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Yunhi’s First Episode Fails to Make an Impression

By
Kasim Bilal
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Yunhi Episode 1
Bilal Ashraf and Maya Ali in Yunhi

We are in the age of streaming! Viewers today are spoilt for options and have a ton of content to pick from. In a space like this there is absolutely no room for serving less than spectacular content.

‘Yunhi’ stars Maya Ali and Bilal Ashraf recently sat down with Something Haute and talked about how TV shows are judged based on just one episode rather than the entire serial. Asking viewers to hold their judgement until they sit through the whole thing. 

Even after acknowledging streaming behemoths like Netflix, the ‘Superstar’ actor failed to realize the value of time. Viewers have no other choice but to make a decision based on one episode; a metric that Yunhi doesn’t seem to capitalize on.

So yes, ‘Yunhi,’ HUM TV’s big new Sunday show just debuted its first episode last night. Did it deliver? Let’s discuss.

The Cast

Many HUM TV serials are guilty of serving a convoluted mess of a family tree in their shows. This issue seems to persist with ‘Yunhi’ as well.

‘Yunhi’ sees Bilal Ashraf making his TV serial debut. He is of course best known for his work in blockbuster films ‘Janaan’ and ‘Superstar’ the latter being his first collaboration with director Mohammed Ehteshamuddin and ‘Yunhi’ being the second. Ehteshamuddin is best known for his work on critically acclaimed hits like ‘Sadqay Tumhare’ and ‘Udaari.’

Opposite Bilal we have Maya Ali best known for her work in TV hits like ‘Mann Mayal’ and blockbusters ‘Teefa in Trouble’ and ‘Parey Hut Love.’ Rest of the supporting cast is an ensemble of a bunch of industry stalwarts and newbies. The only ones to really make an impression are Tazeen Hussain, Behroz Sabzwari and Deepak Perwani.

Story

Kaneez, played by Maya Ali, is returning from abroad with her father Naveed, played by Deepak Perwani. Old wounds are still sour since Naveed broke his engagement with his fiancé who ended up dying from heartbreak. The entire first episode is spent and, to a degree, wasted on setting up the entire family’s feelings on this.

Tazeen Hussain plays the grieving sister who also ended up single for the rest of her life after the incident. Daniyal, played by Khaqan Shahnawaz is at this point the cliché and typical comic relief younger brother in which he fails to do anything new with the role.

Both Maya Ali and Bilal Ashraf, for some reason, are not given much to do at all this first episode. Besides a rather insensitive joke where Kaneez calls Bilal’s character Dawood ‘terrorist’ based solely on his attire, there’s not much we get to see from both characters. The joke has already ruffled some feathers online.

Bilal is relegated to being silent and brooding. Maya however does get to play the endearing naivety of a girl who doesn’t know or understand the mess her father left back home.

It also feels odd seeing the characters praise life in Pakistan compared to life abroad. This of course coming on the heels of over 800,000 Pakistanis leaving the country to settle abroad.

One thing that is to appreciate is the entire feel and vibe of the show. It hearkened back to the classic PTV dramas that we all grew up watching. That gave it a very wholesome and warm feel despite the story itself not being as gripping as one would hope.

Yunhi Future Outlook

Maya and Bilal also do look great together and just by the promos, it’s safe to say their chemistry will be off the charts once the show gets going and the walls come off. To conclude, ‘Yunhi’ doesn’t have much originality to it and demanding people to sit through 25 episodes to find some is certainly not the way to go. Hopefully as the show progresses and the characters get to develop, we might have something special on our hands. But for now, viewers will have to watch the show on mere optimism than actual belief.

Is Mahira Khan Actually Starring in Pakistani Remake of Pakeezah?

By
Kasim Bilal
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Nostalgia is all the rage these days in the global film industry. Hollywood, in particular, is fond of remakes and reboots that capitalize on the nostalgia of the original. Lollywood is no stranger to this either, with ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ wowing audiences a few months ago, perfectly building upon the 1979 classic and modernising it for today’s audiences.

