MUMBAI: Film-maker turned actor Farah Khan believes that films should not be preachy, but adds that a film-maker should ensure that his or her film is not sending out the wrong kind of messages.

“The movies, instead of having a preachy message, should show you the right principles without preaching or without making it on that message. So, if there is a movie, make sure that the women are not depicted terribly or horribly in it,” the 48-year-old said Tuesday at a special rally by P&G Shiksha for school children.

“It may be entertaining, it could be fun to watch, it could have songs and dances; but sub-consciously, it should not send out a wrong message to the audience. I think that is the responsibility of every film-maker,” she added.

Meanwhile, film-maker Arbaaz Khan, who made his debut as director with Dabangg2 last year, sees films as pure entertainment. He was also present at the event and said he feels that there are other ways to give messages.

“I personally believe that movies are predominately for entertainment and if you can encapsulate a message and lace it very sweetly, then fine,” Arbaaz said. “But, I think there are other platforms where a message has to be given very strongly. Let’s keep movies purely for entertainment,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Pakistani singer Mustafa Zahid says his song Hum Jee Lenge was initially a break-up song Kaise Jiye, which had a connection to his personal life. The singer is also the lead vocalist of Roxen, an all out rock band.

The 30-year-old, who did songs like To Phir Aao, Khuda Kay Liye and hit single, Tera Mera Rishta, never wanted to complete Hum Jee Lenge, which now features in Vishesh Bhatt’s directorial debut, Murder 3.

“The story of the song is not something that I planned,” said the singer, who wrote the song for someone specific in his life. “So then I could not complete it.”

“Since Vishesh was a very good friend of mine, he heard it during one of our private gatherings. I had picked up the guitar and he loved it,” he added. “But I told him that I don’t want to complete the song because I don’t want to go back into that phase of my life.”

However, luckily for the soulful singer, the song, which is on Sony Music, did not pull him back into his past.

“The best part about the song was that I did not go back to that phase. It was initially a break-up song, but it turned into a move-on song. So from Kaise Jiye it became Hum Jee Lenge,” Zahid said.

This is the singer’s third association with the Bhatt camp after Awarapan and says working with the renowned production house does put some pressure.

“There is no doubt that these guys run the best production house in India. They always deliver chartbuster songs and the best music comes from them,” he continued. “So when you are doing a song for them, there is always a pressure on you.”

Produced by Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt under their banner Vishesh Films, Murder 3 stars Randeep Hooda, Aditi Rao Hydari and Pakistani actor Sara Loren. It is set to release on February 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Although a few more restaurants, including Khiva in F-6 and Hujra in F-7 opened up in the city, Kabul Restaurant had created its niche well before them. People who go to this restaurant don’t care about its no-nonsense simplicity as the food remains the highlight of the place. Located on College Road, the restaurant, which is usually bustling with people during lunch and dinner hours, guarantees to serve your food on time as their grill is always on.

The number of items offered on the single-page menu at Kabul Restaurant might be limited , but the quality of food is extremely high. It’s a meat-lover’s heaven, you will mostly find beef and lamb dishes, while white meat does not feature prominently on the menu. I rarely eat red meat but the food is so delicious that I devour it without giving it a second thought.

One thing I love about Afghan cuisine is that it is incredibly flavourful without being too spicy. It is quite difficult to stop eating the salty Afghani tikkas, cubes of beef fat skewered alternately and cooked to perfection.

The Kabuli pulao is a complete meal in itself — a rice dish served with a portion of beef and topped with carrots and raisins. However, it can be eaten along with Afghani kofta (meatball) in a lentil curry. If I had to possibly pick one dish out of all, it is the Special Afghan Manto — dumplings stuffed with minced meat and topped with lentils and a thick yogurt-sour cream mixture.

The eatery does not only offer flavoursome Afghani food, but is also easy on your wallet, with an average price of Rs300 to Rs500 per person.

Sahar Habib works as a content writer and researcher at a communication design company and manages a blog at www.chaipluscake.com in her spare time.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

KARACHI: Love him or hate him, VJ-turned-TV show-host Waqar Zaka has a cult following. How else would you explain his success in conducting reality show Living on the Edge for the past five years? On this show, Zaka asks contestants to perform the wildest dares on screen; these stunts have made his show more popular than any other reality show in Pakistan.

“If a fan says the most daring thing he can do is slap his mother, then that is what he finds daring — I didn’t ask him for it,” says Zaka, the producer, host and judge of the show, explaining that he doesn’t request these absurd dares and they are suggested to him. “We are a nation that needs to be tamed and with my show, I am giving Pakistanis a chance to vent their frustration,” Zaka tells The Express Tribune. “It’s better that they vent on my show than on someone else on the street.”

