Ali Raza mourns the sudden death of his father

Actor Preity Zinta has publicly voiced her support for students demonstrating under the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) banner, urging the Indian government to initiate “meaningful dialogue” with student bodies and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to resolve the ongoing crisis surrounding competitive exam paper leaks. ​Taking to social media, Zinta expressed deep concern over the health of Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding accountability and comprehensive educational reforms following widespread irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. Urging the activist to prioritize his well-being, the actor appealed for an immediate end to his fast while affirming her solidarity with the youth movement: ​”I hope our govt starts a meaningful dialogue with Sonam Wangchuk and the student bodies so his health does not deteriorate any further! Please end your fast Sonam. Your health is as important as this fight. You and the students are fighting for the future of India and for our youth. My heartfelt & unwavering support to every student & to Sonam in this fight to uplift & upgrade our educational system.” ​The CJP-led demonstrations at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar escalated dramatically following a police crackdown and lathi-charge on peaceful student marchers, triggering widespread outrage across civil society and the entertainment fraternity. Addressing the growing unrest, Zinta issued a follow-up statement stressing the need to protect the genuine intent of the movement while cautioning against violence or political exploitation. ​She emphasized that while demanding reforms and holding authorities accountable is essential for the nation’s future, peaceful protests must remain focused on their core objective and avoid being manipulated by disruptive elements. Reaffirming her faith in democratic institutions, law, and order, she appealed to both authorities and student representatives to enter into constructive discussions to restore stability and secure better educational standards for the nation’s youth. ​Zinta’s intervention joins a swell of public support from prominent cultural figures—including veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj, actor Imran Khan, and singer Diljit Dosanjh—who have collectively called on leadership to engage constructively with the country’s students rather than resorting to force. With public pressure mounting and health concerns for key activists intensifying, calls for immediate government dialogue have moved to the forefront of the national debate.

Actors Sunita Marshall and Hassan Ahmed have shared heartwarming and humorous insights into their 18-year marriage, revealing how time has strengthened their relationship and admitting that they are equally clumsy in everyday life. Appearing together on a comedy show, the celebrity couple reflected on their journey, memorable incidents and the lessons they have learned over nearly two decades together. Speaking about married life, Hassan said understanding develops naturally over the years and eventually reaches a point where words are no longer necessary. “If you take out the first eight to 10 years, after that you understand each other so well that you don’t even have to ask why the other person is quiet. You also learn to ignore some faults.” He also credited Sunita with changing the way he approaches life. “She has taught me not to worry over every small issue and to avoid overthinking.” The couple, who belong to different faiths, married in 2008 through both an Islamic Nikah and a Catholic church ceremony. They are now parents to two children and are regarded as one of Pakistan’s most admired celebrity couples. Sunita recalled a funny incident from the early days of their marriage when the pair were walking to a nearby shoot. Hassan realised he had forgotten his sunglasses and insisted on going back because he wanted to look “cool.” Despite Sunita repeatedly telling him he would have to remove them once inside the dark studio, he refused. She recalled: “As soon as I entered the studio, I turned around to tell him again to take them off. The next thing I heard was a loud noise. He was lying on the floor.” The actor explained that Hassan had failed to notice a small step at the entrance because he walked straight from bright sunlight into the dimly lit studio while still wearing the sunglasses. The couple also laughed about another accident at home, when Sunita slipped while walking downstairs. Hassan recalled: “She kept sliding down and just wouldn’t stop.” Instead of panicking, he admitted he burst into laughter, adding that he himself has fallen at least three times because of his own clumsiness. Hassan also confessed that his awkward moments extend to driving. He remembered accidentally reversing his car into a drain while his father was sitting beside him and being immediately scolded. The actor further narrated a spooky incident from his younger days when he believed he saw a woman dressed in white while driving home late at night. He said his car stalled, and after restarting it, the mysterious figure had disappeared. Frightened, he called a friend, who jokingly replied: “Wait, let me switch on my room lights first, then tell me.” The interview also touched on their acting careers. Hassan revealed that his role in Pinjra was emotionally exhausting. “I would never want to relive that character because it had a huge impact on my mind and heart.” Sunita said she was grateful for the roles she had played despite many being tragic. “Still, I am very content with all the roles I have done but I wouldn’t want to do them again because they were all tragic.” Hassan also admitted that audiences often confuse him with the villains he portrays. “After playing so many negative characters, people start believing that is how you are in real life.” Filled with laughter, heartfelt reflections and amusing stories, the interview gave fans another glimpse into the chemistry that has made Sunita Marshall and Hassan Ahmed one of Pakistan’s most beloved celebrity couples both on and off screen. 

Pakistani singer Asim Azhar is giving one talented cover artist a chance to work with him on the official unplugged version of his popular Punjabi song ‘Khabbay Sajjay’. Azhar announced the opportunity through an Instagram reel after noticing the large number of fans and musicians sharing their own covers of the track. The singer asked his followers to tag their favourite cover artist in the comments of his latest reel. He said one selected artist would get the opportunity to join him for the official unplugged rendition of the song. Azhar later shared an Instagram story to clarify that the opportunity was genuine. He said he was impressed by the creativity and talent shown by musicians who had performed their versions of the song. He also hinted that the unplugged project could include a music video featuring the selected artist. ‘Khabbay Sajjay’ is among the 10 tracks featured on Azhar’s album. The Punjabi romantic song revolves around deep affection and devotion towards a loved one. The track has also attracted significant attention on YouTube, where it has crossed the one-million-view mark. With the new initiative, Azhar is not only celebrating the song’s popularity but also creating an opportunity for emerging musicians to work alongside an established Pakistani artist.