Ohkay so, this episode of Yakeen Ka Safar did seem slow in the beginning but as it passed by, it got intense & the note at which it ended had me biting my nails because of the way things unfolded. The actors deserve full marks for breathing life into their characters & the director deserves full marks for making things so realistic that you just can’t help relate to them on some other level.
It was quite interesting how they showed a transition in Zubiya’s attitude & her overall mannerisms, like she was on a different tangent because she met a guy who she was in love with & who was making her happy. This is exactly what happens when girls at a tender age fall in love where they don’t have any idea about the intricacies of life but just start living in some lala land because of the promises that their partners make to them. Just because Zubiya gave away every single detail about herself to Rameez, he made the most of it & used everything to manipulate her. It was interesting to see how Rameez knew what he had to say & when to push his luck because he had read Zubiya so clearly that he knew that she was just a lonely girl who longed for some love & attention. I must say the way the writer & the director elaborated their relationship was quite intelligent, like they showed how Rameez was testing Zubiya & the lengths she could go to by emotionally blackmailing her & just when he saw that she would do anything that he’d say, he made another move.
I must say the way Daniyal approached Noori’s case was brilliant. What is commendable here is how they have shown Daniyal being emotionally invested in this case as well. It was actually quite sweet that Daniyal wasn’t just playing his role as a lawyer but was encouraging Noori to pursue her studies, since he knows that she feels passionately about education & was a teacher in her village. Daniyal met SHO Ayaaz & told him to file the FIR against Jahangir & his friends. Once again they shed a light on how policemen despite knowing the reality do everything to put a lid on it but just because Daniyal had medical reports, Ayaaz couldn’t do much.
My favorite part of this entire episode was Daniyal’s meeting with Bilal. Even though I have always been against the usage of children in our dramas but characters like Zebo, Jazza & Bilal restore my faith in the fact that young boys & girls can also be used in the dramas to serve a better purpose & to add that quotient of innocence that children are a picture of. Bilal’s refusal to take the money was another very sweet aspect, it showed that Noori taught him self-sufficiency & even at such a tender age, he was mature enough to not take any favors. I think it was intelligent of Daniyal to put that opportunity to good use where he told Bilal to report him everything, like he could see that the young boy was eager to help his sister & wanted to do everything for her. I will say that I was disappointed in Lateef, like he is being scared for no good reason, at least he should’ve given Daniyal a chance to explain everything to him or could’ve asked him how Noori was doing. It seems as if Lateef is relieved that he doesn’t have to deal with Noori anymore, which is a shame.
So, Rameez pushed Zubiya to elope with him & Zubiya being naive that she is agreed to that. I think this was a bit unconvincing that a girl who comes from such a strict & conservative family got so much of confidence to take such a bold step. Yes, restrictions & undue ones at that can push people to the limit but Zubiya gave in a bit too easily. All this while I was hoping that may be Rameez’s intentions were pure but he proved the otherwise because Rameez just wants to use Zubiya & throw her like a tissue paper & just because he could see that Zubiya needed some sweet talking to get comfortable, he continued with it.
I must say I enjoyed seeing how Sheema devised ways to insult Khalil in front of everyone & how with so much of subtlety she got back at him. Yes, she was wrong in not guiding Zubiya & just being a spectator but then seeing how Khalil insulted her parents & didn’t allow her to attend her sister’s wedding, what else can be expected from her? Even though Sheema knew that Zubiya was planning to run away with Rameez, she kept it to herself & waited for the right time to use everything against Khalil where she started calling every other relative to not inquire but actually inform them that Zubiya wasn’t home. Khalil couldn’t see what Sheema was doing but then again, he is someone who doesn’t believe in reflecting on his actions otherwise he would’ve understood that this was karma’s spin on him!
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this episode. Even though this episode had a slow start, everything was unfolded in a very convincing manner. The actors did such a great job & the director gave this episode a perfect treatment. The background music was spot on. I must say the switch between the scenarios where one girl was getting help to come out of her troubles & the other was falling into a deep pit was balanced out perfectly by the director. Beenish Raja stood out more than ever, she is a very fine actor. Sajjal Ali was phenomenal where she portrayed Zubiya’s hesitation but confidence in a perfect manner. Ehtashamuddin showcased Khalil’s state of mind to perfection as well. Bilal has to be one of my favorite characters in this drama & not to forget, the child artist has done such a brilliant job too. The preview has gotten me excited already & I can’t wait to see what Khalil’s reaction would be, so, definitely looking forward to the next episode. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Yakeen Ka Safar.
Directed by Nandita Das, Manto, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role is a biographical film based on the Urdu writer Saadat Hussain Manto. The poster shows Nawazuddin bearing an intense look with poetry reflecting the life of Manto. The makers shared some BTS from the sets of Manto and the shots show some salient moments from his life.
Jana Malik’s personal life seems to have been a roller coaster ride. Jana Malik and Nouman Javaid’s divorce controversy has been making rounds for some months now. Nouman has opened up about his divorce with second wife, however, Jana has made her first appearance after divorce, as a host for the makeup segment at Jago Pakistan Jago.
Blue is probably not just a colour, its an attitude. Not everyone can pull off the colour so it’s an art form in itself. We have seen a number of celebrities donning the graceful colour hence, we’re bringing you 12 Pakistani actresses who rocked it like a boss!
Renowned actress Mishi Khan of Uroosa fame, was last seen in Nanhi on Geo Tv. She recently appeared in Sanam Baloch’s morning show and revealed that she lost about 15-18 kg.
Losing weight is usually a subject mired in controversy, however, the actress has always openly talked about her body, be it her surgeries, or her weight.
Fawad Khan became the heartthrob of Pakistan after his role in Humsafar. Female fans have gone gaga over the actor and eagerly wait to see more of his work. The actor who welcomed his second child in October 2016, did a photoshoot with his wife Sadaf for Masala Magazine, earlier this month and the amazing photos of the duo are relationship goals!
His bearded look and the candid moments captured in the photoshoot were enough for all the fans to get drooled over them. In a recent interview with Masala Magazine, Fawad Khan talks about the age of social media, matters of the heart and his obsession with astronomy.
On lending his name to a fashion label (Silk by Fawad Khan), “I think it’s in very responsible hands and I really admire my wife’s style sensibility. I have borrowed that myself several times.”
On creative differences with Sadaf over Silk by Fawad Khan, “Well yes, because maybe I do not have the eye that she has! She has a far more trained eye; she is constantly on social media so she’s better versed with fashion trends. I have an extremely classic style sensibility; some people might even call it boring! But I guess simpler things in life make me happy! When it comes to the expectations from the brand it’s in good, safe hands and I can trust it blindly. Even if there is an argument, she has a way of going about it and convincing me, which all wives do (smiles). So I just shut my mouth and follow the leader!”
On evolving style sensibilities… “It depends from occasion to occasion on how OTT you can go. I believe in the classic. Of course, over the years I have become more ‘civilised’. Earlier, I used to be quite an animal when it came to dressing up (laughs). However, I have never been ostentatious in my approach, I am quite simple.”
