The Pakistani film industry is basking in the glory of international recognition as two standout movies, Sarmad Khoosat’s Kamli and Zarrar Kahn’s In Flames have garnered praise and prestigious awards.
Sarmad Khoosat’s Kamli, starring Saba Qamar, Sania Saeed, Nimra Bucha and Hamza Khawaja achieved three prestigious awards at the Minsk International Film Festival.
The Cheekh actress won the Best Actor Award, Sarmad Khoosat earned the Best Director Award, and the film received the Viewers’ Choice accolade at the renowned Listapad festival, the largest film festival in Belarus.
Khoosat, no stranger to international recognition, previously faced challenges with his 2019 film Zindagi Tamasha, Pakistan’s official submission to the 93rd Oscars in the Best International Film category. Despite global acclaim, the film encountered local controversies, leading Khoosat to release it on online platforms like YouTube and Vimeo on August 4, 2023.
Another celebration across the border is for In Flames bagging the International Newcomer Award at the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg (IFFMH). The Jury, including Elisa Schlott, Denis Dercourt, and Goran Stolevski, praised the film, stating, “Our award goes to a filmmaker who manages to shift and play with genre while maintaining a connection both to his audience as well as his protagonist throughout the film. The main character is a young woman who is allowed to be both brave and fragile, and she is brought to life through a wonderful debut performance that complements the mise-en-scene. The winner is In Flames.”
Kahn expressed his gratitude on his Instagram post, saying, “I still can’t believe we won. Thank you to all the incredible ppl who believed in our film.”
Notably, In Flames — featuring Bakhtawar Mazhar, Ramesha Nawal, Adnan Shah Tipu and Omar Javaid among others — marks Pakistan’s triumphant return to the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and stood as a nominee at the Toronto International Film Festival. The horror film is now gearing up to represent Pakistan in the international feature Oscar race.
It’s truly exhilarating to witness Pakistani movies and artists receive well-deserved international acclaim. The journey of Kamli and In Flames showcases the growing impact of Pakistani storytelling on the global stage.
Guess who’s making a grand return to our TV screens? Adnan Siddiqui is back in action after a four-year hiatus, and he’s bringing his irresistible charm to the role of poet Ahmed Zaryab in Hum TV‘s latest, Khushbo Mein Basay Khat — though he was recently seen in Green Entertainment‘s show Siyaah but that was only for one episode.
Khushbo Mein Basay Khat is penned by Amna Mufti and directed by Mohammad Saqib Khan.
But that’s not all — Nadia Jamil is also stepping back into the spotlight after her last stint in Geo TV‘s Jo Bichar Gaye, which aired in 2021. Jamil is playing Ahmed Zaryab’s wife, she is a dedicated surgeon and a mother of two children. It seems like the TV screen is getting a serious upgrade with these two powerhouses reuniting to grace our screens after their telefilm Behadd in 2013.
A Nostalgic Journey: Adnan Siddiqui’s Timeless Charm
Adnan Siddiqui is basically giving us a time-travel experience with his timeless charm! Did you catch a glimpse of him in Khushbo Mein Basay Khat? It’s like he stepped right out of 2014 when he graced our screens in Mere Humdum Mere Dost on Hum TV.
Remember that drama? Siddiqui was the epitome of mature and swoon-worthy as Haider, who falls for the younger Aimen – played by Sanam Jang. Talking about fine wine looks and classic tales of love, Adnan Siddiqui is making us nostalgic in the best way possible.
Siddiqui is featured alongside four talented co-star actresses in this latest drama: Kinza Hashmi, Sidra Niazi, Waania Nadeem, and the seasoned Nadia Jamil.
Kinza steps into the role of Husna Hussain, a spirited middle-class teenage college girl, while Waania plays her friend and classmate. Sidra Niazi portrays Feni, a flirtatious character captivated by Ahmed Zaryab’s charismatic personality. Teasers suggest that Nazlin’s character might also fall under Ahmed’s spell.
Unraveling Zaryab’s Charismatic Complexity
Ahmed Zaryab, the focal point of the narrative, is a middle-aged man seeking praise, a professional poet, and characterized by a timid nature. Adnan Siddiqui’s portrayal of this poet is commendable, adding a touch of magic to the character. The first episode unveils Zaryab’s desire for attention and hints at a potential storyline involving marital complexities, drawing parallels to similar narratives in other dramas.
The initial episode introduces Zaryab’s encounter with Husna at a stationery store, revealing his reaction to her indifference towards his book. The incident sheds light on Zaryab’s attention-seeking tendencies, evident in his inquiries about her and following her until she takes a ride. The character seems to be a man seeking attention, willing to go to great lengths for it.
Zaryab’s interactions with Husna during the Mushaira invitation expose his seemingly arrogant yet attention-thirsty demeanour. The narrative suggests underlying egoistic issues, creating an intriguing character dynamic.
The drama also raises questions about Zaryab’s relationship with Feni and its potential impact on his married life. The coquettish nature of Zaryab adds complexity to his character, leaving the audience to ponder whether Feni is aware of his marital status and children. Sidra Niazi’s on-screen presence, particularly in elegant sarees, adds to the visual appeal of the drama.
Unveiling Marital Dynamics: Nabeela and Zaryab’s Relationship
Furthermore, the dynamics of Zaryab’s marriage reveal an imperfect relationship, with the first episode leaving the reasons undisclosed. A plausible speculation points toward Zaryab’s misogynistic and egoistic traits. This inference stems from a scene where he belittles his wife, Nabeela, comparing her profession as a dedicated surgeon to his own as a poet. Despite Nabeela’s demanding role of managing both her professional and household responsibilities, Zaryab’s insensitive comments seem to undermine her achievements.
A teaser featuring Nabeela asserting her surgical skills, confidently stating that she knows where to cut and where to stitch, hints at a potential turning point in their relationship. It suggests that Nabeela might assert herself against Zaryab’s demeaning attitude at a crucial juncture in the storyline.
The drama’s direction is noteworthy, immersing viewers in poetic romance from the opening shot featuring Adnan Siddiqui’s poetry recitation. The beautifully shot scenes contribute to the overall aesthetic, although some moments, like Husna attempting to climb a wall to attend college, may appear a bit exaggerated.
In essence, the drama promises a well-rounded experience, blending emotional highs and lows. It explores the challenges of balancing relationships and public image. The narrative, portrayed as a wholesome experience, sets the stage for an emotional rollercoaster ride. We eagerly anticipate how Zaryab Ahmed’s life unfolds and the lessons he learns along the way.
Sabeena Farooq rose to fame following the success of her two dramas, both of which gained recognition and received an unprecedented response. The actress’s successful roles as Haya in Tere Bin and Barbeena in the drama serial Kabuli Pulao, both proved her mantle as an actor.
With all the recognition that the actress received for her back-to-back hit projects, Sabeena was gracious about all the appreciation and gracefully accepted any criticism. When talking about her fans, she previously said that her Indian fans are better than Pakistani fans.
This statement resulted in Sabeena receiving a lot of backlash from her Pakistani fans.
Her Justification
In her recent interview with Maliha Rehman, when she was asked about the statement, Sabeena said she stands by it despite any criticism that will come her way.
Sabeena defended herself saying that instead of bashing her or her character Haya in Tere Bin, her Indian fans comprehended her role as an antagonist and appreciated her performance instead of comparing her with that character.
“People there (in India) understand work. People owed Haya and enjoyed the character. The people there say that without Haya drama won’t be enjoyable.” Sabeena remarked in her latest interview.
She also acknowledged that she appreciated how Indian fans perceived the character as only a fictional role and she only wished that Pakistanis did the same.
“The way people understand my characters there and the nuances of each character…I wish our people will also understand this. It’s unbelievable they are understanding our work, our culture and art. Maybe that’s the reason why these dramas work there as well.”
In her interview, Sabeena also expressed her gratefulness when, over one weekend, Tere Bin was trending higher in India than Pathan. She considered this “a good and pleasant achievement”.
Sabeena playfully remarked, “Now Shah Rukh Khan would know who we are.”
The actress’ remark about Indian fans seems to come from how she genuinely feels. There is no doubt that as an audience we need to understand to separate the craft from the actor.
Sabeena’s future plans
For her future projects, the actress said that she will be focusing on quality over quantity and hasn’t signed any scripts yet. Sabeena believes that she needs to do substantial work. She also revealed that she probably won’t be doing any supporting roles from now on since, in Pakistan, supporting actors don’t get the recognition they deserve and are not well-written.
We are excited to see what Sabeena has in store for her fans.
