TikToker Hareem Shah is all set to foray into the world of acting with a web series on Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform – UrduFlix.
According to a press release, UrduFlix will be featuring the TikTok star in a never-seen-before avatar in a new Urdu web series. Expected to release on the streaming platform after its launch, the web series will star the debuting actress in a lead role.
Shah is one of Pakistan’s most influential social media celebrities, famous for her TikTok videos.
Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform, UrduFlix will provide viewers with access to original Urdu series, films, web series, drama serials, and Urdu dubbed Turkish dramas. The platform aims to bring in a plethora of new-age content from original to already popular dramas and films.
Earlier, it was announced that Alizeh Shah will be featuring in UrduFlix’s first exclusive web series Dulhan aur Aik Raat.
Zayn Malik fans are blowing up his phone after he posted his phone number on Twitter ahead of his new album launch.
Days before releasing his new album Nobody is Listening, the singer-songwriter casually dropped his phone number on Twitter and Instagram to hype fans up for the launch date and give a preview of his new music.
As per details, when you dial the number, Zayn’s voice can be heard as he confirms his album release date – January 15 – and tells the caller that they’ll hear a clip of each song if they press any of the numbers from one to nine.
After calling the number, Zayn fans receive a text from the Vibez hitmaker which says: “Yoo, Zayn here! Thnx for hitting my line. Give me your deets so we can stay in touch.”
Fans who replied to the message have also reportedly gotten further responses from the star over text.
Veena Malik has filed an Rs1 billion defamation suit against ex-husband Asad Khattak for running a “smear campaign against her” which has damaged her reputation. The suit was filed under Defamation Ordinance 2002 in the Session Court through advocate Anjum Hameed.
According to Malik, Khattak is involved in “propaganda against her reputation which is causing her loss of goodwill, loss to business opportunities and mental torture.”
On January 5,Asad arrived in Pakistan to obtain custody of his children, who he claims have been kidnapped by his former wife. Asad claimed that he has evidence to prove that Veena has kidnapped his children from the UAE. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Asad had said that Veena abducted their children from Dubai and that Pakistan’s consulate general in Dubai was involved in the kidnapping.
Asad further added that Veena threatens him by claiming she has state institutions on her back.
Meanwhile, earlier in November, Veena had sent a legal notice worth Rs500 million to Khattak. According todetails, the legal notice was sent by the actor a few days after an audio clip started doing the rounds on the internet in which Malik allegedly threatened her former husband Khattak. In the notice, Veena alleged that Khattak is “deliberately trying to defame” her and that she had lawfully brought her children to Pakistan.
Frieha, on Monday, had shared that her Whatsapp account has been hacked.
“Seriously upset! My WhatsApp got hacked and the person is messaging my friends!”, said Frieha, warning her friends to “watch out”.
“If someone, even a friend’s number, asks you for codes, call your friend to verify if it’s them,” said Altaf. “They just want data. It happened to my buddy in Dubai and I got hacked.”
WhatsApp has recently been under fire for announcing new terms asking users to agree to let owner Facebook Inc and its subsidiaries collect user data, including their phone number and location. After WhatsApp’s new terms sparked debate on social media, other messaging apps like Telegram and Signal are witnessing a surge in demand.
In response to the backlash, WhatsApp released an official statement clearing all speculations surrounding the new terms of service and policies.
We want to address some rumors and be 100% clear we continue to protect your private messages with end-to-end encryption. pic.twitter.com/6qDnzQ98MP
Jawad Ahmad has expressed that Pakistan also needs a farmers’ movement like the one happening in India.
Speaking to the Times of India about his new song Kisana, the singer-turned-politician compared the conditions of farmers in India and Pakistan saying: “The third-world economies are still largely based on primitive methods and tools of agriculture and we need a peasant’s rights movement all over the world, including Pakistan.”
He added that he made the song after seeing how India’s farmer movement is being recognised by the farmer community across the world.
Kisana, which was released in the last week of December has already gathered thousands of views and is making waves across the border. The music of the song has been composed by Sahar Ali Bagga.
The song’s description states: “Kisana is a revolutionary song for peasants of the world, to inspire and motivate them to struggle for their rights. It is a dedication by Jawad Ahmad to all the global peasant movements.”
Meanwhile, the song calls peasants the providers of the world, saying that the farmers are the ones who give food to judges and police officers, so they should be respected.
