Cowardly Aggression

India’s dastardly missile attacks on Pakistani soil on May 7 drew a stern and befitting response from the armed forces of Pakistan. Scholars, political analysts and journalists criticised the Indian aggression but Pakistan’s showbiz community wasn’t far behind. Actors Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, to name just a few, condemned in the strongest terms India’s blatant acts of violence, in which more than two dozen civilians lost their lives. Mahira K called the Indian aggression “seriously cowardly” and Hania A argued, “You don’t bomb innocent people and call it strategy.” Spot on! Only cowards do that.

Not Lyrical

Indian lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has a big mouth with a lot of hot air always coming out of it. He doesn’t weigh his words before uttering them. His rabid tirade against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam attack caused a great deal of concern on our side of the Wagah border. Artists and poets in particular took to social media to suggest that Javed A has gone absolutely senile. As it is, he is a middling poet and a so-so writer, and when he speaks he goes a notch or two down the mediocre path to hit rock-bottom. It would be better if he stayed at rock-bottom. He belongs there.

Tribute to NFAK

Atif Aslam’s tribute to the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan — singing the latter’s iconic song ‘Sanu ek pal chaen na aaway’, accompanied by a video directed by Bilal Lashari — leaves quite a bit to be desired. The great NFK sang it with a lot of feeling and great understanding of the lyrics. His voice (which has been used in this track too) carries the pangs of estrangement that have left the singer (read: protagonist) crestfallen. On the other hand, Atif A seems to be enjoying the melody (and singing it well undoubtedly) but lacks the requisite sense of longing that the song is all about. Full marks for attempting though.

Shah Rukh Who?

A Pakistani academic in his wisely worded interview to Indian journalist Karan Thapar talked about how there was something wrong with the collective conscience of India. It didn’t take him long to stand vindicated when, in a war environment, Shah Rukh Khan attended the Met Gala 2025. Interestingly, when he appeared on the red carpet, the American media failed to recognise him. The king of Bollywood had to introduce himself to them: “I am Shah Rukh Khan.” He may as well have added, “And I am not a terrorist.”

Literary Pop

Dua Lipa is a pop star with global appeal. But it has come as a pleasant surprise to see her do interviews of writers and poets on YouTube. Her interviews with the likes of George Saunders, Max Potter and Olga Tokarczuk have garnered millions of views. The way the Levitating singer asks questions and the eloquence with which she conducts the programmes has revealed a warm, literary side to her. There has been an article in a British newspaper suggesting she’s the best literary interviewer. All we can say is, Dua L, keep elevating your standards and keep levitating.

Ex Calibre

Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner have been dating for a few months. Recently, they were seen hand-in-hand with some PDA at the 70th David di Donatello award ceremony in Rome. The couple posted one of the pictures from the event on Instagram, which received countless likes in the blink of an eye. Among those who liked it was Timothee C’s ex Eiza Gonzalez. Three years ago, the two were the most talked-about couple of tinseltown. In that context, it was big of Eiza G to accept that things in the world of glitz and glamour change in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, so why not like ’em!

Published in Dawn, ICON, May 18th, 2025