Superstar Humayun Saeed recently recalled an unexpected moment from 2005 when he danced alongside Bollywood legends Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta at the Zee Cinema Awards.

During a podcast, Humayun shared that he, Reema, Adnan Siddiqui, and other Pakistani artists received invitations to attend the award show in London.

He recounted a light-hearted moment on the flight: “My co-actor Fakhar joked, ‘What if Shah Rukh calls you on stage and asks you to dance with him? How would you feel?’” Humayun laughed at the time, unaware that the joke would soon become reality.

“When we landed, I noticed something odd. Instead of joining the rest of the artists on their bus, the organizers asked me to board a separate one,” Humayun said.

When he asked why, they explained that he had a rehearsal scheduled with Shah Rukh and Preity for a dance performance the next day. “I was shocked. Fakhar’s joke had come true!” he said.

Humayun described his interaction with Shah Rukh Khan warmly. “He greeted me like he already knew me and even helped me learn the dance steps.”

The joint performance received thunderous applause. “The audience—about 50 to 60 thousand people—gave us a standing ovation. They appreciated seeing Indian and Pakistani actors dancing together,” Humayun shared.

The 2005 Zee Cinema Awards marked a rare and iconic collaboration between Indian stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, and Pakistani actors Reema and Humayun Saeed—an unforgettable moment still cherished by fans across borders.

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Senior actress Bushra Ansari urged parents to actively monitor the madrassas they choose for their children and to keep a close watch on the clerics teaching there.

In a short video recently posted on Instagram, she addressed the tragic case of a young boy in Swat who died after allegedly facing violence at the hands of a madrassa teacher.

“Everyone, including the parents of the child who died in Swat, knows he wasn’t killed just for not studying. There was something else behind it,” she said.

She condemned the lack of accountability and pointed out that although officials once discussed registering and monitoring madrassas, they have failed to follow through. “To this day, no madrassa has been monitored or registered,” she added.

Bushra Ansari called on well-known clerics and TV scholars to take responsibility and publicly condemn such incidents. “They must monitor madrassas and supervise the teachers working there,” she emphasized.

She also questioned the qualifications of many madrassa teachers, stating, “Most of them lack proper education. They teach incorrectly and can’t even translate Hadiths or verses of the Holy Quran accurately.”

She went on to say, “Usually, anyone with basic literacy gets a job in a madrassa and even receives a house. They are given free items on Eid and other occasions, and as a result, they often lack genuine devotion to Islam.”

Addressing parents directly, she urged, “Have mercy on your children. Don’t hand over their lives to clerics and teachers without scrutiny. Listen to your children and take their concerns seriously.”

While discussing the child’s death, Bushra Ansari also criticized the victim’s family for their inaction and lack of awareness.

Earlier this week, Farhan, a young madrassa student from Chilyar village in Swat’s Khwaza Khela tehsil, tragically died after allegedly suffering severe physical abuse by his teachers.

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Singer-songwriter Bilal Maqsood released the second volume of nursery rhymes from his children’s puppet show Pakkay Dost on YouTube on Tuesday.

After launching the first volume in 2023, Maqsood’s vibrant visuals and engaging storytelling won widespread acclaim, sparking a renewed love for Urdu and enriching the lives of countless young viewers.

Actor Sajal Ali praised Maqsood’s work on social media, writing, “Bilal Maqsood, you are doing a great job!” She commended the show for reigniting interest in the Urdu language among youth. “Urdu is a beautiful language and it’s high time we stop running away from it,” she said. Ali emphasized the importance of embracing our mother tongue: “It was always cool! Let’s own it, celebrate it, and make it even cooler!”

On Wednesday, Maqsood took to Instagram to promote the new episodes, sharing, “I make Pakkay Dost for kids. I have always longed to create quality content for children and finally got the chance after Strings ended. I believe the entertainment industry has neglected children for the past two decades.”

As a father, Maqsood observed, “Our kids are growing up on foreign content, which we can’t always control. While we can’t restrict their screen time completely, we can introduce them to shows that teach good values, ensure safety, and help them stay connected to their culture and language.”

Explaining his choice of language, Maqsood said, “I created Pakkay Dost to make Urdu cool. Kids and parents often avoid Urdu—I wanted to change that. I urge all parents and teachers to ensure children around them watch Pakkay Dost.”

The show continues to captivate young audiences through colorful visuals and playful storytelling, nurturing both a love for Urdu and important life lessons. Parents and educators have praised Pakkay Dost for offering content that entertains while instilling cultural and linguistic pride.

In January, Maqsood announced a partnership with ConnectHear to make Pakkay Dost accessible to hearing-impaired children by incorporating sign language interpretation.

“We are very excited to partner with ConnectHear,” said Maqsood. “Our mission is to bring joy, learning, and cultural enrichment to children and create a brighter childhood for everyone. This collaboration helps make Pakkay Dost truly inclusive.”

ConnectHear CTO and Co-Founder Arhum Ishtiaq echoed this sentiment: “At ConnectHear, we believe in building a world where no one is left behind. This alliance with Pakkay Dost bridges the gap in children’s education and entertainment for the Deaf community. We’re not just adding sign language—we’re adding joy, imagination, and inclusion to every deaf child’s life.”

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