Cool & Casual

Model and actor Amina Sheikh was spotted at the music video premier of My Punjabi Lover for You looking stylish and sassy in serene white layers. We love how this natural beauty has mixed and matched some great pieces to pull off this look! 

Hair

Amina left her brunette locks open. Her voluminous blow dry does a great job of enhancing those layers around the ends. However, there is a need to pump up that flat fringe just a tad bit. A bit of untangling serum and a volumising mousse before the blow dry will definitely do the trick.

Make-up 

With the summer season boiling up, Amina manages to keep it fresh and breezy with her subtle make-up. For a similar lip colour, try out Revlon’s Colourburst Lipstick in Candy Pink shade for just Rs1,200. For those beautifully defined eyes, go for Rimmel’s Glam’ Eyes Professional liquid liner with a touch of Rimmel’s Glam’ Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara (Rs1,000). The model looks blooming with The Body Shop’s all-in-one blusher Ginger (Rs1,800).

Outfit

The gorgeous actor has kept it simple yet chic with a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, plain white tank top and a trendy lace zipper jacket. You can easily grab a pair of dark blue jeans at Stoneage’s nearest outlet for just Rs2,000. To get your hands at a similar jacket, plan a trip to Mango (Rs4,000) or Next (Rs3,500). Make your way to Zainab Market or Sunday Bazaar for a plain white tank top to keep within the budget. 

Accessories & Shoes

Amina is scoring high on our style-o-meter with that beautiful chunky gold statement necklace, snakeskin bronze clutch and pair of gold studs. Try a local accessories store like Sentiments for cheaper versions or hit the racks at Accessorize. Those two-toned peep-toe wedges are definitely a hit! Check out Charles & Keith for a similar design (Rs4,800).

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

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

The Single Ladies singer Beyonce was reportedly forced to cancel her show in Antwerp, on Tuesday because of dehydration and exhaustion.

“Beyonce has been advised by doctors to rest as a result of dehydration and exhaustion and will not be able to perform in Antwerp, Belgium tonight,” the venue posted on its website.

It added that the singer was “awaiting a word from her doctors before making a decision” on her second performance in the city, scheduled for Wednesday.

The cancellation has come after multiple media outlets speculated that the 31-year-old singer may be pregnant with her second child.

Representatives for Beyonce said in a statement that the canceled concert would be rescheduled as soon as possible and “other tour dates are not expected to be affected.

The pop artist is currently in Europe for, The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, marking her return to music after a year’s gap. Beyonce had taken time off following the birth of her daughter Blue Ivy, the first child for Beyonce and her rapper husband, Jay-Z. 

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

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

Sunny and his brother Bobby were launched by their actor father Dharmendra an Betaab and Barsaat, respectively. Both the films were made under their banner Vijayta Films. Later the ‘he man’ of the ’60s launched his nephew Abhay too with Socha Na Tha.

“I might direct my son as well…not now at least,” said Sunny, who is currently busy promoting Deols home production Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, in which his son has worked as an assistant director.

Sunny wants to follow the family tradition. “We will launch him like I was launched, and how my brother was launched. I am basically giving him space because at the end of the day, it is his journey. Parents can only be there to give you a start, but after that, it’s an individual journey.”

Asked when he plans to launch Karan, 21, Sunny said, “May be in a year’s time. I would give him a year. I want him to grasp as much knowledge as possible. To me, an actor has to be like a sponge.”

Sunny is looking forward to the release of Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, a sequel to the 2011 hit comedy Yamla Pagla Deewana. Coming to theatres June 7, it also stars Dharmendra and Bobby, who were in the original too. He also has Singh Saab The Great and Mohalla Assi in the pipeline.

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

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

“Indian cinema and fashion have always gone hand in hand. In every time period, a fashion trend has evolved due to Indian cinema,” said Falguni. “For instance, the ‘70s saw the hippie trend and flower power in Indian cinema.” She feels the industry is very big on high-end fashion.

The duo also participated in the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin twice. The second time, the show was attended by American singer Ashanti and actor Michelle Williams, both of whom wore their outfits. Falguni and Shane first introduced their label in August 2002.

“We have big-budget movies such as Cocktail, Student of The Year and Race 2 which spent a lot of money on designer wear, bags and shoes,” added Shane. “Every era has created a different fashion statement.” Shane feels that India as a country is very big on Bollywood and as a result, everything seen by actors is picked up by young girls and boys.

Falguni and Shane are inspired by the fusion of Western cuts and Indian embellishments. They feel it has a global appeal. And recently, singer-actor Demi Lovato chose a bold and trendy outfit designed by them. They also styled the entire look of background dancers at Madonna’s Super Bowl performance.

The duo is making waves again with their new project — they designed an underwater themed wedding gown for tattoo artist Kat Von D who got engaged to electronic music artist Joel Zimmerman aka Deadmau5 last year.

