First Choice

The sultry Iman Aly created quite a buzz on March 21 when she told Iffat Omar on the latter’s show that it was her and not Mahira Khan who was first offered the role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the film Raees. She claimed the offer was not pressed when she asked to see the script first. But she didn’t stop there and claimed that 90 percent of the films made in Pakistan are, to date, offered to her first. Tell you what Iman A, we believe you, and feel that even Mawra Hocane’s part in Sanam Teri Kasam too came your way before it fell in her lap. Kasam se…

Aamina and Children

Aamina Sheikh is wise, attractive and a sensitive artist. In this difficult period of history that we are all a part of, and when a lot of mothers are finding it hard to cope with children confined to their homes, the actress came out with a heartwarming message. She shared an Urdu storybook for children with her admirers on social media, telling them it’s fun for the kiddos. Indeed it is. And the way Aamina S told one of the stories made it all the more charming. Well done girl! We need such spirit in these challenging times.

They’re Still Together

Alrighty then, they’re together, they’re not… This seemed to be the repetitive phrase doing the rounds in Bollywood gossip circles about Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s supposed breakup; that too after breaking of the news that they’d decided to get married and all because Ranbir K was missing from Alia B’s birthday bash. Well, on March 20 — as per her fans and the media — Alia B put all those rumours (of parting ways) to rest by uploading on Instagram a picture of herself with a sunset in the background and telling everyone that the photo was taken by none other than “my all time fav photographer RK.” Hmmm… maybe Alia B didn’t think about what symbolism a sunset has in a relationship.

DC Marvel

We often chide our government servants for being lackadaisical when it comes to critical moments faced by the nation. But while a lot of us have criticised the federal government’s response to the coronavirus scare, a video released on March 19 by the deputy commissioner (DC) of Hafizabad, Naveed Shehzad Mirza, has also brought a smile to many a face. In order to raise awareness about the virus, he bravely sang a parody version of a song Suno Na from the Indian film Chalte Chalte starring Shah Rukh Khan, turning it into Corona Corona. Through the song he urged everyone to stay strong and defeat the outbreak. Sir, we are proud of you, and aisay gaanay aur karo na…

Tell a Lie

This is downright condemnable. Simon Rex is an actor who worked with Meghan Markle on the TV show Cuts. On March 21 he revealed a disturbing thing. He told a journo that a British newspaper had offered him 70,000 dollars to lie about Meghan M, saying that he had once dated her. He claimed he immediately said no because he didn’t feel right lying and screwing up the royal family. Good man you are Simon R, because the ‘cuts’ caused by such a report would have been deeper than Meghan M and Prince Harry’s decision to leave the royal family.

Kenny Rogers, alas!

On March 20, one of the legends in the world of music, Kenny Rogers, passed away. He was 81. He was a giant and an icon of country music and had been inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. He had no fewer than 24 No. 1 hits to his credit in the US, including Lucille and Coward of the Country, and had won three Grammy awards. May he rest in peace.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 29th, 2020