It’s a sad day for the Pakistani entertainment industry as yet another Pakistani actress has been found dead. A Pashto stage actress Anum, also known as Anushay, was found dead in Islamabad.
Anum, who is a mother to a three-year-old has also worked in several films and dramas. According to the post-mortem report, the actress has been shot 5 times. Police and other witnesses accused her security guard for committing the murder and the guard has been taken into custody.
It’s award season once again in Pakistan. Nominees for the LUX Style Awards 2017 have been announced and for many designers, directors, musicians and stars, it’s going to be a very joyous year.
The nominations list sees a mix of the usual suspects and and some young and upcoming talent for the coveted awards. Many blockbuster films like Actor in Law, Dobara Phir Se, Ho Mann Jahaan, Janaan and Mah e Mir are leading the nominations and made the cut for Best Film.
ARY, Hum TV and TV One serials dominated the TV categories with Besharam, Dillagi, Mann Mayal, Mein Sitara and Udaari coming in the top five.
Here are the Nominees for the 16th LUX Style Awards 2017
FILM
Best Film
Actor in Law
Dobara Phir Se
Ho Mann Jahaan
Janaan
Mah-e-Mir
Best Film Actress
Mahira Khan for Ho Mann Jahaan
Mehwish Hayat for Actor in Law
Sabar Qamar for Lahore Se Aagey
Sajal Ali for Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai
Sanam Saeed for Bachaana
Best Film Actor
Ashar Azeem for Maalik
Fahad Mustafa for Actor in Law
Fahad Mustafa for Mah-e-Mir
Mohib Mirza for Bachaana
Yasir Hussain for Lahore Se Aagey
Best Film Director
Anjum Shehzad for Mah-e-Mir
Asim Raza for Ho Mann Jahaan
Azfar Jafri for Janaan
Mehreen Jabbar for Dobara Phir Se
Nabeel Qureshi for Actor in Law
Wajahat Rauf for Lahore Se Aagey
Best Supporting Actress
Hania Aamir for Janaan
Saboor Ali for Actor in Law
Sanam Saeed for Dobara Phir Se
Sonya Jehan for Ho Mann Jahaan
Tooba Siddiqui for Dobara Phir Se
Best Supporting Actor
Ali Kazmi for Dobara Phir Se
Ali Rehman Khan for Janaan
Manzar Sehbhai for Mah-e-Mir
Om Puri for Actor in Law
Shehryar Munawar for Ho Mann Jahaan
Best Singer (Male) – Film
Arman Malik for Janaan Title Track (Janaan)
Asrar for Funkaran (Actor in Law)
Atif Aslam for Dil Dancer (Actor in Law)
Rajab Ali for Yeh Dhuan (Mah-e-Mir)
Shafqat Amanat Ali for Piya Dekhan Ko (Mah-e-Mir)
Best Singer (Female) – Film
Aima Baig for Kalabaaz Dil (Lahore se Aagey)
Haniya Aslam for Lar Gaiyyan (Dobara Phir Se)
Masooma Anwer for Naina Roye (Maalik)
Shreya Ghoshal for Janaan Title Track (Janaan)
Zeb Bangash for Dil Pagal (Ho Maan Jahaan)
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
Best TV Play
Besharam on ARY Digital
Dillagi on ARY Digital
Mann Mayal on Hum TV
Mein Sitara on TV One
Udaari on Hum TV
Best TV Actor
Ahsan Khan for Udaari
Faisal Qureshi for Bheegi Palkien
Humayun Saeed for Dillagi
Noman Ejaz for Dampukth
Zahid Ahmed for Besharam
Best TV Actress
Maya Ali for Mann Mayal
Mehwish Hayat for Dillagi
Saba Qamar for Besharam
Saba Qamar for Mein Sitara
Sajal Ali for Gul-e-Rana
Best TV Director
Ehtishaamuddin for Udaari
Farooq Rind for Besharam
Haseeb Hasan for Mann Mayal
Kashif Nisar for Dampukth
Nadeem Baig for Dillagi
Best TV Writer
Faiza Iftikhar for Dillagi
Farhat Ishtiaq for Udaari
Sameera Fazal for Man Mayal
Sarwat Nazeer for Besharam
Zafar Mairaj for Dampukth
Best Original Sound Track
Sun Yara by Damia Farooq (ARY Digital)
Udaari by Hadiqa Kiyani (HUM TV)
Hatheli by Nabeel Shaukat (HUM TV)
Mann Mayal by Quratulain Baloch (HUM TV)
Yeh Ishq by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (ARY Digital)
MUSIC
Album of the Year
Book of Sibt by Sibti
Indus Raag 2 by Shareef Awan
Na Bhulana by Uzair Jaswal
Peheli by Mooro
You by The Sketches
Song of the Year
Baarish by Tonight Us and Jimmy Khan
Haiyyah from The Book of Sibt by Sibti
Khak Nasheen by Chand Tara Orchestra
Khaki Banda by Umair Jaswal and Ahmed Jahanzeb
Saaiyan by Quratulain Baloch
Best Music Video Director
Abdullah Haris for Sag-e-Ali by Asrar
Aisha Linea Akhtar & Shahbaz Shigri for Le chaloon by Salman Shaukat
Kamal Khan for Ho Jao Azad by Zoe Viccaji
Kamal Khan for The Desert Journey by D/A Method
Shahab Qamar for Hero by Naseer & Shahab
Best Emerging Talent
Basit Ali for Vocals in Anokha Ladla
Bilal Nasir Khan (Rudoh) for Tales for Scrap
Hamza Akram Qawwal for Khuddi
Natasha Baig for Janaan
Shehroz Hussain for Sitaar in Anokha Ladla
FASHION
Model of the Year (Female)
Amna Babar
Anam Malik
Rabia Butt
Sadaf Kanwal
Zara Abid
Model of the Year (Male)
Aimal Khan
Hasnain Lehri
Jahan-e-Khalid
Shahzad Noor
Waleed Khalid
Best Fashion Photographer
Abdullah Haris
Ali Hasan
Guddu Shani
Nadir Feroz Khan & Maha Burney at NFK Photography
Shahbaz Shazi
Best Hair and Make-up Artist
Natasha Khalid
Omayr Waqar
Saima Rashid Bargfred
Shammal Qureshi
Shazia Rashid
Achievement in Fashion Design – Pret
Coco by Zara Shahjahan
Generation
Khaadi
Sana Safinaz
Sapphire
Achievement in Fashion Design – Luxury Pret
Mahgul
Sana Safinaz
Sania Maskatiya
Shamaeel Ansari
Shehla Chatoor
Achievement in Fashion Design – Bridal
Ali Xeeshan
Elan
Faraz Manan
Mahgul
The House of Kamiar Rokni
Achievement in Fashion Design – Lawn
Elan
Faraz Manan
Sana Safinaz
Shehla Chatoor
Zara Shahjahan
Best Menswear Designer
Ahmed Bham
Amir Adnan
Hassan Sheheryar Yasin
Ismail Farid
Nauman Arfeen
Best Emerging Talent
Aashna Khan – Photographer
Giti Ara – Model
Hira Shah – Model
Imaan Madani – Model
The Pink Tree Company – Designer
Voting for Viewer’s Choice Categories will be online from the 16th of March at www.luxstyle.pk. The awards are to be held on April 19, 2017.