Just last week, Variety reported that Sajal Aly is set to lead a TV adaptation of the classic Urdu novel ‘Umrao Jaan Ada’ and just a few days later, The Express Tribune broke the news that Mahira Khan will be starring in a Pakistani remake of the Bollywood classic ‘Pakeezah’ with Khan filling in Meena Kumari’s shoes.

What ensued after this news broke, however, was an interesting series of events. Let’s discuss this.

Pakeezah

‘Pakeezah’ is Kamal Amrohi’s beloved classic blockbuster film from 1972 starring Meena Kumari. The film is regarded as one of Bollywood’s best of all time and also one of its most expensive ones at the time.

Pakeezah went on to become a huge box office and critical hit, winning several awards and having a theatrical run of 50 weeks. Every single frame in the film is considered a work of art. Hoping to recapture that magic would be no small feat, and fumbling it would make all involved an enemy to the audience.

Fact Check

As soon as the news broke regarding Mahira’s involvement, sources close to the production revealed to SAMAA Digital that all is not yet certain and that Khan is just one of the many actors coveted for the film.

Khan, of course, is still bathing in the success of ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt,’ another remake of an old classic, and her upcoming film ‘Neelofar’ is hoping for a 2023 release where Khan plays the titular character. Mahira’s own PR team refused to comment on the situation.

Meera’s Involvement

Meera

Shortly after all this went down, veteran actress Meera came forward and announced her involvement with the project, confirming her role as the lead character.

“I am going to play Pakeezah, 100%,” she told SAMAA Digital. According to Meera, she has yearned for this role for years and has been working on it for the past 13 years. The film star was last seen as a lead in the hit film ‘Baaji’ where she played the titular character.

All this seems like an extremely odd turn of events, all happening in a single week. Meera’s history also put into question her credibility since the star falsely claimed that she owned the rights to the original film back in 2013. Kamal Amrohi’s son Tajdar completely denied said claims. Sources close to the production have yet to confirm or deny her involvement.

Conclusion

While the news around this project has been a confusing mess, we will still be following this film and its production very closely. It is a highly regarded classic and, if done correctly, has the potential to be the next ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt.’ We wish the best of luck to whoever takes on this challenge and can’t wait to see it on the silver screen.

‘Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi’ Fans Ask Dur-e-Fishan Saleem

By
Faizanullah Khan
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Dur-e-Fishan Saleem
Dur-e-Fishan Saleem posing for a picture

Lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round. He then, unto the ladder turns his back, looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees by which he did ascend.

Exclaimed Brutus in one of Shakespeare’s most critically acclaimed works – Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar once ruled over the heart of every plebeian in Rome, and Brutus, his best friend but growing nemesis, was quick to identify that the great Caesar himself had sown seeds of love in the hearts of all plebeians in Rome, only to look down upon them once he climbed the ladder of success.

Dur-e-Fishan Saleem – one of Pakistan’s most thriving female artists – has done a Julius Caesar in her most recent interview. When asked about Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi, the actress responded she wouldn’t like working in or watching anything similar again. The sheer impudence of the statement is such that Brutus would have died of irony – once more.

Enter Dur-e-Fishan Saleem

It was in August last year that fans saw the first episode of Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi. The relatively unknown Dur-e-Fishan Saleem played Mehak – a bold and beautiful lady from a middle-class background.

Who doesn’t remember that first episode? In fact, there still are TikTok reels of the same. A quick search and you will stumble across reels glorifying a dashing Shamsher (Danish Taimoor) travelling with his protocol. Dur-e-Fishan Saleem happened to be a modern damsel in distress – surrounded by her family but still in distress.

During the commotions, aggression, and male bravado of that first episode, the world of YouTube and pretty much every social media platform in Pakistan saw their first real glimpse of Dur-e-Fishan Saleem.

The Rise of Dur-e-Fishan Saleem

The last episode of Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi aired around mid of December. The drama failed to live up to its hype. In fact, the final episode was fairly irrelevant. However, Dur-e-Fishan Saleem had well and truly landed.

