WHAT’S IN A NAME!

There was a time when actress Hania Aamir and singer Asim Azhar were an item. Then they broke up. Then Asim A got engaged to another actress. Then that too ended. It seems (we repeat: seems) that things are going full circle for them, as the two ex-lovers have begun to utter goody-goody things about each other. For example, when Hania A was asked about her favourite singer at an event, she replied, “Do you want me to say Asim Azhar’s name?”, which made everyone sit up and take note. Well, girl, we don’t want you to take his name. But if you want to, who are we to stop you?

SLAP OFF

For the first time in their respective careers, film and TV star Fahad Mustafa will be sharing the screen with his father, the seasoned actor Salahuddin Tunio. It will take place in a movie titled Aag Lagay Basti Mein which will see the light of day on Eidul Fitr. Talking to a journo at the trailer launch of the project, Fahad M said that there’s a scene in the film in which his father slaps him across the face; he called it a slap filled with love and blessings. Well, he’s indeed a blessed child.

NAVIGATING BAD ENERGY

Ever since Priyanka Chopra got married to Nick Jonas, who is a decade younger than her, the rumour mill has been rife that something not good is going to happen to their relationship. The actress has now addressed the topic. “I don’t know what was it about us that rubbed people the wrong way. I think there was the intercultural nature of it — different countries, different religions, age gap. It was very hurtful. And we both, instead of looking out, just sort of looked at each other, and we were like, ‘It doesn’t matter.’ So it’s like water off a duck’s back now.” Quack.

SAIRA HONOURED

Renowned Pakistani opera singer Saira Peter is going places in every sense of the phrase. She has recently been honoured at the She Leads the Nations Global Summit, which took place in the US Congress in Washington. The summit, founded by motivational speaker Liz Doyle as an extension of her She Leads America movement, recognised the vocalist for her contribution to cultural advocacy. Keep hitting those high notes, Saira P.

NIC SPIDY

All you fans of Nicolas Cage (are there still fans of the actor?) get ready for this: the first images of Spider-Noir, a live action Marvel series, are out. They have been released by Prime Video, and who is at the heart of it all? Nicolas C. The series, to be released later this year, announces the return of the actor essaying the character he had leant his voice for in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The series will be available for viewers both in colour and black & white choices. Now, that’s what you call a noir beginning.

NEPO MANIFESTO

Ireland Baldwin, the daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger (who are divorced) has come up with some rules for ‘nepo babies’ which may (or may not) put them at ease. “Stop denying it. If you have one famous parent, you can cry once a day. If you have two famous parents, you can cry as much as you want. If you are going to buy a present for your parents with your parents’ money, you have to lie. You cannot let them know. You have to tell them you are buying them a gift with a residual check that you received from a Canadian Lifetime film you did years ago and they wouldn’t remember.” Ireland B, you are such a liar!

Published in Dawn, ICON, February 22nd, 2026