Latest news with #Atif
India Today
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam's Instagram blocked in India after Hania Aamir, Mahira
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and singer Atif Aslam's Instagram accounts have been disabled in India. This means that users in the country will not be able to access their profiles. Earlier, actors Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan's accounts were also disabled. This came after the terror attack in Pahalgam that took the lives of 26 tourists while injuring you try to open Fawad and Atif's Instagram profiles, the message reads, 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.'advertisementTake a look at the profiles here: The note further adds, 'We received a legal request to restrict this content. We reviewed it against our policies and conducted a legal and human rights assessment. After the review, we restricted access to the content in the location where it goes against local law. You can learn more about content restrictions in our Transparency Center.'Both Fawad and Atif enjoy a massive fan following in Pakistani celebrities whose Instagram accounts have been disabled in India are Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas and Sajal just the celebrities' Instagram accounts, India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading provocative and communally sensitive content, as well as false narratives targeting the country, its Army, and security agencies, government sources than Fawad's Instagram account, his upcoming Bollywood film which was slated to release on May 9, has also faced boycott calls amid rise in tensions between India and Watch
Gulf News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Atif Aslam, Pakistani idol, talks Global Village in Dubai, heartbreak, dealing with fame and fans
Dubai:"Before you judge me, walk a mile in my shoes," says Pakistani singing sensation Atif Aslam, flashing his signature humility and quiet defiance. In a candid conversation with Gulf News ahead of his concert at the Global Village this weekend, the singer — whose soulful ballads have patched up more heartbreaks than any therapist could — talks about his enduring legacy, the realities of sustaining stardom without big-budget backing, his playful reinvention on social media, and why no AI can ever replicate true human emotion. Excerpts from our interview with Atif who has sung Bollywood ballads such as 'Woh Lamhe' and 'Kuch Is Tarah' ... Is helping people get through heartbreak your biggest legacy? Every now and then, people come and tell me that I helped them through heartbreaks, made new friends, or even found new beloveds. It's overwhelming because when I hear my own voice, I focus on technical things like pitch correction. I don't feel the emotion they do, but hearing it from fans is very powerful and sweet. Your recent concert at the Global Village in Dubai was affordable and cost less than $10 for your fans. Why choose such an accessible venue? I love the festival-like vibe at Global Village. Every venue has its specialty, but I personally enjoy performing for masses. Their raw energy feeds me. Plus, you see people from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Pakistan — it's overwhelming. And I believe everyone deserves a full concert experience, even if they can't afford expensive tickets. Your fans are extremely loyal. Do you consider them your biggest strength? Absolutely. An artist is nothing without fans. But when an artist gets busy creating and performing, that connection can weaken. I feel lucky that whenever I reach out, they respond. I recently met kids at Istanbul Airport who asked why I didn't visit their school. It's moments like these that remind me of the connection. How do you feel about the role of AI in music creation? Honestly, I love it. It sparks new ideas. But human creativity is different — AI can't yet capture the emotional nuances, especially in languages like Urdu. It can offer options, but painting emotions into lyrics is still something only humans can do. How difficult is it to reinvent yourself as an artist? If you're only performing and not creating new things, you can't reinvent yourself. You have to keep offering fans something fresh. After a point, you create not just for fans but for yourself too. Reinvention comes from mixing both. What phase of your career are you in right now? Earlier, I kept my personality separate from my fans. They thought I was a serious, mysterious guy. Now, through social media, I'm showing them my funnier, more human side. I just want to be seen as a regular person — the guy next door. How do you handle love and hate on social media? When people start calling you a legend, it feels premature — there's still so much to do. As for trolling, I remind myself that those people weren't there during my successes, so why take their criticism seriously? What would you tell your younger self in your 20s, when you were just starting out? It's not easy becoming an artist where I come from, let alone sustaining it. Infrastructure was missing — labels disappeared, solo artists couldn't easily release music. I'd tell my younger self to stay resilient. It's easy to critique from outside, but you have to live it to understand. You have your name on the Dubai Walk of Fame. What does that mean to you? It's a testament that something worked, despite everything. We don't always have the massive production infrastructure like the West. Back home, technically trained sound and production engineers are rare. It's harder to create large-scale spectacles. Who inspires you musically today? Only recently have I started listening to music again. For a long time, I was surrounded by only my own voice and performances. Now, I'm soaking in different sounds to stay inspired ... Truth be told, I just want to stay stuck in a room with musicians forever — collaborating across borders, creating freely. What do you want your legacy to be and which song encapsulates your body of work? I'm still building it. If I had to pick one song that captures me, it would be Tajdar-e-Haram — it's pure me. Lastly, people say your songs make heartbreaks easier. Is heartbreak your biggest currency? People call me the voice of love and breakups, but I think my songs connect with more than heartbreak. They connect to memories, friendships, spiritual moments. I'm grateful my music can be a part of so many emotional journeys.
