Not only has Ali Zafar done great work in films but has also shown a positive side of Pakistan to the world.

From becoming the country’s biggest music sensation to making it big in Bollywood with the critically acclaimed Tere Bin Laden and the commercial success of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Ali Zafar has always made us Pakistanis proud! Not only has he done great work but he has also shown a positive side of Pakistan to the world. Lets have a short conversation with him about his works and interests in Bollywood films

1 How was the experience of working in LPNY?

We had a lot of fun shooting in three different cities, two of which (London and New York) are world hubs while Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And since each place had its own charm, that made the whole experience a lot more enjoyable. Now that the film is out and has received appreciation and great reviews, it feels even better to be associated with such a project. Overall, it has been a fantastic experience!

2 Your acting stint in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan was amazing. Do you think you’ve done an equally good job in LPNY?

It’s only my third film and I’m still learning. Whether it’s acting or singing, I like to consider myself a student rather than a master of a particular form of art. Abhishekh Sharma, the director for Tere Bin Laden, thought that this was my best acting so far.

3 LPNY is the first Bollywood movie in which you composed the music too. How was the experience?

It’s slightly different from composing music otherwise but nonetheless very refreshing, memorable and interesting. I love making music so it felt great to keep in touch with my musical side too. When I compose music for my own album, I do whatever I feel like. But in composing music for a film, I had to rely on the framework given and satisfy the entire team, not just myself.

4 Aditi Rao is a newcomer. Were you hesitant in working with her?

We needed a fresh face and Aditi was perfect for the role.

5 How was the experience of working in MBKD different from LPNY?

MBKD was a big scale commercial comedy with Katrina and Imran whereas LPNY is a love story revolving around two people. Also, MBKD targeted the masses and LPNY targets the youth, so both films are very different from each other.

6 Now,  you’ve become a major name in Bollywood. What is the reason behind that?

I think it’s because I work extremely hard around the clock, and with a lot of sincerity and humility. Also, I don’t have any unnecessary biases in my heart.

7 Amitabh Bachchan once tweeted while in hospital, he heard your music and it comforted him. How did that feel?

Appreciation coming from a legend like Amitabh — who is known to appreciate art and someone who is into classical acting and music — felt really good.

8 Do you think there’s a constant pressure on you considering you’re representing our country across the border?

I obviously do think about what people are going to feel like back at home and what they’re going to think but then at the end of the day I really can’t please everyone. So I make it a point to keep my own conscience satisfied. I do what I think is right and hope people like my work.

9 Have you ever felt any bias from the audience, considering they know you’re a Pakistani?

No, I haven’t faced any biases. I’ve been welcomed with an open heart and a lot of appreciation. More than me, it’s the people who are responsible for making me who I am today.

Do you think Ali should give his time to bollywood more or do you want to see him working to improvise the conditions in Pakistan Films ? Drop by your comments and feedback

S. Rasool

Motherhood is the most difficult and yet the job that is the most loved job. This job seems a lot tougher when you are the single mother of your child. Motherhood brings lots of hugs, kisses, laughter and thousands of precious moments. Being a single mother is more than just enjoyment, it is a big challenge. In societies like Pakistan, nowadays due to some space for modernization, single mothers are being accepted by the society whether they are divorced or widowed. People give them respect and honour which was previously not given. This article is for all the single mothers out there. I salute you for your sacrifices, courage and hard work. A single mother has to be the mother and the father of her child at the same time. She must be capable enough to perform the house hold duties, the office duties and also the child’s duties. Single mothers have no day off, they have to work all day in the office and at home and they can not sleep until their child sleeps. She has to work like a machine all the time just for the sake of her child’s better life.

They have to raise their child by taking care of him, by letting him know the right and wrong things, by looking after him and much more. They have to see whether he or she is in a good company or not. They have to make him feel that they are always there. There are moments when the child feels the need of a father but at that time you have to let him know that you are always there by his side no matter what. Children can be very demanding and irritating at times. The feelings that they give to their mother are those that no other person can feel. Their funny questions, their drawings everything has a message that only a mother can understand much better than the others. A child will scream if you don’t buy him chocolates, he will run away if you force him to brush his teeth and he will laugh at you when you are all sweaty in the kitchen, at all these times only a mother knows how to treat her child.

A single mother spends a lot of time in making her child feel special. She cooks his favourite meal, buys him new toys, leaves him to school, participate in everything he wants but still there is a space left and there is a time when the child asks his mother that all my friends have fathers, where is my father? A very close friend of mine has been through a separation and I know how difficult it is for her to spend her time satisfying her child. Men don’t understand this; if they are given the responsibility of the child only then they will know the perfect meaning and importance of a mother. It is very easy for them to break a relationship but it is always the sacrifice and compromise of the mother. She has to think of thousand things before going for a separation and the man just goes for what he wants to do. A single mother does feel the need of a husband, a father for her child, someone to share things with and most of all someone to share the enchanting moments of their children.

After all the days tiring work, when the child goes to sleep, the mother just lies down and thinks that if she had her partner with her then how would life be? This is the time when she wishes truly to have someone who could take care of her feelings, her tiredness and most of all her tantrums. According to me, couples should not have children if they think that they are not compatible with each other. If a couple is facing problems and they are having fights then they must take measures to either solve the issues or go for a separation before having children. Moreover if they have children, then they must take the option of separation out of their mind. God gives children to see whether the parents raise them well or not and if we fight and get separated then how this will affect he mentality of the children. We must think about the children’s future before making any decision because a couple has this gift of a baby then all their decisions revolve around the baby’s life.

Written by: Moomal Hassan.

A new multitalented rising star who has set sails to conquer all the challenging arenas, HAA is not only a director, writer, actor, theatre performer but model as well. Though he is equally adept in all the fields his true passion is theatre and filmmaking. HAA a former CSP officer resigned to follow his passion, earned his bachelors’ degree from the US and masters from Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. His sister Dr. Fazeela Abbasi, a dermatologist by profession, has appeared in mornings shows as skin expert. HAA has already made his mark in the domain of theater by giving exceptional and varied performances and is now on his way to pave paths in other media fields.

Apart from his topnotch theatrical performances his career in filmmaking will hopefully be exceptional similarly. His debut directorial which he authored himself Mud House and the Golden Doll is based on a true character (HAA encountered that Malang in Multan where he grew up), and explored a unique yet intriguing friendship between a Malang and a little girl. The movie on its first screening received a standing ovation from the crowd. However his upcoming flick Kambakht a comedy is already in process of earning him a label of versatile director as well. Featuring HAA, Shehyar Munawar Siddique, Saba Qamar and Sohai Ali Abro, Kambakht is expected to be released in early 2014.

HAA didn’t make a good impression by his first Tv. appearance in the Umang Lassi ad particularly because of the annoying ad, but later ads and his debut play Mere Dard Ko Jo Zuban Milay on the other hand showed the spark for acting on screen as well. Pyaare Afzal has captured true talents of HAA as an accomplished actor whose near-to-life acting is receiving loads of appreciation and critical acclaim. His performances in Waar, MHSA and MHGD received loads of critical appreciation. His diverse roles in theater, drama and film and his directorial ventures though few in number are more than enough to prove is flawless acting and versatility, he has earned same degree of fame on ramp as well.

Best wishes for HAA on his voyage and I hope he keeps steering his ship flawlessly in future too!

Faiza Cheema

Black is a very neutral color and it is my personal favorite because it usually goes with everything. In this article I am going to describe the black color and its advantages. Black is a very flattering color and it is really very trendy. Usually if you have a black tight it will go with almost any top may it be of any color. In the same way if you have a black coat, you can wear it on any colored sweater and jeans. I have black colored boots and they almost go with any dress I wear so they are my personal favorites. Another wonderful advantage of black dresses is that they usually give you a slimmer and a fashionable look. Black is in fashion since 1920 and till now its popularity has not faded. Many designers love to use black in their collections and this is why no wardrobe is considered complete if black is not present there. Black color is best for all kinds of skin tones. It usually makes darker girls look attractive and fair girls look fairer.

There are so many ways to use black in your every day routine. Black is worn as T shirts, sleeveless shirts, tank tops and many other sorts of dresses. As winter is at its peak, black fur coats and shawls give you an elegant look. In the office black colored trousers, skirts and coats give a classy look. The biggest plus point of black is that it works on every fabric. May it be cotton, silk, wool or any other stuff black is something that is never missed. Black leather coats and tops are very in fashion these days. They give you a fashionable dazzling look. People usually wear black alone but I will suggest a mix and match outfit. You can often add up some colors with black. I used the highlighter pink and yellow with black a lot in summers as it is a great combination. Apart from this a green or navy blue shirt goes well with black jeans. Black sequins and embroidery looks great on any colored dress. So for weddings a simple hot pink long dress with black embroidery looks fabulous. It dazzles every other person.

Most people term black as the color of mourning but I do not agree with this. I have seen beautiful wedding dresses with black combinations and the brides who wear that look absolutely stunning. The repetition of black in the fashion trends is the evidence to support my thought that it is definitely not the color of the mourning. Black is usually worn by all sorts of people; kids, teens, elderly people, rich and poor etc. For all that, the intriguing thing about wearing black is that it can mean whatever you want it to; sexy or elitist, religious or seductive. It is a very adjusting color and this is what makes it this popular. Black is considered to be a pure color this is why it is highly adaptable as it is. No changes or transformation is required. It is the color of the poets and the writers, this shows that it is the choice of highly intellectual people.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana say that black is a supreme color and it is the sum of all colors. Mediterranean beauty is depicted through the color black. Apart from all this black is a convenient color. People look good in black this is why they find it better than the other colors. It makes fatter people look thinner which they consider as a miracle. Black color hides stains; this is a wonderful house hold color as well. For women who do the house holds stuff, black is the best choice because mostly stains do not get much prominent on this color. A professor of fashion says that the color black shows two different things, on one hand every one looks different in it and on the other hand it is a uniform.

Gold is when mixed with black, a wonderful combination is made. In fact all metallic colors look extremely gorgeous with black. Even if you only wear a black hat, your whole looks change. A vintage look is created which makes you look different. Colorful accessories with black can create magic. More over leopard and cheetah print goes very well with black and makes it double trendy. If you know how to wear black as a color then you are going to rock believe me it is fabulous.

Written by: Moomal Hassan.

Bringing the razzmatazz back to theatres in January is Nida Butt’s Made-For-Stage Productions with their rendition of Grease. We all remember Grease, of course: a raunchy John Travolta and a doe-eyed Olivia Newton John crooning all the way through their high school romance until they drive happily away into the sunset. Grease was your typical teen romance peppered with fabulous songs – and John and Olivia certainly knew how to shake a leg to them. Now imagine the magic reenacted on a stage before you, with live music, well-choreographed dancing and a very good-looking ensemble cast. It promises to be a musical extravaganza, right up Made-For-Stage’s alley. Better yet, it’s all very official, this time around.

“We bought the copyrights for Grease before we decided to show it on stage,” says Nida. “It’s very easy to just pick up the script of a popular Western musical and show it at a theatre without getting permission from the original creators. So far, theatre groups in Pakistan have managed to evade legal action but that still doesn’t make it right. The copyrights to Grease were very expensive. The movie has a cult following and the Theatre Rights Worldwide organization refused to allow concessions on its price. Still, I really wanted to bring the musical to stage – and to go about it legally.”

Was she helped in paying the hefty fees by the multinational sponsors that have inevitably played a major role in spurring Pakistani theatre on? “No, we paid it completely by ourselves. We do hope to make profits or at least break-even by the help of sponsors, though,” she laughs.

Does this mean that ticket prices will be expensive? Unfortunately, they just might be although Nida is yet to get down to the nitty-gritties.

