Category: Showbiz

The Punjabi action comedy “Mango Jutt” is set for release on Friday, October 16, making it the second Pakistani film with a confirmed October release date after “Sheroes”, which opened today.

The film’s trailer was released on September 16, giving audiences their first full look at the project ahead of its cinema run.

The cast includes Faisal Qureshi and Hareem Farooq, with Shamoon Abbasi in a villainous role — a lineup industry commentators say carries significant box-office expectations for Punjabi-language cinema.

The October one-two of “Sheroes” and “Mango Jutt” has industry watchers hopeful that local releases can draw audiences back to theatres, with veteran journalist Omair Alavi describing the month as potentially game-changing for Pakistani cinema.

No Pakistani films are currently dated for November or December, making October’s performance a key indicator for how exhibitors and producers plan the rest of the year’s local slate.

Pakistani cinemas get a local release today, October 2, as the Urdu anthology drama “Sheroes” opens nationwide — the only Pakistani film with a confirmed release date on cinema-chain listings this month.

The film arrives in an unusually quiet autumn for local cinema. No Eid falls in the October-to-December window this year — Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha were observed in March and May, when studios traditionally release their biggest titles — and no Pakistani film is yet dated for November or December.

The only other dated local release on the horizon is the Punjabi action comedy “Mango Jutt”, reported for October 16, whose trailer was released on September 16.

Industry commentators, including veteran journalist Omair Alavi, have argued that October could prove a turning point for Pakistani cinema if the two releases draw audiences back to theatres and revive the local film business after a lean stretch.

Anthology films remain a rarity in Pakistan, and “Sheroes” — released as an Urdu drama — will be watched closely as a test of whether mid-scale local storytelling can find space on the big screen between the big Eid releases.

Ali Zafar is set to return to television dramas after a gap of more than two decades, joining Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas Khan in the upcoming serial “Lahu” — a casting announcement that has electrified fans on social media.

“Lahu” is penned by Saqlain Abbas and directed by Syed Wajahat Hussain. Details of Zafar’s character remain under wraps, but his pairing with two of the industry’s biggest stars signals a substantial role.

Zafar began his acting journey in the early 2000s with the television serial “College Jeans” before crossing over to Bollywood films and building a parallel career as a singer and painter. His last major acting project was the hit Pakistani film “Teefa in Trouble”.

Since news of the comeback broke, fan comments ranging from “welcome back to dramas” to celebratory messages have flooded social platforms, reflecting the anticipation around his small-screen return.

The drama’s premiere date has not yet been announced. Industry watchers say the casting — uniting three marquee names — positions “Lahu” among the most anticipated television projects of the coming season.

Ahad Raza Mir has announced that he is taking a break from the entertainment industry next year, describing the move as a “semi-retirement” in a live session on Instagram.

In the video, which has been widely circulated on social media, the actor said he would be “disappearing completely” and spending time with his family, adding that his Instagram would also be switched off during the break.

Mir is among the most acclaimed television actors of his generation, known for blockbusters such as “Yaqeen Ka Safar”, “Ehd-e-Wafa”, “Yeh Dil Mera”, “Meem Se Muhabbat” and “Hum Tum”. He recently drew praise for his performance as Haroon Malik in Green TV’s “Aik Mohabbat Aur” and is currently shooting the upcoming drama “Cafe Firaaq” with Yumna Zaidi.

Fans reacted with a mix of surprise and support. Some speculated the break could be linked to personal plans, while others said he had been working non-stop for two years and deserved the rest; one fan wrote that wherever he goes, he would return to his fans.

On the personal front, Mir married actress Sajal Aly in Abu Dhabi in March 2020; the high-profile couple finalised their divorce in 2022. No timeline has been given for his return to the screen.