Arab News
26-04-2025
- General
- Arab News
Jazan municipality plants seedlings for green goals
RIYADH: Jazan municipality in Samtah governorate planted 100 diverse seedlings in Hittin Garden during Environment Week, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Held annually from April 20-26, the week promotes environmental awareness and sustainable practices. The 2025 theme, 'Our Environment is a Treasure,' highlights the Kingdom's efforts to conserve natural resources. Nasser bin Ahmed Atif, mayor of Samtah governorate, said the event aimed to raise community awareness about protecting the environment and enhancing environmental education. The regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the Technical College, and volunteer teams participated. Atif added that over the past two months, the municipality planted 1,270 seedlings of Moroccan jasmine, Indian jasmine, Bougainvillea, Vinca rosea, and Jacaranda across several locations in the governorate. The initiative is part of the Green Saudi Initiative, which seeks to preserve the environment, improve quality of life, promote environmental awareness, strengthen partnerships, and involve all segments of society in building a sustainable future.
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Fawad on Bollywood co-stars
Cross-border film star Fawad Khan, who has worked on a number of Bollywood films, told Nukta Dubai what he admires about the Indian heroines he has starred with. Beginning with Sonam Kapoor, who was his co-star in his Bollywood debut Khoobsurat, Fawad said, "I think she's unfiltered, which is absolutely amazing. She says what's on her mind, and she's a very good person at heart." Next up was Alia Bhatt, who starred opposite him and Siddharth Malhotra in Kapoor & Sons, which chronicles the tale of a dysfunctional family. "Alia has got a lot of energy. I think she's also an amazing person to work with. All of them are talented of course, but with Alia, it's the energy [that shines]. You have to be on your toes," Fawad said. The Humsafar actor had similar praises for Anushka Sharma, who briefly paired up with him in romance film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. "Again, energy. Yeah, lots of energy," Fawad stressed. "In all these people, there is one thing that's common, and I feel that it's one common compliment." Adding in praise for his latest Indian co-star Vaani Kapoor, who he will be seen with in Abir Gulaal next month, Fawad said, "Vaani is a very gifted performer." The Zindagi Gulzar Hai actor summed up his observations with gratitude towards all his peers. "My main compliment to all these people is that they are good at heart," he said. "They're good people. And when people are sincerely virtuous then it is fun to work with them, which is even true for the ones I've worked with in Pakistan. As long as you're not having a bad day, you'll find that most people are good at heart, which is something that I'm thankful for." Selectively camera-shy The praises come days after Fawad bumped into Atif Aslam, who roped the actor into his newfound reel-making hobby on Instagram. The singer also included The Legend of Maula Jatt director Bilal Lashari and the film's other star Faris Shafi into his shenanigans. "How it feels when the OG friend group finally gets back together," read the text on the reel, as all involved celebrities strutted in the camera's direction. "Avengers assemble," Atif added in the caption. Naturally, the casual collaboration stirred up rumours about something bigger in store. Addressing the speculation during the interview, Fawad said, "Atif is Atif. He's like the pride of Pakistan, so it would be an honour to work with him on something. And I've heard people are really into making reels these days." Like Atif who was with Jal before becoming a solo act, Fawad too was formerly part of Entity Paradigm (EP) prior to the music group's disbanding. Though when it comes to making reels like Atif, Fawad can't relate. "I'm not that talented," he swiftly admitted. "I'm not that gifted. I can't do it. I'm not good at it." Despite his selective camera-shyness, Fawad is adored internationally for his onscreen presence. From playing suave heartthrobs to portraying action heroes, he has dabbled in a variety of roles that keep his fans anticipating what's next. On why he chose Abir Gulaal as his next venture, Fawad said, "In recent times, whatever work I've done has been of a serious nature - very dramatic, and perhaps even traumatising. Like Maula Jatt, which had a lot of bloodshed but was a different project for me too." Fawad feels that it's easy to fall into a cycle while pursuing something new, so he decided to reassess and swing back to his roots. "I think it was time for something very sweet and simple that would bring me back to the basics, and that was Abir Gulaal."
Gulf News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Pakistani singer Atif Aslam to perform at Global Village in Dubai: Tickets and more
Dubai: Get ready, Dubai! Pakistani singing sensation Atif Aslam is making a highly anticipated return to Global Village this Sunday, April 27, for a night of soulful melodies and chart-topping hits. Known for his unforgettable voice and emotional depth, Atif will take over the Main Stage at 8:30 PM, treating fans to live renditions of beloved tracks like 'Tera Hone Laga Hoon,' 'Dil Diyan Gallan,' and 'Woh Lamhe.' This marks his third appearance at Global Village, and if past performances are anything to go by, it's bound to be an evening to remember. Best of all? The concert is included with your standard entry ticket—just Dh30—making this a must-attend event for music lovers across the city. With Season 29 of Global Village wrapping up on May 11, this concert is the perfect way to soak up the festival's vibrant atmosphere one last time. Whether you're going with friends, family, or flying solo, expect great music, electric energy, and plenty of singalongs.
