Films

Nayab Secures Spot at Florida’s South Asian International Film Festival

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

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Sonya Hussyn celebrates ‘Deemak’ win, pays tribute to its ‘pillars’

Actor Sonya Hussyn has received the International Best Actor Achievement Award for her performance in Deemak, an accolade she described as particularly significant because it was presented on home soil at the Sunday Icon Awards.

Sharing a carousel of pictures from the ceremony on Instagram, Hussyn wrote, “Winning Best Actor internationally for Deemak was an extraordinary honour, but receiving this recognition at home feels especially close to my heart.”She dedicated the honour to the team behind the film, naming director Rafay Rashdi, producer Murad, and writer Abu Jinns, along with co-stars Samina Peerzada, Faysal Quraishi, Bushra Ansari, and cinematographer Rana Kamran. “This film would be nothing without you all,” she added.She thanked the Sunday Times and Sunday Icon Awards, urging the organisers to “keep celebrating art.” She also credited her styling team Ozi and designer Fahad Hussayn for making the evening “even more special” and “extraordinary.”

For her red-carpet look, Hussyn separately thanked designer Karishma Kewalramani, noting that “it takes a lot of effort to create something” with such intricate detail. She also thanked Saad Hassan for “managing everything so perfectly at the last minute”.

Hussyn’s caption also turned towards the people closest to her. She thanked her parents and siblings Moni, Salman and Saima, writing that “every achievement of mine begins with your love, prayers and support”.

She gave a special mention to her sister, actor Sana Hussyn, joking that Sana had “turned into a zombie towards the end of the night” after completing back-to-back shoots to attend the ceremony. She also thanked Rasikh Ismail Khan, whom she described as her “forever friend” and “father figure”, adding that she had “missed him so much at the ceremony”.

Hussyn also expressed gratitude to her partner Mansoor, whom she referred to by the nickname “Dazara Qarara”, for “always being by my side”. “This award is not the end of the journey; it is a reminder to keep telling stories that matter,” she wrote.

She concluded with a prayer: “May Allah protect our artists, our children, our talent and this beautiful country.”

The latest honour adds to a growing list of international recognition for Deemak. Hussyn previously won Best Supporting Actress at the inaugural Diamond Butterfly Award in Moscow in November.

The film, which also stars Quraishi, Peerzada, Ansari and Javed Sheikh, represented Pakistan among 34 entries from 17 countries at the event.

Deemak had also reportedly crossed Rs175 million at the domestic box office by that time.

Films

‘Mera Lyari’ put forward for oscar nomination race

Pakistani film Mera Lyari produced under the banner of the Sindh government, has entered the race for an Oscar nomination.

Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon chaired a meeting of the Information Department’s Film Board to review the development. Officials evaluated the progress of provincial film initiatives, active projects, future strategies, and partnerships with OTT streaming platforms.

The board confirmed the completion of the first phase of film projects managed by the Information Department.

Discussions are going on with national and international OTT platforms and institutions to secure screening, distribution, and promotional partnerships for the lineup.

“The inclusion of the film ‘Mera Lyari’ in the race for an Oscar nomination brings honour to Pakistan, particularly Sindh,” Memon stated during the meeting. “If the film secures an Oscar nomination, the outcome will mark a milestone and present the art, culture, and creativity of Sindh on the global stage.”

Memon added that the government aims to establish Sindh as a hub for filmmaking while offering local talent access to national and international opportunities.

Information Secretary Kashif Gulzar Sheikh, Director General Information Moez Pirzada, Director Films Hizbullah Memon and board members Waqas Rizvi, Salim Khan, Ehtesham Ansari, and Rab Nawaz attended the meeting alongside department officials.

Films

Pakistani Influencer Finds Sanjay Dutt’s Pakistani Home

Sanjay Dutt is one of the most successful stars of Bollywood. He has done great in his life and career despite countless controversies and legal battles. He has a huge fan following in Pakistan as well. His parents Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt were also big superstars who ruled over the industry.

Sanjay Dutt’s father Sunil Dutt hailed from Pakistan. He was born in a village Naara Khadda in Jhelum Pakistan. Sanjay has previously shared how his father always wanted to go and see his real home. Pakistani influencer Sameel Atif decided to find Sanjay’s ancestral home and went to visit it.

Sameel Atif showed the Dutt house in his video and it went viral for all the right reasons.

The internet is reacting to Sanjay Dutt’s home in Pakistan and people are sending love. One said, “This is how we all used to be before partition.” Another added, “So wholesome. This is why I pay the internet bill.” One went, “Amazing.”