Actor Priyanka Chopra took a break from her girly fashion sense, and opted for a more edgy look at the launch of Femina magazine. Here’s how to get her look.

Hair

Priyanka keeps it sleek and sexy with dead straight locks. Achieve the same look by applying serum to your hair after straightening it so as to tame fly-aways and the dreaded static strands.

Outfit

Priyanka pairs a sexy leather mini with a plaid red shirt, really adding an edgy vibe to her outfit. Both items can be found at Mango, or you can head over to Zainab market or Sunday Bazaar for more feasible alternatives!

Make-up

Priyanka went heavy on the make-up, which really compliments her outfit. Use MAC’s Smokey Eye Kit (Rs5,000) to get smouldering eyes like hers. Also, make sure to use Rimmel’s Lash Accelerator mascara (Rs1,500) to accentuate your lashes, along with Rimmel’s Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner (1,000)  to define those eyes . Priyanka pulls off the dewy look perfectly with those luscious lips and cheeks. Apply Maybelline’s Dreamy Bounce blush in Peach Satin (Rs1,300) for rosy cheeks, and MAC’s Brick – O-La lipstick (Rs2,500) for those very berry lips. Last but certainly not least, use OPI’s Black Onyx nail polish to get nails similar to Priyanka’s.

Accessories and Shoes

Priyanka keeps her accessories to a minimum, with a statement black watch and those gorgeous black Louboutin heels. You can buy a similar pair of heels from Charles and Keith (Rs5,000).

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2013.

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Actor Kangana Ranaut has carved a niche for herself in Bollywood against all odds – no filmy background and a highly-criticised accent. Hailing from a small town in Himachal Pradesh, India, her first break in Anurag Basu’s Gangster was a random encounter with the director at a café. After a few hits and misses, Kangana grabbed a national award for her role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s film, Fashion.

Even though the actor managed to create a place for herself in the industry without any strong connections, she says that the film industry is not a very secure place to be in. “I won’t say I don’t want to be where I am today, but the industry is an insecure place to be in. This industry is like one fine day you get up and you get a call for work and at times, you don’t get work for six months,” said Kangana, according to the Times of India. “It’s not just about me. I think everybody has their own insecurities.”

However, Kangana is content with the way her career is progressing. “I did not have any film connections or anybody supporting me here… I am happy to have reached where I am today. The only thing that has worked for me here is acting, I know how to act,” she said, according to the Indian Express. “People like Irrfan Khan and I, we come from normal backgrounds and we have survived so far despite not having any connections… it’s a great thing.”

Despite achieving a fair deal of success, Kangana seems to have one particular regret. “I have learnt everything here, but my only regret is that I wish I had better guidance at the beginning of my career. I wish somebody was there to guide me. The place where I come from, they don’t give much importance to arts. I didn’t know how to behave or what expectations people had from me,” she said.

Kangana will now be seen playing a grey role in upcoming superhero flick, Krrish 3.  “I look at doing exciting roles and not something that is done on a regular basis. I got an opportunity in Krrish 3 and I grabbed it. I don’t see it as a negative role, she [the character] is not a vamp. She is a girl who is beautiful, sexy and wicked. She has a little love story with Hrithik,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2013.

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The journey of a star is never a hassle-free one and things were no different for Zafar. “A lot of dreaming, believing and hard work goes into it. You sleep it, eat it, wake up to it, live it, breathe it and most of all, you stick to it, be it music, films or sketching in a lobby,” he says about how his dream came true. “It’s important to follow your instincts and I did that – I gave into my passion for music and acting.” He feels everyone faces obstacles but it’s how you deal with them, which makes all the difference.

“Growing up, I used to watch a lot of Amitabh Bachchan movies and later, when I was a bit older, I watched Dilip [Kumar] saab’s,” Zafar says on his inspiration to act. “People remember them even today for the characters they played. And I would love to do play such roles that would leave a mark.”