Still, getting copyrights is a precedent that Nida has set – not just for other thespians but also for herself. Barring the original Karachi that she put out two years ago, her earlier musical productions Mamma Mia and Chicago were both ‘borrowed’ without permission and shown to packed houses locally. “When we staged Chicago, the company that holds the play’s copyrights contacted us via e-mail, asking us why we hadn’t asked for permission. When we explained that we were working in conjunction with a charity, they allowed us to continue. The same thing happened with Mamma Mia. It made me realize that the world is now a global village where everything is laid out in the open via the Internet. Even when staging a Broadway musical to a limited audience in Pakistan, it is important to obtain copyrights.”

The copyrights also enable Made-For-Stage to take Grease further, if they want. “We can set our sights at newer audiences, a place like Dubai, perhaps,” says Nida. “Provided that the play is successful during its initial run in Karachi, of course.”

If Nida’s earlier musicals are anything to go by, Grease looks exciting. The stage is set for some ‘Greased Lightning’ with Ayesha Omer in the lead as the love struck Sandy, Sanam Saeed – who’s become quite a regular feature in Nida’s plays – as the tongue-in-cheek Rizzo and Islamabad-based Ahmed Ali as our swaggering hero. “Ahmed has acted in theatre before but this is the first time he’s worked with us,” says Nida. “He has incredible diversity.” Sanam Saeed, of course, has become quite a regular feature in Nida’s plays. Ayesha Omar who has never really stood out for her TV roles despite the success of Bulbulay may just floor us on the stage as the singing-dancing Sandy. It’ll be interesting to see her sing live, especially since she’s won a Lux Style Award for ‘Best Singer’ this year – an accolade which was heavily critiqued since her album didn’t exactly skyrocket amongst the masses.

There’s going to be a live orchestra sitting right next to the stage, typically of Made for Stage – unlike other theatre groups, they refuse to just pop in a CD in order to churn out a musical. With Nida’s husband and Coven lead Hamza Jafri playing music director and vocal coach and Nida co-choreographing the dances with Abdul Ghani, there’s a hugely talented entourage working on this production. True, there won’t be any of the ‘Pakistaniat’ that one has grown to relish in the plays orchestrated by the other mainstream theatre group in the country – Kopykat Productions spearheaded by Dawar Mehmood with scripts by Anwar Maqsood – but Grease isn’t making any professions towards nationalism in the first place. It is, simply, a musical odyssey emulating the glamourama of Broadway onto the Pakistani stage – a niche that Made for Stage has certainly carved for itself.

Yet it’s been nearly two years since Nida put out her last musical, Karachi. Why the long sabbatical? “We stayed busy with smaller non-musical productions, like Carnage and The Pillowman,” she says. “It takes time to conceptualize and then orchestrate a large-scale musical.”

And while her efforts to gain copyrights are admirable, why didn’t she opt to stage another original, like Karachi The Musical? “I want to keep bringing diversity to theatre,” says Nida. “I do plan to produce more original musicals in the future but I also absolutely love Grease I just had to bring it to stage.”

Let us know how anxiously are you waiting for “GREASE”

S. Rasool

Gone are the days when we had perfect, flawless heroes whose actions and characteristics defined them as heroes. With influence of modern age and then the postmodern, like every conventional ideal and notion, the ideologies of an idealized hero were also questioned and we were presented we heroes who were ordinary individuals, who truly represented the masses instead of the privileged few but despite being ordinary they were and are worthy to be called heroes. Pakistani industry has had a bulk of ideal, perfect heroes, ordinary-perfect heroes, ordinary-flawed yet equally heroic heroes as well. However the heroes we encounter now seem more antiheroes, they aren’t necessarily villainous but lack of any constructive characteristics, persona and will categorizes them as sidekicks rather than heroes.

1. Pir Shahab (Aseer Zadi)

Pir Shahab not only lacks determination and intelligence, he is also kind of effeminate. Without giving a second thought to any issue which will obviously involve his abilities, intelligence and working of mind he blindly believes whatever he is told by anyone. For example Fatima told her Bhari Sarkar don’t want to go with him or even meet him, she left her house because of Maira etc. Shahab belived every single word without questioning or using his mind. First Amna’s accusation, then Pir Jalal told him Maira is unfaithful to him; he again decided not to use his intelligence which he obviously doesn’t have. Pir Shahab is perhaps the most inconsistent and unreliable hero. Not to mention his honeymoon with Maira where he seemed to having the time of the world, but suddenly took a 180 degree turn after the honeymoon was over and realized the looming danger which he somehow had forgotten for two days :P

2. Arham (Mujy Khuda Pe Yaqeen Hai)

Arham is more of a crybaby than hero, whose only purpose is complaining, searching for a shoulder to cry on rather than face the situation manly. Instead of remedying and letting go the past issues he is needlessly obsessed with them. Other than that he most of the times seems bewildered without any knowledge about anything whatsoever with sole purpose of complaining, shouting and crying like a woman.

3. Aaliyan (Asmaano Pe Hai Likha)

Another hero who has deficiencies of strong resolve, will, his view-point, the courage to stick to his point of view and above all self-respect. The way Natasha treats him and his response “baby, baby listen” further deteriorates his image rather than portraying him as kind hearted and sympathetic. Even the sympathetic aspect of his personality hardly invokes feelings for him. He too lacks the essential ingredients of a hero be even a flawed one.

Azfal (Pyaare Afzal) is a flawed individual yet his characteristics define him as one of the most endearing heroes now days. He is not kindhearted, weak-willed, contradictory and effeminate (till now) like the above mentioned ones, yet inspite of his failings and shortcomings he incurs awwws and awes from viewers.

Faiza Cheema

While most of us do not like talking about her we must have definitely come across the viral video of hers with a 12-year old kid Arbaz Khan. So far the video titled “Jhootha” has earned for itself uncountable likes and shares over the social media which has sparkled the success of it.

“It’s a nice, lovable and cute video and there is nothing chichora (cheap) about it,” This is what mathira has to say about the video and she completely neglects the negative perception which has arisen from public on her video.

