BOL NEWSPAPER | April 10 2022

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A r t i s t o f t h e We e k

Music Factoid

B oDISCRIMINATION ld Outfit SYSTEMIC

The Spotlight

Q&A with Agha Mustafa

Nazia Hassan - Melodious and marvelously impactful

Pakistani celebrities who Enough of quota have their own brands

The girl from Hollywood

Emerging talent who started his career as a theatre actor and now rising as a super star

The pop star left a legacy that not only touched hearts but souls of many

The quota system has run its course a look atto some well-known and now Let's merithave is essential establish Pakistani celebrities that have created their good governance in the country own fashion label

Zoha Rahman, the rising star, is in conversation with BOLD

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PUBLISHED FROM KARACHI, LAHORE & ISLAMABAD GLOBAL CIRCULATION VIA BOLNEWS.COM

By Omair Alavi What do the upcoming Eid flick Ghabrana Nahi Hai, TV drama Jutt and Bond, Ranjha Ranjha Kardi and the famous restaurant 1969 in Islamabad have in common? Syed Jibran is the answer for he is the common factor in all these entities. Yes, the famous TV actor who played Bond in Jutt and Bond, stood against Bhola in Ranjha Ranjha Kardi and will be making his film debut this Eid is the man behind 1969 & Time Goes On, and Beef Lettuce Tomato (BLT) in Islamabad.

Not only that, he is a qualified doctor who now moonlights as an actor and an entrepreneur and does a good job as both.

BOLD had a session with the Tarap actor who recently completed his 20 years in the industry and asked him regarding his choice to leave medicine for acting, venturing into business, and above all, going filmi opposite Saba Qamar and Zahid Ahmed. Here is what he had to say:

According to Jibran, he went to Pakistan Television and introduced himself as a wannabe actor, not because he wanted to act but because he wanted to win (the wager). After spending a lot of time without any success, he was given a two-scene role in Taufeeq Hussain Shah’s Hook, from where he was picked up by renowned director Tariq Meraj.

‘Since I was quite good at memorizing medical terminologies when Tariq Meraj Sahab asked me to memorize a script for the audition, I did it in no time and that’s when he selected me as the young lead for his Eid play Dada In Trouble. And from there on, I became his pupil and whenever he did a play, I was in it, until I decided to explore myself as an actor and move to other cities.’

Syed Jibran says that when he was in his 3rd year at the Rawalpindi Medical College, he knew he might not pursue medicine as a profession, and that’s why he attempted acting since it paid well and made him famous among his friends and family.

‘In those days, Jutt and Bond was quite popular on TV where Ahmed Ali Butt played Jutt and Fawad Khan played Bond, and I used to wonder what it would take for me to be in a play like that. All it took was luck as unknown to me, Fawad Khan was taking a break due to his studies and the makers were on the lookout for Bond, and this is where I came in. I did the play for forty weeks

The accidental actor, from a family of doctors!

Syed Jibran comes from a family of surgeons and would have been practicing today had it not been for a silly wager with a friend. That one wager changed the course of his career and he turned to showbiz, leaving medicine behind forever.

Model-turned-film actress Zara Sheikh played a huge part in this transition, not because they worked together but because she graced the billboard near Rawalpindi Medical College in the late 90s as the Jazz girl.

‘I still remember that my friends and I were all blown away by the beautiful Zara Sheikh who had debuted as the Jazz girl, and later went on to become a successful film actress. One day while we were just looking at the billboard (a usual practice during a break between classes), a friend of mine said that models and actors weren’t normal people, and I disagreed.

He wagered that if I manage to become an actor, he would give me Rs100, and I accepted the challenge, considering Rs100 were a big thing for a third-year medical student in those days.’

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and thoroughly enjoyed the experience working with Samina Ahmed and her team.’

As Jutt and Bond’s hold on his mind was weakening, Jibran eyed Karachi as the next destination, because it was where everything was happening.

Luckily by that time, he had become a doctor but as he told his father, his heart lay elsewhere, and his father didn’t stop him from following his dream. As Jibran says, he came to Karachi as an outsider but the city embraced him so tightly that he hasn’t left since.

From being Bond to being Bad!

After playing Bond in Jutt and Bond and becoming a recognisable face, Syed Jibran decided to switch from sitcoms to proper dramas. He is glad that he met the right people at the right time who helped him become a better actor, as well as feel at home, otherwise, he would have left the field.

‘Whenever I felt that I wasn’t getting the kind of roles I wanted, something great fell in my lap and gave me the reason to stay in the field. Be it the respectful guy in Qaide-Tanhai, the antagonist in Chup Raho, the loving person in Ishq Parast, the angry elder brother in Ghairat, or the guy who angered the public by defying Bhola in Ranjha Ranjha Kardi, it has been a wonderful journey for me.’

On being asked why he plays the bad guy on TV, Jibran says that he likes characters where he has the margin to perform, be it a good guy or a bad one. He singles out Yasir Nawaz’s

Khudgarz as the one play where he played the dutiful stepson, who died in the end, but that character left such an impact that had he not done it, he would have regretted it.

‘As for Sahir in Ranjha Ranjha Kardi, it was my decision to opt for the role where I had the chance to counter Bhola, despite having an idea that Imran Ashraf would become the character and bulldoze anyone who stood in front of him. That helped me raise my game and become so relatable that people started hating me, and if someone met me during those days, they would ask me why I left Noori and that we would have made a wonderful couple, despite knowing that it was only a play.’

He says that he tries to play different characters whenever he gets the chance, and his recent dramas Tarap, Safar Tamam Hua, Mohabbat Daagh Ki Soorat, and Aitebaar are proof of that. He hopes to continue playing ‘loving’ or ‘irritating’ characters on screen as long as he enjoys it, and as long as it gives him the satisfaction of fulfilling his passion.

Entering the filmdom!

Despite being tall, broad, and handsome, Syed Jibran took his time to enter the filmdom, and he will be playing one of the main leads in JB Films’ Ghabrana Nahi Hai opposite Saba Qamar and Zahid Ahmed this Eid. He is very excited about this venture where he gets to act opposite the best co-stars one can wish, dance his heart out and even throw a punch or two, something he doesn’t get to do on TV. ‘I wouldn’t be lying if I said that I wasn’t interested in films; who doesn’t want to see himself on the big screen! I even went to

I wasn’t interested in films; who doesn’t want to see himself on the big screen? I even went to Mumbai a decade back to understand acting in films, how to pick a beat while dancing, and how to fight, something we aren’t taught in Pakistan Mumbai a decade back to understand acting in films, how to pick a beat while dancing, and how to fight, something we aren’t taught in Pakistan. That training helped me a lot while I was doing GNH, and I am sure that when the audience leaves the cinema after watching the film, they will be smiling.’

Jibran says that when producer Hasan Zia offered him the script, he deliberately chose the role of Vicky because it was something he hadn’t done in a long time.

‘Although I began my career doing comedy roles such as Bond, I drifted to more serious roles as I matured as an actor, and as a person. However, with GNH, I finally got a chance to make people laugh, and trust me, the film is a laugh-riot where

nothing is what it seems. If you think that you understand the plot after watching the trailer, then you are in for a huge surprise!’

Actor in Karachi, Entrepreneur in Islamabad!

Not many know but Syed Jibran was one of the first celebrities to become an entrepreneur and chose an ice cream parlor as his first venture, before moving into the restaurant business. The Islamabad people must thank him for bringing Gelato Affair to their city, a franchise that he managed for ten years before opening 1969 & Time Goes On and Beef Lettuce Tomato (BLT).

‘After I had settled in Karachi and was doing well as an actor, my friend and I had a chance meeting with the manager of Gelato Affair, the popular ice cream parlor. Like youngsters with money in their pocket, we spoke about the possibility of taking the franchise to Islamabad and after calculations, we decided to go ahead and opened the first branch of Gelato Affair in Islamabad.’

For ten years Jibran and his friend managed the franchise in Islamabad, and only decided to close it for better opportunities which came in the form of two restaurants that have now become famous for their food and theme.

‘Remember the venue where actress Ayesha Khan got married in Islamabad?

The one with a dreamy setting for a wedding, and a picturesque background?

That is 1969 & Time Goes On which was my first venture as a restauranter, and after its success, we decided to do something like BLT. While the former isn’t just an outdoor setup, it serves Pakistani/Continental food in a ‘60s themed indoor setting while the latter is pure continental with steaks, sandwiches, and burgers. It is the only place in Islamabad that serves the famous Karachi-styled Paratha Roll, so whenever you have a craving for that in the Capital, you know where to find one.’

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By Omair Alavi

Black Friday, 2004

KARACHI

Hussain Zaidi – remember the name!

The renowned Indian crime reporter is not only popular in his home country but also across the world, because of his books related to the Indian underworld.

Be it Black Friday which revolved around the 1990s Mumbai attacks or Dongri to Dubai which chronicled the rise of the Indian gangsters, every book of his has done well whenever it has been published.

