Asian actor Michelle Yeoh is currently basking in the spotlight after being nominated for Best Actress in the 95th Academy Awards for her outstanding performance as Evelyn Quan Wang in Everything Everywhere All at Once. After her Oscar nomination, netizens stumbled upon an old interview wherein she spoke about Jakie Chan.
Chinese superstar Jackie Chan is one of the popular international stars well known for his slapstick acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts. His fans love to be around him because of his outgoing and warm attitude. However, Michelle Yeoh had a different opinion about him.
In the old interview, Michelle Yeoh straight up began dissing Jackie Chan. She referred to Chan as a “male chauvinistic pig” and was angry over Jackie Chan’s controversial claims and statements. She even spoke some blunt truths for the Rush Hour actor.
When the Malaysian actress appeared on David Letterman’s show, the host-comedian asked her whether it was Jackie that brought her into the world of cinema. She laughed it off and said, “Actually he’s a male chauvinistic pig. Jackie and I are very good friends. I say this to him you know? to his face. He always believes that women should stay at home and cook and don’t do anything and be the victim except for Michelle!”
Michelle Yeoh did not stop there and further stated that Jackie Chan knows that she can kick his butt if he interfered with her too much. “Except for Michelle, now he said because I would kick his butt,” she said.
Yeoh is best known for performing her own stunts in the Hong Kong action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s. She has appeared in films like Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Reign of Assassins (2010), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016), and romantic comedies like Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Last Christmas (2019).
The Chinese-Malaysian actress was also seen in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021).
Athlete Gerard Piqué has been making the headlines ever since he allegedly cheated on his long-time girlfriend and singer Shakira. The ex-couple shares two kids together and their separation has come as a shock to all the fans.
While the Colombian singer released a diss track recently taking digs at their ex-boyfriend, Gerard has now made his relationship with girlfriend Clara Chia Marti Instagram official and the singer’s fans are now going berserk on social media.
The 45-year-old singer happens to be really popular worldwide and especially on social media with over 81 million followers on Instagram. Her latest track titled ‘Out Of Your League’ has already shattered some major records on YouTube and marks her first collaboration with Argentinean producer and DJ Bizarrap.
Piqué took to his Instagram account and shared a picture with his girlfriend Clara Chia Marti where the two can be twinning in black. They’re seen sitting close to each other on a patio restaurant and smiling for the picture.
According to Page Six, a user on Instagram commented below his picture that read, “I would have been ashamed”. Another user commented, “She doesn’t compare to the mother of your children.” A third user commented, “Clearly, it’s official and the jam-eating position is free.”
Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has denied that there is any plan to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, rejecting allegations that the government wants to arrest him.
Speaking on the Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Wednesday, Asif said that Imran Khan is attempting to exert pressure on the judiciary and other institutions.
فواد چوہدری کی گرفتاری اوربغاوت کا مقدمہ۔۔۔ ملک ایسے چلے گا تو کیسے چلے گا؟ کیا عمران خان کا الزام درست ہے کہ آئندہ اُنکی گرفتاری کا پلان ہے؟ دیکھیے
He also said that PTI uses abusive language towards the country’s institutions.
Talking about PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry’s arrest, Asif said that if the judiciary grants bail to Chaudhry, the government would have no problem with that.
The defence minister also stressed that the government will not abuse the law as Khan did during his time in power.
On Thursday, President Dr Arif Alvi said that if Imran Khan will be arrested, it would lead to a severe public reaction.
It is reported on Thursday that PTI workers and supporters spent the second consecutive night outside Khan’s Zaman Park residence to stop the police from arresting the PTI chief.
Journalist Javed Chaudhry has published another column containing sensational claims about Imran Khan. In the article published on Thursday, Chaudhry gave details of a discussion he had with Khan’s former close aide, Awn Chaudhry. Over breakfast, the two discussed a host of issues including how the former Prime Minister came to marry his third wife, Bushra Bibi.
The journalist wrote that Khan met Bushra Bibi after his divorce from Reham Khan in November 2015 at Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Farid Maneka’s residence. Later, she rented a three-kanal house in Bani Gala, Islamabad. After that, Khan started to meet Bushra daily.
Awn Chaudhry told the journalist that Bibi first offered her daughter’s hand in marriage to Imran Khan. However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman turned down the proposal as she was quite young.
Javed wrote that Awn was told by Khan in December 2016 that they would be going to Lahore for his and Bushra Bibi’s nikkah.
Awn revealed that Bibi asked for Imran Khan’s Bani Gala house in her Haq Meher. Javed claimed that Awn said that he didn’t agree to this demand, however, Khan immediately agreed. Later, Imran Khan’s primary residence in Zaman Park Lahore house and a seven-kanal plot in Bani Gala were written in Haq Meher for Bibi.
About Reham and Khan’s marriage, Awn said that Khan gave Reham a divorce the moment she landed in London in 2015, Javed claimed. He went on to say that Awn recalled that Imran Khan was depressed about the divorce and he had never seen him as worried as he was.
Javed wrote that Awn told him that the divorce took place after Khan consulted Bushra Bibi on the matter.