Mathira may sound shocked by what she likes to call a ‘strange’ response from the public, but the negative response has more to do with her cosying up to a 12-year-old than anything else. One might find the featuring of the young boy as a gimmick to get the attention, but Mathira believes that it’s just cute.

“What if a kid is praising me in a cute fashion?” she asks her critics.“What’s wrong with a young boy coming up to you and saying that you are so beautiful? After all, appreciation does come in many forms.”

She shared the concept behind the video, which was about a young fan that accidentally runs into Mathira, and starts praising her in his own way. Arbaz Khan is an upcoming rapper signed up by the same record label as Mathira, Beyond Records. Mathira believes Arbaz, who wrote all the lyrics himself, is a very talented musician and has done a great job.

“More than promoting new talent, it was an honour for me and Arbaaz to perform alongside one another, and haters will hate no matter what I do” she says.

The memes popping are mainly critical of Mathira’s wardrobe, deeming it to be vulgar.

“This is where the Pakistani double standard comes in,” she scoffs.

“What’s wrong with a kid being featured in a video along with a girl in a jumpsuit, when every other kid in Pakistan has listened to songs which are ten times more vulgar, such as Candy Shop.”

Mathira strongly believes that people tend to mix culture with entertainment, something that she had to argue about when she started her career as a late night show, and continues to do so with this video.

“We should not mix media and entertainment with culture. Media is flashy, glamorous and fake, so let be like that!”

We all know that the young lady does know how to remain in the lime light of the industry. She also contributed in an Indian Film performing an item number, then she also got hold of an Indian advertisement which also became a subject of concern in our industry but she is brave enough to fight with all and similarly she does with it too – The new video of hers with a kid

We wish her good luck and expect her to come with something  SENSIBLE, the next time which doesn’t at least get covered with controversies

Let us know whether you have also seen the video and do write to us about your take on her video’s popularity

S. Rasool

The first sketch you plan to draw after learning sketching, is of your favorite celebrity most of the time. If you are into sketching or painting, this post might be an interesting stuff to share your experiences too. Here are 5 of my most favorite Pakistani celebrities and their pencil sketches (made by their fans) who are followed by a huge audience for their acting and singing these days.

Have a look!

1)Hamza Ali Abbasi

2013 has had been really lucky for him as it was only last year that Hamza Ali Abbasi turned into a real famous star in terms of his acting and direction. He is currently seen in drama serial Pyaray Afzal after earning much of fame for his acting in Waar and MHSA. The sketch above has a little room for improvement but still, he can easily be recognized.

2)Atif Aslam

Atif’s fans are just uncountable and so are the tributes given by them. It is nothing new to have seen such a sketch appearing on internet. In fact, there are a couple of even better sketches of Atif which are made by his fans.

3) Bilal Khan

‘Main doob raha- Bachaana’ singer, Bilal Khan, is followed largely by his female fans partly for his singing and partly for his looks which speak innocence. A sketch made by one of his fans. 

4) Fawad Khan

He had to be in this list.  He just had to! After Humsafar, Ashar became the only man for whom every female heart craved for. It was soon that the social media was found overloaded with such creative drawings and one of them has been shared above.

5)Imran Abbas

Imran Abbas loves to have his photoshoots and so does he loves to have his sketches which are often drawn by his fans. This sketch is one of my favorites as the pencil work is done very delicately and all in all, it reveals more than a colorful photograph can.

So these were the  5 celebrities in my list.  If you ever have sketched down any celebrity on paper, please do share your talent with us.

Wishes,

Nida Zaidi

Star appeal is an abstract phenomenon; some entertainers are born with impeccable comic timing, others with twinkling toes, while few latch themselves on to a godfather and going down the make up and training route, strut the stage. And then there are the few who simply exude elements of style and give off vibes of a elevated persona; it is done with such effortless ease that the mass public cannot help but regard the artist with a degree of awe.

The yuppie world of advertising is distinctly different from the family sagas on television that in turn differ tremendously from the garish arc lights of Lollywood. To glide through these three mediums is a task few want to embrace whole heartedly, yet this woman dabbled with all three.

The onlookers and particles of the industry have varying opinions. Some call it a “begum act” others shudder at what they feel is “excessive high maintenance” yet this is one woman who knows her mind and thank heavens is not part of the clique whose tale commence on a note of a young damsel in distress being thrown on to the ramp and told to shed its cocoon.

Moving around in a whirl of meetings and shootings, the cliché of a harassed secretary and an enthusiastic mother do prevail but calling the shots is an ambitious mother of three who appealed to the public from the day she appeared onscreen to sell Lux soap in the late eighties. The lure of light eyes, a gora complexion and lots of confidence appealed to the masses and from then onwards the onstage saga began.

It is a mindset varying from the norm at the moment, as numerous Asian productions are making their presence known globally with films heading towards the Oscars and channels supplying the desi culture from Timbuktu to New Zealand.

Atiqa feels that “more than one element keeps our Pakistani programs from moving abroad, not just the financing which would be required for such a project, also the size of a select audience it would be catering to..”

In the early years one of the most common sights onscreen was her portrayal of a young mother trying to convince the pesky brat to consume a glass of Nido or tell all the onlookers to use a particular brand of cooking oil. Debuting as Anwer Maqsood’s Sitara she enacted the pretty and fragile character who invoked empathy and reactions that made the average Jane relate more to her than the firebrand Mehrunnisa thus ensuring that a star was born. “A lot of it depends on kismet, the way people receive your play or react to it.”

Going by her career chart you do believe her statement that all her roles have a strong element of diversity to them. Instead of forever playing the spoilt little princess or the Muslim social drama post Sitara aur Mehrunnisa she went on to do the role of a slum- living, perpetually pregnant woman in Nijaat which was part of the family planning propaganda. “There were lots of people who warned me against doing that play.

They all said that I would be slotted forever in the de-glamorized role, but I went ahead and it worked.” Explaining how “people think I take my work very lightly and it is part time hobby for me but little do they know that not only does it hold extreme importance in my life I also do take it extremely seriously.”

