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Hania Aamir named to Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2026 list

Hania Aamir

KARACHI: Actress Hania Aamir has achieved another major milestone after being included in the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2026 list in the Entertainment and Sports category.

Published annually by Forbes, the list recognizes outstanding individuals under the age of 30 from across Asia who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. This year, Pakistani filmmaker Saman Kamran was also named among the honorees.

Over the past decade, Hania Aamir has emerged as one of Pakistan’s leading television stars. Recently, she became the most-followed Pakistani woman on Instagram, surpassing 20 million followers, further highlighting her growing popularity at home and abroad.

Among her recent successes is the blockbuster drama series Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. She is also set to appear in Pakistan’s first Netflix original series, Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo. In addition to her acting career, Hania serves as a National Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Saman Kamran earned recognition for her work focusing on social and environmental issues. Her short film The Bed She Made was the only Pakistani film selected for the Boson International Short Film Festival, where it highlighted the challenges of climate change and reproductive health in Pakistan. She has also worked as an assistant director on the film Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning.

Last year, no Pakistani representative appeared in Forbes’ entertainment category. However, Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem secured a place on the list due to his exceptional achievements in sports.

Several other Pakistanis have previously been featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 rankings, including filmmaker Bushra Sultan, entrepreneur Zain Ahmad, artist Misha Japanwala, and singer Momina Mustehsan.

Hania Aamir’s inclusion in the globally recognized list is being widely celebrated by fans and industry figures, marking another significant achievement in her rapidly growing career.

Actress Mamiya Shah Jaffar reveals battle with serious illness

Actress Mamiya

KARACHI: Emerging actress Mamiya Shah Jaffar has opened up about a difficult period in her life, revealing that she battled a serious illness that required prolonged medical treatment and affected her professional commitments.

Speaking during a special Eid transmission on a private television channel, Mamiya discussed the challenges she faced while working on her upcoming film Love The Sun. She said the project took nearly three years to complete due to her involvement in other ventures as well as ongoing health issues.

The actress disclosed that she became seriously ill during that period and had to undergo regular treatment. According to Mamiya, she was prescribed medications similar to those used in cancer treatment, making the experience physically and emotionally demanding.

She further revealed that it took around eight months for her to make a full recovery. During that time, following doctors’ advice and continuing treatment became a central part of her daily life.

Mamiya said she is now fully healthy and has resumed her professional activities. She emphasized the importance of timely medical care, noting that the condition she faced required prompt and proper treatment.

The actress also encouraged people not to ignore health concerns and to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms arise.

Following her revelation, fans and members of the entertainment industry praised her courage and resilience, while many expressed happiness over her recovery and return to work.

France withdraws from Miss Universe 2026 for first time in history

France withdraws

PARIS: France has announced that it will not participate in the 2026 edition of the Miss Universe 2026 pageant, marking the country’s first withdrawal from the competition in more than 70 years.

According to international media reports, the dates for Miss Universe 2026 have yet to be announced. However, the organization behind Miss France confirmed that France will not send a representative to the upcoming edition.

France has participated in the Miss Universe competition continuously since 1952, making the decision a significant break from a tradition spanning seven decades.

In a statement shared on Instagram, the Miss France organization said the decision applies only to the next edition of the pageant. The organization added that it remains attentive to the future development of the competition and hopes to resume participation in the near future.

Meanwhile, organizers of Miss Universe have also confirmed that France will not be represented at the 2026 contest.

No detailed reason for the withdrawal has been publicly disclosed, and the Miss France organization has indicated that it will continue monitoring developments related to the international competition before making future decisions regarding participation.

Actress Neha Dhupia recalls casting director’s remark

Actress Neha Dhupia

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia has shared a painful early-career experience, saying a casting director’s harsh comment deeply impacted her self-confidence.

The actress said that during an audition, she smiled while speaking, after which the casting director told her not to smile because she “looked bad” doing so. Neha Dhupia said the remark stayed with her for years and affected her self-image.

She added that despite later winning the Miss India title, she struggled for a long time to feel comfortable smiling in photographs.

In the same discussion, actress Huma Qureshi also spoke about the impact of social media trolling, saying harsh online criticism affected her mental health and led her to seek psychological support.

Both actors highlighted the emotional pressure faced by public figures and the long-lasting impact of negative remarks in the entertainment industry.

Pooja Bhatt reveals Mahesh Bhatt’s conversion claim in marriage

Pooja Bhatt

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Pooja Bhatt has made a significant revelation about her father and renowned filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, stating that he converted to Islam in order to marry actress Soni Razdan.

In a conversation on a YouTube programme, Pooja Bhatt said she respects her father’s decisions and believes that truth and responsibility form the foundation of any relationship.

She questioned whether it is better to have a father who openly acknowledges his relationships or someone who leads a double life in secrecy.

According to her, Mahesh Bhatt began a new life with Soni Razdan but did not completely cut ties with her mother. She also claimed that in 1986, he embraced Islam for his second marriage so that he would not have to legally divorce his first wife.

Pooja Bhatt further said that one of her father’s qualities is his loyalty to relationships, adding that once he commits to someone, he does not easily let go.

Following her remarks, the statement has sparked debate on social media, with users sharing mixed reactions and opinions on the issue.

Fahad Mustafa opens up about the price of fame

Fahad Mustafa

KARACHI: Pakistani actor, host and producer Fahad Mustafa has spoken candidly about the emotional cost of fame, saying that success has brought him immense love but taken away much of his personal freedom and privacy.

In a recent television program, Fahad Mustafa said he can no longer live a normal life like ordinary people, as public outings have become difficult due to constant crowds of fans wherever he goes.

He added that he is now rarely invited to weddings, dinner parties or family gatherings because his presence tends to draw excessive attention and disrupt the environment of such events.

The actor also shared a personal reflection about his children, saying they no longer ask him to go out for dinners or outings as frequently because public places often become crowded, making it hard for the family to spend peaceful time together.

Fahad Mustafa said fame may appear glamorous from the outside, but it comes with sacrifices that only those living the life truly understand. He added that while success brings many rewards, it also takes away the comfort of private living.

The actor rose to massive popularity through his hit game show and has also earned widespread recognition for his performances in television dramas and films, establishing himself as one of Pakistan’s most successful entertainment figures.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan gets relief as court restores appeal in property case

Rahat Fateh Ali

LAHORE: Renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been granted relief in a hereditary property dispute case after the Lahore High Court set aside a lower court’s decision to dismiss his appeal.

According to details, the Lahore High Court declared null and void the trial court’s ruling that had rejected the appeal due to non-payment of court fees.

Justice Muhammad Sajid Mehmood Sethi issued an eight-page detailed verdict in the case.

The court restored the singer’s appeal but directed him to deposit a penalty of Rs100,000.

The judgment stated that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had filed a civil suit regarding possession of a double-storey house measuring one kanal and nine marla in Faisalabad. A civil court had ruled against him on May 14, 2019, after which he filed an appeal in the trial court.

The trial court dismissed the appeal on technical grounds, citing non-payment of Rs15,000 in court fees.

The Lahore High Court observed that dismissing an appeal solely on non-payment of fees violates the principles of justice and stressed that appeals should be decided on merit rather than technical grounds.

The court further noted that the appellant was given only four days to submit the court fee, which was insufficient, and emphasized that the right of appeal is a valuable legal right that cannot be denied on minor procedural lapses.

The High Court ordered the trial court to decide the appeal on merit within two months without unnecessary delay and directed all parties, including Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, to appear before the relevant court on June 2.

Actress Meera throws challenge to Gen Z performers

Actress Meera

KARACHI: Veteran Pakistani actress Meera has challenged Generation Z actors, saying the younger generation cannot compete with senior stars of the Pakistani film industry.

Speaking during a podcast appearance, Meera openly discussed her professional career, memorable films and her upcoming movie projects.

Responding to a question about her favorite co-stars, the actress recalled fond memories of working with Babar Ali in the film Khoey Ho Tum Kahan, saying they shared many fun moments during filming.

She also mentioned the film Inteha, recalling her experience working alongside Samina Peerzada, Usman Peerzada, Zeeshan Sikandar and Humayun Saeed.

Meera said Inteha was her first film with Humayun Saeed and remains one of her memorable projects.

Addressing Gen Z performers, the actress said they should watch her film Psycho and try to make a better movie if they believe they can compete.

“Gen Z cannot compete with Meera,” she said, adding, “Compete with Meera and Shaan Shahid. I would like them to challenge us, and we would enjoy competing with them.”

Medical graduates who became film stars

Medical graduates

KARACHI: Several actresses in the entertainment industry achieved notable academic success before stepping into the world of acting.

Some of them earned medical degrees such as MBBS, while others specialized in demanding fields like dentistry. Their dedication, discipline, and hard work allowed them to stand out in education before later making a mark in film and television.

These journeys highlight that success in showbiz is not only driven by talent but also by strong educational backgrounds and perseverance.

Many of these actresses initially aspired to become doctors, but later transitioned into the entertainment industry. Among them are Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela, Manushi Chhillar, Shreya Sharma, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and Aditi Govitrikar.

Today, these actresses enjoy massive popularity and serve as inspiration for young people, showing that combining education with passion can lead to success in any field.

Marriage Rumours of Bilal Abbas Khan and Durefishan Saleem resurface

Marriage Rumours

KARACHI: Rumours regarding the alleged marriage of Pakistani actor Bilal Abbas Khan and actress Dur-e-Fishan Saleem have once again surfaced on social media, sparking excitement among fans.

The speculation gained momentum after the 30-year-old Bilal Abbas shared Instagram stories from Makkah.

Several Instagram pages claimed that both actors were in Makkah for Hajj and may have already tied the knot.

The rumours spread rapidly over the weekend, with fan pages and social media accounts widely sharing claims that the couple had been spotted in Saudi Arabia.

Some posts even suggested that Bilal Abbas and Durefishan Saleem had already performed Nikah, although neither actor has issued any confirmation or response regarding the claims.

This is not the first time such speculation has emerged. In 2025, similar rumours circulated about the two actors, which were previously dismissed by Durefishan Saleem, who said she prefers to respond to such claims by staying silent.