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Riz Ahmed Becomes First Muslim Best Actor Oscar Nominee

The British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed has become the first Muslim actor to grab a place in Best Actor’s category for this year’s Academy Awards. Ahmed also made history in 2017 as he became the first Muslim to win an Oscar for supporting actor in ‘Moonlight’. He again won the best supporting actor in 2019 for ‘Green Book’, and now it’s time to grab the ‘best actor’ award!

Ahmed has been nominated for his role in Amazon’s ‘Sound of Metal’, a film that has bagged nominations for six Academy Awards in 2021. The nominations for the film include best actor (Riz Ahmed), best picture, best supporting actor (Paul Raci), best editing, best original screenplay, and best sound.

This nomination has also made Riz Ahmed the first actor of Pakistani descent to land in the category of best actor for Oscar. The 38 year old actor, in an interview, spoke that he’s humbled and overjoyed on this historic achievement. He said:

“To be honest, I just feel like however people can find themselves in this moment, however they can find a connection to this moment, is beautiful to me,”

He also talked about how important it is to have such achievements:

“We should stretch culture so that it’s big enough and wide enough and expansive enough so that there’s space for all of us to find ourselves in it, to feel that we belong and that we’re included, and that we matter. These changes aren’t just something that’s good politically or socially. It’s something which allows stories and storytelling to get back to its original intention, which is to embrace all of us.”

The film ‘Sound of Metal’ features Riz as a drummer who lost his hearing and fears that he’ll lose everything because of the hearing loss issue. Ahmed’s soulful performance in this film is about a person who’s living in false belief trying to get back to the life he used to live before. The film is about health crisis and how it affects a person and force him to grow in unexpected ways.

The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on 25th of April at 8 pm ET on ABC. Riz Ahmed concluded his interview by saying:

“In a challenging year for so many, I hope this story can inspire us to forge new and deeper connections with ourselves and others’’

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Aymen Saleem Slams Drama for ‘Rope Scene’ Romanticising Abuse

Aymen Saleem

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

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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.

Read more: Danish Taimoor Under Fire: Is Mann Mast Malang Crossing the Line of Cultural Integrity?

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Mahira Khan’s Prayer Sparks Online Debate

Mahira

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:

Also Read: Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar Replies To Mahira Khan’s Latest Statement

 

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