Current Final

Category: Entertainment

  • ‘It’s disturbing that a film like The Kashmir Files is so popular’: Naseeruddin Shah

    ‘It’s disturbing that a film like The Kashmir Files is so popular’: Naseeruddin Shah

    Bollywood’s venerated thespian Naseeruddin Shah has spoken out against the rising popularity of propaganda films like ‘The Kerala Story’ and ‘The Kashmir Files’, both of which revolve around Islamophobic content. The former centers around the debunked claim that thousands of women in the state of Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and then recruited into ISIS. ‘The Kashmir Files’, a film about the mass evacuation of Hindus from Indian-occupied Kashmir, was slammed by critics for distorting facts.

    “Now the more jingoist you are, the more popular you become, because this is what has been ruling this country. It’s not enough to love your country but beat drums about it and you have to create imaginary enemies,” the veteran actor said while speaking to Free Press Journal.

    Shah said that filmmakers behind ‘The Kerala Story’ or ‘The Kashmir Files’ don’t realise that what they’re doing is harmful.

    “In fact, films like Kerala Story and Gadar 2, I haven’t seen them, but I know what they are about. It’s disturbing that films like Kashmir Files are so massively popular whereas movies made by Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha and Hansal Mehta, who are trying to portray the truth of their times, don’t get seen.”

    The ‘Masoom’ actor described the current environment “frightening” considering how filmmakers today are resorting to making movies on baseless accusations that trample down other communities:

    “It’s hard to resort to abstraction and capture life as it is. So regressive is a pretty mild word for what’s going on. It’s frightening when filmmakers are being coopted into making films which praise all the wrong things and run down other communities for no reason at all. It’s a dangerous trend.”

    The actor had previously written an open letter about the accusations of love-jihad on his 41-year-long marriage to Hindu wife Ratna Pathak, saying that he and his family were supportive of his wife’s decision to remain a Hindu.

    “As it happened, the subject of my wife Ratna converting to Islam was brought up just once by my mother and that as enquiry, to which, on receiving a reply in the negative, she concurred with a ‘Haan, mazhab kaise badla jaa sakta hai.’ Whether this statement of a woman weaned exclusively on a diet of the Quran makes more sense than the hate-filled rhetoric of ‘Hindus and Muslims cannot live together’, I will leave to the judgement of the reader.”

    READ MORE: Naseeruddin Shah opens up about ‘love jihad’ accusations on marriage to Ratna Pathak

  • Working women, pay heed to this excellent advice from Bushra Ansari

    Working women, pay heed to this excellent advice from Bushra Ansari

    Bushra Ansari keeps aging with grace and confidence, giving us more reasons to love her. Her stellar comedy skills, her decades long career, and her blunt advice to empower women keeps proving she’s the GOAT. Recently, during an appearance at ‘The Talk Talk Show’, the actress spoke in depth about two prevailing topics that more working women should take her advise on: remembering that its okay to want to work after marriage, and that the right to divorce was granted to them by Islam.

    On the show she discussed the basics of establishing a flourishing career while also remaining a full-time mom. The ‘Tere Bin’ actress said that aside from performing on screen, she kept working as a full time mother and a housewife who cooked food and dropped her kids to school. Her advice to stay-at-home mothers, especially women working in the showbiz industry, was to keep multi-tasking in different roles.

    “Allah has given us a lot of abilities so we should keep searching for them. This is the advice I also give to girls working in showbiz to keep working after marriage, whether or not they start a family.”

    Bushra elaborated that women shouldn’t stop after getting married or after having a child, giving examples of several actors who have done the same. “I worked on my career and raised my children along with this. Along side with Rubina Ashraf, Samina Ahmed, Saba Hamid. We continued to work, while also taking care of our children.”

    The ‘Dolly Ki Aegi Barat’ spoke about her divorce from her husband of 36 years, reflecting on her Nikah, when her father made sure to include the ‘right to divorce’ clause. The actress elaborated that in contradiction to what society thinks, the Quran has given women a lot of rights in Islam.

    “The right to divorce is written in the Nikkah, which is cut out. When someone is getting married, they can chose to have the right to divorce. This is initiated when a discussion is held with the boy’s family, because they can give you this right. It’s not that a woman can just hand over a divorce, but its a granted right given by her husband and in-laws. So this is something I feel even the boy’s side of the family should understand.”

    Ansari said using the right to divorce was not an easy task because ending a marriage can be painful “I had the right to divorce from the first day, but I spent 36 years in my marriage. I would have used it in a snap but no one wants to separate this way. But when the time came, I used this right.”

  • Sharmila Tagore: not your typical saas and here’s proof from Kareena Kapoor

    Sharmila Tagore: not your typical saas and here’s proof from Kareena Kapoor

    Sharmila Tagore should share a page from her book on how to be an uplifting and generous saas to your newly wedded daughter-in-law, and maybe more women would want to get married.