He explains that a show like Living on the Edge is not easy to format because every season requires a different plan. Previous seasons of the show included Speed Demon, which was about dares involving cars and races, while another season Sabse Himmat Wala Kon, involved challenging and strenuous dares. For the upcoming season, Zaka is enthusiastic about launching the concept of the ‘biggest brain in Pakistan’ — a show which has nothing to do with one’s IQ level.

“It has nothing to do with your intelligence and everything to do with your presence of mind, for which even the biggest losers [academically] have made the cut,” says Zaka.

Despite having high ratings and the continuous branding of Mountain Dew associated with his show, Zaka is still not well-respected; some label him “cheap” and “maila”.

“The only reason people love to hate me is because I am dark and skinny and not a buffed up handsome dude. Had someone more presentable been doing the same show, no one would have objected to anything,” says Zaka.

Viewers feel that the dares on his show are cheap tricks, but the ratings have increased every year. He believes that Pakistan is an entertainment-starved nation, and says five more shows like Living on the Edge will be just as popular as this.

“Lawyers are one of the most educated and respected professionals in the world. Just look at the way Pakistani lawyers behave on the streets and you’ll realise why Pakistan needs a show like this,” says Zaka with a smirk. “[My show] is not Sir Syed’s two-nation theory or Manto’s short story, so you shouldn’t be looking for a moral. It is purely reality-based entertainment for a ‘masala parast’ nation.”

Zaka’s interaction with the youth has led him to believe that it will do anything for fame. “The biggest strength of young people today is that they can do anything to get fame and become heroes. But their biggest weakness is that they don’t have a plan,” he says.

As the fifth season of his reality show goes on air, Zaka is all set to take on a political angle in programming with his next venture titled Mae Banoonga Minister. “I’ll be going to each and every political party to get a ticket and take part in elections; that’s the only entertaining way of telling our youth how to be a part of the system,” he says.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, who shares an endearing relationship with his mother Neetu Kapoor, makes the most ideal husband, according to a recent survey.

As many as 72 percent Indian women, surveyed by online matrimony site shaadi.com, chose Ranbir as the “ideal husband” due to his closeness with his mother.

The poll was taken by over 24,000 Indians, and as many as 63.84 percent respondents believed that Ranbir’s former girlfriend Deepika Padukone was the best match for the actor.

Katrina Kaif received 22.30 percent votes, and Priyanka Chopra got 13.86 percent votes.

Also, 62 percent women agreed that ‘Mama’s boys’ would indeed make great nurturing and patient husbands.

“There was a time when people thought Mama’s Boys wouldn’t make good husbands, but the trend seems to have changed now as per the poll. The poll indicates that when a woman has brought up her son well and he is kind to her, he makes better relationships,” Gourav Rakshit, chief operating officer, Shaadi.com, said in a statement.

“For women, marrying a Mama’s Boy, as it is often referred to, may lead to a patient and understanding husband,” he added.

In what seemed to be a blink of an eye (in Karachi at least) winter has come and gone and spring is officially upon us. Our first clue to mark the turn of the season was the inevitable load shedding which has once again reared its ugly head, but we are digressing! The Lawn exhibits have already started to pop up and there’s a lot more where that came from. Let’s look at some of the global spring trends we’d like to see trickle down to our quarters.

A checkered path

Louis Vuitton’s spring 2013 ready-to-wear seemingly simple checkered prints, when seen on the red carpet, cast a spell with their optical illusionary properties.  These make an incredibly smart option for tops, dresses and even pants. We admire the sharp straight lines subdued by the soft shades for spring.

Laduree pastels

We have always felt while summer is for burning bright colours, spring requires a more gentle easing in from the depths of winter to the breezy pastel hues for spring. Consequently, peppermints, pretty peaches, lemons, baby blues and fondant pinks seen on the spring 2013 RTW London runways by Erdem, Antonio Marras, and Christopher Kane make for the perfect spring time feathery light looks.

Flower power

Floral prints and handcrafts in spring are the laws of nature and while both micro blossoms and full bloom bold prints are acceptable, bigger statement prints are definitely the dominant trend. We would highly recommend the vintage sequined florals of Muse Fashion and Elan by Khadijah Shah and Zara Shahjahan’s bouquet prints for top marks in this particular style.

