Saud and Javeria are one of the power couples of our industry. They are running a production house JJS, alongwith raising ten year old Jannat and six year old Ibrahim. Javeria is also a very popular morning show host.
Recently, the foursome was on a break in Dubai, enjoying the summer vacations of kids. They took loads of memorable pictures of their holiday and here we have some of them for you to enjoy ;
After being busy in singing and making music videos, Goher Mumtaz is all set for his new prohmjectr Faisla with Ary Digital. His previous drama Ghayal left the audience with a negative impression of the handsome and multitalented artist, but that is not going to be the case now.
He has posed this shot of his from the sets of Faisla ;
The new project he had undertaken is about a very nice guy from a middle class family, who falls in love with his mother’s brother’s daughter, played by Sonia Mishaal. This time he is the good guy against the evil forces that are there.
The play will air on Ary Digital in August and Goher will be singing the OST for it as well. He thinks it is a good way to both kinds of his fans, those who like him as a singer and those who would like more of his acting on screen.
Sonia will be named Maryam in the play and Ali Abbas is also part of the cast.
Ever since the trailer of the upcoming Pakistani movie ‘Chen Aye Na’ has released, the film has not received any positive comments. The music has also failed to create an impression over the audience but the lead actress of the movie Sahrish Khan, is still determined for her debut release. She has expressed her views on all the condemnations over ‘Chen Aye Na’ in an interview. She said:
”Critism doesn’t bother me. When I signed up for the movie, I knew what I was signing up for, so no matter what comes my way, or what reviews the film receives, Chein Aye Na will always be special to me. We’ve worked hard for the movie and it will show once the movie is released. Also regarding my career in the film industry, I’m already doing Rehbra, my second film. Although I signed Rehbra first and technically it would have been my screen debut, I’m certain my work will speak for itself and my future once the audience have a chance to see it.”
Despite of all the criticism pouring her way for her debut movie, she stands strong and looks optimistic for the release.
She has also revealed her reasons of singing ‘Chen Aye Na’ and have also disclosed about her character. She said:
”I’m a hopeless romantic and because the story for Chein Aye Na played right on the importance of love and relationships, I signed up for it. I play the character of Ruba, a girl whose confident yet shy, assertive yet timid, and I connected well with it, so yes, I took it up because I felt I could deliver what was needed of me for my part.”
Since Sahrish is from the lineage of Sabiha Khanam and Santosh Kumar, both are the big names from our film industry, we hope she proves her roots and starlet.
This year the 5th HUM awards were held in Lahore and this particular aspect was highlighted on the red carpet as well. All the celebrities shared how they felt about being in Lahore for the awards on the red carpet. Like all the previous years, the award show was grand and lively but there were also some features of the show which continue to disappoint year after year, especially those of us who look forward to a more “Pakistani” (more original) touch to these awards. Overall however, the entire show was a true reflection of the spirit behind this award show.
I think it is only fair to discuss different aspects of the show individually, in order to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the show. I am going to discuss the function and will not be talking about the nominations and whether the winners deserved the awards or not.
The Hosts
If I had to sum up the way the HUM Awards were hosted by most of the hosts in two words then those words would be energetic and loud. Mikaal Zulfiqar and Hareem Farooque were the first ones to host the ceremony, while Hareem Farooque was relatively spontaneous and at times not very impressive, Mikaal Zulfiqar was energetic but at the same time a little too loud. He was shouting at the top of his voice and not really talking to the audience. Overall however, Mikaal looked great and his energy added more life to the show.
Nadia Khan’s hosting in the the HUM Awards was toned down but she was too busy reading from her notes and there was very little eye contact with the audience. The political jokes didn’t really fit in either.
Unlike last year’s HUM awards, Sanam Jung’s hosting was right on point this time around. She looked pretty and was very comfortable on stage. Although this was the first time that Ali Rehman hosted such an event but he did really well, he was more natural and confident than many other celebrities who hosted for the first time in the previous two years. Also, it was good to see some new faces on the stage this time.
The Stage And The Script
HUM’s award show’s stage is always vibrant and grand, the best thing about it is the way everything that happens in the background is handled, from the screens showing pictures, images and even text which goes so well with whatever is happening on the stage to changing the entire background completely, it is always a job well done. The person in charge of the stage definitely did their job faultlessly this time around too without missing out on minute details which add to the beauty of watching the award show because the stage is the center of attention throughout. I truly appreciate the hard work put into making this entire experience not only visually pleasing but also a work of art.
The script in general was alright, there wasn’t a lot of novelty in the jokes or the skits. Like most of the award shows, the jokes revolved around TRPs and of course Humayun Saeed! I felt like Humayun Saeed himself is bored with these jokes! Yasir Hussain’s Pathan act seemed repetitive especially after watching Shadi Mubarak Ho. Some of his jokes however were hilarious and the best part of his act was that for a change he focused on also those actors who were not sitting in the front row. His joke with Saife Hassan was especially funny and original too because usually such jokes are directed towards the actors and singers.
