenomenal performances which gave a new identity to some very famous actors. Ahsan Khan and Bushra Ansari in particular did exceptionally well in their respective roles.
So, these are the dramas that we believe set the bar high and came as breath of fresh air because of their unconventional narratives and characters. These dramas had so much newness to offer that the viewers loved the change and felt that the makers of these dramas restored their faith in Pakistani drama industry. Please share your thoughts about these dramas and feel free to speak about more such dramas that according to you can give a lesson or two to our drama-makers?
One of the most famous dramas of 2016, Udaari not only impressed the audiences in Pakistan but across the borders as well. And it looks like, Udaari’s Paa Imtiaz has a huge fan following in India. After Alka Yagnik, Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi is also sending lots of love and wishes to Ahsan Khan, who rose to fame on the other side of the border with his impressive performance in Udaari.
Best known for her role as Khoobsurat in Bulbulay and Natasha in Ladies Park, Ayesha Omar has become one of the most demanding and reputed stars of Pakistani industry. She is now all set to prove her competencies in her upcoming films.
Speaking to Instep, Ayesha opened up about her career, movies and the surgery as well. “With a sitcom like Bulbulay that is on-air four times a day, there is truly a lot of exposure and I can’t control that,” she observed. “I am always on people’s TV screens and they feel I’m a part of their lives, their households. With movie-stars, there is a little distance because there isn’t as much accessibility.”
Sharing details about her film, “Rehbraa is spread-out in different parts of the country. From interior Punjab and Sindh to Lahore and Karachi, we’re constantly travelling while shooting. This also happens to be our crew’s first experience on a film so naturally things weren’t always organized; there were delays and basically a lot of trial and error. But I don’t blame them. Since we’re a growing industry we don’t have infrastructure in place just yet, we don’t have trained teams,” said Ayesha.
Discussing her experience on the film further, Ayesha said, “Our director is someone who knows his craft really well and is also able to tell his actors what he expects from them. In Pakistan, mostly directors let actors explore their characters but actors love being directed and that is something that I’ve experienced on Rehbraa’s set.”
In Rehbra, Ayesha will play the role of a middle-class girl named Bubbly who lives in Punjab.
“If I have an emotional scene, if I am crying the entire day or I’m howling in a cave, I obviously can’t snap out of it the very next minute,” explained Omar. “Some characters I had also gotten very attached to because I had started seeing things through their perspective. Some I look up to, some I am very inspired by.”
She is scheduled to have a collarbone surgery this June in the aftermath of a traumatic car accident that occurred in 2015.
“I couldn’t do anything for an entire year,” she said recalling the accident. “I still have injuries, my ability to perform certain tasks is currently impaired and I can’t work on projects that involve a lot of physical exertion, dance or travelling since I am constantly in pain, and Rehbraa includes all of that, so it’s been extremely tough.”
When asked about the response on the song, ‘Turn up the Music Mr. DJ’ The bulbulay actress replied, “The moves were adapted according to what was possible for me. The choreographer knew that I had a broken collarbone,” Omar stated. “Even my doctors had advised me to not put that kind of pressure since my body is still compensating for the injury. I had already committed and I am the kind of person who doesn’t back down at the eleventh hour. However, I do feel I could’ve done a lot better. I could’ve moved more freely and with abandon.”
She further said, “People don’t realize it because they don’t see it. A lot of people around me still don’t know that I have a broken bone, because they think I’m completely healed. You can’t always complain and crib. This industry is so cut-throat and ruthless that nobody even cares about what you’re going through. They just believe in face-value.”
Ayesha is not bothered if the screen time is less, “For some people it is but for me it’s not an issue because that is something secondary. With Yalghaar, it wasn’t a concern because I knew that the entire film revolves around my character. I am not bothered about the number of scenes I have because I know every scene I’ve done will leave an impact.”
In the age of social media, privacy is a luxury. “People get a sneak peek into our personal lives. It is quite an invasion of privacy.”
“It has shortened the duration of time it took in becoming a star. Some people also start setting their value on the basis of the number of followers they have. We need to understand that our masses are not on Instagram or Snapchat. I’ve shot in villages and I go up-north and everyone recognizes me, not because I’m on social media, but because they watch Bulbulay.”
When asked about her co-actors, “We’ve been working for so long and we’ve gotten used to shooting in all sorts of conditions. We put up a front and never let the off-camera drama show on the camera. Newcomers are not used to that but I don’t blame them because it takes time and patience to get to that stage. When one starts off, comfort is something that is taken into consideration, but that can’t be. The show simply must go on,” she concluded.
We all loved the trailer of Saba Qamar’s Bollywood debut ‘Hindi Medium’, and now the very first song of the movie is finally out. The song called ‘Suit Suit’ is a popular upbeat Punjabi track, sung by Guru Randhawa.
The song features Saba Qamar and Irrfan Khan, trying to fit into the ‘high-class society’ to get their daughter admitted to an English medium school, Saba is also seen donning a bold look!
Pakistan’s rockstar Atif Aslam is on a roll these days. After the announcement of hosting the LSA 2017, he’s now set to do another music video. A few pictures from the shoot of his upcoming song are taking the internet by storm, and his new look is not to be missed. Atif is seen sporting a clean dapper look, and we are sure he’s up to something completely desi.
Lux Style Awards seems to be getting bigger with every passing day. Now that the awards are just a week away, another latest report has got us all excited.
The bubbly girl Mawra Hocane is all set to take over the entertainment industry. According to a report by Instep, Mawra Hocane might be the next LUX girl.
The starlet has been hinting about a mystery project for quite some time now. Mawra posted on her social media accounts that she has bagged her life long dream project. So, is this the dream project she’s been hinting about? If yes, then she’s surely the new Lux girl.
Making her debut with a small screen drama then moving onto Pakistani film debut, Sajal Aly has made a huge name for herself. Sajal has it all going for her – she’s cute, pretty and is all set to leave a mark across the borders as well.
In an interview with Hello Pakistan, Sajal Ali opened up about her acting career, co-stars and Bollywood debut.
She spoke about her first break in the drama industry, “I was invited to do an activity for a production house at a local mall; right from the get go I was told that my voice was too thin.”
Sajal is inspired by TV actors, Nadia Jamil and Sania Saeed, who have always outdone themselves in powerful female roles, “I’ve been lucky enough: I have had some wonderful characters presented to me literally on plate.”
Sajal also has her favourite roles, “Gohar-e- Nayab with Ahsan Khan as my co-lead is my favourite play. My own family tells me that I am very much like that girl in this serial.”
“Sannata is also one of my favourite projects. I bring a lot of emotion to my roles,” said Sajal. “It’s a lot of work, and frankly, acting is not just about the good life; or about fame and fortune – it’s about emotions that are inside of you and the energy and commitment required to work with them.”
Her views on her co-stars are also pragmatic: “If you’re into your character, you don’t have to be friendly and comfortable with your co-stars on a personal level – it’s better to be proficient, do your work and get it over with.” She is also quite wary of limelight and publicity; “I run away from awards, I don’t believe in them,” she said bluntly.
She likes her own company, “I enjoy my own company,” shares Sajal.
Sharing further shared about her Bollywood debut, “I have always aspired for something challenging. It really was quite a unique experience. All one got to eat was cheese and bread, which I couldn’t stomach daily; interestingly the Indians bring also sort of foods with them on their travels, from papar to achaar! Since this was one of my first times abroad, my mother went with me to Georgia and would even cook for us. I really needed the emotional support, someone to fall back on during this new experience.”
Sajal is in her twenties and has been working really hard. “Women in Pakistan need to get out of self-suppression and self-victimisation, Only then can we raise a generation of strong individuals. Change starts from within you.”
When asked about her debut Pakistani film, Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai, Sajal replied: “The experience was great, it wasn’t too different from the television screen. I just didn’t want to do something which was not like real life and it was a beautiful experience to play the mother of a child in this film.” Dramas still continue to inspire Sajal, “Our television is our identity,” she said.
“I still haven’t completed my bachelor’s so I can’t really apply for a full-time programme, but filmmaking classes and courses would be useful,” she added.
Sahir Lodhi made sure to promote his big debut in Pakistan’s cinema in full swing. However, the movie received negative reviews, and recent reports suggest that Raasta has ended its run in the cinemas.
