Back to Bollywood?

After a long wait, Fawad Khan is back working in an Indian film, albeit shot in London. On Eidul Fitr, a teaser for the movie Abir Gulaal helmed by Aarti Bagdi was dropped in which Fawad K is seen in a car with Vaani Kapoor singing ‘Kucch na kaho’ from the film 1942: A Love Story. Abir Gulaal, which is set to release on May 9, is being projected as a love story but, going by the lack of chemistry between the two actors in the car scene, it may turn out to be a drama with a strong social message. Oh, by the way, Hindutva types have threatened the project’s release in Maharashtra and Indian film trade bodies have also reiterated their opposition to films starring Pakistani actors. So it is going to be a social drama.

What Is Love? Baby, Dont…

These days the definition of love and the subject of marriage seem to be the hot topic of discussion on talk shows. Check out what actor Zahid Ahmed has to say about it. He got married to Amna 14 years ago, when he wasn’t well-off and this is something he values a lot and feels gratitude to his wife for. He thinks love doesn’t last for long but understanding and compromises keep a relationship going, because “when you decide to share your life with someone, you extend what belongs to you to that person.” Wise thoughts, indeed! Interestingly, understanding and compromises keep careers going, too.

RIP ‘Iceman’

Val Kilmer, the actor who starred in critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as The Doors, Batman Forever and Top Gun, died from pneumonia on April 2. He was 65. A little over a decade ago, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He had recovered from it but the ailment had affected his ability to speak. In The Doors (1991) his performance as the singer Jim Morrison was widely acclaimed, turning him into a global star, but it was his character of the hot-shot fighter pilot ‘Iceman’ in Top Gun that he was most remembered by. May he rest in peace.

Apple’s Problems

Divorced actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin have a 20-year-old daughter named Apple Martin who recently received a lot of flak on the internet when she took part in a ball in Paris and was accused of stealing the spotlight of another girl, at least by some. Now she has vowed not to read comments on the internet: “Because even if you see a million positive things, there can be one thing that absolutely wrecks you. So, I’ve stopped now and I avoid it like the plague, because I know myself and I know that if I see stuff that isn’t true and that’s really upsetting to me, I’m going to be like, ‘Oh my god, I should never go out in public again.’” Well, Apple M, for the sake of those million positive things, think again.

Beyonce, Too?

Rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is behind bars facing heinous charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, which he denies. In a new development, a man by the name of Joseph Manzaro on April 1 recorded his statement saying that he was drugged and “sexually maimed” as a victim of a “coercive and organised crime” by the musician in 2015. Not just that, he claims Jay-Z and Beyonce, among others, were witnesses to the crime. If this turns out to be true, there will be serious trouble for Queen B… from A to Z.

PSL Anthem Fails To Be Memorable

In general, the comments that have thus far appeared on social media about the latest Pakistan Super League anthem, X Dekho, aren’t favourable. We concur. Ali Zafar, Talha Anjum, Natasha Baig and Abrarul Haq have lent their voices to the song, which has the usual upbeat rhythm but whose melody leaves quite a bit to be desired. Whoever composes and sings such tracks must realise that, at the end of the day, an anthem is a song and needs to be an ear-worm, even if it is about a sport that requires firing up the blood. Ironically, X Dekho lacks the very important X factor.

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 13th, 2025