BUTT OF ANGER

Pakistani fans were heartbroken by their cricket team’s ignominious loss against India in a pool match in the ongoing T20 World Cup. But actor and host Ahmed Ali Butt was not just crest-fallen, he was also very angry. This is what he had to say on Instagram after Pakistan’s defeat: “Cricket has been dead for years now, but since it’s the biggest cash cow, they will milk it till it bleeds…” Butt sahib, hola haath rakhein… maybe Pak cricket is a white elephant rather than a cash cow and, as the local saying goes, even a dead elephant is worth lakhs.

BE KIND, PLEASE

Ushna Shah is happy with the way Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is operating in the province for its betterment, except in one area. Referring to a video in which a dog tied to a vehicle was being dragged on a road, the actress has expressed concern at animal safety in Punjab. Citing other incidents of animal cruelty, she has suggested to the chief minister that, if initiatives can be taken to show kindness to animals, Maryam N will set a good example for the entire country. We think Ushna S has a valid point. Be kind and gentle to all creatures.

BERLINALE PROTESTS

When writer Arundhati Roy pulled out of the Berlin International Film Festival protesting the remarks made by director Wim Wenders (the jury chair at the fest) that “filmmakers should stay out of politics” with reference to the genocide in Gaza, one thought she might be the only one. But not only did 80 global filmmakers write an open letter condemning Wim W’s remarks, a few days later, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania refused to accept the ‘Most Valuable Film’ award at the same event for her documentary The Voice of Hind Rajab at the ‘Cinema for Peace’ gala. She reasoned, “Peace is not a perfume sprayed over violence so power can feel refined, and can feel comfortable. And cinema is not image-laundering.” Yup, that’s what some Western filmmakers have been doing for decades and winning Oscars for it: image-laundering.

TWIN TREAT

Once upon a time, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez was married to singer and actor Marc Anthony (her third husband, and she was his second wife). Together they had twins, named Max and Emme. Then the couple got divorced and remarried (to other celebs) and got divorced again. On February 22, the twins celebrated their 18th birthday. In a social media motherly tribute to her sons, J-Lo exclaimed: “I can’t believe you are now adults… 18 years old.” Yep, just like most of us can’t believe you are 56 years old!

THERAPIST’S THEORY

Actor Robert Pattinson comes across as a cool, hard to ruffle, kinda guy. Well, it turns out he’s not. He has recently told a journo that there was a time when he went into therapy. Interestingly, the therapist couldn’t decipher his words and thought he was a junkie. “I went to therapy once, and the therapist asked me if I was on drugs because they couldn’t understand what I was talking about. I was like, ‘I’m trying my best.’” Well, Robert P, keep trying.

SALIM KHAN UNWELL

Last week, seasoned screenwriter and father of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, Salim Khan, was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after he fell unconscious. Reports are that he “had internal bleeding on the right side of his brain because of a sudden surge in blood pressure.” He has also undergone surgery, the results of which, by the time of writing this, have not been made public. He was subsequently put on a ventilator. The entire Khan family is by Mr Salim Khan’s side. We hope and pray he has a full and speedy recovery.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 1st, 2026