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Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Mayi Re' director talks second instalment
Fan-favourite director Meesum Naqvi made an appearance in an episode of YouTube series, Gup Shup with FUCHSIA Magazine, where he answered fan questions such as whether Mayi Ri will have a second season and how Parwarish's script was developed. "When we created Mayi Ri, beautiful things like Aina and Samar happened," Naqvi said. "They gathered an insane fan following." After Mayi Ri, the production house wanted Naqvi to cast Aina Asif and Samar Jafri together again. Mayi Ri delved into the life of a 15-year-old schoolgirl who is compelled to marry her underage cousin. The show unravelled the devastating consequences of child marriages, which can shatter innocent childhoods forever. On the other hand, Parwarish touches upon the challenges of parenthood and turns the spotlight on the younger generation's ache for control and independence. Both shows have captivated viewers with their layered scripts and focus on meaningful societal issues. Naqvi shared that he did not want to make Mayi Ri 2. "What would even be the plot of it, that the couple does a halala and is back together?" he asked. "That would not have made sense." "I made the show against child marriage, and I cannot have negated that just because people wanted the two back together. There will be no Mayi Ri 2 because I have told a complete story," clarified the director. Naqvi still wanted to make something with the two of them together, and Parwarish was created. The director was not fully on board with Parwarish at the start. "Two years after Mayi Ri, I didn't have any ongoing projects. Someone in the production house asked, 'Why not Parwarish?' The script wasn't complete at the time so I was a bit hesitant. The people at the production encouraged me to give it a go. Eventually, I gave it a read and loved it!" Regarding the two main leads, Aina had a bit of scheduling issues but made it work. For Samar's background, the director shared, "We were always sure that Samar would play the character of Wali. The character was designed keeping him in mind, from his music background to his personality traits." Calling upon repetitive storytelling, the director revealed, "We initially considered turning Nooray Zeeshan into one of the heroines and creating a proper love triangle. I didn't do it because I did not want to show cousin marriages on screen. We had seen enough of this in Mayi Ri."
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Late payment is an industry standard: Ahmad Ali Butt
After veteran actor Mohammed Ahmed and director Mehreen Jabbar, Ahmad Ali Butt is the latest celebrity to slam Pakistani industry's recurring issue with late payments. "Late payment is an industry standard," said Butt in an Instagram Story on Monday. "Production houses, television channels and corporate sponsors all have a 60 to 90-day payment clause, and that too is hardly ever met on time." He added, "There are a few rare people who will pay you on time, otherwise everyone will make sure that you have to beg for your money, and that too in installments." On a lighter note, the actor quipped, "Work for YouTube. Be your own boss." While the entertainment industry's exploitative practices have been criticised repeatedly, the recent spotlight comes after Jabbar flagged the issue in an interview. While appearing on the podcast, Gup Shup with Sheeba, the Dobara Phir Se director said, "In the US, even with all their issues, there's a fixed schedule for payments. People know when they'll get paid. Here, you have to chase payments like beggars." She maintained that this is something that affects everyone in the industry, "Ask anyone and they'll have stories. This is across every channel and production house." Following Jabbar's statement, Ahmed took to Instagram to share his experience. In a video message, he said, "Except one production house or two, I haven't seen people being paid on time. Payments delayed by three to four months are commonplace. That too, after begging for what is yours They will still behave like they've done you a huge favour." Shining a harsh light on the very real need for timely payments in an increasingly difficult financial climate rife with bills and inflation, Ahmed took issue with the ideal notion that an artist's work is above money. "Money is everyone's biggest need," stressed the actor as though pointing out the obvious. "Especially for those people who have no form of income other than showbiz. A production house will make you do a 15 – to 20-hour shoot, but when it comes to giving you a cheque, they either refuse to pick the phone or give you a ridiculous reason for not doing so." For Ahmed, there is only one silver lining in this dire state of affairs: the fact that he is no longer alone in calling out production houses. "Thank you, Mehreen, for saying what you did," he said, a note of warmth entering his voice. "I'm glad that people have started speaking up."
