Having an opinion is not a crime but somehow, Ushna Shah becomes subject to social media trials after she voices hers. Known for being outspoken and an opinionated individual, Ushna Shah once again took Instagram by storm and spoke openly about two topics – colourism and PCOS – with messages for Pakistanis. And this time, most netizens are happy.
The past few days have been all about creating awareness on colourism and how various celebrities have come forward to speak about embracing their skin; be it dark or light, clear or scarred. Ushna jumped onto the bandwagon earlier today with a small message for the people of our country. She reposted a picture of a famous Sudanese-American YouTuber, Nyma Tang, calling it an appreciation post, which was followed by another re-post of the said YouTuber with a message that read, “Dear (the majority) of Pakistanis. Please get out of your enslaved colonial mind-sets because you are missing out on some serious beauty. I mean. Just wow!”
About 7 hours after Ushna requested Pakistanis to be more accepting of different skin colours and quit their gora-complex, the actress built awareness on another essential topic that most Pakistanis, both men, and women, need to be more vocal about – PCOS.
Her stories started with reposted images from a PCOS lifestyle dietician’s account on what all may have an affect on the condition along with different reasons for fatigue with PCOS. She then created her own story in three parts. First, she noted that there are several types of PCOS and second, she noted that knowing your type of PCOS can help recognize symptoms.
This, however, was not the first time Ushna spoke about PCOS. She clarified in her third and final story as to why she often speaks on the topic and also revealed that she has struggled with PCOS, that too with poor guidance on the subject. She wrote, “Dear men, the reason I often share PCOS related posts is because I myself went through my teens and most of my 20’s facing many challenges due to PCOS without proper guidance. I still have challenging days.”
She added that PCOS is an ailment that is commonly misunderstood and for which modern medicine has not evolved in decades and that she would like to help other women through her platform. “ 1 in 10 women have some type of PCOS and I want to use my platform to help as many as I can”
Ushna is definitely not one to shy away from speaking her mind on what she feels passionate about. Just recently, she spoke about normalising discussions on menstruation, in the bluntest of ways – the Ushna way. Shah leaves no chance to voice her opinion about topics the normal Pakistani would usually refrain from addressing. At times she is criticised for being such an opinionated person but we feel it takes a sense of responsibility to feel the need to be so vocal and are glad to see the actress use her platform as a vessel of change.
Another week, another string of excellent performances by our actors in dramas. At this point, it has been well established that Pakistan doesn’t have a dearth of talent. From complex and grey characters to simple, black and white ones – there’s a myriad of characters that can be found on our television screens, all thanks to the actors that perform them. Although most of them do a good job with their respective characters, some actors leave a long-lasting impact on the audience with their performances.
The child stars in ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’
Child actors haven’t always been given lead roles in our dramas. They are included in dramas just to help the story move forward. That, however, is not the case with ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’. The drama revolves around three separate timelines, and the children are the leading characters in two of those timelines. Since the children take a majority of the screen time in the drama, the audience would have gotten bored if it weren’t for their realistic performances. Of all the children, the child actors playing the roles of Allah Rakhi, Jamshed, and Naseem Zehra definitely stand out.
All three of them are dealing with ordeals of their own and the child actors make sure that the audience knows what they are going through. The credit also goes to the director Kashif Nisar and writer Amna Mufti for allowing them to shine in a drama that consists of excellent actors like Omair Rana, Yumna Zaidi, Samiya Mumtaz, Yasra Rizvi, and Noor ul Hassan.
Saba Faisal in ‘Raqeeb Se’
Saba Faisal isn’t a stranger to giving realistic and convincing performances. Throughout her career, spanning almost a decade, she has done countless noteworthy roles. And now, she can add another feather to her cap for playing Atiqa Bhabhi in ‘Raqeeb Se’. She has already become a fan favorite, which says a lot considering her character was introduced at the end of episode 5. Atiqa Bhabhi is shown to be an illiterate but extravagant woman, who cannot stop boasting about the materialistic things she owns in her life. And the most interesting thing is that such people do exist in our society, which must be the reason behind her character.
Saba Faisal, who is usually known for playing simpler roles, does an excellent job here. From the mispronunciation of English words to Atiqa Bhabhi’s mannerisms, Saba has nailed every aspect of the role down to a T.
Imran Ashraf in ‘Raqs e Bismil’
Imran Ashraf must be tired of everyone telling him how skilled an actor he is when it comes to delivering splendid performances, but there’s just no other way around it. He was still being hailed as one of the most versatile actors of Pakistan due to his performance as Adam in ‘Mushk’ when he appeared in yet another excellent role as Moosa in ‘Raqs e Bismil’.
When the drama first started, a lot of people assumed that Imran’s playing the role of a bully in the drama. However, as the story progressed, the audience found out that there are several layers to Moosa’s character. When he is in front of the person he loves, Zohra, it seems like he is the most loveable person on the planet. But when he’s out there literally shooting people for pointing fingers at his cousin Sakeena, there is no one more terrifying than Moosa. Imran Ashraf has such a great command over his craft that every time he dons a new persona for a role, it seems like the role was written only for him.
Zara Noor Abbas in ‘Phaans’
Many people still question Zara Noor Abbas’s acting skills. They complain that she either plays the damsel in distress or happy-go-lucky roles. This time, however, in Phaans, Zara has chosen a much different role, which is poles apart from the characters that she usually plays. And although Phaans is still in its initial episodes, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Zara has given her career-best performance in the drama. Those who have been watching the drama know that at the end of the first episode, Zeba, played by Zara Noor Abbas, was raped. Zeba was unconscious throughout the second episode because of the trauma she had just endured. By the third episode, Zeba was back and while she was shocked, that didn’t stop her from saying out loud the name of the culprit.
Zara was especially good in the scene where she grabs Saahil by his collar. At a time when no one, not even her family believed her, Zeba had sworn vengeance on the people who did wrong by her and Zara captured all the emotions Zeba was going through perfectly.
“Your freedom ends where my nose begins” – a phrase we all need to understand and apply in our lives. Often people mistake social media trolling as being synonymous with freedom of expression. That is nothing but wrong. Anyone with an open-to-public social media profile is subject to trolling and cyberbullying and we see celebrities getting the worst form of it. Sheheryar Munawar was a guest on Vasay Chaudhry’s show ‘Ghabrana Mana Hai’ yesterday and brought up some valid points on the topic of trolling and cyberbullying.
After a fun introduction and the send-a-message bit on the show, Vasay asked Sheheryar what he thinks is the importance of social media to which the actor replied, “I honestly think it’s a place where people come and they feel that they’re hidden behind a screen, so they can say absolutely anything. So I think that’s what social media is being used for right now.”
Following Sheheryar’s reply which was filled with disappointment, Vasay asked him about his views on trolling. Sheheryar seemed very passionate about the subject, especially since earlier in the show he shared how he refrains from talking on popular subjects like religion, politics, and sexual orientation. He said that he thinks it’s terrible. “It’s honestly terrible because you don’t know the effect your words have on the other person.” He added that every day we hear news of something or the other being banned, like the game PUBG being banned because people were committing suicide, but we still haven’t labeled bullying and harassment shameful crimes. “I honestly feel that the implications are worse because you can’t see them.”
Sheheryar praised the Pakistani governments cyberbullying department saying they helped him well when his Instagram account got hacked and the department returned the account within 24 hours. But then he also expressed how despite there being this department, we haven’t treated cyberbullying as a crime and that we need to take steps towards that agenda.
Various other artists have been subject to cyberbullying and trolling. Followers feel like since they are behind a screen and their real identity is often hidden, they can say and comment whatever they want to without considering the impact of their words. Shehehryar Munawar and other celebrities like Iqra Aziz have been vocal about their views on cyberbullying and have used their massive outreach to try to bring about a change in this social media trend amongst followers.
Pakistani dramas have given us some truly iconic female characters over the past few years. From timid and helpless girls to them finding strength and break out of their cocoon, the evolution of these characters has given us a lot to learn from with their perseverance. This Women’s Day, let’s revisit some of our favourite iron ladies from our dramas.
Kashaf from ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’
Kashaf Murtaza did not have an easy life. She was failed, time and again, by people and circumstances, and that molded her into a bitter individual. Yet, through hard work and perseverance, she made something out of herself. She achieved her goals and with time, opened her heart to those around her. Every bit of happiness she got was hard-earned and her beautiful dialogues live on in our hearts even today.
Anmol from ‘Dil Lagi’
Anmol had the heart of a lion. She had a fiery disposition and she never backed down from what she believed to be right. She faced situations in her life that would have broken down everything in their path, but not Anmol. She battled it all head-on and came out on top.
Sajida from ‘Udaari’
Sajida was a simple woman with simple joys and expectations from life. Unfortunately, she crossed paths with an abuser. The way she protected her daughter from her harasser was truly a feat in itself and afterwards, when she moved to the city and began working, earning and living life on her own terms, she showed us that she was a woman who went through hell and was still standing strong at the end of it.
Fouzia from ‘Baaghi’
Fouzia Batool was a lively young girl who got a hard lot in life. She left her abusive husband in the village she belonged to and came to the city to make a name for herself. While some might call her means to fame immoral, one is forced to reflect upon the circumstances that drove her to them. In the end, Fouzia just wanted to support her family and find peace but unfortunately, she was killed in the name of honour. And there’s no greater dishonour than that.
Hajra from ‘Inkaar’
Hajra was an embodiment of “NO MEANS NO”. She took a stand for herself and was fearless in telling her harasser exactly what she thought of his antics. Her resilience through the entire ordeal, especially her trial, shows us the wells of strength that girl had.
