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Category: Entertainment

  • ‘It is not a threat’: Faisal Javed advises Fahad Mustafa to learn from ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’

    Senior PTI leader Senator Faisal Javed Khan has advised Fahad Mustafa to not view Diriliş: Ertuğrul as a threat but as an opportunity after Mustafa in a recent interview commented that the star of the Turkish show Engin Altan Düzyatan came to Pakistan, made money and left.

    “Ertuğrul [Düzyatan] also came, posed with a lion, took money, and left, didn’t he?,” Fahad had said. “That’s all you guys were for him. For you, there is Humayun Saeed. It’s us. Admit it or not, we were here and we will be here in the future.”

    In response to his remarks, Khan tweeted: “Engin Altan is one of the finest actors we have seen on TV and Diriliş: Ertuğrul brought him a huge fame across the world.”

    “A lot to be learnt from such a great production and director’s meticulous attention to detail,” he added. “It is not a threat, it’s an opportunity.”

    Interestingly, in the same interview, Fahad had said that he is here to make money and entertain the masses not educate them while talking about why his production house chooses to make dramas like Jalan and Nand.

    Earlier this month, Engin Altan came to Lahore for a short visit on the invitation of a private company. The actor toured Lahore on his visit and met with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar.

    In a press conference, Engin said that his trip was the first of many more visits to come. He even said that he would “love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity”.

    “If the script is good then why not,” the actor had said.

  • Imran Abbas spills it all in his latest Q&A session on Instagram

    Imran Abbas spills it all in his latest Q&A session on Instagram

    Imran Abbas, in a recent Q&A session on Instagram, spilled all the beans, and answered a number of questions ranging from marriage to acting to religion and his relationship with Allah.

    Here are some of the most interesting replies from his session.

    Imran shared that he offers his namaz five times a day and said that his relationship with Allah is private.

    Good choice Imran!

    Awww!

    Seems like Imran is not a very worldly person.

    Read more – Imran Abbas defends himself after backlash on lion picture

    Amen bro!

    Dealing with negativity is a tough job and we’re glad Imran knows how to deal with it.

    So, now we know the secret behind Imran’s luscious locks.

    Okay wow! He barely watches dramas and hates political talk shows.

    Interesting.

    Uzma Gillani and Moin Akhtar are true inspirations.

    Ooo, we would love to see the two share the screen in a project.

    100 percent

    And he’s an Imran Khan fan too!

    Concluding his Q&A session with a note for his fans.

  • ‘Cruel and evil’: Hamza Ali Abbasi demands zoos be shut down

    ‘Cruel and evil’: Hamza Ali Abbasi demands zoos be shut down

    After reports of mistreatment of animals in zoos and the successful transfer of Kaavan, Suzie and Babloo to sanctuaries abroad, Hamza Ali Abbasi took to social media and demanded zoos across Pakistan be shut down.

    Quoting Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Hamza said: “IHC rules that zoos are concentration camps for non-human living beings. It’s true.”

    “Caging animals for public entertainment is cruel and evil,” he continued. “Pakistan has a chance to earn the respect of the world and make God happy by freeing all the animals in captivity.”

    “Close all Pak zoos please,” asserted the actor.

    Abbasi also urged his fans to use the hashtag #CloseAllPakZoos to support the cause and raise their voice on the matter.

    Earlier, the IHC while ordering the transfer of the two Himalayan bears to Jordan had said: “The natural habitat of Suzie and Bubloo was the high altitude plateau of Deosai National Park in the Himalayas. It was indeed inhumane to have deprived them of living in their natural habitat merely for the entertainment of the human species.”

    “They have remained caged in the Marghazar Zoo for more than a decade. A zoo, no matter how well equipped, is no less than a concentration camp for living beings. They were born free and taking them out of their natural habitat and caging them was in violation of the natural rights bestowed upon them by the Creator.”

    “They have suffered enough and they lack the ability to let the human species know what they must have gone through. Their abnormal behaviour while imprisoned was sufficient to speak volumes for the unimaginable pain and suffering.”

    “The relocation of Kaavan the elephant, and the two Himalayan brown bears, Suzie and Bubloo, to appropriate sanctuaries has set a precedent for others to follow. They will always represent the people of Pakistan and their resolve to treat living species with respect and dignity,” it added.

    Meanwhile, Ayesha Omar also expressed joy over the closure of Islamabad Zoo.

    Earlier, Mehwish Hayat had also urged authorities to close all zoos across the country.

  • Sangeeta tests positive for COVID-19

    Sangeeta tests positive for COVID-19

    Filmmaker Sangeeta has tested positive for coronavirus and has isolated herself at home in Lahore.

    Parveen Rizvi known as Sangeeta confirmed that she has tested positive Friday morning and requested her fans to pray for her speedy recovery.

    Earlier, actors Mahira Khan, Behroze Sabzwari, Neelam Muneer and Sanam Jung and her 4-year-old daughter also tested positive for the virus.

  • ‘I’m just grateful to be alive’: Ayesha Omar recalls her horrific car accident

    ‘I’m just grateful to be alive’: Ayesha Omar recalls her horrific car accident

    In December 2015, Ayesha Omar and Azfar Rehman met with a horrific car accident while they were travelling from Karachi to Hyderabad. Both the actors suffered severe injuries in the incident and had to spend several days in the hospital.

    Five years after the incident, Ayesha took to Instagram to recall the painful memories of the accident and to express her gratitude for being alive and healthy.

    “5 years since my car accident,” wrote Ayesha. “I’ve been whining and complaining to myself the last few days, about having to manage stuff completely on my own these days, not getting enough sleep and rest, having to juggle too many things while dealing with lingering allergies for the past 3 weeks. My muscles and target areas (which were affected by the accident) become very stiff and painful in the winters also.”

    Read more – Ayesha Omar opens up about her childhood struggles

    “But in comparison to what I went through that evening, emotionally, physically and mentally,” she continued. “6 pm onwards, on that dark, broken highway, how I survived those 7 hours until I finally reached a hospital, the weeks and months that followed, all of this seems so trivial, so easy, I’d take this, any day, with open arms and boundless gratitude.”

    “Today, I’m just grateful to be alive, healthy and well, surrounded by people who love me, grateful for having made it through that ordeal and many others, and get to where I am today, especially this year, after the year we have all had, with so much anxiety, stress, pain and suffering for some, all over the world. I could not be more thankful,” added Ayesha.

    She concluded by sending love to her Azfar, who was win her in the accident and helped Ayesha get to a hospital as soon as possible.

    According to details, Ayesha and Azfar’s car was hit by an overtaking truck on the highway just before Hyderabad. Two collisions followed after another truck bumped into their car from the back.

    “It’s a miracle that Azfar and I came out alive because the car was completely destroyed. I was immobile and picked up by Azfar and a group of passersby and put into a police mobile that transported us to a rundown govt clinic in Jamshoro,” Ayesha had shared at that time.

    Ayesha had broken her collarbone while Azfar had sustained minor head injuries in the accident.

  • ‘Jalan’ comes to a predictable end after 31 painful episodes

    ‘Jalan’ comes to a predictable end after 31 painful episodes

    2020’s most controversial Pakistani drama, actually one of the most controversial dramas, Jalan came to a close Wednesday night after 31 painful episodes which had all the ingredients of an over-the-top soap opera. There was a love triangle, infidelity, abortion sprinkled with lots and lots of drama to draw all the haw hais and ensure that audiences are hooked.

    SPOILERS AHEAD

    As expected and predicted, Jalan ends with Nisha (Minal Khan) losing her wits and ending up in a sorry state with a disfigured face after getting involved in a car accident. On the other hand, Asfi (Emmad Irfani), who spent the final couple of episodes feeling desolate and depressed over everything that transpired died with what we assume was a heart attack – the makers never clarify how he died. Karma finally catches up with the ‘bad’ characters with the makers giving them the end they assumed would satisfy audiences.

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The last episode was a bit of a drag with Asfi getting constant flashbacks of his life and relationship with Meenu. He seeks redemption by going to her grave and praying and giving away charity in her name – as if that was enough to cover up all the pain he caused her with his actions and callous behaviour. But as always our writers give the heroes an easier end compared to the female protagonist, who has to suffer every day for her sins. Even Kinza Apa (Nadya Hussain) in the end prayed that Asfi and Meenu would reunite in heaven.

    Nisha, on the other hand, has a sudden bout of pagalpan in which she starts dragging and pushed Areej (Hajra Yamin) out of the house. In an attempt to protect herself, Areej locks herself up in her room till Ahmer (Fahad Sheikh) comes home and orders Nisha to her room. And Nisha obediently listens to him and goes upstairs to sleep. When she wakes up, she starts seeing Meenu (Areeba Habib) which causes her to lose her mind further and she eventually ends up crashing her car and burning her face. I’m no expert, but from whatever little knowledge I have, I am assuming that Nisha clearly had psychological issues and instead of getting her proper help, her family abandoned her and let her become a mess. They never really addressed the problem and in the end, packed up and left her alone.