Award shows are always a topic of great contention, both among audiences and artists themselves. Every awards season, they get berated for picking favourites or ignoring someone’s work entirely. Award shows have a responsibility to represent and reward the hard work of hundreds and thousands of creatives. Sometimes, there is simply not enough room to nominate everyone but some of these problems really are of their own making.
In the past, we have had countless stars come forward and denounce award shows or expose their lack of credibility, which just fuels the flames that are already burning strongly. During all this, we have Ahsan Khan who appeared in aninterview with Maliha Rehman. The Udaari star was asked about his opinion on award shows, and he had a rather positive approach. Let’s discuss.
Maliha asked the Fraud star if these events just award artists who are in the audience, which is a conspiracy theory that has been circulating award shows for a while. To this, Khan replied that he had received an award in the past at an event he couldn’t attend hence debunking this claim from his own end.
He was then also asked if he held any resentment over not being nominated for the latest Lux Style Awards this year. Once again, Ahsan had a positive attitude about it, saying that there’s not much to say or feel angry about. “Two years ago, I was unable to attend an IPPA award ceremony held in Norway. Despite my absence, I was honoured with an award for my work in Alif. I recall Maya Ali announcing during the event that I was not present. I even have a video of that moment. I had to explain to HUM TV that I wouldn’t be able to make it since I wasn’t well, since they had already arranged my tickets and I was also doing a small segment in those awards. Yet, they presented me with the award.”
The Chakkar star also finds award shows to be a fun experience, getting to socialise and meet fans.
He then clarified that his opinions are his own and he is only speaking from his own experiences with awards, not wanting to invalidate anyone else’s personal qualms about them. It was still rather refreshing seeing an actor not go down the same path of scolding the entire industry and feeling hurt for not being nominated like we have seen countless times in the past.
Artists Who Spoke Against Awards
While Ahsan Khan had an unpopular opinion regarding awards, let’s look at some examples on the opposite end of the spectrum. We have even had entire TV channels boycotting awards as well, with ARY opting out of the Lux Style Awards in 2021 after major snubs in the past.
A year ago, Fawad Khan in an interview had a more intellectual take on the whole matter. The Humsafar star felt that the act of pitting actors against one another was the worst thing to do to them.
Veteran actor Shabbir Jan appeared on Nadir Ali’s podcast and claimed that award shows nowadays are like distributing sweets to those they love. He also said that he was content with all his PTV awards from back in the day and does not find the new ones authentic.
For the latest Lux Style Awards 2023, we had stars such as Farhan Saeed and Sajal Ali come forward and express their disappointment in them. Saeed took to Instagram and criticized the awards for lacking integrity.
“I don’t say this for myself but for anyone who deserves a fair chance at winning for their hard work at any platform, I say this to encourage ppl who aspire to join our industry! I say this to keep people’s faith in us intact!” he wrote.
Bin Roye star Armeena Rana Khan also weighed in on this in the comments and did not have any kind things to say.
Yikes! Talk about not mincing one’s words.
In a recent talk show appearance, Sonya Hussyn was questioned about her absence from this year’s Lux Style Awards. Her response was candid and straightforward,
“I don’t attend the award functions. I don’t know why, but I don’t like to go to the awards; it is useless to attend the awards.”
She went on to share her perspective on those who choose to attend award functions, stating, “Those who are attending the award shows must be getting awards, and those who are going without receiving any award will be going because of their love for attending shows or something like that.”
Last year, actor Ali Abbas spoke out about the controversial incident surrounding the Pakistan International Screen Awards (PISA), labelling the award as ‘rigged.’ Titli star revealed that he was initially informed that he had clinched the Best Supporting Actor accolade, only to witness actor Ahmed Ali Butt receiving it at the actual event.
During an interview with a local news channel, the Titli actor admitted his confusion about the incident, expressing his belief that such occurrences cast a shadow on the credibility of awards and similar shows. “It’s a matter of self-respect,” he shared. In a veiled critique of award ceremonies in general, he remarked, “Award shows will keep happening year after year, and no one remembers why or how someone got an award. However, [PISA] lost its credibility. It is more about your conscience.”
Allegedly, PISA organizers offered compensation to Abbas for the incident. Nevertheless, he firmly asserts that “an award can have no compensation, and one can only feel happy about an award when there are deserving people in the pool.”
The jury behind these awards has a lot of introspection to do. Neither the audience nor the talent are happy with the awarding criteria, so something must change. We can only hope that we see more integrity from award shows and a healthier competition takes shape soon.
Green Entertainment came and conquered. The new channel on the block did not settle for playing the conventional storylines that we are used to seeing every day. Undoubtedly, they have broken the norms and moulded the criteria of a good Pakistani drama. In an attempt to craft their own route, they have given us some unique on-screen pairs that we have never seen before.
We have hand-picked a list of 5 on-screen pairs that we have seen in Green Entertainment dramas, paired for the first time together. Read more to find out.
Breaking News starring Hamza Sohail and Amar Khan
The charmer Hamza Sohail and the stunning Amar Khan have joined hands for the upcoming Green Entertainment project, Breaking News. The young stars of our television industry will be seen in one-of-a-kind roles that challenge stereotypes.
Written by Aamir Raza and directed by Kashif Nisar, Breaking News will star Amar Khan as Mashal Jameel and Hamza Sohail as Hussain. The character of Mashal is portrayed as brave and unapologetic. She is the rising star in the journalism universe, after years of hard work. Her backbone is Hussain who gives her unprecedented support in all her ventures and condemns the corrupt system.
The narrative will unfold as Mashal and Hussain together aim to challenge the corrupt and evil system. They team up as a power couple, who have each other’s back while aiming to revolutionise things together is a big leap forward. Seeing Hamza Sohail as the supporting partner and Amar Khan in this bold role will be a treat for Pakistani drama fanatics.
Standup Girl starring Zara Noor Abbas and Danyal Zafar
Standup Girl is another example of how Green Entertainment is stepping off the traditional genres that we are used to seeing on-screen. For the first time ever, we will be seeing the story of a couple who is embarking on a journey to pursue their creative dreams.
The story follows the character of Zara Noor Abbas who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian and a charismatic rap singer, played by Danyal Zafar. The pairing of the lead actors is certainly unique. Both actors bring a vibrant energy to the screen and their on-screen chemistry surely looks interesting.
Standup Girl is another project that shows two career-oriented individuals striving to make a name for themselves while exploring their love story. Kudos to Zara Noor Abbas and Danyal Zafar for taking on these novel roles.
Kabuli Pulao starring Mohammed Ehteshamuddin and Sabeena Farooq
Kabuli Pulao ate and left no crumbs. The drama’s last episode aired this week, and we still cannot stop talking about it. While the drama garnered praise for being a trendsetter for several things, one thing that stood out was the chemistry shared on-screen by Mohammed Ehteshamuddin and Sabeena Farooq.
Starring two actors with a huge age difference in a Pakistani drama and making it appeal to the masses was indeed a difficult job, which was carved to perfection by the writer-director duo Zafar Miraj and Kashif Nisar.
The on-screen pair created an awe-worthy chemistry on-screen that melted our hearts and made us root for them. Sabeena Farooq played the role of Barbeena, an Afghan refugee who marries an older man to get money for her brother’s surgery. While by Mohammed Ehteshamuddin portrayed Haji Mushtaq, a humble and patient God-fearing man, who falls for Barbeena after being smitten by her innocence.
22 Qadam starring Wahaj Ali and Hareem Farooq
Wahaj Ali and Hareem Farooq, aka Junaid and Fari in the drama serial 22 Qadam, have given us many swoon-worthy and hilarious moments as they pursue their relentless passion for cricket. The couple has been setting goals for many of us out there due to the realistic touch of their love story. The drama has been directed by Anjum Shahzad and is written by Zeeshan Illyas.
The heartthrob Wahaj Ali and glamorous Hareem Farooq have treated their fans with an endearing love story. Seeing their banter followed by the endearing moments, especially Junaid’s romantic proposal in Punjabi followed by him singing a song for Fari, was directed and shot really well and was made further magical due to Wahaj Ali’s and Hareem Farooq’s impeccable acting skills.
Jeevan Nagar starring Sohail Ahmed and Rabia Butt
Seeing Rabia Butt and Sohail Ahmed as the leads in a drama was something we never knew we needed. The pairing was impeccable and could only have been pulled off by two versatile actors and a skilled director like Kashif Nisar who materialized the script of Jeevan Nagar and it is penned by Awais Ahmed.
Rabia Butt commands the screen as Munni (Sitara) through her acting skills and her daring, well-written character. On the other hand, Sohail Ahmed as Babbar Shah, the dominating head of Jeevan Nagar is essayed exceptionally well. Seeing Babbar Shah become speechless in front of Munni and witnessing the interactions between the two on screen is hilarious and delightful at the same time. Both the actors have given it all to play their roles to perfection in the drama.
Seeing these actors take on unconventional roles while being paired with new co-stars has unlocked their potential as actors. Which of these pairs is your favourite? Do share with us.
Usman Mukhtar is set to make a powerful comeback to the big screen with his role as SSP Sarmad Zaman in the upcoming film Chikkar. Although the actor has been featured in several short films, his last major cinematic appearance was in Parchi, released in 2018.
The teaser of his latest movie, Chikkar released last week, offering a glimpse into a gripping narrative that navigates the complexities and struggles within society. Alongside the teaser, Mukhtar captioned, “Chikkar is us. It’s the oppressed and the oppressor,” setting the stage for a film that promises to delve into the dynamics of power, silence, and hope.
The film, directed by Zaheer Uddin and produced by Dareechey Films, boasts an ensemble cast along with Mukhtar, including Adnan Shah Tipu, Ushna Shah, Saleem Meiraj, Faryal Mehmood, and Usama Javaid Haider.
Teaser
The teaser opens with a striking scene featuring Faryal Mehmood dancing in a crowd of men. This image is full of symbols and hints at the story dealing with challenges in society.
Different places like government buildings, long hallways, dimly lit rooms, and open fields are shown, and characters move with clear intentions. Every scene suggests there are many layers to the story, making us excited about what will unfold. The poster adds more intrigue, saying the film is like a “social diary of 8 days,” implying that important events will happen within that time.
Usman Mukhtar Spills The Beans
In an exclusive interview with Galaxy Lollywood, Mukhtar shared insights into his role and experiences during the filming of Chikkar.
The actor expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying, “What made me choose this character was the way Zaheer bhai explained the entire film to me. The narration was so great, and I felt like we need this kind of cinema because there’s one side that’s making a lot of rom-coms, but nobody is making these kinds of stories which are so grounded, rooted, and close to reality.”
He added, “Also, Zaheer bhai’s a great director and I really wanted to work with him. I absolutely enjoyed playing Sarmad Zaman; it was a big responsibility, but I had a wonderful time.”
Reflecting on his experience working with seasoned actors, Mukhtar stated, “I’ve always considered Saleem bhai and Tipu bhai, few of the finest actors of our country. You get to learn so much from these actors. They are seniors, and they are such great actors. We had a fantastic time shooting this film because every actor that Zaheer bhai had picked was excellent. There were times on set when these actors would perform, and you would just forget your lines while just looking at them because they were all so good. I had an amazing time working with Tipu bhai and Saleem Meiraj”
He praised Ushna Shah, saying, “I think Ushna is such an underrated actor. She’s such a brilliant actor, and she has done so wonderfully in this film. When the audience watches this film, they’ll understand how amazing she is.”
“Zaheer bhai is like my older brother. Working with Zaheer bhai and Dareechey Films is like shooting with family. I’ve had a really good experience working with them,” Mukhtar shared.
Director Zaheer Uddin’s Perspective
Let’s delve into what Director Zaheer Uddin had to share about his thoughts on the film and explore some intriguing aspects.
Zaheer Uddin explained, “This is a contemporary film, in terms of writing, direction, acting, cinematography, and editing. Since the film is so contemporary, the title had to be different too. It also shows that we’ve taken a risk in the film.”
The director emphasised, “I am a firm believer that films are supposed to entertain people and bring a change in society. It influences people. Unfortunately, the good content is being taken away from the cinema and is now shown on OTT. Cinemas are only showing larger-than-life stories, which I feel isn’t a great thing.”
He added, “Cinemas are supposed to influence and entertain people since you’re making it for the public. This movie is intense but has 60-65% relatable humour. We’ve kept things on the lighter side, even serious scenes are very engaging and entertaining.”
He further revealed the inspiration behind Chikkar, saying, “Everything that’s happening around us has motivated me to do this story. It’s called a social diary because it’s a reflection of what’s happening in the story in the past few years.”
He also shared insights into casting, “Usman was the first choice because he has that aura which is apt for the character. He is perfectly fit for this character, and I had to direct him the least because he’s tailor-made for this character.”
Talking about the positive energy on the set, Zaheer Uddin said, “It was a wonderful experience. This movie is packed with brilliant actors. We have various actors from the theatre. The energy on the set was positive, hence the work turned out to be so well.”
When asked about the decision of not having a festive release, the director explained,
“I think the formula of Eid release isn’t working anymore. Even the movies that released this Eid did the same amount of business that non-festive ones did. This movie doesn’t have the vibe of festive, so it wouldn’t make sense to release it on Eid.”
As the countdown to the release date of Chikkar begins, audiences can expect a cinematic masterpiece that not only entertains but also challenges societal norms. The movie is set to release on 22 December 2023.
Fairy Tale began as a lighthearted romantic family comedy, but with two seasons under its belt, it has offered us so much more. It has pioneered to become one of the rare shows that have successfully explored the challenges of a young married couple.
As the curtains rolled down, Fairy Tale 2 did what it does best-presenting the most endearing Farmeed moments, now with the addition of an adorable baby in the picture. It took us through Umeed and Farjad’s journey as parents. The delighted Fairy Tale fanbase couldn’t have experienced a more bittersweet ending- saying farewell to two beloved on-screen characters while cherishing their last moments together.
Sequel – A curse or a blessing?
Written by Sarah Majeed and directed by Ali Hassan, the first season of Fairy Tale premiered this Ramadan on HUM TV. Building on the same format as its predecessors, Fairy Tale portrayed a family with eccentric characters and relatable family dynamics that made you laugh. As the storyline progressed, the banter of the lead pair eventually matured into romance, followed by a happy ending.
Fairy Tale received an overwhelming response from the audience-especially the youth-who could find the characters and their problems relatable. When the news of the second season was announced, we have to admit we had our doubts. Why take the risk of spoiling a perfectly good show when in our heads Farmeed has gotten their happily ever after? What was left to see after that?
Well, the makers and the cast were quick to prove us wrong. From the first episode of the second season, Fairy Tale 2 promised to go above and beyond the archetypal script, giving the audience a drama that will make them ponder while elevating the entertainment quotient.
Diving into the plot
Season 2 builds its premise on Umeed (Sehar Khan) and Farjad (Hamza Sohail), head over heels in love, as they anticipate their marriage. As for Haya (Aena Khan) and Sameer (Adnan Raza Mir), their marriage plans are put to a halt after Haya plans to become a doctor. Mimi (Amna Youzasaif) is still hung up on AK Khan (Ali Safina), trying to reach out to him desperately.
The drama builds on exploring the married life of a young couple and the challenges following the end of the honeymoon phase. The drama explores how the differences in two individuals’ personalities can create problems in the marriage.
Moreover, it delves into the complexities that arise when professional and personal boundaries blur, notably when Umeed integrates into Farjad’s workplace. As conflicting priorities emerge, it creates ripples in their otherwise serene bond. This facet sheds light on the contemporary dilemma faced by working couples, striving to harmonize their personal and professional domains.
The series also portrays how a couple strives to find quality time with each other amidst other commitments. Highlighting these issues make the characters relatable and brings a novel insight into how relationships evolve.
The drama ends with Farjad and Umeed having a baby girl. In the last few minutes of the concluding episode, the viewers see the couple take on the role of parents to a newborn. Once again, the drama did a great job of mirroring the life of a married couple with a newborn, showcasing the joy a child brings into their parents’ lives and the exhaustion that follows.
Challenging stereotypes
Fairy Tale continued to win hearts. It addressed, ever so subtly, social messages and problems that prevail in our society, with a sprinkle of humor.
It’s a breath of fresh air to witness an unbreakable sibling bond on-screen which is usually substituted by sibling rivalry on-screen. Farjad’s stalwart backing, refusing to get Mimi married to her cousin when she does not want that, and the genuine respect for his sister alongside Mimi’s constant encouragement and support for Umeed and Farjad is worth appreciating.
Secondly, the satirical element added to the drama with the whole saas-bahu saga, and the over-the-top execution of Indian drama sequences has the audience in fit. Kudos to the writer and director for adding this interesting spin to the whole mother-in-law element, where instead of showing Nighat changing into an outright evil person, they have added a humour element to the entire narrative.
Perhaps one of the most iconic and memorable scenes which had the audience rolling on the floor was the scene where Farjad, Umeed, Mimi, and Nighat do an enactment from a television Indian soap opera scene in Nighat’s imagination, essaying the evil mother-in-law.
