Daily News Pakistan

Renowned drama writer and poet Amjad Islam Amjad passed away on Friday in Lahore due to sudden cardiac arrest. He was not suffering from any chronic disease and died at the age of 78. His funeral has not been announced yet but his burial will take place in Lahore. PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow at the famed poet and screenwriter’s passing. He prayed for the deceased’s soul and a high rank in heaven for him. He also sent his condolences to his family. “Amjad Islam Amjad gave Pakistan memorable TV dramas such as Waris, Fishar and Samandar. His literary contributions will be remembered for ages. His death has deprived Pakistani literature of a great author and poet,” he said. Governor of Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman also expressed grief over Amjad’s demise. He prayed for him to have a high rank in heaven. “Undoubtedly, Amjad Islam Amjad was Pakistan’s number one drama writer. He made a name for himself with his unique poetry. Poets, literaries and drama writers like him a...

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has asked actress Rabia Iqbal Khan, famously known as Kubra Khan, to cooperate with the inquiry being carried out by the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) in a scandalous and defamatory campaign against her. During a hearing on Monday, the court also directed the FIA and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block defamatory and scandalous online content on social media sites against Khan. On December 31, UK-based YouTuber and retired army officer Adil Farooq Raja levelled serious allegations against some actresses without naming them and by mentioning their initials — S.A, K.K, M.H and H.K. However, unhappy fans and netizens attached the names of four actresses, forcing them to respond to the allegations on social media. One of the allegedly accused actresses was Kubra Khan, who told Raja to either provide proof for his claims, retract the statement, publicly apologise or she will take strict action and sue him for defamation. The actress ...

Co-creator of the famous cartoon Scooby-Doo, Ken Spears passed away at the age of 82 on Friday. The news was confirmed by his son Kevin who told Variety that his father breathed his last following complications that arose from Lewy body dementia. “Ken will forever be remembered for his wit, his storytelling, his loyalty to family and his strong work ethic,” said Kevin. “Ken has not only made a lasting impression on his family, but he has touched the lives of many as co-creator of ‘Scooby-Doo.’ Ken has been a role model for us throughout his life and he will continue to live on in our hearts,” he went on to say. Spears had created the iconic cartoon series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! back in 1969 alongside his writing partner and cartoonist Joe Ruby who had also passed away earlier this year in August.

Meghan Markle and husband Prince Harry, who quit royal duties to become financially independent at the start of this year, can earn as much as $1 million for a single speech according to a document leaked on Tuesday. The British media quoting the leaked document reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are currently stay in Los Angeles, signed up to Harry Walker Agency, a New York-based speakers’ bureau, in June. The agency released a four-page ‘Virtual Event Request Form’ which details the demands of Prince Harry and Meghan as virtual speakers. According to the agency, Prince Harry and Meghan, who stepped down as senior royals earlier this year, could earn as much as $1 million for a single speech through Harry Walker Agency. The couple also demands strict control of their virtual bookings, revealed the leaked document. Last week, Meghan and Harry announced over $150 million lucrative deal with streaming giant Netflix to produce films and documentaries under their prod...

Esra Bilgic, who essays the role of Halime Sultan in Turkish historical drama series Dirilis: Ertugrul, looked stunning in the photo wherein she can be seen sporting yellow and white ensembles. In the dazzling picture circulating on social media, Esra Bilgic aka Halime Sultan looked drop dead gorgeous and the photo has taken the internet by storm. The stunning photo has won the hearts of the fans on social media. The latest picture has been shared thousands of times on the fan pages of the Turkish star. Meanwhile, on the work front, Esra Bilgic will next be seen in crime drama Ramo. The second season of the series will premiere in the last week of September. Esra’s popularity skyrocketed after Dirilis: Ertugrul started airing in Pakistan in Urdu dubbing.

Justin Bieber recently subbed for fellow Canadian singer Drake in the music video for "Pop Star. The singer's wife Hailey Bieber also had an appearance in the video for the song which is a collaboration between Drake and DJ Khaled. Khaled on Saturday took to Instagram to share that the video has received over 14 million views on YouTube and is still trending number one on the website.  

Turkish actress Esra Bilgic rose to international fame due to her outstanding performance in popular TV series "Dirilis:Ertugrul". The actress went through intense gym workouts and rehearsals to fit into the role of a Seljuk warrior who got married to Ertugrul. There are plenty of behind-the-scene videos available on the internet that prepped hard for the historical series. One such video shows Esra Bilgic sweating it out in the gym and taking part in sword fights to prepare herself for her role as Halime Hatun.  

