Gandolfini, whose role as Tony Soprano made him a household name while transforming the HBO network and ushering in a new era of drama on American television, had been scheduled to attend the closing of the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily on Saturday.

He died of a possible heart attack in Rome, HBO spokeswoman Mara Mikialian told Reuters.

The television drama often focused on the family of mobster Tony Soprano, an Italian-American character who tried to balance the obligations of running a criminal organisation while also managing a dysfunctional family.

“We’re all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family,” the network said in a statement. “He was a special man, a great talent, but more importantly, a gentle and loving person who treated everyone — no matter their title or position — with equal respect.”

Gandolfini, a virtual unknown when cast in The Sopranos, broke ground with his signature portrait of the show’s title character, the head of a fictional New Jersey mob family.

As Tony Soprano, Gandolfini created a gangster different from any previously seen in American television or film. By the start of the show’s final season, Gandolfini suggested he was ready to move on to more gentle roles once his TV mobster days were over. “I’m too tired to be a tough guy or any of that stuff anymore,” he had said earlier.

At its peak in its fourth season, it is estimated by Nielsen ratings that the show had an average of almost 11 million American viewers alone. Meanwhile, the show’s final episode, where many fans speculated that Tony Soprano would be killed, was watched by nearly 12 million viewers in America. In 2007, Vanity Fair called The Sopranos, “perhaps the greatest pop-culture masterpiece of its day, a fearless series that has transformed television.”

Embodying the fearless nature of the series was Gandolfini, who beautifully walked a tightrope between the stereotypical uncaring alpha male, and an individual haunted by the murders of many. As a testament of his acting prowess, Gandolfini was most compelling during The Sopranos when his character was involved in psychiatric sessions with Dr Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). These scenes could have easily been dull, but Tony Soprano had great chemistry with his shrink, eventually developing mutual feelings of attraction. Here, Gandolfini displayed great emotional range as a tough guy looking to smother his own sensitivity, which was naturally written on his face.

Because of his success on the show, the overweight actor also became an unlikely sex symbol, with a legion of female fans. In that sense, he was an interesting anomaly in Hollywood, an industry where most heartthrobs are metrosexual actors with chiseled physiques.

In one of his best exchanges with Dr Melfi, an irate Tony bemoaned the new breed of sensitive men, and wondered what happened to the ‘strong silent types’, ala Clint Eastwood. Perhaps it is fitting that as part of his legacy, Gandolfini will be remembered as the attractive, ‘strong silent type’ of his generation.

The programme, which earned Gandolfini three Emmy Awards as best lead actor in a drama series, was considered by many critics at the time the finest drama to have aired on US television. The series concluded with a final episode that strongly suggested Tony was about to be murdered before abruptly ending mid-scene, cutting from a shot of Gandolfini’s face to a blank screen.

Gandolfini preceded his career as a performer by working as a truck driver, bouncer and nightclub manager in New York City before he went to an acting class with a friend and got hooked. “I’d also never been around actors before,” he told Time magazine earlier. “And I said to myself, ‘These people are nuts; this is kind of interesting.’”

Born in Westwood, New Jersey, Gandolfini was raised in a working-class, Italian-American family by a father who was a bricklayer and high school custodian and a mother who worked in a school cafeteria.

Gandolfini had a son, Michael, with his first wife, Marcy Wudarski, whom he divorced in 2002. In 2008, he married model Deborah Lin, who gave birth to a daughter, Liliana, in 2012.

Celebrity reactions

Michael Moore ‏@MMFlint36m

James Gandolfini, one of the good guys, kind and generous, and an active supporter of documentary film-makers. RIP 

Paris Hilton ‏@ParisHilton1h

RIP James Gandolfini. A brilliant actor. Too young to pass [away]. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Ewan McGregor @mcgregor_ewan

Jesus. The world just lost one of its greatest actors. James Gandolfini has passed away. Thoughts to his family. Such a talent. I’m saddened.

Al Roker @alroker

Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano was one of the most nuanced, layered gangsters ever caught on film. His acting and Matt Weiner’s words were magic.

Susan Sarandon @SusanSarandon

So sad to lose James Gandolfini. One of the sweetest, funniest, most generous actors I’ve ever worked with. Sending prayers to his family.

David Chase, creator of The Sopranos

He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time. A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes. I remember telling him many times, ‘You don’t get it. You’re like Mozart.’ There would be silence at the other end of the phone. He wasn’t easy sometimes. But he was my partner; he was my brother in ways I can’t explain and never will be able to explain.

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

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

Director and producer of the movie Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra refutes the notion that the film is being banned in Pakistan. “Today, we have received three different offers from Pakistan — an invite has also come in for the crew, which doesn’t come very often,” he said at the promo and music launch of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag on Wednesday, according to IANS. He added that it is being said that the film “will result in the revival of cinema in Pakistan”.

While the film’s cast and crew are optimistic about its release, film industry professionals in Pakistan still consider its arrival uncertain. While there is no mention yet of censorship as a result of sensitive or controversial content, uncertainty prevails due to its Ramazan release, as well as the new taxes being levied on film imports from July.

“Most Hollywood releases in Ramazan are expected to be pushed till after Ramazan,” Asim Qureshi, Ceo of Brand TV and Brand Cinema, told The Express Tribune.

“For Indian films, tax implementation amounting to about Rs100,000, coupled with a reduced number of shows in Ramazan, affect the financial returns,” he said.

He added that unlike Hollywood films , Indian films don’t have the margin to be delayed, in which case they are either released on time or not at all.

The movie is based on the life of former athlete Milkha Singh. Mehra emphasised that it’s not based on sports and could have been about anyone — it was made with the objective of showing the power of dedication and spirit. “I will like to clarify that the film is not based on sports or about a sportsman. It is about the triumph of the human spirit,” he said. “What I saw was a story of a boy who lost his parents in his childhood at the age of 12. He then goes on to make his country proud.”

Akhtar, who has been seen in films such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Rock On!!, said that he feels honoured to have the opportunity to play Milkha Singh. “The opportunity of acting or directing a film on someone so inspirational is rare. I am so happy that I got this opportunity. I promised Milkha ji that I will put in a lot of effort,” said Akhtar.

He went through intensive preparation to play the character. “I had to change my running style completely. The training was totally different; you have to build up your endurance and stamina,” he continued. “But the purpose of the film was higher than what we were doing; this removes your ego from the picture. You try and put in whatever is required to achieve the [main] goal.”

“We were all inspired by Milkha Singh’s life. We never felt anything was tough [while shooting the film],” Akhtar admitted.

The film is also close to Sonam’s heart, as she was seen teary-eyed at the film’s promo and music launch. “The promo shows the blood, sweat and toil of everyone who has worked in the film. This is why I started crying,” she said.

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

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

Focusing on a more culturally-associated science icon, who to them seemed far more relatable, led the duo to the untold story of Pakistan’s most illustrious intellectual. “What struck us immediately on researching Salam was that he was so much more than just a scientist…we had no idea,” said Thaver and Vandal. “He was a giant on the world stage of physics and ranked amongst the most influential scientific personalities of the 20th century. Others from Pakistan, we discovered, had even less of an idea. So we felt it was a story that just had to be told.” The producers strongly feel that it’s extremely tragic that a kid on the streets of our country hardly knows much about the influential scientist and the documentary is, in a way, an attempt to highlight this significant point. “Perhaps a unified or consolidated, significant point is to look at what Pakistan lost out on because of prejudice. Virtually all scientific effort in Pakistan owes its existence to Salam.” “Salam was quite a superhuman… so yes, the science and his marginalisation are just two of several themes. Salam was so much more than just a stellar scientist,” they added.

With their documentary, Thaver and Vandal aim to foster an appreciation for the scientist, as well as create public awareness of science. But fulfilling the dream has been quite a challenge. “Fundraising has been the biggest challenge. In general, fundraising for documentary films, particularly biographies, is very hard. TC McLuhan, Director of Frontier Gandhi (a documentary on Abdul Ghaffar ‘Bacha’ Khan), spent over 20 years fundraising and working on her film. We’ve soldiered on for the past 10 years largely because this is a very important story that needs to be told. It also certainly helps when the subject of your documentary film is also a source of inspiration,” claimed the duo.

When asked what was probably the most interesting aspect of fundraising, the film-makers said, “When Salam scored the highest marks in his Marticulation examination, at the age of 14, the entire town showed up to celebrate his accomplishment. When he died, thousands showed up in Jhang and Rabwah to pay their last respects. It is those kinds of people — the kind that showed up to pay their last respects and to celebrate him when he was 14 — who have supported our project.” As part of their research, the two of them also visited Salam’s primary school in Jhang, an experience that seems to have been quite moving for them. “Visiting Salam’s primary school in Jhang was an incredible experience — Salam was clearly an icon who the students (and teachers) looked up to. There was a replica of Salam’s Nobel Prize and a portrait in the Principal’s office. Why can’t this be the case in every school in Pakistan?” asked Thaver.

Surprisingly, the project, which has been funded entirely through individual donations, managed to garner support from all across the globe, including major physics societies from India, the UK, US and many more. Nevertheless, the producers are still far off from their fundraising goal but are hoping to make the desired impact through their film in the coming year.

“We’re working very hard to raise enough funds to reach post-production in the final quarter of 2013 and complete it in the next six to eight months,” they said.

Considering the topic encompasses the life of a rather global ambassador, it does not come as a shock that a director like Mira Nair showed immense interest. “Mira suggested we do the docufilm guerilla style — ‘Start filming with whatever material and funds you have in hand. Film by day, hustle by night,’ she said. She, too, was clearly a huge believer in the power of Salam’s story and how important it was to document and tell it,” shared Vandal.

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

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

LONDON: Terrifying magazine editor Miranda Priestly returns to loom over former intern Andy Sachs, a decade later in Lauren Weisberger’s sequel to her best-selling debut novel, The Devil Wears Prada.

Weisberger, now married and a mother, brings us up to date with Andy, her former nemesis Emily at Runway magazine and the cynical Miranda in a new novel where most of the characters have evolved as adults, with the exception of Andy’s former boss.

The 36-year-old US author, whose 2003 novel was turned into a hit film starring Meryl Streep as the withering Miranda and Anne Hathaway as the naive Andy, told Reuters that 10 years gave her time to reinvent a back-story for characters inspired by her experiences as Vogue Editor Anna Wintour’s assistant.

“I was really curious to check back in to see what Andy and the crew were up to,” Weisberger said. In the 10 years since the first novel spent a year on the New York Times Bestseller List, Andy has become successful, married, a mother and is on top of the world as the editor of a bridal magazine that allows her to travel and write.

