Quantcast
Channel: Latest Lifestyle News, Fashion & Celebrity News - The Express Tribune
Viewing all 20712 articles
Browse latest View live

Deepak Perwani sets flag at Dolmen

$
0
0

KARACHI: Deepak Perwani’s been in the world of fashion for nearly 20 years. Being one of the pioneers, he’s seen the industry’s growth curve go from trough to crest. And with four stores across the country already, he has now opened a fifth outlet but this time, it’s at Dolmen City Mall Clifton, the busiest centre of the city. A soft, informal launch took place on Saturday.

With its black, white and deep gold theme, the store epitomises pure elegance and luxury. And as you walk past the food court on the second floor of the mall, Perwani’s fashion house — which has a flashy Deepak Perwani sign right outside along with its recognisable logo — has a certain magnetism about it which draws you close. It’s been designed by architect Farah Qadir of Gravity Designs.

The store opening was done early due to Eid, but a bigger launch is planned for October. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

“This is the fifth DP [Deepak Perwani] store nationwide,” says Perwani proudly, adding that he is planning a bigger event in October for the store’s official launch. “A lot of stuff still needs to be done. But since Eid was approaching fast, we thought it was the right time to launch it. At the hard launch in October, you will see what the store is all about.”

The store opening was done early due to Eid, but a bigger launch is planned for October. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

From prêt to luxury prêt, the new outlet houses the designer’s entire collection. However, Perwani’s prêt line D Philosophy was ironically missing at the launch. When he was later asked, he said, “Frida Kahlo [Fashion Pakistan Week 5 collection] was there, didn’t you see it?” He clarified further by saying, “D Philosophy is our label and it is very much there — bags in neon, prints in yellow and green. That’s all D Philosophy; the brand hasn’t changed one bit.”

“It’s a good location [Dolmen]. It’s a new spot in retail,” he added. The price range of Perwani’s collection falls between Rs4,800 and Rs25,000.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2013.

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



Michael Jackson’s unheard songs to be released

$
0
0

Michael Jackson has ruled the world of pop music for the longest time — when he was alive and following his tragic death as well. Whether it was his classic dance moves or his catchy tunes, he knew what struck the chord with the fans. With tracks like Smooth Criminal, Man in the Mirror and Thriller, MJ made his mark not only in the US but across the globe. And years after his death, his former music producer Fred Jerkins III now plans to release the King of Pop’s previously unheard songs.

Fred, who works with his brother Rodney under the name Darkchild, claims to be working on a project incorporating music and video footage featuring the Beat It singer, who died of acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009, reports contactmusic.com. Fred worked with MJ on his 2001 album Invincible; he said the time they spent together was the highlight of his career as Jackson was so “relaxed and fun” to work with.

“We have a number of unreleased songs and all sorts of video footage. There’s a project in the making right now that will include all those songs,” he said during a master class at specialist college Access to Music in West Midlands, England, according to Mid Day.

“I worked with him for two years exclusively — it was the biggest highlight of my career. He came to our studios in Pleasantville, New Jersey, and we built a really strong relationship and became really good friends,” added Fred.

“I remember him, just for fun, riding on a three-wheel bike in the parking lot that belonged to someone with disabilities. He was really relaxed,” he continued about his memories with the King of Pop. “It’s things like these that you wouldn’t expect from Michael Jackson. We were comfortable with him as a family and my son had his fifth birthday at Neverland [Michael Jackson’s home from 1988 to 2005].”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2013.

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


Modeling: Do we need a code of conduct?

$
0
0

LAHORE: 

In any industry, unprofessional behaviour will get you sacked. The fashion and modeling world is no exception. Whether it’s Naomi Campbell’s protégé cuddling with Campbell’s ex-lover or something less scandalous (like models turning up late for shoots), the consequences are determined by industry forces.

“When there is competition, there will be professionalism,” says Andleeb Rana of Xpoze magazine. “I had to drop Sana Sarfraz because she wasn’t professional — she didn’t turn up [for a shoot] because she was busy the night before.” Rana feels that if modeling agencies were to bring in foreign models, they would serve as a benchmark and local girls would get some fierce competition and pull up their stockings.

Saad Ali of the Pakistan Fashion Design Council feels the problem is linked with the lack of modeling agencies in the country. It is their job to teach the girls etiquettes, he implies. “We have very strict rules regarding who we hire. There isn’t even a single professional modeling agency in the market to micromanage their [models] lifestyles,” he says. “Ideally, we want two sets of 23 models for a fashion week but we only get 23 in total since there aren’t any available.”

It’s time for them to grow up and stop fighting over who walks first and who walks last on the ramp, says fashion photographer Faisal Farooqui. “I usually work in fashion weeks and the atmosphere is very different now,” he admits. “The models come in on time and get their choreography done, but they still create issues about who walks [on the ramp] when.”

Then there are some who believe that unprofessional attitudes can be tied to educational backgrounds. “You cannot blame these models,” explains designer Deepak Perwani.  “Our culture uses fashion as entertainment and to these small-time girls, the entertainment world is like a drug; they get sucked into partying because they think that is the cool thing to do and will get them fame.”

“You are defined by the choices you make and the models don’t really know better — they are influenced,” he says. When asked if bringing in foreign models would help, he says, “We’ve had 12 girls come in from Dubai for Fashion Pakistan Week cycle 1 and 2 but they just sat there because designers refused to use them — they felt foreign girls couldn’t do justice to their clothes.”

Ramp queen Iraj Manzoor, who has been in the industry for years now, feels that models these days look for instant success and forget that they are humans before models. “Girls are not educated and do not stand up for their values — they want overnight success,” she admits. “I have always stood up for what I believed in because I knew I wanted a life outside this industry.”

A solution to this issue could easily lie in the selections we make. Photographer-stylist duo Nadir Feroz Khan and Maha Burney make smart choices. “We haven’t had any instances of sheer unprofessionalism because we are very selective about who we use,” says Burney. “Celebrities and TVC models are the hardest to work with because they do not follow guidelines. But as far as our fashion shoots go, we haven’t encountered any unprofessional behaviour.”

While some models and actors like Mahira Khan and Aaminah Sheikh — seen in TV advertisements primarily — are vouched for by the industry for being extremely professional, there are multiple factors which have a role to play when it comes to ramp and shoot models.

Perhaps a code of conduct would improve the situation, by which models that violate guidelines are penalised. This will also encourage aspiring models to shape up while they are starting their careers, so the ethics are ingrained within them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2013.

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


Ishq Khuda: So close, no matter how far from typical Lollywood

$
0
0

LAHORE: 

The recently released Punjabi film Ishq Khuda offers an interesting case-study of the irony of film-making in Lollywood and public demand. While the film fails to provide the production quality that is necessary for gaining success at multiplexes, it has all the right ingredients needed to churn out large audience numbers at single screens.

As unfortunate as it is, the film is a typical Lollywood venture – full of clichés, choppy direction, poor acting and a terribly structured script accompanied by an over-the-top, loud presentation. It is also a perfect example of the power of branding and sponsorship as one can clearly witness the recurring use of Tapal Daanedar tea in several scenes.

However, the film is a complete rejection of the jihad-inspired movies from the ’90s that seem to be filling the gap of the gandasa-toting, thug heroes of the ’80s. It promotes sufism as the countervailing force to jihad through moralistic dialogues and the narrative of love and spirituality.

This concept is brought alive by infusing together two incoherent and inter-twined stories. Actor Shaan plays his usual role of the evil Chaudhry by the name of Ruliya. Having reached his saturation point with the exploitation of the poor’s rights and abuse of women, Ruliya comes face to face with a sufi, who makes him question his behaviour on religious and spiritual grounds. Although initially Ruliya is trying to beat the spiritual guide, he is soon inspired by the sufi’s moral values. Ruliya eventually becomes a sufi, too, who confronts his internal and external contradiction of hate that is used as a metaphor to address the broader narrative of extremist thought, after he falls in love with Kalsoom (Wiam Ammar Dahmani), only to be rejected because of his reputation.

At a different end, the movie tries to address the idea of love as it exists. Ahsan (Ahsan Khan) is a young engineer who returns to his ancestral village in the mountains to work on a business project. During his stay, he develops a relationship with Iqra (Meera), who is the daughter of a former Army official and is in search of true love. As fate might have it, she is also best friends with Kalsoom, who then also falls madly in love with Ahsan. However, Ahsan decides to marry Iqra and that is when all hell breaks loose and the movie turns dark and dreary.

Meera, who has promoted the movie heavily and pins her hopes on it to make a comeback, has failed miserably as an actor. She did not fit her character at all and could not manage to convince the audience with her superficially romantic dialogues. Unfortunately, talented actors such as Ahsan Khan were given lesser screen time which could have added a bit of depth to the otherwise hollow storyline. On the other hand, the director did a good job in providing shots of scenery, great music and some enticing dialogues that provide minimal enjoyment but are necessary ingredients for success at single-screen cinemas.

Even though, the film seems to be a failure by global standards, the divide of Pakistani cinema has allowed it to be hit on single screens in the Punjab circuit. While multiplexes thrive on quality content, something Ishq Khuda fails to provide, a larger audience that can only afford a Rs100 ticket enjoys such movies. This is probably why the movie has been loved by the masses.

As Momin Ali Munshi blogs on Galaxy Lollywood, “The film stars Shaan, Saima and Meera (who are hot favorites with Shaan and Saima being legends). Also it has the good-looking Wiam-Ahsan pairing and the icing on the cake is that the film is in Punjabi. What more could a common man want?”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2013.

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


Angry Afridi demands 'obscene' parts cut from movie that uses his name

$
0
0

KARACHI: Pakistani cricket star Shahid Afridi demanded on Wednesday that the producers of a film about a boy emulating his rise to stardom cut an “obscene” scene which he fears could damage his image.

The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to “Main Hoon Shahid Afridi” (“I am Shahid Afridi”) but is now worried that some aspects may lead young viewers astray.

The $1 million Pakistan-made movie tells the story of a young man who dreams of becoming as great a player as Afridi, and the trials he faces as he tries to follow in his hero’s footsteps.

Afridi, who hails from Pakistan’s deeply conservative tribal district of Khyber on the Afghan border, was furious at a scene in which the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.

The scene was shown in trailers for the film on various TV channels.

“I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things,” said Afridi, 33.

“I want to tell the people that the film is not related to my life.”

Afridi, who shot to stardom in 1996 aged 16 when he hit a world record one-day international hundred off 37 balls, said he wanted the producer to cut the scene.

“A lot of kids and families would go to watch the movie because of me and if they see things like that they will feel bad, so I hope they remove those scenes and run the film,” he said.

The movie had already suffered technical glitches which pushed its release forward from the slated Eid holiday weekend, which is a popular time for producers to release their films.

Producer Humayun Saeed, a top actor in Pakistan, initially wanted Afridi to take the lead role, but the cricketer said it would not be in keeping with the traditions of his tribe.

Afridi said he was also concerned because the film’s promotional material wrongly suggested he had acted in the film.

“I had declined the offer to act because my elders are against acting, nor did I charge a single penny from them,” he said.

The movie is a big budget production and was highly anticipated ahead of other rivals being released around Eid.


I respect Shahid Afridi’s sentiments: Humayun Saeed

$
0
0

KARACHI: 

The film Main Hoon Shahid Afridi has already played a typical Afridi innings, in that it is unpredictable yet keeping you on the edge of your seats.

After being delayed by two weeks due to some eleventh hour post-production issues, the film might undergo some possible editing since Shahid Afridi himself has raised concerns over the content of the film. The cricketer told AFP on Wednesday that he did not want to be seen endorsing content he considers “obscene” as it will affect his image and misguide fans.

“When Humayun approached me initially, I had given him full support because film is a powerful medium and our youth is very misguided these days,” Afridi tells The Express Tribune. “Every now and then you see kids roaming around with toy guns, which have also become their favourite Eid gift, and that is quite sad.” To counter the growing negativity in our country, the 33-year-old all-rounder wanted this film to act as a means to divert the attention of the youth from crime-driven environment. All was going according to plan until he saw the promos of the film, which he feels contain some “vulgar” clips.

“I only have a problem with the item number featured in the film because that is something which is going to make the families sitting in the cinema halls very uncomfortable,” says Afridi. Saeed has apparently briefed the cricketer that the item number is an attempt to depict how clubs and parties in foreign countries are an imminent part of cricket culture and also safe houses for corruption and black mailing in the world of cricket.

“Humayun has really worked hard on this one and his reasons for the party sequence might be right but I am sure that there are better and more socially acceptable ways of achieving it. We spoke to each other like brothers so there is no point of making a legal issue out of this and the most I could do is request him to edit the song. The rest is up to him,” asserts Afridi.

On the other hand, MHSA has been entered for a censor review. While producer Humayun Saeed is excited over the response from the censor board, he is equally concerned about Afridi’s sentiments. “My intent behind making this film is to give a tribute to Shahid Afridi — the biggest superstar in the country,” says Saeed. “I completely respect the legend’s sentiments and if he remains adamant over his concerns then we’ll fulfill his needs.”

Nevertheless, Saeed had a few clarifications to make regarding intimate scenes in the film. “I have promoted the film in such a way that the songs are gaining more popularity than the content and that was only to make the content of the film come as a surprise,” claims Saeed. He said that songs like Malal, in which he is seen getting cozy with actor Mahnoor Baloch, is more of an emotional song then a “sexy” song. Similarly, he feels the party scene is necessary to create the suspense of a murder taking place.

“The entire storyline of the film is about cricket and focuses primarily on the players and the national thrill for the game. When Shahid Bhai will see the whole package he’ll be a happier man and will love it,” says Saeed.

If the item number is edited out of the film then there is a major chance that the project might face a loss at the box office and hence, to avoid this from happening someone will have to brief Afridi in detail. Whichever side the ball spins, one thing is for sure that the producers of the film are going to use this last-minute googly to their advantage.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2013.

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


Premier perfection

$
0
0

Stars of The Wolverine and many more famous celebrities were spotted at the premiere of the film in London at the Empire Leicester Square, looking absolutely astounding in their fabulous outfits. The stars’ certainly lit up the red carpet with absolute glamour.

Curious minds should continue reading to find out what each wore:

Tao Okamoto

This Japanese model, who made her debut in The Wolverine, arrived at the London premiere in a camouflage print gown from Miharayasuhiro’s fall 2012 collection. Though a camouflage print is usually risky, Tao successfully pulls it off with confidence.

Austin Mahone

The 17-year-old American pop singer looked hip in his colourful shirt paired with black leather pants. He played it cool with his pierced ears and high-top boots, giving him a biker-boy look.

Kimberly Wyatt

Former Pussycat Doll, Kimberly Wyatt was seen at the UK premiere wearing a Rachel Gilbert dazzling yellow, strapless gown. The floor length dress had a sequin and hand embroidered bodice which was a definite eye-pleaser. With her beautifully done light make-up and bright coral lipstick, Kimberly fit in perfectly with the colourful summer theme.

Rila Fukushima

Going for an edgy look, this Asian actor opted to wear a Stella McCartney pre-fall 2013 strapless blue-and-black-striped tailored jumpsuit at the event. Though she decided to go for something less classy than Tao, she managed to prefect the bold and beautiful look. The black Louboutins, electric-bolt blue ring and chunky bracelet go well together.

Famke Janssen

Wolverine’s very own deceased lover in the movie, Jean Grey looked ravishing in her Carolina Herrera Fall 2013 long rose-coloured gown. The V-neck and trendy cut flatters her tall and thin figure. Wearing both silver and gold bangles with her black and gold Kotur Rene clutch, she excelled in the accessories department. We have to say, hers is our favourite red carpet look from the premiere.

Hugh Jackman

The man with the claws, Hugh Jackman arrived at the event looking more dashing than ever.  He chose a Louis Vuitton, dark blue suit with a crisp white shirt but no tie, opting for a more casual and cool look.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2013.

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


Veena Malik allows Finnish artist to paint landscapes directly on her body

$
0
0

Lollywood actor and model Veena Malik has collaborated with Finnish artist Vesa Kivinen to produce a stunning series of portraits and landscapes.

Incorrectly referred to as ‘Indian-born’ by The Independent, Veena Malik volunteered her body as a canvas, allowing Kivinen to paint richly coloured landscape images directly on to her skin.

The five artworks are described as a “dialogue between three dimensional physiology and gesture coupled with the aesthetics of two dimensional painting that coalesce into a singular object of art” and are said to “explore themes from ancient & religious traditions to our contemporary global melting pot”.