When it comes to having a conscience, Zafar insists that he has one and he portrays it via his selection of movies. “When I choose a script, I keep general values of my home country in mind. I don’t accept roles that don’t appeal to me,” he asserts, adding that he’s only signed those movies which he felt he could relate to. But would he be interested in working in our local film industry? “I’m not against [the idea of] working in Lollywood or anything. It’s just that I haven’t been offered anything substantial yet.”

“It’s thrilling to see the Pakistani film industry going through a renovation and hopefully, it will be revived back to its glorious days,” Zafar adds sanguinely. “However, I’m not an expert in forecasting trends, but I think it’s on the right track.”

Balancing act – music or acting?

It’s important to not forget your roots and Zafar remembers them vividly. He started his career off with music, and despite working in one of the largest film industries in the world, he isn’t ready to give up his singing career.

“I guess I’m good at multi-tasking – I divide my time equally and stay dedicated to each discipline,” he explains. The increase in work load has not deterred him in any way from achieving his goals. “After all, I love doing what I do and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even when I’m shooting, I can very well be writing a song or composing music simultaneously.” At the shooting of his film Chashme Baddoor, he admits that he was busy recording music for another movie in his free time.

Zafar reveals that his fourth music album is currently in production, and the heart-rendering melodies will surely be a treat for his fans. He also highlights that the music scene in Pakistan has always been alive. “And I’m doing my part in contributing to the music industry as are others – I think it’s very adequate,” he says. “I will always be a part of the music industry as I started my career there.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2013.

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Children screaming on flights? Babies crying? These may become a thing of the past as Etihad Airways has now introduced the concept of in-flight nannies. The airlines is hiring 500 British-style nannies, called ‘flying nannies’ to cater to children on long flights by the end of this year, according to the Daily Mail.

All staff will receive training at the famous nanny school Norland College in Bath, Somerset. Aubrey Tiedt, vice president of guest services at Etihad Airways, said, “Flying with a young family can be a daunting task, even for the most experienced travelers.”

“The ‘flying nanny’ role demonstrates our understanding of our guests’ needs and our commitment to making the journey as relaxing and comfortable as possible,” she added.

Roles of the ‘flying nannies’, who will be easily identifiable due to their orange aprons, include serving meals, and offering activities and games to keep children preoccupied.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.

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Durban city lit up over the weekend for the first edition of
the South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA) that took place on Friday. Bollywood A-listers set the red carpet on fire. Here is a round-up of some of how Bollywood beauties dressed that evening:

Dia Mirza

Former miss Asia Pacific might have failed to make a mark in Bollywood, but has always been classy when it comes to dressing up for red carpet events. She chose a wine-coloured anarkali designed by ace designer Manish Malhotra.

Her romantic braided up-do, complementing dangly earrings and her million dollar smile was a stunner at the event.

Divya Dutta

Dressing up in Western attire on a desi show is risky, and hence taking tips from Madhuri would have saved Divya Dutta from being a ladylike disaster. Wearing a black pleated gown with lace sleeves on its own was not a bad option, but pairing it up with a sloppy hair-do and jewellery certainly was!

Divya’s up-do would have looked way better had a little hairspray been used to keep it intact. That loose strand jumping out of her bun looks tacky and brings her look down. Her kohl-rimmed eyes and that kind of make-up, would have looked better with a desi outfit. Wish she had not worn that silver pendant, choking her neck!

Madhuri Dixit 

Dance diva Madhuri Dixit is like wine that gets better with age. Her grey over black lace Dolce and Gabbana outfit made her sparkle at the red carpet. We love the ponytail with volume on the crown and her signature Madhuri smile that can still put young Bolly divas to shame!

Madhuri didn’t let us shift our focus to anyone else, making this stunning yummy mummy, an irresistible eye treat.

Mona Singh 

Wish we could say Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, but Mona darling, you disappointed us with this lacklustre dusky gold and silver saari. We are thinking if the saari is crinkled or you just forgot to iron it before wearing it at the last minute? The side-swept loose curls look good, but we are not sure if we like the ensemble in its entirety.