Enter the dragon Miranda, who returns to loom over Andy’s bright new life and threatens to make a mockery of all her efforts to escape the horrendous world of Runway magazine.

“She [Andy] is reunited with her old nemesis Emily, and Miranda comes back to haunt her,” Weisberger said.

The 2006 original, directed by David Frankel, was nominated for two Oscars and earned $326.5 million worldwide, according box office tracking site boxofficemojo.com.

Despite her own success and a newfound respect for the effort and sacrifices needed to gain the trappings of achievement, Weisberger has not seen fit to paint a softer more understanding picture of Miranda in her latest novel. “I would say that of all the characters, Miranda has evolved the least,” she said.

So has she any compassion for Miranda even now? “I can’t, because one of the things I believe in is that it’s possible to be successful and nice.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.

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

MUMBAI: Having a star actor-film-maker like Aamir Khan as her husband, doesn’t give Kiran Rao enough reason to either cast him in a movie or compete with him at the box office. The Dhobi Ghat director will be content if different kinds of movies can co-exist with the changing star system in filmdom.

“I don’t think I will ever be able to give competition to Aamir. Different kinds of films don’t need to compete,” Kiran, who had teamed up with Aamir in her directorial debut, told IANS.

Aamir is known as one of the biggest commercial stars in tinsel town, with blockbusters like Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini and 3 Idiots to his credit. He is popular as the man with a Midas touch and this was evident when he presented non-commercial comic satire Peepli Live, which emerged as a major commercial hit of 2010.

Kiran, who has Aamir’s constant support, isn’t too much into calculating the box office figures, but believes that when “some films earn INR1 billion, it’s good for small films like ours [mine], because it strengthens the industry and more money comes in.”

After working with Aamir in Dhobi Ghat, does she plan to cast him in a commercial project in the near future?

“I don’t,” she replied promptly, adding, “Because I do cinema that excites me. I don’t even watch many huge films. I don’t go to the cinema every weekend. I watch selective cinema and want to make my kind of films.”

“I would never make a film because I think it’s going to be a box office success. I don’t know if I have it in me to make a Dhoom or a Dabangg.”

Kiran and Aamir got married in 2005. Together, they raise a son named Azad, born through a surrogate mother.

These days, Kiran is busy promoting Anand Gandhi’s Ship Of Theseus, which she is presenting. A critically-acclaimed film at international film festivals, Ship of Theseus is scheduled to release on July 19.

The movie is about human values and features three characters — an experimental photographer, an ailing intellectual monk and a stock broker.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.

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

The much awaited celebrity baby has finally arrived! Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are officially parents and the best part is, that their daughter has been given a name worth remembering, North West!

Kim and Kanye revealed that she has been nicknamed Nori, with no middle name. The couple had earlier hinted that they will give their child a “directional name” and it seems the two went through with their plans! Their daughter, born on Saturday, June 15, came five weeks earlier than expected. According to a source, “She has black straight hair! Lots of it! Looks like a good mix of both of them [Kanye and Kim] but more like Kim, She’s adorable!”

Prior to the baby’s birth, it had been expected that the pair would continue the ‘K’ theme that runs in Kim’s family — which is something that Kim has spoken about in the past. Though pictures of the baby girl have not yet been released, the baby is believed to have entered the world in a maternity suite costing up to $4,000 a day reports nydaily.com.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.

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

The charge sheet

Giovanna Battaglia is a popular freelance stylist as well as an editor for W magazine. Previously a model, she is known for her fashion sense and regarded as a style icon. However, her look at this year’s Met Ball makes us wonder what on earth was she thinking.

Hair

To be frank, her hair is the only element of this outfit that catches our attention, and in the right way. An elegant, loosely done up-do shows off her beautiful hair while the crown ensemble adds a bit of quirkiness. On any other outfit, the hairstyle would have looked amazing! But sadly, nothing could save this outfit.

Make-up

She may have been going for a shimmery glow but the excess foundation results in an all-out oily look, the kind you get after sweating for ages. Her bright red lipstick however complements her skin tone and the white eye pencil and subtle eye make-up makes her look fresh despite the greasy forehead.

Accessories

With a dress like this, accessories should have been kept to a bare minimum. Sadly, that was not the case here. The blood-red choker does nothing for the dress while the matching clutch only makes the outfit look tackier. The simple gold ring is acceptable while the headdress as mentioned before, only makes her harder to look at. The fishnet stockings need to be thrown back in a boat.

Outfit

The outfit looks very similar to a seven-year-old’s art project! Giving the distinct look of a crystallised, tacky ornament, this dress by Dolce & Gabbana needs to be worn on its own — trapping the entire spotlight. By distracting it with any accessories or make-up can prove more fatal as opposed to wearing it on its own!

Shoes

The gold heels may look very smart if worn with a simple palette dress. Wearing them with a shimmery ensemble like this, is simply overdoing the glitter!

Bail out!

Elizabeth Banks

The actress was seen at the Met ball looking gorgeous in a shimmering Atelier Versace tuxedo dress. Her slick hairstyle and dangling earrings make her look both bold and beautiful!

Selena Gomez

The singer and actress looked lovely at this year’s MTV music awards. Her light makeup, nude heels and to-the-side ponytail managed to show off her dress and make the overall effect beautiful!

Karen Elson

This model, singer-song writer and guitarist was spotted at the same event sporting a full length gold Julien MacDonald gown. Minimum accessories and perfectly blow-dried locks made her look absolutely stunning!

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.

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

Where else can you wear the most outlandish hats and have professional ‘Dress Code Attendants’ with the power to stop you in your tracks, (pun intended) if you don’t meet the strict style rules set out by officials. The annual Royal Ascot 2013 has been underway from June 18 to June 22 in Windsor Park and as per tradition, saw ladies observe the style guide, which we will shortly share, to the letter in ever more imaginatively astonishing hair fascinators.

Queen Elizabeth and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall

We suppose the intrigue is magnified tenfold as the concept is so alien to us. However, if you can get past the initial shock, the head gear is simply a joy to witness. It seems there is a whole other competition in the background as genteel and courteous women battle it out in the race for the most extremist character hat. But to be fair, they are obliged by the centuries of honoured traditions and royal connotations associated with the event.

There are separate rules for the Grand Stands but you get the general idea. What we simply adore about the accessories is that even when we hate them, we love them! Milliner Phillip Treacy had a field day designing memorable creations for most of the famous faces at the races, and thanks to him, so far there have been more hits than misses.

Cloche hats are always adorable being the most innocent of the hat family, but they may not get you the same attention as perhaps wide brim hats with protruding antennas or birds sitting in a hat nest. Pill box hat shapes are by far the most style savvy and we love them as much as the similar statement side beret.

We haven’t had this much fun scoping hats since the royal wedding. But on a more serious note, a hat is a sign of propriety and quintessential grace and none wore it more gracefully than Aishwarya Rai Bachchan this year at the Royal Ascot 2013.

Ladies Dress Code for the Royal Enclosure

Formal day wear requirements are defined as follows:

•  Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer.

•  Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater.

•  Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code.

•  Trouser suits are welcome. They should be of full length and of matching material and colour.

•  Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of four inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.

Additionally, ladies are kindly asked to note the following:

•  Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm), are not permitted.

•  Midriffs must be covered.

•           Fascinators are no longer permitted in the Royal Enclosure and neither are headpieces, which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (four inches/10cm).

Victoria Pendleton, Jackie St Clair

If you’re going to wear a floral hat, Orchids are a radiant choice and the cheerful hue is just loud enough to balance this lady’s classic navy dress. GB Olympian Victoria Pendleton wore the exact same wide brimmed Phillip Treacy hat with a stately white Emilia Wickstead dress. Another way to go is with a sprawling petal rose sculpture as seen on Jackie St Clair.

Katherine Jenkins, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Florence Claridge

The vibrant shocking pink and matching orange beret he designed for Katherine Jenkins, reminded us of a delectable, swirly scoop of ice cream with elegant tuiles adorning it.

Who knew Aishwarya could pull of a hat like an expert. She was picturesque in matching lace-on-lace and the pounds have completely melted away since we saw her at Cannes 2013. The towering floral head piece crowned her twirled locks beautifully.

Florence Claridge’s bouquet seemed to still be growing on her head. She certainly brightened up the surrounding scenery and kudos to her for so gracefully balancing the plant.

The gold delicate feathered hat is one of our favourites; it’s fitted gloriously with gold leaves in the centre and a dress to match.

Royal Ascot Dress Code Attendants

We are all for oversize accessories. However, we would draw the line at this dangerous looking contraption that could take someone’s eye out! The pearls and pink roses, however, are brilliant; in fact pearls on anything as far as we, are concerned, is a great idea.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.

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

Contrary to a typical stage, the audience is exposed to a rather simple set where two characters are talking to each other by reading out letters. Surprisingly, this format is maintained throughout the play.  Aapki Soniya cannot really be called theatre as the audience may know it, but is more a half-cooked version of  what is called a ‘reader’s theatre’, something that was introduced in Pakistan by actor Zia Mohyeddin and has once again been reinvented by director Alyy Khan.

With his dynamic voice and effortless acting, all that Mohyeddin needed was a podium to read excerpts of his favourite literary pieces. In Aapki Soniya, we instead see an entire narrative unfolding by the readers. What works for the play is that it is elegant and unpretentious with minimalistic treatment.  What doesn’t work is that the play is way too under-rehearsed for such a basic concept. You will love it if you’re a fan of crisp Urdu dialogues but will surely be left wanting more if you enjoy compelling stories.

Written by Javed Siddiqi, the play is a sequel to his previous work Tumhari Amrita, in which politician-cum-lawyer Syed Zulfiqar Haider is talking to the love of his life Amrita, an artist. In this follow-up, Amrita’s daughter Soniya (Mehwish Hayat), starts writing letters to a rather older version of Haider (Sajid Hasan) in order to find out what exactly happened between them. It’s a very fine script with enough drama to keep you glued to your seats and one-liners that are bound to leave a lasting impression despite the dearth of movement. That being said, Siddiqi’s signature melodramatic undertone makes the love saga seem very superficial, making your cathartic experience as hollow as it usually is after watching a mainstream Bollywood film; you don’t take the experience home with you.

