Category: Entertainment

Pakistani actor and digital content creator Tamkanat Mansoor has hit out at a senior showbiz figure over his comments regarding the age of women in a leading role in the entertainment industry, calling the mindset dangerous and harmful.

“A few days ago, a video of a former well-known actor went viral. He now tries to stay relevant by talking about other actors in a very shallow way,” she said in a video shared on her Instagram, criticising said actor without naming him.

Mansoor added that the actor suggested heroines were girls around 15 to 16 years of age, saying such ideas put young girls at risk.

“This kind of thinking and predatory behaviour is pedophilia in our society,” she said, explaining that such attitudes were often ignored or normalised.

Abuse often takes place at the hands of family members and victims are frequently silenced or blamed, she said, going on to share the distressing example of an eight-year-old from her medical experience.

Mansoor said she once treated an a minor girl who had suffered severe abuse. According to her, the child’s mother was afraid to inform the father.

“The mother begged us not to tell the father because she feared he would blame the child.”

Mansoor also urged parents to build trust with their children and teach them the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour so they can speak up without fear.

“When someone says young girls of 15 or 16 are meant to attract men, this is the mindset of people I call the Jeffrey Epstein of our society.”

She also criticised the culture of silence surrounding abuse, and urged people to report predators instead of protecting them.

While Mansoor did not name anyone, internet is speculating regarding the identity of the veteran actor.

Ali Sethi is set to release his second album, Room Jhoom, on May 22, marking a collaboration with American drummer and composer Gregory Rogove. The project, which began as a follow-up to ‘Pasoori’, has developed into a blend shaped by both artists’ approaches, moving between Sethi’s Sufi influences and Rogove’s Caribbean-driven sound.

In a post shared on Instagram, Sethi outlined how the album took shape over time. He wrote that he had spent much of his past pursuing precision, believing that “truth and beauty were external, somewhere over there and all I had to do was strive hard enough, practice long enough, to get there”. He said this approach led him to overlook his own instincts until he began to listen to what he described as an inner voice.

Reflecting on that shift, he wrote, “I began to loosen, to journey away from my moorings. I was succumbing to new sounds and sensations, yes, but also surrendering to a long-buried voice within, which asked me to seek freedom, to lay roots in new soil, to pin my hopes on an expansive horizon.”

Sethi also addressed the response to moving away from established structures, particularly within the traditions he has trained in. He wrote, “In our culture broadly — and in our musical tradition specifically — exiting the agreed-upon framework is a feint most foul. thou shalt not switch sides, and thou certainly shalt not advertise it on Instagram. Besharam behaya!”

According to Sethi, Rhoom Jhoom emerged from this departure, shaped through collaboration with musicians he worked with during the process. He said these interactions allowed him to move beyond earlier constraints tied to his training in ragas. 

The album, he noted, reflects an exchange between South Asian and Latin American pop influences.

Speaking about the making of the record, Sethi wrote, “what we made is music rooted in trust: trust in the process of collaboration, and in the power of intuition.” 

He added that the project involved working with multiple contributors, including Rogove, and described the process as one that allowed him to “bend the rules of my raags”.

Room Jhoom follows Sethi’s debut album Love Language, which was released in August last year.

Zayn Malik will release a track titled “Nusrat” in his upcoming album Konnakol, placing a direct reference to qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at the centre of his latest project, which draws on South Asian musical influences.

The album, scheduled for release on April 17, features 15 tracks and marks a shift in Malik’s sound, with elements of qawwali and Sufi music shaping the production and vocal style. 

The title Konnakol refers to a South Indian vocal technique that uses rhythmic syllables to mimic percussion.

The upcoming project also includes a track titled “Nusrat,” referencing legendary qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, signalling a direct nod to the genre’s influence on the album.

Listeners can expect a blend of contemporary R&B with traditional sounds, as Malik leans into cultural elements tied to his background. The project reflects a deliberate move towards incorporating familiar influences rather than exploring new ones.

The album’s visuals follow a similar direction, with cover art depicting Malik alongside a snow leopard, an animal associated with South Asian regions, including Pakistan.

Malik has previously spoken about his appreciation for South Asian music, including tracks like “Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin,” originally performed by Sonu Nigam, which point towards the melodic direction of the new release.

The singer, who debuted as a solo artist with Mind of Mine in 2016, has since released Icarus Falls (2018), Nobody Is Listening (2021), and Room Under the Stairs (2024). Konnakol will mark his fifth studio album.

He first rose to prominence as a member of One Direction after auditioning for The X Factor in 2010, before transitioning to a solo career.

Pakistani social media influencer Sehar Hayat has broken her silence on her divorce from former husband Sami Rasheed, addressing ongoing online discussion and clarifying the circumstances of her separation.

