American singer-songwriter Ashanti Shequoiya Douglass is currently on the list of the 20 Best Selling Music Singles since 1990 for her single Foolish. She is not only incredibly talented but also a dusky beauty with that drop-dead gorgeous face and ultrafit body. However, she was spotted at the premiere of Grown Ups 2, looking like a fashion disaster.

The charge sheet

Hair

Her hair is the only element that looks decent, being incredibly black and shiny. Nonetheless, a little back combing for volume would have given it the extra oomph it needs.

Make-up

Even though bright coloured lips are on trend, this pasty pink lipstick fails to impress us. The white nail paint on those talon nails is also an absolute no-no. She should have opted for a darker lip colour and shorter nails.

Outfit

At first glance, it seems that the singer has blended in with the film’s poster. This Rue 107 dress looks like unattractive wallpaper. The harlequin design is not flattering, and looks better suited for Comic Con.

Shoes and Accessories

While we can give her points for her elegant hoop-earrings, her shoes make it difficult for us to be easy on her. The bright pink shoes coordinated with the lip colour are an eye sore when paired with this outfit.

Bail out!

Keira Knightley

Our very own Anna Karenina was spotted in a grey tweed Galaxy dress by Roland Mouret looking glamorous and feminine. Wearing chic black shoes and a pretty Pandora bracelet, her look screams true elegance. Ms Ashanti could certainly use a tip or two!

Kristen Stewart

With that gorgeous smile and lovely locks, Kristen elegantly carries off this black-and-white chequered playsuit and those simple yet classy black heels. We are totally digging the kohl-rimmed eyes and tousled hair.

Scarlett Johansson

Spotted in this black-and-white patterned outfit, Scarlet looks smashing and effortlessly cool with the red lips and red pumps. Extra points for the funky hair!

aPublished in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2013.

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Boney Kapoor earlier told the Indian Express that he will be throwing his wife a big bash. “Yes, Amar Singh and I are hosting a party for Sri at the Alibi. Amar Singh has been family friend for years. I’ve known him since a very long time. When he said he wanted to throw a party for Sri, I decided to join in as the co-host.”

The Saturday night party saw many B town celebrities coming and wishing Sridevi, who turned 50 Aug 13, such as director duo Abbas-Mustan, filmmakers Bunty Walia, Ramesh Taurani, Girish Taurani, Madhur Bhandarkar and Rajkumar Santoshi and musicians Anu Malik and Bappi Lahiri.

Sridevi’s brother-in-law Anil Kapoor, who worked with her in hits like Mr. India, too came for the do with his wife Sunita. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Hema Malini came with her daughter Esha and son-in-law Bharat Takhtani, while Juhi Chawla was seen with her husband Jay Mehta.

Manoj Bajpayee and Vinod Khanna were also spotted along with Rishi, who worked with her in successful films like Nagina and Chandni. Anupam Kher, who shared the screen space with her in Lamhe, was also seen there.

Sridevi’s brother-in-law Anil Kapoor, who worked with her in hits like Mr. India, too came for the do with his wife Sunita.

Last year Sridevi hogged the limelight for her comeback film English Vinglish, which saw a credible performance by her. Before taking retirement in 1996 after marrying Boney Kapoor, she gave hits like Sadma, Himmatwala, Chaalbaaz and Judaai.

aPublished in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2013.

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The 20th installment in the Star Trek movie franchise, Star Trek into Darkness was released this May and became a commercial success, earning $452 million worldwide and landing the number one spot on the highest money making movie list of the franchise. It also received praise from critics who called it a terrific performance, according to CBS News. However, Star Trek fans weren’t too impressed.

The film was voted the series nastiest film ever at the annual Star Trek convention in Las Vegas! By making it a fast-paced action movie, director JJ Abrams has completely destroyed the idiosyncrasy and pure space — life concept of these sci-fi movies and isolated the hardcore fans that have been following this franchise from the beginning. Since the original essence has been lost, this movie was met with boos when it was mentioned, and one guy took the mic to say these reboots shouldn’t even be considered for a list of Star Trek movies, according to the Huffington Post.

Too bad for the trekkies since there are rumours that JJ Abrams will be involved in Star Trek 3 as well! Fans should be prepared for another disappointment.

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

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Kutcher, 35, who bears a strong physical resemblance to a young Jobs with his wavy dark hair, brown eyes and five o’clock shadow, told Reuters that as a fan of Jobs’ work, he was surprised to learn about his life.

“When I read the script, Steve was a guy that I really admired, and he was not always being shown in the best light, and I was a little taken aback. I really admire who he is and what he’s done. I want to, in some ways, protect the legacy of a guy that I admire,” Kutcher said.

