At Coachella

Way to go Ali Sethi and Pakistani music! The singer, whose Coke Studio duet Pasoori with Shae Gill has taken the world by storm, is now going to sing at the famous annual music fest Coachella, to be held from April 14 to April 16. He has been lined up for the third day of the event. The other internationally renowned artists taking part in this year’s edition include, among many others, Frank Ocean, BLACKPINK, Chemical Brothers, Blondie and Bjork. After Arooj Aftab, Ali S is the second Pakistani vocalist who will be showcasing his talent on that platform. Keep rockin’, Pakistan.

Majid Jahangir, RIP

On Jan 11, renowned comedian Majid Jahangir died in Lahore. According to his son, he was in his early seventies. He was laid to rest the next day in Karachi, where he had spent the most part of his personal and professional lives. He shot to national fame in the 1980s when he appeared on TV in the iconic sketch show Fifty Fifty and, by virtue of his extraordinary talent, quickly became one of its stock performers. He used to play multiple roles because he could speak in many accents masterfully. His pair with Ismail Tara was especially liked, as the two often did sketches together.

May he rest in peace

More the Merrier 

To boost the Oscar chances of the film Joyland helmed by Saim Sadiq, another big name has hopped on to the producers’ bandwagon for the project. It’s none other than the British actor with Pakistani lineage Riz Ahmed. Under the banner of the production house, Left Handed Films, that he runs, Riz A is now one of the executive producers of the movie — Malala Yousufzai is another. Doesn’t that sound cool and encouraging? And full of joy!

Not Going Out

A couple of weeks ago, a picture of Pakistani model Sadia Khan with King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan went viral on social media, giving birth to the rumour that the two are dating. Well, last week the gal cleared the air, “Yes, I met him on New Year’s Eve [in Dubai] and we talked and also took pictures together. This doesn’t mean that we are dating. I am not the only one who took a picture with Aryan either, but somehow I am the one whose picture is floating around.” Yep, somehow… we too are trying to figure that out Sadia K. How?

What is Mobile Number

It’s been quite a while since Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani started going out, although they have not made an official announcement in that regard as yet. Journalists are a resolute lot; they keep seeking the same answer by asking different questions. So when one of them asked him whether he has Kiara A’s number on speed dial, the actor replied in the affirmative, arguing “it comes in handy.” Now, whoever thought that Sidharth M lacked wit should revisit their notion about him because this phrase ‘come in handy’ has multiple meanings, some of which can’t be published.

Kind Kate

Oscar winning actress Kate Winslet is not just a brilliant artist, she’s also a kind-hearted woman. These days she’s busy giving interviews in connection with her latest movie Avatar: The Way of Water. During one such session, she sat down with a young reporter, Martha, who confessed with nervousness that it was her first time interviewing a celebrity. This is how the artist responded to calm the youngster down: “This is your first time doing it? Well guess what, when we do this interview, it’s going to be the most amazing interview ever. And do you know why? Because we’ve decided that it’s going to be. So, we’ve decided right now, me and you, that this is going to be a really fantastic interview.” Wow! There’s a reason she’s a Titanic star.

Published in Dawn, ICON, January 22th, 2023