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Category: Entertainment

  • Twitter celebrates 11 years of actor Yumna Zaidi with some of her best performances

    Twitter celebrates 11 years of actor Yumna Zaidi with some of her best performances

    Today marks eleven years since actress Yumna Zaidi made her mark in the entertainment industry, breaking all the rules with her show-stopping talent and the ability to completely change pop culture with every powerful performance. In those years, her roles have ranged from a child prostitute learning to overcome her past to a headstrong woman with an ambition to serve in the army, and a fearless girl who disguises herself as a man to make a living for her family. In other words, every time she appears on screen, be prepared for a performance so mesmerizing that it will be seared on your memory.

    In celebration of this event, Zaidi’s fans on Twitter marked the occasion by highlighting their favorite performances in dramas.

    Tere Bin

    Hate the drama all you want, but give credit to Zaidi for bringing life to a powerful woman like Meerab, despite attempts by the writer and the show-runners to mold her into another bheegi bili. Yes, the story is cringe worthy and typical of the saas bahu dramas where a woman is abused, bullied by her family members, and she learns to forgive them all. But Zaidi is the only good part of the show with her Meerab, a feared headstrong character who openly challenges her husband, refuses to follow the traditions of her in-laws, and in doing so managed to make the show a bit more bearable.

    Bakhtawar

    https://twitter.com/YumnaZaidi_Zone/status/1673211413328957440?s=20

    How could we forget the drama that proved Yumna is not someone who will fade away after a few years? Very few actresses have taken the leap to challenge themselves to take on a project that challenges social norms, especially in a country like Pakistan. But Yumna did it so and delivered a performance that is to this day still revered by fans. She plays the independent and competitive Bakhtawar, a girl born in a working class family who flees to a new city after her uncle tries to marry her off. To make a living for her family, she cuts off her hair and takes on a boyish appearance to find work.

    Sinf-e-Ahan

    Yumna continued to prove that she was a thespian with this feminist drama, where she played a girl from a conservative family, destined to be married off quickly, but she defies all of them by joining the army, despite their doubts. Paired with equally wonderful performances from Syra Yousef, Kubra Khan and Sajal Aly, this is the drama we recommend to anyone who wishes to understand the lore surrounding Yumna Zaidi.

  • Here are three reasons why K-drama ‘King The Land’ should be on your watchlist

    Here are three reasons why K-drama ‘King The Land’ should be on your watchlist

    After the release of ‘Crash Course in Romance’, there has been a slump in engrossing Korean dramas, especially rom coms that could keep you captivated from beginning to end. More thrillers and action pack series have been announced including ‘Bloodhounds’, ‘Squid Games Season 2’ and even ‘Alice in Borderland’ but the magic of Korean rom-coms is unlike any other. The way women are the ones leading the narrative, bringing forward complexities they face, and men do not belittle women, but empower and respect them.

    With the arrival of Netflix’s ‘King The Land’, it seems like the K-romance is back. Set in the backdrop of an elite hotel, the story revolves around a hard working concierge who clashes with the grumpy chaebol whose family runs the hotel. It seems like this is the perfect serial every K-drama lover should watch.

    1. Grumpy x sunshine trope

    If fans were missing the magic of dramas like ‘A Business Proposal’ and ‘Crash Course In Romance’ which featured the much beloved grumpy x sunshine trope, where one half of the couple was a grouch, while the other one was the complete opposite by being the cheerful one, then they should certainly keep a lookout for this drama. Gu Won is the son from a chaebol family who is known to be a strict, business-only man. On his arrival back to Korea, he gets involved with his sister in a conflict over who should have control of the hotel, and has to encounter the memories of his mother. When he meets the cheerful and hard working Cheon Sa-Rang, who begins working as a lobby maid for the hotel, the two originally clash because Gu Won loathes fake smiles, and while Sa-Rang is critical of his lackluster attitude towards his family business, over time he begins falling for her even more.