On the equation between artists and stylists, “In India, I used to work with Abhilasha Devnani and I think she did a wonderful job in whatever we put together. In Pakistan, I have often worked with Omar Farooq. I think both of them have a very mature sense of style. But I do have a final word on the looks since, at the end of day, I have to wear it and I need to feel comfortable in it as well. I give my inputs and work on the combinations. So far I don’t think I have gotten it all that wrong.”
On fashion do’s and don’ts, “My view on that has changed a bit. I think you need to be the way you are without bothering about what people think is fashionable and not. Yes, one should be well groomed all the time. But I have had lazy days when I just don’t want to do anything and I have literally stepped out in slippers and pyjamas. So that’s my opinion currently though it might change in the future. These days I am relaxed but when I get into work mode full time, I will take more care (of what I am seen in). Otherwise on an average day, I have a ‘who cares’ attitude (smiles).”
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On becoming a father again, “It gets better and better every day and I think that’s the case with fathers. Normally a woman carries a child for nine months and those feelings are very internal. The guy may not even know the details of the situation. That changes after a child is born which is when the responsibility actually dawns on you as a father. Since this was the second time after Ayaan (his elder son), I was more prepared. But it’s the most amazing and emotional feeling. Right now I just hate staying away from my kids. I have all the affection in the world for children. Not because it’s clichéd to say that, but I actually believe they are the future generation and how you nurture them and the environment they grow in will reflect on our own future. That’s why I feel love and care will breed more love and care. It’s all about the energy you give out and frankly, I fear that about the world now. The vibe being sent out is very dark and negative…”
On social media, “Social media is obviously playing a massive role… I used to discuss with Shakun (Batra, the director of Kapoor & Sons) at length about this. He used to argue that technology is great for the world and he has a point. If used the right way, it can actually revolutionise the world. But it’s not being used in the right way now.
How you educate yourself when you are on social media be it Facebook or YouTube is important. For instance, my recent obsession is astronomy. I watch every other documentary on the subject since it intrigues me. Everyone has different interests but instead of constructive learning, people generally tend to lean towards the negative…and I think social media has somehow given fuel to this kind of thinking. So if used the right way it can be great but unfortunately we tend to gravitate towards the other extreme.”
Seasoned Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, better known as Boom Boom has 4 beautiful daughters. The cricketer who is no less than a superhero to us is also a loving father who manages to balance his professional and personal life. Recently, he celebrated his daughter Asmara’s fifth birthday and the pictures have been circulating on the web.
Lux Style Awards are the only awards in Pakistan which cover all the entertainment channels, the film industry, the music industry and the fashion industry therefore the viewers get a chance to see the entire industry under one roof. This time around HSY was in charge of the award ceremony, he was the director of the show and everyone was talking about the changes he made in the format of the show. On the red carpet everyone was talking about certain surprises which were in store including Imran Abbas’ singing performance. In this article I will talk about how the function was conducted, some of the skits and performances which were worth mentioning and how this show was presented to the viewers who were going to watch it on television. The article does not contain my views about the nominations and the celebrities who won the awards.
Here is my take on the 16th Lux Style Awards.
The Highs
I will start by talking about those moments of the show which completely won me over. First of all, the addition of the national anthem was definitely a positive aspect. I also liked the way all those iconic celebrities who have made their contributions to different fields of entertainment were shown on the screen while Atif Aslam sang the national anthem and the audience showed their respect by standing up. Atif Aslam sang the national anthem beautifully too.
The skit featuring Osman Khalid Butt and Maryam Saleem was funny and honest but its timing wasn’t perfect. The idea of including the fashion squad was great, I enjoyed the way everyone reacted to this idea and the fact that all the people who were part of this squad were experts in their respective fields.
Like every other year, the production values of the show were impressive and this year the camera work was definitely much better than the last few years. Previously, viewers were shown the same faces in the crowd over and over again and usually similar expressions too but this time the camera man focused on different celebrities sitting in the crowd.
Ali Kazmi hosted the red carpet really well, the way he interacted with the celebrities showed that he was good friends with all of them therefore the interactions were spontaneous and fun.
The only dance performance worth mentioning here was that of Reema. The choreography, choice of song, her outfit, her make-up and her expressions were right on point. Jimmy Khan, Abid Brohi and Ali Sethi’s singing performances were energetic and fun.
Halit Ergenc inclusion in the show was a terrific idea. Everything he said about Pakistan and Pakistanis was touching.
The Lows
Unfortunately, this was one of those shows which had far more lows than highs because of multiple reasons. Firstly, Atif Aslam could not handle multitasking. After singing (lip syncing!) so many songs continuously, he was exhausted and breathless when he finally started hosting the show. There was a lot of hype surrounding the fact that he was going to host such a show for the first time but he definitely did not live up to people’s expectations, there are so many other hosts who could have done a lot better. He looked uncomfortable and there was absolutely no spontaneity, everything he did including singing or those “dance moves” were too rehearsed and he did not look comfortable doing any of it. Also, all the songs Atif performed on were too slow and his lip syncing at times was terrible. There were too many dancers on the stage when he was performing but even then the performance as a whole was not entertaining enough.
Although Osman Khalid Butt’s skit in the beginning was funny but it should have come after the national anthem. If the director decided to add the national anthem to the ceremony, it should have been come before everything else.
It was a really bad idea to show the ceremony, red carpet and fashion squad in one go because it completely ruined the flow of the ceremony. The red carpet should have been shown separately because apart from ruining the flow, it also increased the duration of the entire show considerably and it required a lot of patience to sit through the entire award show.
The #HindiMedium joke by Osman Khalid Butt wasn’t really needed, personally, I did not enjoy it mainly because of the fact that Saba Qamar did give some phenomenal performances this year and she deserved the award. Mahira Khan and Osman Khalid Butt’s rap was passable. There was nothing out of the ordinary or too witty about the content because it did look like they had just picked up things from all the discussions on youtube and different forums and compiled them in the form of a skit. I hardly laughed at any of the jokes.
Junaid Jamshed deserved a better tribute. It would have been so much better if Atif Aslam wasn’t burdened with so many things since our industry is full of talented people who could have contributed to the show. Also, someone directly associated with Junaid Jamshed should have been part of the tribute. Unfortunately, there was nothing touching about this tribute.
It was really funny when Atif Aslam actually referred to Mawra Hocane as “Hocane” and not “Hussein”! He pronounced her name wrong, not that I blame him but it was really odd coming from the main host of the show. Nauman Ijaz’s comment when the audience predicted Udaari will get the best drama award was rude. He said, “ab itna bhi frank hone ki zarurat nahi hei!!”. Although Dillagi was a phenomenal play and deserved the award but even then his remark was extremely rude.
Maya Ali’s remarks when she came to receive best actress award did not make a lot of sense but definitely showed the mentality behind playing such roles and feeling pride in doing so. Like every other year, many celebrities who were not even comfortable speaking English were forced to do so or felt that they had to speak in English because everyone else was doing it! Aly Khan was the only person who spoke Urdu with finesse.
Overall, the show was disappointing and most of the celebrities failed to live up to the hype. There was too much happening; the show itself and the red carpet but it wasn’t impressive.
How many of you watched the show, please share your views about
The suicide attack carried out at ‘Manchester Arena’ has certainly shaken the world! Many Pakistani celebrities condemned the attack and among them was Armeena Rana Khan, the actress who has been climbing the ladder of success with each passing year, delivering one hit after the other.
Armeena lives in manchester UK, the actress condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims. She posted a message on her Instagram and stood up against terrorism, condemning the whole episode.
Momina Mustehsan has just recently recited a Qaseeda Burda Sharif for A-Plus’ Ramazan Show and it is absolutely soulful.
Momina sounds melodious with her vocals and the video blends well with the Naat. The direction looks extremely beautiful, with a message of bringing together the Muslims from all over the World.
Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel who was on his Canada tour is in pain and has been suffering from a severe headache. He posted a video on Monday and described the nature of the pain.
The religious scholar apologised to his followers for not being able to deliver sermons in Canada and clarified the rumours of suffering a heart attack and cleared that it was only a severe headache.
Pakistani TV actor Nimra Khan has decided to tie the knot this year with Waleed Khan. The actress has appeared in popular Pakistani TV shows like Khwab Tabeer, Mere Khuda, Choti Si Zindagi and more. It is pertinent to know that the actress got engaged in April 2017.
We all share an inevitable love-hate relationship with our siblings. Siblings are likely to be your best friend and partner in crime! Similarly, our Pakistani celebrities are blessed with siblings, and you may not have even known they existed. So, here are the celebrities who are brothers in real life. (You can thank us later.)
Wow!! What an amazing finale this was, poignant and gratifying! It was definitely worth the wait and reminded me of the reasons why I fell in love with this drama in the first place. This ending was so good that I have even forgiven Zubeida for all the torture she put us through. Her dialogues in this episode were superb. Pareesa’s dialogues when she talked to the press about child abuse were soul-stirring and right on point.
Muqabil had to be one of the most entertaining and unpredictable dramas of this season. It was also one of those very few serials which keep you at the edge of your seats and keep you coming back for more. The story went off track a few times and the pace of the drama slowed down in between but overall Pareesa and Arman in particular always gave the viewers reason to tune into this drama every week. Both these characters were different in many ways, they were etched-out in a very interesting manner and the fact that Mohsin Abbas Haider and Kubra Khan gave phenomenal performances made them even more appealing. Mohsin Abbas Haider played this character so well that there were times when the viewers felt more for Arman than they did for Pareesa.
The only aspect of this drama which could be termed as a weakness was that there were very few scenes which showed Mahmood in a negative light, although these scenes were impactful but it would have been better if there were more such scenes. All those encounters Mahmood had with Pareesa in which he felt he was entitled to be forgiven were right on point, more such scenes would have given the right message about someone like him who thought he deserved to be forgiven so easily. Asif Raza Mir however was brilliant as Mahmood especially those expressions he gave when Pareesa was dressed up as a bride and every time she gave him a reality check were unforgettable. The good thing about the ending was that Mahmood was not forgiven in the end neither was he shot by someone else.
Muqabil also had a strong message for all the parents out there in particular and it was put forward in an intelligent manner without putting the viewers to sleep! This message was not repeated over and over again but the writer definitely let the viewers draw the conclusion from whatever they saw on screen in every episode. The last episode however put this particular message forward in a beautiful manner; there couldn’t have been a better way to end this story. Shehnaz took a big step forward by letting Pareesa talk about her past in a press conference. Her apology was sincere and her actions even more so. The support Pareesa’s family showed and most importantly the change in Pareesa’s personality was shown impeccably. There was a time when Pareesa could not even mention what happened to her even in front of her parents but now she had the courage to speak out against child abuse in front of millions of people. The whole message of the show was summed up in a very touching manner when Pareesa poured her heart out in front of the press. Although, the change in Arman’s behavior was sudden but it was convincing and most importantly satisfying! It was convincing because tonight we saw the Arman we were introduced to initially therefore what he did today was completely in line with his character. It was satisfying because all of us wanted Pareesa and Arman to have a happy ending.
Saba Hameed was brilliant as the cold and mechanical yet somewhat concerned Shehnaz and although there were times when you questioned her actions, her character got the perfect ending. Saife Hassan played the cool yet sensitive father flawlessly. Kubra Khan and Mohsin Abbas Haider definitely deserve tons of praise and an award for their performances. Mohsin Abbas Haider’s performance in particular was mind blowing throughout the show. Watching Asif Raza Mir play a role which was unlike any other he has ever played was definitely another plus.
A big thank you to the writer Zafar Mairaj for giving us a drama which was different and engaging. The director Ali Hassan deserves tons of praise for doing complete justice to every single scene and making this drama a visual treat. This drama gave the viewers hope that Big Bang Entertainment will be giving us quality entertainment in the future too.
I would highly recommend this drama to all those viewers who did not watch it while it was on air and I would like to thank all those wonderful readers who read the reviews and commented every week.
Do share your thoughts about this last episode and the drama as a whole.
Ohkay so, this episode of Alif Allah Aur Insaan was pretty good & pretty straight forward. It came with a lot of developments in almost all the tracks & the best ones got the most coverage which was the best part about it. I like the fact how the director has balanced out the screen-time between all the characters & makes sure to keep the focus on all of their stories.
So, Raani became Reena Begum. Even though the flower vendor warned her about the pit she was going to step into but Raani being Raani didn’t bother listening to him as she was ecstatic for the new opportunity that she thought was awaiting her. I am sure if Raani had the slightest of idea about what she was going to get into, she would’ve thought things through, but I guess this turn was needed because otherwise she wouldn’t have learned about the intricacies of life. I feel Raani will now get to experience a very different life which will definitely shape up her perspective & priorities.
So, finally Shammo became Shammi & it was such an amazing moment. I loved that after Jamal, Shammo finally met another good human being who accepted Shammo for who he was & told him to explore new territories. I think the writer here deserves full points in showing how people can help others in their walks of life & how one suggestion is enough to change someone’s entire journey.
Even though for now Nigaar & Raani aren’t at the same page but I kind of liked this disconnect between the two. Raani thinks Nigaar has scored everything whereas when it comes to Nigaar, she is suffocated with the life that she is living. Nigaar has so much of emptiness inside her which Raani is unable to understand or relate to because in her perspective, just because Nigar has money, she has everything. I am definitely interested to see how Raani will start understanding Nigaar’s thought process & what she will deduce from it because it was kind of amusing how absorbed Raani was in her own philosophies while Nigaar was sharing her burdens with her.