Priyanka Chopra

There is no heroine from the young lot of Bollywood who can pull off a saari sexier than Piggy Chops. This Manish Malhotra designed royal blue and cream sequined saari, accentuated Priyanka’s slender hips well as she looks smouldering as ever! We love this desi girl’s right amount of sharam to complement this look!

A pair of dangly jhumkas, a couple of rings and silver heels provided finishing touches to her look.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.

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Arguments, feuds and cat fights seem to prevail in the Indian film industry. And this time, it’s a Kat-fight that has surfaced! Katrina Kaif, India’s Barbie doll and Malaika Arora-Khan, probably the hottest woman in the country, have been emitting some serious hate vibes in the past few years. We wonder if the two lovely ladies will ever be able to put their differences aside and act like mature women.

Katrina and Malaika have never really gotten along, and history repeated itself during Kat’s visit to the Khan residence for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. It’s a well known fact that Malaika didn’t acknowledge Katrina during her long-term relationship with actor Salman Khan, but she never let things get out of hand. However, now that their relationship is clearly over, in lieu of Katrina’s holiday pictures with actor Ranbir Kapoor leaking online, Malaika feels no need to put up a false front.

“Katrina still drops by at Salman’s place often and she visited Alvira’s place where the family is hosting Ganpati. Katrina walked in and sat with Salman’s mother Salma while Malaika sat in another corner with Sohail and friends,” a source close to the family told the Times of India. “The two refused to acknowledge each other despite the fact that it was a happy occasion and a gathering of friends and family was watching,” added the source.

This is the latest of a long string of confrontations, or lack thereof, between the two actors. Their spat doesn’t seem to be coming to an end anytime soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.

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Actor Kareena Kapoor has been featured on the cover of movie magazine Filmfare almost 20 times, and has also won six Filmfare awards, but still says any association with the brand is never enough.

“I would like to thank the entire team of Filmfare for having me on this re-invented Filmfare cover for the 19th or 20th time. But it’s just never enough,” the 32-year-old said at the launch of the new magazine. “It’s never enough to be on a [magazine] cover and it’s never enough to have Filmfare awards. There are two things that every [Indian] actor wants,” she added.

Kareena hopes to feature on many more covers, even when she is 60. “I hope I can always be on a magazine cover, even when I am 60 with all my wrinkles, and hopefully no botox! I would still want to be on the cover like I did when I was a six-year-old child,” Kareena said.

Movie for the masses

The first look of Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan-starrer Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is out, and the actor says that the movie is for the masses. She says unlike the 2012 film Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, which saw Kareena and Imran on screen for the first time, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is filled with item songs and has a fun quotient about it.

When asked about the experience of working with Imran again, she said, “I think it has been great because I did Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu with Imran. It was so special. It was slightly English; it was not for the masses, it was a classy film. But this is completely the opposite and is mad,” Kareena said. “It has three to four item songs and it is what everybody would like. I think it is going to be fun. I saw the trailer and Saif [Ali Khan] saw the trailer too. He thinks it is fun,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.

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PESHAWAR: Khumariyaan, a popular instrumental band that came into the limelight amidst terrorism and violence in the region, recently released the video of its latest song, Bela with a unique slogan: Hope for peace, hope of the Pashtuns.

The band comprises Farhan Ali Bogra, a well-known rubab virtuoso, Aamer Shafiq as the rhythm guitarist and vocalist, Shiraz Khan as the lead percussionist and Sparlay Rawail as the lead guitarist. Khumariyaan is known to play with different instruments and produce tunes that represent their native culture.

Bela has a sentimental and soulful tone to it. The HD music video has been created after quite a lot of research and shows picturesque shots of various scenic sights in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) region. “We wanted to highlight K-Ps’ greenest fields and mountains,” says Bogra.

Directed by Javad Zaib and Bilal Feraq and produced by 37th Productions, the video incorporates visuals of Indian Kathak dance alongside the pulsating rhythm of the rubab. However, this infusion of Kathak with Pashto music has been heavily criticised with many saying that the dance has destroyed the real essence of the music. Regardless of the criticism, Bogra points out that their intentions were genuine. “The song was created purely to spread joy, prosperity and peace among people. We only want to offer pure, peaceful music to the public and create it in such a manner that listeners are set in silence while they enjoy the soulfulness of the music,” he says.

The band wants its music to be a medium of bringing peace to people who have been going through rough times in the province. Khumariyaan has gained immense popularity in the underground circuit of Peshawar, Lahore and Islamabad and attracts a huge audience because of its experimental approach. The band has earlier given several captivating numbers such as Sheenai, Malang Yara, Sakal amongst others and has also been selected for Center Stage Program 2014. Center Stage is an international exchange programme that brings together performing artists from around the globe to perform in the US.

Despite achieving appreciation in such a limited time frame, the band is still struggling to make it big in the mainstream music industry. But nonetheless, it seems pretty content with the progress so far. “If we manage to make the audience forget their worries for a few minutes, the point of forming Khumariyaan would be fulfilled,” they had told The Express Tribune in an earlier interview.

The new song has been already uploaded on their official Facebook page and is available for download on SoundCloud.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.

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His new video of the title track is about how love, humanity and harmony don’t exist anymore. Arguably, they never were. Order for Disorder is an uncensored, socio-political commentary on how we see the world and how the media distorts our perception of the truth. The Express Tribune caught up with the gifted artiste in an exclusive pre-release interview.

How has the response been to Vice Versa?

In a place like Pakistan, English music is at a huge disadvantage — let alone English hard rock music. But with that in mind, the response has been much better than what I was anticipating. People are really reaching out over social media. Not just here, but abroad as well. A couple of international entities have started promoting me. That just goes to show that the music is going places on its own.

What publicity have you received internationally?

There’s a guy named Mark McIntyre who runs a live Internet streaming radio station out of the US, Guerilla Radio; he started airing my music regularly on his stream. In June, one of my tracks Paralyzed (from Vice Versa), was voted number one by his listeners on a top 10 countdown. There’s another guy named Andy Millen, based in the UK, who has given me extensive coverage online. He recently featured my upcoming album on MetalTalk.net. The way I see it, if my music can catch the ear of people abroad and hold its own against so many amazing international bands, then I must be doing something right.

You admit that your genre is ‘niche’. So why invest so much in creating something that doesn’t have mass appeal?

Firstly, I do it because I love it. Secondly, true hard rock and metal listeners are some of the most amazing fans any artist can have. I’d rather make music for a handful of them than for a million Bieber fans. Thirdly, it’s the only type of music I really know how to make.

Tell us about the new album Order for Disorder.

Order for Disorder has been a trip to write, perform and produce. It has been a great creative release. It’s heavy as hell and completely uncompromising. Listeners can expect 10 original tracks, most of them with huge guitars, blazing solos, screaming vocals, heavy riffs, and tons of crash metal drumming — the way any hard rock album should be.

What did you do differently on this album as compared to the last?

Inspiration came from anywhere and everywhere. We invested a lot of time listening to original mixes of GNR, Black Label Society and various others, dissecting their tones and mixes. We then spent a great deal of time replicating those elements to create bigger and better sounds. We put a lot of effort into the live kit set-up. A lot of bands in Pakistan get away with using sequenced or electric kits, which to me fail in comparison to the sound of a live kit. I could be wrong, but I think this is also the first album in Pakistan to feature an analogue talk box on one of the tracks.

The Order for Disorder video seemed to be well-received online. What was the inspiration?

The concept was mine but Faraz and Haider Azim really brought the video to life. Osama Tahir’s acting also took it to the next level. I wanted to make a video that shook people up a bit. Performance videos have very short lifespans so I wanted to do something that made people think a little. The video is a socio-political commentary on the degeneration of humanity. While we were coming up with the concept, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict was reaching another one of its boiling points. I couldn’t help noticing the disparity in the types of safe and distant images on mainstream media versus the sad and disturbing images circulating all over the Internet.