Not many know but Alia Bhatt’s latest flick Gangubai Khatiawadi is based on a chapter from Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai: Stories of Women from the Ganglands and had it not been for his book, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali might not have been able to conceive the film. This isn't the first time the writer's work has been turned into a film. His nonfiction books have inspired as many as four Indian films (including Gangubai Khatiawadi) while one fiction novel (Phantom) was so forgetful that only a few remember it.

What were the names of the books by the prolific author, that inspired Bollywood flicks and are still in everyone’s memory, let’s try to find out by diving into the world of crime, gangsters, and politics, the Hussain Zaidi way!

Shootout At Wadala, 2013

Based on: Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts (2002) Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Pavan Malhotra, Kishor Kadam, Zakir Hussain, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Murali Sharma Director: Anurag Kashyap Description: Long before Gangs of Wasseypur, Sacred Games, or Mirzapur made Indian gangsters famous, there was Hussain Zaidi’s Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts which made the readers realize that there was more to the 1993 Mumbai blasts (then Bombay blasts) than meets the eye. Although the book was published in 2002 and the film was completed in 2004, it wasn’t released until 2007 due to pending court cases involving some of the characters mentioned in the book.

The film featured Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Pavan Malhotra, Kishor Kadam, Zakir Hussain, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and was released in India five years after the book’s publication. It not only gave the visual to Hussain Zaidi’s book but also helped the audience understand how things work in the underworld, something they had no clue about despite hearing about it. Even after 15 years, the film remains one of the best adaptations from a book to a film and must be watched by everyone who has an interest in history, or the underworld.

Phantom, 2015 Based on: Mumbai Avengers (with Gabriel Khan) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Director: Kabir Khan Description: This was Hussain Zaidi’s first nonfiction book that was made into a film in the same year as its publication, but didn’t appeal to the readers and the audience across the border as well as in India. It was as if the writer wanted to cash his popularity and make something that only appeased his readers in India, without realizing that many of his fans were not Indians. It revolved around a fictional mission where Indian spies were sent to Pakistan to avenge the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Although the idea seemed original, it was heavily inspired by George Jonas Vengeance, which details the Israeli government’s mission to avenge the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Hussain Zaidi followed this flick with two anti-Pakistan films as well but none was able to get a screening on this side of the border. Even though the OTT platform – Zee 5 – behind the outrageous London Confidential and Lahore Confidential denies that these films weren’t the reason why Zee 5 was banned in Pakistan, their presence on the platform was clearly one of the reasons. Had the OTT platform distanced itself from these two films, Zee 5 might have captured the Pakistani market where there is a dearth of quality OTT platforms.

Based on: Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia (2012) Cast: John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Sonu Sood, Manoj Bajpayee, Ronit Roy, Mahesh Manjrekar, Tusshar Kapoor, Director: Sanjay Gupta Description: Although the first film in the Shootout series Shootout at Lokhandwala was released five years prior to the publication of Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia, the readers' interest grew in both Shootout at Lokhandwala and Shootout at Wadala after going through the entire book. It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that had it not been for this Hussain Zaidi book, people would have treated Sanjay Gupta’s films as one-off movies, rather than a historically accurate depiction of real-life incidents.

While the book traces the evolution of the Mumbai mafia from a group of thugs and smugglers to the present-day mafia dons of organised crime, the film helps in bringing the pages to life. John Abraham plays Manya Surve while Anil Kapoor is ACP Afaaque Baaghran (based on real-life cop Isaque Bagwan) who are indulged in a cat and mouse chase that ends in the death of the former. But not before he has narrated the story of his life to the latter, and made the viewers realize that every gangster isn’t born a bad man, but becomes one when life throws challenges at him.

Class Of '83, 2020

Based on: The Class of 83: The Punishers of Mumbai Police (2019) Cast: Bobby Deol, Geetika Tyagi, Anup Soni, Joy Sengupta, Vishwajeet Pradhan Director: Atul Sabharwal Description: After reading the Hussain Zaidi book, and watching the Bobby Deol flick in a span of one day, what really hit me hard was that the film wasn’t an adaptation of the book, but something that was inspired by it. Set in the 1980’s Bombay (now Mumbai), Class of ‘83 revolves around Vijay Singh (Bobby Deol) who is transferred to a Police Academy as a punishment post, but for no fault of his own.

He decides to use this opportunity to groom a few youngsters for a ‘project’ he had in his mind and trained them in such a manner that when they went out on the streets of Bombay, they became encounter specialists.

Bobby Deol gave the performance of a down-and-out cop who forgot that his rigorous training could affect the minds of young policemen, and that’s exactly what it did. The film changes gears when one of the five cops loses his life and the rest come back to their mentor to finish what they started. How they changed the way cops were perceived in Bombay is what makes this flick a must-watch, even if it isn’t exactly what Hussain Zaidi’s fans were expecting.

Nida Hussain fills our ears with her melodious track Tu Hi Chahiye featuring Model Town and starring Sadaf Kanwal and Azfar Rehman and a special appearance by Hira Faisal.

"Tu Hi Chahiye" evolves into a love story that unfolds in three acts as we witness three songs in one.

Directed and produced by Rameez Anwar and written by Asim Raza this song take you on a mesmerising journey filled with love and hope.

The singer’s vocals add a whole new level of melody and charm to the song’s audio and video. Her charisma and persona make the song hit the right beats. The video also has a very serene and soothing vibe to it. The outdoors and the natural views go so well with the song and its vibe.

"I had a wonderful time recording and then shooting this song.It definitely is very close to my heart and the team that I worked with was also phenomenal and helped me make this dream come true" added Nida.

The song is available on all digital platforms and it is a must-have on playlists.

Gangubai Kathiawadi, 2022 Based on: Mafia Queens of Mumbai: Stories of women from the Ganglands (2011) Cast: Alia Bhatt, Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari, Seema Pahwa Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Description: Although Mafia Queens of Mumbai: Stories of women from the Ganglands was Hussain Zaidi’s second book – with original research by reporter Jane Borges – it came nine years after his first book. Here he talks about as many as 13 female gangsters in Bombay (now Mumbai) who came from different backgrounds but became involved in various criminal activities. Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali used just one story from that book – with additional help from other Hussain Zaidi books – to come up with Gangubai Kathiawadi which chronicles the rise of a simple girl from Kathiawad, who had no choice left but to become a prostitute in order to survive in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Both the book and the film show the evolution of Ganga from a young girl who marries her lover at sixteen to Ganga who goes on to be known as Maa in the brothel community. Her foray into politics where she won, her famous meeting with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding the rights of women and sex workers as well as her relationship with Rahim Lala (based on real-life Karim Lala) are depicted on screen, with the help of the text provided in the book. The real Gangubai might not have been a gangster per se, but she was involved in peddling drugs, had people killed by her goons, and her hold on her folks was so strong that after her death, her photos and statues were erected in brothels of her area.

Pakistan’s famous director Asim Abbasi has just announced that his upcoming web series will feature rapper Muhammad Shah, of Butt Karhai fame. The series name has not been announced yet, although there is another surprise for the audience that it will have Sanam Saeed and Fawad Khan as the lead pair. Sanam and Fawad are reuniting for this series after their super-hit drama serial Zindagi Gulzar Hai. There is nothing much out about the series, however, the director of the web series introduced Shah in a humble post on Instagram. “Ours is not a story about Garmi, Hania or Alia. But these are the titles/subjects of the ingenious songs by the very witty, and the very strange Muhammad Shah – his utter uniqueness caught our eyes and ears during the casting phase. Watching his first audition tape confirmed that this one is an oddball in the best sense of the word,” he wrote.

Mehreen Jabbar, a renowned Pakistani film and television director, and producer gearing up for the remake of her popular telefilm ‘Farar’ as a web series. Written

by Rida Bilal, the new Farar has a brilliant cast that includes Sarwat Gillani, Tooba Siddiqui, Mariam Saleem, Maha Hasan, Zahid Ahmed, and Saleem Meraj, the fans of the 1995 telefilm are looking forward to the series.

Mehreen Jabbar informed her fans in an Instagram post with the caption, “25 years later, three friends trying to get by and shine in the glorious and mad city that is Karachi. From old Farar to a new Farar. Coming this year.”

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The best time to know about Video Games is when one of their own is in running fast in cinemas

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Film fanatics might know that the second feature-length movie featuring Sonic the Hedgehog is currently ‘running’ in cinemas all over the world, but not many know the significance of the lead character. The interdimensional creature who runs at supersonic speed has a history behind his creation, and Netflix’s documentary series High Score brings that history to you, as well as the evolution of the video games business.

High Score is not your run-of-the-mill kind of documentary that is prepared in one place, with comments from those available.

In fact, the makers take a trip down memory lane as well as make you meet the famous people who had a hand in making video games popular. It features the interviews of those game developers who saw the future while living in the past and lets them tell you how did they come up with the idea for something that was not just non-existent

but also insignificant at that time.

If you didn’t know that the video game market became huge in the 1980s and became more popular in the 1990s, then don’t worry since this documentary tells you all there is to know about video games. Some of the video games jargon might seem alien at first but it’s very essential to the development of video games. It begins with Pinball, which developed into Arcade Games which brought video games to the 'players', and how it evolved first into different levels of home video game consoles.

