Current Final

Tag: controversy

  • ‘Critics don’t need to be actors to judge you’; Raheel Rao claps back at Danish Taimoor

    ‘Critics don’t need to be actors to judge you’; Raheel Rao claps back at Danish Taimoor

    Editor-in-chief of DIVA magazine, Raheel Rao, has addressed Danish Taimoor’s recent comments on drama critics, offering a thoughtful perspective on the significance of criticism in the entertainment industry.

    On Instagram, Rao wrote an open letter to Danish, acknowledging his journey from modelling to acting while questioning his views on criticism.

     “Dear Danish, I have closely followed your journey. Your shift from modeling to acting has been impressive, and we all greatly admire your growth as an actor. It’s perfectly fine if you don’t place much importance on critics (or their critiques). However, to dismiss them by saying, ‘Woh banda jiska acting se door door tak koi talluq nahi, woh kaise acting ke baare mein baat kar sakta hai?’ feels inappropriate,” expressed Rao.

    He elaborated that critics worldwide are typically not actors themselves but rather evaluators who analyse performances for audiences. 

    “Just like a food critic isn’t required to be a chef to evaluate a dish, or a sports analyst isn’t obliged to be an athlete to analyze a game, drama critics don’t need to be performers to critique acting. Disregarding feedback based on the source instead of engaging with the content weakens the dialogue,” he continued.

    Rao’s response was prompted by Danish Taimoor’s recent remarks on Mehfil-e-Ramzan, where he openly dismissed online critiques of his acting choices, stating, “I don’t even pay attention to them. That’s their job; they seek attention. Honestly, I don’t care, and my fans don’t care either.”

    While acknowledging that criticism is part of the entertainment field, Danish questioned the merit of all opinions. He argued that critiques should come from individuals who understand the craft, stating, “When I critique something, I do so with a thorough understanding of this industry. But if someone with no acting background scrutinises performances, how does that make sense?”

    His comments sparked an intense debate online, with many pointing out the irony of actors voicing opinions on topics beyond their expertise—such as politics, fashion, or sports—yet reacting negatively when the situation is reversed. Others noted that Danish has consistently faced criticism for portraying similar roles in dramas, a concern many view as legitimate rather than mere negativity.

    While some fans defended him, agreeing that critiques should be based on knowledge rather than attention-seeking, Rao’s response has shifted the conversation. His argument that criticism is an essential part of storytelling—regardless of the critic’s background—has resonated widely.

  • Kim Soo-hyun cut from Good Day amid backlash over Kim Sae-ron controversy

    Kim Soo-hyun cut from Good Day amid backlash over Kim Sae-ron controversy

    South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has been removed from the variety show Good Day following severe audience disapproval concerning his connection with actress Kim Sae-ron, who has been embroiled in controversy. This decision was made in response to escalating criticism, leading the producers to cut Soo-hyun’s segments from upcoming episodes.

    The dispute arises from Kim Sae-ron’s previous legal troubles, particularly a DUI case that harmed her reputation; this incident occurred in 2022 when she faced charges for drunk driving, and as a result of the negative impact on her image, she was cut from the show Blood Hounds. Tragically, in February 2025, exactly on Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday, she was found dead at her home.

    Although Soo-hyun is not directly involved, his association with Sae-ron triggered a negative reaction from viewers. The backlash intensified after trailers of the show featuring both actors were released, resulting in demands for Soo-hyun’s removal.

    The production team, consequently, chose to mitigate potential backlash by excluding Soo-hyun’s footage from the final airings. Initially, the actor had recorded several segments for Good Day, but after assessing public opinion, the creators decided on significant edits. The broadcasting network confirmed this decision, stating their intention to heed audience feedback and maintain a positive reception for the show.

    While this move has sparked mixed reactions, some fans argue that Soo-hyun is being unfairly penalised for a scandal he was not involved in. Conversely, others believe the decision was justified considering the sensitivity surrounding Kim Sae-ron’s past actions and the need for networks to be mindful of public sentiment.

    Kim Soo-hyun, a leading figure in South Korean entertainment, has enjoyed a largely controversy-free career, starring in well-received dramas such as It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, My Love from the Star, and Queen of Tears. His removal from Good Day raises concerns about the extent to which public opinion can influence entertainment decisions, even for those uninvolved in scandals.

    This incident highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by South Korean celebrities, where any association—intentional or not—can lead to significant career consequences. For now, Good Day will air without Kim Soo-hyun’s segments, and the network hopes these changes will help ease the ongoing controversy.

    As the situation unfolds, fans remain divided on whether this decision was justified or an excessive reaction to public sentiment. Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun has yet to release an official statement regarding his removal from the show.

  • Alizeh Shah, Zarnish Khan feud intensifies despite reconciliation efforts

    Alizeh Shah, Zarnish Khan feud intensifies despite reconciliation efforts

    Alizeh Shah and Zarnish Khan have found themselves at the centre of controversy after a seemingly lighthearted remark on a talk show escalated into a heated exchange. What started as casual banter soon led to apologies, but Alizeh’s refusal to forgive has kept the drama unfolding.

    It all started when Zarnish Khan, who has taken a step back from the entertainment industry to adopt a more private lifestyle, appeared on Voice Over Man with Wajahat Rauf. When asked a playful question regarding who would win in a fight between her and Alizeh Shah, Zarnish immediately replied, “If it’s a competition, Alizeh would definitely win.”

    While the response may have seemed harmless to some, it clearly upset Alizeh Shah, as her mother instantly called Zarnish after the episode aired, asking why she had made such comments about her daughter. In response, Zarnish assured her that she would make a video clarifying the truth, but just 30 minutes after the call, she blocked Alizeh’s mother. 

    Zarnish also contacted Alizeh through Instagram DM to apologise. In her message, she expressed sincere regret, labelling her comment as “silly” and “thoughtless,” made in the spur of the moment. She even offered to make a public apology if that would help Alizeh forgive her. “I genuinely want to apologize to your mom,” Zarnish included, acknowledging that her words had affected Alizeh’s family.

    Nonetheless, Alizeh was not inclined to let it go. In her reply, she bluntly told Zarnish that an apology wouldn’t mend the harm done.  “I do not forgive you. What have I ever done to you? I never behaved rudely toward you. You weren’t even being paid to talk shit about me, yet you chose to,” she stated.

    The situation intensified when Alizeh took to her Instagram stories to discuss the matter publicly. She disclosed that her mother had personally contacted Zarnish on the day the show aired, distressed and inquiring why she had made such comments. According to Alizeh, Zarnish initially assured her mother that she would make a video to clarify things, but shortly afterwards, she blocked her mother’s number.

    “I still recall how helpless my mom felt that day. Her voice trembled on that call, and you blocked her so she couldn’t ask you to apologize again?” Alizeh wrote, voicing her disappointment. She criticised the industry culture where “elders act childishly on shows while spreading complaints and lies under the guise of professionalism.”

    In her concluding statement, Alizeh emphasised that she has never spoken negatively about anyone online and that the only person she confides in is her mother, and she confides in God.

    Although Zarnish’s efforts for reconciliation were rebuffed, the controversy has rekindled discussions surrounding celebrity conflicts, the effects of words, and the need for public figures to be more cautious with their statements—especially in a time when a single remark can ignite days of online turmoil.

  • Netizens react hilariously to Behroze Sabzwari’s remarks about Khan’s drinking

    Netizens react hilariously to Behroze Sabzwari’s remarks about Khan’s drinking

    Renowned Pakistani actor Behroze Sabzwari recently appeared on a podcast with Adnan Faisal on his YouTube channel FHM Pakistan in which he defended Chairman PTI Imran Khan’s character by stating, “I’ve shared a drink with him [Imran Khan] on numerous occasions, and he has never consumed more than one.”

    As expected, the small clip has gone viral on social media websites and people have opinions.

    One user posted that the hilarious situation is like a friend defending him in front of his father.

    Many users pointed out the apparent hypocrisy in former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speeches about developing “Riyasat-e-Madina” – a model of Islamic State founded on Islamic principles and laws.

    And then there were also PTI-supported accounts, some of whom claimed the video was “fake” and “propaganda”.

  • Controversy around Bushra Ansari’s dialogue in punjabi web series, sparks gender debate

    Controversy around Bushra Ansari’s dialogue in punjabi web series, sparks gender debate


    Veteran actor Bushra Ansari is facing social media backlash for her dialogue in an international Web Series “Our Big Punjabi Family”.
    Although the web series was released last year, recently, a social media clip from the web series featuring Ansari’s dialogue has gone viral. In the clip, Ansari refers to a transgender girl, who is in the kitchen when another character in the show asks Ansari why she is being so nice to the girl. Ansari says, “call her “they”or “them,” referring to pronouns that people can select for themselves.

    . The dialogue sparked a debate among fans, with some criticising Ansari for ‘clearly promoting an LGBTQ agenda by working in LGBTQ pro-content’. Some Pakistani fans are expressing their anger while others are applauding Ansari for taking on the role and promoting tolerance, with some fans saying ‘Love this and its about time’.