We heard that you met your guitar idol, Slash. How did it feel?

Completely and utterly surreal! I met him backstage after a concert in Dubai. I waited for about two hours until he came out to sign autographs. While he was signing my cocktail napkin, I just stood there in disbelief. But after mustering up the courage, I said, “I just wanted you to know that your music has inspired me and changed the way I live my life. And I just wanted to say, thank you”. He shook my hand and smiled. It was awesome. I ended up framing the napkin and mounting it on my wall at home.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.

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Despite being the iconic Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s protégé, Rahat seems to almost always shy away from the spotlight. With minimal interviews to his name and an aura of mystery surrounding Rahat, The Express Tribune finally caught up with the playback singer. “It’s true that I have chosen to be relatively reserved with the media but it is something which is purely unintentional,” says Rahat, pointing to his busy schedule. “This is something I wish to change, and as an ambassador of my country, I believe people need to know more about the activities undertaken by their fellow countrymen.”

When it comes to creating music, the maestro admits that he needs to work in solitude. “I like to work in an environment that is secluded and allows me to concentrate on my music,” he says about his swanky farmhouse on Bedian Road (or to him, his humble abode), which has been transformed into an extensive music studio. “I am able to control the quality of the sound I record and ensure that my fans get only the best — something they expect from me.” The title song for Ishq-e-Mamnu was recorded there and he is also working on his upcoming music album, which is scheduled to release by year end.

From qawwali to playback singing

“Bollywood gave me the chance to collaborate with the industry’s best composers,” says Rahat defending the switch he made. “And I embraced the transition well. For me, playback singing has been wonderful in terms of my own growth.” He feels the industry provides musicians with opportunities to learn as well as helps them establish a wider presence and name for themselves in the music arena.

While traditionalists didn’t hold back in making any comparisons when he ‘turned his back’ on his qawwal origins, Rahat feels it was inevitable and people were bound to talk. But the singer remains adamant on growing as an artist, experimenting and trying out different projects. “I starting singing qawwali at the age of 15 with my [uncle] Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,” he recollects. “And as I have grown as an individual, I have also wanted to grow as a professional and diversify. I believe in good music, whatever the genre.”

Commenting on the current situation of the Pakistani film industry, Rahat feels it never reached great heights but is hopeful that things can change if investments are made. “Right now, our major hurdle is not that we lack talent but it’s that we don’t have the resources to make good quality motion pictures,” he sighs. “We need huge investments. I wish our government gives this important industry its due attention, and sets aside a sizeable budget for arts and entertainment.”

Apart from playback singing, for the local industry and Bollywood, Rahat is keen on releasing his own music album. “When I play and produce my own music, it provides me with a unique sense of fulfillment unlike any other. Artists shouldn’t just sing for others but should also produce their own music,” he says.

However, it will be released by an Indian company by the end of the year as he hasn’t been able to find himself a suitable distributor in Pakistan. “There was a trend when artists would launch their own albums in Pakistan instead of singing for others, but that seems to have become obsolete,” he regrets.

Rahat is set to go on tour with his band and will be seen performing in Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leicester and Leeds.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2013.

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LOS ANGELES: With a career spanning over seven decades, actor Robert Duvall has played roles ranging from Joseph Stalin to Dwight D Eisenhower, and he still looks for ways to diversify his choices. With popular movies to his name such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Apostle and many more, he still isn’t done.

Duvall, 82, will next be seen as a stoic war veteran patriarch in Jayne Mansfield’s Car, written and directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton, which will be released in US theatres on Friday. The film, which is a drama set in ‘60s Alabama, explores the cultural impact of a British family in a small Southern town.

What drew you to work with Billy Bob Thornton on Jayne Mansfield’s Car?

The guy understands the Southern idiom. He understands where he comes from. He’s a brilliant guy, not just as an actor, but he’s a triple threat guy — a writer, director and actor.

How have you avoided being stereotyped into a certain genre or character?