    1. Office romances FTW

    What’s the secret to making a standout K-drama that will decades later be remembered as an iconic pop-culture moment? By making it into an office romance. Looking back at some of the best K-dramas like ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?’, ‘Her Private Life’ and even the critically acclaimed ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’, Korean creators know that the perfect formula that will keep creators hooked is setting up a workplace romance, and adding a mixture of enemies to lovers, it is chef’s kiss.

    1. The female gaze is here to stay

    Korean rom-coms have surged in popularity with their detailed attention the female gaze plays. Along side Sa-Rang’s experience of navigating life as a lowly hotel maid, are the experiences of her friends who work as shop manager and an air hostess, and how they tackle discrimination, discriminating bosses and long hours, but most importantly, how they stick with each other through thick and thin.

  • ‘Ek aur song barbaad’: Twitter users slam T-series remake of Pasoori

    ‘Ek aur song barbaad’: Twitter users slam T-series remake of Pasoori

    Remember how anxious we all were when news arrived that there was a chance ‘Pasoori’ will be used ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’, an upcoming Bollywood film, starring Kiara Advani and Kartik Aaryan.

    When the rumors emerged, the internet had a rightful blowout because kuch tou rehnay do humaray pass Bollywood?! Shae Gill revealed to The Current that she had not been aware about the recent reports.

    But now, it seems like Bollywood has indeed taken Pasoori…and turned it in to an item number song.

    Clearly Twitter users were unhappy with how T-Series had once more, taken a beloved Pakistani hit and turned it into a cheap pop song. Adding fuel to fire, they did not tag Shae Gill in the tweet!

    https://twitter.com/itsrahmeenhi/status/1672951455030935552?s=20
  • You wouldn’t believe what profession Inspector Vivek of ‘CID’ ended up in

    You wouldn’t believe what profession Inspector Vivek of ‘CID’ ended up in

    If you were among the millions of South Asians who adored watching the investigative series ‘CID’, then some of you might remember Inspector Vivek. The murder investigation team was a fan favourite, launching countless memes memes like Daya breaking down every door, ACP Pradyuman’s hilarious hand gestures.

    Now, Twitter users have discovered that the actor, Viivek Mashru, who played Inspector Vivek on the show, has now changed professions by getting a PhD and working as a design professor for the University of Benglaru.

    The tweet that broke the news went on to receive atleast 5.2 million views and even got acknowledgment from Mashru himself, who thanked fans for their love and generosity.

  • Kajol says she can’t act sexy or sharmeeli

    Kajol says she can’t act sexy or sharmeeli

    Bollywood actress Kajol just announced her comeback on Netflix’s ‘Lust Stories 2’ which is directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, and opened up about how there are two things completely impossible for her to portray: being sexy or shy.

    “There are two things, the word sexy and the word ‘sharam’, I can’t relate with these emotions. When somebody tells me I have to bat my eyelids and act coy, I can’t comprehend it. I don’t understand the emotion, but if you give me a set of features to move in a particular way, I get that.”

    The daughter of the actress Tanuja and director Shomu Mukherjee recalled shooting the song “Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai” for the film ‘Ye Dillagi’ with Saif Ali Khan, and how the late choreographer threatened to hit her because she and Khan couldn’t stop giggling during a sensous scene.

    “Everyone’s idea of lust is different. It’s a subjective emotion, more than an objectively explained one,” she said. Asked if she has ever been able to portray this emotion on screen, Kajol said, “I’ve never been able to. Most of the time I depend on my directors. You have to see how much Saroj ji wanted to slap us… On ‘Hothon Pe Bas…’ Saroj ji wanted to hit us. Saif and I couldn’t stop laughing. She’d say, ‘You aren’t taking this seriously, you’re ill-mannered kids’.”

