Category: Entertainment

Actor Fahad Mustafa has responded sharply to veteran actress Atiqa Odho after her recent comments advising him to work with women closer to his age.

Fahad addressed the issue during a television transmission alongside actor Humayun Saeed, where he reacted to Atiqa’s advice in a sarcastic tone.

“I do not know what problem Atiqa aapa has. Perhaps she will only be happy if Humayun and I start playing heroes opposite her. This has crossed all limits.”

“Atiqa aapa, it seems you are the only heroine left for us now. Inshallah, we will work with you. Just get two or four good surgeries, and we will come,” he added.

Atiqa Odho had earlier appeared on a television show where she was shown pictures of different actors and asked to share her advice. When Fahad Mustafa’s picture appeared, she remarked, “The time has come for him to work with girls of his own age, I mean women.”

Fahad Mustafa is one of Pakistan’s most successful television and film stars, known for balancing mainstream popularity with strong performances. He gained wide recognition through dramas such as Main Abdul Qadir Hoon, Kankar, Dusri Bivi, and Bashar Momin.

In cinema, he delivered major box office hits including Na Maloom Afraad, Actor in Law, Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, and Load Wedding.

Beyond acting, he is also a prominent producer and the long-running host of the game show Jeeto Pakistan, making him a consistent and influential figure in the industry.

Veteran actress Atiqa Odho has advised superstar Fahad Mustafa to work with girls of his own age.

Appearing on a television show, Atiqa was shown pictures of different actors and asked to share advice. When Fahad Mustafa’s picture appeared, she said, “The time has come for him to work with girls of his own age, I mean women.”

The host then showed her a picture of Hamza Ali Abbasi and asked what advice she would give him. Odho said, “He should make one clear decision about whether he wants to remain in the media industry or not.”

When asked about Hania Aamir, Odho said the actress should reduce crying in her roles. She added, “She should cry a little less and smile more. She has a beautiful smile.”

Atiqa Odho began her acting career in the early 1990s and became widely known through television dramas such as Hawaen, Sitara Aur Mehrunnisa and Besharam. 

She later worked as a television host and remains active in the media industry.

Actress Sonya Hussyn wants Karachi to see the same level of development and care as Lahore, praising the city’s transformation during her recent visit for Basant celebrations.

Speaking during a Ramzan transmission on a private TV channel, Sonya shared her experience of traveling to Lahore, where she celebrated Basant and witnessed improved roads.

“We literally just came back from Lahore after celebrating Basant,” she said. “They have made the city so beautiful. I wish someone would do the same for our Karachi.”

Comparing the two cities, she pointed to the condition of roads as a major difference. “In Lahore, our car keeps moving smoothly, and we are surprised that it has not jumped even once,” she said, referring to the carpeted roads. 

Beyond her public remarks, Sonya Hussyn remains one of Pakistan’s most respected television actors. She began her career in 2011 and gained recognition through strong performances in dramas such as Ishq Zahe Naseeb, Aisi Hai Tanhai, Tinkay Ka Sahara, and Saraab.

She has also worked in films, including Tich Button, expanding her presence beyond television.

Hum TV’s senior producer Umer Mukhtar has taken legal action against Mahnoor Rahim following her public allegations of harassment.

Mukhtar issued a defamation notice through his Instagram account. Rahim, a Lahore-based model and digital creator, had accused Mukhtar of sending her inappropriate messages at 3 a.m., despite being married. In an accompanying video, she said that similar messages were reported by multiple women, some of whom were underage at the time.

Mukhtar responded to Rahim’s allegations with a legal notice. “In light of recent public developments, I have decided to address this matter through the appropriate legal channels,” he said. He further stated, “Any action being taken is directed solely toward the relevant parties through due legal process. Out of respect for these proceedings, I will not be making any further public statements at this time. I place my trust in the justice system.”

Rahim also drew attention to Mukhtar’s connections with actress Hania Aamir, a United Nations Women National Goodwill Ambassador. She questioned how Aamir could advocate for safe digital spaces while being friends with Mukhtar. “How are you creating a safe digital space for women when you’re besties with a man who’s exploiting underage girls?” she asked.

When the videos went viral, Aamir clarified her position on Instagram, stating, “I hold a zero-tolerance stance toward harassment, exploitation and any conduct that compromises the safety and dignity of women and girls.” She added, “These are serious realities that must always be treated with gravity and respect. I support the courage it takes to come forward and stand firmly for environments where every woman and girl feels safe, heard, and protected.”

Other content creators supported Rahim’s claims. Quratulain Ahmed shared, “He messaged me and said I can’t sleep, can you make me sleep on call, and I was like???” Reeja Jay said she experienced similar messages from Mukhtar. Rahim advised women to block accounts that send unsolicited messages at odd hours, emphasizing, “If men are messaging you at 3 a.m. or 6 a.m., block them right now.”

Mahnoor Rahim has not responded to Mukhtar’s defamation notice as of now.

Actor Hania Aamir has distanced herself from Hum TV senior producer Umer Mukhtar after he was accused of sending inappropriate messages to women, including underage girls.

Social media content creator Mahnoor Rahim on Thursday accused Mukhtar of sending Rahim inappropriate messages, and highlighted his close association with Aamir, a United Nations (UN) Women National Goodwill Ambassador tasked with promoting safe digital spaces for women.

Rahim shared her experience in a video posted on social media, saying the messages started in 2023 while she was visiting her sister in Canada. She claimed Mukhtar sent her a direct message at 3 am for “chit-chat”, to which she initially responded, assuming the interaction might relate to work.

However, the situation seemed to escalate and she later realised that Mukhtar was married. 

Rahim said she confronted him about messaging her at night, to which he said he had only recently entered into a Nikah and was “not married”. She said she also reached out to Mukhtar’s wife with a screenshot of the messages, and the wife thanked her for letting her know.

Making the claims in a video online, Rahim said she received numerous messages from women reporting similar interactions with Mukhtar, and some of them were underage at the time.

With the videos going viral and several other women also coming forward against Mukhtar, Aamir, on Friday, said that her name had recently been mentioned in online conversations regarding a situation she had no knowledge of or involvement in.

“I want to address this clearly,” she said in an Instagram story, adding that she held a zero-tolerance stance toward harassment, exploitation and any conduct that compromises the safety and dignity of women and girls.

“These are serious realities that must always be treated with gravity and respect. I support the courage it takes to come forward and stand firmly for environments where every woman and girl feels safe, heard, and protected,” Aamir wrote.

She further said that in light of the concerns raised, she has chosen to distance herself from the individual being discussed.

“Any perceived association should not be interpreted as endorsement of another person’s actions,” Aamir said, adding that her commitment remained to accountability, respect and fostering safer spaces across all industries and communities.

We all share a responsibility to challenge harmful behaviour, support those who speak up, and uphold standards that protect the dignity and safety of women and girls at all times, her statement concluded.

Umer Mukhtar has yet to respond to the allegations.

Sarmad Khoosat’s latest film Lali had its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. The screening took place on Thursday in Berlinale’s Panorama section and represented a milestone as the first fully Pakistani feature film to premiere at the festival. While the Berlinale has previously featured Pakistani co-productions, Lali is the first film produced entirely with local talent, storytelling, and production to reach this stage.

The Berlin premiere drew attention on social media, where images and videos of the event were widely shared. Actors, writers, assistant directors, producers, and crew members, including executive producer Tooba Siddiqui, posed together on the red carpet, presenting a collective showcase of Pakistani creative talent.

The film follows Zeba, a young woman married to Sajawal, a man whose insecurity develops into paranoia. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zeba, played by Mamya Shajaffar, enters the marriage already shadowed by superstition: “Three of her former suitors have died under mysterious circumstances, earning her the unsettling reputation of a cursed bride.”

Ahead of the premiere, the Lali team was hosted by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany, Saqlain Syedah. A group photograph shared from the gathering captured the sense of camaraderie among the cast and crew leading up to the film’s debut.

For Khoosat, the Berlinale premiere continues a trajectory of international recognition. His previous projects, including Joyland, which he produced and which won the Jury Prize at Cannes, and Zindagi Tamasha, which he directed, were both Pakistan’s official submissions to the Academy Awards. With Lali, Khoosat places a fully homegrown Pakistani production on one of the world’s most prestigious cinema stages.

Social media content creator Mahnoor Rahim has accused Hum TV senior producer Umer Mukhtar of sending her inappropriate messages, and highlighted his close association with actor Hania Amir, a United Nations (UN) Women National Goodwill Ambassador tasked with promoting safe digital spaces for women.

Rahim shared her experience in a video posted on social media, saying the messages started in 2023 while she was visiting her sister in Canada. She claimed Mukhtar sent her a direct message at 3 am for “chit-chat”, to which she initially responded, assuming the interaction might relate to work.

However, the situation seemed to escalate and she later realised that Mukhtar was married. 

Rahim said she confronted him about messaging her at night, to which he said he had only recently entered into a Nikah and was “not married”. She said she also reached out to Mukhtar’s wife with a screenshot of the messages, and the wife thanked her for letting her know.

Making the claims in a video online, Rahim said she received numerous messages from women reporting similar interactions with Mukhtar, and some of them were underage at the time.

“After the reel I posted yesterday, so many girls reached out with the same stories and screenshots of Umar Mukhtar,” she claimed, going on to talk about Mukhtar’s friendship with Hania Amir.

The content creator said that Mukhtar’s interactions contradicted Amir’s mission as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, and questioned, “How are you creating a safe digital space for women when you’re besties with a man who’s exploiting underage girls?”

Rahim said she reached out to Hania Amir directly, sharing screenshots and concerns about Mukhtar’s behavior, but did not receive a response.

Other influencers also reacted to Rahim’s revelations.

“He messaged me and said I can’t sleep, can you make me sleep on call, and I was like???” Quratulain Ahmed said. Reeja Jay said she was shocked to see this as it happened with her too.

She urged others to protect themselves on social media, advising women to block accounts that send unsolicited messages, particularly at unusual hours. “If men are messaging you at 3 am or 6 am, block them right now.”

The Current has reached out to Umer Mukhtar and a response is awaited. This story will be updated pending his reaction to the allegations.

Actor Eric Dane, known for his roles in television series Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, died on Thursday at the age of 53, his family has confirmed. The family had disclosed last year that Dane was suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

In a statement carried by international media outlets, the family said: “Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS.” The statement added that he spent his final days surrounded by “dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world.”

Dane portrayed Dr Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy for 15 years, a role that made him a familiar face on network television. His character, a plastic surgeon, was referred to as “McSteamy” by other characters in the series. He later appeared in Euphoria and had stated after his diagnosis that he planned to return to the set for the show’s third season.

ALS is a disease that affects the nervous system, causing the brain to lose connection with muscles. 

The family statement said Dane used his diagnosis to speak out about the illness. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight,” the statement said.

Dane was married to actor Rebecca Gayheart, with whom he had two children. The couple separated in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. Gayheart filed for divorce but later sought to dismiss the petition in March last year, shortly before Dane made his ALS diagnosis public. 

Born Eric William Dane on November 9, 1972, in San Francisco, he was the elder of two brothers. His father worked as an architect, while his mother was a homemaker, according to information listed on IMDb.

Dane began his television career in 1993 with a role in The Wonder Years. His career expanded in 2005 when he landed the role of McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy.