BREAKING NEWS
Shamoon Abbasi opposes reported drama on drug dealer ‘Pinky’ • Wasim Akram and others break silence on criticism over Hajj journey • 17 terrorists killed in intelligence-based operations across Balochistan • Two Pakistanis arrested over killing of four Pakistanis in Italy’s Calabria • Australia set Pakistan 232-run target in second ODI in Lahore • Ranveer Singh faces fresh setback amid ‘Don 3’ controversy • Who is Momina Iqbal’s husband? Details emerge • Federal budget delay linked to political deadlock over key legislation • Iran warns it will halt US talks if Israel continues strikes on Lebanon • Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif criticises development delays in Gilgit-Baltistan • Actress Raveena Tandon’s mother’s home targeted in theft • Supercomputer reveals favourite to win 2026 FIFA World Cup • New Drama Buzz: Saba Qamar may play Anmol “Pinkie” character • Dua Lipa marries actor Callum Turner in private London ceremony • Momina Iqbal’s mehndi celebrations go viral on social media
Advertise with us >

Entertainment & Fashion

Nadia Khan sparks debate over children watching sacrifice rituals on Eid

by
Nadia Khan

LAHORE: Pakistani actress and host Nadia Khan has once again become the subject of social media debate following her recent remarks regarding Eid-ul-Azha practices.

During Eid celebrations, when Muslims around the world perform animal sacrifice as part of the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.), Nadia Khan suggested that parents should avoid exposing young children to the process.

She said that watching animals being slaughtered at a young age could make children insensitive toward animals, and therefore parents should exercise caution.

Following her statement, social media users were divided into two groups, with some supporting her viewpoint and agreeing that children’s psychological well-being should be considered.

One user shared an anecdote claiming that a child, after witnessing a sacrifice, once attempted to imitate the act during play.

However, many users strongly criticized Nadia Khan’s remarks, arguing that Eid-ul-Adha is deeply rooted in the religious story of the great sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) and Prophet Ismail (A.S.), and should be understood in its religious context.

Actor Nicolas Cage changes name to ‘Nick Cage’

by
Actor Nicolas Cage

Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage has revealed that he legally changed his name last year and is now officially known as “Nick Cage.”

Speaking to Variety, the Oscar-winning actor said he decided to fully embrace the Cage identity both professionally and personally.

“I am Nick Cage. I changed my name legally last year,” he said. “I’m Nick Cage in life, and I’m Nick Cage on camera.”

Born Nicolas Kim Coppola, Cage said he wanted to step away from the shadow of the famous Coppola family dynasty.

“‘Tis better to be the patriarch of my own little family than the clown cousin on the margins of someone else’s, so I decided I’m going to bring it on and be ‘Cage,’” he added.

The actor said he chose to keep the first name “Nicolas” because it was given to him by his father, although he joked about the French spelling of the name, which often leads people to incorrectly add an “h.”

Cage previously explained that his adopted surname was inspired by Marvel character Luke Cage and avant-garde composer John Cage.

“I decided, I don’t need this, and I changed it to Cage,” he earlier told Wired, describing the name as “short and sweet.”

Despite the legal change, the actor said he is comfortable with fans referring to him as either Nicolas Cage or Nick Cage.

The actor is currently preparing for upcoming projects including the series Spider-Noir and the NFL biopic Madden.

Meera shares behind the scenes detail of film ‘Psycho’ role

by
Meera shares

KARACHI: Senior actress Meera has revealed that the key role in the film Psycho was originally written by actor Shaan Shahid for himself before it was eventually given to her.

In a recent joint interview, Meera and Shaan Shahid discussed their film Psycho, which was released in cinemas under the banner of Geo Films.

Meera praised Shaan’s work in the film, saying he had made a strong production and that she still felt connected to her character.

“I am still in the character and now I want to come out of it,” she said, adding that she considers herself a director-actor and should not be cast without strong direction.

The actress also revealed that Shaan had originally planned to play the film’s central character himself.

Supporting her statement, Shaan Shahid confirmed that he had written the role for himself and had even imagined how he would portray a “psycho” character before deciding to pass it on to Meera.

The film Psycho was released recently and features an ensemble cast including Shaan Shahid, Sonia Hussain, Meera, Shabbir Jan and others.

Usman Peerzada opens up about national awards selection process

by
Usman Peerzada

KARACHI: Veteran Pakistani actor Usman Peerzada has expressed disappointment over the country’s national awards system, saying he now prays not to receive a state honor.

Speaking during a recent podcast appearance, Peerzada discussed his career, the arts industry and government recognition of artists.

The senior actor said his family has established a strong legacy in Pakistan’s entertainment industry. His wife, Samina Peerzada, was recently awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, while his father and brother had also received state honors in the past.

Despite his long and successful career, Peerzada said he has never been selected for a major national award and questioned why his contributions had been overlooked.

“Now I pray that I do not receive such an award,” he said, adding that questions are often raised about personal connections and influence behind the selection process.

His remarks sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many users praising his contributions to Pakistan’s entertainment industry and calling him deserving of national recognition.

Salman Khan’s Instagram account briefly disappears, fans panic online

by
Salman Khan’

MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan briefly disappeared from Instagram, triggering panic and speculation among millions of fans on social media.

Users attempting to access the actor’s profile were shown a blank page with the label “Instagram User” instead of his account name, prompting rumors that the account may have been hacked, deleted or temporarily suspended.

Within minutes, screenshots and posts about the issue began circulating widely on X, formerly known as Twitter, as fans questioned the sudden disappearance of the account.

However, approximately 30 minutes later, Salman Khan’s Instagram profile was restored without any official explanation from the actor or his team.

The incident attracted significant attention because Khan has more than 72 million followers on Instagram and remains highly active on social media.

After the account was restored, the actor shared multiple posts expressing frustration over the constant presence of paparazzi.

Bollywood Industry Body bans Ranveer Singh amid ‘Don 3’ dispute

by
Bollywood Industry Body

MUMBAI: A dispute surrounding the upcoming Bollywood film Don 3 has escalated into a major industry controversy after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees imposed a non-cooperation directive against actor Ranveer Singh.

During a press conference, the federation said no production house should work with Singh until he resolves an alleged financial dispute involving filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and his company Excel Entertainment.

According to the federation, the dispute centers on claims that Singh withdrew from “Don 3” at the last moment despite reportedly signing a three-film agreement, causing estimated losses of 450 million Indian rupees ($5.4 million) in pre-production expenses.

Producers have demanded that Singh accept responsibility for the costs, while mediation efforts by the federation reportedly failed.

Singh has maintained that the matter should be resolved through an “appropriate legal forum.”

Federation officials said the film industry functions like a family and sudden exits from major projects can disrupt the entire production ecosystem. Chief adviser Ashoke Pandit warned that strict action would continue in similar cases.

Following the announcement, Singh’s representatives released a statement saying the actor respects the film industry and everyone associated with the “Don” franchise.

According to the statement, Singh deliberately remained silent throughout the controversy because he believes professional matters should be handled with dignity and mutual respect.

The federation, however, said multiple notices had been sent to the actor without sufficient cooperation, leading to the issuance of the non-cooperation directive.

The Don franchise previously featured Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role, while Singh had been announced as the new lead for “Don 3” in 2023 before the dispute intensified.

Pakistani celebrities perform Hajj 2026, share spiritual journey with fans

by
Pakistani celebrities

LAHORE: A large number of Pakistani showbiz personalities have been blessed with the opportunity to perform Hajj in 2026, joining millions of Muslims from around the world in the annual pilgrimage to Makkah.

As in previous years, several actors, television hosts, journalists and social media influencers from Pakistan are currently in the holy land, sharing glimpses of their spiritual journey with fans on social media.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory once in a lifetime for every financially and physically able Muslim. Pilgrims from across the globe gather in Makkah to express devotion and humility before God.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fakhr Alam (@falamb3)

Among the prominent personalities performing Hajj this year is television, Former cricketers Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq were also seen performing the pilgrimage, sharing reflective moments with their companions.

