Tag: Kashif Nisar

  • Pakistani trending show ‘Kabli Pulao’ first time on Indian television

    Pakistani trending show ‘Kabli Pulao’ first time on Indian television

    Mumbai: Zindagi, known for its commitment to fostering cultural exchange is set to unveil the latest trending Pakistani show Kabli Pulao for the first time ever on Indian television. This marks a significant milestone for Zindagi, as it embraces the Honorable Bombay High Court ruling that has lifted the ban on Pakistani artists in India. This launch is a testament to Zindagi’s ongoing efforts to celebrate artistic freedom, diversity, and the rich tapestry of stories from both sides of the border.

    Kabli Pulao is an unconventional and emotionally charged series that has garnered effusive praise for its remarkable writing, direction, and profound acting.  The celebrated Pakistani writer Zafar Mairaj has artfully spun a narrative that delves into the intricacies of human emotions under the thoughtful direction of Kashif Nisar. Taking the audiences on a heartfelt journey, experience the 18-part series starting 11th November 2023 at 10pm, Monday to Sunday only on Zindagi DTH Services Dish TV, D2h, Tata Sky, and Airtel. Moreover, two nations (India & Pakistan) will join forces and together witness the grand simulcast of Kabli Pulao’s finale only on Zindagi.

    Kabli Pulao is a masterpiece and relishes its depth through extraordinary performances from lead actors – Mohammed Ehteshamuddin and Sabeena Farooq, who have breathed life into their roles.  The show also enjoys a mesmerizing original soundtrack – Ankhain, sung by the music maestro – Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan which has struck a chord with audiences and beautifully complimenting the show.

    Kabli Pulao follows the story of Haji Mushtaq aka Mohammed Ehteshamuddin an upright man from Lahore, and Barbeena, played by Sabeena Farooq, an Afghan girl in need.  The story revolves around how Haji (a simple bachelor who is in his 50s) crosses paths with a young girl Barbeena (In her 20s) in need seeking medical help for her ill mother. As the protagonist spends more time with the girl, he starts seeing the world from a different perspective and finds himself falling in love for the first time in his life.

    With its focus on refugees and empowering female characters, Kabli Pulao a show that crossed 100 million+ views and counting on Youtube, stands as a beacon of progressive storytelling, inviting viewers to connect with the characters’ experience and form a bond that transcends the screen.

    Commenting on Zindagi’s latest announcement of telecasting ‘Kabli Pulao’ in India, maverick director behind films like Superstar & Dum Mastam and TV show Sadqay Tumhare Mohammed Ehteshamuddin, who plays the lead role of Haji Sahab said, “This show brings forth the essence of love in the most unexpected and heartwarming way and showcases the power of love, the pursuit of happiness, and the blending of cultures in an inspiring narrative. It’s a beautifully written story that dives deep into the human heart. Kabli Pulao will hold a special place in my heart as this was perhaps the one of the few times where I got the chance to be in front of the camera, playing Haji Mushtaq, after being behind it for many years. It is extremely overwhelming to see the love and appreciation that the show is receiving & It brings me immense joy to see Zindagi air this show in India along with its airing in Pakistan and truly connect audiences for this heartfelt cross-border journey. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this and patiently await all the love and views from the Indian audiences.”

    Lead actress Sabeena Farooq, unlike her recent stint in the hit show Tere Bin where she played a diabolical role, will be seen in a completely different and lovable character as Barbeena in Kabli Pulao. Talking about the show’s India release, she added, “Acting in ‘Kabli Pulao’ has been an emotional rollercoaster. The depth of the characters and the realism of the story is unlike anything I’ve worked on before. It’s a privilege to be part of a project that showcases love’s ability to transform lives. The distinctive storyline is beautifully reflected throughout the show and I’m certain that it’ll leave a mark on everyone who watches it. I can’t wait for the Indian viewers to embark on this emotional journey with us as Kabli Pulao immerses the audience in an authentic world that feels close to home.”

    Director Kashif Nisar said, “Kabli Pulao’ is a departure from the ordinary, an exploration of love and life. Creating complex stories that resonate with the audience has always been my passion. ‘Kabli Pulao’ allowed me to craft a narrative that combines the richness of human emotions with the allure of culinary traditions. My mission was to create a show that remains faithful to the essence of storytelling. Kudos to Sabeena and Mohammed for meticulously portraying the raw and intricate emotions that love entails, their performances resonated with viewers on an emotional level, leaving an indelible mark with each scene. I am exceptionally proud to present Kabli Pulao to both the Indian and Pakistani audiences together as Zindagi conducts the grand finale simulcast for the first time ever on television. To conclude, our team also extends deepest gratitude to Zindagi for bridging the gap by providing cross-border content and opening new horizons for artists.”

    Get ready to embark on Kabli Pulao starting 11 November, at 10 pm on Tata Play (Channel no. 154) Dish TV and D2h (Channel no. 117), and Airtel TV (Channel no. 102).

  • Zindagi and Applause Entertainment premiere ‘The Pink Shirt’ at SXSW Sydney

    Zindagi and Applause Entertainment premiere ‘The Pink Shirt’ at SXSW Sydney

    Mumbai: Yesterday at SXSW Sydney, renowned South Asian content studios Applause Entertainment and Zee’s Zindagi premiered their latest collaboration, The Pink Shirt. The 8-episode web series, starring Pakistani superstars Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali, marked Applause Entertainment and Zindagi’s second project together and was received extremely well by Australian audiences! The series had its world premiere at Sydney’s Palace Central Cinema as part of the festival’s screen lineup and was the only South Asian Web Series selected this year. The iconic film and culture festival left its home in Austin, United States for the first time for Sydney, bringing global stars and music legends to Sydney this week.

    A collection of Sydney’s media and social influencers gathered to view the first two episodes of the series, which was followed by a robust Q&A with director Kashif Nisar, writer Bee Gul, and producer Shailja Kejriwal – where great ideas were exchanged about this groundbreaking collaboration between India and Pakistan and hopes for the future.

    Chief Creative Officer (Special Projects) Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., Shailja Kejriwal said, “We’re bringing lots of exciting content from Pakistan and bringing them into Indian homes, which I think has made a lot of difference in terms of how our neighbours are perceived by people in my country. Now we are meeting up with directors and writers, and the fact that we’re sitting here is a testament to that. Going forward we really hope for a day when we can shoot in each other’s countries. When we did Zeefinity there were six top directors from India and some of the top directors from Pakistan as well and the wish that they wanted to project, was that the borders should open and let the art flow seamlessly.”

    Pakistani screenwriter BeeGul said, “Television is a very important medium in my part of the world at least we do not have very established cinemas all we can watch in the world of entertainment is television. Almost 60 per cent of the world has television sets and we always knew that television was a very powerful medium in Pakistan. That was the only medium through which we could communicate with our audience and people. As a child when I was growing up, I watched a lot of television series and they definitely influenced my work and actually inspired me to write for the screen I would say!”

    The recently announced strategic partnership between the two renowned content studios Applause Entertainment and Zee’s Zindagi, promises to be a remarkable addition to the world of global entertainment as they prepare to head off to more film festivals around the globe in the coming year.

    The Pink Shirt is a riveting take on modern-day relationships, their love, challenges, and struggles in a raw & real way. The drama revolves around the journey of Sophia cast as Sajal Aly and Umer as Wahaj Ali being stuck in a toxic relationship with their respective partners Sameer and Sara and how they then discover an alluring intensity and embark on a transformative journey towards love that mends them as people.

    When talking about the leading actor Sajal Aly, Director Kashif Nisar said, ” Sajal owned this project like anything she does. The ownership of Sajal in this role was amazing – and believe you, me I directed her readiness… she was so much into the skin of this character. “

    Presented by Applause Entertainment, a Zindagi original ‘The Pink Shirt’ an 8-part web series, is a South Asian collaboration between India and Pakistan. Directed by Kashif Nisar & written by Bee Gul, starring Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali, the series highlights a riveting take on modern-day relationships, their love, challenges, and struggles. Narrated in a raw & real way The Pink Shirt is a simple & confusing, tragic yet funny tale of broken and complex relationships.
     

  • Zindagi and Applause Entertainment present ‘The Pink Shirt’

    Zindagi and Applause Entertainment present ‘The Pink Shirt’

    Mumbai: In a recently announced strategic partnership between the two renowned content studios Applause Entertainment and Zee’s Zindagi, for creating South Asian content; Sameer Nair and Shailja Kejriwal have announced yet another project- The Pink Shirt. The eight-episode web series, starring Pakistani superstars Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali, marks Applause Entertainment and Zindagi’s second project together. The content studios together promise to be a remarkable addition to the world of entertainment as the drama gears up for its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival 2023 Sydney (SXSW) at Palace Central Cinema on 16th October. Moreover, The Pink Shirt is the only South Asian web series selected at the SXSW, Sydney this year.

    Following the announcement of Farar’s world premiere at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival earlier this month, The Pink Shirt adds a new feather to Zindagi and Applause Entertainment’s hat of achievements. To witness this global recognition at one of the largest annual festivals celebrating conglomeration of parallel cinema, interactive media, music, and much more; Pakistani superstars and lead actor Sajal Aly along with director Kashif Nisar, writer Bee Gul, and producer Shailja Kejriwal will be attending the grand festival in Australia.

    The Pink Shirt is a riveting take on modern-day relationships, their love, challenges, and struggles in a raw & real way. The drama revolves around the journey of Sophia cast as Sajal Aly and Umer as Wahaj Ali being stuck in their respective toxic relationships with their partners Sameer and Sara and how they then discover an alluring intensity and embark on a transformative journey towards love that mends them as people.

    The renowned SXSW festival marks its debut in Sydney this year, making its first foray outside Austin, Texas. The festival will have a diverse array of content, with an emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.

    Expressing her excitement, lead actor Sajal Aly said, “The Pink Shirt challenged me in ways I never imagined, delving deep into the complexities of human connections. It’s a journey I’ve embraced with open arms, and as we prepare for its world premiere in Sydney, I can’t contain my excitement to share this emotional voyage with the world.’

    Sajal Aly’s co-actor and Pakistani heartthrob Wahaj Ali added, “Portraying the complexities of human relationships in The Pink Shirt has been a remarkable challenge and the script demanded an exploration of emotions and vulnerabilities that pushed me as an actor. My experience working with Sajal and Kashif has been an absolute delight. I can’t wait for the audiences to embark on this emotional rollercoaster with us.”

    Director Kashif Nisar said, “As the director of The Pink Shirt, I am humbled and thrilled by the opportunity to showcase our work at the prestigious SXSW Sydney as the only representative of the South Asian web series, hoping it will resonate with audiences worldwide and contribute to the rich tapestry of storytelling from our region. It was an absolute pleasure working with Shailja and Bee Gul on this project, and we couldn’t be happier for Zindagi and Applause Entertainment’s collaboration as this merger provides us with the ultimate platform this special project really needs.”

    Reflecting on this significant milestone, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd chief creative officer (special projects) Shailja Kejriwal added, “I couldn’t be happier to announce our yet another collaboration with Applause Entertainment. It’s truly thrilling to see ‘The Pink Shirt’ selected as the only South Asian web series at the prestigious SXSW Film Festival Sydney. This achievement underscores our commitment to bringing diverse narratives to a global stage. I’m immensely proud of our team and excited to witness The Pink Shirt captivate audiences at SXSW Film Festival, Sydney”

    Writer Bee Gul added, “As the writer of ‘The Pink Shirt,’ my intention has consistently been to weave a tale of love, loss, and unwavering strength that deeply connects with audiences around the globe. The exhilarating debut of our show at the SXSW Film Festival in Sydney is the realization of a long-held dream, affording us a worldwide stage to share this emotionally resonant narrative. I’m profoundly grateful to Shailja for recognizing the same potential we envisioned in ‘Pink Shirt’ and selecting it as the second collaborative endeavor between Zindagi and Applause Entertainment.”

    Presented by Applause Entertainment, a Zindagi original ‘The Pink Shirt’ an eight-part web series, is a South Asian collaboration between India and Pakistan. Directed by Kashif Nisar & written by Bee Gul, starring Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali, the series highlights a riveting take on modern-day relationships, their love, challenges, and struggles. Narrated in a raw & real way The Pink Shirt is a simple & confusing, tragic yet funny tale of broken and complex relationships.