Bano from ‘Dastaan’
Bano’s story is one of extreme hardships and patriotism. She lost everything while the Indo-Pak partition was happening in 1947. Her entire family was killed, she was separated from her fiance, and was abused mentally and physically until she was almost mad. Yet, she kept going. She showed incredible strength of character and we truly believe that Pakistan was made because of the determination of countless Banos.
Dua from ‘Ehd-E-Wafa’
Dua was the definition of a modern day woman. A working woman who balanced her home and work life impeccably. The way she supported her mother after her father’s passing was commendable. Later, after marrying Saad, she stood by him and her fierce support gave him room to grow into his career while she did the same in her own field.
Falak from ‘Shehr-E-Zaat’
Falak’s journey was a spiritual one and she showed us that sometimes, the demons you have to battle are on the inside. Her growth and character development was a journey worth watching. She taught us how one can blossom into a completely different version of themselves while remaining in the same old place as before, all through introspection.
Khaani from ‘Khaani’
Sanam Khan was a pillar of strength. Mir Hadi murdered her twin brother and then fell in love with her and she did not forgive him for all he had done. He had a world of resources on his side but Khaani did not falter away. She was the glue that held her family together and after countless trials and tribulations, she got Mir Hadi the punishment he deserved.
Maryam from ‘Beti’
Maryam played such an important role in battling gender politics. She showed the world that being the mother of a daughter was not something to lament, it was something to be proud of and celebrate. She endured so much, yet she never backed down from her stance and continued to be the strength every daughter wants from her mother.
Noori from ‘Ranjha Ranjha Kardi’
Noori was a poor girl with big dreams. She ended up in testing circumstances when she married Bhola. Her resolve and strength of character while dealing with his condition was absolutely beautiful. She gave Bhola his life back by uncovering a sinister plot and getting him correct medical aid. Noori was Bhola’s saviour and if that’s not a testament to her loyalty, then we don’t know what is.
Chammi from ‘Aangan’
Chammi was a bubbly, energetic and vibrant character. She was also extremely passionate and never backed down from doing the right thing. She was one of those characters who were on the forefront fighting for all that is good in the world. Her happy ending was so well deserved after everything she went through.
Samia from ‘Ghissi Pitti Mohabbat’
Samia from ‘Ghissi Pitti Mohabbat’ lived a life that put her through a lot of hard and testing situations. She opened her heart and had it broken too many times. She taught us to give chances to people and also when to stop. We were overjoyed when she picked her own self over others and chose to be happy in solitude rather than being unhappy and that too at someone else’s mercy.
Anaya from ‘Sabaat’
Anaya was a force to be reckoned with. She was smart, compassionate and brave. She knew her rights and she made sure to exercise them. She did not take flak from anybody and when Hassan mistreated her, she gave him a clean break. She took care of her mother after her father’s death and she did not give any explanations where she didn’t feel compelled to. Anaya knew that the truth would come out in its own time and until it did, she held down the fort by herself exceptionally well.
There are so many more powerful female characters we can name but in all these women, the strength of character, resilience, and perseverance is the uniting factor. They were all warriors with an iron will and we can learn so much from their lives.
Appealing performances by Noman Ejaz, Sania Saeed, and Hadiqa Kiani are making the perplexed audience hooked to a confusing plot — here’s why I believe it’s a must-watch.
‘Raqeeb Se’ feels like an out-of-the-ordinary experimental family drama. It is unapologetic, audacious, and surely addictive. The well-paced screenplay is a refreshing break from the usual plays we see. It teeters so precariously between the rights and wrongs of our society that the audience will immediately question the choices of the lead characters. Seven episodes down, one of my top picks of this year, repeatedly bounces in and out of its characters’ pasts yet strong writing dodges to spiral out of control.
The unconventional narrativefollows three main leads, Maqsood Sahab (Noman Ejaz), Hajra (Sania Saeed), and Sakina (Hadiqa Kiani). Sakina showed up at the door of her ex-lover in the middle of the night after twenty long years. Life has moved on for Maqsood and Sakina but their very identity is defined by their adolescent love-affair. We can sense poignant longing and denial in each exchange of dialogues. They both haven’t looked into each others’ eyes yet, and I am still waiting for that moment on screen. ‘Raqeeb Se’ can be mistaken to be mining the lovers reunited conundrum for its narrative drive but there’s much more to it.
Hajra is not the Danish of ‘Meray Pass Tum Ho’
Many memes on the internet are pointing at Hajra as “too-good-to-be-true”. But I see more to her. She is a genuinely nice person even outside the love triangle, she is someone I would like to have a cup of chai with, any time of the day. She loves to give her best to everyone around her and always senses their needs.
Hajra generously invites Sakina into her home and makes sure she finds her stay comfortable. Hajra loves Maqsood and more than that respects him. Many people, Insha (Faryal Mehmood) included, hold the belief that Hajra’s acceptance of reality and selflessness is an act of weakness and is the same as simply letting Maqsood get away with something wrong and unfair. I, however, see her responses as acts of great strength. I have a feeling that ultimately ‘Raqeeb Se’ belongs to Hajra, she’s the protagonist in disguise, who is repeatedly presenting herself as an understanding wife but won’t allow herself to be a doormat when the time will come.