Describing the artwork, Malik said: “I feel very glad that Finland’s well known visual artist Vesa Kivinen had called me to work with him. I am here just for the love of art.”

       PHOTO: THE INDEPENDENT

        PHOTO: THE INDEPENDENT

       PHOTO: THE INDEPENDENT

        PHOTO: THE INDEPENDENT



Naseeruddin Shah has a special place in Randeep’s heart

$
0
0

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah loves his job, be it acting on the big screen or on stage and his passion for the art reflects explicitly in his work. He came across a young man called Randeep Hooda 13 years ago and let him join his theatre troupe, and for that, Randeep is ever grateful. He credits Shah for instilling confidence in him and believing in his acting potential.

“He was the first man who took me as a professional in his theatre troupe and gave me the confidence that if I work hard, I will be able to achieve something as an actor,” said Randeep, according to IANS. The two are set to share screen space in forthcoming film John Day. “I haven’t learnt as much from him in this film as much as I have learnt from him as a friend and as a student in the last 13 years.”

In Shah’s theatre group, Randeep admits that sometimes he was an actor, sometimes a writer and at times, just a student. “Naseer saab was patient with me which was required for my art and career [to grow],” the 36-year-old actor said.

Randeep has nothing but respect and high regard for the man who has been his mentor and confidante for about a decade. He feels that Shah’s work ethic is highly commendable and he never comes off as overpowering or intimidating when new and young actors work with him.

John Day is a thriller which stars Shah and Randeep in lead roles. “I am glad that after doing theatre with him for so many years, I am finally getting such an interesting film to share screen space,” Randeep said, according to the Indian Express. Director Ahishor Solomon added, “John Day blurs the line between good and evil. There’s a beast in every man and behind that beast, there’s a story.”

John Day is scheduled to release on September 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2013.

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


Box office report: Small victories for local cinema

$
0
0

PESHAWAR / LAHORE: 

The Eid weekend remained exciting for cinema-goers despite the uncertainty surrounding the release of some films and banning of others. Eventually, the hyped Main Hoon Shahid Afridi backed out of the race and Chennai Express made its way to local theatres. The final competition was between a Punjabi film, an independent local project and a Bollywood superstar sensation.

Nonetheless, despite the overwhelming success of record-breaking Chennai Express, local films like Ishq Khuda and Josh have fared moderately well. While audiences at the multiplexes had an obvious preference for the Shahrukh Khan blockbuster, single screen cinemas saw local films being appreciated.

Chennai Express

The fate of Chennai Express in Pakistan was no different from what was explicitly evident throughout the world. The movie had the biggest opening in the history of the country, showing at 24 to 25 screens across Pakistan. Over its first week, the film has already grossed more than Rs50 million. “It delivered beyond our expectations and after a long time, an SRK film has delivered. Last time, Don 2 grossed more than Rs25 million in five days – this was twice as much. It will easily cross the benchmark set by Race 2 on the local box office [Rs100 million in one month],” says Amjad Rasheed, Chairman IMGC.

Ishq Khuda

The Punjabi Shaan and Meera-starrer was another blow in the face for Lollywood thanks to the poor quality of production and acting. The movie failed to deliver at multiplexes. Nadir Minhas, exhibitor of PAF Cinema, asserted that it was an utter tragedy that such a regional film was offered to cinemas. “It was very disturbing that the best that we had to offer was Ishq Khuda, and it failed miserably,” says Minhas.

However, the film has managed to succeed at single-screen cinemas among the masses. “We are very happy with the success of the film, it’s a lot better than I had imagined,” says Shehzad Rafique, director of the film. “We were never competing with Chennai Express. People have liked the film and they are going to the cinemas to watch it, that’s what matters,” he adds. According to box-office reports, Ishq Khuda has done business of Rs10.15 million in its first week. It is expected to gross a total of Rs20 million.

Despite Chennai Express’s success, some local films managed to fare well but only at single-screen cinemas. PHOTO: FILE

Josh

Parveen Bilal’s independent film released over nine screens only and did not manage to compete well with other contenders despite having received international acclaim. Minhas said that the film had the potential to be as successful as Bol but due to a limited marketing budget and inability to provide 35 mm prints, they missed out on a major chunk of the market.

According to sources at Atrium Cinemas, halls playing Josh remained 80% to 90% full throughout the week. The film grossed Rs1.6 million so far. “We were successful in what we wanted to do with it. We did not want exhibitors to discourage such an independent film which is why we didn’t ask them for too many shows either. Exhibitors should be given credit for allowing Josh in their cinemas and this will set an example for other films that will be released through The Platform,” says Nadeem Mandviwalla, managing director of Mandviwalla Entertainment.

Pashto Films

The Eid weekend was far more promising for Pashto cinema than Lollywood. The films released included Arshad Khan’s Loafer, Muzafar Khan’s Shart and the first HD film Zama Arman. Also shown were Sheikh Akram’s Qurbaani and Joni Malik’s Bangi Lalai, a Punjabi movie dubbed in Pashto. Out of all the releases, Loafer was the most successful securing over Rs6 million in its first week even though it was screened at only one cinema in Peshawar. While everyone thought that Zama Arman would fare well considering it was the first HD Pashto film, it wasn’t so successful. “Producers of the film have invested their blood and tears to make this film happen. Huge amounts of money have been spent on its publicity but the outcome was not satisfactory,” says Khalid Khan, the manager of Shama Cinema. Akram’s Qurbaani was declared a flop.

The total box office return of films released on Eid is Rs100 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2013.

