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Category: Entertainment

  • Hollywood actors, directors pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions

    Hollywood actors, directors pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions

    More than 1,200 filmmakers, actors and industry professionals, including prominent Hollywood figures like Olivia Colman, Ava DuVernay and Tilda Swinton, have signed a pledge not to work with certain Israeli film institutions.

    The pledge was made in an open letter published by Film Workers for Palestine – a group that campaigns for the end of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip – on Monday.

    “In this urgent moment of crisis, where many of our governments are enabling the carnage in Gaza, we must do everything we can to address complicity in that unrelenting horror,” the letter read.

    The signatories, which also include director Adam McKay, actor Mark Ruffalo and actress Ayo Edebiri, pledged not to screen films, appear at, or otherwise work with, Israeli cinemas, broadcasters and production companies that “are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people”.

    The group said it had been inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid, a movement that in the 1980s worked to end apartheid in South Africa.

    Last month, a group of academic experts known as the International Association of Genocide Scholars declared that Israel’s actions in Gaza had met the legal definition of genocide. According to Gaza health officials, more than 60,000 Palestinians have so far been killed by Israeli occupational forces.

    Film Workers for Palestine said its pledge did not prohibit working with Israeli individuals. “The call is for film workers to refuse to work with Israeli institutions that are complicit in Israel’s human rights abuses against the Palestinian people,” it said on its website. “This refusal takes aim at institutional complicity, not identity.”

    The organisation said that while a few Israeli film entities “are not complicit”, a vast majority of the country’s “film production and distribution companies, sales agents, cinemas and other film institutions have never endorsed the full, internationally recognised rights of the Palestinian people”.

    The group added that Israel’s major film festivals, including the Jerusalem Film Festival, continue to partner with the Israeli government.

    Other signatories of the pledge include actress Cynthia Nixon, and Yorgos Lanthimos, the director of the upcoming film “Bugonia”. Javier Bardem, Susan Sarandon and Indya Moore partnered with Film Workers for Palestine on Instagram to share a post explaining the pledge.

    The pledge comes after a recent pro-Palestinian demonstration at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival drew thousands of participants.

    The protest gained momentum after Venice4Palestine, a group of Italian and international film professionals, released an open letter demanding that the festival condemned the destruction and suffering caused by Israel’s atrocities in Gaza.

  • Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has a major colab surprise for his fans

    Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has a major colab surprise for his fans

    Legendary Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has added yet another feather to his cap with the release of a very unexpected colab venture.

    The singing sensation has sang his first-ever Bengali song titled Tumi Amar Prem Piyasha.

    The soulful duet, performed alongside renowned Bangladeshi singer Rubayyat Jahan, marks a significant cultural collaboration between two rich musical traditions.

    Famed for his mastery of qawwali, ghazal, and classical music, Rahat brings his emotive depth and vocal prowess to this Bengali composition, delivering a performance that has resonated deeply with audiences.

    Released on Rahat’s Instagram account, the song quickly went viral, drawing thousands of fans and admirers from around the globe.

    “Penned by the poetic genius Kabir Bakul and composed by the maestro Raja Kaasheff, this timeless creation is now streaming exclusively on Dhruba Music Station’s YouTube channel,” the caption read on the post.

    Bengali fans praised Rahat’s flawless Bengali pronunciation, with many commenting that his rendition felt as if he had been singing in the language his entire life. Comments poured in lauding his versatility, emotional delivery, and seamless adaptation to a new linguistic and cultural landscape.

    Rubayyat Jahan’s vocals were also widely celebrated, with fans noting how her soulful voice and emotive performance complemented Rahat’s style to create a harmonious duet. Together, the duo succeeded in crafting a cross-cultural masterpiece that resonated with both Pakistani and Bangladeshi audiences.

    With Tumi Amar Prem Piyasha, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has once again proved his unparalleled ability to connect through music, regardless of language or geography. His illustrious career includes unforgettable hits like Meray Paas Tum Ho, Afreen Afreen, Dil To Bachcha Hai, Main Jahaan Rahoon, O Re Piya, Teri Ore, and Teri Meri.

