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What’s up, stars?
Reema
It’s tough being a queen without a crown, but that’s the way things are rolling in Lollywood these days for Reema. With the way our films are bombing right, left and centre, its been a while since HRH exercised her regal powers to woo the theatre audience with her histrionics since Nikah. She has once again opted to put on her ol’ dancing shoes and demote her status from queen to court courtesan in her latest million-dollar offering from Shamim (Baji) Ara Kaun Banega Crorepati. But there’s no fooling even the front benchers this time and this is a million bucks no one even wants to touch with a barge pole. The grapevine is also abuzz that Reema sweets has donned an apron and entered the restaurant business somewhere in the good ol’ US of A. Now that’s what we call a real sizzler!
Meera
What good is a crown when there’s no coveted title to go with it? And so Meera has also been looking (read snooping) around for greener pastures which landed her at an Indian show which was to donate the money to their armed forces and kicked up a whole lot of fuss back home. One wonders whether news about her alleged impending marriage to a Hindu businessman or accepting offers from Indian filmmakers (even a scandalous mujra in a New-York motel) is merely the result of vicious, wagging tongues and to be taken with a fistful of salt. As far as her slumping career goes, Chalo Ishq Laraen saw a chirpy-yet-desperate Meera sweating it out to salvage her fast-fading career by banking on Ali Haider and his considerably-late celluloid debut (read departure) as the friend-cum-confidante-cum-main squeeze. Sadly, it didn’t work out as planned, leaving her career still in the doldrums and herself down in the dumps.
Things seemed to be looking up for the fiery-tempered gal, known to have a mind of her own, and she was overheard praising ace-producer Haider Imam Rizvi to the heavens, shortly after which she was supposed to sign on the dotted line for a lead role in his upcoming TV venture Chand Chehra. However, as (bad) luck would (again) have it, the alleged buzz is that Meera’s name has been struck off the cast list due to her busy (?) schedule and problems with dates. Keep guessing on both counts!
Zara Sheikh
Not only does she share her name with a pedigreed clan among men, she has the patent nakhras popularly associated with them, too. Working with Shaan in Tere Pyar Mein not only elevated her career in films, but also gave her a swollen head, after which she swore to work only for Gul Bros’ projects and rubbed many producers the wrong way. But it was a promise she just couldn’t honour. Endless torrents of cat fights and tantrums with her co-stars further reduced her glorified status from the ultimate babe smiling down lavisciously from a billboard on Sharea Faisal to a too-hot-to-handle Miss Troublemaker, and evoked warnings from closely-associated quarters. Only recently, lil Miss Zara’s lacklustre shenanigans in Chalo Ishq Larain have made her hit rockbottom with a loud thud, and left her counterparts clutching at their stomachs while rolling around in wild spasms of unbridled guffaws. So who has the last laugh now, hmmm? Wanted: a mentor of the likes of Khawar Riaz, pronto!
Sana
The meaty maiden of yesteryear turned into a dusky siren a la a miraculous make-over — that’s Sana for you and me. Unfortunately, she thinks she can act, too. But you have to give the gal a big hand for perseverance. Despite a string of flops and misses, the Punjab di kurri is still hanging in there, her resolve to make it big as undaunting and concrete as ever. From Sangam, in which she starred in a second-fiddle role opposite Shaan, to the currently-running Yeh Dil Aap Ka Hua, Sana has come the proverbial long way. But she’s lost a lot along this treacherous track as well. For one, long gone is the cherubic innocence only to be replaced by a worldly demeanour. And make-over or no make-over, there are those in the audience who refer to her as ‘Sana Aunty’ amid backhanded chuckles. In YDAKH, one has only to see her to realize that she just can’t cut it when it comes to being the leading lady in films. A late bloomer anyway you see it.
Noor
They say she dances like thunder and lightning, leaving onlookers breathless. Well, the feline lass who snatched the coveted title of Billi from poor Meeshee (who) Khan — the pet purr-oject of none other than the illustrious Syed Noor — has taken over from Reema as the new dancing queen on the block. There are few actresses who can claim a transition from baby to lithe babe virtually in front of the camera as Noor can. But can she act even if for peanuts? Don’t bet on it. As far as this package goes, the murky mandi has successfully heaved forth yet another steamy sensation which knows all the right moves to make a man’s heart beat faster in his breast like a caged bird, but when it comes to a show of acting talent, a void is all that exists. In Kaun Banega Crorepati, Noor once again thinks she can act and that’s when the real trouble starts! Ms light-on-her-feet is not so light on the viewers’ senses after all.
Saima
Life has been one helluva roller coaster ride for the Punjabi mutyar Saima, who has taken the challenge head-on and come forth a survivor. A drastic image change during the post-Sultan Rahi era finds her the apple of Syed Noor’s eye (and an eyesore for wife Rukhsana, although they admit they are the best of friends!), and the heroine of successful films such as Duppatta, Chooriyan and the likes. But now that the mighty Noor name has taken a fall, things look pretty bleak for the aging star. However, her new film just out opposite a young, fresh male lead seems like just what the doctor ordered to pep up her ailing career. And you know what, they don’t look like a mother-and-son duo after all. It looks like once again Saima has made her critics eat humble pie, while she goes on to rule the roost.
