Born Like That

Here’s one more nugget of information from the sets of the eagerly awaited film Abir Gulaal featuring Fawad Khan (from Pakistan) and Vani Kapoor (from India). In a chat with a journo, Vani K has said about Fawad K, “He was so sweet, so collaborative and wonderful to work with. Charming. I think he’s born for cinema, for films.” Well, nine years without being signed to a Bollywood film wasn’t the best way to treat someone like that, was it? And given that Abir Gulaal’s release in India has now been pulled after the Pahalgam incident, it looks like it’s going to be much more than nine years for Fawad K. Even Vani K has taken the film’s song off her Insta feed.

The Better Half

Nayyer Ejaz is a seasoned actor. He sounds like a wise man when he speaks. According to him, he is happily married. His marriage was an arranged one, prior to which he had told his mother to try not to choose a ‘dull’ girl for him because he is a ‘colourful’ man. Fortunately for him, as he claims, his wife turned out to be the kind he wanted. Also, he says, he has never hurt his wife. Hmmm… This is praiseworthy. The thing, and what needs to be looked into as well, is: what were his wife’s ideas about her husband before marriage? What kind of a hubby did she want? Has Nayyer E lived up to her expectations?

Taxing Fashion

Fashion designer Nomi Ansari has been booked by the Federal Board of Revenue in a Rs1.25 billion sales tax evasion case. By the time of filing this news item, he was not in the country and his lawyers were at it, trying to convince the judges that the FBR had acted with malafide intent. Indeed, it turns out quite a few of Nomi A’s business outlets had been sealed by FBR in February and he had already obtained a stay against further action. In any case, this tale full of colour will surely make you dizzy. Watch this space!

Ghatiya Song!

In a video that has re-emerged years after it was taken, singer Atif Aslam is seen narrating a tale. The tale: when he recorded the song Aadat, he wanted members of the band Noori (who were extremely popular at the time, not sure about today) to listen to it and give their views on. In a room that had six people, including the two Noori brothers, the song was played and the band said it was a ghatiya [cheap] song; the market didn’t need it. Later, as per Atif A’s statement, the same band opened for him. Now, our point is, why bring up such issues after such a long time? Is it simply out of Aadat?

Sister Love

On April 23, supermodel Gigi Hadid celebrated her 30th birthday. It made her younger sister Bella Hadid extremely happy. She posted on Instagram pictures of her sibling, her niece Khai (Gigi and Zayn Malik’s daughter — the couple is now separated) with the caption: “You are the most funny, cool, fun, creative, artistic, loving, thoughtful human/big sis, and to watch you be the best, most fun, bad ass mama to our Khaiba is the greatest gift to me as a sister… You have taught me so much of how to be myself in a world of people telling us all who we are supposed to be. And that’s a gift I cherish from you beyond anything.” Bella G, we’re glad you’re you too.

Ustad Bashir Dies

On April 24, one of the finest tabla players that Pakistan has produced, Ustad Bashir Khan passed away. He was 80. He was a widely respected percussionist, admired for his art by musicians and music lovers alike. He had performed alongside the likes of Madam Noor Jehan and Abida Parveen. He also taught tabla at the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) for quite a few years and used to be an integral part of the academy’s programmes related to classical music. May he rest in peace.

Published in Dawn, ICON, May 4th, 2025