Celebrities

Uth Oye! Localising fashion

For years the fashion industry has been criticised for not adequately promoting local culture. Then came Uth Oye! with t-shirts inspired by Pakistan’s complex culture and turbulent politics. The apparel’s innovative design and message made the business an overnight hit.

Pictures of Haseena “item bum” battling a monster and Quaid-e-Azam’s iconic headshot juxtaposed with a blurb saying “dude where my country is?”, completed captured the youth’s imagination.

After creating a furore amongst the youth through online viral marketing, Uth Oye! finally opened its very own store on MM Alam road, on June 10. The new shop, which is located on the second floor of Ali Towers, features an actual cutout of a Bedford truck as the sales counter, and truck murals swathing the changing rooms.

The launch was a fresh and fun event. The innovative setup and creative decor of the new venue impressed the crowd. Rock band Quadrum’s performance, which included improvised vocals of “We will rock you” and “Uth Oye!”, energized the crowd. Many prominent celebrities, designers and young people were present at the inaugural event.

Babar Khan, the energetic creative director of Uth Oye! appeared happy with the high turnout at the event. The young entrepreneur explained that the basic intent behind his designs is to celebrate Pakistani culture. Thus his brand’s t-shirts, which essentially sport desi themes and logos, are inspired by seemingly banal social and political realities of the country, ranging from truck art to Lollywood.

“It’s not a secret that we are a very xenocentric society. We like our clothes from Calvin Klein or from other foreign brands,” said Khan. “But our brand is instead trying to perpetuate the idea that Pakistan is cool.”

Veteran designer Ammar Belal came to the store opening sporting his very own Uth Oye! t-shirt. “It’s a great initiative that has just started,” remarked Belal.

“Uth Oye!’s t-shirts are socially relevant and the business does social work, so this is really fashion for bringing about a meaningful social change,” he added, referring to the project’s involvement in several charities.

Designer Nilofar Shahid also appreciated the brand’s effort to revolutionize fashion trends by incorporating indigenous idiom and design.

“I tell fashion students that they should be proud of their identity and they should make sure that they represent Pakistan,” said Shahid. The designer added that Uth Oye! is a trendsetter because it incorporates local design and craft.

Mubeen Ahmed, a student present at the occasion, said that the biggest thing that attracted young people to the store’s opening was the dire need for entertainment. He said that there with so much negativity and turmoil surrounding people, such a launch inspired them to think positively and enjoy themselves.

The shirts displayed at the new flagship store continue to cash on the brand name’s satirical yet humorous take on socio-political issues. For instance, one t-shirt features a petrol pump shaped into a noose, alluding to the ‘stifling’ prices of oil. Another interesting t-shirt features Lollywood legend Sultan Rahi donning a crown.

Uth Oye! is now looking to expand into foreign markets.

Celebrities

Aymen Saleem Slams Drama for ‘Rope Scene’ Romanticising Abuse

Actress Aymen Saleem has spoken out against the troubling portrayal of abuse in a recent drama, calling it out for romanticising harmful behaviour in the name of storytelling.

Taking to Instagram, Aymen posted a strong statement criticising the way a female character was shown tied up with ropes by her husband a scene that was framed with romantic music and gestures. Without naming the drama, she expressed her deep concern over how such content is being normalised.

In a powerful Instagram story, she said, “Enough is enough. I’m deeply disturbed by the way a recent drama is portraying abuse tying up a woman with ropes, showing it in romantic or bold light, and then normalising it as part of a love story.”

She criticised how such scenes are being packaged as entertainment and said this trend is harmful, not harmless fiction. “This isn’t entertainment. It’s dangerous storytelling,” she added.

Aymen pointed out that women in Pakistan already face many struggles within marriage including patriarchy, emotional and physical abuse, and societal pressure. In such a reality, media has a major responsibility.

She wrote that dramas should promote relief, strength, and progress not show harmful acts as expressions of love. “We’ve made strides in showcasing strong, self-aware female leads and breaking generational curses. Why are we slipping back?” she asked.

Aymen Saleem’s Key Take

Calling for change, she urged writers, producers, channels, and especially actors to be mindful about the stories they support and choose.

“This is not just fiction – this shapes culture,” Aymen warned.She ended by reminding everyone that scenes like these do not reflect love they only make abuse look normal.

Aymen’s statement has sparked conversations across social media, with many supporting her stance and calling for more responsible storytelling in Pakistani television.

Also Read: Aymen Saleem Slams Trolls for Criticizing Kubra & Gohar’s Wedding

Celebrities

Danish Taimoor Basks in Success of ‘Mann Mast Malang’ Despite Backlash Over Controversial Content

In a week where criticism roared louder than applause, Danish Taimoor stood tall — not in defiance, but in triumph; the popular actor is riding high on the unprecedented success of his drama serial Mann Mast Malang, which has claimed the second spot among Pakistan’s most-watched shows this week, even as debates swirl around its controversial themes.

While the drama has come under scrutiny for what many consider a troubling glorification of toxic relationships, audiences appear to be tuning in with persistent interest. The storyline’s bold portrayal of possessiveness and masculinity has sparked widespread concern among critics and celebrities alike; many have raised red flags over how Mann Mast Malang walks the tightrope between intense romance and psychological abuse, and whether it crosses a dangerous line.

Despite this, the numbers speak volumes; Taimoor recently took to Instagram to share a celebratory poster, revealing jaw-dropping viewership stats: 25 million views for his new drama Sher, and a solid 15 million for Mann Mast Malang. Captioning the post with a telling statement—“1st“ and 2nd. Success does not need a spotlight. It speaks loud and clear.” — He made it clear that his focus remains on audience response, not controversy.

On one hand, Danish’s starrer is being dissected by critics for promoting regressive narratives. On the other hand, it is dominating the charts, outperforming even family-oriented serials with socially responsible themes.

Celebrities

Mahira Khan’s Prayer Sparks Online Debate

Mahira Khan, who along with co-star Humayun Saeed is currently busy promoting their upcoming film “Love Guru,” slated for release on June 6, had an awkward moment when she asked fans to pray for her film’s success, leading to her being trolled on social media.

The film’s trailer was unveiled last month, along with several songs that have been well received by audiences. The duo has already promoted the film in the US, UK, and UAE and are now engaged in a nationwide promotional campaign in Pakistan.

It should be noted that the film’s trailer was recently screened on the digital billboards at Times Square in New York City.

Recently, the stars appeared at a promotional event where Mahira Khan, while speaking to the media, urged fans to collectively pray for the film’s success. During the same event, Humayun Saeed praised director Nadeem Baig, calling him the best in the country—though he humorously noted that Baig still charges him full fees.

Mahira Khan also expressed her hope that Love Guru earns more than one billion rupees. Addressing the audience, she asked everyone to say “Ameen” to her prayer and proposed a group prayer for the film’s success.

A video of Mahira’s heartfelt appeal has gone viral, sparking a wave of reactions on social media. While many found the moment endearing, some critics took a swipe at the actress for asking for prayers over box office earnings.

Here’s how the netizens reacted: