Showing posts with label Meesha Shafi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meesha Shafi. Show all posts
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan stood up for me during Dear Zindagi-Ali Zafar
8:06 AM
His production Teefa In Trouble marking an association with Yash Raj Films, Ali Zafar on cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan
Usman Ghafoor (MID-DAY; July 23, 2018)
Stating that he's "always in pursuit of wisdom," Ali Zafar effortlessly quotes the likes of Rumi and Bulleh Shah, whose words have been guiding lights for many. Unshaken after a controversy of sexual harassment involving him shook the Pakistan entertainment industry, Zafar, in an exclusive chat with mid-day, says "Truth shall prevail eventually."
His first home production, Teefa In Trouble, which released last Friday, marks "a historic partnership" with Yash Raj Films. He discusses what collaborations across the border signify.
How did the collaboration with Yash Raj Films come about?
When I was working with them, I shared a [rapport] with Aditya Chopra. We'd often discuss cinema. He's an inspiring person. While working on Teefa In Trouble, I told him I wanted his company to release the film. He was forthcoming. Eventually, I showed the final cut to their international team in London. They said it was going to be a game-changer for Pakistani cinema.
The film has been released in 25 countries across the globe - a first for a Pakistani feature. We are exploring new territories like Russia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Fiji, Poland and Indonesia. We are going to dub or add sub titles so that it can be watched by non-Urdu and non-Hindi speaking audiences too.
You invited your Kill Dil director Shaad Ali to attend Teefa In Trouble's music launch in Lahore. Are you in touch with your former colleagues in Bollywood?
Yes, I am. In the film, there's also a surprise appearance, if I may call it so, by Ranveer Singh.
Can you talk about the music?
The music has been created to suit the film's varied emotional palette. This was challenging, because I was making music after a long time. We tried to make it sound appealing for the big screen. Also, the songs are catchy. I'm glad that Chan Ve has crossed 8 million views on YouTube.
How was it to work on Dear Zindagi?
I am not sure how many people know this, but my scenes had been shot and we were ready to start promotions when relations between India and Pakistan soured. So, my portions were re-shot with another actor. But, Shah Rukh [Khan] and Gauri [Khan] stood up for me. I had a great time working with them.
Will you take your association with YRF forward, co-producing films with Indian companies?
I have always maintained that co-productions should happen; they'll do wonders for both countries. I stand with those who favour peace and collaborations.
Your brother was supposed to debut in a YRF production.
Yes, it was about to go on floors. [But] there is only so much that you can do; you can't alter God's plans.
Talking about the controversy you found yourself in with singer Meesha Shafi, do you believe people are harsher to men in sexual harassment allegations?
Unfortunately, instead of doing research, we followed trends and hashtags. We think that if we join in [the voices on social media], we'll become cool. We shouldn't see things in binaries.
What are your views on social-media propelled feminist movements like #MeToo?
Everything boils down to intention. The movement has a certain sanctity that must be maintained. People are intelligent enough to understand things. Truth does prevail. I have taken the course of law; things shall become clear in time.
Actor-singer Ali Zafar files Rs 1 billion defamation suit against Meesha Shafi
7:30 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (June 25, 2018)
Actor-singer Ali Zafar has filed a defamation suit in a district court in Pakistan against singer Meesha Shafi, who accused him of sexual harassment two months ago. The suit claims damages of Rs 1 billion. Zafar has said in the notice that Shafi had caused “tremendous injury” to his “reputation, goodwill, livelihood” through “false, slanderous and defamatory” allegations. The suit reads, “As the defamatory statements are patently false, it can only be concluded that this malicious campaign has been launched against the plaintiff as part of a motivated conspiracy to tarnish the plaintiff ’s good image through making false accusations. The defendant has associated herself with the global #MeToo movement, with one of the launchers of the #MeToo movement Rose McGowan labelling the defendant as ‘a heroine for our times’.”Earlier, Shafi had confirmed she had received a legal notice sent by Zafar’s counsel, asking the actor-singer to delete her tweet alleging harassment and to issue an apology on Twitter, failing which he would file a Rs 1 billion defamation case against her. It was in April that Shafi took to Twitter to publicly accuse Zafar of physically harassing her on “more than one occasion”. Ali had denied the allegations, saying he would take legal action.
Twitter users find offensive and sexist tweets of Ali Zafar after he's accused of sexual harassment
8:21 AM
Twitter goes into Throwback Thursday mode after Pakistani singer-actor Meesha Shafi accuses Ali Zafar of sexual harassment. The allegation has divided the Pakistani showbiz industry, with voices speaking out both in support of and against Zafar
BOMBAY TIMES (April 21, 2018)
Within hours of Pakistani singer-actor Meesha Shafi accusing compatriot singer-actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment, many from the country’s showbiz industry have spoken up on the issue. On Thursday, Shafi claimed that Zafar sexually harassed her multiple times. Detailing the experience in a note on Twitter, she wrote, “Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out… but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore.” Within a few hours, in a note of his own, Zafar “categorically” denied “any and all claims of harassment lodged” against him by Shafi. “I am aware and in support of the global #MeToo movement and what it stands for. I am the father of a young girl and a young boy, a husband to a wife and a son to a mother. I am a man who has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today,” he wrote, adding, “I intend to take this through the courts of law and to address this professionally and seriously, rather than to lodge any allegations here, contesting personal vendettas on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement, my family, the industry and my fans. Ultimately, I am a strong believer that the truth always prevails.”The accusation and the denial soon resulted in a Tweetstorm. Several Pakistani artistes also commented on the issue. Sharing Zafar’s note, Pakistani actor Maya Ali came to her Teefa In Trouble co-star’s defence. “I’m not here to say who is wrong and who is right or who did what and who didn’t… Let’s say, I haven’t known him for long, but I have been working with him since 1 year, we shot our film in Lahore and then we were all together in Poland to shoot the rest of the film and I never ever got any kind of that vibe from him… I always found him talking to his wife and kids on FaceTime...,” she wrote, “I am not judging anyone nor giving any clarification on anyone’s behalf, and we can’t judge the one side of a book… I respect this man and want the truth to come out until then we shouldn’t judge anyone’s character.” (sic) Taking Shafi’s side in the debate, Pakistani actor-writer Osman Khalid Butt wrote, “A woman breaks her silence about abuse, withstands character assassination and further abuse on social media, her story turns into memes and tone-deaf jokes that trivialise the issue, she fears ostracisation — but suuuuure, she did it for the cheap publicity.” Urwa Hocane, a Pakistani VJ and actress, also supported the 36-year old mother of two, and tweeted, “More power to you! Meesha Shafi.”
On the other hand, singer-songwriter Fakhar-E-Alam wrote, “Idiots who are thinking I am by any means dismissing allegations or taking sides, need to know I am in shock and I find no amusement in this situation. But cuz I know both Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi I am just hoping this is a bad misunderstanding & if true must be consequential.”
After Meesha Shafi, more women accuse Ali Zafar of sexual harassment
8:19 AM
MID-DAY (April 21, 2018)
After Pakistani actress-model-singer accused actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment -- a claim he has denied -- more women have come forward with similar allegations. The women, while lending support Shafi, tweeted saying she was not alone and they had faced similar experiences, reported Geo News. Make-up artist Leena Ghani thanked Shafi for being brave enough to speak out.
"Seeing Meesha's courage it's impossible for me to not speak now, not only in support of her but also to say she's not alone. In the many years I have known Ali, he has on several occasions crossed boundaries of what is appropriate behaviour between friends," Ghani wrote. She elucidated on how Ali's behaviour displays a "clear lack of respect for women". "Inappropriate contact, groping, sexual comments should not fall in the grey area between humour and indecency. Comments that would make your skin crawl and make you feel objectified are not to be reduced to 'a joke' as such behaviours can leave women feeling embarrassed, small and reduced to the level of entertainment at the hands of a woman.
"In such cases, women like myself run from a situation and hope to God you never cross paths again. And when by some misfortune you do, you hide from him. Hoping that his sleazy eyes and hands don't find you again. His hands don't make their way up and down your waist or hold you too tight while you desperately try to wiggle and run," Ghani wrote. Ghani said Shafi "isn't and has not been alone". "The memories of the times when Ali thought he could get away by saying vulgar things still disgust me," she added.