Watch the creator of the first-ever video game Space Invaders Tomohiro Nishikado talk about his creation as well as learn about the ‘dish’ that inspired Toru Iwatani to create Pac-Man. Add to that the comments from Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder of Atari, Inc, or Karen and Anderson Lawson who pioneered the use of a cartridge, and you have information about the business from those who mattered. Their comments will make you realize how something small became big and then went on

from their successors in the current era – they were outraged with the release of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat as they didn’t agree with the violence it promoted.

Famous video games like Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Final Fantasy are discussed at length in this six-part series where every episode deals with at least one video game developer. If one episode revolves around Nintendo, the other brings forward Atari, if role-playing games are discussed in one episode, then the rise of Sega is reserved for another episode. That way, each video game developer gets the importance it deserves even though it might seem dated to the newer audience who are least inquisitive about how things work.

And then there is Sega’s rise to the occasion with Sonic the Hedgehog, which helped Sega become a rival to Nintendo in no time. It also talks about the Crash of 1983, the ‘console wars’, and lets the viewers meet Chris Tang, the winner of the 1994 Sega World Championships, who at one time was considered a national-level celebrity for his feat. And if you have any questions about the evolution of your favorite game, you will find the answer within this limited series, which should be given an award just for being there.

That's not all. The series also focuses on the artists, and designers besides the star players, to paint the real picture behind the struggle that wasn't known to the players till now. Some people might claim that the series revolves more around Mario than other video games, but that's not true because, without Mario, there wouldn't be any video game culture anywhere in the world.

The aim of this documentary was to show to the world that behind every

small step, there was a huge collaborative effort, and the same thing happened with the video games industry. It isn't just limited to the video games consoles; the early computers, the handheld consoles, and stuff like the Game Boys also make an appearance here. Not only that, how these games were marketed when they were released, and how well they were received also make it an interesting watch.

What it is limited to are the US and Japan but that's because these two countries played the biggest role in both developing and playing video games. High Score does well at explaining how games dethroned Comic Books and how they used the Comic Book culture to their advantage. A modern-day teenager might find some of the games, their plots, and their graphics laughable but without these games, the modern ones wouldn’t have existed. How the games grew from Spacewar! to Pong and finally to Sonic the Hedgehog will interest the viewers as much as it will entice those who have played the games.

On the whole, High Scores lets parents be kids and kids be children for its duration since it tackles something that is close to their hearts. The opposition video game creators faced are discussed here as well as the cultural jump East Asian countries received when they became international. The viewers also get to know how those who modified the already-released games had a hand in taking video games forward, and what were the reasons that kicked off the transition from 2D to 3D computer graphics. Thanks to this documentary, nothing escapes its sight, just like the Pac-Man … or was it Sonic the Hedgehog?

is the only source of taking mankind to Firdous.

Amna has been a big Pollock fan and was also an abstract expressionist. She relates life with her work and observes the depth of reality and life through her art.

Her oeuvre mainly defines emotions, beliefs, relationships, and the life which is not just pleasing to the eye but to the soul.

“The sole purpose of my paintings is to live and celebrate every emotion positively. To accept. To bear. To make peace with everything around me”.

In her own house, she has displayed almost 500 artworks which makes her house no less than an art gallery. When

asked how many paintings she had made so far and which was her first painting, Amna shared that she can’t keep count of her art but the first painting that she made professionally was for one of her clients in the US, the concept was to portray his love for his mother.

Amna who is fond of collecting scents believes that it is the perfumes are nostalgic and locks moments and emotions.

Amna’s elder sister, Hina Butt, is an acclaimed politician, designer and style icon, when asked if she supports her, Amna believes that she is her confidant and support system. “Like every sister, she is right behind me,” Amna concluded.

to become huge, changing trends with their path-breaking steps.

The documentary series doesn’t have a host, but a narrator who doesn’t let you get bored for a second, so brilliant is the script. And if that narrator is Charles Martinet – the voice behind Mario in Super Mario Bros. video game – then that raises the fun level to unlimited. He might not be there to interview the celebrities who give their comments about the evolution of video games, but the way the producers integrate his narration with the comments is something people in this part of the world must learn.

High Score also brings some interesting anecdotes that usually aren’t known to people other than video game aficionados. It tells the audience that football legend John Madden finalized his deal with EA Sports on a train since he was afraid of flying. It also highlights the experience of networked gaming that might be considered a norm today but was a rarity back in the day. And yes, 1990s parents weren’t much different

courage and motivates many art students who lose heart at the beginning of their art careers.

Ramadan series:

By Hassan Naqvi Graduated from Kinnaird College, Amna Butt has become the talk of the town because of her unique artistic skills and paintings.

Who would have thought that Amna Butt, who is a dropout of the National College of Arts (NCA) will become a mentor for many.

Amna has been painting since her childhood but professionally she started “Amna Butt - The Art Room” about five years ago. Being an emotional person, words couldn’t do justice to her emotions and she started distilling her thoughts onto the canvas. The journey from creating art in a room to displaying her artworks in big art galleries is unbelievable and gives

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Kick-started on the first Ramazan at ‘Amna Butt - The Art Room’ located at 90-H Gulberg III in Lahore is a collection of 21 paintings. Speaking to Bold, Amna said that the concept of the Ramadan series revolves around how mankind is enveloped in the divinity of Allah who is the lord of heaven and Earth.

“The painting titled ‘Ali Haq: The truth’ is my personal favourite as it is a tribute to the Lion of Allah, the Amirul Momineen Hazrat Ali (R.A.) who was always on the right path. The Holy Prophet PBUH has said, “Ali is with the truth and the truth is with Ali” in this beautiful painting I have paid rich tribute to Mola-e-Kainat.” She explained.

While talking about another beautiful piece, titled ‘Al-Anbiya’ made using mixed media, she said that it depicts the Prophets as carriers of revelations as they came to declare that there is one God, the creator, and preserver of the universe. The art vibrates positivity and brightness.

The concept of Amna’s painting titled ‘Raziq’ is another captivating piece that denounces hopelessness at the time when you feel that all the doors of light are closed upon you, and there is only faith that saves the being; faith in the provider.

Likewise, her work titled ‘Samad: Everlasting’, beautifully depicts the beauty of the GOD being the only listener and supporter in hard times.

Amr-Bin-Marouf, is the painting of Amna that speaks volumes about her brilliance as she uses bold and fearless brush strokes. Amr-Bil-Marouf refers to encouraging people to do what is good and right for them while rejecting evil and bad.

Amna shares that her painting ‘Imaan’ has two parts and both of them are different. Imaan Part-I Wa’ fu anna waghfirlana warhamna portrays Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Whereas, Imaan Part-II depicts, “O Allah, I ask you for forgiveness and well-being in this world and in the world hereafter,” She believes that this is the strongest prayer.

For Amna, the painting Firdous, which was made using mixed media, is made keeping in mind Huroof-e-Muqattaat, the hidden codes in the Holy Quran whose meanings are only known to Allah. These words are commonly known as Loh-eQurani which are at the beginning of the Surahs, they are mentioned in 29 Surahs.

This painting represents how the Quran

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week How did you get into acting?

How do you deal with the negativity?

I used to participate in school and college dramas. But back then I really didn’t know that this what I wanted to do. One day my sister said let's go out and took me with her and all of a sudden we park outside a theatre play and she told me why you don’t audition as her friend was there too. I auditioned and ended up getting the lead. And then rest you know as they say its history.

We all are human beings and we all have negativity and negative thoughts inside of us every now and then. My way to combat is that I try to pray and also work out. These two things really help me out when it comes to mental health and all the negativity that flows inside.

How was the experience of performing on stage for the first time?

Did acting come naturally to you?

Yes so when the theatre play was over and we got a standing ovation. My entire life flashed in front of my eyes like in the movies. And this was exactly what I wanted to do. I do feel this does come naturally when I do a character or scene and it does come from inside.

Oh! that was a brilliant feeling. As I said earlier that when the play ended my entire life flashed in front of me and this was my calling all along. But the first theatre performance I did I was initially very calm.

The people who I performed with had done their plays before and they were all nervous and I was like “look at me I am so chill” although I hadn’t even done it before.

But once the play started and I was about to step on stage my heart sank, I couldn’t breathe and I was like dying but my co actor encouraged me. She calmed me down and told me to take a few deep breaths. And when I went on stage everything happened in a jiffy and I did it. But it was the best and amazing feeling being on stage.

You’ve recently worked in Mr & Mrs Shameem alongside Nauman Ijaz and and Saba Qamar, what was the experience like?

By Bold Desk Often seen as a secret lover in dramas, Agha Mustafa Hassan is an emerging talent who started his career as a theatre actor and now rising as a shining star. He is his own critic who always strives to do better. Ambitious, talented and handsome, this week Agha Mustafa is in conversation with BOLD.

Yes, working with Nomi Bhai and Saba is amazing. My debut was with Nomi Bhai in Sang E Marmar. But to work with them together again was another worthy experience. Such a strong subject and such good content. What I have learnt in this project, was never learnt before. I feel like this project is something that really refined my craft. And for that I will always be grateful.

