Today, Shazma has more than a hundred television and radio dramas to her credit. She went on to receive a total of six Best Actor Awards from PTV, which are her pride. She presently hosts a morning show on Khyber TV, and recently acted in television dramas on a few notable local channels.

“There weren’t many young girls in the industry then,” says Shazma, who was merely 15 years old at the time. Other than her father Abdul Haleem, who was in the military, most of her family members and friends expressed disapproval for her career choice.

“My father was a constant source of support for me. He did feel uneasy that I would have to live in Peshawar alone [to pursue acting] as we did not have any family there, but he promised to visit me regularly and he did,” she tells us.

However, when her father retired from the army, things got tough. “He used to go to the mosque and people used to say to him that I would ruin the family name or run away with someone. But my father kept faith in me,” she says.

Despite the opposition she faced, Shazma remained undeterred. “I wanted to be a son to my father,” she shares, explaining that she is the eldest of seven sisters; her two brothers were born much later. “People used to look at my father and pity him for not having any sons [then]. I wanted to show them that I could do the same thing a son could do. It was about money. By acting, I could earn money and help my father support our family.”

She capitalised on her Pashto and Urdu language skills, which were strong due to her extensive travelling within the country with her father when he was in the military.

Lucky for her, her cousin Muhammad Israr Yousufzai was working as an engineer with Pakistan Television (PTV) at the time. He told her the network was looking for fresh faces. She requested him to take her there and help her get an acting gig.

She still remembers her first day at work. “I was so nervous, but after a couple of days, I got used to it and started improving. When I got my first cheque, I was shocked that after working so hard and for so long, I only got Rs111.”

Shazma tells us that she is lucky to have worked with good producers, such as Masood Ali Shah, Shaukat Ali and Farmanullah Jan. “They saw that I was a Pashtun girl who had gotten out of a small place like Swabi and had a passion for acting,” she said. “When I told them I wanted to study and do my LLB, they encouraged me to chase my dreams.”

And so she did. To pursue her degree in Law, Shazma enrolled at Margalla College for Women in Islamabad. After finishing her classes, she would get on a bus to Peshawar to record, rehearse and read more scripts. The day would wrap up around 10pm, which is when she would head back to Islamabad and prepare for the next day’s classes.

For the first six years of her career, she said she only used to eat, sleep and think of acting. Her love for acting paid off when she received her first PTV Award in 1988. She remembers how nervous and star struck she was at the award ceremony. “I had a large chador wrapped around me and had no idea how to sit in the hall,” she said. “I was nominated with two other actors and did not know if I would even win.”

Of her personal life, she shares how she met her husband. “I had just worked on a drama called Aasman [in which she played an 80-year-old shepherdess]. I received an award for my acting in the drama. The press had organised a dinner for the entire team and my husband was one of the journalists present there,” she says.

“He came up to me and asked why I did the role of an older woman when I was so young. I told him that it was the writer’s pen that gave me the part.” She added that afterwards, he took her number and said he would get in touch for an interview.

A few days later, he went to Islamabad to interview her. “Before he left, he asked me why I was still unmarried. I told him because there was no [potential suitor]. He laughed and asked what if someone wanted to ask,” she said. “I thought he was being funny and didn’t take him seriously till a couple of months later when his brother sent a proposal to my father.”

After her father, her husband and two children are a great source of strength for her. “He is good to me,” he said. “When we got married, he told me that I had done so much for our culture and language that he just could not let me sit at home.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2014.

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Is there anything worse than having to ironing your clothes? We doubt it. Picture this: you’ve woken up ten minutes after your alarm went off and find yourself scrambling to put together an outfit.  Somehow, the shirt you planned on wearing is lying in a crumpled heap on the floor.  Instead of wasting precious minutes and trying to iron out the wrinkles, why not utilise the Shower Trick, suggested by michellephan.com ?

The shower trick

Place the shirt back on a hanger and hang it from your bathroom towel rack or shower rod. Close the bathroom door or any windows (this helps your bathroom get as steamy as possible). Shower as usual. Emerge to a wrinkle-free shirt!  The humidity from your shower acts as a steam iron, getting rid of any and all wrinkles.  Of course, this might not work on heavy-duty fabrics, but will definitely save you time with everyday shirts and blouses.

Here are a few tips to reduce wrinkles in the first place

A cup of white vinegar added to your wash’s rinse water will help relax the wrinkles. Don’t worry, it won’t leave a smell.

Pack your laundry loosely; cramming three weeks’ worth of laundry into your dryer is pretty much a recipe for wrinkles. Better fewer items.

 Adding some tennis balls or dryer balls helps your clothes dry faster and avoids the clothes getting wrinkled by moving the air around.

 Hang or fold your clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer; leaving it in a crumpled mess just compounds the problem.

 Throw it back in the dryer with a damp washcloth or towel; ten minutes should be long enough for your item to emerge wrinkle free. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.