So, Nazneen has moved to her hostel & as expected, she made quite an impression on her roommate. It was interesting how Sarwat told Nazneen to have some respect for those who love her but Nazneen wouldn’t understand since she is so self-absorbed & doesn’t take her relationship with Shahzeb seriously. Even though Shahzeb’s connection with Baba Jee is something special & a delight to watch but seeing the similar kind of conversations happening on the same lines in the preview of the next episode made me feel that it will lose the charm if they will keep repeating the same ‘falsafa’ over & over again because this is what usually happens with philosophies, they can force you to snap out of them pretty quickly. However, in this episode, Baba Jee’s perspective about Love for Almighty was conveyed nicely, also it was good to see how Shahzeb also was on the same track as him where he didn’t seem clueless, but in stead had a clear cut idea of what Baba Jee was trying to teach him. I feel Shahzeb’s heart-break will bring him closer to his Creator, may be that’s going to be the crux of the love that he has for Nazneen.
Oh well, Shammi & his transformation. It was so good to see him as a successful makeup artist & hair stylist that was in demand. I loved seeing this new Shammi who was confident & free from all the baggage that he was carrying before. I think Salma deserves credit for this because he allowed Shammi to explore things, to experiment & to find himself. Salma’s connection with Nigaar definitely forced me to think that this is exactly how Shammi will come across Raani now, where he will replace Salma as Nigaar’s makeup artist & will get to see Raani in the brothel.
I must say it was interesting to see how Raani got bored of taking care of Nigaar, like this shows that she is someone who won’t settle for something similar for a long time. Raani wanted to get into Nigaar’s realm & now when she got into it, she wanted to touch new boundaries. The note at which this episode ended was interesting like it took Raani from being happy & inquisitive to scared & confused because she got introduced to the dark side of the picture which she had never imagined, but since Raani is a fighter & she is someone who believes in making her own ways, she will find a way out of this too if Nigaar & her dictatorship will become overbearing for her.
Overall, this episode was interesting & offered a lot of new things. I loved watching the transformation of Shammi especially & then Raani even though life has become a bit stagnant for Raani but she will surely do something good for herself in the future. I must say Saife Hassan & Nargis Rasheed deserve a special mention for adding so much of life & charm in their very limited scenes. It was good to see Raani’s mother supporting her daughter & telling her husband that he was responsible for pushing Raani to the limit, not many mothers do that in our dramas where they stand by their daughters. Nargis Rasheed’s expressions when Saife Hassan threw the slipper towards her were priceless. Imran Ashraf was the star of the show tonight, he made Shammo’s transition into Shammi a treat to watch. Also, can we just take a moment to praise what an artist Hassan Noman is, like we have seen him as Ilyas Kashmiri (Preet Na Kariyo Koi) then Bulbul Khan (Sang e Marmar) & now Salma, like is there any role that he can’t play that too with perfection? I thoroughly enjoyed his bits too & hope his character stays in the story for long a time. Sana Fakhar has done a great job in conveying Nigaar’s burdens & void clearly & so has Ushna in conveying Raani’s inquisitive nature. Mikaal & Kubra seem to be least impressive so far but I am hoping something better in their tracks in the future. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Alif Allah Aur Insaan.
Pakistan’s leading humanitarian and social welfare services organisation, the Edhi Foundation is partnering with Coca-Cola for its traditional Ramazan fundraising, without the leadership of, Abdul Sattar Edhi.
The campaign titled “Bottle of Change” will execute across the country and Coca-Cola will double all the donations received during the campaign. With Coca-Cola running a special campaign, Edhi foundation expects a steady stream of donations.
Many popular celebrities have come forward for the cause.
I so wish our morning shows give me once in a lifetime opportunity to praise them by doing something good but I don’t know how they succeed in stooping to new lows every single time. I don’t really get how they capacitate themselves to touch the bottom of the spectrum every single time, almost every single day they go on air. Well before sharing the subject of my article, I feel like a little introduction about one of my passions is required here. Everyone here knows me as a reviewer & a K-drama fan but there’s another thing that I feel passionately about & that is makeup. Makeup is something that always grabs my attention & I make sure to take some time out to learn & get to know more about it no matter what the platform is.
So, because I am very much into makeup, I unfortunately stumbled across one of the episodes of Jago Pakistan Jago that went on-air yesterday i-e May 22, 2017, as it was being suggested to me by YouTube (Thanks YT). In this episode, a competition was being held among 12 makeup artists that were shortlisted by JPG’s team & were then invited to participate. Those 12 makeup artists had to give makeovers to their models & the competition was going to be held for 3 days where by the end of Day 03, the winner will grab Rs. 1 Lac cash prize & a diamond ring worth of Rs. 1.5 Lacs sponsored by Damas Pakistan. Now that the introduction is out of the way, let me get onto the judges. The judges were Kashif & Anam, the sibling duo of Kashee’s salon & the celebrity judge accompanying them was Jana Malik. The contenders were going to get 40 minutes for makeup & 20 minutes for hair-styling. In this episode, the makeup artists had to give a Mehandi appropriate makeover to the models, sound pretty simple right? But things just don’t end there, because then Kashee introduces his own model & tells every single participant to recreate the look that he has given to his model. Then the fireworks begin!
The contenders get onto their work & Jana Malik is seen praising the fact that everyone is sticking to their own techniques, where someone got onto the foundation first & the others were working on the eye shadows, but I guess that was enough of a quota of niceness that she reached for the day because after that every single comment that she made was nasty, demeaning & degrading. In the beginning, Kashif & Anam seemed pretty pumped up with the idea of the competition & they came making big claims that they are here to mentor the contenders & help them in this field but then they proved that they talked the talk but couldn’t walk the walk!
After a few minutes passed by, Anam requested Sanam Jung if she along with other judges could come to the stage to see the makeup in progress & I guess that’s when they unleashed their inner beast, in stead of unleashing the inner makeup artist or mentor in them. Anum started commenting on how people were committing disasters in the name of makeup. I wonder if I’d ever want a mentor like that in my life who’d be so degrading & demeaning. I found it ridiculous how Kashif & Anam, both were adamant that all the contenders should ‘copy’ the look of their model & shouldn’t play to their strengths. First off, there are NO hard & fast rules in makeup, plus there’s no single look that would look similar on two different people because everyone’s features, skin tones, face shapes are different. Also not everyone has the same philosophy of makeup as Kashif or Anam, so not sure why they were acting like spoiled brats who only wanted to shove their makeup ideology down people’s throats! (primetimetallahassee)
Considering the fact that Kashif thinks of himself as a ‘professional makeup artist’, it was quite unprofessional & pompous of him to bring in his model to restrict the contestants from showing their own skills & channeling out their own creativity. I think he should have told the contestants to use his makeup as an inspiration as this is how makeup works, it’s an art of inspiration, like you can even get inspired by the colors of a vase sitting on the shelf of your dinning room, but the guy who believes in producing clones or photocopies wouldn’t know how inspiration works.
