We can all agree that 2020 was a crazy ride for all of us. Some of us lost our loved one’s to the virus while other’s lost their jobs. This year people didn’t plan to thrive but were in a constant state of survival, and only the fittest survived – quite literally – and others succumbed to their fate. Same goes for the Pakistani entertainment industry.

Since 2021 is just around the corner, celebrities have been opening up about their struggles and achievements during this tough year. Whether it is gaining weight, contracting the virus, or even performing well and winning big at award shows, regardless of all odds; this year has changed everyone’s perspective on life.

Let’s have a look at how Pakistani celebrities are bidding farewell to 2020

Mahira Khan

This year, Khan was featured on BBC 100 Women’s list and also, Forbes’ list of Asia’s 100 Digital Stars. While the year was fruitful, the ending looks kind of shaky as earlier this month, the star contracted COVID-19.  Khan is most likely bidding farewell to this year with lots of steaming broth and duas for her speedy recovery.

Shehryar Munawar

Shehryar contracted the virus, gained weight, and also got into an unfortunate accident. The star was recovering but had bills/salaries to pay. This year, his mental and physical health suffered. Regardless, he came out of the year strong and powerful as ever.

He said in a lengthy Instagram post:

Sharing a shot from a commercial I shot for last week (coming soon). It’s not special because it’s a shirtless shot; it’s special because for me its a celebration of this year’s personal journey.
A few months back, life came to a standstill and being a workaholic, the stagnation took a huge toll on me emotionally.
Went through severe depression – won’t go into the details of it.
To make things worse I tested +ive for COVID and had to go into isolation, a few weeks out of that terrible experience, I got into a motorbike accident and had to undergo surgery.
Mobility was completely restricted and relying on others to help me do the most basic tasks was emotionally traumatic, to say the least. I was on strong meds and was eating the weight of my emotions in carbs. Confidence was completely shattered and it felt as if I’d hit rock bottom.
If you swipe right, you’ll see a selfie I clicked back in September.
Even post the recovery, I had strict restrictions on body movements and I’m still not allowed to lift weights.
I hadn’t worked in a long time and I had bills/salaries to pay, was in no shape, both physically or mentally, to go in front of the camera.
So one day just like that, I decided I had to fight back. I worked with a trainer to develop workouts that would involve more focus based exercises without weights. I started eating healthier, forced myself to fix my sleep cycle, started meditating, mustered up the courage to speak to a therapist, actively worked on having a positive outlook on life (reading and research really helped ) and basically went on a lifestyle change/detox. Alhumdulillah, I’m grateful to my family and friends who supported me through my journey of recovery, however, most of all it has been my faith in the love the Almighty has for all His beings that kept me going.
It’s taking a lot of courage out of me to be able to share the second picture with all of you. I want to do it to let you all know that we’re all in it together. We all go through highs and lows and we’re all vulnerable. Not sometime today, not tomorrow, not the day after, NOW is the time to change your outlook. Tell yourself nothing is impossible. Because nothing is.

Ayesha Omar

Ayesha is bidding farewell to 2020 by reminiscing the emotional, physical, and mental trauma she went through the night of the accident that took place on the highway. She is happy to be alive, healthy and well today, surrounded by people who love her.

I’ve been whining and complaining to myself the last few days, about having to manage stuff completely on my own these days, not getting enough sleep and rest, having to juggle too many things while dealing with lingering allergies for the past 3 weeks, my muscles and target areas (which were affected by the accident) become very stiff and painful in the winters also…. but in comparison to what I went through this evening, emotionally, physically and mentally, 6 pm onwards, on that dark, broken highway, how I survived those 7 hours until I finally reached a hospital, the weeks and months that followed, all of this seems so trivial, so easy…. I’d take this, anyway, with open arms and boundless gratitude.

Today, I’m just grateful to be alive, healthy and well, surrounded by people who love me, grateful for having made it through that ordeal and many others, and get to where I am today, especially this year, after the year we have all had, with so much anxiety, stress, pain and suffering for some, all over the world. I could not be more thankful.

Kisses and love for all of you. Prayers for all those suffering and for the ones who have lost loved ones. Healing vibes for all those who are trying to recover. May Allah bless and protect us all. May the force be with us. Always.

Adnan Siddiqui

Pakistani actor, Adnan Siddiqui has also taken it to his Instagram and spoken at length about this year. To sum it all up, he said 2020 has enlightened him to a new perspective of life–to accept it in a larger scheme of things.

Here is what he wrote:

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

In three weeks from now, 2020 will be behind us. A most extraordinary year. When we rang it in, I don’t think anyone had even a vague idea that three months into it and our lives, as we knew it, would come to a halt. A thriving world came to an abrupt standstill and we are still waiting for normalcy to return. No wonder, our most common refrain since March 2020 is, ‘when will life be back to old normal’.

I often get asked why I admire 2020 so much when it caused a life-altering crisis across the globe. I have always felt that in every adversity lies an opportunity. We only need to discover that. The amount of free time I had on my hands, thanks to the lockdown, was God sent. I loved the languid pace at which life was moving all those months. And as Mac Davis crooned, I stopped and smelled the roses.

My kids were the happiest to have me around 24 hours and I would like to imagine myself as a more patient and wiser parent while dealing with the millennials. I finished a book that was mocking me for years for having left it in between. Caught up on sleep, wrote poetry.

But most of all, 2020 enlightened me to a new perspective of life–to accept it in a larger scheme of things. I learnt that man, even if he fancies himself as omnipotent, can never conquer nature. 2020 also taught me to slow down a bit, to hold my loved ones closer, to pray a little longer, and never to take life for granted.

Rubya Chaudhry

Pakistani model, Rubya Chaudhry, despite all odds, had a super beautiful, filled with love and laughter kinda year. She was sad about not being able to meet her friends, go to a cinema, or even travel but all is good.

Last year has been all sorts of wonderful for me. That’s not to say that the pandemic didn’t hit me hard in the abdomen and hip region *gulp* or should I say *burp* 🙊 the tragic loss of not being able to go to a cinema 😔 the fact that I can’t meet my friends whenever I want and no travel plans can be made obviously sucks 🤷🏻‍♀️
But despite all that, I’ve had a super beautiful, filled with love and laughter kinda year.
Feeling grateful and cherished and so very happy. Still, a lot of growing up to do but I feel like I have my head (and heart) in the right place 🥰

Iqra Aziz

Iqra Aziz is rather ending the year with style by bagging best actress award for the third time in a row. 2020 wasn’t all that bad for someone after all?

A hat trick at any level is a tremendous Accomplishment. congratulations Begam @iiqraaziz 2 saal mai 3 best actress Awards (Lux) 🥇 aisi hat trick toh waseem bhai ki bhi nahi thi . Mashallah you are not just best actress but best wife and best friend . i’m proud of you . Love 😘
#iqra #bestactress #2020 #luxstyleawards #ranjharanjhakardi

Shahroz Subzwari

Shahroz posted a selfie of him that said “Winter 2020” before his father, veteran actor, Behroze Subzwari contracted COVID-19. His health got critical and was admitted to an ICU. Shahroz’s year is rather ending in a sigh of relief as his father is back home and has recovered.

Sanam Saeed

While we all wish, 2020’s problems stay in 2020, however, it doesn’t look like it. Regardless, here is to hoping for a better year ahead.

Sanam Saeed’s Instagram post says,

Lookin over 2020 like.. So long sucker. Hoping for a happier, healthier new year inshallah

While 2020 wasn’t the best year for many, we hope we make the most of our precious time next year. Here’s a friendly reminder, COVID-19 will not vanish as the clock strikes 12 on the last day of the year. In fact, it is something you have to take with you next year too. Might as well get a hang of it?

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