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For anyone with green fingers, roses add a sense of regality to the garden space. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but also symbolise an array of positive emotions. But for most of the year, the city is deprived of this beautiful gift of nature.

Horticulturist Tofiq Pasha Mooraj says, “It is certainly not easy to plant roses in Karachi. Firstly, the climate of the city is very humid and secondly, pests pose a threat to the flower.” The plant grows relatively well in certain areas of the country, including northern areas and Islamabad, according to Mooraj.

‘Rose-nthusiasts’ in Karachi shouldn’t lose hope. Although Karachi’s arid climate isn’t, for the most part, conducive to the growth of roses, the best time of the year to plant them is between November and January, Mooraj suggests. And “potted roses are available throughout the year in nurseries.  For those who wish to plant their own roses, they should do it in the monsoon season.”

Zahra Ali, a kitchen gardening expert and environmentalist says that bare-root roses come from Punjab to Karachi between November and February. “With knowledge [of the plant] and passion, one can grow roses in Karachi without any chemical help,” she states.

Concurring with Ali, Mooraj says that like other plants, roses need to be taken care of, especially during hot spells. “If the plant keeps getting balanced nutrients and watering, it will not die,” he says. For those who grow organic roses, he advises, “Plant chives along with them and you will never have to use a pesticide on your roses again. For encouraging healthy growth, add banana peels to your soil.”

But since the weather in the coming months will not be ideal for growing roses, which other plants can we grow that may resemble, if not replace the glorious rose? Hibiscus, which is also called ‘China rose’, is a plant that can grow in every season, according to Mooraj. Portulaca, also known as the ‘office-time flower’ resembles a rose, and can be grown in both winter and summer. But no matter which of these options you opt for, Mooraj rightly says, “There is no alternative to a rose… a rose can never be replaced.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.

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LOS ANGELES: There never is a good time to get sick, but getting sick while on tour is probably every singer’s worst nightmare. Miley Cyrus is one such singer, and has been in the hospital for one week now, following a severe reaction to antibiotics.

The singer was forced to cancel her concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this month, after being diagnosed with the flu, and was ordered by doctors to rest. She was back on the road in no time, but not for long. The singer is now suffering from sinus infection, and remains hospitalized.

Cyrus cancelled the first of four shows last week in Kansas City, Missouri, and the 21-year-old was placed on medical rest on doctors’ orders, the Sprint Center in Kansas City said in a statement. The singer posted a picture of herself in a hospital bed on Twitter with an apology to her Kansas fans, saying “I wanted so badly 2 b there 2night.”

She later cancelled a second show in St. Louis on Wednesday. “The hospital is sayin i wont b released today,” Cyrus said on Twitter on Wednesday. “therefore Im not going 2 make it 2 St Louis. Im so sorry but somethings are outta my control.”

The Wrecking Ball singer last week, had also been writing to her 17.8 million Twitter followers, informing them that she had been sick with a fever. She then also  called off upcoming shows in Nashville, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky.

Cyrus has come under great scrutiny since shedding her Disney star image following a number of highly publicised stunts at a number of awards shows, along with ending her engagement to Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth.

Cyrus is currently midway through her Bangerz tour in support of her recent album by the same name. The North American leg of Cyrus’ tour began in February and she was scheduled playing 60 shows across North America and Europe between February and June. The 22-concert European leg of the tour begins on May 2 in Amsterdam. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.

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The couple tied the knot seven years ago at a private ceremony at the Bachchan’s Juhu residence, Prateeksha. Wedding was held as per the north Indian, Bengali and Tulu traditions.

Along with other members of the Bachchan family, Aishwarya laid the foundation of a special school for underprivileged girls in Daulatpur village in Uttar Pradesh in 2008. The construction is being funded by the Bachchan family, and the school will be named after Aishwarya.

Aishwarya initially tried to hide Aaradhya’s face and keep her away from the limelight, but now the new mom is making no effort at hiding her little one’s face. Ash has always been a hands on mother and is never seen with a nanny to take care of her baby girl, reported Deccan Chronicle.

Ash and Junior B, who are known as Bollywood’s hottest couple met on the sets of Dhai Akshar Prem Ka, their first film together, but at that time however, there was no romance between the two, Abhishek was engaged to Karisma Kapoor and Ash was dating Salman Khan.

In June 2011, Big B took to Twitter to announce that his daughter-in-law was pregnant. Aishwarya gave birth to a girl on November 16, 2011. Earlier the baby girl was addressed as Beti B by the media. Grandfather Big B later confirmed on Twitter that his granddaughter has been named Aaradhya Bachchan.

Ash is also very popular for her humanitarian work. In September 2012, she was appointed as the new international Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS. She also accepted the second-highest Order of France, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in 2012. The award was presented to her on her birthday and as per her wish she was accompanied by her family.