“I also had the challenge of playing a guy who very much is still in the zeitgeist … I had to play the guy that became the guy that everybody remembers.”

Jobs, directed by Joshua Michael Stern and out in theatres on August 16, outlines 30 defining years of Apple’s co-founder, who revolutionised the way people listen to music with the iPod and home computers with Apple Macintosh.

Jobs, who helped build Apple Inc into one of the world’s most recognisable brands, died in 2011 at the age of 56 after battling pancreatic cancer.

The film chronicles Jobs’ life from the year he dropped out of college in 1973 to the inception of Apple Computer Company with his friend Steve Wozniak three years later and Apple’s subsequent rise to the forefront of the technology industry.

It also touches on aspects of Jobs’ personal life, such as his rocky relationship with ex-girlfriend Chrisann Brennan, played by Ahna O’Reilly, and his initial refusal to accept paternity of their daughter, Lisa.

“We didn’t shy away from being honest about Steve Jobs’ gifts and being honest about Steve Jobs’ faults,” Kutcher said.

“We tried to tell the story that did justice insomuch as showed what his contribution was and also didn’t shy away from showing that aspects of Steve Jobs that weren’t so wonderful, beautiful and sexy.”

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

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“I feel ups and downs are a part of one’s career and this totally depends on how you take it. You can either be knocked down by the negative things or you can take them in a positive way and learn from them,” Deepika said. “Maybe because I am from a sports background, I don’t give up easily. I am a fighter,” added the daughter of former All England badminton champion Prakash Padukone.

After being panned as wooden-faced for years, the 27-year-old’s last two films marked her coming of age as an actor where she proved she has the potential to do better than just look glamorous on the screen.

“It feels nice to hear this. I have been working really hard. I know I have pushed myself and sacrificed a lot of personal and family time. In the end, if the result is like that, you don’t mind. But I think success is relative. If people are saying it’s my year, it depends on my films,” she said.

“I have to focus all my energies on my upcoming films and I hope they are better. It does not get easier to live up to all of that. I want love, success with every film and the experience increases,” added the actor who faced setbacks with Karthik Calling Karthik, Lafangey Parindey and Break Ke Baad.

She started her career in Hindi films with Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om and later worked with the likes of Imtiaz Ali, Ashutosh Gowariker, Prakash Jha, Ayan Mukerji and now with Rohit Shetty in Chennai Express.

Deepika feels Shetty comes from a different school of film-making. “He has his own school and style. It was a new style for me. His way of shot-taking and directing his actors is different. He has everything planned. Maybe because it’s a comedy, there was no space for improvisation,” she said.

But the actor did improvise in the fixed framework to look convincing as a Tamil girl and was rather successful in her endeavour.

Deepika believes in doing her homework and spends time preparing for her roles. “Preparation is definitely important, but it depends on the kinds of roles I do. Like I was [able to] completely identify with my character in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani; I had to be myself and I didn’t have to actually prepare for it,” said Deepika.

“My character in Cocktail was different from my personality. Homi Adajania took me to London, showed me how girls dress and behave there. I had not seen that kind of lifestyle before. For Chennai Express too, I met people and learned the accent,” she added.

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

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“I really believe that this has been my best film [so far],” says Meera, adding that the film has acted as a medium to restore confidence and faith in herself and her acting career. The crew of Ishq Khuda recently cut a cake in Lahore to celebrate the commercial ‘success’ of the movie. “I was reaching a point where I thought to myself that this may just be my last film,” she adds. “But I think that’s what this film has done… it brought my interest back and I hope to do more work.”

Meera feels that the film’s script is unique as it aims to reach a wide-ranging audience. “It has the ability to connect with people abroad,” she says proudly. “The idea of sufism and true love really just resonates and the film also has good music.”

Her role as a 20-something Iqra, the daughter of an ex-army official, has received mixed reviews. While some say that she was not well-suited for the role, Meera and the film’s director Shahzad Rafique think diffrently. “The director cast me because he needed someone who could act with a certain amount of intensity, which is what you [will] see at the end of the film,” explains Meera.

Rafique too, defends his decision by saying, “I realise that people have said that she does not look her age, but I wasn’t trying to make her look like a college or university girl.” The director also admits that he was not competing with Chennai Express. “If an artist herself says that this may be her best film, there is nothing I can say to exceed that praise,” he smiles.

Queen of controversy

Apart from addressing the criticism she received regarding her role in Ishq Khuda, Meera expresses her feelings about being made fun of and mocked openly by people on television. “It’s a known fact that I started to act in 1995 — I was only a child,” she sighs. “But what hurts more is the way people have tried to judge me. Have they got no decency? They would never do that to an Indian actor.”

She then comments on the controversy regarding Kaun Banega Meera Pati where cricketer Shoaib Akhtar had backed out of her show and she ultimately faced a major financial setback. “He is very over-confident and this is no way to speak to women. If he thinks he’s such a star then I probably have just as big a name,” she says.

Meera admits that she is not interested in doing any films in India unless Mahesh Bhatt offers her one. “I want to be selective in the roles I choose. I suppose if Mahesh Bhatt approaches me for a film, I will do it. But otherwise, I would rather focus on my career here [Lollywood],” she says. “I have always wanted to do television. But I’ll be very honest, I have not been getting any offers… If a director thinks I fit a role, I would love to do something.”

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

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“Conversations was my first show and it was also a time of self-discovery,” Chaggar tells The Express Tribune. “Through that show I stumbled upon my own personal style. So this time I know exactly what I want and I have tried to dig deeper and make it more personal.”

The first edition was about a bunch of birds and a hilarious cat, who together questioned the complicated mysteries of love, life and bitter truth. “The ‘birds’ aspect of the first show is what I feel was extremely under-explored last time. So this time I only have birds,” says Chaggar.  This time around there will be six pigeons, six crows and one other character, who is neither a bird nor human. “She is simply another character’s ‘complex’ that she can’t shake off,” explains Chaggar.

A variety of birds is being used to highlight some rather aggressive, complicated and shady themes, which she has already explored in the first part of the play. This time, she will be taking them to the next level.

The show is divided into episodes. The aspects explored are the ‘body’ complex; a brief diversion to the ‘parent’; a reflection on love and abuse and also the idea of guilt, freedom, being stuck in the past and day dreaming about the future  and more — basically a chaos of complexes. “To put it rather simply, it’s about the never-ending conflict between happy and sad thoughts,” she says.

As far as the style of dance is concerned, it will mainly be modern contemporary but this time around, three dancers from the EXD B-Boying group will be joining her in the performance and a routine inspired from Bharatnatyam will also be showcased. “I saw a similarity between the way crows jump and the footwork in classical dance, so I have fused that in the play as well,” elaborates Chaggar.

Popularly known as Josh, the renowned choreographer has been acting for quite some time but dance is something she’s always been noticed for. So this is a way for her to express her emotions about what’s happening around. She believes that we all have a madness that rages inside us but we don’t talk about it. So when you catch a glimpse of it in someone else, it’s almost a relief, that you are not alone. “Through my art I get to ‘talk’ about such stuff, and it’s very healing for me, and I would like to think the same for the audience,” she says.

No matter how many uncharted areas of her psyche and personality Josh might be exploring , in the end the play is catering to a regular-theatre going audience, who might not be able to digest the concept. “The storyline is very dark, inspired by Pina Bausch’s work, but that does not mean it is not entertaining. It is extremely powerful, with some delightful moments that I think would be suitable for children over 13 years,” she emphasises.

Sohaib Lari and Ahsan Bari have composed the music for the show and the cast includes Muhammad Rehman, Khaista Khan, Kashif Hussain, Erum Ero, Heera Dilawar, Vajdaan Shah, Mohammad Ali, Dwayne Lucas, Cyrill James, Hammad Khan, Omi Butt and Joshua Thomas.

The play will commence on August 22 at 8 pm at the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) auditorium and will go on till September 1.

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

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LONDON: A shower is a must after any kind of physical work or workout as it cleans the body. But did you know that it also helps reduce stress and in losing weight.

A post-workout shower also helps in enhancing recovery and immunity.

How to maximise your workout in the changing room:

1. Hygiene – First and foremost, a post workout shower is essential in terms of hygiene. The sweat that you produce whilst exercising might be a sign of a good session, but people would prefer to hear about it rather than smell it.

Showering is especially important if you play sports where you might have contact with another person. For swimmers, this is equally important as the chlorine in swimming pools will damage your hair and skin if you simply towel off after getting out.

2. Recovery – Shower can help aid recovery after a hard session. Aching muscles the day after a hard exercising session, known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), can be prevented by having an ice-cold shower and holding the showerhead directly over the muscles you’ve been working.

Elite athletes will use an ice-bath, but putting your shower on the coldest setting is a quicker and easier alternative. If you exercise daily or more than once a day this is especially important as you can start your next session without being impeded by DOMS, allowing you to maintain the intensity of the previous session.