The film’s fate is very unlucky in theatres across the nation. After Thora Jee Le, Balu Mahi and Whistle now, the fourth release of the year ‘Raasta’ has deadly bombed at the box office.
The film which released on March 31st failed to gather any buzz and opened to empty cinema halls all over Pakistan. The film was removed from the theatres among Lahore and Karachi on the third day of its release and failed to leave a mark. All in all, Raasta failed to maintain it’s run at the box office and emerged as a flop.
With his good looks and inimitable charm, Fawad Khan has a massive female following in India. He might not work in India again, but B-town celebrities can’t stop gushing over our heartthrob. And Karan Johar is all praises for Fawad Khan.
During his media discussion session at London School of Economics, when asked if he would work with Pakistani artists again, here’s what he said:
“I think some of the most exceptional talent comes from Pakistan. And I had the honour and pleasure to actually direct Fawad Khan. I have seen his exceptional work, and it was immensely brave of him to did what he did in Kapoor and Sons. I think after 6 actors had said no to that role, it was tremendously courageous of him to say yes. I wish that our cinema and cinema, in general, could be exposed to such enormous talent like Fawad Khan.”
Karan Johar answering a question on #FawadKhan.Didn't like the way he started,liked the way he ended,loved the applause(for Fawad)he receivd pic.twitter.com/vPeu9aJmdK
Fawad Khan has worked with Karan Johar in two of his production ventures. Fawad did both Kapoor And Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, back to back. He was also slated to do another film, titled Raat Baaki with Katrina Kaif. However, it might never happen due to the ongoing ban on Pakistani artists.
Shoaib Malik, who scored a century in third ODI against West Indies has dedicated his awards to his wife, Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, on their seventh wedding anniversary.
Shoaib tweeted, “My award is dedicated to you for showing me the power of dreams & here we are celebrating our 7 years MA!.”
He recently won the man of the match and the man of the series award in Pakistan v/s West Indies ODI.
When the two neighbouring nations were busy in proving their superiority over each other, Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza managed to send the message of leave and peace by tying the knot on April 12, 2010.
This episode was directed and acted out brilliantly. Kudos to the director and the actors in particular for making every episode of Muqabil a wonderful experience. Even when there is no obvious development in the story, the direction and the performances keep you hooked to your television screens. Also, the writer is gradually showing changes in different characters unlike some other writers who wait for the last few episodes to show a major change in the characters. Arman’s reaction was shown realistically and the timing of all the scenes covering Arman’s disgust towards his father was beyond impressive. Mahmood has no idea what is going on in Arman’s mind, Arman is not in a position to be away from his family therefore he is forced to be around his father. The scene in which he threw up while his father was reciting duas for him was right on point! Every time his father touched him, he cringed and thought about the things which Pareesa had said in the past. There is an intensity and precision about Mohsin Abbas Haider’s performance because of which just watching him act is a treat! He makes the most of every single scene by giving the perfect expressions even in the most complicated of situations. Asif Raza Mir is immensely talented and all his scenes make a strong impression on the viewers. Watching these two stars in one frame in these complicated situations is truly spellbinding because they never go wrong.
Another character which is getting more interesting with every passing episode is that of Shehnaz. She has come a long way; Pareesa’s marriage proved to be a reality check for her and she decided to change her priorities in life. Watching Shehnaz make a conscious effort to make things easier for her daughter by putting her ego aside was a refreshing change. Saba Hameed is constantly experimenting with different roles and every time she appears on screen with a new role, she makes sure that she changes her get-up accordingly too. Pareesa decided to distance herself from Arman because she once again feels that he deserves better and perhaps to shelter herself from more emotional damage.
For a change Zuebida’s scenes in this episode were not only bearable but also showed a very caring side of her. Although she was loud as usual but her dialogues about Arman’s meeting with his mother in law were funny and her concern for Arman easy to connect to. For the first time I saw her as a mother who was truly concerned about her son and understood what her son was going through even though she had no clue why he was so terrified and sad. The scene in which she said that Arman had an accident before too but he never looked so scared and strange showed that she was the only one who had guessed that there was something wrong with Arman.
The preview of the next episode was exhilarating; I am waiting to see how Mahmood reacts when Arman tells him that he knows what Pareesa went through in her childhood. Will he cover up for himself or will it lead to a confrontation between him and Arman? Can’t wait to find out.
How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
Recently, the trailer of Saba Qamar starrer ‘Hindi Medium‘ released and it depicts the struggles faced by a middle-class family wanting to get their child admitted to an English medium school. Now, the makers of Hindi Medium have released the first song teaser called ‘Suit’.
The song teaser shows Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar all dressed up for their daughter’s admission. ‘Suit’ is a famous Punjabi track by Guru Randhawa.
It’s award season in Pakistan! After Lux Style Awards 2017, the awards of Hum TV are all set to commence this month. The most glamorous awards ceremony, Hum Awards are back again with their 5th edition this year. The mega star-studded show will be held in Lahore this year on 29th April.
Just recently, Pakistan’s leading entertainment channel Hum TV organised a press conference in Karachi to announce the nominations and the date of the show. The 5th Hum Awards Viewers’ Choice categories nominations, which were announced at the press conference, include an eclectic mix of our favourite actors and dramas.
The show itself will be a star-studded event with performances by leading stars. This year, HUM Awards will include 7 Viewers’ Choice categories, including Best Actor Male (Popular), Best Actor Female (Popular), Best on Screen Couple (Popular), Best Drama Serial (Popular), Best Music Video, Best Music Single and Best Original Soundtrack (Popular).
Speaking on the occasion, Sultana Siddiqui President HUM Network said, “Our aim is to make every new awards ceremony better than the previous one and to continue introducing new and realistic topics in our serials to make them interesting and relatable to our viewers, and thus highlight them in our awards ceremony. We put in a lot of effort and time to present the best, and we hope that viewers and media like what we are doing.”
The annual awards honour excellence across the realms of television and music. The award show also honours those who have played a pivotal role in the progress of the entertainment industry of Pakistan.
Here is the complete list of Hum Awards 2017 Nominations
BEST ACTOR MALE POPULAR
Feroz Khan – Gul-e-Rana
Mikaal Zulfiqar – Sange Mar Mar
Humayun Saeed – Bin Roye
Hamza Ali Abbasi – Man Mayyal
Osman Khalid Butt – Sanam
Ahsan Khan – Udaari
BEST ACTOR FEMALE POPULAR Sajal Ali – Gul-e-Rana
Urwa Hocane – Udaari
Iqra Aziz – Choti Si Zindagi
Mahira Khan – Bin Roye
Maya Ali – Man Mayyal
Amina Sheikh – Pakeeza
BEST ON-SCREEN COUPLE
Feroz Khan & Sajal Ali – Gul-e-Rana
Urwa Hocane & Farhan Saeed – Udaari
Mikaal Zulfiqar & Kubra Khan – Sange Mar Mar
Hamza Ali Abbasi & Maya Ali – Man Mayyal Shehzad sheikh & Iqra Aziz – Choti Si Zindagi
Humayun Saeed & Mahira Khan – Bin Roye
BEST DRAMA SERIAL POPULAR
Gul-e-Rana
Choti Si Zindagi
Sange Mar Mar
Man Mayyal
Bin Roye
Udaari
BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
Sajna Ve Sajna – Udaari
Sange Mar Mar Ka Dil – Sange Mar Mar
Naina Rehtay Hain Kahain – Bin Roye
Tere Naak Mein Layan – Man Mayyal
Chali Simt e Ghaib – Deewana
Zara Yad Kar – Zara Yad Kar
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Koi Rokay Mujhe – Hamza Yousaf
Jind Jaan – Saqib Khan
Nakhun – Zaw Ali
Khair Mangda – Soheb Akhter
Saiyaan – Hamza Yousaf
Ho Jao Azaad – Kamal Khan
BEST MUSIC SINGLE
Saiyaan – Quratulain Baloch
Khair Mangda – Atif Aslam
Nakhun – Sajjad Ali
Jind Jaan – Shehzad Roy & Zoe
Pinjra – Noorie
Koi Ruke Mujhay – Farhan Saeed
Here are a few pictures from the press release:
All those who want to vote for their favourite stars can vote here.
Alka Yagnik, the renowned Indian singer, is sending lots of love and wishes to our very own Ahsan Khan, who rose to fame across the borders with his role in Udaari.