There was this makeup artist who traveled all the way from Jehlum to participate in the competition, she did a fabulous job & played with the features of her model perfectly but just because she used copper toned glitter & not the sickening stark yellow gold glitter on the eye sockets, both Anam & Kashif started taking her case for not ‘sticking to the standards’ set by them. It almost seemed like they both couldn’t tolerate the fact that a simple makeup artist from Jehlum could do a far more better job than them, so they both joined forced to tear her confidence apart & then told her to ‘change’ the glitter on the girl’s eyes. I am sure just because her model looked like a human being & not a plastic mannequin, Anam & Kashif were unable to relate to her craft. I agree, the ‘eye’ makeup that they had given to their model was comparatively simple but the moment the rest of the makeup artists started tweaking with the look, they couldn’t stand it.
I do agree that Kashif’s makeup is good but sorry to be bursting the bubble by stating the obvious, I don’t see any variety in his looks. His makeup approach is one-dimensional where he prepares clones or mannequins only for the husbands to not recognize their wives the next day since he completely changes the skin tone & like any typical Pakistani Aunty, turns the bride into ‘gori dulhan’ that people obsess over. I have yet to see different looks from him but even though he has made so many appearances on different morning shows, every single time he does the same look over & over again, so where’s the creativity that a makeup artist should have? I would have never said these things about Kashif & his craft but the fact that he thinks he can literally demean, degrade, insult & embarrass simple women on a National TV that too on a live show is disgusting. Anam kept on repeating that the contestants shouldn’t take their words to their heart as they wanted what was best for them but the way both Kashif & Anam started bullying the participants by making fun of them & nitpicking while standing on their heads definitely showed that they didn’t intend to help them, rather they only came to brag about their social standing in the market in comparison to all the other makeup artists.
Speaking of Jana Malik, considering that she has been in the indsutry for such a long time & has been associated with makeup artistry for almost half of her life, it was ridiculous how she was making a fuss about everyone’s lipstick color not matching the lipstick shade that Kashee’s model was wearing. With my little experience with makeup, I can say that a single shade of lipstick doesn’t look the same even on me on different days as it varies with the foundation shade that I choose, so it was sorry to be saying quite ‘stupid’ of Jana Malik to be expecting the exact same shade on everyone’s face.
Since, I have already told you guys that I am into makeup, fortunately for me, my best friend shares the same passion as me too & more than makeup, she has a knack for hair-styling as well, that is why she follows different hairstylists on Social Media. I remember it was may be 2 – 3 months back that she shared Kashee’s video with me & told me to watch it vigilantly, when I did I could see two different hands in every other clip. When I asked she told me that she follows this Russain Hairstylist named ‘George Kot’ (Instagram: georgiykot) & Kashee was shamelessly using his clips & merging with his own to fool the innocent people into believing that he could achieve all those hairstyles that are George’s specialty. No doubt, I completely respect the fact that the girls at Kashee’s salon do a wonderful job at hair-styling & have been trained by Kashif perfectly, but to see him using such tactics to fool innocent people speak volumes about his ‘ethics’ & his ‘professionalism’ as well which he was bragging about & swearing by. Kashif & Anum got into an argument with a participant who said that Kashif never puts up his hair-styling tutorials on his page & the moment she said it, both the siblings got defensive & started saying that she needs to do a bit of research before making such claims. That’s when I was reminded of the conversation that I had with my best friend & I decided to throw a bit of a light on it too since I totally believe what the contestant was saying was right & Kashif himself is not so ‘doodh ka dhula hua’, when it comes to transparency & ethics!
Well, Sanam Jung is another story & she deserves another article which will definitely be published by Fatima & I in coming weeks, that is why I am not touching much on her, but it was shocking to see her turning into a judge herself while completely forgetting the fact that she was there as a host. It was infuriating to see her joining the ‘bully gang’ & making fun of the makeup choices that the makeup artists made for their models. Sanam Jung was all over the place, so was her dress, her existence & her attitude. It was amusing how the entire show passed by filled with negative comments whereas I didn’t get to hear a single positive or appreciative comment coming from the judges for any makeup artist – leaving me wondering if this was the level of Kashif & Anam’s mentoring!!!
Honestly speaking, I have seen some makeup competitions on Good Morning Pakistan as well & they don’t hand over such huge prizes to their participants, so when Sanam announced all these huge prizes that Jago Pakistan Jago was offering to the participants, I was actually excited & thought that it was a good initiative that they took by acknowledging the winner in an apt way but seeing this episode, I honestly feel these 2.5 Lacs are not worth it especially when the winner will earn them after losing her respect & dignity, after getting degraded & demoralized by the bunch of ill-mannered people. To be honest, Good Morning Pakistan’s team mustn’t have given such huge prizes but I always found their judges to be quite decent & humane with their criticism. I did see some makeup crimes on Good Morning Pakistan’s makeup competition as well but judges like Waqar, Wajid, Huma or Aliya Tipu were graceful enough to tell them that they needed more practice & more learning without ripping their confidence into pieces, which is exactly how the encouragement should be. There were so many loose comments that Jana Malik, Kashif, Anam & even Sanam Jung made about makeup that it seriously broke my heart for the participants who came to their show that day. Kashif seemed to be on a trip of his own where he was out there to prove that no one could match his level. There was this participant who said she was a makeup educator for 16 tears & while speaking to her Kashif was like ‘chalain dekhte hain’, like so much of attitude for what? Just because you have the art of turning regular girls into heavily photo-shopped plastic dolls or for making them unrecognizable with that Moon inspired foundations that you use?
Just when I was wondering if I was the only one who felt this way, to my surprise when I logged onto Snapchat, I saw Saadiya Rahman (Instagram: saadiya_rahman) a UK-based Pakistani Makeup Artist (who is amazing by the way at her craft) snapping about this entire episode & sharing her dismay about this entire episode of Jago Pakistan Jago. I could totally see why she was upset because Makeup is a skill that can be improved so to see some makeup artists being degraded for something that can be improved must have disturbed all those who feel passionately about makeup. Also, these shows are what keep us overseas Pakistanis connected to Pakistan, so to see these sort of people on our shows literally spoil everything for us.
In the beauty community all around the world, where Beauty Gurus, Makeup Artists, Youtubbers are coming together to empower & build each other up, what sort of image the likes of Kashif & Anam are showing to the world about Pakistani makeup artists, where they can’t even share a name of a product they use on their models in shows (courtesy Good Morning Pakistan) & only come to brag about their achievements (read clientele) as makeup artists? Also, since Anam & Kashif said ‘eyeliner’ showcases the true caliber & craft of any makeup artist & they would judge the participants on the basis of the perfection of the eyeliner, let me insert a screenshot of the eye-liner that Anam applied on a model in Good Morning Pakistan’s show that aired on 19th May, 2017, so that you can now freely judge her caliber as a makeup artist!!!
Looks like this circus of a competition is going to be held for 3 days & I am already feeling bad for the participants who’d have to once again come under the scrutiny of the most weird & ill-manner makeup judges ever seen on a morning show. I wish this feedback reaches to Kashif, Anam, Jana & Sanam to know how they literally ruined the competition with their sorry existence & bad attitude. I wish someone mentors them first on basic ethics, manners & reasonability!
