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.

Despite being the iconic Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s protégé, Rahat seems to almost always shy away from the spotlight. With minimal interviews to his name and an aura of mystery surrounding Rahat, We have caught up with the playback singer.

“It’s true that I have chosen to be relatively reserved with the media but it is something which is purely unintentional,” says Rahat, pointing to his busy schedule. “This is something I wish to change, and as an ambassador of my country, I believe people need to know more about the activities undertaken by their fellow countrymen.”

When it comes to creating music, the maestro admits that he needs to work in solitude. “I like to work in an environment that is secluded and allows me to concentrate on my music,” he says about his swanky farmhouse on Bedian Road (or to him, his humble abode), which has been transformed into an extensive music studio. “I am able to control the quality of the sound I record and ensure that my fans get only the best — something they expect from me.” The title song for Ishq-e-Mamnu was recorded there and he is also working on his upcoming music album, which is scheduled to release by year end.

“Bollywood gave me the chance to collaborate with the industry’s best composers,” says Rahat defending the switch he made. “And I embraced the transition well. For me, playback singing has been wonderful in terms of my own growth.” He feels the industry provides musicians with opportunities to learn as well as helps them establish a wider presence and name for themselves in the music arena.

While traditionalists didn’t hold back in making any comparisons when he ‘turned his back’ on his qawwal origins, Rahat feels it was inevitable and people were bound to talk. But the singer remains adamant on growing as an artist, experimenting and trying out different projects. “I starting singing qawwali at the age of 15 with my [uncle] Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,” he recollects. “And as I have grown as an individual, I have also wanted to grow as a professional and diversify. I believe in good music, whatever the genre.”

Commenting on the current situation of the Pakistani film industry, Rahat feels it never reached great heights but is hopeful that things can change if investments are made. “Right now, our major hurdle is not that we lack talent but it’s that we don’t have the resources to make good quality motion pictures,” he sighs. “We need huge investments. I wish our government gives this important industry its due attention, and sets aside a sizeable budget for arts and entertainment.”

Apart from playback singing, for the local industry and Bollywood, Rahat is keen on releasing his own music album. “When I play and produce my own music, it provides me with a unique sense of fulfillment unlike any other. Artists shouldn’t just sing for others but should also produce their own music,” he says.

However, it will be released by an Indian company as he hasn’t been able to find himself a suitable distributor in Pakistan. “There was a trend when artists would launch their own albums in Pakistan instead of singing for others, but that seems to have become obsolete,” he regrets.

Commenting on the current situation of the Pakistani film industry, Rahat feels it never reached great heights but is hopeful that things can change if investments are made. “Right now, our major hurdle is not that we lack talent but it’s that we don’t have the resources to make good quality motion pictures,” he sighs. “We need huge investments. I wish our government gives this important industry its due attention, and sets aside a sizeable budget for arts and entertainment.”

Apart from playback singing, for the local industry and Bollywood, Rahat is keen on releasing his own music album. “When I play and produce my own music, it provides me with a unique sense of fulfillment unlike any other. Artists shouldn’t just sing for others but should also produce their own music,” he says.

However, it will be released by an Indian company by the end of the year as he hasn’t been able to find himself a suitable distributor in Pakistan. “There was a trend when artists would launch their own albums in Pakistan instead of singing for others, but that seems to have become obsolete,” he regrets.

Rahat is set to go on tour with his band and will be seen performing internationally

S. Rasool

Spare me if I cross the limits in my fury while targeting the writers because I am fed up with the trend of how the females are being portrayed in a negative light in all our dramas. I really actually want to know what has gone into the writers these days for which they are just scrutinizing the image of Women in our dramas. I agree that the women & females have always been targeted in a comical sense & there are a million jokes that are dedicated for this cause but now it is absolutely getting tedious to see the so-called writers bringing the females in a negative light.

I am writing this article at the year end because I want us all to re-call how many negative characters we have come across in the year 2013. From start till the end, all I have just seen is a woman treated as a commodity in our dramas which can be used & thrown. A million times an idea has been established that a woman can only be negative & nothing else. If she’s a mother-in-law she would be a woman hitler, if she is a mother herself, she is going to be biased, if she is a wife, she’s either characterless or a gold-digger, if she’s a sister most likely either she would be a husband-snatcher or would be drooling over the luxuries of your life, if she is a daughter, she would hook her father up with her young cute friends, I mean seriously!