Taking to Instagram, Sehar responded to social media speculation and confirmed that she had taken khula, citing repeated verbal abuse, threats, and mistreatment during their marriage.

“Hi everyone. I woke up this morning and saw what is being discussed on social media. Let me make one thing very clear. Everywhere you look, people jump into controversies just to gain reach on their accounts,” she wrote.

She explained her reasons for seeking khula and alleged repeated verbal abuse in front of family members.

“Regarding khula, yes, I have taken khula. When a woman is repeatedly told things like ‘Should I divorce you?’ or ‘I will remind you of your worth in three words,’ and when she is verbally abused in front of her parents and family, then she has no option but to take khula,” she stated.

Sehar also addressed matters related to their daughter, saying that she was not supported financially and was used in online content for attention.

“As for my daughter, for an entire year she was not remembered. No financial support was given for her expenses even once. I was never against him meeting her, but he never made the effort. Now stories are being shared only to gain social media attention and create a false image,” she stated. 

She added that she usually avoids responding publicly but decided to speak after her daughter’s name was brought into the discussion.

“Everyone knows I usually do not respond, which is why false narratives keep spreading. But now that my daughter’s name is being used, I feel it is necessary to respond,” she wrote.

Sehar also requested that her daughter’s content be removed from social media.

“I request all editors to please remove my daughter Airah’s pictures and videos. She will no longer appear on social media. My daughter is not anyone’s content,” she said.

Responding to claims made about her past, she said her former husband had no right to discuss her personal life publicly.

“He also brought up my past in his stories. If he can publicly discuss my past on social media, then it is clear he may be doing the same privately as well. People often see one side of the story and start supporting it immediately. But I have enough evidence to defend myself,” she stated.

She also mentioned unresolved personal matters following their separation.

“By the way, my car still has not been returned. If he truly missed his daughter that much, he could have returned the car keys himself. But it seems the car matters more than anything else,” she added.

The controversy comes after Sami Rasheed addressed their separation during an Instagram Q&A session. He clarified that Sehar initiated khula and said he respected her decision.

“I did not give divorce to my wife. In fact, I never even wanted it. My wife chose to take khula, which is her right, and I respect her decision. Sometimes life takes people in different directions. I still miss them, but I understand this was her decision and she had every right to make it. May Allah bless her with happiness,” he said.

The couple married in 2023 and later separated in September 2025.

Model Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has responded to claims made by a former employee, addressing the controversy surrounding her business and setting clear expectations for workplace conduct.

Taking to Instagram, Saheefa shared a detailed statement in which she defended her approach and made it clear that she will not accept dishonesty or unprofessional behavior in her workplace.

“I think before this also gets taken out of context any further, I need to be very clear. I will not tolerate theft, dishonesty, or negligence in my business. Not from employees, and not from vendors,” she wrote.

She highlighted several issues that she considers unacceptable, including being late, lack of teamwork, and poor service.

“If you’re showing up hours late, not supporting your team, walking out during peak hours without notice, delivering low- quality products, or taking what isn’t yours, you will not be a part of this space,” she stated.

Saheefa stressed that her decisions come from maintaining standards rather than personal ego.

“This isn’t about ego. This is about standards. I owe it to the people who show up every day, who work honestly, and who rely on this place for their livelihood, especially when it comes to protecting their tips and their efforts,” she emphasised. 

She also acknowledged that there was a learning curve as a business owner but stood firm on her principles. 

“I’m new, yes. But I’m not unaware. And I’m learning fast. I will not apologise for setting boundaries, protecting my team, or securing my business. If that makes me ‘difficult’ so be it,” she added.

The statement came after a former employee shared a vlog alleging unfair dismissal and unpaid dues, which sparked debate on social media.

While Saheefa did not name the individual, her response appeared to address the accusations and reinforce her commitment to discipline and accountability.

Saheefa Jabbar recently entered the food business with two eateries in Lahore, where she aims to deliver a quality-focused dining experience. Her ventures have faced criticism online in recent days, including negative reviews following earlier controversies.

Indian singer and music composer Vishal Dadlani has come under fire on social media after a video showed him meeting a Pakistani journalist.

According to reports, the video surfaced online after it was recorded in London, where Dadlani appeared in a casual conversation with Pakistani journalist Safina Khan. The clip quickly went viral, triggering a strong reaction from Indian trolls. 

Several users criticised the singer and demanded his removal from the popular reality show Indian Idol. Some extremists also called for a boycott of the channel airing the show.

One user wrote, “Remove Vishal Dadlani From Indian Idol @SonyTV.”

Other reactions included, “How can someone be so shameless ” and “the biggest anti-Indian I have ever seen.”

Calls for a broader boycott also surfaced online, with one user writing, “Boycott Sony TV, for their anti-national agenda.”

Dadlani, however, has not issued any detailed response so fa.