“The details of her weddings gown are yet to be finalised. Kat’s design sensibility is very unique. She will never dress like the typical bride,” said Falguni, whose dream is to design for Kristen Stewart, Keira Knighley and Gwyneth Paltrow. “Her wedding theme is underwater so even the outfit will be inspired from the theme in terms of colours and cuts.”

The fashion industry in India has greatly evolved, said Shane. “We see that people in the Indian fashion industry are becoming more aware of international brands and designers. Everyone seems to know the latest fashion trends,” he added. “Our celebrities are constantly spotted in the latest collections of these high-end brands and designer wear. There is an influx of luxury brands, which was actually a rare commodity 10 years ago.”

They also feel that there is a lot of talent in this industry. “There are a lot of designers who are extremely creative. The younger lot has a fresh perspective but it’s not like the newbies are more evolved in terms of creativity,” said Shane. “All designers, be it new, young or old, are constantly evolving in terms of creativity. The day a designer’s creative thoughts become stagnant, his work will stop being sought after.” 

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

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

Aurangzeb, coming out of  the Yash Raj Films’ stable, marks Sabharwal’s big screen debut, after TV show Powder, which he directed for the same banner. He said there is a “misconception about compromise in the industry while working with big production houses.”

“When you have a person, who is a writer and director and if you are willing to accept help, then the person can bring a lot of experience to the table. At no point do you compromise. They only do value addition,” the director told IANS.

When asked if a big production house ensures security, he said, “It ensures a good release, promotion, and some very healthy inputs. You are protected here. They guide you.” He added that no matter how experienced you are, it’s not easy to deal with “the whole media machinery and the way information is manipulated.”

“They guide you through all this, so that you can focus only on your film,” he said. Sabharwal, who had written Phir Milenge and Darna Mana Hai, always nurtured a dream to wear the director’s hat and say cut. “I wanted to learn the ropes and see how a director functions in a professional scenario. There were two ways in front of me — to work as an assistant director or screenplay writer. I wrote three films and then I started trying out for direction,” said Sabharwal.

His TV serial Powder was about the drug mafia, while his film Aurangzeb is about the land mafia. Both are crime thrillers, but he now wants to work on a good story in any genre. Aurangzeb, which is coming out on Friday, has a mixed cast — seasoned artists like Rishi Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Amrita Singh will be seen with new brigade of actors like Arjun Kapoor, southern star Prithviraj and Pakistani actor Sashaa Agha.

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

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

It’s official. Amir Adnan has his feet in two ships. What’s unclear is whether he will juggle the two competing parties or pick one over the other. The designer’s colleagues reveal that he hasn’t officially resigned from FPC — everyone is in a state of turmoil. What is going on?

“I am a part of this industry and I know the business of fashion. So why can’t I support both councils?” asks Adnan defensively. “FPC and PFDC are two separate entities and are not competing against one another.” It’s essential that he leaves one party before joining the other, but Adnan remains a little clueless to the notion. “I don’t know the exact date of when the FPC post [currently holds] expires, but it should be round about the same time I take charge of the new one.”

Adnan reveals that no official paperwork has been done regarding his new position at PFDC. “Yes, I have become a board member at PFDC but for now, it’s all verbal. I haven’t been offered a designation [specifically],” he explains the current scenario. “Nothing is official until and unless they elect me into becoming a board member.”

CEO of PFDC Saad Ali shed some light on the subject. “I am not supposed to disclose anything about it yet but yes, Amir Adnan has signed the entry form and is a now corporate board member at PFDC,” he reveals, adding, “I am sure he has resigned from his post [at FPC]. It’s official that he is a member of PFDC now.”

There are two very interesting sides to this story. Chairperson FPC Shamaeel Ansari shares another set of facts starting with the most significant one: Adnan hasn’t resigned from FPC nor has he informed them. “As a professional, he should have informed one council of his decision and then joined the other; and it should have been in that exact order,” she says. “We can’t dictate [our opinions] on anyone. But I thought he was professional and that he would take the professional path.”

She further elaborates on the formal process of resignation, which she feels Adnan should have followed. “FPC is a registered company under Section 42 and any board member who wants to resign, has to go through a process of signing [specific] papers and needs to submit them to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan [SECP],” she says.

Legal expert Zara Siddiqui talks about the implications. “There are two primary things which need to be taken into account. One, you cannot create a monopoly and second, this practice [of holding two positions simultaneously] is unethical,” she says. “Since these are two competing bodies, Adnan needs to understand that he has to step down from one.” She feels there are certain confidentiality and non-disclosure issues which both councils maintain and thus, “It’s unfair as these issues will get juxtaposed in the open.”

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

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

On the eve of May 11, not only were many celebrating the completion of a democratically-elected government’s tenure, but there were also whispers and chants of a “Naya Pakistan”. The two words invaded every facet of our lives, from social media and television to radio and the very streets of major cities. More than a slogan, the phrase became part of popular culture, and was used in a song, internet memes and also in debates between political parties. The Express Tribune talks to the man who helped create the slogan for PTI.