I am literally sick of these writers who unfortunately happen to be women themselves but I am ashamed of their mentalities to conceive of such such bad characters which only emphasize that women are an insult to the society. I am amazed that the female writers had nothing, absolutely nothing good to write about women themselves, it shows how SHALLOW & how ashamed they are being a woman themselves because if they were a tinsy bit proud about the fact, they wouldn’t be coming up with such hideous characters & would never assassin females with their imaginative negativity.

I am amazed at the current trend where any guy in a drama can accuse a girl of having an intimate relation with him, any guy can come & claim that a girl who ain’t married to him is carrying his child & the whole world would support the guy in stead of a girl. I am speaking about the dramas that I have watched & it makes me wonder where is the morality of our writers gone? Maira of Aseer Zadi, Haniya of Mere Humrahi are blamed to be carrying a child of someone other than their husbands, Gaiti in Rishte Kuch Adhoore Se got preggers with a guy to whom she wasn’t technically & legally married. Mina of Kadurat absolutely was the worst character I saw this year  where she actually victimized her father & accused him of – we all know what. I mean c’mon, give me a break. All the writers who are coming up with such pathetic ideas should literally either stop writing or should be ashamed of their sick mentalities.

Ohkay, there are negative characters & we all come across some of those characters in our real lives too, which may seem relate-able in our dramas but is it really important to show that a woman would either be a satan-like human or else she would be such a weakling where anyone would come & target her or accuse her of immorality.

I wish that these writers would STOP using the gender in discussion for their stories. IF they can not come up with positive & balanced characters or if they have nothing good to write about women, they shouldn’t bother using their bird-like brains because it literally shows their sick mentalities & nothing else.

Write something positive about women you so-called writers & if you can’t so then just SHUT IT!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Versatility is what an artist needs to show in his acting career and when it comes to doing a negative role on screen, there are a very few who justify with the needs of the given role. Though we have some veteran actors like Saba Qamar, Noman Aijaz, Humayun Saeed, Saba Hameed, Ayesha Khan and Sanam Saeed who do equally well in negative roles, but there are some actors who look better off doing negative roles.  Here are five of them in my list. Have a look!

Shamoon Abbasi

I always considered him as a good husband, a good father, a professional director and-yes, a negative character. Despite of his resemblance to Akshay Kumar, Shamoon has always managed to portray the bad man on screen pretty well. Polishing his overall persona as a villain of the industry, Waar-the movie has further contributed its share. For me, Shamoon looks better in a negative role.

Rashid Farooqi

He is a jack of all trades, for sure. Rashid has been my favorite since my childhood and the only reason for this likeness is his absolutely amazing acting. Rashid has had been proving himself as a wonderful actor by doing different roles but he can easily be personified for a negative role because he is really good at it. What do you say?

Atiqa Odho

The Sitaara or ‘Sitara aur Mehru-Nisa’ started her career as a ‘good woman’ on screen. For her eyes and acting, she earned quick prominence in the drama industry but for reasons undefined, she seemed to disappear from screen, probably to give some boost to her political career initially. Her comeback, however, was even more powerful and her negativity in Humsafar opened up new chapters in her acting career. For me, Atiqa seems better in negative roles.

Sadia Imam

Sadia Imam is one of those few actresses who started their career from PTV and succeeded in surviving in the race of private channels too. Audience love to watch her and this is what keeps her on screen. I like anything she does but her acting in drama serial Ijazat was completely flawless. I would like to see her more in negative roles because I think, we have some better actresses available for positive roles these days.

Sajid Hasan

He is a man I love to watch the most. Whether it is comedy, drama, thrill or anything, he knows every flavor of it completely. Sajid has been doing some negative roles lately, like, Thori si wafa chahie, Mera Naseeb and Manjali, and truly speaking, I have never found him this impressive ever. He is too good in the roles of strict father, disloyal husband and an unloving soul. However, there are no second thoughts that Sajid Hasan looks only good in negative roles, in fact, he can make look any character good.

So these were 5 of my favorite celebrities whom I love to watch as villains in our dramas, share yours; let us see how many of your do not agree with this list at all.

Blessings,

Nida Zaidi

And who can with-go while mentioning realities shows, without mentioning BIG BOSS. BIG BOSS 7 is no doubt the most anticipated reality shows and quite popular among Pakistani masses.

After months of entertainment, Bigg Boss 7 finally came to a grand end on Saturday (28-12-2013). Reality TV star Gauhar Khan is the winner of Colors’ reality show Bigg Boss 7. She was one of the strongest contenders in the show right from the beginning.

Gauhar, who won Rs.50 lakh in cash and a trophy, stayed in the house for 104 days.