  • ‘Epic’: Twitter lauds acapella group for singing song written by Muslim for Modi’s arrival at White House

    ‘Epic’: Twitter lauds acapella group for singing song written by Muslim for Modi’s arrival at White House

    Two days ago, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the US White House, a video went viral of the all-Indian acapella group Penn Masala sang ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ in celebration of his arrival. Many Twitter users interpreted this as a clever diss to the controversial politician over his Islamophobic government, and also as a direct response to Biden who revealed that he will not talk to the Indian Prime Minister about human right violations during his visit.

    ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ is an Urdu song written by the Muslim artists A.R Rehman and Javed Akhtar, and was sung by Javed Ali. The song was featured in the film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, a movie about the marriage between the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his Hindu wife Jodha.

    Twitter users lauded this discreet but clever way to troll a secular and facist politcian, who has been criticised by American politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, who announced that they were boycotting Modi’s address to Congress, citing the politician’s abysmal human right’s record, as well as his erosion of religious freedom in India.

    Some also felt that the song was an indirect target towards the Indian government’s move to remove chapters from school textbooks on Mughal rulers.

    https://twitter.com/onlynina/status/1671905008017629185?s=20
    https://twitter.com/pramitheus/status/1671894369060933632?s=20

    One user wrote: “The irony of an urdu song from a film glorifying mughal emperor Akbar.”

  • Nawazuddin’s ‘Haddi’ hired 300 transgenders for research and acting

    Nawazuddin’s ‘Haddi’ hired 300 transgenders for research and acting

    Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui will be playing a transgender in the film ‘Haddi’, a movie that will also star 300 transgenders, according to debutante producers Sanjay Saha and Raadhika Nanda.

    “The process was very adventurous and hard at the same time. It was not very difficult to convince them as we were also learning their life experiences and making them a part of our film. We had a great time learning tons of things from them, including how their life and world is very different from us,” the producers have said.

    The filmmakers also spoke about a transgender woman, Renuka, who had helped the filmmakers in researching the character.

    “She helped us learn about their community,” revealed Sanjay, “and their upbringing, along with the challenges faced by them from childhood to their day-to-day life. She also made us visit many people from the community which helped us write the script and get a better understanding of their life. She had brought some of her friends from the community to Nawaz so that he could get into the character and deeply understand their life.”

    “I’m glad how Nawaz has spent a lot of time with them and making sure he truly understands what they go through.”

    Speaking about how Renuka had helped in making Haddi a more accurate film, the producer revealed:

    “Renuka has helped us through the entire medical process too, including how the operation happens and what they have to go through post-operation. The writers sat with the transgender people to have a fair understanding of where they live, where they get treated, what they do in daily lives, and followed their lifestyle which helped us a lot to make Haddi a truth based film on them since Nawaz is playing a transgender.”

  • From hopeless ashiq to feared warrior: celebrating three powerhouse performances by Hamza Ali Abbasi on his birthday

    From hopeless ashiq to feared warrior: celebrating three powerhouse performances by Hamza Ali Abbasi on his birthday

    Happy birthday Hamza Ali Abbasi! Since his debut thirteen years ago, he has been gracing our screens with powerful performances revered by audiences. Within a short time, he has played a lovelorn man willing to decieve parents for his crush, a rebellious filmmaker who learns how to find a path back to God and a terrifying villain, cementing his status as one of Pakistan’s most versatile stars. While Abbasi has announced that he is set to come back on the big screen with two new projects, lets take a jog down memory lane in celebration of his birthday, and review three outstanding performances.

    1 Alif

    If there will be a Pakistani drama remembered years from now, it will definitely be ‘Alif’. The serial aired I 2020 but has remained alive within Pakistani pop culture as one of the few times a drama dominated all public discourse. Abbasi plays the troubled and rebellious Momin, who is grieving from childhood trauma and has completely lost his way in life. When he crosses paths with Momina (played by Sajal Aly), a struggling actress trying to make a living for her family, they help each other reach their destinations, and Momin learns to find refuge in God.

