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Author: News Desk

  • Don’t ask if you don’t want to know: Mahira on why she ‘always talks about’ SRK

    Don’t ask if you don’t want to know: Mahira on why she ‘always talks about’ SRK

    Pakistani actress Mahira Khan has cleared the air regarding claims that she is always spotted talking about Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.

    Recently, during the Aalami Urdu Conference 2024, she was asked if she ever gets tired of being asked about the ‘King of Bollywood’.

    “Do you ever get annoyed with this topic… that whenever there’s an interview, they always ask how it felt to work with Shah Rukh Khan? Do you think its fine? I mean he’s a superstar… so people ask… but do you think it’s too much?” host Waseem Badami asked.

    To which Mahira said she could never have “enough of him”.

    “Well, I will never have enough of him, but I think when someone asks me, I answer. Then people think I’m talking about him, which I never do… what I feel is that they shouldn’t even ask me.”

    Mahira is the only Pakistani actress to work with Shah Rukh. Consequently, The Raees actress is also the only Pakistani star who has repeatedly been asked about her experience of working with him.

     The film Raees was released in 2017, Mahira Khan plays the female opposite Bollywood king Shah Rukh.

    Mahira portrays Aasiya, Raees’ wife, a character who is strong, supportive, and plays a crucial role in his personal life. Her performance was widely appreciated for its emotional depth and grace, standing out amidst the intense action and drama.  

     The film was directed by Rahul Dholakia and written by Harit Mehta, Niraj Shukla and Rahul Dholakia.

    Earlier,Indian film director Rahul Dholaika considered top Bollywood actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Kaitrina for his film Raees, but none were the right fit. Instead, actress Mahira Khan caught his attention and was chosen to play Aasiya opposite Shahrukh Khan.
     


    During his appearance as a guest on Mashable India, director Rahul Dholaika explained why he picked Mahira Khan for his film Raees.

     “We wanted an 80s Muslim girl. Number one criteria is Hindi, secondly, her Urdu should have a little twang, if she has it, is even better. The other is she has to be innocent. Okay, now you have Shahrukh, who is 50, so you need someone whose screen age is 30-something or 35. You need somebody who is at least 30 plus or around 30 as an actress, now, an actress around 30 who is innocent. There are very few of them. There was Deepika, there was Kareena, and there was Anushka. So, there were these three or four heroines that were there.” 


     
     As the casting process went on, it became clear that finding an actress who fit all the requirements for Aasiya was not easy, Dholaika explained, saying, “So now, if you have these three or four heroines, then either they are too expensive, or the role is too small for them. So we went through that gamut, and we said, ‘Yeah, Sonam, Katrina,’ you know, went through the whole list of it. And then at the end of it all, we decided this is not working for us. If it’s working for Farhan, it’s not working for Shahrukh, it’s not working for Shahrukh and Farhan, not working for me. Now, you don’t want him to romance Alia, you know, or something like that.”

     “I think Gauri’s mom had seen Mahira, and my mom had seen Mahira independently. I told the casting director, ‘Do you know her? What do you think of her?’ So, he said, ‘She’s here in BB Fashion.’ That’s how it happened,” the Raees director added.

  • Deepika Padukone looks stunning in first appearance after giving birth

    Deepika Padukone looks stunning in first appearance after giving birth

    Weeks after giving birth to her daughter Dua, Bollywood A-lister and new mom Deepika Padukone made her first public appearance at Punjabi music sensation Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati concert in her hometown, Bengaluru.


    In her first official appearance as a mom, Deepika Padukone joined actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh for the latest show of the Dil-Luminati Tour at NICE grounds, Madavara, in Bengaluru.


    He shared a clip on his Instagram, praising the superstar and mentioning her skincare brand before welcoming Padukone on stage. The Piku star briefly danced with Dosanjh as he sang his chart-topper ‘Lover.’


    “I’ve seen her on the big screen and never thought I would see her this close. She has done such lovely work and made a mark in Bollywood, all by herself. All of us should be proud of you,” Dosanjh said about Padukone. “You came to our show; thanks a lot for that. Much love.”


    Deepika Padukone and her husband Ranveer Singh, who married at Lake Como, Italy in 2018, announced their first pregnancy in February this year and welcomed their baby girl, Dua, in September.


    Meanwhile, Diljit Dosanjh, who started the Indian leg of his sold-out Dil-Luminati Tour in October, is nearing the final spell of his shows in the country. After performing in Indore, Chandigarh, and Mumbai, the Punjabi superstar will conclude the tour in Guwahati on December.


    Check the videos below:

  • Champions Trophy meeting postponed again amid BCCI’s lack of response

    Champions Trophy meeting postponed again amid BCCI’s lack of response

    The overdue International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting regarding the hosting of the Champions Trophy has been postponed once again.

    The meeting, which was scheduled for today, was to be held between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the ICC, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to decide on matters concerning the hosting of the upcoming tournament and its schedule.

    Geo, however, reported that the ICC meeting on the Champions Trophy has been deferred yet again.

    The Indian Cricket Board was expected to respond to the ICC after consulting with its government regarding Pakistan’s demands, which included playing in the rival’s country. However, there has been no response from the BCCI.

    Pakistan’s conditions concern the Indian board, with Pakistan sticking to its firm stance on hosting all matches in their country, which has left the final plans undecided while the tournament is only two months away. The matters are in the final stages, but the meeting would be pointless without a response to Pakistan’s demands.

    The ICC meetings related to the Champions Trophy have now been postponed twice, mainly due to Pakistan’s strong stance on hosting and India’s traditional stubbornness.

    ICC meeting on Champions Trophy fate postponed, again

    India has once again refused to accept the formula proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding Champions Trophy deadlock, leading to further postponement of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) board meeting scheduled for Thursday.

    As per the details, the meeting scheduled for the day in Dubai will now be held on December 7 — only after India responds to Pakistan’s position, and all stakeholders are confident of a solution that could be accepted by both countries.

    The PCB has made it clear to the ICC that the meeting should only be called once India has responded, and a decision can be made, reports said.

    Earlier, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Dubai to attend the meeting scheduled for the evening on Dec 5. A major decision on the Champions Trophy was likely to be made during the same.

    Meanwhile, an Indian cricketing website claimed that the Champions Trophy will be held under the hybrid model and “Pakistan has accepted it”.

    However, PCB has officially only offered a two-nation formula instead of the hybrid model. Under said arrangement, Pakistan shall also not play any ICC tournaments on Indian soil for at least the next three years.

    Among other conditions put forth by Pakistan, a 3-nation series with India should also be played at a neutral venue.

    While reports say that India is not likely to accept any demands but a majority of the board members “will agree to hold Champions Trophy under two-nation formula”, PCB has rubbished all claims and reiterated its stance.

  • VIDEO: Indian man assaults three Muslim children, forces them to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’

    VIDEO: Indian man assaults three Muslim children, forces them to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’

    In yet another incident highlighting the spread of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiments in India, a Hindu man has brutally beaten up three Muslim children till they ended up chanting “Jai Shri Ram” – a popular Hindu slogan mostly attributed to extremist Hindutva group.

    As per the details, a viral video showed the man beating up the children with a slipper, questioning them about a lighter in their possession. The man can also be seen slapping them continuously.

    With one of the boys crying out “Allah” in pain, the man starts beating them even more viciously. The traumatised children on the other end then try to appease the man by saying “Bhagwan”, but he keeps assaulting them.

    Eventually, the kids start chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, which seems to please the assaulter. “Won’t say Allah again,” one child can be heard as saying, wailing, as the abuser continues laughing and filming the act.

    According to Indian media reports, the undated video was first posted to social media on December 5 from Madhya Pradesh.

    The three children, aged 7, 10, and 12, are reportedly residents of Ashok Nagar Sabzi Pharosh area in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. The assault took place when the children went to Amrit Sagar Pond. 

    “The younger child is in trauma. He has become mentally disturbed. The children are not talking to anyone. The youngest child is an orphan as his parents died in an accident,” reports quoted Siraj, a local journalist, as saying. 

    With the video going viral, protests broke out for the immediate arrest of the accused.

    A police official, while talking to the media, said that a case had been registered against the man whose identity was yet to be established.

    Commenting on the incident, journalist Rana Ayyub lamented the state of tolerance and democracy in the country. “Muslim couple forced to sell house after Hindu residents complaint, a man thrashes Muslim kids with slippers, forcing them to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, Muslim houses demolished, places of worship under attack. And Prime Minister Modi continues to project India as a democracy,” she said in a post on X.

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    Professor Ashok Swain also shared the post and wrote, “Under Modi, India has become a burning hell for Muslims.”

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  • ‘I tried to commit suicide three times’: Sarwat Gilani’s shocking revelations about postpartum depression

    ‘I tried to commit suicide three times’: Sarwat Gilani’s shocking revelations about postpartum depression

    Postpartum depression is a tough battle, one that many women have to endure behind the joy of having a baby. Actress Sarwat Gilani faced the struggle herself, feeling so overwhelmed that she considered ending her life before finding the strength to move forward.

    Appearing as a guest on SpeakEasy with Ayesha Omer, Sarwat Gilani bravely talked about her struggle with postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, narrating how deeply it affected her.

    “It’s very important to be a happy person within your own body. It took me a while because I was going through depression, and postpartum depression is crazy. I tried to commit suicide three times. Yes, now I’m like me, but then came the guilt and the fear. I have a little baby, and I wanted to look at her for a while. But you know, Allah places courage inside you, and He gives you the strength to get through it,” Sarwat remarked.

     The Ishq Gumshuda actress emphasized the importance of self-awareness and seeking help during difficult times. “Help will come, you just have to be the one looking for it. And in all these things, the most important relationship is with yourself. So, be more self-aware, know what you like, what’s right for you, and what’s not.”

    On the topic of marriage, Gilani shared valuable insights on what makes a relationship work.

     When asked about the top five things that make a marriage successful, Sarwat said, “First, setting boundaries with your spouse, respecting those boundaries, and setting those boundaries with your in-laws too. I wouldn’t compromise on that, but I would be more understanding, not too demanding, especially financially. Nowadays, it’s hard for one person to manage a household, so if you can support yourself, it’s important to express that. Also, never fight before sleeping, always resolve issues before going to bed.”

    The Meri Zaat Zarra-e –Benishan actress also highlighted the importance of mutual support in a relationship.

    “Celebrate each other for who you are and how you want to excel and change. Appreciate them, help them achieve their goals,” Sarwat Gilani concluded.

     Earlier, in a  TV interview, Sarwat explained that she didn’t have postpartum depression after she gave birth to two sons so she didn’t know much about it. However, she went through severe postpartum depression after her daughter was born.


    She described meeting her daughter four days after birth because they were in different hospital wards after surgeries. During this time, her baby needed breastfeeding, but Sarwat was very depressed and had upsetting thoughts of dropping her baby to end the stress.


    “I was crying uncontrollably and told my husband that I wanted to harm our daughter to stop all the tension,” she shared with tears in her eyes.

  • Imran Khan’s prison cell had no electricity for five days, Fawad Chaudhry reveals

    Imran Khan’s prison cell had no electricity for five days, Fawad Chaudhry reveals

    Former federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while appearing on the Geo News programme Naya Pakistan on Friday, revealed that former Premier Imran Khan had no electricity for five days last month.

    The former member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) further claimed that party founder Imran Khan has no access to newspapers and television.

    Chaudhry revealed the details of his meeting a day after he met with the PTI founder in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Thursday.

    Commenting on PTI demands to establish a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9 and November 24, the former Minister said that Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah does not want to form the commission, adding, “Rana Sanaullah will leave thorns for Mohsin Naqvi in the future.”

    “If Mohsin Naqvi has some wisdom, he should form the commission,” he advised.

    Responding to host Shahzad Iqbal’s question about whether the party founder’s recent call for civil disobedience movement succeeds, Chaudhry said, “The civil disobedience movement had been very effective in the past and has many layers.”

    Founder PTI Imran Khan on Thursday warned the government on X (formerly Twitter) that his party will begin a civil disobedience movement if the two demands remain unmet.

    He demanded the formation of a judicial commission for a transparent investigation of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of under-trial political prisoners. 

    “If these two demands are not accepted, a civil disobedience movement will be launched from December 14,” the founder of the former ruling party warned, adding that the government would be responsible for the results of the movement.


    Fawad Chaudhry opined that in last month the settlement with the government regarding the release of Imran Khan was very close. However, the party negotiating team’s lack of experience shattered the opportunity.

    Recalling his meeting with the party founder, Chaudhry highlighted that party founder Imran Khan was in his “2018-19 fitness.”

    Meanwhile, speaking outside the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi, Awami Muslim League Chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that he also met Imran Khan at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Thursday, adding, “Imran Khan greeted me with a warm hug.”

    Sheikh Rasheed said that Imran Khan mostly engaged in conversation with the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omer Ayub Khan, and it was not appropriate to disclose the conversation to the media.

    “He [Imran Khan] said to me that we are the same,” the former Interior Minister said.

  • Absar Alam lashes out at YouTuber Imran Riaz for lies, theft

    Absar Alam lashes out at YouTuber Imran Riaz for lies, theft

    Senior journalist Absar Alam has lashed out at YouTuber Imran Riaz in the Samaa News podcast, saying, “Imran Riaz is a liar, and those who made him who he is today are also thieves, liars, and without any conscience because they took salaries from our taxes and made these people famous.”

    According to YouTuber Imran Riaz’s recent allegations on Absar Alam, “Absar Alam was present in D-Chowk during PTI’s final call march, when he heard the gunfire, but he stated on live TV that they did not fire.”

    Absar Alam replied on November 6: “I am challenging him to prove that I said this. I never said that security forces did not open fire.”

    Another allegation that Imran Riaz put forth against Absar Alam was that “during Absar’s tenure as the Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), he used his power to send me a notice because of his bias.”

    Absar Alam revealed the reason behind the notice sent to Imran Riaz a few years ago, saying, “ I think it’s been nine years since I left PEMRA, and I am answerable to the people for every action I took during my tenure. Today, I am exposing him.”

    Absar Alam also showed a screenshot of the PEMRA notification on the podcast, which was dated September 6, 2016.

    “The notification was about a car theft case in which Imran Riaz and his brother were involved while he was an anchorperson in Express TV. An FIR was lodged against them in Lahore and Sheikhupura. Whenever a police official used to go near them for recovery of the car, Imran Riaz used his power as a crime reporter to transfer that cop. It is a fact that journalists also have power, and he abused that power to steal. He was this kind of a reporter,” revealed Absar Alam.

    Alam stated: “A complaint was filed against Imran Riaz in PEMRA about this, and obviously, that is why we sought a reply from him through this notification.”

    Absar Alam also said, “I am appealing to those people who actually listen to him that make him [Imran Riaz] prove these allegations against me. Ask him why he keeps lying.”

    Alam also lashed out at those who allegedly “raised Imran Riaz”, saying: “Imran Riaz was brought up by those people who used to give him files and he never questioned them even though he was a journalist. Whatever they used to tell him, he used to forward that propaganda for the people. People who used to give him false briefings to create civil unrest in the country.”

  • Cold wave about to hit the country

    Cold wave about to hit the country

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that a cold wave will hit many parts of the country starting tomorrow (December 8). 


    Dawn’s Aamir Yasin reports that snowfall is expected in Murree and upper mountainous regions, along with rain in Northern areas of the country and the plains of Central Punjab.


    The westerly wind is likely to enter the upper parts of the country from December 7, PMD has confirmed. Under the influence of this system, a cold wave is likely to affect most parts of the country from December 8-14.


    Resultantly, a significant drop in day and night temperatures will be seen.


    The press release delineates that the day temperature is predicted to drop four to six degrees celsius in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.


    Whereas, in Balochistan and Sindh, a 5°-7°C drop in temperature is likely.


    Cold winds are likely in Sindh, Balochistan and southern parts of Punjab. 


    Plains might even experience frosty conditions.


    PMD’s press release states that the cold wave/frost conditions are likely in the country during the next week. 


    Additionally, rain-wind/thunderstorms (snowfall over hills) are also expected to hit the upper parts of the country.


    Moderate rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Buner, Shangla, Manshera, Abbottabad, Kohistan, Astore, Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli, Haveli and Bagh from the night of December 7 to December 11 with occasional gaps.


    Moreover, light to moderate rain, wind and thunderstorm with snowfall over hills is expected in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad and Jhang from the night of December 7 to mid-day December 8.


    The press release also advised farmers to manage their activities keeping in view the forecast, particularly frost conditions. 


    It also warned tourists and travellers visiting mountainous areas to remain cautious during the period as the popular tourist resort Murree is going to experience the first snowfall of the season in the coming days. 


    Meanwhile, Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shiraz said that traffic police and local police have deployed additional forces in the hill station to manage traffic during snowfall, while the district administration has made facilitation centres to coordinate with the provincial government and the army.


    Further, he said that the rescue and relief equipment received from the Pro­vincial Disaster Management Authority included search and rescue jackets, tyre snow chains, mechanical saws and winter tents.

  • Sarfraz Ahmed hints at retirement from cricket

    Sarfraz Ahmed hints at retirement from cricket

    Former Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who won the Champions Trophy title in 2017, has hinted at his retirement.

    Ahmed became emotional during a press conference at the Champions T20 Cup when a journalist asked him about his retirement.

    “The announcement that was awaited will be made soon. There is nothing left to say about playing,” he responded.

    The former captain led Pakistan to two International Cricket Council (ICC) trophies during his career.

    He is most famous for captaining Pakistan to win the Champions Trophy, but one of his victories often goes unnoticed: leading Pakistan’s junior team to the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2006, where they lifted the trophy. The opponent in that crucial match was India.

    Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy for the second time under his leadership in 2017, claiming the title for the first time. This time, their opponent was also India.

    The honour of lifting two ICC trophies as captain was previously achieved by former West Indian captain Clive Lloyd, who led the Caribbean team to world championships in 1975 and 1979. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting also achieved this feat in 2003 and 2007.

    After that, if we look at the series of ICC trophies, the 1987 World Cup was won by Australia under the captaincy of Allan Border, the 1992 World Cup was won by Pakistan under the leadership of Imran Khan, and Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga.


    From 1999 to 2007, Australia won three consecutive World Cups, but there were two captains.

    Australia won the 1999 World Cup under Steve Smith, while the 2003 and 2007 World Cups were won by Australia under the leadership of Ricky Ponting. India won the 2011 World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, the 2015 World Cup was won by Australia again, but the leadership was in the hands of Michael Clarke, while England won the 2019 World Cup under the leadership of Eoin Morgan.

  • Netflix to release documentary on Hrithik Roshan family

    Netflix to release documentary on Hrithik Roshan family

     Netflix is about to give fans a closer look at one of Bollywood’s most famous families.

    The OTT streaming platform will release The Roshans, a documentary that highlights three generations of the Roshan family and their impact on Hindi cinema.

    From Roshan Lal Nagrath- the patriarch who started it all in music- to Indian actor Hrithik Roshan, the series will share untold stories and the family’s journey in the industry.

    Netflix India shared the news on Instagram: “A profound journey through legacy and love with the family that brought music, magic, and unforgettable moments to Hindi cinema

    Watch The Roshans, coming soon, only on Netflix.”

     Director, producer, Shashi Ranjan expressed his excitement saying, “Directing this documentary series has been an incredibly rewarding journey. Being invited into the Roshan family’s world and entrusted with their legacy is a privilege. It is an honor to bring their story of creativity, courage, and commitment to the world, having Netflix house the legendary movie family’s stories was undoubtedly the only way to go”

    The Roshan family said: “We are thrilled to work with Netlfix and share the untold stories that have shaped our lives.This platform lets us reach viewers worldwide, and we’re honored to share our journey with the audience.”

    Earlier,the Bollywood propaganda action movie ‘Fighter,’ featuring Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan, became a hot topic as it got banned in several Gulf countries.
    Initially, reports suggested that the ban affected many Gulf nations except the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, recent reports from trade analysts indicate that the movie is now facing a “suspension” in the UAE, as major theater chains have stopped bookings.

    The film’s distributor in the UAE had recently confirmed that the film will get released. The exact reason for the ban is not disclosed, but reports suggest it’s due to “some objectionable content in the film.”


    There were earlier speculations that ‘Fighter’ was supposed to be released in the UAE with a PG 15 rating before the ban.

     Trade analyst Girish Johar confirmed the same. He stated on X, “In a setback, Fighter officially banned across Middle East regions for theatrical release. Only UAE will release the film with a PG15 classification!” Recent reports now claim that UAE has also banned the film, with confirmation from the film’s UAE distributor, as per Times of India.

    The movie’s story, which revolves around India’s response to the attack in Pulwama, India-occupied Kashmir.