Celebrities

Mahira Khan Is My Closest Friend, Says Momal Sheikh

The showbiz industry often seems an unlikely place for nurturing deep friendships, but Pagal Khana actor Momal Sheikh confidently calls Mahira Khan her best friend.

“Mahira is my closest friend,” Momal shared during a recent appearance on Ahmad Ali Butt’s podcast. “We hang out all the time, even if we don’t post photos or selfies for the world to see!”

While Momal gets along well with her colleagues, her connection with Mahira stands out. “Whenever we meet, it feels like we’re long-lost friends picking up right where we left off,” she said. “Our bond is on another wavelength.”

Momal explained that their friendship transcends their careers. “Her friendship is separate from the industry,” she clarified. “It’s something different, and we also share mutual friends. We all hang out together.”

As the daughter of veteran actor Javed Sheikh and part of a celebrated showbiz family, Momal addressed criticism from last year when she was mocked for allegedly calling her family the “Kapoors of Pakistan.”

“I never said that,” she clarified. “I answered a question, but people misinterpret things from snippets and reels without understanding the context.”

Momal, who entered the entertainment industry post-marriage, highlighted her father’s hands-off approach to her career. “My father never made a single call to help me in the industry,” she revealed. Turning to the camera with a mock plea, she joked, “Baba, you might as well do it now!”

Despite witnessing her parents’ separation as a child, Momal holds no resentment toward her father. “I would never blame my father for anything,” she said. “Life’s hurdles are from Allah, and believing this makes it easier. Baba wasn’t physically with us, but his heart always was.”

Also Read: Momal Sheikh Labels Her Family As ”The Kapoor Family of Pakistan

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Celebrities

Farhan Saeed & Sana Javed Upcoming Drama Bas Tera Saath Ho Teaser

Bas Tera Saath Ho is an upcoming drama which was highly anticipated. The star writer of Mere Humsafar Saira Raza wrote her last script before she passed away and the script finally had Farhan Saeed back in the lead on ARY Digital. He starred in Shirin Farhad before this and therefore this was back to a romantic script from his experimental roles.

Farhan Saeed will be starring with Sana Javed for the very first time. Bas Tera Saath Ho is going to be a drama high on emotions as the first teaser has already intrigued the audience. In the first teaser of the drama, Farhan Saeed is seen speaking to his parents in an emotional manner when they are pampering him. As the camera pans out, we get to now that they are not there anymore and he is alone.

The internet is loving Bas Tera Saath Ho’s first teaser. Sana Javed is yet to appear in the frame and she is making her comeback after her marriage and a short break from television dramas. One fan wrote, “Farhan Saeed carried the emotions.” Another added, “Excited for this one.” One said, “This is going to replace Kafeel for sure.”

Celebrities

Abida Parveen mourns Asha Bhosle, saying her legendary voice is irreplaceable

Singer Abida Parveen shared a tribute video on Instagram Thursday evening, honoring the legendary Indian vocalist Asha Bhosle, who passed away on Sunday. Parveen expressed that words were inadequate to capture Bhosle’s legacy, stating, “God gave her talent, and she shared it with people,” calling the global access to her music a shared gift.

The two icons, though from opposite sides of the border, shared a personal bond. Parveen had long wished to meet both Bhosle and her late sister Lata Mangeshkar, finally doing so during a trip to India. Their connection deepened when they served as judges together on the 2012 music reality show Sur Kshetra, alongside Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila.

Parveen reflected on Bhosle’s immense impact on Indian music: “She has left behind something so great that every Indian singer is copying her. That’s a big deal.” She observed that on every music program, artists of all ages attempt to perform Bhosle’s songs and master her technique—a feat she noted remains unmatched. Parveen also recalled Lata Mangeshkar’s own praise for her sister’s versatility, referencing a particularly challenging duet Bhosle recorded with Ghulam Ali that is still discussed in musical circles today.

“Asha Ji was a pillar of India’s film industry as well as its shade,” Parveen stated, adding that language falls short in describing her loss. Her Instagram caption expressed “deepest, most sincere condolences,” describing the loss as profound not only for India and Pakistan, but for global music, and extended prayers to the Mangeshkar family and Bhosle’s worldwide fans.

Bhosle, born September 8, 1933, began singing at age ten and recorded an astounding catalogue of over 12,000 songs in more than 20 languages. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2011 as the most recorded artist in history, she was awarded India’s Padma Vibhushan in 2008. She passed away at the age of 92.

Celebrities

Zayn Malik says his half-Pakistani heritage sets him apart

Zayn Malik is embracing his Pakistani roots in the wake of his new album Konnakol, as he shared in a recent interview on the Zach Sang Show.

The singer spoke about his identity, remarking, “I’m literally half Pakistani—it sets me apart from everyone.” Malik emphasized that representing his heritage is a form of education, noting, “Many people live in fear of things they don’t understand.” He added that sharing his culture and origins feels like “a good thing.”

The comments have sparked a divide across social media regarding his South Asian identity. While some fans defended the singer, noting he has discussed his Pakistani heritage several times in the past, others remained critical. One user claimed he only embraces being Pakistani “when it’s convenient” for album sales, while another suggested that “explaining Pak culture would be like Trump explaining Christianity.”

The discourse also touched on regional tensions. One reaction suggested that “Indians are not going to like this”. Arguments broke out over previous instances where Malik mentioned South Asian culture more broadly, with one person noting that some mistakenly associated him with other nationalities because of those references.

This cultural focus is a central theme of the new project. Malik previously revealed that Konnakol is his most culturally connected work yet, incorporating the South Indian vocal technique it is named after.

In a separate appearance on the Track Star podcast with Jack Coyne, Malik confirmed the album features a track titled ‘Nusrat,’ named after the legendary qawwal Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. During a game of “Guess the Artist,” Malik correctly identified Khan’s ‘Mast Mast Dum Mast’ after taking a moment to listen to the track.

After identifying the maestro, Malik told Coyne that he isn’t alone in being inspired by the Shehenshah-e-Qawwali. He cited Jeff Buckley as a devoted admirer who famously covered Khan’s ‘Halka Halka Suroor.