    2 Maula Jatt

    Action-thriller Maula Jatt made a wave around the world, raking in money and praise alike. Abbasi and Fawad Khan took the remake to dizzying heights, recreating old magic and generating plenty of new thrills. Hamza took the feared Noori Natt to new heights with his chilly portrayal of a psychopathic killer.

    3 Pyarey Afzal

    If Maula Jatt changed the way Hamza Ali Abbasi went from being the token good boy to a dark villain, then the lovelorn aashiq in ‘Pyarey Afzaal’ was the role that cemented his position in the industry. Acting opposite Ayeza Khan, who played Farah, Abbasi portrayed the titular character Afzal, who has a crush on Farah, and writes letters to himself that he claims to have received from her. But his world changes when Farah reaches out to him and requests him to pretend to be a love interest, so her parents don’t marry her off against her wishes.

  • Sharmila Tagore thinks today’s television content is regressive: ‘Women are portrayed as each other’s worst enemies’

    Sharmila Tagore thinks today’s television content is regressive: ‘Women are portrayed as each other’s worst enemies’

    Bollywood veteran actress Sharmila Tagore made her comeback to the big screen recently with the film ‘Gulmohar’, and in an interview with Times of India, she believed that television today has gotten more regressive in how women are portrayed:

    “The content TV is offering today is quite regressive. Most TV serials portray women as women’s worst enemies, and that is so unfortunate. The government does keep a tab on this, and then it finally comes to us.”

    The actress, who is also a member of the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCI) had revealed she had often called producers to request them to remove objectionable material, but they refuse to, citing commericial reasons:

    “Sometimes, we call the show makers, asking them to tweak or remove certain objectionable portions. But, producers mostly refuse to budge as commerce often overrides logic.”

  • Billionaire stepson goes to concert while father missing in titanic submarine, Cardi B says rather be poor than be like him

    Billionaire stepson goes to concert while father missing in titanic submarine, Cardi B says rather be poor than be like him

    Was this day already not long enough that celebrities decided to step in and fire up some drama?

    As the search for the missing submarine goes on, with approximately 8 hours left till the oxygen runs out, the world watches with baited breath.
    However, it seems like on land there is a different sort of problem brewing up, started by the stepson of one of the missing billionaires: Brian Szasz.

    Szasz, the stepson of wealthy British explorer Hamish Harding, went viral on Twitter when he was seen commenting under posts by Only Fans models, and shared pictures of himself attending a Blink 182 concert on Tuesday while reports emerged that search for the missing billionaires remained unsuccessful.

    Rapper Cardi B schooled Szasz in a post on her Instagram stories, where she lamented that the son chose to spend his time at a concert, rather than remain with his family at home to wait for news.

    “People is like, ‘Well, what is he supposed to do? Be sad at the house? Is he supposed to go look for himself?’ Yes.”

    You supposed to be at the house sad. You supposed to be crying for me. You supposed to be right next to the phone waiting to hear any updates about me. You’re supposed to be consoling your mom and **.”

    Then finally the ‘Bodak Yellow’ rapper slammed the step=son by saying, “Isn’t it sad that you a whole ******* billionaire and nobody gives a ** about you? […] That’s crazy. I’d rather be broke. I’d rather be broke and poor, but knowing that I’m loved.”

    https://twitter.com/deepimpactcrier/status/1671557038856630274?s=20

    Szasz had responded to Cardi’s comments in a lengthy Twitter post, lamenting the rapper’s outburst.

    “Cardi is trying to get clout off me and my family’s suffering. I went to a Blink-182 concert for coping rather than sitting at home and watching the news.”

    The ‘WAP’ artist responded to Szasz’s comments, slamming him for searching for clout himself by publicly sharing the fact that he went to a concert, while the whole world was praying for his stepdad to come back safely.

    “The point was the whole world is praying for these people in the submarine and this man son is online shaking d***s for girls off onlyfans and going to Blink 182 concerts. You was looking for clout all along, nobody knew who you were until you said that was ya stepdad!!! This is why people hate you spoiled brat billionaires yall soo desensitize.”