Actor and model Adnan Shah Tipu appeared in ‘Zarbardast’ show on a recent episode with host Wasi Shah. The host asked, “Tipu, you’ve had a diverse range of experiences from working with BBC to National Geographic, and even delving into Hollywood before coming back to Bollywood. Where did you find the most rewarding payments during your journey?”
“You get paid really well in Hollywood. I got paid more for just two scenes in a Hollywood project than I did for an entire Bollywood film, plus a stay at a 7-star hotel for me and my wife,” Adnan replied.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the production of a Hollywood film on Pakistan’s culture will give people around the world an opportunity to know more about the country and highlight its soft and positive image. During a meeting with the members of the Hollywood production team visiting Pakistan to shoot an international film on Pakistani culture, the minister remarked that the film, produced by the Hollywood production team, would represent a significant milestone for the Pakistani film industry.
Discussions were held regarding the great cultural heritage and history of the country. The minister also apprised the production team about the progress in the film industry in the country. Attaullah Tarar thanked the Hollywood production team, stating, “It is a big honour for our culture and people.”
“Our history, literature, music, and art are unique and appreciated worldwide,” The minister said, “I believed that this film would give the world a new opportunity to see the beauty and diversity of Pakistan. He clarified the government’s efforts to revive the film industry while claiming that it was the only one in Pakistan to receive tax amnesty.
Attaullah Tarar also said, “The film policy was reinstated during the previous term of the government led by Shehbaz Sharif.”
. He said, “A film finance fund of rupees one billion was established in the 2022-23 budget, which has greatly benefited the film industry and its related sectors.”
Additionally, the govt introduced medical insurance for artists and tax incentives for filmmakers, which has further boosted the industry. In the 2022-23 budget, the govt also granted a five-year tax exemption to filmmakers and a five-year income tax exemption on the establishment of new film-related businesses.
As Taylor Swift’s UK tour approaches, fans are being warned about scams that have already cheated thousands of people out of more than £1 million or more than three billion rupees. Lloyds Bank says about 3,000 fans have been tricked since July, losing an average of £332 each, with some losing over £1,000. Most of the scams happen on Facebook, where more than 90 percent of cases come from fake ads or posts. It’s not just Swift fans getting targeted; scams for other artists like Beyonce, Coldplay, and Harry Styles have gone up too.
Unofficial Facebook groups are part of the problem. They’re popping up to buy and sell tickets, with many listings on Facebook Marketplace. Scammers promise cheap or sold-out tickets, then disappear once they get the money through bank transfers.
To stay safe, Lloyds Bank says only buy from trusted places. If possible, use debit or credit cards for more protection. As Swift’s tour gets closer, fans need to be careful and listen to warnings to avoiding getting scammed out of their concert experience.
In a recent interview with Independent Urdu, Pakistani actor Ali Rehman Khan expressed his surprise and admiration after being compared to a Hollywood heartthrob for the first time.
Ali Rehman, known for his role in ‘Bebasi,’ was pleasantly surprised and flattered when he was compared to Ryan Gosling. He praised Gosling’s ability to handle serious roles and excel in comedy. “It’s a big compliment to be compared to him. He’s a very big actor,” Ali said. “Personally, I have never felt a resemblance… He is one of my favorite actors because I think that Ryan Gosling does serious roles with finesse but his comedic timing, too, is extraordinary. His film ‘Bad Guys’ is one of my favorites. His performance in it is just amazing,” he added.
Talking about his life, Ali, originally from Islamabad but now living in Karachi since six years, described Karachi as a busy metropolitan city compared to the more laid-back Islamabad. “Karachi is a bustling metropolitan city where day and night merge into one. In Islamabad, you feel the difference between day and night very strongly,” he explained.
Ali loves Karachi, highlighting its dynamic atmosphere and delicious food, especially the famous dishes of Burns Road. “I love the food on Burns Road. As actors, we can’t eat a lot because we have to watch our diets, but you can find great food anywhere in Karachi,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ali said he wants to work with leading actresses of Pakistani cinema like Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Sajal Ali, praising their talent and the potential for diverse opportunities such collaborations could bring.
Renowned Bollywood filmmaker Aditya Chopra wanted to cast Hollywood star Tom Cruise for the main role of Raj Malhotra in his debut movie ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.’ Indian media reports revealed that Chopra had planned to on casting the Hollywood superstar for the role eventually immortalised by Shah Rukh Khan.
The project aimed to be unique, with the heroine portrayed in a traditional Indian style and the hero in a Western style, which is why Aditya considered Tom Cruise for the part.
However, according to Indian media, Cruise demanded a large sum of money, which the production house couldn’t afford at that time. As a result, Chopra’s father, renowned filmmaker Yash Chopra, suggested a change in the story to focus on a Hindu family settling abroad. Following this advice, the blockbuster movie ended up starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. Released in 1995, “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” became one of the most successful films of Yash Raj Films and Bollywood, featuring Shah Rukh Khan alongside Kajol.
Hollywood superstar and Oscar winner has talked about finding comfort in spirituality and reading the Quran during tough times in the last two years. In a recent interview, the 55-year-old A-lidter shared that he’s fond of spiritual practices and faced challenges that made him reflect on his inner self.
During this tough period, Smith explored various holy books, including the Quran. He said, “I read the Quran from cover to cover during the month of Ramazan this year.” Smith expressed admiration for the Quran’s simplicity and clarity, finding it easy to understand without confusion. He was particularly moved by the stories of Prophet Musa mentioned in the Quran. Smith highlighted the common thread running through different holy books, from the Torah to the Bible to the Quran, emphasizing their connection. Asked about how he raises his children, the American actor said, “My youngest son is now 23-years-old, and yet I am still working on raising them.
