The Son Also Rises

It was such an auditory delight listening to Sajjad Ali’s son Khubi Ali singing his father’s famous song Udaas in a video that became the talk of musictown as soon as it was uploaded on the internet. He belongs to a talented family and appears to be abundantly talented himself. His is a trained voice with a dash of youthfulness. We hope to see more songs by him coming out in the future, and a duet with his dad won’t be a bad idea either!

Numero Uno

Who is the most followed Pakistani female celeb on Instagram? Before we answer that, let’s make one thing as clear as day. It’s no vain exercise. Today, these stats matter when cyberspace has taken over every other ‘space’, and they certainly matter when celebs monetise their popularity. So, the answer is: actress Ayeza Khan, with eight million followers. Last week, she left behind actress Aiman Khan who has 7.9 million (wow, that too is a whopping number!). Well done Ayeza K. In case, anyone asks what feats you’ve achieved in showbiz, you can easily say Merey Paas Followers Hain.

Follow Unfollow

Something strange is happening in the lives of Bollywoood young guns Janhvi Kapoor and Kartik Aryan. Earlier last month, the two flew out to Goa for a little vacation (yep, together) and were even spotted by shutterbugs at Mumbai airport where they gleefully posed for them. But when they came back things went a bit a sour, as Janhvi K unfollowed Kartik R on Instagram — he did the same — and then she followed him back — and he did the same, again.

What are they trying to prove? That romantic fights can be fought on social media, too, in front of millions of prying eyes, at that! Stunt, hai na!

Kangana as Indira?

Unbelievable, we’d say! A fervent admirer of a bigoted political party such as the BJP, Kangana Ranaut is all set to play the part of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in a movie that’s being dubbed by the actress herself as ‘not her biopic’. According to Kangana R, “It is a political drama that will help my generation understand the sociopolitical landscape of current India.” Well, well, well… Beware supporters of the Congress Party and proponents of secularism in India, this gal ain’t out there to show Indira G in a good light. As they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Pam Triangle

On Christmas Eve, 53-year-old Hollywood star Pamela Anderson got married to her 40-year-old bodyguard Dan Hayhurst in Canada (in case anyone’s keeping track, it’s her ninth wedding). When the news finally did the rounds a few weeks later, a 42-year-old woman named Carey revealed to a British newspaper that she was in a relationship with Dan H for five years, helping him bring up his two children (and her own daughter), when he and Pam A started their affair. “We are totally blindsided by this, it’s been so hard for us,” she lamented. That is sad. The Baywatch star needs to come out with her response in order to keep the rising wave of her detractors at bay.

Lockdown Letters

The pandemic has affected everyone’s life in multiple ways. Keeping one’s romantic life alive and kicking in such trying times is tough. Not to worry, though. George Clooney has a solution. Here’s how he and wife Amal, after half-a-dozen years of marriage, keep the spark going in Covid-19-hit days. The Oscar-winning actor says:

“Even in lockdown, I’ll write a letter and a slip it on her desk, or she’ll write a letter and leave it under the pillow. I’m a big believer in letters.” See folks, that’s how you keep a marriage going… in letter and spirit.

Published in Dawn, ICON, February 7th, 2021