Abhishek expressed his love after receiving an award, “I really owe this to Aishwarya and the love and support she has given me. She makes me the person that I am,” reported Indian Express.

On the sets of Koffee with Karan, Abhi described Ash as one of those buddies he loves to hang out with, and that she’s not overly feminine and that’s what makes them amazing friends, bolstering their relationship perfectly.

From strutting around on the red carpet, hands entangled around each other at events to doing films together, they can’t get enough of each other.

They did their first film post marriage – Sarkar Raj. This time the duo was joined by Amitabh Bachchan. The movie failed to click but their onscreen chemistry was the talk of the town.

Abhishek Bachchan reportedly proposed to Aishwarya Rai in New York, right after the premiere of Mani Ratnam‘s Guru and they got engaged on January 14 2007.

Between Abhishek’s busy work schedule and Aishwarya’s next humanitarian assignment the couple was recently spotted having a family vacation in Vancouver. The two, however aren’t spending their anniversary together. Abhishek is in Gurgaon to launch a car showroom.

There have been reports that Abhishek and Aishwarya are likely to reunite onscreen in Prahlad Kakkar‘s Happy Anniversary, which has been touted as Ash’s comeback film. However, recent reports claim that a Mani Ratnam thriller made as a multilingual in the South languages will be her comeback film. Abhishek, meanwhile, is busy shooting for Farah Khan’s Happy New Year.

The duo went on to pair in Kuch Naa Kaho in the year 2003, followed by Umrao Jaan and Dhoom 2 both in the year 2006 and Guru in 2007. Rumours about Ash and Abhi being a couple started during the shooting of Umrao Jaan, but the two remained tightlipped even after the release of the film.

Here’s wishing Abhishek and Aishwarya a very happy wedding anniversary 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.

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DUBAI: There is no gainsaying the sense of regality that jewellery and exotic fabrics evoke in most women. Representing each woman’s personal taste, they are reflective of uniqueness and individuality. To celebrate these attributes, jewellery designers Farah Ali and Mohsin Saeed of lifestyle brand The PinkTree Company will exhibit their work in the city from April 22 to April 23.

The exhibit will take place at the Thai-oriented spa The Purple Sanctuary by Zehra Karim. The event will essentially be an ode to fashion, and majestic calligraphic traditions that have been revitalised with a hint of contemporariness. Farah’s pieces showcase her contemporary interpretation of calligraphy-inspired jewellery, which is available in 24-carat plated gold. The jewellery designs will be supplemented by sophisticated cuts, drapes and subtle embellishments of The PinkTree collection.

With Dubai rapidly emerging as a fashion hub, it is fitting to see Pakistani designers showcasing their work here. Farah considers the city as home and has become a prominent player in the jewellery business. She stocks her pieces at the Gallery Lafayette and has accessorised known Emirati television personalities.

After establishing themselves in Pakistan, Farah and Mohsin have transcended boundaries to venture out into a competitive market, where the audience is well versed in exquisite fashion and quality craftsmanship.

We wish the two best of luck for their trunk show.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.

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The third death anniversary of comedian and actor Moin Akhtar, who lives in the hearts of millions, is being observed today. He is remembered as a versatile artist and a very noble human being by all his fans and colleagues. Master parodist and king of Urdu comedy, the man had a million characters but one identity and that of a true showman, Akhtar was someone who had the power to turn a frown into a smile.

Akhtar stepped into the show business in the 60s and continued ruling various fields of performing arts with his spontaneous performances for over a half a century.

He was born in Karachi and his mother tongue was Urdu, but he performed with command in many other languages including Bengali, Sindhi, Memoni, Gujrati amd of course English.

During his career, the versatile actor performed over 1,000 different characters on television and theatre. He also hosted many talk shows which were greatly appreciated by his fans and viewers across the globe. Akhtar was a singer as well and he kept his audience in awe by singing hilarious parodies.

“Everything I did is a part of history now. To live with history is difficult but there will be people, who will say one day, there was a man who did it and did it so differently.” Those were the last words of the legendary Moin Akhtar, as recorded in an interview with The Express Tribune.

Akhtar was suffering from a heart disease during the last days of his life, which eventually lead to his death on April 22, 2012. The iconic comedian died at the age of 61, but he left behind an undisputed legacy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.

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There is however, bubbling under these acknowledged rappers, a startling range of young rappers who are lyrically doing perhaps some of the most incisive and insightful work in Pakistan. Artists like Talhah Younus, Talha Anjum and the Young Stunners, Abid Shareef, Emmad Aziz, Young Desi and the brilliant Faris Shafi find their home on soundcloud.com and proffer free tracks of jaw dropping quality and wit.

In the first part of this two part series on the rise of rap in Pakistan; one delves into the history, growth, and separation of the two Talhas.

Talhah Yunus

Of the younger rappers, the two Talhas from Karachi are very promising and very young. Talhah Yunus broke away from the band Young Stunners, which also consisted of the equally compelling Talha Anjum. Maila Majnun and Burger-e-Karachi are the most well-known tracks they worked on together. However, Talhah Yunus, in his subsequent tracks, demonstrates that there is more genius to him.

Why So Quiet might be musically weak, but it is a groundbreaking and harrowing tribute to a dead mother. It demonstrates the emotional honesty which for all its melodrama, is unmatched by other Urdu songs. Given Talhah’s age, his flow and delivery is not as yet fully developed, but his rhymes and content are spectacular. On other tracks too, while production skills could be improved, the sheer diversity and creativity is stunning. The songs vary in vibe from novelty, to tracks with great depth (Thoughts; Fikar-e-Akhirat). Thoughts is brilliant in the rap parts though the rock bits featuring Intishaar are poor. Naam Tau Suna Hoga is a nasty song on the state of relationships on the streets of Karachi. International Bhikhari is novel, but lesser of a song as its anger is more unfocused. It hits out at Zardari, Amir Liaqut (Har Pakistani Chor Kai Moon pai aik daarhi hai), Eye to Eye, and many others).

Talha Anjum and the Young Stunners compare well with their old band mate. They have their hits, the aforementioned tracks Maila Majnun and Burger-e-Karachi, but lack the emotional nakedness of Talhah Yunus. They compensate by having a lot of earnestness. Main Hoon Pakistan is brilliant in its rap parts, terrible in the sung parts. The lyrics are awesome, 1 marra apna tou agay se 4 unke maaray 4 ke 8, 8 ke 16 musalmaan maaray saaray, tou kyun na ho mera khuda mujhse naraaz. (After one of ours died, four of theirs were taken, from four to eight, eight to 16, all the Muslims were killed, so why wouldn’t my Lord be angry with me?)

Talha Anjum

 Laam Sai Chaura is rude, brilliant and very specific. After it finishes kicking Karachi-ites around, it takes on Lahoris for good measure. Fire in the Hole is a brilliant anthem of youth empowerment and celebrates Karachi Paseena kam yahan pe khoon zyada behta hai, Par Karachi jaan hai meri dil mera ye kehta hai (Blood flows more than sweat here, but my heart says that Karachi is my life), while making minced meat out of politicians Tabdeeli ai, lekin thori se ganji hogai, qaum jaagi lekin humari qismat so gai. Jo hakumat ne qaum ke saath kiya wo zannaa hai, Bathroom mein likh diya meine Yahan kharaab karna mana hai, (Change came, but it was a little bald, the nation woke up, but our fate slept. What the government did with the nation was blasphemous. I wrote in the bathroom that it is not allowed to be made messy)

Dil Shakasta and Qasurwar are weak musically and lyrically and the latter needlessly drowns the vocals with effects. In trying his hand at various styles of content, Talha Anjum ends up with uneven results: some songs work, some do not.

Adding spice to the scene is the fact that there is a beef already brewing between the two rappers. Talha Anjum and Talha Younus seem to be taking potshots (Fire in the Hole: Talha Anjum ne tumhein rap karna sikhaya aur tu ne apne gaana mein mujhay he chiraaya) (Talha taught Anjum how to rap and you have teased me in your song) in rhyme at each other. These two may end up being the Biggie and 2Pac of Pakistan, hopefully without the violence, one hopes. Overall, both Talhas take on all comers: The two are not political in their raps, but politically aware with some killer lines. Mr. Zardari seems a frequent target (possibly because it is an easier rhyme than Nawaz?) and Even Imran Khan gets some hate.

Don’t forget to read the second part of this series next Tuesday, April 28 2014.

The writer is a Barrister-at-law and Managing Partner at Qayyum & Associates Lahore. He has been an avid music critic for 10 years and tweets @maqsimillion 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.

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When you accomplish the perfect polish, it can make your day and exude style no matter what your outfit may be. The perfect manicure is the epitome of chic. When something jeopardizes your manicure or nail polish ends up where it shouldn’t be, it can put a damper on any situation. Take a note of these quick remedies by Michelle Phan to fix your nail polish mishaps:

Polish on fabric

Nothing is more devastating than spilling nail colour on a carpet, grazing your favourite outfit with a not yet set nail, or having a bottle leak in your bag. If you act quickly you can salvage your fabrics and leave no trace of lacquer. If colour is on your fabric, start the removal process by dabbing the spot with cotton soaked in heavy nail polish remover. Dab, don’t rub, as this will press the polish deeper into the threads. If the stain persists, soak the spot with hairspray. Then scrub the spot and rinse. Always try on a small area of fabric first to find the right combatant for your polish spill.

Smudgy nails 

If your patience to sit still till your polish dries wears thin and you take a gash out of set polish, you can make your nails look as good as new without having to polish the entire nail again. Add a nail art design over the nicked part to cover the flaw. Or, alternatively, dip the end of one finger into nail polish remover and then gently rub the chipped nail until you smooth the line between lacquer and nail and then apply polish over this section.

