He said the play shows Saadat Hassan Manto as a visionary. “I have always believed that Manto was much more than a controversial writer who wrote about sex and prostitutes,” he said.

The play was directed by Madeeha Gauhar and marks the end of Ajoka Theatre’s celebrations of Saadat Hasan Manto’s 101st birth anniversary. The title refers to a poem by Majeed Amjad.

“Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh was needed because of the attempts by the Pakistani state and conservative elements to ‘sanitise’ Manto,” Gauhar told The Express Tribune.

She said, “It is a tribute to the gustakh [impertinent] writer who would have declined the Nishaan-i-Pakistan awarded to him by the hypocritical establishment after his death.”

The play depicts the hostile reception Manto got from a conservative establishment and a rigid left following his migration to Pakistan. It uses some of Manto’s short stories including Khuda ki kasam, Khol Do, Licence, Letters to Uncle Sam, Thanda Gosht and Toba Tek Singh, to depict the writer’s emotional and creative process.Naseem Abbas, who played Manto, said he was honoured. “It is one of the most difficult characters I have performed,” he said.

Uzma Hassan, the female lead who performed three roles in the play including that of Manto’s alternate ego, said she had joined Ajoka Theatre in November last year.

She said, “The play helped me better understand Manto.”

“Manto beautifully depicted the problems faced by our society in his letters,” said Kamran Mujahid, a senior TV and stage artist, who played Shayam.

“We have staged this play in India and in Peshawar as well. We will continue to play our part in helping the younger generation know Manto better,” he said.

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

Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor first caught the public eye with their love affair. When their off-screen relationship came to an abrupt end, everyone thought that was the end of their on-screen connection too. But Deepika begs to differ. She is all praise for Ranbir and says their break-up didn’t affect their friendship.

The two will be seen together in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Deepika feels they have a comfort level. “We are comfortable with each other whether the scene is intimate, romantic, anger-filled or action. The fact remains that we are comfortable working with each other and that’s why we signed the film,” said Deepika, according to the Times of India.

“When we are doing scenes, we don’t think of each other as an ex-girlfriend or an ex-boyfriend. We are there as characters,” she continued. “In Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Ranbir is there as Bunny and I am there as Naina Talwar. Ayan Mukerji [director] is our common friend and if he thought we would be uncomfortable, he wouldn’t have gotten us together in the film.”

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

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“The demand for a Pakistani film in Canada is rock solid,” director Shahzad Rafique tells The Express Tribune from India, where he is currently working. He says that festival organiser Sunny Gill was “very eager to play a quality Pakistani film.”

Adding that the release of Bol is a reflection of this demand, he says, “Bol did better than any Bollywood film which was released around the same time – if we want to make space for our movies in the global market, we need to tackle subjects which have international relevance. Otherwise the vision of our cinema will remain limited [to just Pakistan].”

The film’s cast includes Ahsan Khan, Meera, Shaan and Moroccan actor Wiam Dhamani. Meera and Wiam are currently in Toronto to promote the movie at PIFF – an annual event which aims to bring Punjabi culture into the spotlight.

The film’s director Shahzad Rafique feels the demand for a Pakistani film in Canada is “rock solid”. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Ishq Khuda experiments with the themes of sufism and spirituality. Rafique explains that the project was an attempt to raise the question of “higher love” in comparison to the pursuit of relatively selfish worldly desires. The soundtrack, which has already received rave reviews since its release last month, has been composed by Wajahat Attray and includes the strong vocals of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Sanam Marvi. It also features the return of renowned playback singer Shazia Manzoor.

“Film is a powerful medium of communication and representation. It’s very important for Pakistani films to have a global market,” continues Rafique. “We need to show the world who we are as a nation and clear all misunderstandings about us.” He feels local producers haven’t been able to take advantage of the growing international market due to the lack of quality output.

The film’s director Shahzad Rafique feels the demand for a Pakistani film in Canada is “rock solid”. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

The director admits that it was the global value he added to Ishq Khuda which helped promote a softer image of the film. He has also produced films such as Salakhain (2004) and Mohabbataan Sachiyaan (2007) which did well internationally despite non-conducive conditions – they were also released in India and were rated 2.5 and 3.5 out of five, respectively, by the Times of India.

Although Rafique is unsure of how the film will be received by the audience, he remains positive that they will appreciate the final product. “I really can’t say anything about how it will do at the box office but I have said everything I wanted to through this film,” he continues. “I am satisfied with the end result and now it’s really just up to the viewers.”

The film’s director Shahzad Rafique feels the demand for a Pakistani film in Canada is “rock solid”. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

At the end, the director says he is screening the film abroad to inspire young film-makers. “I’m trying to form pathways for them which will open up avenues for the exhibition of their work internationally.”

After its first screening in Toronto, the film is expected to be released in Pakistan on Eidul Fitr.

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

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CANNES: A man was arrested at the Cannes film festival on Friday after firing a starting pistol during a live TV broadcast on the palm-lined waterfront, sending actors Christoph Waltz and Daniel Auteuil running for cover.

French TV station Canal+ was interviewing Austria’s Oscar-winning Waltz and French actor Auteuil live on its nightly news show from a beach-front set before a crowd of spectators when a man fired two shots into the air.

“The bodyguards jumped over the barriers into the crowd and pulled him to the ground. The police arrived and told everyone to run because there was a grenade in his hand,” witness Arthur Laiguesse told Reuters.

Police arrested the man at the scene and found he was carrying a dummy grenade and a knife, authorities said.

“It really appears to be a crazy guy,” said a police source.

After the man was taken away, the show’s producers told the crowd the program would continue: “The show must go on.”

Waltz, who has won two best supporting actor Oscars for “Django Unchained” and “Inglourious Basterds”, and Auteuil, both of whom are serving on the Cannes jury, returned to the set.

The shooting was the second security incident on day three of the 12-day festival, the world’s largest cinema showcase that attracts thousands of actors, directors, film executives, journalists and fans.

A police source said $1.4 million worth of Chopard jewellery intended to adorn movie stars had been stolen from a room at the Suite Novotel hotel overnight on Thursday.

But Chopard said the value had been exaggerated and the items were not for actresses to use, declining to give further details.

Behind every successful man, there is a woman and Maha Burney is exactly that for her husband! Currently working as a creative director for her husband Nadir Feroz Khan’s photography venture, this stylist is surely on top of her game.

Burney, who has previously worked as an accessories designer at DKNY, is extremely edgy and hip. She nails it, one event after another, with her funky and fashion-forward style sense.

From neon handbags to sharp updos, Burney can spruce up each outfit. When we went through her Pinterest stream, all we could see was an out-and-out style overload — from resplendent eyeshades and neon accents to flamboyant prints — Burney likes it bold and beautiful.

Her fondness for flaunting her fashion choices is underscored by a recent re-tweet of American actor Orson Welles’ quote: “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”

Her stylish chignons, the red carpet oomph and the yummy accessories puts her high on our must-mimic list.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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Fans of books about the boy wizard will have a chance to bid on a unique first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, annotated by the author, at a charity auction this month, the English PEN organisation said on Friday.

The book contains Rowling’s handwritten thoughts and commentary about the book and the film adaptation, as well as 22 hand-drawn illustrations including one of a sleeping baby Harry and another of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

It includes a 43-page “second thoughts” segment from the author, with phrases such as, “I wrote the book … in snatched hours, in clattering cafés or in the dead of night. For me, the story of how I wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is written invisibly on every page, legible only to me…”

The book will be one of 51 first editions annotated by authors at an auction on May 21 that will include Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, Northern Lights by Philip Pullman and Roald Dahl’s Matilda with original illustrations by Quentin Blake.

The Harry Potter fantasy series of seven novels, based on the adventures of a boy wizard, has become the best-selling book series ever and has been adapted into a multibillion-dollar film franchise.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first published in 1997, and is the rarest of the series as only 500 copies were printed.

In an October 2007 auction, a first edition of the book sold for 19,700 pounds ($29,878) and the auction at Sotheby’s in London is likely to fetch high prices for the unique copies.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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Sashaa, who was previously implicated in an MMS scandal, said her mother, Salma is very supportive. “She is very supportive, she always guides me. She is like a friend in my life … She has always been there for me and she is very protective,” Sashaa told IANS. “I do consult her. She always asks me if I am comfortable carrying it [the role]. I like it when she says these things because it gives you a clear picture of things,” she said.

Sashaa admits the pressure increases when one comes from a film family. “I think when you belong to a film family, people notice you more. But they will pick you up only if you have the talent. If I was just her [Salma’s] daughter, and I didn’t have the talent in me, I wouldn’t have got this film,” she said.

Her future plan is to try different roles on screen. “I want to do different kinds of looks and characters. I never want to repeat stuff. It has to keep changing,” she said.

Sashaa is well aware of the competitive nature of the film industry. But she has a positive attitude towards it. “As an artist, I always appreciate and enjoy everyone who entertains me on screen and makes me feel like I connect to them – whether it is Parineeti Chopra or Anushka Sharma. I am the kind of person who will encourage my co-actors. This is how it should be,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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Actor, Veena Malik, who is known to stir up controversies and was linked to Bollywood actor Ashmit Patel post the reality TV series Big Boss 4, says that he was never a friend. Rather, she only believes in maintaining a friendship with her career.