After much of her life being unfairly spent hoping for her husband’s love, she’s seeing her world falling apart. Is she questioning the worth of holding on to a fragile relationship? Or, does she believe in its strength? This is the mystery that is keeping me hooked to this play. Nonetheless, it makes me happy to see that Hajra’s heart is not caged in her obvious insecurities, making her a strong character. No matter what Atiqa Bhabhi (Saba Faisal) says, Hajra hasn’t given her power away to Maqsood.
Sakina is the forbidden fruit, Ameera is the snake
My wife and I stand divided on Ameera’s advances towards Maqsood. She thinks this is down-right disgusting as she cannot find any reason other than infatuation in play. Well, I think Ameera hasn’t seen a gentleman like Maqsood, so idealising him is a possibility, similar to why many of us had fallen in love with our teachers at some time in our school lives. But I also think that her questions are breaking Maqsood, I can feel for him.
Think of the Maqsood-Hajra marriage as a prism through which every decision is passing, refracting into colors of Maqsood’s personality. If this not-so-perfect marriage wasn’t there, Maqsood would have concealed his vulnerable self. Whatever Maqsood would choose to do with Sakina would have been justified — asking to leave, asking to stay, or even offering marriage. Since Hajra is so perfect at performing her “martial-duties”, Maqsood is on a constant guilt-trip of not being able to reciprocate the same treatment towards his wife. Thus, we hope Maqsood ignores Sakina and goes back to his marriage with Hajra with sincerity.
Let’s celebrate imperfection
BeeGul has taken this layered scheme to explore patriarchy in an unconventional way which you will realise as the story unfolds. ‘Raqeeb Se’ lets us see right into our skewed desires to be perfect without making it obvious. Once we start peeping around how we all embrace and justify utter randomness in our decision-making, it’s next to impossible to look in the other direction. To hold on to our image of the perfect-selves, we refuse to accept our human imperfections. We have this idea that doubting our decisions and life choices is somehow an imperfection, that there’s something wrong with being doubtful. The desire for being always-right is so dangerous. ‘Raqeeb Se’ is inviting us to let go of “perfection” and just accept that we’re human. We’re imperfect. That’s what makes us unique and interesting.
You may disagree with how I have interpreted ‘Raqeeb Se’ so far, and that’s the beauty of the subtle subtext, layered characters, and a dilemma-filled plot of a beautifully written drama that we all need. I do not see why it requires a certain degree of elevation in consciousness to simply recognise that life is not-that-simple.
Social media has been criticised for advocating fake, unattainable, and unrealistic beauty standards, especially by influencers, models, celebrities, and lifestyle bloggers. Being “skinny” is termed as beautiful, hot, and healthy while being slightly chubby is subject to being ridiculed and shamed in the comment section. The “filter life” and “gora complex”, however, take the cake. With social media platforms being heavily used for their skin smoothening and lightening filters, users hide their “flaws” to present and attain unrealistic beauty, making many others feel worse about themselves.
Now, we slowly see trends change. A few Pakistani celebrities have been vocal about embracing their skin with all its “flaws” and we can’t help but salute them for trying to change the narrative.
The beginning of a movement
About 4 days ago, Palwasha Yousuf uploaded a picture of her sister Syra Yousuf post-makeover for Syra’s recent appearance in a music video. The picture was unfiltered and showed Syra’s unprocessed skin; textured and real. Just moments after the picture was posted, netizens stood divided with their comments. Some praised the sisters for showing “real skin” while the internet bullies came out guns blazing.
However, Syra then took to her Instagram stories and posted a selfie, announcing that she loves her skin, with the hashtag “#nofilter”.
Palwasha was also criticised for what netizens thought were subpar makeup skills. The makeup artist then took to her Instagram stories and started a trend with the hashtag “#EmbraceYourSkin” to challenge all women to own their skin.
Following the Yousuf sisters was actress Minal Khan. Just yesterday, Minal posted an unprocessed and makeup-free picture of herself on her official Instagram account, complaining about how summer’s here and so are her best-friends – pimples! Yes, that’s true. Summer and pimples go hand-in-hand for many of us, just as they do for Minal. But the actress felt no shame in showing that to the social media world and was showered with love and appreciation by her celebrity friends as well as her fans.
Now, does it make sense to preach about owning your skin and complexion while using a beauty filter? Not really. But apparently, it does to Hania Aamir. The actress put up an extensive story on her Instagram account, talking about how we need to start talking about the unnatural standards of beauty and the “gora complex” – all while using a beauty filter.
She started by mentioning an incident where she was colour-shamed; a friend of hers told Hania that she needs a tan. Hania expressed her frustration regarding the local mindset, saying, “gori hai tou chitti hai, dark complexion hai tou gori kyun nai ho jati?”
She then added, “I think it’s high time we start having these conversations because… kab tak hum insecure hon ge because of the way we look?” She continued her sermon, saying that we need to own our skin tones, that we don’t have to wear foundation that is two tones darker than our actual skin tone to look tan, or two shades lighter to look fair, and added, “ye bohat he buray beauty standards hain.” Reminder: all of this was being said while using a skin smoothening and lightening beauty filter. Oh, the irony!
Hania also talked about how we have a responsibility to the future generations so that they don’t go through what the current and previous generations have regarding colourism and other unrealistic standards of beauty. Now here’s the problem. While everything she tried to get across to the audience was absolutely correct, the fact that she used a beauty filter just defeated the purpose. There was a filter on her face throughout the video; one that made her cheeks look pink, her lips plump, gave her flawless lashes, as well as higher cheekbones. It’s high time we start practicing what we preach or else we’re just hypocrites, which is exactly what netizens had to say about her little speech.
But that’s not all. Just a few hours ago, Sanam Saeed jumped on the bandwagon with a hilarious take on the situation and posted a story on her Instagram account using a beauty filter that exaggerated her lips and under-eyes, and she wrote, “ eew to these beauty standards”
Seeing prominent people of our country speak up about deep-rooted societal issues gives us hope that we, as a nation, are moving in the right direction, trying to bring a positive change in the mindset of our people. We’re in the 21st century! It’s time we accept who we are; that the majority of South Asian’s including Pakistani’s, is brown and not white, that skin is textured and having flawlessly smooth skin may be a blessing to some but not a standard for everyone to match. It’s time we embrace who we are and our celebrities are surely steering the ship in the right direction.
We would also like to add a fact that hardly any dermatologist will tell you – if you have open pores, nothing in this world will change that. It’s genetic and all you can do is minimise your pores, not eradicate them.
Lately, celebrities in Pakistan have managed to grab attention with their stunning fashion choices. Be it owning a red carpet, or dazzling the ramp in a showstopper outfit, or just hanging out at a coffee shop on a lazy Sunday, these style stars aren’t afraid of taking risks with their clothes, hairstyles, or anything else for that matter.
Flawless style isn’t just about lavish apparel; it’s also about an attitude. It’s not an easy task for celebrities to always be on point and come up with trendy choices. However, the access to a slew of stylists and designers helps them in finding the perfect look. At times, the risk doesn’t pay off, but when it does, it’s trendsetting. These style stars are the ones you definitely should know about and take a cue from.
Ayesha Omar – The fashion chameleon
Speaking of fashion and style, the one name that instantly pops up in our minds is Ayesha Omar. The stunning diva rules the red carpet with her eccentric style and looks. Be it ethnic or western wear; her style revolution has been exemplary. We couldn’t stop raving about a look from her photoshoot with Mohsin Naveed Ranjha, in which she dons a hand-loomed white cotton saree with elaborate white embroidery. The backless short blouse with doris was a complete show-stealer. She completed her look with a pair of heavy earrings with white pearls. Ayesha is a shapeshifter; she looks equally iconic and gorgeous even in urban casual outfits.
Our second pick showcases Omar in a modern avatar in a white tank top and blue jeans with a pop of colour courtesy of a colourful jacket and ethnic jewellery. Her comfy vibes are on point; it’s her jacket that flourishes the chick quotient in the entire look. The exceptionally stylish look with the chunky bangles and ethnic earrings makes us in awe of her chic look.
Sonya Hussyn – A class apart
Without a doubt, Sonya has established herself as a style icon. She is a vision to behold in all her attires. As a showstopper for Zaha Couture at the 18th Bridal Couture Week, Sonya showcased her inner regal traditional bride in an intricate and heavily embellished red bridal ‘lehnga choli’. The kundun jewelry and the stunning make-up made this look complete.
The second look that caught our attention brings out the modern chic women in her. It’s really hard to pull off metallic outfits but trust Sonya to do them justice. Donning a puffy metallic gold jacket, Sonya sets herself apart from other fashion-forward artists with her chic street style vibes. She paired this jacket with a black hat and trendy shades to give the outfit more of an “oomph” factor. The messy open hair just takes this look to another level.
Fahad Mustafa – The star everyone loves
Fahad has come a long way both in terms of his acting career and fashion-wise. The actor not only experiments with his films and productions but is also open to experimenting in fashion. In a recent photoshoot, Fahad looked handsome in his all suit-up-look. The ‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’ actor opted for a blue tuxedo with a white shirt, pairing it up with matching pants and sunglasses to bling up his look. The bow-tie with perfectly gelled hair and the vintage car added enough drama in turning the heads of many.
Fahad’s next look that caught our attention was the street-style look he recently posted on his Instagram account. Flaunting his Balenciaga black knitted sweater with plain brown pants, Fahad proves to be a style star for men, keeping his outfit trendy and on point. He sealed the look with his love of flaunting sneakers, that too chunky Fila Disruptor trainers. To all the boys reading this, follow Fahad for a mix of classy and street fashion tips.
