Latest news with #Nawaz
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
I'm done with people trolling me: Alizeh Shah
Alizeh Shah took to Instagram this week to share a deeply personal and emotional account of her experiences in the Pakistani entertainment industry. Framing it as her final attempt to reclaim her narrative, the Ehde Wafa star opened up about years of harassment, exploitation, media ridicule, and what she describes as a toxic, patriarchal culture that repeatedly tried to silence her. "I'm going to expose every single person who did me wrong," Shah declared in a series of video stories. "I'm done with people trolling me, making fun of me, and making memes out of me. You guys have no idea how difficult an actor's life already is." Her testimony comes amid renewed online scrutiny following the resurfacing of a 2022 interview with senior actor Yasir Nawaz. Nawaz described Shah as difficult to work with and claimed he would never collaborate with her again. His comment reignited public criticism and triggered a wave of trolling that, according to Shah, significantly contributed to her retreat from the spotlight. While Shah did not name Nawaz directly, the timing and tone of her stories clearly suggest that her comments are, at least in part, a response to the narrative that interviews like these helped fuel. 'Not an accident' Among the most emotionally charged moments in Shah's video was her retelling of the now-infamous ramp fall at Bridal Couture Week in 2021. In a viral clip, Shah is seen stumbling while walking alongside playback singer Shazia Manzoor. At the time, she had dismissed the incident as an unfortunate mistake, even thanking Manzoor for her support. Now, however, Shah claims the stumble was no accident. "We had to go right. This lady pulled me and dragged me on the floor," she said, replaying the clip to support her claim. She further alleged that Manzoor had inappropriately touched her throughout the walk and made calculated attempts to cause her fall. What hurt even more, Shah said, was how the incident became a punchline in the industry. She called out host Juggan Kazim and influencer Jannat Mirza for publicly mocking her by recreating the moment. Clips she shared showed both Kazim and Mirza laughing and reenacting the fall on camera. Shah said she chose to stay silent at the time to maintain professionalism, but now admits the betrayal and public ridicule deeply wounded her. Shah also addressed a separate incident that grabbed headlines in 2023 — when she was accused of assaulting a fellow actor and throwing a lit cigarette at her. Shah says the truth was distorted beyond recognition. "She pushed me. I didn't fall. And then she slapped me. I was in shock," Shah recalled. "She started telling everyone that I threw a cigarette at her." Shah says she asked the crew to replay the footage since cameras were rolling — but no such incident was captured. In frustration, she admits she threw a sandal at the actor, but denied all other claims. She was discouraged from filing a police report, as it could delay or damage the production. The next day, she says, she woke up to headlines branding her violent and unprofessional. To support her account, Shah has now shared an old interview of actor Sami Khan, in which he confirmed witnessing the slap during the shoot. "I stayed quiet at that time because I was weak. It took so much time for me to heal from this lie and speak up," Shah wrote.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Alizeh Shah continues to call out mistreatment in the Pakistani TV industry
Actor Alizeh Shah took to Instagram this week to share a deeply personal and emotional account of her experiences in the Pakistani entertainment industry. Framing it as her final attempt to reclaim her narrative, the Ehd-e-Wafa star opened up about years of harassment, exploitation, media ridicule, and what she describes as a toxic, patriarchal culture that repeatedly tried to silence her. 'I'm going to expose every single person who did me wrong,' Shah declared in a series of video stories. 'I'm done with people trolling me, making fun of me, and making memes out of me. You guys have no idea how difficult an actor's life already is.' Her testimony comes amid renewed online scrutiny following the resurfacing of a 2022 interview with senior actor Yasir Nawaz. Nawaz described Shah as difficult to work with and claimed he would never collaborate with her again. His comment reignited public criticism and triggered a wave of trolling that, according to Shah, significantly contributed to her retreat from the spotlight. While Shah did not name Nawaz directly, the timing and tone of her stories clearly suggest that her comments are, at least in part, a response to the narrative that interviews like these helped fuel. Revisiting the 2021 ramp fall: 'It wasn't an accident' Among the most emotionally charged moments in Shah's video was her retelling of the now-infamous ramp fall at Bridal Couture Week in 2021. In a viral clip, Shah is seen stumbling while walking alongside playback singer Shazia Manzoor. At the time, she had dismissed the incident as an unfortunate mistake, even thanking Manzoor for her support. Now, however, Shah claims the stumble was no accident. 'We had to go right. This lady pulled me and dragged me on the floor,' she said, replaying the clip to support her claim. She further alleged that Manzoor had inappropriately touched her throughout the walk and made calculated attempts to cause her fall. What hurt even more, Shah said, was how the incident became a punchline in the industry. She called out host Juggan Kazim and influencer Jannat Mirza for publicly mocking her by recreating the moment. Clips she shared showed both Kazim and Mirza laughing and reenacting the fall on camera. Shah said she chose to stay silent at the time to maintain professionalism, but now admits the betrayal and public ridicule deeply wounded her. The 2023 incident: 'It took me years to heal from that lie' Shah also addressed a separate incident that grabbed headlines in 2023 - when she was accused of assaulting a fellow actor and throwing a lit cigarette at her. Shah says the truth was distorted beyond recognition. 'She pushed me. I didn't fall. And then she slapped me. I was in shock,' Shah recalled. 'She started telling everyone that I threw a cigarette at her.' Shah says she asked the crew to replay the footage since cameras were rolling - but no such incident was captured. In frustration, she admits she threw a sandal at the actor, but denied all other claims. She was discouraged from filing a police report, as it could delay or damage the production. The next day, she says, she woke up to headlines branding her violent and unprofessional. To support her account, Shah has now shared an old interview of actor Sami Khan, in which he confirmed witnessing the slap during the shoot. 'I stayed quiet at that time because I was weak. It took so much time for me to heal from this lie and speak up,' Shah wrote. Youtube: SaharxSupremacy (via @alizehshah Instagram) Shah accuses industry insiders of punishing her for setting boundaries A major portion of Shah's video focused on the exploitative practices within the entertainment industry. She spoke of delayed payments, disrespect on sets, and being blacklisted for asserting boundaries. 'We get cheques after three months - that too, after begging people for our own money,' she said. Her refusal to conform, she believes, led to deliberate exclusion. 'Pages were paid to troll me. Directors would call me into meetings just to comment on my image, saying they had 'heard things' about me,' she shared. Even something as simple as requesting a separate room due to her smoking habit was twisted to portray her as difficult. 'If asking for respect and timely payment makes me difficult, then maybe this industry needs to reflect on what professionalism really means,' she stated. Shah also opened up about incidents where her physical boundaries were ignored. 'I don't allow anyone to touch me unless it's part of the scene. You need to ask me. I'm not your property,' she said. She recounted an unsettling moment when a senior actor used a hairdryer to dry sweat and intentionally sprayed it on her face. 'I'm sorry you expected me to take your sweat like aab-e-zamzam raining on my face, but I'm not like that. Ew.' For Shah, standing up for her autonomy, hygiene, and dignity made her a target - but she says she wouldn't change a thing. Youtube: SaharxSupremacy (via @alizehshah Instagram) 'Let Me Live': A final plea for empathy Shah ended her story with a heartfelt appeal to both the public and her peers in the industry. 'An artist, whether junior or senior, deserves respect. Just because you're powerful doesn't mean you can ruin someone's career,' she said. She also revealed ongoing personal struggles. 'My mom is sick. I already have enough to deal with. Just let me live.' Since going public, Shah has received a wave of support from journalists, influencers, and fellow actors such as Urwa Hocane, praising her bravery for speaking out. Fans, too, have rallied behind her, thanking her for shedding light on issues rarely addressed publicly. Instagram: UrwaHocane Whether or not this is truly her final attempt to speak out, Alizeh Shah's voice is resonating. In reclaiming her story, she's sparked a wider conversation - one the industry can no longer afford to ignore.