“Ashmit was never my friend. We met in Bigg Boss [season 4] and after that we haven’t met. I am just working and have a friendship with my career,” said Veena.

Even though it appeared that Veena and Ashmit had bonded well during and after the show, with the two being seen together at various events, they never really gave a clear picture of their relationship.

The actor, who will be seen working alongside Ashmit in the film Supermodel, added, “I have no connection with anyone who I met in Bigg Boss. They don’t even exist in my life.”

Veena will next be seen in the upcoming film, Zindagi 50-50 which is scheduled to release on May 24. The movie also features actors Rajan Verma, Rajpal Yadav and Riya Sen. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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Written by Indian playwright Javed Siddiqui, Aapki Soniya is a sequel to Tumhari Amrita, a well-received play in India which involved veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Farooq Shaikh.

At the presser held to announce the schedule for Aapki Soniya, actor-turned-director Alyy Khan was present with the actors of the play, Sajid Hasan and Mehwish Hayat, at Southend Club. The play will be performed at the club from June 14 and is expected to continue for 17 days. After Karachi, the play is expected to be performed in major cities of the country.

Aapki Soniya was first performed in India in 2005, starring Bollywood actor Sonali Bendre along with Shaikh. Khan’s rendition brings Hasan back to the theatre stage years after he left working in theatre plays.

Sharing her experience of working in theatres, Bendre’s counterpart in the reprisal, Hayat said, “Theatre has always been a test for me; be it working with a younger cast in a musical or with seasoned actors like Sajid and a perfectionists like Alyy.” Hayat seemed optimistic about the audience turnover at the play and said that she hopes the audience will appreciate the efforts put in by the cast and crew in producing Aapki Soniya.

Hasan said he owes the revival of theatre culture in Karachi to veteran writer and lyricist Anwar Maqsood. “The success of Anwar sahib’s plays has given us the confidence to fasten our seatbelts and get ready to perform on stage.”

“I must appreciate the efforts of Karachi Arts Council in reviving theatre and giving a chance to young and old actors to experiment with this medium,” continued Hasan. He added that an alternate space like Southend Club could be used if other spaces are booked or if there is unrest in the city.

Director of the romantic play, Khan opened the press conference by taking the audiences down memory lane. He revealed that he started professional acting when he was only nine years old.

He also spoke about projects he has lined up for the Pakistani television industry. “I work for television because I have a family to feed,” said Khan, adding that theatre is where his heart is, even after spending more than three decades in the television and film industry. “Theatre is what runs in my blood; you can literally call it my holy grail,” he said.

Khan believes that directors are lucky if they find actors who can do something as labour-intensive and complicated as the medium of theatre. He expressed contentment in finding the right combination of experience and beauty in Hasan and Hayat. “You get spoiled when you work for TV, as you have a number of assistants running around for you. On the contrary, it’s never the case when it comes to theatre,” he elaborated. “The onus is on you and that is why the aura of spending hours with your co-actors in a closed rehearsal space with no intrusions is larger than life.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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The list of what top fashion journalists have termed “socialite designers” reads like a who’s who of both fashion and society. From Khadijah Shah to newcomers like Misha Lakhani, many of fashion’s elite are “it-girls” who certainly don’t need to work and yet have built professional, thriving businesses. Many society women, such as Nadia and Ayesha Ellahi, design on a smaller scale; to the extent where it now seems there is a “designer” in every family.

However, socialite entrepreneurs haven’t limited themselves to just designing clothes. They are running furniture shops, salons, bakeries, shoe shops, gyms and more. Many start out in a small way, holding exhibitions for friends and family. For some, this is as far as they go, finding small-scale exhibitions the perfect vehicle for a work-life balance. Others, however, use exhibitions as a springboard to a more professional approach selling online or even opening an outlet.

Many of these fledgling businesses benefit from their owner’s social connections but at the end of the day, only viable business models prosper. There are plenty of success stories. SanaSafinaz themselves, along with The House of Zunn, have diversified into furniture. They join Maham Malik of Baroque and Saira Chapra of Charcoal in the ranks of socialite furniture houses. Together they have brought contemporary chic to Pakistani interior design, reminiscent of the aesthetics of Ralph Lauren and Christy. The social elite has bought from them in droves, and drawing room by drawing room, Pakistani interiors have seen a revolution.

It seems like upper class women have ventured into making just about everything that other women buy. From fancy birth announcements to jewellery, there’s a socialite with a thriving business. They are running schools and tuition centres, event planning companies and public relations firms. Some of Pakistan’s favourite restaurants are run by socialites, and they produce decorative accessories by the truckload.

Part of this desire to produce or sell beautiful things is demand led. Women become frustrated at not being able to buy the sort of things they themselves wish to use. “There isn’t a decent gym in my area? Maybe I should start one!” or “I want the sort of jewelery you see in auction catalogues – perhaps I can train a kaarigar to make some?”

The other reason is boredom. Many upper class women are highly educated (every family wants a “pari-likhi” bahu) and want to do more with their lives than rounds of coffee mornings and kitty parties. Traditionally, women are kept out of family businesses. Men folk don’t want their sisters and wives complicating already complex family business structures yet families don’t want them “going out to work”. Thankfully, there are beginning to be exceptions  like Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and her sisters running their father’s factory or Iqra Mansha heading up Nishat Hotels. For the most part though, women end up starting their own businesses. You can pace your business to suit your family life and expand at a time that works with your child-rearing and other family responsibilities. The reason socialites have excelled in this area is they have men folk liberal enough to encourage them and they have the resources to invest in their businesses. That, and also the fact that it’s become fashionable to be an entrepreneur.

It’s important to note that although the target market of these women-led businesses is mainly other women, this doesn’t mean that the money goes round and round their exclusive social circles. Most of these businesses employ a significant number of people and once past the fledgling stage, move to a wider market base. Kitchen Cuisine Bakery, Luscious Cosmetics and Beaconhouse School are all the brainchildren of women who could be termed socialites. Perhaps we shouldn’t belittle them and the likes of SanaSafinaz by referring to them as socialites. Make no mistake, these are smart and savvy women. In these humdrum economic times, women entrepreneurs are among the few that are investing and creating jobs. We should salute them.

Oxford-grad Salima Feerasta is a social commentator and lover of style in any form or fashion. She blogs at karachista.blogspot.com and tweets @karachista

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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“I find there are a lot of extreme limitations as far as teaching music is concerned; there is no middle ground for experimentation,” says Riaz, admitting that he learnt how to play the piano and was classically trained at the age of six. “When I first picked up the guitar at the age of 16, I would find stuff on YouTube. And later, I would pick up stuff from the internet [other websites] also.” He’s also very proud of the use of body percussion in his short film Ruckus.

Before the performance began, Riaz spoke a little about his musical family background. He is proud to be related to renowned Broadway performer Zia Mohyuddin and says music, basically runs in the blood line.

He also spoke about the numerous appearances he has made globally also and admits Ted Talk, which was held in Edinburgh, was “the most gratifying experience of them all.” He was also part of the team One Beat, which was a project sponsored by the US State Department. “Both were very different yet inspiring events. It was a broad experience for me altogether,” he adds.”

As the musical evening finally began, he performed on a couple of his own compositions such as Firefly, Shimmer, Bone Shaker, The Waves – which he played on the piano instead of the guitar and turned out to be a soothing and memorable performance – as well as on others such as Led Zeppelin’s Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and Preston Reed’s Ladies Night. The audience was spellbound and the silence broke into applause when it was over.

“I’ve seen him for the past three years and he used to be a complete introvert. How he just comes out and emerges as this great talent is amazing,” says Karen Zeb, who sat in the audience. “I believe that music can heal. His work touched a chord and paved the way for so much more to emerge,” says another fan Talha Iqbal.

He then screened a few minutes of his short film, The Waves, which will be released in June this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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Twilight star, Kristen Stewart, was spotted at the 2013 Met Gala looking red but not-so-hot. Had she remained true to her trademark edgy look, she would have probably bagged the Best Dressed title at the punk-themed night, but instead, she fell flat on the red carpet with her Star Trek-meets-Vampire Diaries look.

The charge sheet

Hair

Although her hairdo suits the theme perfectly, it appears flat with too much gel on it. We would have appreciated more volume on the front without a side-part. Letting her beautiful hair down would have definitely been a bonus.

Make-up

Matching your eye make-up with the colour of your outfit is often the first intuition but if that particular colour is red, it’s better left on the palette! That overdose of red powder around Kristen’s gorgeous green eyes looks less like an eye shadow and more like she has had a viral eye infection. We would have instead preferred a smokey gold eye make-up with some well-defined eyeliner.

Outfit

No doubt jumpsuits are number one on 2013’s trends list but Kristen made the wrong choice. We love the colour and the embellished lace detailing but the stiff silhouette makes her look heavy around the hips and is totally unflattering. A sleeveless flared bottom jumpsuit with a deeper neckline would have been a better pick.

Accessories

We hardly see any accessories on our vampire’s dream girl except for that uber chic gold box clutch. We understand that any kind of chunky accessory would have simply clashed with the heavily worked outfit but nevertheless; we would have appreciated some gold studs on those bare ears and a ring on that finger.

Shoes

Kristen is wearing a pair of matching maroon patent court shoes with gold spikes on the back and we are guessing it wasn’t a great shoe day after all. How about some pointed stilettos or peep-toes Kristen? We thought so…

Bail out!

Kate Beckinsale

The Resident Evil wonder woman, Kate looked absolutely dazzling in a fuchsia DVF jumpsuit and a pair of Louboutins at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. She topped off her stunning look by letting her hair down in a wavy blow-dry and wearing a chunky cuff bracelet.

Miley Cyrus

If there is anyone who can pull off a punk rock look to perfection, then it’s Disney’s favourite Hannah Montanna! She kept it bang on trend with the structured colourblock Valentino jumpsuit, strappy heels and luscious red lips at Maxim’s Hot 100 party.

Rose Byrne

Hollywood actor Rose Byrne looked ravishing in a feminine, white lace jumpsuit at the SAG awards last year. Despite the bold neckline, heavy embellishment  and that ever-so-stylish bob, Rose was a treat for the eyes!

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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There have been all kinds of celebrity polls but never have we heard of who’s the smelliest or which actor stinks the most! Apparently, comic actor Russell Brand has been voted the smelliest-looking male celebrity in show business, while singer Kesha, managed to take the top spot in the female list! Time for some deo, maybe?

The poll was carried out by the Panasonic Steam Washing Report and the 37-year-old comedian topped the male poll and got 35% of the total votes, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

People from across Britain voted for celebrities, who they felt looked the smelliest.

Other male celebrities, who feature on the list, are axed X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza, Beady Eye front man Liam Gallagher, Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards and Twilight actor Robert Pattinson (and here we thought he was a heartthrob?).

In the female list, pop star Britney Spears was in second position, while Pattinson’s partner in crime Kristen Stewart was third. IANS

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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MUMBAI: Although actor Abhay Deol, who carved a niche for himself with unconventional roles in films like Dev D, has been never been afraid to experiment, he was pretty reluctant to work for the television industry. Contrary to his personal preference and in a rather unplanned way, Deol will now be seen on the small screen hosting the show Connected Hum Tum on Zee TV.

“I never thought of being part of the small screen. I was sure that if anything they said was for TV, I would say no without even thinking about it,” said Deol.

After constant persuasion from his manager, Deol finally decided to have a look at the script of the show, and to his surprise, he got interested in it.

“I asked myself ‘What is it about TV that you are not open to?’ The interest generated through the show made me question my close-mindedness towards TV.”

Connected Hum Tum is about six women, who will capture every moment of their lives on camera while Deol will try to link their stories together.

The 37-year-old actor was launched by his uncle Dharmendra in his home production Socha Na Tha opposite actor Ayesha Takia.

When Deol, who appears rather detached from his roots, was asked how it feels to be born in a star family, he said, “One gets bored as there is nothing black and white in life. At some places it’s an advantage and at some it’s a disadvantage. It depends on person to person, situation to situation and project to project.”

Deol, who has worked in films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Aisha, also came clean about his relationship with actor and supermodel Preeti Desai.

“We have a regular relationship like any two people in love, with its ups and downs, good and bad,” he said. Despite the fact that his family is conservative, he says that they have finally become comfortable with his relationship.

The actor will next be seen in the film One By Two alongside Desai. The film is also his debut as a producer. He will also be seen in a special appearance in the Sonam Kapoor-Dhanush starrer Raanjhnaa releasing June 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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MUMBAI: With limited roles available in Bollywood films for senior actors, the popular chocolate hero of the 1980s, Rishi Kapoor, says that he is “a competent actor” and would like to try out character roles instead of being typecast as a typical onscreen dad.

Kapoor, who wowed audiences with his role as the ruthless underworld lord Rauf Lala in the recent remake of Agneepath, said, “I am not trying to be modest, but I have tried to experiment with my look in different roles. I don’t want to do a standard father’s role. Instead, I would like to do character roles and bring something new to the table.”

The actor, who starred in Bollywood hits such as Bobby, Prem Rog and Khel Khel Mein in his earlier days, was seen playing a father in films like Fanaa and Namastey London.

“If I am in a film, the makers should take complete advantage of the fact that I can perform. I feel I am a competent actor and I would like to perform,” added the actor, who proved his competence as an actor by playing a middle-class school teacher Santosh Duggal in the National Award winning film, Do Dooni Chaar.

Kapoor was also seen playing a cop in director Atul Sabharwal’s film Aurangzeb which released this Friday.

Kapoor says he is playing “a Haryanvi cop in the film. I have cut my hair short to relate more to the character.”