Resham
Smooth as silk Resham is a real eyeful these days. Far from her bare-dare image in Kurriyon (read Moammar) Ko Daley Dana, Resham has now taken her stage exit to play a silken siren in an ad. But it looks like she’s packed on some cellulite on that dainty ex-Jeeva frame of hers. Even all the war paint she has on does nothing to hide her newfound chubbiness, making many wonder about the reason behind her robustness, specially when the pickings in Lollywood are pretty lean nowadays. Rumours are rife that she has also agreed to model for a rival product, possibly landing her current employers in a pretty hairy situation. Resham is a bankable star, but too bad the account is currently closed for business transaction!
Nirma
Before you ask Nirma who, let’s give the girl at least that much credit. Accepted, she’s not had her day under the sun, but she’s still made a positive contribution to cinema. Now let’s get serious! No, really, she did put in a memorable performance in Nikah and ummm,...well at least she has a number of TV dramas to her credit. Speaking of TV, Nirma started off from it before making her transition into films. Recently, she’s also packed on quite a few pounds on her dainty little frame — a death-blow to an already flailing career. But then with the full force of her performances restricted mainly for stage, one really can’t tell. For the moment anyway, her filmi career seems to be taking a nosedive.
Zeba Bakhtiar
Zeba B has got a bee in her bonnet. Ask anyone and they will tell you that! At the moment, PTV’s Anarkali and Raj Kapoor’s Hina has got a lot of factors working against her, first and foremost being her age factor and all the negative hype that her divorce from the roly-poly music maestro, Adnan Sami Khan bagged for her. Also, her last pet project, Babu was scoffed at and didn’t even stay in theatres long enough to make it to the reviews. So, a been-there-done-that Zeba is now sitting pretty, twiddling her thumbs and wondering how to squander the little that she has left. The fact that daddy dearest, Yahya Bakhtiar, does not approve in the least of her dragging the family name through the quagmire of local showbiz does not help, either.
Shaan
Summing up Shaan in a few words is like a storm in a teacup. Lately, the image he is so keen on portraying is a far cry from the gun-toting gangster he portrayed in Guns and Roses — Aik Junoon. He has taken up the singlehanded task of keeping Sultan Rahi’s legacy alive by donning the lungi-kurta and taking up the gandasa. While he seems to be doing a pretty good job of aping the Punjabi Jat to rake in the mega bucks, he is still a source of countless headaches and nightmares for his producers-coming in late and demanding a high fee. He has not redeemed his old ways which led to his exit from films in the first round and is again making a menace of himself on the sets and repeating the same old mistakes. Some people, it seems, never learn. If Shaan expects his producers or the general public to be as generous at forgiveness as they were the first time round, then he’s definitely got another thing coming. They might suffer temporary amnesia, but they’re definitely not stupid. Right, guys?! Hello?
Moammar Rana
A poor man’s Hrithik Roshan, Moammar Rana has come a long way from his boy-next-door charm when he first faced the camera with Gia Ali. After a string of films and a repertoire of having worked with the lot of Lollywood’s leading ladies, Momy broke a million hearts when he tied the knot. However, unlike Afzal Khan alias Jan Rambo, his appeal still remains intact. Presently, Momy faces the dilemma faced by other male actors like him both past and present — the dearth of good roles. So unlike Shaan who has ricochet back to Jat roles, Momy finds himself stuck in a predicament. Where will he go from here and what will he do next? Keep tuned until next time, folks!
Babar Ali
Gone with the wind pretty much sums up Babar’s career in filmdom. It’s no state secret that shortly after losing his glorious mane to the evil eye, his new hairpiece has also seriously restricted his acting capability. His latest film up for grabs (pun intended), Kaun Banega Crorepati, is as big a flop as there ever was in Lollywood. And with no worthwhile project in hand at the moment, it seems Babar’s very bread and butter is at stake. Added to it the cost of a good hairpiece every now and then, and you have a very pensive Babar wondering where he went wrong. Maybe his PR with the Press needs a good shine. Who knows? What we do know is that the former darling of the big screen (and Reema) is in for some very rough sailing. Bon voyage, mon ami!
Saud
Controversy has dogged this average actor ever since he stepped under the spotlight. Jeeva made Saud the star that both Kubra Khanum and her Gunah never could, with both fading into oblivion soon enough. In the post-Jeeva era, the lad who loves to take his shirt off for the camera and display his pecs had it made with the hand of the then ravishing screen goddess, Meera, firmly in his. But good times somehow always seem to end soon and before he knew it, a choice of bad projects has again put his credibility at serious risk. And the moment fame and fortune took an exit, the fair maiden by his side also followed suit. Which sees Saud pretty much back to square one and wondering how and when to make his next move. Chess, anyone?!
Javaid Sheikh
Javaid Sheikh is a real stud. His fans usually recall his trailblazing career in showbiz not from his projects but from all the women in his life. Let’s see, there was Zeenat Manghi then Salma Agha followed by Neeli and now, Sana. That pretty much sums up his philandering nature. Call him male chauvinist or whatever you may, the fact is that the guy has the best of both worlds. Lately, with Yeh Dil Aap Ka Hua, it seems luck has taken the mighty Sheikh to higher grounds. But as they say, its lonely at the top and the only way from there is down. What can we say, happy landing!
Syed Noor
The guy is seriously short of bankable scripts these days and it seems he has temporarily lost his golden touch. But the name behind hits such as Jeeva, Chooriyan and Duppatta could well again rise to dizzying heights — once he gets over his writers block. There are those who say his whammy block stems from spouse Rukhsana Noor’s disapproval of his wachamacallit with Saima, something which he has always been in denial of. Say, here’s a thought! Why not script a theme on the love triangle that exists between them. It has the makings of great intrigue, passion and mystery associated with all box-office blockbusters. And while at it, he could call it Pati Patni Aur Who.
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