I’ve always considered myself a character actor. And if there were no movies, I’d still be doing theatre. I’ve always tried to be a character actor and I think in my career so far, I’ve done that. I’ve always liked Westerns. I like working in Texas and I’m going to work on a project coming up in Texas, but I’ve always tried to be as diverse as possible without being stereotyped, and many times, it has come my way.

The earlier Western movies were Hollywood’s bread and butter, and captured the attention of a very international audience. Why do you think such an American genre of film has such wide global appeal?

I think it’s a sense of pushing west, of the expansion and so forth … I think people are fascinated with the West.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in Hollywood over your career?

I don’t know if it’s really changed. It’s easier to raise $100 million than $5 million. Doing an independent film is very difficult and they still do good work.

Is there still a dream role that you want to play or wish you had played?

Terry Gilliam had approached me to play Don Quixote, and it’s still way on the back burner because he can’t get funding. But he saw me play the Cuban barber and ever since then, he thought I could play Don Quixote in a certain way … It would be nice to play that part.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.

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“Of course, he [Shahrukh] can come [to Bigg Boss]. If he is promoting his next film, he is more than welcome,” Salman said at the launch of the show on Wednesday. The two have been in a cold war since the past five years. But recently in Ramazan, they were seen hugging each other during an iftar party. Salman has said that hugging Shahrukh was a “natural thing to do.”

“I feel since it was the month of Ramazan, this gesture [hug] should be done by everyone. It is a good thing to shake hands and hug,” he added. “If we have to hit at each other, we will do so through our work,” he said.

The seventh installment of the reality TV show, Bigg Boss Saath-7, will air September 15 onwards.

The actor, who is set to host the show for the fourth time, confesses that he will not leave the show until the channel asks him to do so. “I am very excited about season seven. I have enjoyed all the seasons so far. It feels like only the television channel will throw me out now, I will not leave the show and will keep on doing it,” said the 47-year-old.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.

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Previously reserved only for the likes of fabulous celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, red lips are now every daring woman’s go-to trend. Red is the colour of love, the colour of lust and when you swipe it on your lips, its dynamite. From deep burgundy reds, to sweet cherry reds, the colour is here and it’s here to stay.

A bold lip can complete the look of any outfit, and can completely re-invent a woman’s personality. A number of celebrities have been spotted with red lips, and while the trend may be a little bold for some, there really is a red for everyone.

If you have a complexion that is fair you should opt for coral reds, matte red lip shades that are slightly on the orange side, or blue-based reds. These shades are not over powering, yet look dramatic.

For those of you, who have a complexion that’s slightly sun-kissed, go for a more pink-based red. This beautiful shade will give your skin a pop of radiance.

If you have dark skin, you should choose wine or brick-red. These shades will make you look absolutely divine.

There really is no such thing as a neutral red. The colour has an array of shades to suit any skin tone, and one should know what shade suits them for maximum impact.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.

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Who would have known that the perfect mom figure in Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kajol Devgn is a no non-sense mother off the camera? The 39-year-old actor, who was last seen in Johar’s We Are Family in 2010, is enjoying her life away from films and says, “I’m very happy and content with my life which revolves around my kids and family,” reports the Hindustan Times.

Kajol, who has a daughter named Nysa, 10, and a son named Yug, 3, takes parenting very seriously. “I feel that dealing with your kids can’t be planned and it varies in different situations. It is a skill that is acquired on the job.”

The actor admits that she is a strict mother and she makes sure her children are disciplined. “Yes … I am a very strict mother. Ajay [Devgn] is the one who pampers the kids more. I am the one who has the responsibility of making sure that my kids are disciplined because I’m more of an ‘at home’ parent,” expresses Kajol, who is also the brand ambassador of a diaper brand. “I feel that it is essential for the kids to know that there are boundaries which they can’t cross.”

Kajol, who inherited the legacy of acting from her mother, yesteryear’s famous actor Tanuja Mukherjee, refused to comment when asked if her daughter shows interest in acting. “She [Nysa] is too young for that [acting]. When I discuss films with her, she tells me she does not know what she wants to be until she grows up.”