He is also part of his son Ranbir Kappor’s upcoming project Besharam, which is directed by Abhinav Kashyap and also stars his wife Neetu Singh.

Talking about the film, Kapoor said, “It’s been good, but I still feel they need to put more of us, we have just done one sequence and by the time we realised we are working together, it was over. Although there wasn’t a single moment of discomfort when we were working together, it was quite enjoyable. It’s been great fun,” said the 60-year-old.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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Well, ladies, let’s get some facts straight about PCOS. There are no specific tests to diagnose it, not all PCOS cases are the same and there is no cure for it in allopathic medicine. But, what most of the diagnosed women don’t know is that PCOS can be kicked to the curb naturally.

Here’s what you need to know about PCOS and how natural treatments can save you from side effects of needless medicines and expensive tests.

What is PCOS?

PCOS affects more and more women each year starting from an adolescent age. It is one of the leading causes of female infertility, which has no cure in modern medicine and is still under research. This syndrome is defined by the menstrual and hormonal abnormalities of ovaries with cysts. If left uncontrolled or unmanaged, PCOS leads to diabetes, cardiac diseases, obesity, high blood pressure and infertility.

Understand PCOS

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS, you need to be well-informed of the hormonal imbalance. Hormones are like chemical messengers, and if their production or process alters, they get out of balance and make more androgens (male sex hormone) and that’s when symptoms of PCOS appear.

In this syndrome, the pancreas secretes excessive insulin and contributes to the underdevelopment of eggs during ovulation.

Eating habits

While recognising the syndrome and taking control of the situation, there are many ways you can control and eventually get rid of PCOS. Remember to ignore the symptoms, and get to the root of the problem so you can win this battle. Make the mandatory changes to your lifestyle.

Diet and nutrition adviser Manal Aly Khan believes losing weight for women who have PCOS can be challenging but not impossible. “A balanced diet is important,” says Khan. “But PCOS patients need to include less carbohydrates than normal people in their diet.”

Khan says PCOS patients need to eat foods with a low glycaemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels rise after certain foods. “Low GI food items include vegetables, fruits and nuts,” says Khan. “Go for brown sugar, brown rice, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. It’s important that coffee and tea intake is also in moderation.”

Say ‘no’ to white stuff

Whether it’s sugary desserts, breads, rice or pasta — reduce, if not eliminate them out of your diet completely. Carbohydrates need to be limited and replaced by foods that will help end PCOS. Eat smart, eliminate saturated and trans fats, and choose smaller amounts of healthy unsaturated fats. “Avoid all products made with refined sugar,” says Khan.

Fiber forever

Eat more fibre to maintain blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Your best options are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Protein power

Protein helps you feel full for longer which is great for controlling weight. This includes meat, chicken, turkey, fish, legumes, soy and nuts.

Get off that chair!

Exercising is crucial! You can only break the cycle of insulin resistance by regular workouts. So you must get serious about physical activity and work out like it’s medicine.

Sleep

If you’re not getting enough sleep, your body will release hydrocortisone (cortisol), which increases blood sugar and suppresses the immune system, affecting your overall metabolism.

Alternate treatment

According to homeopathic doctor and acupuncturist Dr Seema Shahab, diet changes, acupuncture, yoga, exercise and homeopathic medicine for three months, along with exercise will most definitely cure PCOS.

“Allopathic treatment doesn’t have a cure, but their medicines to manage PCOS leads to numerous side effects,” says Dr Shahab. “If you stop the medicines, PCOS comes back.” She believes that the root of the problem should be treated and allopathic medicine fails to do that.

“Homeopathic medicine is only required for the first three months,” says Dr Shahab. “During that time, we also advise the patient to exercise regularly including yoga, make diet changes and get acupuncture three times a week.”

Yoga

“Each asana [yoga posture] affects you at different levels,” says Yoga Alliance certified instructor Aisha Chapra. “It has been discovered that specific poses really helped the reproductive system either by removing any blockage, creating energy and helping hormones balance.”

Chapra believes that with various yoga positions, when practiced regularly, PCOS completely disappears. There are also positions that help thyroid balance. “Some patients said they got off their medicines and controlled their symptoms,” says the instructor. “The combination of a controlled diet along with yoga can treat PCOS.”

Symptoms

Absent or highly irregular menstrual cycles

Weight gain

Infertility and miscarriage

Acne

Facial hair

Ovarian cysts

Blood sugar imbalances/insulin issues

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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KARACHI: There is no doubt that desis love Chinese food. While culinary experts and restaurant owners continue to experiment with other cuisines — Thai, Lebanese, Hyderabadi food and more — it’s really just a Chinese food extravaganza which keeps the customers coming. The tummy wants what it wants. And there’s good news: a new Chinese joint, Red Emperor is now open on Tauheed Commercial, DHA next to Café Flo, in a space that was previously home to the restaurant Saffron.

Restaurant owner Danial Baweja explains the christening of the restaurant.  “Red is a very Chinese colour and ‘emperor’ indicates royalty,” he says. Baweja and his wife Fiza lived in a Chinese town called Chong Qing for six months, which is where the inspiration to run an authentic Chinese joint comes from. “Our food is different and Pakistanis will develop taste buds [for it] with time.”

The setting was anything but clichéd — Chinese lamps and lanterns weren’t in sight and neither were there any dragon motifs that one would find in every other Chinese restaurant.

A small fountain in the verandah which reflected red light added to the relaxed atmosphere. “The challenge was to rethink the space and design as the location was a restaurant before,” says architect and designer Marvi  Mazhar, adding that since the Chinese food at Red Emperor is fusion style, they had to mellow down the atmosphere.

The owner says he isn’t into the traditional China Town look and has tried to give the environment an international appeal. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

The theme was primarily white and contemporary. “It’s a fusion — we’ve toyed with a contemporary Arber white,” Mazhar adds. “It was said that the space was too empty when people used to visit Saffron. So instead of putting up partitions [between tables], we’ve divided the space with bronze screens.” She feels the entire street where Red Emperor is located is picking up an urban appeal.

At the opening, guests were served chicken dumplings and mint slush. “What we are serving is authentic Hakka Chinese food which includes a blend of South Asian spices,” says Fiza explaining the menu. They will also serve a special Chinese soup called Hot Pot. “There is a gap in the market for good Chinese food. This is going to cater to families on a larger scale.”

“This is the stuff we want to bring to Karachi and also give it an international appeal,” adds Baweja. “We are not into the whole traditional China Town look either — we have no Chinese music in the background, but international music to highlight the fusion.”

“Hospitality is our natural inclination — it comes to us very easily and thus, I ventured into opening a Chinese restaurant,” he adds, revealing that his grandfather Ferozuddin Baweja brought Regent Plaza Hotel to Karachi 40 years ago.

Guest Sana Sultan says she rates the place six out of 10. “The sweet and sour chicken was too sour, dry beef with chilies lacked a bit of flavor,” she says. Surpringly, this joint also serves pizza, which Sultan says was delicious. “The Margarita Pizza was of thin, good crust and not soggy at all. The BBQ Chicken Pizza was delicious and the spices used were out of this world. Prawns had the right kind of spices, an added extra crunch played its part also the mustard sauce was good which was served with it.”

The prices range from about Rs190 for soups and starters and go up to Rs600 for large servings of seafood dishes.

Goodbye, Saffron!

When calligraphist Ruheena Malik was contacted and inquired about why she chose to close her restaurant Saffron down, she says, “I’ve rented it out for three years to this couple. The restaurant thing wasn’t for me. I’ve gone back to calligraphy. It’s my passion.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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For some, it’s all the same

Some designers chose the diplomatic path and preferred not to fuel the fire by refraining from picking sides. Maheen Karim and Misha Lakhani, who recently showed at fashion week, say there is not much difference between the cities when it comes to taste, and that designers are equally strong.

Misha Lakhani

Misha feels the cities provide a great mix. “It’s impossible to generalise because you’re comparing mammoth-sized cities, not villages,” she says.

The designer, whose drapes and sophisticated pieces were a runway hit, believes that cities cannot really define the variations in taste. “I think it comes down to personality type and lifestyle more than city.”

The tale of two different cities

Some experienced designers clearly identified the distinction between the city of lights and the city of culture and heritage.

Zahir Rahimtoola

“It is ‘different strokes for different folks’” says CEO of the multi-designer store Labels. “Karachi being a metropolitan city has a big mix in clothing sensibilities. Having said this, Karachi women tend to go for less ornate clothing relying more on the fit of their garment and their total look.”

More or less drama?

It is often said that Lahori designers play up the drama and enjoy making a statement, while the Karachi fashionistas are criticised for being understated and bland. Shehla Chatoor and HSY give us their verdicts below:

Shehla Chatoor

The Karachi-based designer, who is known for her luxury prêt wear, says “I do not believe in a lot of drama. The outfits and accessories are more important. I feel the biggest difference is that Lahore is more opulent and colourful and Karachi is more subdued. They also differ in the way the outfits are embellished.”

Maheen Karim

“There is no Lahore and Karachi divide when it comes to design,” says Maheen, adding that both cities have talented Western and Eastern wear designers. “Karachi may want less embroidery but it’s more willing to experiment. But I have recently seen that huge change in Lahoris, who enjoy a more universal silhouette.”

