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  • ‘Laapataa Ladies’ has been selected for Oscars 2025

    ‘Laapataa Ladies’ has been selected for Oscars 2025

    Director and writer Kiran Rao’s dream has come true as her film ‘Laapataa Ladies’ has been chosen as India’s official entry for the Oscars Academy Award 2025 in the Best Foreign Film category.

    On Saturday September 21, 2024, during an interview with Press Trust of India,
    Kiran Rao said, “My dream will be fulfilled… if it (Laapataa Ladies) will go to the Oscars. But it’s a process, and I am hoping it will be considered. I am sure the best film will qualify, whoever they (Film Federation India) choose in the scheme of things.”

    “Our primary recognition comes from the audience’s response at the box office. If the audience and the nation appreciate our work, that would be the greatest accolade for us”, Kiran Rao added.

    On her Instagram account Rao wrote, “I am deeply honored and beyond delighted that our film Laapataa Ladies has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. This recognition is a testament to the tireless work of my entire team, whose dedication and passion brought this story to life. Cinema has always been a powerful medium to connect hearts, transcend boundaries, and ignite meaningful conversations. I hope that this film will resonate with audiences across the world, just as it has in India.

    “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the selection committee and to everyone who believed in this film. It is indeed a great privilege to be selected from among such amazing Indian films this year, who are equally worthy contenders for this honor.”

    The cast of the charming film includes Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma. The story line revolves around two brides who get mixed up while making their way to their sussraals. What follows is an adventure on which both the young women discover their strengths.

    Here is the post shared by Kiran Rao :

    Here are the Instagram stories of the cast Laaptaa laidies who shared the story:

  • Govt warns IPPs to end Power Purchase Agreement or face forensic audit

    Govt warns IPPs to end Power Purchase Agreement or face forensic audit

    Owners of four Independent Power Producers (IPPs) set up under both 1994 policy 2002 policy have been directed to voluntarily discontinue the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and go into ‘pay-and-take mode’, an official privy to the dealings told The News.

    Official privy further said, “The government will not pay capacity payments anymore in the range of Rs139-150 billion per annum to the said IPPs for the next 3-5 years; this has been told to the proprietors of the said five IPPs. They have also been categorically told that the government has already made excess payments to the said IPPs in the form of capacity payments and returns on equity and has also paid the loans for the IPPs.”

    Meanwhile, the owner of IPP, the official said, responded that if the government pays RS 55 billion to his company, he will not only be ready to terminate the contract but also hand over the plant to the government.

    The main member of the task force has told IPP owners that there is no other option for them; if they don’t act, a forensic audit will initiate and recover extra profits they made in the past through wrongdoings.

    The 1994 governmental agreement with IPPs states that whether these power producers work at a hundred per cent efficiency or fifty per cent efficiency, they will be paid for their installed capacity.

    The agreement was based on a ‘take or pay’ policy (the government was bound to pay to IPPs even if no electricity was produced or supplied), not a “take and pay” policy.

  • Saba Hamid says she is not a controlling mother-in-law unlike her Noor Jahan character

    Saba Hamid says she is not a controlling mother-in-law unlike her Noor Jahan character

    Veteran actress Saba Hamid has stunned fans with her performance as Noor Jahan in the hit drama serial of the same name.

    In the serial Noor Jahan , Saba Hamid played the character of Noor Jahan.

    During an appearance on After Hours, host Ushna Shah asked, “The character of Noor Jahan is such that you start to dislike her a bit because she is an extremely controlling mother-in-law, and she is completely opposite to you, introverted, someone who minds her own business. So, tell me, what was it like playing a woman like that?”

    Saba Hamid replied, “Mostly, if a mother-in-law has a significant role, she is portrayed as controlling and powerful. Generally, we have reached this age by playing such roles, so it wasn’t something new. But there was a good balance in Noor Jahan’s character. It was very gray, I didn’t see her as a completely black (evil) person. I felt that she believed in what she was saying, she wasn’t plotting or being deceitful. She truly believed that sons should be prioritized, which was a wrong idea, but the character was portrayed as wrong, not right, because people do think this way. We can’t close our eyes to it.”

    The Noor Jahan actress also highlighted how important it was to play a role that made people think about society.
    “To point that out, you sometimes have to touch the wound in order to heal it. I know many people were upset about that monologue where it was said that when a daughter is born, the father’s head lowers in shame. But this is how society thinks, and it was highlighted and countered well. There was a strong contrast because another drama of mine, which was filmed around the same time, also had a mother-in-law, but she was completely different calm and gentle. And I played both characters back-to-back, which overlapped a bit. I think it was fantastic how I managed to pull it off, and I believe I did well with both roles.”
    Talking about her working relationship with Musadiq Malik,
    Hamid said, “I am genuinely saying that I have worked with many directors, even with those who are very skilled. He is young and new, and Noor Jahan was only his second serial. The first one was Habs, and with Noor Jahan, he outdid everything he had done before. So, full marks to both (Zanjabeel Asim Shah) of them for making Noor Jahan what it is. “It was an interesting experience because he had assisted me before, and now he was directing me. When he assisted me, we had already formed a team where no one was the boss or subordinate. We always worked collaboratively, and even when I was directing, I valued his input. Similarly, when he was directing, he valued my opinions as well.”

