Category: Entertainment

Actress Alizeh Shah has filed a legal case against fellow actress Minsa Malik, following a defamation notice sent by Malik.

According to the details shared by Alizeh Shah on Instagram, the lawsuit accuses Minsa Malik of using “defamatory and misleading statements” against her, with the intent to harm her reputation.

The case mentions character assassination, reputational damage, and spreading false claims. It also includes accusations of “derogatory language” and “acknowledging hitting someone on a mass medium.”

Shah’s legal team is demanding a written apology and a retraction within 48 hours. If not fulfilled, they plan to take further legal action.

The notice also states that Minsa Malik had submitted a complaint earlier, only to later withdraw it—something Shah’s team describes as a “malicious attempt to damage her image and destabilize her career.”

This legal drama comes shortly after Alizeh Shah made headlines with shocking claims about her viral on-set fight with Minsa Malik.

She also recently went viral for accusing veteran singer Shazia Manzoor of “pushing and dragging” her during a ramp walk, which sparked debate across social media.

Alizeh Shah, known for hit dramas like Ehd-e-Wafa, Mera Dil Mera Dushman, Dil Moum Ka Diya, Bebasi and more, claimed on social media that “Minsa Malik is giving me death threats after I exposed her wrongdoings.”

The controversy continues to unfold as fans wait to see how Minsa Malik will respond to these serious accusations.

Writer Misbah Nosheen has spoken out about the backlash surrounding the ongoing drama Humraaz, revealing that major changes were made to her original script without her consent.

In a recent YouTube interview, Nosheen expressed regret over how the drama turned out on television, attributing the altered structure and pacing to decisions made by the channel.

“There were changes made in it, and obviously those changes were made with the intention of improvement, but instead of improving things, they actually made them worse,” she said. “And I deeply regret that, because a whole structure, the entire story I had built, the entire plot, the theme, was completely changed.”

Nosheen also admitted that the backlash she received from viewers was valid. “Because of that, I faced a lot of backlash, and people had many questions, and they were absolutely right and valid. The pace of the story was slowed down a lot, and since it’s a thriller, a suspense story, its pace isn’t supposed to be slow. It should be fast, cut-to-cut, and that wasn’t the case,” she said.

She further added, “So some things in the process messed it up. The script was ruined. And because of that, it didn’t have the impact that it was supposed to have.”

Humraaz, directed by Farooq Rind and starring Ayeza Khan, Zahid Ahmed, Amna Ilyas, and Feroze Khan, has faced growing criticism from fans despite its promising cast and high production value. Many viewers have criticised the storyline for being illogical and full of plot holes.

Earlier, writer Rida Bilal also distanced herself from her drama ‘Behroopia’ over similar concerns, saying that the final version shown on TV was completely different from what she originally wrote.

According to media reports, Rida raised serious concerns about how her script was changed without her approval.

“Nothing in the drama Behroopia is portrayed how I wrote it, from the characters to their tones and dressing,” she said.

Rida explained that the changes were so major that the drama no longer felt like her work.

“There is an entire sequence in the drama which replicates the Noor Mukaddam incident, which was not written by me,” she added.

“They’ve even removed my name from the project’s credits, which I’m relieved about,” she said.

The scene in question reminded viewers of a real-life tragedy that shocked Pakistan in 2021.

Noor Mukaddam, a 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was brutally murdered on July 20, 2021, in Islamabad. According to police, Noor was held hostage for two days, tortured and then beheaded with a knife.

In May 2025, the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence, confirming that he will remain on death row. He is now seeking a presidential pardon, while jail officials have requested a medical board to assess his condition. So far, he has been declared mentally and psychologically fit, with no signs of illness or brain disorder.

Rida Bilal’s statement sparked a wave of support on social media.

Actor Humayun Saeed celebrated his 52nd birthday with a grand celebration at a hotel in Karachi, hosted by the newly formed Lifestyle Journalists Association.

The event was attended by prominent figures from the entertainment industry, including Mustafa Qureshi, Behroze Sabzwari, Adnan Siddiqui, and Shakeel Siddiqui, along with younger stars like Sonya Hussyn, Umer Aalam, and Anum Tanveer.

Humayun cut a giant black cake with a “Lights, Camera, Action” theme, complete with a picture from one of his films. Close friends from the industry, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Salman Saeed, Nadeem Baig, and Aijaz Aslam, stood by his side, sharing heartfelt moments, laughter, and plenty of photos throughout the evening.

Several celebrities took the mic to honour Humayun’s journey. Behroze Sabzwari praised him as both a talented actor and a kind human being. “I’ve never heard him speak ill of anyone,” he said. Mustafa Qureshi, the legendary Noori Nath from Maula Jatt, applauded Humayun’s natural acting style, calling it his defining trait.

The highlight of the evening included a special video tribute showcasing memorable scenes from Humayun’s blockbuster dramas and films, celebrating his decades-long contribution to Pakistani entertainment.

The event also spotlighted the recent launch of the Lifestyle Journalists Association, which aims to strengthen connections between artists and media professionals, while offering support to journalists covering the lifestyle and showbiz beat.

Renowned playwright Rida Bilal has publicly distanced herself from the drama serial Behroopia, saying that the final version shown on TV is completely different from what she originally wrote.

According to a media report, Rida raised serious concerns about how her script was changed without her approval.

“Nothing in the drama Behroopia is portrayed how I wrote it, from the characters to their tones and dressing,” the report quoted her as saying.

Rida explained that the changes were so major that the drama no longer feels like her work. “There is an entire sequence in the drama which replicates the Noor Mukaddam incident, which was not written by me,” she added.

“They’ve even removed my name from the project’s credits, which I’m relieved about,” she said.

This scene reminded viewers of a real-life tragedy that shocked Pakistan in 2021. 

Noor Mukaddam, a 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was brutally murdered in a mansion located in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20, 2021.

According to police investigations, Noor was held hostage for two days, tortured with a knuckleduster, raped, and then beheaded with a knife. The accused, Zahir Jaffer, 27, was arrested from the crime scene and later confessed that he had planned to kill Noor if she rejected his marriage proposal.

The case became more disturbing as investigations revealed that Zahir’s household staff and parents were complicit. Noor had reportedly tried to escape multiple times, but the staff did not let her leave. Jaffer’s parents and employees were arrested for attempting to hide evidence and prevent her escape.

In February 2022, an Islamabad court sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death for Noor’s murder, along with 25 years in prison for kidnapping and other charges. His appeals were rejected by the Islamabad High Court in 2024, and till now his death sentence stands upheld by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, pending final execution. The case has since become a symbol of the fight for justice for women in Pakistan.

Her statement has gone viral on social media, and many people have expressed support for her.

One user commented, “The topic was great, but dragging tarnished the plot.” 

A viewer remarked, “How difficult must it be for her to watch her creation altered beyond recognition to a level that she had to come out and say that she doesn’t want any recognition for it… didn’t expect this from a Green project.”

Others blamed production houses and TV channels for not respecting writers. “So that’s why PTV scripts are so bad these days. The production houses and directors have taken over and changed everything to fit their own style.”

Another viewer said they had already stopped watching the drama. “It didn’t make sense and felt like a total khichri of random events.”

Fans of Rida Bilal praised her past work and demanded more respect for writers. “She deserves to work with better directors and producers next time. The industry needs to stop treating writers like disposable tools.”

Rida Bilal is known for popular dramas like Khudgarz and Aik Jhooti Love Story, with a reputation for strong female characters and meaningful stories.

If you thought 2024 was a great year for Pakistani television, 2025 is coming in strong with power-packed pairings, celebrated writers, and fresh storylines that are already setting social media on fire. 

Here’s a quick look at the most anticipated upcoming dramas and why fans can’t wait to tune in.

Ahad Raza Mir & Maya Ali come together for the first time

One of the most exciting pairings of the year is finally happening! Ahad Raza Mir and Maya Ali are all set to lead a brand-new drama for Green Entertainment, written by the queen of emotional storytelling, Faiza Iftikhar.

Faiza, known for Ranjha Ranjha Kardi and Pehli Si Muhabbat, has a way of weaving heart, humour, and reality into unforgettable scripts. Directing this much-awaited drama is Farooq Rind, the mind behind Ishq Zahenaseeb and Ishq Murshid. The drama’s name and release date, however, are still under wraps.

Fans online are calling it a “dream project,” while others are curious to see if the story lives up to the star power. Either way, all eyes are on this drama.

Neeli Kothi

Talha Chahour and Anmol Baloch are set to share the screen for the very first time in Neeli Kothi. The unexpected pairing has drama fans eager to see what this collaboration will deliver.

Neeli Kothi is written by Saima Akram Chaudhary, who’s returning after a two-year break. The drama will be directed by the ever-reliable Anjum Shahzad and produced by Moomal Productions.

Known for light-hearted hits like Suno Chanda and Chupke Chupke, Saima surprised fans when she clarified that Neeli Kothi won’t be a comedy. That short response sparked even more curiosity, with many now expecting a serious, possibly darker storyline.

Meri Zindagi Hai Tu

ARY Digital recently confirmed Meri Zindagi Hai Tu, and it’s bringing together two fan-favourites: Hania Aamir and Bilal Abbas Khan.

Written by Radain Shah, known for Aakhir Kab Tak and Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi, the drama is being directed by Musaddiq Malek (Noor Jahan). The chemistry, combined with a proven storytelling team, promises a show that will deliver both drama and depth.

