Home Blog Page 95

Here’s When Sheheryar Munawar Will Start Shooting For ‘Pehli Si Mohabbat’

By
Maisooma Batool
-

It would be redundant to talk about how having a social media presence is now intricately tied to a celebrity’s life. Celebrities are expected, even encouraged, to keep their social media handles active and engaged. The phrase ‘pics or it didn’t happen!’ applies the most to celebrities whose every move on social media is often scrutinized and interpreted by hawk-eyed fans as a way of what is keeping their favorite celebrities busy these days.

So, when a celebrity suddenly stops posting on his social media account, it is bound to raise some eyebrows. As it happened with the heartthrob Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui. Sheheryar’s fans had been quite concerned about the star’s inactivity on his social media handles. Well, the unannounced departure from social media is now finally explained by Sheheryar himself who shared details about an accident that he was involved in a couple of months ago.

An accident and a surgery

In an Instagram post, Sheheryar Munawar addressed the concerns about his absence from social media and revealed details about what caused it. In the lengthy caption of the Instagram post, which also includes a collection of photographs from the period Sheheryar had been inactive on his social media, Sheheryar talked about how he was involved in a motorbike riding accident a couple of months ago.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF9GNiankrb/

Sheheryar had taken a trip up to the Northern parts of Pakistan. During his trip from Gilgit to Hunza on his motorbike, he got involved in a motorbike accident. The accident caused him to dislocate his shoulder alongside torn muscles and ligaments. Sheheryar had then flown to London for the surgery a month and half ago. Since then, Sheheryar had been focusing on recuperating from the surgery which was why he was so away from social media. However, he assured the fans in the same post that his shoulder has recovered and is mobile again.

Pehli Si Mohabbat shooting

Sheheryar Munawar updated about his health to Galaxy Lollywood and said that he is currently going for regular physiotherapy sessions. He was positively hopeful about making a full recovery from his injury in the near future.

The shooting for Sheheryar Munawar’s comeback project on television, drama serial Pehli Si Mohabbat, had started last month. However, there had been no news or mention of Sheheryar being on the set. Well, now that mystery also seems to be resolved.

The first spell of Pehli Si Mohabbat shooting, with portions involving the drama’s female lead Maya Ali, finished a few days ago. Sheheryar revealed that his spell for the shoot was delayed because of his injury. But he is all set to start shooting for the drama from 17th October.

In the meanwhile, Sheheryar seems to be compensating for his absence from social media by keeping his followers updated through his Instagram stories. The talented actor has been posting daily stories that include snippets of him exercising to get his body back into its active shape. He even posted fun little story after finding pictures of Adnan Siddiqui and Mahira Khan on a mattress.

We wish Sheheryar Munawar a speedy recovery and lots of good health!

Had Hamza Ali Abbasi Really Quit The Showbiz Industry?

By
Hammad Akbar
-

With his brilliant acting skills and active social media life, Hamza Ali Abbasi has managed to make millions of fans all over the globe. Such is the power of Hamza’s fan-following that every news related to him tops the trending list. Be it through his acting projects or news regarding his personal life, Hamza Ali Abbasi is a celebrity that the fans cannot get enough of.

When Hamza Ali Abbasi had announced his departure from the acting industry, it had left his loyal fans shocked and heartbroken. However, a recent snippet from a game show Hamza guest-starred in has Hamza talking about how he is currently working on a couple of projects. This development caused a stir on social media as it was taken as Hamza Ali Abbasi preparing for a comeback to the acting industry. But the real question is – had Hamza Ali Abbasi quit the industry?

The comeback news

Hamza recently appeared on Express Entertainment’s show Kasoti Online, hosted by Ahmed Ali Butt. During the chit-chat session of the game show, the Alif actor revealed that he is currently working on not just one, but two projects. He did not reveal any additional details about the projects. But just this little teaser was enough to get attention as it is quite a baffling announcement coming from someone who had supposedly left the industry for good.

However, the facts say something else. Last year in October, Hamza posted a cryptic tweet hinting towards ‘a journey coming to an end.’ A few days later, he posted a 23-minute video in which he talked about how he had decided to take a break from the industry and would be focusing more on spreading the message of Almighty Allah. He also added that he would be making movies and shows, but only for his country and Islam.

Always in the works

The news had left a lot of fans scratching their heads. In a way, Hamza had made two contradicting statements that some people could not wrap their heads around. But Hamza knew what he was talking about.

Almost more than a month later, Humayun Saeed had revealed in an interview that Hamza planned to direct a movie on nationalism, which would be produced by Humayun himself. The Punjab Nahi Jaungi actor also added that Hamza would only play limited characters, such as a solider or a religious character. The film did not have a name at that moment.

So, if we take Humayun’s words into account, it could be that the projects Hamza Ali Abbasi is currently working on are on topics that Hamza is personally very passionate about – nationalism and religion. Of course, this is just speculation at this point but it wouldn’t be a surprising move coming from Hamza who is known to always stand by his ideals both verbally and practically.

Other examples

Hamza Ali Abbasi is not the only actor who is attempting to balance his personal beliefs alongside his career in the industry. Earlier in March of this year, actor Feroze Khan announced that he had quit the showbiz industry and would only act and provide his services for Islam’s teaching. At that time, Feroze was already working on season three of Khuda Aur Mohabbat and the movie Tich Button while his drama Ishqiya was being aired on ARY. People really believed that he had stopped acting until he starred in a telefilm with Zara Noor Abbas for Geo Entertainment just a few months after he announced his departure from the industry. It is still unclear why Feroze chose to do the telefilm, considering it wasn’t about spirituality.

Another actor that has recently started talking about religion on social media is Zahid Ahmed. He even posted a few videos on his YouTube channel that discussed some religious topics in detail. However, unlike Hamza and Feroze, he never announced that he is quitting the showbiz industry or taking a break from it. Zahid, in a recent interview, said that people shouldn’t jump to conclusions about his spiritual life and acting career. His career and acting are parallel to each other, and he cannot bring a moral compass to his craft.

Final word

A person’s religious journey is an extremely personal thing. It is a journey that comes with many ups and downs. An actor, like any other individual, should be allowed the freedom to take on this journey. And if they can find it within themselves to balance their professional life and personal beliefs, like Hamza Ali Abbasi seems to plan on doing, then they should be encouraged for it.

Then And Now: Debut Projects That Launched These Leading Ladies

By
Uzair Anwer
-

While it is easy to recognize stars from their breakthrough projects, not many people are aware of the projects with which they started their careers. Often underrated, undiscussed, and even undocumented; the very first or the debut projects of many of the popular actors are not known by the general population.

Despite there being many actors that dominate our television screens, only a handful of actors have proved their mettle over the years in a way that makes them worthy of the title of being a “leading star”. These actors have been working in the industry for quite some time now and have cemented their positions as being part of the top-of-the-list category of stars. The journey of these stars is truly inspirational.

We present to you a list of some of the leading ladies of the Pakistani entertainment industry. Take a look at and see which projects actually launched these actresses’ careers and how much they have grown in the industry since then!

Mahira Khan

Mahira Khan was a popular video jockey prior to becoming an actress. She was approached by several filmmakers during her stint as a VJ, however, she ended up saying yes to the celebrated director Shoaib Mansoor. Mahira first made her acting debut in the 2011 film Bol where she was cast in a supporting role opposite Atif Aslam. The song picturized on the pair, Hona Tha Pyaar, became a national anthem and contributed to Mahira’s first brush with mainstream popularity. Later that year, Mahira Khan made her television debut with Mehreen Jabbar’s directorial Neeyat on ARY Digital. Mahira’s last project was the blockbuster film Superstar (2019) and her next film, Quaid e Azam Zindabad will be released later this year.

Saba Qamar

In 2004, Saba had gone to see a shooting of a play but when the heroine for the play opted out at the last minute, Saba was asked by the director to perform in her place. Saba acted out the lines given to her and received praise from the director and the crew. It led to Saba initially making brief appearances is some PTV plays that are undocumented. However, in 2005 Saba debuted with a prominent role in the drama Main Aurat Hoon for which she won PTV Award for Best Actress. Later in 2007 with Khuda Gawah on PTV, Saba got more mainstream popularity and was approached by several private channels. Saba was last seen on TV in the drama Cheekh (2019). Her next projects include two feature films, Kamli and Ghabrana Nahin Hai, and a web-series titled Mann Jogi.

Mehwish Hayat

Mehwish got her first experience of being in front of the camera at the age of eight in a commercial as a child artist. She forayed into the world of acting with a short film, InshaAllah with Mohib Mirza which was premiered at international film festivals in 2009. However, Mehwish’s first prominent performance was in 2010 with the multi-starrer soap Larkiyan Mohallay Ki, produced by Momina Duraid for Hum TV. She did her first drama in the lead role in the following year titled Mere Qatil Mere Dildar. Mehwish’s last project was the film Chhalawa (2019). She will be next seen opposite Humayun Saeed in the Nadeem Baig directorial film London Nahin Jaunga.

Sajal Aly

Sajal’s first acting stint was in Nida Yasir – Yasir Nawaz starrer sitcom Nadaaniyaan in 2009, where she appeared briefly in one episode. She auditioned along with her sister Saboor Ali for ARY’s soap, Mehmoodabad Ki Malkain produced by Humayun Saeed’s banner. Both sisters passed the audition and got cast in the ensemble soap serial. Sajal impressed the critics with her natural yet impactful performance and she immediately signed on more projects. She was last seen in the drama Yeh Dil Mera on Hum TV. Her next project is a web-series titled Dhoop Ki Deewar which will be streamed on Zee5.

Ayeza Khan

Ayeza was discovered through an event held at her college. She had auditioned for a commercial campaign during her teenage which ultimately led her to make her acting debut in a supporting role in Fahad Mustafa – Sunita Marshal starrer Tum Jo Miley (2009). Despite limited screen time, Ayeza managed to make an impressive acting debut and the project got her more work as an actor. Ayeza is currently seen in the Geo TV drama Meherposh.

Maya Ali

After a brief stint in the field of television hosting, Maya landed a small supporting role in the Sanam Baloch – Mikaal Zulfiqar starrer Durr-e-Shehwar. She played the role of Sanam’s younger sister in the drama. The project was produced by Momina Duraid, directed by Haissam Hussain, and written by Umera Ahmed. Maya managed to impress the team with her dedication and the director signed her as the leading lady in his following project Aik Nayi Cinderella (2012). Maya was last seen in the 2019 blockbuster film, Parey Hut Love. She is currently shooting for a drama serial titled Pehli Si Mohabbat which is announced to go on-air next year.

Mawra Hocane

Mawra’s first stint on television was a VJ on ARY Musik before she got noticed by television producers. Her debut as an actress happened through a sitcom titled Kichari Salsa in 2011 which aired on A-plus where Mawra displayed her acting chops. She was immediately noticed by bigger channels such as HUM TV. Mawra went on to act as a lead in several primetime dramas in the year 2012. She is currently seen in the Hum TV drama serial Sabaat.

Yumna Zaidi

After a brief stint with hosting, Yumna was encouraged by fellow-actor Affan Waheed, who was friends with Yumna’s older sister, to pursue acting in a serious capacity. She bagged her debut role in ARY’s Thakan (2012) which was produced by Asif Raza Mir. Yumna acted as the antagonist in the drama, which starred Saba Qamar as the protagonist. Despite being her first acting project on television, Yumna managed to impress the audience and ended up getting more projects as a lead actor. Her last drama Pyar Kay Sadqay got much critical and commercial success and currently, she is seen in Geo TV’s Raaz e Ulfat. Her next project is a Kashif Nisar directorial drama serial that is produced in collaboration with Kashf Foundation.

Sanam Saeed

Sanam debuted with Mehreen Jabbar’s Daam in 2010 which starred Sanam Baloch, Amina Sheikh, and Adeel Hussain in lead roles. Sanam played the antagonist in the drama and was praised for her refreshingly subliminal performance in the role. Before her television debut, she did theatre plays, modeling and even hosting as a teenager. Sanam got her first drama as a parallel lead in 2011 with Mera Naseeb. She was last seen starring in A-Plus drama Deedan (2019). Her next project is a film titled Ishrat Made In China.

Hira Mani

Hira started off as a VJ followed by a stint in hosting. Hira made her acting debut in a sitcom Teri Meri Kahani in 2013 opposite her husband Salman Saqib a.k.a Mani. Hira played a fictionalized version of herself in the sitcom. She displayed her humorous side on the show and was appreciated for her comic timing. The show, which initially aired on ARY Digital, was extended due to its popularity with its target audience and had a second season which aired on Hum TV. Hira is currently seen in Hum TV’s Kashf. She has a couple of drama serials in the pipeline that are being shot and will air either later this year or earlier next year.

Meesha Shafi And Eight Others Booked For Running A Smear Campaign Against Ali Zafar

By
Hammad Akbar
-

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered an FIR against Meesha Shafi, Iffat Omar, and seven other individuals for running a defamatory campaign against Ali Zafar. Other than Meesha and Iffat, the names of the suspects include Leena Ghani, Fareeha Ayub, Haseem uz Zaman, Humna Raza, Maham Javaid, Ali Gul, and Syed Faizan Raza. Reports suggest that after investigating the case for more than two years, FIA’s cybercrime wing, under section 20 (1) of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and R/W 109-PPC, registered an FIR against the said individuals.

The FIR

The section states that intentionally transmitting false information in the public to harm the privacy and reputation of a natural person is liable to be punished with a jail term of three years. The FIR filed against the aforementioned suspects says that they were summoned multiple times by the FIA cybercrime wing to present their defense, but they failed to do so, hence the agency processed towards making a case against them.

According to the FIR registered on April 19, 2018, Meesha had accused Ali of sexual harassment on Twitter. Then in November 2018, Ali filed a complaint to the FIA cybercrime wing, stating that all the allegations made against him were planned by Meesha, her lawyer, and her friend. Meanwhile, several fake social media accounts, all of which were allegedly connected to Meesha, were created just to run a #MeToo campaign against him, added Ali.

The fake accounts

Ali told the agency that of all the fake accounts created to smear his name, @nehasaigol1 was the most prominent one. It was created 50 days before Meesha accused him of sexual harassment. He told the agency that the account had posted 3,000 defamatory tweets against the actor and his family. It should be noted here that the first six accounts that started following @nehasaigol1 belonged to Meesha’s lawyer Nighat Dad, her mother Saba Hameed, her aunt Bushra Hameed, her friend Leena Ghani and Haseem uz Zaman, one of the individuals the FIA has filed the FIR against.

The summoning

Meesha and the individuals FIA has filed a case against were summoned by the agency in December 2019 where Meesha showed up with her team of lawyers. However, she was not able to produce any witness that helped the case in her favor. Leena Ghani, Humna Raza, and comedian Ali Gul Pir, instead of appearing before the FIA, sent written statements. The agency did not find either of their statements satisfactory. Fariha Ayub, Haseemuz Zaman, and Maham Javaid did not appear before the agency, despite being summoned four times. Iffat Omar appeared before the agency but did not record any statements. Syed Faizan Raza recorded his statement, but his statement was also found unsatisfactory.

 

‘Women Do More Work In Dramas But Men Get Paid More,’ – Ushna Shah

By
Maisooma Batool
-

Pay disparity or gender pay gap is one of the most pressing issues that exist in almost all the professional fields of the world. Conversations about the unfair pay scale between men and women, despite them putting in the same amount of work in their designated fields, have been happening for years now. It is yet another form of sexism that continues to prevail, unregulated, in the world.

The most consistently functioning part of the Pakistani entertainment industry is the drama industry. Ever since private channels have taken over television in Pakistan, there has been no dearth of dramas being produced. And with Pakistani dramas mostly revolving around the women, one would think that the pay disparity would not be as rampant in this industry where the female actors are known to be doing most of the work on-screen.

Apparently, that is not the case as in a recent interview given to Something Haute, the talented actress Ushna Shah talked about the pay disparity that exists in the field.

The gap

While talking about the sexism that has become a normalized part of everyday life in the industry, to the point that it isn’t even considered inappropriate for many people, Ushna pointed out how despite dramas in Pakistan revolving around women, the female actors don’t get the same level of money from it.

“There is a dearth of heroes in the industry. The number of heroes that have ‘clicked’ with the audience is less as compared to the heroines. And although the amount of work those heroes do is less than what we women put it, they get paid more.”

Ushna explained that Pakistani dramas revolve the women so it is only obvious that the women put in more work.

“Women always put in more work because the dramas revolve around us. If a woman has 400 scenes in the drama, the man will have 300 something. However, the men end up getting paid more on a daily basis.”

Further talking about the statistics, Ushna clarified that if a senior or more popular female actor is working in a project alongside a less established male actor, then the female actress definitely gets paid more. However, a side-by-side comparison of actors and actresses that are exact contemporaries reveals that men get a bigger paycheque than the women.

“And that’s unfair,” Ushna stated.

Conversation needed

The conversation about pay disparity had happened in Pakistan years ago. When the astonishing wage gaps between female superstars and male superstars were revealed in Hollywood and Bollywood, Pakistani actors had to answer the same questions. Who does end up getting paid more in a project that consists of both senior actors and newer actors?

An article published in Dawn Images had posed this question to Humayun Saeed, Mahira Khan, and Atiqa Odho. Humayun Saeed and Atiqa Odho had said that an actor’s individual pay depends on their seniority and star power. They demand a number that they know they have earned because of what they are bringing to the project. Mahira Khan, on the other hand, had replied that for her acting is a passion. She puts more energies in negotiating fees when it comes to commercials and endorsements and what she demands as an actor is entirely her prerogative.

But, that was five years ago. Since then the situation has changed with the developments that Pakistani cinema and Pakistani drama industries have gone through. Television dramas continue to get bigger as they pull in high ratings and a huge number of online views. A new conversation about the position of actors that work mostly on television screens is definitely needed. It really is unfair to all the actors who put in more work in projects as they hop from one set to the other, and yet they don’t get the deserved pay for it because someone higher up decides they are not worthy of it.

Maybe Ushna Shah’s comment can be the starting point of this conversation. We would definitely love to see that.

‘I Will Stop Crying On-Screen When The Audience Will Stop Liking It,’ – Saheefa Jabbar

By
Maisooma Batool
-

The talented model-turned-actress Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has a personality that stands out in the crowd. Even a cursory glance at her social media is enough to tell us that Saheefa lives life on her own terms and lives it wholeheartedly. She is one of the rare celebrities that does not reek of a carefully curated façade of being a perfect person. She is vivacious and unapologetic about it.

However, the Saheefa we see off-screen and the one we see on-screen might as well be two different people. Although her work on TV screens is quite limited as she has done four dramas and one mini-series so far, the characters she plays on-screen tend to be of the typical tragedy-stricken heroine that has to live through the miseries of life. An observation that has caused Saheefa’s fans some concerns.

This week’s episode of Galaxy Lollywood’s What’s The 411! took these concerns to Saheefa herself and asked her the burning question: when will we see Saheefa Jabbar Khattak finally smiling on-screen?

What the audience likes

Turns out Saheefa is well aware of her fans’ concerns as she frequently gets asked about when will she stop crying in all her dramas. And the answer she gives to this answer is quite interesting.

“I will stop crying on-screen when the audience will stop liking me in such roles.”

Saheefa explained that for some odd reason her producers and directors think that because she looks very natural when she cries on-screen, the audience is able to relate to her characters. As a result, her characters and the dramas end up getting appreciation from the audience. That is the reason she often gets offered such scripts which involve a lot of crying on her part.

“I would like to not do such characters anymore because I think I am quite done with them,” said Saheefa.

In the pipeline

It looks like Saheefa will get her wish soon as she talked about a couple of upcoming projects that seem to be different from the ones she has done so far.

“I am about to start shooting for one of them very soon. My character in it is gladly not the one who cries all the time. It is a very happy character.”

Saheefa explained that while the script is not of a comedy play, the scope of crying in it is minimal. It is a fun project and she is looking forward to it.

“I would want people to actually look forward to that project,” Saheefa concluded.

To know more about this week’s trending topics watch the full episode of What’s The 411! only of Galaxy Lollywood’s Youtube channel.

https://youtu.be/IomYhtezeio

Celebrities Shutting Down Their Trolls One Savage Clap Back At A Time

By
Atiqa Ali
-

Public figures on the internet seldom evade the merciless trolls that roam the murky streets of social media. Pakistani celebrities are not an exception to this toxic, yet extremely common, the behavior exhibited on social media. It is not an unusual sight to see Pakistani celebrities become the target of verbal attacks from their fellow countrymen whenever they post something that is deemed ‘socially unacceptable’ by these angry keyboard warriors.

In the past, the stars would ignore these jibes and reside upon a throne of indifference, responding only to their fans or other celebrities. But now, it seems like they’ve had enough. More and more examples of stars speaking up and putting the trolls and hate mongers to their place are cropping up. And we have to say, we love it!

Move over Ghairat Brigade

One of the most commonly found groups of trolls in a celebrity’s comments section is the infamous Ghairat Brigade. This warrior race can be seen camping in the comments section of female stars reminding them of the religion they are supposedly abandoning. Questions like ‘Are you Muslim?’ and ‘Is this the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?’ are the most frequently asked questions in the comment section. All it takes for them to be engulfed in the flames of self-righteous anger is an odd pair of jeans or sleeveless shirts donned by an actress.

Unfortunately for them, our stars are ready to bite back. For instance, Minal Khan’s comment section was on fire, when she bit back at commenters calling the twin sisters, Minal and Aiman Khan, ‘besharram’. Minal promptly replied that the commenter was welcome to unfollow them. When a commenter said that she should die of embarrassment, Minal retorted that the commenter should be the one to take their disgusting mindset and practice what they are preaching to her.

The shaming doesn’t end at grown women. Legendary cricketer Wasim Akram’s little daughter also came under fire when he posted a picture with his little girl in a school uniform skirt. A commenter came forward to remind him to dress her according to ‘Islamic values’ and an enraged Wasim reminded him to mind his own business. Anoushey Ashraf was all praises for Wasim Akram as he gave the troll a piece of his mind.

Ertugrul party

Ever since the dawn of Pakistan’s Ertugrul era, Pakistanis have been obsessed with everything concerning the drama. They have responded to the drama with a lot of love and in some areas, a lot of trolling. Yasir Hussain, who is well-known for always using his social media platform to express his views of any subject or trending news, has been the unfortunate target of most of the animosity ever since he remarked that Turkish actors should not receive screen time on Pakistan’s national TV channel.

Since then, no matter what he posts, Yasir’s comments section is flooded with jabs at his stance on the Turkish craze. The actor sometimes replies with good-natured jokes while for more serious incidents, such as abusive comments, he has even threatened to report the commenters to the cyber-crime department.

Recently, Yasir was credited with gathering prominent names of the fraternity to protest against the Motorway Incident. Even under Iqra Hussain’s post, where she expressed the pride she felt for her husband who had organized everything, some commenters still brought up the Turkish actors and Iqra did not hold back her wrath!

Speaking of Ertugrul, Pakistan’s darling Esra Bilgic a.k.a Halime Sultan has been receiving comments from concerned Pakistanis who are unable to distinguish the actress from the pious Islamic character she plays in the show. It seems Esra has also had enough because she too snapped at a commenter to unfollow her, thank you very much.

Blame game: You’re It!

The rampant increase in violence against women and rape cases has shaken the entire country. Our celebs have protested and spoken up with the rest of their countrymen against these issues. While they were busy raising their voices, some commenters shifted the blame entirely on them for promoting a culture that enables rape. Umm… what?

Mahira Khan and Faysal Qureshi were as perplexed as us and they did not leave the accusations unanswered. Mahira sarcastically replied that yes, they were the root cause of everything, and the actual rapists have nothing to be guilty of. Faysal took a more direct approach and asked the commenters if the rapists and molesters that commit the heinous crimes in madrassahs were watching their dramas as well.

Unconstructive pass time

More often than not, social media trolls have absolutely no reason to leave negative comments on a celebrity’s profile. Celebrities usually choose to ignore such comments but recently, Yumna snapped back at a nameless, faceless troll who expressed their discontent on the pictures that she posts on her Instagram. Yumna reminded the commenter that they, unlike her, didn’t even make the effort to upload a profile photo before commenting on the quality of her pictures. Oops.

Monetizing comebacks?

While most of the retorts are angry, disappointed, or plain savage, and seem to be coming from a place of snapped patience, we have started noticing a different trend as well. There have been some celebrities who appear to be replying to the troll comments in a way that seems entirely sponsored. Hania Amir, Shahroz Sabzwari, and Ayesha Omar were seen replying to trolls and suggesting them to have something sweet with the strategically placed hashtag #ChillKaro. Talk about monetizing clap backs!

Final Word

People tend to forget one fundamental truth about our celebrities that they are, after all, human. So, it is not completely unnatural for them to snap back at all the hate they receive once in a while. Ideally, of course, their detachment from such venomous content would be more fruitful in maintaining a picture of indifference and aloofness. Yet, watching them put the shamers in their place every once in a while is a refreshing sight. What do you guys think?

Pakistani Dramas That Stand Out For Their Stunning Locations And Visuals

By
Hammad Akbar
-

The stories of Pakistani dramas mostly revolve around marriages and family affairs. Because the scope of the stories itself is so limited, there are hardly any stunning visuals that one gets to experience in the dramas. After all, there is only so much variety that one can show in dramas where all the action is delivered through dialogue.

It is precisely why we hardly see any dramas that make use of real outdoor locations. At most, characters are shown dining in at restaurants, shop in malls, or have a conversation in a car. That too has become quite monotonous since these locations tend to be re-used in dramas across the channels.

However, fortunately, there have been some dramas that have broken away from this routine. By providing a unique visual experience for the audience, these dramas have stood out for the audience. Here are some Pakistani dramas that have been shot at some stunning locations, both natural and manmade.

Diyar e Dil

Diyar e Dil is a heart-warming drama that delved into complicated family relationships. But it wasn’t just the drama’s storyline that made the drama a hit that it was. A significant portion of the drama was shot at the scenic locations of Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan. The gorgeous Khaplu Palace was chosen as a primary location for the drama and many indoor scenes were shot there. Director Haseeb Hassan made Diyar e Dil into a visual masterpiece as it made brilliant use of the beauty found in Pakistan and organically made them part of a story that resonated with the audience.

Aik Nayee Cinderella

With the name of one of the most beloved fairytales in the world as part of the title, Aik Nayee Cinderella had a lot to uphold. After all, the name promises a fairy-tale-like story that demands a certain kind of magic in the visuals. Director Haissam Hussain did not fail at that front as Aik Nayee Cinderella was almost exclusively shot at real locations of Northern Pakistan. The drama had the scenic locations of Nathia Gali as its backdrop. From mountains to forests to a lake, Aik Nayee Cinderella provided the audience with some truly magical visuals.

Yeh Dil Mera

Yeh Dil Mera being a romantic-thriller demanded visuals that were mysterious and, at times, spooky. Director Aehsun Talish managed to brilliantly capture the mysteriousness of the script in the drama’s visuals. None of it would have been possible if it wasn’t for the people who were responsible for scouting the location. The drama was shot in a place called Shogran, situated between Naran and Kaghan. Amaan & Aina’s house wasn’t an actual house; it was a hotel in Shogran named Arcadian Hotel. Writer Farhat Ishtiaq revealed in an interview that she needed a cottage that gave haunted vibes for the story. She was thankful to the production team for finding the perfect location that was just how she imagined it would be.

Prem Gali

There is something very welcoming about a colorful muhalla where people laugh and cry with each other as a family. That is precisely what Prem Gali has tried to show and succeeded. Set in a fictional area Prem Gali, situated in Saddar, Karachi, the drama has various families and dozens of characters that, somehow, impact each other’s lives. Although Prem Gali is shot on a set and not on an actual location, the production team deserves a round of applause for creating such a realistic set. From general stores to dairy shops, director Qasim Ali Mureed has captured the essence of these commonly found things in such a way that the audience would have a hard time believing that Prem Gali does not exist in reality.

Mushk

Drama serial Mushk‘s storyline revolves around several characters, each at a very different point in their life. And the drama’s visuals manage to present the various situations of the characters. A train station, haveli, dusty roads, an urban house, and even a dingy claustrophobic prison cell; director Aehsun Talish has not attempted to confine this story to generic locations. The real locations that have been tampered with to create a fictional setting provide Mushk with a visual authenticity that is rare to find in drama serials.

Yakeen Ka Safar

The second half of Yakeen Ka Safar shifted the story from busy metropolitan cities to the serene environment of the northern areas. Shot at Neelam Valley, Kashmir, Yakeen Ka Safar gave its protagonists’ love story a beautiful backdrop of lush valleys, mountains, and flowing rivers. Shahzad Kashmiri’s beautifully captured visuals made Yakeen Ka Safar‘s central love story a truly memorable one.