“The Naya Pakistan [campaign] created excitement about taking part in elections amongst a class that detested politics,” says Shavaar Ali Khan, head of Farigh Four, the advertising firm which chalked out the Naya Pakistan campaign for the PTI. “It created awareness about political culture.”

Although the party did not score majority seats in the National Assembly, the party’s well-marketed slogan spoke about change, and encouraged citizens to make it to the ballot box.

“We were approached by the PTI’s brand team, and treated the client as a brand. Other examples similar to the PTI are the Barack Obama campaign and the Indian party BJP’s Shining India campaign,” explains Shavaar.

PTI’s brand team, which includes Salman Amjad, Salman Danish Naseer, Faisal Javed and Asad Umar, had approached Farigh Four to devise a marketing strategy that would represent change. Creating the right mix meant defining what exactly that change is. “Change as a buzzword was associated with Obama, so we had to come up with a slogan that defined change. Naya Pakistan was the answer.”

The Farigh Four team started to work with the PTI to design a campaign that would entice a citizen to vote. The campaign became the firm’s flagship project. “The idea was to get new voters who had never voted before and to create a campaign that is not specifically focused on any party because the target audience, which was meant to be reached, was completely apolitical,” narrates Shavaar. It is important to not here that voter turn-out on May 11, 2013 was the highest in Pakistan’s history, at 60%.

With the aim of permeating all segments of society, Farigh Four’s team with Beenish Mir and Shehzad Ahmed on board, started to work on the slogan. “We had to come up with a concept which was not only pan-Pakistan, but also something that would raise the PTI above regular politics,” explains Shavaar. “The different slogans that we came up with were ‘Banega Naya Pakistan’ and ‘Naya Banega Pakistan’.”

PTI chairman Imran had started to chant the Naya Pakistan slogan by the end of 2012. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the PTI was laying the foundation for one of the biggest media campaigns in Pakistan’s history.

“The idea was to not let the slogan get lost amidst aggressive election campaigns by other political parties and since youngsters were the primary target, it had to be something which could stay with them. The campaign resulted in the birth of a new political class — people who were inspired by the dream of Naya Pakistan,” asserts Shavaar.

Working with Imran

Shavaar says that cricketer-turned-politician Imran was open to new initiatives. The man behind the campaign says that the openness was due to the “culture of meritocracy within the party.”

“Whether you agree with him politically or not, he [Imran] has charisma and leadership qualities that he tries to inculcate in the youth. He is very encouraging,” expresses Shavaar. “He [Imran] has a set of advisers, but he is the kind of guy who does what he wants. So, a lot of things that we did spontaneously, like creating the buzzwords such as tabdeeli [change] or Naya Pakistan, he kind of inherently started to use them.”

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

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

Director and producer Ajay Yadav regrets his decision to rope in actor Meera for his project Bhadaas and rues that she has back-stabbed him by refusing to promote the movie. “Forget about the promotion, she hasn’t even completed the film. She didn’t even come for the dubbing,” Yadav told IANS.

“She has back-stabbed us and now, when I called her for the promotion, she said she will not promote as she is busy with some other work. She told us to go ahead and release the film and that she will not come for promotions,” added the film-maker.

Meera made her Bollywood debut with film-maker Soni Razdan’s 2005 movie Nazar and after that she featured in Kasak, but none could impress the box office.

A psychological thriller, Bhadaas features Meera in the lead role.

This was Yadav’s first experience with a Pakistani actor and he vows not to work with talent from the neighbouring country again.

“This is the first time I ever worked with a Pakistani actor and my personal experience has been very bad. It was the biggest mistake I made that I cast Meera, who back-stabbed me,” he said. Oops! Looks like Meera has some making up to do.

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

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

LOS ANGELES: As a tattooed wild child wearing her husband’s blood in a locket and luring Brad Pitt away from Hollywood rival Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie was dream fodder for the tabloid press.

But her transformation into a humanitarian campaigner and now poster girl for the fight against breast cancer with her revelation that she had undergone a double mastectomy, when faced with a high cancer risk, has elevated her to heroine status in the media.

Her deeply personal account of the decision to undergo the operation, published in the New York Times, won her wide praise for her courage and Pitt’s support of her move has put the couple in a new light in and beyond Hollywood. Jolie said she made the difficult choice in order to “tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”

“This week they have shown that they are real people and a real couple with a solid relationship,” said Wendy Mitchell, editor at trade magazine Screen International, speaking at the world’s largest film festival in Cannes. “They have both grown up and even though the tabloid press will still chase them, there is a new respect there for them.”

Jolie, 37, has managed to put her wild reputation behind her, staying out of the public spotlight with Pitt and their six children and only taking to the stage to promote films and causes in which she is involved.

The actor, whose past roles have included the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider films, still makes big studio entertainment such as next year’s Maleficent, a twist on Sleeping Beauty in which she stars as the wicked sorceress who puts a curse on the princess.

