Celebrities

Ali Zafar Makes Superstar Return With Teefa In Trouble

Ali Zafar is one of the few stars from Pakistan who has enjoyed stardom that many only can imagine. His latest film Teefa in Trouble premiered last night.

WHAT WORKS:

Production Values: It is said to be the most expensive Pakistani movie to date and that can be seen in all aspects of the film. From production values to cinematography to action sequences and locations, everything is visually and aesthetically top notch.

Witty One-Liners: The dialogues have been written by Ali Zafar which work as a catalyst and there are more than a few moments where you laugh out loud. The loudest claps are reserved for the moment when he takes a dig at Islamabad ke burger and mulk chor diya per tharak nahi gayi.

Punjabi Tadka: Ali is originally from Lahore so the Punjabi accent comes naturally to him and he looks believable as a Punjabi goon. The second half is shot in Lahore and it looks great as part of the backdrop. Time and again, Mehmood Aslam and Javed Sheikh get into fights in a typically loud Punjabi manner and those scenes are show stealers.

Ali Zafar’s Star power: It’s hard to believe, but this is Ali Zafar’s first Pakistani film. And he has put his best foot forward. He looks good, has performed his stunts himself and his acting skills have improved a lot over time. My only issue is that given his character, his face and hair look too perfect in each frame ( He reminded us of Bollywood’s Shahid Kapoor). Nonetheless, the film belongs to him and he is as keyed up as a Boost bunny, exuding charm and competence in equal measure.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK:

Weak Plot: Unfortunately, the biggest problem is the storyline. Ali plays a goon who believes that money is everything in life and he is hired to kidnap the Maya Ali who is super wealthy, has had a troubled childhood and is ignored by her father, a billionaire tycoon. She lives in a mansion and has a scheming stepmom. She thinks Ali is helping her elope and as expected, the pair find themselves drawn to one another, but she doesn’t know what he does for a living. Now could it get any more clichéd than this? We have seen such stories right from the time of in Bollywood like the film Jab Harry Met Sejal where the two leads with super contrasting backgrounds get romantically involved, part ways and then reunite.

The Drag:
The second half is lengthy to the extent that it feels dragged. There is too much of chasing going on. We will not hold anything against the cinematic liberties taken time and again. For instance, the way Teefa lands in Europe in just one day and how Javed Sheikh’s army of guards are so useless that they can’t match with the actress’ speed!

Overall: We believe that this film has revived Ali Zafar’s career as an actor. This was the last chance Ali had to prove himself as an actor and he delivered on the grandest stage! The script of the film gave justice to Ali’s character and made him bring his A-Game! The other actors who shined and stole the spotlight in their respective roles were Javed Sheikh, Mehmood Aslam, Faisal Qureshi, Asma Abbas, Nayyar Ejaz, and Billu Butt himself – Marhoom Ahmad Bilal.

We love Maya Ali tremendously… However, we don’t think she did justice with the role of her character. At many times it felt that she was trying too hard. (Reminded us a bit of Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor in Jab We Met.)

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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: