THE GRAPEVINE

Published April 19, 2020

Happily Ever After

It’s so refreshing to hear some good news in these challenging times. On April 4, seasoned actors Samina Ahmed and Manzar Sehbai got married in Lahore, in what is being described as a simple ceremony. Only families of the two artists took part in the small but delightful event. Their marriage reinforces the point that age is just a number, and no matter how difficult times are, we shouldn’t lose sight of what makes us happy.

She’ll Be Back on Telly

It was thoughtful of Mahira Khan to do a live session on social media for her admirers on April 8 — but quoting Ghalib incorrectly, perhaps not as much. In any case, more such interactions of celebs with their fans will keep all of us in high spirits. During the conversation, Mahira K also made a promise to a fan that, after completing an unfinished film, she’ll return to the world of television. Hmmm… it takes difficult circumstances for everyone to realise the importance of the smaller things in life. Even if its only screen sizes we’re talking about.

Homeland Journey

We are so happy for our very own Adnan Jaffar who has been diligently acting in films and stage and TV plays without the kind of praise that he richly deserves. Thankfully, now everyone is talking about him because the Pakistani actor has made a cameo in the ninth episode of season eight (finale) of the critically acclaimed American television series Homeland. And if you’ve seen that episode you’d vouch for the fact that Adnan J has done a great job in the role of a Pakistani general. He can be seen in it flexing his acting muscles opposite none other than the seasoned British actor Art Malik. Way to go Adnan J! It’s a home run.

Boring KKHH

Kids say the darndest things. Bollywood big shot producer/director Karan Johar posted a video of his son Yash (one of his twins) on Twitter in which he is asking the little one if he wants to watch his ‘Dadda’s’ movies which include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, to which the child replied, “No, they are boring.” Though it elicited a laughter out of K-Jo, he did say that his son had spoken like a critic… forgetting to add, like a true critic.

Noble Khan

Shah Rukh Khan came from a humble background — before making it big in Bollywood, that is. The fact that he has a heart of gold (as his colleagues often say) has come to the fore again in this coronavirus-hit period. He is doing relief work in three major parts of India (Maharashtra, West Bengal and Delhi). The Meer Foundation that he runs has given 50,000 personal protective equipment kits to the healthcare staff in West Bengal, and he has personally made a generous donation to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Relief Fund. He is also feeding 5,500 families for a month in Mumbai, apart from providing basic essentials to 2,500 daily wagers in Delhi. Wow! That is impressive and praiseworthy. Mr Khan, now you can be justifiably called ‘King’.

Pugh Scrubs Naysayers

Actress Florence Pugh (Little Women) and actor and director Zach Braff (Scrubs) have been going out for a while. Though we don’t care about how old they are, you know how people are. They’ve been making nasty comments on the age difference (of 21 years) that the two have — she was born in 1996 and he in 1975. Reacting to it, on April 6 (Zach B’s birthday) Florence P uploaded a long-ish video message saying that she’s been working since the age of 17 and knows what’s right and wrong for her. “I do not need you tell me who I should or should not love, and I would never in my life ever tell someone who they can and cannot love. It’s not your place. It has nothing to do with you.” That’s the way to tell them, girl.

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 19th, 2020

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