  • Exclusive: ‘Aftab Iqbal locked me in a room for 2.5 hours’, Shafaat Ali’s claims and Iqbal’s ‘not true’ response

    Exclusive: ‘Aftab Iqbal locked me in a room for 2.5 hours’, Shafaat Ali’s claims and Iqbal’s ‘not true’ response

    It’s been a tough month for Aftab Iqbal. After actor and comedian Sohail Ahmed publicly criticised Iqbal for the way he allegedly treats his team, another famous name has accused the television host of high-handed behaviour.

    On April 24, Lahore-based journalist Ambreen Fatima revealed a shocking story by asking T.V. host and comedian Shafaat Ali whether Aftab Iqbal had locked him in a room to force him into signing a contract to appear on his program.

    Ambreen Fatima wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Is it true that Aftab Iqbal locked you in a room in Express office, and the condition to get out of the room was that you signed a contract to work with him even though you didn’t want to do it, then your life was spared with the intervention of a big journalist?”

    Shafaat Ali confirmed the event and said that it took place in 2016.

    The Current reached out to Ali to seek details about the incident. Ali recounted, “It was November 2016 and he [Aftab Iqbal] wanted me to sign on for his show but I had already appeared on four shows with him. I sent him a text that I would not be appearing anymore and would decide later if I wanted to.”

    Ali told The Current that he didn’t feel like doing more shows because “Punjabi language wasn’t my forte back then,” and that previous shows were “sort of pro bono”.

    He also recounted how his mother was apprehensive about him working with Aftab Iqbal because of the way he talked to him [Shafaat Ali] and how “he looked down upon everyone else”.
    “My mother said that Beta, it’s your career, your choice but I don’t get any good vibes from this,” Ali recalled. Until then, according to Ali, he had not signed any contract with Iqbal or the network Iqbal was working for.

    Ali said that when he informed Iqbal’s team of his decision, he received a call from the producer of the show to attend a farewell party that night.

    When Ali reached the office, “Aftab Iqbal joined and started telling me that I can’t leave the show because he has bigger plans with the show and he was going to make a movie,” Ali recalled. “He told me he was going to make a movie. I said well, best of luck but I can’t sign up. He asked why, I said because I can’t.”

    Ali recounted that when he refused Iqbal’s offer he was furious probably because “no one had ever said NO to him.”

    Aftab Iqbal asked his associate producer to bring a contract and asked him to sign it. According to Ali, they locked him in a room and it was a “pretty awful” experience for him.

    Ali called up senior journalist Saleem Safi from the room to get his help and it worked. “I think it worked and the room opened. I came out shook his hand and took off.”

    Ali says that after his harrowing experience, Iqbal has done a few shows against him as well.

    Aftab Iqbal’s version

    The Current reached out to Aftab Iqbal to ask about his version of the story.

    Aftab Iqbal said he did not lock Shafaat Ali in a room and it would be “ridiculous” to claim such a thing.

    He said that there were two rooms at the Express News office beside the reception and “it is incomprehensible to even suggest that one could lock a person there.”

    According to Aftab, Ali had “problems with his salary package and told us that he cannot do any more shows even though we had an agreement.”

    He said he remembers when Ali said, “My mother told me that it is a verbal agreement and nothing has been written so I want to leave.”

    He recounted that “this was shocking to hear because as soon as Shafaat brought up his mother then I said the matter is concluded.”

    When asked about how Saleem Safi came in between the matter, Aftab said “Saleem Safi called me and inquired about the event.”

    “I asked Saleem Safi if Geo is trying to take him away because you are calling me,” said Iqbal.

    When The Current asked Iqbal about the purpose of Saleem’s call, he recounted that “Safi said that Shafaat called me and said Aftab bhai is pressurising him to sign a contract.”

    When asked about the agreement whether it was a verbal or a written agreement, Aftab confirmed that it was indeed a verbal agreement and ‘it holds the same importance’.

    Saleem Safi’s version

    The Current reached out to senior journalist and talk show host Saleem Safi to ask him about the entire incident. However, upon inquiry, Saleem Safi said he could not recount the details of the above-mentioned event at all.

  • ‘Kisi ka koyi aur agenda hai…woh chief justice bun jayein’, CJ Isa says won’t allow attack on judiciary

    ‘Kisi ka koyi aur agenda hai…woh chief justice bun jayein’, CJ Isa says won’t allow attack on judiciary

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa has said during the hearing of Supreme Court’s Suo moto notice taken on the Islamabad High Court judges’ letter that, “There is zero tolerance on the independence of judiciary.”

    The hearing is being conducted by a seven-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising six other judges — Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

    CJP Isa remarked, “Judges must be sure that they are not in danger.” He also emphasized that he could not exercise contempt power in any other court because “the court which is in contempt will exercise this power itself.”

    Importantly, the lawyers had demanded a full court in the suo moto case to which CJP raised an important point that where were these lawyers when not a single meeting of the full court was conducted in four years.

    The chief justice said: “My colleagues and I will stand before any attack on the independence of judiciary.”

  • Lawyers call upon the SC to use suo moto powers to probe IHC judges letter

    Lawyers call upon the SC to use suo moto powers to probe IHC judges letter

    More than 300 lawyers across the country have urged the Supreme Court to initiate proceedings under Article 184(3) on the Islamabad High Court Judges’ letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan alleging “interference” by the executive in judicial matters.

    On March 26, six IHC judges — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Fafat Imtiaz — wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), demanding a judicial convention over the alleged meddling of spy agencies in legal matters.

    Last week, the CJP met with the Prime Minister to discuss this matter and it was mutually agreed to make an inquiry commission chaired by a retired judge to investigate the allegations.

    “We further call upon the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take cognisance of the matter in its jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution as this issue eminently relates to the public interest and to the enforcement of fundamental rights,” the lawyers’ statement came after the commission was approved by the federal cabinet.

  • Iqra Aziz opens up about Saboor Aly’s wedding dress controversy

    Iqra Aziz opens up about Saboor Aly’s wedding dress controversy

    Iqra Aziz recently explained why she ended up using a wedding dress similar to her co-star Saboor Ali’s in the drama ‘Manat Murad.’


    Iqra Aziz appeared as a guest on a talk show where she spoke about the controversy surrounding the copy of Saboor Ali’s wedding dress. “Actually, we wanted a traditional dress to shoot the wedding scene in the drama as it was the director’s demand but we couldn’t find any traditional dress despite trying hard. So the director showed me the picture of the couple after a little research. On doing this I found out that this is a pair designed by Faiza Saqlain.”

    The actress said that they approached Faiza Saqlain. “We couldn’t change the dress completely, so I kept the dupatta and gharara same and requested her to change the shirt of the dress.”
    “With this dress, we also kept the jewelery simple and traditional,” she added.
    Iqra Aziz said, “I designed my entire bridal look for the play myself. I won’t say I copied it but my look was really inspired by Saboor Ali’s wedding look because she wore it at her wedding. She looked very beautiful and I wanted to look as beautiful as her in the drama.

    “But my dramatic bridal look was inspired by Saboor Ali’s wedding look and the outfit I wore was not technically Saboor Ali’s but I got it from a designer, I didn’t know that. It would have become a big problem otherwise I would have asked Saboor Ali before shooting because I am one of those people who care about others’ happiness.”

  • Shiraz Uppal talks about ‘Funkari’ controversy with Aima Baig

    Shiraz Uppal recently gave an interview to a private TV channel and talked about the controversy with singer Aima Baig regarding the song ‘Funkari’ released this year.

    “I resolved the issue because at the stage of my career that I am at now, after creating the music of many famous singers’ famous songs, it should not be tolerated that anyone takes away credit, and people in our industry are very good at denying credit.”

    The singer said, “I wanted to set an example for newcomers in the industry because newcomers are not able to raise their voice for their rights. They fear that they will have trouble getting more work in the future.”
    He said that he was in a position to speak up for his right, adding, “I replied to Aima Baig so that the new people who are coming in the industry also have the confidence to raise their voice for their right. Aima was arguing with me that the song ‘Funkari’ was written by Shakeel Sohail, who was my close friend.”
    Shiraz Uppal said, “I made it clear to Aima that Shakeel Sohail had passed away in June 2020 and that I had written the lyrics for the song ‘Funkari’ in November 2020.”

    Stressing that he would never take his friend’s credit, Uppal emphasized, “I wrote this song 6 months after his death. I have all the proofs which I showed to Aima and she admitted her mistake.”

    Aima Baig had claimed that she wrote Funkari together with Sohail Shakeel.

    At the time, Uppal refuted Aima Baig’s statement, stating, “He had written the song on his own six months after Shakeel Sohail’s passing.”
    Following Shiraz Uppal’s clarification, the disagreement persisted but eventually got resolved when Aima Baig acknowledged her mistake.