Sheheryar Munawar – Hotness alert
If looking hot was a crime, Sheheryar Munawar would have been behind bars long ago. He bombarded his Instagram with HAWT pictures, leaving us in awe of his muscular avatar as if his looks and charming personality weren’t enough. We’ve probably seen Sheheryar in almost all sorts of outfits. But, if there’s anyone who knows how to dress right for a laid-back day, it’s him. We love everything about this look, right from the plain grey tee to the blazer and the silver accessories that really give that “bad boy” look to his outfit. Bonus points for the book!
What looks better than a desi boy in a traditional outfit? We have yet to find an answer to that question. Sheheryar recently paired up with his ‘Pehli Si Mohabbat’ co-star Maya Ali for a fashion shoot for a leading Pakistani designer where he wore a white shalwar kameez. The chaadar and Sheheryar’s killer looks with the rolled-up sleeves adds the “desi munda” vibe fit for a traditional Pakistani wedding.
Kiran Malik – The diva
There is no denying that Kiran Malik has made a strong mark in the industry within a short span of time, especially with her impeccable sense of style both off-screen as well as on-screen. Makes sense since she also owns a fashion brand called “Style Berri” where she holds trendy outfits for the modern woman.
When it comes to Kiran, it’s hard to pick just one or two or even ten of her best looks since one is yet to see her fail at leaving every other “fashionista” behind. However, we picked her recent outfit; a traditional day wedding outfit with green hues and embellishments all over. Trust Kiran to always add a touch of her own unique style to every outfit; here you see add a pair of large squared shades and a peachy Chanel bag to really make the outfit a ten on ten.
Our next pick is a look that is quick to create yet classy at the same time. If you are tight on time, you can recreate this look that works best at breakfast, lunch, and even dinners. It’s no shocker that Kiran, yet again, gives us major style goals in a powder blue summer blazer with sleek cream pants. She adds a pop of colour with her red flat pumps that give the outfit that “oomph” factor. Don’t miss those statement square shades with trendy chunky chains that set the look apart.
It is no secret that sometimes our drama scripts get repetitive. The same stories about familial struggles, abuse, and unrequited love are shown time and time again.
Similarly, some actors have carved out a niche of performance that has them playing similar characters in every other story. This results in most of their projects having the same kind of acting and an energy that we start associating with them. Here are 5 actresses who play a certain kind of character so well that they keep getting cast in similar molds repeatedly.
The feisty girl – Iqra Aziz
In the past few projects Iqra was part of, we have seen her play the feisty, energetic, slightly “mun-phatt” girl who wants a lot from life and as is common in our dramas, rarely gets it. After playing Jiya in ‘Suno Chanda’, Noori in ‘Ranjha Ranjha Kardi’, Nirma in ‘Jhooti’ to the most recent Mahi in ‘Khuda aur Mohabbat 3’, Iqra could probably play this role with her eyes closed by now. While we love the authenticity she brings to the screen while playing such characters, we would love to see her experimenting with different roles and acting patterns.
The bubbly and vibrant girl – Hania Aamir
Another actress who could play the bubbly, charming, lovable beauty at the drop of a hat is Hania Aamir. Daneen in ‘Anaa’, Roomi in ‘Ishqiya’, Sanam in ‘Dilruba’, and Palwasha in ‘Janaan’; from dramas to movies, Hania has gathered quite some experience in playing this role. Now, we’d love to see her play something a bit more intense, or maybe something with more shades of grey.
The intense girl- Sana Javed
Speaking of intense, Sana Javed is an actress who loves to pick dark, gritty projects. One character we’ve seen her play multiple times is the harassment victim. Her Sanam in ‘Khaani’, Afreen in ‘Dar Khuda Se’ and Dr. Sameera in ‘Ruswai’ are all characters who’ve been harassed in some way by the anti-heroes in their dramas. Her recent foray into Amal in ‘Dunk’ was a breath of fresh air as she took on a completely different kind of role in a bid to show the other side of the story.
The miserable girl – Saheefa Jabbar
Saheefa is good at crying. Or at least, that’s what our drama creators believe. From Aiman in ‘Bhool’, Meerab in ‘Log Kya Kahengay’ to Maryam in ‘Beti’, Saheefa has a tear streaked portfolio. While she’s amazing at seeming miserable on screen, just once, we’d like to see her shine as her glamorous, exuberant self in a project.
The mazloom girl – Alizeh Shah
Oh, the woes of an innocent face. Alizeh played Mairah in ‘Mera Dil, Mera Dushman’, Mashal in ‘Jo Tu Chahay’, Gul Naz in ‘Hoor Pari’ and Palwasha in ‘Ishq Tamasha’ and there’s one thing they all had in common, a case of terrible luck. All of these girls were the epitome of bebasi, lachaari and mazloomiyat. We’d love to see Alizeh branch out and do something a bit more tenacious in her upcoming projects.