    Kareena Kapoor was a guest on Express Ada where she spoke about her decision to marry actor Saif Ali Khan at the peak of her career. She opened up about people telling her she would be destroying her career.

    “Everyone was like, if you get married your career might be over and it would take a beating,” reports The Indian Express. “I was madly in love and I thought it is fine. If producers and directors would be like my career is over because I got married, then I think it’s maybe their loss. It’s a weird thing. I couldn’t believe it. I was like, ‘Okay, let’s see what happens.’ And I just did it.”

    The ‘K3G’ actress especially gave credit to her mother-in-law veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, whom she gushed about for giving her a lot of confidence when she needed it.

    “My mother-in-law also gave me a lot of confidence because she did amazing movies like Daag, Waqt and such beautiful films that she did after Saif was born. So she was like, ‘Don’t fall for the fact that producers won’t (cast you).’ She was like, ‘Challenge yourself, challenge them, and it will happen.’ And I was confident about it. I was just always worried about balancing my life in terms of how I would balance marriage. I was most concerned about that because I was like, ‘I do want to work’.”

    Kareena remained confident that she hadn’t given up her career, and was happy to witness how several other actors like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt have gotten married at the peak of their careers, continuing to work afterwards.

    “I think it’s given a lot of girls confidence. Everybody started following suit and being a lot more confident. People earlier would not even talk about their relationships openly. There was a time when nobody wanted to be linked with anyone or the sight of having a relationship for a Bollywood actress was like, no.”

    Kareena also gave credit to Saif’s “relaxed” state of mind, emphasizing that he didn’t have any issues with the actress wanting to work after her marriage, crediting his upbringing in a family, “where women have always been at the forefront, be it his grandmother, his mother or his sisters.”

  • ‘Shah Rukh Khan was the first person to console me after Dilip died’: Saira Banu

    ‘Shah Rukh Khan was the first person to console me after Dilip died’: Saira Banu

    Yesteryear leading lady Saira Banu shared a heart warming story about Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan on her Instagram page. The actress revealed that the superstar was the first to console her after the death of her husband, legendary actor Dilip Kumar in . The thespian and Banu had been married for 54 years when the thespian died at the age of 98 years.

    In a detailed account, she wrote on Instgram page, that she first met the ‘Pathaan’ actor at an event where he appeared shy and reticent, resembling Dilip’s personality.

    When he bowed before Saira and asked for her blessings, the actress realised his hair resembled her husband’s.

    “Since that day, whenever Shahrukh and I met, he graciously lowered his head, allowing me to offer him my blessings. Interestingly, on one occasion, I forgot to run my hand through his hair, and immediately after, Shahrukh lowered his head, saying, “Aaj Aapne Mere Baalon Par Hath Nahin Phera”, and without hesitation, I lovingly ran my fingers through his hair, completing our familiar ritual.”

    Saira wrote about thf Bollywood Badshah being especially considerate when Dilip Kumar passed away.

    “In that moment,’ writes the ‘Junglee’ actress. “His affection for the ‘Kohinoor of Hindustan,’ Dilip Sahib, shone brightly as he was among the very first to offer his comforting presence in the face of adversity.”

    Saira also reflected how Shah Rukh’s respect and affection for her late husband shined when he came to their house to get the ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ poster signed by him, and which he has kept in his private theatre.

    Read her complete caption here

  • ‘Stop’: Adnan Siddiqui slams fake news of his death

    ‘Stop’: Adnan Siddiqui slams fake news of his death

    Actor Adnan Siddiqui has become the latest target of fake death rumours on the internet, and he has had enough of it.

    The ‘Maat’ actor shared a clip on his Instagram account of a video spreading news that he had passed away, slamming irresponsible journalism:

    “All those spreading the rumours of my demise in the name of journalism and breaking news, next time give me a fair idea before making me the headline. I’ll personally come to your studios and confirm it, complete with my epitaph. Your (ir)responsible journalism should look flawless after all.”

    Actress Simi Rahael sent prayers in the comments and called out trolls for spreading such dangerous news.

    Other actors like Faysal Quraishi and Aijazz Aslam also agreed with Adnan’s post.

    Previously, it was veteran actor Mahmood Aslam who became the target of rumors that he had passed away, and the ‘Bulbulay’ actor took to social media to slam the fake news and called for users to be mindful about his friends and family members who could be deeply hurt by such actions.

    “I’m Mahmood Aslam, breathing, fit and alive in front of you. A few hours ago, someone reported on social media that I have passed away. Whoever spread this news, I want to request them, for God’s sake, to not spread such news without verifying it. I am sitting in front of you, healthy and alive.”