    Areej and Ahmer are the only ones who got a happy ending with a fulfilling marital life and a baby on the way. Though I have to add that I am still confused over how Ahmer suddenly had a change of heart for Areej. I’d also like to add here that in 31 episodes, never once did we get to see Areej’s family or brother who is married to Ahmer’s sister Humaira (Maira Khan). There were so many loopholes and missing pieces that you wonder if the writer dropped half the script on her way to the sets.

    Jalan’s finale was as absurd as the rest of it and the makers only used sensationalism to build up the drama and hype. While the initial couple of episodes could have qualified as a guilt-watch for some, after Meenu died in a tragic and melodramatic manner, things went downhill. The direction and production were weak and the script even poorer. There was a lot of violence in the drama with Nisha being slapped right, left and centre. There was also a scene in which Asfi almost strangled Nisha to death. Such scenes are unwarranted, unnecessary and serve no purpose except to create furor.

    The only highlight of the drama, for me was probably the performances. It was refreshing to see Minal play a strong and villainous character unlike the damsel in distress she usually plays and she and Emmad both gave good performances. The scenes in which they fought were actually pretty intense and credit for that goes to them and not to the writer or director.

    Jalan has also given Pakistani television and new hero – Fahad Sheikh and a new hit pair – Fahad and Hajra. The two have good onscreen chemistry and it seems like audiences also enjoyed this pairing because their short film Naam Kya Rakha on See Prime gathered a million views within a week of being released.

    I, for one, am glad that Jalan has ended and though it unfortunately did leave a mark, I hope that writers and producers will focus on intelligent scripts which along with entertaining audiences also give a positive message – like Sabaat for instance. However, given the success of the show, I have little hope.

  • Yumna Zaidi amazes fans with her singing skills

    Yumna Zaidi amazes fans with her singing skills

    Pakistani actor Yumna Zaidi tried singing and fans are amazed after listening to her singing skills.

    In the video, Mushk aka Yumna was singing the OST of her drama Raaz-e-Ulfat.

    According to the post’s description, there will be an OST singing competition and Yumna has taken the competition to the next level with her amusing vocals.

    The Drama is featuring Yumna and Shehzad Sheikh in lead roles. The OST is originally sung by Aima Baig.

  • Cher shares motivation behind freeing world’s ‘loneliest elephant’

    Cher shares motivation behind freeing world’s ‘loneliest elephant’

    American pop singer Cher opened up and revealed how she ended up campaigning for and working towards freeing the ‘world’s loneliest elephant’ Kaavan.

    In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Cher said, “I didn’t plan to at all. These kids on my Twitter feed started sending this thing and it was ‘Free Kaavan’, and I thought if I will not answer, they’ll stop but they didn’t and it was in Pakistan and then I thought that I’m just an entertainer, how am I gonna go to Pakistan and free an elephant. “

    “We had to work through two administrations and when [PM] Imran came in, everything got much easier,” she remarked.

    Read more – Cher thanks PM Khan for ‘making her dream come true’

    She also said that she worked on the cause for three years.

    “As we started doing it, I wasn’t going to give up. So, we went to Pakistan and we saw him, he was beautiful,” said Cher. “We started meeting Pakistani people and they were so nice to me.”

    She added: “So, then he landed and we were so excited and after a five hours drive to the sanctuary and I could see him walking around, taking a dirt bath and talking to the girls.”

    Cher has proven that she is a star in the best possible way. She worked towards freeing Kaavan, who had been named ‘the world’s loneliest animal,’ after his partner Saheli passed away in 2012. Kaavan was kept in Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo for 35 years and had been chained after zookeepers complained that he exhibited violent behaviour.

    He caught Cher’s attention in 2016, who then fought a long legal battle for his release and transfer.

    He was airlifted from Islamabad to Cambodia in a Russian cargo plane and before his departure, Cher visited Pakistan to see him off. She also sang A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes to soothe his nerves.

    Later, she also arrived in Cambodia to receive Kaavan and ensure that he settles well in his new home.

  • ‘Ranjha Ranjha Kardi’, ‘Laal Kabootar’ win big at Lux Style Awards 2020

    ‘Ranjha Ranjha Kardi’, ‘Laal Kabootar’ win big at Lux Style Awards 2020

    With everything going online this year due to the ongoing pandemic, the LUX Style Awards office announced the winners for the 19th LUX Style Awards virtually. This is the first time in the nineteen-year history of the LSA’s that the entire judging and awarding process has been conducted online.

    According to a press release, this is also the first time winners are being announced ahead of the virtually recorded ceremony, which is to be shown online next week.

    Apart from awards in different categories including, fashion, film, television and music, two Lifetime Achievement Awards were also conferred. Anwar Maqsood was honoured with the Unilever Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award while the Lifetime Achievement Award in Fashion was awarded to photojournalist and photographer Tapu Javeri.

    Meanwhile, check out the complete list of winners below:

    Film

    Best Film – Laal Kabootar

    Best Film Director – Kamal Khan for Laal Kabootar

    Best Film Actor (Viewer’s Choice) – Ahmed Ali Akbar for Laal Kabootar

    Best Film Actress (Viewer’s Choice) – Mahira Khan for Superstar

    Best Film Actor (Critics) – Rashid Farooqui for Laal Kabootar

    Best Film Actress (Critics) – Mahira Khan for Superstar

    Music

    Best Song – Raavi by Sajjad Ali

    Singer of the Year – Hadia Hashmi for Bol Hu

    Best Emerging Talent – Big Foot Music (Hamad Khan and Sohaib Lari)

    Best Playback Singer – Ali Tariq for Behka Na (Parey Hut Love)

    Best Original Soundtrack – Ranjha Ranjha by JB Sisters/Rahma Ali

    Television

    Best TV Play – Merey Paas Tum Ho

    Best Play Director – Kashif Nisar for Ranjha Ranjha Kardi

    Best Play Writer – Faiza Iftikhar for Ranjha Ranjha Kardi

    Best TV Actor (Critics) – Zahid Ahmed for Ishq Zahe Naseeb

    Best TV Actress (Critics) – Iqra Aziz for Ranjha Ranjha Kardi

    Best TV Actor (Viewer’s Choice) – Imran Ashraf for Ranjha Ranjha Kardi

    Best TV Actress (Viewer’s Choice) – Yumna Zaidi for Inkaar

    Best Emerging Talent TV – Shees Gul for Meray Paas Tum Ho

    Fashion

    Model of the Year (Male) – Hasnain Lehri

    Model of the Year (Female) – Zara Abid [posthumous]

    Best Fashion Photographer – Shahbaz Shazi

    Best Makeup and Hair Artist – Saima Bargfrede

    Best Emerging Talent – Sachal Afzal 

    Laal Kabootar and Ranjha Ranjha Kardi took the lead with four awards each. Mahira Khan was the only actor to win two awards – Best Film Actress for Viewer’s Choice as well for Critics Choice for her performance in Superstar.

  • Hilary Duff confirms ‘Lizzie McGuire’ reboot cancelled

    Hilary Duff confirms ‘Lizzie McGuire’ reboot cancelled

    Hilary Duff has confirmed that the Lizzie McGuire reboot planned at Disney+ has been cancelled, saying that “the stars just didn’t align” for the project.

    “I know the efforts and conversations have been everywhere trying to make a reboot work but, sadly and despite everyone’s best efforts, it isn’t going to happen,” Duff wrote in her post.

    “I want any reboot of Lizzie to be honest and authentic to who Lizzie would be today,” she continued. “It’s what the character deserves.”

    “I’m very sad, but I promise everyone tried their best,” she added.

    Meanwhile, Disney in a statement, said: “Lizzie McGuire fans have high expectations for any new stories. Unless and until we are confident we can meet those expectations, we’ve decided to hold off and today, we informed the cast’s representatives that we are not moving forward with the planned series.”

    The revival was first announced in August 2019, a few months ahead of Disney+’s launch. Duff was to play a grown-up version of the character living in New York City working as a decorator’s assistant and finding luck in love. Adam Lamberg, Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine and Jake Thomas were set to reprise their roles as well.

    Series creator Terri Minsky was also attached to the revival, but she exited the series in January after two episodes had been filmed. “We concluded that we need to move in a different creative direction and are putting a new lens on the show,” a Disney had spokesperson said at the time.

    VIDEO: Tom and Jerry are back in action in new trailer

    Following Minsky’s departure, Disney+ said it would search for a new showrunner, but none was ever announced. Duff and Minsky both lobbied for the show to reflect the adult Lizzie’s life in full and supported moving the series to Hulu.

    “I’d be doing a disservice to everyone by limiting the realities of a 30-year-old’s journey to live under the ceiling of a PG rating,” Duff had written in a February Instagram post. “It would be a dream if Disney would let us move the show to Hulu if they were interested, and I could bring this beloved character to life again.”