Latest news with #SajalAli
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistanis have only love for Bombay Bakery
Listen to article As tensions simmer between India and Pakistan, an unexpected symbol of unity, nostalgia, and resistance has emerged from the ovens of a century-old bakery in Hyderabad, Sindh. Bombay Bakery, beloved for its legendary coffee cake, has become the focus of national affection in Pakistan, especially after the vandalism of its Indian counterpart, Karachi Bakery, in Hyderabad, India. Celebrities like fashion designer Deepak Perwani and actor Sajal Ali have spoken up, expressing pride, love, and sorrow at what these bakeries, and their names, have come to represent. In a tweet that went viral, Deepak condemned the attack on Karachi Bakery, saying, "We have Bombay Bakery, Bombay Sweets, Bombay Mithai. No one, absolutely no one ever touches their shops. Shameful behaviour." His post wasn't just a critique of intolerance but also a quiet celebration of Pakistan's own syncretic legacy, where Bombay Bakery, run by a Hindu family, thrives as a symbol of shared taste and heritage. Sajal chimed in on Instagram with a message that, while subtler, was no less powerful: "In a world full of noise, love and kindness remain the only truth." Her words, though not explicitly about the bakery, resonated deeply with a public eager to reframe the moment; not through anger, but through affection. The context behind their messages is steeped in political symbolism. Last week, workers from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vandalised Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad, India. Video footage showed saffron-clad men stepping on Pakistani flags and striking the bakery's sign, outraged at the word "Karachi." Back in 2019, a branch of the bakery in Bengaluru was forced to cover the name "Karachi" after threats from a mob. Meanwhile, across the border, Pakistanis responded not with counter-attacks, but with culinary pride. On social media, tributes poured in for Bombay Bakery, a 114-year-old institution in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Its famed coffee cake, often rationed to two pieces per customer, has been a staple of birthdays and family traditions for generations. Customers recalled their fathers and grandfathers standing in line for the cake, long before food became politicised. "This bakery is the pride of Pakistan, regardless of its name," one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Others pointed out how it's run by a Hindu family and yet revered across communities, making it a living emblem of coexistence. "While Indian extremists vandalise bakeries out of hate, here in Pakistan, we honour our heritage with love," another user penned. "Bombay Bakery is more than just a bakery. It's a symbol of shared culture, co-existence, and legacy."
Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Sajal Ali upgrades her accessory game
In an Instagram carousel shared on Friday, Sajal Ali flaunted a silver nose ring with a glimmering stone, which she paired with a casual black sleeveless top and jeans along with a white cap. "It's my nose ring era," she announced. Fans praised the effortless look in the caption, acknowledging just how much the accessory suits Sajal. "You are so elegant, so gorgeous, looking like a true vision of grace and beauty," a fan wrote. "First of all, you have such a cute nose, and a nose ring on top of that?" another gushed. The stream of compliments didn't stop at the nose ring, as some netizens were also mesmerised by the Dil Wali Gali Mein actor's eyes. "Your gorgeous eyes, Sajal," a user simply pointed out. Sajal's expressive eyes did feign confusion in an earlier post, in which she donned her brother's shirt, once again proving how easily casual outfits agree with her. "Stole my brother's shirt, and somehow ended up a Ferrari girl. Not complaining though," she wrote. Where the clothes brought minimal charm, the Kuch Ankahi actor's makeup did the heavy-lifting. She added a touch of glamour to the unsophisticated look with a thin streak of kohl and bold red lipstick. Sajal brings her A-game even when it comes to Eastern ensembles. In a different post, the Ye Dil Mera actor stunned in her "favourite" yellow peshwas. The outfit, called 'Secret Garden', was crafted to give the impression of an obscured lawn blooming under gentle streaks of sunlight. The motif was accentuated by a scatter of floral block print, adding to the idea of hidden blossoms. The breathable malmal made the dress gleam delicately, while the gota finishing sparked a sense of quiet luxury. Stitched with Sindhi embroidery, the top was matched with block-printed dupatta and Dhaka pajama, elevating the ensemble's fluttery quality. Sajal even got the seal of approval from the person who mattered most. "Amma always said yellow suits me the most," she wrote in the caption.
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Sajal Ali posts photos with niece, says 'she got my eyes'
Sajal Ali just lit up her Instagram account with the cutest family moment—and fans can't stop swooning. The actor posted photos with her niece, the daughter of her sister Saboor Ali, and cheekily wrote in the caption: "She got my eyes." Honestly, the resemblance might be kind of uncanny. As expected, the post didn't go unnoticed. Maya Ali dropped in with some love, and the comments section quickly turned into a fan fest, overflowing with heart emojis and sweet compliments. It's rare to see such wholesome content in a scroll full of filters and edits—but Sajal's soft auntie vibes clearly hit a nerve in the best way. Last month, Saboor Ali and Ali Ansari were blessed with a daughter. Announcing the happy news on Instagram, Saboor wrote, "Our tiny miracle, our biggest blessing. The sight of the smallest of hands leaving the biggest of impact is unbelievable. Welcome Serena Ali to the world. The magic awaits you." The heartfelt note was attached to a black-and-white carousel of Saboor in the hospital bed and Ali standing by her side as they held their little one up. The post also featured the newborn baby's tiny feet and hands enveloped in her parents' hands. Peers and fans congratulated the couple on the arrival of their little girl. "Masha Allah, Masha Allah. Many, many congratulations! Wishing your little princess a lifetime of love and happiness," wrote Maya Ali, while Ali Rehman said, "Congratulations, guys! Wonderful news. May Allah fill your lives with joy." Meanwhile, Serena's star aunt - Sajal Ali - wrote, "Welcome to the world little princess! We love you more than words can say." Fans, on the other hand, expressed pleasant surprise at the news. "What a big surprise to your fans! Masha Allah, congratulations! May Allah keep her safe and bring her good luck," a user wrote. Fans' sentiments stem from the fact that Saboor and Ali made no official announcement of the pregnancy prior to the post, though a clip from the godh bharai ceremony did circulate on social media in January. Speculation heightened after Saboor posted photos from her birthday celebration.
Express Tribune
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Sajal Ali didn't begin her journey in an acting school
In a meet and greet held in New York, Sajal Ali recalled her time filming Jemima Goldsmith's What's Love Got to Do with It? and shared that there's no formal background to her acting career. "I have never taken on projects for the sake of winning awards. But yes, I am driven by people's appreciation for me, and I do like performing for them. I'm grateful to Allah for being here because through this work I'm able to tell many fascinating stories. Even when a local artist is chosen to represent Pakistan on an international level, that's a feat worth commending," she began. Continuing her enthusiastic response, Sajal added, "I'm also proud of working on What's Love Got to Do with It? That was a great experience. It always feels good to work with and observe so many brilliant actors like Lily James, Emma Thompson, and Shabana Azmi. And there's also much to learn when you're in that environment," she said. Sajal, who played Maymouna in the 2022 romantic comedy, maintained that there's no secret ingredient to what she does. "I haven't learned acting from anywhere. There's no method to what I do. "But I do try to spend a lot of time with senior actors, be it in Pakistan or abroad, aside from work. I try to learn as much as I can from them, and, of course, make Pakistan proud," she said. Remarking on her journey to stardom, Sajal expressed gratitude to have received opportunities and of a lot of support from her family, close friends, and manager. "The journey is never just your own; it's always a team effort. So, I'm blessed with great people in that regard," she said. Despite her undeniable accomplishments, the 31-year-old actor still doubts her skills time and again. "I get confused doing every new project as if it's my first," she said. "But aside from talent, I do feel that getting opportunities is also important. There might be many talented people in Pakistan who go unnoticed. So, I consider myself lucky in that regard." Sajal credits her success to the early-career projects that shaped her skills as an actor and helped her explore her strengths. "If I'd felt I was bad at it, I would've called it quits back then. But after those experiences, I started to believe that I might have a little something in me, you know?" she said. A desire to inspire The Aangan actor believes that there is a well of inspiration in her line of work and that an actor changes and grows with time. "There have been a lot of people who have inspired me. But I do work towards becoming that person for myself and inspire others, too," she said. Owing to her experience, Sajal added that actors don't always resonate with the characters that they play since they're playing different personalities each time. "If I'm always looking for similarities between me and my characters, then that would be boring, even for the audience. Then they won't see the characters; they'll see Sajal," she explained. The Yaqeen Ka Safar star further explained her quest to seek challenging roles that help her explore something new as an artist. "I rarely ever regret turning down certain projects," she said.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Sajal dwells belatedly on birthday wishes
Sajal Ali thanked fans and followers in a recent Instagram post, following her birthday on January 17. "A bit late, but a heartfelt thank you to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes! Feeling so blessed for all the love and everything this year has brought my way," she wrote. In the attached carousel, she shared a glimpse of her birthday celebrations, highlighting a photo of herself holding a bouquet of flowers and sporting red-lipped charm. Other captures showcased an inflated "Happy Birthday" banner and a cake topped with candles shaped like a heart and two stars. While Sajal's birthday may be long over by now, the love of her fans is a long way from diminishing. The comments section saw an outpouring of hearts, as well as a stream of belated wishes. "Hope you had a great birthday, love," a user wrote. "You deserve all the love," remarked another. "May this smile never fade," a fan sweetly prayed. On her special day, the Kuch Ankahi actor's siblings rushed to show her some love on Instagram Stories. Brother Aly Syed teased her with a childhood picture and a fond note that read, "Who would've thought that this little annoying girl would turn out to be a legend? Happy birthday, sis. Love you heaps! You're still annoying, though." While Aly fulfilled his duties in true brotherly fashion, actor-sister Saboor Ali's wish took a more sentimental turn. Although Saboor's post wasn't pinned with a heartfelt note, she did share an artwork of the two sisters in a loving embrace, one adorned in bridalwear. A "Happy Birthday" sticker was stamped on top of the Story, a small emoji of a cake at its base. On work front, Sajal is all set to star in an unnamed television project opposite Hamza Sohail. Previously, the two won hearts with their brimming chemistry onscreen with Zard Patton Ka Bunn.