What did you personally take away from Mr & Mrs Shameem?

There are so many layers to Mr and Mrs Shameem and that's why I love that script.

But I do agree that the hidden taboo topics of our society and the toxic masculinity that is very prevalent about which we need to be more considerate and tackle these boundaries and make things better. So what if someone is a female. We should be smarter with how we treat people. And dhuki chuki baatein should not be dhukki chupii, it’s about time to speak up.

We’ve seen you explore a variety of roles-toxic, negative, positive; what is the one role you really want to do?

One thing you'd like to change in the industry?

Yes I do like to do different roles. If you keep doing the same things you become boring. I love character acting more than that. It doesn’t have to be negative or a villain. But any form of characters. For me characters are more appealing than the hero.

I would definitely love for us to move on from the Saas bahu and love triangle scripts.

Any advice for the budding actors?

I think it’s important for anyone who wants to come in this industry to have a lot of patience and be very passionate.

Q6) What compels you to sign a script? Is there a certain checklist?

A script has to make me feel something inside. While reading a script if I feel bored or it makes me sleepy then how will I do the project? I have to like the script as I read it.

Like how in our childhood we used to enjoy reading.

We’ve often seen actors venture into modelling and being showstoppers, you have got the looks for it so is that something we can expect in the future?

I mean never say never! I would love to be a showstopper if the right offer came along. And if it is the right time. So yes let's see!

By Omair Aalvi KARACHI

If you think that Charles – Diana – Camilla love triangle damaged the British monarchy, think again. For before these people were even born, the biggest dent in the British monarchy was put by someone who wasn’t even British!

American-born Wallis Simpson is that person, whose name would be written in the history of the world (read British history) as the woman who loved the right man at the wrong time and took him down with her ambitious nature.

Fans of the Netflix series ‘The Crown’ might think they know it all about Wallis Simpson, but there is more to ‘that’ woman in recent British history than meets the eye. Veteran writer and biographer of all things British Andrew Morton brings forth lesser-known details about the twice-divorced American socialite in Wallis in Love: The Untold Life of the Duchess of Windsor, the Woman Who Changed the Monarchy and tries to make the readers understand why they shouldn’t forgive, and forget the woman whose sole aim was to become the Queen.

For those who are still wondering who Wallis Simpson was, well she was the woman for whom King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne. As this book will tell you, Wallis and the then Prince of Wales, who later became the duchess and duke of Wales, were both in love and seemed to be made for each other too. However, her status as a divorcée caused a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom that led to Edward’s abdication, and their banishment from England. Think of them as the Meghan and Harry of the 1930s, however, their

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Ever came a point when you thought of quitting acting?

From performing at the theatre to dramas to telefilm to web-series and even a film (Dum Mastam) under your belt, what’s next for you?

The only thing I will say to that the best is yet to come!

Of all the a thing avenues drama, telefilm, web-series and film - which one do you enjoy performing the most?

Definitely films because that is why we

become actors in the first place to be film stars. Other than that the one thing I miss doing and absolutely love is theatre. I love doing commercials as well. I enjoy it all but among everything is film and theatre.

What does success mean to you?

For me to be successful is to be a household name. Have my face plastered everywhere.

And being recognised and acknowledged by my work. All this comes under being successful.

story would make Meghan – Harry look good Why should one prefer this book over others talking about the duke and duchess of Windsor? For one, the author knows what he is doing since he knows all there is to know about the British monarchs, and second, Wallis and Edward’s weird ways demand to be read. He marches his readers briskly through the young Bessie Wallis Warfield’s shabby-genteel upbringing and talks about the impact of her dead father and clueless mother on her life, for the latter dependent on relatives for their upkeep.

For Wallis, says Morton, attracting male attention was the only means available to move ahead in the world. However, she met her match in the royal family whose refusal to let her call herself ‘Her Royal Highness’, hurt her more than being a two-time divorcée, whose ex-husbands were still alive.

Andrew Morton, who has penned books on Princess Diana, Meghan Markle, Prince Andrew beside Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, and Madonna, is one of the leading biographers in the world. He knows how to engage the audience, keep them busy, and burst their perception at the same time, which is exactly what makes this book a must-read. He takes the readers down memory lane when Wallis was a simple girl with high ambitions and discloses details about her life that weren’t known to many.

He is neither amongst those who blame Wallis for causing the abdication; nor is a part of the group that paints her and Edward’s union as a great love story. In fact, he takes the neutral place between the two and explains that while Simpson had her own reasons to marry the ‘King’, it was the Prince who acted foolishly, and impulsively. He also gives details of the Prince’s exploits as a bachelor and how his parents were always worried about his excessive partying and spending time with female friends. According to the author, not even they would have known that after the King’s death, the Prince would act irresponsibly and leave the throne for a woman who loved him for the throne only!

While the Prince’s mental state is explained further with facts such as his acceptance of Hitler’s invitation to visit Germany in 1937; it is Wallis’ two marriages and subsequent affairs that take up most of the book. According to the author, while she was first married to a charming Navy airman whose violent nature made her leave him, her second marriage was somewhat settled and less adventurous, which would have been ideal for someone who had spent time with an unstable man. He further explains

Oh many times! But probably the only time I was actually serious about quitting was right before I got my web series Mr & Mrs Shameem. I remember I was really low and I thought it through and it wasn’t an emotional decision but I thought that there is no point of doing all this and let's just quit. And started thinking about what I have to do in life. And I was very sad when I made this decision. But within 10 mints I got the call for this web series and I was like this is a sign from Allah. I am grateful I've been persistent so far and Insha’Allah I'll be persistent later on as well.

how Wallis used this ‘boring shipping executive’ to become friends with the then Prince of Wales, who was the most eligible bachelor in the kingdom, and the rest as they say is history.

The author’s investigative methods must be commended for he quotes those who had either met with Wallis, knew her, or had said or written something about her before she turned her attention to the future King. He also alleges that American novelist Gertrude Stein based the title character of her novel, Ida, partly on Wallis, since she was her neighbor in Baltimore and that the former duchess had multiple affairs with one Argentine and one American diplomat before the duke, and neither ended the way she had expected. Her visit to China is covered to lend credibility to the rumor that it was the ‘Chinese connection’ that helped her move into the Royal circles, whereas her ‘friend’ Herman Rogers also gets mentioned, who functioned as her “de facto husband” in crises.

Morton’s fresh angle on the abdication makes the readers realize that if Edward had surrendered his right to the throne for Wallis’s sake when his father was alive, the situation might have been resolved. However, since he insisted on marrying her after ascending to the throne, and before his scheduled formal coronation, the Church sprang into action at the appropriate time. After they were sent away, their lives were consumed by, as per Morton, ‘only two issues: their image and their bank balance.’

Last but not the least, the author divulges to the readers that Wallis Simpson wanted to become an actress at one time and might have been acting when in the Prince’s company, but her ‘act’ didn’t help her much for it cost her ‘love’ the throne. He even compares her to the other misguided members of the Royal Family, because he believes that while she didn’t physically inflict harm on the throne, her intention to become the Queen did the damage unknowingly to both the Prince, and his younger brother who succeeded him.

The readers can learn a lot about history while going through this book that is one of the few biographies that give history lessons as well. Not only does it explain why King Edward’s decision to abdicate in 1936 for the sake of “the woman I love” was not just a constitutional crisis but also a national trauma that nearly derailed the monarchy. The author argues that had Wallis been informed that the idea was impractical, she might have found another way but since it seemed like a good idea at the time, both he and the King stood their ground, only to be pushed away from the whole country.

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By Haroon Shuaib

Brilliant in academics, Nazia did her Bachelor in Business Administration and Economics at the Richmond American University in London. She also held a London University Law (LLB) degree. Nazia was a very humble and compassionate person.

She did a lot of voluntary work for causes related to underprivileged children, youth and women. She joined the United Nations Security Council in New York in 1991 and worked there for two years. Following this, she was offered a scholarship in Columbia University’s Leadership Program. Unfortunately, she couldn’t avail of it as she was diagnosed with cancer soon after.

KARACHI

Usually show business is associated with a make-believe reality; real talent is important but packaging lends it value; pretention and arrogance commands respect; and glitziness is pursued. Very few artists win hearts for their innate charm and beauty and if they are talented and remain unaffected despite the accolades of millions – they become immortal. One artist who had a short, but extremely successful public life, while staying true to herself is Nazia Hassan.

Born on April 3, 1965 she lived a short life and passed away at a tender age of 35, leaving her fans heartbroken on August 13, 2000. She is remembered as the first female popstar of Pakistan, a break from the more conventional female singer image that the country had known till then. Her personality and singing style were both unmatchable and the freshness was whole heatedly welcomed by audience. She blended East and West in her naturally gifted silky vocals.

Nazia Hassan first appeared on screen at the age of 10. Some of her earliest performances date back to the 1970s as a child artist on PTV in Sohail Rana’s music program.

Once settled in London, she was introduced to the super stylish Indian filmmaker Feroz Khan at a party by the most unconventional heroine of Indian cinema, Zeenat Aman.

When Khan heard the 14-year-old Nazia sing, he instantly knew that she was a voice that needed for his next film.