The actor plans a silver screen comeback with husband Devgn’s next production and says she is okay with taking up offers for television productions, provided she likes the offer. “I’ll only take up an offer that is really good,” she says.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.

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Begum Jaan is a story about an old woman (Nimra Bucha), who was once a reputed classical singer having associations with senior dignitaries like Maulana Abulkalam Azad, Majaz and Nawab of Bhopal and Jawaharlal Nehru amongst others, but now lives a rather reclusive life with her grand-daughter, Zareena (Naila Jaaferi). While they live a low-profile life, journalist Sanjay Pandey (Paras Masroor) shows up at their door step as a professor in search of a room. His agenda though lies in revealing the secret past of Begum Jaan and getting his breakthrough in journalism. As clever as a fox, Begum Jaan immediately recognises the young lad’s real identity. She is aware that Pandey’s main purpose is to make a story out her life and her relationships.

However, the play takes an interesting turn when Begum Jaan tries to convince him to marry her grand-daughter in return for a bunch of unseen letters given to her by Maulana Azad — clearly a huge scoop for Pandey.

Director Ayaz brilliantly executes the well-crafted script by Siddiqui. The dialogues include a lot of metaphors, which are powerful yet at the same time, witty. The construction is such that the audience stays glued to their seats until the end of this weave of tell-tales is revealed. The play is a satire which cleverly but subtly depicts the reality of our society’s values in Begum Jaan’s experience of the past and the present.

Another great aspect of this play is its cast — all act diligently and delve completely into the characters, making them appear real. Nimra Bucha, who has previously exhibited her talent in plays such as Seagull and The Dictator’s Wife, is par excellence as Begum Jaan. Her hard work shows as she delivers her dialogues in Lucknawi Urdu and takes the audience to a completely different era.

Naila Jaaferi, who is a usual on the theatre front, delivers a stellar performance as Begum Jaan’s only caregiver with dreams of her own. However, she appears a bit over-excited in some places during the course of her acting making the character look more or less superficial. While Ali Sheikh was praiseworthy in the previous version of Begum Jaan, Paras Masroor can safely be said a better replacement. However, as the confident and determined young journalist, he seems a bit shaky in a few places.

Fitting in well symbolically with the plot and description of the play, the set resembled an old ‘haveli’ emphasised with dim lighting — creating the perfect environment of a bygone era. The props used were very much-needed to bring out the real essence of the play and the stage movement was also in the flow that it needed to be in.

Starting another season of plays and musical events with the re-staging of Begum Jaan, surely makes the future look promising. The play will run Thursday through Sunday till September 22 at 8pm and the tickets are priced at Rs600.

The Express Tribune is the official media partner for this play.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.

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Queen of controversy Veena Malik’s upcoming Bollywood film Supermodel is set to release all over India on September 27. And as we all know it, her co-star is none other than her ex-flame Ashmit Patel with whom she claims she has great chemistry.

“It feels great, my career has stabilised now. It will be my fourth film to be released in India [apart from Kannada film Silk]. It’s a great feeling,” she tells The Express Tribune over the phone.

Malik will be in India for the film’s release later this month. “I will definitely go see the first show, the first day,” she says. “I have aggressively campaigned for the film — for about a month.”

About her performance with Ashmit, she says those who watched Bigg Boss (where the relationship between the two surfaced), would appreciate it. “The chemistry we had was evident,” she adds.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.

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After graduating from Cambridge University with an MPhil in Management and a Masters degree in Health Finance from New York University, Omar went on to pursue her love for baking. “I’ve always enjoyed baking but I never thought I would take it up as a career,” she says. “I enrolled myself at Le Cordon Bleu [renowned culinary institute] and started making birthday cakes and cupcakes from home.”

As word of mouth spread, Omar expanded her business and opened a shop three years ago. “I figured it was more professional to have a formal shop rather than just bake from home because then people take you more seriously,” asserts Omar. “My husband and I live in Wimbledon, and Tooting seemed like a good option to open up my outlet.”