One thing HUM excels at is paying tribute to legends in their award shows. They do not only give an award but they do so in a way which shows that they mean it! Farida Khanum deserved all the love and respect she received from the crowd, hosts and the director. Reema Khan was the perfect choice for presenting the award because only someone with good command on Urdu language could have done justice to paying tribute to such a legend.
There were plenty of “bright karein” jokes during the ceremony and it was really funny watching Ayesha Sana “own” these jokes. It takes a lot of courage to turn something like this into an advantage but Ayesha Sana has done just that!
The Crowd And The Camera Work
The crowd was one of the best aspects of this show because the way everyone cheered for the winners, laughed at the jokes, got emotional when there were tributes and most importantly enjoyed the show as a whole made each one of these people look like a big team instead of competitors. The reactions of the crowd were captured really well too by the camera men and edited perfectly too. Also, the focus wasn’t just on few celebrities in the crowd.
The Performances
Personally, performances which are hugely inspired by Bollywood aren’t my favorite part of an award show which should be reflective of our own entertainment industry but at least this year the songs were from our own films. The opening performance was similar to the ones we have seen in the previous years too, the costumes and the dance both had nothing new to offer.
The most shocking part however was Shahroz Sabzwari and Sarish Khan’s performance because I wasn’t expecting HUM to endorse their upcoming film. Apart from this, the outfits, performances and especially the song Sarish danced on was substandard.
Mehwish Hayat’s performance was shown in the promos several times therefore I expected more from it. There wasn’t enough energy in her performance and you would expect HUM to work harder on the dresses which all of these celebrities wore during performances.
Kubra Khan and Ahsan Khan’s dresses and performances were better than the rest but Reema Khan’s dance performance however was the best since it was a true depiction of her talent, it was graceful and she was the only one who wore a classy outfit while performing.
Watching Sajjad Ali perform on stage was like a dream come true and that dream became a beautiful reality because of the fact that this entire performance was so well rehearsed and well put together. Even now Sajjad Ali has the same presence and is still at the top of his game even though he isn’t seen performing on television or shows any more. The youngsters Momina Mustehsan, Asim Azhar and Ali Sethi sang really well too. Ali Sethi and Asim Azhar however were more lively and confident on stage, Momina Mustehsan’s dress got in her way a lot of time, she appeared to be uncomfortable and distracted.
The tribute to Junaid Jamshed was sweet because all those people who were really close to Junaid Jamshed were a part of it but at the same time I was disappointed because I was expecting all the songs to be the ones which were sung by Junaid Jamshed.
Overall, this year the HUM awards were really well put together and had some unforgettable performances to its credit but just like every year there was a lot of emphasis on English language because of which even some of the celebrities who did not feel comfortable speaking English felt they “had” to give their thank you speeches in English. I especially liked the way Sania Saeed accepted her award and her thank you speech. Also, the manner in which Zebu of Udaari was appreciated by Ahsan Khan and the confidence with which she shared how she felt about her experience was endearing.
How many of you watched the show? Do share your thoughts about it.
Parwaaz Hay Junoon is a tribute from entertainment industry to Pakistan Air Force. Its production is well under way and the teaser will most probably release on the 6th of September to mark Pakitan Air Force’s commendable role on that date in the country’s history, or on the 7th of September, which is Pakistan Air Force day.
The movie will be directed by Haseeb Hssan, who has recently given us Mann Mayal and Diyar e Dil. This is is his first movie from the director’s chair. The film will show the rigorous training, trials and tribulations faced by the personnel of PAF, in the line of duty. There are some very extreme weather conditions shown on screen especially from the Northern areas of Pakistan.
The famed singer/model/actor Alamdar Khan has revealed that he is going to be part of the movie, as part of the aerial action packed scenes, playing a major support system to Hamza Ali Abbasi, the lead protagonist of the movie.
The most interesting thing is that Alamdar is an ex officer of the Pakistan Air Force and the experience carried nostalgia, loyalty and reality all in one package for him. He was back to the barracks, reconnecting with what was once home for him.
The rest of the cast includes Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ahad Raza Mir, Saad Qazi, Hania Aamir, Shaz Khan, Marina Khan, Kubra Khan, Arsalan Butt and Shamoon Abbasi.
The movie set to release around the end of this year, in December most likely and will definitely be a visual treat, since it is backed by Pakistan Air Force, Hum Tv and MD Productions.
The new Hum Tv upcoming sensation ‘O Rangreza’ has us all anticipating a beautiful backdrop, romantic moments and powerful performances. Written by Sji Gul and directed by Kashif Nisar, and Bilal Abbas and Sajal Ali as leads, this play has all the ingredients for being a weekly favorite.