If you are still feeling a little ‘tight’ in the morning, a hot shower can help to increase blood flow to the muscles allowing them to relax and ease the tension.

3. Fat loss – If exercise is integral to healthy weight loss, so is a cold shower afterwards. To maintain your body temperature during a cold shower, your metabolism can increase by up to 550 percent of its resting level, meaning that you burn more calories just to stay warm. If a freezing cold shower is too uncomfortable, even low levels of cold can increase the energy demands of your body and increase muscle tone.

4. Health and mood – Some sports actively encourage showering as an integral part of their training regime. The Taekwon-Do moral code for example explains that cold showers (known as naeng soo machal) can help students build pride and tenacity.

As the saying goes – healthy mind, healthy body: exposure to cold water has also shown increase in the body’s supply of a powerful antioxidant called glutathione which boosts the immune system.

However, actor Juhi Chawla comes clean about how she almost went through a nose fix when she was a teenager. “When I was a teenager, I hated my nose. So I went to a cosmetic surgeon and he said he’d have to break this and that. I got scared. The whole procedure frightened me and that I would not look the same. So I never went through with it or went back to him,” said Chawla at the opening of a skin care clinic in New Delhi, reported the Hindustan Times.

Like any other diplomatic Bollywood diva, Chawla chose to remain mum over who all has gone through a cosmetic procedure but nonetheless, she advised people who might be thinking of going through one.

“I wouldn’t want to comment on what they do as it’s a personal choice. If you want to enhance anything, if you want to look better, feel better, who’s to say no? As a person if you ask me, you could change yourself completely. But there should be a balance. You could lose your personality. Don’t lose yourself,” said the 45-year-old actor.

Apart from her almost-cosmetic adventure, the actor, who is also a trained singer, might consider releasing an album. “But it’s not going to be pop or rock. Mine would be of a different genre. It is in the planning, now that you have mentioned it,” she said.

Juhi, who has been on and off the screen for quite some time now, will soon be seen in a negative role in her upcoming film Gulab Gang, alongside arch-rival Madhuri Dixit. She said that she found her experience in the film very exciting and challenging as an actor.

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

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We’re The Millers, a comedy featuring Jennifer Aniston, finished in the number two slot, earning $17.8 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates. Matt Damon’s sci-fi thriller, Elysium, which was the box office leader last weekend, fell to third place with $13.6 million.

Kick-Ass 2, a comedy sequel about a pair of teenage crime-fighting superheroes, languished in fourth place with $13.6 million in its first three days.

Ahead of the weekend, box office forecasters had predicted a close race between The Butler and Kick-Ass, with projections for each running as high as $20 million and above.

But audiences gravitated to The Butler, a critically praised drama, featuring talk show host Winfrey in her first acting role in 15 years. The film is inspired from the life of Eugene Allen, an African-American who served as a White House butler to eight US presidents. Whitaker plays the butler opposite Winfrey as his chain-smoking, hard-drinking wife, Gloria.

Entertainment mogul Winfrey promoted the film to her large fan base through media interviews and on her cable network, OWN. According to a poll on the Fandango movie website, 72 percent of The Butler ticket buyers said Winfrey’s role increased their interest in the film.

Both Winfrey and Whitaker won applause from critics, with 73 percent recommending the moviein reviews collected on Rotten Tomatoes.

“We expected it to do well. We did not expect it to do this well,” said Erik Lomis, distribution president for the Weinstein Co, the privately held company that distributed the movie.

Lomis said that Weinstein decided to release the film in August to capitalize on a lack of adult dramas in theaters. “That audience is underserved at this time of year,” he noted.

The film had a modest budget of around $25 million, financed by 28 investors, and Lomis said he expected the audience, which was 60 percent female and more than three-quarters of it over the age of 35, “will broaden out. Word of mouth is really strong”.

Rounding out the top of the charts, Walt Disney Co animated movie, Planes, earned the fifth position with $13.1 million in its second weekend.

Jobs, a new drama starring Ashton Kutcher as legendary Apple Inc co-founder Steve Jobs, pulled in $6.7 million for seventh place. The film, which chronicles 30 years of the late tech and computer entrepreneur’s life, was produced for $8.5 million, according to the Box Office Mojo website. 

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

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The Los Angeles-based trainer said gone are the days when he believed it was possible to just exercise the pounds away.

“It is all about your diet,” Harper, 48, said during a break from filming Season 15 of the long-running US show. “I used to think a long time ago that you can beat everything you eat out of you but it’s just absolutely not the case.”