British actor Robert Pattinson has tested positive for COVID-19, news media reported on Thursday, halting production of “The Batman” and highlighting the industry’s struggles to get back to business after months of a pandemic-induced shutdown. Movie studio Warner Bros. said in a statement that “a member of ‘The Batman’ production” in Britain had tested positive for the coronavirus, but did not give a name. “Filming is temporarily paused,” the studio’s statement added, but did not say for how long. Variety, the Hollywood Reporter and Vanity Fair all cited sources as saying the person who tested positive was Pattinson, the film’s star. Warner Bros. and Pattinson’s representatives did not return calls seeking comment. It was not clear to what extent Pattinson, 34, best known for his breakout role in the vampire movie series “Twilight,” was suffering COVID-19 symptoms. Filming of “The Batman” had resumed north of London only three days ago after being shut down in mid-March, along wi...

Pakistan's favorite superstar Mahira Khan on Thursday treated her millions of fans with a brand new selfie on Instagram. The caption accompanying her picture was written in Turkish language which read, "Boşver" (Never mind). People who are watching popular Turkish series "Dirilis:Ertugrul" were quick to identify the language while others were left clueless.

A court granted Pakistani actress Saba Qamar and singer Bilal Saeed bail in a case pertaining to the filming of a song at Lahore's historic Wazir Khan Mosque on Thursday. Both the accused appeared in the courtroom today to have their attendance registered at the hearing. During the hearing, Qamar's lawyer contended that his client was innocent and did not violate the sanctity of the mosque. However, the investigating officer said that police had not yet received the video of the song's shooting that had gone viral on the internet. Lahore Sessions Court judge Chaudhry Qasim ali ruled in favour of Qamar and Saeed's interim petitions, granting them bail. After granting the bail, the judge said that the matter of reward or compensation will be decided at the trial. Qamar and Saeed landed in hot waters after some scenes they shot at a mosque for the video of a song went viral on social media, sparking anger and outrage with some accusing them of violating the sanctity...

Pakistani actress Sajal Ali posted a gorgeous photo on her Instagram, leaving her fans awe-struck. The actress looked ravishing in a floral off-shoulder top, which she paired with nude lips and kohl-rimmed eyes. She let her hair back in loose curls and can be seen looking at her reflection in the mirror. Earlier, Sajal posted an adorable picture with her pet dog The starlet took to Instagram and shared the sweet photo without any caption. Earlier in July, Sajal had disclosed that she had always been scared of dogs and she still is a tad bit. She revealed, “I’ve always been scared of dogs, and still am just a little bit.” She further said, “But I realized that once you understand them and give them a chance to be your friend, they are the sweetest.”

Ayeza Khan stunned everyone with her latest Instagram post wherein she could be seen looking ravishing as ever. The actress posted a bunch of new photos trying her hand at a new hairstyle. Looking ethereal, Ayeza stunned in tight curls. She was dressed in a black and white polka dots shirt which she paired with bold red lips. In the caption, she advised her fans to eat clean in order to keep fit and healthy. "I don’t have to starve myself or eat only ‘salads’. I never thought i could eat spaghetti, burgers, pastas and deserts all while staying fit," Ayeza wrote. "Going strong with my meal plan from @getfitathletic. It’s so easy and so much fun to follow because all my favourite foods are included," she added.

Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth's bond has grown deeper ever since the coronavirus pandemic swept across the UK. As Queen Elizabeth has been based at Windsor Castle currently, she is seeking help from Kate. While both the royals have been staying at different places, Us Weekly reported that the relationship between them has changed drastically. According to the outlet, the Queen has been looking up to Kate to run things smoothly in her absentia. “These are strange times for everyone, senior royals included, and having Kate as her rock has made it so much easier for the queen to adapt to her new life at Windsor,” a source said. “More than anything, knowing she can rely on Kate and Prince William to handle matters in her absence is the greatest comfort she could ask for.” It is also said that Kate often seeks advice from the Queen as the future Queen consort of Britain. "Her Majesty sees the Cambridges as the future of the monarchy and trusts Kate and William’s judgm...

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar inaugurated a state of the art, Lyallpur Art and Craft Gallery in Faisalabad. Addressing to Inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister said promotion of art and culture is imperative for the development of a civilization. He said federal government is taking serious steps to promote art and culture in the country. He said it will provide an excellent opportunity to enhance employment to those who work hard to earn money. The Chief Minister said the purpose of art and craft is not only to collect revenue but also to alive the dying art, now it depends on the artisans how they get benefit from this. He said Pakistan is a great country and rich by variety of culture and together we will take it forwarded and can project it's soft image to the world. Sardar Usman Buzdar visited the different section of the Gallery and said that Lyallpur Art Gallery is a great initiative which would help to boost the regional industry.