Being cast next to someone like Sajid Hasan takes a lot of courage, but Hayat plays the role with great precision. She usually does go a little over board on TV but hats off to Khan for making her undergo the journey of Soniya — from an anxious little girl to a more unfulfilled but self-aware individual — so instrumentally. Hasan was surprisingly a disappointment because one does not expect a veteran like him to jumble and fumble words and deliver lines so flatly. It almost leaves audience members feeling cheated and deprived of having a true experience. It was obvious that they needed to rehearse a lot more to get the chemistry going, which is by far the only driving force of the play.

As far as the dialogues are concerned, they are mere toppings over a curry served cold. Using microphones was not a good choice at all because where it projected their voices evenly, it robbed us of the raw experience of theatre. It isn’t really hard to throw your voice sans a mic, especially at the relatively smaller Southend Club.

Nevertheless, Khan deserves credit for the simple yet moving use of aesthetic tools to maintain the feel of the play.  As the mood of the play evolves, so does the colour temperature of lights from yellow to darker shades of blue and purple. This specific change in setting  gives the audience a more incisive look into the lives of the characters. Secondly, the background score consisting of Aamir Zaki’s guitar sounds enhances the atmosphere of the play and one only wishes that it was used more to break the monotony at places.

Overall, Aapki Soniya is a breath of fresh air at a time when too much garbage has taken over theatres in Karachi. However, they need to work a lot harder for a picture perfect performance — something expected out of stars like Khan and Hasan. The play runs at the Southend club every evening at 7:30pm till July 29. Go get your tickets now in case you are interested in a feel-good romantic play.

Verdict: Aapki Soniya is an unpretentious romantic play with a very minimalistic treatment. However, it is way too under-rehearsed for such a basic concept. You will love it if you’re a fan of crisp Urdu dialogues but will be left wanting more if you enjoy compelling stories.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.

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

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: As if one bad hair day wasn’t enough to ruin a woman’s day, a new study reveals that women spend 20 years of their lives suffering from a bad hair day, and that can affect their mood and confidence.

The study, conducted by budget hotel chain Travelodge, surveyed 2,000 women to investigate how their tresses affect their mood when they wake up in the morning. Findings showed that eight out of 10 women believe their glory, self-worth and beauty lies in their hair, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

However, on an average, women wake up with unruly hair at least three times every week. This means that the average female will have 7,332 bad hair days in a lifetime – equivalent to 20 years of her life suffering from bad hair.

This results in mood swings and leads to their feeling depressed for at least four hours and 26 minutes during the day, and also reduces their confidence.

“Women feel like entirely different individuals when their hair does not behave. Having unmanageable tresses can make a woman feel tired, grumpy and less confident. In contrast, a great hair day will make a woman feel sexy, confident and ready to take on the world,” said Shakila Ahmed, spokeswoman of Travelodge.

Hollywood’s very own princess from the land of ‘Andalasia’ and now named world’s 83rd Lois Lane, the quirky and cute Amy Adams knows exactly what works for her and what doesn’t.

The beautiful star of The Muppets was seen sporting an array of old Hollywood-inspired, deco looks at Man of Steel’s various red carpet events. Be it the worldwide premieres or late night talk shows, the pretty, blue-eyed beauty dazzled in every outfit looking super glamorous.

The petite and stylish mom of a cute little girl has never been afraid of bright and vivid colours, however, this time around she was mostly seen wearing blacks and whites but with extreme poise! Her white strapless Dolce and Gabbana textured frock at the Taormina Film Festival is our favorite pick! Amy looks elegant and fresh in the light and airy frock, faux bob and turquoise drop earrings. We love how it gives such a natural and relaxed appeal. While she kept it subtle in the soaring temperatures of Italy, Amy went ultra glam at the Man of Steel London premier. The three time Oscar-nominated actor looked oh-so-hot in a Valentino A-line dress with intricate black embroidery with her hair tied in a simple bun and flawless make-up. Hands down, Amy has surely been a yummy treat for the eyes that we just can’t ignore even if we wanted to.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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

The radical idea, of actors lip-syncing to pre-recorded dialogues and acting simultaneously, was destined to disappoint.

Veteran actor Qavi Khan, who played the protagonist’s role, even admitted as much in his remarks after the curtain dropped on the show’s first night at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Friday.

“It is sometimes nice to do the kind of work that has shortcomings and mistakes because it is experimental,” Khan said, adding that “the idea is to learn from these mistakes for the future”.

Ek Khawab Sa Lagta Hay was originally written for the radio. The production team, rather unwisely, decided to keep the radio flavour of the play by going for a recorded track instead of live dialogues. The move fell flat because the lip syncing actors either overacted their parts or underperformed the drama.

The plot itself was clichéd and predictable. Saleeqa, played by Javaria Qureshi, a young woman trying to land her first acting role in TV, falls in love with her new-found mentor, an elderly guy named Shafiqur Rehman, played by Khan, who has just moved into the apartment next-door.

Rehman is a former stage actor trying to escape two failed marriages. He also starts developing a fondness for Saleeqa, many years his junior, as he helps her rehearse for auditions.

But a sudden appearance by Rehman’s first wife and the knowledge that Saleeqa’s actor friend Mureed is in love with her puts Rehman in a quandary. He wants to accept Saleeqa’s offer of friendship but is tormented by the thought that his past relationship baggage might hurt her.

The play’s saving grace is a scene where Khan, through his acting and (recorded) dialogue delivery, channels the anguish his character is facing. The dialogues are mostly laborious and bookish, but some philosophical musings by Khan’s character add intellectual depth to the drama.

The play hinges on the decision Rehman makes. Would he accept Saleeqa’s love or leave her broken hearted?

A sub-plot where Mureed’s one-sided love affair with Saleeqa makes him possessive of her when she strikes some big roles on TV fails to add the desired theatrical tension in the play.

Two romantic songs, where Asim Subhani, the actor who played Mureed, goes around the stage acting like he is some famous singer performing in front of a hall packed with crazy fans also undermine the serious nature of the play.

Directed by Waqar Azeem, the play will continue at the PNCA auditorium, with a daily show at 7:30pm, till Sunday.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

The world was shocked after horrifying photos, of billionaire tycoon Charles Saatchi strangling his star cook wife Nigella Lawson, surfaced last week.

It was reported that the British beauty left their London home with her son last week looking rather teary-eyed. Fans responded to the awful incident by reacting on Twitter and Facebook.

This week, however, Nigella Lawson was seen sending a not-so-subtle sign to husband Charles Saatchi. While the couple was spotted dining together at the scene of the alleged choking incident earlier this week, Lawson was photographed without her wedding ring near her sister’s London home yesterday, reports eonline.com.

After the throat-gripping episode, Lawson’s rep confirmed to E! News that she has left the house she shared with her husband for nine years although they had no comment on the purported choking.

Saatchi was also slapped with a caution for assault after voluntarily meeting with police officials in London, although he told The London Evening Standard that the argument was nothing more than a “playful tiff” and the couple “made up by the time” they were home.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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

“Banana is a film about adolescence to teenage. It’s about a young boy and how he deals with the new adventures in his life. It’s a slice of life kind of a film; it is a very real film,” John said, according to IANS.

He believes the movie will appeal to viewers of all age groups as everyone will be able to relate to it on some level. “I am sure the target audience of this film is from youngsters to all the old people out there because everyone will reminisce about what they’ve gone through. It’s a very special film,” added the 40-year-old.

The movie has an “absolutely new cast”, revealed John. It is directed by Sajid Ali. “Sajid has got some amazing people for Banana. I am sure they will be amazing,” said John, IANS further reported.

Banana will hit the floors in October. Besides this, John’s other productions in the pipeline are Hamara Bajaj and Madras Cafe. He forayed into film production with Vicky Donor, which turned out to be hugely successful and critically-acclaimed.

According to India Today, John, who is currently riding high on the success of Shootout at Wadala, spent some sporty family time with his mother Firoza Irani on Wednesday, shooting baskets at the court in Mehboob studios. It was all strictly for a cause, though.

The duo was promoting Thank You, Mom, a campaign floated to encourage people to come out and appreciate their mothers, recognise their unfulfilled dreams and help them achieve their goals.

John revealed that his mother was passionate about basketball in her youth but she gave up her desire to play for India to be a wife and mother. In fact, she also gave up an offer to be a basketball coach at John’s school for the same reason.

“My mother sacrificed her dream to play basketball for India. Had she continued, I would not have been here. It has been tough for her and her sacrifice has been paramount,” the actor said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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

“It’s great that films are being made about the people who made their mark in their [respective] fields. We are a country which is constantly searching for heroes, looking out for someone to look up to,” Farhan said at the promotion of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

“At times, it’s nice if we can look back into history and see the kind of sacrifices that people have made,” he added. “And how they have put national pride before themselves, submitting physically and emotionally to a task that was way bigger than a lot of people can imagine is achievable. That is very inspirational.”

Several biopics are awaited across Indian cinema — there’s the Tamil-English bilingual on math genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, then another on legendary actor Guru Dutt, one on the legendary Kishore Kumar, and also on Olympic bronze medalist, Mary Kom.

Year 2012 saw Paan Singh Tomar, which was about the former national steeplechase champion-turned-bandit. It received rave reviews and critical acclaim.

Farhan says it is vital that people know about such heroes and the sacrifices they have made. “Just the fact that we are focusing on the people who have made us proud [is great]. I hope many more such films of the biopic nature will be made about people from different fields,” Farhan said.

Releasing on July 12, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag also features Sonam Kapoor.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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

“I always wanted to play versatile characters; it’s just that I got slotted,” said Hashmi, at a promotional event for upcoming film Ghanchakkar. “I was only taking up films that were offered to me.”

Hashmi also believes that when film-makers start taking risks, they can see the versatility of an actor. “After seeing the turning point in my career, which was [the film] Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, people started thinking beyond the image,” said Hashmi. “Film-makers can see I can do other films beyond the typical noir cinema of 2009. Things have really changed.”

Before Hashmi became an actor, he worked with Vishesh Films as an assistant director on director Vikram Bhatt’s film Raaz. In 2003, he made his acting debut with another one of Bhatt’s films, Footpath. After a spate of films like Murder, Zeher, Aksar and Gangster — A love story and Crook, that earned him the title of Bollywood’s ‘serial kisser’, Hashmi found it funny that people only focused on intimacy on screen. In one of his previous interviews, he was quoted by bollywoodshine.com as saying: “I continued to do bold characters, and everyone is doing that now. So now people can digest it. That was not the case with my films.”

Hashmi received critical acclaim for portraying a variety of characters in movies like Awarapan (2007), Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010), The Dirty Picture (2011) and Shanghai (2012). In April, Hashmi made a statement that he has the courage and conviction to work in a film that other stars may hesitate to be associated with, but his dream remains to be a part of biopics and films like Aviator.

