Current Final

Category: Entertainment

  • Khalil-ul-Rehman Qamar is still not over Mahira Khan schooling him for his misogyny

    Khalil-ul-Rehman Qamar is still not over Mahira Khan schooling him for his misogyny

    Controversial drama writer Khalil-ul-Rehman Qamar has said that he will never work with superstar Mahira Khan again. The writer had landed in a storm when during a TV appearance alongside journalist Marvi Sarmad on Neo TV, he hurled swear words at her after she chanted the famous Aurat March slogan ‘Mera jism meri marzi’. Several prominent figures lashed out at Qamar on his misogynist behavior, including actress Mahira Khan. Her outspoken condemnation became the source of a grudge against the actress that Qamar seems to carry till date.

    How dare a woman correct a man for using degrading, disgusting language against another woman, right?

    Recently, while talking on ‘Public Demand with Mohsin Abbas Haider’ the ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ writer was asked about whether he would ever ‘forgive’ Mahira Khan. Qamar replied that despite efforts made by others to fix the feud between the two, the screen writer has no desire to ever work with the actress again.

    “I’m still shocked today that the way the two of us respected each other, it gave her no right to tweet the way she did. She had every right to phone me, she could have discussed with me and I could have explained…She is a beautiful and accomplished actress but I’ll never be able to work with her.”

    Mahira has never publicly expressed regret or spoken about the feud, however, KRQ keeps talking about it three years later, openly expressing resentment towards her.

    Last year, KRQ shared a screenshot of Mahira condemning the brutal language Khalil used against Marvi, and in the caption he wrote: “May iska behad ehtram karta tha lekin iski ye zaban aur ghatiapan mujhay martay dam tk nahi bhoolay ga.”

    Like last year, KRQ shared a screenshot of Mahira ciondemning the brutal language Khalil used against Marvi, and in the caption he wrote: “May iska behad ehtram karta tha lekin iski ye zaban aur ghatiapan mujhay martay dam tk nahi bhoolay ga.”

    During an interview with Nadir Ali in October 2022, KRQ said Mahira had lost out on the opportunity to star in ‘London Nahi Jaungi’ and ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ because of her comments.

  • Six universities are now offering courses on Taylor Swift

    Six universities are now offering courses on Taylor Swift

    ‘Well they didn’t teach you that in prep school so it’s up to me!”

    Looks like Taylor Swift has decided to take this lyric literally and influenced more than six universities across America, including NYU and Stanford, are introducing courses revolving around the pop mastermind and her works, ranging from literature to psychology.

    Arizona State University announced this month that they were offering a course titled “Psychology of Taylor Swift — Advanced Topics of Social Psychology” where the course revolves around connecting various themes from Taylor’s music like revenge, trauma, anxiety- and link it to psychology. PHD student Alexandra Wormey used Swift 2017 album ‘Reputation’ as an example:

    “Taylor’s sixth album, Reputation, is her comeback after disappearing from the spotlight due to conflicts with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. She enacts her revenge on them — and the broader media landscape — by dropping an incredibly successful album along with a stadium tour,” she explained. “The students know this — but do they know why we like revenge? Do they know how we enact revenge? Social psychology can tell us.”

    This decision to incorporate the singer-songwriter’s ballads into academic life has long started with places like New York University, when in 2022 the Clive Davis Institute introduced their first ever course on Taylor Swift, which will explore her evolution as a songstress, country, pop and indie legend, as well discourses surrounding girlhood, sexism and trauma from her work. The course is three months long, and Swift had also been invited as a guest speaker.

    In August 2022, University of Texas at Austin introduced “Literary Contests and Contexts — The Taylor Swift Songbook”, where the 12 time Grammy award winning’s music would be studied alongside the masters of literature like Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath.

    There are courses dedicated to dissecting some of her most critically acclaimed songs like ‘All Too Well’ (10 minute version) which Taylor had released on Red (Taylor’s Version). Stanford University announced the set up of their winter quarter course ‘All Too Well (10 week version)’ which would revolve around an in-depth analysis of Taylor’s hit.

    Berkley College of Music recently announced that the students could opt for a course that requires them to study the songs written by Taylor Swift and dissect each album and the themes it revolved around.

    And it’s not just the US now which is offering Taylor Swift courses now! Ghent University in Belgium called ‘Literature: Taylor’s Version’ which, according to the instructor Elly McCausland, would delve into how the ‘Anti Hero’ singer incoporates some of the most prominent writers of English literture like Jane Austen, Shakespeare or even Charlotte Bronte into her works.

    “The way she uses the war, like a metaphor for a relationship, made me a bit uncomfortable and it got me thinking about Sylvia Plath’s poem Daddy, which does a similar thing and also it’s very uncomfortable reading,” the academic said speaking to AFP. “Literature (Taylor’s Version)”, is a way to make literature “more accessible” and “not to create a Swift fan club”.

  • Zoya Akhtar responds to backlash over Muslim representation in her films

    Zoya Akhtar responds to backlash over Muslim representation in her films

    Zoya Akhtar has been long criticised by social media users for the manner in which Muslims are represented in her films and dramas. The critically acclaimed series ‘Made In Heaven’, airing on Amazon Prime, prompted several users to criticise the director, who is the sister of actor Farhan Akhtar and daughter of Javed Akhtar, for episode 6. The criticism focused on the aspect that only polygamy marriages among Muslims are depicted rather the oppression or violence the community suffers from in India. The episode focuses on a woman Shehnaz, who attempts to kill herself after her husband gets married for the second time.

    On Instagram, Zoya finally responded by responding to a commentator who asked her to show positive Muslim characters, and stop relying on regressive stereotypes.

    The ‘Dil Dhadhakne Do’ director answered by listing several films where she had Muslim characters like Gully Boy, ‘Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’, ‘Luck By Chance’:

    “Zaffar Khan and Tanveer in Luck By Chance. Imran and Laila in ZNMD. Farah Ali in Dil Dhadakne Do. Practically everyone in Gully Boy. Sarfaraz Khan and Leila Shirazi, Kabir, Faiza and Nawab have in Made In Heaven.”

  • Indian professor compares how Pakistani artists respond to communal riots vs Bollywood

    Indian professor compares how Pakistani artists respond to communal riots vs Bollywood

    After the Jaranwala riots, where a Christian neighborhood was burned down by a violent mob because of blasphemy allegations, many Pakistani celebrities and public figures were quick to condemn the authorities that failed to control the violence , and called for swift action to be taken against the perpetuators. Ashok Swain, the chairperson of the UNESCO International Water Cooperation and professor at Uppsala University, pointed out how Pakistani celebrities were quick to condemn communal riots and ethnic violence against minorities, while in Bollywood the silence of public figures is deafening when it comes to speaking out against the rising hate crimes against minorities.

    “Pakistani film stars have spine. Indian film stars only know how to count money,” Swain tweeted.

    Since Wednesday, prominent public figures like Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Mahira Khan and Azekah Daniels have all spoken against the brutal act of injustice against the Christian community in Pakistan. Taking to her Instagram stories, Chinoy, a two- time Oscar winner, slammed ‘hypocritical’ Pakistanis who are quick to react when the Holy Quran was burned but were silent when churches were demolished yesterday by a lynch mob.

    “Two faced: That word best describes Pakistanis who are quick to point out the state of Muslims in India but who turn the other way when someone says look at the state of minorities within your own borders.”

    ‘Pasoori’ singer Shae Gill, who is a Christian, described how the incident made her completely speechless, and expressed hopes that the masses are educated so that these atrocities can come to an end.

    Meanwhile, celebrities in Bollywood have been called out publicly in the past for promoting communal violence and Islamophobia through their films. Akshay Kumar was publicly criticised when his film ‘Sooryavashni’ promoted Islamophobia. During an interview when he was asked about the anti-Pakistani themes of his film ‘Bell Bottom’ to which the A-list actor had responded: “It’s just a film.”

    Recently, Shah Rukh Khan was targeted by BJP politicians as a ‘terrorist’ and in January, the music video for his film ‘Besharam Rang’ was targeted because of the baseless ‘Love Jihad’ theory- that claims Hindu women are seduced by Muslim men and then converted into Islam- by conservatives who threatened to burn down the theaters where the movie would play.

    This obviously doesn’t mean that cinema in Pakistan is more progressive and open to accepting minorities, but we cannot deny the power of public figures who use their platforms to educate masses about sensitive topics, is far more important in today’s troubling issues in order to help fight against the growing communal violence and hatred.