The Cast
It would not be wrong to say that Fairy Tale was Sehar Khan and Hamza Sohail’s breakthrough drama, placing them among the pool of top talented actors in our industry. Both the actors gave their all to curate characters that the audience resonated with.
The on-screen chemistry shared between Sehar Khan and Hamza Sohail was also one of a kind. The ease with which they delivered their dialogues and expressed their emotions with facial expressions and body language made the drama more memorable.
The rest of the talented cast includes Aena Khan, Amna Youzasaif, Saman Ansari, Saleem Sheikh, Salma Hassan, Tehseen Wajahat, and Ali Safina among others.
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the captivating world of Fairy Tale and its characters. If one may ask what kind of scripts television needs, Fairy Tale would be a safe bet.
While some celebrities choose to stay silent when controversies surround them, others consider it fitting to respond. Waqar Zaka falls into the latter category. In the latest celebrity drama surrounding Nida Yasir and Waqar Zaka, fueled by Nida’s accusation, Waqar Zaka attempted to have her fired.
Waqar Zaka did not hold back and took to Twitter to present his side of the story by posting a clip, following all the media bashing. In the video, Waqar Zaka blamed Nida Yasir for the entire situation, accusing her of pulling a rating stunt to be in the news.
He clarified that the entire incident took place back in 2020 when Nida Yasir called the family of a young girl — who was raped and murdered — on her morning show. This created an uproar on social media, with people accusing Nida of exploiting emotions and taking advantage of a sensitive situation for mere ratings.
In his video, Waqar Zaka shared clips of a vlog recorded by an activist to uncover discrepancies in Nida Yasir’s narrative regarding a morning show incident. The vlog featured the girl’s father and uncle, who said they were approached by the channel after the girl’s body was found. The vlog also revealed the FIR was filed the day the girl was kidnapped, proving Nida Yasir’s claim wrong that her team pressured the police to file the FIR.
Waqar Zaka further pointed out that he appealed to the public to report Nida Yasir’s show to PEMRA but refrained the public from insulting or abusing her.
“People aren’t stupid. They can see what I am doing.”
The Bitcoin King of Pakistan added that Nida Yasir “isn’t Oprah” and she should realize that it’s time to leave her spot now and train someone to take her position.
“Nida Yasir should do a POGO or a cartoon show in another time slot rather than taking a very important time slot in which families are watching you.”
The Back Story
Nida Yasir appeared as a guest on the GEO News talk show Hasna Mana Hai hosted by Tabish Hashmi. In a segment where the morning show host was being shown some celebrity pictures and was asked to give them advice, the picture of Waqar Zaka appeared. On seeing the picture, Nida Yasir did not hold back and voiced her grudge against Waqar Zaka, “Waqar Zaka is not a good friend of mine. He tried to have me removed from my position as the morning show host. He actively campaigned against me.”
Nida Yasir added, “He was really cordial and nice to me when we worked on the same channel, but he changed afterward. I said I was not responsible for you not working with the channel anymore.”
She went on to add that Waqar Zaka “became her enemy.” She elaborated on the entire incident and said that Waqar Zaka continuously emailed the management to have her removed from her position, and she never understood the cause of that hostility and what she did wrong on her part.
On another episode of celebrity beef, a piece of news resurfaced, when Nida Yasir revealed that the TV show host and Pakistan’s bitcoin King Waqar Zaka allegedly convinced the management of a private TV channel to fire her.
What happened?
The recent revelation came to light when Nida Yasir appeared as a guest on the GEO News talk show Hasna Mana Hai hosted by Tabish Hashmi. In a segment, where the morning show host was being shown some celebrity pictures and was asked to give them advice, the picture of Waqar Zaka appeared. On seeing the picture, Nida Yasir did not hold back and voiced her grudge against Waqar Zaka, “Waqar Zaka is not a good friend of mine. He tried to have me removed from my position as the morning show host. He actively campaigned against me.”
Nida Yasir added: “He was really cordial and nice to me when we worked on the same channel, but he changed afterwards. I said that I was not responsible for you not working with the channel anymore.”
She went on to add that Waqar Zaka “became her enemy”. She elaborated on the entire incident and said that Waqar Zaka continuously emailed the management to have her removed from her position and she never understood the fact that what was the cause of that hostility and what she did wrong on her part.
Tabish Hashmi defused the tension as he proceeded with a joke and Nida laughed it off.
Age-old rift?
Both Waqar Zaka and Nida Yasir have worked for ARY Digital. In 2020, Nida Yasir invited the family of a young girl — who tragically lost her life due to sexual abuse and violence — on her show. During the live show, Nida inquired about the victim, sparking outrage in the media. This incident led to a vlog by Waqar Zaka, in which the activist uncovered discrepancies in Nida Yasir’s narrative regarding a morning show incident.
The activist spoke to the victim’s father, who revealed that they were approached by the show and did not contact the channel themselves. The victim’s uncle, when approached, stated they had no media connections and were contacted immediately after the victim’s body was discovered.
Waqar Zaka also pointed out a contradiction in Nida Yasir’s statement regarding the timing of the First Information Report (FIR) filing. Despite Yasir claiming the FIR was lodged after the show, Marwah’s uncle mentioned it was actually filed on the day she went missing.
While Nida Yasir denied allegations that the show was aired for ratings or publicity, Zaka highlighted the substantial revenue generated through advertisements during her program, suggesting a different perspective on her motives.
This incident reflects that the problems between the two go way back. We hope that this time they finally get to sort it out.
Feroze Khan has given us countless hit drama serials throughout his career. The famous or infamous actor, depending on who you ask, is one of the biggest names of our time. With award-winning shows like Khaani and Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 under his belt, audiences certainly pay attention whenever he is attached to any project.
However, last year was quite a scandalous one for the actor. With allegations of domestic violence and him being labelled the face of toxic masculinity, Khan’s career seemed to have taken a great hit, when there was a call for boycott regarding his film Tich Button.
So, with all this drama circling him and his last project Habs ending almost a year ago, all eyes are now on Geo Entertainment’s Khumar, his anticipated comeback to television. Let’s discuss.
The show is produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi from 7th Sky Entertainment, it is penned by Maha Malik and directed by Ali Faizan.
Story
The story of Khumar is a rather simple one. It’s an age-old story of societal class differences and how these differences are detrimental to relationships, particularly interclass relationships.
The first episode follows Hareem, played by Neelam Muneer. A girl from a humble background who is an ambitious wedding planner. All Hareem cares about is her work and her wish to create better opportunities for her family. On the other hand, we have Faiz — played by Feroze Khan — a guy brought up in a family of upstarts.
Faiz’s parents are played by veterans Behroz Sabzwari and Hina Bayat, two filthy rich parents who don’t shy away from a crass display of their wealth. Faiz on the other hand, is not like his parents and appreciates the simplicities of life. A major part of this first episode is Faiz’s behaviour causing arguments between him and his mother.
Hina Bayat is already deliciously evil as the matriarchal character in the show. Feroze seems to have lost some weight over the past year and that added a boyish charm to his appearance, something we haven’t gotten from him in a while. Adnan Samad as Faiz’s friend Nasir also makes an impression.
Feroze as Faiz
Faiz seems like a breath of fresh air character for Feroze who, in the past, had diverted to more serious roles. Not to say that Faiz doesn’t have the depth to him, his character portrays the class divide and how he values simpler things.
He is a silent benefactor for Hareem, helping her career as a wedding planner while also paying for her brother’s education. His dynamic with Adnan Samad’s Nasir, a childhood friend, is also fascinating and is sure to develop in the coming episodes.
A rift is already forming between the two friends on issues of class. However, their friendship will truly be put to the test as both hold feelings for Hareem and it’s bound to come out soon.
Hareem, in all of this, seems to only care about her work and her parents. So these two guys are about to cause major problems for her. We cannot wait to see this triangle’s story unfold.
Some Positives
The production design on the show is to take note of. The wedding set in the opening scene is meant to showcase Hareem’s talents as a wedding planner and the production team did not let the character down. The home décor in Faiz’s home is also incredible and showcases his family’s wealth.
A story as simple as this needs a great cast to portray it and Khumar has that in spades. Characters seem natural and lived in from the beginning. Khan’s character is also given some great inner monologues that he does a fine job with. All the microaggressions used by the rich against the underprivileged were also extremely well-written.
One critique to be had is the extensive use of the OST in almost every scene of the episode which quickly got tiring. Nonetheless, the show is off to a great start. Feroze Khan fans you will be eating good, and we cannot wait to see how this story unfolds in the coming weeks.
