With a career spanning across two decades, Mohib Mirza has ruled the industry for the most part with his varied performances as an actor, a theater director, a television host and a comedian. The man has only grown, both professionally and personally, over time but lately, we haven’t been seeing a lot of him on our TV screens. We, at Galaxy Lollywood, therefore, recently sat down with the man himself for a candid conversation. Here are a few excerpts from the interview where Mohib Mirza opens up about his life interests, experiences and his upcoming projects.

Until Deedan, your last TV serial Firaaq was aired back in 2014. You’ve made your fans wait for quite a long time. Why such a long gap?

I took my time to wait for a good script instead of grabbing just any project, just to stay relevant. I got a lot of lead role offers these past few offers but the characters just didn’t appeal to me. The plots were getting repetitive and there was nothing new. I truly believe that an actor should and must evolve with time and the offers I was getting didn’t align with that. Deedan, on the other hand, has given me an opportunity to prove my versatility. I have worked really hard on it and have broken quite a few stereotypes through it. I couldn’t have asked for a better comeback project.

How does it feel to have a comeback tag attached to your name?

I haven’t made a comeback as I never went away. *laughs*

Listening to words like ‘comeback’ etc. tend to be tiresome for actors like me who choose to lead their lives – personal and professional – on their own terms and desires. Technically speaking, it is a comeback as I will be reappearing on the screen after four years. It definitely was a long break. I am currently constantly on a look out for powerful roles and thankfully, I am getting them too.

Bachana did really well whereas Teri Meri Love Story and Arth both opened to  luke-warm responses and didn’t perform well at the box office, as well. What, according to you, went wrong?

Yes! Bachana fared well while TMLS struggled to get its act right with the audience. The audience shouldn’t be blamed for disliking a film. Personally I felt, TMLS had a good script but something went intrinsically wrong with the technical support i.e. colour grading and sound until the final screening. Lack of promotions was also a cause for its debacle. As for Arth, it was completely Shaan’s visualization from start to finish. As an actor, I surrendered myself to him and completely trusted his vision. Each film has its own destiny, maybe the hype around the film was missing or it wasn’t the right time to release it. As an industry, we are still in the experimenting zone and it is really unfair to label a film a hit or a flop. It’s a tough phase for the actors, distributors and filmmakers.

You seem to be getting more and more selective with your filmography. As an actor, has it been hard to find scripts that satisfy your soul?

Cinema is a combination of talent, hard work and perseverance; all three of them are needed to cement one’s place in the industry. I want to do something that I am remembered by. I never read a script with pre-conceived notions, I let go off them completely and then read with an open mind. However, at the same time, I am open to the idea of being a part of commercial potboilers, provided the story is good. I will always choose something that gets me excited. If I am not seen in films, it is not that I am not getting offers.

I feel as a performer I should justify every bit of my work. After all it is my bread and butter. One thing I have realized over time that as an actor, you can’t take long breaks mainly because ‘Jo Dikta Hai Wo Bikta Hai’

What are your future plans? What can we expect from Mohib Mirza in the coming months and years?

I am doing another drama serial titled ‘Dushman’. Besides I will start shooting my next film from January 2019. It would be too early to reveal much about the film but I shall surely get back with some exclusive scoop for Galaxy Lollywood.

The post “My absence doesn’t mean that I am not getting any offers!” – Mohib Mirza appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Lately, Pakistani cinema, in addition to producing diversified films, has produced diversified faces as well. Names such as Kiran Malik, Sonya Husein and of course, Hajra Yamin have given aspiring actors and actresses the much needed hope for their future. At the same time, it is, indeed, great to see so many theater and television actors entering Lollywood. Amidst this massive transition that the industry is currently going through, there is a new name that has arrived on the scene; Hajra Yamin. The frizzy haired actress of Man Jao Na fame (even though hardly 20 people know about the movie), sat down with us for a candid conversation and here’s what we found out about her previous and upcoming projects including ‘Pinky Memsaab’.

Hajra Yamin isn’t thinking too far for now. She is happy soaking in the adulation, for the time being. Articulate, passionate and intelligent, Hajra’s candour and belief in herself are refreshing and inspiring, to say the least.

Hajra is the youngest among her siblings. She majored in Communications and Media studies and then came to Karachi for a theater play. Later, she stayed back to try out her luck in TV and films. She was quickly noted on TV for her role in ‘Tau Dil Ka Kia Hua’. Soon after, she succeeded in bagging her first film with Aabis Raza – ‘Maan Jao Naa’. The film, unfortunately, failed to engage the critics and audience on account of its pitiable storytelling and sloppy performances, backed by poor dialogues and forgettable music. Despite everything, however, Hajra is determined to remain versatile as a performer, instead of just being recognized by one particular genre.

While talking to Galaxy Lollywood, Hajra Yamin also revealed some rather juicy secrets on ‘Maan Jao Naa’ biting the dust, “it wasn’t my best work as an actor. It happened all of a sudden, I was approached by the makers so I just went with the flow and said yes.While filming, however, I felt terribly lost, having no clue whatsoever as to how things are done in the industry.”

Hajra is a trained theater actress. According to her, even though her transition to cinema has been organic, she still feels at a loss from time to time.

As our conversation steered towards her work portfolio, I asked Hajra if it was a conscious move on her part to take up unconventional projects like Pinky Meemsaab to which she replied, “Yes, it was a bit of a choice on my part. My work is sacred for me and I have fought my entire life for it. The idea has always been to do roles that have a unique voice and perspective. I try not to walk the beaten path and have always tried to do things in a way that suit me and what I feel is the right thing to do. And it’s always good to keep challenging yourself, and pushing your boundaries.”

“I have transformed myself on-screen for Pinky Meemsaab. One cannot see any traces of Hajra in Pinky. It’s important to be real and be truthful with your work. Screw the fact that you should look beautiful, just be real. For any actor, that’s the biggest achievement and I hope the audience will appreciate the diverse work that I am hopefully going to do in my career here onwards,” added Hajra.

The 26 year old Hajra is of the view that our approach towards cinema has transformed a lot over the years. Times are changing. Gone are the days when small budget projects were neglected and films with lavish profiles, item songs and eye catching foreign locations used to attract people.

“I feel that parallel cinema and commercial cinema have their own spaces and it’s unfair to compare the two. Lollywood is going through a transition phase and is still experimenting with its content. In the last couple of years, we have seen some good parallel cinema films come out that have been applauded both by the audiences and critics,” said Hajra.

Towards the end, Hajra mentioned that there are two things that Pakistani industry really needs to work on; their pre-production work and their discipline. She believes that her upcoming film ‘Pinky Meemsaab’ will cater to people from all walks of life.

Galaxy Lollywood wishes Hajra and the entire team of ‘Pinky Meemsaab’ the best of luck! It releases in Pakistan on December 7, 2018.

The post “Maan Jao Na is not my best work as an actor.” – Hajra Yamin appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Pakistani cinema is on its way to getting bigger and better (hey, it doesn’t pay to be pessimistic so let’s just keep our fingers crossed). New movies, even though, few and far between are still coming out. At the same time, the line between television and cinema is blurring with every passing day. Gone are the days when an exhaustive list of film stars comprised people that were never seen in the television dramas and vice versa. Today, both the mediums have hundreds of common names and faces. Here are, therefore, a few Pakistani celebrities from the television industry who we genuinely think need to make their silver screen debuts as soon as possible.

Iqra Aziz 

Iqra Aziz is both a remarkable actress and a model, in one. The characters she has played in ‘Khamoshi’, ‘Suno Chanda’ or the currently on air ‘Ranjha Ranjha Kardi’ show her versatility as an actress. Iqra is bubbly, chirpy and boisterous and possesses all the germs of a super star. We cannot wait for her to light up the silver screen with her presence. Casting directors, please take note.

Farhan Saeed 

While Farhan’s wife – Urwa Hocane – has already entered the world that is Lollywood , it’d be pleasant to see Farhan Saeed on the big screen. He can sing, has a charming personality and can act too- case in point ‘Suno Chanda’. That’s honestly a complete package, what more can we ask for!

Ayeza Khan 

Ayeza Khan is probably one of the most genuine actors/people the television industry has had the pleasure of having. She is true to herself, can cry well and has performed exceptionally well in whatever she had don, which is a clear manifestation of her skills as an actor. Again casting directors, please take note.

Shahzad Noor 

The 31 year old actor and model – Shahzad Noor – is our next candidate for the much aspired to, silver screen. At the risk of sounding shallow (but oh well!), Shahzad has the face of a super-star (he has won awards for being the best model, guys), is taller than almost every one of our current film stars and can kind of act too. With that, we rest our case.

Aiman Khan/Minal Khan 

This sister duo has us all captivated with their adorable social media posts, for almost a year now. Their vibrant social media presence, remarkable acting skills combined with their rather innocent personas make them the perfect candidates for the big aka silver screen. Who would refuse to watch a movie with Aiman/Minal just being themselves?

Bilal Khan 

We have all seen Bilal Khan try his luck with music. In our opinion, now is the time for him to experiment with something new; something that we feel is right up his alley. Bilal Khan has an adorable face, is soft spoken and can act too (thanks to Sammi and Khamoshi). It wouldn’t hurt to see him play the role of a lost lover in a movie or two. Wouldn’t you agree?

While names such as Saboor Aly, Sana Javed, Feroz Khan, Ramsha Khan etc. are also on our list, they have (un)fortunately made their silver screen debuts already. Here’s requesting our casting directors to include these names and faces to their potential film stars’ lists. We, for one, shall be very thankful.

The post 7 Pakistani celebrities who need to make their silver screen debuts ASAP appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Pakistani playwright, TV and film director Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar has lately been busy shooting for his next  film; Kaaf Kangana. It’s a love story between an Indian girl and a Pakistani boy. The film stars Ayesha Omar, Eshal Fayyaz and Sami Khan in tutorial roles.

Kaaf Kangana recently made headlines when Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar lashed out at Urwa Hocane, accusing her of extremely unprofessional behavior, which later resulted in Urwa’s exit from the film.

We recently talked to one of the lead actresses of Kaaf Kangana – Ayesha Omar – about her character in the film and her experience working with the notoriously strict Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar. Here’s what Ayesha had to say: 

While talking to Galaxy Lollywood, Ayesha said, “the name of my character is Gulnaz. Gulnaz is a Punjabi girl who is young, carefree and free-spirited. She lives with her sister and grandfather in a huge haveli in the walled city of Lahore. Her motto in life is living it to the fullest. She is the quintessential girl next door; straight forward and feisty who eventually falls in love with his neighbor (Sami Khan).”

“The plot of KK is a square; I fall in love with Sami who is already in love with Eshal and then there is another boy who is in love with my character. Sound confusing but it definitely won’t be, on screen. *Ayesha laughs* There are two tracks in the film; one is the Indian girl and the other is Pakistani. I play the Pakistani girl.  KK’s content was the main reason that made me say yes to the film. It’s a beautifully written script. Gulnaz is a character that the viewers will just relax and go with. It, however, does not resemble to the real me in any way,” she further added.

Upon being asked about her experience working with Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, Ayesha surprisingly only had good things to say.

“Khalil Sahab may have a reputation for being a tough taskmaster on the sets, but to me he is an institution to work with. Yes, he can be extremely tough with unprofessional people but for the most part, he is full of knowledge and expertise, he knows his script, characters and most importantly, his craft. He brings out a creatively-enriching feeling in me as an actor. The way he pushes you and challenges you, you just let him guide you.  It was surprising that Khalil sahib and I were always on the same page. He used to call me “Cheeti” as I was quick to perceive his vision. He is someone who has no ego issues when it comes to learning from others,” told Ayesha.

Also Read: Exclusive: Urwa Hocane’s response to Khalil-ur-Rehman is dignity personified

Towards the end, Ayesha told Galaxy Lollywood that as a performer, she always prefers to discuss and rehearse her lines with her co actors and directors before showing up on set. It’s really disturbing for her when people skip this step due to time issues.

Here’s wishing Ayesha Omar and the entire team of Kaaf Kangana the best of luck!

The post On Kaaf Kangana and working with Khalil Ur Rehman: In conversation with Ayesha Omar appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s ambitious project ‘Kaaf Kangana’ has been in the news for quite some time now, although mostly for the wrong reasons, if we may add.

It began with a game of musical chair that was the casting process, where Urwa Hocane, Sohai Ali Abro, and Ghana Ali were part of the project but then for whatever reasons, they were not. Then came the infamous blasting video where Khalil sahab called Urwa unprofessional and what not. She, however, responded with utmost dignity.

Also Read: Exclusive: Urwa Hocane’s response to Khalil-ur-Rehman is dignity personified

Last week, Khalil sahab further revealed that Saba Hamid was no more a part of the film and that she was never supposed to be in the film, although Saba jee had posted quite a few photos from the sets of a project which we are pretty sure was ‘Kaaf Kanaga’ but that’s a story for another day.

The latest addition to this saga is that Lollywood diva Resham, who was signed on for the film just last week, has dropped out of it. Get this; Resham who was going to be making a comeback of sorts with the film is no more a part of the project. While talking to Galaxy Lollywood, the actress revealed that she had to leave the film because of date issues as she had already committed to a television project and somehow the dates weren’t just working out so she had to excuse herself from the film.

While this is definitely a bummer for all us Resham fans, we are waiting to see who drops out, oops we mean who joins this film in Resham’s place. Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for all updates.

The post Exclusive: Resham drops out of Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s ‘Kaaf Kangana’ appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Zara Noor Abbas, one of the most loved Pakistani TV actresses, had us all captivated this past year with her adorable shadi shenanigans with Asad Siddiqui and her brilliant acting in Khamoshi as Arsala. She will now also be seen on silver screen for the first time in 2019 in Asim Raza’s Parey Hut Love with Maya Ali and Sheheryar Munawar as the lead roles. Zara Noor Abbas’ debut on the big screen, however, raises a few questions. The most important of them being; why would someone like Zara, who has some of the most brilliant dramas to her name including Khamoshi, Dharkan and Lamhe, want to start off in the film industry with a film where she doesn’t even have the lead role when she can definitely bag one?

We, at Galaxy Lollywood, therefore, talked to Zara Noor Abbas herself to find out her reasons for taking this role. Here’s what she had to say:

“I was offered the main role in Teefa in Trouble back in the day but I had some family commitments that I could not get out of so I never made it to the audition. I was then offered a supporting role in Maula Jutt too but I refused it because I actually did not want a supporting role. Time went by and on the day of my Nikkah, I was approached by Asim Raza for a commercial but since I was busy with my wedding, I couldn’t do that either,” Zara revelead while talking to Galaxy Lollywood. 

“Asim and I, however, stayed in touch even after that. One day, we were talking and Asim asked if I would like to do a film with him, even if I don’t get the main role. I said yes but on the condition that the script should be great,” Zara further added.

“The thing is we hardly have four to five people in total who make good film content in Pakistan and if the ‘dad’ of the film content calls you up himself, why would you say no? Why would you put your ego ahead of you and not accept the role even if it’s small? How can I even expect to climb the Mount Everest in one day?” continued Zara.

Towards the end, Zara mentioned how it’s an egotistical thing, for her personally, to expect to only get lead roles, based on her background. “Names like Mahira and Maya have been here before me, they’ve invested way more than I have. Just because I have a silver spoon and just because I am Asma Abbas’ daughter and Bushra Ansari’s niece, doesn’t mean I should just get the lead roles. I think you, as an actor, should just focus on putting in all your efforts into whatever role you have and outshining it to an extent that people always remember you. Starting my film career with Asim Raza was a pretty good deal for me and I have learnt so much about the film industry on the whole through it.”

Zara’s response is, beyond any doubt, dignity personified. Here’s wishing Zara Noor Abbas and the entire team of Parey Hut Love the best of luck!

The post Why did Zara Noor Abbas choose a supporting role for her debut film? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Cinema is said to have no boundaries and rightfully so. When it comes to Pakistani films, we have lately seen a number of genres being tried (fortunately) including animation, psychological thrillers, family dramas etc. What, however, seems to be missing from the contemporary mainstream cinema are the Punjabi films. Punjabi films have seen the pinnacle of their success in the past. Not too long ago, they would constantly be running at cinema houses across the country. Then came about the revival of Pakistani cinema that slowly and subtly skipped out on Punjabi films. No new Punjabi films have come out lately, not even on Eids.

It is, therefore, high time that we incorporate Punjabi content back into our mainstream cinema. The ever talented Sarmad Khoosat, assessing the need for the same subtly revealed through his social media recently that an ‘untitled’ Punjabi film is on its way to Pakistani cinemas. The news is, indeed, uber exciting to say the least mainly because Sarmad Khoosat’s unique style of narration is expected to give Punjabi cinema the much needed support that honestly no one else in the industry currently has the potential to.

The Manto actor shared exclusive photos of his next ‘untitled’ project on his Instagram a few days back. However, he was clever enough to deliberately hide the working title of the film. Mr. Khoosat, you really do know how to spark curiosity, don’t you?

While talking to Galaxy Lollywood, Sarmad Khoosat told that the plot of the film has come straight from his heart. “Being a local of the city Lahore, I can relate to the subject of the film in a purely raw way. The reason the film is going to be in Punjabi is because it is set in Lahore and Punjabi is the only language that will encapsulate the story rooted in this city and its culture. I feel like the aura, the authenticity and the dialect of Lahore have not been embedded on screen yet.”

According to Khoosat, as the plot and characters are based in Lahore, the city will be depicted as a mini world of extravagance and grandeur. The film is all set to be the first production under Khoosat Films. It stars some remarkable names including Samiya Mumtaz, Eman Suleiman, Ali Kureishi and Arif Hasan. The script has been written by Sarmad himself, while the screenplay is done by Nirmal Bano. Sarmad’s sister Kanwal Khoosat will be producing the film.

In the recent years, Lollywood has come out with a number of non-commercial films that have fared considerably well on the box office. Times are changing and it looks like parallel cinema might just become a thing in Pakistan soon. Keeping our fingers crossed, in the meanwhile!

Galaxy Lollywood wishes Sarmad Khoosat and the entire team the best of luck!

The post Sarmad Khoosat is all set to redefine Punjabi cinema with a new film appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Bollywood, in general, has recently been under a lot of fire. Accusations of nepotism are currently being hurled at big directors like Karan Johar for being the flag-bearers of favoritism and nepotism, through and through. Surnames like Kapoor, Bachachan and Khan are said to be getting all the offers while the talented outsiders are mostly pushed to the periphery. While all of this may very well be true for Bollywood, it is high time that we take a close look at our own beloved industry too; Lollywood.

Before we delve into if and why Lollywood has a nepotism problem, we need to first break down what nepotism entails. To put very simply, nepotism is when people in power get people who are close to them, jobs and favors, by employing their influence or position of power. Let’s now try and see if our industry has ever witnessed something of that sort, through a few real life examples. Beginning with the upcoming film Parey Hut Love, it was recently announced that Frieha Altaf will be co-starring with her daughter, Parisheh James in the same. Even more recently, Wajahat Rauf posted a photo of his son Aashir Wjahat on his social media, announcing that his son would soon be coming with another song. While we have yet to see what Aashir and Parisheh come up with, the fact that having parents in the industry has made it easier for them to enter it, remain valid.

Now, here the question arises; if parents can help make things easier for their children, why shouldn’t they? Do our parents not do the same for us? The answer is, they should. They most definitely should. Expecting them to not do it is essentially defying the laws of nature. The real problem arises when they just don’t know when to stop. You forced your son/daughter/sister/mother on our screens because you had connections in the industry, fair enough. But now let us, for once, decide if we want to continue seeing them on our screens. Case in point; Ko Ko Korina. That’s something none of us signed up for.

Frieha Altaf was recently heard saying that even though her daughter is making her acting debut, it is only her talent that will help her survive and I, for one, couldn’t agree more but is it something that’s genuinely implemented in real life too? Do industry parents ever stop pushing their kids forcefully down our throats? Majority of the contemporary dramas and films now feature names like Shahroz Sabzwari (thanks to Behroz Sabzwari’s years in the industry), Shahzad Sheikh (thank you Javed Sheikh yet again), Ahad Raza Mir (this time we get to thank Papa Mir for gems like Ko ko Korina), Zara Noor Abbas (thanks to mother Asma Abbas and aunt Bushra Ansari) and the list goes on.

It seems like everyone in the industry currently is somehow related to everyone else which leads me to my second point; the directors have stopped scouting for new talent actively. The connections and the consequent availability of these industry kids and relatives have made the people in charge very complacent and this is probably why we are still miles behind Bollywood. Yes, we have more and more films coming out and the cinema is (hopefully) on its way to becoming bigger and better but do we have actors that we can proudly say are genuinely great at what they do? I, for one, don’t think we are there yet.

My point is, leverage your parents and their connections in the industry as much as you want but try and be more like Ali Sethi who despite having a father with powerful connections has never stopped trying to better himself. Secondly, please know when to stop.

Let us know in the comments what you guys think of the whole scenario. Some of us, at Galaxy Lollywood, have conflicting opinions too, on the issue and would like to hear what our readers have to say. Until then, let’s stop throwing shade at Bollywood because apnay giraban main jhnakna bhi zaruri hai. 

The post Nepotism in Lollywood: Myth or reality? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Noor Bukhari, the former actress, model and director, has been in the industry for over two decades. We have seen her in films, dramas and TV shows throughout our lives, until she decided to quit showbiz last year, following her increased zeal towards Islam. Noor recently started wearing Hijab too and has always stood by her decision, through and through. Recently, however, we found out that Noor Bukhari is all set to make a comeback with a rather special project. We talked to the woman herself to find out more about it. Here’s almost everything you need to know about this project. Read on!

While talking to Galaxy Lollywood, Noor said, “I have a dear friend, Sara Tahir, who is a singer. She recites naats too. She recently asked me to a direct a naat video for her. Naats are something so close to my heart so I instantly said yes. My DOP Adeel PK (Pervaiz Kaleem) and I didn’t charge a rupee for this project because it’s just so sacred. This is our tribute to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).”

Upon being asked if she’d like to venture further into direction, Noor told that this is it for now. She’d definitely like to direct similar projects but she is not too sure about films or dramas yet. “Anything (be it a film/video) that presents a soft image of Muslims to the world, I wouldn’t mind being a part of it. This project was just a manifestation of my love for our Prophet, given it’s Rabi-ul-Awwal too. I will be launching the video properly, very soon.”

“The naat is written by Azam Chishti’s son Israr Chishti. He is the one who has composed it too. Saira Tahir is on the vocals. Editing, production and everything else is done by Adeel Pervaiz Kaleem and his team while it’s directed by me, of course. I hope God accepts our efforts,” said Noor, towards the end.

Here’s wishing Noor Bukhari the best of luck for her new project. You do you, Noor!

The post Noor Bukhari makes a comeback with a special project appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Pakistani cinema has lately been experimenting with different genres. Donkey King’s success is just one example. From where thing are right now, it looks like we might just be venturing into parallel cinema real soon. It is, indeed, a breath of fresh air to see films being used as a medium for telling stories rather than just being there for the sole purposes of entertainment. Amidst all of this, another new film Laal Kabootar starring Mansha Pasha is on its way to Pakistani cinemas. The film aims to be an action packed ‘suspense crime thriller’ and is expected to redefine Pakistani cinema by tapping into a new genre (keeping our fingers crossed). It is the first production of ‘Nehr Ghar’ – a production house owned by two young Harvard graduates, Kamil Chima and Hania Chima. The star cast includes Mansha Pasha, Ahmed Ali Akbar, Ali Kazmi, Saleem Mairaj and Rashid Faroqui.

We, at Galaxy Lollywood, recently talked to Mansha Pasha about her character and all things Laal Kabootar.

“I am playing the female lead protagonist (Aliya Malik) who has a bitter past; she goes through various challenges in her life, eventually puts up a tough fight and takes revenge from the culprits. The film is set in Karachi while the city is depicted in a colossally authentic way. Unlike Lollywood, where story telling is quite formulaic, Lal Kabootar unfolds its core narrative quite interestingly. The performances will keep you glued to your seats until the end. It’s a genre that men in particular will really enjoy as it has all the elements of crime, mystery and suspense,” said Mansha Pasha.

“I had a great time shooting for it. All the actors have outdone themselves. Needless to say, this is such a good time to be a part of Pakistani cinema, where young and educated filmmakers are coming up with unique ideas and surprisingly, the investors are ready to invest in such films too,” Mansha further added.

While talking about film’s cinematography, Mansha Pasha said, “one of the biggest strengths of the film is its cinematography. Mo Azmi, being the brilliant cinematographer that he is, has done a stellar job in highlighting the essential elements of Karachi in a never seen avatar before, with his mindful use of lighting.” Azmi’s work has been widely applauded in Cake earlier.

We wish the entire team of Laal Kabootar the best of luck. It releases in March, 2019.

The post Mansha Pasha talks about her new film ‘Laal Kabootar’ and its interesting genre appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Feroze Khan, the VJ turned actor, who has stolen the hearts of millions of his fans on account of his good looks and emotionally driven characters, recently sat down with the entertainment writer – Fifi Haroon for a candid interview. Feroze talked about life in general, his religious inclinations, his marriage to wife Alizey, his characters and his relationship with Sajal Aly, in what feels like one of the most comfortable interviews of his career.

First and foremost, upon being asked about his entry to the world of television, Feroze talked about how for the longest time, people would criticize him for being able to get  opportunities in the industry so conveniently only because he was Humaima’s brother.

“The thing is I do my work very religiously. Mujhe apna kam halal karna hota hai. When I was offered Khaani, I knew it was a do or die situation. It was an opportunity to prove myself and to establish myself as an actor. I promised myself that I’d give it my best but if it still didn’t work out for me, I wouldn’t waste anyone’s time anymore,” told Feroze Khan.

Feroze also talked about how his real life personality resembles his character Mir Haadi in Khaani, “it was an emotionally driven character. I am the same in real life too. I get angry real quick but I also love with the same intensity. I apologize and repent with the same gusto too.”

While talking about his relationship with co-star Sana Javed, Feroze had nothing but good things to say. “Our characters in Khaani were the exact opposites of each other. We both were so engrossed in our characters that our on screen hostility translated into real life as well. It stuck around even when we were working on Dino ki Dulhaniya but by the time we started working on Romeo Weds Heer, we were on pretty great terms,” revealed Feroze.

The most adorable part of the interview, however, was when Feroze talked about his early marriage and his relationship with wife Alizey. “I have told Alizey everything about my past. She has accepted me with everything. When I met her, I was really impressed by her simplicity and her outlook towards life. She is very contented and happy with whatever she has. She is very understanding and makes me want to be a better man for her. I am very happy and satisfied with my life right now. Marriage suits me, it has made my life very organized and I couldn’t have done it alone,” added Feroze Khan.

He also admitted to having a lot of romantic involvements before his marriage to Alizey. Feroze further added that he wouldn’t hide anything because he likes to be real about things in life. At the same time, he also opened up about his increased inclination towards Islam. Feroze, however, also mentioned that no matter how religious he gets, he doesn’t want to quit acting. “I have told Allah that I like the work that I do and I would like to keep doing it,” told Feroze Khan, rather adorably.

Towards the end, Fifi Haroon asked about how he feels about Sajal’s performance in the upcoming drama Aangan and if he misses her, which led to a light banter between the two regarding the nature of her question. “Sajal has genuinely blown me away with her acting, dialogue delivery and expressions in Aangan‘s teaser. We were and still are great friends. I’ll call her if I ever miss her, there’s absolutely no issue.”

We, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the interview. Here is the link to the whole thing. Enjoy!

The post Feroze Khan talks about life, early marriage and his relationship with Sajal Aly appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

The pictures from the sets of the upcoming drama serial Noor Bibi have our audience in hysterics, mainly because it is supposed to be a political thriller and Resham – who is also playing the lead role of Noor Bibi – is seen as a burqa clad woman. The viewers, therefore, put two and two together which resulted in speculations on how Resham’s role might just be based on our first lady, Bushra Maneka because a) the drama revolves around politics and b) Resham’s attire has an uncanny resemblance to what Bushra Maneka is seen wearing, most of the time. We talked to Resham herself to find out more about the character and if her role is, indeed, based on Bushra Maneka. Here’s what Resham had to say:

“A lot of people have been asking the same question after looking at my attire. Yes, I am playing the role of a peerni but my character is absolutely not based on Bushra Maneka. I shall not reveal any details as such about the story line at this point but it is a very negative role that I have put a lot of energy in. I thoroughly enjoyed working on it. I would, once again, like to reiterate that the character is not based on Bushra Maneka. Although, I get why people would think that,” said Resham while talking to Galaxy Lollywood.

“It has a complicated story line but people will really enjoy watching it. I would like to take this opportunity to say that I know Bushra Maneka’s attire is currently under a lot of discussion but millions of women in Pakistan wear Abaya all the time so my attire doesn’t mean it has anything to do with our first lady. This get up was the demand of my character so I had to adopt it. That’s all that there is to it,” Resham further added.

Aside from Resham as the lead character, the drama serial also stars names like Ali Abbas and Sanam Chaudhry in a romantic pairing, while some other names include Usman Peerzada, Saniya Shamshad, Gohar Rasheed and Zaib Chaudhry.

Here’s wishing Resham and the entire cast and crew of Noor Bibi the best of luck! We cannot wait to see how it turns out.

The post Is the upcoming drama Noor Bibi based on Bushra Maneka? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Film and other forms of arts have a direct relation with the socioeconomic configuration of a society. In Pakistan’s case, for instance, the era of 60s and early 70s witnessed a robust growth in almost all of its socioeconomic indicators while its film industry saw an equally impressive rise. Films ranging from social dramas to Palestine issue, were made. Then came the gloomy dark ages until 2010, where the country had to suffer through the decay of its social fabric. The film industry was no  exception. For the past five to six years, however, we are gradually yet steadily moving to a stable socioeconomic take off position (with setbacks speckled here and there of course) and inevitably, our film industry is showing similar signs of recovery and rise.
2018 will be remembered as a “watershed moment”, whenever the revival of Pakistani cinema comes under discussion, for many tangible and non tangible factors. We analyze these factors here one by one to give you an idea, of how long the local cinema has come.
Number of films
Comparing the past three years with regards the to number of films produced locally, there is definitely a steady growth, with 2018 witnessing around 22 cinematic releases against 2017 where a total of 14 titles were released. 2016 also saw around 22 films on our cinema screens. It, however, is pertinent to mention that most of the films that came out in 2106 were long-awaited releases, that too on quite smaller scales.
The number of blockbusters
This year, Pakistani cinema saw the highest number of blockbusters in any year, post revival. Films like JPNA 2, Parwaz Hai Junoon,Teefa in Trouble & The Donkey King ensured our cinemas remain crowded with film buffs. 2017 had one blockbuster in the form of  Panjab Nahi jaungi, while 2016 saw two titles namely Actor in law and Janaan that could be classified as blockbusters.
Net revenue from top 10 Grossers
Speaking of hits and blockbusters, an encouraging number of these films in 2018, made the year the most economically viable one for our local cinema, till date for. The aggregate revenue for top 10 highest grossers of 2018 was more than 240 crores (this doesn’t include December releases like Pinky Memsaab and the promising 3 Bahadur series’s last installment).
In 2017 & and 2016, however, the aggregate revenues for top 10 films were estimated to be around 125 and 140 crores respectively.
Volume of the highest grossing film
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 is a film that has a lot of firsts attached to it. It is the country’s first successful live franchise with both its installments being the highest grossers of their times. 2018 gives another reason to local cinema to rejoice because this year the highest grosser film left its predecessors miles behind by earning around 67 crores worldwide.
Growth and acceptance of niche cinema
Five years ago, it would have been unfathomable to think that local cine goers and makers would be welcoming to serious cinema that explores off beaten and experimental themes as seen in movies like Cake, Motorcycle Girl and Load wedding. With the success of films like Cake, it has become evident that with strong content, even niche cinema could be financially viable. Moreover, these films also added to the overall substance of local cinema and globally, people started taking it more seriously.
Introduction of diverse genres
Looking at the top five grossers of 2018, we find a diversity of genres. The list has one adventure romantic comedy (JPNA 2), one air force drama(Parwaz Hai Junoon), two action comedies (Teefa and Parchi) and one animated satire (Donkey King). This trend wasn’t seen in previous years where most of the top grossing films are either romantic comedies or social dramas.
Entry of new players
Whenever local cinema is under discussion, the problem of limited number of directors and producers in the arena almost always comes up. All the hopes for quality films have usually been laid either on “Film Walas” or “Six Sigma” productions. 2018 has, however, witnessied the arrival of new and promising directors like Ahsan Raheem (Teefa), Asim Abbasi (Cake), Haseeb Hassan (Parwaz hay Junoon) and Aziz Jindyani (Donkey King).
HUM films getting back in the production game with a bang after its debut Bin Roye and Ali Zafar jumping in the production line with his Pakistani debut Teefa in Trouble remain the highlights of 2018. What’s encouraging to see is that HUM films is coming with two productions in 2019 as well while Ali Zafar is expected to produce his next film in 2020 as per his interview to Pakistanicinema.net
Global approval of Pakistani films
Local releases on Eid-ul-azha not only stormed the box office in Pakistan but were also successful in grabbing the attention of desi diaspora at many international markets in a never seen before way.
JPNA 2 ,Parwaz and Load wedding collectively made over 10 crore rupees from key markets like UK ,UAE and USA over their extended weekend alone. Many Pakistani productions saw their international premiers and were able to carve a fan following based on their relatable and entertaining content. A special mention of Cake is mandatory here for the film got standing ovations from international tabloids like the Guardian and Gulf news.
To sum it all up, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that film truly matters for it is the currency of intellectual debates in cerebrally developed societies. As long as people continue to enjoy the peculiar sensation of gathering with strangers in a darkened theater, film will continue to matter. Pakistan needs to catch up with the rest of the world in this particular arena and looking at the trends the same exhibited in 2018, it’s quite plausible and safe to say that it’s heading in the right direction.

The post This is the story of tangible and non-tangible growth of Pakistani cinema in 2018 appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

It was Eid-ul-Fitr 2018 and I decided to go out and watch a movie with my friend. As we entered the multiplex, I saw the posters of a few running Pakistani films, and surprisingly one element common in all those posters was Javed Sheikh. We entered the cinema hall after having bought the tickets for ‘Saat Din Mohabbat In’ (a film which was to feature Javed Sheikh). Trailers for a few upcoming films were playing and to my surprise, two of those films ‘Teefa in Trouble’ and ‘Jackpot’, starred, guess who, Javed Sheikh! And that got me thinking “Yaar Ye Har Film Mein Javed Shiekh Ka Hona Zaroori Hai Kya”.

From selling dairy milk to housing projects on the small screen, having a supporting role in almost every film, and having films to his portfolio as a director and producer, Lollywood’s poor guy Javed Sheikh has been a classic victim of overexposure!

Javed Sheikh is probably one of the most iconic stars to have graced the Pakistani cinema and has been acting for more than four decades. Over the years the actor has become one of the most sought-after faces when it comes to the entertainment industry but doing a plethora of films and playing the same character over and over is not only a disgrace to the brilliant performer but gets a bit too much for the audiences

We think it’s time Sheikh sahab takes a break, and let someone else do the job. A bit of freshness every now and then wouldn’t be bad either for the audiences and for the actor himself. And before you say we do not have any alternatives, here are a few names we think should be seen more in films:

Abid Ali: One of the greatest performers that the industry has produced, Abid Ali has a range of acting repertoire in him that is simply unmatched. He was last seen in Lollywood film Moosa Khan way back in 2001 and we would love to see him act in a film or two.

Jamal Shah: Seen in films like Ho Mann Jahaan, Revenge of the Worthless and Hijrat, Shah made his presence felt like a breath of fresh air. He adds a dash of realism in his characters which adds a certain raw edge towards his performance. This gentleman should definitely do more films.

Waseem Abbas: A great actor who not only he has a penchant for comedy but has given many dramatic performances in other genres as well. Abbas made a comeback to Lollywood after a long hiatus with Punjab Nahi Jaungi after being seen in Aina Aur Zindagi way back in 1982. This man needs to do more films.

Asif Raza Mir: He is a maverick of talent, who is only getting hotter as he ages. The actor has proved his versatility in recent films like Maan Jao Na and Parwaaz Hai Junoon where he left quite the impact and we would love to see Papa Mir in more films.

Shehryar Zaidi: Versatility is the shining merit of his career. The variety of roles that he has performed has definitely showcased him as one of the finest, but an underrated actor. Surprisingly he hasn’t made it to the silver screen yet!

Talat Hussain: The man with a powerful voice has essayed numerous roles with utter conviction and great ease. He has quite a distinctive approach towards acting which makes him a unique actor. We last saw him in Actor in Law and Chupan Chupai, hope to see more of him in more films.

Usman Peerzada: Last but absolutely not the least is a man who has carved quite the name for himself not only as a performer but someone who deeply feels for the art. Having graced many Punjabi and Urdu films the veteran actor, however, hasn’t been on silver screen for quite long as his last film was ‘Shararat’ in early 2003 directed by his wife Samina Peerzada.

So let’s hope Lollywood’s fascination with Javed Sheikh takes a break and we have other faces appearing on the silver screen too. We’re not saying we don’t want Javed Sheikh in films, because we definitely love Sheikh sahab, it’s just that he should do less films is what we feel. What do you guys think? Comment and let us know.

The post Lollywood’s obsession with Javed Sheikh and what should be done about it? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

After completing its blockbuster run in Pakistani cinemas, the Ali Zafar and Maya Ali starrer, Teefa In Trouble, was recently recalled at select screens on the popular demand. So, while the Pakistanis may still have the chance to catch the film on the big screen, the good news for those outside Pakistan is that they can now watch Teefa In Trouble at Netflix.

Raking in over 40 crores globally, and still refusing to settle down, Teefa in Trouble has made headlines both, locally and internationally. Therefore, once its international run was over, it was only a matter of time when the superhit film would make a global platform like Netflix its home. And that has now happened.

Not on Netflix Pakistan

Announcing it on their official Facebook account, ‘Lightingale Productions’ – the house behind the film, revealed that the Netflix subscribers can now enjoy the film all around the world, including India, except for China and Pakistan.

Since Netflix is not officially available in China due to the laws of the land, that’s easily understandable. For Pakistan, however, although there is no doubt that the film would be ultimately available on the online media service provider, it is possible that they are holding it back for the time being so that they can completely exhaust other avenues.

Fans in India, however, will undoubtedly rejoice as the film couldn’t have a theatrical release there due to the political tensions.

Teefa In Trouble: A Box-Office Success

Teefa in Trouble was indeed a breath of fresh air and a much-needed hit after a series of duds at the box office. Apart from Ali Zafar and Maya Ali, who made their Lollywood debuts, actors Mehmood Aslam, Asma Abbas, Faisal Qureshi, and Jawed Sheikh also featured in prominent roles.

The star cast, the exceptional treatment of the plot, and the super-catchy songs made the film a resounding success in its four-month run at the box office. The film continues to set cash registers ringing. The positive reviews to Teefa and Trouble and the word-of-mouth have also played an integral role in this success.

The critics, as well as the audience, were awestruck by the outstanding performances and the unique content of the film. With the perfect blend of action, comedy, and emotions, the film had everything a moviegoer wants, and it can now all be enjoyed on the Netflix too.

The post Teefa In Trouble Gets Netflix Release, but Pakistanis Have to Wait appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

With Karachi Se Lahore, Lahore Sey Aagey, and then Arth 2, Yasir Hussain and his comedy have become a household name ever since his film debut in 2015. There has been no turning back for the talented actor and writer since he penned and portrayed the character of Moti in his debut film.

In 2016, the actor gave another reason for his fans to rejoice when the news of his next venture “Senti Aur Mental” came afloat. The film, however, stayed under darkness until recently when it finally went on the floor. While we were still celebrating that news, in came the reports that Yasir is no more with the film and the actor Zain Afzal is replacing him.

Why Yasir Left?

We got in touch with Yasir Hussain, Yasra, and Zain Afzal to get to the bottom of this, and basically to know their respective versions of the story on this major development.

Confirming the reports, Yasir in his talk with Galaxy Lollywood stated, “It was a simple issue of dates. When I signed the film, I had the dates for it, but since the film got delayed, I could no longer accommodate it in my schedule.”

The actor went on to wish the cast and team behind Senti Aur Mental the very best, and said since his sister is doing the film’s music, “the name ‘Hussain” will stay with the project.

The Other Side

When we contacted Yasra for her word on the matter, she backed Yasir’s claim and offered this short response on the matter, “There was no replacement, only a dates’ issue.”

Zain Afzal, on the other hand, was elated to be a part of the film and shared, “I got the film because the team came to watch my theatre play, ‘Jhanjar Di Pawaan Chankaar.’ They appreciated my performance and since they were looking for someone to play the lead in their team, Hadi -Yasra’s husband; whom I’ve known for a couple of years, suggested my name for it.”

For those who are unaware of Zain’s portfolio, he made his big screen debut with 2015 horror film, “Maya.” While the film couldn’t perform well on both, the commercial and critical grounds, Zain continued with his acting career and currently stars in HUM TV’s soap, Sanwari.

Scripted by and starring Yasra Rizvi, the film is expected to release somewhere in 2019, and we hope that the choice of lead actor proves a well thought out decision for “Senti Aur Mental.” Meanwhile, we expect Yasir to come up with another exciting big screen project apart from the staple comedy that he has been providing us in KSL series.

Let us know in the comments section how you feel about this new development on “Senti and Mental.”

The post Yasir Hussain’s comedy to not grace ‘Senti Aur Mental,’ and here is why? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

In a shocking development, renowned Film and television actor Babar Ali has fled Pakistan to the United States of America amid death threats. The actor plans on staying overseas until the issue gets resolved by the law enforcing agencies for the sake of his and his family’s safety.

The FIR lodged by the actor states that a few unidentified individuals threatened the Landa Bazaar star for life via phone calls and social media apps.

As for the reasons behind the threats, according to Babar, he started receiving the calls and messages when one of his TV dramas was aired. He further stated that the same extremist elements have been active against him in the past as well.

Babar’s Recent Work

Since, the issue initiated with one of Babar’s recent TV works, it is pertinent to mention here that Babar Ali was recently seen in Dramas like Laal Ishq, a sequel to his 2002 blockbuster drama Landa Bazaar, and TV One’s Karamat e Ishq. Babar was also hosting a morning show on Apna Channel.

It is indeed, sad that artists; and for that matter, any individual, has to opt for the extreme option of leaving their homeland because of security concerns.

The Star of the 90s

Babar Ali remained a successful actor in 90s when he debuted in a hit PTV drama based on Muhammad Bin Qasim. Known for his grown hair (something that was quite a fashion back in the days) and a long thin nose, the actor went on to play lead roles in numerous blockbuster films of that era.

These included hits like Jeeva, Munda Bigra Jaye, Khoye Ho Tum Kahan, and Jo Dar Gaya Wo Mar Gaya.

We wish all the best to Babar Ali and hope that he safely and successfully battles this tough time out in his life.

The post Actor Babar Ali flies out of the country amid death threats appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Humayun Saeed is a name that undoubtedly spells box office success. With his last two hits, Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 (JPNA 2), he has definitely cemented his position as Pakistan’s first global box office star. Ever since his last film released and conquered the box office world, we have been wondering what is he up to now? And finally, here we are, telling you that the superstar’s next will be called, Love You Jatta.

About Love You Jatta

The star producer and actor is joining hands with his time-tested team from ‘JPNA’ series, and working on a romantic comedy titled, ‘Love You Jatta.’ While Vasay Chaudhry is penning the film; and, of course, starring in it, the film will be directed by Nadeem Baig.

As for the leading lady, there has been no confirmation as of yet, but talks are in the final stages with a prominent name. We shall reveal this exciting pairing once the things are locked for good.

The film is set for an Eid-ul-Azha 2019 release.

Humayun on Television

It is worth mentioning here that while this will be the actor’s next film project, he is already shooting for a television drama serial. Starring opposite Ayeza Khan, the TV serial is titled Mere Pass Tum Ho.