These actresses have mastered the kind of roles they play and while no one could do it better, we’d love to see them explore different facets of their talents.
For many international celebrities, starring in blockbuster TV shows is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to receiving handsome paychecks. Every time one of their TV shows is redistributed or purchased by a streaming platform, the actors get paid again in the form of residual checks, known as royalties. Unfortunately, the concept of royalties is alien to the current Pakistani drama industry. Our artists are only paid by the channels once; when the channels rope in the actors to play their respective roles in their dramas. After that, regardless of how many times their dramas go on-air again or are sold to international channels, the actors receive nothing.
How do royalties work in Pakistan?
The concept of royalties wasn’t always lost in the Pakistani drama industry. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, when PTV was the only channel that aired dramas, artists used to get paid for reruns. However, they worked differently than how royalties work internationally. Internationally, channels have set a fixed percentage that the actors receive every time they re-aired one of the actors’ TV shows. The percentage decreases with each rerun. But in Pakistan’s context, back in the olden days, if an actor was financially unstable, he had the option to ask a channel for a higher paycheck than what he would have received normally. Actors who opted for this option, however, lost the right to ask the channel to pay them again if the channel ever decided to rerun one of the actors’ dramas. Since then, the same concept has been followed, which is precisely why actors aren’t paid for reruns anymore.
Actors Collective Trust (ACT)
Back in 2016, theatre actor Omair Rana formed a trust called Actors’ Collective Trust (ACT) and is the general secretary of the trust as well. Talking about ACT, Omair said that he established the trust to provide support to the Pakistani acting fraternity. The trust consists of notable Pakistani personalities like Faisal Rahman, Samina Ahmad, Mohammad Qavi Khan, Hina Bayat, Laila Zuberi, and Arjumand Rahim, apart from Omair Rana himself. Since the trust’s formation, there have been discussions regarding payment and even reruns and multiple efforts have been made to help artists receive their fair dues.
When Galaxy Lollywood reached out to Omair for a comment, he said that if actors are given royalties, they won’t have to be dependent on the government or anyone else. But the producers have an entirely different attitude regarding dramas. They sell their products (dramas) to international channels and upload them on YouTube and earn money with each like and view. But not a penny is shared with the rest of the cast and the crew of the drama who play an integral role in the success of the project.
Omair also added that producers and broadcasters do not have long-term plans regarding reruns; they want the cast and the crew to accept whatever is being given to them at that specific moment. Upon asking why no one has been so openly vocal about reruns and royalties, Omair replied that actors know they are going to be returned empty-handed. Actors can’t sit idle just because their needs are not being met. Omair also revealed that these days, some actors have added a clause in their contracts that states that whenever actors are appointed as the ‘face’ of a specific brand, they will get paid each time the brand runs the advertisement starring the actor. The time duration is usually decided at the time of signing the contract and as long as an actor is the face of one brand, he cannot form another contract with a different brand of the same nature.
Talking about broadcasters, Omair said it feels that they think that they have bought the talent of the actors who cannot afford to say no to the broadcasters. When asked whether he sees a change in the industry regarding royalties, Omair said that he is an optimist. If everyone collectively raises their voice against it and remains persistent, then something will be done. It might not happen right now or in the near future, but it will be done.
Celebrities weigh in
A few days ago, model turned actor Mikaal Zulfiqar shared scenes of one of his dramas ‘Diyar e Dil’ being re-aired on HUM TV with the captions “HUM TV re-airing Diyar e Dil for the umpteenth time” and “If only we got paid for reruns. Would never have to work another day in life”. He even left a comment under one of Galaxy Lollywood’s Instagram posts, encouraging people to start a movement so actors can start getting paid for reruns. Considering the disappointment Mikaal expressed on this matter, we reached out to him and he was quite passionate and vocal about the issue.
Mikaal reiterated many of the points Omair raised. He said that it’s really unfair how not just the actors, but everyone who works hard behind the camera does not get paid for reruns. He added that when channels make a drama, they don’t only make money by airing the drama on their own channel but also by selling it to international channels and platforms. They upload it on their respective YouTube channels and earn money from it through advertising. But the cast and crew of the drama aren’t paid a rupee from there despite being the reason behind the success of the drama.
Talking about why no one has been publicly vocal about the issue, Mikaal said that the entertainment industry is still considered an emerging one. He added that it does seem a little hypocritical raising his voice on the issue, yet taking up dramas without the promise of royalties, but just because there is a problem with not getting paid for reruns doesn’t mean actors won’t sign a new project at all. He said that it is highly unfair that artists are paid just once for playing their role in creating the final product but get no benefit when the product does well. Mikaal hopes that by raising his voice about this issue, he can give back to the industry that made him who he is today and pave the way for future artists of Pakistan.