When Nazia sang ‘Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye’ in ‘Qurbani’, filmed on Zeenat Aman, her popularity in Pakistan and India was instant and extraordinary. This was 1980 – beginning of a decade known for new trends in music. At 15, she won Best Playback Singer FilmFare Award for this unforgettable club track by Biddu Appaiah.

Next came ‘Disco Deewane’ of 1981, a song she sang with her brother Zoheb Hassan. It proved to be a blockbuster Asian pop record of all time and sold 60 million copies across 14 countries including Pakistan, India, West Indies, Latin America and Russia. The quality that Nazia brought to the ditty ‘Lekin Mera Dil Ro Raha Hai’, never ceases to transport listeners to a reflective corner. The ‘Ao Na Pyaar Karen’ and ‘Dil Mera Yeh Kehta Hai’ from ‘Disco Deewane’ album were tracks that Nazia and Zoheb immortalised with their unique duet style.

As if she knew that time was not on her side, she followed these initial chartbusters with Boom Boom, Young Tarang, and Hotline and there was no looking back after that. Young Tarang that was released in 1984 and sold over 40 million copies featured music videos made in London by David Rose and Kathy Rose and its track, ‘Ankhien Milane Wale’ was a runaway hit.

The peppy ‘Dum Dum Dee Dee’ from this album would still move everyone to start tapping their feet, regardless of their ages.

From Hotline of 1987, ‘Aa Haan’ was a chartbuster. The brother and sister duo was labelled ‘Beatles minus the crazy haircut’.

In 1989, Nazia and Zoheb hosted ‘Music ’89’ which proved to be a gamechanger for the music scene in Pakistan. This show launched the careers of many new rising bands and singers including Vital Signs, Live Wires to name a few. Nazia also hosted another show, ‘Dhanak’ on PTV the same year.

In 1992, during one of her visits to Pakistan, she received a letter in her fan mail from a parent whose son was a drug addict, and in his drugged out and physically incapacitated state, only reacted to Nazia's music. Nazia visited their house and was so moved by the ordeal of the family that she started an initiative called ‘Battle Against Narcotics’ (BAN), and launched a nationwide movement against drugs. Her last album was dedicated to this cause and had a song called ‘Nasha Na Karo’ (Don't Do Drugs). This was her fifth and last album, which yet again contained exceedingly popular numbers such as ‘Dil Ki Lagi’ and the unforgettable ‘Talli De Thallay’ in which she experimented with a folk tune.

Aap Jaisa Koi Qurbani (1980)

‘Disco Deewane’ proved to be a blockbuster Asian pop record of all time and sold 60 million copies across 14 countries including Pakistan, India, West Indies, Latin America and Russia

The pop star left a legacy that not only touched hearts but souls of many

By AFP

Arooj Aftab is a Brooklyn-based Pakistani singer whose soothing voice has made waves internationally. Her song made it to the Grammy Awards nominations and she finally won the award in the Best Global Performance category.

The 37-year-old — who has lived in New York for some 15 years - has been steadily gaining global attention for her work that fuses ancient Sufi traditions with inflections of folk, jazz, and minimalism.

She's also up for the coveted Best New Artist prize, which will be presented during the main Grammy

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Nazia Hassan's 10 greatest songs of all time

After a marriage that seemed like a fairytale wedding, and a beautiful son, Nazia unfortunately was diagnosed with a resurgence of the disease that eventually took her away after a short but painful fight. Towards the end, her marriage fell apart, pushing her further into deep recesses of despair. Nazia’s marriage ended in a divorce 10 days before she said her final good-bye to the world. The phenomenal artist left behind a rather small but precious body of work that ensures her memory is still alive and the enigma she invoked with her smooth singing style and untainted innocence and humbleness of personality continues to linger.

Her natural two-tone kind split in her vocals sounded like a double track, giving it a unique texture that is very evident in her sublime ‘Komal Komal’. Braided hair and trendy but very relatable western clothes gave her personality a girl-next-door charm that hasn’t lost its allure till today, long after she has gone, and her fans never forget to remember her year after year.

The Government of Pakistan honoured her with the Pride of Performance award posthumously in 2002. In 2014, Global Voices Online named her a young, independent woman who made a space for herself in Pakistan’s music industry. The same year she was awarded a posthumous honourary degree of doctorate from Richmond American University, London, which was received by her son Arez Hassan in her honour.

telecast later Sunday.

"I am beyond thrilled," the artist told journalists backstage at the pre-gala ceremony, at which the vast majority of awards are handed out. "It feels great."

"I've been very nervous all day. And we're off to a good start."

Born to Pakistani parents in Saudi Arabia, Aftab spent her teenage years in Lahore before relocating to Boston's prestigious Berklee School of Music to study music production and engineering.

She released her third studio album "Vulture Prince" to critical acclaim, and gained even more attention after former US President Barack Obama

Aao Na Disco Deewane (1981)

Disco Deewane Disco Deewane (1981)

Tere Kadmon Ko Disco Deewane (1981)

Boom Boom Star (1982)

Aag Young Tarang (1983)

Dum Dum Dee Dee Youg Tarang (1983)

Dosti Young Tarang (1983)

Aankhen Milane Wale Young Tarang (1983)

Telephone Pyar Hotline (1987)

included the track Mohabbat on his 2021 summer favorites list.

Aftab has performed at a number of major New York venues including Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art, also opening for Mitski at The Brooklyn Steel in 2018.

Speaking to AFP in the days leading up to the Grammys, Aftab praised her fellow artists nominated for Best New Artist, a crop that includes favorite Olivia Rodrigo along with rappers Saweetie and The Kid Laroi.

"We're all so cool — the group itself is kind of like a win," she said.

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Best dressed at the Grammys 2022

Lady Gaga

Chrissy Teigen

Autumn Rowe

St. Vincent

Claudia and FINNEAS

Carrie and Mike

Sergio and Annette

LAROI and Katarina

Jack Harlow

Jon Batiste

Leon Bridges

Gramps Morgan

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Isra Shams KARACHI

Many talented young people have aspired to work in Pakistan's entertainment industry. While many have gone on to become successful showbiz stars, just a handful have been able to sustain their success as entrepreneurs. Many of them go on to launch their own fashion labels.

Fans are drawn to Pakistani celebrities' social media posts because of their attractive photographs. As a result, a fashion brand is an excellent business concept for celebrities who want to capitalise on their names and likeness.

Let's have a look at some well-known Pakistani celebrities that have created their own fashion label.

AnM Closet Aiman & Minal Khan Aiman Khan and her sister Minal Khan operate the AnM Closet clothing line, which caters to the needs of an ordinary girl with a sense of elegance and flair. Bringing something new to the high street and the world of fashion, their collections combine eastern and western patterns with the highest quality materials.

UxM Urwa & Mawra Hocane

Aijaz Aslam An ace actor and model, Aijaz Aslam studied fashion design in London and began his own business shortly after beginning to model.

He actively promotes his brand by providing incentives to his customers, such as special meet-ups if they shop at his location. Aijaz Aslam is a business-savvy man who is constantly reinventing himself.

Urwa and Mawra Hocane have their own clothing line, UxM, in addition to performing. The brand sells high-quality western clothing to style-conscious females in the Philippines, allowing them easy and inexpensive access to international highstreet trends and quality. The patterns are made of 100% breathable cotton and have the highest quality fabric and craftsmanship.

Areeba Habib Clothing Areeba Habib

SKF Bridals - Fawad Khan

Fawad Khan is the uncontested entertainment celebrity of Pakistan. In 2012, he launched his own clothing line/ fashion label, SILK by Fawad Khan. This was a joint endeavour with his wife to create basic, clean-cut designs for women in luxurious fabric. Since then, the company has grown into a leading bridal couture designer label, with his wife Sadaf Fawad Khan changing the name to SFK Bridals. His clothing line has grown more than any other celebrity-owned clothing line.

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Areeba Habib is a Pakistani television actress and model. She created Areeba Habib Clothing in order to pursue her ambition of becoming a fashion designer. The brand caters to the eastern wear market, offering formal and pre-formal apparel with timeless elements and solid-colour silhouettes.

Revamp Umair Jaswal

MAYA Maya Ali

Umair Jaswal has also entered the corporate world with his innovative ideas. He is an astute businessman who has established his own activewear line, Revamp. It began as an activewearonly brand, but as it expanded, the apparel range now includes daily and semi-formal western wear for men and women.

Maya Ali has always expressed an interest in starting a business, so it was no surprise when she debuted her own clothes brand this year. MAYA, Maya Ali's apparel line, is elegant and sophisticated. It consists of formal prêt attire, which is a dream come true for every girl! Each design is intricately crafted and absolutely stunning.

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But don’t fret, you can still control the frizz in your hair, keep reading to find out how.

Use oil-based serums

The more hydrated your hair is, the more the cuticle layer will lie flat, leaving you with smooth, flyaway-free strands. So opt for an oil-based serum that will coat each hair shaft and block the extra moisture from getting in. Or, you can add them midday for a quick touch-up to calm down the frizz throughout the day.

By Shaiza Kiran Sweat, humidity, scorching sun and rising temperature indicates the arrival of our hair’s not-so-favourite season, Summers! And with the summers comes frizz which, if not treated right, keeps coming back. While there is nothing wrong with a little seasonal wispies, the frizz can quickly veer into lion mane territory making it the one universal mess we all can relate to!

Before we get into all of the genius ways to treat frizz, it's probably best if we first explain what causes frizz.

Frizz is primarily caused by a lack of moisture in the hair, yet it may be a component of some people's DNA – but, just because it’s in your DNA doesn’t mean you cannot manage it.

When your hair is dry, damaged, or chemically treated, the cuticle (the outer layer of the strand) becomes raised, rather than lie flat exposing the hair shaft open to absorb moisture from the air which causes it to swell and develop into frizz. This causes limpness in fine hair, and the unwelcomed poofiness in thick, curly hair.

And summer in particular may be a very drying season for hair because of all the humidity it brings. Chlorine from swimming pools, salt water from beach dips, sweating and those extra-strong UV rays can all cause your hair to get high and dry. And so, your parched hair leaves the hair strands to start searching for moisture wherever they can find it.

Use hot styling tools when your hair is 75% air-dried

Rinse your hair with cold water

As tempting and quick the hot styling tools may seem, remember that thermal damage also causes frizzy hair when used on sopping wet hair at a high intensity setting. When used on a low setting and about 6 inches away on hair that’s been air-dried about 75% of the way through they are actually a great way to help seal the hair cuticle so that your strands lay flat and smooth. It is also recommended that you don’t expose a particular section to heat for longer as it can overheat and damage the hair.

Once the summer heat really hits this is probably everyone’s favourite part of the shower because cold water closes the hair cuticle blocking out any opening for the moisture to enter the hair.

Use a hydrating shampoo and a conditioner

Introduce a hair mask to your regimen

Switch to a silk pillow cover

Make sure you use a rich, deep conditioning mask at least once a week to give your hair an extra burst of hydration. A good hair mask will not only hydrate your hair from the inside out, but it will also prevent it from things like heat damage and split ends, both of which can cause scary frizz.

For an extra boost of hydration reach for a rich, deep conditioning mask at least once a week. A high-quality hair mask will not only help hydrate your hair from the inside-out but also protect it from things like heat damage and split-ends— two things that also make your hair more prone to frizz.

Switch to a microfiber towel

Wear your hair up

Ultimately, the easiest way to keep your hair under control, especially if you’re prone to extreme frizz. And who says keeping your hair up should be boring? With the summer heat cooking us all up already, we recommend you start practicing hairstyles that require your hair to be up, like space buns and the oh-sochic braids.

A silk pillowcase might sound a little extra, but trust us when we say that it can effectively help battle frizz and spilt ends. Like a cotton towel, a typical cotton pillowcase can tug at hair fibers and generate friction while you're tossing and turning at night, resulting in frizz, breakage, and tangles in the morning. Silk, on the other hand, is a far softer and gentler fabric that can assist in retaining your hair's natural oils while you sleep, reducing friction and damage.

Using the wrong towel can actually make or break your hair (especially the latter), as your hair is most vulnerable when it is still damp from the shower. Instead of using a low quality rough cotton towel that can create frizz, breakage, and friction, use a velvety microfiber towel. It is particularly absorbent and soft on the hair, so begin by gently squeezing and blotting your hair rather than rubbing it back and forth.

Stop touching your hair

We know it's difficult, but trust us it works! The more you brush your hair or run your fingers through it, the more friction and frizz you create, especially if you have curly or wavy hair.

Wearing your hair in a braid or a sleek topknot will help keep your fingers away if you have a habit of fiddling with it during the day.

By Danya Ali KARACHI

Hospitals can turn into terror spaces for to-be-mothers with no windows to breathe, no one to talk to, and nobody to allay any fears if they choose the wrong gynecologist.

Dr. Kulsoom Ahmed, a renowned gynecologist from one of the famous hospitals in Karachi, recalls a story about a patient, Sania (21 years old), who came to her when after Punjab’s largest a government hospital mishandled her case, drowning leaving the baby and to-be-mother motherto-be in more profound complications.

The OB-GYN ward is no sanctuary, and no other moment captures this more than when a woman is admitted for childbirth.

It is a play of power in those moments as hospitals are eager to admit patients by citing urgency, doctors’ preference for cesarean births, and attendants exerting their decisions over medical advice.

A similar situation happened with Sania, who already suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) characterized by belly pain, constipation, diarrhoea, and gas which caused her more digestive problems as compared to her healthier counterparts. -you’ll probably have more digestive troubles than any average mom-to-be.

Sania’s IBS symptoms got worse in her first trimester of pregnancy. She sometimes went as many as five days between bowel movements. Bloating was a problem, too.

“At times, it was literally impossible to wear pants, bend over, or even walk for a bit, but unfortunately, her doctor thought it to be a regular case of gas and kept on sending her back home until she had diarrhoea leading to severe dehydration,” says Dr. Kulsoom.

“Not only this, she was even called immature and stubborn for risking her pregnancy by coming back and forth to the hospital. Are doctors really there for saving lives or blaming the patient?” added Dr. Ahmed.

Why doctor’s support is important?

When having a baby, you can must see a lot of different healthcare professionals. You can choose between whether to see a general practitioner (GP), You can opt for a midwife, an obstetrician, or a combination of those. It depends on what you want and where you want to give birth.

What kind of doctor you choose may depend on how much risk you have in your pregnancy. If you are at low risk for complications, a family doctor or midwife might be right for you. However, if you have a high-risk pregnancy, you will probably need to see an OB/GYN or other specialists.

Problems in high-risk pregnancies include high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of previous pregnancy complications, or being older than 35.

The biggest mistake young girls make these days is choosing the wrong doctor, explains Dr. Noreen, a very well-regarded gynecologist in Karachi.

“Don’t buy status talks; go for people who will actually care for you and the baby,” she added.

If you are having a baby for the first time, it is essential for doctors to warn you about the complications and the body changes that you might experience through out the ninemonth journey. Always ask a lot of questions, never stay in doubt. It will only give increase your anxiety.

Red flags suggesting you should switch your doctor • When you can’t share anything with your doctor

Poor patient-doctor communication can come in many forms: • You feel like your doctor doesn’t listen to you

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• They interrupt you while you’re explaining your situation • They ask you not to overreact in situations that really bothers you • They don’t contact provide you with important information • They don’t give you the time or opportunity to ask questions • You become anxious after meeting them Medical things can be confusing, especially when you are expecting. You likely don’t have the same degree your physician does, so you’re bound to need some clarification. If you’re unable to have a discussion with your physician where you both ultimately end up on the same page, they aren’t a good fit for you.

Switch before your case gets worse!

• You are rarely being seen by your doctor but are almost constantly seen by a nurse or other assistants

There isn’t anything wrong with physician’s assistants or nurses because they play a significant role in health care.

But if you seek the care of a specific healthcare provider and are rarely ever getting to see that individual (and you are not getting the care you believe you need as a result), this is a good sign that it may be time to make a switch.

Pregnancy is not a normal condition; it requires a professional eye to understand your situation. What is the point of paying a

massive amount of money when you only got to see a nurse on your regular visits?

• They are rude about ‘second opinions’

Getting a diagnosis can be alarming sometimes, and hearing the professional opinion of another doctor may be necessary to confirm things for you. A good doctor understands your right to be well informed and should support a second opinion.

If your gyno doctor is rude or discourages you from getting a second opinion, she/he doesn't have your best interest at heart. There is no need to go for a cesarean if your doctor is forcing it; wait until you get a second opinion and then make well-informed decisions.

• Rushed Appointments

One of the most obvious signs that your OB/ GYN isn’t up to par is if they rush you out without fully answering your questions. Yes, doctors are busy people with many patients to see each day—but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve personalised care. If they constantly cut you off, can’t take the time to clarify results, or preemptively ends the appointment when it’s obvious you have more questions, it’s probably time to search elsewhere.

If your obstetrician checks off one or more of the signs mentioned above, you may want to consider finding another doctor. You shouldn’t feel bad about wanting the best care for you and your baby. Pregnancy and labor can be stressful, and it’s essential to have someone you trust and are confident in to guide you through it.

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Bar B.Q Tonight It is located in the heart of Karachi’s Clifton neighbourhood. Iftar and Sehri buffet are also available at Bar B.Q Tonight. The rooftop sitting area is great for keeping social distance while sticking to the regulations. This is the spot to go if you're craving both Indian food and Bar Be Que. This appears to be a good value for the variety of dishes they serve.

As the name suggests their speciality is bar be queue items which are mouth-watering and have an amazing taste that is hard to find anywhere.

By Isra Shams Ramzan is regarded as the month of blessings.

Muslims all around the world wait for this holy month with unmeasurable excitement. People offer prayers, volunteer for the charity, and are always on the lookout for something new to eat. Karachi is known for its delectable food where you can find colossal food cuisines and restaurants. During Ramadan, people from all across the country flock to Karachi to visit new restaurants and sample their cuisine.