The attack at Manchester Arena, killing 22 and injuring 59, has shown that the world is moving towards an alarming situation than betterment.
The blast happened on Monday at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande, however, the exact location of the blast is still unknown. Grande took to twitter and expressed her thoughts on the attack.
broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.
We have all grown up listening to Adnan Sami’s songs, but these days, all we hear is about his controversial statements. The singer has now sparked a debate on Twitter after throwing a question on why people think music is haram in Islam. He also made fun of the Saudi dance asking if its Haraam or Halaal.
People from all over the world reacted to his tweets as he challenged the ethics of Muslims and asked where does the Quran state that music is Haram in Islam.e clearly caused an uproar on social media.
Dear Muslim Clerics, U all claim music is haram in Islam? This is Saudi Arabia. This is song n dance by its Royalty! Whr r ur fatwas now?!?? https://t.co/sRUyba9qEZ
Muslims all over the world reacted to his comments.
@AdnanSamiLive Dear Sami Sabh Saudia is not Islam . If you want to understand Islam read Quran . You can find yourself in Quran music is haram . Thanks
@AdnanSamiLive if music is soul.rooh ki qiza why singers try to find solace in drugs alcohol jackson, whitney, michael,prince unlimited singers dog death
We’re not sure if he did all this for the sake of publicity, however, it doesn’t change the fact that he has picked on a very sensitive matter in a sarcastic manner. Seems like, singer these days are sharing their opinions regarding Islam just for the sake of publicity.
Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai has driven the netizens crazy with her red carpet look at the Cannes 2017. The actress has left everyone stunned with her offerings and made us all fall for her.
And now, Sajal Ali did a photoshoot for Samreen Vance and strongly resembles Aishwarya Rai from old photoshoots.
Sajal Ali left us awestruck with her mesmerising beauty and looks to become an ultimate diva.
It is a good news for Pakistan’s entertainment fraternity! Sanam Saeed, one of the strongest actors in the industry today, has bagged the Best Film Actress for her performance in Rahm at the Eastern Eye Arts, Theatre and Culture Awards.
Ohkay so, yet another interesting episode of Yeh Raha Dil. I love the fact that the writer has given all these characters so much of personality & what’s even more appreciable is the fact that all the characters have stayed true to their personalities till date, like in a lot of dramas we see characters acting completely unlike themselves, that shows the loss of grip in the story from the writer’s end but that is not the case here, which makes it even more easy to understand the characters & relate to what they are going through!
Even though this was for the first time they actually took us in Nida’s past to show what she has been through & this was the first time we got to know why she is behaving a certain way when it comes to Zaki but what is definitely commendable is the fact that despite knowing Nida’s intentions & even before knowing what she has been through, I never saw her as evil. I always knew that Nida has gone through a lot & there’s a reason why she acts this way but to get to see how she was mistreated made me feel for her a lot. Her ex-boyfriend Tabrez obviously was a control freak or may be he was insecure about himself that is why he wanted Nida to abide by his rules to boost his ego, but when that didn’t happen, he took no time in ditching Nida. To see Nida being at her weakest, submissive self in that relationship did solve the entire puzzle where I got to know why she was being this way when it came to Zaki. Even though Nida knows that Zaki is not into this relationship anymore but just because she has suffered a heartbreak that too where the guy rejected her, she is adamant that she is not going to let that happen to herself again. The scene where Nida walked with the ramp with tears on her face showed that her success came with a lot of emotional baggage. Seeing Nida literally begging Tabrez showed another side of her where she was emotionally invested in a relationship quite a lot at that, like it shed a light on the fact that Nida was capable of loving selflessly too but just because of one bad & bitter past experience, she erected her guards in such a way where she has vowed to herself that she would never allow anyone to treat her the way Tabrez did & sadly, Zaki is facing the brunt now.
Hayat seems to be at a happy place & for the first time I saw how Nida’s plan was working. Hayat was counting all her blessings & thinking about how her family members were filling up her life with so much of love & this is exactly what Nida wants. Nida knows that Hayat being an emotional girl that she is, after getting everything in the form of her family would never ever do anything to hurt anyone, especially Nida because she has taken the crown of being the one who brought everyone together, so her plan is working perfectly. Even though the plan is not harming anyone, like Hayat is at a happy place, Nida is feeling secure but yes, the one who is going to suffer rather already is suffering is Zaki.
Well, as expected Azra, since she has always been shown as an emotional woman, couldn’t take Zaki’s no for an answer. Even though I liked how Azra was being considerate of Nida’s feelings, like that is what Haroon has done too but then again, she was literally emotionally blackmailing Zaki into marrying Nida. Yes, Azra did have a valid point that Zaki’s refusal will create a rift between the sisters but then she was still more concerned about Nida in stead of being concerned about Zaki’s feelings.
While watching this episode, I was actually thinking that Zaki should take a stand now because there’s a thin line in being soft-hearted or being a bechara, so I was literally dreading that Zaki might go into the ‘bechara’ lane where he will stay silent wishing for Nida to do the heavy-lifting by backing out & this is something that shouldn’t happen like I don’t want to see. Zaki can stay soft-hearted all that he wants, but he should also take responsibility for his own actions. I was actually dreading that Zaki might turn into another Harib (of Sanam) but fortunately he decided to speak up, first in front of his mother & then in front of Jimmy. At least that’s enough of a first step, yes everyone has told him already about how Nida would feel, that is why he is being a bit cautious & hesitant but then again, it is good to see that he has made up his mind & is now working on fixing things & doing what is right. So, it’s all good.
Overall, this episode was amazing, filled with some very nice moments & some funny ones too. I love the one-liners that Haroon often says like he certainly puts things into perspective, always says what we’re feeling that too in such a way that it strikes the chord. I enjoyed how Haroon was advocating Zaki while still trying to calm Azra down as he knew she was furious. Anum Gohar definitely took the crown in this episode, like I thoroughly enjoyed her performance in all the scenes, especially in the flashback where Nida is pleading her case in front of Tabrez. I haven’t said that before but now that Hayat is under Nida’s supervision, I really wish the stylists show a little change in her dressing & overall styling, yes it does suit her care-free, young teacher, writer sort of a personality but sometimes her dressing is way too quirky. It was good to see Hayat sharing beautiful moments with her family where they were making her feel special, like after living alone for such a long time with a sick mother, Hayat surely deserves this royal treatment. Ahmed Ali & Yumna Zaidi were great in this episode as well. I loved the dialogues & I love how all the situations are unfolding. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Yeh Raha Dil.
Ohkay so, I watched the last two episodes of background noise, oh sorry I mean Munkir & once again, they failed to grab my interest. However, I will say that the story made some progress in these two episodes but the pace was so slow that I dozed off in the middle of these episodes but they were still running.
