Actress Kubra Khan recently appeared on Gloss Etc by Maliha Rehman, where she shared her thoughts on the popular drama ‘Noor Jahan’. While many viewers are relating to the controlling mother-in-law character, Kubra revealed that she was actually annoyed by the first 15 minutes of the drama.
Kubra Khan said, “To be honest, I was annoyed with the very first 15 minutes of the drama. The way Musaddiq has shot the sequence where a wife thinks her husband is planning her birthday, but it turns out to be an event for his mom, was super annoying. And what’s even more frustrating is that this is how people generally live here, and many were able to relate to it.”
The story of the drama revolves around Saba Hamid’s Noor Jahan, a wealthy and dominant mother of three sons. She controls every aspect of their lives, but her strict rules and plans lead to unexpected challenges that test the family’s bond and shape their futures. The drama is written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Musaddiq Malik. It airs on Friday and Saturday at 08:00 PM on ARY Digital.
Khushboo, a Pashto drama and stage artist, was found shot dead in a field in wapda colony on Monday after refusing to perform at a musical event.
Her brother claims she was shot dead after refusing to perform at a musical event. Police have begun an investigation and filed a complaint against two individuals. Raids are being conducted to find the suspects, while the body has been submitted for post-mortem investigation.
According to DPO Azhar Khan, police received information that a body had been found in a field in the Khush Makam area, later identified as Khushboo, a Pashto drama actress. Her brother Shahriyar told the police that the suspects had been pressuring Khushboo to perform at a musical concert, and when she refused, they shot and killed her and dumped her body in the field.
Veteran actor Aurangzeb Laghari, who received the Pride of Performance award for contributing to Pakistan’s entertainment industry, revealed in a recent interview that he had to change careers because of the severe lack of acting opportunities. Multiple news outlets reported that Laghari has opened a furniture showroom in Lahore.
In response to this news, Actor Yasir Hussain, took to social media to highlight the diminishing opportunities for drama actors who do not live in Karachi.
The ‘Karachi Se Lahore’ actor shared his disappointment on Instagram. He reposted the news and wrote, “All the dramas are made in Karachi, and they don’t invite anyone from Lahore to join. PTV used to give work to people from all cities, but now they don’t.” He also criticised the channel for not producing good-quality dramas. “PTV hasn’t made a good drama in the last 20 years. It’s such a shame. Where are shows like ‘Tanhaiyaan,’ ‘Dhuwan,’ ‘Aangan Terha,’ ‘Waris,’ ‘Angar Wadi,’ and ‘Guest House’?”
In the same interview where Aurangzeb Laghari revealed his new career, he also confirmed that he hasn’t found acting work because the industry has moved to Karachi. “All the main offices for channels are in Karachi. There is little work in Lahore, so I work very little,” said the actor. He added, “I feel like Punjabis aren’t given the same encouragement because we aren’t in the same city.”
Veteran actor Naumaan Ijaz posted a picture of himself in black attire on his Instagram, with the caption “Mudateen guzar gaeen hissab nahin keya Na janey kiskay dil mei kitnay reh gaey hum.” Fans were intrigued and posted interesting comments, while the legendary actor is responding to each one of them. When asked if he was copying Ranveer Singh (an Indian actor known for his unique dressing style), Naumaan replied, “He follows me, dear.”
He also denied rumours that he will be appearing in a drama co-produced with Turkey, saying that, “Turks are not investing in Pakistani artists.”
Currently his drama ‘Mrs. & Mr. Shameem’ is on air on Zee5 while ‘Radd’ is airing on ARY digital.
Fans of actress Durefishan Saleem, what is wrong with you?! The star has complained in a recent interview that internet searches for her name are often accompanied by the keyword ‘hot’ rather than her work. “Most of the times, people are looking for ‘Durefishan Hot’ on their internet searches, and they are not looking for my work,” she remarked during a recent event.
“Public figures should expect criticism; it comes with the territory,” said host Ahmed Ali Butt. He emphasized that being in the spotlight means getting attention and criticism, whether it is desired or not.
Fatima Effendi agreed, saying: “She must have thought that as once you write your name on Google, several suggestions come up, and she must have assumed that people were searching for her ‘hot pictures’.”
Actress Saba Qamar has given her fans a sneak peek into her stunning home by sharing some photos on her Instagram. The pictures show her relaxing in her beautifully decorated house, which features soft colors, comfortable furniture, and stylish fixtures.
Saba posted the pictures of her home with the caption , “May my home be a reflection of my soul: peaceful, positive, and full of love.”
Saba Qamar is one of the top actresses in Pakistan, known for impressive performances in films and dramas. Currently her drama ‘Mrs. & Mr. Shameem’ is on air on Zee5 while ‘Pagal Khaana’ is airing on green entertainment.
The Netflix hit “Heeramandi” depicts the plush and powerful lives of courtesans in the 1940s, but there is little glamour for modern Pakistani sex workers in the faded red-light district where the series is set.
The eight-part show — subtitled “The Diamond Bazaar” in English — portrays courtesans in the “royal neighbourhood” of pre-partition Lahore, once a hub of culture and political intrigue.
With dazzling Bollywood-style opulence, it shows women consorting with aristocrats, forging influential alliances and rivalries against the backdrop of India’s struggle for independence from British rule.
But in the derelict remains of the neighbourhood, 65-year-old former sex worker Shagufta scoffed.
“This is not what Heera Mandi is like,” she told AFP, using a pseudonym to protect her identity.
“Now the girls just put their bodies on display,” explained Shagufta. “There is nothing left in Heera Mandi.”
Shagufta can trace back seven generations of women in her family who worked as “tawaifs” in Heera Mandi, and she began dancing and being prostituted at the age of 12.
While courtesans did command respect for their artistry in dance and music during the Mughal period, the show exaggerates the wealth and glamour of the British-ruled era in which it is set.
“It was never like this,” she said.
Taboo ‘tawaifs’
The glittering jewels and swooning melodrama of the show attracted nearly 11 million views in its first three weeks on Netflix, as well as a deluge of interest on social media.
Fascination has been split across Pakistan and India, where TikTok has lit up with videos of influencers dressing in traditional costumes and lip-syncing to the show’s songs and dialogues.
A sequence from a seductive classical dance inspired by the gait of an elephant — considered regal and dignified — has gone viral, with the dancer gracefully moving her hips from side to side.
Some vloggers have performed in front of shops selling shoes and musical instruments that have replaced the once-grand brothels, their crumbling art deco facades framing filthy alleyways.
But whether the show is breaking down barriers around sexuality in deeply conservative Pakistan or simply compounding them with titillation is up for debate.
Ar. Naveen Zaman, a cultural researcher, is excited about the renewed attention Heera Mandi is getting.
“People are once again talking about the tawaif culture,” he said. “So actually, they are starting researching about these topics which were considered taboo in the past years.”
For Zaman, it is a step towards reviving an uncomfortable history.
“Old connections are being built here,” he said.
The courtesans were at the height of their power in the Mughal era, which lasted from the 1500s to the mid-1800s.
During British rule, Victorian morality codes were threatened by the women’s influence over the adoring local aristocracy, and the “diamond bazaar” was relegated to a red-light zone.
Decades after Pakistan gained independence, the dictatorship of President Zia ul-Haq introduced hardline Islamic reforms which pushed sex work further into the shadows.
A police crackdown in 2009 finally shuttered Heera Mandi’s brothels and ended the music and dancing with which sex workers entertained their clients.
Painful realities
For 38-year-old Noor — also a pseudonym — the Netflix series does not wash away the stigma of being a sex worker from Heera Mandi.
Unlike in the series, where the term “tawaif” evokes ideas of art and etiquette, sex work in present-day Pakistan is a raw and dispiriting business.
Forced into sex work when she was a child to support her family, Noor is ostracised even by her relatives for the work she does.
“Women in this field are not considered honourable and are not treated with respect. It doesn’t matter how pious they become, they will never be respected. People will always call her a tawaif.”
“Even though in other areas of the city more sex work occurs — because of Heera Mandi’s reputation this place is still notorious,” she said.
Classical Indian dancer Manjari Chaturvedi has been working to reclaim the storied culture of courtesans for 15 years.
In her New Delhi studio, she called the Netflix series a “missed opportunity” which “could have created a different narrative for women, who were stigmatised for many centuries for the work they did”.
“The saddest thing that a cinema like this does is it again brings sexuality into the foreground rather than the art, and again it brings the same stigma,” Chaturvedi said.
Young star Hamza Sohail has recently revealed his favorite female actor in Pakistan.
In a recent interview with ‘Fuschia’, Hamza revealed that Sajal Aly is his favorite female actor, not just in Pakistan but in the whole region.
“I’m a huge fan of Sajal Aly. I’m not just saying this; I’ve been a fan for a long time. She is one of the finest artists in this entire region,” he said. “When she came on set, I stood up out of respect, but she was so warm and kind.”
Continuing in the same vein, he stated, “She khows how an artist should be when they become successful. Her behavior on set, her movements, and her work ethic are amazing. I was blown away and thought this is what everyone should aim for,” he added
On the work front, Hamza Sohail is currently starring in the popular drama series ‘Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet’ alongside Iqra Aziz.
Actor and model Affan Waheed was invited as a guest on Showtime with Ramiz Raja. A video clip of him is going viral on Instagram. He declared Sajal Ali the best actress in the Pakistani industry
The host of the program asked Affan Waheed to choose the best actress among five different actresses, and he chose Sajal Ali. When asked to choose between Sajal Ali and Saba Qamar, Affan Waheed was hesitant and said, “This is a very difficult question. Can I take both names?” However, when the host refused, he said “I chose Sajal Ali as the best actress.”
Actress Zara Noor Abbas recently gave an interview to Political Insight YouTube channel, where she discussed how accepting parenthood has changed her.
Zara Noor said, “Becoming a mother has completely eliminated my anger. Now, I value time and get my things done before time. Motherhood has also made me more empathetic towards others, especially fellow mothers, and I’ve become more loving and compassionate.”
Talking about parenting she said, “Parenting is a learning process, and my goal is to raise my daughter to be a good person and a responsible citizen. Instead of pressuring her to excel academically, I’ll focus on nurturing her kindness and empathy, helping her grow into a caring and understanding individual.”