She has also combined her humanitarian campaigning with film-making, marking her directorial debut with 2011’s In the Land of Blood and Honey, a love story between a Muslim woman and a Serbian man with the Bosnian war as a backdrop.

Industry insiders at the Cannes film festival this week, the year’s biggest movie industry gathering, were stunned by Jolie’s mastectomy announcement but said the way she released the news, in her words in the Times, was a sign of her maturity.

“She’s somebody who has transformed herself in so many ways from the very beginning when she was dismissed as more or less some kind of kooky bimbo,” said Jay Weissberg, a movie critic at industry publication Variety.

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

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

MUMBAI: Everyone has childhood crushes and for Ranbir Kapoor, it was the Bollywood diva — Madhuri Dixit. And now that he’s gotten the chance to bust a move with the woman of his dreams in a special song Ghagra in his forthcoming film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, he couldn’t be happier. He was all praise for her work ethic and professionalism.

“It was great to shoot with Madhuri,” said Ranbir, about the song that has been choreographed by Farah Khan. “Today, even after accomplishing so much and the kind of hard work she put in over the years, she is still so sincere, hardworking, passionate and talented.”

“She is there [on the sets] to only do her work and is always there on time,” he added.

Ranbir grew up watching her films; she has worked with his father-actor Rishi Kapoor in several projects including Yaraana, Sahibaan and Prem Granth.

He admitted that he was quite heartbroken when he found out Madhuri had married Sriram Nene in 1999. He was only 17 at the time.

“The first woman I fell in love with was Madhuri Dixit and the first woman who gave me a heartbreak was Madhuri Dixit when she got married. Just the fact that I got an opportunity to dance with her and see her on the sets, was amazing,” said the 30-year-old.

The Bollywood heartthrob also confessed that he had to “bribe” his friend and the film’s director Ayan Mukerji to let him kiss her in the song.

“I bribed Ayan, as he is my friend. In the song, I found out that I had to kiss her on the cheek, so that was a lovely experience,” said Ranbir, who even danced with the Dhak Dhak girl on the sets of the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa last year while promoting Barfi!.

Set to release on May 31, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani also features actors Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapoor.

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

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

Hollywood and Bollywood actors shined at the opening ceremony of the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Dressed their best, most celebrities looked stunning, but the representatives from India took it too far, turning traditional getups into eyesores.

Read on to find out how some of them were dressed:

Freida Pinto

The Slumdog Millionaire actor, Freida Pinto, wore a custom-made Gucci coral silk-chiffon halter gown, accentuated with a gold-embellished chunky belt. We love her romantic braided updo and Chopard jewels. Her beautiful body complements the dress well, but we wish she hadn’t gone overboard with those blingy shoes.

Vidya Balan

Vidya is on a constant downward spiral when it comes to styling and at the Cannes opening ceremony, she was a fashion casualty from head-to-toe. Vidya has us puzzled over solving this mystery of why she tried to pull off an Umrao Jaan.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s traditional lehnga is beautiful, but somehow looks unbecoming on Vidya. That diminutive black bindi, her big earrings and that busy necklace don’t save her from being a wardrobe disgrace!

Lana Del Rey

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, better known by her screen name Lana Del Rey, joined fellow stars for the premiere of The Great Gatsby, wearing a black-and-white embroidered gown with a scalloped neckline. To us, her dress looks like it’s been made from a curtain.

Although the retro waves, cat eyes and the scrumptious Chopard emerald earrings have us drooling, her dress takes away the glamour from her look. The sloppily ruffled lace end of the dress makes us so sad!

Sonam Kapoor

We are not sure whether to love Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor’s bold look for the evening or not. Known for adding drama to her outfits, Sonam paired a stunning white Anamika Khanna Couture lace sari with a heavily embroidered cape-like jacket. In an attempt to mix contemporary with traditional, Sonam wore an overwhelming nose ring from her mother, Sunita K’s collection.

We have to give thumbs down to the nose ring, which would be more appropriate as jewellery on a sacrificial cow! Her ensemble would have looked better with a smaller nose ring, which would have not dominated her face and would have looked stunning with her bold maroon lips and that winged eyeliner. A tip: don’t try too hard, Sonam!

Nicole Kidman

Hollywood actor Nicole Kidman struck all the right chords with her twee, summery Dior frock with floral embroidery. Pairing her dress with bang-on-trend coral pointed heels, the actor has got us weak in the knees! With a high ponytail, smokey eyes and rosy lips, she’s ranking high on our style-o-meter.

Amitabh  Bachchan

Seems like Big B’s stylist had gone on leave when he chose to pull of this black sequined tuxedo with a polka dot bow-tie — an ensemble which was too glittery for both his age and our eyes!

While all other men looked refined in their dapper black suits, Bachchan’s seemed more in line with a circus performer’s get-up.

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

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

KARACHI: Best Album

Nominations for the best music album are Chahar Balish by Sajjad Ali, Circus in the Sky by Usman Riaz, Khamoshi by Ayesha Omar, Naubahar by Dynoman and The Harvest by Sajid & Zeeshan.