So, Zain finally got engaged to Sonia, his uncle’s friend’s niece, whatever. It was amusing how the writer turned Sonia’s uncle into a negative character just to add more drama, like are there any characters in this drama who don’t have an agenda & are normal? Sonia’s uncle thinks just because Sonia will get married to Zain & move to France, she will process his immigration too, LOL! Another thing that I found amusing was how Sonia’s mother was singing a song about Sonia’s ‘jaagi hui roshan kismat’ & Sonia getting a ‘badla of all her mehroomis’ the moment she heard that Sonia will move to France? Like without even meeting the guy & his family, without even finalizing anything, it was such a cliché that the mother thought France’s visa will guarantee lifelong happiness of her daughter. Anyways, Sonia is another story, she is in love with her class fellow & just because he hasn’t done anything to commit to her, she couldn’t say no to Zain’s rishta because she can not make her mother unhappy, another cliché, where a girl is ready to become a sacrificial lamb that too while having someone else in her heart. Also, when the writer had already written the scenes of Zain & Runa’s reunion, then not sure what was the need to add this track & all these boring characters?
Majid once again opened up his thesis papers on Runa & convinced Zain to do something about it, as a result, Zain agreed to go to Murree with Majid because Anjum told him that Runa was in Murree with Sister Kathryn. Anyways, Runa met Gulrez’s sister too & kept on talking about Gulrez like an idiot while time & again asking Runa about why she was in Murree & not in France? Like Gulrez’s sister was aware of the fact that Runa was engaged & what if she was in Murree with her husband, did it make any sense for her to be talking about Gulrez to Runa? Anyways, why am I expecting basic sense from senseless characters? So, seems like Gulrez’s sister had a lot of sympathy for her baby brother, awww! Nope! Anyways, after hiding in a burrow for like 10 episodes, Gulrez finally came out from the ground to stretch his back & neck & while he was at it, he was seen thinking about Runa while his terrorist friend was brainwashing him against her? I find it amusing how all these terrorist friends of Gulrez actively participate in Gulrez’s half-baked love story & give advice & verdicts, in favor or against it? I am still not sure why did Gulrez abduct Runa on the day of her wedding, when he didn’t even confess his love & later all he had to do was go into deep slumber? Waste!
Zain met Runa & Runa had this sharmeeli si smile on her face, like I find it hard to understand what this girl wants & what she is trying to do? She called her marriage quits for no good reason, got drawn towards Gulrez for no good reason & now when she saw Zain, she smiled as if she was showing her acceptance once again for no reason? All this is very confusing. I found it funny how after travelling so much to meet Runa, Zain was still hich-kichaaing like a bechara, like seriously? What’s with the hesitation now? You traveled all the way to see the girl you love so what’s stopping you now from taking things a step further? Zain is far better but he still reminds me of Harib, like his bechargi, but anyways. Anjum is another piece of crap written by the writer, where she was yapping about how no one will get married to Runa & bla bla, like seriously, who gave her the right to pass verdicts on other’s characters & their destiny? (cue Sahir Lodhi’s voice here).
The preview of the next episode did seem interesting but I am sure, those bits would only make 2 – 3 minutes of the episode whereas the rest of the episode will be filled with never-ending, boring & meaningless conversations. Please share your thoughts about these two episodes of Munkir!
Saba Qamar is being appreciated for her performance in her Bollywood debut flick Hindi Medium. The film has earned Rs 12.56 crore over the weekend across the border.
According to a report from FHM Pakistan, Saba Qamar has been flooded with numerous Bollywood projects after her brilliant performance in Hindi Medium. Seems like, Bollywood has a discerning eye towards Pakistani talent.
The report also states that Saba Qamar said, “For now I want to see how successful this project goes. ‘Hindi Medium’ was a big challenge for me but I learned a lot from the talented Bollywood actors acting opposite me.”
Hindi Medium focuses on Saba Qamar and Irrfan Khan’s characters, a couple who is on a quest to get their daughter admitted to a posh school. Saba has outdone herself as a dominating wife in Hindi Medium.
The queen of controversies Veena Malik, who is also known as ‘queen of mimicry’ is back with yet another parody. She is known for impersonating popular celebrities and politicians. This time around, she has outdone herself by imitating Meera Jee.
Veena is definitely good at what she does best, Meera’s parody is full of witty puns that’ll make you laugh out loud.
Dubai-based Pakistani stand-up comedian Junaid Akram is known for posting videos online and discussing social issues of Pakistan.
The rising comedian, famous for his pet phrase ‘Khalli Karao’ has decided to give the right dose of advice with his upcoming song in his own peculiar way.
Recently, he shot a rap song penned and composed by Hashim Ishaq. The song called ‘Khalli Karao’ is Junaid’s take on the youth of Pakistan. He wishes to inspire the youth with his song which is set to release on Eid-ul-Fitr.
“Dekh meri beti ne mujhe khoobsurat bana diya, mere sare daagh chupa diye us ne…yeh hoti hei betiyan!”
This was another powerful episode of Sammi with tons of substance. This drama has so many amazing messages and they couldn’t have been put forward in a more apt manner. I simply love the realistic portrayals which show the amount of effort all these actors and the director put in to make sure that the viewers have no trouble connecting to all of these characters which are beautifully etched-out. Every character in this play is meaningful in some way or the other and represents a certain mindset. I must say that although most of the tracks in the story are linked with Sammi in some way and right now many of these oppressed people are joining hands to free Sammi but I see Sammi as more of a symbol of Chaudhry’s Nawaz’s tyranny more than anything else. The character itself has been the most passive character in the drama and Mawra Hocane is the only actor in the drama who looks like a complete misfit right from day one. All the other actors look and act the role whether it is Adnan Siddiqui, Saman Ansari, Seemi Raheel, Bilal Khan, Rehan Sheikh, Haris Waheed, Nadia Afghan and even the chota chaudhry, their accents and looks are totally in line with the characters they are playing. Mawra Hocane’s short shirts, patiala shalwars, neatly tied hair, make-up and styling which is fairly decent makes it very difficult for me to connect to her character. Thankfully, all the other actors made sure that they put their performance above everything else therefore the drama as a whole is turning out to be very intense.
This episode started with Rashid taking a stand in front of Chaudhry Nawaz, not for his sake but for the sake of his daughters. Salima was there to support him and for a few hours only they thought they could live a happier life without Chaudhry’s ghulami. It was only after Chaudhry burned down their house that they were left begging him to take them back. Rashid’s dialogues when he begged the Chaudhry to let him stay in his haveli were heart-wrenching; this man has no idea that there is a whole world outside this village where he can start a new life! Chaudhry’s mindset has always been shown faultlessly; his dialogues and actions both help the viewers understand his character. Adnan Siddiqui and Rehan Sheikh were beyond brilliant in this episode. Their dialogues and the scenarios were powerful and their performances breathed life into all these situations.
The change in Shahzaib’s attitude was the best part of this episode. The chemistry between Bilal Khan and the child actor playing the role of Shahzaib has definitely elevated the overall effect this particular track has on the viewers. The dialogue “Itne pyare insan ko insan banane mei zarur kamyabi ho gi … aik bara insan.” was one of my most favorite dialogue from tonight’s episode and this scene was so touching. Shahzaib was finally questioning his father for a change instead of accepting everything he saw and adopting it as well. Aalyan is a mentor for him now who he looks up to more than anyone else around him.