This episode of Muqabil focused entirely on Arman and Pareesa’s track. The new OST of the drama compliments the new direction which the story has taken. This new start however is not free from complications and these tricky situations have been handled brilliantly by the writer, director and both the actors involved. The friendship between Arman and Pareesa coupled with their beautiful personalities makes their relationship one of a kind. For the first time we are watching a rape survivor trying her best to have a healthy relationship based on mutual trust and respect with a man not because she does not have a choice but due to the connection and love she feels for that man. Arman’s character is just plain adorable! He is the kind of man who believes in loving unconditionally and only such a man could have played the role he is playing in Pareesa’s life. I absolutely love the fact that Arman has been shown as a practical person who gradually ended up falling in love with Pareesa and not someone who fell in love with her the second he laid his eyes on her. There was a time when Arman’s career came before everything else and he did not even want to get married but tonight the viewers saw him focusing on his marriage alone because especially ever since he found out what happened with Pareesa his sole concern is his wife’s well being. He wants to make sure that he dedicates all his energy into making this marriage work even though right now Pareesa and Arman have a long way to go.
Pareesa’s character is also etched-out brilliantly. It has been a long time since she had a “normal” relationship with anyone around her. She was always closer to her plants than she was with people. Even though Pareesa and Arman have a long way to go but Pareesa has never been shown making this much effort to make a relationship work. Pareesa and Arman’s scenes together were very well put together in this episode; they were practical hence relatable. There weren’t a lot of cheesy dialogues which conveyed their feelings for each other but their actions showed that both of them wanted to make this relationship last. Pareesa wants Mahmood sahab out of her life for good although it is impossible. I am certain that I am not the only one who is wondering if Arman will ever find out who violated Pareesa. Mohsin Abbas Haider and Kubra Khan’s exceptional performances and their sizzling on screen chemistry has definitely taken this drama to the next level.
This episode just like this drama as a whole so far was exceptional and it ended too soon! My favorite scene from tonight’s episode was the one in which Arman tried to reason out with his mother and sister! The dialogues were right on point, the camera angles and everyone’s acting made this scene impactful. For the first time it seemed like Zubeida understood his son. The director Ali Hassan deserves special credit and appreciation for paying attention to every minute detail because of which not only are all the scenes convincing but also a treat to watch. Muqabil continues to be one of those very few dramas I look forward to watching all week and it always delivers.
The preview of the next episode was quite confusing. Personally, I like such previews which leave a lot to the viewer’s imagination and keep us guessing.
How many of you watched this latest episode? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.
The field is not the only place where Shahid Afridi, is passionate when it comes to hitting sixes and winning matches. Lala also has a knack for collection of cars and bikes and what more, he’s very passionate about his house too. Recently, he bought a new luxurious house and we couldn’t help but share it will all of you!
Here’s a sneak peek into Boom Boom Afridi’s new house:
After giving us some travel goals in London, Mawra Hocane is now giving us some bridal goals as well. Mawra’s latest photoshoot for Este Couture is regal. So far, only a few looks have been revealed and Mawra is an absolute beauty in Este’s glamorous designs.
Football and famous football players have a huge fan following in Pakistan. And now, it seems that the wishes and prayers of some hard core football fans are finally coming true.
Yes, it is actually happening that the legendary Brazillian footballer name Ronaldinho is actually coming to Pakistan!
Ronaldinho confirmed it himself on his official twitter account that he is coming to Pakistan:
Pakistan I'm coming! 🇵🇰 🙌🏽 #RonaldinhoInPakistan #worldgroup1912 #leisureleaguespk @leisureleagues pic.twitter.com/y6GwHf131r
— Ronaldinho (@10Ronaldinho) March 12, 2017
Leisure League’s aim is to bring international players to Pakistan. They have planned to feature Ronaldinho in a match which will be played in Karachi.
However, the details will be revealed later. But for now, let’s celebrate that an international successful football player is coming to our country.
Sadaf Kanwal is a very successful model who recently made her film debut with the movie, Balu Mahi. The diva is always dressed fabulously but today, we bring you those times where she pulled off curls like a pro.
When she rocked these slightly soft curls during a photoshoot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP8R1GlAwCJ/
When she pulled off these side swept curls during Balu Mahi promotions.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP7HWfVACH1/
When she owned the town with these permed curls and made us go woah!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOnohmAh4q_/
When she reminded us of a disney princess with these wavy curls while rocking a blue saari.
Nadia Hussain is a very talented and successful model as well as a make up artist. She is also a mother to 4 children and breaks stereotypes everyday that mothers can be perfect in their careers too.
Today, we bring you 5 of her most adorable pictures with her kids.
When she posed with her kids at Eid and they looked picture perfect.
https://www.instagram.com/p/5SRQR9zbxF/?taken-by=nadiahussainofficial
When she posted a picture with her youngest son and made us go aww.
https://www.instagram.com/p/6p1ebJTbxh/
When she took an independence day selfie with her kids and they all looked super cute.
https://www.instagram.com/p/6W9tQCzb43/
When she clicked a photo while two of her kids were chilling in her lap highlighting motherhood isn’t an easy job.
https://www.instagram.com/p/65RYhBzb8M/
And finally, when we couldn’t decide if she is more cute than her kids here since her bangs looked so adorable.
Foreign celebrities are now interested in joining Pakistani industry and the recent one is the Iranian Supermodel, Naaz Norouzi who is all set to make her debut in upcoming Pakistani film ‘Maan Jao Naa.’
As soon as the makers of Maan Jao Naa, announced their leading lady, the audience was eager to know more about the new girl in town and here’s everything you need to know about Naaz Norouzi.
The starlet is of Iranian decent and was born in Tehran, but raised in Germany. She started modelling at the age of 15 and has walked the ramp for famous brand like Hugo Boss and L’oreal.
