Category: Entertainment

Senior actresses Bushra Ansari and Samina Pirzada, along with Faisal Qureshi, are set to make a much-anticipated return to the silver screen after a lengthy hiatus.

The teaser of their upcoming film Deemak has finally been released, creating quite a buzz among fans and film enthusiasts.

The story of Deemak, directed by the talented Rafi Rashidi, marks Ayesha Muzaffar’s debut as a writer in the film industry. The film promises to be an exhilarating journey, spearheaded by an exceptional script and a star-studded cast.

Featuring a powerhouse of talent, the film’s impressive ensemble includes Javed Sheikh, Sonia Hussain, and Saman Ansari, among others. Although a short teaser gives a glimpse of the main characters, it leaves much to the imagination, keeping the plot under wraps.

While the teaser showcases the stellar lineup of Samina Pirzada, Bushra Ansari, Javed Sheikh, and Sonia Hussain, it remains tight-lipped about the storyline, hinting at a dark and gripping horror narrative with elements of action.

Though the teaser has left fans on the edge of their seats, the release date for the highly anticipated dark horror film has not been announced. However, it is expected to hit cinemas soon.

Deemak marks a monumental return for actresses like Samina Pirzada and Bushra Ansari to the big screen after a significant gap. Faisal Qureshi is also set to make a comeback with this film after several years.

Check the teaser below:

Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey surprised fans on Monday when he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry through a social media post.

He shared a note on Instagram, writing, “I will meet my fans for the last time in 2025. The last few years have definitely been extraordinary. I am grateful to all of you for your immense love and support. As I move forward in my life, I realize that now is the time for me to fulfill some of my responsibilities as a husband, father and son that I could not fulfill before.”

While thanking his fans, he further wrote, “So in the coming year 2025, we will meet each other for the last time, until the right time comes.”

After Vikrant Massey’s message came out, his fans thought that the actor had retired. 

However, on Tuesday, he offered a clarification: “I was not ‘retiring’ from the film industry but was just taking a break for some time.”

According to Indian media, Vikrant issued an official statement through his spokesperson in which he said that his health was being affected by work, which is why he has decided to take a break.

According to Vikrant, “I can only act, it has given me everything. But my physical and mental health is also being affected. I want to take some time.”

Referring to the social media post, Vikrant further said that his post was misinterpreted as him quitting acting or retiring. “It is not like that, I just want to take some time for myself to focus on my health and family. I will return to films at the right time.”

Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur won the prestigious Turner Prize on Tuesday, as the UK contemporary art award celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Jasleen Kaur was honoured for her solo exhibition Alter Altar, which includes an installation of a Ford Escort car with a giant doily on it.

She was announced the winner during a ceremony at the Tate Britain gallery in central London.

The 38-year-old pipped Philippines-born Pio Abad, Manchester-born Claudette Johnson and English artist Delaine Le Bas to the award.

Kaur walked away with £25,000 ($32,000), while the remaining shortlisted artists were awarded £10,000 each.

The five jury members chose Kaur for ‘her ability to gather different voices through unexpected and playful combinations of material’.

During her victory speech, she called for a ceasefire in Gaza and said “Free Palestine“.

Established in 1984, the Turner Prize is awarded each year to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work.

Previous victors include now-household names such as the duo Gilbert & George, Anish Kapoor, Rachel Whiteread, Antony Gormley, Chris Ofili, Steve McQueen and Damien Hirst.

British artist Jesse Darling won last year’s prize for his sculptures and installations that invoke societal breakdown.

The annual award seeks to encourage debate around new advances in contemporary art and is given to a visual artist based or born in Britain.

But that debate has often spilled over into controversy. Ofili, for example, won in 1998 for incorporating elephant dung into his paintings.

Hirst in 1995 exhibited pieces including a rotting cow’s head, while Tracey Emin’s 1999 entry ‘My Bed’ – an unmade double bed with stained sheets surrounded by soiled underwear, condoms, slippers and empty drink bottles – attracted huge attention.

Did you know that actress Salma Hassan, famous for her near flawless acting in Urdu dramas, actually speaks English as her mother tongue?  

Appearing as a guest on Toh Set Hai with Aadi Adeal Amjad, Salma Hassan shared an interesting detail about her heritage. 

“Urdu is not my mother tongue. My mom was part British. My mother tongue is really English. My maternal grandmother was British.”

Honestly, we can’t really tell. Her Urdu diction and accent are quite good. 

Salma Hassan has starred in dramas such as Khaani, Ishq Murshid, Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha, Pyar Kay Sadqay, and Fairy Tale. Currently she is starring in Jaan Se Pyara Juni and Bharam. 

Salma Hassan earlier appeared in Hasna Mana Hai, hosted by Tabish Hashmi.

The host asked her at one point, “In our society, divorce is a taboo. Naturally, when people get divorced, they don’t see each other, visit each other, or talk to each other. But you and Afzar continued to work together even after the divorce. Doesn’t it feel awkward?”

She replied, “I was told this is haraam and how can you work with your ex-husband. I’m an actress, so I’d work with anyone. And for our daughter’s sake, I want to put our differences aside and have a good relationship with her father.”

Model Roma Michael has revealed that she avoided returning to Pakistan for some time, fearing retaliation after videos of her wearing a swimsuit at an international beauty pageant went viral.

Roma participated in the ‘Miss Grand International’ beauty pageant held in the Philippines in October 2024, where she wore a swimsuit.  She faced criticism for wearing the outfit while representing Pakistan at the competition.

She was not sent by the government or any official organization to the competition; she participated independently but represented Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan and the country’s cultural, fashion, and showbiz institutions do not officially recognize or participate in beauty pageants and similar events. However, in recent times, models have independently participated in various beauty pageants.

Now, addressing the issue, she stated, “After the videos and pictures of my wearing the swimsuit went viral, I received threats, which made me hesitant to return to Pakistan.”

Speaking on the FHM podcast, she said, “Some friends advised me not to come to the country for some time, so I did not return to Pakistan immediately after the ‘Miss Grand International’ event.”

She explained, “I had informed the event organizers that I would not wear a swimsuit as such clothes and events are not recognized in my country, but they did not listen to me.”

According to Roma Michael, the event organizers had initially agreed to provide her with a hijab, but ultimately, she was not given one and had to participate without a burqa or hijab, wearing the swimsuit. 

She remarked, “The social media page on which the event was being broadcast live was viewed mostly by Indians, not Pakistanis, and it was Indian people who spread my videos on social media.”

She explained, “After my videos were spread by Indian people, media houses around the world reported on me, and subsequently, I was reported in the Pakistani media as well, which led to public anger.”

Due to the backlash, she avoided returning to Pakistan for some time. However, she now feels that she is not in any danger.

The late Moin Akhtar, one of Pakistan’s most beloved entertainers, faced many challenges, especially from those closest to him.

 In a recent episode of the Suno Digital podcast, veteran writer Nasir Adeeb, a close friend of Moin Akhtar’s, shared a revealing moment from the superstar comedian’s early career that changed everything.

“Moin Akhtar started working in the show and became famous. One day his father called him and scolded him. He said, ‘I gave you life, raised you, sent you to school, and even tolerated it when you ran away from school. I tolerated all of that. But now you’ve become this comedian, this clown. What is this work? Making people laugh? What is this,’” Nasir recounted.

Despite the harsh words, Moin Akhtar took the scolding in silence.

The Maula Jatt writer explained, “Moin Akhtar silently took the scolding. He had great tolerance. The thing about big people is that they have great tolerance; they listen to everything. They think deeply about everything. If you want to see tolerance, listen to some of their speeches.”

 “When they used to give speeches, there was a storm inside them. But when they spoke in front of people, they were so calm that no one could tell what was going on inside. Big people are like the ocean. Their surface is calm, but beneath the surface, there are storms that move fish, stones, and trees from one place to another. But the surface remains calm,” Nasir said while reminiscing about his friend.

The turning point in Moin’s life came when someone invited him to host a show for former President and Army chief Pervez Musharraf.

“Then when Moin Akhtar was invited to host a show for Pervez Musharraf, his father said, ‘Okay, now you can do this work.’ He then asked, ‘Take me to the show.’ So, they took him to the show, and Moin Akhtar’s journey from there to the Pervez Musharraf show proved one thing, sometimes, Moin Akhtar had to prove that he was the son of Abbas Ibrahim, and then, Abbas Ibrahim proudly said, ‘I am the father of Moin Akhtar.’ That was his journey.

The host asked, “What were the other famous plays and dramas Moin Akhtar did?”

Nasir Adeeb replied, “All the plays that came on TV, you can’t just say one was good. Every play he did was a superhit. I told you, whatever he did was remarkable, and no one could do it like he did. One of his stage plays was Bakra Qiston Pay. Another one was Budha Ghar Par Hai. Believe me, in Bakra Qiston Pay, I laughed so much that I had to stop watching because I couldn’t laugh anymore.

Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan’s marital relationship is the subject of much speculation. The duo, once considered one of the industry’s most powerful couples, has been besieged by rumors of separation and impending divorce.

 
Abhishek Bachchan’s recent advice to married men, “Do as your wife says,” has gone viral on social media. 

During the Filmfare OTT Awards Show 2024, Bachchan was discussing his recent performances when he humourously shared the advice in response to a question about following directions.

The comment has gained significant attention, especially amid rumors about a possible divorce between Bachchan and his wife, Aishwarya Rai.

The speculation around their marriage intensified when they were seen attending the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant separate from each other. 

Earlier,Amitabh Bachchan, the king of Bollywood, has shared some interesting advice for married couples on how to keep the romance alive.

For the past year, rumors of a divorce between his son, Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya have been circulating online, as the two have been seen attending events separately. Their silence on the matter also raised concerns.

However, a few days ago, a Times of India report claimed that Abhishek Bachchan gave an interview to Bollywood UK media, where he was asked about the persistent divorce rumors.

Abhishek responded, “I don’t have much to say in this regard. You guys just give a different spin to the news, which I understand.”

He then showed off his wedding ring and added, “See, I’m still married.”

On his show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati,’ Amitabh offered advice to husbands and wives around the world for a happy married life.

A couple on the show mentioned that they had been married for 25 years and still loved each other deeply. They shared that they make short videos (reels) wherever they go.

Bachchan responded, “You’ve given a very good idea. I also suggest that to keep the romance alive, husbands and wives should make videos wherever they go. Whether it’s a walk or a trip, make it a point to create a video together.”

Despite the rumors, Bachchan has not confirmed any problems that may have arisen in the relationship. 

 Meanwhile, Aishwarya Rai has remained tight-lipped on the matter.