These are just a few examples of Pakistani dramas taking time and effort into the visuals. We live in a time and age where creating entire fictional cities is possible, thanks to green screen and VFX. While Pakistani directors don’t have access to such technology as of now, what they can do is be creative and shoot at unusual locations.  Pakistan certainly doesn’t have a shortage of serene places. And when drama directors make use of the country’s natural resources or put in some effort to make elaborate artificial sets, they certainly elevate the standard of dramas.

Pakistani Dramas And Their Problematic Obsession With Divorce

By
Uzair Anwer
-

Television is the biggest mass media medium in Pakistan and is consumed on a grassroots-level hence the content that is broadcasted on television is influential on the mindsets of the viewers. So, when it comes to topics that have serious socio-personal impacts on society, it becomes the medium’s responsibility to deal with them with extreme sensitivity and care.

Marriage is a sacred tradition of our culture and religion, cementing a lifelong bond of not just two individuals but also of two families. Similarly, rights related to marriage such as divorce and polygamy are a reality of our society that demand nuanced and educated discussions. However, our Pakistani dramas have trivialized these realities of the society for the sake of creating cheap thrills in the name of entertainment.

Sending out wrong messages

The concept of divorce has been dealt insensitively in some of the most cherished small screen blockbusters in recent history, and that makes the content more influential on the masses. It is an unfortunate development of the recent times that drama writers have made a buffoonery out of a life-changing decision of divorce. The phrase, “Talaq, Talaq, Talaq”, is used for frivolous reasons and is dramatized with background score and reaction shots for an intriguing watch without understanding the impact that it can have on the viewers.

The Ayeza Khan-Danish Taimoor starrer Meherposh had the main plotline where the female protagonist is divorced just a few hours after getting married because her husband suspected her of having an affair with some other man before she got married. The scene was played out with all the dramatic fanfare and the incident formed one of the central conflicts of the drama.

Drama serial Jalan has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. This Aabis Raza directorial showcases a younger sister pressurizing her brother in law to divorce her pregnant sister to marry her.

In the drama serial Nand, the leading hero divorces his wife as his sister threatens him to attempt suicide if he wouldn’t divorce her. Obliging his sister, the hero divorces his wife in the heat of the moment. Unable to bear this, the female protagonists attempts suicide on the spot. However, when the hero reaches out to hold her he is stopped from touching her as he has now become her namehram since he divorced her. This entire situation is wrong on so many levels.

Lacking nuance

Religion and law have given the spouse a right to end a marriage via divorce. However, there are certain legal and religious obligations that are tied in the whole process which our dramas choose to either disregard or not present properly.

The recently concluded drama serial Dilruba had a plotline where the female protagonist seeks divorce from her husband because she falls in love with another man. While the drama does acknowledge the mandatory iddat period that follows a divorce, the characters don’t seem to pay any significant regard to it.

The drama turned to soap, Mera Dil Mera Dushman, shows a father ordering his son-in-law to divorce his daughter as the young man was not emotionally loyal to his wife. The daughter wants to remain married to her husband but that doesn’t stop the father from demanding the end of the relationship. Marriage is not a trivial thing and the burden of making it work falls mostly on the two people who are bound in this relationship. Any third person interfering and demanding an end of marriage just sends out serious wrong messages.

If it’s not the parent then it’s an ex-lover manipulating a husband to divorce his wife by planting seeds of doubts in their mind. Half of Dil e Gumshuda‘s story was dedicated to this plot.

No one is spared

The most ridiculous thing is that no character is spared from having to face divorce. Be it young couples barely three weeks into marriage or old couples having spent decades together, our Pakistani drama serials can drop the ax called “divorce” on anyone’s neck.

In Zebaish, a 55-year-old lawyer divorces his wife as he marries his late employee’s wife. The reason? The man wasn’t happy that his wife was busy with her career and didn’t give him the domestic attention that he craved. So, he divorces her because his second wife asked him to.

Yasir Nawaz’s Jannat Se Nikali Hui Aurat starring Sajid Hassan and Samina Peerzada was based on how, in a fit of impulsive anger, a man divorces his wife, and the elderly couple is left to bear the consequences of this action. Other dramas like Kashf and Bikhray Moti have characters who are the parents of the protagonists, threatening to divorce their wives if they do not display unconditional obedience to them.

Any drama done right?

Ghalati starring Hira Mani and Affan Waheed was based on the concept of divorce. The drama intended to show the reality of the society where just one word repeated thrice can end a relationship that is meant to last a lifetime. While the drama’s intentions were in the right place, the way it was executed definitely left a bad taste in the audience’s mouth.

The female protagonist is forced to face the humiliation of being divorced for different reasons. Her husband divorces her in a fit of anger, after being pressurized by his mother, or just because he doubts that she is having an affair with some other man. But to add insult to the injury, the man refuses to acknowledge that he has divorced her thrice and wants to continue having a relationship with her, much to the female protagonist’s disgust.

The drama explored the complex process of how an actual divorce takes place but the melodramatic twists and conflicts took away from the actual lesson the drama wanted to impart.