Recently, new teasers have been released that take the promotion of the drama to another level. They are beautiful with touching scenes and moments that will reveal some of the plot but not let you know more than they precisely intend to show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUEdkO1wHBY
It showed the relationship Sajal has with her on screen father Noman Ijaz and how she idealizes him and wishes to marry a man just like him.
The next one is about her and Bilal. There is significant friction among them according to the teaser. How they mange to fall in love will surely be interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ToGt26j2UI
Bilal is playing a simple and innocent boy Qasim who works as a dyer and falls in love with his first cousin played by Sajal. The other main characters are played by Irsa Ghazal, Sonia Mishal, Omair Rana, Sana Fakhar.
O Rangreza’s first episode will be airing on Hum Tv on Friday, the 28th of July. Let’s see how the serial turns out to be after such promising promos.
Urwa Hocane and Farhan Saeed are one of the most loved couples of the showbiz industry. They have worked together on-screen together many times as well. From Farhan’s music videos to Mere Ajnabi and the super-hit Udaari the real life couple played a couple on reel life as well. They also did a telefilm together this Eid. Urwa’s Punjab Nahin Jaongi is releasing this Eid ul Adha and it will showcase a cameo from Farhan too. Farhan was spotted on the sets of Punjab Nahin Jaongi. Have a look:
Farhan is sitting infront of a piano so we will have to see whether it is an acting cameo or in a video song.
The “love” that Chain Aaye Na received after its trailer launch is not hidden from anyone. The four minute long trailer was so emotion quaking that people were rendered speechless by it. It was followed by a delay in release date as well as the release of Shaadi song on the tunes of which the whole Lahore was dancing and we have not yet discovered why. Now is the time to listen to the title song and let the chords of your heart strung by the melody. The only question you will be asking yourself is why the leading lady spending all her time with the bad guy while the good guy is singing a romantic song for her. Take a look at the song:
The Black Prince is a period drama based on the life of Maharajah Duleep Singh. The film dwells on political relationship of Queen Victoria and Maharajah during the British rule in sub-continent. The film stars Rup Magon of Josh too so he along with fellow star Sophie Stevens are in Lahore for movie promotions as Lahore is the place where Maharajah originally belonged. The premier was held in Cinestar and was attended by many people in and out of the entertainment industry. See pictures from the event:
Rup is certain that people will love the movie as it is about their years old history.
Fahad and Sarwat are one of the most amazing power couples of our industry. Sarwat is a pro when it comes to acting and Fahad is a master of all trades. He is a successful practising plastic surgeon, alongwith leading some powerful dramas on Tv. They are also very hands on parents to two adorable little boys, Rohaan and Araiz.
This Salam Zindagi sets of Faysal Qureshi was graced by their presence and some very candid replies to their old friend.
The conversation was very light hearted and thoroughly enjoyable. The couple also discussed their marital life and Sarwat gave advice to all couples wishing to keep the flame alive like them. She said that she loves to go an extra mile for Fahad and that she believes you need to do this for every relationship you wish to keep alive. Her secret is getting all dressed and fragrant when Fahad steps in the door from work.
When Faysal was curious about what is their mismatched habit, it was a surprise to know that prim and proper Sarwat gets ready first and then has to wait for Fahad who takes his own sweet time, much to Sarwat’s irritation. Who would have thought Sarwat looks this gorgeous by taking such a short time to get ready for any event?
It is not just beauty that comes naturally to Sarwat. The diva also looks thin effortlessly. Fahad disclosed how she eats all types of high calorie food and yet miraculously maintains her weight. Both Fahad and Faysal were pretty upset by this unfair stroke of luck, all in good fun though.
It was a very interesting episode with conversations ranging from acting skills to the fact that their first born who is two, is jealous of his baby brother. Even though Sarwat had prepared him well, the toddler still sometimes competes for attention.
Fahad also spoke how he is very conscious of his acting and makes Sarwat sit down and watch his performance numerous times, so he can improve himself. He also asked Faysal Qureshi to teach him some tricks of the trait, to which Faysal readily agreed. Fahad was feeling much more positive about his showbiz career now that his plastic surgery training is done with, since he can take up projects and work with no time constraints on them. He is all set to play the character of a lost and forlorn lover that he told he had always longed to play.
Overall it was one of the best episodes of Salam Zindagi and the gorgeous couple, who admitted to syncing their wardrobes when they go out together will give you major relationship goals.
Beautiful Urwa Hocane has recently completed a photo shoot for a fashion magzine, ‘Mag The Weekly’. Urwa’s traditional look from her upcoming movie, ‘Punjab Nahi Jaongi’ was recreated in this shoot . Let’s have a look on few pictures in which Urwa was spotted in a couple of traditional colorful outfits. She will be appearing on the cover page of the magazine too.
‘Geo Sar Utha K’, an upcoming Pakistani movie is all set to release on 11th August. The movie is an action-drama directed and produced by Nadeem Cheema. It is written by Nasir Mehmood and based on actual events of chottu gang, which is known for kidnapping, murder and other criminal activities. The movie stars Yasir Ilyas, Sheharyar Cheema, Babar Ali, Umar Cheema, Shafqat Cheema, Yasir Khan, Naeem Khan Areeba Khan and more.