She expressed her admiration for Ahsan Khan’s amazing acting and wished him all the luck for his nomination in the upcoming LUX Style Awards.
“You have done it so incredibly, so beautifully. It’s not that I’m the only one saying it, all my friends feel the same way. I believe you are nominated for the upcoming Lux Style Awards. You surely do deserve the award. Not only this, you deserve all the awards possible.”
A post shared by Ahsan Khan (@khanahsanofficial) on
We all believe that Ahsan Khan surely deserves accolades for his breakthrough performance as Paa Imtiaz in Udaari. He is competing against Faysal Qureshi, Humayun Saeed, Noman Ejaz and Zahid Ahmed for Best TV Actor in LSA 2017.
Veena Malik’s comeback music video is finally out. She’s back with a new look paying tribute to Pakistani army with her song ‘Dushman-e-Watan’
The music video shows Veena Malik singing the song with the clips of soldiers fighting for the country. Dusman-e-Watan is a Veena Malik production, penned by Lt Col Kazim Hussain Shah and composed by Irfan Saleem.
Although I just wanted this drama to end more than anything else and was quite sure that I had lost interest in all the tracks because everything seemed to be taking too long but surprisingly this last episode turned out to be very emotional and was overall gratifying. Mahi’s character however deserved a better ending. Even though as a whole Khuda Mera Bhi Hai could have been far more powerful if the writer delved deeper into the intricacies relating to the medical aspect of having such a child in a subtle manner but as a whole it managed to highlight issues which are rarely talked about on television. Also, the prejudice and hatred Noor himself faced as a child wasn’t highlighted in the drama perhaps because the makers did not want to put a child star in that position, which is understandable. It can safely be said that despite its glaring flaws Khuda Mera Bhi Hai questioned stereotypes like no other drama ever has. It had positive role models and even though some of the messages lost their effectiveness because of the constant repetition but this last episode made up for that by summing up the real purpose behind the drama.
Khuda Mera Bhi Hai did not only have one hero but it had a lot of positive and strong individuals both men and women who worked together to make Noor’s journey a success. Zain’s character was also etched-out brilliantly; he wasn’t a negative person but someone who wasn’t strong enough to accept someone like Noor. This went to show that not everyone can do what Mahi did but when someone decides to stand by their child like this then God helps them through people like Mikael and everyone else who supported Mahi. I must say though that there were a lot of times when Mahi’s character and her efforts were relegated to the background and Mikael was shown as someone who played a much bigger role in Noor’s life.
It was definitely great watching Aisha Khan play this role which had a lot of room for performance. It was also good to see a strong woman who had a heart of gold but towards the end the way the viewers were forced to feel sorry for Mahi’s character was completely unnecessary. Sanam’s character had to be one of the most intelligent female characters we have seen in a long time. Marium Saleem did complete justice to her role and I am looking forward to seeing more of her. Saba Hameed is an iconic actress who clearly lives and breathes every role she plays, another strong woman in this play, who raised a daughter who made a huge difference. Aly Khan, Imran Ashraf, Mahmood Aslam and Syed Jibran performed their roles brilliantly too which is why it was always easy connecting to their characters. I did however feel like Zain was forgiven too easily! This was also one of those very few dramas with positive and open-minded men.
In my opinion Furqan Qureshi and Adnan Shah Tipu deserve tons of appreciation for choosing to play these unconventional roles and for bringing out the best in them. Noor’s speech was right on point and it summed up the most important message in the drama – how can we reject someone who is Allah’s creation just like every other creature on earth? If Allah has given them life then the society should accept them and make room for them. Khuda Mera Bhi Hai could have been one of the best dramas of this year if it wasn’t stretched so much. While making these dramas the producers should hold the purpose behind such plays dearer than commercial aspects. Having said that, I do appreciate and acknowledge the fact that Khuda Mera Bhi Hai dared to talk about a topic which is very relevant and hopefully we will see more dramas addressing this issue in the future too.
Please share your thoughts about this last episode.
This year is turning out to be a happening year for the entertainment industry. With a wide range of good dramas airing on-screen, the audience has a huge list to choose from. And what makes a show successful is a powerful script, direction and most importantly a set of important characters. Every writer or director etches out a character, but it’s the job of the actor to understand the nature of the role and perform well on-screen. 2017 is three months down, and many amazing artists are giving good performances and deserve the recognition for the same.
Here’s a list of actors who are impressing one and all:
Asif Raza Mir – (Mehmood in Muqabil)
The actor who once ruled the showbiz fraternity is back with yet another memorable performance. He has always been a powerhouse performer and has proved it every time he appears on-screen. His unique performance in Muqabil went on to show that he is a top notch performer. The character of Mehmood, a man who expects to be forgiven despite committing a sin, is not an easy job, but the way Asif Raza is putting life into the character is beyond perfection.
Kubra Khan – (Pareesa in Muqabil)
Kubra has not only the looks but also the right amount of acting prowess to carry intense as well as light-hearted scenes. Viewers love her as Pareesa, a girl who is weak but strong at the same time. The character is a tough one, but she’s conquering it all with her phenomenal performance. She has acted so well that the viewers feel an instant connection with the character. Kubra has once again proved her mettle as an actress by pulling off a role so effortlessly, and not to mention the fact that she and Mohsin Abbas look a million bucks on-screen together.
Mohsin Abbas – (Armaan in Muqabil)
For an actor who is just a beginner in the drama industry, Mohsin has gotten himself acknowledged through his performance by playing the character of Armaan in Muqabil. Unlike, several other actors, he did not choose to debut with a conventional show and rather choose Muqabil, and needless to say, he is nailing the role of Arman. The way he portrays the transitions of the character is what makes it even more realistic. He manages to impress the audiences every week by translating every situation and expressions so amazingly and faultlessly.
Hania’s remarkable performance in her first play has left the fans to spell bound. She outshines in Titli mainly because of her confident and convincing acting. The character itself has the potential to steal the show, and the way Hania translates the mean girl’s character on-screen is the reason why most of the viewers tune into Titli every week.
Yumna Zaidi (Hayat in Yeh Raha Dil)
Hayat made Yumna Zaidi step out of her comfort zone and perform a character which is exploiting her acting skills to the fullest. The character of Hayat is extremely relatable because of her natural acting which has been improving with every passing episode. Hayat is an opposite of a damsel in distress, she’s a happy go girl, and Yumna manages to handle the character steadily.
Azfar Rehman – (Pervaiz in Nazr-e-bad)
Azfar has packaged a king-size talent into himself. Playing a negative role is not everyone’s cup of tea, but he is doing complete justice to the character of Pervaiz in Nazr-e-bad. The viewers are thoroughly impressed with the way Azfar performs. A thrilling concept and an outstanding performance by Azfar completes Nazr-e-bad. He convinced the audience of how evil the character is through his cunning performance that made people hate his character, and that’s how he’s fulfilling the purpose of the role in a very convincing manner.
Imran Abbas – (Waqar in Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai)
Currently seen in Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai, Imran Abbas managed to impress us in the very first episode. After winning our hearts as Hammad, he’s now playing the character of Waqar. The character comes with many transitions in life, and the way he’s portraying Waqar’s character is just commendable. With his acting in the first episode of MTNH, Imran Abbas proved that he could pull off a role of any age with grace. From his language to dialogue delivery and the overall persona, he completely owns his character, and we just can’t wait to watch more of him as Waqar.
Noman Ijaz – (Khan)
Noman Ijaz is another actor who portrays characters so vividly that you can’t help but admire his acting skills. He makes every drama watchable with his breakthrough performance. His performance in Khan is amazing. However, the pace of the show is slow, but Norman Ijaz is carrying the drama impressively. He knows well how to portray a man with power who has a softer side for his woman.
Agha Ali – (Wamiq in Andaz-e-Sitam)
It’s a job of an actor to convince the audience with the performance, and Agha Ali is just doing that to the fullest. Playing the villainous character of Wamiq, Agha Ali is truly at his best in the drama. The way he handles his character is praiseworthy, and that right there speaks volumes about his potential. His body language, dialogue delivery and expressions are all so consistent and on point. It’s always a treat to watch him as Wamiq.
Sania Saeed – (Chandi in Sammi)
When we talk about leaving an impact, we truly mean it and who better than Sania Saeed justifies the same. A ruthless character or a sweet mother, Sania Saeed has done it all and succeeded as well. While actors are reluctant to experiment with roles, Sania Saeed signs up for the character and fulfils it to her best. Her acting in Sammi is making us praise the character because she’s just so perfect as Chandi. The way she brings her expression and dialogues to the screen, it feels like as if the character was just made for her.
Playing the character of Salar is not easy for a newcomer, but Ahad Raza Mir has impressed us all with his natural performance. His personality and sleek portrayal of the character is a treat for many. Salar is a guy who falls for Sammi but doesn’t impose his feeling on her and supports her instead, Ahad manages to give a solid performance and brings the character to life in the most beautiful way possible.
Ali Abbas – (Basil in Khaali Haath)
One of the most underrated actors of the drama industry, Ali Abbas knows how to blend into the characteristics of the role. Be it in Khaali Haath or titli; he manages to portray every side of the character flawlessly. He is a kind of actor who focuses more on his craft, and that’s what makes him a brilliant actor. And the way he plays the character of Basil is just effortless.
Adnan Siddiqui – (Rashid in Sammi)
Adnan Siddiqui’s character in Sammi is one of those characters which leave an impact on the audiences. Adnan is going stronger than ever, and we’re sure he can give any actor from the younger lot, a run for their money because his acting is unique and incredibly relatable. Viewers love his character and his get up as well. He’s a versatile actor and portrays two sides of a character impeccably. Note: The list is in no particular order and only includes actors currently seen on-screen.
Please feel free to add.
Ohkay so, another week, another beautiful episode of Yeh Raha Dil. Even though the factor of comedy has completely subsided in this drama for now but I am actually quite amazed how those initial episodes & that comedy quotient helped the viewers in forming a relationship with the characters because now when they are going through a hard-time, we feel for them. This episode was emotional & everything was done in a right manner. I can’t emphasize enough on how beautiful this drama is & how amazing all the characters are because we can relate to them & their struggles. The team of Yeh Raha Dil has surely brought us a beautiful drama & we highly appreciate it.
So, Hayat got to have a word with Affaq only because Zaki convinced her. Even though Zaki never imagined this would happen but he has gotten involved with Hayat & her struggles to such a level where he deems it as his duty to help her when she needs it & guide her when he thinks she is lost. I am sure if it wasn’t for Zaki, Hayat would have never had a conversation with Affaq. So, finally, Hayat decided to come clean & let her father know of all the pain that he has caused to her & her mother for so many years. Hayat’s claim that 20 years of gap couldn’t be curbed in a 20 minute long meeting was spot on, it just showed that she had no space for him in her life because when she actually needed him, he was nowhere to be seen. Even though Affaq tried to reason with Hayat but he knew that it would be difficult because she believes in her mother’s side of the story. I am sure there would be more to Affaq & Hayat’s mother’s divorce but for now, Hayat seems justified in everything that she feels for her father as she doesn’t have any emotional connection with him. Affaq did try to hint that may be it was Hayat’s mother who had problems & may be she was the one who wanted a divorce but then he chose not to say a word as he could see that Hayat was not only furious but she was also not in a mood to give him a chance to explain himself. Hayat is someone who has seen her mother suffering, that is why it is natural for her to be inclined towards her mother more than her father, who she assumed lived a happy & comfortable life when she & her mother were struggling on their own!
I found Nida’s reaction so believeable & realistic, like at first she seemed indifferent & aloof to the fact that Hayat turned out to be her sister. At first I also felt that Nida was also emotionally detached to her father that is why she wasn’t feeling angry or insecure after learning the truth that he had a daughter from his first marriage too but later the way she reacted when she found out that he had a heart attack went to show that Nida is someone who only keeps her fears & emotions to herself. Yes, when it comes to Zaki, she is quite expressive & shares her concerns & fears with him because he understands her, but when it comes to her family, she deals with things her way & I really like that about her. The way Nida threatened Hayat also seemed justified because those were the words coming from a daughter who was concerned about her father’s well being!
I must say, Zaki’s father Haroon has to be my favorite father character in the recent dramas that I have seen, like I absolutely adore how cool he is & how he always makes sure to keep her son safe & secured from the problems he might get involved into. Haroon can see that Zaki is getting himself involved in Hayat-Affaq-Nida fiasco that is why he just advised him to be cautious & to take a step back. The way Haroon spoke about Hayat in comparison to Nida showed that he would immediately give a nod of approval if he will see Zaki getting interested in Hayat because looks like he sees Hayat as a better life partner for Zaki than Nida. Even in the beginning when Nida started blaming Zaki for being too worried about Hayat, Zaki didn’t have much to say to negate Nida’s concerns as even though he might not admit but what he feels of Hayat is definitely something more than sympathy & after what he told his father, it looks like he is going to explore his feelings for Hayat pretty soon!
Well, let’s talk about the character of the episode, lol, for me it was Nida’s mother. Even though she is selfish & conceited but Ayesha Sana has made that character so realistic. She is unapologetically like that & that is why she is not even scared to voice her concerns despite knowing that her husband wasn’t in the best of his health. Nida’s mother can already see that with Hayat being in the picture, her & Nida’s position can get affected, also she knows that Affaq is quite an emotional person, so that is why she felt threatened that may be Affaq will bless Hayat will all that he has accumulated till date. ‘Beti ka deemagh kharab hai, baap ka dil kharab hai’ was hilarious, even though she is quite a unique character, I enjoy watching her & her scenes. Looks like Nida’s mother also didn’t really approve of Nida being overly concerned for her father because the moment she saw that happening, she started reminding her of all those times when Affaq opposed what Nida wanted to do. It was good to see that at least at that moment Nida understood the gravity of the situation & she was aware of the fact that this was not the suitable time to be discussing those differences because right now Affaq was in a hospital & he needed his family by his side.
So, Hayat came to see Affaq. Even in the initial part of the episode, when she heard that Affaq got a heart-attack, she wanted to go & see him immediately but she stopped herself because she knew this way she will nullify everything that she said to him about not wanting him in her life at all. Hayat took some time to reflect upon the things Affaq said to her & the way she came to meet him did suggest that may be Affaq’s confession about Hayat believing in one sided story, did affect her & may be she did realize that Affaq had a point. Even though at this stage, Hayat didn’t seem too keen to find out what her father wanted to say to her but she came with an intention of giving a closure to this chapter because she actually didn’t want to depend on her father emotionally & she didn’t want to stay associated with him. It was quite wise of Hayat to say that she neither had any hatred for her father nor misunderstanding, but just because she was used to this kind of life, she didn’t want to have any contact with him. I am not sure if Affaq is in a position to not forgive Hayat because his claims didn’t really make sense as he is the one who is guilty.
Overall, this episode was beautiful & emotional. I love how the writer has conveyed the human emotions in such a beautiful manner by writing such perfect situations which when backed by these emotions give so much of depth & meaning to the story. I loved the scene of Hayat & her mother, like it made my heart break for Hayat because at such a young age, she had no father figure in her life, she saw her mother battling a terminal illness & then eventually losing her life to it, like that girl has endured so much, yet she never compromises or sacrifices on her values & dignity, which is commendable. I am loving the direction of this drama, I am loving the acting of all the actors & most importantly, I am loving all the characters too, not sure about Affaq though as I am not too keen on him but the rest including his 2nd wife are amazing & a treat to watch. Loving Yeh Raha Dil. Please share your thoughts about this beautiful episode of Yeh Raha Dil!
Sahir Lodhi is once again in the spotlight. The tv host, made his film debut with ‘Raasta’ last month and the film flopped at the box office. Many critics expressed their thoughts about the movie and Sahir did not take long to reply. He held a press conference and expressed his anger at the comments made. However, there’s a lot more he has to share.
In an interview with Images, Sahir Lodhi opened up about all the hate he receives.
When asked about what seems to be his obsession with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
“I don’t know why people ask me this irrelevant question. Mein thak gaya hoon is sawaal se. (I’m tired of this question).”
“Maybe it is just that our people have no respect or regard for anyone,” he said. “I respect and admire SRK as an actor and a person. What if the situation were the other way round? If SRK was here, would he be disrespected the same way as I am? SRK sat across from me in an interview and said two people can look alike and sound alike but that doesn’t mean that they copy each other. The worst part is that, in 11 years, no one has seen me. They wanted to see someone else and they have always seen someone else. But, this is a problem with just a fraction of the people in Pakistan who have the permission to write. Ye sirf unn ka problem hai! [This is just their problem!]”
“I’m going to be blunt. People who live along the seaside, on ‘that’ side of the ‘bridge’ — the pseudo-literate people — have a chip on their shoulder. They have never appreciated me. Not that I am dying to be appreciated by them. Reading books in the English language and writing a few reviews doesn’t really make you ‘educated.’ Whatever they say about me, or SRK, my response is that these people suffer from an inferiority complex. They enjoy putting others down, disrespecting them, making fun of them. Hum wohi loag hain jo America se qarza lete hain aur unhi ke khilaaf naaray lagate hain, hum hypocrites hain. [We are the same people who take loans from the US and then raise slogans against them, we are hypocrites.] If I haven’t been able to convince them in 11 years, will I do it in an 11-minute interview?”
“I have survived doing what I want to do despite all the criticism and accusations. Today, I am one of the most-known faces in Pakistan, one of the most talked-about people and ranked among the top stars of the country and it is certainly not without the will of God, so there must be a good reason to it. There is more credit to my talent than just copying SRK.”
Although he has a huge fan following — aside from his loyal radio listeners, he has almost 900,000 followers on Facebook — loads of people also love to make fun of him. Does he know that? “It is a sad situation but we must learn to support, respect and encourage our own people. Pagal logon ki baat ka mein bura nahin manta [I don’t mind the rantings of crazy people],” he declares. “They are not Sahir Lodhi, however much they may rave or rant. People don’t gather around them, people don’t want to take selfies with them. I’m not going to stop just because they want me to stop.”
When asked is he a drifter, dreamer and an idealist? “I live in moments,” he said philosophically. “Sometimes we spend our whole lives searching for a moment, sometimes we find our whole life in a moment. I am constantly in search of these moments,” he said.
“I find peace in watching kids play. I am moved by two underprivileged individuals happily sharing the precious little food that they have got from somewhere, or when I see a family of five on a motorcycle and the mother is holding her baby as though the tiny being is her whole world. My heart fills with pride and respect for the girl who leaves her home to support her family and who runs and catches a bus to reach her workplace. For others, maybe, it means nothing but for me this is the ethos of life.”
When asked why he thinks his fans like him. “The common man relates to me. I’m a commoner on TV and on the street. I’m an ordinary person, this is who I am. I have no attitude, no airs, no hang-ups. I have never refused an autograph or a selfie. I love being with and doing projects with ordinary people. A friend of mine, Shehryar, has cerebral palsy and he lies in bed mostly listening to the radio or watching TV. But he finds hope in me, so I always manage to find time for him. I run a clinic every day for 150 people and bear the monthly expenses out of my own pocket.”
Sahir claims that every day after his morning show, a small crowd waits for him outside the studio. “Some people find peace with me, some need help. They call me on the radio with all kinds of issues and I know that I have to handle them responsibly. But I always have time for them. I only sleep for two hours a day. I relax with my work. When I see them, I tell myself I am not a star, I am a postman, and I have to deliver. I help them in any way that I can. You should always have time for people who rely on you.”
“Just like I can’t figure why some people love me so much, I also don’t understand why some people hate me. Meri samajh mein nahin aata, mein ne kya kiya hai inn ke saath. [I don’t understand what I have done to them.] I don’t go to parties, don’t socialise or hang out with them, don’t smoke or drink, I don’t have scandals, girlfriends or extra-marital affairs. What have I done to instigate so much hate? I don’t claim to be the most handsome or the most talented person on TV, I have never been arrogant. Maybe just looking at me, they get irritated. The best thing is, inko inn ke ghar mein koi nahin janta [nobody knows them]! They are unhappy people. That has to come out somewhere so they take it out on a person whom 80 percent of the country likes. What they don’t like is the fact that a common man is trying to challenge them. But they can’t stop me. I will work till I die. I will only stop if God wants me to stop or if I want to stop. To stop me you have to be me or God, and you are neither!”
When asked does that scenario affect Raasta, his debut film, he replied, “The media has mixed reviews. The public loves the film. The cinemas where the general public goes to are full. People who don’t like me don’t like my film either. Ab kya karoon, film to ban gayee aur mujhe bohat acha laga [What can I do, the film is made and I liked it a lot],” he says slyly. “If Raasta is destined to be a hit, it will be a hit, or be a flop if that’s its fate. I am overwhelmed by all the attention that I have received in my career so far. It is not my right, it is a gift. Am I really worthy of it? Ek aam admi ke liye to yeh bohat duur ki batein hain. [For a common man, these are big things.] I’ll try again and make another film for sure.”
“They say I hogged all the scenes. That is not true. Everybody had scenes and acted well. They say if they don’t see me, they hear my voice. Have they thought that I might be covering a technical flaw by doing that? There are so many little things that have to be taken care of in a film. If they have decided to find issues then they will. It is just like relationships, saath rehne ke sau bhanay, chhorne ka aik [A hundred reasons to stay together, a single reason not to]!”
“Has the media thought of giving me a pat on my back or saying a kind word? Outside the cinema, people are hugging me, repeating dialogues from the film, singing the songs and showering me with hugs and appreciation. They said ‘you have made a film, good or bad, but you have not put up a TV play on the big screen.’ There is no double-meaning dialogue, no cheap comedy and no obscenity. It had dialogue, a script and if you want to revive Pakistani cinema, you need to make films. Aap drama bechte hain cinema ko aur kehte hain ke film banayi hai? [You sell television drama and say you have made a film?] You made the same drama for TV all your life and then put it up on cinema and people spend 500 rupees to see it. Then the film critic dresses up, goes to the premiere and the next day writes that it’s a fabulous film.” His voice rises even more. “Jhootay! Jhoot boltay hain aap! [Liar! You are telling lies!]”
“If anyone of them had made this film — if they were capable of making it in the first place — the critics would be raving about it and it would be a milestone and set a new standard for the Pakistan’s film industry. And I am not talking about Javed Sheikh and Syed Noor, they know what a film is. I have learnt from them.”
Sahir said he doesn’t see a way out of this attitude against him. “When I die, they will write articles about me and discover the ‘thinker’ in me! Ye murda-parast loag hain [These people worship the dead]. They will not do things that will enhance a person’s life, they will wait for him to die before they can praise him. They will run to [my sister] Shaista [Lodhi] and ask her ‘Aap bataayein aap ka bhai kaisa tha?’ [Tell us what your brother was like.] That is who we are as a nation.”
“Dekhiye, no matter how strong I am, I’m bound to get hurt at some point. There are instances when I need some kind words, someone to hold me and say everything is going to be okay.”
When asked who inspires him the most, “Mohammed Ali Clay continues to play the greatest role in my life every single day,” he said. “He was a fighter, a survivor and a winner and his life holds lessons for us all. People didn’t believe in him and he worked against all odds and his faith in himself was remarkable. When I am down, I draw my courage and inspiration from him. I tell myself that duniya ki saari nafratein mil ke Khuda ki mohabbat ka jawab nahin hosakteen [all the hate in the world on one side is still no match for God’s love]. I think I’m all right with this belief,” he said in his typical drawl.
Sahir also told that he’s working on three new film projects and building a hospital as well.
“No challenge is bigger than my spirit!” he exults. “People like to discuss hate more than love. I guess I have more friends than enemies, that is why I am here today.”
Ohkay so, these two episodes of Munkir took the story forward in a most unconvincing manner. It has been made clear that the writer was bent on not getting Runa & Zain married so he kept on throwing one situation after another, despite them not making much sense, to reach to his goal which is to bring Runa & Gulrez together. I think the story could’ve been portrayed properly if the writer hadn’t added such baseless & meaningless twists in it. The characters are either too exaggerated or too poorly etched out, like if you’re watching Munkir, please bear in mind that almost every other character that gets the coverage is going to make you cringe, however, there are a few sane characters too, so glad to have them in the drama!