She traveled to Asia and Europe till the age of 19 and settled in India by 2012. She is fluent in English, Persian, German, Hindi and French. Apart from being an actor and model, Naaz is also a swimmer and football player.
While Naaz will be seen with Adeel Chaudhry in ‘Maan Jao Naa’, she has shared screen space with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan as well.
Apart from Maan Jao Na, Naaz will soon be seen in a Bollywood film as well.
Sima Kamil has resigned from her post at HBL in order to pursue a career at UBL.
And now, she has been hired as the deputy CEO of UBL This means that Sima Kamil will become the first woman in Pakistan to lead a bank in this country.
Kamil has has been leading HBL’s Branch Banking since 2011 and was overlooking the 1,700-strong branch network of HBL, dealing in Retail, Consumer, SME, Rural Banking and Wealth Management.
Her taking over UBL’s head position will be a big deal and will open a path for many other women to be motivated to step into the banking career.
Zhalay Sarhadi is a famous and talented Pakistani actress. The woman who starred in the movie Jalaibee is now all set for her another movie, Chalay Thay Saath alongside Syra Shehroz, Kent S Leung and Faris Khalid.
Between Jalaibee and Chalay Thay Saath, I’ve rejected nine films,” Sarhadi told The Express Tribune.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRU9i2mDXCW/?taken-by=zhalay
“I want to explore my acting skills and talent and most of the roles offered to me were very much inspired from Bollywood.”
“It was the most original script that had come my way so far. Chalay Thay Saath is fresh, youthful and energetic.”
She plays the character of Alina in the movie. While talking about her character, she said:
“Alina is someone who has seen setbacks in life. So, she takes a break and sets out to find herself through a trip to Hunza, and then she meets Faraz (Khalid’s character). Hers is a very cathartic journey. She is stepping back and reflecting on her life.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRYlxlxjemW/
While talking about her experience with the filming, she said:
“It was an amazing experience. Mansha Pasha is one of my best friends and we were already planning to embark on a trip up north. So, the film provided us with that opportunity. And then, of course, it’s great when the team, especially the director, you work with has done their homework and know what they want. That’s why it was a lot of fun working on the film.”
She is also working on three other film projects:
“All I can say at the moment is they will be very different from Alina.” Sarhadi has acting in her blood, with her family, including her uncle Khayyam Sarhadi and grandfather Zia Sarhadi who were also involved in the entertainment industry of their eras. But for her, joining the industry was not the matter of carrying on the family legacy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRlEdrSj5yU/
“It’s about my personal gratification. I always knew I would go on to work in the industry. Of course, it was relatively easy for me because this business was already in the family. Not that I have a chip on my shoulder, but I just want to do things and enjoy working.” she said.
While commenting on television factors now coming in films, she says:
“Of course, every industry needs fresh new faces at one point. But when you’re working anyway, I believe an actor should deliver the performance with full conviction.”
After completing the work for his upcoming film, Mom, Adnan Siddiqui wrote on his facebook about how he feels and also appreciated his team’s efforts for the film.
He mentioned his costume designer and the DOP in Bangkok. He didn’t forget any crew member. He gave a special shout out to Sri Devi and the producer, Boney Kapoor.
He referred to them as the power duo. He also let us know some of Boney’s fun facts like how he has a secret foodie life.
To Boney Kapoor, he says: “I have learnt a lot from you sir, both as a human & as an artist. I wish you always remain the way you are for people to know & experience the aura we call Boney Jee!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRnWYnZga_H/?taken-by=adnansid1
He had a lot of respect and admiration for Sri Devi as he said:
“Sri Devi, a widely respected & adored house hold name. You are a legend & I now know what makes you that great. I have not seen a finer & such a detailed artist before. It was an honor to work with you, learn from you, share the screen with you & most importantly learn the art of humility from you.”
Mom is releasing on July 14th and we wish that Adnan has a successful Bollywood debut.
Popular star Veena Malik married Asad Khattak in 2013 and marriage brought harmony in her life. It was believed that Veena Malik sought Maulana Tariq Jameel‘s help and he sent her on a new route of life, marriage with Asad was a part of it. However, recent reports suggest that Veena has been unhappy in her marriage with Asad and they were on the edge of divorce.
Veena filed for Khula and reports doing rounds suggested that she’s not happy with the marriage due to various reasons. She also claimed abuse and violence and seeks separation from Asad to restore peace in her life.
However, she has now agreed to reconcile with her husband Asad Khattak and settle the differences after the latter apologised over his behavior. Renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil played pivotal role in resolving the matter.
On Monday, Veena and her husband appeared on a local news channel talk show. The anchor called-up Maulana Tariq Jameel as well in order to facilitate the couple by the help of of the man who already has had a strong influence over them.
Veena stated, “I haven’t spent a single day with peace after this marriage.”
She further claimed, “first, that he beat me; second, he disrespected me, not once, but repeatedly.” To which, Maulana Tariq Jameel ensured Veena that he is with her and asked her to give her husband another chance. She also requested Maulana Tariq Jameel to ensure a guarantee from Asad in written form.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3SIxZdSmq0#t=68
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has recorded a song for upcoming Bollywood film Maatr-The Mother, starring Raveena Tondon. According to the producer, the song was recorded before tensions between India and Pakistan which surfaced post Uri attack.
“Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had recorded the song Zindagi Ae Zindagi. It’s an emotional track mapping Raveena’s journey as a mother for the film. We have decided to retain the song as it was recorded before the India, Pakistan tension began,” producer Anjum Rizvi confirmed in a statement.
Maatr – The Mother director Ashtar Sayed, who finds Rahat’s voice mesmerising, said: “The film originally didn’t have any music, but when we started editing the movie, we felt the need for it. So we got some beautiful songs and lyrics for our film.”
“The music has been given by a Pakistani Sufi rock band Fuzön. They had composed one beautiful song, which is sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.” he said.
After Uri attack, India imposed a ban on Pakistani artists. However, there was news that film-maker Mahesh Bhatt had approached Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali to sing for his upcoming play Milne Do, which will be staged in Delhi in June. And now, this latest news of Rahat’s song in a Bollywood film supports the fact that art should be beyond borders.
Starting her career at an early age, Ayeza Khan has surely come a long way. Following her excellent performances, she instantly became a fan favourite, as everyone from directors to the audiences loved her onscreen aura and acting skill set.
Ayeza Khan is adored by her fans, not just for her amazing acting but her beauty as well. She has been recently spotted shooting for Orient Textiles latest collection and the flawless beauty nailed every bit of it.
The controversy queen Meera Jee is making the headlines again and that too, for all wrong reasons. Merely a week or so after the PSL finale issue, the superstar has found herself in yet another controversy, this time with the Punjab Institute of Language, Arts and Culture (PILAC).
Reported by The Express Tribune, as per Meera’s statements, the institute owes her Rs25,000 for attending the recent Spring Festival in Lahore. However, PILAC officials claim that they had invited the celebrities simply for them to honour the Festival and Meera is the only one to demand money. The latter apparently made sure to inform the media officials present at the event that she was not being paid due to which, PILAC director Dr Sugra Sadaf was forced to hand her Rs25,000.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Meera claimed that she is facing unemployment and is out of business. “All the artists here in Lahore, including me, are currently in a very tough spot. There is hardly any work to be done and I at least want to speak with the Chief Minister to discuss my situation with him in person. I want to re-start my showbiz career and produce a film but I don’t have the money to do so. Therefore, I want to request the CM to help me.”
According to Meera, it is common for event organisers in Lahore to reap benefits from celebrities and not pay up. “They make huge amounts of money but never pay us any of it. I don’t have any personal issues with the PILAC administration. Dr Sugra paid me from her own pocket and realising my troubles, has asked me to perform on March 17 as well, in return for Rs100, 000.”
Meera continued, “For the last two years, I have been travelling to different places for work and just returned to Lahore, which is in a crunch in terms of money and work. I want to go out and search for something to do but it’s painful since I don’t have money to purchase tickets either. How will I manage without money?”
“I am also planning on consulting with scholar Moulana Tariq Jamil to get some religious guidance to help me through this difficult time,” added Meera. “How else will I manage when there is no work for me? The Punjab government should take notice of my situation seriously.”
If rumors are to be believed, then the actress has also started selling off her prized possessions, she recently sold her car in order to acquire some funds for a film’s music recording.
With all these recent revelations, one can only wonder whether her unemployment stance is for real, since she’s known for pulling off publicity stunts to seek attention.
Another entertaining film ‘Jhol’ is all set to hit our screens this year and we can hardly wait. Urwa Hocane and Ali Azmat’s Jhol previously titled ‘Two Plus Two’ is slated to release on Eid-ul-Fitr.
The very first poster of the film featuring the bubbly Urwa and dapper Ali Azmat released today! Have a look at the first poster here.
With the tagline ‘A Comedy of Terrors’, one can only wait to see what the film has in store for us. The rom-com ‘Jhol’ is directed by Shahid Shafaat and stars Bilal Ashraf, Nausheen Shah and Salim Meraj as well. According to the makers, the film stars Urwa Hocane as a businesswomen while Ali Azmat plays an ayaash policeman.
Previously there were rumors that Urwa turned down a Bollywood film for Jhol, as she believed this was better. The actress is on a roll and has 3 other films in the pipeline set to release this year.
We all know that our favourite Pakistani celebrities love to party, and ensure to seize every opportunity they get for celebration. Deepak Parwani hosted a Holi party yesterday and the entertainment fraternity seemed busy celebrating the day. Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the beginning of Spring and is all about colours. Seeing Pakistani celebrities playing Holi, is nothing new and is becoming a trend now since they are seen celebrating the festival every year!
On a lighter note, Happy Holi to all those celebrating.
Ahmed Ali Akbar, is the new popular guy in town, who impressed us with his charm and versatility at the Hum Style Awards. Not only did he host the evening flawlessly, he even performed and managed to stand out among other stars.
Recently, the Yeh Raha Dil star spoke to INSTEP and addressed nepotism, the casting couch and his experience with the entertainment industry.
When asked whether people confuse him with Ahmed Ali Butt from time to time (as he mentioned that in HSA). “To be honest, that’s just a joke I created for my Hum Style Awards bit. I just needed some material,” stated Ali.
Ali, who is originally from Rawalpindi, initially started off as an athlete and was a national level tennis player. “All the men in my family play tennis, it’s a family tradition. Currently my younger brother, Abid Ali, is the number one national tennis player in Pakistan.”
His first brush with the industry came when he was 13 years old and was offered to play the lead role in a PTV show called Top Watch, a show about a child who discovers a time-controlling watch made by his grandfather. “I was offered the lead role but because of my shy nature, I ended up doing the role of the friend in the show.”
Ali claims that music helped him get out of his shell. “I was part of an underground band called Nafs and we used to play to rock music.”
He further shared more about his first break in the industry “I was in Thailand for a theatre workshop. Coincidentally, Ufone was shooting a commercial there that day. One of their models backed out so they had only 24 hours to find a Pakistani actor in Thailand. I got the role and ended up becoming the face of Ufone for the next 5 years because of that.”
Ahmed Ali Akbar was seen doing cameos in big projects like Asim Raza’s Ho Mann Jahaan and Wajahat Rauf’s Karachi Se Lahore. “These roles really helped in changing my career. Now I’m getting good quality projects and I’ve been offered nearly 10 to 13 films.”
Ali went on to share more about his struggle in the industry, “I’ve seen how nepotism works in our industry. I’m especially concerned about nepotism because that is one of the major reasons our country is going down the drain. The star kids are always given priority. There’s not much to do about that except work hard and wait for your opportunities.”
He also explained why we won’t be seeing him on the big screen anytime soon despite of a lot of offers. “Either the films never made it to the production stage, or I didn’t like the scripts. It’s so hard to choose scripts for films because you just don’t know how a film is going to turn out since everyone is new and doing it for the first time. When people approach you for films, they are so good at convincing you that they’re producing something great. But then you see the film on screen and you wonder what went wrong.”
Ali also explains that there have been instances where he auditioned for roles but didn’t get the part. “And that’s good. It’s all part of the process.” We are surprised to hear this because we didn’t think established actors even bothered auditioning for roles. “They don’t. In fact, a lot of them discourage me from doing it too. They say ‘you’re a well-known name now and you don’t need to do these auditions.’ But I don’t work like that.”
Ali has only been in the acting field for three years now but he has already seen all the dysfunctions of the industry.
“Yeah it’s all a little weird. We even have a casting couch. Of course it exists. I haven’t had to directly deal with it but I know of firsthand accounts of those who have. But you see the rule is that if you have talent and know you can make it on your own, you don’t need the help of such a couch. There are those who agree to it and that is their prerogative.”
However, Ali also clarifies that there are only a few rotten apples in this tree. “I’ve met some wonderful people here as well. At the end of the day, it’s what you make of your circumstances.”