There are numerous Ramzan deals that every restaurant offers whereas some are known for the best iftar buffets. We have compiled a list of the greatest Ramadan Deals and Iftar Dinner Buffets that you can try in 2022.

Kolachi - Do Darya Kolachi is not only famous because of the food but also for the captivating view. The environment is quite relaxing as the sea will soothe your wandering mind. The iftar buffet features over 50 delicacies that are sure to make your Iftar a memorable experience. It's more of an Iftar/Dinner Buffet, thus from Dahi Baray, Samosay, Pakoray, Lahori Fish, Channa Chat to Mexican Wings, Jalebi, Gulab Jamun, Drinks, and Sauces, everything is on the iftar menu.

Kababjees Dine inside or outside in the fresh air. It's never enough to take in the peaceful atmosphere and feel compelled to return. You may now immerse yourself in the enchantment while also making enduring memories. Kababjees offers a diverse range of cuisines all under one roof. Explore the flavours of the world with Continental and Chinese delights, and that's before you even consider the diversity and brilliance of their BBQ grill. Kababjees' Iftar buffet would be delectable and tantalising because their cuisines are delectable.

Cafe Chatterbox Chatterbox is one of Karachi's first cafes to serve meals from a wide range of cuisines while taking into account individual tastes. It aims to give a modern, energetic, and welcoming atmosphere in which customers can relax and enjoy a delectable, informal meal. The seats are plush, the tables are rustic, and the colours are soothing, all of which contribute to the tranquil environment. A small corner is organised with books for children and adults to encourage a friendly and family-oriented atmosphere. Customers' comfort was taken into account when designing the interior. Cafe Chatterbox is a welcoming place to meet up with friends, host family dinners, or simply stop by after work for a dessert and coffee.

They provide various iftar and sehri buffets during the month of Ramadan and the peaceful place is ideal to spend time after a long fast.

Chaupal

Saltanat Restaurant Saltanat Restaurant is a newly opened restaurant on Karachi's Old Drive Inn Cinema's National Stadium Rd. It is hell-bent on giving you a classic taste while immersed in a royal environment. The restaurant offers a diverse menu that includes Pakistani, European, Chinese and barbeque cuisines.

This is the place to go if you're looking for a nice place to eat dinner in a beautiful setting.

Chaupal's ambience is undeniably appealing, and after a hard day of fasting in the sweltering heat, you may unwind to have iftar at the restaurant. Chaupal's indoor and outdoor dining areas are both beautiful and relaxing. Chaupal offers a fantastic Iftar buffet with a variety of foods.

Cafeela Restaurant There are four different cuisines to choose from at the Cafeela restaurant in Karachi: Chinese, Pakistani, Thai, and Seafood, assuring that everyone will find something to their preference. You will enjoy your iftar there because the environment is quite soothing, with great furniture and very accommodating staff. From sizzling vegetable dishes to spicy Chinese and lip-smacking desserts, Cafeela should be your next stop.

Clock Tower The recently opened eatery on the coast of Karachi's sea has quickly become one of the city's most popular hangouts. The comprehensive menu, which contains a wide variety of things, is popular with many people. Because of its Instagram-worthy ocean views and breathtaking sunset views, it's the ideal place for your next Iftar supper. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on iftar, the bundle is equally affordable.

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Lasania Restaurant Lasania is one of Pakistan's most popular restaurants. Located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, the restaurant is properly furnished and air-conditioned, so you won't be bothered by Karachi's blistering heat. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and they offer an incredible Iftar buffet at a very affordable price

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By Ghazala Sulaiman

Journalist, Omair Alavi thinks that viewers need to wait for more to follow post the plot twist.

“Like in dramas all over the world, Pakistani dramas also show conflicts in stories- that too have various reasons. The harassment scene in Dobara is a twist by the makers because not many viewers follow the story to the end with no surprise development. The writer has penned it with a purpose in mind and the audience show waits for the true reason to unfold.

What’s more, true and false allegations on both men and women, by both men and women, happen in real life. We have also seen it happening in the life of celebrities and common people. While we do get upset at such scenes shown in the dramas, let’s not forget that these tales also end up bringing the villain to the book when the drama ends.”

KARACHI

It has been six months since Dobara made its way onto our T.V screens and into the hearts of so many viewers who loved the profound message the drama stood for throughout.

With its narrative of condemning forced, under-age marriages and encouraging weddings of widows in Pakistan, there was hardly a drama aficionado who didn’t praise Dobara for being an out-of-the-box, refreshing story.

Furthermore, the plot drove significant conversations on various social media platforms that our society needs to liberate women into marrying younger men. It, in its own way, began a movement to help empower single women, widows, and divorcees to pursue the life they desire and choose partners of their own free will.

Making us fall in love with the drama, even more, was a scene where the hero of the story Mahir, played by Bilal Abbass, stands up for the housemaid and saves her from the sly ways of the elderly male servant in the house.

Then Alas! The ill-fated happened and a beautiful story was under fire due to a plot development none welcomed in their favorite drama.

Opinion of the mass audience

for the viral scene. However, there have been other dramas where false allegations were held irresponsibly. But specifically, to Dobara, it is a nuanced show and it rightly showed that people do grapple with their conscience when they manipulate a situation so huge. It is also important to understand that such stories along with those of harassment also happen in real.

Hence, Sarwat has explored all angles of the story. And the hero needs to come out of it with dignity and with harassment being a reality. “ Karachi-Based Broadcast Entertainment

At the end of the day, no matter how many plotlines and ground realities such a controversial scene will hold, most female viewers are bound to reject the narrative.

On the other hand, a huge chunk of the male audience will only grasp the scene as a characterisation that women across Pakistan of all ages and spheres are not always truthful when it comes to sexual harassment.

A glimpse at the churning social media conversation reflects that there is a dire need for Dobara to pay attention to the representative of the contemporary generation of the country i.e. Sehar in the story. She is essayed as a reckless conventionalist who looks down upon remarriages of widows in the earlier episodes. She is also someone who disregards harassment as a sensitive matter.

While Dobara is breaking so many stereotypes, it would have been incredible if Sehar’s character would have been revealed as an exemplary woman. She could have been someone who stands for women empowerment, believes in freedom, and is a strong supporter of the worldwide #metoo movement that condemns harassment happening to both genders. Maybe this one of the thing that our audience also needs to see- a woke character that they could find solace in!

a blood-sucking vampire similar to Michael but without his ethical superiority.

When Michael is framed for the murder of his nurse, he deduces that his childhood friend deceived him, and with the help of his lady doctor friend Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona) decides to set things right before it’s too late.

If you think that the way Michael transforms a secret lab once used by criminals for counterfeiting $100 bills into a makeshift lab that manufactures artificial blood is hilarious, think again.

No one notices when Michael suddenly quits using his crutches and starts walking normally, why wasn’t he apprehended when he was at his laboratory after ditching his girlfriend to escape a horrific scene, or why a dying friend calls him from his cellphone instead of dialing 911 that could have saved his life?

Directed by Daniel Espinosa (Safe House), Morbius leaves the audience with

bad memories instead of good highlights.

The good/bad setup between Michael and Milo reminds one of the first Iron Man where Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man is pitted against something similar created for the antagonist Jeff Bridges; or of the first Ant Man flick where two grown-up men don a suit that shrinks them, and then fight each other for supremacy. The rivalry here is so muddled and boring that you end up caring about no one, not even the good guy for he has also sinned.

Add to that the growing demonic face and you want the movie to end as quickly as possible. Sadly, the only creative thinking the director used in the film was done in the opening credits because after that, everything goes downhill. Jared Leto’s acting is, without doubt, the film’s highlight but it was overshadowed by the special effects which were as much part of the film as the actors. Yes, Tyrese Gibson was wasted as an FBI agent and Al Madrigal looked irritating, but when the picture is extremely low-budget, and their characters had nothing else to do, you get a movie that revolves around three Ms – Michael, Milo, and Martine.

And finally, something about the two abrupt and disturbing post-credit scenes, the only purpose of which is connecting Morbius and Spider-Man to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU). At first, I thought it was an April Fool prank but when I realized it wasn’t, it hurt me as an MCU fan.

The frantic attempt not only makes Sony look desperate in cashing the Spider-Man franchise but also bores the fan who was expecting something better, something challenging especially before the release of the Dr. Strange sequel. One hopes that Morbius won’t be revisited anytime soon and Marvel revives its legacy after delivering yet-another failed venture!

A rookie mistake or a deliberate twist?

In the much recent episodes of Dobara, we witness how the vile phuppo in the story, essayed by the veteran Sakina Samo, is pushing Sehar- the daughter-in-law of the family, portrayed by the rising Sabeena Syed, to frame Mahir for harassment.

Initially, we see Sehar hesitant of doing so. Though they all want Mahir out of their lives- especially that of Mehru, played by Hadiqa Kiani; the young Sehar feels reluctant of telling lie so massive.

Nevertheless, the nefarious phuppo pressurizes her to the core, and eventually, an educated, cultured Sehar- belonging to Gen Z- ended up falsely accusing her father-in-law of all people of making wrongful advances toward her.