Bob Harper’s book, The Skinny Rules, offers tips on how to drop excess weight. PHOTO: FILE

Harper has spun his TV fame improving the fitness of people who are 100 pounds (45 kg) or more overweight into an empire with DVD workouts and the best-selling book The Skinny Rules, which offers tips to drop excess weight.

He said if the ‘skinny’ of his book titles and fitness DVDs is meant tongue-in-cheek, it is also the word that his morbidly obese clients attach to most.

“People say, ‘Shouldn’t I be fit? Shouldn’t I be healthy?’, and I say ‘Yes, absolutely. But what I always hear from my contestants on the show is, ‘I just want to get skinny.’”

In addition to promoting a healthy diet, a big part of his exercise routine includes lunges and other core-strengthening moves to burn enough fat to let the inner six-pack shine through.

Harper said the workout is aimed at getting the heart rate up because that’s when people are going to be able to burn fat. When fat is burnt off, the abdominal muscles are exposed.

He also adheres to the no-frills strength and condition program called Crossfit, which is a series of timed, ever-changing physical challenges that he says are suitable for everyone.

“I’m working with people who are 500 pounds [227 kg] and doing Crossfit on a regular basis,” said Harper, who described the approximately 20-minute workout as well-balanced.

“To me Crossfit just completely makes sense, as long as you work at your level doing the things you can do with proper coaching,” he explained.

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

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At first glance, the collection is simple — straight men’s kurtas in two-toned stripes or bright, solid colours. The fabric is soft and the buttons simple, but the test lies in how long it will last after multiple washes.

The label’s business director Aalia Jafar describes the ready-to-wear collection, which currently comprises kurtas. “The Sheep Man collection is made of 100% linen which is a high-end fabric. It comprises sharp, structured kurtas.”

She feels the line is “clean and uncomplicated”, and suits the needs of the modern man who is not keen on frills and overly-embellished kurtas. “We believe well-constructed styles are the need of our customers and no one in the market is [currently] offering them.”

Jafar is right in saying that the collection is for the man who enjoys “understated luxury”. But we are not sure if her claims that men who have a taste for “the finer things in life” will opt for these kurtas. With Rs 4,250 as the average price for a kurta, Sheep Man isn’t offering something out of the box. Jafar continues to describe the target audience for the collection, which was launched around Eid this year.

“The target audience is the urban Pakistani man. He is bold yet grounded, quality-conscious and wants the best out of life. He is a change driver.”

She adds that the brand will cater to both conservative shoppers as well as those who are young at heart through an array of colours — soft as well as bright shades along with stripes. “Colours will vary as per season forecasts and trends.”

Although Sheep has four outlets across Karachi and one in Lahore, the Sheep Man collection will only be showcased at Dolmen Mall in Clifton and Mall 94 in Lahore. In the near future, the brand plans on expanding into casual wear and accessories for men as well, informs Jafar.

“We strongly believe in listening to our customers and their needs,” she adds, when asked whether the customers should expect sherwanis at Sheep soon too.  “If we feel there is something our customers would value and appreciate, we will introduce it.”

Ultimately, the success of Sheep Man will boil down to the product it is delivering. With an average kurta priced higher than retail brands such as Junaid Jamshed, Khaadi, Gul Ahmed and Bonanza, it needs to offer more than just something basic to attract consumers.

Also, the title ‘Sheep Man’ is not a clever marketing gimmick, as some on social media have already branded it as “one of the biggest fashion branding disasters in Pakistan” for coming across as awkward.

Cost

Rs4,250 at Sheep

Rs3,000 at Bonanza

Rs2,785 at Junaid Jamshed

Rs2,200 at Gul Ahmed

Rs1,500 at DnF

Is the average price of a men’s kurta

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

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The Mosaic MISAFF festival held at the Mississauga City Centre, Toronto on Friday was attended by film industry leaders, professionals, local members of parliament as well as senators. The Mosaic festival is the largest South Asian festival visited by more than 70,000 people from all over Canada each year.

In this year’s prestigious award ceremony, the Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag, which is set to release on September 6, was truly victorious as it won four awards in three categories — Best Film Award, Best Actor Award and Best Music Award.

According to the press release, the MISAFF Jury headed by Kirk Cooper said, while announcing the winner for Best Film Award, “For the film that entertained and saddened us, for its music, art direction and overall innovation in storytelling, the best film award goes to Zinda Bhaag.”

The movie continued to be praised throughout the event as the jury presented awards to the music composer Sahil Ali Bagga for best music and actors Amna Ilyas and Naghma Begum for best actors.