The Sindh government has launched a bus service solely for women in Karachi. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Inam Memon took to Twitter on Thursday to announce that the Sindh Transport Department has launched the bus service in the metropolis.
He also shared pictures of the buses, which are painted in a distinct shade of pink.
“Transport department government of Sindh is going to start Pakistan’s First bus service only for the women and girls exclusively. Inshallah Pink buses will start their operation from 1st February in #Karachi. Peoples Bus Service, At Your Service.”
Transport department government of Sindh is going to start Pakistan’s First bus service only for the women and girls exclusively. Inshallah Pink buses will start their operation from 1st February in #Karachi. Peoples Bus Service, At Your Service. pic.twitter.com/6T1rQUK3qm
Twitter users lauded the launch of the bus service as a step towards improving access to public transport for women in Sindh.
“Another good initiative of the transport department, the women-only bus service will be launched very soon on the roads of Karachi from February 1 Thanks to Chairman @BBhuttoZardari, Transport Minister @sharjeelinam is changing Karachi for all of us in the journey of development.”
It seems like hell hath no fury like an incel scorned. What scares an alpha male is not soaring prices or climate change or even dictatorships, but a woman asserting her independence and saying she’s a feminist. This was demonstrated today when a man on Twitter openly claimed that men should not marry women who are feminists. Because obviously, a woman who refuses to recognize her humanity and independence is what a man-child like Abu Hafsa needs to clean up after him.
May Allah protect our sons from marrying feminist bints. Especially the undercover ones.
But Muslim women were quick to roast the man in the comments, and remind him that no woman needs to give up herself to cater to the men around her. And definitely women can survive perfectly well without man childs like him.
May Allah protect our daughters from marrying male chauvinists. Especially the "I'm a good guy" types ameen https://t.co/CzI0bZrNKh
Any man threatened by your ambition or independence is not worth thinking twice about. Never worry about catering to a man’s needs when it involves dimming your own light or self worth.
Kim Kardashian has received a temporary restraining order against a stalker who has come by her house multiple times and claimed that she was his wife. The man had even sent her a diamond ring. According to TMZ, Jomonie Victor Zigler first began contacting the Skims CEO back in December by making multiple visits to her home, and posting explicit messages about her online where he also referred to her as his wife. According to documents filed by Kardashian’s attorney Shawn Holley, Zigler also sent multiple items to Kardashian which included keys to a hotel room and a diamond ring. The reality TV star has also claimed in the filing that Zigler has a criminal history including firearms and threats. Kardashian, who lives in the affluent Calabasas suburb of Los Angeles, has said in the filing that her personal security had to intercept the stalker when he showed up at her gate.
Actor Amar Khan took to her Twitter handle to share her excitement about Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback film Pathaan‘s release.
Amar tweeted, “Reviving back so many Single screens . Now that’s the hysteria of a King! Ufff last saw his zero in Pakistan, then films got banned on both sides. Watching Shahrukh khan on screen is not viewing a film it’s witnessing an event. This man withstood all TVs, VCRs, digital & and whatnot.”
Earlier this month, Khan appreciated Bhansali’s work and expressed her desire for a filmmaker like him to be born “on this side of the border.” She further stated that there is a dearth of women-centric storylines in Pakistani cinema.
“The success of Gangubai Kathiawari dispelled two myths: that heroines cannot be box office heroes. And that good old-fashioned dialogues are not appreciated by everyone. Sanjay Leela Bhansali made his simplest film infusing it with deep emotion and complete drama,” a fan wrote on Twitter.
Following suit, Khan shared the fan’s post by reflecting on the lack of similar projects in Pakistan. “Hopefully in 2023 someone like Bhansali is born on this side of the border too, or we will be doomed to watch only male-centric films! We have never made female-oriented films that are commercially successful, it’s just the same old repetitive storyline circling a man,” lamented the Daraar star.
Rab kare 2023 mein koi aik adh bhansali border k is paar bhi janam le.Warna we have never made a female oriented commercially succesful film.They continue to be male centric!! :/ https://t.co/92XXs2hUBI
Cricketer Naseem Shah, who became an overnight sensation last year with his two massive sixes against Afghanistan in Asia Cup, opened up about his English-speaking skills in a recent interview.
Naseem shared that he has passed his matriculation and didn’t continue his studies after that as he was more focused on cricket.
Shah also gave an opinion about the importance of English for a cricketer. The talented athlete said that knowing English is an advantage for cricketers as it makes communication easier internationally, but it is his not first language so he does not bother much about it. However, he added that his English skills have improved now and have increased from 30% to 60%.
Naseem concluded by saying that he has learned some by speaking to others whenever he is traveling.
Earlier last year, he candidly told a foreign journalist that his English-speaking skills are limited on being asked questions in the same language.
Actor Sarwat Gillani, in an interview with JORE, expressed her drive to flip the script on female representation in Pakistani TV and cinema. And with that, she also reflected on her earlier roles, and what all she took away from them.
“I feel as entertainers, we have a responsibility towards the kind of behaviours we encourage. Even when I was doing the satisavitri, girl-next-door, damsel in distress kind of roles, I would think to myself that there are unbelievable women doing unbelievable things, why aren’t we talking about them? My struggle even then was, how much of these sob stories are we going to do?” Sarwat shared.
