Dedicated to Naqib

Rabi Pirzada has decided to make her first Pashto music video, and she will dedicate it to Naqibullah Mehsud, the young man who was killed in an alleged police encounter last month.

This social concern seems to follow on from the many film and TV celebs who protested against the rape and murder in Kasur of the young girl Zainab which had galvanised Pakistani society. It’s commendable that the artist community is becoming socially and politically aware and not simply divorcing itself from society’s ills. But in the case of Rabi P we also can’t resist asking: haven’t Naqibullah’s kin and friends suffered enough?

For the love of fraternity

It was nice to see Pakistan’s top ad-filmmakers — a few of whom are now feature film directors as well — attend the premiere of Maan Jao Na in Karachi on Feb 2.

The filmmakers (Saqib Malik, Ahsan Rahim, Asadul Haq, Asim Raza and Waqas Ahmed, who are seldom seen together) were primarily there to support their colleague from the world of advertising, Khalid Ali, who has produced the film. This is the kind of camaraderie that’s required for our film industry in order for it to grow and progress.

His Mentor

Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra has revealed that Shah Rukh Khan is his mentor (in the art of acting). Addressing the press about his upcoming film Aiyaary, Sidharth M said he was an assistant director for the film My Name is Khan (starring SRK) and during the filming SRK shared useful tips on his mantra for being successful in Bollywood.

The tips were: pay attention to detail and use the props around to enhance one’s performance. The young actor has termed the tips as ‘the best film school’. Hmmm … how to be a star yes, but if it’s acting we’re talking about, perhaps he needed to be in a different school.

A Hair Raising Issue

One must commend TV and stage actor Sajid Hasan for showing a great deal of courage and making a video about what a doctor did to his scalp after pursuing the senior artist for years for a hair transplant. It was a disturbing sight.

Though he didn’t name the doctor (at least not until this piece went into print), his message was loud and clear: not to trust quacks. If they can dupe someone as famous and renowned as Sajid H, then they can fool anyone. So, be careful guys and gals.

Gaga in Pain

From Feb 4 to Feb 23, the eccentric but extremely talented pop star Lady Gaga was supposed to do the last leg of her World Tour in which she was booked to perform in 10 European cities.

Sadly, on the morning of Feb 3, her PR team announced that she’s “suffering from severe physical pain that has impacted her ability to perform live.” The shows were cancelled and those who had already bought the tickets were asked to get their refunds on Feb 6. Last year, Lady G had informed the media at a film festival in Canada about her chronic pain, which has now recurred. We wish the singer a complete and swift recovery because it might cause her fans to feel the same kind of pain if she stops singing live.

Joined in June?

All you fans of the pretty and svelte fashionista Sonam Kapoor, check this out: rumour has it that the gal intends to get married to her businessman boyfriend Anand Ahuja in June.

Yes, they seem to have arrived at the decision after a careful deliberation among families of the boy and the girl that mid-2018 is the time for them to get hitched. Prior to that, they might have a small engagement ceremony.

Isn’t that a cool news item?

Oh sorry, since, it’s June we’re talking about, isn’t that a hot news item?

Published in Dawn, ICON, February 11th, 2018