It is back to television these days, not just as the producer of a television serial that is going to be directed by her long time friend Marina Khan. Also on the cards is producing and hosting a talk show aimed at showcasing the creative genius of Pakistan.

“Basically I love people, and I feel that there are so many of them who have contributed to society not just by doing charity work or such noble acts but even by generating a controversy they add to the growing picture. I want to discuss with them the good, the bad and all the other issues ranging from the environment to what their interests were and why they have spent their lives nurturing them. Having shot a number of episodes I was very surprised to see that most of them are very patriotic despite the fact that some have gone through a pretty rough time here but amazingly their spirits do not sag.”

What sets her and a few select apart from the television behnjis and the film starlets is the different attitude. Loathing the constant moaning and whining that is carried out by the entertainment industry en masse, she says: “A lot of people bemoan the lack of professionalism and the work conditions here. But as I keep telling them this is the one place where you can stand out and carve a niche for yourself.”

To her it is more about fair play than a self-imposed moral brigade. “But the issue lies with the fact that right now we have shows on television where there are nautch girls performing and if it was a level playing field I would have no problems with it. The things we can’t do by holding hands and embracing, need to be done through emoting expressions. It is so much more difficult to show physical attraction here than anywhere else because here it is all in the eyes, and that makes it very challenging.”

With three Lollywood films to her credit, Jo Dar Gaya Woh Maar Gaya was the debut vehicle that had her singing duets with Nadeem as she ran around a piano. Followed by Mummy whose fate at the box office was rather barren and the last one being the biggest hit of the trio — Mujhe Chaand Chahiye. The role of Shan’s mother was not one that many actresses below the age of fifty would relish, but Atiqa chatted with the moon during a good part of the three hours and got accolades en masse for it. “None of my roles have been typical. The glamour is there, the songs are there and the dancing was there. But I am essentially there as a performer and that is exactly what led me to play Shaan’s mother in MCC. It was not a Barbie doll role and that is one thing I would hate to take on.”

Please drop-in your comments and feedback about this article

S. Rasool

Junaid Jamshed has been in the limelight for years. First for his music, then for his decision to quit music and now for his fashion label JJ.

Junaid Jamshed was the most successful singer of his time along with his band mates in the legendary Vital Signs. When he quit music, he turned towards fashion designing and currently his label JJ has over 30 outlets all over Pakistan. Junaid never realised that he would get so much success in both music and fashion. “It was never about success,” he says as he takes off his prayer cap and scratches his head. Junaid the man gives off a warm vibe.

Animated and easy, Junaid’s hands move in all directions when he speaks, but his eyes hold yours. He makes eye contact and keeps smiling. He is a celebrity, but one that celebrities of the day would rather not acknowledge.

Despite having more stores than Amir Adnan, he is not as acknowledged by the fashion fraternity as a successful retailer. Perhaps they can’t relate to his religiousity, but then again, that could also be his innate humility.
Junaid has no hang ups about admitting that his success as the lead vocalist in the country could be attributed to people like Shoaib Mansoor, Rohail Hyatt and Shehzad Hasan.  We caught up with JJ recently to talk about fashion, music and of course, the legend that was Vital Signs and in that process, give Junaid his due…

Q-: How do you feel about the Danish caricatures? What do you think of the way we are responding to it?

Junaid Jamshed: I feel exactly the way you’re feeling. I am a Pakistani. I have more right over this country than you. This soil demands more from me than from you because it gave me a name. Today, if I go to America or India or Africa, people will know me because of the soil I come from. Our Prophet (PBUH) was called a lot of names including a magician, a poet and even a lunatic. By calling him names, his respect and honour wouldn’t go down. Would anything happen to him or Allah? No, it wouldn’t!

His companions didn’t burn down houses and destroy their own properties. This is not the way to deal with the Danish caricatures. They need to be dealt, yes! But in a different way. We are more concerned about the cartoons than what we are doing and how our Prophet must be feeling. What about the believers who are not following his words in abundance every single day. Why aren’t we reacting to that? I’m more concerned about that. Our lives are not getting affected because of what others are doing but because of what we are not doing.

Q-: Around the time Dil Ki Baat was releasing, you decided to leave music. Why?

Junaid Jamshed: Dil Ki Baat was very close to my heart. Even though I don’t listen to those songs anymore but if I go back, some of those songs had a lot to say in my life. Shoaib (Mansoor) and I had composed the track ‘Dil Ki Baat’ six or seven years before it actually came out. Songs like ‘Kaho Na’ and songs like ‘Intezaar Karna’ were very close to me, but at that time I had a change of heart.

Q: How come?

Junaid Jamshed: Because I was going towards the path of Allah and I was learning new things. Things that held priority in my life then were losing their value. And right in the middle of it, Dil Ki Baat came out. It was neither here nor there. I wasn’t even aware of its release because I had made plans to leave music. I personally feel that technically it was the best album we (me and Shoaib) ever made.

Q: You were also offered a part in Khuda Key Liye?

Junaid Jamshed: Initially I did take the role but I couldn’t go ahead with it because there were a lot of conflicting ideas within the movie as far as I was concerned. My environment had changed. I tried to do it but I couldn’t. You must realize that my relationship with Shoaib was not just of an artist and a producer. We were the best buddies. We were the most like – minded people when making music. We used to make a song while taking a stroll. He would make a line and I would make a line and those songs turned out to be huge hits.

Q: Give me a few names?

Junaid Jamshed: ‘Tumhara Aur Mera Naam’, ‘Ab Jiya Na Jaaye’, ‘Teray Liye Hai Mera Dil’, ‘Tum Duur Thay’, ‘Naraz Hum’, ‘Yaar Nahie Haar Dey’. Now when I look back, it was the best musical duo in Pakistan at that particular time. But then, I realized that I had a huge responsibility on me. This entire youth was doing exactly as I was saying and what was I telling them? Where was I taking them? All these thoughts bothered me.

Q: Vital Signs were a revolution in the Pakistani music scene. You changed our music history forever. VS are legends to date. When you look back, what do you miss about those days?

Junaid Jamshed: I miss… what do I miss? Okay, let me put it this way, when I sit back and look at the past, I’m not ashamed of what I did. In fact when I look at it from the point of sincerity, I must say and I cannot comment on others, but we were the most sincere band when it came to making music. Money was always secondary. That’s why myself, Rohail (Hyatt) and Shahi (Shehzad Hasan) never fought on money. There was never a problem with ‘I did more; he did less’ in the band. We were friends first and band members later. Even today we are friends. And we came to a point where we decided that we won’t make more music because our friendship was getting affected. We were all superstars in our own capacity at that time (1997). We realized that we had done good work and we needed a break.

Q: So Vital Signs’ separation was temporary?

Junaid Jamshed: At that point, yes. Because I wanted to do music on my own. VS were everyone combined. I wanted to try something on my own. Rohail wanted to do some videos and audio stuff. Shahi wanted to do some studio work. We all became better at what we were doing and it became difficult to get back together and give time to each other.

Q: You all did one concert later for Nazia Hasan. How was it getting back on that stage with VS all over again?

Junaid Jamshed: Oh it was magic! I made more money when I became a solo artist but the feeling I used to get when Rohail and Shahi were with me on stage is incomparable. It was the most beautiful feeling I’ve ever had in my life. Rohail liked what I did, I liked what he did and the same goes for Shahi. Rohail and Shahi were two of the most brilliant musicians of our times. Salman Ahmed, Rizwan ulHaq and Nusrat Hussain  these people were the best musicians of their times. And they still are. God had somehow put all these people together and it was revolutionary.

Q: Musician turns towards fashion . how did that happen?

Junaid Jamshed: When I left music, I had to do something. It was forced; I had to make a living but honestly I had little idea that our brand would one day become such a huge name.

Q: Do you design yourself?

Junaid Jamshed: I used to design myself but not anymore. Now we have professional designers.

Q: What is your design philosophy?

Junaid Jamshed: Less is more

Q: Really?

Junaid Jamshed: (Laughs) I don’t mean it in terms of cloth. I mean in terms of embellishment. Since VS days, we used to design our own clothes. That is me, Rohail and Shahi. People used to ask us, “Which designer?” Woh jo ghar ke peeche darzi hota tha, he used to make it. So, I always knew that if I ever were to venture into fashion designing, I would be good at it. I had the brain and I strongly believe that in the Pakistani market, we haven’t done enough with Eastern wear. I knew that if I were to make a kurta, it would be fabulous. Look at this (points to the kurta he’s wearing), it’s got stripes and its dull brown. My idea was to play with the cut, work on a fabric that’s wearable as well as fashionable, put some nice buttons. You can go anywhere wearing this. I saw Amir Adnan doing it and I was very inspired. That inspiration encouraged me to go forward but I had a different approach. Once I played around with kurtas, I realised that the idea that men would wear anything was wrong. They too have a standard and it has to be met. When I became successful in that, I ventured into women’s wear. I only manufacture cloth; I don’t design dresses for women.

Q: What do you think of Pakistani fashion?

Junaid Jamshed: We don’t do fashion shows, we’re not in any sort of fashion programs so I really don’t know. I feel that since JJ has gone to different parts of Pakistan, I’ve seen and understood that Pakistan is a country with very diverse taste. If you have a designer store in Karachi, you don’t really know what’s going on Gilgit or Swat. A woman in Swat has nothing in common with a woman living in Karachi. The kinds of colours that sell in Peshawar do not sell in Quetta. I still feel that there is a lot of room for growth. From whatever I know, Mashallah the Pakistani fashion industry is going very well. Some of the names are making great stuff.

Q: Like who?

Junaid Jamshed: I like what Rizwan Beyg does. It’s very interesting. I like Faiza Samee and Hasan Shehryar Yasin. Apart from that, I’m a huge fan of Ather and Shehzad Raza, the kind of photography they do. I like Khawar Riaz, very professional, slick and up to date. These guys are doing great work.

Q: How do you feel about the Fashion Design Council?

Junaid Jamshed: I think it’s incredible, it is wonderful and they have my full support. Anything that projects the image of Pakistan in a positive and honourable way, I salute people who take such initiative. Designers like Maheen who have gained a huge name in Pakistan, I respect them and I’m always here.

Q: Have you been called by either of the two parties?

Junaid Jamshed: Maheen called me. It was very kind of her and we spoke but then I never got a call from her again. If I am called, I will consult with my fellow members and see what it is.

Q: You have over 30 outlets all over Pakistan. What is your business strategy?

Junaid Jamshed: It’s not about economincs, it’s a proper system. First, research is done. What kind of market it is? Is it financially feasible? What will be the initial expenditure? We come to a figure and then decide if we should open a store in a certain area. If the sales are good, then one doesn’t mind giving a higher rent.

Q: You advertise a lot. How feasible is that?

Junaid Jamshed: There are times when reaching out to people is more important than making money. One year we might not make a lot of profit on a certain product but the next year our advertising is less and we will gain more profit. You have to make a two or three year plan. It is the demand of a company that is growing. We cannot simply bank on the idea that today we open a shop and tomorrow we will make this much profit. We have outlets that make no money but they are there for a certain purpose, the reason being reaching people.

Q: What is your take on the current Pakistani music scene?

Junaid Jamshed: I am really not aware of the scene. However, I still meet my old friends from time to time if I come across them. The other day while I was recording my naat album, I met Ali Haider. It was really good to meet him after a long time. Somehow, he looks younger and younger every time I see him. But I must say something here that listening to the band members is very important. I remember that every time I did something that Rohail said “it won’t work” or “don’t,” he was right. Every time!

Q: If you hadn’t been a successful musician, do you think JJ would be so huge?

Junaid Jamshed: Yes, you’re right in a way. People knew who I was. But once people come inside the shop, the name isn’t enough to convince them to buy. The only advantage is they would know me and come to check out what I was doing.

You must have enjoyed the interview.. Drop in your comments and feedback beneath

S. Rasool

2013 has been great for Pakistan tv industry. Shows like ZGH, Aasmanon pay likha, Mann Kay moti, Kankar, dil-e-muzter have topped the rating charts. There have been some off beat plays like UBFN, Sannata, Aunn Zara, ANC & Pyaray Afzal which have been liked for their presentations & sheer brilliant performances. Now the year 2014 looks great & more amazing with the line up of Dramas coming on Different Channels. Let’s have a look at some shows which would hit the screen’s in 2014 :-

1) SILA :– This show is coming Soon on HUM tv & Stars Fahad Mustafa & Annie jaffri. It would be directed by Abis Raza.

2) Hum or Hum :- this show is coming soon on HUM TV as well it stars Sajal Ali, Mehreen Raheel, Shehroz Sabzwari & Vasay Ch. It would be directed by Fahim Burney & produced by Syed Afzal Ali.

3) Mere Meherban :- The show is coming soon on HUM tv. It has Ayeza Khan, Agha Ali, Neelam Muneer & Sanam Ch I’m lead roles & it is produced by 7th Sky ent & directed by Farooq Rind.

4) Zara aur Mehrunnisa :- this is an Ary digital project. It stars Momal sheikh, Junaid Khan, Mansha Pasha & Aly khan In lead roles. This show is produced by iDream ent.

5) Do Qadam Door Thay :– the promos are already on-air on Geo & the show stars Ayeza Khan, Sami Khan, Aly khan & Sana khan in lead roles (all khans :p). The show is produced by Ironline & it is directed by Mohsin Mirza.

6) Mere Apnay :– this show is replacing Mere Humrahi on Ary. There is a huge star cast but the lead roles are done by Nadeem Baig & Bushra Ansari, the production is done by BigBang ent.

7) Qudrat :- another project of Ary digital, the teasers are already on-air & it has Sajal Ali, Ahsan Khan, Nadeem Baig & Momal sheikh in lead roles & the show is directed by Barkat Siddiqui & produced by TS media.

8) Ahista Ahista :- the show is coming soon on HUM tv & has Adnan siddiqui, Mawra & Sarwat in lead roles. The shoot is still going on in USA.

9) Bashar Momin :- this is a Mega show which is coming soon on Geo ent. This stars Faysal Quershi, Sami Kham, Ajaz Aslam, Ushna Shah & Maheen Khaild amongst others. This is the most expensive drama ever made in Pakistan.

10) Gunahgar :- the show is coming soon on HUM tv. It stars Danish Taimoor, Ushna Shah, Sara Khan, Mansha Pasha & Farhan Ali Agha amongst Others.

Everyone knows about Bin Roye Ansoo & Mere Humdam Mere Dost so I did not mention them. But anyway I hope you guys like the article & gave me your feedback & do share about Amy other upcoming serial which you know about. Thanks & lots of love.

Natasha Khan

Initially the dramas were novel based in Pakistani showbiz; it was many years later after the advent of Ptv that Haseena Moin penned down the first non-novel based script of Kiran Kahani. Novel based dramas never went out of business but they’ve never been in fashion like they are now from the past half-decade or so. Most of the female writers who are now ruling Pakistan television got fame from monthly Urdu digests and have slowly reached the electronic media. Faiza Iftikhar is also amongst these writers and a very sought after writer.

Faiza Iftikhar’s novels and dramas tend to identify and pinpoint the issues prevalent in our society. Be it the issue of remarriage of a widow, the dilemma and trauma of a rape victim or her take on the classic Akbari Asghari in contemporary setup etc, she has given different prospects and aspects of these issues. Roag, Akbari Asghari, Bilquees Kaur, Zindagi Dhoop Tum Ghana Saya, Aunn Zara, Ik Naye Cinderella are amongst her best plays which not only prove her a versatile writer but a writer who is able to understand and highlight the harsh realities of life. It is always the take of the writer on the subject matter that makes a difference; she has presented forth serious issues in gravely grim tone in Roag and Zindagi Dhoop Tum Ghana Saya and simultaneously debatable issues with comic overtones in Aunn Zara, Bilquees Kaur and Akbari Asghari. Her recent plays Khoya Khoya Chand and Meri Zindagi Hai Tu have been complete disappointments as compared to her earlier projects. Both clichéd plots have nothing new to offer.

Another notable aspect of her dramas is the strong depiction of women; the house full of women in AZ all of them had a distinct personality, complex, multifold personality of Bilquees Kaur, transformation of Haleema in Yahan Pyar Nahi Hai from a hesitant housewife to a woman who had the abilities and courage to face every challenge in life, straightforward Akbari (Akbari Asghari) and Mithu (Manchalay) give us a vibrant array of strong women. Her near-to-life portrayals of female characters are relatable, a source for catharsis for many women.

Similarly she has written some outstanding novels which luckily haven’t been dramatized yet, I might not remember the names of novels but she has produced certain unforgettable characters and most of the times drama makers fail to capture the essence of the characters. The only problem with FI’s dramas are her abrupt endings and digressions, somewhere towards the ending she starts giving more space to side characters or needlessly stretch the drama. Her sitcom Manchalay was thoroughly engaging and entertaining but as it got stretched it lost its charm. Despite her flaws she has all ingredients of a captivating and engaging writer.

Faiza Cheema

There are a lot of morning shows that are aired on many Pakistani TV channels. These shows feature lots of segments, celebrity guests and other entertainment packages.A few of these shows are hosted by some of the most well-known actors and actresses of Pakistan. This gives their loyal fans a chance to see their favorite stars on television many times a week and to interact with them at times thorough live calls.

The top 5 hosts who have delighted us with their acting skills and keep us hooked with their morning shows are:

1) Juggan Kazim
Juggan Kazim is a very popular icon in the Pakistani entertainment industry. She has appeared in many hit dramas, she also works as a model for many designers and is the brand ambassador of Garnier Pakistan. Apart from her good looks, Juggan is also well known for her hosting abilities.
Her first show as a host, Beanbag, was written by her. Apart from this, she has hosted a number of other shows as well. Her current one, a morning show, airs on PTV by the name of Morning with Juggan.