Ahmad, who entered politics a few years ago with his ‘Barabri Party Pakistan’ is very vocal about the rights of marginalized groups. The vision of his party is “To establish a truly democratic state based on equitable distribution of wealth, equality of right over resources so that whatever is found, grown and produced in this country is equally accessible to all and equal access to opportunities regardless of race, religion, gender, and ethnicity.”
Farmer’s Protest
Thousands of farmers have gathered at Delhi’s gateways to demand a repeal of the Centre’s three new farm laws. The protesting farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana as well as Uttar Pradesh, are worried the new laws will eliminate the safety cushion of a Minimum Support Price and procurement system while rendering ineffective the mandi system that ensures earnings for various stakeholders in the farm sector.
70 people have reportedly died during the ongoing protests and though several rounds of talks have happened between farmer unions and the government, a solution has not yet been reached.
While most of the time, we critics or drama viewers, complain about how Pakistani dramas have become redundant and monotonous with the same old storyline based on unrequited love, marital woes, or love triangles, every now and then comes a new drama that shakes things up and makes you believe in the drama industry once again.
Sarah Khan and Imran Ashraf’s ongoing drama Raqs e Bismil is one such example. Directed by Wajahat Rauf and written by Hashim Nadeem, the drama’s plot revolves around Sarah and Imran’s characters – Zohra and Moosa. Moosa comes from a very conservative background – he refuses to let his sister marry her love because he did not belong to the same sect – while Zohra belongs to a family of dancers and entertainers. The two cross paths on a bus and Zohra, who is wearing a burka at the time, catches Moosa’s attention, who immediately falls for her and her gutsy nature and asks her to marry him after their second meeting.
While Zohra initially rejects Moosa’s advances with some powerful dialogues, she later invites him to her home so that he can find out her reality first-hand. The third episode of the drama ends with Moosa finding out Zohra’s reality and viewers are excited to know what will happen next for the two protagonists, who are worlds apart.
The first three episodes were engaging and fast-paced with brilliant performances by the lead and supporting cast. Imran and Sarah were brilliant as Moosa and Sarah, while their chemistry was also lit. Moosa, in particular, has many shades and Imran manages to portray them flawlessly; fluidly switching between a hardened family-man and a man smitten. A special mention to Momin Saqib, who really gave a solid performance as Essa, Moosa’s brother and wingman.
Raqs e Bismal has quickly made it to our list of must-watch dramas and one we are delighted to recommend.
After it was reported that renowned Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next project Heera Mandi would explore the hidden culture of Lahore’s red-light area, Mansha Pasha has shared her thoughts on the matter and expressed her dissatisfaction with the news.
In a tweet, the Laal Kabootar star wrote: “India is making a film on Lahore and the infamous Heera Mandi of yesteryears. Because we live in a country where fictional narrative is often censored and everyone keeps arguing about what is or isn’t “morally acceptable” fiction, others make most of the opportunity taking up the stories that are native to our country, brand them and sell them to the rest of the world.”
“In the end what will be left will be our stories told from someone else’s mouth. Sad,” she added.
According to reports, Heera Mandi is Bhansali’s passion project. While the cast has not yet been confirmed, rumours are abuzz that other than Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Deepika Padukone, Parineeti Chopra, Manisha Koirala, and Vidya Balan are also being considered for the project.
Heera Mandi is expected to release on a digital platform. However, it is unclear whether the upcoming project will be a web series or a film.
The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Monday approved Meesha Shafi’s harassment case against Ali Zafar for hearing. As per details, Pakistan’s top court granted leave to Shafi in her harassment case against Ali Zafar. This means that the SC has granted permission to hear the appeal based on its legal points and will deliberate whether Shafi’s accusations of sexual harassment come under the workplace harassment law.
Furthermore, notices were issued to respondents Zafar and the Punjab Government by a three-judge bench of the apex court led by Justice Mushir Alam.
Meesha explained that the legal issue has never before been decided by the SC.
Case of first impression, a case that presents a legal issue that has never before been decided by the Honorable Supreme Court. https://t.co/44tp74huyK
Meesha was represented by senior lawyer Khawaja Ahmad Hosain and Noor Ejaz Chaudhry.
Leave granted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Meesha Shafi vs The Governor of Punjab to consider whether all women, including students, are covered under Pak's harassment law!