It goes without saying that this project, too, is being directed by Nadeem Baig, while it will be a Khalil ur Rehman Qamar story. The project is sceduled to go on air somewhere in early 2019, after which Humayun plans to get to the film.

There is More

Interestingly, there is another Humayun Saeed film in the works titled, ‘Loafer‘ which will again be directed by Nadeem Baig, while Khalil ur Rehman Qamar pens the script.

The film is an intense love story and will probably go on floors same time next year. So get ready, as with Mere Pass Tum Ho, Love You Jatta, and then Loafer in 2020, there is a lot of Humayun Saeed-powered entertainment coming your way.

The post Exclusive: Humayun Saeed’s next ‘Love You Jatta’ to hit cinemas Eid-ul-Azha 2019 appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

It is the wedding season and nobody is making us feel it more than the celebrities from all over the world. From Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas to Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh across the border to our very own Aineeb wedding, the marriage-fest is on.

Aiman Khan and Muneeb Butt went all out to celebrate their union with their loved ones, and here is a breakdown of all the ten events which happened over the course of a month.

Dholki (24th October 2018):

While hubby-to-be Muneeb was holidaying in Malaysia, Aiman kickstarted her marriage festivities with a colorful dholki. Joined in by their friends, the Khan sisters twinned in white ensembles with multicolored dupattas of Mimi by Mariam. The dholki included traditional tappay along with dances by their friends but the highlight of the day would have to be the dholki cake.

Bridal Shower (20th November 2018):

Before officially getting into the shaadi spirit, Aiman, along with her sister and mother, took an all-girls trip to Dubai. Coming back, Minal held a bridal shower for her sister, and the event had both the sisters dressed in Erum Khan gowns.

As much as we loved Aiman in the gold dress, we believe Minal should have opted for something different, considering it was her sister’s day. It seemed a humble event in terms of guests and activities as all we got out of this part were a few photos of the twins.

Nikkah (21st November 2018):

Finally, the big day arrived and both the lovebirds tied the knot! An intimate affair, we could easily see how happy the couple was as they both looked breathtaking in color-coordinated outfits.

While Aiman’s entire look was on point, the only bothersome part was her mismatched jewelry. And if, like us, you though Barat was the next thing that happened, boy you are so wrong.

Muneeb’s Mayun (23rd November 2018):

Larka Mayun beth gaya! So yes, this happened. Muneeb had a mayun where we could see his adorable sister-in-law happily performing all the rasams.

Wedding Party (24th November 2018):

Ok, so this was one event which had us scratching our heads. If it was a wedding party, should it not have taken place before the actual nikkah, or perhaps after the whole wedding saga had ended? Anyhow, the event saw an array of stars dressed in true Lollywood style, dancing the night away.

Aiman’s Mayun (25th November 2018):

Larki Mayun beth gae! The all yellow event had our eyes burning, but thankfully, Minal’s black dupatta saved us. We wanted a break and the couple gave it to us for a few days with the final three events happening after a span of 72 hours.

Mehndi (28th November 2018):

Even more colorful and filled with floral decor, the whole event seemed one out of a garden party. The who’s who of Lollywood (not really) attended the event, while the dance-filled ceremony went on till the wee hours of the morning.

The couple wore the most colorful outfits, which reminded us of swirl lollipops. We wish Muneeb had ditched the shawl, which gave him a rather feminine look. On the other hand, we noticed Aiman had borrowed Minal’s necklace to complete her look. Awwww, sister love for the win!

Barat (30th November 2018):

Banno re banno meri, chali sasural ko.. The second last and the most anticipated event had finally arrived. Aiman’s look garnered many reviews, some good and some bad. While people criticized her makeup artist and her, saying she had copied Deepika’s look, we believe it to be a mere coincidence.

Muneeb, on the other hand, donned an all gold HSY outfit, complimenting his better half. All the while, we were here hoping and praying that the walima arrives and we can bid adieu.

Walima (2nd December 2018):

Bheega bheega sa, yeh December hai.. 

December aa chuka hai, saal bhee khatam honay wala hai aur humari dua kabool horae hai, shadi ka ikhtitam aachuka hai. The bride and groom entered hand-in-hand into their walima, and while we loved Aiman’s pastel outfit, we wish she had opted for silver jewelry instead of gold. Silver would have given her a more classy look. Muneeb’s tuxedo, on the other hand, seemed like a brave move on his part, as it was adorned with sequins. Very K.Jo vibes, we must say.

All in all, the Aineeb wedding was a grand affair (or made to look like one). But here is wishing the couple best of luck for their future!

The post Here’s a detailed rundown of all that happened at the #Aineeb Wedding! appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

The way Indian films are exhibited in Pakistan, it is sad that the distributors and exhibitors on the other side of the border fail to reciprocate it for Pakistani films. Well, if you are living in India, and feel strongly about this, no need to be sad as South Asia Forum for Art and Creative Heritage (SAFACH) is exhibiting five Pakistani films in New Delhi, India this month.

It is a moment of pride for Pakistanis too, as five of their blockbuster films, including Jawani Phir Nahi Ani (JPNA), Punjab Nahi Jaungi, Na Maloom Afraad, Na Maloom Afraad 2, and Actor in Law have been selected to screen at the prestigious forum.

SAFACH, Art, and Pakistani Films

The South Asia Forum for Art and Creative Heritage is a platform that celebrates the best of Asian cinema each year. This year, SAFACH will run from December 10 to 16, and among other films from all over the region, will screen five Pakistani films too.

The good thing about the selection is that all the five films have been among the top box-office performers, and will cater well to the more commercial taste in India.

Films that have Screened in India

While numerous Pakistani films have screened at different Indian festivals in past, it was Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye in 2007, which officially and commercially made it to Indian theaters after a long hiatus.

This was soon followed by films like Bol and Ramchand Pakistani that also managed to grab a lot of Indian attention.

The biggest of all was the theatrical release of Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan starrer Bin Roye in 2015. The film was released on 81 screens across India and managed to hold its foot despite facing tough competition from Bajrangi Bhaijan.

It is pertinent to mention here that for Actor in Law (one of the movies at SAFACH), this is not the first outing in India. The film was previously screened in Mumbai in the honor of its late cast member Om Puri. It has also been showcased at a film festival in Rajasthan.

Besides all these films, it is also relevant to mention here that Ali Zafar and Maya Ali starrer, Teefa In Trouble, also recently released on Netflix India.

We congratulate the people behind these films and wish them all the best for the screenings.

The post 5 Pakistani films to screen in India at South Asia Forum for Art & Culture heritage appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.