Model and actor Aaminah Sheikh was recently spotted looking sizzling at the red carpet of the Geo Tarang Awards. She never fails to impress us with her acting or style, and continued to do so as she glowed from head to toe at the event. Here’s how you can mimic her look.

Hair

We love the up-do! Aaminah styled her hair in a high bun which started with a braid on the front.

To get a similar look, you can take the front half of your hair and French braid it, while teasing the rest and arranging it in a high bun.

MAKE-UP

Aaminah knew how to keep it simple yet elegant.

To get a similar natural glow, use Mac bronzer (Rs2,000). For beautifully enhanced eyes like hers, apply a heavy Mac eyeliner (Rs1,200) and finish off with Maybelline Colossal Volum Express mascara (Rs1,200).

Since the eyes are dramatic, use a nude colour lipstick to balance it out. We recommend Estee Lauder’s Modern Mercury Nude Velvet (Rs1,000).

OUTFIT

Pakistani diva Aaminah is wearing designer Shehla Chatoor’s Goddess gown.

Order your own or rummage through the racks at high-street stores.

A cost-effective way to get something similar is to show your creative side and get it tailored yourself.

ACCESSORIES

The snake-like gold neck piece is a part of Aaminah’s dress.

However, you can also get something similar from Mango or Accessorize (Rs2,500).

If you don’t already own a pair of gold ball earrings, look through a local jewelry store for a decent pair (Rs500).

We love the glittery-gold clutch Aaminah’s holding.

You can get something similar at local shoe stores or Accessorize which can range from Rs1,800 to Rs4,000 .

SHOES

Matching her accessories, Aaminah opted for knee-high strappy heels which doubled her sexiness.

You might have trouble finding these particular ones but, once you spot them, make sure you buy them. It’s a must-have for dresses with high-slits. Good luck!

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2013.

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TV personality Juggan Kazim, also the local spokesperson for beauty brand Garnier, finalised her nuptials with prominent lawyer and The Express Tribune columnist Feisal H Naqvi in an elaborate and glamorous three-day affair in Lahore. Juggan, renowned for her style and fashion-forward sensibilities, wore an outfit by Nomi Ansari on her Mehendi, Fahad Hussayn on her nikkah and an a House of Kamiar Rokni on her baraat, with make-up by Maram & Abroo on all three days.

Juggan and Naqvi were introduced by mutual friends Sanam Taseer and her husband about a year ago. In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, Juggan had said: “I am a very serious and practical person, whereas Feisal is completely chilled-out — opposite of what we both may look like!”

We wish the very best to the couple!

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2013.

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While some Pakistani celebrities make headlines through controversial incidents, model and actor Humaima Malick continues to show her charm through her work. Acclaimed for her role in Bol, Humaima has reportedly been approached for Kunal Deshmukh’s next directorial venture that features Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi in the lead.

The bold and beautiful Humaima started her modeling career at the age of 14 through a Fair and Lovely campaign and walked the ramp first for Deepak Perwani. Humaima made her television debut in 2009 with Ishq Junoon Deewangi, and was much appreciated for her performance. As her drama serials continued to entertain people, so did her personal life. She married actor-producer Shamoon Abbasi in 2010, which sadly only lasted two years.

Director Shoaib Mansoor’s 2011 film Bol was her golden ticket to fame. She won various awards including best actor through Lux Style Awards, London Asian Film Festival, British Academy Film Awards, South Asian Rising Star Film Awards and Pakistan Media Awards. Humaima can also be seen in Lollywood’s Ishq Khuda starring Shaan, Zara Sheikh and Meera.

Earlier this year, Humaima talked about her role in the Indian film Sher, which also stars Sunjay Dutt. “I feel I’m crossing the border with a role that echoes my earlier film. Like my character in Bol, here too, my character revolts against patriarchy. I am not just the male protagonist’s wife,” said Humaima, as quoted by lushmusic.net.

Unfortunately, Humaima was unavailable to comment about the new film offer. However, a source close to the team said: “Humaima has been approached, but nothing is official right now. A screen test has been conducted, UTV and Kunal are looking at a fresh pairing for Emraan and if things would fall in place, in all probability she will step into the project.”

The untitled film will go on floors by the end of July.

While this could be the first time Deshmukh will work with Humaima, he had earlier directed Emraan in Jannat and Jannat 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2013.

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Pakistani supermodel Mehreen Syed, who is also the CEO of International Fashion Academy Pakistan (IFAP), has been recently removed from Indian director Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan’s latest film.

Mehreen started her career at a very young age and steadily rose to a super model status in Pakistan, becoming a hot favourite when it comes to fashion week show stoppers. She has been ranked 16th in the Hottest 50 Asian Women in the World and 10th in the World’s Sexiest Asian Women lists. Most recently, she made her acting debut with the Pakistani film Chambaili.

She was supposed to make her Bollywood debut with director and screenwriter Chauhan’s latest [untitled] film. However, she is no longer a part of the project. The director says it was tough to cope and adjust with the stress of working with an artist from all the way across the border.

“It’s unfortunate, but true. I am not working with Mehreen Syed any more in my film,” said Chauhan. “Circumstances are such that we cannot really cope with the stress of having an actor from across the border in our project.”

37-year-old Chauhan, who earlier directed an international hit Lahore, admits there was a lot of trouble when he shot the film with another Pakistani actor.

“I had a traumatic time handling various political parties when I shot with Pakistani actor Rasheed Naz. I really don’t want to go through that again. Also, Mehreen recently got married. So she’s quite taken up with her new life,” he said.

There is no question of signing another Pakistani actor to play the Lahorian character in Chauhan’s film. He hopes to find an actor who can be accommodated with the rest of the cast.

“I have to shoot with the actor in Gujarat,” said the director, referring to restrictions on Pakistani nationals in the region.

Chauhan is currently on the look-out for another girl to replace Mehreen.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2013.

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So, what’s happening guys?

Faisal Kapadia: Well, loads has been happening in 2013! It’s been a pretty active year for us. We did Cornetto Music Icon as judges, did two songs for Pepsi Smash, and a song for the movie John Day, as well as tours in India.

But, it has been a while since you came out with an album. Your last single was released in 2011. Do you plan to launch an album or will you continue the trend of releasing singles?

FK: We realised that after Koe Anaey Wala Hai, we did only two songs, Khud Kuch Kerna Parega and Mein Tau Dekhoonga, which were not commercial music. We have started working on more songs, including singles. There is a lot in the pipeline. After the elections, we feel a breath of fresh air in the nation. Everyone seems optimistic, and it’s an inspiring feeling.

How was your experience as judges in Cornetto Music Icon?

Bilal Maqsood: Cornetto was a fun event. We were mentors along with veteran artistes Alamgir, Amir Zaki, Shallum, Ali Azmat and highly talented singers Zoe Viccaji amd Meesha Shafi. Working with producer Shahi, who mixed Dhaani and Durr was a delight. We looked forward to the shoots mainly to have fun with all our talented friends. We found all the musicians to be very talented and believe that such initiatives are important for the future of Pakistani music. Multi-nationals should promote music because it is difficult for new musicians to start off their careers in a proper manner.

What is Strings’ take on the YouTube ban in Pakistan?

FK: It’s unfortunate! In my view, one can easily block certain videos which are offensive, but banning the whole site is damaging our music industry. The latest way to listen to music is YouTube, which we don’t have right now. YouTube is not just about music – there is so much information on academics as well as inspiring videos, which we are deprived of. I hope that YouTube resumes in Pakistan soon.

Tell us about your recent Indian tour.

BM: India has been very good to us. Our first performance in India was 2003, and since then we have toured India every year. This year also began with Bangalore and Chennai. This time around it was Bhopal and Indore. Music is our bread and butter, but it’s fun to travel to different cities. In other countries, we go to same cities all the time but it’s only in India that we travel to different cities every time. This was our first time in Bhopal and Indore. It’s almost a different feeling to be in a new city. We had a great time performing at both the venues. Bhopal is famous for its lakes and is known as the City of Lakes. We were staying right by the lake, which was awesome. We had a great audience in both the cities. There were fresh feelings and excitements which added value to the concerts.

Let’s move to your Indian film music scene – how do you guys choose a project? And why do you compose dark songs?

FK: It’s very simple for us. We have been around for 24 years, and everything is done through mutual consent. We pick up a project, which is in the same line as something we create on our own. We can’t do Shiela ki Jawani and Munni. We just can’t do justice to such music.

Any new project in the pipeline?

BM: Yes, there is a movie called John Day, starring Nasserudin Shah and Randeep Hooda. It is a dark song and somehow stamped in a way Zinda and Aakhri Alvida were, in fact a much darker feel. Interestingly, it is the theme song and the only song in movie.

Your long time friend Sanjay Dutt has been put behind bars. What are your thoughts on his punishment?

FK: It was really sad when we heard the news. We pray that god gives him strength… it is not going to be very easy.

Why didn’t Strings compose a song for the elections?

FK: Strings in the past two or three years has become a socio-political band. We never thought of it until we started with Beirut, which actually portrayed our ideology. It gave us a new direction and strength to be more socio-politically responsible unit.

BM: The elections showed a new side of Pakistan. Many expats flew to Pakistan to cast their votes with lots of inspiration. It was great to see a huge turnout.

Does Strings have any political affiliation?

FK: Strings is a Pakistani band but we as individuals have our preferences. As a band, there is no political affiliation. We made songs when we felt it was important. During elections, everybody was excited, so we didn’t need to make any special plans.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2013.

