THE GRAPEVINE

Published January 12, 2025

Pearls of Wisdom

Neelam Muneer has a wise head on young shoulders. Check out her recent statement about looking good. “Beauty and grace come with age. People get very worried about things like fine lines appearing on their faces, but there is an inner confidence that comes with not wanting to get any work done… People look even more beautiful and natural when they look different from each other. The more work people get done on their faces, the more similar they look to everyone else.” We agree, Neelam M. You don’t look similar to anyone. Oh, and congratulations on your unique nuptials!

Music for All

Well done Atif Aslam! In case you’re wondering why we’re praising the singer, here’s why: he has come out with an initiative called Borderless World, an international platform for emerging talent in music. The vocalist says it’s a place where musicians, artists and poets will be able to showcase their creativity without any constraints. It’s where “dreams transcend borders.” Wow! That sounds so cool, so inclusive and so transcendental. Good luck, Atif A!

Diljit’s Influence

Diljit Dosanjh is one of the most popular Indian singers who is now being recognised as a musical influencer around the world. Despite that, he’s now being pulled up in India for being a different sort of influencer. The vocalist was performing in Ludhiana on New Year’s Eve, the last gig of his countrywide tour, and the playlist included at least three songs about alcohol. As a result, a Chandigarh-based professor filed a complaint in a local court, arguing that in 2019 the Punjab and Haryana High Court had imposed a ban on songs promoting alcohol. So the District Commissioner of Ludhiana was sent a notice. Till last reports came in, Diljit D’s lawyers were contemplating how to respond to the complaint without coming under any kind of influence.

Brain Drain

What does filmmaker Anurag Kashyap have against Hindi cinema? He has once again given an interview criticising Bollywood for many reasons. Doing so, he praised South Indian movies and claimed that Bollywood lacks the brains to make films such as the Pushpa franchise. Seriously? Wait. Having recently seen Anurag K’s 2023 neo-noir film Kennedy, some might say he is, in fact, right.

Still Together?

Lately, strong rumours have been circulating in cyberspace about pop star Justin Bieber and supermodel Hailey Bieber’s marriage being on the rocks. Some suggested a bitter split was in the offing. The singer attempted to put those rumours to rest by using his Instagram handle to address his better half as soon as the New Year arrived: “Going anywhere with you bb… Happy New Year!” Hmmm… the word ‘anywhere’ doesn’t quite make it clear enough where the two are headed.

Done and Dusted

It’s officially official! Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are now divorced in every sense of the word. Let’s explain. In 2016, Angelina J filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences (no one splits over reconcilable differences, duh) and, after a great deal of hot and cold episodes in court, including Angelia J accusing Brad P of child abuse — of which he’s cleared — on December 31, the divorce settlement was finalised. It took eight long years for that to happen. The former couple and their children must have heaved a sigh of relief. Is this the end of the story for the media, though? We’re not sure…

Published in Dawn, ICON, January 12th, 2025

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