Adnan Sami reveals Pakistan denied him visa to attend his mom's last rites: 'Janaza video call pe dekha'
Adnan Sami
, known for songs like Tera Chehra and Lift Karadey, became an Indian citizen in 2016 due to
Pakistan
's political issues. Despite having family there, he's faced criticism from Pakistani authorities and recently shared that he wasn't allowed to attend his mother's funeral, reflecting his strained ties with the country.
Denied a Final Goodbye
Adnan recently appeared on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma, where he opened up about a deeply personal moment. When asked if he had tried visiting Pakistan after becoming an Indian citizen in 2016, Adnan revealed he had made the attempt in October 2024, after his mother unexpectedly passed away. He shared that her death came as a shock, as she had no known health issues. Adnan added that Indian authorities were compassionate and quickly understood the urgency of the situation.
After receiving clearance from Indian authorities, Sami applied for a visa to Pakistan to attend his mother's funeral. However, his request was denied despite explaining the reason for his visit. As a result, he was unable to travel and had to witness his mother's final rites through a video call on WhatsApp.
Not about money, but growth
In the same interview, the singer addressed the common claim that he chose Indian citizenship for financial gain. He clarified that money was never a motivating factor, as he came from a well-off family and never faced financial struggles. Instead, he emphasized that his decision was driven by personal growth and artistic fulfillment. Adnan said he left behind property worth crores in Pakistan to start afresh in India, where he felt a stronger connection with his audience and saw more opportunities to grow as an artist.
Check out our list of the
latest Hindi
,
English
,
Tamil
,
Telugu
,
Malayalam
, and
Kannada movies
. Don't miss our picks for the
best Hindi movies
,
best Tamil movies,
and
best Telugu films
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Good Game to launch global gaming reality show from India with $50 million investment
US-based Good Game Group , the creator of the global IP Good Game, is set to launch its flagship gaming reality show in India ahead of rollouts in the US, UK, and Australia. The company plans to invest up to $50 million in India over the next five years. Good Game will debut the world's first 'as-live' global gaming reality show from India, highlighting the country's rising influence in digital entertainment and competitive gaming. Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant has been signed as the brand ambassador. The show will premiere in India through a partnership with Spunnge Media, followed by launches in the US, UK, and Australia. The series will stream on a leading OTT platform, a linear TV channel, and YouTube. Rai Cockfield, founder of Good Game, said India was selected as the launchpad due to its large, relatively untapped market, its mature entertainment ecosystem, and a rapidly expanding gaming community. 'India has scale, has an existing entertainment ecosystem that's globally known, and it has a young and burgeoning gaming market that is ripe for growth,' he said. Although the specific OTT and TV partners have not been disclosed, Cockfield confirmed that both digital and linear broadcast deals are secured, with a formal announcement expected soon. Billed as the first 'as-live' competitive reality TV show of its kind, Good Game is a global talent competition for gamers, content creators, and entertainers. Contestants will undergo challenges spanning gaming, entertainment, business, and promotional skills, with the aim of identifying future global stars. The winner of the India edition will take home $100,000 in cash and prizes and earn a spot in Good Game APAC, where they will compete against top gamers from across the region. Judged by celebrity figures from gaming, sports, and entertainment, the show's 'as-live' format allows for real-time shooting, editing, and release, ensuring timely and high-quality content. The company is targeting $40 million in revenue within the first year of the India launch, with projections rising to $140 million in year two as it expands show production, builds hub locations, and introduces consumer offerings such as subscriptions and retail. Revenue is expected to exceed $250 million by the third year. In its first year, Good Game aims to reach 500,000 consumers across India, the US, UK, and Australia, with a global average revenue per user (ARPU) of $5. Over the next four years, the company plans to scale to 15 million users, targeting a blended ARPU of $15 to $20 through subscriptions, retail, and event-driven purchases. 'The ecosystem itself is going to pull about 40 million in 2025. That's four shows—India, US, UK, and Australia. And then we'll be expanding into up to 30 countries by 2029, with all those discussions in progress or already closed,' Cockfield said. Good Game is structured like a global tournament. 'You can think of it more like an Olympics or FIFA because it is multiple shows leading up to regional shows leading up to a global finale,' he added. Unlike esports, the show isn't just about gaming skill. 'That's esports. This is Idol for gamers,' Cockfield said, comparing it to The Voice or MasterChef. 'It's aimed at the 3.3 billion gamers worldwide, not the 200 million hardcore gamers globally.' On signing Pant as brand ambassador, he explained: 'Rishabh being younger, engaged and a great person… he defines what we think of as celebrity. Now, being the most expensive ideal cricketer of all time also helps and he has a great social media following.' The show will generate revenue through a mix of sponsorships and commerce. 'We're breaking the mould away from advertising and going with commerce. The monetisation of the show is going to be through sponsorship revenue. Broadcast revenue ties up where I can put the show. We are also looking to maximise reach to drive commerce.' The company has also launched a fashion label, GG Design (GGDZN), tied to the show. 'We've launched a clothing brand to go along with the show and that with our partners, the brands that are working with us in the show, will drive commerce through our platforms and existing e-commerce channels.'
Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Director Ram: Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai is an action thriller that's nothing like Paranthu Po
Director Ram, who hasn't had a theatrical release in a while, is now gearing up for Paranthu Po, a coming-of-age drama. The film will hit big screens on July 4. Apart from this, the filmmaker also has Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai, which is also pending release. Director Ram and Nivin Pauly In an exclusive conversation with OTTplay, director Ram talked about Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai and what kind of a film the Nivin Pauly, Soori and Anjali starrer will be. The film is yet to get an official release date. Watch the best of Tamil films of 2025; from Kudumbasthan to Yamakaathaghi on OTTplay Premium right now Paranthu Po director Ram: Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai is an ambitious film Speaking with OTTplay, director Ram opened up about his next film Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai. The film was announced sometime ago, with an interesting cast including Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly, Soori, and Anjali. The film had premiered at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam last year, but is yet to make its way to theatres. Also read: Paranthu Po director Ram: The nature of an artform like cinema is to be progressive | EXCLUSIVE About the film, Ram said, 'It will be an entertaining film. You can even call it an action thriller. There is romance, and a mix of a lot of genres. We have made it with a lot of conviction and it is an ambitious film. Major portions of the film were shot on sets, as Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai is totally opposite to Paranthu Po, in terms of story, music, and filmmaking style.' The director added that Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai was supposed to have released before Paranthu Po, but due to some issues, it has been facing delays. Produced by Suresh Kamatchi under V House Productions, Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai has music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, with NK Ekambaram handling the cinematography. Mathi VS is the editor. As per reports, the film is set within a moving train and revolves around the encounter between a man in his 30s and an 8,000-year-old immortal, with a rat caught between them.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
F1 Box Office Collection Day 5: Brad Pitt's racing drama accelerates past ₹28 crore in India
Brad Pitt's adrenaline-fueled racing film F1 is back on track after a brief slowdown, gaining momentum at the Indian box office. According to early estimates by industry tracker Sacnilk, the movie earned ₹ 4.18 crore on Tuesday, bringing its five-day total to approximately ₹ 28.93 crore. Released on June 27, the film opened to a roaring start with a ₹ 21.4 crore weekend collection despite facing competition from domestic titles like Maa and Kannappa. While Monday saw a dip to ₹ 3.35 crore, Tuesday's improved performance signals strong weekday retention, likely driven by word-of-mouth and motorsport fans returning for repeat viewings. The movie recorded a solid 28.25% English occupancy across India on Tuesday, July 1, with footfalls peaking during the night shows. Morning Shows: 11.32% Afternoon Shows: 26.10% Evening Shows: 32.88% Night Shows: 42.68% Major metros such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Hyderabad continue to register the highest turnout. On the global front, F1: The Movie raced ahead with an impressive $140 million worldwide in its opening weekend, including $55.6 million from the United States — $25 million of which came on Day 1 alone, according to data from The Numbers. Directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, F1 stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, and Tobias Menzies. F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, who also co-produces, makes a special cameo appearance. The film was made on a budget of $250 million and had its world premiere at New York's Radio City Music Hall on June 16. Produced by Plan B Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Apple Studios, and Dawn Apollo Films, F1 is being praised for its intense racing sequences and authentic depiction of the sport. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently revealed that Pitt and Idris underwent extensive training over four months to learn race car driving for the film.