Since the release date of the movie is near, the team ‘Geo Sar Utha K’ has been found engaging in movie promotions at different instances. They have been lately spotted on sets Of ‘Weekend Show’ of ‘Royal News’ channel. Have a look on few clicks from the program.
Team ‘Geo Sar Utha Kay’ was also spotted at Morning Show, ‘Jago Lahore’ which broadcast on ‘Lahore News’ Channel.
The team also appeared on Morning Show With Jugan Kazim on PTV for the promotions.
The movie has got few big names from old Pakistani cinema and hopefully they will get audience attention once again.
Nadia Khan, who is otherwise known as the Oprah Winfrey of Pakistan, was once the morning show queen of the country. She was known for her charming looks and bubbly personality. But, one thing was for sure that she was one of the chubbiest stars of the Television industry.
After leaving morning show, she was quite in the arena of entertainment for a long time. Now that she is back with a lot of projects under her sleeve, we can’t stop but think that man oh man she has lost a lot of weight. The once curvy actress is now a size zero figure with haute looks.
Owing to the questions that she came across everyday, Nadia Khan has revealed her weight loss secret in a video. The video was uploaded on her blog page Outstyle, which she runs alongside Madiha Iftikhar.
Have a look at the video and don’t forget to follow her tips and tricks if you want to lose weight:
Game of Thrones is one of the most popular shows of the human history. There is no doubt in that. The Sachal Jazz Ensemble has realized this and has given a version of the Game of Thrones theme that will shock you with utter joy and delight. The best musical rendition that you will have ever heard.
The fusion between desi and modern, east and west is something that you definitely can’t miss. The flutes paired with all the necessary musical instruments hit right to the feels.
The band has released the music right on time, with the fever of Game of Thrones already on high. The fans already can’t stop grooving on the music and theme.
Farida Khanum has become one of those personalities which have shadowed Pakistani entertainment industry. The classical singer from Punjab has reigned the music arena of the country for a long time. The Times of India also honored with the title of “Malaika-e-Ghazal”.
She started her career with the first public concert in 1950, later on joining Radio Pakistan. She was widely held and acknowledged when the then President Ayub Khan invited her for a public recital in 1960s. Her most famous work of all time is “Aaj Jane Ki Zidd Naa Karo” which is still reminisced in the evenings of absolute classical music.
Finally, Farida Khanum was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th HUM Awards. There is no doubt that she well deserved it and there is no one else who could have hold that award with more pride and dignity.
Natasha Baig is a singer who hails from Hunza. Natasha is in business for few years now. She believes in bringing experimental music into mainstream. Her previous song Kesaria with Mai Dhai was liked a lot by people. Now Natasha has released a new song and the song is in Burushaski language.
Burushaski is a native language spoken in Hunza from where the singer hails. She released her song Ya Moula near Price Agha’s birthday as singer says the song and the language have a spiritual feel. The song is a collaboration with Yousuf B Qureshi. Her next song will be a rendition of Aaj Rang Hai. She is working on an album too but she will be releasing singles for the time being. Have a look at the song:
Goher Mumtaz is the face of Jal band. He talked recently to Express Tribune about the band losing its hype and how the music trends have changed from the times when band was initially formed 15 years ago.
Jal released a song Parinda before Ramadan which has garnered good views; the band will relaese several other songs too including an OST for an upcoming drama Faisla. Goher said in the interview:
Jal’s music is all melodic and lyrics-based. The reason of our success was melody. It was always the melody that people remembered and wanted to listen over and over.Many older bands are going through the same thing. Their lineups are changed or they have other issues. I agree Jal doesn’t have the same hype it used to have.But that’s because the sound has changed. So, we as a band need to keep reinventing ourselves and stay fresh. Our music industry is not stable and we have lost a lot of hype but there is no excuse of creating mediocre music.
He further added:
In 2017, we have three tracks and we intend to continue releasing more in the future. We want to keep producing music and offering it on a regular basis to our fans.
Two days back, the world was shocked to hear about the untimely death of the lead singer of the famous American band, Linkin Park. Chester Bennington’s body was discovered on Thursday at his home after he reportedly hanged himself.
The music world was jolted by this tragic news and fans and celebrities all over the world expressed their sorrow over this tragedy. Bennington’s band-mate and LP’s lead songwriter was amongst the first ones to express his feelings on Twitter:
Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017
Here is how our Pakistani celebrities reacted to his death:
Mawra Hocane:
But in the End, it doesn't even matter. #RIPChesterBennigton
— MAWRA (@MawraHocane) July 21, 2017
Meesha Shafi:
What 😳
Noooooo😞 https://t.co/sl8gYTR5au
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) July 20, 2017
Meera Jee:
.@ChesterBe @linkinpark
Chester Bennington Dies at Age 41: Linkin Park Singer's Death Investigated as Suicide https://t.co/w1M2gYE1kX— Meera (@TheMeeraJee) July 20, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/Official.UmairJaswal/posts/1812785932081204
Xulfi:
No..