Backed by Six Sigma Plus, this one is expected to dominate prime-time TV and social media alike.

Biryani

If the name sounds familiar, you’re not wrong. After Kabli Pulao, Zafar Mairaj is back with another layered story, Biryani, and no, it’s not a food drama.

Starring Ramsha Khan and Khushhal Khan, the duo reunites after DuniyaPur and brings serious chemistry to the screen. The project is directed by Badar Mehmood, fresh from the success of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

Adding to the excitement, Sarwat Gilani will return to TV after seven years. Produced by Big Bang Entertainment, Biryani promises to be a deeply emotional story with strong characters and beautiful direction.

The Glassworker, Pakistan’s first-ever 2D hand-drawn animated feature film, is officially heading to theaters across North America.

Distributed by Watermelon Pictures, the film is also Pakistan’s official submission for the 97th Academy Awards, competing in both the Best International Feature and Best Animated Feature categories.

The announcement was made by Watermelon Pictures on social media. “From the award-winning team at Mano Animation Studios, comes a sweeping tale of art, war, and forbidden love,” the distributor shared, introducing audiences to Alliz, a gifted violinist at the heart of the story.

The film is the directorial debut of Usman Riaz, who also leads the Karachi-based Mano Animation Studios alongside co-founder Mariam Paracha and CEO Khizer Riaz. Inspired by the storytelling style and animation techniques of Studio Ghibli, The Glassworker is a hand-drawn coming-of-age story that explores love, loss, and the effects of war through the eyes of young artists.

The Glassworker made its worldwide premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2024, after being showcased as a work-in-progress at the same event in 2022. It was later released theatrically in Pakistan to critical acclaim.

Set in a fictional war-torn country, the film follows young Vincent and his father Tomas, who run the finest glass workshop in the land. Their peaceful life is disrupted by the arrival of a military colonel and his daughter, Alliz, a talented violinist. As tensions rise, personal relationships are tested against the backdrop of an approaching war.

The English-language voice cast features a mix of British and South Asian talent, including Art Malik, Sacha Dhawan, Anjli Mohindra, Tony Jayawardena, Teresa Gallagher, Maya Soraya, Sham Ali, and Mina Anwar.

The North American release is being handled by Watermelon Pictures, which acquired the distribution rights during the Cannes Film Market in a deal between Hamza Ali and Charades’ Hélène Espeisse.

Pakistani-born British singer Annie Khalid has shared the experience of how her seven-year-old daughter suffered two cardiac arrests in less than 24 hours.

In an Instagram post featuring videos of her daughter Isha’s brave journey, Annie began by saying, “I can’t believe I finally have the courage to post this… It was January 23rd, 2024. A date etched into my soul forever.”

She revealed that Isha, who was perfectly healthy, suddenly had two cardiac arrests within just eight hours.

“Her tiny heart was overwhelmed by arrhythmia and hypoxia. Oxygen deprivation for 45 long, brutal minutes caused her organs to start shutting down, one by one,” Annie wrote.

Doctors had to put Isha on life support. She was intubated, connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, and placed on dialysis to keep her kidneys working. Annie recalled, “I watched through a blur of tears as my little girl, who once danced through our home with endless energy, lay motionless, tangled in wires and machines.”

There was no warning before this happened. “My Isha. Born perfectly healthy. Not a single condition. Now facing organ failure, brain damage, and paralysis,” she shared.

Doctors later told Annie that Isha had developed peripheral neuropathy and that due to the brain injury, she could no longer walk.

But even during this painful time, Annie held on to her faith. “Because when medicine had no more answers… Allah did,” she wrote.

She described Isha as a miracle of God: “He is Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful. And Isha is His miracle.” Doctors were surprised at her survival, but Annie believes it was God’s mercy. “Where logic ends, divine mercy begins.”

“She’s here. My daughter is alive. She’s smiling, laughing, healing. She’s stronger than I ever knew a child could be. And Insha’Allah, she will walk again one day. I believe that with every beat of my heart,” she wrote.

Annie also explained why she had been missing from the public eye for so long. “People have been asking, ‘Annie, where have you been?’ I’ve been here!! doing the most important thing in the world. Being a mother to the most courageous, resilient, and beautiful girl I’ve ever known.”

She ended her post by asking everyone to remember her daughter in prayers, “Please keep Isha in your Dua’s.”

Sajal Aly is facing strong criticism online, not just for a line her character says in Main Manto Nahi Hoon but also for reposting a fan story that mocked another male co-star. 

Despite featuring a high-profile cast and airing in a prime-time slot on a national channel, the show is under fire for promoting body-shaming and toxic humour.