Fans spotted her in a couple of TV advertisements. She got front-row seats to the Lux Style Awards and went on to star in the music video for Asim Azhar’s latest song Dard. Mehak now had the world at her feet.

Dur-e-Fishan’s Shocking Statement

In a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, Dur-e-Fishan mentioned she wouldn’t want to work in or even watch something like Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi again. In her own words, “I would never watch a genre like this or would even like to work in something like this again.”

Fans of the serial were left questioning this statement. How does it feel to know the leading actress in your favourite drama wouldn’t waste her time watching a similar storyline again?

In fact, Dur-e-Fishan made it abundantly clear that Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi has opened doors of success for her. She can now choose scripts and, more importantly, reject scripts because she is in a position to do so.

All the commotion makes one question whether this really is the career trajectory Dur-e-Fishan Saleem wants for herself. Does she want to do controversial ‘damsel in distress’ roles to gain traction and the power that comes with it? What’s to say she won’t jump back to a similar role once her popularity falls in the time to come?

In a world where actors influence perceptions, one can at least hope for our stars to stand by their values and not chase clout.

With Dur-e-Fishan having turned her back to the hit drama, fans can indeed ask ‘Yeh Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi?“. And for the rest of us, well, ‘touché, that’s why we didn’t watch it as well.’ 

The start of SAPPHIRE’s forever evolving, new chapter

By
Galaxy Lollywood
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Since its inception in 2014, SAPPHIRE has established a name for itself for offering affordable trend inspired collections. Over the years SAPPHIRE has expanded its collections to include menswear, kidswear, westernwear and non-apparel lines such as home and beauty. Fast forward to 2023 and SAPPHIRE is beginning a new chapter of its forever evolving story that starts with a rebranding. The brand has decided to adopt a contemporary yet timeless look for its new branding that modernises its perspective in offering a complete lifestyle to its customers and focusses on the ideals of modernism, quality and sustainability.

A vision for change

Fashion is such a dynamic market where new trends and customer shopping habits are constantly changing and new brands emerge, it is vital for existing brands to keep on evolving to stay relevant. SAPPHIRE’s rebranding not only keeps it relevant in this everchanging industry, it also reflects the brands adaptive character that allows it to be creative, progressive, and mindful.

The creation of a new identity

Although SAPPHIRE’s visual identity has not experienced drastic shifts over the years, the brand has gradually updated its look to a cleaner, letter-based logo before going through to this bolder rebranding exercise. Once known for its easily distinguishable bird ident, which also translated into its animal print apparel designs, SAPPHIRE has now transformed its identity to a minimalist bold font that has been designed to work with both feminine and masculine products.

The minimal and modern typeface was strategically selected to ensure that the brand stays relevant to the current trends, an attribute that is imperative for all pioneering fashion brands, but also something that will have longevity. As the first part of its forever evolving chapter, SAPPHIRE has introduced the next generation of its carrier bags that are made from 100% recycled and recyclable paper. These new bags, decorated in blooming florals and blue summer skies, symbolize the next step in SAPPHIRE’s commitment to reducing waste as they can be purchased for a nominal fee, proceeds of which will contribute to SAPPHIRE’s ongoing sustainability programme, where SAPPHIRE has already made huge strides, like repurposing fabric, investing in solar panels across stores, and reducing plastic usage.

Looking into the future

In an era where “less is more” and “minimalism is the name of the game,” the decision to adopt a more modern look is in complete alignment with the expectations of the modern-day customer, and it’s about time that brands recognize the need to change their viewpoint according to the demands of the customer, no matter which industry they belong to. SAPPHIRE’s new look, which it plans to strengthen over the course of the year, comes as a refreshing start to the new year, one that we expect many brands to follow. 

Link to SAPPHIRE’s Instagram page.

Amid Boycott Joyland’s Future Remains Uncertain

By
Izma Azeem Chughtai
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Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq, was Pakistan’s submission to the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards, however, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has now banned it, overturning a previous decision to allow its theatrical distribution.

Describing it as a “sudden U-turn” and “totally unconstitutional and unlawful,” Sadiq and the film’s creators are challenging the ban in court.

 Taking to Instagram, Sadiq posted a series of pictures containing a message for his followers. The post read, “Our film got seen and certified by all three censor boards in August 2022. The 18th amendment in the Pakistani constitution gives all provinces the autonomy to make their own decision. Yet the Ministry suddenly caved under pressure from a few extremist factions – who have not seen the film – and made a mockery of our federal censor board by rendering their decision irrelevant.”

He further added that the Ministry has gone too far by making other provinces follow their lead, taking a huge reverse from their initial agreement. “The Ministry has also gone against the constitution by ordering all the other provincial censor boards to follow its decision-an order which it has no right to give and one that I hope is disregarded by Sindh and Punjab censor boards,” Sadiq added.

Sadiq also affirmed that “legally” the film is still certified to release in Punjab and Sindh on 18th November. He said, “Legally speaking, Joyland is still certified to release in Punjab and Sindh on 18th November. The director then concluded his statement with pictures of the signed documents of their approval of the film and showing gratitude to the world who is supporting them in uplifting the ban.

The film follows a Pakistani family whose youngest son joins a hidden sexual dance theatre and falls in love with a transwoman; it debuted and received the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

After making its debut at Cannes as the first film from Pakistan to be shown there, the picture went on to screen at several festivals across the world, most recently at the DharamshalaInternational Film Festival in India. 

In addition to the Young Cinema Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Australia last weekend, it also played at the Toronto International Film Festival and received the Cannes Queer Palm.

Maria B, a Pakistani fashion designer slammed the film online due to her disagreements with some scenes. She made several Instagram posts last week asserting that the film violated the social ideals of Islam and Pakistan. Soon after her statements went viral, a hashtag named “Ban Joyland” began trending on Twitter in Pakistan not long after. Several other celebrities voiced out the issue. 

 In light of this controversy, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) issued a notification saying the film was not approved for their country. The release date in local theatres was set for November 18.

The Ministry notice read: “On the release of the film, written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material that does not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is repugnant to the norms of ‘decency and morality as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979.

“The Federal Government declares the feature film titled Joyland as an uncertified film for the whole of Pakistan in the cinemas which fall under the jurisdiction of the CBFC with immediate effect.”

In recent developments. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has now appointed a special committee to review the complaints. The Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad issued a notification on Monday marked “very urgent.” 

The subject read “Committee to deliberate on complaints against the Urdu film Joyland” followed by a list of members. They included the information minister, the communications minister, the investment minister, the IT minister, the telecoms minister, the advisor to the prime minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, the PTA chairman, and the PEMRA chairman.

Sharif also stated that this committee will “consider the complaints against the said film being against the social and moral norms, and recommend follow-up action”. The committee will get secretarial assistance from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and will report back on Tuesday (today) with its conclusions.

An Outlook Into 5 The Parenting Lessons Offered In ‘Pinjra’

By
Izma Azeem Chughtai
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 ARY Digital’s drama ‘Pinjra; is a heartbreaking tale of child abuse and neglect. It’s a story that offers multiple lessons to parents by showing two contrasting households, one described as a free place for children, where the mother listens and communicates openly, and the other is termed as a cage. 

Abhaan, belonging to the latter home suffers from severe anxiety, depression, and distress due to the restricting rules instilled by his parents, Khadija and Javed. In the latest episode, Abhaan takes up pills to rid himself of the pain in his life. Although he is still young, his anxiety and inability to meet his parent’s expectations lead him to consider suicide. 

Parenting is a difficult job and everyone isn’t born with the right skills to know exactly how to be a “good” guardian. Therefore, people all around the world should have a guide on how to do better. Luckily, narratives like ‘Pinjra’ have brought out interesting pointers to consider while raising a child. So without further ado, here is a lowdown of the problems one should take heed to.

1. Suffocating boundaries

Having suffocating boundaries creates an extremely toxic environment for people, and definitely, children who are forced to live under rules that don’t let them have any freedom in life. This often creates a place that offers more distress and worries. Like Abhaan, a child can also go to a darker space towards suicidal thoughts and drug addiction. Most boundaries are instilled by parents to garner more control in their household and protect their kids from the perils of society, but sometimes it can go really far and create the opposite effect.

2. Physical abuse has a negative impact

Physical abuse can never have a good outcome: it leaves prominent scars on a child’s mind. Abhaan suffers from anxiety and has a great fear of his parents due to facing physical abuse at the hands of his father. Deep down, he knows that doing anything against his parents would result in another traumatic incident, therefore Abhaan tries his best to be the ideal kid like his brother, but ends up failing each time. What’s worse is that Abhaan would have never opted for suicide or drugs if he had a parent who would listen to him, instead of abusing him.

3. Your child has a voice

Every child has their own likes and dislikes, and their voice counts. Their desires are valid and every parent must understand this before deciding to have a baby. Abhaan is an artistic child, different from all his siblings, and that’s his strong point. Many students aren’t good at academics but have different talents that can be nourished to make a career. For Abhaan it is an art and unfortunately, his parents aren’t able to see that.

4. Respect is a two-way street

Your child won’t respect you if you won’t do the same for them. Javed and Khadija treat their children as an extension of their own desires. They want the “perfect” child, yet ironically aren’t the best parents for them. Therefore, parents need to treat their children as separate humans that should receive respect, love, and trust.

5. Children can have their own dreams and goals

Similar to how children have a voice, they also develop their own interests as they age. Not every child needs to grow up to be a “doctor” or “engineer.” It’s a choice and should be treated as one by their parents too. Sadly, Abhaan’s parents don’t see this and unintentionally make their child suffer. 

6. Mental health is real

Children suffer from mental disorders and troubled traumas as well. Like adults, their struggles are valid and in need of attention from a qualified professional. Abhaan deserves to visit counsellors who can guide him to a better outlet for his miseries in life, but again his anxiety and depression are not taken seriously, resulting in a devastating outcome in the end. Parents should regard their child’s mental health with the same importance as their physical health, both are equally responsible for creating a child fit.

Humayun Saeed’s Kissing Scene In ‘The Crown’ Causes An Uproar Amongst Netizens

By
Azmaray Tamim Aulia
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Superstar Hamayun Saeed’s international debut on Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ has been a hot potato at the moment, in which he has been cast to play Princess Diana’s love interest, Dr Hasnat Khan. While many fans and celebrities are cheering and supporting the Bin Roye star for his success, netizens are lashing out at the Pakistani actor for his steamy scenes with Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana in the show.

One Twitterer highlighted their view on gendered discrimination, saying that “My only observation of Saeed in The Crown is that whenever Pakistani actresses have kissed onscreen, they’ve been crucified for it but when a Pakistani man does it, there are absolute crickets. The hypocrisy of our people is nauseating.”

Some used Mahira Khan as an example: “Khan got more hate for her ‘bad’ Punjabi in ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ than Humayun Saeed is getting for kissing a woman on-screen in that western show, (if he’s getting any).”

Many pointed out that if a Pakistani actress had done a steamy scene, people would’ve “crucified” her.

Despite the criticism, numerous people have been nothing but supportive of Saeed’s acting journey. Pakistani Stars such as Adnan Siddiqui expressed their delight at the Pakistani actor’s role, highlighting how the “entire Pakistan is basking” in Saeed’s triumph.

Here’s All We Know About The Multitasker Shayan Khan

By
Galaxy Lollywood
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Shayan Khan
Shayan Khan

Unfortunate happenstance, loss of a family member, sudden parenthood, and a thirst for vengeance. These are the dire circumstances in which we find Bashir in the upcoming film, ‘The Wrong One’. Bashir is played by the multifaceted Shayan Khan. His role in the movie looks promising, adding immense talent for the audience to enjoy. 

Shayan Khan is a Pakistani American actor, producer, and entrepreneur. Since immigrating to America as a young teen, he has become a global mogul. He began his career working alongside his late father, Khawar Farooqi, and his elder brother, Zain Farooqi. He is now a managing member of the chain of stores called ‘Now & Forever’, which are dotted across the Greater Houston Area in Southeast Texas. His entrepreneurial tastes have him invested in real estate development as well. Their company, ‘Zashko Entertainment’, was formed in Houston, Texas, and was crucial in other productions which starred Shayan, including ‘Na Band Na Baraati’ and the upcoming much-awaited movie ‘Money Back Guarantee’.

Netizens can spot a dozen of skits on Shayan’s Instagram (@iamshayankhan). They all feature Khan playing a crime-fighting protagonist, through which he is able to show his creative capabilities on and off set. 

One caption spells out the entrepreneur’s motto: “There is no right or wrong way to live.”

Humayun Saeed Breaks Silence Over ‘The Crown’ As Season 5 Nears Release

By
Kasim Bilal
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Pakistani Entertainment Industry has only a handful of superstars. There are a few known names that have the ability to get people to watch whatever they star in. One such name is Humayun Saeed. 

Working in the industry for over 25 years, Humayun has quite the resume, most recently coming hot off his blockbuster Eid flick ‘London Nahi Jaunga.’ The award-winning actor has had success on both the big and small screen, also working in Bollywood. 

The actor is now set to make his Hollywood debut in the coveted 5th season of the Netflix Orginal ‘The Crown’. The news had been percolating for the past few months, Humayun kept his silence until now. He finally sat down with Dawn’s Maliha Rehman and talked about Netflix’s award-winning juggernaut.

Casting Process

When asked about the casting process, Humayun said the following:

“It started with a call from Hamid Hussain, who is now my talent agent. He used to manage Bollywood star Nargis Fakhri, and I was in touch with him earlier to cast Nargis in my film. We had remained in touch since then.”

He added: “One evening, I got a call from him, and he informed me that there was a really important international project that he had in mind for me, but I would need to send an audition for it. I only remember auditioning for the first few projects at the start of my career, but I know this is a norm in the West and agreed to it.”

So, he sent the audition in and soon after he was asked to do an online reading with Elizabeth Debicki, who will be playing Princess Diana in the latest season. After ten days of waiting, the role of Dr. Hasnat Khan was his.

Playing Dr. Hasnat Khan

‘The Crown’ follows the lives of the British Royal Family and Season 5 sees us in the 1990s nearing the end of Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s marriage. Enter Dr. Hasnat Ahmad Khan, played by Humayun Saeed, a British-Pakistani lung and heart surgeon who is most well-known for his romantic relationship with Princess Diana from 1995 to 1997, referred by her as “Mr. Wonderful”.

We just got a first glimpse of his character where he looks barely recognizable. Attention to detail in a show like ‘The Crown’ of course is incredible and it’s the same for Humayun’s look. 

When asked about his research and prep work before stepping into the role, he had this to say:

“Before filming began, I got to do a workshop with a real surgeon in the UK to understand how a surgeon would behave and react on the job. Of course, I knew about Dr Hasnat Khan even before I got this role. After my casting was confirmed, the team shared research material with me on the doctor. It included a few interviews, as well as, some images.

“Dr Hasnat Khan is a very private person, which was why he and Princess Diana broke up — he couldn’t handle being in the limelight. Due to this, there is very limited material on him available in the public domain. So, I had to study whatever was shared with me in detail.”

Humayun, for most of his career, is seen playing the hero, so when asked about his transformation into a down-to-earth not very fashionable doctor, he had this to say:  

“I would sometimes try to push up my hair right before a scene,” he laughs, “but the stylists on set would immediately notice and they would put my hair back in place. When I saw myself on screen for the first time, I was completely taken aback! I didn’tlook like Humayun Saeed at all, but like the doctor.

“On a serious note, the makers of ‘The Crown’ are extremely particular about details and the look that they had created for the doctor had to be followed to the tee. It was very impressive seeing firsthand how they looked into every tiny nuance.”

Humayun also talked about how he could let his diet go for a change, seeing as how he’s often playing the hero which requires strict regimental diets. 