Final word

The concepts of nikaah and talaaq both demand extreme sensitivity and nuance when it comes to portraying them onscreen. Unfortunately, our Pakistani dramas have trivialized them both. It is already rare to find a happy marriage in Pakistani dramas that are based on mutual love and respect. Adding in the casual divorces that happen within seconds is just sending out a message that the institution of marriage is doomed.

Armeena Khan’s Impressive Filmography Is Bound To Shut Down The Trolls

By
Atiqa Ali
-

Internet trolls leave no celebrity untouched and Armeena Khan is no exception. Unfortunately for some venomous netizens, Khan is not the kind of celebrity that ignores verbal jabs and social media bullying. The actress hits back on Twitter as well as Instagram from time to time.

Armeena’s retorts to the trolls and the haters are often classy, much like Armeena herself. However, recently when a troll got on her nerves, Armeena educated the troll by uncovering some information that shed light on some interesting observations about the kind of reception this beautiful actress gets on social media.

What went down

The offending commenter had written that Armeena was “complex ki maari” and would jump at the chance to work in Bollywood or Hollywood even though no one invited her. Armeena, instead of directly replying to the comment, posted the comment to her Instagram story. What followed was a series of Instagram story posts where Armeena talked about her extensive body of work that exists outside her work in Pakistan.

Armeena’s debut film had been It’s Too Much, an Indian feature film that landed her on billboards all over Mumbai and on the cover of Times of India multiple times. She revealed that she’d been scouted by Pakistan immediately after and came to work amongst her people.

Armeena then began listing the highpoints of her career which included British films such as The Real Target, recipient of Best Narrative at LA film festival, Stranger Within Me, and Writhe both of which went to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. She also posted about The Achilles Project, a British short film she’s done that is going to be entered into major film festivals including Cannes as soon as COVID restrictions are lifted.

Armeen also divulged that she’s working on her films now for which she has cast Turkish actors. The first film will be out soon while the next is already in the works. Apart from this, the Pakistani-Canadian informed her fans that she’s been on multiple international book covers and a Sprite ad that ran in three countries.

Her philanthropic side

Besides having a rich career, Armeena shared that she’s a part of multiple charities but she doesn’t share her social work publicly. Her philanthropic side is seldom publicized because she claims she does it for herself only. Armeena shared that she represented Pakistan and brought up the Kashmir Issue at a discussion with UN heads in Strasbourg. She also took up the Pakistani cause at UNICEF when it was the need of the hour.

Her various achievements were made sweeter by the knowledge that she has and continues to represent Pakistan on various international platforms including many film festivals, premieres, and awards shows. They are a clear testament to the fact that wherever she has worked she has taken her identity as a Pakistani with her and showed it off with pride.

Benchmark of success

Considering the considerable amount of work she shared and recognizing the fact that she hadn’t included her projects in Pakistan, one must wonder about Armeena’s popularity. In Pakistan, the public sees Bollywood as a marker for superstardom. Whereas a stint in Hollywood is like an almost unattainable level of success, the likes of which would catapult an actor to the highest levels of popularity and would grant them the coveted title of an A-lister.

Armeena started her career with Bollywood, has done considerable work on international platforms and now, with the huge fervor around Turkish stars, has even managed to get a slice of that pie. Yet, she enjoys a comfortable level of stardom that can not be called extraordinary under any circumstances. It does make one wonder: what exactly is the benchmark of success for the Pakistani audience?

Commendable career moves

A look at Armeena’s filmography will tell us that she has prioritized quality work over quantity. She’s currently working on a Pakistani drama after a self-proclaimed hiatus and has not announced any other upcoming films or dramas in Pakistan. For someone like Armeena who has a good international presence thanks to her philanthropic work and her international projects, to not turn her back away from her career in Pakistan is a commendable move.

For a Pakistani artist to work internationally gives them both opportunities to widen their portfolio as well as a right to boast about it. Just the title of “international” being attached to a project gives it an edge over other projects and Pakistani artists are well aware of it. Yet, Armeena Khan is the one who has hardly, if ever, talked about her international work on any public platform to brag about them.

It would be so easy for Armeena to use all her energies and resources to do more work at an international level. She definitely has enough projects in her filmography to provide her a solid backing. But Armeena continues to work in Pakistan as a Pakistani actor for Pakistani projects because she takes her identity as a Pakistani seriously. Her love for Pakistan is not just empty lip-service but she proves it by continuing to represent the country internationally, all the while contributing to its industry nationally.

Final word

An impressive filmography like the one Armeena Khan has would give any actor bragging rights for life. Yet, it is baffling to see Armeena be criticized for being an “attention seeker”. Is it because her career has taken her from Bollywood to Hollywood before she did her first project in Pakistan? Does the non-traditional route of her career somehow make Armeena’s achievements less worthy? This also raises the question that do we only respect artists who leave Pakistan to work in other film industries?

Nevertheless, the fact remains that Armeena Khan has an impeccable portfolio of work and no amount of trolling can ever take it away from her. More power to you Armeena!

1...949596...299Page 95 of 299