  • ‘It felt like the world had ended’; Aadi Adeel on his father’s passing

    ‘It felt like the world had ended’; Aadi Adeel on his father’s passing

    Television host and actor Aadi Adeel, famous for his comedic roles, recently appeared on a TV show with Mathira.

    The happy-go-lucky actor shared some personal stories and spoke about being vulnerable.

    “I did not remember exactly what I was angry about with my mother, but I did not speak to her for many years,” he said.

    Adeel recalled not talking to her even when he was in front of her in the same house.

    “Later, on the day my father died, I hugged my mother and apologised to her,” he said.

    “My mother did not say anything to me except that I was her son, and that why would she not forgive me?”

    He further said, “The death of my father is the biggest sorrow and shock of my life, and I miss him even today.”

    “My father and I had a good, friendly relationship, and I always felt that if anything happened to me in life, if I got into trouble, my father would get me out of it,” he remembered.

    But after his father’s death, “the illusion was broken” for him.

    “When my father passed away, I felt that the whole world had ended, the colours had disappeared from the world, and illusions had disappeared,” he said.

    “I still feel that after the death of my father, there is no one to take care of me, to get me out of any trouble; I am my only protector,” he shared.

    It has been 15 years since his father’s death, who died at a young age.

  • Gold price drops by Rs600 from record high to Rs271,900 per tola

    Gold price drops by Rs600 from record high to Rs271,900 per tola

    Gold prices in Pakistan dropped after hitting record high in the previous session.

    On first trading day of the week, according to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of 24-karat gold fell by Rs600 and closed at Rs271,900 per tola.

    The price of 10-gramme of gold was recorded at Rs233,110 after sliding by Rs471.

    It is worth mentioning that the gold price in the last two trading sessions jumped by Rs4,000 per tola.

    The last gold rate before Monday’s closing was Rs272,500 per tola.

    Furthermore, silver prices were unchanged once again, clocking in at Rs2,950 per tola.

    The price of gold in the global market also witnessed a loss of $5 during the day and was recorded at $2,617 per ounce. This price also includes a premium of $20.

  • ‘Afghan diplomat 14 August ko national anthem ke ihteraam mein khare hoye thay,’ Faisal Kundi reveals double standards

    ‘Afghan diplomat 14 August ko national anthem ke ihteraam mein khare hoye thay,’ Faisal Kundi reveals double standards

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi, while recalling the Afghan diplomat’s refusal to stand up for the Pakistan anthem in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) KP Ali Amin Gandapur, has claimed that the same Afghan diplomat stood up for the anthem on August 14 during a flag hoisting ceremony.

    Appearing on the Samaa News programme ‘Mere Sawal With Absar Alam,’ Kundi revealed that the Afghan diplomat, along with an Iranian diplomat and an American diplomat, stood up for the national anthem as a respectful gesture.

    He said, “14 August ko mein nay bulaya thaa, tab inhain koi takleef nahi thi or national anthem kay ihteraam may kharay b huway thay.”

    Lambasting CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur’s stance of showing no objection to the disrespect, Kundi said he appeared to be the provincial CM of Afghanistan.

    Earlier, during an official event in Peshawar to commemorate 12th Rabi ul Awal, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), two Afghan diplomats deliberately refused to stand up for Pakistan’s anthem.

    After strong discontent from Pakistan, Afghan Consulate Peshawar spokesperson Shahid Ullah clarified, “The Consul General did not stand due to the music in the anthem. We have even banned our own national anthem for the same reason.”

  • How much did Nida Yasir’s wedding cost 22 years ago? The amount will surprise you

    How much did Nida Yasir’s wedding cost 22 years ago? The amount will surprise you

    This is the age of extravagant weddings, with most people trying to outdo each other with how much they spend on ostentatious displays of wealth.

    Morning show host Nida Yasir got married 22 years ago, when weddings were simpler and less costly.

    A clip of Nida’s interview with actor Faisal Qureshi is going viral on social media. Faisal asks Nida about the expenses of her wedding to director Yasir Nawaz.

    “There was a time when fans wanted to watch content based on marriage in morning shows, now the trend has changed a lot,” she began, adding that It has been more than 15 years since she started hosting morning shows.

    “Only three events were organized for my wedding, the wedding was very grand and luxurious, the Milad and Mayon were held on the same day, later. Mehndi and barat ceremonies were held.”