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What a promising year this is turning out to be for Pakistani cinema. With two films (indie film Siyaah and Shahzad Nawaz’s Chambaili) having been released already, we are anticipating a few more. And the trailer that has caught our attention is the recently released teaser of Six Sigma’s Main Hoon Shahid Afridi.

We can’t decide if it’s the two-second clip of the sizzling Mahnoor Baloch dancing that has us going gaga, or the fact that the storyline is based on a sport close to our hearts.

MHSA is the story of a young man who dreams of becoming the star cricketer himself, but is struggling to achieve his dream. He realises that his final chance is a cricket tournament that will take place in Sialkot, where he hopes he can defeat professional, undefeated rivals. He and his team take help from former cricketer Akbar Deen (played by Humayun Saeed), who helps them but has a dark past of his own.

The Main Hoon Shahid Afridi team describes the film as “a journey of mistrust, betrayal, love, power and unfulfilled dreams” — we can’t wait to watch it on Eid ul Fitr!

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2013.

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KARACHI: Bollywood movie Raanjhanaa has been banned by the Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan shortly before its scheduled release, for its ‘controversial plot’. Previously, the Censor Board also banned films including Ek Tha Tiger, G.I Joe and Agent Vinod for “anti-Pakistan” sentinements.

Chief Executive Officer of IMGC Global Entertainment Amjad Rasheed, the importer of Raanjhanaa, told The Express Tribune that he received a letter from CBFC with directives to shelve the film’s release. “The letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl [played by Sonam Kapoor] falling in love with a Hindu man and having an affair with him.”

Anand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa’s release in Pakistan was scheduled during the last week of June. Pakistani singer Shiraz Uppal has also lent his voice for the title track of the film, composed by AR Rehman.

The Bollywood film’s plot portrays Muslim girl Zoya (Sonam) falling in love with Kundan (Dhanush) and later Jasjeet Singh (Abhey Deol). The film starts with pundit’s Hindu Brahmin son Kundan falling for Zoya at first sight. He follows her to school, after school, in the market — almost everywhere. After getting slapped 16 times by Zoya, Kundan finally gets to know her name, but his hesitation that she will reject him because of his religion leads him to introduce himself as Rizwan. She agrees to meet him behind a temple, but the meeting does not turn out well as Zoya finds out that he’s Hindu.

As the story unfolds, Zoya also develops feelings for Kundan, however, her parents find out about it and send her off to Delhi in order to protect the family’s honour. Later in Delhi, Zoya falls in love with Jasjeet Singh, a student leader who also leads a political party.

Raanjhanaa grossed INR1.31 billion in its second week of release.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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The red carpet at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards held in L.A. was shining with glory as stars walked onto it sporting a variety of classy and irresistible evening wear. The BET Awards are known for daring looks and this year was no different. While there were only a few classy gown moments, most of the stars opted for shorter and more summery hemlines. Although whites and blacks dominated the red carpet, some of them did manage to turn heads with a pop of colour. Here are a few of our top picks from the dazzling evening:

Michelle Williams

The Destiny’s Child singer looked stunning in a Nicci Hou peplum-shaped white gown paired with a metallic belt around the waist enhancing her sexy curves. With her hair blow-dried in voluminous curly locks and a dramatic dress that fitted her like a glove, Michelle definitely got us going gaga over her.

Naya Rivera

The Glee star looked sassy and chic in a loose, full-sleeved, Emilio Pucci dress. She brought a heavy dose of glitter and sparkle to the red-carpet but still managed not to look too tacky. Rather, she successfully caught our eye in this seemingly comfy and uber-stylish embellished mini.

Jordin Sparks

The American Idol winner and singer Jordin Sparks brought the much-needed dose of colour and print on the red carpet in a Clover Canyon mini and a pair of immaculate white heels. She looked fresh and appealing in the on-trend, mirrored botanical print, loose waves and her million dollar smile.

Lil’ Mama

Rapper Lil’ Mama stole the show in a fully embellished black floor-length gown. She put her best foot forward with a voluminous bob and a rather dramatic outfit that made everyone else seem a little down-played. Her glam get-up is scoring high on our style-o-meter.

Gabrielle Union

Actor Gabrielle Union kept it simple and sweet in a bright red, strapless cocktail dress by Zac Posen. Her petite figure complemented the dress well. She looked effortlessly gorgeous in strappy platforms, a neat straight hairdo and minimal accessories.

Paula Patton

The Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol actor was hands down the true winner in white. Paula looked elegant and classy in a sheer white Max Azria gown and hoop earrings. We love how the actor keeps it simple and sophisticated in the SoCal heat with minimal accessories. However, her hair definitely needs a pump up!

Brandy

The ’90s pop star sported an en vogue lace shift dress with a high collar by Michael Cinco. She looked fabulous in her short curly hair-do and smoky eyes. However, we wish she would have paired her dress with stylish strappy heels instead of these heavy-on-feet, matching ankle boots.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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MUMBAI: Indian actor Irrfan Khan loves what he does even if he’s not the highest paid actor. As far as money is concerned, the Padma Shri winner’s motto is to earn enough to enjoy life.

“I don’t want to be the highest paid actor. The only thing I want is that whatever work I am doing, it should give me enough to enjoy my life,” said Irrfan, who only looks at the story and script to see how much his performance can contribute to a film.

“I have a relationship with audiences and I should keep giving them some films which should be memorable,” he added.

While Irrfan’s work has been appreciated in both commercial and parallel cinema, he is not at all choosy with scripts.  “The only thing I look for is what creative thing I can explore in the film. I see who the director is and what his vision is,” he said.

After his performances in films like Life in a Metro, The Namesake and Paan Singh Tomar, which won him a National Award for best actor, Irrfan has become a name to reckon with but he takes name and fame with a pinch of salt.

While Irrfan feels this is just the beginning, he’s happy that he’s getting the work he wants to do. “I don’t think I have created something too huge that  I am scared of being demolished. I am not scared of losing anything,” he said.

Irrfan says his new film D-Day is unlike any other Indian spy movie. “Cinema is about escaping from life. It depends on film-makers how they portray reality in the entertainment,” he said. Directed by Nikhil Advani, D-Day also features Rishi Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Shruti Haasan.

“I have seen many Indian spy movies but they never give you an inside understanding of how it works, how they operate, how challenging it is or anything. This film gives you the drama of your life. I am glad that I agreed to do this film and I am proud to see Nikhil experimenting with films,” said the 45-year-old.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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Call, best known for its edgy rock-pop numbers, finally has a new vocalist — a year after the band’s ex-vocalist Junaid Khan made his exit. Rocker and film-maker Yasir Jaswal will now be the new face of the band after an official announcement was made, indicating that he has agreed to take up the role.

The band’s front man Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan aka Xulfi and Junaid have produced many hits and also made it across the border and with two Bollywood numbers, Laree Choote and Yeh Pal. Later on, Junaid chose to concentrate on acting and a solo music career.

Yasir, brother of Qayaas vocalist Umair Jaswal and singer Uzair Jaswal, is a popular name in Islamabad’s underground rock scene. Xulfi and Jaswal have had a long affiliation which dates back to the days of the band Entity Paradigm. In Junaid’s absence, the band had been performing with Roxen’s lead singer Mustafa Zahid.

Speaking to The Express Tribune about his decision to join the band, Yasir said, “We jammed together a couple of times, and I guess it clicked right away. Our musical chemistry made it a very easy decision and there were no second thoughts about it.” He added that the band has started to work on a couple of new tracks and is quite sure that Call fans would love the new compositions.

Happy about Yasir’s inclusion in the band, Xulfi said, “His band Irtaash was my favourite new band at the time. I admired their energy on stage and loved Yasir’s compositions and voice. We are already making music together, which has the bite and impact that rock music should have.”

We wish the band all the best and hope that Yasir’s inclusion in Call brings its lost fame back.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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LAHORE: Are you ready to make your daughters shine and sparkle this summer? It seems that designer Sara Shahid has the perfect destination in store for you — Sublime Sparkles. Shahid’s latest label entails exclusive range of designs for children aged between three to 13 is all about translating Sublime’s simple and minimalistic aesthetics to kids wear. Unlike other designers, The Sublime Sparkles label includes a combination of both Eastern and Western wear for young girls in a variety of materials. From floral summer dresses and jumpsuits to shalwar kameezes in pure chiffon and jamawars, the label offers exclusive and limited edition designs for little ones.

In keeping with Sublime’s aesthetic of clean cuts and minimal lines, Sublime Sparkles is an extension of the brand’s design ethos. “It is a very different market,” says Shahid. “Even though it is children’s wear, the clothes are still not for the masses, rather they cater to a niche market.” Considering her experiencing of facing a lack of good children’s wear in the country, Shahid shares that she has been catering to her needs pretty much herself. “I have a daughter and when I am in Pakistan I am constantly in search for something nice for her. However, inevitably, I end up making her something on my own,” she claims.

With trends on a rise on social media and television being far more fashion forward than it was in the ’90s, younger girls are much more aware of trends, colors and what cuts will work for them. It is important that in this day and age, these little style-stuck girls are treated as having a sense of fashion of their own. Long gone are the days when the mothers’ choice was good enough. “It is true that girls nowadays are much more aware and so I have had to design outfits that are girly, sophisticated, fun but at the same time, do not let go of their innocence at that age.”

Talking about her collection, Shahid emphasises, “White basics are the most expensive throughout the world. We have such fantastic cotton available here and hence I have utilised it to create tunics and shift dresses. Also, it is important to understand that some people are more conscious and do not want girls after the age of seven to wear knee-length dresses so I am trying to ensure that the lengths are such that the dresses can be worn both with or without leggings,” she adds.

With each design only available in a maximum of 10 pieces including size variations, the label’s capsule collection will keep on morphing throughout the summer with new designs coming out after a short while. The regular collection is priced from Rs2,500 to up to Rs12,000 for the formal range whereas the Eid collection will be priced between Rs5,000 and Rs6,000

It is obvious that Shahid is working really hard towards making Sublime a one-stop shop for her clients. Now, at her studio, one has access to not just her prêt line but also her formals and the new and colourful children’s wear.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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As the young designer welcomed celebrities, socialites and other designers who showed up to support Maskatiya’s new initiative on Saturday evening, she admitted that she was edgy. “I am really excited and nervous,” she blushed. “I have no idea how people will react.”

Maskatiya has thus far served a niche market at her flagship store located in the Bukhari Commercial area. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY

Guests marvelled at the warm and thoughtfully done interior. The store is spacious and modern with white walls, blocked designs, gold trimmings and golden racks suspended from the ceilings. The most unusual and interesting additions are two window displays — white large origami birds dangling above the brand name and mannequins — the work of freelancer Aarij Hashmi. The interior decoration, which has been done by upscale interior design company Yoc’a — Young Collective Artists, echoes Maskatiya’s eclectic design philosophy and palette.

“This place is all about convenience; we now cater to a larger market,” the designer beamed, adding that she will be stocking frequently.

When asked if Sana Safinaz were an inspiration, since they recently opened their flagship store at Dolmen offering prêt, luxury prêt and accessories one floor below, Maskatiya disagreed. “They are an established, iconic brand,” she said. “We were in talks about this store ages ago.”

While Maskatiya has thus far served a niche market at her flagship store located in Bukhari Commercial area, she now plans to serve clients with shopping budgets ranging between Rs4,500 to about Rs20,000. “I wanted to expand and reach people who come to the mall often,” she said. “Mall culture has recently picked up in Karachi and I believe the brand availability should be there for everyone. That’s why we are here.”

Her brother and business partner Umair Tabani added that the mall has a great vibe. “Nothing in Karachi is comparable to Dolmen [City Mall] at the moment. We will have more walk-in clients because these people have maintained quality by selectively choosing their tenants. This place draws more people from all walks of life,” he said.

With Khaadi, Khaadi Khaas and SanaSafinaz already available at DCM, it seems Maskatiya’s entry is going to spoil shoppers for choice. While her prêt and luxury prêt are priced higher than the other two, ardent fans of her label will surely flock to the newly opened store to get their hands on some silk or cotton candy. With her outstanding Naqsh and Aghaaz collections on offer alongside a cotton collection, Maskatiya has surely proven that she is in the game with fashion’s established entrepreneurs.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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Other session players featured were Mubashir Admani on the keyboard and Bradley D’Souza on the bass. The event was organised by music enthusiast and film-maker Sohail Javed. “This eventually is going to be on TV and radio as a branded event,” Javed told The Express Tribune. “The reason why this jam will stand out from other shows is because the performances will be live and not synthetic. Also, the jam will have a live audience that will enjoy music for two hours and leave.”

The line-up

Shallum Xavier

Fuzon’s front man, Shallum Xavier is by far one of the finest guitar players in Pakistan. As a result of his years of experience in the music industry, Xavier was the only musician who didn’t go off-note during the entire jam. The event was kicked off by a solo instrumental performance by him. The instrumental, Guardian Angel, gave an upbeat ignition to the show.

Abbas Ali Khan

Xavier’s instrumental performance was followed by a fusion song composed in Raag Megh, which was performed to perfection by Abbas Ali Khan. One thing that gets everyone humming along, no matter how rock-heavy or bhangra-oriented the evening is, is a well composed semi-classical melody. This is what happened when Khan started to sing his very famous chart-topper Sun Re. Though small in number, the entire crowd sang along to the song that came out less than a decade ago and became Khan’s claim to fame.

Next, he performed Per Main Hoon Ruka Sa. Though the live version was a little off-tempo as compared to studio recording, it got the crowd going. Some members even shouted for more. The high point of Khan’s performance came when he sang a rendition of the famous sufi kalam Man Kun Tu Maula. Despite his vocal brilliance and diversity of musical styles, the overall arrangement of Khan’s performance could have been better.

Sajid Ghafoor

Many English language bands that emerged in the Pakistani music industry could not survive for a long time, but the duo Sajid Ghafoor and Zeeshan Pervez, managed to evolve as musicians and sustain a cult following. When he came to perform sans Pervez, people wondered how he would fare without the keys and synthesisers genius. But, despite an unimpressed audience, he gave his best shot and did get the crowd to tap its feet to sharp vocals.

As soon as he started to play the riff of the duo’s first track King of Self, the crowd went silent for a moment, trying to register the song which landed the band fame amongst young listeners — a common reaction to all the memorable melodies with forgettable names. If the band’s first album, A Light Year at Snail Speed, was a gem, then their second album, The Harvest, is an entire gold mine, not just in terms of songwriting, but also in terms of post-production quality. Proving his critics wrong about his supposed reliance on auto-tune in recordings, Ghafoor delivered a crisp, though not well-received, performance of We Break up to Make Up.

Faraz Anwar

With Faraz Anwar in the line-up, one thing was for sure — the crowd was in for some head-banging, but sadly his performance was not enough for his fans. He kicked off with Insaan, a song that has inspired a generation of musicians. Most of his fans that showed up at the event came to listen to his solos. However, Anwar seems to be losing his vocal prowess, which could easily be noticed throughout the somber performance on Ujalon Main.

He ended the night with his latest song called Tension, an interesting mix of bhangra and metal. No matter how cheesy the song might sound on TV, it is perfect for a live show and is an ideal upbeat number to seal any evening for rock music fans.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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Designer Sania Maskatiya was spotted at the launch of her concept store at Dolmen City Mall looking as classy as ever. With her fresh make-up and elegantly layered outfit, Sania stole the show. We are so in love with her trendy demeanour that we thought we’d give you a break-down of how to get a similar look:

Hair

Without making too much of an effort, Sania tied her hair in a simple and neat ponytail. To get a similar do, use a bit frizz-free serum and straighten your hair using a straightener. Now, simply tie your hair in a loose, low-lying ponytail using a trendy rubber band. You can also add an extra touch by taking a strand of your ponytail and tying it around the rubber band.

Make-up

True beauty lies in simplicity and Sania proves this by applying minimal, nude make-up. Sania looks fresh and young with the peachy blush on her cheeks and well-defined eyes. For eyes like hers, line your eyes with Rimmel’s soft kohl pencil (Rs600) and enhance those lashes using Mac’s Zoom Fast Black Lash mascara (Rs,1200). To get a similar glowing face, apply a tad bit of tinted moisturiser and a concealer to hide any spots. Apply Mac’s Honey Jasmine powder blush (Rs1,500) to your cheeks and top it off with L’oreal’s Infallible Never Fail Lip gloss in the Barely Nude 815 shade (Rs1,200).

Outfit

Sania is wearing an uber-stylish layered outfit designed personally by her. Sania looks super trendy in the white Kimono jacket paired with a Matyala-printed white sand top and pair of black skinny jeans. Shop the racks at Sania Maskatiya’s cool new store for a similar top or flex your creative side and get it stitched from your personal tailor. Similar jeans can be found almost everywhere from Stoneage to Mango and even Sunday Bazaar.

Accessories and Shoes

Being the fashionista that she is, Sania definitely knows how to accessorise a simple outfit. Like shining stars in the sky, Sania’s overall look is enhanced with pure diamond accessories that were given to her by her mother. However, no need to worry with the expenses as you can easily find replicas at Silveria (Rs4,000). The crocodile-skinned vintage clutch has set our style-o-meter on fire! Check out Hub leather for a similar purse (Rs4,000). Her Christian Louboutin black patent peep-toes are to die for. Although far too expensive, you can still grab such a pair at Charles and Keith for Rs5,000.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2013.

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The show, which will go on till July 15, includes the works of Arjumand Faisel, Samina Arjumand and Shahida Mansoor from Islamabad; Abid Khan, Rabia Dawood and S.M. Mansoor from Lahore and Ashkals and Riaz Rafi from Karachi. The 53 displayed items include clay pottery, prints, miniatures, calligraphy, landscapes, abstracts, expressionistic figurative work and satirical paintings.

Faisel is exhibiting seven paintings reflecting political satire and are based on topics that remained under discussion during the regime of the previous government.

According to the artist, his inspiration came during parties from the pre-dinner “drawing room” discussions in which the guests participated with great enthusiasm. He gave these topics a visual vocabulary in his sketch book. Among these, “Mirror on the wall, who is the richest amongst us all”, “Reconciliation 2008-2013” and “IMF Zindabad” stand out for their originality.

Arjumand has experimented with clay without using the wheel and makes figurative sculptures, reliefs and vases. Her work emphasises on the warmth of hands in real life situations — a mother’s caress for her child or a beloved’s tender touch. She holds a diploma in ceramics from Alliance Francais in Alexandria, Egypt.

Some of the artworks on display. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Mansoor has a PhD in Fine Arts from Tokyo and has specialised in Japanese wood block printmaking. She is currently Associate Head, Department of Architecture and Design in COMSATS Islamabad. She has discovered many similarities between Muslim miniature art and Japanese woodblock print, including the fact that both these traditions were based on feeling than on logic. She is displaying six prints in the exhibition.

“My interest in my own traditions was strengthened while working with the Japanese medium of water-based colour woodblock Prints. However, I am not a traditionalist in my own expression,” she said while talking about her work.

Khan finds solace in nature. His intricate landscapes, where even the darkest shadows are composed of imperceptible gradations of colour and light, are a delight to look at.

Dawood has focused on human emotions and individual growth as consequences faced through different stages of life. “My work is expressionistic where I am speaking out and interacting with the viewer and hoping to involve them in the depth of my emotions,” she said.

Professor Mansoor is the grandson and former apprentice of Muhammad Sharif, founder of the Mughal Miniature Arts Department at Mayo School of Arts, now the National College of Arts, Lahore. His miniature works are experimental, bold and modern in mix media, and usually cover a wide range of cultural diversity and varying moods.

Commenting on his work, Mansoor said “I cannot separate what I see happening around me from my work”.

Ashkals is a painter, photographer and filmmaker who has learnt the art of restoring paintings from Europe and is displaying three abstract paintings.

Rafi studied calligraphy from Gulgee and Sadequain and has painted outstanding calligraphies in bright red, orange, yellow and blue.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2013.

Sooraj Pancholi, son of Bollywood actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, was in judicial custody for allegedly abetting actor Jiah Khan’s death. However, he returned home after he was recently granted bail.

Sooraj, who was arrested on June 10, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Monday. He was implicated in Jiah’s inquest after a letter written by Jiah was found from her residence in which she talked about her doomed relationship with alleged boyfriend Sooraj.

He has been ordered to pay a surety of INR50,000, surrender his passport and report to police whenever he is summoned for investigations. He returned home Tuesday evening.

His mother Zarina Wahab is relieved and says she is also praying for the Nishabd actor. “It’s a great relief for me as for the past few days we haven’t slept peacefully. Today, he is back and I am very happy … I thank everyone who has prayed for my son,” Zarina told reporters on Tuesday, at her residence.

Talking about the deceased actor, Zarina said: “Jiah should also get justice. I pray for that girl. Sooraj is innocent. Many people fight over phone … that doesn’t mean that you end your life. He has just come back home. I want him to take rest and don’t want to put pressure on him. Time is the greatest healer.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2013.

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Sanjay (Emraan Hashmi) lives a pretty normal life with his unsophisticated, morbidly fashionable and entertaining wife Neetu (Vidya Balan). After a short focus on the typical family scene, Gupta takes us straight to business. Sanjay, who was once involved in criminal activities, receives an offer of INR10 million to rob a bank by breaking the lock of the premises, from two criminals. Although Sanjay had moved on from his nefarious activities, the amount is way too attractive, so he helps them break the lock successfully. To avoid getting noticed by the police, the team plans not to use the money for the next three months, while Sanjay is asked to keep the money since he is a ‘family man’. What follows is quite puzzling – something that will tease your brain but will be far from predictable.

Although the dialogues are cleverly penned, they are not outrageously funny and often rely on cheap tricks. However, it’s the timing of the actors that makes the humour much more solid and direct. The comedy is not of errors or forced situations, but of circumstances which can be best described as absurdly funny and seriously immoral, all of which is justified within the context of the film.

Balan has gained a few extra pounds for her role and it seems that after the success of The Dirty Picture, her flabby body accompanied by her command over method acting, has really helped her create a deadly combination of talent and looks. Although this might just reduce her to a rather beautiful and talented version of Saima in Bollywood, there are no issues with it if that suits her characters. As Neetu, a rather sharp character, she has not only carried off the plump look well but also pulled off a rowdy demeanour and raw Hindi accent.

Hashmi, on the other hand, proves to be the real winner by making the audience change perceptions with the evolution of his character. He has moved a long way from being the stereotypical ‘serial kisser’.

Unlike your average Bollywood movie, music is not really an interruption, with only one song played in the beginning and one during the end credits. Composer Amit Trivedi does a splendid job with his fresh and innovative tunes, rejuvenating the soul of Bollywood music. After creating master pieces in English Vinglish and Kai Po Che, Trivedi introduces audiences to an interesting and contemporary mix of qawwali, folk melodies and rock music. It is his instrumental brilliance that leaves you wanting more.

All in all, Ghanchakkar is an intelligent film made for a patient and rather intellectual audience that is not just looking for an attractive young star like Ranbir Kapoor or matkas and jhatkas ala Malaika Arora.

Verdict: Ghanchakkar is one of the most cleverly written films to have been made in Bollywood this year. Just for the sake of experiencing a mind-boggling climax, go get your tickets now!

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2013.

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Pop stars Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z have reportedly spent more than £5,000 (over $7,000) on gifts for socialite Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West’s newborn baby North West.

The couple, who has an 18-month-old daughter, Blue Ivy, has bought many gifts including personalised Christian Dior baby booties and a three-piece sterling silver Elsa Peretti Padova baby set with North West’s name on it, reports femalfirst.co.uk.

“Kanye is one of Jay-Z’s closest friends so he wanted to get the best gift. They have a girl themselves, so they know the right type of present,” said a source. “They also brought their baby girl Blue Ivy to come over and meet North. She’s old enough now to be really interested in babies,” the source said.

Knowles and Jay-Z had also gifted Kim a Swarovski crystal-studded high chair worth £9,000 (over $13,000), which was designed by Carla Monchen, as a baby shower gift last month.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2013.

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Actor Alia Bhatt is known to pull-off short and sweet mini dresses with a hint of sass and poise. However, this time around she was spotted at an inaugural event of a painting exhibition in a full-length disaster. While she lost the Student of the Year competition in her debut movie, it seems she is not doing much at all to be titled anything close to a Face of the Year either. Here’s what she got wrong:

The charge sheet

Hair

It’s a shame when stars don’t want to make any effort on themselves. It seems like Alia just came running out of her bed without brushing her hair. Even though she is trying hard to keep her hair intact through a messy front puff, it’s all over the place. What a poof!

Make-up

We understand that beauty lies in simplicity, but seriously, no make-up at all? There are so many ways of creating an au natural look with make-up, however, either Alia was just way too lazy on her way to the exhibition or she needs some serious training lessons in personal grooming. Though we must admit that her blue nail shade is uber-stylish.

Outfit

Whether those are a pair of really ugly harem pants, a wrap skirt made out of plastic or a huge yellow garbage bag, we can’t seem to make it out! While the yellow pop of colour fits well with the trend this summer, the fit and the structure is a complete eyesore! On top of that, it seems that Alia is wearing a pair of black cropped tights inside — visible through her rather see-through lower mess!

Accessories and Shoes

Sadly, Alia did not wear any accessories at all. With that oversized lower bottoms and a dull black vest, she really could have added a slight touch of glamour by accessorising it but alas! While the lace gladiator sandals may have looked hot on their own, they fail to do any justice to the overall look.

Bail out!

Jessica Alba

The ever-so-gorgeous Sue Storm manages to look stylish even when she is on the streets. With her powder blue asymmetrical skirt, a floral nude top and those beautiful wavy locks, Jessica is bound to cause accidents on that road.

Meredith Grey

Lovely Meredith Grey is making us fall in love with her just like McDreamy in these bright pink harem pants. Ellen surely knows how to balance out bright colours as she pairs it up with a plain white tank top. The actor looks fresh and young in all black leather accessories that give an over all edgy look to her.

Rachel Bilson

The OC star looks elegant and trendy in an off-white long skirt and a black tank top. She adds a bit of oomph to her outfit by wearing that oh-so-stylish fitted black jacket. And boy are we drooling over her braided hippie-style hairdo! Alia better take some pointers from this one.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2013.

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MUMBAI: Actor Sonam Kapoor is touted as the most stylish Bollywood celebrity — be it pulling off a desi look at Cannes, where she sported a big, chunky nose ring, or in sizzling Western ensembles at various events — she is always bang on trend! And with the accolades she’s receiving for her performance in Anand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa, she’s all set to fill bigger shoes.

In an interview, Sonam expressed her wish to play yesteryear’s legendary actor Meena Kumari in case her biopic is made. “I would like to play Meena Kumari … she had such a tragic life,” said Sonam, who has played varying roles in films like Delhi 6, Mausam, Aisha and I Hate Luv Storys, among others.

Kumari, one of the most talented and successful actors of her time, was tagged the “Tragedy Queen” for playing such roles in films such as Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Her personal life was also a reflection of her on-screen roles — she had to deal with a troubled marriage and alcohol addiction and died because of liver failure at the age of 39.

“I want to play anyone who has a nice character arch and is flawed; I would love to play such roles. It is because they are human. I am very flawed myself … I want to play a real person,” said Sonam.

In the last six years, Sonam has worked in about a dozen films, but it is her recent release Raanjhanaa, in which she plays a simple girl from Banaras, that helped her get her due at the box office. She is enjoying the unexpected positive response. “The response [from Raanjhanaa] has been good. I am very happy. When I was working, I didn’t think I will get as much appreciation. I was working hard and was putting in a lot of effort. I really enjoyed working with [director] Anand L Rai. He is my favourite director,” said the 28-year-old.

The audience enjoyed her chemistry with southern actor Dhanush of Kolaveri Di fame in the film. “He is a good actor and a good person as well. When that combination comes, it suits people a lot. A nice performer is liked by people,” she said.

Meanwhile, the actor is excited about her role in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, where she plays a small part opposite actor-turned-film-maker Farhan Akhtar.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2013.

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