The movie defeated many other international top nominations, including Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

About the success of Zinda Bhaag, Meenu and Farjad, co-directors of the movie, expressed proudly, “We congratulate the entire Zinda Bhaag team for these awards.”

Zinda Bhaag was the first choice amongst hundreds of entries, to be showcased as the opening night film of the esteemed festival.

The show was sold out in record time and played to a jam-packed house at the grand Empire Cinema in Mississauga, Toronto.

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

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Young and enthusiastic, Azan Sami Khan, who hails from a family of prolific film-makers, is attempting to introduce ‘next generation’ film-making to Lollywood along with his mother. This movie, however, is not a result of him being ‘privileged’ but rather his aim to bring something new to the table. “We should call a spade a spade — it goes both ways. Anything I do will be compared with my parents’ work,” he says.

Khan and his mother set up One Motion Productions with the sole intent of pushing the envelope of traditional film-making and changing the prevailing attitude towards local cinema. The result is an international espionage thriller that has been referred to as a cross between Hollywood flicks such Syriana and Bourne Identity.

The story is partly based on real life events including the bombing of Nato tanks in Afghanistan a few years back. It will feature Shaan as the main protagonist playing a CIA agent alongside Shamoon Abbasi, Aaminah Sheikh and Ayub Khoso.

It is directed by Australian director Summer Nicks and it was produced in collaboration with music director Jamshed Mahmood Ansari aka Jami’s company Azad Film. The whole team though has remained tight-lipped about the release of the film which is expected to be sometime around the end of this year.

Working with a veteran like his mother has been quite an interesting adventure for Khan — a unique combination of the well-experienced and the relatively new. When they get down to business, there is little space for slacking and both work rigorously on a shared vision.

“My mother knows that when we enter the office, she is not my mother and I am not her son. We know each other and have a clear understanding of what we are trying do, and she believes it’s time the younger generation takes the industry forward,” says Khan.

Despite supporting the youth in taking the initiative, Khan says that one cannot simply write-off the contribution of older industry professionals. “I think we are fortunate to have people like Syed Noor in the industry but we tend to be pseudo-intellectual and write them off. Even for us it was the veteran technician who knew how to push through when everyone else was tired,” he emphasises.

Zeba Bakhtiar, a veteran actor herself, has come on board simply to support new talent in the industry. “We are looking at an exciting period — the whole technical side, thought-process, story-telling is changing. This is more about clearing the way for a new creative style that caters to a new generation,” says Bakhtiar.

Having learned a lot from being part of the local industry, Bakhtiar recalls her personal experience and feels that it’s high time that senior members start promoting new talent. “I remember trying to direct a film in the late ‘90s on a 35mm camera — the technology was not up to par. We were using equipment from the late ‘60s,” says Bakhtiar.

“We have to move beyond the idea that this is a glamorous profession. We need serious film-makers who are willing to support so that the new generation of film-makers can come to the fore,” she adds.

Through this film, the duo is trying to give way to a new genre that hasn’t been experimented with seriously. Bakhtiar asserts that not many films have been made in the past 20 odd years that one could say a certain formula works in the industry.

“There really is no way of judging what formula works. There have only been a few films of consequence that have been released — right now the scene is open,” says Bakhtiar.

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

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While there are now over 20 million Pakistanis online – a number which is growing rapidly – there is very little documentation or research on how the internet is being used in the country.

This online survey, conducted through The Express Tribune and Express Urdu websites aimed to capture a snapshot of the local internet user’s perspective.

Both English and Urdu sites and their social media accounts were used to promote the survey in order to capture a wider, more diverse audience.

[Download the full report from Scribd]

[Explore all the data on Tableau one and two]

     ONLINE SURVEY BASICS

•  The survey was conducted over July 28-29, 2013.

•  A total of 1,100 respondents filled out the survey.

•  18-25 year olds make up over half of total respondents.

•  The survey highlighted a large gender disparity in respondents, with males dominating. This trend has been highlighted in the past; Pakistan’s Facebook audience was 70% male, 30% female in April 2013.

•  The majority of respondents (94%) are from urban areas, led by Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad.

     KEY FINDINGS

•  Laptops are the most used device (81% of total respondents) to connect to the internet.

•  Mobile phones (65% of total respondents used mobile to connect) outranked desktop computers (47% of total respondents) for accessing the internet.

•  A vast majority of respondents (97%) have high speed internet connections. Dial-up internet use is almost negligible.

•  Over half of respondents (60%) pay Rs1,500 or less per month for their internet connections.

•  A majority of respondents use the internet over 5 hours a day, followed by those who use the internet 4-5 hours a day.

