THE GRAPEVINE

Published December 9, 2018

Malala and Coldplay

Our very own Nobel laureate, in fact, the world’s youngest Nobel laureate, Malala Yousufzai, continues to inspire the common man as well as creative souls all around the world. So nothing surprising about the British rock band Coldplay using her picture as part of the artwork on the cover of its latest album and docu-film A Head Full of Dreams.

Malala Y is looking as dignified and graceful in the image as she always does. This makes the album all the more listenable. Way to go, Malala! As for Coldplay, thank you … time to write a song for her.

Nabeel in India

Good on filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi.

Finally, his work is being recognised beyond Pakistani borders. Three of his films — Namaloom Afraad, Namaloom Afraad 2 and Actor in Law — are going to be screened at the Festival of the South Asia Forum for Art & Creative Heritage in India later this month.

Not that his movies haven’t been released on the other side of the Wagah border, but what needs to be acknowledged is that three of his films together have been selected to be presented at a single event. Therefore shaabash to Nabeel Q! We hope this nugget of news will shed some load off his shoulders that he gathered after Load Wedding. Wink!

No matter what

Sushant Singh Rajput is yet to firmly plant his feet in Bollywood. Yet, there is no dearth of confidence in the guy.

His latest film Kedarnath, co-starring Sara Ali Khan, hit the cinemas on December 7, and there are lofty expectations from the project. Sushant SR’s professional journey hasn’t been a terribly successful one but, giving an interview to a newspaper, he has said he will always stand by his film no matter what the consequences are. Yep, like you stood by your films Rabta and Shudh Desi Romance.

Married!

It’s marriage season folks. After the much talked and written-about Deepika-Ranveer wedding (preceded by the Anushka-Virat marriage) sultry babe Priyanka Chopra and the ebullient pop star Nick Jonas got married last weekend at a ceremony that lasted for two days.

First, on December 1, they tied the knot as per Christian tradition; and on December 2, the actor and the singer became one as per Hindu tradition. The affection for both faiths was also highlighted by Priyanka C in her tweet prior to the wedding, in which she said that one of the most special things that their relationship has given them is a merging of families who love and respect each other’s faith and culture. As for the ceremony itself, despite the couple claiming it was “not lavish”, apparently 500,000 dollars were spent on it. Hmmm … this means while the bride and the groom respect traditions, they don’t have much respect for mmm … money.

Custody battle ends

At long last, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s fight over the custody of their six children is over. On November 30, the estranged pair reached an agreement, the details of which have not been made public in the interest of their kids. If they hadn’t signed the document, there would’ve been a trial on December 4 and, in order to avoid that, Brad P and Angelina J decided not to linger on the issue.

Insiders say that both are still trying to fine-tune things because Angelina J doesn’t want the ‘sole custody’ of the children. Sole or not sole, the good thing is that the matter wasn’t dragged into court, otherwise the biggest victims would have been the six young boys and girls that they have brought up. All’s well that ends well … by signing an agreement.

Behind Bars

On November 30, Bollywood comedian Rajpal Yadav was sent to prison, Tihar Jail at that, for three months because of ‘non-repayment’ of a loan of 50 million Indian rupees that he took from a company in 2010 to direct a film.

According to reports, in 2012, the actor agreed to pay back 11 million rupees out of the total amount, but the two parties squabbled over something, as a result of which the issue was taken to court where he said he’d return seven million rupees. But then some of the cheques he submitted were not ‘honoured’. Wow! That’s not the handiwork of a comedian. That’s villainous.

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 9th, 2018

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