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Category: Entertainment

  • ‘Tandav’ makers issue ‘unconditional apology’ after series sparks outrage

    ‘Tandav’ makers issue ‘unconditional apology’ after series sparks outrage

    The cast and crew of Amazon Prime show Tandav have offered an “unconditional apology” after the political drama was accused of hurting Hindu sentiments. The official apology was tweeted by the creator of the show Ali Abbas Zafar.

    “Our sincere apologies,” read the statement. “We have been closely monitoring viewer reactions to the web series Tandav and today during a discussion, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has informed us regarding a large number of grievances and petitions received on various facets of the web series with serious concerns and apprehensions regarding its content hurting the sentiments of the people.”

    “Tandav is a work of fiction and any resemblance to acts and persons and events is purely coincidental. The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion, or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party, or person, living or dead.”

    “The cast and crew of Tandav take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologise if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments,” it added.

    In a follow-up tweet, Zafar said: “We just want to share a quick update with everybody. We are in further engagement with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to resolve concerns that have been raised.”

    He added that they “should have a solution shortly”.

    Directed by Zafar, the political drama stars Saif Ali Khan, Sunil Grover, Dimple Kapadia, Sarah-Jane Dias, Gauahar Khan, Kritika Kamra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Dino Morea in lead roles.

    Khan and the makers of Tandav have been at the receiving end of backlash and outrage after a local official from India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party registered a police complaint against Amazon Prime’s latest web series alleging it insults Hindu gods and goddesses.

    Following the outrage and backlash, Saif was given police security. A set of policemen were seen guarding his building to ensure all the safety required to the star and his family.

    Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut has been having a field day on Twitter, lashing out at the actors and web series and demanding strict action against them.

    In a now-deleted tweet, Ranaut even said: “Because even Lord Krishna forgave 99 mistakes of Sheshupala…. pehle Shanti phir Kranti (First calm, then revolution)…. time to take their heads off.”

  • Marriage teaches you how to act, says Humayun Saeed

    Marriage teaches you how to act, says Humayun Saeed

    Humayun Saeed has joked that marriage teaches you how to act.

    Speaking on Ahsan Khan’s new show, Time out with Ahsan Khan, Saeed remarked that marriage helps one with acting. The actor was invited to the show along with Fahad Mustafa. In a candid chat with Khan, the superstars shared their thoughts on marriage, producing local content, and their two cents on the rise of social media.

    When Khan asked if marriage helps to be an actor or if it has an effect on acting, Saeed laughed and said: “It does help with the acting. Since you know, we never really learned it.”

    Mustafa chimed in, saying, “You know how singers have certain pain in their voice, actors express the pain better after their marriages.”

    However, Saeed later said that he feels that an actor who has tied the knot takes his career more seriously.

    Answering the same question, Fahad said, “When I was getting married, we were doing a play together. It was his [Humayun] production, and I told him that I’m getting married and he just gave a look and didn’t say anything after that.”

    “That look was enough,” laughed Fahad.

    The actors then directed the question towards Khan and asked his thoughts on the same.

    “I think it’s fine either way. An actor can be successful with or without tying the knot,” said Khan.

    Humayun is married to Samina Humayun Saeed and the two are considered to be one of the most powerful couples in the industry. On the other hand, Fahad is married to Sana Fahad and they have two children together.

    Meanwhile, while talking about reviews and interviews, Humayun said that they have “lost their charm”.

    “Ten years ago from today, whenever we would have an interview, whenever we would have a review, it held certain importance,” said the actor. “Now, it is so easy to pay someone to write reviews, say anything we want. I don’t have an issue with this, I just think these things have lost their charm.”

  • IN PICTURES: Faysal Quraishi celebrates son’s first birthday

    Faysal Quraishi’s youngest child Farmaan Quraishi turned one on January 18, and his parents celebrated with a truck art-themed birthday. Pictures from the small and lowkey event are being widely circulated on social media.

    Check out pictures from the celebrations below:

    Earlier, Faysal had penned a heartfelt note for his son on his birthday, saying that he looks “forward to being able to see you grow up”.

    Meanwhile, take a tour of Faysal’s house in his exclusive interview with The Current.

  • Reema gets her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

    Reema gets her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

    Reema Khan has received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the US.

    Taking to Instagram, Reema shared a video of herself getting the first shot. When asked that how is she feeling, Reema replied: “I’m fine.”