A journalist named Maham Javaid described an incident from "many many years ago" when Ali tried to kiss her cousin and pull her into a restroom with him. The journalist thanked Shafi for "reminding us that our stories matter". Blogger Humna Raza also recounted when he inappropriately touched her at a public event.
On Thursday evening, Shafi sparked Pakistan's #MeToo moment when she took to Twitter to allege Ali had sexually harassed her on more than one occasion. This is the first incident of a Pakistani celebrity speaking out about a colleague. However, Ali on Thursday denied Shafi's claim, saying he will take this allegation through the courts of law. "I am a strong believer that the truth always prevails," he tweeted.
Although Pakistan's entertainment industry has remained largely mum on the issue, actor-writer Osman Khalid Butt and model-actress Urwa Hocane have tweeted in support of Shafi, reported Geo News. Meanwhile, actor Maya Ali posted on Instagram saying she respects Ali and "we shouldn't judge anyone's character" until the truth comes out.
#MeToo: Meesha Shafi accuses Ali Zafar of sexual harassment
8:13 AM
The actor-singer responds by putting out a statement denying allegations; says he intends to ‘take it through the courts of law’
Nishi Tiwari (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 20, 2018)
"I used to love Ali Zafar until ten minutes ago,” a Twitter user in Pakistan posted a few hours after the renowned Meesha Shafi accused equally famous actor-singer and colleague Ali Zafar of sexual harassment on the site.
“Sharing this because I believe by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore,” the 36-year-old mother-of-two revealed on Thursday, appending with it a note that read, “I have been, on more than one occasion, subjected to sexual harassment of physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences didn’t happen when I was younger, or entering the industry. This happened to me despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known to speak her mind... a mother of two children.”
After telling Pakistan’s Dunya TV at 6 pm, “I don’t want to speak on the matter,” Zafar, 37, put out a statement at 7.30 pm: “I am a man who has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today. I have nothing to hide. Silence is absolutely not an option. I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi. I intend to take this through the courts of law.”Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo pic.twitter.com/iwex7e1NLZ— Meesha Shafi (@itsmeeshashafi) April 19, 2018
In a classic case of old celeb tweets returning like bad karma, Twitter users went into overdrive, retweeting Zafar’s old posts exalting women and advocating gender equality, offset by others that reflected misogynistic undertones. Karachi-based journalist Omar R Quraishi, who clapped back to a tweet from Zafar dated July, 19, 2011 — “Liberty for women to watch topless men on the Lahore canal, however depriving men of the same. (Can’t believe I tweeted that),” with, “You shouldn’t have”, says this is just the tip of the iceberg.
“I’d expect more names to follow because sexual harassment is quite prevalent in Pakistan’s fashion and film/TV industry. Male models have also been victims,” he tells Mirror.
In the wake of Zafar’s restrained denial of the accusations, the scales have considerably tipped in his favour, at least online. While some noted that it is his word against hers, Zafar loyalists refused to believe that there could be even an iota of truth in Shafi’s claims.
Zafar hit pay dirt as a pop/rock musician in 2003 in his home country with the song “Channo”, from his debut album, Huqa Paani, which sold five million copies worldwide. In the years to follow, his fame crossed borders, paving way for a Bollywood debut in 2010 with Tere Bin Laden, which opened to moderate critical and commercial success, facilitating projects like Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011) opposite A-listers Katrina Kaif and Imran Khan, London, Paris, New York, Chashme Baddoor and more recently, the Alia Bhatt-starrer Dear Zindagi.
Zafar worked in a hotel lobby as a sketch artist, where he met his wife, Ayesha Fazli, and the couple wed in 2009. Their son Azaan was born in 2010 and daughter Alyza in 2015. Zafar reportedly has a no-kissing clause in his contract and the makers of London, Paris... had to use a body double for a sequence.
Since Shafi closed her note with the ‘me too’ hashtag, would it be too far off the mark to call this a watershed moment in Pakistani showbiz given both Shafi and Zafar’s celebrity status? “It’s not often that you see a big celebrity name accuse another celebrity of sexual harassment — and that too in Pakistan. Meesha Shafi must have thought carefully about the consequences of her going public, particularly to her own career as well and her own reputation since women who do something like this in Pakistani society are often judged harshly,” Quraishi points out.
— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) April 19, 2018
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