We're very proud today & for Mr. Khwaja Ahmad Hosain for the most brilliant advocacy! pic.twitter.com/EwLlqKzKWr
The singer’s appeal was earlier rejected by the Lahore High Court (LHC) and Punjab ombudsperson, who ruled that her allegations did not come under the workplace harassment law.
On Sunday, Meesha had informed her fans and followers that the Supreme Court was to hear her appeal on whether a ‘self-employed person’ has the “right, as per the law, to be heard after being harassed and therefore expect justice on merit as an equal citizen”. She had thanked her well-wishers for standing by her and for making her feel “less alone”.
Thread*
Tomorrow, the Supreme Court of Pakistan hears my appeal on whether I, a ‘self employed person’ have a right, as per the law, to be heard after being harassed and therefore expect justice on merit as an equal citizen.
Thank you to all of you for making me feel less alone. Thank you to all of you for the solidarity, love and prayers I am receiving. Whatever the outcome tomorrow… I am at peace knowing I tried my best 🙏🏼#SupremeCourtHearing 11-1-21
Congratulations Meesha! You have done it for every girl who faces harassment and can't get a just hearing because of the technicalities. Way to go girl! ♥️ https://t.co/vYLvHOJUiO
More power to you, @ItsMeeshaShafi. The fact that you have fought this far means that you have already won.
You stood up for yourself despite knowing that you will be accused of doing it for ulterior motives, you are very brave. This good news feels like a personal victory. https://t.co/OkQQuovNkE
Congratulations to @itsmeeshashafi for her win in the SC today. If the civil remedy for harassment means anything it should apply to all women whether self employed or not. Unfair & many times impossible for women to prove harassment to criminal std of proof. #MeeshaShafi
In 2018, Meesha first came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Ali Zafar. She later filed a complaint with the provincial ombudsperson. After her appeal was rejected, she approached Governor Punjab, who upheld the ombudsperson’s decision. Meesha then challenged the Governor’s decision in Lahore High Court which again dismissed Meesha’s case for hearing on grounds that she did not have an employer-employee relationship with the accused.
Feroze Khan has thanked Diriliş: Ertuğrul star Celal AL for all the love and “priceless gifts” he brought for him on his visit to Karachi.
“Thank you, Jalal for the priceless gifts you’ve brought me and love that I can’t thank [you] enough for,” wrote Feroze alongside a picture of the two.
“Great to have Celal AL here in Pakistan,” he wrote further, requesting his fans to shower love on the Turkish star.
Responding to Feroze’s post, Celal said: “The gift that I gave you is more than a gift. You deserve it.”
“I bring the relic that is already yours from Istanbul, which is 5000 km far from here,” added Celal. “InshAllah you will serve much more to humanity, Islam, culture, art, and Turkey-Pakistan people.”
The two also appeared to have enjoyed a hearty breakfast during their meeting.
Meanwhile, Celal, during his visit also met several other Pakistani celebrities including Adnan Siddiqui, Humayun Saeed, and Imran Abbas. Adnan and Humayun hosted a dinner for him in Karachi also.
Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma and Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli have been blessed with a baby girl.
Announcing the news on social media, Virat said: “We are thrilled to share with you that we have been blessed with a baby girl this afternoon.”
“Anushka and the baby are both healthy and we are feeling beyond blessed to start this new chapter of our lives. We hope that you can respect our privacy at this time,” he added.
Virat and Anushka announced their pregnancy in August, with their announcement tweet becoming the most-liked tweet of 2020.
In an interview with a fashion magazine, Anushka had said that she wants to raise her child away from media attention, which means that we might have to wait a while till the parents release their child’s first picture.
“We’ve thought about it a lot. We definitely do not want to raise a child in the public eye — we don’t plan on engaging our child in social media,” Anushka had said. “I think it’s a decision your child should be able to take. No kid should be made to be more special than the other. It’s hard enough for adults to deal with it. It’s going to be difficult, but we intend to follow through.”
Anushka, while talking about her pregnancy journey had also said that the pandemic turned out to be a “weird blessing” for the couple, who fiercely guard their privacy.
“The pandemic has been a weird blessing in a way. Virat was around and I could keep it a secret. We only left to go to the doctor’s clinic. No one was on the streets so we couldn’t be spotted,” shared the actor.
Wishing the power couple all the best for the new chapter in their lives!