    “If not me, please think of my friends and family, relatives and fans and how they would feel after reading this unverified news. You can post about people who die so everyone can grieve them but please do not post fake news about those who are alive.”

    “I made this video to tell all of you to not believe the news. I’m here and alive. And I’d like to request the people behind the fake news to stop their malicious attempts. Think 10 times before doing such a thing. It might be fun and games for you but it isn’t a joke. Fans and families could get affected in the worst possible way.”

  • Captain America is married: Check out who Chris Evans wed in intimate ceremony

    Captain America is married: Check out who Chris Evans wed in intimate ceremony

    It looks like the Avengers superhero is officially off the market

    Actor Chris Evans has married actress Alba Baptista in an intimate ceremony at his Boston home, with only friends and family present. Page Six reports that guests had to sign NDAs, while phones were strictly not allowed during the ceremony. The 41-year-old actor’s fellow superheroes including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner, were present at the wedding, as was Emily Blunt and husband John Krasinski.

    In November 2022, a source told People Magazine that the pair had been dating for over a year.

    “They are in love, and Chris has never been happier,” the insider said, adding that the ‘Knives Out’ actor’s friends and family members all adored his girlfriend.

    Chris Evans previously opened up to People Magazine about his desire to have a family and getting married:

    “That’s absolutely something I want — wife, kids, building a family,” said the ‘Captain America’ actor. “When you read about most of the best artists, whether it’s actors, painters, writers, most of them [admit] it wasn’t the work they made [that they are most proud of], it was about the relationships, the families they created, the love they found, the love they shared.”

    “So it’s also something through my long 41 years that also rings true. Those things are the most important. I love the idea of tradition and ceremony, I had a lot of that in my life so the idea of creating that, I can’t think of anything better.”

  • Our 90’s hearts are soaring: Disney set to release television series on ‘Goosebumps’

    Our 90’s hearts are soaring: Disney set to release television series on ‘Goosebumps’

    October aka Spooktober has already set in motion with the return of the fan favourite horror novel series ‘Goosebumps’, set to release on Disney Plus and Hulu from October 13 onwards. A teaser trailer is already setting social media on fire. The series was created by Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller, and will feature an entirely new cast of child actors.

    https://twitter.com/Jak854321/status/1699923254180466929?s=20

    The television series is adapted from the popular horror novel series written by R.L Stine, which explores the lives of protagonists who find them selves in scary situations involving ghosts or other supernatural elements.

    The series were previously adapted into a television series in 1995, and a film in 2015, which followed a fictionalised version of Stine teaming up with his daughter to save the neighbourhood after the monsters written in his book escape and begin igniting chaos.

  • ‘Barbie botox’: Doctors horrified at latest TikTok trend

    ‘Barbie botox’: Doctors horrified at latest TikTok trend

    A new trend known as ‘Barbie Botox’ has been unleashed on TikTok. Women are getting Trapezius Botox in order to elongate the neck and shrink the shoulders, so it makes the person resemble a Barbie doll. The hashtag #barbiebotox has over 9.4 million views on TikTok according to Forbes, while #traptox has over 22.5 million views, with clips of popular influencers and reality tv who have gotten the procedure.

    TikTok influencer Malibutoast who has over 195 K followers, shared clips of herself after having the procedure done, with users worried in her comments about whether the trend would encourage more insecurities among women on social media.

    @malibutoast Lmk your thoughts #botox #trapeziusbotox #selfimprovement ♬ original sound – Malibutoast

    ‘Wake up guys new insecurity just dropped,” wrote one user.

    “Damn now I have to add… trapezius to the list of things I need to fix about myself ” another wrote.

    Isabelle Lux, another TikTok influencer who credits herself with coining the phrase ‘Botox Barbie’ detailed her own experience of getting the treatment with CNN:

     “It came from the idea that you would look more like a Barbie when you get it done, which I don’t think is a bad thing. It elongates the neck, slims the shoulders and creates a very delicate physique when it’s done properly.”

    Speaking to the news organisation about the growing backlash she was getting on the internet, including being called an ‘anti-feminist’, Lux defended her choice by pointing out that women shouldn’t be belittled for wanting to look a certain way.

    “The desire to look a certain way has for centuries been seen as silly, a waste of time, waste of money and pointless, especially for women,” she told CNN. “But when a man wants to look a certain way, it’s scientific, it’s cool. I think that we need to stop belittling women for things that they’re interested in, including looking a certain way if they want to. It’s not silly. Like, it’s real.”

    But many plastic surgeons are condemning the trend, explaining that the procedure was coined in order to help those with excessive neck pain, with a side effect of creating the illusion of a longer and slimmer neck. Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, New York City dermatologist Dr Amy Wechsler pointed out that Barbie’s features are unrealistic and these cosmetic procedures won’t make a noticeable effect on women.

    “Someone years ago explained that if you take a Barbie doll and make it into an adult woman, the measurements are not really realistic. So I don’t love jumping on social media trends because they often don’t have any basis in science,” she explains. “I think that’s human nature to try to wanna copy a trend, but usually what happens — which is good — is that the trend will fizzle out if it’s not a good idea or if it’s not healthy.”

    “The #BarbieBotox trend is more about slimming,” Wechsler adds. “If you relax those muscles it can make a big improvement in the feel and the look. But if someone doesn’t overuse that muscle, I don’t think it does that much.” 

    Speaking to CNN, Dr Parisha Acharya warned that incorrect administration of Botox could weaken the muscle completely, and then effect your ability to hold up your neck properly. She expressed concerns about the trend going viral on social media, especially when younger audiences are watching:

    “I think a medical procedure should be treated as a medical procedure. And in the UK, (the aesthetics industry) is unregulated. So shockingly anyone can administer botulinum toxin injections. That could be a beautician or hairdresser with no clinical experience, no anatomy knowledge. It really does worry me.”

    Dr Acharya also pointed out that the trend took the wrong message from the movie ‘Barbie’ which advocated for women to stop trying to mould themselves to appease the patriarchy, and start accepting their bodies as the way they are:

    “It was very pro-feminism, and (women) were moving away from sexualizing our bodies and thinking of them as just objects,” she stressed. “I don’t like the fact that this trend is using Barbie to say we should have slim necks. We should embrace ourselves for who we are.”

  • Pakistani legendary singer honoured with Queen Elizabeth award

    Pakistani legendary singer honoured with Queen Elizabeth award

    Pakistan’s celebrated singer Shazia Manzoor has been honored in Ontario, Canada on Friday with The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pin. The award was presented by Canadian politician Shafqat Ali, who praised the veteran singer for her contribution to arts and culture.

    “It was such an honour to host Shazia Manzoor, a recognized and renowned Pakistani singer, and to recognize her for her contribution to art and culture and her commitment to bringing South Asian communities together through her song It was such a blessing to meet the acclaimed Pride of Performance of Pakistan and to award her with Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pin Thank you for visiting and we hope to see you again soon.”

    The singer thanked this dedication by writing in the comments section: “Thank you so much shafqat bhai ❤”

    Shazia Manzoor was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and rose to fame with song like ‘Chan Mere Makhna’, ‘Tu Badal Gaya Sajna’ and ‘Dil Mod De’.

  • Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis wrote letters in favor of star sentenced for 2 rapes

    Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis wrote letters in favor of star sentenced for 2 rapes

    Hollywood stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were among the 50 people writing letters in favor of actor Danny Masterson, who has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of raping two women in 2003. The husband -wife duo had worked with Masterson for the sitcom “The ’70’s show” which ran from 1998 till 2006.

    In his letter, Ashton Kutcher wrote about Masterson being a ‘role model’:

    “While I’m aware that the judgement has been cast as guilty on two counts of rape by force and the victims have a great desire for justice, I hope that my testament to his character is taken into consideration in sentencing. I do not believe he is an ongoing harm to society and having his daughter raised without a present father would [be] a tertiary injustice in and of itself. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”

    While Mila Kunis commented on Danny’s drug-free lifestyle, prosecutors said Danny had drugged the two women in his Hollywood Hills home and raped them.

    “One of the most remarkable aspects of Danny’s character is his unwavering commitment to discouraging the use of drugs. His influence on my in this regard has been invaluable. In an industry where the pressures and temptations of substance use can be overwhelming, Danny played a pivotal role in guiding me away from such destructive paths. His dedication to avoiding all substances has inspired not only me but also countless others in our circle. Danny’s steadfastness in promoting a drug-free lifestyle has been a guiding light in my journey through the entertainment world and has helped me prioritize my well-being and focus on make responsible choices.”

    At the sentencing, the two women Danny was convicted of raping in 2003, spoke about the trauma the ordeal had inflicted upon them:

    “When you raped me, you stole from me,” said Jane Doe 1 “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.”

    “You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent. The world is better off with you in prison.”

    Jane Doe 2 spoke about how Danny “had not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused.” She told the judge, “I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with. I am so sorry, and I’m so upset. I wish I’d reported him sooner to the police.”

    At the trial held on Thursday morning in Los Angeles, Judge Charlaine Olmedo gave a speech before sentencing Masterson to 30 years in prison:

    “I know that you’re sitting here steadfast in your claims of innocence, and thus no doubt feeling victimized by a justice system that has failed you. But Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person’s voice, and choice. One way or another you will have to come to terms with your prior actions, and their consequences.”