Television host Waseem Badami, who shared moments from his pilgrimage on social media that were widely appreciated by fans.

Senior journalist and anchor Farah Iqrar also posted spiritual pictures from the holy sites, receiving prayers and good wishes from followers.

Social media couple Zulqarnain Sikandar and Kanwal Aftab are also among those performing Hajj this year, sharing images and videos from Makkah.

Comedian and host Tabish Hashmi also posted pictures from the holy journey, while actress Tooba Anwar shared her spiritual experiences during Hajj.

Singer Humayun Alamgir also shared photographs from the sacred sites.

Actress Dur-e-Fishan Saleem and actor Bilal Abbas Khan also trended on social media after their Hajj pictures went viral.

Religious scholar Qasim Ali Shah is also among those performing Hajj this year.

Each year, Pakistani public figures share their spiritual experiences from Hajj, with fans widely engaging in prayers and well-wishes on social media platforms.

Actress Mominah Iqbal secretly gets married

by
Actress Mominah Iqbal

LAHORE: Close associate of an actress, Hamza Habib, has confirmed that he married Mominah Iqbal two days ago, saying the couple is now legally husband and wife and no longer engaged.

Speaking to the media outside the Lahore High Court during a hearing, Habib said, “Alhamdulillah, our nikah has taken place. Mominah Iqbal is now my legal wife,” adding that he would take all possible steps to protect her dignity and safety.

Separately, the Lahore High Court granted protective bail to Habib until June 1 and directed him to approach the relevant trial court. Police in Jhang have registered a case against him over allegations of issuing threats to a man identified as Saqib Chadhar.

Outside the court, Habib described the case as politically motivated and baseless, alleging he was being pressured. He further claimed that Chadhar had contacted him and offered financial incentives in exchange for separating from Mominah Iqbal.

Habib also expressed strong emotions about his marriage, referring to his wife in affectionate terms, a statement that quickly circulated on social media and prompted mixed reactions and congratulatory messages from fans.

Fan collapses in extreme heat outside Amitabh Bachchan’s residence

by
Fan collapses

MUMBAI: A fan fainted after waiting for several hours in intense heat outside veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s residence “Jalsa,” according to Indian media reports.

The incident occurred  when hundreds of fans gathered outside the actor’s home in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.

A video shared on Instagram shows a fan suddenly collapsing on the road. People nearby quickly rushed to help and moved him to a safer place.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Amitabh Bachchan is known for meeting fans outside his residence on Sundays and often shares pictures and videos of these interactions on his blog.

The actor recently stated that he has instructed his security team to treat fans with respect and care.

In a post, he said he feels honoured by the love and prayers of his fans, calling them his “extended family” and expressing gratitude for their support.

He also noted that standing for hours in extreme heat is not easy, and stressed that fans should always be treated properly and with dignity.

Actress Kangana Ranaut denies secret marriage rumors

by
Actress Kangana

MUMBAI: Indian actress and politician Kangana Ranaut has denied rumors of a secret marriage after photos of her wearing traditional bridal symbols sparked speculation on social media.

The rumors began after Kangana was seen wearing green bangles and a mangalsutra, a necklace traditionally associated with married Hindu women.

Responding to the speculation on Instagram, the actress said she would never marry in secret and clarified that the look was part of a film character.

“I promise, I will not have a secret wedding,” Kangana wrote while sharing a video on her Instagram story in which she appeared in traditional attire.

She said someone had photographed her while she was in character makeup during a shoot, which led to numerous calls and online rumors.

Kangana also questioned why her married-woman look caused such a strong reaction, adding that actors regularly portray different characters on screen.

In another post, the actress spoke about working outdoors during a heatwave, saying actors filming under lights and in enclosed spaces also face difficult conditions.

According to Indian media reports, Kangana Ranaut is currently filming Queen 2, and the viral appearance was reportedly linked to her role in the movie.

Reports added that she had gone to a dentist appointment immediately after shooting and did not have time to change outfits before being photographed by paparazzi.