Prestigious Award

Pakistan’s star folk singer Zarsanga Bibi is now the recipient of the Aga Khan Music Award, apart from nine other vocalists and instrumentalists in the same category from across the world, for this year. The legendary Sain Zahoor also had a special mention at the event which took place in Muscat in the last week of October. This is indeed great news, because both these artists have had long and illustrious careers, enriching the country’s music industry with their inimitable talent.

Abuse Allegations

We will not comment on the allegations that TV actor Feroze Khan beat up his ex-wife Aliza Sultan while they were together because the matter is now in court. The recently divorced wife has submitted documents, including pictures of bruises and injuries, as proof of her ex-husband’s abusive behaviour. After this he came out with the following statement on Instagram: “I vehemently deny any and all baseless, malicious and untruthful allegations which have been levelled against me and are circulating on the social media rumour mill. These allegations have no basis in truth or reality. I fully intend to institute legal proceedings against the perpetrators of these actions and I have instructed my legal team accordingly.” May the truth come out unscathed and may all perpetrators of domestic abuse receive just punishments.

Adrenalin Rush

Every person — celebrity or no celebrity — goes through debilitating downs and joyous ups in life. Take the example of one of the finest cricketers the world has ever seen, Wasim Akram. In his autobiography, Sultan – A Memoir, which will hit the newsstands soon, the fast-bowler-turned-commentator has confessed that, after his retirement from the game, he became addicted to cocaine. He claims that he did this in order to find a substitute for the adrenalin rush of competition, and because the culture of fame in South Asia is all-consuming, seductive and corrupting. He managed to break free of the dangerous habit when his first wife, Huma, passed away in 2009. Good on you Wasim A for getting this load off your chest. The confession should also serve as an important lesson for all budding sportsmen that the coin of fame has two sides and to beware of the wrong one.

In All Cinemas

It was a little disconcerting to see that not all of Pakistan’s cinemas were screening The Legend of Maula Jatt, because of reasons that have now been reported in detail. It was a shame, because the film is doing phenomenally well at the box office internationally. Thankfully, on October 26, the patrons of those cinemas, where there were no shows, were told that they could now watch the movie from the next day onwards. We sincerely hope that such things are not repeated because it hurts two ways: one, it deprives cinegoers of watching a well-told story; two, it affects the business of that project.

Sorry, Keanu!

Matthew Perry has come out with his memoir titled Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing. In it, not once but twice, while discussing friends who are no more in this world — such as River Phoenix and Heath Ledger — he takes a jibe at fellow actor Keanu Reeves, quipping “He still walks among us” [that is: he is still alive]. When, a couple of weeks ago, excerpts from the book were discussed on social and mainstream media, many raised eyebrows at the uncalled-for comment. On October 27, Matthew P came out with a formal apology, arguing, “I’m actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologise. I should have used my own name instead.” Well, not even yours, dear Friend. Good actors should keep walking among us.

Intelligence Quotient

How does it feel to be praised for your brains by a drop-dead gorgeous woman? Of course, it feels lovely. But does that, in a way, imply that the person whose intelligence is being appreciated isn’t good looking? Bollywood diva Katrina Kaif, giving an interview to a showbiz website, is quoted to have stated that Shah Rukh Khan is “incredibly intelligent”, so much so that “you will always leave knowing more than you knew before you met him.” Hmmm… she has worked with him only in two movies. Does it mean she doesn’t want to know more?

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 6th, 2022