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Tag: India

  • Pakistani celebs rally against rising power bills

    Pakistani celebs rally against rising power bills

    Rising inflation across society has hit all sectors, leaving now one immune from its effects, not even celebrities. A few days ago, senior Pakistani actor Rashid Mehmood made headlines after sharing his hefty electricity bill for June 2024. His story resonated with millions on social media, who expressed their support and shared their own struggles with rising costs and inflation. Many reported finding it increasingly difficult to manage household expenses.


    Recently, more actors have found the courage to speak out againsy high electricity costs and the burdensome bills they are receiving.


    Humaira Channa Speaks Out


    Famous singer Humaira Channa, known for hit Lollywood songs, said, “You all know about the current situation in Pakistan. We are suffering from heavy bills. I urge government officials to give us relief. I got a bill worth 60,000 PKR, and we only use one AC at night. We are barely managing because we have kids studying in university, and we have to handle everything on our own.”


    Watch the video:


    Nooran Lal’s Struggle


    Another renowned singer, Nooran Lal, also opened up about her difficulties. She said, “I got two meters at home to keep our units controlled, yet we received heavy bills on both meters—40,000 and 33,000 PKR, along with taxes. We are artists with no other businesses and are barely managing. As a single woman running a household, it is really tough to deal with these finances. Is this what we deserve?”

    Maria Mir’s Concerns


    Singer Maria Mir also talked about receiving heavy electricity bills, stating that it has become extremely challenging for her to pay them.


    Watch the video here:


    Zahid Sharif’s Desperate Measures


    A former Pakistani Olympic player, Zahid Sharif, was reported to have considered selling his kidney to pay his electricity bill.


    Read the post here:


    Shugufta Ejaz’s Experience


    Even seasoned actor Shugufta Ejaz, who is relatively well-off, has expressed her distress over receiving hefty electricity bills.


    Read her posts here :

  • Kardashians in India for billionaire wedding gala

    Kardashians in India for billionaire wedding gala

    Socialite sisters Kim and Khloe Kardashian were among the global celebrities spotted in India on Friday to attend a lavish three-day wedding ceremony staged by Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani.

    Ambani’s youngest son Anant and fiancee Radhika Merchant, both 29, will tie the knot over the weekend in the financial capital Mumbai following months of pre-marriage parties that have set a new benchmark in matrimonial extravagance.

    Earlier celebrations included a European cruise for 1,200 guests, a purpose-built Hindu temple at the Ambani family’s ancestral home and private performances by R&B star Rihanna and Canada’s Justin Bieber.

    The Kardashians are the latest in a long line of famous foreign VIPs to make an appearance.

    Elder sister Kim shared an Instagram story showing her car mobbed by Indian photographers shortly after her arrival and both siblings receiving flower garlands from staff at their luxury hotel.

    Fellow celebrity guests including actor John Cena posed for cameras on the red carpet upon their arrival at the venue, a huge convention centre owned by the Ambani family’s conglomerate.

    Former British prime ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair were also spotted by reporters arriving at Mumbai airport ahead of the party beginning later on Friday.

    In June, the couple embarked on a four-day Mediterranean cruise, where singer Katy Perry performed at a masquerade ball at a French chateau in Cannes.

    The Backstreet Boys, US rapper Pitbull and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also provided entertainment.

    Guests at earlier galas have included Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and former US president Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, along with a who’s who of India’s sporting and entertainment worlds.

    This week’s opulent celebrations are set to raise the bar further, with even more celebrities, politicians and global business elites jetting into monsoon-hit Mumbai.

    Several major roads around the venue have been closed off to the public by authorities for most of the weekend.

    Friday will see the main formal ceremony at the 16,000-person capacity venue, with a separate “blessing ceremony” on Saturday and a grand reception on Sunday.

    – $123 billion fortune –

    Anant’s father Mukesh is chairman of Reliance Industries, a family-founded conglomerate that has grown into India’s biggest company by market cap.

    The patriarch is the world’s 11th richest person with a fortune of more than $123 billion, according to Forbes, and is no stranger to making a statement when it comes to family marriages.

    He held the most expensive wedding in India to date for his daughter in 2018, which reportedly cost $100 million and saw US singer Beyonce perform.

    Ambani is also a key ally of India’s right-wing Hindu nationalist leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    He inherited a thriving industrial enterprise spanning oil, gas and petrochemicals and grew it into a commercial behemoth.

    Its lucrative interests include retail partnerships with Armani and other luxury brands, more than 40 percent of India’s mobile phone market and an Indian Premier League cricket team.