Hashmi was last seen in the unconventional flick Ek Thi Daayan. Calling it a “rebirth” in his career post-2009, the actor admitted that breaking through stereotypes in films like The Dirty Picture and Ek Thi Daayan have brought him success.

“There was almost a rebirth in my career in 2009,” said Hashmi. “I got to do the work that I really wanted to do. In any decision, you have to be slightly cautious but you have to take risks. In my career, risks have already paid off.”

Hashmi’s forthcoming comedy movie Ghanchakkar will release on June 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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

For those of you who prefer to swim or be in the pool during the summers, please use either serum or leave-in conditioners. Comb it through and tie up your hair. It will seal the hair from the chemicals in the pool.

Just like we use sunscreen for our skin, our hair also needs protection from the sun. Use a sunscreen, a sun shield spray or products containing UVA or UVB protection. Use the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair, and, in the summers, it’s recommended to use milder shampoos as everyone is washing their hair more frequently.

As we all know, this is a very dusty city, especially in the hot season. Get used to combing (not brushing) your hair with a wide tooth comb several times a day to get rid of the dust. As the bristles of the comb move through the scalp, dust particles are dislodged and removed from the hair.

As hard as it might be, unplug the hair dryers, curling and straightening irons. Give your hair a break before the pre-Eid or Autumn events begin. After sun heat exposure, your hair is already prone to be dry and brittle. Wear it the way it naturally is, or put some mousse and scrunch it for a frizz free look.

To re-add the moisture to your hair, use a deep conditioning mask at least once a week. Almond oil will work just as well. It’s essential to smoothen and repair your locks. And if you dye your hair, be careful to use shampoos for coloured hair and always apply a serum to protect it from the sun.

For colours, it’s always nicer to go lighter in the summers; it’s great for all those holiday destinations, and it works well with all our bright coloured lawn outfits. Maroons, chocolates, chestnut, or any colour in tones of coppers, are not advised. These colours fade faster in the sun, and your hair will start to look brassy.

Ombre is still super in, and it’s great for the summer cause only the underneath (portion) is coloured, so its protected from direct sunlight and lasts longer too.

Styling with a low, exaggerated side parting and a loose bun or pony tail on the nape looks subtly sexy.

Braids are en vogue this summer. Experiment with loose twists and braids along the front hair line (like halo braids) with a centre parting or in wraps and buns. You could also try twisting a few strands from the front and securing them with pins while leaving the rest open, getting the uber sultry Game of Thrones look.

Accessorise your hair with bling. Secure those updos or braids with a bit of gold or silver sparkle. Oversized fabric flowers could also be tucked into pony tails, making you look effortlessly fancy.

The fringe is back girls — so it’s mid-length shoulder hair this summer.

Loose beach curls are much the hype. Give the hair a tousled effect to seem like it’s not really ‘done’. Use volumising sprays, curling gels or mousse, to dampen the hair, then either finger-dry it or tie it up in a bun for 20 minutes. Once opened, it gives a ‘rock-chic’ look.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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

“This time, the stress is on folk music — the beautiful folk melodies from Balochistan,” says Sharif Awan, the general secretary of Tehzeeb Foundation. “We will be featuring artists from Lyari to Pasni and Gwadar. This is our way of sensitising the world’s consciousness for Balochistan. Adversity has created so many geniuses that we can’t even believe it.”

The festival that kicks off on June 27 at Marriott Hotel in Karachi will be spread over two days, inclusive of literary readings, poetry recitals, art exhibitions and music recitals.

The Tehzeeb Awards ceremony will take place on the opening day. Literary awards have been titled Syed Abul Khair Kashfi Award for Urdu Language and Literature and Shabnam Shakeel Award for Urdu Poetry. This year’s recipients include personalities like Dr Aslam Farrukhi, Raza Ali Abidi, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui and Akbar Masoom. Tehzeeb Awards for fine arts will be given to Anwar Maqsood and Naiza Khan. Tehzeeb Awards for music will be given to Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, Ustad Altaf Hussain Tafoo Khan and Mumtaz Sabzal.

“The last 15 years have been less hostile and more appreciative of music and culture,” says Awan. “What was started by the Tehzeeb Foundation has turned into more of a cultural movement — which is why we were able to gather so many artists.”

Music on the first day will be a mix of Pakistani folk, classical and world music by Mumtaz Ali Sabzal (banjo), Ustad Mehfooz Khokhar (classical vocalist), Mazhar Shaggan (rubab) and Rustam Fateh Ali Khan. Also featuring in the festival is French Caravan Quartet who will play gypsy jazz music.

The second and final day will include master-sessions featuring Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan (Patiala Gharana), Ustad Rais Khan Sitarnawaz and the tabla-wizard Ustad Altaf Hussain Tafoo Khan.

Awan believes that it is maestros like Tafoo and many more, who have immense contribution towards our cultural history, but have not been duly recognised by the state or the fraternity.

“Tafoo has played music for more than 65 Pakistani films and has never received the pride of performance award” says Awan. “He can play the tabla, harmonium, drum and what not and we have even requested him to play a medley of his hits songs from Lollywood — which he is reluctant to do, but maybe we can convince him.”