  • ‘I wish her the best’: Sam Asghari confirms divorce from Britney Spears

    ‘I wish her the best’: Sam Asghari confirms divorce from Britney Spears

    Model and former dancer Sam Asghari has confirmed the rumors that he is separating from pop singer Britney Spears after being in a relationship for six years, and married for 14 months. In a post on his Instagram account, Asghari said that the two will hold on to the love and respect they have for each other, and requested everyone in the media to be kind and thoughtful.

    ‘After 6 years of of love and commitment to each other my wife and I have decided to end our journey together. We will hold on to the love and respect we have for each other and I wish her the best always. S*** happens. Asking for privacy seems ridiculous so I will just ask everyone including media to be kind and thoughtful.”

    Troubled pop singer Britney Spears and her husband Sam Asghari are divorcing after 14 months of marriage, TMZ has reported. The split comes after allegations of cheating emerged, the outlet has stated, adding that the couple, who got married in 2022 after being in a relationship since 2016, have been having heated arguments. Sam has reportedly moved out and is living in a place of his own.

    Another insider told Page Six that a source of their conflict has been Britney’s prenup which was filed before her marriage and protects all her assets and finances, however, a source has confirmed that the 29-year-old model threatened to go public with the 41-year-old pop-star’s secrets in an attempt to negotiate what the prenup provides.

    The two had announced their engagement to the with both Britney and Sam sharing pictures of the engagement ring, right after she won a legal battle to remove her father as her conservator, a binding agreement that the singer had been placed in since 2008.

    The ‘One More Time’ singer has publicly slammed both her father and sister in multiple Instagram posts for bullying her. In a now-deleted post put up in 2022, Spears slammed her sister and mom, revealing how she had been made to work to earn a living for the family while her younger sister Jamie, indulged her interests:

    “I flew home to Jamie Lynn on the couch watching her TV shows right after Justin [Timberlake] and I broke up… I was a ghost there! I had worked my whole life and I didn’t know how to be served by Mamma, sit there and get served the chocolate milkshakes with the perfectly crushed ice with the secret chunky sugar.

    “Meanwhile Jamie Lynn is 12, she indulges with the TV for hours then goes to lay out on a raft at the pool. I’m in shock because this was never my life!”

    “Justin’s family was all I knew for many years. Things were different now and Jamie Lynn had a new Nickelodeon show. All I remember saying was ‘DAMN! How the hell does a 12 year old land a Nickelodeon show?

    “… I’m grown up right! But then maybe I might need a little support. It was a People Magazine cover…”

  • ‘Sach chupta nahi hai’: Alizeh Shah responds to Minsa Malik’s FIR

    ‘Sach chupta nahi hai’: Alizeh Shah responds to Minsa Malik’s FIR

    Actress Alizeh Shah has responded to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Minsa Malik, addressing the allegations in a detailed post by blogger Ayesha Jahangir Malik on her Instagram stories, debunking the version of events narrated by Malik.

    According to Ayesha, Malik slapped Alizeh first and accused her of misconduct.

    “…In reality this other woman slapped Alizeh first and initiated physical violence breaking all and any professionalism on set.”

    The post also mentioned that despite the claim made by Minsa, footage exists of evidence that Alizeh began the conflict, while crew members sided with the ‘Tanaa Banna’ actress had been professionalism and kept work ethic in check despite being assaulted:

    “The crew, fellow artists and everyone involved is on Alizeh’s side because the incident occurred around 6 pm and Alizeh did not even leave the set till 12 am after she completed her shoot even after being humiliated and assaulted infront of everyone and that speaks volumes of her work ethic.”

    Actress Minsa Malik has filed an FIR against Alizeh Shah, accusing her of abuse and misbehavior during a shoot.

    According to multiple news outlets, the FIR was filed in Islamabad on August 15, with Malik requesting authorities to provide her with security.

    Speaking to Samaa, Malik revealed that an accident occurred during filming of a scene for an upcoming drama. She stated that Alizeh was unprofessional towards her since the day they started shooting, nagging her in a variety of ways, describing her behaviour as a case of “professional jealousy.”

    “The camera was rolling, and I was in the scene. Alizeh Shah was also present, and she was clearly high on drugs. She approached me and threw a marijuana cigarette at me. I moved back to avoid her, and in reaction, I slapped her. She then started acting violently. She used abusive language and tore her own clothes while yelling.”

