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Ayesha Omar on being approached for ‘Laal Kabootar’, film with Mikaal Zulfiqar, and more

By
Momin Ali Munshi
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A few days ago, we reported on the status of the Ahsan Khan – Ayesha Omar starer Rehbara. The article, (un)fortunately, did not have all the details about our entire conversation with her. In that exclusive conversation with Galaxy Lollywood, Ayesha also talked about her experience working with Khalil-ur-Rahman Qamar, her future project with a “dark” theme, her possible return to TV and much more. Here are all the details:

Her frustration with Rehbara

The conversation naturally started with Rehbara. Ayesha lamented the fact that the film has been stuck for two years now with no clue whatsoever about when it will be finished. She said that there were only 5-6 days of shooting left but that last spell just isn’t starting.

Divulging more details about the project, Ayesha said that in addition to the strong script, she had said yes to the film because she loved the director, Amin Iqbal’s work on TV. She explained that she was “frustrated” because she and everyone else involved in the project had worked really hard on the film. She didn’t know why the production was halted but she could guess that the film probably ran into financial troubles. To put it in her own words, “the producers are first-timers. It won’t be a surprise if that was the case.”

The Kaaf Kangana experience

With the kind of news that Khalil-ur-Rahman directorial Kaaf Kangana had been generating since it was announced, it would’ve been remiss not to talk to Ayesha about it. Steering the conversation to this giant, we asked her about her first-hand experience working on set with Khalil sahib.

“That man is a genius.” Ayesha started. “My experience working with him, and I don’t want to jinx it, has been wonderful. We just connected.”

Ayesha talked about how she and Khalil sahib would talk for hours on about topics from the film to general life. They shared the same wavelength which made it easy for her to understand what he wanted. 

Ayesha mused that she does not believe in taking a side or hearsay when we asked her about the recent cast shuffles or the reasons behind them. “Everyone has their own version of the story”, she added. Her personal experience with the man, however, has been full of “fun and learning”.

Speaking about Kaaf Kangana’s release date, Ayesha said that they are done shooting the film and it might be released on either of the two Eids.

Kamran Shahid’s film – The Trial

It isn’t the only film Ayesha has finished shooting. Speaking about the ISPR film (the one with Mikaal Zulfikar), Ayesha revealed that she has a part in the film as well.

Her track in the film – based on the creation of Bangladesh – is very “serious, political, and revolves around a very dark theme.” Further clarifying it, she explained that her track in the film is completely separated from that of Mikaal and Sadia’s. “It is very haunting. I have seen my parts of the film and they have come out really well.”

Karachi Se Lahore 3 most likely not happening

With Chalawa’s first look revealed and the movie all set to release on Eid, we had to ask Ayesha about the status of Karachi Se Lahore 3. Speaking about the prospects of the film happening, Ayesha confessed that the movie is, “most likely not happening.”

Talking about few script reading sessions the cast has had, Ayesha said that the script of the film didn’t feel up to the mark. She said that being good friends with the director Wajahat Rauf, she had talked to him about the issues. Wajahat had amicably agreed that the script needed more work. But from what she has gathered, the film has been shelved.

Laal Kabootar and her comeback on TV

Despite many of Ayesha’s own projects stuck in limbo, she said that she really enjoys the Pakistani movies that have come out in recent times. When we asked her about her take on the upcoming March releases, Ayesha said that she is most excited about Laal Kabootar and revealed that she was approached to do that film.

“Kamal and I started our careers on television together. I was the first one he had approached for the film but unfortunately, I wasn’t in town and he was in the hurry to finish the casting. It’s sad that I couldn’t read for the part.”

But she looks forward to the film and says that it will definitely be the best of the three March releases.

On a parting note, Ayesha revealed to us that she is strongly considering coming back on TV. After taking a break from the small screen for a few years, Ayesha is now going through scripts and is currently in the process of finalizing details for her comeback on TV.

“We invest too much time in films and often get no rewards for it. In Pakistan, television is the place to be.”

With that, we bid our farewell to Ayesha and ended this long and interesting conversation.

Are Indian movies really banned in Pakistan?

By
Zaryan Khawar
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indian movies banned

Post Pulwama attack, there has been a blanket ban on Indian content and rightfully so, considering the political tensions between the two countries. Resultantly, cinemas are struggling with footfalls as they’ve almost zero new content to display.

Old Pakistani movies are being played again and sadly, even they are not getting any views as such. Capitan Marvel, which was supposed to be the only saving grace for our cinemas, also could not see the light of the day. In these bad times, it has become really tough for the cinema authorities to line up new content as making big investments in movies is also dicey for there might not be high footfalls, if at all.

What the experts have to say on the issue

We talked to Mr. Nadeem Mandviwala on the issue. He hinted towards the fact that if we look at the situation in depth, it becomes clear that the Indian content hasn’t been banned in Pakistan, in the true sense of the word ‘banned’. He pointed out that all these movies are available on DVD in the market. According to him, the DVD shops can really play a part in helping people change their medium for watching movies. This, in turn, can have a highly negative impact on our cinema houses. He proposed that the government should take steps to regulate all the DVD stores in the country, as now anyone and everyone can open a DVD shop and start selling.

As for the local releases, he said that they might do well if they are well-made, content-driven films but due to these changing mediums, the footfalls at cinemas will go down on the whole.

Here, it can be argued that the DVD stores have been selling movies for ages, why is it being brought up only now? The answer lies in the notion that people tend to go to cinemas for the movies and not so much for the medium. When cinemas stop showing the same movies, audiences have no other option but to get them from the DVD stores, resulting in rather adverse effects on our cinema houses. This change of medium has haunted us in the previous decade too and if it continues for a long time, it will steer the majority of our audiences away from the theatres.

Moving on, another senior personnel from the industry – Mr. Khorem Ghultasab – said that the increased operational costs of cinemas are making it difficult for them to survive. The increasing inflation rates in the country are making it very hard for people to come to cinemas and with no new content, it will be even tougher for the same to stay functional. Moreover, local movies rather than being concentrated around a specific time period (Eid), need to be more spread around.

What should be done?

Keeping in view all the aforementioned points, it is highly important for the government to regulate the DVD stores or find a way around these foreign movies’ illegal sales. Cinemas are closing down their screens at a rapid pace and the only way of keeping them relevant is to restrict the medium of watching movies to mostly cinemas (considering Netflix and Amazon prime are also a norm these days). Indian content, once banned, should be banned in all its forms, rather than being available for all to purchase and watch, in the form of DVDs.

It is also important to notice here that the local cinema has always benefitted whenever there has been good foreign content to support it. The recent non-release of Captain Marvel has proven to be a big dent for the box-office and this will reflect on the two new local releases coming out on the 22nd of March.

Local industry cannot grow without the cinema industry, hence it is important that all the regulators get together to support it, in these bad times.

GL Predicts: How will ‘Laal Kabootar’ and ‘Sherdil’ fare at the Box Office?

By
Galaxy Lollywood
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laal kabootar sherdil

This Pakistan day (a day before actually, that’d be 22nd of March), we have two new local releases coming out. The first one is Sherdil and the second is Laal Kabootar.

Sherdil takes forward the current bilateral issues between India and Pakistan on the air force battlefield. Laal Kabootar, on the other hand, is based in Karachi and has indie film vibes which are likely to appeal to a niche audience rather than having a countrywide appeal. Either way, the films are good news for our otherwise deserted cinemas. We, at Galaxy Lollywood, asked some of our senior team members to share their point of views on how the two films will fare at the Box Office. Here’s what they had to say:

Momin Ali Munshi

“Quite frankly I’m not expecting much from both the films but I do feel that Sherdil will lead the race and record better numbers because the film has a good cast, and well, patriotism sells!

However, while the film will reap benefits with its timing, I also feel that the anti-India sentiment isn’t quite as huge as it was a few weeks back when the Pulwama attacks happened. I mention this because the makers obviously wanted to capitalize on the hatred with this film (I mean we all saw the teasers) but I don’t think the emotions are soaring as high. Also, the songs and promos haven’t really caught the public’s fancy, so let’s see. But yeah, a good opening is definitely on the cards, as for lifetime, not expecting huge numbers.

As for Laal Kabootar, it’s a niche film with relatively lesser known actors, so a big opening is completely out of the picture. If the content is strong, which the actors have vehemently stated, the film might record good numbers in the long run. It all boils down to the content.

Though one thing is for sure that both the films will face the brunt of the Bollywood ban which has had a huge impact on the footfalls. I don’t feel either of these two films or the Hollywood release have that big of a push to fill the halls so after the holiday weekend, the films will have to struggle a lot.”

Hassan Hassan

“Being a film that caters to masses with a formula that pretty much ticks all the boxes for family audiences in Pakistan – namely a shadi number, a club number, a romantic sequence and patriotic theme at its backbone – Sherdil should outpace Laal Kabootar.
Laal Kabootar, on the other hand, belongs to a niche genre, with relatively lesser known faces and an equally new team. It’s my prediction that Laal Kabootar may struggle at the BO, as far as its opening is concerned. However, if the content is strong, a positive word of mouth would definitely help. Pakistani films goers have earlier given nods of appreciation to offbeat films like Cake and Mantu so Laal Kabootar will definitely have a chance if it comes out as a well made, content-driven film.”

Zaryan Khawar

“I think both the releases will not do much in terms of numbers. Laal Kabootar is a niche film, specifically for Karachi audience – an indie film in simpler terms. Sherdil will probably find acceptance among the masses due to its Indo-Pak tensions angle. It is also possible that a section of the audience will not even go to the cinema because they’re upset about Captain Marvel not releasing.”