  • Saboor Aly opens up about emotional journey into motherhood

    Saboor Aly opens up about emotional journey into motherhood

    Pakistani actress Saboor Aly has, for the first time, opened up about her emotional journey into motherhood, revealing details about her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter Serena Ali.

    In a heartfelt conversation with fellow actress Aymen Saleem, Saboor reflected on the deeply personal and transformative experience.

    Saboor, who tied the knot with actor Ali Ansari in 2022, welcomed her daughter Serena on March 18, 2025. The couple announced the birth publicly the following day, March 19, via social media.

    Recalling the moment when she discovered she was pregnant, Saboor revealed that she was on a girls’ trip abroad when she began to feel unwell. “A sensation unlike anything I had felt before. Coincidentally, Ali was set to join me that day in Turkey,” she said.

    “We were not planning for a baby specifically. We had left it to the flow of life, believing that only Allah knows the right time to bring someone into your life,” she said. “When Ali arrived, the first thing I did was tell him the news. It was a very emotional moment for me.”

    Following the revelation, Saboor felt an intense desire to return home. “I knew once I got home, everything would be fine. My home is my safe space,” she shared.

    When asked about her initial reaction to finding out she was expecting, Saboor described it as a “mixed feeling”. She said she was shivering and anxious, eagerly awaiting Ali’s arrival to share the news. “But when I saw the test report, my mother was the first person who came to my mind,” she added.

    Reflecting on the absence of her late mother, Saboor shared a deeply emotional insight, “No one can fill her absence, but throughout my pregnancy, delivery, and even after, everything somehow became easier. I believe she was there with me in spirit. That’s the only reason it all felt so manageable.”

    Despite being someone who enjoys surprises, Saboor chose not to make a grand reveal due to how she was feeling. She called only her sister-in-law Mariyum Ansari and her sister, Sajal Aly, to her place. Interestingly, Sajal had already sensed something. “She just texted me and asked, ‘Are you pregnant?’ She had a feeling somehow,” Saboor recalled.

    Saboor also shared a touching moment from when the family found out. While Ali was playing with his niece, he casually said, “Will you play with your cousin brother or sister?” prompting a wave of surprise and joy from everyone present. “It was a very emotional moment,” she said.

    Addressing rumors circulating online, Saboor expressed frustration over questions raised by some social media users about whether her daughter was adopted. She strongly refuted the speculation, showing visible anger over the baseless assumptions.

    A celebrated actress known for her versatility, Saboor has delivered memorable performances in popular Pakistani dramas such as Fitrat, Parizaad, Mushkil and Sar-e-Rah. She also made a mark on the big screen with her role in the film Actor in Law.

  • Meesha Shafi ‘honoured’ to share stage with Atif Aslam at sold-out Toronto concert

    Meesha Shafi ‘honoured’ to share stage with Atif Aslam at sold-out Toronto concert

    Pakistani-Canadian powerhouse Meesha Shafi had her ultimate dream-come-true moment as she shared the stage with none other than pop rock royalty, Atif Aslam, at a completely sold-out Scotiabank Arena and yes, it was a vibes-on scene.

    Sharing a series of pictures and high-voltage videos of her performance, Meesha wrote, “SOLD OUT @atifaslam @scotiabankarena last night and took me along for the ride.”

    “The first Pakistani artist to sell out the iconic venue while being the only name on the bill. A historic night for all of us. A proud moment to witness and an absolute honor to share the stage with this legend! [sic]” she added.

    Meesha also gave fans a backstage pass to the madness, filming Atif mid-performance while the crowd went absolutely wild — the kind of stadium-shaking roar you feel in your bones.

    Another video showed both the singers performing Punjabi banger Jugni.

    Shafi is a singer, actress, and model known for her work in film, music, and her activism for women’s rights. She launched her solo music career on Coke Studio in 2010, later releasing her debut album Khilney Ko in 2025. She has since toured internationally with her band.

    Meanwhile, Atif Aslam is in full beast mode on his North America Tour 2025. The tour includes dates throughout the late summer and fall of 2025, with stops in major cities such as Garland, Detroit, Chicago, Everett, Los Angeles and Oakland, and extends into Canada with a concert in Calgary.

  • Saheefa Jabbar lauds, others divided over CCD action against child abuse, molestation

    Saheefa Jabbar lauds, others divided over CCD action against child abuse, molestation

    Pakistani celebrities are divided over actions undertaken by the Crime Control Department (CCD) against rape, kidnapping and extortion suspects.

    Actors Saheefa Jabbar Khattak and Hiba Bukhari have raised their voice against child abuse and demanded justice for the children, saying an example should be made out of these men.

    Saheefa took to her Instagram stories to share her views on the molesters, saying “word molester should be engraved on their foreheads”, as she lauded the action taken by CCD against people who have attempted rape and assaulted girls in public.

    On her statement, a social media user disagreed and said, “Really? You support vigilante justice. Without proper judicial oversight? No chance to prove your innocence or even make sure that punishment is commensurate to the crime. Want rape of kids to be punishable by death, then change the law; just because your system is rotten doesn’t justify a gunda gard squad [sic].”

    Replying to the user, Saheefa said child abuse was something that she can’t tolerate, “By the books, what is the rule and what should happen, I don’t care. Whether you call this lawless behavior, I will call this action against this specific issue as justice.”

    Another user replied to her story saying, “Please don’t support the way CCD is operating. I know how they are killing many by taking money from their enemies, killing few child rapists for media coverage… what is going behind the scenes is mockery of human rights.”

    “I’m sure CCD is not perfect either. It’s just that only on the rape issue, I genuinely feel happy on their stance, beyond that, I know how rotten politics and law are everywhere in the world. Which is absolutely saddening,” Saheefa said, questioning who to trust anymore.

    While taking to her Instagram stories, Hiba shared a video clip in which a man was allegedly about to assault a girl in Kasur’s Phool Nagar area. “A shopkeeper lured a 10-year-old girl into his shop. Locked the shutters and attempted to assault her, locals caught him red-handed, rescued the child and restrained the beast on the spot. A 10 YEAR OLD GIRL…  Example should be made of these men [sic],” she wrote in her story.

    On the other hand, social worker Jibran Nasir discouraged the idea of killing the suspects, saying, “Killing those accused of rape and murder in fake encounters may get popular support but this is the State itself establishing law of the jungle. The CCD remains a highly questionable department with hundreds of kills to its name. Today they may win public support by killing an alleged serial rapist but tomorrow it could be someone who is simply a victim of politics. This is how Rao Anwar was allowed to run his own mini State in Malir Karachi [sic].”

    It merits a mention here that several rape and gang rape suspects have been killed in Punjab Police and CCD encounters while several cases have been reported where the suspects have ended up getting injured during arrest.

    Recently, one man’s private part was “accidently” shot after he attempted to assault a girl on the streets of Sialkot while another man’s hand broke in same attempt but videos of both the men have been released later in which they accepted what they did was wrong and apologised for their behavior.

    According to a report, between May 1 and August 23, 2025, at least 14 suspects accused of rape and gang rape were killed in CCD operations. In every case, police said the suspects were shot dead by bullets fired from their own accomplices who tried to free them from custody.

    However, the reaction of public on the action against these suspects is mixed. Some say that this is the solution while others say that this is questionable. Some of the users also questioned the word “accidently” and made fun of the fact most of the suspects have ended up in same situation.

  • ‘Battled hardships, fought for brother’s treatment’: Humayun Saeed opens up about bitter memories

    ‘Battled hardships, fought for brother’s treatment’: Humayun Saeed opens up about bitter memories

    Pakistani star actor and producer Humayun Saeed has shared his bitter memories, revealing that he battled many hardships in life.

    In a recent interview, the Main Manto Nahi Hoon actor opened up about a difficult chapter from his early life. He shared that after his father stopped working, his younger brother suffered a fall that left him paralysed. At just 17 or 18 years old, Humayun became the sole breadwinner for his family.

    “I had no idea what to do at that age,” he recalled, adding that he visited numerous hospitals in search of free treatment for his brother.

    During those tough two to four years, he said, he took on various jobs to support his family. “I gave tuitions, worked in a factory and even tried to build connections in hospitals to get help for my brother’s treatment.”

    He also revealed that his brother is still unable to walk and is undergoing treatment.

    Humayun said that whenever he achieves success, he feels very close to Allah. “Whatever position I have reached today, I am thankful to Allah for it. In every success, I remember Allah more than the hardships I’ve faced.”

    He added that even today, he holds Qur’an Khwani at home on every achievement and expresses gratitude for all the blessings Allah has bestowed upon him.

    The actor also shared that he remains humble because he knows he was once nothing, and it was only Allah who elevated him to where he is now.

    “I am still the same Humayun Saeed I was 35 years ago. I still stand the same way, and that part of my youth will always remain with me.”

  • ‘Establishment has launched crackdown on family vloggers promoting vulgarity,’ claims Javed Ch

    ‘Establishment has launched crackdown on family vloggers promoting vulgarity,’ claims Javed Ch

    The country’s establishment has initiated a decisive crackdown on vloggers accused of spreading vulgarity through their videos over the internet, senior journalist and columnist Javed Chaudhry has claimed.

    According to Chaudhry, the move is intended to curb the rising influence of indecent digital content, which the authorities believe is “eroding the country’s cultural and moral values”.

    “Vloggers who create family-oriented content but use it as a medium to promote indecency and vulgarity are damaging the positive aspects of Pakistani society. These individuals will now face strict action,” he said in an undated video doing the rounds on social media.

    He revealed that such vloggers would be summoned, similar to how TikToker Dania Shah’s husband, Hakeem Shehzad, was called in and made to apologise for his behaviour. “They will be given a chance to correct themselves. If they comply, they will be spared and society will be protected from their negative influence.”

    Chaudhry added that those involved in promoting gambling and betting applications, flaunting wealth, or possessing illicit funds will also be targeted. “Authorities plan to confiscate any illegal earnings and demand public apologies from the offenders.”

    He warned that more individuals will soon be seen appearing in court the authorities believe such influencers are leading youth astray. “People no longer aspire to learn or pursue education. Instead, they want to follow in the footsteps of vloggers like Ducky Bhai. Creating viral mobile clips in hopes of earning dollars,” Chaudhry remarked.

    He emphasised that these content creators were “disrupting societal norms”, and a firm decision had been made to act against them in order to “safeguard the community”.

    Chaudhry concluded by saying that a series of additional measures have been decided, all aimed at improving society and ensuring a positive long-term impact.

    The claims come two days after social media influencer Dania Shah’s husband, Hakeem Shehzad, issued a public apology over his viral video at a wedding besides an audio wherein he had used explicit language.

    The apology came after the Crime Control Department (CCD) summoned him regarding the incident audio, Shehzad said, adding that they told him how his actions were inappropriate and unacceptable.

  • Throwback to when Sanjay Dutt shared how much his father missed ‘home’ – Pakistan

    Throwback to when Sanjay Dutt shared how much his father missed ‘home’ – Pakistan

    A heartwarming old video of Indian actor Sanjay Dutt has recently resurfaced online, where he opens up about a touching moment with his father, Sunil Dutt.

    In the video, Sanjay recalls an emotional incident when his father expressed how much he missed his homeland — Pakistan.

    “One night, I returned home from a shoot around 2 am and found my father sitting alone, looking very sad. I assumed he was missing my mother, so I gently asked, ‘What’s wrong, Dad?’ He looked at me and said, ‘Puttar, menu kaar di yaad andi ay yaar’ [son, I miss my home]. I replied, ‘But Dad, this is our home.’ He shook his head and said, ‘You won’t understand… Pakistan is my home. That’s the place I truly miss.’”

    He went on to say that what happened during Partition was a harsh memory for both sides.

    Sunil Dutt was born as Balraj Dutt on June 6, 1929 in the Nakka Khurd village of Jhelum district, British India – now part of Punjab, Pakistan. He was born into a Punjabi Hindu family that migrated to India after the Partition of 1947.

    Dutt later moved to Mumbai, where he became an actor, film producer and politician, adopting the screen name Sunil Dutt to avoid conflicts with another actor named Balraj Sahni.

    Sanjay Dutt’s most famous works with his father, Sunil Dutt, include Rocky, which was released in 1981, and Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S that was released in 2003.

  • Ali Sethi wins $100 for guessing Nusrat hits like a pro

    Ali Sethi wins $100 for guessing Nusrat hits like a pro

    Pakistani singer and global sensation Ali Sethi just proved his die-hard love for the legendary Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and walked away $100 richer for it after taking on a spontaneous musical challenge on the streets of New York.

    In a viral video, a content creator stopped Sethi and challenged him to guess three songs by his favorite artist. When asked who that was, Sethi didn’t skip a beat, “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,” he said with pride.

    The first track was the iconic Afreen Afreen, which Sethi nailed within seconds. Before jumping into the game, he introduced himself casually: “I’m Ali Sethi, I’m a musician and former creator.” When asked for a song recommendation from his own playlist, he cheekily offered Rocket Launcher, reassuring viewers that “it’s less scary than it sounds” and perfect for cruising in your car.

    Next up was Mast Mast, another Nusrat classic. Sethi not only guessed it right away, but also spoke passionately about Nusrat’s genius, noting how the maestro blended diverse musical influences to create timeless magic.

    The final song, the monster hit Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachaye, was a bit difficult to guess. Sethi hesitated at first but quickly bounced back, singing it on point just in time. Despite the brief stumble, the content creator still handed over the $100 cash prize, recognizing Sethi’s true fan energy.

    It was a lighthearted moment, but one that showed Ali Sethi’s deep admiration for the late qawwali legend and his ability to bring a little desi soul to the streets of NYC.

    Sethi has announced his much anticipated North American tour, beginning from September 28, 2025, at Massey Hall in Toronto. The planned string of performances spans coast to coast, including renowned venues such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York and many other places in North America.

  • Bilal Maqsood’s ‘dost’ Anwar Maqsood gets hilarious new look on birthday

    Bilal Maqsood’s ‘dost’ Anwar Maqsood gets hilarious new look on birthday

    If you’re a legendary writer, entertaining audiences since many decades, how do you celebrate your 86th birthday? Why, with a new hilarious look, of course.

    Singer and song-writer Bilal Maqsood took to Instagram to wish his father Anwar Maqsood on his 86th birthday.

    Bilal shared a picture of his father with an orange wig on his head. White balloons were also seen in the background. “Salgirah Mubarak Meray Dost,” Bilal wrote as the caption of the picture.

    Many artists and actors from the Pakistani industry showered more wishes upon the maestro.

    Anwar Maqsood is known for famous Pakistani TV shows such as Loose Talk, Sitara Aur Mehrunnisa, and Show Time. He also wrote scripts for the popular shows Fifty-Fifty and Aangan Terha, and presented programs like Studio Dhai and Studio Ponay Teen.

    Maqsood is a prolific scriptwriter who has achieved success with his stage plays, such as Pawney 14 August, Sawa 14 August, Anwar Maqsood ka Dharna, and Siachen.

    He is a huge lover of the Urdu language and appears in various conferences around the country.

    Bilal is one of his father’s biggest admirers. He often shares heartwarming moments and conversations with him on social media, and each one is truly endearing. Bilal once shared that many of his songs are written by his father.

    “The thing is I won’t call it a collaboration since he’s a part of strings now. We have grown with my father’s poetry. Starting from Durr; that was the first song he wrote for Strings. Before that, we wrote the two albums ourselves,” he said.