— Xulfi (@zulfiqarjkhan) July 20, 2017
Quratulain Baloch:
https://twitter.com/Quratulainb/status/888158496168050692
Ali Safina:
Thank you Chester Bennington for your incredible voice and music 🎶 💔Linkin Park will never be the same again. pic.twitter.com/ySZhclSuYd
— Ali Safina (@alisafinas) July 20, 2017
Armeena Khan:
RIP #ChesterBennington :(((( oh god! Gone too soon! #LinkinPark
— Armeena ✨ (@ArmeenaRK) July 20, 2017
Salman Ahmed:
Chester Bennington commits suicide at 41 / In the end / Linkin park (RIP) https://t.co/Ue2peRbjwS via
— Salman Ahmad (@sufisal) July 20, 2017
Linkin Park’s music was a pure distillation of angst that connected with many, regardless of cultural background, and its impact is being seen on different social media platforms in the form of the tributes to Chester. The lesson of the day is to not take mental illness and depression lightly.
Punjab Nahin Jaongi is soon to be released on Eid ul Adha. The film has already created a lot of hype with its trailer getting millions of views. The film stars Humayun Saeed, Mehwish Hayat, Urwa Hocane, Azfar Rehman, Ahnmed Ali Butt and Sohail Ahmed. The cast is promoting their film now left and right and recently they shot for GT Magazine. Though most of them looked really desi in the trailer the shoot is a total villayiti scene. Take a look at the pictures:
Moral Police strikes again!
This time at an innocent two-year-old’s pictures! Ayeza Khan and Danish Taimoor’s daughter, Hoorain turned 2 this Thursday. The excited mother shared her happiness and love for her daughter on facebook by posting a picture of her little angel:
https://www.facebook.com/AizaKhanActress/photos/a.247979688558019.60130.205773586111963/1502386619783980/?type=3&theater
According to us, Hoorain looked adorable in that mermaid costume but it seems like some people on the social media don’t share similar sentiments:
Thankfully, there were some sensible responses too:
Ahmed Shahzad hasn’t been performing well since quite some time now which is the reason he has been receiving a lot of backlash. He didn’t perform well in the Champion’s Trophy either and people as well as media isn’t happy about it. Javed Chaudhary, a popular political TV show host joined in the masses bashing Shahzad for his poor performance:
https://twitter.com/taimoorze/status/887703657541758976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brandsynario.com%2Fpakistani-cricketers-stood-ahmad-shahzad-bashed%2F
Ahmed Shahzad was quick to give him a reply:
Is this the comedy section of the show?!! Hilarious 😂
Tho I 100% disagree sir..sports n politics shld have no connection #PakistanZindabad https://t.co/mhVW2Mk4OH
— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) July 20, 2017
And here’s how Shahzad’s fellow cricketers stood by him:
We stand with you @iamAhmadshahzad You have done alot for Pakistan and will do in future.
Please keep #politicsawayfromcricket— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) July 20, 2017
Stop crossing the limits and do ur respective jobs #keep support cricket # Pakistan zindabad
— Imad Wasim (@simadwasim) July 20, 2017
Very true Ahmad bhai we shouldn't bring politics into cricket. Back our Sports #PakistanZindabad
— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) July 20, 2017
I agree with you Ahmad bhai. Politics should be kept out of cricket. Keep supporting sports in Pakistan #PakistanZindabad
— Hassan Ali 🇵🇰 (@RealHa55an) July 20, 2017
Cricket is only charm left in our country for people,so connecting sports with politics isn't really a good idea,or disgracing any player
— Ali Waqas (@AliWaqas235) July 20, 2017
Zeb Bangash has made many fans world wide with her beautiful voice. She has made a mark in Coke Studio and sung lovely OSTs including Diyar e Dil and Ek Thi Mariyum. She was also the voice behind movies like Ho Mann Jahan and Mantoo.
Her work is not limited to Pakistan. She has also lent her vocals to Katrina Kaif in Fitoor, but this is not all. She has found an international band Sandaraa, with a Brooklyn musician, Micheal Winogard, who she met in the States around four years ago. They play international folk lore including that from Balochistan, Afghanistan and Iran. Their love for historical music is what binds them together across the seas.
This Sunday, the 23rd of July, Zeb is in New York with her band and she will be performing live in Rockwood Music Hall. If any readers are in the area and there are still spaces left, it would be a night well spent.
Eminent poet, writer and educationist Hasan Akbar Kamal died on Friday. He obtained his master’s degree in English literature and taught at different educational institutions of the country. He had also written the lyrics of many patriotic and romantic songs during his lifetime.
