Zia Mohyeddin in New York
A few months ago, a documentary titled The Colour of My Heart [Rang Hai Dil Ka Mere], based on the life and work of the late Zia Mohyeddin, the legendary artist and the founder of the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa), received rave reviews from Pakistani critics and cine-goers alike. The project, which was produced by Umar Riaz, has now been selected to be screened at the Asian American International Film Festival (July 30 to August 9) in New York. We know it took Umar R 15 years to complete the film and the result shows that hard work pays off. Congratulations to him and his team!
Streaming Dreams
To provide Pakistani dramas and films a global platform, the government of Pakistan has started to talk to streaming giants such as Netflix to see what possibilities can be explored. This was stated on X by the Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal. He wrote: “Pakistani dramas and films are second to none, commanding immense demand and heartfelt appreciation across the globe. Under our Uraan Pakistan export endeavours, the creative and cultural industry stands as a vital cornerstone for our national export strategy. While major OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime are critical gateways to the global audience, they have unfortunately been weaponised by regional politics for too long, denying Pakistani content its rightful due space.” Let’s see if action follows talk.
Young Talent
Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan has followed the recently held Fifa World Cup zealously. He is super-impressed by young, talented soccer players — so much so that he even wrote a blog on the topic! He wrote: “The evolution of fresh talent and guile emerges in each World Cup — at the ages of 17 and 18, we learn, are youngsters representing an entire nation. What were you doing when you were that age is what we ask each other and lament the fact that we were never like them.” That’s true, sir. After all, your first successful film was Zanjeer, which came out when you were 31!
Proud Parent
Adnan Siddiqui’s daughter Maryam has recently graduated from university and he is a super-proud dad. As he should be. Gushing with emotion, the actor wrote a detailed post for her on Instagram, saying the person that Maryam has become is his greatest reward. He had advice for parents as well: “Don’t just invest in your children’s education, invest in their character. Degrees open doors, but humility, compassion and integrity will determine how far they go.” Wise words indeed.
Chips Ahoy!
Christopher Nolan’s eagerly awaited film The Odyssey is out. Charlize Theron essays the role of Calypso in it, a character who traps Odysseus (played by Matt Damon) in a trance. When asked by an interviewer what would happen if she were trapped in a trance, the actress replied: “Oh, potato chips, I’m in. Bring me some. But I want flavoured potato chips. Americans with just the salt and the oil? No. I want chutney and ketchup and beef stew and all of that.” We’re not quite sure what happened there with that question but if only Odysseus had known about Calypso’s real obsessions.
Katie and The Artist
Who is Katie Holmes seeing these days? Well, the question would have been difficult to answer until two weeks ago, but not anymore. The Dawson’s Creek star and former wife of Tom Cruise went to the premiere of The Invite, directed by actress Olivia Wilde, in New York holding hands with Jason Bard Yarmosky, an artist of considerable merit from the Big Apple. He is nine years younger than Katie H, which doesn’t matter — as long as he paints her a rosy picture of the world.
Published in Dawn, ICON, July 26th, 2026