News18
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Nawazuddin Siddiqui Says Raman Raghav 2.0 Cast Got ‘Gaali' Post Release: 'Baad Mein Bola Kya Film Hai'
Nawazuddin Siddiqui still remembers how his 2016 film Raman Raghav 2.0 that also starred Vicky Kaushal and Sobhita Dhulipala, got pushed to the sidelines despite critical praise. In a recent chat with Nayandeep Rakshith, the actor opened up about his ongoing frustration with how certain films – especially ones not led by mainstream stars – struggle to find space in theatres. 'We didn't get enough screens for Raman Raghav. The film released and there were very less screens at theatres. Jab release hui toh gaaliyan bhi padi humein ki kaisi filmein banaate hain. Jab wahi film baad mein dekhi gayi, tab logon ne bola kya film hai," Nawaz said, recalling the contrast between the film's initial reception and its later praise after streaming. He's not new to this kind of experience. The actor, known for being vocal about the industry's alleged double standards, spoke openly about how actors like him – without industry backing – often face roadblocks despite having public support. 'This is the reason why it's said that there are two kinds of actors, ek public ka aur ek industry ka," he explained. 'Even if people don't want to watch the industry's actor, their films are released right in front of your house. But, the actor whose film public actually wants to see, their film is released in 200–300 screens, ek subah ka show aur ek raat ka. I get bothered." Nawaz also made it clear that he's not afraid of failure – whether at the box office or in terms of critical acclaim. 'I don't have any fear. But yes, there are many actors who have been rejected, but keep coming back because of their film background and support system. Hum jaise log, main, Manoj Bajpayee or more actors like us, unko nahi hota yeh… box office, etc. What will you say to Manoj Bajpayee? Woh box office se upar uth chuka hai. He is not chasing it," he said. Known for his strong performances in content-driven cinema, Nawazuddin continues to call out what he sees as an unfair divide — where good films often get buried, and talented actors overlooked, simply for not being part of the system.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Balasore campus horror: Congress calls 'Odisha Bandh' on July 17; accuse BJP of 'cover up'
BHUBANESWAR: The Congress party has called for an "Odisha Bandh" on July 17 following the death of a 20-year-old BEd student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who had attempted self-immolation after alleging sexual harassment by a faculty member. The student, who sustained 90% burn injuries, died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar late Monday night despite intensive medical care. Her death has triggered widespread outrage and political uproar across the state. On Tuesday morning, tensions flared outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar as Congress workers staged a protest, demanding justice for the victim. Protesters were later detained by police. AIIMS Bhubaneswar stated that the woman was brought to the casualty unit on July 12 after being referred from the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital. She was admitted to the burns ICU but could not be revived despite advanced treatment. Congress has slammed the state government for failing to act on the woman's harassment complaints and accused authorities of negligence, demanding accountability from both the college administration and the state. Congress leader Yashir Nawaz slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of attempting to cover up the incident. He demanded strict action against those responsible. "They are trying to cover the incident with the help of is the fault of the BJP government. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj must be removed. There must be strict action against those responsible. The government, with the help of the police, want to take the body away after the postmortem. There is no action against the Higher Education Minister; he has not been sacked. No action has been taken against those responsible, " Nawaz said. Nawaz further remarked that it was deeply unfortunate the student had to plead for justice and ultimately lost her life while fighting for dignity and self-respect. "It is so unfortunate that a student begged for justice to the MP, SP, principal, Higher Education Minister and the CM, but even after being an ABVP leader, she was not safe. She lost her lie for her dignity and self-respect. We are protesting because they are conducting the post-mortem at 2 am. When we met the AIIMS doctors in the evening, they clearly told us that she was 95% burnt, she had low chances of survival, " he further added.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rajkummar Rao says he was ‘at the centre of Gangs Of Wasseypur', script was changed: ‘Anurag Kashyap said tera role nahi bacha'
Even though Anurag Kashyap has been responsible for some great films throughout his career, for many, Gangs of Wasseypur will forever remain his magnum opus. Stacked with undeniable talent and an engaging story, Wasseypur changed the game for the director and for everyone else involved with the film. In a recent interview, Rajkummar Rao, who played the role of Shamshad in the film, talked about how the initial pitch for the movie had him at the centre of the entire conflict alongside Nawaz, but as the scripting process moved forward, his character was sidelined. While promoting his new film Maalik, Rajkummar told Pinkvilla about the experience of working with Anurag and how that film changed the trajectory of his career. He said, 'I hadn't worked for a while when Anurag sir called me for Gangs of Wasseypur. Initially the story was between me and Nawaz, and the entire movie revolved around the two characters. I was very excited, and I thought playing a parallel lead in such a movie would be great.' ALSO READ: 'When I moved to Mumbai…I used to sleep on the floor': Peek inside the home of soon-to-be parents Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa But he also shared the story of how the film was supposed to revolve around him and Nawaz, but the script ended up being very different from what he had imagined. 'One day Anurag sir called me to the office to discuss the script, and then he suddenly told me that 'script agayi hai, par tera role zyada bacha nahi hai' ('The script is here, but you don't have much of a role'). He asked me what I wanted to do, and of course I felt a little bad. We had travelled so much in order to prepare for the role, and now this was happening. But I still told him that I wanted to work with him no matter how small the role was, and I am glad I made that decision.' Rajkummar admitted that he had put a lot of work into the role, and he and Nawaz travelled to Wasseypur by train in order to understand the backdrop of the story better. 'Me and Nawaz actually went to Wasseypur, and we even stayed there for a while. I used to record people on my recorder so that I could listen to it later and practise the accent,' added Rajkummar. Even though Rajkummar's role was cut, he delivered an impactful performance and was able to hold his own among other talented actors. His latest film, Maalik, released on July 11 and has been directed by Pulkit. The cast of the film includes Rajkummar, Swanand Kirkire, Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Shukla, and Huma Qureshi.