    She said, “22 years have passed since my marriage. I spent one million rupees on three wedding ceremonies and Walimah was entirely from Yasir.”
    Nida Yasir and Yasir Nawaz got married in 2002. They now have three children.

  • Bushra Ansari does not like that Chahat Fateh Ali Khan got overnight fame

    Bushra Ansari does not like that Chahat Fateh Ali Khan got overnight fame

     

     Nowadays, with social media, it’s easier than ever to become famous overnight.  Social media sensation Chahat Fateh Ali Khan gained to fame by creating funny parodies of well songs. He gained 20 million views on YouTube in just one month with his most recent rendition of ‘Bado Badi,’ a song by Madam Noor Jahan.

     Veteran actress Bushra Ansari, however, takes exception to social media fame. The comedian appeared as a guest on ‘Hasna Mana hai’, where she talked about the overnight sensation.   When host Tabish Hashmi asked, “Nowadays, I’ve seen singers like Chahat Fateh Ali Khan performing in a certain way, do you find it funny, or do you see it insulting,”

     Bushra replied, “May Allah grant him a long life, I feel sad to see how people go viral for certain things. I just don’t understand it, it’s beyond my comprehension. This trend is definitely wrong, and there are others involved as well. I can’t recall their names, but some are quite strange. I’m shocked by how songs are misused in this way.”  While Bushra Ansari is entitled to her view, Chahat has said in many interviews that he works very hard on his songs and that it took him many years to gain fame.

     She is currently starring in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum which is written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Badar Mehmood. Its airs on ARY Digital on Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 PM.

  • Property taxpayers in Punjab urged to avail 5% rebate before September 30 deadline

    Property taxpayers in Punjab urged to avail 5% rebate before September 30 deadline

    Property taxpayers in Punjab can now benefit from the government’s five per cent rebate offer for payment of tax before October.

    The Excise and Taxation Department’s Deputy Director, Khalid Hussain Qasoori, said that the Punjab government had announced rebate offer for those made full payments of property tax for the ongoing financial year.

    Qasoori urged business owners and citizens to benefit from the scheme as there is less than a week left for the offer to expire.

    The notices have been issued to taxpayers who are eligible for this five per cent rebate scheme. Those interested citizens are advised to pay the property taxes before September 30.

    For those who are eligible but did not receive the tax notice for some reason can also download and pay.

    Qasoori said that the citizens are paying taxes on “large scale” by availing the rebate offer. The public is also being educated regarding the benefits of this scheme through banners placed at different areas and on social media.

    The total property tax for this fiscal year is over Rs1.22 billion.

  • Social media all praise for Prem Kolhi who gave dignified burial to Doctor Shah Nawaz

    Social media all praise for Prem Kolhi who gave dignified burial to Doctor Shah Nawaz

    Social media has labelled Dr Shah Nawaz Kunbhar’s Hindu driver, Prem Kolhi, the real hero of the tragic ordeal in which the health professional was killed by police.

    Kohli first tried his best to save the doctor’s body from an angry extremist mob and later buried him respectfully.

    Dawn quotes Dr Shah Nawaz’s father, Mohammad Saleh Kunbhar, as saying that the mob also tried to lynch Prem Kolhi, who was bringing the body back home in a car after it was handed over by the police. He related that the mob tried to torch the car with the body and the driver inside but Prem managed to escape.

    Social media users have lamented the brutal murder of the slain medic and praised Prem for his bravery.

    Rabiner Kumar posted a picture of Prem and said, “He was fearless and not afraid of death. Premo considered him ( Dr Shahnawaz) a human being, and did the best what he could against the zombies.”

    Journalist A. Waheed Murad posted a video of Kolhi burying the body, poignantly captioning it as “In the desert of Sindh, there was once a Premo”.

    Journalist Rafi Raza posted Prem’s picture with the caption, “Prem is a member of a minority community who tried to protect the body of Dr Shah Nawaz from a Muslim mob.”

    A netizen by the name of Asad Malik posted, “Prem Kohli who tried to save the body of Dr. Shahnawaz from desecration, Masood Lohar who led the movement to lead the funeral prayer, Allama Abdul Momin Memon who led the funeral prayer today are the Sindhis who make humanity proud.”


    Mehar Baloch posted a note of appreciation for the Hindu driver.

    Dr Shah Nawaz Kunbhar from Umerkot in Sindh was fatally shot by police in an alleged extra-judicial killing in Mirpurkhas, a day after he was arrested on allegations of blasphemy.

    Later, the body was handed over to the family but an angry extremist mob followed them and eventually burnt the body. Since then, Sindhis have struck back at extremist elements, holding a massive funeral for the doctor and singing Sindhi folk songs at his grave which is now covered by ajraks, the traditional cloth that represents the province.