AHAD AND HAMLET

This is big news … for Ahad Raza Mir. The 24-year-old Pakistani actor has been offered to play William Shakespeare’s Hamlet — yes, you’ve heard it right, Hamlet — on stage by the drama company he works for in Canada. The actor is super-excited about it and feels Shakespeare is relevant even today. He will soon begin preparing for the role.

That said, Ahad R M needs to keep in mind that Hamlet’s character, as penned by the Bard, was in his early 30s.

All great actors in the world reached that age before doing the part. Ahad R M should put on some heavy makeup to add years to his face. 

On the other hand, a boyish Pakistani Hamlet might not be a bad idea, either.

KIDS OF FAMOUS PEOPLE

Bollywood A-lister Kajol ain’t happy. She feels kids of ‘stars’ shouldn’t be hounded by the paparazzi. She has two children, a girl and a boy, with actor Ajay Devgan, who sometimes get photographed without their permission by shutterbugs at public and private events.

Talking to an Indian newspaper, she said all that the ‘stars’ want is the best for their children without the pressure of the media. The thing is Kajolji, fame comes at a price. Sometimes we don’t like that price, but we never dislike the fame.

PRICEY RING

Everyone now knows that the dusky beauty Priyanka Chopra and singer Nick Jonas are engaged. But do you know how much the ring that he slipped on to her ring finger cost him?

Well, according to one website, Nick J had to cough up around $200,000 for the four carat blingy thingy, and he had to go all the way to London to buy it. Wow! Priyanka C, you must be constantly moving around with a raised left hand these days.

HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLES

Are they back together? Or is it a reunion for a single project? This is the question that fans of ‘Sufi rock’ band Junoon have been asking ever since the news of them — Ali Azmat, Salman Ahmed and Brian O’Connell — reuniting for a project broke. Then came the new video of their old nugget Khudi which uses Allama Iqbal’s poetry.

To be honest, the video isn’t much to write home about — which makes one wonder what was the point of this rehash. Perhaps something more is in the offing from the three veterans and this was just to whet our appetite. Or perhaps this is all wishful thinking and it was only about a hefty pay cheque from a corporate sponsor.

NO PHONES PLEASE

Clever, clever, clever! Rumour has it that the dimpled doll Deepika Padukone and Mr Energy Ranveer Singh have decided that at their wedding — which insiders says is going to take place on Nov 20 this year — they’re not going to allow guests to bring their cell phones.

What prompted the decision was the unabashed way people leaked videos on the internet of scenes from Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja’s marriage ceremony. Ranveer K and Deepika D will release images and videos of their wedding themselves after the marriage has been solemnised and at the time of their choosing. Hmmm … Let’s say, if someone like Rishi Kapoor (who loves tweeting at the drop of a hat) comes to the event with his phone, will the couple throw him out?

THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING

Top-notch comedian Jim Carrey is going through a transformative phase in his life. He has become more philosophical and doesn’t look back at his Hollywood career as something to be proud of. 

After a long hiatus, the actor will now be seen in a HBO show titled Kidding. Sharing his views with a friend about him lately shying-away from showbiz, he said, “I just didn’t want to be in the business anymore. I didn’t like what was happening, the corporation taking over and all that … I’m not back in the same way. I don’t feel like I’m trying to hold on to anything … There’s weightlessness to fame.” Boy oh boy! Jim C these are heavy words … the heaviness of trying not to be famously famous.

Published in Dawn, ICON, August 26th, 2018