Aayan Mirza

“Sherdil has three major things going for itself: The timing of the release, the theme, a popular genre, and a lack of choice for the audience. While the last factor is a double-edged sword and can lead to an eventuality where the cinemas face a lack of footfall in general, I believe that combined with a weekend that will also host a national holiday, the film will have a field day, at least initially.

Besides that, however, I don’t see much going in the film’s favour. The last film on a similar theme (Parwaaz Hai Junoon) did a business of around 36 crores on the local box office. But that one had names like Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ahad Raza Mir, and Hania Amir starring in it. Considering all these factors, I predict Sherdil would do decent business, and if nothing else, would at least, easily breakeven in the domestic market. Anything beyond would have to rely on the content.

Laal Kabootar, on the other hand, has been a big surprise. In terms of content, whatever has come out for promotions so far has managed to impress me at least. What Laal Kabootar doesn’t have, however, is a bankable star that would singlehandedly pull people to cinemas. The promotions too were although decent lacked any standout factor (PSL appearance considered).

Between the two Pakistan Day releases, I believe Laal Kabootar will claim a slightly bigger share of the pie, provided that it receives equal reception on both; the southern and the northern markets.”

Zeeshan Mehmood

“The dry spell is haunting our cinemas with its dark forces. On one hand, Bollywood films, which are the major source of footfall and revenue, have been banned to run. On the other, Hollywood’s much-awaited tentpole, Captain Marvel, which is flying very high in the global market, could not get released due to financial woes of stakeholders. Under such dire circumstances, the release of two local films, Sherdil and Laal Kabotar, on the 22nd March, should bring highly-needed joy on the faces of filmmakers, exhibitors, distributors, and audiences, but I doubt it would actually materialize.

Both releases lack star-power, hype, and magnetism needed to make people turn off their TV screens and leave their homes for theaters (to watch what? The same faces that they are used to watching on their small screens. And even that after spending a hefty amount on tickets, popcorn, and fizzy drinks? Come on! Aren’t they better off listening to Madam Noor Jahan’s patriotic songs and scrolling through endless celeb dance videos on Instagram? All that for free!)

I think there will be not much happening at the box office this weekend. It’s only possible through a miracle, honestly.”

According to GL’s senior members, not much is being expected from the 22nd March releases but oh well, we are hopeful people anyway so we are just going to keep our fingers crossed.

‘Neela Parbat’: Pakistan’s first non-horror ‘For Adults’ film and a case of missed opportunity

By
Hassan Hassan
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neela parbat

The era of the 60s and the 70s is considered the golden era of Pakistani cinema. The country saw its film industry at its pinnacle; we had more than 1500 cinemas and a widespread mass culture of cinema where everyone loved films.

With the country witnessing its peak at both the economic and sociocultural fronts, the filmmakers had the luxury to experiment with varied themes and genres. Films were made on a diverse range of issues; from hippie culture to Palestine issue and on themes that artists in today’s era would rather hesitate to explore.

The case of Neela Parbat 

One such film was Neela Parbat, which dealt with themes of sexuality, sensuality, incest and the fight with one’s inner demons nurtured by lust; something that’s considered extremely taboo even in our current setup.

The film starred Muhammad Ali, Agha Talish, Komal, and Husna. It tells the story of an old man (Talish) who secretly falls in love with his adopted daughter (Husna).

Muhammad Ali as Talish’s son plays a flirtatious guy who falls for two women (Husna & Komal) at the same time.

Talish, rather tactfully, betroths his son to another girl (Komal), so he could get closer to Husna. He also struggles with a lustrous attraction towards her, something that he and his son find incestuous. Meanwhile, Husna suffers from nightmares where a demon that she thinks is someone close to her, haunts her repeatedly.

The story unfolds as a confrontation between the father and his son when the latter eventually finds out the truth about his father, ultimately resulting in a bloody & tragic sequence that leaves the audience shattered.

What made Neela Parbat peculiar?

A lot of unique characteristics make Neela Parbat peculiar (even today).

Firstly, it was directed by Ahmad Bashir – a well-established journalist of his time – while it’s lyrics were written by giants of Urdu literature like Mumtaz Mufti and Hafeez Jhalandri (the man who wrote Pakistan’s national anthem).

On top of that, the film had innovative music (Piyarang Qadri) that used rare raags like Gaud Malahr. Additionally, it experimented with dance forms like Kathak and  Bharat Natyam, instead of the usual dance forms used in the films, during those times.

Moving on to the film itself, it also had some steamy scenes between (a shirtless) Muhammad Ali and Komal; one shot on a beach and other in a room along with an equally hot lyric-less dance number.

Moreover, the film dared to focus on Talish as its protagonist and not on Muhammad Ali, the popular actor of that time. It was only the second film of the country that got an adult certificate after Zinda Laash (and the first non-horror film to get the A rating).

A case of missed opportunity

Despite all of this, the film could not do well because of its slow pace but mainly, because of being way ahead of its time.

It may not work even in today’s era mostly because our society (compared to the progressive 60s)  has decayed further into a rather narrow-minded, shallow thinking group of people, to which anything thought and conceived out of the box is invariably heretic or dangerous.

While Neela Parbat may have failed to make its impact in its time, the era which it represents, undoubtedly succeeds in making us realize, how steep of a nosedive we have suffered, as a society, on intellectual, artistic and social fronts.

Neela Parbat can be found on YouTube and although the print is very bad, it is still worth a watch, especially if you want to get a feel of the glorious era that we are so unaware of.

The ‘shoutout’ game: Do celebrity endorsements have a positive impact on a film’s success?

By
Maisooma Batool
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the shoutout trend

Every now and then, our social media timelines get filled with certain trends. Sometimes you’d see celebrities posting their bare-faced selfies with the hashtag #WokeUpLikeThis; other times you’d see them posting a decade old picture juxtaposed with a recent picture and calling it the #TenYearChallenge. Amusingly, every time, the celebs manage to get attention.

So, in a world of social media where the trends decide what’s hot and what’s not, it is only obvious that the movie makers would use the same trends to sell their movie. With Laal Kabootar and Sherdil fast approaching their release date, the most recent trend that is all over our Instagram timelines is “The Shoutout” trend.

A show of goodwill?

Pakistani film industry isn’t very large to begin with. On top of it, the industry people tend to get involved in small skirmishes around who-gets-to-release-their-movie-on-the lucrative-date debate every now and then. So, in an industry that’s inundated with situations like this, this ‘shoutout’ trend does paint a positive picture.

Just a day ago, the leads of Laal Kabootar, Ahmed Ali Akbar and Mansha Pasha, whipped out their phones and gave a quick shoutout to the team of Sherdil and wished them a good run at the screens.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvFDmQdn4rN/

Soon after, Mikaal Zulfikar, the lead of Sherdil, took a minute out of his busy schedule to shoot a nice, long shoutout for the team of Laal Kabootar, filled with best wishes. Humayun Saeed, who has yet to speak about his own upcoming release Project Ghazi, has also given shoutouts to both the films. And we, as lovers of Lollywood, are all aww-ing at this gesture of support.

Amidst all of this, it is also important to notice that apart from being a goodwill gesture, the shoutouts have also considerably helped film promotions, in the past. Before Ho Mann Jahan‘s release, the ‘Shakar Waandan’ trend really caught on, on social media, with people from the industry dancing on the song. The film, as we witnessed, was successful to a considerable extent. The song itself is a must on every desi shadi, now.

Or a planned business strategy?

However, a quick look at the profiles of the stars of the two movies and it became clear that this shoutout game has been going for a while now.

Armeena Khan, the “lead” actress of Sherdil, has gotten more shoutouts for herself from her industry-mates than she has featured in the film’s trailer and promotions. The official Instagram page for ARY Films – the distributors of Sherdil – has shoutout videos dedicated to Sherdil from the teams behind ARY’s two other, upcoming films – Baaji and Parey Hut Love.

When the official handles of the film feature more faces not related to the film than the film’s own bits, one tends to get a little worried about the good of the goodwill. Is the audience supposed to just take the word of all the people giving shoutouts – the ones not even related to the movie – and go watch the film?

Having said that, since cross channel promotions don’t happen in Pakistan (for instance, ARY films will not be promoted on HUM and vice versa), these shoutouts help to break that pattern to a certain extent. It sends a message of goodwill when the names/faces usually associated with one channel give shoutouts to names/faces associated with another channel.

The reason to smile, nonetheless

Well, whatever the actual reason behind this trend is, one can’t deny that it has lightened up our timelines with some adorableness. Bilal Ashraf’s shoutout to Armeena started with him singing, “Meenay, Meenay, Meenay” and the friendliness the two Janaan co-stars still share sure warms the heart. Ahmed Ali Butt’s shoutout to the team of Laal Kabootar was both witty and funny in classic Ahmed Ali Butt style.

Similarly, Asad Siddiqui and Zara Noor Abbas took it a notch higher and play acted a military operation scenario to give their shoutout to Mikaal Zulfikar and his team.

Giving shoutouts or participating in challenges curated by a film’s marketing team to create buzz is not a new thing. It does, however, become a matter of concern when a significant chunk of the film’s social media marketing starts to rely on shoutouts. After all, the film’s fate does not get decided by the XYZs of the industry urging people to go watch the film. Why ask your friends in the industry to ask people to go watch their movies? Well, we will get the answer to this mystery once the two films release on the 22nd  of March. And no, this isn’t a shoutout.

Wait, did Asim Azhar just confirm his relationship with Hania Amir?

By
Momina Mindeel
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asim azhar hania amir

Asim Azhar and Hania Amir have recently (it has been more than 3 months, not gonna lie) been all over our social media. And on account of the speculations, the two might just be dating.

Some background to the speculations

Towards the end of 2018, the two of them walked on the ramp together at the Bridal Couture Week (PHBCW Lahore), that soon after became the talk of the town and rightfully so. The dynamic duo, as they were called, show stopped for Munib Nawaz and most of us couldn’t stop gushing over how adorable they looked together. Even more recently, just a few days back, Hania walked down the ramp at FPW 2019 while Asim stood there singing with his eyes locked at Hania (adorable, I know).

On top of all of that, Asim’s social media has tons and tons of photos of both. I mean, do we need any more proof?

BBC interview with Haroon Shahid

In a recent interview with Haroon Shahid for BBC Asian Network, Asim Azhar was confronted with the question we’ve all been wanting to ask; is he dating Hania Amir? Haroon Shahid rather blatantly asked the singer if he is in a relationship with the actress Hania Amir. To which, Asim responded rather diplomatically.

He mentioned that he can’t answer the question without Hania’s consent as she is involved in the equation too. He, however, went on and on in Hania’s praise and talked about how she brings positivity in his life. He mentioned that the two are always messing around, when together.

To put in Asim’s own words: “You see, my heart is beating really fast. I don’t think I’m in a position to answer that really casually. I feel like she’s the kind of person who brings a lot of positivity in my life. It is so much fun being around her. We’re always laughing, we’re always just messing around.”

When asked if his response is influenced by societal expectations in any way, Asim responded with, “Any comment, whether yes or no, I would want her consent. Definitely not because of any social pressure.”

Even though, Asim didn’t blatantly say yes to Haroon’s question, his words are the vivid manifestation of the fact that the man is in love (come on, guys!) and well, we are happy for you, Asim and Hania.

 

Zara Noor Abbas calls out the industry for body shaming her

By
Guest Author
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zara noor abbas body shaming

By Atiqa Ali 

Ever since the dawn of fashion and media industry, one of the main requirements of getting a job, is to look perfect.

Although, these standards of perfection have changed over time and become slightly more progressive, there is still a certain maximum weight limit for anyone wanting to be a part of the industry. This weight limit focuses less on the health perspective and more on the looks.

Unfair body standards within the industry

Tall, skinny, fair and lovely; four words that describe the main criteria of becoming a model. After all, the walk can be learned, the dressing sense gets better over time but to break through the surface, you need to have a body every girl would dream of and every guy would fantasize about. This usually consists of long limbs, micro waistlines and luscious locks. Size zero is a must or no deal.

This strict guideline also applies to the actors, mainly actresses working in the television and film industry. No matter how destitute a character on-screen will be, the glamour of a star will still shine through and with it, the same body image.

This body image, although beautiful to look at, is often extremely hard to attain. It requires rigorous gym routines, bland diets and expensive personal trainers but hey, when you’re part of the glamour, you can afford it all or can (should) you?

Over time, we’ve had a few cases on and off, a few above the designated size limit divas who’ve spoken up about the unfair and honestly, unhealthy body standards.

Zara Noor Abbas calls out the industry for body shaming her

As of yesterday, Zara Noor Abbas is one them. The actress posted a collage of the same picture from a shoot, before and after photoshop. The difference is substantial.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvGvMAqHbJX/

In her own words, Zara tells us that she’s been called “too big” or “too broad” by brands and had a label refuse to work with her because she’s not petite.

She then speaks about the mental toll this attitude has had on her and the times when she cried after having a few carbs for dinner. She ends her story with her tale of self-acceptance and clear message that whoever wants to work with her must accept her as she is or move on.

 What more can and should be done?

We acknowledge and applaud the stance she has taken on her body image but we cannot help but wonder about the difference it would make if more starlets started voicing their self-acceptance.

If there were more diverse body types shown all across the media, it would help us move towards a more progressive body image in leaps and bounds. Young girls all over Pakistan wouldn’t just be staring at and fantasizing about size zero bodies but they’d see more attainable, healthy bodies like the ones they already have. There would be a decrease in the body dysmorphia with girls seeing their idols looking humane, rather than having plastic barbie doll looks.

The industry itself would be more approachable to people who have the talent but not the perfect look.
Alas, we can only dream of a future like that and hope for the best.

2019: The year of old school Lollywood comebacks

By
Hassan Hassan
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old school lollywood

The much touted term revival of Pakistani cinema brought with it some side effects too; one of them being the actors from the 90s and earlier getting fewer and fewer acting jobs.