    “Alizeh Shah tried to throw her sandal at me, but I moved out of the way. She was completely high when she misbehaved. The camera shooting the scenes also captured the video of us during the chaos. Alizeh insisted that the video should not get out, as it would be the ultimate source of her defamation.”

    We will update this article after we receive a statement from Alizeh Shah or her team.

  • Arijit Singh beats Taylor Swift to become third most followed artist on Spotify

    Arijit Singh beats Taylor Swift to become third most followed artist on Spotify

    Indian singer Arijit Singh has surpassed global superstars like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish to become the third most followed artist on Spotify. The musical prodigy, who rose to fame with songs like ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ and ‘Channa Meraya’, has a total of 86 million followers on his Spotify page.

    Taylor currently has 83 million followers, making her the fourth most followed artist on the music streaming platform.

    According to chart masters, the most popular artists among the top five on Spotify include Ed Sheeran, pop singer Ariana Grande, Arijit Singh, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.

  • Jannat Say Aagay is a story of envy and inspiration

    Har Pal Geo TV is airing the new drama serial Jannat Say Aagay, starring Talha Chahour, Kubra Khan, Ramsha Khan and Gohar Rasheed. Haseeb Hassan is the author and director of what is turning out to be a complex love story.

    ‘Jannat say aagay’ is about a morning show host Jannat Khan, played by Kubra Khan. The other main character is Tabbasum (Ramsha Khan), a fan inspired by Jannat’s success.

    Jannat hosts the morning show Jannat Jahan and goes to all kinds of lengths to make her show a superhit, treading into the dark side if need be.
    Tabbsum takes up a caretaker job in Jannat’s house to become close to her, so she gets to know about the reality of the superstar.

    It’s an intriguing beginning to a promising show. Let’s see where it takes us in the future.

  • ‘Best of luck’: Celebrities rally behind Imran Ashraf as he begins hosting Mazaaq Raat

    ‘Best of luck’: Celebrities rally behind Imran Ashraf as he begins hosting Mazaaq Raat

    TV fans were left heartbroken when popular actor, screenwriter and host of the late night comedy show ‘Mazaaq Raat’ Vasay Chaudhry left the show. There was a lot of anticipation about who would be the next person to fill Chaudhry’s shows. Last week it was revealed that the next host would be none other than Imran Ashraf.

    A week ago, Ashraf officially began his stint as a television host, requested fans for their love and prayers in an Instagram post.

    “Apki muhabbat aur dua ki hamaisha ki tarah zaroorat hai.”

    Celebrities like Humayun Saeed, Yasir Hussain and Hira Mani flooded the comments section with positive accolades, and sending their prayers to the ‘Ranjha Ranjha Kardi’ actor for his show.

    In a recent post, Imran thanked his fans and everyone else for the love and support he was receiving.

  • ‘You’ve done so well’: Shah Rukh Khan’s tribute to working mom Gauri is making Twitter wail

    ‘You’ve done so well’: Shah Rukh Khan’s tribute to working mom Gauri is making Twitter wail

    Kitni baar humara dil jeeto gay, Shah Rukh?

    Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan knows how to make his fans cry a river with moving words. On Wednesday, his daughter Suhana, who is making her debut in the Netflix film ‘The Archies’, gave an interview to India Today, where she was applauded for her grace and poise. Gauri Khan shared a clip on her Twitter account, writing that it was emotional to witness life come full circle, first attending events with her husband, and now watching Suhana at events.

    “The first event I ever attended with @iamsrk was a book launch… and now watching Suhana speak at another such event has made me feel like life has come full circle!”

    Shah Rukh shared the tweet, writing how proud he was of the way Gauri groomed their three children and raised them to become what they are. We aren’t crying, its the sweat.

    “Yeah the circle of life is closing in for us with our babies helping us complete it. You’ve done so well with the three of them…educated them, taught them dignity & desire to share love…& Suhana is so articulate but the dimple is mine!!”

    Aur kya reh gaya hai, SRK? Twitter was just wailing at the moving tweet, watching the actor shower praises upon his wife.

    https://twitter.com/SandraC69740420/status/1691828212723003741?s=20
    https://twitter.com/khudajaaneee/status/1691825635931689117?s=20