Backslapping

These days TV serial Meray Paas Tum Ho is being discussed a lot for its gripping story and good performances by its lead actors. But one also has to give credit to Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui (who play the main roles in the serial) for knowing the value of social media in promoting their product.

In a (now famous) scene Humayun S slaps Adnan S. It instantly became the talk of the town. But the two actors made sure it doesn’t get erased from people’s memory by, first, the former praising the latter on Twitter for taking the thapparr ‘naturally’, and then the latter reciprocating the feeling by saying that the way Humayun hit him got the best reaction out of him. Interesting, isn’t it? We say, keep hitting each other. It gets the best out of the both of you … the hitter and the hittee…

Sajjad’s Song

It’s time singer Sajjad Ali’s phenomenal art and talent is celebrated at the highest level. He’s been around for decades but, for the last few years, he seems to have hit a purple patch by singing some beautifully composed and nicely sung ghazals. And now he has come out with a Punjabi single called Ravi. It’s simply awesome. The lyrics are melancholic and thought-provoking, and the composition top-notch. Sajjad A, you have enriched Pakistani music tremendously. Respect.

Talash at UN

On November 24, Pakistani film Talash, directed by Zeeshan Khan, was screened at the United Nations headquarters. The show was organised by the UN staff Recreation Pakistan Club in the chamber of Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It was pertinent because the story of the movie revolves round Pakistani children’s lives affected by malnourishment. Well done team Talash, and keep up the good work.

Pencil Stealer

Boy oh boy, these pop stars! Expect them to do anything, anytime. Recently, Camila Cabello was at Kensington Palace to take part in the Teen Hero Awards hosted by a British radio channel. There she was dared by the channel’s DJ Greg James to steal a pencil from the royal couple’s stationery cupboard. She went ahead and stole it. Although the pop singer, who shot to international fame with her delectable song Havana, has confessed to Prince William and Kate Middleton about the theft, we’re not sure that she’s returned the pencil to them. Tsk, tsk … isn’t poverty a terrible thing! After all, Camila C is worth a mere $12 million.

Unhappy Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres needs to realise that she’s getting grumpier (not saying older in case she gets angrier) by the day. Check this out: last week she had the stunning Dakota Johnson on her show. She started talking to her about the actress’s 30th birthday party (on October 30), immediately complaining that she didn’t invite her to the do. Dakota J replied that she did send her the invite because last year Ellen D had given her ‘shit’ for not doing so. The talk show host kept denying it until her producer told her that she did get invited but was somewhere else at the time. Things got sourer when Dakota J, while describing Tig Notaro as the highlight of the birthday party, claimed Tig N is “my favourite comedian”. It didn’t go down well with Ellen D who went quiet for a few seconds, and retorted, “I was talking to my favourite actress the other day, Jen Aniston.” These celebs and their fragile egos.

Look Up, Look Down

No other Indian actor in recent times has garnered box office success and critical acclaim in equal measure as much as Ayushmann Khurrana. And justifiably so. Judging by the kind of films that he chooses to do, we thought he idealised the likes of Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri. Nope. The actor has revealed that he has always been inspired by Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor — who are, of course, his contemporaries. Ayushmann K is a clever boy. He knows the ‘right’ thing to say at the right time. He obviously wants to eat his cake and have it too.

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 8th, 2019