    “Finally got the first COVID-19 vaccine dose,” she captioned the post.

    Earlier, the film star also shared a video in which she said that she is going to get her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and prayed that the vaccine is available in Pakistan soon.

    “This is very important,” she said.

    In the video, she also urged her followers to get vaccinated, not only for themselves, but for their loved ones as well.

    Meanwhile, Imran Abbas lauded Reema for getting the vaccine, calling her a “pioneer”.

    Reema lives in Washington DC with her husband Dr Tariq Shahab and son Ali Shahab. Due to coronavirus lockdown, Reema and her son were stuck in Pakistan. As soon as flight operations resumed, the two flew back to the USA in August.

    According to Reuters, the first vaccine was administered in the United States in mid-December. Since then till the filing of this report, nearly 12.3 million doses have been given, out of 31.2 million doses distributed. The total includes 1.6 million people who have received both doses.

  • ‘That’s just my face’: JLo hits back at troll accusing her of using ‘tons of Botox’

    Jennifer Lopez has fired back at a troll on Instagram who accused her of getting ‘tons of botox’.

    According to details, after Lopez, popularly known as JLo, posted a video of herself trying out the ‘limitless’ mask from her beauty brand, J Lo Beauty, an Instagram user commented on it and accused the pop diva of having “tons of Botox”.

    “But can I just mention that brows and forehead don’t move at all when you talk or try to express… you definitely have Botox. And tons of it. And it’s all good. Just saying,” commented the social media user. 

    In response, the 51-year-old star snapped back, writing: “LOL that’s just my face! For the 500 millionth time, I have never done Botox or any injectables or surgery! Just sayin’.”

    “Get you some JLo Beauty and feel beautiful in your own skin,” said Lopez further, adding: “And here is another JLo Beauty secret: try spending your time being more positive, kind, and uplifting of others. Don’t spend your time trying to bring others down that will keep you youthful and beautiful too! Sending you love.”

    Lopez had earlier also quashed rumours of getting a botox done, saying: “I haven’t ever had botox to this day. I’m not that person. I don’t have anything against people doing that; it’s just not my thing.”

    “I’m more about a natural approach to skincare…but I want [my products] to work. I want the hyaluronic acid in there. I want the things that are going to help because I don’t want to have to go to the needles at some point. I’m not saying one day I won’t, but I haven’t yet,” she added.

    Read more – Getting wet is the new viral trend in photoshoots

    For the unacquainted, Jennifer launched her skincare company JLo Beauty on January 1 after three years of development. The brand offers a range of anti-aging products.

    Meanwhile, Lopez is all set to perform at Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ inauguration on January 20. She will be joined by Lady Gaga singing the national anthem as Biden and Harris are sworn in on the West Front of the US Capitol.

  • Hira Mani is now an ‘official singer’

    Hira Mani has said that she is now an “official singer”.

    Sharing a picture of herself from her new song Saawari, Mani wrote: “Official singer”.

    She then thanked all her fans and followers for making it possible.

    “Please keep loving me like you do,” said Hira.

    The Mere Pass Tum ho actor is very fond of music and has often shared videos of herself singing on her Instagram handle.

  • IN PICTURES: Naumaan Ijaz celebrates 26 years of marriage

    IN PICTURES: Naumaan Ijaz celebrates 26 years of marriage

    Naumaan Ijaz and his wife Rabia Naumaan are celebrating 26 years of marital bliss.

    Pictures from their anniversary celebrations were shared by Rabia on social media.

    Later, Naumaan wished his wife on social media calling her his strength, weakness and universe.

    Rabia also expressed her love for Naumaan thanking him for always making her feel loved.

    Ijaz had earlier sparked outrage after an interview of his went viral in which the actor talked about cheating on his wife and getting away with it because he is such “a great actor”.

    When host Iffat Omar had asked Naumaan the secret behind his successful marriage, Naumaan said that he is very lucky as far as his wife is concerned. He admitted that he falls in love regularly and that his wife doesn’t find out because he is such “a great actor and an intelligent man.”

    Meanwhile, here’s a picture of the couple from their wedding day.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Hareem Shah reveals why she slapped Mufti Qavi

    EXCLUSIVE: Hareem Shah reveals why she slapped Mufti Qavi

    A video of Hareem Shah slapping Mufti Abdul Qavi has gone viral on social media.