With the unrest in the city, such events are welcomed, but they put the lives of artists and organisers at risk. However, Awan believes that music becomes more necessary in such times of aggression.

“Music is a superior art form with superior goals,” says Awan. “It should lead to a more harmonious and peaceful environment — a society with fewer complexes.”

While there are three major theatre plays on stage in Karachi, the Tehzeeb festival could be another feather in the hat of the city that often bleeds, but never dies. The event, which is not open to public, will take place between June 27 and 28. The event seems promising, and could also be a potential recruiting ground for ventures like Coke Studio.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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

The 33-year old victim, Faisal Nabi, had gone to Mujahid’s apartment three days ago along with a friend, M*, who later contacted Clifton police about the incident and led to the two arrests, said Clifton SHO Kansan Deen.

According to the SHO, Nabi was killed on the night between June 19 and June 20 at Mujahid’s flat, which is located on the third floor of building No. 4-C, Zamzama Lane II. Later, Muhajid allegedly tried to burn the body by throwing acid to prevent his identification. “The body was wrapped in a white cloth and then dumped outside Sun Rise Apartments in Clifton Block 2,” he said.

When M contacted the police, they raided the suspect’s house and arrested him along with a female friend, A*. They later recovered the body on the information they received from Mujahid.

“He [Mujahid] called his friend, Nabi, to his apartment for a party,” said investigation officer Inspector Saleem. “We have yet to ascertain what actually happened there but it is clear that the accused, Mujahid, had taken MDMA [ecstasy] pills and shot the victim twice in his head.” Saleem added that the murder weapon was a .22-bore imported pistol, which was recovered from Mujahid’s flat.

On the complaint of the victim’s brother-in-law, Nayal Khan, the police registered an FIR No. 192/2013 under section 302/34 for murder. This FIR nominated both Mujahid and A*. The police have also registered another FIR No. 192/2013 under section 13E A-1 against Mujahid for possessing an illegal weapon. “We have already registered two cases against Mujahid but we also have to add another section for attempting to hide the body after the murder,” said the investigation officer. “The investigations are nearly complete and now we only have to ascertain the actual motive.”

Nabi, father of two sons and a daughter, was currently unemployed but he used to work as a banker at HSBC Dubai and MCB Pakistan. Nabi’s brother-in-law was hopeful that the suspects will not be able to escape. Mujahid’s girlfriend and his mother are also accomplices as they helped him cover up the murder, said Amna Nabi, the deceased’s sister. “We don’t know the motive behind the murder but we are guessing that is was a matter of money,” she said.

Meanwhile, the police feel  they have done well. “We have solved the case within six hours,” said district South SSP Nasir Aftab. “Now, the investigators would produce him before a court on Monday.”

The police refused members of the media to meet the accused, who was being held at Clifton police station, saying it is against the law and it will compromise the case before it goes to the courts.

Promising filmmaker

Mujahid, who graduated from Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology’s media sciences department in 2010, was a recent addition to the country’s new breed of filmmakers. With award-winning film Seedlings – whose Urdu title was ‘Lamha’ – to his credit, Mujahid has also been involved in making many cutting-edge documentaries, music videos and narrative works for television.

His colleagues and friends told The Express Tribune that he was not the kind of person to be involved in such a crime. “All these people were taking drugs and were not in their senses but Mujahid cannot have killed Nabi,” said a friend.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

VJ-turned-actor Urwa Hocane was recently spotted at the opening of Javed Siddiqi’s play, Aapki Soniya, looking cool and casual in off-duty attire. We love how Urwa has maintained a delicate balance of style and comfort in such soaring temperatures. Here is how you can you can get a similar appeal:

Hair

The Madiha Maliha star styled her long and sleek, shiny locks in a half up-do — pinning her front bangs at the back of her head. Although we understand that one wants to keep her efforts to a bare minimum in such weary weather conditions, we would have appreciated the same look in blow-dried, neat hair. Nevertheless, in order to get a similar hairdo, straighten your hair after applying a small amount of untangling serum and pull your front layers to the back by clipping them together with a beautiful barrette.

Outfit

Urwa keeps it simple yet super smart in a crisp white double-pocket shirt and a pair of medium-blue skinny jeans. The white and blue combo is perfect to beat the heat this season. You can easily find a similar shirt at Stoneage (Rs1,500 to) or Mango (Rs2,000). For a pair of jeans, check out Levi’s factory outlet for a cheaper yet quality alternative.

Make-up

Urwa looks cute in subtle and light make-up that complements her outfit well. However, we wonder why the actor decided to use a different shade of nail polish for her toe nails because the blood-red paint on her finger nails looks uber-hot! To look as fresh as Urwa, daub a bit of Mac’s Lovecloud Blush (Rs1,800) on your cheeks and apply Mac’s Spring Forecast Pink Plaid shade of lipstick. Use Rimmel’s Glam Eyes Day2Nite mascara to make those pretty eyes stand out.

Accessories & Shoes

We completely agree with the actor’s choice of shoes as there is nothing more comfortable than a pair of simple flip flops this summer season. Check out Accessorize (Rs2,000) for some really cute and flirty flip flops. Urwa’s two-toned camel handbag is bang on trend and can easily be found at Charles and Keith (Rs5,000) or Hub Leather (Rs4,000). However, we would have appreciated if Urwa had added more accessories to spice up her outfit — a long gold chain or a statement necklace would have been a good pick.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2013.

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