Shimmer & shine

Speaking of sequins, iridescence is no longer only applicable to evening party wear this season. Get ready to shine this summer with the above mentioned Muse and Elan. Sequin and bead-work was high on the global spring ready-to-wear list, as well as seen in the works of Alberta Ferretti, Elie Saab, and Louis Vuitton among others. (Fun fact: LV used the smallest sequins ever produced in their collection).

White out

White to us is like a cleansing of the pallet — it refreshes, purifies and energises. It works great with little pops of bright colours as well, as  was seen in Antonio Berardi’s spring 2013 RTW London collection. On its own, textured or lace whites are a timeless classic. Start off your spring with some detoxifying neutrals.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

NEW DELHI: Actor Vivek Oberoi recently became the proud father of a son with wife Priyanka Alva. The actor reveals his world came to a standstill when he held the newborn in his hands for the first time.

“At the end of nine months, when my son was born and I was there to receive him, he was crying. When he stopped crying and opened his eyes, my world actually came to a standstill,” Vivek told IANS in an interview at the Galaxy Hotel, in Gurgaon.

“It seemed he owned me and my universe in that one moment and that was the most beautiful feeling in the world,” he added.

The couple become proud parents of the child on February 6. Vivek says the past nine months have been full of memories for them.

“It has been awesome. When Priyanka was pregnant, I had made a clear decision that I was going to be a part of the whole thing. Those nine months were beautiful,” said the actor, who married Priyanka, daughter of late Karnataka minister Jeevaraj Alva, in 2010.

“Despite the fact that I was busy shooting, I used to make sure I was with her every time she went for her check-up. The first time we heard the heartbeat of the baby and watched him during sonography were all things we really enjoyed as a couple,” he said.

The 36-year-old actor said he did everything he could to keep his wife happy during the entire phase.

“She [Priyanka] used to wake up in the night and say that ‘I am hungry and I want to eat this or that’. To satisfy each and every carving that she had and make her happy, was a very beautiful phase,” he added.

Vivek was there to promote his just released film Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story with co-star Neha Sharma. His schedule left him with little time to spend with the newborn.

Even after Jayantabhai… hit the screen Friday, he will get busy promoting his next film Zila Ghaziabad, which releases February 22.

Thereafter, he “plans to take a break” to spend quality time with his family.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

NEW DELHI: For Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda the path to success has not been easy. After making his debut in Monsoon Wedding in 2001, it took him four years to bag his next project. But now, when he has made a place for himself in the industry, he doesn’t feel the need to brag.

“Right now it all looks fine, but that was not the case some years back. It was bleak and dark. The success right now is just a step in my journey. I don’t think I have reached my destination yet,” Randeep told IANS.

“I am just accumulating more and more. All my choices of work are half chances, and my half chances have been working well, but I am not over the moon and shouting from rooftop about it because when I was down and out, I wasn’t groveling,” added the 36-year-old. “So I think I have found a balance of not getting too elated with success and not too disappointed with failures.”

Milan Luthria’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai in 2010 came as a breakthrough in Randeep’s career, when he was appreciated for his performance.

It was followed by his performance in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster in 2011 and three releases last year — Jannat 2, Jism 2 and Heroine — which gave his career graph a push. Even his cameo in Cocktail was noticed.

“My last six films have been successful whether I played a lead role or a small role. And it has been a good run for me,” he said. For the future, the actor has bigger plans.

“I want to do lots of things — I have bigger dreams. I want people not only in India, but also across the world to see my work and appreciate it,” said Randeep.

Meanwhile, Randeep is looking forward to his next film Murder 3, in which he will be seen as a photographer. The movie will see him romancing Aditi Rao Hydari and Pakistani actor Sara Loren.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Sushmita Sen

Actor and model icon Sushmita Sen always looks beyond incredible. She walked in wearing a shimmery silver short dress with baggy sleeves. Not only do we love her style, we also love her charmingly beautiful smile. She let her straight hair loose, and paired her dress with a wide gold cuff, a gold clutch and shimmery heels.

Kajol

One of the most loveable female actors Kajol Devgn still looks good. She entered the party wearing a blue-green one-shoulder, asymmetrical dress. She accessorised her outfit with a dull gold choker necklace, sea-green clutch, and shimmery open-toed heels. Her natural make-up and casually styled hair gave her a soft and subtle look.

Esha Gupta

Bollywood actor and model Esha Gupta chose to wear a Zara black-and-white printed skirt along with a peplum corset. She looked sexy as always in her French up-do, a bold necklace with her low-neck top and a gold cuff on the wrist. Gupta had no reservations showing off that flawless skin from head-to-toe. We love her simple and sexy look!

Aditi Rao Hydari

Indian actor-dancer Aditi Rao Hydari who played a lead role in London, Paris, New York, went traditional for the night. She walked in wearing a creamy-gold anarkali dress by Anju Modi. The three colour dupatta was embellished with zari and stones, giving a fancy and elegant look. She looked perfect with a peachy-pink lip colour, Sharmila Tagore’s eye-liner look, and long gold and pearl earrings.

Urmila Matondkar

Although not seen much on screen anymore, Indian actor Urmila Matondkar looked ravishing as she walked the black carpet. She chose to wear a classy black gown with a maroon bodice and a matching Chanel clutch. Urmila’s lips were deep red and her almond eyes carefully lined. This gorgeous woman knows how to keep our eyes glued to her even if she’s off screen.

Shriya Saran

South Indian actor and model Shriya Saran was voted as one of the 50 most desirable women in India in 2011. She rocked the party wearing a sexy black sequined short dress. Saran posed with a dramatic and stylish look, with her hair up and her hand on her waist. She looked breathtaking!

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

KARACHI: Well-known writer, Intizar Husain, speaks about the place of Urdu literature in an English world.

“Being nominated for the Man Booker International Prize in spite of being an Urdu writer is a novel experience,” said the famous writer, Intizar Husain, on day two of the fourth Karachi Literature Festival on February 16.

Two Indian scholars, Shamim Hanfi and Mehr Afshan Farooqi, and another eminent writer who was moderating the session, Asif Farrukhi, joined Husain in the discussion which covered a variety of subjects, ranging from a criticism of contemporary English writers to the future of Urdu literature.

“A new generation has arrived which writes in English and the era seems to be theirs,” said Husain, referring to Pakistani authors who have been noted world-over for their work. “I consider myself a villager who attempts to covey his memories, observations and environs through writing,” he added.

“But Kamila Shamsie pays respects to you and even Nadeem Aslam declared you ‘our [Vladimir] Nabokov’, about 15 years ago,” injected Farrukhi, adding that the new generation of writers may receive more admiration but they continue to be awestruck by Husain’s work.

Farooqi pointed out that the literary landscape had changed over the past few years and English writers were receiving increasing global attention from international media and publishing houses. “However, the ideas of authors like Nadeem Aslam and Mohammed Hanif are not new to the Indo-Pak literary tradition,” she explained. “They draw inspiration from Urdu while catering to a Western audience and a particular section of the Pakistani audience that does not relate to Urdu.”

Farooqi lamented the increasing divide between authors writing in local languages and those writing in English due to the increasing international prominence received by the latter. “There needs to be greater dialogue between the two,” she advised. “Platforms like the Karachi Literature Festival can serve as meeting points for writers from different linguistic backgrounds.”

Farooqi also mentioned that translating Urdu literature to English might be a necessity to be able to gauge the place of authors such as Intizar Husain in global literature. Husain, however, appeared to be optimistic about the future of Urdu literature and of that written in regional languages in India and Pakistan. “Emerging Urdu writers need to revolt against the work of their predecessors to be able to achieve recognition,” he explained.

On day two of the fourth Karachi Literature Festival, the Jasmin Hall at the Beach Luxury Hotel was packed to the rafters and the air was ripe with anticipation as people waited to see Ali Gul Pir speak at the session on social satire.

“Why do we only make fun of politicians, why not the clergy or the media?” asked Nadeem F Paracha, a question he did not get a satisfactory answer to throughout the session. Actor Bushra Ansari, one of the panellist said, “We had limited themes earlier – telephones, electricity, income tax, customs… then the topic on top became the politicians.”

According to her, although there were many satirists who commented on everything under the sun, they still refrained from certain subjects. “Nobody touches [the armed forces] or [a certain political party]… perhaps they’re scared of them,” she said.

Comedian Beo Zafar, who had toured extensively in the US, found it was easier to talk about everything if she dropped their “ego” or the “I” from the equation. She went on to narrate how a combination of charm and humour rescued many potentially awkward interactions with irate audience members. “If I keep my ego at the front, people will find me hostile.”

The ladies man

When the moderator directed his next question at Ali Gul Pir, high-pitched catcalls pierced the far end of the hall. The musician, known for his satirical tracks Waderai ka Beta and Taroo Maroo, had received some scathing criticism after the music video for the second song. In it, the lyrics “bachi bhi taroonga” (I’ll ogle girls) segued to a small girl looking into the camera. Feminists insisted the video endorsed paedophilia or at the very least gave the impression it was okay to stare at young girls. However Pir maintains that “the song is about how a girl cannot even cross a road without 10 people staring at her. I know we have bigger problems in Pakistan, but it’s not okay for men to do that.”

Pir, who has roots in Dadu, feels people in Pakistan are not ready to discuss certain taboo topics. “We have to become more open to talk about things. When we can’t tolerate criticism of feudal, then how will we ever talk about the army?”

He added he received death threats after Waderai ka Beta. Pir maintained his songs were for social commentary in an entertaining guise – a space which had not been tackled in the music industry since Vital Signs and Junoon.

“Why aren’t people able to take satire on religion?” NFP, known for his unrelenting style, poked for an answer.

“For that we need to sow the seeds of education now, for the tree to bear fruit in 20 years, quite like Ziaul Haq sowed madrassahs 25 years ago,” Ansari retorted to a roomful of laughter. Pir seemed to agree, reiterating the need for society to mature before it could deal with certain topics.

At this point, NFP circled back to General Ziaul Haq – did his oppression cause artists to focus on sneaky, high quality work and is today’s comparative freedom giving birth to copious but less-intelligent content?

“We were relevant in our times. We carefully skirted some issues through comedy,” replied Ansari. “This generation is living in a very difficult social scenario. We might’ve laughed at [power outages] and taxes. These are difficult times – it is harder to laugh, to make people laugh.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

“Before I made my debut as an actor in Kashkol with the role of the elder Roosho [two characters called Roosho were present in the play], I was offered the lead role in Fatima Surayya Bajia’s drama Aroosa,” says Aijaz. “But when Bajia called me, I frankly refused.” His reasons for refusal were understandable — his bachelor’s degree was incomplete and he didn’t have his parents’ approval.

Despite the hindrances Aijaz faced, he was destined to be a star. So when he was offered a role in Kashkol, he decided to take the leap; while his mother was still against the idea, his father and sister supported him. Director Kazim Pasha, who approached him, said, “Tum pagal to nahin ho,” for rejecting such an offer which in turn, helped shape his decision. This role served to be a stepping stone in his career.

“That’s how it [my career] started,” says Aijaz, with a smile on his face, reminiscing about Roocho making his entry in the play with its sixth episode. “I didn’t realise its worth back then but this play definitely altered the course of my career.” He became a star overnight and admits his phone did not stop ringing for days — young fans, magazine editors approached him for exclusive interviews. “I received film offers as well but that wasn’t my cup of tea; dancing was a little much for me,” he adds.

Aijazz — style, cuts
and fashion

Acting and modeling was not his sole passion and purpose, as far as Aijaz was concerned. While he loved to walk on the ramp, he felt the desire to share his fashion sense and style with the world. “I used to model and wear charming outfits all the time and this made me realise I could be an innovator in the field of cuts and style in Pakistan,” he says. “Hence, the idea to start my own label struck me.” He launched his brand, Aijazz, almost 18 years ago.

He takes his role as a fashion designer seriously and has done various courses from the London College of Fashion; his extensive list of loyal clients includes former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

Coming back to fashion shows, Aijaz admits that while he was paid a small amount (Rs3,000) per show back in the day, as time went on, designers started paying him Rs25,000, as his worth grew. “The world of ramp is very different,” he adds, saying he simply adores it. “The response is very enjoyable and I was recognised for it.”

His plans include launching another clothing line A&F with actor and friend Faisal Qureshi, and a sitcom, Teen, which will be aired on ARY Digital soon. The show also stars Qureshi. “There is a comfort level when I work with him — Our timings are classic, expressions are priceless and the understanding is quite mutual. With a new person there is always an adjustment issue,” says Aijaz.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Known for whacky costumes, candy-coloured hair and crimson lips, American singer Gwen Stefani can always be counted on to bring some edge to her apparel.

You have to admit that anyone else wearing her quirky-chic outfits would look pretty strange, but Stefani pulls it off to the tee. She has even been on People magazine’s best dressed list of 2012 for this reason.

1. Stefani’s love for animal prints is evident in this Blumarine outfit she was seen wearing in July 2012. You have to be Gwen Stefani to wear that much animal print and still look sexy.

2. Stefani looks fab wearing this spectacular top with a checkered bodice, paired with black shorts and sheer tights at a party hosted by Style.com in New York.

3. Stefani’s iconic ‘40s-style red lipstick and signature platinum locks glammed up her leather ensemble at the Teen Choice Awards in July 2011.