    His 27-floor family home Antilia is one of Mumbai’s most prominent landmarks, reportedly costing more than $1 billion to build and with a permanent staff of 600 servants.

    Merchant is the daughter of well-known pharmaceutical moguls.

  • From thrills to romance: Ten dramas that defined the year

    From thrills to romance: Ten dramas that defined the year

    Looking for something different from the usual love triangles, family feuds, and predictable comedies? Enter Green Entertainment! This channel has freshen up the Pakistani drama scene with new, exciting content. With its captivating teasers, Green Entertainment made us ask, ‘Is this what we were waiting for?’ And the answer was a resounding ‘Yes!’

    Green Entertainment stands out for its diverse array of shows, including family dramas, crime thrillers, horror series, love stories, and unique scripts that challenge the industry norms. Competing with seasoned players in the field was no small feat, but Green Entertainment’s bravery paid off.

    Let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore 10 standout dramas from Green Entertainment – from love stories to thrillers and more!

    Tumhare Husn Ke Naam: This drama brought a touch of vintage romance, captivating fans of classic Pakistani dramas. Starring Saba Qamar and Imran Abbas as Salma and Sikandar, it tells the story of enduring love and following one’s passion. Set against the charming architecture of Lahore’s National College of Arts, this drama highlights societal norms about remarriage and the power of true love.

    22 Qadam: This drama focuses on Fari, a college student passionate about cricket, played by Hareem Farooq. It highlights female empowerment and the pursuit of dreams. With a cast including Wahaj Ali and dynamic characters, “22 Qadam” challenges gender stereotypes and celebrates women’s aspirations.

    Serial Killer: Starring Saba Qamar as SP Sarah, this drama introduces viewers to a murder mystery filled with forensic investigations and intricate plots. Written by Umera Ahmed, it keeps audiences on the edge of their seats with its meticulous attention to detail.

    Breaking News: This drama delves into the manipulation of media and politics, exposing the dark side of the industry. It raises important questions about media responsibility and political influence, offering a gripping and thought-provoking narrative.

    Kabli Pulao: ‘Kabli Pulao’ tells the story of Haji Mushtaq and Barbeena, highlighting cultural expectations and personal sacrifices. Their journey, symbolised by the popularity of Kabli Pulao, reflects resilience and the power of human connection.

    Standup Girl: Zara Noor Abbas stars as Zara, a stand-up comedian navigating life’s challenges. This romantic comedy, set in Lahore, explores themes of identity, humour, and the pursuit of artistic fulfilment, making it a refreshing tale of love and laughter.

    Gentleman: Influenced by Pakistan’s socio-political landscape, this drama blends love stories with deep-seated issues. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s portrayal highlights the complexities of governance, justice, and the morality of love, offering a cinematic experience on TV screens.

    Pas-e-Deewar: Set in rural Pakistan, this drama follows Ujala and Iftikhar as they navigate financial hardships and societal pressures. With themes of resilience, integrity, and love, it explores the clash between tradition and modernity.

  • Same same but different: Hania Aamir’s Indian look-alike takes the internet by storm

    Same same but different: Hania Aamir’s Indian look-alike takes the internet by storm

    Social media is buzzing with another doppelganger drama and this time, it’s creating quite a stir.

    Get ready for the story of Hania Aamir’s Indian lookalike.

    Yes, you read that right – the dazzling dimple queen of Pakistani showbiz has a doppelganger, and he’s gaining attention from across the border!

    A viral video on social media shows a young man from India lip-syncing to a Punjabi track, bearing a striking resemblance to Hania. The internet reacted swiftly, with comments pouring in faster than you can say “twinning.”

    “Is this Hania Aamir’s twin brother?” joked one user.

    Another added, “He looks more like Hania than Hania herself!”

    The resemblance is uncanny, sparking both funny and heartfelt reactions. Some sharp-eyed fans even noted a resemblance to Imran Ashraf’s character Bhola, saying, “He looks like Imran Ashraf with bangs and dimples.”

    Many agreed that the Indian guy is “a mix of Imran Ashraf and Hania Aamir.”

    Both Indians and Pakistanis have united in their fascination, agreeing that this viral sensation could easily be Hania’s double. The photos showing their striking similarities make it hard to tell them apart.

  • Billionaire bash: India’s lavish Ambani nuptials

    Billionaire bash: India’s lavish Ambani nuptials

    Billionaire Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani celebrates the lavish finale of his son’s wedding this week, highlighting his staggering wealth, as well as India’s rapid economic growth and stark financial inequalities.