So, Gulrez abducted Runa on her wedding day & took her somewhere. Gulrez took Runa to some apartment which showed that he had a place to stay on his own anyways, so not sure what made him go to Runa’s house in the first place because it was suggested that he had nowhere to go in Karachi, that is why while still being on a mission he was using Runa’s place as a hideout? I must say as much as I was interested to see a love story revolving around a terrorist, Gulrez’s character is rightfully mysterious but has been poorly etched out because you just can’t understand what he is thinking & most importantly why. Yes, I do understand that the writer tried to make Gulrez such a character which is hard to comprehend but I guess the writer forgot that the character has to be making some sense as well? Gulrez is shown to be on a mission, like he is still a terrorist at heart & then he has fallen in love with Runa & not only that, he has exposed her to his group of terrorist friends too who give him advises about heartbreaks which actually makes me laugh because I didn’t know that terrorists could be relationship experts as well. Also, whoever has hired a chicken like Gulrez is already doomed because this guy ain’t going to accomplish his mission as he is too busy holding Runa’s Teeka close to his heart.
The entire scene where Runa is questioning Gulrez to know his intentions was so poorly done because not sure why Gulrez was maintaining his silence at this stage because he has already confessed his love to her when they were in Murree, so why was he putting up a show now? Like if he abducted her, he should’ve told her all the reasons behind his move & also should’ve convinced her to be with him or discussed some future plans with her like telling her that he wants to leave all that he does for her sake? Just kidnapping her for a day & staying silent didn’t make any sense at all. Also, not sure how every single terrorist friend of Gulrez has found out about Runa & not only that, they are seen blaming her for fooling Gulrez? Like is he a toddler or an infant!?!?!
To be honest, if I speak about annoying characters, Anjum secures the top place in the list. I just don’t understand that while reporting the incident to Rania, Anjum kept on speaking against Gulrez & kept on calling him akhrot, because if she didn’t hold a high opinion about him then why did she keep on brain feeding Runa into believing that she has fallen in love with Gulrez & he is her Mr. Right? Talk about being stupid to the core!
Even though the writer has tried to make Zain’s religious family look bad but to be honest, I don’t find them at fault because Runa’s family has been acting shady & suspicious since day one, also I don’t really like Runa’s character because I find her weak & to me, she seems to be someone who has no brains of her own, so anything that Zain’s mother says about Runa’s family ends up looking justified because by the end of the day, they are at fault. I really would’ve liked if the writer hadn’t shown Zain’s family to be practicing Muslims because this way he is trying to show them in a bad light that just because they are religious, they are highly judgmental. To be honest, I find Zain’s mother as a concerned woman who only wants to see her son happy with the girl he likes. Zain’s mother might seem rigid but when it comes to Runa, she is quite a caring mother in law who walks an extra mile every single time to make sure Runa is doing alright & she is safe. So, yes, for me, the writer’s attempt of making practicing Muslim look bad is an epic fail. Yes, I will however say that I find Batool’s character quite annoying & sadly she gets so much of coverage that it isn’t even funny!
So, obviously, this cliché is the easiest & the quirkiest way to either move the story forward or to hinder something from happening. Daadi had to die, like she just had to so that Runa & Zain couldn’t get married, how convenient I must say! I wish Molvi Sahab’s speech about putting pressures on girl would’ve made much more impact if the girl he was sympathizing with wasn’t Runa because I find her too stupid & her character a bit too flawed. The only sane characters in this drama right now are Rania, Zain & Majid, even Ghulam Sughra looks like a human being with a heart & some emotions to her credit!
Overall, these two episodes were flawed & quite unconvincing. The characters are boring to say the least & all the situations are way too dramatic & unrealistic. Also, if Zain’s mother is acting irrationally, I guess she has all the reasons to because she has been pushed to the limit. Anyways, not that I am against fancy or dressy hijabs but I just couldn’t bring myself to like the weirdly shaped headbands that the actresses have worn beneath their scarves in this drama. Also, the camel hump actually makes them look odd & weird. I am saying that once again, I am not against fancy hijabs, it’s just that I wish they could’ve added some elegance to it because ladies who wear hijab know how to make it look elegant & they carry it gracefully, but sadly, that can’t be said about Zain’s mother & his sisters as they stand out from the crowd for all the wrong reasons because of their hijab choices being so poor & weird. Not sure why in our dramas they have to always dress up the hijabs because if done rightly, nicely & decently, simplest of hijabs can look beautiful too! Anyways, please share your thoughts about these two episodes of Munkir!
Social media is good but unpleasant at the same time. While our celebrities update us regularly, there are times when they come across haters and people who attack them personally. Every day, celebrities become victims of trolls and the same happened with Pakistani super model Amna Babbar.
If there is one actress who has become a household name due to her acting and quirky attitude on her morning show, it’s Sanam Baloch. Sanam has many popular dramas to her credit like Dastaan, Ek Thi Maryam and Noor Pur Ki Rani. Fun Loving and beautiful Sanam Baloch spoke to Social Diary on a lot of aspects regarding her life.
What got you into the field of acting?
Acting is something that just happened to me. I never wanted to be an actor. Although I was quite long-winded and convivial since my childhood but being an actor was never my dream. Even my first play Kaalak, I was coaxed to do it and after that, I thought that’s it – not anymore. I’m sure you would’ve heard about overnight success stories. People often talk about overnight success stories and this was indeed one of them for me. The telefilm got aired in the night and in the morning I was flooded with the huge feedback of calls and messages and what not.
What’s your favourite genre when it comes to acting?
Everything I can relate too. I’ve done a lot of drama particularly but comedy has always been something I look forward to doing.
What type of role would excite you the most and you would take it in a blink of an eye?
Again something I can relate to in some way. By relate I mean a role that has some depth in its sequence. Baano was one of the roles, Kiran and Marium Mukhtiar you know. A story of someone inevitable, a journey that can bring a change I guess. Don’t you think it was quite necessary to bring the story of Marium Mukhtiar on television for the people, to aware them who she was? It was, right? She was a national hero. Such roles always excite me and to be honest these all were the roles I took in a blink of an eye.
What did you do with your first pay cheque?
I don’t even remember. But yes I was very sterling kind of a person since my childhood. So when I was offered the drama, I had no car but I told the producers that I’ll come on my own car and they don’t need to pick me up. Without much ado, I actually rented a car back then and used to drive that to the sets and guess what all my pay cheque went on to pay the rentals.
What do you enjoy the most acting or hosting & why?
To epitomise, both. Acting is my passion and hosting is my work and I try to do everything from my heart, whatever it may be.
If you had to pick three things from a grocery store, what would you take?
This is a tough one, hahaha but I’d probably go for Davidoff Coffee, Milk and Chocolates.
Any funny incident from the sets that still makes you laugh?
From Kuch Pyaar Ka Pagalpan, there’s a scene where I go and slap Fawad for snapping my trust and all that, in the middle of the road. I’m barmy about my work and so is Fawad, ready to give 10 shots in a row without whining about it. Well since this was an intense scene, during the shots my tone was a bit erratic and we had to do the entire scene a couple of times again – and trust me on this, he didn’t say a word … so yes, such things, giving shots in the middle of the road again and again was I still think funny.
Do you get along with your co-stars easily?
Well, I try. But this is a two way process right.
Whenever you feel down or sad what do you do to make yourself feel better?
I go to my mother’s place, meet some friends and off course unwind with a good pedicure and manicure maybe.
Any character played by you so far which you think is close to your personality?
If you want me to answer it honestly; None. Off course all the characters may have a certain percentage in the kind of person I am but I don’t think I have played a role so far that can relate to me personally to a great extent.
If you were stuck in an airport where your flight was late what would you do to kill time?
This happened to me last year in summers’ when I was off to Thailand. I usually keep myself busy in conversations on the phone and also indulge with the person I’m travelling with. Also reading a book can be a good option.
What’s the best advice given to you by someone?
Be yourself!
How do you stay fit, do you follow any diet regime?
I go to gym – like two or three times in a week. And ahh… as far as my diet is concerned I don’t take junk food and soft drinks are out of the question for me. Once a week for Junk Food and Burgers when there’s an irresistible craving, otherwise I eat everything but in less quantity. Everyone clearly asks me not to reduce any more weight and be a skeleton skinny.
Any drama project you are currently working on?
I wouldn’t really talk about it right now. But, just to live up to the puffery post Ek Thi Marium, I have a script I’m working on, but I’ll not like to delve much into it before things get finalized and we go on the floor.
What’s your idea of a good human being?
We all know what is expected of us but we don’t do it. We all can distinguish between the good and bad, we’re well aware but still, we go for the bad path and when I think about it all I realize is that we’re the weak people compelled with the things, we’ve made ourselves – the non-living gubbins. We all need to revamp our destinations. So, I think a tolerant person, open to possibilities and naïve behind or at persons’ face is a good human being. I know there’s nobody perfect in this world, but we can try for perfection in some way. No?
Is there any song that has been stuck in your mind for a long time now?
Nawazishein Karam by Shuja Haider also a couple of other songs. Makeba by Jain, I keep falling, also The Greatest by Sia. Yes!
What’s your motto of life?
Live and let live! Peace sweetheart!
What would be your advice to your 20-year-old self?
I don’t have any regrets in my life except if I look at my professional life, so no advice particularly. I do believe in everything that happens for a reason and good but to some extent, everything that happens lies in our acts as well.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Still doing the morning show, working on a film and maybe running for elections, just kidding.Haha you know I always wanted to be the Prime Minister of Pakistan since childhood. So yeah, I don’t plan things in life, let’s see where the waves take me. Learning and doing better is a never ending process. Right now at this particular frame of time, I’m just thinking to go with the flow and be a maestro at whatever I do. I look forward creating a new wave in popular culture that builds on our social identity through the exploration of our home-grown and inherited art forms.
A few words for your fans out there….
Thank you so much for your love. Work hard, keep your intentions true and never compare and envy others. Let your work speak for yourself!
Quick Bits:
Nutella or Peanut Butter?
Nutella.
Who was the last person you got a text from?
Asad Off course.
Last book you read?
Misery a Novel by Stephen King. Took me months to finish it but my God. Wow.
Your all time celebrity crush?
Waheed Murad maybe.
Your favourite TV series of all time?
How to get away with Murder. Haha not a TV series person at all.
Your biggest fear?
Watching my own dramas and work on television with someone besides me.
Biggest wish?
Every wish.
You spend more of your money on?
Shopping. I’m quite of a shopaholic person.
Favourite perfume?
The One Desire by Dolce and Gabbana and Always Red Femme by Elizabeth Arden.
Morning person or a night owl?
Next Question. By the way I host a morning show, for God’s sake!
The family of Amjad Sabri has decided to leave the country over security concerns, reported Dawn.
“We feel we are being watched,” he told Dawn, explaining why his family is relocating. He clarified that the family has received no threats to their life.
“We are trying to settle in London, we have a brother there,” he said, adding that the family “would be ready to leave tomorrow if we got the visas.”
Speaking to ARY News earlier, Azmat had said: “We feel unsafe here now, even though we have lived here all our lives and love Liaquatabad.”
Renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri was shot dead in Karachi on June 23rd, 2016, after unknown assailants fired at his vehicle. His murder triggered a nationwide outpouring of grief.
Chalay Thay Saath’s second music video ‘Bolo’ has been released!
Bolo is a soulful and melodious song with an amazing video that shows the beauty of northern areas of Pakistan. The soothing music video is making us fall in love with the serene beauty of Pakistan.
Chalay Thay Saath is slated to release on April 21st. The movie will mark Syra Shehroze’s debut in Pakistani cinema. Chalay thay Saath revolves around the character of Resham (played by Syra). Canadian-Chinese actor, Kent S Leung will be playing the lead role opposite Syra Shahroz.
Chala gya chaand dekho, so gye saare sitaray bhi.
Ab tou aajao Ay neend, adhooray hain kch khuwab hmare bhi..
For now the most anticipating adhoora khuwab is the novel “Haalim” meaning “The Dreamer”. This is Nemrah Ahmed’s upcoming novel which will start from May InshaAllah, can’t wait for it already.
We are still in April and the curiosity assigned with this novel is just unbearable..huff and I couldn’t resist to discuss it before time. As we all know Namal has been an exceptional novel for almost yes almost everyone and it has set the bar high so obviously our expectations are reaching the moon regarding Haalim and it will be unfair to compare them both at any level, I am pretty sure they are going to be poles apart and meaningful in their own ways.
Let’s imagine a fairytale because hearing the word “Dream” immediately flashes the stories of princesses or a Fantasy world with exotic , breathtaking nature’s beauty but hold on, it’s a novel coming from someone who can twist , turn and surprise us with the most unexpected events so yeah, it will definitely have deeper meaning and quite a heavy dose of wisdom. For those who crave for wisdom, knowledge and an utmost desire to learn, Congratulations to you guys.
Haalim is a dreamer and its about his dreams, it is a broad concept and we can not guess anything about it right now but yes we can surely express our thoughts about it.
Here are some guesses.
1- Haalim is a name of a guy, who is ambitious and dedicated to fulfill his dreams and those dreams might transform him to a person where turning his dreams into reality would be his utmost priority and he will forget all the right ways to get to that point pretty much like HAWAS or Dunya ki bhook jisay andha karde….good guess I think Lol.
2- Haalim can be an inspirational novel compiled with some of the most thought provoking and highly motivated stories of dreams turned to reality by ordinary and at the same time not very ordinary people with all their hardships sketched out in a beautiful tale.
3- Haalim could be a journey of a person who is ignorant of his true self and religion and how dreams would gradually scare him, frighten him, and compel him to think, ponder and set his boat on the right direction.
4- Haalim could be a very technical novel where we could be introduced with different characters and all those characters would eventually link with each other at the common ground and that would be their DREAMS. More like JKP.
5- Haalim could be the interpretations of some dreams which are experienced by “Saaliheen- The pious people” because they envision true dreams and how it affected their life.
6- Haalim can be a story of anyone, any common person who wants to achieve big goals in life and eventually is hit by such trials and tribulations which would direct his course to the most Meaningful and Beautiful achievable Dreams..
This is it from me, and I am sure Haalim would not be about all this Lol or at least some of it might be right and what’s the harm in racking our brains over f an eloquent piece of writing ( of course it will be, wishful thinking ;)) which will enlighten us and truly benefit us all InshaAllah
I love the fact that the writer is constantly reinforcing the fact that it is absolutely unacceptable to force a woman into a nikkah. This is one of those messages which is rarely put forward in our dramas although almost all Pakistani dramas focus on marital issues. I also appreciate the fact that this drama has absolutely no glamour in it and the team has relied solely on quality content to attract the viewers. The opening scene of this episode highlighted the issue of the consent of a woman at the time of nikkah in a subtle manner, Aalyan’s reaction showed how wrong it was to get a girl married without her consent. Later on Salar’s discussion with his mother regarding Sammi’s “status” also emphasized the importance of a woman’s consent at the time of nikkah. This is a relevant and powerful message which is the need of the hour since it is very common in our society for the guardians and parents to decide a girl’s fate regarding marriage and an “obedient” girl is one who quietly agrees. The fact that Islam has given women the right to decide whether they want to enter into a nikkah or not goes to show how empowered women truly are and they have more of a say regarding their personal affairs than their family members. After watching the previous episode of Sammi and this one, the meaning of “qabool hai” at the time of nikkah has completely changed for me.
Salima finally put her foot down in this episode and there wasn’t much Rashid could do about it. The clarity in dialogues definitely helps the viewers understand why women need to take control of their bodies and why husbands do not have the right to force their wives to bear children at the expense of their lives. It was shocking watching Rashid considering this option to please his mother. The scene in which Naheed saw Rashid’s picture and her tone changed completely was one of the best scenes in tonight’s episode.
Chandni’s state of mind was also highlighted through her conversations with her son. Once again her dialogues stated in a loud and clear manner what was going through her mind. She is justified in feeling insecure and there is a good reason why she cannot “share” her son with Sammi but even then the fact is that Salar isn’t doing anything wrong. I had no trouble connecting to Salar’s character today, he feels for Sammi and he wants to save her. Salar does not understand his mother’s mindset because in his view he is doing nothing wrong. For Chandni this is betrayal but Salar feels that his mother is being unfair to Sammi. Sania Saeed is beyond brilliant as Chandni, just watching her perform is a treat. Ahad Raza Mir has also given a steady performance especially given the fact that this is his first play. His acting is always natural and effortless.
Chaudhry’s son’s conversation with his new master was very amusing. It once again showed how little this kid had actually learned in school and how twisted his idea of a learned person was. Chaudhry finally suspects Rashid and the preview of the next episode shows that the Chaudhrani isn’t going to sit back and let Rashid’s mother dictate to her. I find the way power is distributed in the Chaudhry household quite interesting!
Ghulam Rasool and Naheed’s scene was one of the most meaningful scenes in this episode which showed how difficult it was for someone like Ghulam Rasool to accept the fact that there was finally someone in his life who had accepted him wholeheartedly for who he was. His insecurities were valid and the way Naheed understood and reassured him was very touching. These two are the perfect match, two people who truly complete each other but it remains to be seen what how their track develops in the upcoming episodes. Naheed’s brother will find out about this nikkah at some point and when that happens all hell will break loose. Nadia Afghan and the actor playing the role of Ghulam Rasool have breathed life into their respective characters. The fact that these characters and the circumstances they are in have been penned down brilliantly definitely helps. Alone Naheed and Ghulam Rasool both are weak people but together they are strong and can dream about a future which wouldn’t have been possible if they did not get married. This dreaming about the future part however right now is more of an escape than anything else. Personally, I find their track quite endearing.
Overall, this was another interesting episode of Sammi with a lot of powerful messages. I have to admit though that right now Naheed, Salima and even Chandni have more of a screen presence than Sammi. Once Sammi gets married to Salar then she will have endless opportunities but right now I am looking forward to watching how Chandni reacts to Sammi and Salar’s nikkah more than anything else. The preview of the next episode completely killed the surprise factor because it showed Salar telling his mother that he and Sammi had entered into a nikkah.
Sammi has a well-thought-out script which is not only engaging but it also serves a greater purpose. I also appreciate the fact that due to the locations and the get-ups the drama has a very real feel to it. It is always great watching actors and directors step out of their comfort zones to make these dramas more realistic. Thank you for that!
How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
A while ago, I wrote an article about common scenarios/clichés being played to death in most dramas. Recently, I totally went off Pakistani dramas. Save one or two, I stopped watching them. The same old stories, negative characters, scenarios, etc put me off for some reason. Tuned into more English TV shows and struggled to find good online links. Netflix skimmed. Amazon Prime skimmed. Soul searching to find some hidden talent I may have that was rearing to be recognized and nurtured – nada. Like the prodigal daughter, I returned to where it all began – Pakistani dramas. I binge watched a few, viewed the odd episode or two of a few others, watched the OST and promos of yet a few more and was (pleasantly/unpleasantly) surprised. For lo and behold – new ideas! Where I had moaned over the lack of new ideas, here there were quite a few new ones all being presented in a few dramas at the same time. However, the question that sprung to mind was – were we better off without these ‘fresh ideas’?
So, here is what I found to be common in quite a few dramas. In no particular order (yes, I watched too many episodes of The Voice, I guess!)
Hero born with silver spoon in his mouth. Except, when he falls in love and parents do not approve of lady love – he throws out the silver spoon to be with the love of his life. Only, a little while later he comes crawling back to find the silver spoon and put it back in his mouth. So to speak. The spineless male lead is present in the form of Imran in Kuch Na Kaho, Umair in Tere Bina and Daniyal in Tumharay Hain. These men were quite convincing when declaring their love but as reality sinks in, paisa wins over love.
The heroine ready to elope at the drop of a hat. Granted, there are plenty of tears pre and post running away but in all the three dramas above the ladies in question leave their families behind with the hope of a new life with their husbands – only to be left stranded.
The desperate/psycho or borderline psycho male lead. So, for some reason the drama writers felt that the audience ‘loved’ the desperate female characters who cry,rage,scream,scheme to ensnare the man who very obviously wants nothing to do with them. So, they thought – ah, a spinoff! Let us introduce the rejected/crazily obsessed male character. Some even resorting to physical abuse. Salim Mairaj’s character in Tere Bina, Ali Abbas’ character in Khaali Haath, Sami Khan in Rasm e Duniya, Faisal Qureshi in Parsai and the drama which had a plethora of disturbing scenes in almost a hundred episode promos – Piya Bedardi. I do not follow Piya Bedardi or Khaali Haath as they fall in the category of following OSTs and episode promos that I highlighted above so correct me if I am wrong but that is sure the impression these characters give. Their scenes and madness certainly can not be termed as love!
Super weird drama titles. Kambakht Tano. Seriously? Let me guess. Tano who is deemed as manhoos. Close? No prizes there for guessing! Bechari Mehrunissa. Bholi Bano. Meri Saheli Meri Bhabhi – or was it Meri Bhabhi Meri Saheli? Who comes up with these titles? And for what kind of audience? I have two bhabhis – I love them but I do not look at this title and think aww, let’s bingewatch with the bhabhis!
Shrieking Mums. Okay, so I get it. I say in a normal tone, dinner is ready. And nobody responds. I yell, dinner is on the table, not running a restaurant here, blah blah. Everyone appears. So, yes raising your voice a few decibels sometimes – understood. But yelling, screaming and shrieking when everyone is within an arm’s length and has your full attention in the first place!! Arrrgh! Not sure who can walk away with that title here – Shaheen Khan in Muqabil or Isra Ghazal in Andaz e Sitam. Or both!
Talaaq dhamki to aging mother. So, there was the ever looming threat of divorce or actual divorce in the main lead couple. Or their siblings. Or their friends. A step ahead – extend divorce to the mum of the bhaaghi son to tame him. Ye Chahatein Ye Shiddatein, Kuch Na Kaho and Faltu Larki are the dramas that come to mind.
Blinding and dizzying direction. Okay, so this is something that came up recently in dramas such as Mera Yaar Miladay and Socha Na Tha (ARY Zindagi). While it is not a drama scenario, yet it is hard to skip past how the bright lights and the way the camera jiggles with uncomfortable close ups (I think there was one of a fruit bowl in Socha Na Tha) make me blink. It may appeal to some, but does not to me. Andaz e Sitam and Muqabil can be added to the list too where in Muqabil I can even figure out how the make up has been caked on some characters. Weird!
The housekeeper. It is amazing how the female character swoops in and has the whole household and events running with perfection while everyone praises her. I mean, seriously, bahu/beti chahyay ya housekeeper? Because if it is a housekeeper that was lacking then with Downton Abbey over, I am sure Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes will be looking for a job and will do a commendable one at that. A woman taking care of her in laws and family etc is all good – but it is just how everyone is so amazed by this sweet, beautiful woman who flits from each corner of the house, taking care of everything. The younger brother’s wife in Titli, Hania’s character in Phir Wohi Muhabbat, Pakeezah in Tere Bina, to name a few.
Last but not least – the suitcase! While this is not a new one, rather it is a scenario that pops up in every other drama since time immemorial – I could not resist bringing it up for it is one of my favorites. The suitcase that is empty and ready at hand to be packed when the female announces she is leaving – and the packing which is done in minutes. Seconds. While I struggle to find one empty suitcase to pack (not accompanied by threats of leaving home, haha but for whenever we travel) and then make list upon list with the master list stuck on the front door – these women are packed, suitcases zipped and out the door in seconds. Wah!
On a positive note, yes quite a few dramas are on air or going on air that deal with different ideas and issues. Udaari, Sammi, Pinjra, Muqabil and Khuda Mera Bhi Hai to name a few. But I am in a silly mood and just wanted to share my thoughts on the fresh ideas floating on air (quite literally) and would love to hear yours too
Just when we thought that Fawad Khan and family couldn’t get more adorable, whoop, two picture-perfect family photos surfaced on the internet!
The pictures show Fawad Khan in a dapper look, instead of the bulky look he has been sporting for upcoming movie Maula Jatt 2. The pictures were captured at a birthday party where Fawad is having fun with wife and kids, Ayyan and Elayna.
After a lot of speculations, the show director HSY has finally announced the host of the Lux Style Awards 2017 and its none other than the rockstar of Pakistan, Atif Aslam.
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Atif Aslam will be hosting a show for the very first time, and we’re sure he’s going to pull it off gracefully. The script for the LSA 2017 has been penned by Osman Khalid Butt and the buzz has it, that Mahira Khan will also host the show.
Pakistan’s diva Mahira Khan made her debut in Bollywood with Raees opposite King Khan. The whole entertainment fraternity went gaga over the Lady for bagging a high budget film across the borders. An Indian publication, Bollywood Life listed down top five actresses who scored the highest grossing films in the first quarter of 2017.
Guess what! Mahira Khan topped the list with a whopping INR 137 crore. Raaes is Bollywood most top grosser of 2017 till now and received positive reviews from the critics. Mahira Khan managed to top the list beating famous actresses Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt.