Galaxy Lollywood also reached out to Sanam Saeed, who was Mikaal’s co-star in ‘Diyar e Dil’. Sanam shared her opinion on the matter and said that royalties are a no-go area and an age-old debate when it comes to signing contracts. When asked whether a collaborative effort by actors could actually bring this much-needed change, Sanam replied that actors would have to unite against this and form a mutually agreed decision so they are not exploited like this. Sanam further added that she would appreciate if actors were provided even a token amount every time one of their dramas generated money whenever a drama is re-aired, sold to other channels, or streamed on OTT platforms.
It seems only fair that if someone adds value to a project, they must be included in the success and benefits of the project. The success of a drama is because of a collective effort of the producer, director, actor, cameramen, and other vital cogs that lent their skill, their craft to the drama. And it definitely is each contributing party’s right to receive a share of the profit the drama makes each time the drama makes money. The entertainment industry seems united on the front that artists should be paid for reruns of dramas they were part of and hope for a better and just future for the industry.
2021 seems like a positive year for our film industry when it comes to new and diverse content. Not only are our actors coming back to the big screen after a dry year, 2020, due to the pandemic, we also see an inclined liking towards short films. The industry, as well as the audiences, are accepting new fresh talent via platforms such as Digestive Showtime that advocate new creative content. Innovative Biscuits Youtube-based short film platform, ‘Digestive Showtime’ released its first short film, Yorker, on the 1st of March with four other short films to follow this season.
Yorker
Digestive Showtime’s first release, Yorker, sets an excellent base and high expectations for the following four short films. The film has a strong message yet it entertains and helps the viewers disconnect to connect. The story revolves around an upcoming fast bowler, Ammar Saleem, played by Wahaj Ali, who builds the courage to face his one true fear; speaking in English. The film sheds light on how important communicating in English is in Pakistan and how one can be scrutinised and judged on the basis of their level of English fluency. The short film also features talented actors Mohammad Ehteshamuddin, Faizan Sheikh, Hammad Siddiq, Mani, Jawad Bashir, Dua Hamid, along with George Fullton, Danish Anis Sheikh and Sikandar Sheikh.
The film is directed by Ahsan Rahim and Syed Nini. At first glance, the film production is remarkable and it serves to purpose of filling the much-needed gap in the industry effectively. Not a typical cricket movie, Yorker’s message has been highly appreciated by the audience.
It’s refreshing to see a film that is off the topics that our filmmakers usually go for. This takes us back to the launch of ‘Digestive Showtime’ a few days ago, where Sanam Saeed said that audiences are really appreciating dramas and content that has more to do with realism. She added that short films are usually made on topics that are more real in comparison to feature films, and Yorker is definitely one of the real ones, targeting a topic close to the Pakistani audience and the “gore complex”.
Digestive Showtime
True to its mission, Digestive Showtime brings artists, creators, and curators together around a brand new digital platform that celebrates the exquisite art of storytelling. In doing so, it will aim to provide not only solace and entertainment for audiences during a time when it’s needed most but also opportunities for these individuals to contribute to their art and industry, digitally.
Umair Mustafa, Director Marketing and Executive Producer of Digestive Showtime said, “The digital platform celebrates voices, elevates films that have the power to create change and bring audiences together to create meaningful connections. Assembling some of Pakistan’s most talented artists and storytellers around a central effort to provide entertainment, Digestive Showtime will offer audiences an opportunity to enjoy short films with production quality that of a feature film and this is the uniqueness about Digestive Showtime. At the same time it provides a unique story which is relatable to local audience.”
He also added that their aim is to elevate the standard of film production and bring it to the level, which is being served by the international OTT platforms like Digestive Showtime, and give it to our local audience with original content made for Pakistan. A platform to inspire not only the audience but our talent as well as a platform that curates digital content and one that showcases and features our celebrities on a digital platform.”
Syed Talha Imran, Senior Brand Manager, and Platform Producer said, “Innovative Biscuits is young at heart, and we channelize our spirit to revamp the industry with an experiential approach. The brand “Digestive” is as simple as nature is. The brand is about disconnecting one’s self to connect with what matters the most, we stand by being simple and soulful.”
He further explained that the team has taken inspiration from Digestive. “We all do storytelling naturally and popular stories are also simple which the audiences resonate with. The chaotic routine gets many of us so indulged that life becomes a rotating orbit, which isn’t even driven by us. Sometimes the orbit takes a break, takes us on an alternate track. A powerful track that brakes, disconnect and then re-connect us to an anchor. We realised a gap in the industry. There has been music and a lot of it but this storytelling was ignored and so we are proud to present to you a digital platform, “Digestive Showtime” for high-quality short films with a theme of disconnecting to connect.”
Digestive Showtime’s first short-film ‘Yorker’ was released yesterday on the platform’s Youtube channel and website. This will be followed by other films; including, “2 Sey 5”, “Full Circle”, “Daughter By Law”, and “Road Trip”. With a film like ‘Yorker’ to inaugurate the platform, Digestive Showtime has built up high expectations of its audience from the rest of the short films as well. Subscribe to their channel on Youtube for more updates on the upcoming short films.
Follow the link below to subscribe and watch Yorker now