•  Over 90% of respondents often use the internet at home, as compared to often outside (16%) and often at work (52%).

•  Social networks/chatting is the number one activity for respondents, followed closely by email and news.

•  Shopping online registered low with respondents.

•  Nearly all respondents are on Facebook. Twitter and LinkedIn are both used by at least half of respondents.

•  More than half of respondents say they have befriended someone on a social network whom they have never met.

•  41% say they have met someone in the real world whom they have only met online.

•  Over 30% of respondents say they have become romantically involved through the internet.

•  More than half of respondents have made a purchase online.

•  A greater number of respondents (56%) have made a purchase online, as compared to selling something online (26%).

•  More than half of respondents never click on an online ad.

•  In terms of video content, entertainment, news and educational videos all ranked high for respondents.

•  Respondents indicated they access videos nearly equally for news/documentaries, movies/movie clips and music.

•  A majority of respondents (82%) have used proxies or other means to access blocked content.

[Download the full report from Scribd]

[Explore all the data on Tableau one and two]

In her second film Madras Café — a political thriller directed by Shoojit Sircar which is scheduled to release on Friday — Fakhri will be seen with another top actor, John Abraham. “I’m still in awe of how I got so lucky to work with actors like Ranbir and John. I hope to continue working with more A-listers,” she said.

Fakhri feels that her team has played a huge role in her success so far. “It is pretty difficult for a newcomer to make it in Bollywood. You need guidance, and I was fortunate that agencies like Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and KWAN Entertainment and Marketing Solutions had taken me on. If it wasn’t for the team, I think I might not have been here,” she claims. “In this industry, you need to know people or have family that is already in it to make it big. I still have so much to learn and so many people to meet.”

Nevertheless, Fakhri is open to the idea of working alongside newcomers as scripts also guide her decision. “I am open to work with newcomers. It’s not just about the co-stars — it also depends on the script… I’m an equal opportunist,” she asserts.

The actor will be seen essaying the role of a foreign journalist in Madras Café. Sharing her experience, she said, “It was difficult as I am not a real journo. But with the help of workshops, people, documentaries, as well as footage from on-the-field war correspondents of BBC and CNN, and my own effort, [have helped me] understand my character in the film.”

According to Fakhri, working with John was a rather comforting experience. “John made me comfortable on the sets. He is a talented actor and a lovely person to work with. It’s great to work with people who can make you feel safe and at ease,” she said.

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

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In the 2011 film Bodyguard, actors Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif were seen together in a item song, Aaya Re Aaya. The movie’s producer Atul Agnihotri and his wife Alvira (Salman’s sister), had requested her brother’s ex to perform the song after which she reportedly agreed. Once again, Atul has apparently managed to pull off this duo’s appearance.

While it is not surprising to know that Salman will be seen in a cameo role in Atul’s new film, there is supposedly an item song as well in which he will perform alongside a beautiful lady. Everyone involved, including Atul is being very secretive about the song and its heroine. “Guest appearances in movies usually translate into songs. But, honestly, we are still working on the track. Until that is done, I do not have anything else to say,” he tells the Times of India. However, there are rumours that Katrina has been approached for the item number once again, to repeat the hit-song-history from the producer’s Bodyguard.

The movie in question is a comedy starring Pulkit Samrat and Sarah-Jane Dias. More than 80% of the film has apparently already been shot but the audio track of this song is currently still under production.

Let’s see if Atul is successful in convincing Bollywood’s beauty queen yet again!

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

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This is Us has allowed them to present themselves in a more realistic manner than how they are depicted in videos, concerts and social media sites, they said.

“There is only so much you can get across in terms of your personality, you know, social media and like 10-minute interviews you do with people,” singer Harry Styles said. “So I think it’s a way for us to get across what we are like and what we are like with each other for the fans to see.”

Band members Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Styles were all on hand to talk about the behind-the-scenes film and the media interest that has engulfed them since they first became a group on British TV talent show The X-Factor in 2010.

The film, directed by Super Size Me documentary maker Morgan Spurlock, includes concert footage, life backstage and on the road. But Styles laughed off one reporter’s question about whether footage with groupies or drugs had been edited out. “This is a family press conference,” Styles said.

“Part of the reason I think they have been so successful with their fans is that they are so incredibly grounded and normal and that’s what comes off in the movie — there’s no air of superiority,” he said.

The band, whose members are in their late teens and early 20s, topped the Billboard 200 album chart twice last year with Up All Night and their second album Take Me Home. They were named Billboard’s top new artist/group in 2012.

