Praise for Imran

It was nice to see showbiz celebs praising and wishing seasoned writer and journalist Imran Aslam well at the trailer launch of the film that he’s penned, Parey Hut Love.

Special mention must be made of actor Yasser Hussein who, during the question and answer session, in which journalists appeared to have lost their voices, stood up and spoke highly of Imran A’s ability as a writer, arguing that his involvement with the film industry augurs well for it. It’s true. Imran A is a fine, fine writer. However, we wonder if he had anything to do with the title of the movie.

Tamasha’s Paisa

This is heartening, to say the least. Rock band Tamasha, who super-impressed all and sundry with their remarkable performances in the last season of the Pepsi Battle of the Bands contest, have come up with their first song Paisa Phenk; and the teaser for it, which was released on June 21, indicates it should be an intriguing track and video.

The message that accompanied the teaser was also worth mulling over: giving artists their due in financial terms, which they are often cheated out of. “Tamasha calls on the artist community to rise up and get their voices heard,” the band said in its call to arms. That’s the way to go about it guys! And we know that this serious message is no tamasha.

Fun Split

Ashton Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis have to be one of the coolest couples in Hollywood. Last week, rumours were rife that the two had parted ways and that Mila K had even taken the children along with her. Well, not true. So what do they do?

They record a video in which Ashton K teases the rumour-mongers by saying that maybe next week his wife will be having twins for the third time … but who’s counting. Yes, that’s the way to teach a lesson to those yellow journos Ashton K. Wait a minute. You’re not serious about the twins, are you?

SRK’s Hiatus

Perhaps it was on the cards. After his film Zero tanked at the box office, Shah Rukh Khan hasn’t signed any film. It is understandable because the last real box office hit that he had was Raees, and that happened way back in 2017.

Is he disheartened by his box office numbers? Well, talking to Filmfare magazine, the actor has reasoned: “I have no film with me right now. Usually what happens is when your one film is coming to an end, you begin work on your next film and I get involved within three to four months. But this time I am just not feeling like [it]. My heart doesn’t allow me to, I just felt that I should rather take time out, watch films, listen to stories and read more books. Even my kids are in their college stage, my daughter is going to college and my son is about to finish his studies. So I just want to spend more time with my family.”

SRK, soon your son and daughter will be in university, and then you will want to spend some more time with them. And if you don’t watch out, very soon the time to be the leading man will be gone.

GoT Excited Again

We don’t know how to react — happy or worried — to this piece of info: the prequel to Game of Thrones is in the offing. The producers of the series and writer George R.R. Martin are keeping mum about the whole venture, but what’s out in the open is the names of some of the actors who will be seen displaying their talent in it. They are Naomi Watts, Josh Whitehouse and Miranda Richardson.

If all goes well, the series will be aired on HBO in spring 2020. Tell you what guys, if this doesn’t work out like the last episode of GoT, George RRM should get ready to hear, “You know nothing, Georgie Martin.”

What’s in a Name?

The original title of an upcoming film starring Kangana Ranaut and Raj Kumar Rao was Mental Hai Kya. This did not go down well with some people and mental health organisations, as a result of which the release of the movie’s trailer, which was slotted for March 2019, was first put off to May and now they say it’s going to be released in July.

The Indian Psychiatrist Society was one of those who had taken a strong issue with the name of the film. So now its makers have decided to change the title to Sentimental Hai Kya. Fair enough. News is the female lead of the film, Kangana R, is happy either way — mental or sentimental.

Published in Dawn, ICON, June 30th, 2019