    The video has also been shared on Hareem’s verified Instagram account without any details or explanations.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current, Hareem shared that she went to visit Mufti Qavi with her friend. During their meeting, the religious leader passed inappropriate comments and was rude to them prompting Shah to slap him. She said that she left his hotel room after slapping him.

    The TikTok star also clarified that all other videos with Mufti Qavi on her feed are old and that only the slapping one is recent.

    Earlier, in an exclusive interview with The Current, Hareem had said that if she could slap anyone it would be Mufti Abdul Qavi because he had lied that she took a selfie with him.

    Meanwhile, Hareem is all set to foray into the world of acting with a web series titled Raaz on Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform – UrduFlix.

  • Humaima Malick vows never to have Mc Donalds again

    Humaima Malick vows never to have Mc Donalds again

    Humaima Malick has sworn never to have Mc Donalds again as she and her nieces are not well after having ‘Chicken Uncle Donald’.

    Taking to Instagram stories, the Bol star addressing Mc Donalds, wrote: “It’s been two days my stomach is cursing me. You guys give old bad food to people. This is the third time this happened to me and my nieces.”

    She added that she is also dealing with vomiting and really bad stomach cramps.

    “I’m not eating your chicken uncle Donald any more,” she stated.

    Malick, who has had a prolific career over the years, has not been seen on the screen in recent years. She will be seen next in The Legend of Maula Jatt alongside Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, and Gohar Rasheed.

  • Saif Ali Khan provided police security after ‘Tandav’ sparks outrage

    Saif Ali Khan provided police security after ‘Tandav’ sparks outrage

    Saif Ali Khan and the makers of Tandav are at the receiving end of backlash and outrage after a local official from India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party registered a police complaint against Amazon Prime’s latest web series alleging it insults Hindu gods and goddesses.

    Protests against Amazon were also organised and party supporters marched to Amazon’s office in Mumbai on Monday, but the police only allowed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Kadam and few other supporters to enter the office. After the BJP leader met the officials of Amazon Prime Video, he tweeted that the company’s officials were adamant about their views and urged people to boycott Amazon altogether.

    “We went to Amazon’s office in BKC to ask them to stop Tandav’s streaming and apologise for the same. But they still aren’t letting go of their pride. I ask the whole nation to boycott Amazon’s products and show the power of this nation,” said Kadam in a tweet.

    According to details, the political drama drew the ire of lawmakers from the BJP causing fresh controversy for the e-commerce giant which last year had to withdraw dozens of rugs and doormats depicting Hindu gods from its international Amazon.com platform after a backlash in India.

    BJP Member of Parliament Manoj Kotak, in a letter to India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar dated Saturday, said that the makers of Tandav “have deliberately mocked Hindu gods and disrespected Hindu religious sentiments”.

    He called on the ministry to immediately form an authority to regulate streaming platforms, and in the meantime called for a ban on the series till the required scenes are not removed.

    Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.

    Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan, who plays the ruthless Samar Pratap in the show, has been given police security. A set of policemen were seen guarding his building to ensure all the safety required to the star and his family.

    BJP leaders have also demanded Saif to clarify his position related to the controversy.

    “Whenever an actor signs a film or a web series, he’s narrated the script,” said MLA Ram Kadam. “A seasoned actor like Saif would have clearly known what was the content of the series and yet he agreed to do it.”

    “We have a question for Saif. Why didn’t he say no to such a project where the religious sentiments of Hindus are being hurt? Why didn’t he say such content is inappropriate? We want to know what is the position of the talented actor in this regard,” he continued.

    “The whole country and supporters of Hindu Gods and Goddesses will delete the app and boycott all Amazon products from here on. This has been going on for far too long. The Bollywood industry, web series makers, and actors like Saif need to understand that Hindus will not tolerate this anymore,” he added.

    Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the political drama also stars Sunil Grover, Dimple Kapadia, Sarah-Jane Dias, Gauahar Khan, Kritika Kamra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Dino Morea in lead roles.

    India late last year brought streaming platforms under the oversight of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and said it plans to regulate their content.

    Read more – Netflix in trouble for kissing scenes in temple in ‘A Suitable Boy’

    Streaming services have gained traction in India because of the availability of affordable smartphones and cheap mobile data, making the South Asian nation a battleground for Amazon, Netflix, and Disney as they seek to expand outside their home markets.