This year, there’s an interesting mix of experience and new talent in the list of nominees. Despite very tough contenders such as the experienced Sajjad Ali, Sajid and Zeeshan will probably sweep the trophy very smoothly due to their new age sound and great quality production.

Song of the Year

Nominations in this category are Ankahi by Overload, Jaag by Jarar Malik, Kahani Purani by Mooroo, Katna Nae by Sajjad Ali and Pi Jaon by Farhan Saeed.

The young and very talented Mooroo is the winner in our eyes, hands down. However, it’s interesting to see how a lot of talented acts such as East Side Story, Fortitude and Abbas Ali Khan were ignored despite their ground-breaking contributions — this is disappointing.

Best Emerging Talent

Nominations for Best Emerging Talent are Ahmed Siddiqui, Faaris Shafi, Mooroo, Naseer and Shahab and Sibti.

This category has a lot of competition this year. But our winner, without doubt, is Sibti. He gave us songs such as Ane De and Peshawar Ka Larki and they clearly show his potential as a songwriter.

Best Music Video Director

Nominations in this category are Farhad Humayun for Ankahi, Hammad Khan for Ane De, Sohaib Akhtar- for Khamoshi, Taimoor Salahuddin for Awam and Taimoor Salahuddin for Kahani Purani.

The quality and grandeur of Ankahi, which was directed by Farhad Humayun himself, has left all other nominations in the dump.

Best Original Sound Track (OST)

Nominations for the Best Original Sound Track are Hain Yeh Silsilay by Zoe Viccaji (Tanhayan Naye Silsilay, ARY Digital), Matae Jaan by Bilal Khan (Matae Jaan, Hum TV), Roshan Sitara by Qurat ul Ain Baloch (Roshan Sitara, Hum TV), Yaar Ko Humne by Abida Parveen (Shehr-e-Zaat, Hum TV) and Zindagi Gulzar Hai by Ali Zafar (Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Hum TV).

It’s pretty clear that this category doesn’t have much competition and well, contenders. That’s probably why Hain Yeh Silsilay, which is actually a remix of the original OST from Tanhayan, has been nominated.

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

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

KARACHI: Model of the Year (Female)

Nominations for the Model of the Year (Female) are Amna Ilyas, Ayyan, Cybil Chowdhry, Mehreen Syed and Rabia Butt.

While the competition is stiff, Amna Ilyas gets our vote hands down, for being confident, poised and versatile. From her ramp walk to her photoshoots, this dusky beauty is well-deserving of the trophy.

Model of the Year (Male)

Nominations for the Model of the Year (Male) are Abbas Jafri, Ather Amin, Jahan-e-Khalid, Shehzad Noor and Waleed Khalid.

There is no denying that there’s something about Abbas Jafri that makes the ladies weak in the knees, but we’re going to go with the Shehzad Noor this time because he has ramp presence which is key, since all the male models look pretty much the same!

Best Fashion Photographer

Nominations for the Best Fashion Photographer are Azeem Sani, Fayyaz Ahmed, Guddu Shani, Nadir Feroz Khan, Rizwanul Haq.

Competition is tough here again, but we are going to give this one to Nadir Feroz Khan, because his photoshoots are different, high fashion and so, so gorgeous!

Best Hair and Make-up Artist

Nominations in this category are the Creative Team at Nabila, Creative Team at Tariq Amin, Juju Haider & Shammal Quraishi at Toni&Guy Lahore, Maram Azmat & Abroo Hashmi and Raana Khan.

Nabila bags this one year after year, but we’re going to give a shout out to the ladies at Tariq Amin for some beautiful hair and make-up in the lawn shoots for Deepak.

Achievement in Fashion Design — Luxury Pret

Nominations in this category are Shehla Chatoor, Iman Ahmed at Body Focus, Khadija Shah at Elan, Maheen Karim and Sania Maskatiya.

Now this is a tough one. Shehla, Khadija and Maheen are so good at their socialite, evening wear, while Iman is a master of cut and craft and Sania is dexterous at digital prints. We love all these ladies, but if we have to give this to someone, it would have to be Elan for its ethereal and inventive pieces.

Achievement in Fashion Design — Pret

Nominations in this category are Feeha Jamshed, Iman Ahmed at Body Focus, Sanam Chaudhry, Sania Maskatiya and Wardha Saleem.

Interesting choices again, but this one is a clear winner — Wardha for her Folkplay collection at Fashion Pakistan Week 5, which was colourful, creative and the showstealer.

Best Menswear Designer

Nominations in this category are Ahmed Bham, Amir Adnan, Ammar Belal, Ismail Farid and Republic by Omar Farooq.

These gentleman have developed strong client bases of their own, but our vote goes to Ismail Farid for smart and wearable shirts that are never too over-the-top.