Sajal Ali and Bushra Ansari played an important role in the marriage of Zara Noor Abbas with Asad Siddiqui, the Khamoshi actress has disclosed in an interview. The Ehd-e-Wafa actress recently appeared as a guest on web show of Iffat Umar and got candid about her personal life, marriage with Asad and about her mother Asma Abbas's battle with cancer. During the interview, Zara revealed that besides her aunt Bushra Ansari, her close friend Sajal Ali, Asim Azhar and Yasir Hussain played important role in her marriage with Asad Siddiqui. Zara went on to say seven years back, whenever she visited Bushra 'aunty' on the sets of Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat, she had a conversation with Asad but after the shooting ended it stopped and they both got busy in their lives. She added, “Seven years later, when Asad and I met again, within five to six week, our marriage was finalized.” Zara added ladies of our family were on a trip to Malaysia where she received a call from Asad who inform...

Director Christopher Nolan’s new thriller “Tenet” received warm reviews on Friday as U.S. cinema chains reopened with industry-wide safety measures aimed at reassuring audiences during a pandemic. “Tenet” is the first big-budget movie from a major Hollywood studio to head to theaters since the coronavirus outbreak shuttered theaters around the world in March. Ticket sales for the film from AT&T Inc’s Warner Bros will be closely watched as a gauge of how many people will leave their homes to go to the movies. The film opens in 70 countries starting on Aug. 26 and in the United States on Sept. 3. “Tenet” got an 87% approval rate on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, although critics said its time-bending plot was so contorted, it was hard to follow at times. Star John David Washington plays a CIA operative recruited to help the shadowy Tenet organization that is trying to stop an apocalyptic event. The Times of London called the 2.5-hour film a “globetrotting, jaw-drop...

Extending her support to Saba Qamar after a case was registered against her, legendary Pakistani actress Sakina Samo has said that it was totally ‘unfair’ to her and an insult to her talent. Sakina Samo turned to Instagram and extended her support to Saba. She wrote, “To @sabaqamarzaman with love. In solidarity with Saba, with great sadness I say. This is utterly wrong. She’s a fine artist and a kind person. She doesn’t do anything bad to anybody. She’s happy in her world.” Samo went on to say, “I think it’s totally unfair to her and an insult to her talent. Things are greatly exaggerated. I believe her good intentions therefore I support her.” She also urged showbiz stars to raise their voice for Saba Qamar, saying, “Actor community should stand by her. If we don’t today then tomorrow it can be anybody’s turn. So beware my fellow actors.” A short clip of Saba Qamar whirling with Bilal Saeed for music video at a historic mosque went viral on social media and drew strong reactions...

Celal Al aka Abdul Rehman Alp has sent love and greetings to his Pakistani fans on 74th Independence Day in Urdu language. Celal, who portrays the role of Abdul Rehman Alp in Turkish historic drama series Dirilis: Ertugrul or Ertugrul Ghazi, turned to Instagram and shared a video wherein he could be heard wishing his Pakistani fans on Independence Day. In a message in Urdu language, Celal says, “Mere Pakistani Behn Bhaiyo, Apko Youm-e-Azadi Pakistan Mubarak ho. Shuhada-e-Pakistan ko mera salam. (My Pakistani brothers and sisters, I wish you a very Happy Independence Day. Also Salam to the martyrs of Pakistan).” He went on to say, “Apka brother mulk Turkey or Turk awam hamesha apky shana ba shana khary hai (Your brother country Turkey and its people always stand by you).” Abdul Rehman also captioned the endearing post in Urdu and Turkish languages to greet the Pakistani fans. He also wrote in the comment section, “Dil Dil Pakistan.” “Pakistan Zindabad (Long Live Pakistan),” Cela...

Ayeza Khan has shared the first photo of her two-month-old pet dog and introduced the new family member with her fans on social media. Taking to Twitter and Instagram simultaneously, the Mehar Posh actress shared sweet snaps of her cuddling up to the puppy and wrote, “Meet our new family member ‘Milan’”. She also shared the date of the birth of Milan, saying, “Date of birth: 24th June 2020. #firstpetphoto.” The endearing post has garnered thousands of hearts within no time. She also shared a photo of Milan with a heart emoticon. On the work front, Ayeza Khan is currently seen in romantic drama series Mehar Posh alongside husband Danish Taimoor.

Wrestler-turned-movie star Dwayne Johnson clung to the top slot on the list of the world’s highest-paid male actors for a second straight year, according to an annual tally released by Forbes magazine on Tuesday. Johnson, also known by his ring name ‘The Rock’, earned $87.5 million from June 1, 2019 to June 1, 2020, Forbes said, including $23.5 million from Netflix Inc to star in movie thriller “Red Notice.” He also benefited from his ‘Project Rock’ fitness wear line for Under Armour Inc. Ryan Reynolds, who co-stars with Johnson in “Red Notice,” came in second in the Forbes ranking of male stars. He earned $20 million for that film, plus another $20 million for Netflix movie “Six Underground,” the magazine said, part of his $71.5 million total for the one-year period. Actor and producer Mark Wahlberg, star of Netflix action comedy “Spenser Confidential,” finished third with $58 million. Next on the list were actors Ben Affleck with $55 million and Vin Diesel with $54 million. Aks...