Pakistan, Japan sign $2.2 million grant agreement for civil servants’ scholarships

Pakistani musician and singer Sahir Ali Bagga has made a surprising revelation about one of his most notable patriotic projects, Pakistan Zindabad. The acclaimed composer recently disclosed that two prominent Pakistani singers were initially approached to perform the song but refused to sing it. Sahir Ali Bagga is one of the well-known names in Pakistan’s music industry. Over the years, he has established himself as a singer, composer and music producer, contributing to numerous popular songs and drama soundtracks. He has also composed successful tracks for leading artists, including Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Known for his deep vocals and ability to hit powerful high notes, Bagga has delivered several memorable songs throughout his career. His popular compositions include Baazi, Mast Malang, Ehd-e-Wafa and Bharosa Pyar Tera. He also enjoys a massive following on Instagram, where more than 1.8 million people follow him. In recent months, his song Mastani has also attracted considerable attention, crossing 5.5 million views on YouTube. Bagga recently appeared on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast, Excuse Me, where he spoke openly about the making of Pakistan Zindabad. During the conversation, he revealed that the song was originally composed with two major Pakistani singers in mind. According to Bagga, both singers were expected to lend their voices to the patriotic track. However, neither agreed to perform it. He explained that one of the singers did not even listen to the composition and specifically refused to sing the song because Bagga had created it. The musician said that although he was disappointed by their response, he remained confident in his composition. Since the song had already received approval from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Bagga ultimately decided to perform it himself. He further revealed that singing Pakistan Zindabad was particularly challenging because the composition required extremely high notes. Bagga admitted that he does not consider himself a high-note singer and had to put in significant effort to prepare for the performance. The singer explained that reaching such demanding notes required extensive practice. He worked hard on his vocals and rehearsed repeatedly before recording the song, eventually taking on the challenge himself. Pakistan Zindabad went on to become a major patriotic hit. The song was released on March 23, several years ago, and quickly gained widespread popularity among Pakistani audiences. Its energetic composition, patriotic lyrics and powerful vocal performance helped it become one of the memorable ISPR songs. The song has continued to attract viewers on YouTube and has reportedly accumulated around 249 million views. Bagga’s revelation about the singers who turned down the project has now added another interesting chapter to the story behind the hugely popular patriotic anthem. While he did not disclose the names of the two singers during the portion of the conversation shared, his comments have sparked curiosity among fans about which major artists originally declined the opportunity to perform Pakistan Zindabad.

Sanya Malhotra has spoken about breaking old patterns in her own family. She admitted she “forced” her mother to step back from the kitchen and focus on herself instead. According to her, the habit of women expressing love through nonstop service is not healthy. In many South Asian homes, she said, women spend their days caring for others while their own goals get set aside. She brought this up in a recent interview. Her own house followed the same pattern growing up. Women stayed in the kitchen. Men waited around for things to be handed to them. She said she didn’t fully see how much pressure her mother was under until she moved away to Mumbai. One memory stood out for her. Her mother once cried simply because she felt too sick to cook. Sanya told her that food had nothing to do with love. She explained that cooking is just one way people show care, not the only way it can be shown. That moment shifted things at home. Sanya started nudging her parents away from old habits. Her mother now listens when Sanya tells her to skip the kitchen for a day. She said it makes her proud watching her mother take time for herself in the mornings instead of rushing straight to chores. Her father was not left out either. Sanya said she often pushed him to do small things, like getting his own glass of water or making a simple meal. She admitted the change has not fully stuck yet, but she keeps reminding him. She connected all of this to her character in Mrs. In the film, she plays a newlywed whose entire identity gets swallowed by household duties. Sanya said many women tell her the story feels personal to them. That response, she said, leaves her both upset and hopeful, since even a small shift in mindset feels worth it to her. She also called out how sacrifice tends to get romanticised, especially when it comes to mothers. Women, she said, are often expected to give up their own dreams the moment they become parents. Talking about her mother’s past, Sanya revealed she once wanted to become a fashion designer. It took her years to understand her mother had dreams of her own beyond raising a family. As for the criticism Mrs received, Sanya said none of it bothered her. She said she has no interest in defending her views to people who never even watched the film. She last appeared in Netflix’s Toaster and is currently working on Bandar and Sundar Poonam.