Achievement in Fashion Design — Lawn

Nominations in this category are Khaadi by Khaadi, Mahnoush by Arjumand Amin, Orient by Deepak Perwani, SanaSafinaz by Sana Hashwani & Safinaz Muneer and So Kamaal by Elan.

There are no two ways about it, this one goes to the golden lawn (and now retail!) queens, Sana and Safinaz for cohesive, gorgeous designs on long-lasting fabric.

Best Emerging Talent

Nominations in this category are Misha Lakhani (Women’s wear designer), Abdullah Haris (Photography), Natasha’s Salon (Hair & Make Up Artist), Saima Azhar (Modeling) and Sana Sarfaraz (Modeling).

We think Misha, Abdullah and Sana are giving each other some stiff competition. Saima needs to work on her walk and weight gain and we’d like to see more diversity from Natasha before we give this one to her.

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

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

KARACHI: Best TV Play (Satellite)

Nominations for the Best TV Play are Humsafar (Hum TV), Maat (Hum TV), Manjali (Geo Entertainment), Mera Yaqeen (ARY Digital) and Shehr-e-Zaat (Hum TV).

All these plays kept the audience glued to their TV screen for weeks. But an obvious win seems to be Humsafar which won the hearts of all age groups. Maat and Shehr-e-Zaat also had deep and close-to-reality stories, so it’ll be a close call for sure.

Best TV Actress (Satellite)

Nominations in this category are Hina Dilpazeer for Qudusi Sahab Ki Bewa (ARY Digital), Mahira Khan for Humsafar (Hum TV), Mahvish Hayat for Mere Qatil Mere Dildar (Hum TV), Saba Hameed for Manjali (Geo Entertainment) and Saba Qamar for Maat (Hum TV).

These five ladies have performed their roles well but Saba Qamar and Mahvish Khan stand out for sure — only after the splendid Hina Dilpazeer who has shown versatility and skill like no other. Saba played the role of a spoiled girl who always gets what she wants. But in the end, she faces maat. Mahvish, on the other hand, plays a suppressed housewife who gets tortured by her in-laws.

Best TV Actor (Satellite)   

Nominations for the Best TV Actor are Adnan Siddiqui for Mere Qatil Mere Dildar (Hum TV), Faisal Qureshi for Jahez (Geo Entertainment), Fawad Khan for Humsafar (Hum TV), Imran Aslam for Sanjha (Hum TV) and Shahood Alvi for Mere Huzoor (Express Entertainment).

Needless to say Fawad has his face in every woman’s heart. But it’s not just his good looks, he has proven his acting prowess as well. Adnan played a different kind of villain (a creepy one) and he deserves appreciation too.

Best TV Director   

Nominations in this category are Amna Nawaz for Maat (Hum TV), Hassam Hussain for Durr-e Shahwar (Hum TV), Kashif Nisar for Mein (PTV), Nadeem Baig for Manjali (Geo Entertainment) and Sarmad Khoosat for Humsafar (Hum TV).

Khoosat has a massive fan following so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he took home the trophy. Amna might also steal the win as Maat was quite captivating too.

Best TV Writer

Nominations for the Best TV Writer are Amna Mufti for Jahez (Geo Entertainment), Faiza Iftikhar for Bilquis Kaur (Hum TV), Khalil-ur-Rehman for Manjali (Geo Entertainment), Seema Munaf for Tilafi (PTV) and Umera Ahmed for Maat (Hum TV).

Umera could easily win this as she allowed the audience to relate to a story which is very close-to-reality. It shows how one sister tries to steal the other sister’s happiness but in the end, she is left with nothing. It teaches the importance of what goes around, comes around.

Best TV Play (Terrestrial) 

Nominations in this category are Mein (PTV), Mein Muhabbat aur Tum (A Plus), Paayal (PTV), Qeemat (A Plus) and Tilafi (PTV).

Best TV Actress (Terrestrial)

Nominations in this category are Beenish Chohan for Chalo Phir Se Jee Ke Dekhen (PTV), Fiza Ali for Love, Life aur Lahore (A Plus), Mahnoor Baloch for Tilafi (PTV), Mahvish Hayat for Mein (PTV) and Resham for Ek Yaad Hai (A Plus).

Best TV Actor (Terrestrial)  

Nominations in this category are Babar Ali for Mein (PTV), Kashif Mehmood for Love, Life aur Lahore (A Plus), Nauman Ejaz for Qeemat (A Plus) and Saleem Shaikh for Anokha Ladla II (PTV).

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

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

LAHORE: A pair of twins – born in Raiwind, Lahore on the election day – were named Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif, Express News reported on Friday. 

Parents of the twins, Siraj and his wife Zahida, were all set to vote in the May 11 elections when the wife felt unwell.

Standing in the voting line, Zahida had to be then shifted to a hospital immediately.

