It is always more than a pleasure when you see your country progressing in something if not economy, and no doubts about the fact that this nation is all full of talent. If you are an university student and keeps a track of all the latest happenings, you must know what level of potentials our youth has. It was only today that I attended a technology related competition which had been organized by the volunteers of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University-Karachi, and it was a real fun being there.

Skipping the professional and academics part from the story, I decided to share the happenings that took place in the event which are related to the celebrities we genuinely love to see on our television screens. The heroes of this event SPARC-2013 are the guitarist-cum-singer, Salman Ahmed from the band Junoon and Mr. Farooq Sattar, the representative of one of the major political parties that are active in Karachi, the MQM.

The audience could not stop hooting when Salman Ahmed first appeared on stage and his legendary song “Junoon se aur ishq se milti hai azaadi” was been played in background. It was announced that it would be Mr. Imran Khan to appear in the university to hand over the gifts and prices to the winners but as Salman Ahmed revealed, Mr. Khan is really occupied in Lahore for his Jalsa which is scheduled on 23^rd of March. Salman, though declared himself as an artist with no political influences, his speech had clear shades of how much he is inspired by the great Captain, Imran Khan and his policies. He also asked  the students to spare one day from their studies and visit Minaar-e- Pakistan on Pakistan day because that Jalsa would be a historical event and one should not really miss it.

Sharing his experiences with the audience, Salman stated that his mother gave him two options to choose as a career, one, to become a doctor, and second, to become a doctor indeed. He shared that after his degree, he asked for a year for himself to explore what he actually wants from himself and it was then that he found his talent. He also shared few moments that he spent with his dear friend Junaid Jamshed and turned the center of discussion from politics towards his new song. It was only at that time when the chief guest and a sound member of Mutaheda Qoumi Movement, Mr. Farooq Sattar entered the auditorium and it seemed strange to have two representatives of different political parties sharing the same stage.

Salman Ahmed addressed Mr. Sattar and informed him that it was “Dil dil Pakistan” few years back and its now “Naya Pakistan’ Inshallah”. With this, he started performing on the song and left no other option for the viewers but to feel a patriot within themselves.

Just after Salman’s performance, It was Mr. Sattar who started his speech and mentioned that his words follow the policy of ZONG (that is, SUB KEHDO) and not of Telenor (That is. Tawk Shawk, Baton waaton main). The humor that his words created lightened the environment and he further continued his speech, highlighting the aims and objectives of his party.

He also encouraged the youth to come forward and take a stand to ensure the personal security in a country where Pizza Service is quicker than the Police. The students of the university and the participants from different universities maintained the decorum throughout his speech and finally he handed over the prices and shields to the winners of the competition.

It was a good experience all in all to hear from two celebrities who were there to represent their work, trying to promote their work and ideologies among the youth of Karachi.

Hoping that you will find this share interesting enough to leave your comments, 

note:Click on the link to see Salman Ahmed’s performance on NAYA PAKISTAN: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xy8yl5_salman-ahmed-performing-in-maju-naya-pakistan_people

Wishes

Nida Zaidi

Well, here’s the status update of Ali Gul Pir’s manager, who happens to be spreading the word about what happened with Ali Gul Pir & his team at the award’s night. All I know is that from the past few months I have read a million posts related to “Saeen & Saeen ka stuff” but just because I am not connected to Pakistani channels 24/7, I had no idea who the mastermind was behind this concept? I went through this Facebook post & searched about this person & it was amazing to know that he is a person who has produced such songs which have hit a million views on YouTube within the first few days of publishing.

Clearly, not everyone in this industry earns a name & fame on a decorated platter & have to work hard. Some people are only left with a bad taste in their mouth because of the recognition that authorities fail to give to such people in particular. It’s just a matter of your on-screen presence & about what actually sells, that’s it. Deviating away from the topic of the post, I’d like to mention that we see so many dramas go unnoticed & fail to get the acknowledgement they deserve, same is the case with these artists as well. Fit yourself according to their standards & it pays off but if anyone does something on their own, they do not get praised & are blatantly ignored.

So here’s the inside story, updated as a status from the Ali Gul Pir’s team:

“Unprofessionalism at the HUM TV awards!!!!

What happened at the 1st first Hum Tv awards last night was not a show of grandeur or splendor but the display of utmost unprofessionalism and irresponsiblility by the one of the biggest networks of Pakistan. My friend/artist Ali Gul Pir was nominated for “Best new sensation-music” category and had been called a dozen times to confirm his presence at the ceremony. Despite suffering from an acute stomach infection he and his team went to the Hum TV awards only to realize that the organizers have skipped the category.What was funnier was that they didn’t even “realize” that they had skipped the category untill I personally went back backstage .Maimoona Siddiqi the GM programming HUM TV along with a very senior producer Ather Waqar Azeem was busy noticing the perfection of Fahad Mustafa’s “thumkas” on an LCD. Without causing a lot of commotion I had barely introduced my self as Ali Gul Pir’ manager when she said “Sorry, Beta youre too late”. Perhaps she knew why I was there as she humbly silenced my inquiry into ignorance, I waited. When I thought I had been as professional as on could be when on the recieveing end of himiliation I finally said “Agar aap logon ko yahi karna tha,tau aap bulatay hee nahin, he is not feeling and has been waiting for more then three hours now” and she replied ” haan theek hai theek hai..I can’t help its been skipped”. I was not worried that Ali didn’t win a award or couldnt give an acceptance speech or something because for someone whose video has been watched almost 5million times within 5 months of release, no trophy was worth it. I was dissaopinted that Ali came to the awards because he respected their courtesy to call him at such an occasion but left right after my talk with Maimoona because respect, professionalism and courtesy becomes insignificant for the organizers as soon as their seats are filled. If these are the people who run the show of our entertainment industry and this is the way to behave then we are glad that we left the occasion and will make sure we don’t commit this mistake again.After suffering through their unpressionalsim I was reminded of the way we used to rehearse for the ZAB FILM FEST at my university.We as students displayed more maturity and professionalism as comepared to such a big network. Not once in the two festivals we organized was there something as disrespectful or unprofessional.
There is also another moment of relaization for all of the young artistses like us out there;new comers are not respected in this industry , make a mark for yourself as Ali did and don’t expect the industry to support you but expect it from the your viewers and fans,people who accepted and recognized you as you were. We still owe them a lot.

Please spread the word around!!!!
Via Rafay Mahmood”

Have your say on it folks.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Hum TV awards were the most hyped event of the season but did the winners fit into our expectations? The event was grand and it had all the elements to impress the viewers. I am looking forward to see it on TV. Hum TV left no stone unturned to make the awards as splendid as possible, and you can see this by just looking at the pictures. Noor Ul Hasan was seen taking interviews of Celebs on the Red Carpet while Mahira Khan and Mikaal Zulfiqar were seen hosting the awards.

Many people were disappointed with the nominations when they were announced. But now the question is, did all the winners rightfully deserve the awards? I must say, I was shocked and a bit disappointed with a few winners. But, there were others that completely fit into my expectations. I will start with the awards that I felt were rightfully deserved:

The award for Best Model Male and Female were rightfully deserved by Ayyan Ali and Abbas Jaffri. Both of them are the current top rated models. Even the awards for Best Menswear and Best Women Wear were well deserved by Nomi Ansari and Deepak Parwani. These two are one of the biggest names of the fashion industry.

Now coming to the awards for the Television Dramas, Imran Aslam won the Best Actor Daily Soap Award and I think he truly deserved it. Imran Aslam is an underrated actor and now he is finally being appreciated for his talent. Another award I am very satisfied with is the Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role. Mohib Mirza did a very god job in Shehr e Zaat and he deserved the award. I am also really glad that Samina Peerzada won the award! I do not think anyone deserved it more than her. She got it for Roshan Sitara but I personally wanted her to get it for Shehr e Zaat. Her character was beautiful in that show and will always remain in my memory. The Award for Best Writer was perfect! There is no one more deserving than Umera Ahmed for this award. Umera Ahmed has given Hum TV some of its top plays like Malaal, Maat, Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Qaid e Tanhai. The award given to Shehryar Munawar and Sohai Abro for the New Television Sensation was again well deserved. These two new comers have won the hearts of the audiences in a very short time. Another award I was extremely happy about was the Best Actor in a Comic Role which went to the very deserving Uroosa Siddiqui. I am a big fan of her as she is a wonderful actress. She sure can make the audiences laugh!

Now moving on to my favorite award of the night! Mahira and Fawad won the Best Onscreen Couple Award that they rightfully deserved. This award was very predictable as Humsafar was not nominated elsewhere. But they made all the Humsafar fans happy by giving Humsafar ‘The Phenominal Series’ Award and it was given to the Humsafar team by Sultana Siddiqui herself. Another Award that was very unpredictable yet truly deserving was the ‘Special Recognition’ Award for Dastaan. I always believed that Dastaan was an underrated show and it definitely deserved this special award. Late Moin Akhtar was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by none other than Anwar Maqsood to his family. No one else deserved this award more than him. Moin Akhtar will always have a very special place in all our hearts!

Nouman Ijaz as the Best Actor was satisfactory considering the other nominations. His performance in Bari Apa was outstanding! I do not know how to feel about Shehr e Zaat winning the Best Drama Award. It had a neck to neck competition with Yahan Pyaar Nahi Hai and Maat and according to me, all three of these shows deserved the award. Fahad Mustafa winning the Award for the Best Host was quite predictable and I am glad that he won since he was not nominated anywhere else, and he did deserve some recognition.

Now coming to the awards that I was not satisfied with:

Mahira Khan as the Best Actor Female was very shocking indeed! She was good in Shehr e Zaat but she was no match for Saba Qamar in Maat or Yahan Pyaar Nahi Hai. Rumour has it that Saba Qamar is unhappy about not getting the award despite two nominations. She sure deserved it! Mahira Khan herself was very shocked to get this award.
Another shocking award was the Award for Best Director. Farooq Rind got this award for the show Sanjha. Seriously? What about the other directors of the popular shows like Maat, Yahan Pyaar Nahi Hai and Shehr e Zaat. I would have personally liked it if Sarmad Sultan Khoosat had won it for Shehr e Zaat because that show was directed brilliantly. Mere Qatil Mere Dildaar OST as the Best Orignal Song Tune was another shock. Out of all the beautiful OSTs, they chose to give it to this show. Very disappointing indeed!

I was surprised to see that the award for the Best Daily Soap went to Mujhe Roothne Na Dena when Nikhar Gaye Gulab Sare was more popular and deserving. Sumbul Iqbal as the Best Actor Female Soap was also surprising when the other nominations were just as talented.
Now coming to the Music category, Shehzad Roy as the Best Solo Artist was surprising when other nominations included names like Hadiqa Kayani, Falak and Farhan Saeed. I personally think Hadiqa Kiyani was more deserving.

I am really looking forward to watch the awards as it is always interesting to see the reaction of all the winners. I am also looking forward to the performances by different celebrities like Ahsan Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Humaima Malik and Fahad Mustafa!

Mariam Shafiq.

The most awaited ceremony is now all over leaving the audience with a hope to watch the awards soon on the channel. As discussed yesterday, The Hum TV Awards ceremony which was held two days back in Karachi Expo Centre, is one of the most memorable nights for the celebrities who won an award for their performance in the year 2012, been affiliated with the HUM Network. It was though the last post I shared yesterday that I realized how the audience has taken this award ceremony, finding it a  bias one where the nominations are found unsatisfactory by majority of the people. It was also seen that people are really talking about the fact that Fawad Khan was not even nominated as the best actor and Humsafar wasn’t there in the list when it came to the best drama of the year.

However, as expected, the viewers want to know more about the ceremony and here we are, sharing the most interesting pictures of celebrities from the event.

NOTE: To ensure that we actually do not violate the copyrights of the channel, the images that have the copyrights are not been shared, You can watch them on the Channel’s Facebook Page. Here are a few you do not want to miss out either!

The Legendary folk singer Abida Parveen performing

Noor Hasan With his Award

Model Abbas Jafri

Fahad Mustafa Performing
Beautiful Amina sheikh

Stunning Mahira as a host


Xaalay Sarhadi

That’s all for now, share your views about the pictures,

Wishes,

Nida Zaidi

The most awaited ceremony just held few hours back declaring our finest actors of the drama industry as simply the best for their phenomenal performance in the dramas that were been on aired on HUM TV. 

The ceremony was a true reflection of the excitement and enthusiasm that was seen within the nominees and the channel since the day the ceremony was announced. The night was all glowed up with colors and a live performance by Abida Parveen took it to the new levels.The CEO of the channel, Momina Duraid also shared her thoughts about how fascinating 2012 has had been. What overwhelmed the audience was the hosting been done by Mahira Khan and Mikael Zulfiqar and unpredictably, Fawad  Khan also performed on songs.

We have been sharing all about the latest moves about the awards ceremony so far and here we are again, with the results.

Television:

Best Actor in a Comic Role

Uroosa Siddiqui (Funkhana)

Best Sitcom

Extras (The Mango People)

Best Soap

 Mujhe Roothney Na Dena

Best Actor Female Soap 

Sumbul Iqbal (RR)

Best Actor Male Soap

 Imran Aslam (NGGS)

Best New Sensation Television

Shehryar Munawar and Sohai Abro

Best Host 

Fahad Mustafa

Best Drama Series

 Kitni Girhein Baaqi Hain

Best Original Sound Track

 Mere Qatil Mere Dildaar

Best Actor in a Supporting Role Male

 Mohib Mirza (SEZ)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role Female

Shagufta Ijaz (MQMD) and Samina Peerzada (Roshan Sitaara)

Best On-Screen Couple

FawadMahira (HS)

Best Writer Drama Serial

Umera Ahmed (Maat)

Best Drama Serial

Shehr-e-Zaat

Best Director Drama Serial

 Farooq Rind (Sanjha)

Best Actor Male

Noman Ijaz (Barri Apa)

Best Actor Female

Mahira Khan (SEZ)

Congratulations to all the winners, The audience is still waiting to enjoy the ceremony,

Wishes

Nida Zaidi

We live in a country with double standards especially when it comes to choosing in between what is right and what is not. Whether it be regarding fashion, latest trend, entertainment or politics, our rules somewhat very different for ourselves as compared to the ideologies we generally talk about. Relating this major drawback of the nation with the entertainment industry of ours, all I have to share today are my views about the diplomacy of our local channels and the confused state of the viewers who are not even thinking once that where our culture and tradition is actually heading.

Throughout my experience while writing over the entertainment industry of Pakistan, I have realized that the audience seems reasonably satisfied with the local content and much of the readers on different forums have been found saying that they love Pakistani Dramas and find them much better than the foreign content- fair enough! While the viewers are happy with what their country is producing for them, It sounds like a wonder that the private channels are actually airing the foreign dramas in their prime time without even talking about the reason for doing so.

It was also analyzed few months back that there is still a minority which looks forward to the Turkish shows and want to have more from the stated country, which again, might be because of the similarities that the two countries share on the basis of religion (and nothing else). Not going in much of the details that what made these Turkish dramas popular amongst the Pakistanis, I would only target the INDIAN DRAMAS that  are going on air on different channels.

Why to block Indian Channels?

The heading reveals my point fairly well. There was literally a time when I and my family, just like many of you, used to follow Star Plus and SONY TV, watching ‘The super BALAJI SHOWS’ like crackpots. Hate them or love them, Pakistan had a huge audience following those melo-dramatic serials but it was only then the channels were blocked by PEMRA and we saw the officials condemning the broadcast of Indian Channels in the country, declaring them as a threat to the integrity and culture of Pakistan.

Amazingly, now that the audience has converge its interests from the Indian stories to the Local content, the private, renowned channels are now airing the same, I repeat, the same Indian shows through their platform.

Here is a small list of Indian Dramas that are been aired on our Local channels which are established by Muslim Pakistanis, run by them and are paying back to them only!

GEO TV

1)Qubool Hai  (21:00)

The drama is been watched by the fans of Karan Grover, the  Arman Malik of Dil Mil Gaye and is contributing in earning some TRPs for the channel.

2) Bade Achhe Lagte Hain    (22:00)

The Parvati is back, not on star Plus or SONY, but on Geo, wonders happen, and happen in this country only!

3)Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke (22:30)

Honestly speaking, I haven’t followed this one but still, its existence on a Pakistani Platform is enough to pinch.

Express entertainment

1)      Haseena Chalbaaz

2)      Anamika

3)      Hitler di-di

4)      Na boly tum na maine kuch kaha

All these dramas that are aired on Express entertainment are scheduled for primetimes, thus, you can imagine how important and close they are to the hearts of the owners of the channel.

What’s the confusion?

This country can be well defined in a single word, and that is ‘CONFUSED’. We are all confused about everything; cherry on the top, we are given a free-hand too by the authorities to like, do, wish, Kill, watch, eat, drink, vote anything and anyone, no one actually bothers. The question here is that how can people watch these dramas when they fake round, saying they love the local content? It is obvious that the channels are continuing the telecast because they are earning with, people are watching them. And if the people want to see the Indian dramas then why are Indian channels banned?

What kind of a strategy are they following basically? Where is PEMRA now and why those officials are satisfied with the same ideologies been promoted by these serials? Who to question? Who will answer? Just like other matters, we, the audience again find no one owing the responsibility!

Please share your views about the matter,

Wishes

Nida Zaidi

Summers are here and for the next six months or so all we will be wearing would be lawn…the fabric we all love, it is cool and comes in many styles and prints. For the past few years the lawn fever has completely gripped the female population and the competition between the different designers and even the wanna-be designer lawns is getting tougher by the day. Lawn is no longer just any fabric that you wear to feel cooler and more comfortable in the heat of summer but it is more of a fashion statement now. Printed lawn suits are just as expensive as silks and chiffons – the formal wear clothes which we once used to wear only for special occasions or on formal functions. The trend started with only a couple of designers stepping in to design prints for the brands that have existed for so many years now like Gul Ahmed and Alkaram. Gradually the designers figured out that this could prove to be a very lucrative business and now there are more than ten top designers who are taking a very active part in this competition.

Every year women wait impatiently for these designer lawns to surface in the outlets and when they are finally launched women run to the outlets as early as possible and even on the first day the suits sell like hot dogs. The passion with which the women go to shop for these fabrics is unmatched; you will never see such enthusiasm for winter clothes. One of the reasons also is that most women want to grab that very first prints and designs that come out because they are very often not repeated and that gives them the opportunity to flaunt for the rest of the season that they have the print that very few people have. There have even been incidents when women actually got into physical fights in order to get a certain print because there were only one or two suits left and there were too many women who wanted it! Talk about too many women chasing after too few lawn prints!

The competition does not end here, lately there is also the competition between the designers as to who manages to bag the best model and many of them had to “import” models from across the border in order to stand out. This time around some of the designers have also hired British models and the latest trend is that Indian designers have also designed some of the prints.

Are you one of those women who must be at the launch of every new designer Lawn? I know women whose main focus is attending all these launches all through the summer season- something interesting to keep them busy. Collecting the catalogues and of course the most rare prints is another very common “hobby” in summers. No wonder the prices are sky high, which is actually sad too because than most of the people cannot afford to buy the fabric that is worn the most in summers.

Ayesha Ahmed.

It is  difficult to analyse whether it is Hum TV or ARY  Digital that would take up the market this year. Both the channels are known for the quality dramas going on air through their platform and this year, both of them seems to have their strategies clear. It has been lately noticed that Hum TV has come up with some great dramas that are expected to enjoy a good business and ratings like Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Humnasheen, Tanhai, etc, while on the other hand, its ARY trying real hard to maintain its pace with serials like Silvatien, Siskiyaan and Parchaiyaan. It is  interesting to find that in this race of winning TRPs, Geo TV and Express entertainment seems no more interested and have decided to follow their own path.

2012 has recently come to an end, leaving the drama industry with some golden stars and again much of them belong to the two channels stated above. Now that people have started loving their own dramas in Pakistan, the channels and production houses are coming up with dramas that let people link to them. Taking a closer look of the strategy been adopted by ARY  and HUM TV this year, it can be  seen that both of them are all set to come up with reality shows, highlighting the talent of Pakistan. ARY, which has always been coming up with such shows like Nach Baliye, madventures and if not local, then the neighboring Big Boss has now again introduced the star talent hunt show, similar to that of Indian Idol, while  Hum TV has also got the Indian reality dance shows to keep your weekends occupied. Moreover, Hum TV’s new efforts of paying a tribute to its hits of last year, Hum TV Awards are again one of the opportunities to bring more popularity to the channel.

It was seen few months back that the foreign content, namely the Turkish Dramas kept the showbiz industry busy with controversies against few channels. Many programs were conducted where  the Pakistani Celebrities condemn the channels for promoting foreign content, leaving the rights and interests of the local artists, neglected. However, it seems like just like the common citizens of the nation, the Celebrities of this country has no say in their domain as the Turkish Dramas are still on air on Geo, It was only Noor previously, but the next Turkish Drama to go on air is leaked through its promo and is known under the label Rafta Rafta. Although Geo is  also offering local dramas like Viraasat, Ghao, Cindrella, etc, the channel has lost its charm in general.

Coming back the two channels that are high in the viewers choice, Hum and ARY are more or less following the same line where same actors are seen on both of the channels. 2013 can be  predicted as a lucky year for Adeel  Hussain, Azfer Rehman, Ayesha Omer, Ayza Khan, Sajjal and Adnan Siddiqui as all of these actors are seen in every next project going on air either on Hum TV or ARY-Good Enough!

Let us wait and watch that which of the two actually wins the race, There is one thing for sure that the audience is loving the the work been produced by the stated channels and want to see more.

Best Wishes

Nida Zaidi

Makeovers are very important for any actor or actress. They need to keep experimenting with their look to look fresh on screen as people get tired of seeing them in the same look over and over again. Many actors have attempted to change their appearance by changing their hairstyle, hair color, makeup and even weight if the script demands it. The change has suited many people as they are able to carry it but it has even turned into a disaster at times.

Here is a list of people who have been able to look good with the change:

First in my list is Syra Yousuf. She is the popular actress of shows like Mera Naseeb and the recently ended Tanhaiyaan- Naye Silsilay. She has experimented with her hair style and now can been seen sporting short hair and I must say it suits her immensely. The short hairdo is all the rage nowadays but few people are able to carry it. Syra has the most innocent and charming face and this haircut makes her look even younger. (She already looks so young!)

Second in my list would be Amna Sheikh. The popular actress who is seen in many hit shows like Main Abdul Qadir Hoon, Daam and Maat as is currently seen in the show, Mirat Ul Uroos. She was also seen with a new hairstyle which suited her a lot. The bangs and the change in her hair color did wonders to her face and her face looked fresher on screen. The bangs suit her a lot because she has a wide forehead and the bangs complement it as they hide it completely.

The third in my list would be Nadia Khan, the actor and the long time morning host. She is back with a bang this year as is seen as a host on Geo TV on weekends. She is now seen sporting a shorter hairstyle which suits her immensely. She has just the right face cut to carry off this hairstyle and she looks even younger now. Everyone has appreciated her new hairstyle so far.

The fourth in my list is Sarwat Gilani. She is seen in shows like Malaal, Tishnagi and Mata e Jaan and is currently seen in the show Dil e Muzter. I always found her curly looks to be pretty but I was tired of seeing in the same curly hair look. She is now seen in straight hair and usually with plaited hair which suits her a lot. Her straight hair look in Mere Dard Ko Zuban Mile and Mata e Jaan suited her a lot. Her face is petite and the straight hair adds a new dimension to her face. I would love to see her with fringes sometime as I personally think it will suit her a lot. We have already seen her with bangs which complemented her face.

The fifth person in my list is Saba Hameed. Saba is seen in shows like Aik Tamanna Lahasil Si, Aks and The Baraat Series. I always thought she needed a makeover as she sported the same look in almost all her serials. But her new look in her currently airing show Dil e Muzter changed my opinion. She has been given a complete makeover which is suiting her a lot. The new hairstyle and cut has decreased at least 10 years from her age. The new hairstyle with the right amount of makeup is making her look extremely young and fresh.

The sixth person in my list would be Faisal Qureshi. Faisal Qureshi is seen in hit shows like Meri Zaat Zara e Benishaan, Qaid e Tanhai and Mere Pehla Pyar. Faisal Qureshi is one actor who keeps on experimenting with his look. He changes his appearance according to what the script demands. He was seen in three completely different looks in his show Meri Unsuni Kahani. I still wonder how he managed to change his weight for each look! He is one dedicated actor.

Here are a few people who looked disastrous with the changes:

Sanam Baloch who was seen in shows like Dastaan, Akhbari Asghari and Dur e Shahwar would be the first person in my list. Sanam’s hairstyle in her show Kuch Pyaar Ka Pagal Pan Bhi Tha was the worst hairstyle ever! Her beautiful hair was plaited completely into small plaits. It made me wonder how long it must have taken the hairstylist to make so many plaits as Sanam’s hair are pretty long and thick. She even sported fringes in Akhbari Asghari which did suit her but I personally like her more in bangs with her long straight hair. If she really wants to change her hairstyle, she can opt for curls in any of her upcoming serials.

The second in my list is Ayesha Khan. She was seen in serials like Vasl, Kaafir and Maney Na Yeh Dil. Her look in Kaafir did not suit her at all. Her hair color made me cringe and even her clothes in the initial episodes were not suiting her. I would really like to see her in curls in future.

The third actor in my list would be Mohib Mirza. He was seen in shows like Shehr e Zaat and Mere Dard Ko Zuba Mile and is currently seen in Kaash Aisa Ho. His hairstyle in his new show Kaash Aisa Ho is not suiting him at all. When I saw the promo of the show, the first thing which I noticed was his long straightened hair. He has been given this look so that he would look more like the artist he is shown in the serial which is acceptable, but I still do not approve of his hairstyle. Well, this is my personal preference!

Few actors are seen experimenting with their look in fear of being criticized, but it is always pleasant to see actors in a new look from time to time.

Mariam Shafiq.

I am sure A & B Productions house needs absolutely no introduction. It is one of the biggest production houses in the country which has given us many memorable plays. I am sure many of you have noticed that there are some artists who work excessively with this production house and now whenever I see one of these artists’ upcoming plays promo it does not take much for me to guess that this must be a play from A & B Productions. Also, many of the plays from this production house follow more or less the same pattern, they start off on a very interesting note but gradually the story loses focus and it becomes tedious to sit through most of the plays. But one cannot ignore the fact that A & B productions has also given us some very outstanding plays like Qaid-e-Tanhai, Roag, Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon , Aik Nayee Cinderella and many others. Anyway, since this article is about actors who like to work with A & B productions, I am going to talk about actors who have been associated with A & B productions for a very long time and they somehow prefer working with this production house.

Faisal Qureshi:

Faisal Qureshi has worked with Babar Javed a lot even before he started his own production house. He acted in many dramas which were directed by Babar Javed and I think that is why the two have a strong bond and we see Faisal Qureshi in many A & B productions’ plays whether they are serious ones or comedies. The list of A & B dramas he has worked in is almost never-ending but to mention a few; Roag, Qaid-e-Tanhai, Yariyan, Tishnagi, Mera Yakeen, Kis Din Mera Viyah Howega, Sabz Pari laal Kabooter, Jahez, Topi Drama, Ek Hatheli pe Hina Ek Hatheli Pe Lahu, Mera Pehla Pyaar …well like I said the list is never-ending. I think Faisal Qureshi prefers working with one production house more than many because before he started working excessively with      A & B productions , he used to work for Evernew Studios a lot.

Faisal Qureshi of course is a very talented actor and a true asset for our industry and A & B Productions has given him some very good characters to play too. His upcoming plays “Adhoori Aurat” and “Virasat” have been produced by A & B too.

Sami Khan:

Sami Khan is another actor who is fast becoming the face of A & B Productions; even right now he is acting in three different dramas produced by A & B Productions namely Teri Rah Mei Rul Gaye, Ghao and Mei Gunahagar Nahi. Previously also he has worked in many A & B projects and has given some very good performances. His next venture “Harjaye” and “Meri Dulari” are from the same production house too.

Saba Qamar:

Saba Qamar may not have worked in as many A & B dramas as Sami Khan and Faisal Qureshi but I have a feeling that she will be seen in A & B productions very often now too. She has been part of many A & B ventures like Jo Chalay Tu Jaan Se Guzar Gaye, Mein Chand Si, Thakan, Kash Aisa Ho. The good thing about Saba Qamar is that she keeps on working with other production houses as well quite often.

Samiya Mumtaz:

Samiya Mumtaz is one of those actresses who are very choosy about their roles and therefore we do not get to see her on-screen often enough. Most of Samiya’s work on television has been with A & B productions and even right now the only drama she is acting in is from A & B productions. It seems like artists who do not work very often too prefer A & B productions over other production houses. What can be the reason for that?

Saba Hameed:

Saba Hameed is very talented but not only is she seen in many A & B productions dramas lately but also seems to be opting for the same kind of roles over and over again even if she is working with some other production house. The list of A & B plays that Saba has worked in is long too, some of them which were very popular are Qaid-e-Tanhai, Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon, Kaala Jadoo, Aks and Ek Naye Cinderella. We will be seeing Saba Hameed in “Meri Dulari” next, which is also a drama by A & B Productions.

Yumna Zaidi:

Yumna Zaidi is another very talented, young, budding artist who started her career with A & B productions and has since then worked in many of their dramas. Her most recent project is with the same production house too. She acted in Thakan, Khushi Aik Roag and now we will see her in “Meri Dulari” very soon, another serial by the same production house.

Savera Nadeem:

I must say that most of the actors who prefer working with A & B productions are very gifted and Savera Nadeem is another name on the list. Savera Nadeem is very selective about her work and that is the reason we don’t see her on-screen very often. For the past few years now we have seen Savera Nadeem working in A & B productions serials more than any other. She worked in Qaid-e-Tanhai, Mera Saeein, Diya Jaley, Mera Yakeen and a few other plays from the same production house and her next project “Virasat” is an A & B productions play too.

There are many other actors who we are seeing in A & B production plays often enough now like Mohib Mirza, Ayza Khan, Aijaz Aslam, Shahood Alvi, Nimra Bucha and Waseem Abbas.A & B productions house is undoubtedly one of the biggest production houses in the country which is working hard day and night to give us good quality dramas. Maybe this could be the reason why these artists prefer working with this production house. Can you think of any actors who prefer working with A & B productions, the faces that instantly make you guess that this must be an A & B production play?

Fatima Awan.

There was a time when every other drama was being shot abroad. It had become a trend which was started by Momina Duraid Production on Hum TV and followed by different production houses which aired their shows on channels like ARY Digital and Geo TV. But now we rarely see shows that are being shot abroad. Are the economical conditions the reason for shows no longer being shot abroad? Well, that’s what I think. Producers are seen cutting down on budget by shooting shows in the local areas. The reason is that the actors and directors have increased their fees; an OST has become a must, and there a thousand other things that increases the cost of a show. Inflation has doubled in the past decade which has also led to the shrinking of the budget.

The list is very long but here are some of the popular shows that had been shot abroad:

Vasl: Vasl is one of the popular dramas of Hum TV that had been shot abroad. It was shot primarily in Panama City, Florida. We got to see some beautiful scenes like the ones on the white sand beaches. It features stars like Ayesha Khan, Adnan Siddiqui, Faisal Rehman, Imran Abbas and Tooba Siddiqui. The story revolves around a woman who goes through several tough stages of life, where different men come in her life, and try to mold her life according to them without paying heed to her wishes.

Manay Na Yeh Dil: Manay Na Yeh Dil is another popular show of Hum TV. It has stars like Ayesha Khan, Faisal Qureshi and Faisal Rehman as the leads. It had a different story which the audiences thoroughly enjoyed. Half of this serial was shot in Australia in eye catching locations. It is a beautiful love story revolving around a couple who meet and get separated and then life makes them confront each other yet again.

Malaal: Another hit show shot in the beautiful city of New York. It was shot during the winters so we did not get to see much other than snow but overall the places where the scenes were shot looked beautiful. We saw a lot of scenes with the subways and central parks. It was directed by Mehreen Jabbar and the cast included Deepti, Faisal Rehman, Imran Abbas, and Sarwat Gillani. The story, direction, screenplay and acting were all brilliant and this show was one of the hits of 2010. The story revolves around a man who leaves the one woman who loves him the most and ends up getting married to a young, immature girl due to family pressures.

Ishq Junoon Deewangi: Ishq Junoon Deewangi was shot in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is one of the prettiest cities and we got to see some very beautiful locations. It has stars like Humayun Saeed, Umaima Abbasi, Deepti and Adnan Siddiqui. The place where Humayun sees Umaima for the first time was a natural scenic beauty and a treat for the eye. It was another hit story which won the hearts of the viewers. The story revolved around a man whose dream turns into an obsession and makes him completely oblivious to his loving wife and he ends up destroying his marriage.

Qaid e Tanhai: Another beautiful show shot abroad. Its stars celebrities like Faisal Qureshi and Sawera Nadeem as the leads. The story revolves around a man who leaves his family to go abroad and earn and the hardships that he and his wife faces due to the separation. It is written by Umera Ahmad and beautifully directed by Babar Javed.

Main Abdul Qadir Hoon: Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon is a unique story of a boy with a heart of gold whose life goes through many twists and turns because of people around him trying to influence him. It is the story of a journey of self discovery of a man. Few of its episodes were shot in Turkey and I must say all the scenes were beautiful. Turkey is one of the most beautiful places for me. It stars Fahad Mustafa, Amna Sheikh and Alishba Yousuf as the leads. Fahad Mustafa has given one of his best performances in this drama.

Parsa: Another show dramatized abroad. We got to see beautiful outdoor locations in this show especially the lavish houses in which the show was shot in. This show stars Ayesha Khan, Adnan Siddiqui, and Ahsan Khan. It is based on a love story of a Muslim girl and a Christian boy who faces a lot of problems in the future due to their differences in religion.