‘Sukhan’ and ‘Khushbu Jaisi Baat’ are two of his popular collections of poems. He penned down lyrics of some pop songs during 90’s, among which ‘Hum Hai Pakistani Hum To Jeetein Ge’, by Vital Signs became most popular. He also wrote various novels for children which include ‘Rustam Khan’, ‘Chacha Khairu’, ‘Mallah Ka Bhoot’ and ‘Adam khoron Ka Jazeera’. He earned Adamjee Adabi award for his collection of poem ‘Khizan Mera Mausam’
Renowned Prof Sahar Ansari while talking to Dawn Newspaper said,
“He was a dear friend. I had known him ever since his first collection of poems Sukhan was published. He had a fine critical faculty, and also published a collection of naats. He was a creative, humble man and well-read individual. He taught English at Delhi College for a long time. He had a degree in English literature and was fond of Romantic English poets Wordsworth and Keats. His Urdu poems were regularly published in the literary journal Seep. His death has saddened me.”
Sahira Kazmi, who had worked with him on several projects also shared her thoughts,
“He was a very fine person. He wrote quite a few songs for PTV. One of the most popular songs that I did with him was the theme song ‘Hansti Khanakti Hui’ for Dhoop Kinare. Actually I had recorded it first for a show, Rang Tarang, which I used to do. I had sat down with him to discuss its subject. Then when I set out to do Dhoop Kinare, I used it as its theme track. He had written many verses but we couldn’t use them all for a TV programme, so we used two or three. I had requested him to write it in simple Urdu, which he did. He wrote lyrics for some of my other projects as well. He was a kind man.”
His contributions in patriotic and romantic songs will always keep him alive.
Zain Ali, a young singer who had also represented Pakistan in an Indian musical reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’, passed away at a friend’s house in Sheikhupura on Friday.
The Lahore based singer, Zain Ali had left home on Thursday night to visit friends in Sheikhupura. While talking to Express Tribune, Zain’s brother, Sonu reported:
“Zain told us that he was going to hang out with his friends for a few days but we woke up to the news of his death.”
Sonu further added:
”He was unmarried and had no love affairs or financial troubles that we know. In fact, Zain was about to make a new song for an upcoming film soon and was very excited about it.”
Zain’s friends revealed to his brother that the young singer, Zain went to the washroom and when he did not come out for a while, they started banging the door and calling his name then finally they barged in and found him lying unconscious on the floor. The medical investigation is still under process and there is no final verdict about his death.
Zain took part in 2012 edition of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ and got several appreciations from various Pakistani and Indian veteran actors. Unfortunately he didn’t win the competition but many had labelled him as future of Pakistani music. He had been performing at various private musical gatherings in Lahore.
Senior musician Sajjad Tafu has also expressed his views while mourning the death of Zain. While talking to Express Tribune he said:
“Zain was a great singer! In fact, he was one of the most popular young singers in Lahore and everyone expected him to do some great things in the industry.”
The mysterious death of yound singer, Zain Ali is indeed a sad news for all of us.
Fawad Khan is coming back to the music industry with a bang. I am sure this news is just awesome for his fans. We have gotten some more details about his magnificent comeback here.
Fawad will be on the panel of judges in Pepsi Battle Of Brands show that is returning after fifteen long years. The other judges will be Atif Aslam and Meesha Shafi.
Fawad, Atif and Meesha will also recreate Alamgir’s very famous “dekha na tha”. How exciting is that to hear our old favourite in the voices of two musical giants and one heartthrob all together !!
We also got hold of some of the pictures from their shoot ;
Here is a video of the rehearsal for the shoot ;
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ8GAAMPSkg
The famous celebrity couple Syra Shehroz and Shehroz Subzwari are recently into the lime lights for their film debuts this year. The couple seemed to be quite busy with their film releases but finally they have found some time for their family too. They were spotted celebrating their daughter, Nooreh’s birthday and we have got few glimpses of the birthday party of their little girl which we would like to share with you.
Rabi Pirzada has been prominent in the world of Pakistani music for a long time. We have been hearing her songs since 2005. She has also made guest appearances in various talk shows.
Recently, she has made her acting debut with film Shor Sharaba, co starring Meera. The film’s release has been delayed twice but is now set to release today. Rabi has been actively promoting her film, both inside Pakistan and abroad. She has posted a lot of pictures of herself during the film promotions in USA.
Here are her pictures from the trip;
The team of upcoming drama serial ‘Hari Hari Choriyan’, met the press today. The lead cast members of the drama serial, Aiman Khan, Hassan Ahmed, Wahaj Ali and Haddy Firdousi were spotted at the event. However, Minal Khan was also there along her sister Aiman Khan at the event.
The drama is written by Jahanzeb Qamar and directed by Syed Atif Hussain and all set to release on 1st August at 8.00 p.m on Geo TV.