2) Faisal Qureishi

Faisal Qureishi is one of the most popular and sought after actors in Pakistan. He has acted in more than thirty dramas. Apart from acting, Faisal also hosts a number of programs on TV.
As a morning show host, he appears in TV One’s Muskurati Mornings.  This program is one of the most watched morning show on Television not only due to Faisal’s popularity but also due to his hosting skills.

3) Sanam Baloch

Sanam Baloch is blessed with the ability to bring everything she does to life and to grab the attention of people easily. This can be witnessed in the roles that she has acted in a lot of award winning dramas as well as her ability to connect with people as a host . Watch Sanam at her best on her morning show on Samaa Tv, Subha Saverey Samaa Kay Sath.

4) Fahad Mustafa

Fahad Mustafa has achieved a lot at a very young age. He is not only an actor but also a model as well as a producer. Good looks aside, Fahad is very talented and this reflects in his work.
His sincerity and charisma is on full display when he hosts Jago Pakistan Jago on Hum TV. This popular morning show features a variety of segments. Also celebrities appear on the show regularly for an added entertainment package.

5) Nida Yasir

Nida lights up the screens of Pakistanis every where with her morning show, Good Morning Pakistan that airs on ARY Digital. Nida is an actress, producer and well-known TV host who is married to Yasir Nawaz who is also an actor/ producer/ director.
With the amount of effort and dedication that Nida Yasir puts into this morning show, its no wonder many people tune in regularly.

Which morning show in your opinion is the best? Also which Pakistani actor or actress would you like to see a host on you TV screens? Leave your comments below!

S. Rasool

Year 2014 is coming up with new and refreshing drama serials. This year except few serials, all shows turned out to be great disappointment.We hope that unlike this year, these dramas will be better with their story line and will be refreshing rather then turning out to be a source of tension for us. Here is a list of new attractions of 2014:

1. Tootay Huay Taaray

Written by : Dilawar
Directed by : Zahid Mehmood
Star Cast : Nauman Ejaz, Naheed Shabbir,Abid Ali,Javeria Abbasi,Rashid Farooqi Saima Qureshi  and child stars Maham,Abiha and Bilal.

Presented by Big Bang Entertainment,Tootay Huay Taaray is a story of three siblings who get in serious trouble on the demise of their parents. Their only aunt want to take over property of her brother who died. Children, being neglected by their family and friends hardly try to cope up with the situation they are trapped in. For all those who are fan of Mann k moti will definitely like this show. The show is broadcasted from Monday to Thursday at 9:30 pm only on Ary Digital.

2 .Zindagi Tere Bina

Zindage Tere Bina has replaced Halki Se Khalish,broadcasted from Hum TV on Mondays at 8pm.Story revolves around two brothers whose wives are completely opposite to each other; one is compromising and the other is always complaining. It is the siblings bond that has tied them into unbreakable bond since their childhood but whatwill  happen when one of them will have to face death suddenly? First episode aired last night and as far as my observation is concerned, we should give this show a try.

3 .Bunty I Love You

Written By: Kalil ul Rehman Qamar
Directed By:  Siraj ul Haq
Cast: Saba Qamar, Abid Ali, Noman Habib, Mehmood Akhter, Meher Bano, Raza Zaidi, Khwaja Saleem, Tariq Jameel

After Rishtey Kuch Adhoorai Se,our Sundays will be equipped with Bunty I love you. It will be broadcasted from HUM TV at 8pm. Well,this show went off my predictions as it is totally opposite to what I predicted about this show.Dania is a young,energatic girl gets married to Mr.Patel who is far more older than her.After sudden death of her husband,she falls for a young but poor boy, Bunty, who loves to flirt with girls. Lets see whether this different story will come out as a hit one or not.

4. Ru Baru

Ru Baru is replacing Khoya Khoya Chaand. As soon as I watched its first promo,this show grabbed my attention. Prime reason to watch this show is ofcourse,Syra Shehroz.After Darmyaan, Rubaru is another serial in which she is sharing screen with Adnan Siddique.How the story will turn out when she will get married to Faizan Khawaja will be the crispier part of the show.I am eagerly waiting for this show to get aired.

5. Mere Apnay

Cast: Nadeem, Bushra Ansari,Hasan Ahmed and others.

Mere Apnay will be broadcasted from Ary Digital. Story is about parents whose children give up caring for them as they are growing older. Nadeem and Bushra Ansari’s couple will be interesting to watch in this show.

6. Zara aur Mehr un Nisa

 Written By : Seema Munaf
Directed By: Sohail Javed
Cast: Moomal Sheikh, Aly Khan, Junaid khan, Mansha Pasha and others.

Zia and Zara are college mates who fall in love after being friends for so long.There is another friend of Zia at his home,Mehr un Nisa but he never felt for Mehr ever. Zia wants to get married to Zara but her mother wants him to get married to Mehr.Strong point of the show is that Mehr always take Zia as her brother. This one is another show which has been put in my most anticipated list.IDream Entertainment came up with quality dramas always and this time we are expecting same from them.

7. Bin Roye Ansoo

Written By : Farhat Ishtiaq
Directed By: Haissam Hussain,
Star Cast : Mahira Khan,Humayun Saeed,Armeena Rana,Javaid Sheikh and others.

Being made under banner of MD productions,Bin Roye Ansoo is the most awaited show of coming year. Though people came up with different point of views for Mahira and Humayun’s couple as they are no more interested to see older heroes with fresh and energetic leading actresses.According to mu ponit of view, Humayun always lived up to our expectations,no matter with what role he was assigned with. And it won’t be a surprise for me to see people admiring him after watching Bin Royee Ansoo.Show will soon be broadcasted from Hum Tv.

Do share your list of most awaited dramas. I would love to know any other attractions you know and want them to be added in the list.

Rabia Basharat.