Syed Noor is the ace director of Pakistani cinema. His success rate was massive and he introduced so many stars on silver screen. He is the name behind some of the most successful films from the country and he is still as relevant as a celebrity as he was when he started out in the industry. He gave his two cents about Pakistani films and stars as he appeared as a guest on Hina Niazi’s show.

Syed Noor was asked about the looks of the actors and he had a very interesting take. He said a hero cannot be a good actor just based on his looks. He thinks the best ever actors in the world were not too good looking. They focused on their craft which made them successful but his thoughts on looks of female stars differed a bit.

He added that if a female actress looks good, it makes it easier for her to succeed in acting as the audience is more welcoming. This is what he thinks.

Umair Nasir Ali’s Nayab has earned a spot in the selection for the South Asian International Film Festival of Florida, according to the festival’s official website. The Pakistani film joins a collection of twenty-six films, including Shivani Mehra’s Me, Raani, Debra Gussin’s This Is Our Time, and Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s Binodiini.

Released in January last year, Nayab features Yumna Zaidi, Javed Sheikh, and Usama Khan in a sports drama that follows Yumna’s titular character on a coming-of-age journey.

“In the bustling heart of Karachi, a determined girl dreams of breaking stereotypes to play cricket for Pakistan, while her brother, a former rising star, struggles with his past. As they navigate the gritty world of local cricket, their unbreakable bond and the city’s turbulent history become their strongest allies in this deeply Pakistani tale of ambition, resilience, and family,” the synopsis reads.

Marking the film’s one-year anniversary, Umair took to Instagram to reflect on the achievement. “One year ago, Nayab became a monumental chapter in my journey as a filmmaker. My first feature film, a story that felt right, that resonated deeply,” he wrote.

He shared how the project allowed him to refine his craft as a narrative director, focus on shaping the storyline, work passionately with actors, and experience an emotionally fulfilling journey.

“I carried detailed notes for every actor, amplifying their strengths and guiding them to refine areas that needed nuance. Each day on set began with music, not just to set the tone but to block out distractions and focus entirely on execution,” he recalled.

Expressing gratitude for his team, he emphasized how each collaborator poured their heart into the project. “Nayab wasn’t just a film; it became a part of me. Over the past year, this film has traveled to places I could only dream of, shining across festivals worldwide.”

Umair concluded by thanking Vertical Cinema for creating a video to celebrate Nayab‘s one-year anniversary. “Moments like this remind me why we do what we do,” he wrote.

Also Read: Yumna Zaidi Promises to Win Against India in ‘Nayab’ Trailer

Abu Aleeha, currently Pakistan’s most successful film director, has created several hit films, including “Taxali Gate”, “Super Punjabi”, and “Javed Iqbal”. Renowned for crafting financially successful films on small budgets, he recently appeared as a guest on “The Wire” podcast, where he discussed the past and future of Pakistan’s film industry.

He discussed the ban on Indian films and its impact on cinemas, stating that the ban reduced footfall and hurt the industry. He also revealed that the ban wasn’t imposed by the Pakistani government but by the Indian side instead.

Abu Aleeha said “Indians stopped taking any distributors for Bollywood films in Pakistan and it is them who did not want to release any work here. He added that they banned Pakistani artists and talent from working in India and we just stopped releasing Bollywood films as a countermeasure.”