Jammed lid

No matter how strong you may be, there will always be a time when a stubborn bottle lid impedes you from polishing your nails. Use the hot water trick and your nail polish bottle will open without exerting much strength.

Gooey polish

Applying too many coats of polish or too thick a nail polish can lead to chipping, smudging or sheet marks set in your nail. If your polish has been wrongly stored or is reaching its expiration date, then add a few drops of nail polish thinner to the bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the contents together before using. However, adding remover to the bottle is a short term solution, the ingredients in the remover will actually break down the polish formula and eventually make the colour dull. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.

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NEW DEHLI: After Queen, Kangana Ranaut is back at the box office as ‘Revolver Rani’ and she would battle it out with musical Kaanchi and thriller Samrat & Co for top honours when the three films hit the screens Friday.

Kangana loves to push the envelope by stepping into unconventional roles. With her performance in Queen, Kangana not only raised the bar for her contemporaries, but also for herself. She continues the trend of taking up challenging roles with Revolver Rani, which sees her in a never-seen-before avatar of a gun-toting don, who mouths dialogues in profane language. Debutant director Sai Kabir describes her character as ugly” and non-glamorous.

Kangana will face stiff competition from Rajeev Khandelwal, who will showcase his acting skills in Samrat & Co. Pressure is on Kavita Barjatya as this is the first feature film by her as a producer. She is generally known for making television shows.

The flavour and setting of the two films is entirely different; the Tigmanshu Dhulia-produced Revolver Rani is set in the backdrop of Chambal area while detective movie Samrat & Co, featuring Rajeev as a suave investigator, has been shot in Himachal Pradesh.

Subahash Ghai has geared up to release his directorial venture Kaanchi, the third film in the fray. The film, starring Kartik Tiwari and Mishti Mukherjee, has a rural set up and has been shot in a hill station. The film marks Ghai’s comeback after five years. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.

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MUMBAI: Actor Nargis Fakhri has returned from the US after shooting her first international film titled, Spy, directed by Paul Feig. The film will see Nargis in her first action role. Speaking about her role and the film Nargis said, “I don’t know why some sections of the Indian media have written that I’ve shot with Jude Law. Because I haven’t! He is in the film, but I haven’t shot with him yet.”

“There are also Jason Statham and Melissa MacCarthy in Spy with me. I can’t reveal what I am playing until the producers make their announcement. But I can tell you they’re planning a global campaign with actors from various parts of the world. I’d be representing this part of the world,” added the actor.

Nargis loved working with Paul Feig:  “He’s directed Bridesmaids and Heat. He was amazing to work with. I’ve to go back for about a week’s work. All I’ll tell you about my role is it’s action-packed.”

Nargis says Bollywood and Hollywood are completely different experiences. “I am not saying one is better than the other. I enjoy both. But Hollywood is far more organised than Bollywood.”

Nargis returned from Hollywood to the heartening news that her film Main Tera Hero is a hit. However, she is cautious in her enthusiasm. “I’m a little weird that way. I don’t really know how to express my happiness. I am happy people liked the film, but I’m happier for Varun. It’s his film from first frame to last,” said Nargis.

“I got a nice feedback on Twitter, but I got mixed signals about my performance. Some critics have been very harsh. That’s okay. I like honest criticism. I know I’m not the consummate Bollywood heroine. I’m working hard on it,” she added.

Nargis feels it’s very important to not take one self seriously: “It’s important to be able to laugh at oneself. I don’t think too many do that around here. I am still taken aback by how much people comment on others. And though I may say I don’t care there’s always that tiny percentage of self-doubt within me created by people’s perception of me. At the end of the day I do care about what people think of me. I am human.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.

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KARACHI: The fourth season of Veet Miss Super Model has just begun. The reality show consists of 12 finalists, out of which only one will be crowned Miss Super Model in the grand finale of the show. This was briefed to the media personnel at a press conference that took place at a hotel on Monday evening.

The eight-episode show, to air sometime in mid-May,  will be hosted by Wiqar Ali Khan, a well-known Pakistani VJ. It is being claimed by the organisers that this season is going to be more exciting than all the previous ones.

While speaking to the media, Khan said, “I am very happy to be a part of this. I will be hosting this event. Before, there used to be female hosts, but I am glad that I have been asked to host it this time. Also, there will be three mentors from the world of modeling who will help groom these girls.”

Khalid Soorty, VP Programming, Hum Sitaray, said, “We are not only empowering young women along the way, but we are identifying and grooming them also. It will be interesting with twists and turns, to see how the actual reality goes.”

Three mentors, namely top Pakistani models Amna Ilyas, Cybil Chowdhry and Sabina Pasha will coach the contestants. In the eight themed episodes, each mentor will primarily focus on grooming the models in various aspects of modeling based on beauty, confidence and personality development. The episodes will also showcase celebrity appearances from the fashion, television and film industries who will be judging the challenges that the aspiring models will compete in.

The mentors also shared their views at the conference, with Chowdhry claiming: “I can’t wait for everybody to perform!” Pasha said, “So glad that they got a platform. When we started off in the modeling career there was none for us.” Whereas Ilyas commented: “It is good to see that girls are passionate about it.”

Later in the question and answer session, Pasha said, “There is fiery competition and there is plenty of confidence. I hope they keep walking with their dreams intact. You will get to see a lot of passion and all kinds of emotions from tears to laughter in this show, as they will be living in all kinds of different conditions. Every single time there will be an interesting episode coming up.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.

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Following suit, young Sufi poets, writers and singers came together on Friday to perform at an event titled ‘An evening with the rebels’, which was organised at the Karachi Arts Council. The evening was arranged as part of a series of programmes against fanaticism, which have been started in various towns and cities. “We have become different kind of rebels. We have stood up against dishonesty, massacre of humanity, unfairness and racism in the name of religion,” said Nisar Khokhar, organiser of the event.

The event comprised Sufi singers who have not yet received recognition in the mainstream media. With valorous poetry and hearts devoted to the cause of countering raging extremism in Sindh, these like-minded individuals enlivened the audience, especially the younger lot, with their own creations.

When Hafiz Nizamani, a Sufi poet from Sanghar district arrived at the theatre, the audience gave him a standing ovation. “Ko aa Rehman je paase, ko aa Bhagwan je paase, muhinjo sajido un khe aa jeko insaan je paase” (Some believe in God, some believe in Bhagwan, I bow before no one else, but those who believe in humanity). These verses presented by Hafiz evoked an emotional response from the audience, and the theatre echoed with the words, “Haq mojood, Sada mojood.”

Many families attended the programme. “Living in Karachi, we hardly hear good news. Killings, robberies, sectarian and ethnic division surround us. In this situation, this event is a ray of hope,” said Rukhsana Jafferi, one of the participants.

Haleem Bagi, Rubina Abro, Khalil Khoso, Jamal Faqir, Sadruddin Shah, Munawar Abro and Amar Jalil were among others who presented their poetry with the message of co-existence. In their poetry, the rebels not only criticised religious fanatics, but also voiced their anger at feudal and landlords.

Mazhab khaan insaan wado aa (The human is superior to religion) was the poem presented by Rubina, who came from Larkana. The outstanding performance of Jamal and his co-singers who belong to Sanghar district compelled the audience to join them on the stage.  Clad in orange-coloured robes, the singers gripped the audience by singing Tookhi Allah chawan ya Raam chawan? (What should I call you, Allah or Ram?). “Mandir and masjid mein bari hiqu diyo; poe khalal ken payo khaliq mein? (Why is there a difference if the same earthen lamps are lit in both the temple and mosque?)

Amar, a renowned writer of Sindh, who was dubbed by organisers as a chief ‘rebel’ appreciated young talent for countering extremism through such a programme. “This kind of event has not only provided oxygen in a suffocate environment, but also given hope of bringing a positive change in society,” he said. Before concluding the session, the organisers said the campaign against extremists would continue and they would soon announce another evening with rebels in another city. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.

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Contrary to what has been reported by several blogs, websites and media corporations, Babra Sharif, the glamourous diva of the Pakistani film industry is not marrying again. She spoke to The Express Tribune, confirming that the claim was just a baseless rumour. 

“It’s a silly rumour that is being spread that I am getting married again,” Babra Sharif told The Express Tribune.

“There is no truth to any such news report or statement” she said.

As for her previous marriage, Sharif married veteran actor Shahid in 1977, but the couple got divorced a year later due to some personal reasons, which weren’t brought to the media’s attention. Sharif did not remarry after this split. However, when the rumours flew that she is marrying again, it inevitably became the talk of the town.

Sharif began modeling at the age of 12; she made her presence felt in a Jet washing powder commercial in 1973 and came to be known as Jet powder girl. Fair-haired, attractive and intelligent, she soon became a household name. The Nadaan Nadia star is known for her bold choices when it comes to being happy and she has inspired many Pakistani women to follow their heart. She has been a symbol of beauty and intelligence and has swayed generations with her style statements.  She may not be remarrying, but regardless, we wish her health, wealth and happiness.  

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.

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This synchronisation of Bhagat’s narratives with a new spin on ‘Shining India’ gives film-makers enough room for creating an equally dramatic and inspirational experience. That is the reason why Bhagat should have restricted himself to writing books that ended up being adapted by film-makers and not writing books for the purpose of adaptation by film-makers. 2 States is a clear example of the latter and a major misfire from both Bhagat and the director Abhishek Varman.

The story begins with Krish (Arjun Kapoor), a Punjabi boy arguing with his friend Ananya (Alia Bhatt) who is a Tamil girl from Chennai about small matters such as the quality of food.  From friends they become lovers and share the bed with each other — but that obviously has been edited out of the print that is running in Pakistani cinemas. To the misfortune of the film-maker, the intimate scenes are so abruptly edited by the censor board that it’ll take you sometime to figure out why the film seems so rushed and pointless in the first half hour.

Story moves on, but of course the arguments between the two leads remain, which in the larger picture represent the conflict between the Tamil culture and the Punjabi culture. However, right when it seems that the cultural conflict is essentially the hindrance between their marriage and also presumably the plot of the film, we find out that fathers from both the families also have psychological problems. All of this adds up to a rather stretched second half after a relatively engaging start to the story, which also had the most loosely performed song of the year  Locha-e-Ulfat.

That does not overshadow the cultural conflict, which is established by a few very good one-liners such as when the Punjabi mom whines over the fact that her future daughter-in-law finished both of her juice packs.

However, the disappointing part of the film is that all such excitement and highs and lows are generated by the side characters, so much so, that it often seems that it’s only the families of the couple who are interested in putting up a show and not the couple itself.

Despite repeated attempts by Alia Bhatt to generate some sort of chemistry with Kapoor, boredom oozed out of every single frame that they shared together. Bhatt was consistently trying to infuse some sort of a reaction from Kapoor, who on the other hand remained timid and restricted throughout the narrative, which also proved to be the film’s fatal flaw.

The script was mediocre with its set of clichés such as the drunkard father, but even that could have been saved by a relatively talented male lead. Kapoor’s monotony is the film’s weakest link; after all he gets more screen time than Alia Bhatt and fails to make any use of it, apart from mimicking the not- very-talented Abhishek Bachan on several occasions.

Abhishek Verman needs to choose his actors wisely and Bhagat needs to think less like an extension of Bollywood and more like a novelist.

Verdict: 2 States is just a mediocre script that could have been saved by solid performances from the leads.  It is a sort of film that is not worth buying a cinema ticket for, but rather, watch it to kill time, when it runs on cable. 

Rating: 1.5/5

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.

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The cries were heard and around 30 minutes past seven, Dr Omer Aadil with his co-host Farah Hussain, emerged from behind the stage and announced Zia Mohyeddin.

The octogenarian Zia jogged a couple of steps to reach the rostrum. The auditorium resounded with thunderous claps. Almost all rose, most in respect, others to catch a glimpse of the master narrator.

The leaflet sent out to invite people to the second day of the National Book Foundation promised a delightful evening, through a rare repertoire from classic to contemporary literature by the legend. And that it was.

According to Dr Aadil, they were apprehensive at first, they had a feeling that people may not turn up in as many numbers as they did in Lahore and Karachi. However, he was happy that the impression of Islamabad as a ‘city of babus’ with little to no interest in books was proven wrong. The hall was packed to capacity and people stood at the back reclining against the wall.

Aadil said, just like good singers, Zia’s oration lent a new life to words.

The auditorium resounded with thunderous claps when the audience got a glimpse of the master narrator. PHOTOS: MYRA IQBAL/EXPRESS

Zia, acknowledging the welcome, moved behind the microphone, perched his glasses on his nose and started in his gruff, resonant voice, taking the audience on a rare journey from old to new — interspersing it with a comment on “English being a crazy language” attributed to the American comedian writer and social critic George Carlin, who among other hilarious things says, “If vegetarian eat vegetables, I wonder what a humanitarian eats?” and “Where do you fill in a form by filling it out.”

He dexterously alternated between verse and prose to cater to the varied interests of the audience. Some continuously giggled, others smiled, while the rest laughed to the point of tears trickling down their cheeks.

The event was engaging and entertaining; neither did the narrator’s forehead show any signs of perspiration and nor did the audience grow any less generous in putting their hands together. Every good phrase, rise and fall of the voice and change of accent to reflect the gender and ethnicity of characters was duly applauded.

He rendered Phir Koi Aya Dil-e Zar, Nahin Koi Nahin and Manzar by Faiz Ahmed Faiz without looking at the paper. Excerpts read out from works of Josh Malih Abadi, Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi were particularly liked. At the end of every rendition, he would remove his glasses and the audience would clap.

This magic lasted for one hour and thirty minutes. The Islooites sent back the master by again rising in their chairs and giving him a much-deserved standing ovation.

“We neither have words, nor the  pronunciation nor the accent to thank Zia. Appreciate our courage, we have dared to speak just after Zia has spoken,” said Aadil.

At the end of the session, an audience member, Aimen Zoheb, said she was recently reading Yusufi, but it was an entirely different experience to listen to Zia. He gave the words a new life.

“It was wonderful. It was worth the time and effort. It is a blessing to be living in the same age as Zia Saheb,” said Abdus Samad, a pharmacy student from Abbottabad as he walked out of the auditorium with a smile playing on his lips.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2014.

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Instead of going out and purchasing new toiletries and cosmetics, next time you run out, consider heading to the pantry instead. Some oils regularly used in cooking can help condition dry, damaged hair while others can serve as facial moisturisers or even help protect you from the sun. Here is a list of beauty essentials we generated by some help from Michellan Phan:

Argan oil

While culinary argan oil is used to dress salads and for dipping breads, its cosmetic form fights against acne, combats dry skin and hydrates hair. The vitamin E and antioxidants in the argan oil act as a sunburn soother and a heat protectant for your hair.

Olives oil

You’ve probably heard that olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet, but it is also a good moisturiser for sensitive skin. It is a skin conditioning and cleansing agent, and you can use it on both your skin and hair.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a miracle worker, it battles acne, fights fungal infections, banishes dandruff and can cure bad breath. However, it is not supposed to be consumed, tea tree oil is toxic if swallowed, so when using to rid bad breath, mix a few drops with water, then swoosh in your mouth and spit out.

Pomegranate seed oil

Loaded with antioxidants, pomegranate seed oil nourishes your locks instantly by strengthening and reviving damaged hair. It helps stimulate blood circulation at the scalp, which in turn aids hair growth. It also lends a hand to skin elasticity, meaning a few drops of this oil on your face will improve skin tone and reduce collagen deterioration.

Amla oil

Also known as Indian gooseberry oil, the tannin in Amla oil has been used in inks and in various shampoos as a combatant against premature graying and hair loss. Apply a small amount to the scalp after you’ve shampooed to get the best results. You may even be able to forego conditioner if applied with every wash.

Compiled by Saman Javed. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2014.

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Scandal actor Columbus Short said on Friday that he would not be returning to the hit ABC drama for its next season, a month after the actor was arrested on a felony battery charge.

Short, 31, who plays Harrison Wright opposite actor Kerry Washington’s Olivia Pope character, said in a statement, “must confirm my exit from a show I’ve called home for three years.”

“Everything must come to an end and unfortunately, the time has come for Harrison Wright to exit the canvas,” he added, without providing details on the reason for his departure. ABC, owned by Walt Disney Co, did not comment on Short’s exit from the salacious political drama by hit show creator Shonda Rhimes, which ended its third season last week.

Short was charged with felony battery from a March incident in which he allegedly punched and knocked out a male guest at a Los Angeles restaurant.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2014.

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The 40 year old said it was a struggle to make her mark in the fashion industry after her initial rise to prominence due to her pop music career. “For a long time there, I was a bit of a laughing stock. And while everybody was busy laughing, what was I doing? I was laying the foundation to what I have in place now,” said Beckham.

The mother of four also said it’s good she doesn’t have to rely on advertising. “It’s a double-edged sword, really. The most valuable part of being famous is that you have a voice and people will listen. I can get a lot of attention. I don’t have to rely on advertising campaigns,” she added.

The designer made her grand debut at New York Fashion Week in 2008 and said the fact that everyone thought she would fail took some pressure off her. “Everybody said, ‘Well, it’s never going to work because a celebrity can’t make a [clothing] line’. Everyone thought it was going to be rubbish [and that took] the pressure off a little bit. I didn’t go into this to prove anything to anybody other than myself,” stated Beckham.

Posh, who recently celebrated her 40th birthday, isn’t a fan of celebrity life and feels she’d rather focus on her successful fashion empire. “I like to keep my head down, work hard and focus on what I’m doing businesswise. I like to try and control how much I’m seen. I don’t want to go out and be photographed every day, you know,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2014.

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Here are some other high profile leading ladies who have yet to say ‘I Do’ off-screen:

Priyanka Chopra

In over a decade, the 31-year-old has done it all  — clinched the Miss World crown, delivered blockbusters like Krrish 3, Barfi! and Fashion, crooned with international artists like Pitbull and fronted the global fashion brand GUESS. But she seems to have hard luck when it comes to love. She has reportedly dated actors Harman Baweja and Shahid Kapoor, but someone is yet to put a ring on her finger.

Bipasha Basu

She once dated model-turned-actors Dino Morea and John Abraham, and for a few years, kept her love life away from shutterbugs. It was just a few months ago that she declared that she was in love again, this time with Harman Baweja. There are also rumours of the couple getting hitched soon. Till now, they are tight-lipped about the union.

Soha Ali Khan

She has long been in a committed relationship with fellow actor Kunal Kemmu. The 35-year-old has often said in public that her star mom Sharmila Tagore repeatedly tells her to tie the knot, but she seems to have no qualms about just dating Kunal.

Neha Dhupia

She was in an on and off relationship with squash player Ritwik Bhattacharya and then was spotted with Venezuelan hunk James Sylvester in 2011. This was followed by her link-up with cricketer Yuvraj Singh but she denied this and said that when she finds her soul mate, she will let everyone know about him  — but till then, she’s enjoying her single status.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2014.

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