The reasons behind this trend have been many. Firstly, the major chunk of the industry shifted to Karachi that made it difficult for the old school actors to get new projects. Secondly, there has also been an unhealthy trend amongst the new age film-makers to not cast the actors from the ‘Lollywood Era’ in their projects.

This issue has been raised at multiple occasions and forums by many and it was highlighted that these actors are unjustifiably neglected when it comes to acting jobs. Noted director, Saqib Malik, who is coming with his directorial debut Baji, is one of such people who highlighted this issue and even cast some of the old school actors in the same. Baji, in fact, is based on the aforementioned trend, to some extent. 

Here is a list of all the old school Lollywood actors who will be seen on the big screen this year, thus putting an end to this rather unjustified trend:

Meera in Baji and Parey Hut Love

Among the leading ladies of the 90s Lollywood, Meera seems to be taking a bigger slice of the cake after having bagged one of the leading roles in Saqib Malik’s much awaited film, Baji. In addition to that, she will also be seen shaking a leg in one of the wedding songs in, Shehryar Munawar, Maya Ali starer, Parey Hut Love.

Zara Sheikh in Heer Maan Ja

Zara SheikhFrom her hit films like Tere Pyar Mein, Salakhein to her being the first choice of multiple ad campaigns, Zara pretty much ruled the screens with whatever limited space was available, back in her time. After a prolonged sabbatical, the lady is back again and will feature in one of the dance numbers (and she may be playing one of the characters too) in Hareem Farooq’s Eid release Heer Maan Ja.

Babar Ali in The Legend of Maula Jatt

Babar Ali death threats

The actor who started as a lead actor, in PTV’s hit TV show, based on Muhammad Bin Qasim, and later turned to cinema with hit films Like Jeeva and Ghar Kab Aaoge, has been missing from our cinema screens from quite some time now. The actor actually left Pakistan a while ago, because of some personal issues. However, he will soon be seen in Bilal Lashari’s much-awaited The Legend of Maula Jatt in a special cameo.

Resham in The Legend of Maula Jatt

Like Babar Ali, Resham also started her career from TV and later was introduced to films by Syed Noor wherein she featured in hits like Jeeva, Sangam Ghunghat and many others.

The lady made a comeback with a forgettable flick Swaarangi in 2015 and then remained absent from the scene. She, however, will now be seen in a cameo in The Legend of Maula Jatt.

 

Saud in Delhi Gate

Saud – one of the critically acclaimed film actors of the 90s – starred in countless films such as Ashiqi Khel Nahi, Pal Do Pal and Salakhen. His most recent appearance was in Noor Bukhari directorial Ishq Positive. The actor will now be seen again soon in a film called Delhi Gate, directed by Nadeem Cheema.

Sana Fakhar in Wrong No. 2

The leading lady of Pakistan’s first digital film Ye Dil Apka Hua moved to TV and earned various accolades after the film making activities dwindled in the country. She did a supporting role in the forgettable flick Jackpot and also starred in some equally forgettable dance numbers in a few films. The lady will now be coming back to big screens in a special supporting role in Wrong number 2, directed by Yasir Nawaz .

Nisho Jee in Baji

Nisho Begum remained a popular face in the golden age of Pakistani cinema. She is Afzal Khan Rambo’s (the voice behind Donkey King’s Mangu) mother in-law and Sahiba’s mother, another acclaimed actress from the 90s Lollywood.

Shaan Shahid in Zarrar

Zarrar Teaser

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvNBMvl_aU/

The versatile Shaan Shahid has never been out of the film business and is amongst the few faces who remained relevant across pre and post-transition that Pakistani cinema went through. Although, his Film Arth 2 didn’t do well at the box office, he is coming back with another directorial – the much awaited Zarrar – an action spy thriller, releasing this Eid-ul-Adha.

Reema in a film opposite Shaan

Shaan Reema film 2020Reema has remained one the most popular faces of Lollywood over the past three decades. Starting from Bulandi opposite Shaan which made the two stars a household name, the lady later forayed into direction with Koi Tujh Sa Kahan with reasonable success.

She has been absent from screens post Love Mein Ghum but is soon expected to get back to the big screen with a film that will feature Shaan as well. The work on film may start soon and it will be a romantic comedy.

Faisal Qureshi in Sorry – A Love Story

Not a lot of people know that besides TV, Faisal Qureshi made a foray into films as well, albeit with limited success. He starred in the first Sindhi language film too. The actor is all set to try his luck again with a Sohail Javed directorial Sorry – A love story. He’s also supposed to have cameos in Baji and Mahira Khan starer Superstar.

Here is hoping that all the above actors succeed in their respective stints. GL wishes them the best of luck.

From non-existent item numbers to Bollywood ban: A candid conversation with team ‘Laal Kabootar’

By
Maisooma Batool
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laal kabootar

The film Laal Kabootar is all ready to fly on 22nd of March and the leads of the film; Ahmed Ali and Mansha Pasha are busy promoting the movie. Galaxy Lollywood managed to catch these two busy-birds and the following conversation we had, soared freely as they talked about the movie, their opinion of the Bollywood ban, and if they fear being type-cast.

Mansha, in a recent interview you said that people will either hate the film or love it. Can you elaborate on that?

Mansha: What I had meant was that Laal Kabootar is a genre film. So, if someone does not like the genre in itself, they will not like the film.

Ahmed: The director and the producer didn’t compromise on the vision, at all.

Mansha: Yeah. They haven’t tried to cut corners to please the people. I remember I had suggested one day that we put an item number in the film and even jokingly offered to do it as well but they wouldn’t budge. They haven’t made this movie to please people.

But that’s the issue, isn’t it? Directors make movies to please themselves rather than the audience. Laal Kabootar looks niche, would it be able to appeal to the masses?

Mansha: Obviously everyone wants to make a film that they want to make. But that doesn’t necessarily translate into that it would be a film that people don’t want to see. What matters is that the film should be interesting. A well-made, interesting film will find its market.

What would you say is the genre of the film? It looks like a spaghetti western or more like on the lines of Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur.

Ahmed: It’s not like Gangs of Wasseypur. It’s more of a mystery, crime thriller. The similarities between the two movies can be based on the fact that they both have committed to authentically show how life is, in that part of the world.

The state of cinemas nowadays isn’t well. Screens are being shut down. People aren’t going to the cinemas anymore. Will Laal Kabootar and Sherdil manage to bring people to the cinemas?

Ahmed: We are certainly hoping so. But this will take time. It will happen slowly and gradually. For the industry to stand on its own two feet, more films should be released.

Most of the films get released on Eid and create a cluster, what do you think?

Ahmed: Yeah, I don’t get that. Films should be spread more evenly.

Mansha: There’s an argument that footfalls increase during the Eids anyway. Ask any filmmaker why they prefer to release their films on Eid and they reply that people stop going to the cinemas in between. There’s Ramzan, Muharam, families going away during summer/winter vacation. So, there are reasons why Eid is preferred.

From a business point of view, what do you think of the self-imposed ban on Bollywood movies? Is it a smart move, a dumb one, or you remain indifferent to it?

Ahmed: Everything that has been happening is a dumb move.

Mansha: The association did say that it is temporary so it’s fine. But I think the move can be justified considering this has been happening across the border as well, for quite some time now.

What would you prefer – critical acclaim or box office success?

Ahmed: Critical acclaim.

Mansha: Ideally, I want both. I want to do box office hits even if they are critical failures. I also want to do critical movies as they have a longer shelf life.

Ahmed has mostly played supporting roles in films. So, from there to now, playing the lead in Laal Kabootar, how has the journey been?

Ahmed: It’s been great. I am glad it went organically and smoothly. It took its time and I am happy that it led me to be the lead in Laal Kabootar.

As seen in Bollywood, actors usually get type-cast in supporting roles. Do you fear the same happening to you? Because Pakistani industry is very sensitive about the labels; who is the hero, who is parallel lead etc.

Mansha: That’s not necessarily true for all. Look at Rajkumar Rao. He built his career playing supporting and minor roles in so many movies and look where he is now. Kangana Ranaut won a National Award for her film Fashion and she had a supporting role in that. It doesn’t exist anymore. It’s all about luck and timing now.

Ahmed: Cinema globally is changing. Now is the time for character drive and ensemble films. Actors are now willing to play shorter roles, if it means more quality.

The trailer of the movie was quite bold and out there. Since the film’s censored version will be running in the cinemas, will we get to see the uncensored version somewhere?

Mansha: Of course.

Ahmed, you have a bed scene in the film. Didn’t you have any apprehensions doing it?

Ahmed: The content of that scene is actually very interesting and necessary for the story. Personally, I am not bothered about it because I know that’s not me. It’s the character I am playing. As for the people toh logon ne toh baatein hi karni hai aur wo baatein karte hi rahenge.

Looking at the film, do you think there’s any part that could’ve been better?

Ahmed: I can’t stand to watch myself on screen in general. I am critical about everything I do.

Mansha: I think this question can be better answered once the film is out. Because after the trailer was released, all we did was go around asking, “Did you like it?” only to get the same question thrown our way, as a response. We need time to be objective about it. It was just a one-minute trailer. Film toh abhi baaqi hai!

With Motorcycle Girl and Cake, movies with strong female characters are getting attention. What can you tell us about your role in the film, Mansha? Is it substantial?

Ahmed: Let me answer that. Mansha’s character is very cool in the sense that it is about a woman finding strength during the worst time of her life. The film is all about her journey out of this rough patch of her life, and how she tackles the problems thrown in her way. Every other character just plugs in. The story is driven via Mansha’s character only.

Mansha: I am quite excited to see the chemistry between our characters. Ahmed’s character is very grungy. He does all these unethical things to get what he wants but there’s an earnestness to him that would make people sympathize with him ke yaar ye bechara toh yehi karega na! You feel for him. So, it’s about our characters dealing with the situation.

Ahmed you have mostly played romantic heroes on TV, how difficult was it to tackle a dark role for this film?

Ahmed: I say this to people a lot that they have only seen my work on TV that I have done in the last four years. For eight years before that, I had been doing theater where I played all kinds of roles. So, this role is not that different of an experience for me as an actor but yeah, it will be a different experience for the audience. As for the difficulties, I did find it a little difficult initially to tap in the character’s psyche, apart from the usual prepping of adopting a new manner of speaking and walking. It has been a long journey.

On a parting note, what is next for you both after Laal Kabootar?

Ahmed: I am reading some things currently.

Mansha: Surkh Chandni is going to wrap up in April but I wouldn’t call it my next as I have been doing it for a while now. I’d like to do something lighter now.

What other Pakistani films you are excited for this year?

Ahmed: Ali Abbas’s film. It’s yet untitled but it is going to be out later this year. It has an interesting plot. Thn there’s Maula Jutt and Baaji too.

Mansha: Yes, Baaji!

Ahmed: Loads of films coming out.

And the last clichéd question – why should people watch Laal Kabootar?

Ahmed: Because they have got no choice!

But there’s Sherdil!

Ahmed: Well, they can watch Sherdil as well.

Mansha: But that’s the thing na. They have no other choice. It’s not like Indian films are running in theaters.

Ahmed: No but seriously, watch the trailer for Laal Kabootar and they’d be sold.

Mansha: Yeah, most people are already sold on it, after watching the trailer.

Here’s wishing Ahmed Ali, Mansha Pasha and the entire team of Laal Kabootar the very best of luck!

Mehwish Hayat on ‘Chhalawa’ and working with her best bud Azfar Rehman

By
Momin Ali Munshi
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Mehwish Hayat – the acclaimed Pakistani actress, model and singer – has lately been all over news and social media on account of her nomination for the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz that she will receive on the 23rd of March. Today, her first look from her upcoming movie Chhalawa was also revealed. Mehwish has, undoubtedly, taken over our newsfeeds for a few weeks now. So, we at Galaxy Lollywood, got in touch with her and had a detailed yet a candid conversation with her, about her upcoming film Chhalawa, working with Wajahat Rauf and her web-series Ennaya.

On working with Wajahat Rauf

Upon being asked how her experience has been working with a different director this time, for she has previously only worked with Nadeem Baig and Nabeel Qureshi, Mehwish said, “I have always worked with a number of directors in my drama days so working with someone else for a film was no different.”

“Each of the film directors I have worked with have their own strengths and I think what appealed to me about Wajahat was that he also writes his own scripts which gives him a great insight into the character development. Moreover, we were already working on the web series Enaaya which I enjoyed very much. When he first narrated the story to me, I loved the idea and was even allowed to help shape the script as it developed. He is very collaborative in his approach. He also has a quirky sense of humour which is evident on screen,” continued Mehwish.

On her character in Chhalawa

Although, Mehwish said she couldn’t reveal much about her character in the movie, she did make sure to mention that her character “Zoya’ is a go-getter.” She further mentioned that we would have to wait for the trailer to find out more about the film and her character.

On working with Azfar Rehman

It is a well-known fact that Azfar and Mehwish are great friends. While answering the question about whether or not it was easy working against a friend, Mehwish had following to say:
“It is very easy to work opposite Azfar. He’s a brilliant actor and we already share a rapport and chemistry that we can build on. We are very comfortable with one another. Being romantic, yes that can be funny at times since he is my best buddy and I don’t really see him like that. But at the end of the day, we are playing characters and we give it our 100 percent.”

On what made her say yes to Chhalawa

While talking about what made her say yes to Chhalawa, Mehwish said, “For me, the most important things are the script and the team. I loved the script and the character I play. It is a very heroine orientated film which revolves around the female lead and I loved that challenge. I also had a wonderful time working with these guys on Enaaya, it was such a hoot. So when I was comfortable with the script, doing the film was almost a no-brainer.”

Towards the end, Mehwish revealed that “lots of naach gaana, masti and songs” are expected from Chhalawa that will soon be playing at all the weddings. Moreover, she mentioned that she is super excited to finally work with Wahab Shah, that too on a film project.

While talking about the three film clash on Eid, Mehwish said, “these are business decisions which I have no say in. In many ways, it is a shame but again the films are so different and I am sure that each will appeal to a different segment of the audience. It is also great to see our cinema flourishing. There can be no harm in healthy competition.”

Here’s wishing Mehwish Hayat the best of luck with her upcoming movie and of course, her Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. 

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