Of course, social media exploded with outrage for a scene so contentious and perceived this as a mindful turn in the story

by the makers. The founder of Soul Sisters Pakistan, Kanwal Ahmed was an ardent fan of the serial. However, she was amongst the first to shun the plot twist.

What our T.V critics and writers have to say

Renowned writer, Sidra Sehar Imran who penned the popular drama Jalan believes that we need to admit that men also get harassed and such incidents happen in real life.

“Even when Jalan was released, a lot of people criticized that such a tale should not be aired as it will spread more vice in

society. Speaking of Dobara, don’t such false harassment allegations happen in real life? Men go through this too. I believe that we need to show the dark side of our society on the screens. Far worse is happening behind the curtains and such incidents in dramas are also an aspect of awareness for the viewers. If we are being advocates of equality between men and women, we need to accept that like women, even men have respect that needs to be honored.”

Senior entertainment journalist, Vlogger, and Social Media Editor at Khaleej Times, Mahwash Aijaz thinks that there is a whole

context to the scene that the audience needs to consider.

“There is a reason and a way to show these scenes and of course harassment is a reality. The writer Sarwat Nazir is very experienced and a very sensitive person to these kinds of issues as well. In an earlier episode, she showed how Mahir stood up for the female servant in the house and when Mahir is falsely accused, there is a giant distrust against him.”

‘In our dramas, there is a context and greater backstories. Sarwat Nazir did a brilliant job at creating a weighable context

Omair Alavi KARACHI

Think of the worst Marvel flick you have ever seen, be it in the cinema or at home. Carefully analyze all the aspects of that film and then visit the theatre for Morbius.

Trust me, by the time you exit the cinema (during or after the film, depending on your tolerance level), you would have revised your list, placing Morbius as the worst film to come from Marvel.

What makes Morbius so bad that no one seems to like it? It follows the pattern of those Marvel flicks that came out before Blade, the first-ever Marvel flick to actually have a box office record worth mentioning. Pre-Blade, films based on Marvel Comics characters were extremely low-budget, idiotic, and ill-executed that they made even the bad films from rival DC Comics look good. After the release of X-Men at the turn of the century, Marvel started taking films seriously and their Marvel Cinematic Universe (known as the MCU) became so huge that fans started believing in its existence. That’s one of the reasons why most of the films in the highest-grossing list are from Marvel because they are close to the audience’s hearts.

However, that didn’t stop them from making mediocre films, and in the last 12 months, they have released three films – Venom 2, The Eternals, and now Morbius – that have more in common with their ‘90s ventures than those that ‘succeeded’ them. Add to that the failed Fantastic Four reboot a few years back and the Thor sequel before that and you have failed films from the same studio that gave us Avengers and Captain America!

Like the Marvel films from the last

millennium, Morbius is very low-budget, follows the tried and tested pattern of two people with the same powers, but with a twist. Here, the bad guy who is lesser evil

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is actually the good guy, and if you know what that means, you shouldn’t miss Morbius. When he is good, he is crippled and handsome but when he is bad, he re-

sembles Voldemort more than a vampire but isn’t crippled anymore. That’s what makes him a superhero, even if it means killing a few people here and there!

The film revolves around Jared Leto’s character Dr. Michael Morbius, who despite his Charles Manson hairstyle is a world-class doctor who suffers from a blood disorder. Since he is in search of the cure for that rare disease, he tries everything to save mankind in general and himself in particular, and is even eligible for the Nobel prize which he doesn’t accept. His aim is to make himself and his friend Milo (Matt Smith) normal again so that they can fulfill their lifelong dream of walking together like normal human beings instead of walking with sticks.

Sadly, Milo is as much greedy as he is needy, and when he finds out that Michael has found a cure that might have some side effects, he uses it without the good doctor’s permission, and becomes

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By Maheen Aziz KARACHI

Zoha Rahman is a British-Pakistani actress who is rising to fame in the country.

The budding star is known for her role as a hijabi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: Far From Home. She is currently starring in the Apple TV+ production Foundation and is also seen in Kabir Khan’s film ‘83.

This week BOLD is in conversation with the beautiful and talented Zoha Rahman.

I miss the stage, but I like the ease of the screen.

I do love films, probably because you have a bit more freedom and its exciting seeing yourself in a cinema and having a premier. At the end of the day, it’s more about the character for me than the platform

How did you get into acting?

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be an actor. I loved putting on little plays with my friends and even though I was extremely shy I was always up first for school plays and assemblies and continued to perform on stage till I graduated.

During my studies I started modelling on the side, which led to some commercials.

And one of the directors for a commercial asked me to audition for his film. I got the lead role and that was my first professional acting experience.

What have you studied?

I studied Law at SOAS in London, I then got an unconditional offer to complete my LLM in Intellectual Property Law at the Queen Mary University of London which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Usually when people start their careers, they move from Pakistani content to Bollywood and then Lollywood, a bit in your case, you started with Hollywood then Bollywood and are now exploring the avenues here, what has the experience been like? Where did it all start?

It may seem like there is step 1, step 2, and step 3 but there is no ‘right’ path to success. I go where the opportunities take me, both in a literal and figurative sense.

I’m very open to exploring and challenging myself. I have been blessed with amazing experiences in the infancy of my acting career, with credits in Marvel, Netflix, Apple TV, Bollywood, and now Lollywood, and this is consistent with my view of what art is. Art has no boundaries, no borders, and no nationality. It should just make us all feel something and allow us to escape. I hope I continue to work on this global scale, I absolutely love experiencing different sets and cultures and perspectives.

experience like? Were you starstruck?

I was asked to audition for Shrikanth’s wife originally! When the director saw my audition he wanted me to take on this more extensive role, which I didn’t know until I got my contract. Upon confirmation, I filmed a week in London and a week in Scotland. It was fun working with Kabir, he was a great director and gave me creative freedom to make my character what I wanted. I still laugh because he was adamant that I grew out my eyebrows to get the 80s look! Meeting Ranveer was great too, and the rest of the cast. It really felt like a family towards the end.

You are also a voice-over actor, having lent your voice to various projects, how did that come along? Did you first start off as a voice actor and then ventured into acting? Or was it the other way round?

The newer generation is growing up with a lot of digital freedom, I had to wait for someone to make something to cast me.

But now, you can pick up your phone and record your favourite monologues and just put them up Where did it all begin? What was the first gig like?

In my first gig I played a violinist and we explored themes of music therapy, sacrifice for family and immigration. It was challenging for someone who had only done commercials and still shoots, but because I was so keen to learn and the team was so patient I picked up information very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the process.

We can currently spot you on-air locally in Dil-e-Momin, are there any new projects in the pipeline?

Yes! There are a few new projects currently in post-production phases. Since wrapping Dil-e-Momin in September, I have completed my first horror feature opposite Arjun Mathur in London and I am currently filming an exciting show opposite Sami Khan in Pakistan. And InshAllah more opportunities are coming my way!

Having acted at all platforms i.e plays, movies, OTT platforms, dramas, what’s your most preferred platform and why?

This is a tough one! I miss the stage, but I like the ease of the screen. I do love films, probably because you have a bit more freedom and its exciting seeing yourself in a cinema and having a premier. At the end of the day, it’s more about the character for me than the platform, whether it’s for a movie or a drama, the performance aspect is ultimately the decision-maker.

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I kind of fell into voice, I did a few voice overs for commercials because I am very good at accents. I then invested in a good mic and set up a small VO studio at home for my own podcast ‘LKKG Podcast’, Log Kya Kahenge, and then I did some characters on podcast series. I narrated my first book a few months ago which I thoroughly enjoyed, seeing it trending on Audible and other platforms was a new kind of excitement because people were commenting about how they liked my voice!

Any advice for the younger lot who is about to venture into this industry?

The newer generation is growing up with a lot of digital freedom, I had to wait for someone to make something to cast me.

But now, you can pick up your phone and record your favourite monologues and just put them up. Or you can even make your own film and post it. If you want to act, go and act! Make your own luck, don’t wait on others.

Describe a role that you really want to do?

I would love to do a conflicted character, something entirely different to who I am myself. And it would be super fun to play a superhero or a villain!

When you ventured into the local industry, a lot of actors feel un-appreciated during their initial years in this industry. What has your experience been like?

I don’t see it as under appreciation, I see it as an opportunity for me to learn and go out of my way to perfect my acting.

Acting for me is not about others and what they think about me, I would never be able to perform with that mindset, it’s about me, how I justify the decisions of my character and how I portray their struggles and celebrations.

Any actor you’d love to pair up within a project?

My dream is to work with Dwayne Johnson or Will Smith. Viola Davis is another huge favorite of mine!

One thing you’d like to change about the industry and where it’s at currently?

There is always room for improvement, but if I had to narrow it down I would definitely want fresher content ideas. We have seen the same story dressed up differently for years. We need some brave writers!

What is success to Zoha?

Contentment. Not stressing about the next move and not looking back and wishing I’d done more. Just being content and happy.

Working in Bollywood’s 83, walk us through the experience, how did you get the role, what was the F O R B O O K I N G A D S , W W W. B O L N E W S . C O M / N E W S PA P E R