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


Did you know? Local band Raeth sings for Zanjeer re-make

$
0
0

With a string of actors, singers and musicians crossing over to Bollywood, it doesn’t really come off as a surprise that a band like Raeth considers itself lucky to have bagged a gig in an Indian movie. The band has sung a song for the Ram Charan and Priyanka Chopra-starrer, Zanjeer, a re-make of the original ’70s movie that featured Amitabh Bachchan and the late Pran.

Sunny Ghansham, the rhythm guitarist for the band, told The Express Tribune, “It so happened that about three weeks ago, while we were in Karachi, we were contacted to perform a demo for a Bollywood film. However, we were told that our vocals will not be included as we are an upcoming band, and some big names will be performing the vocals.”

But as luck might have it, vocalist Wajhi Farook performed for the song, Lamha Tera Mera, alongside playback singer Palak Mucchall and it was approved. “Once it was done in Wajhi’s voice, we were given a green signal to record it and now we are standing up as musicians,” he added.

The music for the song has been composed by Chirantan Bhatt and the song has been recorded at T-series studio in Mumbai.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2013.

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


Trend File with Secret Closet: The comeback of the choli

$
0
0

The second wedding season of 2013, (there are three in case you’re wondering) has just begun and we are noticing a marked increase in the beloved Bollywood style lehenga choli for bridals and wedding formals, particularly and befittingly amongst the younger fashionistas.

The fitted cropped top, resembling a sari blouse with a sprawling ankle length skirt, is most often associated with Indian cinema involving exotic dance performances that make mesmerising use of the endlessly twirling fabric. But here at home, we are accustomed to seeing long to mid length straight cut kurtas over lehengas and farshi ghararas for bridals, and layered anarkalis and peshwas for formals. However, as the longer hemlines and flared panels are flying out the window, so are these silhouettes.

While audiences slowly adapt to, and accept shorter, leaner silhouettes, the gap is being filled by extremely graceful, classic lehenga cholis with the side swept dupatta. Designers like Misha Lakhani, who created her own inspiring bridal trousseau, chose the age old form, as did Feeha Jamshed who wore an attractive electric blue and yellow gold Kamiar Rokni ghagra choli at her mehndi. Khadijah Shah of Elan opted for an ethnic Indian lehenga with a slightly elongated choli by designer Anju Modi for her own brother’s wedding as well. Mahira Khan modeled an exquisite Sania Maskatiya yellow and ivory number at Feeha’s mehendi while Nida Khan, hair stylist at Tariq Amin, wore a glittering gold ensemble designed by Feeha herself. It’s safe to say that the style gurus are dropping strong hints with regard to the trend!

A modern approach to the traditional lehenga choli shape and something that makes it easier to carry off if you don’t have a washboard stomach, is a long embellished jacket or sheer cape added on top as shown by luxury couture designers Farah Talib Aziz, Nida Azwer, and Ayesha Somaya in their latest breathtaking Fall’13 Bridal Couture collections. Pairing a cape with anything at the moment is very much in vogue, be it a jumpsuit, lehenga, kurta, or even a sari.

L’Oreal Paris Bridal Week is right around the corner and we suspect we’ll be seeing a lot more of this trend on the runway soon.

The ironic part worth noting is, as we start leaning more and more towards this style, Indian fashion is simultaneously moving away from it as fewer versions of the choli were seen at the recent PCJ Delhi Couture Week. Saris and innovative couture forms with longer tops were more prominent in the collections of Sabyasachi, Satya Paul, Anamika Khanna and Gaurav Gupta to name some of the legends. The increased back and forth between Indian and Pakistani fashion has started to have a strong felt impact as the two sides swap fashion philosophies. It is a healthy progression to say the least.

Secretcloset.pk is an exclusive online fashion portal.”

Twitter ID: @Secretclosetpk

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2013.

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


Spoiler Alert: What is colourful and dull at the same time? Answer – Chennai Express!

$
0
0

KARACHI: 

It may be categorised in the ‘most inconsequential forms of cinema ever’ box, but Chennai Express has done wonders at the box office in Pakistan and India. The Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer is an aesthetically selected evolution of the Dabangg genre.

Much like recent films that made big money at the box office, this romantic action comedy relies heavily on cliches but not the ones popularised by Salman Khan a few years back; instead, you’ll find the kind pioneered by King Khan almost two decades ago.

So here’s the plot for the film that manages to give even the thickest skinned viewers something to laugh about. Right when 40-year-old bachelor Rahul is all set for a trip to Goa, his grandfather passes away. As per his wishes, Rahul has to immerse a part of his grandfather’s cremated ashes in Rameshwaram. To dupe his grandmother, he boards the Chennai Express (with all intentions to meet his friends in Goa), when, in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge style, he helps Meenama (Deepika Padukone) onto the train, as well as  four more people who turn out to be thugs running after her. The rest is a predictable combination of slapstick comedy, romance and action in Rameshwaram (South India).

The script has its highs and lows. Whenever you think it’s reaching a flat point, the director astonishes you with a visually exciting song. But before the climax, where Rahul is finally negotiating with Meenama’s father, it seems as if SRK is asking for permission to adopt his daughter rather than asking for her hand in marriage. The colour grading of the songs really breathes new life into the visuals and keeps you from going out to take a break. The tunes by Vishal-Shekhar are catchy and give a new sound to a rather stereotypical story without relying on the usual suspects of hit film music, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and more recently Sukhwinder Singh. Keeping its stylistic brilliance aside, the film at large, is a drag and relies on needless action sequences to which neither the special effects supervisor nor Khan could do justice.

