Punjabi UK-Style

Ahmed Ali Butt is going places, make no mistake. After doing a string of successful Pakistani films in which he played important characters (and funny ones too), the actor has been roped in for a UK-based Punjabi film titled Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi. His co-artists in the project, for which shooting has already begun, are Annu Kapoor, Gippy Grewal and Neeru Bajwa. The movie is set to release on Eid-ul-Azha next year. Way to go Butt sahib, chak de UK de phatte!

Followers Galore

We have always believed in Rahat Fatah Ali Khan’s prodigious singing talent. And he keeps validating us by achieving one feat after another. The latest about him is that he has become the first Pakistani musician to have five million followers on YouTube. Wow! Going by the amount of hit songs that the vocalist produces every year, we feel that it’s not going to take him long to reach the 10m mark. Mark our words!

What Covid?

Somebody tell these Kardashians and their ilk that Covid-19 presents a real and clear danger. But would they listen? A few weeks ago, Kim Kardashian took her family to Tahiti to celebrate her 40th birthday; and last week Kendall Jenner organised a Covid-19 bash. Imagine. As if the invitees would pay heed to her instructions, she told them not to post pictures of the party on social media platforms. As expected, the images of the uppity-do were all over the internet, indicating that not much care was taken about social distancing. Tsk, tsk… the virus of being rich and famous.

Deepa’s Pakistanis

Critically acclaimed director Deepa Mehta’s film Funny Boy has been announced as Canada’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film Category at the 93rd Academy Awards, to be held in the first quarter of 2021. We are proud that two of Pakistan’s young filmmakers Meher Jaffri and Ali Kazmi are part of the project which was shot in Sri Lanka. While Meher J has representation on the behind-the-scenes crew, the latter has a pretty substantial role in the movie. He plays the father of the Sri Lankan lead kid and even learnt Sinhala and Tamil for the role. Cool, na?

Namak Halaal Redux

Namak Halaal is one of the most commercially successful films of Amitabh Bachhan’s career. Apart from an interesting plotline and good acting by all actors in it (Shashi Kapoor and Smita Patel), its foot-tapping music composed by Bappi Lahiri contributed substantially to the success of the 1982 blockbuster. News is that a producer by the name of Murad Khetani has bought the rights to the film and intends to make its 21st century version. Bappi da is not happy about it because, he says, “no one has approached me so I don’t know what the plans are.” Well, sir, perhaps their plan is not to approach you?

Best Friend

Hollywood A-list awesome twosome Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker have been married for 23 years. Considering the rapid rate at which separations happen in tinsel town, it’s a huge accomplishment. In an interview given to a local radio station, when Matthew B was asked about the secret of the unimpeded longevity of their togetherness, he said as far as he thinks there’s no real key to a successful relationship. It’s just that, “She’s my best friend.” Aww… that’s such a beautiful line… seems like it’s taken right out of a Sex and the City script.

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 15th, 2020