“I thank family for support. I am big fan of the show. I did not expect to come so far…till the finale,” said Gauhar, who had won critical acclaim for her role in the film ‘Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year’ (2009).

Before the winner was announced, Gauhar’s mother Razia Zafar Khan said on the stage, “Apni bacchchi par naaz hai mujhe. Woh badi samajhdaari aur sachchai se aage badi hai”.

Tanishaa’s mother Tanuja who was also present on the occassion, she said, “Main roz dekhti thi show. Jab woh roti thi to main bhi roti thi.”

Before the winner was announced Tauja had said, ” I am very proud of my daughter. According to me the way she has conducted herself, she has won in my eyes.”

Interestingly host Salman Khan said Gauhar and Tanishaa both always stood opposite each other throughout the show. They almost become captains of two rival groups within the house.

Salman joked and said I dont have to tell you who were the vice captain of the two rival groups in the house.

Gauhar, 32, is not new to the world of reality shows having participated in shows like ‘Khan Sisters’ and ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’. Tanishaa was the second runner up.

Gauhar proved to be the toughest contestant to beat during any task, Ajaz has been an entertainer to the audience throughout his stay. Tanishaa has been a loyal friend, and Sangram’s positive nature was loved by the audience.

The grand finale was held at Lonavala, a hill station near Mumbai, where the “Bigg Boss” house was put up.

This is the fourth consecutive season that a woman has been crowned the winner after Shweta Tiwari, Juhi Parmaar and Urvashi Dholakia winning the fourth, fifth and sixth seasons respectively.

The seventh season of the popular reality show went on air on September 15 on Colors. It started with 14 celebrities, and later, five additional celebrities made wild card entries at different points during its run.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about BB7

S. Rasool

First of all I have nothing against the actors mentioned below except they are actors who cannot act at all yet they are not only surviving in the industry rather thriving which consequently leaves question mark on the reasons behind their thriving.

Mahnoor Baloch– First time I became familiar with her was in Yeh Zindagi but ironically I remember the drama because of Nauman Ijaz and Qaisar Khan Nizamani instead of Mahnoor Baloch. Almost a decade and half has passed since then but she continues to be what she was without any improvement. She seems to be a pretty statue carved from stone, devoid of expressions both facial and vocal. She seems kind of disinterested and detached from surroundings, her dialogue delivery is usually impassive lacking intonation. She still manages to appear in dramas quite frequently and that too in lead roles drastically inappropriate to her age. Though she was praised a lot for Talafi, I disagree. Kabi Kabi Pyar Mein is memorable among her works but that too mainly because of Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui.

Mikaal Zulfiqar– I was an ardent fan of MZ until I saw his Bollywood flick You Are My Jaan (plagiarized version of Pretty Woman); I took great pains in downloading that movie only for MZ. Mikal hasn’t looked more handsome before; a perfectly created character from a painting but the moment he opened his mouth poof- the magic vanished. I still am his fan but not of his acting anymore obviously. The reason behind his grabbing a lot many central roles is possibly his killing looks.

Mehreen Raheel– Mehreen Raheel has bagged many important roles in her career but despite inheriting acting from her mother and despite her beauty she is a mediocre actress. Usually she is given characters where she has to fill the place of a stylish, beautifully dressed individual e.g. MMBZ, Ashk, ZGH, Mastana Mahi. She did well in Dastaan but in rest of her projects her acting has been monotonous and unimpressive. She is more suitable for ramp (despite her height) and Tvcs where she outshines others.

Sheikh Siblings- Both Momal Sheikh and Shahzad Sheikh aren’t impressive actors unlike their father. Again both of them have grabbed many lead roles in their short careers in spite of the below average acting, seriously do they even deserve side characters let alone the lead ones? They both aren’t exceptional beauties like the above mentioned celebs which make one wonder the reason behind their “success”. Oh they are the Sheikh siblings, rings more than enough bells!

Shehryar Munawar Siddiqui– The new hottie of the showbiz, his fans are going to flay me to death for including him in this list but honestly he isn’t much of an actor. All he has is good looks and a good nature. ZGH, Tanhaiyaan Naye Silsilay, Kahi Un Kahi and now Asmano Pe Likha; same expressions and dialogue delivery doesn’t show much hope for improvement.

Other than these Urwa Tul Wusqa, Sana Akari, Shehroz Sabswari, Mira Sethi and Maya Ali are clearly getting more than they deserve. What it can be if not talent, looks or intercession/cronyism, it is upon the readers to decide!

P.S. you might not agree with me, the article is after all subjective.

Faiza Cheema