Humayun’s On-set Experience

When asked if the experience was ever intimidating, Humayun was quite confident and said

“More than being intimidated, I feel that this show puts extra responsibility on anyone who is part of it,” he mused. “People naturally have strong feelings about characters in the show, and memories of the events that we are depicting. Also, some of the people we are representing are alive or have family members who are still alive and that means all of us who are part of this show have to take the responsibility of our roles seriously.”

He also lauded the screenwriter Peter Morgan for handling each character’s portrayal sensitively, calling it the show’s biggest highlight.

Speaking about the energy on set, Humayun revealed that most of his scenes were opposite Elizabeth Debicki, and that he was in awe of her commitment to her craft. Elizabeth of course, is best known for her work in ‘The Great Gatsby,’ ‘Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2’ and ‘Tenet.’

Humayun doesn’t think that the series will give him a significant boost as an actor, rather that he hopes to apply all his lessons from this experience on his other projects at home. 

We are thrilled for Humayun and Pakistani actors in general getting more work overseas. We wish him all the success and more to come. ‘The Crown’ Season 5 hits Netflix on 9 November 2022, with all episodes dropping at the same time.

What ‘Daraar’ Teaches Us About Unfaithful Partners

By
Izma Azeem Chughtai
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Daraar

Cheating has become a common act in the current world. In a monogamous relationship, seeking out multiple partners is considered a disrespectful stab behind your partner’s back. It’s a problematic approach that negatively impacts all the parties involved: in short, it never ends well. Similar to Shaheer, played by Syed Jibran, from ‘Daraar’, the world is full of unfaithful spouses that betray, lie, and cheat with no remorse. 

Luckily, Geo Tv has produced an intriguing narrative that highlights the common attributes of a cheater. Shaheer is a great example for people to understand how compulsive cheaters behave around their partners. Like Irha, played by Amar Khan, many women and men trust their spouses too easily and catch up to the signs too late. So without further ado, here is a lowdown of some of the common traits found among unfaithful partners.

1. Compulsive lying

Like Shaheer, every cheater leaves behind a trail of lies. It’s a natural reaction for them to fabricate the truth on the spot. Shaheer always uses lies to get out of trouble and Irha is not only the victim of his deceit but also his other love interests like Sajjal (Momal Sheikh). It’s commonly said that “everyone lies”, but only a compulsive liar is capable of cheating as their life revolves around disloyalty. The very act requires them to lie, therefore they do it frequently without regret.

2. Love bombing

After seeing Irha in his office, Shaheer showers her with gifts and promises of a happily ever after. Similarly, people who cheat tend to love-bomb their interests at the start of their courtship. The reason is simple: they want their interest to fall for them quickly. It’s a big red flag if someone tells you they are in love with you that quickly. So the next time you catch someone saying the three-letter words too fast, make sure you double-check before moving ahead with the relationship.

3. Self-absorbed

Anyone who cheats is bound to be self-absorbed and lack empathy. The trauma, dread, and distress one feels while being cheated on is the biggest reason to never cross boundaries. However, it’s easier to commit an action that hurts another if you are self-absorbed like Shaheer is in all of his relationships. In countless scenes, he only courts women, especially Sajjal without any fear or remorse for the pain he will inflict on Irha, his pregnant wife.

4. Obsessed with how others perceive them

Shaheer is a man who values how others perceive him, including all of his love interests. This is a common trait found in cheaters who seek constant validation from others and continue to cheat to feel loved and valued in their own eyes. From endorsing a charity organization to becoming a source of financial aid for all his lovers, throughout the drama Shaheer makes sure that all of his quests are women who need love, money, or support.

5. Have a fear of being cheated on 

If quite common for cheaters to fear the same actions from their partners. You might have heard stories of cheating partners who were insecure, jealous, or accused their better half of doing the same to them. Shaheer too shares the same insecurity, as he questions Sajjal any moment he sees her with another man. 

6. Secretive

A person can’t live double lives without being secretive. Their work, “business trips,” and whereabouts are always a secret or lies to get rid of any trace of infidelity. Therefore, keep your eye out for people who love keeping their secrets, and can’t stop sharing lies. Shaheer is definitely one of them too. 

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