The Ghost: This show is written by Umera Ahmed. It was shot in the beautiful backdrop of Scotland. I think it was the first time a show was shot in Scotland and all the places shown were just beautiful. The old traditional brick buildings of Scotland were definitely a treat for the eye. It stars Faisal Qureshi, Sania Saeed and Samira Peerzada.

Neeyat: Neeyat is another show shot in the beautiful city of New York. Mehreen Jabbar has directed the show in brilliant locations that leaves you in awe of the scenes. The sky scrapper buildings, time square, central parks and the subways all are beautifully shown in the serial. The cast includes Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Ahsan Khan, and Deepti.

Mata e Jaan: Mata e Jaan was the last serial of Hum TV which was shot abroad. It was shot primarily in New York. The story revolves around a couple Haniya and Ibad who meet while studying in the same university abroad. They fall in love and get married despite Ibad’s family disapproval. I especially loved the beautiful places where Haniya and Ibad visited after their marriage.

I do not mind dramas being shot in our own country as Pakistan itself is very beautiful. But it is always refreshing to see different locations in dramas. I really hope to see more dramas being dramatized abroad as it is always pleasant to watch the scenes enacted in beautiful locations.

Mariam Shafiq.

There are always a few shows that are on air that makes you wonder ‘who watches these shows?’ They have stories that make absolutely no sense, the acting is awful and they have nothing new to offer but they still run for years. Why?

It is because it is watched by masses. I once spoke to a senior representative of Geo TV and the first question I asked him was about the long running show, Yeh Zindagi Hai. Why is it still on air? Who watches this pathetic show and the answer I got from him is ‘Masses’. He explained that we cannot count ourselves as a part of the masses as the majority of the people in Pakistan are still illiterate or semi literate. The lower class families like to watch these kinds of shows and surprisingly, Yeh Zindagi Hai is one of the highest watched dramas of Geo TV. If it was a show which was not giving good ratings then it would have been pulled off air long ago. It does not seem like they have any intention to end the show anytime soon as it increases the viewership of their channel.

Yeh Zindagi Hai started in the year 2008 and aired its 237th episode last week! That’s a lot of episodes!! Its story revolves around two sisters from a middle class family and the problems they face in their lives. That is how the story started but now they have shown a second generation just like a typical Indian drama! The cast includes Javeria Saud, Saud, Alyy khan, Sahir Lodhi, Salma Zafar, Parveen Akbar and many more. Many actors have done roles in this show in the past 6 years like Behroz Sabzwani, Beenish Chauhan, Momal Sheikh, Shehroze Sabzwari, and Hina Dilpazeer.

Bulbulay is another show which has been running for a long time. It is one of the few sitcoms that have gained immense popularity. Usually comedy shows of Pakistan fail to leave the audiences impressed as the script as well as the acting is not up to the mark. Bulbulay is the only long running sitcoms of Pakistan and has been airing since 2009. It initially starred Nabeel, Ayesha Omer and Mehmood Aslam. Hina Dilpazeer later joined the cast and is famous for her character Momo. I personally see Bulbulay for the character of Momo, she is the highlight of the show for me. Why is the show still running? It is because it is liked and watched by masses. People of all ages watch this show and it is one of the highest rated dramas of ARY Digital.

Another drama which ran for years was Tere Pehlu Mein. It started in 2006 an ended in 2011. It was not a bad show in the beginning but the story was ruined when it was dragged for so long. This show had a complete Indian look as it aired at the time when Pakistan had started to copy Indian shows. That was a phase that came and went by and the originality of Pakistani shows was restored. A big Thanks to Hum TV for that as it was the only channel that did not let its shows be affected by Indian dramas. The cast of this show included Sara Chaudhary, Sami Khan, Deeba Begum, Jamal Shah, Laila Zuberi, and Navaid Rana. The reason why it aired for so long is the same reason that I have mentioned above. It was giving good rating to the channel as it was liked and watched by many people.

Kaash Mein Teri Beti Na Hoti is another serial which ran for about a whole year. It started in 2011 and ended in 2012 and aired around 210+ episodes. Kaash Mein Teri Beti Na Hoti looked like a very promising show and it did not disappoint us in the beginning but it did become boring when it started to get dragged. I still remember when I saw the promos, I was intrigued and did watch the initial episodes. The cast includes Fatima Effendi, Danish Tehmoor, Shahid Naqvi, Javeria Abbasi, Salma Zafar, Saleem Mairaj, Ismat Zaidi. Fatima Effendi gave her best performance in this show and it was the first time I actually appreciated her as an actress. Saleem Mairaj was also brilliant in this show. He is a very versatile actor and can do all kinds of roles. It was another highest rated daily soap of Geo TV.

If we get to see shows like Yeh Zindagi Hai and Kaash Mein Teri Beti Na Hoti then we also get to see quality dramas like Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Maat, Humsafar, Daam and Dastaan . There will always be some drama that would seem a waste of time for many of us but there will be many viewers who would be watching it daily. Its a weird fact but it is true!

Mariam Shafiq