The couple decided to name their newborn children Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif to commemorate the historic day and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s (PML-N) win.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

From classically trained traditional singers to hardcore rock vocalists, the show has managed to dig up some good raw talent within Pakistan. The show’s versatility is evident in the type of singers it presents — ranging from those who have grown up listening to the soulful renditions of Udit Narayan and Sajjad Ali to those who take their inspiration from the success of the very distinctive Ali Azmat and Atif Aslam. The six of them more or less represent a fusion of Pakistani rock, folk, ethnic pop and filmy music.

Zamad Baig

Baig is the last of the final six contestants and stands out for his ability to sing rock songs to perfection. Although Junoon’s Neend Aati Nahin is more of a pop-rock song than essentially rock, Baig’s slow and atmospheric version of the song spoke a lot about his vocal capability. His voice texture is very raw, piercing and unorthodox and that seems to be missing from the Pakistani music industry since the heydays of Roxen. Rather it has become very difficult to find a proper rock vocalist but Baig definitely has the potential to be identified as one. With the sudden increase in the demand for Sufi-rock singers both in Pakistan and India, Baig should get a lot of opportunities if he trains a bit more.

Rameez Khalid

Rameez Khalid is a complete package, who would have been given countless offers had he participated in some Indian talent show. With his chocolate hero looks and a truly soulful cover of Yeh Shaam by Vital Signs, it seems that Khalid will be adding a lot of flavour to the overall line-up of the show. Despite the fact that he is a trained classical singer, he has the ability to venture into genres such as pop amongst others.

Natasha Baig

One cannot help but say that Natasha is the only true rockstar of the show. With a bandana on her head and a dynamic personality, Natasha has the right combination of energy and talent for her age. She sang an improvised version of Dekha Na Tha by Alamgir and that smile on Alamgir’s face, who was sitting right in front of the stage, said loads about how much the judges and the audience enjoyed her powerful performance. Although this version of the song was a little slow and off-tempo at the beginning but it was good enough to introduce the audience to a voice that has the potential to do miracles in the near future.

Kanza Munir

Although female artists are often sidelined in music shows as observed in many Indian reality shows, Kanza has managed to charm audiences with a unique vocal texture which is perfectly suitable for pop music. Although her high and low notes might not be as perfect and need a little more training, her style of singing surely makes her stand out. She sang Khwaab Adhoore Sahi by Junoon, a song that requires a lot of variation but she successfully managed to give a raw spin to it with her soft, mellow voice. If used properly, she has a voice tailor-made for electronic pop music with a touch of trance.

Mohsin Ali

An incredible vocal range and vivid influences of folk and filmy music make Ali a musical powerhouse from Lahore. Although, it takes a lot of guts to pick up a classic melody like Sham Se Pehle Aana by seasoned singer Alamgir, Ali succeeded in doing justice to the song by not leaving a single high or low note unfinished. Ali is one of those rare voices from Pakistan that is absolutely fit for playback singing. With so many local films coming up and Bollywood opening its doors, there couldn’t have been a better time for Ali’s talent to surface.

Shabbir Ali

Shabbir Ali, who covered Anjane by Strings, is the first finalist of the competition who will get the opportunity to be mentored by one of the top musicians of the country and enhance his singing skills. A brilliant pop singer, Ali’s strength lies in his very distinctive tone that can take him to new heights, if guided properly. Just as Aslam rose to fame with his discernible, sharp tone, Ali, too, has the potential to bank on his voice. However, only time will tell about his persistence as an upcoming artist.

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

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

MUMBAI: Veteran Bollywood  actor Naseeruddin Shah and US-based Indian film-maker Mira Nair have worked together in Monsoon Wedding and he has nothing but compliments for her. Shah is in complete awe of the director’s positive attitude and her perseverance to experiment with different styles of film-making.

“She [Mira Nair] is very brave. She experiments with a lot of different styles of film-making and she is not afraid of failing. I really admire that spirit about her,” said Naseer, who worked with Nair in 2001.

So far Nair has directed Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, Mississippi Masala and Vanity Fair, among others.

While Salaam Bombay! showed the day-to-day life of street children in Mumbai, Monsoon Wedding was about a chaotic Punjabi Indian wedding.

Mira’s latest drama The Reluctant Fundamentalist is based on author Mohsin Hamid’s novel of the same name that talks about the changing scenario in post 9/11 US through a young Pakistani immigrant in the US.

Naseer, who has read the novel already, is quite confident that the film will be hard-hitting and truthful.

“It [The Reluctant Fundamentalist] will be a truthful, hard-hitting and entertaining movie,” said the 59-year-old, who was present at the premiere of The Reluctant Fundamentalist in Mumbai on Wednesday.

“I can’t quite imagine how it [the novel] has been made into a movie and that’s why I am so curious about it,” he added.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist stars Britain-based Pakistani origin actor Riz Ahmed along with Hollywood biggies Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber and Bollywood veterans Shabana Azmi and Om Puri.

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

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

NEW DEHLI: While most women in Bollywood thrive on all sorts of yoga techniques to keep in shape, actor Hrithik Roshan’s wife and popular interior designer, Suzanne Roshan says that being a working mother and constantly running after her kids is what keeps her fit and energetic at all times.