Let’s watch the cast at the press meet up event of ‘Hari Hari Choriyan’ in the following clicks and a short clip.
https://www.facebook.com/HariHariChuriyan/videos/332702243819714/
This episode could have been so much more impactful if it was directed well. Maheen’s phone call to Waqar was the best part of this episode. Ayeza Khan and Imran Abbas’ sizzling on screen chemistry and the fact that Imran Abbas is a pro at giving the perfect expressions in such situations, made this scene picture perfect. Some of the dialogues and scenarios in tonight’s episode were beautifully penned down but there were many times when the director completely failed to do justice to them. The ever-present background music which wasn’t even needed, the way Maheen lectured ami begum (given the background), Gulrez showed how upset he was with the way things turned out ( a little too dramatic) and even the manner in which ami begum reacted could have been a treat to watch if these scenes weren’t directed with more passion than was necessary! Even Jia’s scene had tons of potential but there were way too many expressions and not enough substance in the performance overall. This episode in particular needed completely different treatment because it was powerful enough as it was, the actors and the director did not need to go overboard to make people understand the emotional upheaval all these characters were going through.
Having said that, the fact is that there was a major loophole in the script as well in the first few episodes. The viewers were never told in the beginning that this was a bachpan ki mangni therefore it wasn’t easy for me to connect to the whole scenario. For the longest time Ami begum talked about Maheen’s state of mind after the proposal because she was in “shock” and felt like she was not in control of things since Gulrez and rest of the family made this decision for her. Also, the entire family had been waiting for Maheen’s answer to this proposal and this engagement was only finalized when she said yes. There was no pressure on her and she only went ahead with this engagement to hurt Waqar therefore although this was supposed to be a bachpan ki mangni but Maheen made the final decision. Maheen’s “speech” therefore was slightly out of context and impossible to relate to. I understand that she realized her feelings for Waqar right at the last minute but if the bachpan ki mangni scenario wasn’t part of the speech, it would have been very apt since Ami begum did try her best to make sure that Waqar and Maheen don’t fall in love with each other.
Jia’s track has taken a turn which is completely in line with her character but it would have been so much better if this character was underplayed by Faryal Mahmood. I do however feel that the director asked these actors to be loud and over-dramatic therefore I feel the director is at fault here. It was really good to see Gulrez opening up for a change and expressing how he truly felt but the background score in this scene as well, was loud to an annoying degree. Ami Begum blamed Waqar yet again for something which wasn’t exactly his fault. Although right now it seems like Waqar has decided to stay but the first few episodes suggested that eventually he left for England and never returned.
When Fajr and Maheen talked about everything which happened at the night of the engagement, Ayeza Khan’s styling and make-up made it difficult to believe that this was early morning. It looked more like a few hours after the engagement but their conversation clearly suggested it was the next morning. Ayeza Khan is one of those actresses who are very comfortable in their own skin therefore I am guessing that making Maheen look so trim and proper under all circumstances was the director’s decision as well.
Overall, although most of tonight’s episode was poorly directed but the story has definitely taken a very interesting turn. The story is at a stage where you find yourself wondering what is going to happen next. I can’t help but root for Maheen and Waqar even though I know they are not meant to be together and that it will break Gulrez’s heart into a million pieces!
How many of you watched this episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
Arth-the destination is one of the most anticipated films that is coming out this year. The film is a remake of Indian classic Arth and stars Shaan Shahid, Uzma Hassan, Humaima Malick and Mohib Mirza in lead roles. Third teaser of the film is out and it introduces Humaima’s character to the audience. Have a look:
https://www.facebook.com/ArthTheDestination/videos/1708370352805854/
Humaima plays the role of a very glamourous actress who becomes the second woman in the life of Uzma and Mohib. The attitude Humaima showcases in the teaser makes us believe that she will definitely nail it. The film releases in December this year.
Minal Khan is going to star alongside Neelam Muneer and Wahaj in a Supernatural horror drama under the banner of Aijaz Aslam Productions – Dil Nawaz. Out of all the dramas that we see today, horror stories with supernatural beings are an exception in our industry. But, it is good to see that our directors are finally working on projects that focus on an entirely different niche.
Minal Khan recently posted a picture on Instagram, which was her latest poster:
During her conversation regarding the drama, Minal revealed:
“There are three main leads in the play. Me, Neelam Muneer and Wahaj. My character’s name is Kiran who is in love with Fahad played by Wahaj and besides both of them being madly in love, they are finding it difficult to get married.”
“The story is actually quite different as it deals with super natural elements. I can’t reveal further details at the moment but let me tell you that it is an amazing play and I am very excited for this one.”
Neelam and Wahaj are currently shooting their part in the drama, while Minal’s story has already been done.
The popular pret-wear brand Sapphire offered a flat 50 per cent off sale in its outlets all across Pakistan. The brand has been announcing such sales from time and again, which have definitely been causing frenzy for ladies around the country. Previously, in 2015, we witness a huge cat fight between two ladies over a piece of dress. So, we expected no less this year.
The midsummer sale hit early morning today. But prior to previous years, there was discipline and no useless fights. However, the queues that could be noticed outside the outlets were unfathomable. Here are some videos from malls around the Pakistan, showcasing what was happening at the sale today!
And, another one with the never lasting line of eager ladies waiting for their turn to grab clothes:
If this wasn’t enough, here is another one!
Sapphire sale had caused an utter chaos throughout Pakistan. Not only did women waited for hours to buy, but they actually bought clusters of clothes. Women could be seen grabbing dozen pieces together at once. What a day to shop!
Everyone knows how much Karan Jahor adores Fawad Khan. Even after the cross border tension, he was adamant on sticking to Khan as a part of his movie. Now, it seems that his obsession with the heartthrob of million is no alien.
Keeping Johar’s obsession in mind, Ranbir Kapoor in a podcast to AIB said:
“KARAN IS ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH FAWAD KHAN. I REMEMBER DURING THE SHOOTING OF AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL, ME AND ANUSHKA WERE TOTALLY IGNORED BY KARAN, WHO USED TO BE COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON FAWAD, HIS COSTUMES, THE LENGTH OF HIS STUBBLE, THE STYLE OF HIS HAIR, EVERYTHING!”
Karan Johar had also clarified his obsession with Fawad Khan in an interview with Neha Dhupia:
“I AM GOING TO GO WITH FAWAD. HE’S THE NEW NOVELTY AND RANBIR KNOWS I AM GOING TO GO WITH FAWAD.”
It’s no wonder that the director cum producer can’t stop worshiping Khan who has Greek God looks. After all this time, even we can’t stop drooling over him! We just wish that this tension between India and Pakistan can ease out a bit, so the trade of acting and talent can once again flourish between the countries.
Resham has been a film star for many years. She worked in television before moving towards the film industry. But she has been back to television for sometime now and she does projects here and there. She is currently seen in Pakistani version of Naagin. Resham was in Kashmir for sometime now and she is there to film for a new project. Check out these shots:
Resham is shooting at PirChinasi in Kashmir. We can see Khalid Malik and Yasir Nawaz alongside her. This is a project of Shehzad Rafique. We’ll have to wait to see how Resham’s new project turns out.
The fourteenth episode of the drama brought some very sweet and amicable scenes to the screen. It was wonderful to see this one episode relatively free of tension and stress and conflict and of course Khalida.
Somehow after threatening Takbeer with the suicide note, Khawar mellowed down and told her he would not resort to this. Then he wept and explained to her that he is hungry for love and attention and that he has no one in his life to ever support him. Takbeer and I think all of us fell for this vulnerable side of him. I could totally relate to her anger evaporating, as I felt that same with mine. The next scene where she came down to sit with him on the porch and tried to take him out of his misery was beautifully executed and both Madiha Imam and Faysal Qureshi performed brilliantly. Madiha has been the undisputed winner throughout the drama but yesterday Faysal Qureshi’s acting matched up with her. Even though Faysal closed up before really revealing anything significant but their chemistry was a treat to watch. She was feeling for him and trying to help him as best as she could, while he appreciated her for this concern and acknowledged her efforts, could not bear to reveal whatever deep dark secrets he is hiding.
The significance of the mazar and dam track eludes me. I totally fail to understand why is it there. Maybe it will have some light shed on to it later.
In Takbeer’s parents’ house, suddenly Sultan announced that his wife is going abroad for delivery. The news and its details was a shock to Takbeer’s parents, and rightly so. One thing that stood out was his father’s stance to it. How do parents unintentionally discriminate between their kids. A father who is so supportive of each and every one of his son’s decisions, becomes so rigid and non understanding when it comes to his daughters. No wonder, Sultan is so mature, so balanced and so wise. His father’s unwavering support for his son is wonderful. If only he was as good as a father to Takbeer, she would not have to go through so much pain in her innocent life. Even Tehreem was not able to share her troubles with her parents, even though they were consuming her.
Everything was going well in Khawar’s and Takbeer’s house until that fall out in the end about Mehwish’s wedding card. Considering the tension, it might have been wiser for them to drop Takbeer’s card in her parent’s house, but still it wasn’t reason enough for Khawar to be so mean to her all over again. It was like the last scene was just shown to remind that Khawar is still the same person and not to raise our expectations of him.
The next episode seems quite happening.. Keep watching and reading..
Armeena Rana Khan is over the moon these days. She has just got engaged to her mystery man in Cuba. The proposal was the perfect combination of romantic and dreamy. Her fiancé got on his knee infront of the beautiful scenery in Cuba and Armeena said yes to the proposal.
She introduced her fiancé primarily as just her British Bae but now she has officially introduced him in her latest Instagram post. His name is Fesl Khan. He is a British politician as well as a politician. Take a look how Armeena introduced her Mr. Right to the world:
We wish Armeena a blissful life with her Mr. Right!