4. Stefani works up that red pout wearing a Michael Kors dotted knit pullover, J Brand ’8711 Roz Trapunto’ stitched pants and Acne ‘Pistol’ boots, while she goes out and about in LA.

5. Candidly photographed in September 2012, the singer gives a new definition to casual by rocking this long black-and-white checkered coat with a corset at the waist. We love the burgundy boots and black shades.

6. Stefani looks like rock-and-roll royalty in this striking geometric pattern blazer and black narrow pants at New York Fashion Week 2011. The red-lipped blonde accessorised her look with a pair of open-toed shoes and a matching pedicure.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Someone in the audience clapped. “Thanks for that single clap,” said Ali without even looking up. The audience started laughing and from this point onward, it hardly stopped as Ali threw punchline after punchline at them during a session titled ‘Kalaam e shair ba zubaan e shair’ on day two of the fourth Karachi Literature Festival.

One of the funniest jokes of the session was perhaps the one on polygamy. “A man had a habit of getting married,” said Ali, and before he could even get to the punchline, the audience burst out laughing. “Wherever he went, he married before moving to the next destination. One day, one of his sons came to him and said: ‘Abba mein Amjad’ (Hey dad. It’s me, Amjad). ‘Abay kon Amjad?’ (Which Amjad), the man asked. ‘Amma ka naam toh batao’ (Tell me your mother’s name).”

The audience also roared with laughter and cheered as Ali then imitated many great names in Urdu poetry, including Jigar Moradabadi, Khumar Barabankvi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Zameer Jafri, Behzad Lakhnavi and Jagannath Azad, as he read out their work.

Ali, who has worked for Radio Pakistan, used the occasion to list a few of the words most misused on air these days. “Never before in my whole life have I seen the words ‘categorically’, ‘scenario’ and ‘sovereignty’ being misused on television as they are now.”

Earlier, writer Fehmida Riaz read a few couplets penned by Persian poet Shaikh Saadi and then translated them into English for the audience. The couplets were chosen from a new book on the poet titled ‘Our Shaikh Saadi: A selection from Gulistan and Bostan’.

“There is so much corruption that copies of this book should be sent to all the politicians and leaders,” she said while using Saadi’s work to scrutinise problems plaguing society. Riaz said that Saadi’s book, Gulistan and Bostan, was taught in schools a few generations ago. “It’s a very valuable thing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

KARACHI: There was a fallout between Rock On!! director Abhishek Kapoor and producer and actor Farhan Akhtar a couple of months ago according to the Hindustan Times. But now the tension between the two seems to have subsided as Akhtar confirmed his attendance at the grand premiere of Kapoor’s next directorial venture, Kai Po Che!, in Andheri on Monday.

“On Wednesday evening, Farhan confirmed that he would be attending the event, along with other friends from the industry,” an industry insider reveals.

The reason behind Kapoor and Akhtar’s fall out was that Akhtar’s production company stalled the sequel of Rock On!!; it was also discovered that Akhtar’s father lyricist Javed Akhtar was roped in to write the lyrics for Kai Po Che! but he suddenly backed out.

Looks like the film’s premiere will reunite the two old friends.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

The actor worked previously with Bhansali in Black.

“I will always be there for him. He is a good friend of mine and also happens to be my favourite director. This is his debut on television and I wish him good luck,” Rani told reporters at the show’s launch on Thursday.

“I want everyone to watch this show. I am sure that like his films Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Black and others, even this show will be spectacular,” she added.

The show, set to go on air on Star Plus starting February 25, is based on Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi’s Gujarati novel of the same name.

“This show means a lot to me as I have worked hard on it. I am happy Rani came for unveiling the poster of my show. She gave a superb performance in Black and she is the best actor I have worked with so far,” said Bhansali.

About his foray into the small screen world, he said, “Television is not easy at all. Actors and directors have different demands. Small screen is becoming bigger than the big screen. We have made this show for the current audiences. We have made some changes so that the people accept it.”

His show features Gautam Rode and Jennifer Winget in key roles.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

We are all unique individuals and deal with things in our own way, but we may need a little help to get started. So, here are a few tips to help you get through those first difficult moments.

Take a breath

Our first response when someone does something drastic to us is shock, which is then followed by anger. We want to hurt the person who hurt us. Responding in anger can lead you to regret what you did. You should cool off and then decide if it’s really worth it.

Get help immediately

You may have lots of friends and family to talk to, but they may not have the skills to help you get through it. This is a crises and it needs someone who can be objective and listen to you without wanting to fix things. This need not be a long term thing, but a trauma counsellor, coach or healer can help you through those first few critical weeks.

Be selective

You may have the urge to share your troubles with all your friends and family but be sure to be selective. You may be feeling vulnerable at this time and everyone may not provide you with the understanding or empathy you need; this can leave you feeling even more hurt. Share your feelings with those who will listen without judgement and may even let you cry it out.

Feel the feelings

Please do not expect yourself to get over this immediately. The body has its own speed of releasing emotions after a trauma. Feel the waves of emotions that come up. Ask those around you to just be supportive. Ask them to allow you to grieve. Feeling things through is the quickest way of healing them. If you bury them, they are sure to come up later in the form of a disease. Your emotions will take time to release and your body will take time to heal. Give yourself the room to be; take one day at a time.

Eat well

Your body is going to be releasing toxins into the system as situations such as these encourage the fight/flight response in the body. This is the time to take vitamin C and Vitamin B5 to support your adrenals. Also, add in lots of vegetables and well-cooked warm, nurturing meals.

Pamper yourself

Nurturing yourself in times of stress goes a long way. Take warm baths as they are a wonderful way to release toxins. Now may be the time to take a short break away as it can help you recharge your batteries and get some perspective.

Get closure

Closure is an important aspect of letting things go. Take a few days and let your emotions settle and then find a way to put the event behind you. One way is to write a letter expressing all that you need to say and then tearing it up. People find this process cathartic. Keep writing and letting go as the need arises.

Clarify your intentions

Difficult circumstances present us with an opportunity for growth. This is an invitation to think about what kind of a person you would like to be. What are you taking away from this experience? How are you going to use it to develop even more strength and compassion in your life?

We all do the best we can in any given moment of time. These tips are presented to you in the hope that they will give you a starting point when you are dealing with tremendous pain and stress. I hope that you will find the peace and solace you need. Turn to prayer and the comfort of loved ones and indeed, you will turn the situation around.

Sayeda Habib is a life coach who empowers her clients to create a fulfilling, happier life. To find out more on coaching, or to work with Sayeda, log on to www.makelifehappen.com or email sayeda@makelifehappen.com

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

He was one of the speakers at a session titled ‘The Fall and the Rise of Pakistani Cinema’ at the Beach Luxury Hotel, along with film-makers Meher Jaffri (producer of Seedlings) and Adnan Malik. Mandviwalla said Pakistani cinema will have to be rebuilt because the “gap between the films of the ‘60s and ‘70s and 2012 is huge and cannot be filled”.

So much has been said and written about the revival of Pakistani cinema, that one doesn’t expect anything fresh or thought-provoking from a session like this, but fortunately the discussion at the KLF had more to offer than was expected.

Since it is geographically sandwiched between two film industry giants India and Iran, Pakistani cinema faces an identity crisis: what kind of films should be produced by our industry? Mandviwalla resolved this mystery by presenting an interesting analogy of contrasting the film industries of the US and UK to India and Pakistan. He said that Pakistan might never produce commercial blockbusters like Dabangg, but has the potential to produce one influential film that will sweep all awards like Shakespeare in Love did, as opposed to many other Hollywood flicks of that time.

He also spoke about Mandviwalla Entertainment’s collaboration with TV channel ARY Digital, which will help create venues for public screenings of independent films like Seedlings.

Jaffri said that the gap between producers and distributers creates difficulties in getting independent films projected on big screens. She spoke about the difficulties she is facing as she tried to get her film Seedlings onto big screens. “You can make a film in Pakistan but there is a huge void between producers and distributors,” she said.

Arguing that things have started getting better for Pakistani cinema, Madviwalla urged the film-makers to continue making films in order to improve the quality, instead of waiting for the cinema industry to provide them an ideal working situation.

While independent film-makers like the Seedlings team are making films that rank high in terms of quality and content, movie marketers and distributors are more likely to pay attention to films that rake in big numbers at the box office during their opening week. As a result, businessmen expect producers and directors to make the film industry economically feasible. To make this possible, Pakistani film-makers can follow the Indian film industry’s business plan of stepping up on making films which are not only suitable for local audiences but can also be featured in the international market.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Iconic model of yesterday and today, Iraj Manzoor says that the confident, energetic woman we see on the runway is who she really is — she does not pretend to be somebody else and the designers and the crowd love it. “I always thought I would be terrible on the ramp,” she admits. “I now wonder why I ever thought that — I love doing the runway.” While she quickly learned the tricks of the trade in the modeling world when she started at the age of 18, by the time she walked on the ramp for the second time in her life, she knew what she needed to do to set her apart. “The modeling world is artificial, darling. I knew that I have to be myself.”

Getting an interview with this dusky diva is not easy. I first approached her in October last year, and after numerous phone calls and postponements, Iraj finally agreed for a chat.

She enters her drawing room so silently, that I am almost taken aback when I see that towering personality in such a different environment. She is wearing a casual red top and faded blue jeans, and her hair has those gorgeous blonde highlights we loved on Deepika in Cocktail. “I am an individual — I have never followed any trends,” she says, quick to distinguish her look from the Bollywood actor’s when I made the comparison.

Shy at the start, Iraj slowly warms up and is ready to begin. To my astonishment, she confesses that her career started out of sheer boredom. The diva says she was first featured in the Men’s Club magazine in March 1991 as the Lady of the Month. It was a photo shoot that she says she did when she had “no passion for modeling”.

“Asad Baig was the make-up artist [for this shoot] and it was photographer Rooha Ghaznavi’s last shoot for Arshad Tarin’s publication.” Iraj vividly remembers how she felt. “I transcended into an artsy zone. I just danced to the beat of the music and went with the flow,” she says, recalling the shoot done 22 years ago.

After the Men’s Club shoot, Iraj was offered a commercial for Woolfe Biscuit, for which she earned Rs25,000 — a considerable pay cheque for those days. While director Atiya Khan loved Iraj’s boldness, the model herself was not so pleased. “They made me ivory!” Iraj says, referring to her bronze complexion. “[I looked like] a pineapple cream cake and I looked ugly; it was demeaning and degrading. I believe if you want someone like that [fair-skinned], then take someone like that — not me!”

“It’s the brain’s power that will make you look sexy. Confidence doesn’t come from skin colour — it comes from your brain. If someone thinks fair skin equals beauty, that’s deadly — it’s racism on another level.”

Aspiring models can take a leaf out of Iraj’s book; throughout our conversation, the diva had an air of natural confidence about her, and chatted away from her cosy corner on the couch. She also kept insisting I grab a handful of the channas she was merrily munching on.

Iraj talks about how the industry has changed from the time she started. “Logon ki mass production nahin thi,” she says. “Only a few people were associated with the industry at the time and they had an amazing individual aura.”

Iraj describes herself as “old-school and traditional.” She says, “I love to read, rather than be on Facebook. How many people from the 50,000 that you have added will rescue you from trouble?”

She may be bold and confident, but you’ll never find Iraj posing nude for a photo shoot. “That is mindless talent,” says the diva. “It’s easy to take off your clothes, but to keep them on instead of having a hunger for nakedness is a big deal.”

After dominating the ramp for 20 years, Iraj now says she wants to retire and settle down. “I want to go back to painting; I want to be the king of one trade — not the jack of all.”

At the end, she reveals that she has plans to marry. “If I don’t [get married] then I will adopt,” she says, expressing a desire to start a family.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

The ravishing Bollywood actor-host Mandira Bedi was present at the Fair & Lovely Foundation candidate short listing session in Mumbai on Thursday. Posing in her casual and sexy look, Bedi ranked high on our style-o-meter. 

Make-up

To brighten up her look, Bedi wore a pink lip colour matching her nails. Although Bedi seems to look tired, she made sure to keep a bright smile on. Her carefully lined eyes were all she needed for the look. Opt for any black liner (Rs300), Mac Pink Plaid lipstick (Rs700), and Nothin’ Mousie ‘Bout It nail colour by OPI (Rs1,000).

Hair

Not many look good with short hair but Bedi is confident when she steps out of the house with messy, air-dried hair. Her natural curls work wonders for her no matter which way she parts them. If you have short hair, it’s easy to just let it air dry. 

Outfit

Bedi wore a knee-length khaki dress which was a perfect fit. The cotton, button-down dress gave off a casual and comfy look. Being careful with the neckline, Bedi made sure to wear a black tank top inside. To get your hands on something similar, go to Mango, Mantra or Debenhams (Rs8,000).

Accessories

This hottie knew how to bring out her dull look with her accessories. She wore a turquoise and pearl necklace that instantly catches your eyes. The wide strapped dull silver watch, a couple rings, and a big black bag were the only accessories she needed for the look she sported. To get similar things, go to a local market like Gulf, Tariq Road or a mall. Prices will vary between Rs3,000 to Rs 8,000.

Shoes

Bedi wore black strappy platforms. We love her painted pink toes which peep through her shoes. To get something similar, try Nine West or Debenhams (Rs6,000). Other options for shoes like these can be local shoe stores near you.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2013.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.