In an interview with Reuters TV on Monday, Malik said, “We never wanted to have the title ‘celebrity,’ we just want to be normal lads in a music band. We’re not celebrities, we’re just in a band.”

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

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Former Miss Universe and Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen was spotted at actor Sridevi’s 50^th birthday celebration, looking absolutely stunning! This beauty-pageant winner lived up to her name, appearing in the most elegant outfit which she pulled off with immense grace. Be it her million dollar smile, or her super fit body, Sen truly impressed us with her glamorous look.

Hair

Even though Sushmita went for a more natural hair-do, her hair doesn’t look flat or lifeless. It has the perfect amount of volume. To get a similar hair-style you just have to straighten your hair at home and blow-dry the tips to give it a volume boost.

Make-up

We love Sushmita’s look. The coral lips, bronzed cheekbones and lined eyes are perfect for the event. For a similar look, use Mac’s Supercontinental blush (Rs1,500) and Maybelline’s Let Me Pink lipstick (Rs1,500) for those bright lips. Mac’s Eye kohl pencil can be used for well-defined eyes (Rs1,000).

Outfit

In that gorgeous navy blue top with a sheer neckline, paired with that black pencil skirt, Sen looks like a true star. Not only does the outfit complement her sleek figure but also shows her fantastic sense of style. The peek-a-boo effect on the neckline of the top looks super sexy! You too can mimic this look by finding a similar skirt at Mango (Rs4,000) or CrossRoads (Rs2,500).

Accessories and Shoes 

Behold her flawless choice of accessories to go with this dazzling outfit! Her lovely black heels and black clutch give her a perfect finishing touch which makes her look uber-chic. Similar items can be purchased from Charles and Keith (Rs3,000). The gold and white bracelets with those sparkly diamond rings (available at Accessorize for about Rs1,500,) earn her a 10-on-10 on our style-o-meter!

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

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“Clothes do not have to be transparent or clung to the body to be fashionable,” Yunasz told The Express Tribune. “International trends can be merged into more conservative styles and look [just] as good.” With over 30 years of experience, this designer has been regarded as a pioneer of the Indonesian fashion industry and with his modern, elegant and contemporary designs for both men and women, he successfully showcased his work across the globe including USA, UAE, Malaysia and Egypt.

In extended celebrations of the 68th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, an exclusive gathering came to witness Yunasz’s collection who visited Pakistan for the first time.

Designer feels Pakistan’s fashion is inspired by the West and such clothing is only worn by a small segment in society. PHOTO: MYRA IQBAL

Speaking about the fashion scene in Pakistan, Yunasz gave his honest opinion. Observing that there’s no middle class in the country, he said, “It’s either the rich or the poor and designers need to cater to the more conservative segments of society.” He feels that Pakistani designers are more inclined towards Western-inspired cuts and attire which is worn only by a small segment in society.

Yunasz, who has been participating in Islamic fashion weeks for the past few years, revealed that outfits suitable for Muslims, are picking up popularity across the world. “There is great talent and potential in Pakistani designers [in order] to grow internationally,” he added. “Us, as Muslim countries, with our rich cultural heritage and history, need to give back to the world.”

Walking down the ramp

Titled Flower and Hakokai Butterfly, his latest Batik collection featured kaaftans, kimonos and abayas. On black, white and brown patterned fabric, large coral flowers were printed; and while the fusion of patters and splash of colours make the print look a bit busy, the cuts and different styles of kaaftans could turn out to be a desirable piece for some.

The hand-woven fabrics were inspired by the Middle East while some pieces seemed Bohemian-influenced with silk and chiffon as the main ingredients. However, the loose non-clingy fabric’s beauty was enhanced by pleats on the front and back and when paired with printed harem pants and leggings, Yunasz’s conservative thoughts were enhanced keeping in mind latest styles.

Other than these materials, he also uses traditional hand-woven fabrics found in regions of Indonesia including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and Bali, as well as chiffon-printed songket, a material made in Palembang.

Burhan Muhammad, ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, was also present at the event which he said served the purpose of showcasing the uniqueness and diversity of the Indonesian culture. The fashion show was followed by cultural performances where traditional dances Sojojo and Saman were proudly presented. Muhammad, who was filled with high spirit and patriotism, also took the lead and performed with the live band on stage where a medley of traditional instruments were infused with vocal performances and mystical tones of the Angklung — musical instrument which originated in Indonesia and is made of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame.

Recalling Pakistan’s support during Indonesia’s independence, the ambassador said, “Tonight, we are celebrating common struggles and friendship with our brotherly Pakistan.”

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

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