When Churails came to her, Sarwat felt things shifting. “In fact, even before Churails, I was always advocating for women’s rights on various platforms. I felt like, I would not be able to justify a character this weak and meek anymore because I’m encouraging women to raise their voice on one end, how can I be acting like a woman who cannot do anything for herself on the other. There is a huge contradiction there.”
When asked about the type of narratives women and girls need to be seeing on TV, Sarwat said, “I think our girls should be watching 26 episodes of how not to get married – because the whole premise of dramas today is whether a girl is good enough to be married or whether she will be accepted by her in-laws.”
Sarwat, unabashedly continued, “Girls have improved their standards in Pakistan, they are more career-oriented, they are multi-taskers, they are wise, even if they are housewives, they take care of so many things alone, there are so many successful women who have struggled so much. Not just professionally but privately. And we aren’t allowed to talk about that. Art is a beautiful medium where you can talk about the nastiest of things in the purest of ways. Like Hania in Mataye Jaan. Why aren’t we talking about more realistic, more practical, more elevating content for Pakistani women?”
The actor insisted, “Why are we talking about putting down women all the time? That content won’t help women. It’ll only encourage [problematic] behaviour in men!”
Going on to talk about how women are shown falling in love with harassers and stalkers, Sarwat urged drama makers and filmmakers to use art to instill basic values in society. “We need to talk about values and self-respect. We need to teach. I mean, media can’t just be about entertainment. It’s a huge responsibility. You need to teach younger people, men, how to behave around women. A man is not someone who beats his wife or stalks girls. Until we don’t show what a man is supposed to be, men will continue to be how they are.”
Addressing how deep-rooted misogyny is in Pakistani society, Sarwat asserted, “I think we’re just social animals. We want to be in a society that is living a lie. All these women who are cheated, beaten, and harassed by men, actually support that narrative, they want to cover up the truth. So a wife is not supposed to talk about her husband’s extramarital affairs in public because ‘izzat ki baat hai’. So, it is completely okay for a man to cheat but it’s disrespectful if a woman talks about it? I mean, all the lives you teach us that cheating is bad, lying is bad and now, you’re telling us that beta it’s okay, let it go… No! You’re so confused.”
When asked about what she thinks artists and filmmakers should do if one of them is accused of harassment, Sarwat stated, “I feel until and unless somebody is proven guilty and there’s enough evidence, our court system is really messed up. But one can really tell right from wrong. And if you feel somebody has done something wrong, to anyone, I think it’s your responsibility to take a stand. To not associate with such a person.”
She went on to remind everyone that saying, “Hey, he’s a great artist but he’s a child molester,’ or ‘He’s beaten up his wife but he’s a great actor,’” is messed up. “You should not work with such people by the principal. Even in Hollywood, when the #MeToo movement started, so many female artists, A-listers, had not spoken up about these filmmakers who had harassed them. But they spoke their truth when they could and this whole movement followed.”
To make it easier for those who feel one should separate the art from the artist, she added, “Art is not about hushing people, it is about expression. So, if someone is a great artist but a bad human being, it should be clear what one needs to do.”
Circling back to her film, Joyland, an edited version of which was allowed to screen in parts of Pakistan, and the critical reception it received based on the edit available, Sarwat shared, “People fell in love with Joyland abroad because they saw it in its entire spectrum. Even if people didn’t understand the language, the subtitles did it for them. They felt the human emotions.”
Last year while promoting her Zee5 series Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam the Ahista Ahista diva opened up about problematic content on Pakistani television.
Sarwat agreed to do QHKN because of its ‘powerful scheme of narrative’. “I did QHKN after Churails because both shows are completely different.”
She added, “Noir was essential. The idea of playing femme fatale seemed promising, so all of this just came together for me. And then Mehek is very different from Sara in Churails. The latter was very contained, very put together. Mehek, on the contrary, is a hopeless romantic. There’s a lot of ambiguity in this character. She’s stuck in a scenario that doesn’t let her become the person she really wished to be.”
Sarwat shared how she doesn’t have any reasoning as to why the producers are unable to provide good content. “TRPs are a major problem,” the actor asserted.
“Media heads need to be more vigilant of current issues. Safe storytelling is a no. There has to be progression. We have the talent; we have the actors – we have the potential to make something brilliant. Thanks to OTT, we have done it. You can’t just cast the biggest star and call her ‘2 takkay ki aurat’,”
“I did Mata-e-Jaan a decade ago. I changed some scenes from it because I didn’t agree with them but I cannot change the script. I don’t conform to half of the content that is airing now. It’s irresponsible.”
Adding to the same argument her costar Meherbano thinks that the channel owners are to be blamed. “We need people who are willing to take chances. Yes, it will be an experiment and the profits will be lesser than usual but it will be quality content,” she shared
“Showbiz is a money-making business, therefore stakeholders are less inclined to take risks. We, as actors, do not have the ultimate call to change the script. If we do express some reservations, there are people who will not agree to it. The onus doesn’t fall on us.”
