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Actor Asad Siddiqui has criticized what he calls “biased casting practices” in the country’s entertainment industry, arguing that selections are often based on connections and appearance rather than talent.

In a recent appearance on Ushna Shah’s talk show, Siddiqui spoke openly about his concerns: “I have distanced myself from certain industry gatherings, citing instances of ‘sweet words’ shared in person that turn into criticism behind backs.”

Siddiqui also highlighted that casting often favors those with lighter skin tones or personal connections, a practice he called “unfair and apparent on screen.” He argued that these dynamics dilute merit and affect the quality of production.

To counter this, Siddiqui proposed a stronger audition process. He further revealed plans to enter production himself, expressing hope to create more equitable opportunities for aspiring actors.

Siddiqui, whose wife Zara Noor Abbas comes from a notable acting family that includes Bushra Ansari and Asma Abbas, has established himself as a prominent figure in Pakistan’s showbiz.

His remarks reflect a call from industry insiders for change in casting standards to better support talent over appearance or social ties.

Earlier, on Faysal Quraishi’s Podcast, Asad Siddiqui offered fans a glimpse into his journey to finding love with actor Zara Noor Abbas.

Asad revealed that he first heard of Zara through her aunt, Bushra Ansari, years before they met. “When I did my first dramas, Azar Ki Ayegi Baraat and Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat, Zara was mentioned in passing. I had never seen her or a picture of her, but Bushra Apa would mention her,” he shared.

There was no instant spark or sense of destiny back then; Zara was just a name in casual conversation. Life moved on, as Asad explained, “Then that chapter closed, but six or seven years later we worked together again, and she mentioned Zara again.” Only later, by pure coincidence, did Zara come into his life in person.

The chemistry began as friendship, he recounted, fueled by shared friends like Sajal Ali, Yasir Hussain, and Asim Azhar. “Coincidentally, Zara was in town for work, and she was friends with Sajal. So, I went to meet up with them and we became friends,” he said, describing how they spent time in a group. “Yasir, Asim, and I were always together, and we would meet up with Zara and Sajal. Eventually, we got together. Those were good times.”

But for Asad, life changed dramatically once they married—and even more so when they welcomed their daughter, Noor e Jahan, this past March. “After marriage, you can’t be out of the house at all times. You should let your spouse know when you’re going to be home if you’ll eat with them or not. After a child, you can’t even do that. You’re on set and want them to pack up,” he shared, hinting at the challenges that come with balancing family and work. The transition to fatherhood has deepened his appreciation for Zara’s role.

Reflecting on parenthood, Asad noted, “I try to stay up with the baby as much as I can, but there are times when I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and see Zara already awake, walking around or feeding the baby. I’m always shocked by how a mother’s life is never her own after a baby. Everything revolves around the child.”

Pakistani singer and activist Shehzad Roy wants to help parents reduce their children’s screen time in today’s digital age.

He has made a chess curriculum, developed by his non-profit organization Zindagi Trust, available for free. This initiative aims to encourage children to think critically and plan strategically instead of spending time on their devices.

On Sunday, Roy shared a heartfelt message on Instagram for parents struggling with their children’s screen time. Highlighting the power of chess, he said, “If you want to lower your kids’ screen time, teach them chess.”

He recalled how Zindagi Trust introduced chess in its schools years ago. “Because this is a competitive mind sport, we observed kids sitting alone for hours, thinking and strategizing. They were spending time with themselves,” Roy reflected.

Roy also talked about the success of the chess program, mentioning that girls from the program have won Pakistan’s top chess championships.

He urged everyone to teach children chess using the curriculum available on the Zindagi Trust website. He explained that it could positively change their routines and improve their mathematical and cognitive skills.

The journey of incorporating chess into Zindagi Trust schools began in 2011 as part of the organization’s broader goal to enhance education in underprivileged communities.

The chess curriculum, developed over a decade, combines fundamental techniques, strategies, and cognitive training to improve critical thinking skills and promote strategic problem-solving.

It provides a foundation for advanced chess learning and creates an engaging learning environment.
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Renowned Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan faced severe financial challenges in the 1990s when his production company went bankrupt, leaving him with millions of dollars in debt.

Amitabh Bachchan opened up about this difficult phase in an interview, revealing, “There was a time when I had no work. My company had gone bankrupt, and I had to repay a debt of ₹90 crore. As a result, I faced 55 legal cases.”

He further shared, “This was the worst time of my life, and I even considered selling everything I owned, including my house.”

Discussing the unbearable pressure, he said, “The situation became intolerable as creditors would knock on my door daily. Loan recovery agents harassed me, using abusive language and threats. People started losing faith in me. I was completely bankrupt, and everything around me was falling apart.”

Reflecting on the experience, Bachchan observed, “If a person makes a mistake in one aspect of their life, everything else starts going wrong. People lose trust in you, to the extent that they don’t even want to see you.”

However, he emphasized on not giving up during tough times. “Even in those challenging moments, I didn’t lose hope. I thought about what I could do best, and that was acting. So, I decided to focus entirely on my craft and reclaim my lost position.”

Amitabh shared how he approached his close friend Yash Chopra for work. “When I decided to focus solely on acting, I spoke to Yash Chopra, and without hesitation, he offered me a role in his film ‘Mohabbatein.’ I immediately accepted it.”

The success of Mohabbatein marked a turning point in Amitabh Bachchan’s life. Following this, he received numerous film offers and was approached to host the Indian TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). 

Earlier, Abhishek Bachchan and his legendary father Amitabh Bachchan were making waves together on screen, creating the kind of buzz that fans have been eagerly waiting for. In the latest promo of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, the iconic father-son duo shared the spotlight as Abhishek promotes his upcoming film I Want to Talk.

Sony Entertainment Television shared a hilarious promo on Instagram, showing Amitabh second-guessing his decision to invite Abhishek to the show. The clip has gone viral, capturing Abhishek playfully mimicking his father’s iconic style of announcing prize amounts, especially when he screams “Seven crores” just like Amitabh Bachchan does. The funny and lighthearted moment has left fans in splits!

But that’s not the climax of fun. Abhishek reveals that whenever there is a question thrown in during dinner, children tend to mimic Amitabh as if imitating his loud and dramatic ways of speaking, which makes the conversation funny.        

“We all sit together and eat, and when someone asks a question, all the kids together shout ‘7 crore’”, he narrated. 

Amitabh Bachchan, clearly enjoying the banter, jokingly says, “Bohat bari galti karde innko yahan bula ke” (It was a mistake inviting him here).  

Abhishek Bachchan is preparing for the release of his new film, I Want to Talk, which will release in cinemas on November 22, 2024.

 Late Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, known for his blunt nature, hesitated to share his honest opinions about son Ranbir Kapoor’s film choices. From predicting failures to advising against certain roles, his feedback often came with sharp observations and tough love.   

Recalling his father’s unfiltered advice, the Animal actor shared an incident that took place at the 55th Film Festival of Indian (IFFI), reveling Rishi Kapoor’s knack for spotting potential hit and misses.

“Before ‘Barfi’ was released, my father called me after watching the preview and said, ‘Ranbir, you’re good at acting, but stop doing art films.”

Even during the making of Ranbir’s debut film ‘Saawariya,’ Rishi’s skepticism was clear.   

On set he bombarded Ranbir with questions like, “Why are there so many windows in the frame? Why not more people? Why is it a night scene and not a morning one?”

His honest feedback often pushed Ranbir to think critically, though at times the younger Kapoor felt his father’s views were rooted in an outdated perspective.
  

The Tamasha actor admitted that he used to dismiss his father doubts as “old school”, but later realized how wise Rishi’s critiques were.

 “He told my mom in the car, ‘This movie won’t work.’ Back then, I didn’t understand what he meant, but now it all makes sense,” Ranbir Kapoor shared. 
 

Ranbir also spoke of his bond with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whom he calls his Godfather. He credited Bhansali for shaping his knowledge of film and acting.

 
“I am extremely blessed to have him as my godfather. Everything I know about films, everything I know about acting, it is something I learnt from him,” the Sajnu actor shared. It merits a mention that he worked as an assistant director on Bhansali’s film ‘Black’ before making his debut with Saawariya in 2007.  

Ranbir commended Bhansali’s steadfast commitment to his art, saying, “He hasn’t changed at all. He is extremely hard-working. All he thinks about is his movies. He just wants to speak about the character, he wants you to create, do something different.” 

Bhansali’s upcoming film ‘Love and War’ features a star-studded cast that includes Ranbir, Alia and Vicky Kaushal. The film is expected to release by the end of 2025.

Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30 April, 2020.