    Ambani’s younger son Anant and fiancee Radhika Merchant, both 29, are set to marry in a three-day Hindu ceremony in India’s financial capital Mumbai starting Friday.

    Asia’s richest man is no stranger to throwing a costly wedding.

    He held the most expensive wedding in India to date for his daughter in 2018, which reportedly cost up to $100 million and saw US singer Beyonce perform.

    This week’s opulent celebrations are set to raise the bar, with celebrities, politicians and business elite jetting into the monsoon-hit megacity of Mumbai.

    Pre-wedding parties for his son included multi-day galas, a European cruise for 1,200 guests, a specially built Hindu temple and entertainment provided by pop stars ranging from Rihanna to Justin Bieber.

    – Power –

    Ambani, 67, the chairman of Reliance Industries, has a fortune of more than $123 billion, and is the 11th wealthiest person in the world, according to the Forbes billionaires list.

    He is a key ally of India’s right-wing Hindu nationalist leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Ambani inherited a thriving industrial enterprise spanning oil, gas and petrochemicals.

    He grew it into a commercial behemoth with lucrative interests in retail, telecommunications and an Indian Premier League cricket team.

    Ambani’s family home Antilia is one of Mumbai’s most prominent landmarks. The 27-floor building reportedly cost more than $1 billion to erect and has a permanent staff of 600 servants.

    Merchant is the daughter of pharmaceutical moguls.

    – Cruise and zoo –

    Wedding celebrations began in March with a three-day gala for 1,500-plus guests in Gujarat state.

    Rihanna performed her first concert since last year’s Super Bowl for wedding guests including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and ex-US president Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka.

    David Blaine did magic tricks.

    Festivities also involved a trip to the Ambani’s “animal rescue centre” housing exotic animals, and a specially built Hindu temple complex.

    A second leg in June was a four-day Mediterranean cruise with 1,200 guests, Merchant told Vogue.

    Singer Katy Perry performed at a masquerade ball at a French chateau in Cannes, while the Backstreet Boys and US rapper Pitbull also provided entertainment.

    DJ David Guetta played at a toga party at sea.

    The cruise ended in Italy’s Portofino, where tenor Andrea Bocelli serenaded the party in the town square.

    – Gowns –

    The wedding invitation was an intricate chest incorporating a mini silver temple.

    Merchant’s multiple dresses have been as elaborate.

    They have included custom designs from Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, and a vintage Yves Saint Laurent for Dior, she told Vogue.

    Another was a sweeping chiffon dress printed with a love letter from her fiancee, the magazine reported.

    “I want to be able to show it to my kids and grandkids, and say that ‘this is what our love was’”, Merchant said.

    – Poverty –

    India is the fastest-growing major economy, and the world’s fifth largest.

    But despite massive advances, the world’s most populous country has a jobs crisis to match.

    National per capita income is just $1,174, according to government data.

    India was ranked 111 of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index report last year, a peer-reviewed measure calculated by European aid agencies.

    One percent of India’s 1.4 billion people earn more than a fifth of its wealth, according to the World Inequality Lab, an income share “among the very highest” in the world — greater than South Africa, Brazil or the United States.

    Perhaps to preempt criticism, Ambani provided a feast for 50,000 people in his hometown of Jamnagar in Gujarat during the first round of parties.

    Ambani also organised a mass wedding for 52 “underprivileged” couples near Mumbai, promising to support “hundreds more such weddings” across India.

  • ‘Crying to Allah is a billion times better’: Sania Mirza shares spiritual note after Hajj

    ‘Crying to Allah is a billion times better’: Sania Mirza shares spiritual note after Hajj


    Tennis star Sania Mirza has found a new source of strength in her faith after completing the sacred Hajj pilgrimage. She shared a heartfelt note on her Instagram story, revealing that praying to Allah brings her more comfort than confiding in people.
    She posted a story with the caption, “Crying on prayer mat in front of Allah is billion times better than crying in front of a human.”
    This post came after Mirza completed the Hajj pilgrimage with her family. She went on this significant journey with her father, Imran Mirza, sister Anam, and brother-in-law, cricketer Mohammed Asaduddin.
     
    Last month, Mirza announced on Instagram that she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to embark on the journey. “I have been blessed with the incredible opportunity to embark on the sacred journey of Hajj.”
    Sania is the former wife of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and the couple also have a son, Izhan Mirza Malik, who lives with his mother.


    Mirza’s father confirmed his daughter’s divorce from Shoaib Malik earlier this year and later, Shoaib Malik tied the knot with Pakistani actress Sana Javed.

  • Mawra Hocane says goodbye to ‘Let’s Try Mohabbat’ in emotional Instagram post

    Mawra Hocane says goodbye to ‘Let’s Try Mohabbat’ in emotional Instagram post

    Mawra Hocane recently took to Instagram to say goodbye to her popular rom-com sitcom, Let’s Try Mohabbat. She shared a delightful series of behind-the-scenes moments for her fans.


    “A little late but here’s the #LTM dump you’ve all been asking for… thank you for giving Fizza so much love!” Mawra wrote, filled with gratitude. She added, “I loved experimenting with this over-the-top character & your love has solidified my confidence to keep attempting different characters.”
    “She was crazy and I loved being a bit of crazy with her. Girls like Fizza who add light to everyone’s life deserve all the happiness in the world and the happy ending she got!” Mawra continued.


    Among the photos in her post, fans found candid snaps and on-set moments. One heartwarming black-and-white photo captured Mawra’s infectious smile, while another showed her gazing dreamily into the eyes of her co-star, Daniyal Zafar.


    A candid shot featuring Gohar Rasheed and other cast members added to the nostalgic vibes. To top it off, a brief clip showed Mawra in action, including a snapshot of the shooting equipment, giving fans a peek behind the scenes.

  • Hasan Raheem clarifies context behind viral shopkeeper assault video

    Hasan Raheem clarifies context behind viral shopkeeper assault video

    A video of a group of girls aggressively beating a shopkeeper has gone viral on social media, leading many celebrities and citizens to call for their arrest. Today, singer Hasan Raheem released a statement on Instagram, offering background information and clarifying that the women in the video were the victims, not the perpetrators.


    “Salam everyone. I would like to clarify a few things from the last video. Some facts have come up after we got accounts from the people who were present there,” Hasan began.


    He urged people to be cautious before reacting without context. “It’s very easy to blame someone without understanding the full context. These girls are getting death threats from random people and we need to make sure this situation doesn’t escalate from here,” he added.


    Hasan explained that the shopkeeper had been making lewd remarks towards the women, which led to the altercation. “These girls are not the daughters of a lawyer, and this has been confirmed by multiple sources. The shopkeeper referred to them as prostitutes on night duty. You can see him smirking in the video after remarking,” Hasan shared.


    He continued, “When the girls questioned him, he retaliated and abused them. The girls shouldn’t have raised their hands on him; they should have called the police. The person speaking in the video has also apologized for not telling the full truth.”


    In a second post, Hasan expressed concern about people quickly jumping to conclusions without understanding the full story. “It is so easy to jump on the bandwagon and begin slandering someone,” he said.


    “It was not right for them to get physical, but there is a limit to how long one can stay silent in such a situation,” Hasan added. “Women in this country are very aware of their security issues. Learn to take care of your mothers and sisters so they won’t have to take matters into their own hands next time.”

  • Vicky Kaushal shares photo from early audition days

    Vicky Kaushal shares photo from early audition days


    Vicky Kaushal, one of Bollywood’s most talented actors, has completed 12 amazing years in the film industry. He posted a photo from his early audition days with the caption, “This day, 12 years apart… nothing is overnight. Ever so grateful for all your love and blessings. ❤ ”


    From his early days in films like Masaan and Raman Raghav to his recent hits Sanju, Dunki, and Sardar Udham Singh, Vicky Kaushal has proven his acting chops many times over. His upcoming film Bad Newz stars Tripti Dimri and Ammy Virk. Vicky’s recent dance performance in the song ‘Tauba Tauba’ from the film created buzz on social media. The film will release on July 19, 2024.

  • Over 80,000 Bohras attend community leader’s sermons

    Over 80,000 Bohras attend community leader’s sermons

    Following an invitation extended by the government and the local Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual leader of the Bohra community, arrived in Karachi on July 4 to host ‘Ashara Mubaraka’ congregations this year.

    Over 80,000 Dawoodi Bohras from Pakistan and around the world are expected to attend the events. He delivered the first sermon of “Ashara Mubaraka” in Taheri Masjid, Saddar, on July 8.

    A Dawn report states that Syedna addressed a majlis of “over 80,000 attendees” with Bohra members from diverse areas and professions gathered in Karachi for a single purpose — the remembrance and commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husain.

    Syedna elaborated upon a number of hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which highlight the role of conviction and self-growth in the sermon.

    For instance, he quoted the Prophet’s statement regarding the honeybee which “consumes only that which is pure, and gives back only that which is pure”.

    Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, 77, is currently serving as the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and present leader of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community. He is currently as a Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.

    Bohra community trace themselves back to Fatimis who held the caliphate from 10th to 12th century.