Ohkay so, this episode of Yeh Raha Dil was quite interesting & like always, I had a great time watching it. I think the way they are taking the story forward is quite convincing & I enjoyed watching Hayat & Zaki’s bonding. It is commendable that the director didn’t rely too much on the beauty of Nepal & has used it as a backdrop while maintaining the focus on Hayat & Zaki’s characters & their track. It is far more interesting to see that Hayat & Zaki are bonding with each other in a new place as they both have no one else to have a conversation with because now when they will go back to Pakistan, I don’t think them not being in Nepal would make any difference to the story. I think this is a perfect & an intelligent way to use a location or a different country by keeping it in the background & not making it a focal point of the episode, the story or the drama!
So, Zaki felt he needed to take Hayat to the hospital out of courtesy as he saw her fainting in front of him. After that, Zaki had no escape because he showed Hayat the signs that he was ready to be her friend, at least this is what Hayat assumed even if Zaki wasn’t in the mood for that as she is someone who is unapologetically clingy & doesn’t mind bothering someone if she grows comfortable around them. It was nice to see Hayat & Zaki sharing conversations about different things. Zaki for the first time got to realize that Hayat was in a grave situation where she was unable to contact her friend & was complaining about little things that were bothering her. Yes, Zaki’s gesture of paying the hospital bills & not telling about it to Hayat was quite sweet & then gifting her a new phone just so that he could help her in some way went to show that he was now realizing that Hayat was quite dignified where she never once tried to use these things to seek sympathy from of him, rather she only posed that she needed his support as she was alone.
For the first time Hayat showed Zaki that side of hers which she till date has probably shown to Salman, but luckily the difference is that Salman used that to benefit himself whereas Zaki is not going to use it against her because he already has grown a little compassionate towards her & also because he is genuinely a nice guy who comes from a very decent family background. Hayat decided to share her past with Zaki by telling her about the ugly divorce that her parents went through. Her mother is no more & she has no idea where her father is & she most certainly doesn’t bother because obviously, she must have all her sympathies & all her feelings attached to her mother as she must’ve seen her struggling & doing everything for Hayat, whereas her father after divorcing his wife forgot that he had a child which he should maintain a relationship with despite not being married to Hayat’s mother any more. I find it quite admirable that a young girl like Hayat who comes from a broken family & has already lost her only parent, is so full of life & isn’t scared of anything. Yes, Hayat does have her moments where she feels lonely & vulnerable but then again, she knows how to pick herself up & face the world.
Jimmy is creating one issue after another for Nida & Zaki because obviously, he knows what Nida’s worth & Jimmy already thinks it is ridiculous that Nida is ready to toss her career away for a guy like Zaki. Just because Jimmy told Zaki a different version, Zaki chose to believe that immediately & changed his plans of going back to Pakistan, I think this explained a lot about Zaki’s personality & his indecisiveness. Zaki is someone who can be easily manipulated into believing something because he doesn’t put his mind through to analyze the situation himself, which makes him look a little gullible & also makes me feel that he allows people to cloud his judgments easily. May be this is why I feel that Zaki is just infatuated with Nida but just because she has told him that he loves her, he is believing her without putting much thought into the fact whether he actually loves her or not.
It was good to see Hayat doing some much needed counselling of Zaki where she was telling him about her philosophy of love & how it actually should be because everything that Hayat said to Zaki about the way Nida was treating him or their relationship was spot on. Zaki is burdened by this love & he doesn’t understand. Zaki trusts Nida completely even after she is into such a career which can make a partner insecure so similarly, Nida should trust Zaki too but she chooses not to, which shows that may be she is insecure or may be she thinks Zaki is not a man of his word who’d stand by his decision of marrying her, like may be Nida thinks Zaki is emotionally quite weak & like I said, he can get manipulated? Nida might not say it but the things that Haroon told her about Zaki are definitely on her mind that is why she has grown a lot more restless & insecure about her relationship with Zaki & also about Zaki as her partner in general!
I had a good laugh at the conversation that Nida & Hayat shared, like Nida didn’t know who she was dealing with because Hayat is someone who has to give it back to the one who insults her, without even worrying about the consequences. All this while, Zaki was telling her about all the problems that he was facing because of Hayat & she ended up adding more fuel to the fire just because she was furious & wanted to give Nida a hard time. I am sure Hayat & Zaki’s friendship will hit the rock bottom because Zaki already seemed quite shocked at his mother’s phone call & after he learnt the truth about what Hayat actually said to Nida!
Overall, this episode was entertaining & well-directed. I love the fact that all the characters are quite real & no one is completely black or white, like even though Nida might look like a difficult person to deal with but then again, she seems realistic because this is how usually girls who are insecure react. The dialogues were quite amusing too, I had a good laugh at ‘Haleem aur Nihari ka bhi pooch lo’ & seriously the way Hayat tried to explain what ‘waara’ actually meant but she didn’t know how to describe it was something that I could personally relate to because this is the word that I use as well but struggled really hard when once I had to explain the meaning behind it, lol! Yumna Zaidi, Ahmed Ali & Anum Gohar, all three have done a marvelous job. Adnan Jaffer is another strong performer & has added so much humor to the drama. I can’t wait for the next episode already, please share your thoughts about this episode of Yeh Raha Dil!
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.
T2F in Karachi had a two day event to celebrate the launch of its bookstore. The final day saw young poets sharing their poetry with the audience.
The event was titled,‘Urdu ki Nayee Avazain ’, a mushaira of emerging Urdu poets was organised where young poets, Urooj Zehra, Asad Alvi, Arif Ishtiaq, Hira Saeed and Shaheer Salal, recited poems in tarranum.
T2F has a project called revival of Urdu Poetry initiative, ‘Urdu ki Nayee Avazain’ is a part of it.
While speaking about the project, T2F director Ellia Khan said the project was aimed to introduce young and emerging poets in the city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRiyG4GFpw6/
The verses were about different topics such as unrequited love, heartbreak, feminism and coming of age.
The poets were as young as even 17 years old.
Themes like new cultures, internal struggles, unrequited love and breaking gender stereotypes were covered by the poets.
All in all, such literary and cultural efforts by T2f should be lauded and promoted in our society.
All of us love the famous song Afreen Afreen by the lengendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It gained a lot of hype when Momina Mustehsan sang it again in Coke studio.
The coke studio version topped Pakistan’s most watch video on YouTube.
Fawad Khan, apart from being a national heartthrob also has a very adorable family. A few months back when his daughter was born, the internet and his fans craved for a picture of the adorable little girl.
And one picture did surface on the internet.
Remember this adorable shot featuring the charming father daughter?
However, a latest photo of Elayna has surfaced on the internet and we can’t get enough of it.
Here it is:
Here, Elayna is in a cute kitten mask and we are sure that this photo is guaranteed to make you go aww!
In all honestly, we can’t get enough of this cutie and we wish more pictures of her make it to the internet.
March 12 marked the 24th death anniversary of revolutionary poet Habib Jalib.
He was born on March 24, 1928 in Hoshiarpur Village. He came to Pakistani after the partition and worked as a proofreader for an Urdu daily, Daily Imroze. The Daily Imroze was based in Karachi.
After his death in 1993, his family didn’t accept the government’s offer and gesture to pay for his funeral expenses.
He was a progressive poet who wrote against Military regimes of General Ayub Khan and Zia Ul Haq. He even protested in the streets with the women against the Hudood Ordinance.
Jalib’s sense of writing was simple, his style was easily understood and he wrote for the common people and about their issues.
His emotional energy, however, gripped on people tightly as his poetry was socio-politically charged.
The third edition of the Lahore Music Meet came to an end on Sunday.
The two-day festival attracted a huge audience as it consisted of a lot of activities dealing with music and discourse about music.
Meesha Shafi was one of the speakers at the 2nd day and she talked about how she has grown up visiting the halls of Alhamra with her mother where the music meet took place.
She said her connection with the performing arts had seen many years. About her singing and stepping into the Coke Studio, Meesha said she was particular about rhythm, her entrance to the Coke Studio was the outcome of a phone call which was about singing at the Coke Studio. She described how she and Jamal composed the tune for Manto’s story Thanda Gosht in the film, Manto.
The bands performed on Sunday were MU, Mohammad Aizaz, Mehdi Maloof, Patari Tabeer, Shajie, Hathi, Saakin, Tonight, Us, Jaubi and Noah’s Heark.
Sajjad Ali, Ali Azmat, Momina Mustehsan and other singers interacted with the audience.
A number of visual art fanciers visited the audiovisual exhibition titled ‘Rang Saazi’.
Nazneen Tariq is a famous jewellery designer but it turns out, she is all set for her acting debut.
We’ll see her in the upcoming film of Syed Noor’s Chein Aey Na. She will be playing the role of “the mother of the hero, Adil Murad”.
Images contacted Nazeen Tariq and she revealed details about her role:
“We’ve known each other [Syed Noor] for years but I met him after a long time at Avari at a function for his movie Chein Aey Na. When he met me, he just said parso aa jayie ga, bas aap ko le liya (Show up day after tomorrow, you’re in!). I couldn’t believe it, just like that! And so the journey began.
When asked whether her first time with acting was easy, she said:
“I honestly faced no hurdles as such. Noor sahab is an institution in himself. He knows how to bring out the actor from within the person. I’ve dabbled in acting long before but a major silver screen project is another game. When I went on set I’d make sure to follow Noor sahab’s directions and when I did so, he was very happy.
“The most difficult part for me was to act without saying a word but Noor sahab made it very easy for me by making me very comfortable. He was very encouraging and made me feel like I can do it. And so I did it. And the positive feedback from him and his team gave me the strength to go on.”
While talking about her experience on set, she said:
“The whole atmosphere on set was wonderful and the team felt like my extended family. I never once felt that I am doing my debut film. Everyone was so friendly and nice towards me.”
“I wore my own jewelry in the film,” she adds.
“The whole atmosphere on set was wonderful and the team felt like my extended family. I never once felt that I am doing my debut film. Everyone was so friendly and nice towards me.”
“I wore my own jewelry in the film,” she adds.
Talking about the release, she shares, “I think it will release on Eid-Ul-Azha. I don’t mind how long it takes as long as it’s done right. I wish Noor sahab the best; I’ve seen how hard he is working on it. We see a movie and we just like criticising it, without acknowledging all the hard work that goes behind making it. So I wish Chein Aey Na the best, whenever it comes out.”
Ohkay so, honestly speaking, if you want to watch this drama considering it solely as a ‘drama’ then it might work for you because the developments in the last two episodes made the loopholes in the script stick out like a sore thumb. Everything in this drama is not making sense while still making sense, if that makes sense, lol, because it shows that the writer took a lot of chances & didn’t worry much about the fact that he needed to add some realistic touches to the scenarios to make them convincing, that is why the drama is just unfolding without much depth in the situations!
It was quite evident even before the drama began that the story is going to revolve around a love triangle & may be in the end, the heroine will win by getting the love of her life but then the way the writer is taking things to that part of the story is coming across quite unconvincing. I really think that they could’ve omitted Zain & his family’s role all together because now when I am getting to see Runa & her fluctuating thought process & feelings, I am left wondering what was the need of Zain & his family in this drama. They could’ve just shown that Runa went to see Sister Kathryn & planned on a small vacation & that’s when she met Gulrez only to fall in love with him because as much as I see her getting inclined towards Gulrez, I am forced to have some not so good opinion about Runa in general considering she is about to get married!
Runa & Gulrez have been spending a lot more time together, which again is a loophole because when the drama began, they suggested that Runa was just about to get married in a few days but now, ever since she has left for Murree, it seems that her wedding is not happening for another couple of months, which again brings me to my point that there was no need to show Mehandi function because we all know, Rukhsati usually happens a day or two after the Mehandi function is conducted. It is quite unrealistic that Runa is buying herself more & more time without even feeling the need to go back to Karachi as if she doesn’t have to attend her own wedding. Also, ever since Runa has come to Murree, it looks like Sister Kathryn has taken a back seat & Gulrez has become her priority where she is exploring more about his past & is investing all her time in getting to know him better, as if she has a future ahead of her to spend with him. If the writer wanted Runa to spend so much time in Murree, then he could’ve showed that Zain & Runa just got engaged & now there was a lot of time in their wedding because then it still would’ve made sense that Runa didn’t know Zain so she fell for Gulrez because to see her as practically someone else’s bride, falling for another guy doesn’t put her in a good light.
I really want to know which terrorist or suicide attackers are such chickens emotionally like Gulrez is because if all the suicide attackers were like that, then the terrorism would end even before commencing. Before the drama even began & I got to know that we’ll be seeing a love story between a girl & a terrorist, the entire idea did seem to work but ever since the drama has begun, it hasn’t been tackled in a way which would grab my interest as I am finding it a little unconvincing that Gulrez has forgotten all about his mission & is now taking tantrums from weird Anjum & is eyeing Runa every chance that he gets. Gulrez even took Runa to his sister’s house & made her attend her wedding. Does Gulrez not realize that there’s a huge & quite strong network which might be monitoring him so he is indirectly putting Runa in danger too?
Seriously, if they had shown that Runa developed & explored her feelings for Gulrez herself, then it would’ve made far more sense because it would’ve added weight to the situation that Runa realized that this is the guy that she wants to spend her life with because right now the way Anjum brain feeds her looks like Runa has no mind of hers & she is just falling under the influence of her weird friend who has nothing better to do in her life than to brain-feed her friend into believing some weird fantasy. At this moment it seems that Runa only thinks she is in love with Gulrez because Anjum has planted that seed in her mind. I find it quite amusing that Runa has started taking Anjum seriously who herself is a flirt & has zero patience when it comes to boys. To be honest, all the conversations that Runa & Anjum have about Gulrez & all the things that especially Anjum says about him make them both seem quite desperate & love deprived as if they only came to Murree to have an affair with the first guy they come in contact with. It is amusing that without even having any idea about who Gulrez is, where does he come from, what is standard is (standard not in the sense of financial background but education, upbringing & stuff), what his ideology & philosophy of life is, Anjum thinks she knows all about him & just because she has seen some sympathy in Runa’s eyes for him, she thinks this is ultimate LOVE that Runa was after & he is an ideal & perfect Mr. Right for Runa. I found myself laughing quite hard when I heard Anjum speaking so highly of Gulrez as if she knows him in & out because the truth is, he is a suicide attacker & a terrorist, so it makes Anjum seem so so so stupid & ignorant to the core because she thinks she knows so much whereas the truth is, she is just an immature ignorant spoiled brat who needs to learn a lot of lessons in her life!
To be honest, all the talks that were happening in Zain & Runa’s families about Runa being interested in someone else or stuff seemed quite out of the place because now when the wedding it at the verge, these are probably the last things that should be on someone’s mind as all these matters are spoken about & confirmed before finalizing the proposal. Like I have said before, things would’ve made much more sense if they had shown that Runa & Zain just got engaged & the wedding wasn’t just around the corner because then Runa’s feelings for Gulrez would’ve seemed justified that she had no idea who Zain was & what he was like, so she fell for the guy she got to know in person.
So, this is what Sister Kathryn had to say & do? LOL! I am disappointed. Yes, like they have shown & made a point that no one knows Runa better than Sister Kathryn that is why she immediately realized that Runa was in love with someone else & she was getting married to someone else but then again, if that’s the case then what’s the difference between Sister Kathryn & Anjum? To be honest, I have yet to see & meet such people in real lives who brain wash the brides-to-be into believing that the choice that they are making is wrong for them? What about sending your friend or your daughter-like student with bucket loads of duas before she steps into the new phase of her life? I found it quite amusing that Sister Kathryn had to say the exact same things that Anjum has been saying ever since Runa & Gulrez have come across each other, like is this what the fuss was all about & is this what Runa had to meet Sister Kathryn for? Duh!
Anyways, I think we can just watch Munkir as a time pass without expecting too much sense from the story as the writer has made up his mind that he is going to bring Runa & Gulrez together against all the odds & by defying the common sense, so there’s nothing that we can change so it’s just better to watch it without expecting much from it. I seriously can’t stand Maryam Nafees, I know she has those looks & that personality but she really needs to stop playing these kind of bratty roles because she has a prowess of taking things a bit too far, that is why my irritation level gets a bit too high every time I see her on screen. Rest of the actors are doing a pretty decent job & is it just me or Runa & Gulrez look more like siblings rather than adults who have fallen for each other? There is practically no chemistry between them but then what can we do! Please share your thoughts about these 2 episode of Munkir.
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.
This was another episode of Sammi which highlighted how weak are exploited by those people who have authority over them for some reason or the other. Chaudhry forced his brother into bailing Waqas out of the prison by threatening him and he finally got his way. Chaudhry’s wife wants to save her son at Rashid’s expense and Rashid like every other weak person in this play has accepted his status as a slave! The most interesting aspect of this play is that most of these people who are being pressurized into doing things which they would much rather not do are either dependent on the people who dictate to them financially or they fear that these individuals will take their support away if they disobey them. What Salaar said to Sammi when she was going to give him a pedicure summed up the message which this drama is attempting to convey to its viewers. People like Naheed, Sammi and even Rashid only choose to let others dictate to them because if they decide to free their minds and think of other ways out of the situations they are in then there are plenty of options. Although Chandni has been fair with Sammi but she has never gone out of her way to help her out therefore what Salaar said made perfect sense.
My favorite scene in this episode was the one in which Rashid’s daughter asks her mother all those questions which would go through the mind of any child who is exposed to a lot more information than she should be! Rashid’s wife’s silence and the way she kept on taking her frustration out while her daughter bombarded her with those questions made this scene so powerful. Saman Ansari’s expressions in tonight’s episode in particular were right on point. I absolutely love the outlook and acting of the actress who is playing the role of Mariam, I actually find myself looking forward to her scenes.
Another scene in this episode which was meaningful and well put together was the one in which Chaudhry’s son shares his dislike for English language. This scene showed that even with all his mother’s efforts to ensure that he does not become a part of the system, what he saw around him shaped up his personality more than everything he had studied in his books so far!! His father was his ideal and he saw the world with his father’s eyes. Madiha Rizvi is another actress who always does complete justice to all the roles assigned to her.
The conversation between Rashid and his wife revealed why he had to do Chaudhry’s ghulami even though he was educated. The fact that he went to college puts a lot of things in perspective because he always came across as someone who was slightly more groomed than other people around him. I am not sure how I feel about Salaar’s interest in Sammi just yet because if he falls in love with her then it would be somewhat clichéd. Sammi and Chandni’s interactions have been the highlight of this drama ever since these two met therefore I was looking forward to Chandni shaping up Sammi’s life more than anyone else but in this episode Salaar and Sammi’s interactions were the focus of attention. Chandni and Sammi did not interact in the same manner as they did in the previous episode.
The preview of the next episode showed Waqas telling Rashid to help him find the person who helped Sammi escape, this particular scene shouldn’t have been shown in the promo because it killed the suspense. Now we know that Chaudhry is not going to suspect Rashid. The preview also showed that Salaar for the first time will understand just how serious this whole situation was. I am also wondering if the video which he made today will somehow have a bigger impact on the story. I really appreciate the fact that there is no forced glamour in this drama because it wouldn’t have fit in. The locations are perfect for telling this story which gives the drama a realistic feel.
How many of you watched this episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
Many high-profile international players like Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Tymal Mills skipped the PSL final, which was held in Lahore, due to security concerns. However, foreign players who attended the match were warmly welcomed by the country.
West Indies’ cricketer Marlon Samuels who played for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2 is so impressed with the security arrangements at the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) that he has expressed his desire to join the Pakistani Army.
In a video message posted on Twitter, Peshawar Zalmi star Marlon Samuels said he was “Pakistani at heart” and went as far ‘wishing to join the Pakistan army’.
“For me it’s more than just coming to Pakistan to a play a game of cricket, it is the significance and success of the team and smiles on the faces of the people that are sad,” he said in the video, tweeted by Peshawar Zalmi CEO Javed Afridi.
“I am a Pakistani at heart and that it is why it didn’t take me long to decide to come to Pakistan [to play the PSL final],” he added.
Addressing the Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Samuels said, “General, I’m just waiting for the metals [badges] on my shoulder, I would want to be a part of the Pakistan army.”
He praised the security measures at the recently concluded PSL final. And also thanked his Peshwar Zalmi teammates, saying that it was an honour and he couldn’t have asked for a better team. (q2stadium.com)
“Cricket should definitely come back to Pakistan I will continue to come back to this country till I die,” Samuels added.
@MarlonSamuels7 Salute from the Whole Nation for such a marvellous words. You are the campions of the hearts.Special message to the Army 1/2 pic.twitter.com/8ppPIqG9ml
— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) March 11, 2017
While the bride and groom are always the stars of their big day, at this wedding, most of their guests were stars too. Producer Abdullah Seja had his grand Mehndi last night. The function was attended by many popular celebrities naming a few, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Fahad Mustafa, Ahmed Ali Butt, Farhan Saeed, Urwa Hocane, Sanam Chaudhry, Humayun Saeed, Sanam Baloch and Aiman Khan. Not only did the celebrities stick out like stars because of their famous faces but also graced the event beautifully. While few were seen singing, the others danced the night away.
Sarwat Gilani is an amazing and beautiful actress whereas her husband apart from being a successful surgeon is also a great actor.
The couple looks so great together all the time that they silently make us scream: Relationship goals!
However, today, we bring you 4 times when the gorgeous duo looked perfect together.
When both of them posed together at FPW’17 for a selfie and looked simply glamorous.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ49yGfhyrJ/
When Fahad pulled off a blue suit and Sarwat rocked an elegant outfit giving us evening look goals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQK_SrIjnEQ/
When they both took a cozy selfie together and made us go: aww!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPNInhOj-gj/
And finally, when they did a pregnancy photo shoot and this photo highlighted and symbolized their love and amazing relationship.
Ahsan Khan is an amazing actor who does justice to every role he plays. However, apart from having remarkable acting skills, the man has some on point dressing skills too. He always looks very charming and handsome.
Today, we bring you 4 times he looked as handsome as ever.
When he pulled of this vintage look and reminded us of old English movies hero.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ6n1u9FTTL/
When he was walking his dogs and made our hearts skip a beat. Cute guy who loves dogs? Check!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQXQusjh0Ma/
When he was smoking this cigar like he was ready to take over the world. We admit that smoking is injurious to health but we can’t and point out how handsome he looks here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP0YRbQhg0X/
When he was leaning against a wall fully suited and booted and made us give him 10/10 for looking so fine.
Khumariyaan is an instrumental band which hails from Peshawar. The music and tunes consist of their native tunes which represent and highlight their rich Pushtoon culture.
Since they are an instrumental band, their aim is to break the tradition of the South Asian vocal based musical culture. The 4 band members bring forward their musical magic with instruments like the guitar, rubab and the native Pushto instrument called the Zeer Baghali.
Their music will give you all the right feels, it is soulful as well revolutionary. And as the band’s aim is to “entice musical ‘goose bumps’ “, we agree that they do an amazing job in getting that done.
Hence, today, we bring you 3 of their most favorite tracks to you.
Tamasha
Bela
Game of Thrones- Cover
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has revealed that she has an offer to study at a UK university.
She has received a conditional offer of a place to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics if she achieves three As.
The A-level student is set to study her degree at Oxford University, the Telegraph reported.
She was speaking to a conference organised by the Association of School and College Leaders and said:
“I’m studying right now. I’m in year 13, I have my A-Level exams coming and I have received a conditional offer which is three As, so I need to get the three As, that’s what my focus is right now, and I hope to continue my work and also continue my studies.”
“And I’m really thankful to you all for you support for encouraging me for my mission. That’s what makes me and keeps me so strong so thank you so much for that, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.”
The Malala Fund, the charity set up by her works to secure girls’ rights to a minimum of 12 years of education.
If there’s one Pakistani actress who knows how to stay in the limelight, it has to be Mawra Hocane. Most of the time it’s not due to her work, but rather her social media presence, which keeps everyone guessing what she’s up to. Mawra is currently seen in Sammi and her performance is widely appreciated and one cannot deny the fact that her popularity after Sammi has grown tenfold.
Speaking exclusively to Something Haute, the diva reveals how the show has not only gone beyond her expectations but also helped her to stop underestimating herself when people compared her work to other shows like Udaari.
“If you knew the people around me, you’d know that I always underestimate myself. It may not look like that from my social media but I do. Always with my projects, I am really scared. I always work hard, but you know, the fate of a project is something no one in the world has figured out yet. How can anyone calculate the fate of a project? I might have underestimated myself, but Sammi went far beyond my expectations,” the actress said.
The diva feels that one needs to have a different outlook to understand the realities of those who live on the peripheries.
“One must realize that Sammi is not about people like you or I. We might find this regressive because we live in another world of ours, where we may not even come across such a problem but when we go and shoot in a village and see where such problems happen, or simply just search it online and see the number of wani cases that happen, we’ll realize that it’s not regressive but the truth that we close our eyes to intentionally or unintentionally,” Hocane asserted.
Differentiating between the problems faced in metropolitan cities like Karachi versus those in villages, the actress added,
“It’s not about a girl living in Karachi, who woke up to face an electricity outage or a water shortage; it’s about someone living in a village that isn’t allowed to take a single decision herself. She’s stuck with the fear that someone will make a decision for her and she has to abide by it because she has no other option.”
While the show focuses on the harrowing topic of wani, its continuous comparison to sister Urwa Hocane’s Udaari has also turned into a topic of importance for Mawra. Although there is no surprise about the comparisons, the diva feels that it’s for all the right reasons, as Urwa has remained her innate inspiration.
“I may not have done a social issue project if it wasn’t for Urwa doing Udaari and it getting the success it received. Perhaps, I would have asked for a love-story coming from the influence I came from, doing all love stories,” the actress told Something Haute. “Picking up something like Sammi was because of Udaari, and Urwa has always set precedents for me since I was born. The only thing that I have done where I haven’t followed my sister’s footsteps is Sanam Teri Kasam. But, I do believe things would have been easier for me if I had followed her because I would have had her example to follow,” she added.
