“The use of a good mattress can actually help not just eradicate, but avoid back issues,” says Shahzad Malik, Managing Director Master Celeste. “95% of orthopedic surgeons believe that lower back pain can be managed simply by switching to the right mattress.”

The Express Tribune speaks to the representatives of KKT Orthopedic Spine Center in order to understand why back issues prevail and what can be done to curtail them. KKT is a cutting edge global healthcare organisation dedicated to scientific and medical advancements. One of their most significant breakthroughs would have to be a device that can realign the spine non-invasively.

“Orthopedic problems are caused when minor aches and pains are not treated. Our health, physical and mental, is affected by our lifestyle, posture, diet and for a third of our lives, the position of the body while sleeping,” says Dr Afzal, Chief Orthopedic Surgeon and consultant KKT. “Many patients with orthopedic problems give importance to their diet and lifestyle but they overlook the importance of the mattress.”

CEO KKT Pakistan Javed Qureshi elaborates on how a person can maintain a healthy spine. “It is all about the alignment of the spine,” he says. “If the alignment of a car is not proportional, it will fail to function. And just like that if the spine is not aligned, it will begin to wear and tear.”

Most people end up spending hundreds of thousands on mundane activities and in beautifying their lives but many shy away when the time comes to spend on a good mattress. “We recommend memory foam mattresses to people,” says Qureshi.

When the body lies in a certain position for a long period of time, the blood vessels are not oxygenated and as a result, start getting numb. This lack of oxygen sends a signal to the brain that makes us rotate or change position. If your body is resting on the right mattress, it will reduce the frequency of the times you change positions during one sleep cycle. Memory foam, first designed in the ‘60s for Nasa airplane seats, moulds to the body in response to heat and pressure, and evenly distributes body weight.

“We suggest and recommend memory foam mattresses to people because this technology helps memorise one’s sleeping posture and does not distort the alignment of the spine while sleeping.”

Memory mattress is a new frontier as far as mattress technology goes and surely, they are slightly costly when compared to normal spring mattresses. “It is important to ensure that the mattress remains harmonised,” continues Qureshi. “If you have an ordinary mattress, you should flip it every six months to ensure that it remains harmonised.” Experts say that normal foam mattresses available in the market come with a marketing gimmick of ‘lifetime warranty’ and since they are cheaper, they wear out faster, and once worn out, they become detrimental to the spine. “We still believe that a foam mattress is better than a simple spring mattress. Just because the density of the foam is really high, it wears out much faster.”

The advantage of the memory foam, as the name suggests, is that it memorises your body patterns and hence, keeps your alignment intact night after night. “We have seen significant changes in people’s back alignments after they switch to memory foam,” concludes Qureshi. “It is a healthy and safe way to ensure the health of your spine.”

Tempurpedic is a world-renowned mattress company known for its memory mattresses but its products are not readily available in Pakistan. However, Master Celeste remains to be one of the only companies across the country that manufactures mattresses of similar quality.

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

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Maha Burney exuded summery vibes at the launch of Nida Azwer Atelier in Karachi. Creative Director of husband Nadir Feroz Khan’s photography venture, Maha looked uber chic and stylish. Here is a breakdown of what she wore:

Hair

Maha’s auburn hair is a stunner. We love how she let it down without a lot of tweaking — her messy locks are easy on the eyes.

Make-up

We love Maha’s hot pink lips and well-defined eyes. Start with smoothing out the skin with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost (Rs2,200), which works as a base and primer both.

Go for Mac’s Girl About Town lipstick (Rs2,000) and line your eyes with ColorStudio’s Knock Out Marker (Rs500) and Maybelline’s Colossal Kajal (Rs375).

Lightly rouge your cheeks with The Body Shop’s All in One Blusher in Ginger (Rs1,700).

Outfit

Maha’s printed pants and the solid pink shirt are bang-on-trend with the season.

You can score a similar shirt from Outfitters (under Rs2,000) and floral pants from Fifth Avenue or CrossRoads (Rs1,800).

Accessories & Shoes

How hot is Maha’s multi-links black-and-gold necklace from Topshop?

She also sported a classic silver square dial watch to add to her look. Necklaces similar to Maha’s can be bought off the racks at Sentiments (Rs1,200) or Accessorize (Rs2,000 and above).

Maha provides finishing touches to her look with an electric blue faux snakeskin clutch (Rs1,500 at WalkEaze) and baby pink suede pumps.

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

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Veena Malik says she has worn so many bikinis in her upcoming film Supermodel that she doesn’t want to ever wear the two-piece bathing suit again!

“The number of bikinis that I have worn in this film, I have never worn as many before. I don’t even intend to wear a bikini again,” the 29-year-old said at the launch of the first look of the film.

“This is probably going to be the only Bollywood film in which you will see me in a lot of bikinis. From now onwards, I have decided not to wear bikinis again,” she added.

Shot in Fiji, the film also features Ashmit Patel as a photographer. In reality TV series Bigg Boss 4, Veena and Ashmit were often seen together and the relationship did not come off as them being “just friends.” However, recently Veena denied having anything to do him.

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

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

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MUMBAI: The quirky and at times annoying host from Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, Manish Paul will soon be making his debut on the silver screen with Mickey Virus. The TV host shares a close bond with Bollywood’s much-loved director Karan Johar, who also happens to be the judge on the dance reality show.

“Karan sir and I are very good friends. But I don’t talk to him about films. I have never asked him for a film,” said the 31-year-old at the launch of his upcoming movie’s first look.

However, it appears that Karan, who only associates with Bollywood’s biggies and star children, has already promised a role to Manish. “Karan sir has himself told me that if he has a good script for me only then he will call me because he doesn’t want to waste my talent by giving just a random role,” claimed Paul.

Paul has hosted many reality shows including Dance India Dance Li’l Masters and India’s Got Talent Season 4.

His debut project as a Bollywood actor, Mickey Virus, is written and directed by Surabh Verma.  The movie is a comic-thriller about a computer hacker and also marks the debut of half-Greek half-Swedish model Elli Avram, in Bollywood.

While hosting India’s version of Dancing with the Stars, the rising actor showed a few clips of his film to the judges, who were truly delighted. “I had shown them a rough cut and they were happy with it. I was actually scared to show it to them because they are all stars in their [respective] fields,” he said.

Paul, who seems a tad bit nervous about his upcoming film, added “I have only hosted shows so far and no one has seen me act. So, I was scared, but thankfully all three [judges] responded well. I hope everyone reacts the same way,”

The film is scheduled to be released on September 13, this year.

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

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NEW YORK: Ryan Gosling’s latest film Only God Forgives has deeply divided critics. The Canadian actor concedes that the blood-spattered crime thriller set in Bangkok’s underworld of boxing clubs and brothels may not appeal to everyone.

“The film is kind of like a drug,” the former child star who appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club TV show, told reporters ahead of the film’s opening in US theatres on Friday.

“You either have a good trip or a bad trip.”

For critics at the Cannes Film Festival – where the film, written and directed by Denmark’s Nicolas Winding Refn, was shown in May – it was a bit of both. It prompted boos and sent some critics scurrying from the press screening, while others praised the film’s artistic merits.

With its minimal dialogue and gruesome scenes of torture and bloodletting, the highly stylised film is not for the squeamish.

The Hollywood Reporter described it as a “menacingly atmospheric mood piece that will not disappoint devotees of the Nicolas Winding Refn church of fetishistic hyper-violence.”

Variety’s Peter Debruge called it “an exercise in supreme style and minimal substance,” and Keith Uhlich, of Time Out New York magazine, said Refn “clearly thinks he’s saying something profound with this laboriously overproduced dross.”

The film offered an opportunity for Gosling, who was nominated for best actor in the Academy Awards 2007 for the drama Half Nelson, to reunite with Refn.

The pair collaborated on the 2011 art-house drama Drive, which earned a best director award for Refn at Cannes.

“I wanted to work with Nicolas,” Gosling said, adding that for Refn the violent tone of the film is “part of the language which he uses to communicate.”

Gosling, 32, plays Julian, a brooding American fugitive in Bangkok who runs a boxing club as a front for his drug business. After his brother is killed for murdering a young Thai prostitute, his gangster mother, played by British actor Kristin Scott Thomas, arrives in Bangkok and demands bloody revenge.

But a mysterious, sword-wielding former policeman, with a penchant for chopping off body parts, has other plans.

The role was a departure for Thomas, who is best known for portraying haughty, stylish women in films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and The English Patient.

Sporting long blonde hair, heavy make-up and stilettos, Thomas said the make-over helped her get into the character.

“The violence is very shocking but it is more than the physical, gory special effects type of violence,” she said.

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

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ISLAMABAD: The queen of Sufi music Abida Parveen celebrated the first anniversary of her boutique and art gallery, AP Gallerie, on Friday with friends and family. However, the festivity did not only mark the completion of her gallery’s first year but also  the launch of her first-ever personal music album, Ru-e-Ali, for which she has collaborated with film-maker and poet Raja Muzaffar Ali and composer Sir John Kenneth Tavener.

While previously Parveen always handed over her music to recording labels, this particular album is unique in the sense that it is the first one that Parveen has released herself. The title song, Ru-e-Ali (Soul of Ali) played in the background setting a rather soothing environment at the evening and resonated through the gallery as guests mingled over a lavish iftar dinner.

Prominent faces at the event included renowned psychiatrists Dr Malik Mubasher and Dr Moadad Rana, Iqra University’s Chancellor and Young Presidents’ Organisation’s chairperson Hunaid Lakhani, US Embassy Chief of Staff John Trusdale, politician Zafar Bhitani and event manager Rezz Aly Shah.

“Little do people know about Abida’s spiritual side. She is a phenomenon and an institution,” said Mubahser. As her ‘murshid’, he shared how Parveen helped shape his outlook on spirituality and life in general.

Dr Mubasher’s daughter Fatima recently attended one of Parveen’s performances at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. “She has that vibe that entraps you and you are in awe of her, it feels like you are on a pilgrimage,” she said while recalling the meditative chant of her song Maula.

“Objectively speaking, Parveen started out as a singer from a small province but has grown like a tree that bears different fruits and flowers and gives shade to others. Her voice connects people and that is what her music is all about – it is the voice of her soul,” claims Dr Rana

Event manager Shah, too, expressed his deep love and admiration for her. He also appreciated the expanding cultural landscape where legendary artists like Parveen were investing their time and energies to give way to wider perspectives.

The double-storey gallery that is managed by Parveen’s children, showcases various clothing labels, pure-gold jewellery, paintings and artifacts, and comes closest to being an artist’s museum where the intertwined spheres of poetry, music and art come together.

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

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When Farhan Saeed left Jal, there was quite a lot of speculation of how he would survive as a solo artist. With the release of his single Pi Jaun last year, he silenced critics who felt he lacked the versatility to make it on his own.

However, since then, he has been building a career rather quietly.

Saeed has certainly branched out by frequently touring and performing in India and making his own mark on a global level.

His long-awaited solo album will release in the last quarter of this year. Having faced delays in releasing his album, Saeed has been quite vocal over Twitter about record labels and their unfair attitude.

“Record companies are not being fair. Maybe they can’t be, I don’t know. But one thing is for sure, at the end, it’s the artist who suffers,” he says.

“According to the labels, the physical sales of music are almost nil, which kind of makes sense considering the new trend of downloading music through social media platforms, but then the region in which we do music doesn’t have transparent ways of sharing royalties either,” adds Saeed.

Saeed’s debut album aims to have all the ingredients for success. He claims that the album will be more of a fusion of two different genres of music – a surprise for his listeners and will incorporate an element of versatility and various different sound techniques.

“I love being a versatile artist and that’s what I’ll try to be in my upcoming album. Having said that, my first priority would be to offer quality music to my listeners,” asserts Saeed.

Although he attempted to prove his flexibility as an artist with the two singles Kyun Gayi and Tu Thori Dair following Pi Jaun, they did not manage to garner the same viral success.

Despite that, Kyun Gayi will be featured in an untitled Bollywood film. The song basically brings out the emotion of separating from your lover. “The video of Kyun Gayi has been played on all channels and has been appreciated by the viewers.

However, the lyrics being in Punjabi makes it a little less commercial for an international market,” says Saeed.

Meanwhile, his other track Tu Thori Dair released just last month and Saeed seems enthusiastic about the product as it involves the use of sarangi, an instrument that has never been used in any of his songs.

“This one’s a relatively new song in that it has a soft, melodious tune with the addition of a new instrument, sarangi. It is a slow romantic number that emphasises on the concept of it’s ‘never enough’ when two lovers meet,” he says.

Like most young Pakistani artists who have indulged themselves into Bollywood’s temptations, Saeed, too, has been working more and more in India with several tours across the country at local concert hotspots.

He is of the belief that currently India is one of the most vibrant environments for music and with the local industry going downhill, Bollywood offers a great way to connect with international audiences.

“India is a good market for any profession. Pakistani singers and musicians are warmly welcomed there.” says Saeed.

“It’s always helpful to have access to an international market. However, when the local industry is facing a relapse, it becomes more of a necessity.”

The singer currently has several projects in the pipeline including music videos and some Bollywood projects apart from his upcoming album scheduled to release by the end of the year.

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

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A genius once said “don’t try to understand women; women understand women and they hate each other!”.

Yet, people have always tried to decipher the fairer sex. Labelled as complex, caring, even unpredictable, women remain the center of everyone’s curiosity. Being Pakistani takes things to a whole different level.

Twitter users today set out to fit the list of things Pakistani women want in 140 characters under the hashtag #WhatPakistaniWomenWant.

Here are a few top tweets:

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant to eat without getting fat, shop without paying,get married without the rishta aunties and rule the world.

— Maut Ka Farishta (@Ezraile) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant Deaf husband with deep pockets

— Hammad Siddiqui (@hammads) July 22, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant is to walk on the streets without men staring at her!!

— Samra Muslim (@samramuslim) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant in 140 characters? you kidding me?

— Kubra Fatima (@lionel_federer) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant A gori chitti pretty young girl for their pot bellied son.

— Kachee Goliyan (@KacheeGoliyan) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenwant a beautiful bahu,, n their son not to b mesmerized by her beauty….

— Insiya (@insiyadewan) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant a gora with a blue passport

— breen (@mehreenrana) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant every thing what other woman has

— msaadkb (@msaadkb) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant is to block the rays emitting from the spectrum eyes of her man for the ladies around.

— annie fatima (@AinFatima93) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant? Everything you think they do not want.

— Ahsan Haseeb (@ahsanhaseeb) July 21, 2013

#WhatPakistaniWomenWant Roti, Kapray aur private darzi.

— Shméagol (@Shumyl) July 21, 2013

British comedian Mel Smith, who became a household name in Britain for a series of television sketch shows in the ‘70s and ‘80s which colleagues said had inspired a generation of comics, has died of a heart attack, his agent said on Saturday.

Smith, 60, who died on Friday, found fame starring in hugely popular shows Not The Nine O’clock News and Alas Smith and Jones and went on to direct films such as Bean and The Tall Guy.

Rowan Atkinson, who worked with the comic on both Not the Nine O’Clock News and Bean, said he was “truly sad” to hear about the death.

“Mel Smith — a lovely man of whom I saw too little in his later years. He had a wonderfully generous and sympathetic presence both on and off the screen,” he said, according to telegraph.co.uk. “If you direct a comedy movie that takes $245 million at the box office, you’ve done something pretty special, and I never thought he was given enough credit for this success.”

“I still can’t believe this has happened,” said Griff Rhys Jones, his comedy partner in his best-known TV shows, according to Reuters. “To everybody who ever met him, Mel was a force for life. He was a gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit.”

Together, they formed Talkback, a highly successful independent TV production house that spawned many hit British comedies including the Ali G series.

Smith had suffered from poor health in recent years, but confessed to being unable to stop working. He said in 2009: “It was my dark secret and I got deeply depressed. Like an alcoholic hiding his bottles, I started hiding my Nurofen tablets in the backs of drawers, behind books on bookshelves and slipped them between scripts.”

BBC’s Director General Tony Hall said: “Mel Smith’s contribution to British comedy cannot be overstated. On screen, he helped define a new style of comedy from the late ‘70s that continues to influence people to this day.”

“Very sad to hear the news of Mel Smith’s death. He was always so kind & generous to us,” tweeted Graham Linehan, writer of Father Ted.

Actor-comic Peter Serafinowicz tweeted: “He did something very kind for me early in my career even though he hardly knew me. Such a funny man.”

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

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Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were best friends as long as we can remember. But, five years ago, things took a turn for the worse. They had a brawl at Katrina Kaif’s birthday party and their relationship was shattered. However, at Congress leader Baba Siddique’s annual iftar party over the weekend, there were smiles, hugs and feelings of warmth between the two!

Shahrukh was seated on the same table as Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan and Salman’s father Salim Khan, while Salman was seated at another table with his brother Sohail. Salman went up to greet the CM and that’s when the host decided to take him around the table and meet everyone seated there, individually. Salman shook hands with everyone till he reached SRK — it seemed like time froze as they both stood there and looked at each other.

Siddique then moved forward and got the two to hug each other, reports the Hindustan Times. The entire room cheered and clapped while the Khans stood there with blank expressions. They posed for pictures till Salman went back to his seat and SRK went back to his dinner — he chatted with Salman’s father longer than he did with anyone else. We are guessing they were talking about someone who is very close to both of them — Salman possibly?

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

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MUMBAI: Actor-turned-producer Dia Mirza is busy casting for three films being made under her banner and says she would love to work with Kahaani actor Vidya Balan.

Dia co-owns production house, Born Free Entertainment, along with her beau, businessman Sahil Sangha, and actor Zayed Khan. Love Breakups Zindagi was their first venture. “Vidya is someone I would love to cast in the film. She is a dear friend with a great temperament,” said Dia, adding that Vidya is a powerhouse performer.

Dia’s wish list doesn’t end on Vidya. Adding more names, she said: “I would love to work with Huma Qureshi and Richa Chadda — they are very talented actors.”

Talking about the status of three projects, Dia said: “We are in the process of developing three films. We will start filming in October. We have invested one-and-a-half year in scripting. It is everything that we stand by … All three [films] will release mid next year,” she said.

The producer said that the common thread between the three films is “universal human stories”. “They [films] are all human interest stories. If I had to streamline the genre, I would say each one of them is a coming-of-age story. The milieu of the characters is different. I am excited about the quality of writing. Each writer was given one-and-a-half year. It has been an exciting and exasperating process,” she said.

When asked if film-making is different from narrating good stories on celluloid, the actor-turned-producer said, “A lot of us are in a hurry to just make a film. I was clear that whatever I do, it should take care of everything. The storyline is my priority. I want to tell unique stories.”

Dia also added that she is not keen on acting in her films. “I will not take up any role, if the film does not need me,” she said.

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

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Designer Somaya Adnan of the brand Ayesha-Somaya and fashion blogger Anber Javed were recently spotted at the launch of nail colour brand Essie at Olivetto, Karachi. The two ladies were a perfect picture of pure elegance and sophistication. Here is a breakdown of what they wore and who stole the show:

Anber Javed

Hair and make-up

Anber kept it subtle and stylish in a half-tied hairdo leaving the ends slightly curled. While we love the simple look, a little volume on the crown would have been much appreciated. The blogger looks fresh with that peachy pink blush, well-defined cat eyes and pale pink lips. The coral shade on her nails is uber chic. One of those nails was painted white; should we watch out for a new trend, Anber? 

Outfit

Her mustard-coloured maxi dress cinched at the waist with a stylish metallic skinny belt is a breath of fresh air. This casual meets semi-formal ensemble was definitely an ideal pick for the funky, colourful evening. 

Accessories & shoes

We love how Anber is trying to add a bit of funk to her overall look with the multi-coloured necklace. However, it seems more like something a four-year-old would wear at her birthday party. A chunky gold necklace would have definitely been a better option. We simply adore the crisp white clutch with gold detailing and the twisted strappy gold sandals.

Somaya Adnan

Hair & make-up

Somaya looks effortlessly chic in this perfectly blow-dried and layered hairdo. The designer looks surreal in her subtle, dusky pink make-up. Those well-defined eyes, slightly plum lips and gorgeous smile make her look simply flawless. 

Outfit

We are assuming that Somaya is wearing one of her own beautiful creations. The designer looks like a true ethereal beauty in this nude screen-printed asymmetrical dress. The halter neckline and the slightly visible broche add oomph to the graceful ensemble. The silky fabric does complete justice to her petite figure. 

Accessories and shoes

Somaya’s faux snake-skinned copper clutch has literally put our style-o-meter on fire! The designer surely knows how to accessorise her look. Her elegant diamond studs and rings complement her classy look well. However, we are not sure if this was the right event to wear a bright orange toy watch! Those nude coloured platform heels that are sneaking out of her flowy, floor-length gown are just perfect.

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

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LOS ANGELES: The Conjuring, a story about two paranormal investigators who work to help a family terrorised by the demonic possession of their farmhouse, outperformed two pricey competitors and the global hit Despicable Me 2 to win the top slot at both the US and Canadian box-office.

The low-budgeted horror flick, directed by James Wan and produced by Warner Bros and New Line Cinema, soared past forecasts with $41.5 million in domestic ticket sales in its first three days — the highest take among four new films, according to studio estimates.

The strong performance from The Conjuring knocked two-time champion Despicable Me 2 to second place with $25.1 million.

Both movies topped this week’s results surpassing big-budget entries Turbo and R.I.P.D., which both fell short of already low expectations from some box office analysts.

The Dreamworks Animation and 20th Century Fox film Turbo, the story of a racing snail, marked the lowest domestic opening amongst DWA productions and landed in the number three slot with $21.5 million from Friday through Sunday. Whereas the Universal Pictures’ sci-fi comedy R.I.P.D. limped to a seventh finish with $12.8 million.

The Conjuring produced for just under $20 million, stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as a couple investigating paranormal activities. The movie followed the successful path of other inexpensive horror films like Mama and The Purge that grabbed big sales in their opening weekends this year.

“It so over performed anybody’s wildest expectations,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros’ executive vice president for domestic distribution. “We originally thought if we open in the mid-20s, that’s a strong result and we’d be very happy with that.”

Family audiences, though, kept coming for the animated Despicable Me 2, one of the summer’s biggest hits, which brought its global total through Sunday to $585 million, said a distributor representing Universal Pictures. The film features the voice of Steve Carell as the Felonious Gru, leader of the singing-and-dancing yellow minions.

Continued interest in the animated minions stalled the debut of Turbo, which features the voice of Ryan Reynolds. With a head start on the weekend, Turbo added $9.7 million on Wednesday and Thursday at North American (US and Canadian) theatres, plus $22.6 million from international openings, which only covered about one-quarter of all international markets. DreamWorks spent roughly $135 million to make the film.

“We’re in a very competitive marketplace but we have a ton of summer play time left, so we’ll see,” said Chris Aronson, president of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox. Aronson added that Turbo had “very strong openings” internationally, and an A-plus Cinema score rating from moviegoers under age 25, which he said “bodes very well for its playability”.

Turbo wasn’t the weekend’s only disappointment as the Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges starrer R.I.P.D. opened to a dismal $12.8 million domestically. It added $6.8 million in international markets for a global total of $19.6 million through Sunday. “In this crowded marketplace, R.I.P.D. did not find the size audience it needed and Universal is disappointed with the weekend result,” said Nikki Rocco, president for domestic distribution at Universal Pictures.

Rounding up the box-office, the Adam Sandler comedy Grown Ups 2 took the fourth slot, pulling in $20 million during its second weekend.

Newcomer Red 2, an action comedy starring Bruce Willis as a retired CIA agent, landed in fifth place with $18.5 million and the sci-fi monster flick Pacific Rim settled for a sixth place.

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

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“I know that many [TV] shows have taken advantage of her condition in the past,” says screenwriter Suraj Baba, referring to TV show producers who would invite her to their shows for ratings or feel-good tributes. “But when I saw a recent tribute to her, I thought I would visit her since I hadn’t seen her in three years.” He says he felt distressed after seeing her. “I am appealing that someone [needs to] provide her with basic help such as security or a person who can take care of her.”

Daughter of Indian tabla maestro Allah Rakha, Bano has won many awards including the Pride of Performance. But today she lives alone on Kasuri Road, in a house that is so broken down it gives one the impression that it is haunted. It lacks basic amenities such as gas and power, the furniture is broken, trash fills the driveway and a stench surrounds the place. The only working appliance Bano owns is her television.

Following his visit a couple of days ago, Baba reached out to his contacts in the television fraternity with the hope of raising money for her. As a result, actor Shamoon Abbasi showed his support via Facebook and Twitter in order to start a fund. Unable to find any relatives or family — her only son was shot dead in 2005 — who could take care of her, Baba has decided to start a campaign to draw in the government’s attention. He hopes that basic care — a maid or security guard — will be provided.

Bano’s financial condition, however, is the least of her worries. It is clear that her mental state has deteriorated as she was unable to speak clearly or coherently. “I just sit all day and watch television. I may clean up the house one day,” a disheveled Bano told The Express Tribune, seeming rather lost. She reveals that she was unaware that media was taking an interest in her life but does remember that she appeared on a TV show recently and that the channel never ended up paying her.

When asked how she feels about people raising funds in her name, she is bitter and angry. “No one has spoken to me about making a trust or an account [to raise funds for me],” she snapped, completely oblivious to the notion. “Whoever said that, I will ask them what they want from me.” She admits that her car had also been stolen about three years ago.

General speculation by people in the television industry is that those close to her may have ulterior motives such as obtaining her wealth. She discloses that she has some land in Punjab and a plot in Karachi. The house she currently resides in is worth a lot despite its deplorable state.

Taking notice

Baba’s voice has been heard as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA and former actor Kanwal recently paid Bano a visit. She feels that money is not the solution right now as Bano is going through an extreme bout of depression. “People can do whatever they want but my main interest is to make sure that she is provided a better environment so that she can overcome her depression,” says Kanwal. “Being a woman as well as a former artist, I feel it’s important that we support her. I don’t think throwing money is the solution. We want to help her, so she can overcome this.”

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

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Farooqui’s journey began 13 years ago, when the fashion fraternity was far from being a structured industry. He reminisces about a time when a fashion show comprised only six to eight models; a four-feet high ramp and inadequate lighting — a time when choreography was a fairly new concept. “Even in such conditions, the energy at fashion shows was exhilarating,” he says. “Within 10 years, we are now at a level that can be compared to fashion weeks in India.”

Today, Farooqui of Dragonfly enjoys being the official photographer for not only Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) events, but also Fashion Pakistan Week (FPW) and the Lux Style Awards (LSAs). You will spot him and his team clicking away tirelessly at every fashion week, capturing not only the red carpet, but also backstage scenes. Once the show begins, Farooqui, popularly known as Frankie, can be seen seated in the centre-most location amongst the photographers. “Ramp photography is all about time,” he says. “You do not have time to re-take shots so the two or three second window you get is extremely precious.”

“The feeling of where I sit is so exhilarating that even talking about it gives me goosebumps,” he says. His trip to Lakme India Fashion Week in 2003 opened his eyes. “I cannot say that my technique changed then, but I knew I had changed and I was looking for a change in the [Pakistani] industry.”

One wonders how Farooqui has managed to maintain ties in an industry where it takes very little to sever them. “I am no longer just Faisal Farooqui,” he says with pride. “Dragonfly is my identity. Our quality of work and perseverance to deliver is what has allowed us to last here.” The photographer admits that he does not know what the critics will like at fashion weeks or what is considered ‘stylish’. “What I know is that when I see seamless stitching through my lens, I know it [the dress] is well-composed.”

Citing designer Ali Xeeshan’s example, he says, “I do not know if people appreciated the Jalsa collection, but I could see through my camera that every hem was stitched perfectly and that is what impressed me. I called him [Xeeshan] and told him that I thought his collection was fantastic.”

The fashion industry can often be the target of vicious criticism, with the councils constantly being in the line of fire. Farooqui feels that the element that is keeping the Pakistani entertainment industry from progressing is the lack of maturity. “I have been mature since my childhood,” he says. “I take my work and life seriously and feel that what holds us [the entertainment industry] back is the lack of maturity. You will see people arguing over petty issues. They wear this sense of entitlement like a jewel in their crown, as if to say ‘don’t you know who I am?’,” he said.

“Politics will always be there,” he continues. “No industry will ever be politics-free, but we need to learn how to rise above it. Our media is not mature and this maturity will only come with time and when new blood starts coming in and changing the way things are done.”

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

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When actor Jiah Khan committed suicide last month, her boyfriend Suraj Pancholi was the focus of the Indian media’s attention.

A letter she had written — which explicitly spoke about her failed relationship with Suraj and how he became the reason behind why she took her life — was discovered by her mother which resulted in his arrest. Despite everything they went through — before and after Jiah’s death — Suraj claims to still love her.

“Everything in my house reminds me of her. She was a beautiful person from the inside and outside. She should’ve waited for better things to come her way in life,” he said, according to the Times of India. “It’s unfair that she just left me and has gone away. I couldn’t really help her.”

Suraj is aware that his name will be associated with hers for life. “I don’t mind as my heart is still connected to hers — I still love her.”

He revealed that she was deeply depressed and had it not been for him, “she would’ve tried this [suicide] and succeeded earlier.” “If her mother blames me, I should tell her that I did not take her life. In fact, I gave her an extension of life by 10 months,” he adds.

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

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“He [Kumar] was hospitalised two days back and is fine now. He shall be discharged in a couple of days,” added the source.

The 75-year-old reportedly complained of pain in his gall bladder. The actor has not been well for quite some time as he has been suffering from gastronomical problems and reportedly had swelling in the gall bladder.

Speaking to the media gathered at the hospital, the ailing actor told his fans not to worry for his health.

Manoj Kumar is known for making movies based on moral values and patriotism like Shaheed, Upkar, Purab Aur Pashchim, Yadgar, Shor, Roti Kapda aur Makan and Kranti.

Another source revealed that Kumar was saddened by fellow actor and close friend Pran Sikhand’s demise. “I tried getting in touch with Manoj sahib after I heard the news of Pran sahib’s death. I know how close they were,” said the source. “But all his home numbers were unreachable and Manoj sahib does not carry a cell phone. I had no option but to drive down to his bungalow.”

The source added that he was told that Manoj sahib would be attending Pran Sahib’s funeral, however, Manoj sahib didn’t keep that appointment.”

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

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“We have kept in mind the discerning taste of our clients who come from diverse backgrounds,” said Kayseria’s art director Waleed Zaman, at the launch of the brand’s prêt wear collection at Olivetto on Monday. “It’s a fashion-forward line.” With over 40 different designs, the collection is fashionable and affordable at a range of Rs800 to Rs7,000.

At the launch event, the collection’s three categories were showcased by models. The traditional Riwayat is inspired by Mughal-era monuments. In red and black finishes, the outfits in this category are more traditional than trendy, with gold wire work in the front panels and broad borders at the hemline. The second category titled Kontemporary showcased cottons and chiffons bearing funky neon prints similar to barcodes. With some kimono-inspired necklines and fitted kurtas, this category is more for young women as compared to  ladies who are looking for something more chic. The best thing to come out of this category, however, was a pair of black chikan pencil pants that will look sexy if paired with a longer shirt. The third category, Virsa, echoes folk sensibility and was by the far the most interesting of the evening. Fusing gypsy chic with truck art and pure Pakistani street style, this category showcased cotton in bright yellow, candy pink and lime knee-length shirts. The printed straight pants and playful sleeves are sure wins. Our favourite from Virsa is a truck-art inspired tunic with billowing sleeves tamed at the cuff.

“In all three lines, we have followed some global trends; we looked into the beauty of folk art and how timeless fashion transcends all boundaries,” said Zaman.

Before the fashion show, socialites were also seen wearing Kayseria’s new collection. One, who wished not to be named, was wearing an Angrakha-inspired outfit from the Kontemporary line. “The fabric is karandi which is primarily winter wear — it isn’t summer wear,” she sighed, adding that the prints are not innovative. “It’s good but nothing great,” she added. We wonder if she was peeved by the poor organisation of iftar and seating for guests!

The prêt collection will be placed at the Kayseria outlet in Dolmen Mall Clifton and will then be showcased in eight other stores. By the end of the year,  they hope to stock this exclusive line in at least 15 outlets out of 50.

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

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While comic con is more of an eccentric-costume fest, Hollywood biggies were spotted in some fabulously chic red carpet looks. Along with breakthrough news for Superman and Batman fans, Comic Con 2013 brought with it a streak of risky fashion choices, playful patterns and bright colours. Here is a round-up of our favourite picks:

Chris Evans 

Captain America has totally turned the heat on keeping in line with his alter-ego, the Torch. The actor looks sizzling hot in a dark navy v-necked cardigan paired with a plain white tee. Since Minka is cool with Chris kissing Scarlett for his film, we are sure she wouldn’t mind a few more waiting in line for this suave, young heart-throb.

Zoe Saldana 

The Star Trek actor and a former model, Zoe Saldana, surely knows how to bring sexy back! She is always dressed to perfection at the red carpet and is never afraid of experimenting. Keeping on trend, the fashionista rocked a Balmain denim jumpsuit at the event and a pair of Christian Louboutin black peep-toes. We are so digging the sweetheart neckline and the gold chain-link straps of the jumpsuit.

Emily Blunt 

Brit girl Emily looked chic in this funky pink and blue sheath dress by Wes Gordon, adding an extra pop of colour with those bright fuchsia sandals by Rupert Sanderson. While Emily is always an epitome of grace and poise on the red carpet, we love how she is taking a risk with colours and showing off her wild side.

Josh Dallas 

Once Upon A Time’s Prince Charming truly charmed us at Comic Con’s red carpet with his nautical-inspired look. The too-sexy-to-be-true actor has us weak in the knees in a pair of crisp white pants, navy fitted blazer and sailor shoes sans socks! The structured ensemble fits his chiseled body well.

Scarlett Johansson

The Black Widow from Avengers was far from being the dull and saddened secret agent. Rather she looked like a colourful bouquet of flowers. Scarlett looked fresh and demure in a vivid Versace floral printed midi dress and that drool-worthy pair of Jimmy Choo mules. Though her well-defined eyes add a sexy touch, we really wish she had blow-dried her hair properly with some volume at the crown.

Tom Cruise

If you were born in the late 80s then Tom Cruise was definitely your first love and at the Comic Con event he shows just how much you can’t avoid falling for him even after so many years. Although the Mission Impossible star kept it simple and casual in a blue sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, it’s just his refined and dapper looks that always make him stand out at any red carpet.

Emiia Clarke

The Comic Con convention was more of a bodycon convention with a number of actors sporting a variety of bodycon knee-length dresses. The Game of Thrones actor Emilia Clarke also looked ravishing in a blood-red peek-a-boo bodycon dress by Christopher Kane Resort. We are so digging those red pointy pumps and kohl-rimmed eyes.

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

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NEW DELHI: Indian director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who just directed Bhaag Milkha Bhaag said on Tuesday that he is planning to release the film in Pakistan, The Hindu reported.

“One of my Pakistani friends had tears in his eyes after watching the film and he was confident that it will bring the two countries closer together,” said the director.

The film is based on a yesteryear’s star athlete Milkha Singh, who was also known as the “Flying Sikh”.

“I was fascinated by Milkha right from childhood. I came across his autobiography in Gurmukhi. His son Jeev was instrumental in getting us the film’s rights,” said the director.

Mehra said that Farhan Akhtar, who plays the character of Milkha will also be visiting Pakistan along with the rest of the crew.

The director asserted that making the film was a challenge and forced him to “sell my Gurgaon flat and my wife’s shares,”. However, it is an important story, he added.

The film plays upon the theme of Partition and will have Milkha participating in a sports event in Pakistan. After all, the sobriquet of the “Flying Sikh” was given to the athlete by General Ayub Khan.

“Farhan will always be remembered for immortalising Milkha Singh on the screen just like Amjad Khan was known as Gabbar Singh in Sholay and Amitabh as Vijay in Deewar,” said the director.