“I thought that raising children would end at the age of 21, but it has just begun. All of my children are in their twenties, except for the eldest, who is 31. Their relationships have become more serious, and therefore they always need advice and help more than ever before.” Smith emphasized the importance of the concept that “every soul is responsible for itself” in the Quran, which he believes helps in raising his children and understanding them, as they will ultimately be responsible for themselves. Furthermore, Smith added that reading the Holy Book relieved him of his worries.
Smith also expressed his love for Saudi Arabia. “I went on a tour of the NEOM project, saw the city of Jeddah, and made two trips to Riyadh and this was my third visit to Saudi Arabia. I enjoy my life here and feel like I belong here.”
Celebrities at the 96th Academy Awards were seen wearing red pins symbolising the call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
These pins represent the stars’ support to Artists4Ceasefire — an open letter signed by celebrities and people from the entertainment industry, urging US President Biden to call for a ceasefire.
The signatories near 400 which include Bradley Cooper and America Ferrera, who are both Oscar nominees this year, as well as Cate Blanchett, Drake, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.
“We’re all calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We’re calling for the safety of everyone involved. We really want lasting justice and peace for the Palestinian people,” Guardian quotes Ramy Youssef from an interview at the red carpet. “We really just want to say, ‘let’s just stop killing children.’ There’s so much there to process and it feels like the easiest way to have the conversations that people want to have is when they’re isn’t an active bombing campaign happening.”
Hollywood stars Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s daughter, Violet, subtly demonstrated her support for Palestine while she was out shopping with her mother.
The two were captured at the Chanel Store in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, on Tuesday where Violet wore a black “freedom melon crewneck” from Wear The Peace ($38) with an image of a watermelon.
Watermelons usually symbolise solidarity with Palestine, especially as Israel has launched operations against Gaza.
According to Page Six, the clothing company’s website claims that 100 percent of the profits from the sweater purchase goes to aid for Gaza.
After the picture went viral on the internet, people have been commending the mother-daughter duo under Jennifer Garner’s post.
Hollywood A-lister and human rights activist Angelina Jolie, has talked about the hypocrisy in the world when it comes to human rights application.
“The world is suffering from ambivalence on the issue of human rights,” she remarked in a recent interview.
Jolie lamented the duplicity and discrimination of the world regarding human rights, saying that the scale of human rights is different for everyone, the fact is that the world works on business interests. Her comments come on the heels of her unequivocal demand for a ceasefire of Israeli attacks on Gaza.
“Human rights can be for some people and some people can never be. Accountability for some people’s crime and not at all for some people, this is the ugly face of the world.” The actress said that she does not know of any country in the world which is free from these things.
“Some people think that the colonial system has ended but the fact is that the control and exploitation of developing countries is still going on,” the actress observed.
In her statement about Gaza, the Hollywood actress said that what happened in Israel cannot be a justification for bombing the civilian population of Gaza, pointing out that a few trucks cannot meet the aid needs of the besieged population, more than 20,000 of whom have been killed by Israel while the rest are at risk of starvation and disease.
Angelina Jolie added that Gaza has a total population of two million, half of whom are children, who have been living under siege for two decades.
In a recent Instagram post, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, 43, ignited a controversy surrounding her Christmas gift-wrapping choices.
Kardashian showcased her gifts wrapped in cotton jersey fabric T-shirts from her brand SKIMS, highlighting their potential for reuse.
Kim Kardashian posted, “Wrapping gifts in our family is always such a fun family tradition to see what each family member did and their vibe for the year. Each represents us so well! I did all-white SKIMS cotton jersey t-shirt fabric. I’m excited to reuse it and make other things.”
However, social media users were quick to point out the striking similarity between the packaging style and Muslim funeral shrouds.
The controversy gained momentum when users pointed out the striking resemblance between Kardashian’s wrapped gifts and the traditional Muslim practice of wrapping dead bodies in white cloth.
This practice is a significant aspect of Muslim burial rites, and users were quick to express their disapproval of Kardashian seemingly mimicking this solemn tradition for festive gift wrapping in light of the aggression Palestinians are undergoing.
Palestinians mourn relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza in front of the morgue in Deir al Balah on October 31. Fatima Shbair/AP
A social media user said on X (former Twitter) “first the zombie football jerseys to mock little palestinian injured kids and now wrapping her christmas gifts in a a white cloth to mock dead palestinians. @KimKardashian has constantly proven that she’s inhumane. this is not a mere coincidence. Cancel her.”
Another user said, “Kim Kardashian hosting a Coke sponsored Christmas party. You can’t convince me this sh*t isn’t deliberate. You’re a billionaire, maybe pay for your own parties. Ones that aren’t funding a ge-no-cide.”
This is not the first time Kardashian has faced criticism for her choices related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Previously, she had attracted negative attention for her children’s Halloween costumes resembling injured Gaza children.
kim kardashian has based her empire on being on the wrong side, mocking oppressed people and then monetizing that rage. She’s intentionally mocking victims of the genocide & going against BDS publicly to profit from that outrage. The gift wrapping is so tone deaf. pic.twitter.com/gxIetbXoi0
In addition to cultural insensitivity, critics also highlighted the perceived incongruity of Kardashian’s sustainability efforts, contrasting her eco-friendly gift wrapping with her frequent use of private jets and the resulting environmental impact.
It’s worth noting that Kardashian publicly expressed her support for Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 attack, issuing a statement that has not been revisited since.
This controversy echoes recent incidents involving fashion brands such as Zara and Marks and Spencer, where insensitivity to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict sparked public outrage.
Zara faced backlash for a campaign featuring a model draped in fabric resembling shrouded bodies, while Marks and Spencer drew criticism for an advertisement depicting the burning of Palestinian flag-colored papers.