A mother to two sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan, Suzanne says, “I am a very hardworking mother and my kids keep me fit.” She believes that it is not easy being a working mother; juggling two things at a time. “I have got two sons and they are seven and five and I believe that the most difficult thing in this world is to be a working mother. Being a working mother doesn’t give you a chance to be lazy.” She added, “It means that you are always on the go and that I think keeps me fit and motivated.”

With an Associate of Arts Degree in interior designing from Brooks College in California, Suzanne first started working for her mother Zarine Khan’s interior firm. Now, she is a businesswoman and a designer on her own with her venture, Suzanne Roshan’s House of Design.

Suzanne, who has also designed Rani Mukherji and Priyanka Chopra’s place, talked about her passion for designing. “I have always been a design student and my mind was focused on designing from a young age. So, for me, creativity is a very satisfying and motivating process,” she said.

Although she is well-known for her work, Suzanne is not the only star wife whose interest lies in interior designing with Twinkle Khanna, Akshay Kumar’s wife, also joining the race. When asked if the competition has intensified, she said, “I do my work with only one intention and that is that I have to think differently. Nothing else matters to me. I don’t get involved in any other things, they are all my friends.”

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

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

It’s time to phase out dark, dull colours from your wardrobe and bring in bright, summery shades to match the sun. The colour yellow is topping fashion charts throughout the world whether it is a bright shade or a rich mustard.

It’s a colour that adds instant brightness to your look; a yellow ribbon in your hair; a skinny belt; yellow ballet flats or an oversized yellow bag is noticeable and fashionable.

Be sure to wear the colour the right way. Every shade of yellow won’t suit every skin tone; a pale face may be lost in a pastel shade, while mustard may not complement a dusky skin tone. On our skin tones, bright yellow is most flattering, provided that the outfit is not a buttery yellow disaster.

So what are you waiting for? Run to the nearest store and indulge in some yellow accents.

Twitter ID: @Secretclosetpk Secretcloset.pk is an exclusive online fashion portal

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

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

The all forgiving season of layers is far gone and while nothing beats a healthy diet and regular exercise, there are ways to take focus off those annoyingly stubborn problem areas and give the illusion of a leaner, taller frame using a few simple tricks whilst picking out your summer wardrobe. This is not to suggest that you shouldn’t wear what you like but you can style pieces to compliment your body type. However some items such as fitted plaid pants for instance are a clear red zone!

Saved by the Stripes:

Always remember to go vertical never horizontal. The top to bottom geometrics will stretch you out giving the appearance of length where as sideways stripes will make you appear even wider than you are. The racer stripe is especially on trend as the single full length stripe on either side serves to narrow your hips and thighs.

Butterfly Effect:

Arm fat is an unavoidable reality even for the average weight fashionista. We are utterly grateful to the party that brought large flapping kimono sleeves in style that not only cover up while exuding sophistication but are super comfortable. Just be careful when you’re reaching across the dinner table wearing this cut!

Pencil Skirt:

The pencil skirt, true to its name, does wonders to harness your curves and slim downwards. Pair it with some pointed heels and watch those pounds melt before your eyes into an hourglass figure.

Long Necklaces Equals Long Neck

Similar to long cardigans, long necklaces help to subtly but firmly elongate your neck and draw attention to the front and the centre of your structure rather than the hips and even if you are at your target weight they are a critical style supplement.

Hair Up:

Slicked back off your face hair in a high pony tail or top knot will bring out your facial bone structure as well as show off your neck. You can work this look for both casual and formal occasions; just remember to tease your crown a bit to add some extra height.

Micro Print Phenomena:

Common sense will tell you if you want to look smaller wear smaller prints and vice versa.  We’re not sure why it works but it does. Perhaps micro prints send signals to your brain which perceives your frame as more petite.

Belts are your Friend:

Hips don’t lie, but your waist is the tiniest part of your torso, therefore accentuate it with a belt preferably a fat one to portray a more curvaceous rather than bulky figure. If you opt for a skinny belt instead, pop out some fabric to create a drop waist baggy effect.

Match Made in Heaven

Coordinating the top and bottom colours of your outfit depicts an uninterrupted vertical flow. Breaking it up midway puts the spotlight on the center part of your outline. Consequently, steer away from stark contrasting top and bottom. However, angular colour blocking within a single article of clothing is an excellent technique to whittle away inches.

Tailored Blazer:

A common misconception is to hide extra pounds by wearing bulky clothes. On the contrary, tailor-shaped cuts such as a sharp blazer sculpts and streamlines your silhouette. Furthermore, it’s a timeless classic wardrobe staple.

Extension Cardigan:

If your top cuts you off at the waist, adding a long cardigan, about mid-thigh, level is a great way to add inches to your torso making you appear taller and hence thinner. Long cape separates on modern Eastern wear are currently high on the trend radar too.

Twitter ID: @Secretclosetpk
Secretcloset.pk is an exclusive online fashion portal

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

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