The backlash began after a controversial scene in a recent episode. Humayun Saeed, who plays Professor Manto, is interrupted during a lecture by Mehmal, played by Sajal Aly. She asks, “Are you married,” a question viewers felt was unprofessional in a classroom setting.

When Manto avoids answering the question, Mehmal jokes, “You look like someone who’s married with two kids and a fat wife.” He looks visibly uncomfortable and asks why she would say that. She replies, “The lack of motivation on your face means your wife must be fat.”

While the class laughed, the audience did not.

Online, viewers were quick to condemn the scene. Many called it outdated, offensive, and damaging. “Pretty girls get away with anything. If this was me, I’d be charged with harassment and body shaming,” wrote one user. 

Another commented, “Sajal is equally responsible. She’s a big name now. She shouldn’t have agreed to deliver those lines.”

Others raised concerns about the unhealthy portrayal of a student-teacher relationship. One viewer posted, “Romanticising this dynamic is dangerous, especially when we hear of real-life abuse and harassment in academic settings.”

But things escalated further when Sajal Aly reposted a fan’s Instagram story that took a dig at another male co-star. The caption read, “When you give an ugly guy a chance and he starts roasting you.”

In response, a user criticised, “To all those surprised by her role — this is PTV’s favourite: fat-shaming in the drama, face-shaming on Insta stories.”

Another comment read, “This isn’t funny or sarcasm. People have become too comfortable calling others ugly. Imagine being that actor, excited to share the screen with Sajal Aly, only to have her repost a reel calling him ugly to millions.”

Others pointed out the irony that Sajal Aly is often celebrated for portraying “strong female characters.” One disappointed fan wrote, “Seeing THE Sajal Aly say such poor-quality lines shows how broken the industry is in terms of writing.”

Writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar, known for his misogynistic views on gender and women, is also being criticised for scripting the offensive dialogue.

Episode 4 of Mai Manto Nahi Hoon and the teaser of Episode 5 reveals exactly what we had feared with a Khail-ur-Rehman Qamar drama. Misogynistic remarks have started to creep in and comments by teachers towards their female students, which are not okay at all under any circumstances, seem to be heading towards the norm. 

The effect is cringe at best because how much can a beautifully crafted drama with superstar characters do, if the dialogues are packed with off-putting misogyny. 

We get inklings of where the drama could be headed, with the standard comments of “our girls don’t attend university” and the pressure to get married to a guy selected by the parents but it comes to the forefront in episode 4 with Mehmal (Sajal Aly) saying that Mr. Manto (Humayun Saeed) looked like he likely had a “moti biwi”. Sexist remarks aside, we also see a very strange relationship developing between – you won’t guess this if you haven’t seen it – Ms. Maria (Sanam Saeed) and Mehmal. Ms. Maria invites her students to her party, blurring professional lines, but then also calls Mehmal on the phone to make sure that she’s coming to the party, so people would know that the great don’s daughter is there. Maria also gets Manto to call Mehmal and pressurise her to come, despite, of course, her not being allowed to go out at night. 

In the teaser for episode 5, we see Manto telling Mehmal that she looks beautiful when she comes to the party, which is so cringey, you want to set the set on fire. Why? Such high hopes from this beautifully shot drama, the A-listers that are part of the cast, especially Sanam Saeed who chooses her scripts so carefully, and here we have the hero professor hitting on the student. You can actually hear Qamar bellowing, “So what? What’s the big deal?” 

The big deal is that we are once again, through one of the most impactful mediums of change, telling society that girls sent to universities are looking for – and falling into – trouble; the age-old story with the same incredibly problematic messaging. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am. 

The episodes air on ARY Digital on Friday and Saturday at 8pm and are uploaded on YouTube on the same night.

Hania Aamir celebrated the smashing success of Sardaar Ji 3 with a glamorous party attended by some of the biggest names in Pakistan’s entertainment industry.

With stars, music, and laughter filling the air, the celebration was a fitting tribute to the film’s record-breaking performance. The star-studded guest list included Humayun Saeed, Ushna Shah, Yasir Hussain, Sonia Hussyn, Ayesha Omar, Yashma Gill, Momal Sheikh, Komal Aziz, and several others.

Dressed to impress, the celebrities posed for pictures, danced, and shared joyful moments with Hania, who was all smiles as she marked a major milestone in her career.

Released worldwide, including in Pakistan, on June 27, Sardaar Ji 3 has become a massive box office hit. With an overseas collection of Rs220 crore, including Rs50 crore from Pakistan, the film has officially surpassed Carry On Jatta 3 to become the highest-grossing Indian Punjabi film in Pakistan.

The comedy adventure, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Hania Aamir, follows a hilarious ghost-hunting journey that has clearly won hearts on both sides of the border.