The character Rahul is designed to suit SRK’s limited acting skills. Everything around him has been smartly tailored by the director to suit SRK’s shortcomings as an actor, making him seem immersed in the character. But, this is undeniably his best comic performance. SRK manages to generate the raunchy humour expected of him; a person of his build (which is quite basic compared to B-town standards) shares a major chunk of screen space playing Tom & Jerry with thugs four times his size. There are some scenes in which SRK is genuinely funny, such as when he tries to ask a dwarf on the highway for directions as he makes his way out of the jungle. Not only does his comic timing surprisingly return, but this is also one of the very rare scenes where he actually shares real chemistry with a co-star.

Padukone’s character is the real driving force of the film, perhaps with a little too much power. Her irritating accent will get under your skin and her saris keep her mostly covered (sorry, guys!) and less glamorous. But other than that, she makes her presence felt by pulling off such a difficult dialect with ease as well as dominating a performer of Khan’s calibre at some places.

The film ends with King Khan paying tribute to Rajinikanth, the king of South Indian cinema, whose star power has recently won over film-makers from Bollywood. While some might consider this the official acceptance of South Indian cinema’s domination over Bollywood, it still doesn’t change the fact that most of the South Indian linguistic and cultural references were pushed in to generate humour. This was hypocritical and racist on the part of film-makers, and reiterates the fact that Bollywood is far from celebrating diversity in its mainstream narrative – something an industry its age should have exercised by now.

Verdict: Recommended for die-hard SRK fans. For the rest, brace yourselves for a reckless escape and pointless humour.
2.5/5

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2013.

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


Style Icon: Madhuri Dixit

$
0
0

The evergreen Mohini, Madhuri Dixit, never fails to impress. She has definitely aged, but if there was ever an award for the Most Graceful Woman Ever, we are sure she will win it hands down. 

The mother of two made her come back to Bollywood in 2007 and manages to look gorgeous at 45. “It’s just the discipline. You have to be disciplined. I dance regularly and exercise,” she said in an interview with the Hindustan Times. “One has to be fit. One good thing is that I have no bad habits! So for me it’s a healthy lifestyle all the way.” While she is not a diva when it comes to Western wear, Madhuri’s cholis and ghaghras have been all the rage in the ‘90s. She has recently banked on that fever and done an item song in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani in a similar avatar.

What we specifically love about her is that she doesn’t try to dress like she is 25. For instance, at a recent promotional event, she was spotted wearing an emerald green, high-low top by Nikhil Thampi with black tights, looking incredibly graceful.

Check out her chili red Zara jacket teamed with the usual white shirt and black pants on the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa set. A statement necklace added a bit of spunk to her chic outfit. Another day on JDJ sets, she was spotted in a vibrant Nikasha saree. Don’t miss her flower-print Arpita Mehta sari at the Gulaab Gang press meet. Indeed, she is dressing up smart lately!

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.

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


Satyagraha was like homecoming for Arjun

$
0
0

MUMBAI: 

Despite being immensely talented, actor Arjun Rampal is more than often seen playing character roles in multi-starrer movies. However, he seems to have gelled in well with what he is being offered and has made close associations in the industry. Having worked with director Prakash Jha in films like Raajneeti and Chakravyuh, the D Day actor says that working with the director and the star cast in Satyagraha was like “going back home”. 

“It was fantastic. This is Prakash’s most ambitious project. There is a wonderful star cast, all of whom I have worked with a lot. It was like going back home and having a good time,” said Rampal.

The nationalistic movie also features Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee and Amrita Rao. Rampal said that he had to spend a lot of time with the other actors during the shooting of the film, which was a memorable experience.

“The film is quite intense… We spent a lot of time together, on and off set. We were in Bhopal for 60 days,” he said.

Jha approached Rampal for the film while shooting for their last movie together, Chakravyuh. “Prakash did not really have a character for me [at that time]. He was working on Chakravyuh and he was scripting Satyagraha. He told me if he gave me a part, would I do it? I said yes. Eventually, it became a full-fledged role and when I read the part, I really liked it,” said the model-turned-actor.

Rampal will be seen as a young and volatile person in the film, but his role will be different from what he played in Raajneeti.

“The character is different from what I played in Raajneeti, he is young and volatile but in a different way. He is not a selfish man nor does he come from a rich family. He is a guy who is from the grassroots. He is the muscle power of that campaign,” he said.

Satyagraha is slated for an August 30 release.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.

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



Did you know?: Dr Yang bows out of Grey’s Anatomy

$
0
0

Canadian actor Sandra Oh has been playing the role of Dr Christina Yang in ABC’s medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy for the last nine seasons. This ambitious, competitive and fierce character is one of audience’s favourites, due to her immense charisma and presence on screen. But earlier this week, Sandra left all her fans shocked and heartbroken when she announced that season 10 would be her last.

Not only were viewers shattered but even producer Shonda Rhimes claimed that her departure would be bittersweet since their journey together has been memorable. She promised to give Yang the “exit she deserves” according to the Huffington Post.  This makes us wonder what she has in store for our beloved Yang, preparing us for her sad yet memorable exit, as was George O’Malley’s in season six’s premiere. Yang started thinking about leaving after she signed the contract for season eight, but it took her two years to emotionally let go and finally make this difficult decision.

“It’s been a great privilege to play the character of Christina Yang on Grey’s and I am both sad and excited to see where this — Christina’s final season — will take her,” said Sandra.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.

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


Curfew: Sonakshi must be home by 1:30 am

$
0
0

MUMBAI: 

As an actor, Sonakshi Sinha has to travel and shoot at odd hours, but she says amidst all this, she has to observe a deadline set by her parents because, for them, she is still a “little girl” and must be home by 1.30 am.

“My deadline is always 1:30 am. I am still treated like a little girl in my house and I am thankful about that,” said Sonakshi, the 26-year-old daughter of actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha and actor Poonam Sinha, told IANS.

“I have always had a sheltered and protective life, but they [my family members] have given me enough space for myself and have guided me all the time,” she added.

She is a star thanks to big hits like Dabangg and Rowdy Rathore, but Sonakshi still gets shouted at by her mother if she doesn’t wake up on time.

“There is still no change in their behaviour today. If I wake up late or my bedroom is messed up, my mother shouts at me. It’s really amazing how they don’t treat me like a star,” said Sonakshi, who was recently seen in Milan Luthria’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara!.

She might be treated like a child at home, but in showbiz, she is known as the INR1 billion queen.

“It’s a trend today — everyone is talking about INR1 billion [club]. Tomorrow it will be INR2 billion or INR3 billion. It’s a sign of good business, but INR1 billion doesn’t come into my pocket. It is going into the producer’s pocket,” she said.

Sonakshi feels there’s a connection between her and the audience. “People enjoy watching me. I am happy for that. There is a lot of hard work put into it and it’s not just about luck. I do films from the audience’s perspective. So far, touch wood, I have been a part of good films,” she added.

She admits that she loves singing and dancing. “My first love will always be commercial cinema. I am not apologetic about the fact that I love singing and dancing. It’s a part of me,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.

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


The post-Ramazan makeover

$
0
0

KARACHI: 

So the healthy Ramazan regime went out the window when you smelled your first pakora. On Eid, the sheer luxury of being able to eat, whatever the time of day, took its toll. Cakes and mithai, sheer korma and samosas filled in the gaps between massive festive lunches and dinners.

You’d never normally dream of eating karai chicken, nihari, kunna and biryani at the same time but on Eid, anything goes. You tell yourself you deserve a few days of indulgence after a month of fasting, but you know in your heart that every iftari brought its own excesses.

It may have been masked by pre-Eid salon sessions, but chances are the cycle of fasting and feasting has taken a toll on your skin, hair and general well-being, even if you’ve faithfully been popping vitamins. Luckily, a few simple steps can boost your vitality and get your lifestyle onto a healthier track.

Get moving

It’s time to shake off that Ramazan lethargy. Whether you are a couch potato or a gym-freak, you will have curtailed your activity levels while fasting. If you’re not someone who exercises regularly, do take the time to build your exercise regimen gradually. Walking, yoga, swimming and tennis are all great ways to become more active. You may not be able to do much at first but aim to build up to three 20-minute sessions that raise your heart rate every week.

Go fresh and natural

Cut back on all processed foods. Eat less sugar, biscuits, cake, mithai, white bread, processed meats and nimco. Increase your intake of fresh raw fruits and vegetables. Experiment with some of those great salad recipes out there on the net. Eating your greens doesn’t have to be boring. Thai salad anyone?

Hydrate

Remember to drink sufficient water. Fasting gets us out of the habit of drinking regularly but the sooner you return to a good hydration regime, the better.

Pay attention to your food

Eat a balanced, varied diet that is low in red meat, salt and oil. Compensate by upping your intake of lean white meat, pulses and fibre. Use fresh herbs, spices and lemon juice to boost flavour as you cut back on salt. Eat at regular intervals to avoid blood sugar spikes. Remember to take your vitamins — those supplements won’t do you any good sitting on your shelf.

Give your hair some love

Take some time out to oil your hair once in a while. Treat your hair to a protein treatment at a salon. For a less pricey option, try a homemade mask of gelatin in hot water or two egg yolks with two teaspoons of olive oil. While your diet will have the greatest impact on your hair, a little TLC can work wonders for the condition of your hair.

Let your skin breathe

As your body detoxes, you may find yourself breaking out. Be meticulous about skincare. Cleanse, tone and moisturise but don’t be aggressive with your skin — a soft approach is the quickest way to bring back the bloom.

None of this is rocket science but it’s surprisingly difficult to implement. We all know what’s good for us but we take an all-or-nothing approach. We can’t manage to exercise three times a week so we don’t even bother with the one time we could manage. We can’t give up sugar in our tea, so we don’t bother trying to cut back on it. Very few people manage to live up to the health and activity regimens recommended by nutritionists but even small changes can make a significant impact on your well-being. So even if you’re addicted to chilli chips or can’t give up dessert, take charge of your well-being and introduce some positive changes to your lifestyle.

Finally, don’t neglect your spiritual side. Hold onto that renewed spiritual energy that Ramazan brings and make time for your faith. A holistic approach to well-being incorporates the physical, mental and spiritual. Without the esoteric, everything else is just window dressing.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.

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


Fashion: From comfort zone to twilight zone

$
0
0

LAHORE: 

Ammar Belal has not left Pakistan. Rather, he is on his way to taking Pakistan to a global platform in fashion and creating a stepping stone for local designers to enter the arena.

Eyebrows were raised when he decided to move to New York last fall and the future of Ammar Belal brand was under scrutiny. But in a candid interview with The Express Tribune, the recent winner of Best Menswear Designer at the Lux Style Awards, talks about staying connected with Pakistan and reinventing himself in the Big Apple.

“I have by no means left Pakistan,” says Ammar, who has completed his first year at the Masters Program in Fashion Design at Parsons. Ammar is the first Pakistani to be accepted in this competitive programme, which accepts only 18 students per year (he tells us five students have already been dropped so the number has diminished). “You get a lot of attention back home and you become a big fish in a small sea,” he says, explaining his move.  “For me, it was not enough.”

He shares that the school was sceptical about taking him on initially, but finally agreed when he showed them a video of his work in Pakistan. “This experience has made me humble — you need to be told you are not that great every once in a while in order to push that creativity out of you,” he explains, adding that it is never too late to learn and that he is reinventing himself as a designer and creating pieces there that he could never have created in Pakistan. “To make it in the international market, you not only have to be present here, but your work needs to be viewed by the right people.”

Armed with the exhilarated feeling of reinvention, Ammar admits that his mind has reopened. “We, as a nation, have a lot of potential. I want to promote the Parsons programme among students in Pakistan because such exposure will allow us to compete with the rest of the world. We will always be known for our textiles and embellishments because that is what we have been doing for generations — it is all about channeling that talent in the right direction,” he says. Not only does the programme expose its handful of students to the industry, but it gives them rigorous projects; designers work with Kering, a French holding company that holds Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Venetta, Brioni, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen. “We work with one design house that Kering represents and create a capsule collection for them,” he adds.

Ammar also worked with acclaimed American designer Philip Lim over the summer. “It has been a real eye opener for me. I have learnt how design houses work and how each aspect has been broken down to become a science,” he says.

Despite being away and overwhelmed with work for school, Ammar still designs collections for Ammar Belal and conducts fittings and meetings with clients at his studio in Lahore via Skype, while his family runs the store and takes care of the accounts.

Having started his career by launching the creative high street brand ABCD, Ammar evolved not only as an edgy women’s wear designer but also became the pioneer in luxury menswear in Pakistan. With his keen interest in designing Western wear for women, Ammar feels that the product is streamlined and caters to a niche market. “I respect lawn designers and bridal couture designers because they are competing with the entire industry in Pakistan, but as far as women’s Western wear goes, the market still needs to grow a lot more,” he says. While Ammar put out exciting women’s wear collections, he confesses that his menswear line paid the bills.

“There aren’t that many occasions to wear luxury Western wear to. I saw my city [Lahore] change after 2008,” he says, referring to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the subsequent drop in the number of balls and extravagant events.

It is clear that Ammar feels the need to push himself out of a comfort zone, so his work can be critiqued and improved. “The great thing about the Parsons programme is that your thesis is shown at New York Fashion Week with all the industry guns and editors attending the show,” he says, comparing it to designers who show at international fashion weeks because of good PR.

“A lot of people show at Paris Fashion Week or London Fashion Week but it is not just about showing at these venues. What is more important is who comes to see the collection.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.

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


Revisiting the national anthem

$
0
0

KARACHI: 

While many artists have tried their luck with revamping the national anthem, the effort of Asif Sinan, a jingoist in his own right, is worthy of note. This relatively young chap has walked into the music scene and made quite an impression with a rendition of Pakistan’s national anthem.

Sinan has been able to blend together the genres of jazz, Indian classical and sufi music. Apart from having played alongside renowned German and American musicians in Pakistan and abroad, he is also known for making his guitar sound like a sitar.

One has to respect Sinan’s courage as he chose to play a purely Eastern classical number on a modern instrument while coupling the electronic version of the tanpura with his guitar. When asked how he came up with the idea of transforming the anthem into an Eastern tune, he says, “We all express our love for the country in different ways. And, as a musician I wanted to contribute in such a way that it would be forever. Hence, this Eastern classical rendition came up in my mind. The surprising thing is that it did not take long to arrange and record. I guess it was living inside me for the longest time — it was just seeking a way to come out!” says an emotional Sinan.

While revisiting such tunes are critical as people have a strong affection with them, how did Sinan manage the effort? “I am a follower of my heart and it told me that if I am making something with honesty of intention and purity of emotions then it would definitely be well received — at least by those who also listen to their hearts,” he exclaims.

Apart from the fact that the whole anthem sounds as if it’s played on a sitar, Sinan has also freed himself from ‘taal’ (a specified beat) and made the anthem flow free style. In doing that he gives the Anthem far more emotions than you may have ever experienced. He also adds an ‘alaap’ (prelude) to the anthem which is so seamless that it appears as a part of the anthem itself. The ‘gamaks’ (short slides) and ‘meendhs’ (long slides) add a fun feel to it and create continuity in the anthem that is missing in the common stop-short version. There are hidden notes and a hidden melody that do not take our attention away from the anthem for even a split second.

Even without the technicalities, you will enjoy the anthem for what it is — melodic and well played. Our emotions flow with the anthem — happy initially, sad in the middle and leaving us with a glint of hope in the end. So how does this renewed version make a similar positive impact? “This is the sound of peace. My mailbox has been flooded with people who have written to me that they are motivated to do something positive for Pakistan. This anthem has made some cry and made some renew their pledge to do something for the society. For many, it has renewed their love for their country,” asserts Sinan. “A Pakistani wrote to me from Australia saying he had just finished his studies and was thinking of settling there but after hearing this anthem, he changed his mind and had a conversation with his parents about coming back. These are far reaching impacts — this is art inspiring you to do good and for me this has been the biggest reward ever,” he claims.

Interestingly, Sinan first revealed this anthem live on the opening of the PTI Jalsa on December 25, two years back. “It was a very emotional experience for me — there was a crowd of more than 100,000 people and they listened to it with deafening silence and then cheered for it raucously. I was apprehensive about performing at such a big venue in front of such a mix crowd who had never heard of this version of the anthem before. But the appreciation I got was overwhelming,” he recalls.

He released the studio version of the anthem on August 14 this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.

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


Viewing all 20712 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>