Chaudhrani turned to Aalyan for help only after she saw the change in her son. Right from the beginning she has been shown as someone who does not believe in playing the victim even when the odds are against her and once again she was seen doing something tangible to change the way things were. Chaudhrani’s character has also evolved in the past few episodes, there was a time when she was only looking out for her own self but now she is also one of those people who want to do something to change the system. Although there are many times when there isn’t much she can do to change a situation but she always questions Chaudhry and does whatever she can.
Chandni finally arrived in Rahim Yar Khan after all these years and her body language and expressions showed that she was a completely different person now – someone who had lost everything but had found a new purpose in life, something that would make her feel less guilty.
I am completely in awe of this drama and truly appreciate the hard work the entire team of Sammi put in to give us this amazing play which has so much to offer. Every episode of Sammi is intense, detailed and satisfying! It is one of those very few dramas which covers so many different issues but does so with precision.
How many of you watched this episode. Do share your thoughts about it.
The chartbuster of 2016, Udaari was a play that influenced one and all. The play unveiled a social issue which was untouched this whole while.
The whole cast of Udaari impressed the audiences and Ahsan Khan, the man who was loved as an actor but hated as Paa Imtiaz won many accolades for his breathtaking performance. However, Faisal Qureshi reveals that he was the first choice for Imtiaz’s character but turned it down, here’s why:
Sana Javed is gearing up for her debut film Mehrunisa We Lub U this Eid-ul-Fitr. The actress is currently promoting her upcoming flick along with Danish Taimoor and the producers of the film. Recently, she appeared on a show at PTV Home and this is what she said about leading stars of Pakistan.
Making her acting debut in 2014 with Na Maloom Afraad, the London-based model turned actress, Kubra Khan, turned heads as soon as she became part of the Pakistani entertainment industry. Film and drama serials lined up, Kubra now appeared in a commercial for Morinaga Chil-School.
In this new TVC, Kubra is seen in a mother’s role. In a simple dress and a sleek do, Kubra Khan is simply looking beautiful. The concept is very simple and the advertisement is short and truly complements the main agenda.
The 16th edition of Lux Style Awards aired last night and it was full of unexpected surprises. Often dubbed as ‘Pakistani Oscars’, the Lux Style Awards are the oldest, most prominent awards show since their inception in 2002.
The event was hosted by the ever charming Atif Aslam who had some fun segments to his credit. During one of his segments, he made fun of Ali Zafar and boy, was he funny?
Many celebrities these days spend hours working on their health, fitness and diets to achieve their weight-loss goals. Some celebs seek out extreme methods to shed pounds, while others transform with the aid of healthier methods. A popular Pakistani celebrity sheds 15 kg and looks extremely young after the transformation.
Known for her nuanced characters and intense storylines, Mehreen Jabbar is one of the television’s most respected directors. After transitioning onto the silver screen and leaving her mark, Mehreen is now coming back to our television screens.
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Mehreen Jabbar is directing two telefilms slated to air on Eid-ul-Fitr.
The first untitled project written by Younus Butt features Sana Javed and Feroze Khan in lead roles, the other stars Hina Dilpazeer, Saba Hameed, Madiha Imam in titular roles.
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Mehreen Jabbar’s latest film Dobara Phir Se failed to survive at the box office, however, the director is now back to entice the audiences with her plays.
With two successful films Bin Roye and Janaan to her credit, and Yalghaar set to be released on Eid ul-Fitr, Pakistani/Canadian actress Armeena Khan has now been nominated for ‘Best Actress’ in film category at The Eastern Eye Arts, Culture & Theatre Awards (ACTAs) for her role as Meena in Janaan.
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One of the finest actresses of the current batch, Sanam Saeed has also been nominated for ‘Best Actress’ for her performance in Rahm (2016). Other nominations in the category include Indira Verma for a drama series
Actors and actresses these days going through body transformation for their projects is a common thing now. From the likes of Hamza Ali Abbasi and Fawad Khan going through massive transformations, many actors feel the need to fit into their roles in order to give their best.
Joining the clan of actors who go through transformation is Bilal Ashraf. After 18 stitches in the head and several broken bones, Bilal reveals that getting ready for Yalghaar was one of the toughest things he’s ever had to do.
Speaking to Instep, Bilal said, “The most challenging thing for me with Yalghaar was staying fit. I had to bring myself down to 8 percent body fat. I trained with the SSG commandos. I fired live weapons, bombs, rockets. You name it and we’ve done it. I had to jump out of a helicopter. I don’t think anyone in Pakistan has ever done that. It’s taken a lot out of me but I’m very, very proud to be standing at this platform because I share screen space with some of our legends like Shaan Shahid, Humayun Saeed, Ayub Khoso and Adnan Siddiqui. I think Hassan Rana has done a fantastic job in bringing all these actors together for Pakistan,”
When asked if the role required him to lose body fat or he decided to do on his own?
“I think it was a bit of both. My director wanted me to get extremely fit. When he said fit, I didn’t realize what he meant by ‘fit’. So I went for my first spell and I was sent back because I wasn’t fit enough. I regularly run 22 rounds of a cricket ground so I thought I was fit but it wasn’t that. I had to go through intense training with the SSG soldiers. I was living with them, eating what they eat and sleeping when they sleep. Hence, I was able to pull off everything that you’ll see me doing in the film.”
Dangling on a very low 8 percent. Is that something one can maintain on a long term basis? “Not for a long duration, no. But for short bursts (a couple of months) it’s okay,” shared Ashraf. “I brought myself down especially for the poster. I thought that Inshallah, aagey bachay dekhein gey,” he added jokingly.
In terms of diet, Ashraf shares that everything was different for this role of a lifetime. “I was on boiled food for two years. No salt, no bread. The tough part is maintaining the weight. You have to work and shoot, people are eating around you and you have to control yourself and stick to your diet food. It’s tough.”
Did Ashraf avail the help of a nutritionist or a dietician? “I would like to mention my trainer, Faisal Butt, and Anil, my physiotherapist, who’ve been with me in all this. I’ve gotten a lot of injuries during this film. My head got busted open, I got 18 stitches. I broke my wrist. But it was all worth it.”
Ashraf concluded the conversation by giving some health tips. “Stay away from protein shakes. It messes up your stomach and gut. Please, don’t use steroids or protein shakes. Your kidneys are really affected by all this. Your life can get ruined if you mess up your health. Currently we have a lot of bodybuilders who don’t have the proper knowledge and it results in lots of deaths as well. Please keep it natural, keep it lean and keep it clean.”
Faysal Qureshi is known as one of the most versatile and successful actors in Pakistan; be it dramas or film. The actor puts a smile on everyone’s face first thing in the morning with his show Salam Zindagi, he’s loved by many for his spirited personality. Recently, he spoke about a matter which has created an uproar in the entertainment fraternity and we must say he nailed every bit of it!