Khadija Shah

Elan’s Khadijah Shah feels that Lahore-based designers have a more classic and traditional take on fashion. “They go to great depths to add detail to their creations but are a little less experimental with regard to silhouettes,” she says. “Karachi is more of a cosmopolitan city and allows designers the opportunity to be more avant-garde with their approach, especially in terms of cuts and silhouettes.”

The brain behind Elan’s success adds, “I do feel that people from Karachi are more comfortable baring skin whereas Lahoris tend to be a bit more conservative.”

HSY

The internationally-acclaimed designer, who is known for drama-packed finales at fashion weeks, kept it safe. “Every designer has a different fan following. Some designers are known for their over-the-top statements and unusual theatrics while others are well-known to bring in the crowd and put an amazing show.”

Our verdict

• With its rich culture and deep-rooted heritage, Lahori fashion remains traditional to the core whereas Karachi is heavily influenced from the minimalism of the West.
• Karachi’s aesthetics revolve around innovative cuts and Lahore has a tendency to rely more on embellishments for pizzazz.
• The difference, ultimately, fades when it comes to socialite fashion: the fashion-savvy are always willing to experiment, be it Karachi, Lahore or Timbuktu!

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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The controversial actor Meera, known for her constant slips of the tongue, was spotted at the International Punjabi Film Festival looking like an utter disaster from the East. We appreciate that she wanted to remain true to her roots by dressing up in traditional attire but this glitzy, unflattering lehenga choli is only making us want to disassociate ourselves from her.

The charge sheet

Hair

We can’t help but wonder why Meera would put so much serum on her luscious curly locks and flatten them into a few strands of hair lying on one side. If she really did not want a voluminous hairdo, Meera should have gone for a simple and elegant bun with her hair pushed back. A gajra around the bun would have given a true desi appeal.

Make-up

Considering that Meera was representing Pakistani culture at an international platform, we fail to understand why she opted for an oversized red bindi! Apart from this rather odd choice, nothing seems to be working for her on the make-up side. With those extremely dark smokey eyes, unblended base, blazing red lips and eye-soaring bright pink nails, it seems as if Meera decided to put up everything that was available on the colour palette. Ever heard about subtle, natural make-up, Meera ji?

Outfit

We always acknowledge actors picking some classic Eastern wear over Western outfits but this glittery optical illusions-inspired mermaid lehenga and plain velvet busty choli is not complementing her at all. A flared plain lehenga with an embellished border and a longer top covered with a beautifully sequined dupatta would have been a way better option.

Accessories

We will be compassionate and appreciate her efforts in selecting those kundan polki jhumkas although the extra length of the earrings could have easily been slashed. On the other hand, that huge round silver ring and plain black grandma clutch needs to be stashed in the dump yard! We advise some simple bangles and a gold box clutch. Although we can’t see her shoes, we hope she has gone for some less disastrous heels.

Bail out!

Katrina Kaif

Bollywood’s attractive heartbreak kid looked ravishing in sheer embellished desi couture at the Filmfare Awards 2011. The extra-long sequined shirt complemented her flattering figure well and she managed to keep it simple yet elegant with minimal accessories and some subtle natural make-up.

Priyanka Chopra

Bollywood beauty Priyanka Chopra dazzled audiences in a traditional Manish Malhotra lehenga choli at the Marrakech International Film Festival last year. She managed to keep it desi yet uber chic with a statement necklace, subtle tiny black bindi and spotlessly gorgeous make-up.

Sridevi

The evergreen and charming Bollywood actor Sridevi, was glowing in a surreal, pure white lehenga choli at the Sahara Pariwar bash held in her honour of winning an award. She looked ageless and delightful with her flawlessly defined eyes, statement kundan necklace, half-pinned hairdo and that million dollar smile. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2013.

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In a constant on-and-off relationship, Twilight actors Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have been straddling between yes and no — she cheated on him, he was heartbroken and later they both pretended to be normal. But not anymore!

According to eonline.com, Robsten has called it quits for now. A source revealed that the Twilight stars broke up on Saturday, after over four years of dating.

However, sources privy to the couple believe that the break-up is just temporary. A source said, “Kristen is heartbroken and so sad over the break-up. They are going to continue living at Kristen’s house because of the dogs,” the source continued. “It’s not fully over or he would have moved out.”

The couple got back together after their first break-up when Stewart started to date Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. They celebrated Stewart’s 23rd birthday together, attended Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and also spent time together in New York, where Stewart had gone to attend the Met Gala.

However, the pair has not been spotted together since they landed at Los Angeles on May 8. We hope Robsten doesn’t make their fans too anxious and reveal something clear about their relationship status soon!

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2013.

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