While she offers cakes including traditional ingredients, she also enjoys experimenting with different flavours — incorporating Eastern ingredients with ones from the West. Her eggless and gluten-free cakes have also found themselves a great market. “While I do the regular chocolate, vanilla and red velvet, we have some unique flavours too, like ilaichi-flavoured cheesecake, apricot cheesecake, pistachio cardamom cake which tastes like a barfi,” explains Omar. “Along with this, we have a mixed nut tart that tastes like halwa and rose-flavoured macaroons and cakes.”

Her unique flavours have resulted in a line-up of notable celebrities outside her doors for orders. “We just did petit fours for Ed Miliband’s (Labour Party leader) party,” says Nazish. But that’s not just it. This little eatery has made bespoke cakes for Bollywood celebrities like Bally Sagoo, Bipasha Basu, Shaan, Malaika Arora and Atif Aslam, amongst others. “It was really exciting meeting Dharmendra, Bobby Deol and Sunny Deol when I made their cake for Yamla Pagla Deewana,” she shares. Laung Da Lashkara singer Hard Kaur is also an alleged fan of Deelicious Nazish’s Kitchen along with sports stars Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza, who also called upon Omar’s services while in London.

“It is really fun making cakes for celebrities,” confesses Omar. “We meet and sit down for a food tasting [session] and decide the concept of the cake they want.” She excitingly reveals that her next client is the superhero heart-throb, Hrithik Roshan — she will be baking a cake for his upcoming film, Krrish 3.

With her experimental approach and artistic talent, Omar is quickly becoming a preferred confectioner for wedding cakes. “We were so impressed with what Nazish created for us,” say recent clients Jaimini and Brijes. “Everybody complimented the taste and style and no one could believe that the cake was eggless.”

Another couple, Sheneen Gani and Dr Saifullah, also seemed quite impressed. “Our cake was inspired by the lilies on the invitation. The same lilies were hand-painted on my shoes so it was kind of like a theme,” says Gani. “The cake was spectacular and only Nazish could have made it so perfectly.”

With top caterers like Sapna Caterers signing on Omar as their preferred pastry chef and cake supplier, Deelicious Nazish’s Kitchen continues to make memorable cakes for her clients. However, it is her dream to bake a cake for superstar Shahrukh Khan one day.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.

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Priyanka Chopra has become a regular on our stylistas list thanks to her super-chic fashion choices. She was recently spotted promoting her film Zanjeer at a TV comedy show looking fab in a Roberto Cavalli printed shift dress. From her sexy hair-do to her edgy accessories, Priyanka looked way more exotic than her song. Here is a breakdown on how you can get a similar look.

Hair

Piggy chops is known for experimenting with her hair. From long and straight to short and curly, Priyanka has pulled off every hairstyle with ease. Similarly, she looked effortless in uber-trendy front bangs and perfectly straight and sleek long locks. To get a similar hair-do, visit your nearest salon and get razor-sharp front bangs, but only do so if you have big forehead. Unfortunately, this hairstyle is not meant for smaller face cuts.

Outfit

Wearing a printed shift dress by Roberto Cavalli, it looks like Priyanka just stepped out of Vogue’s latest cover. However, you don’t have to bite your nails over the expense you might bear, to get a similar dress. Ethnic-printed shift dresses are high on trend and can be easily found at places like Mango (Rs6,000) and Debenhams (Rs7,000). As a matter of fact, similar printed fabric is always up for grabs in local markets and you can it stitched for real cheap too.

Make-up

With smokey eyes and dark lips, Priyanka is definitely bringing sexy back in its truest form. Her face looks simply flawless. Try out Maybelline Expert brown eye shadow kit and Rimmel’s Glam Eyes mascara and eyeliner to make those beautiful eyes stand out. For those sultry lips, apply MAC’s lipstick in Mocha, and use Rimmel’s natural bronzer for a sun-kissed look. OPI’s Onyx nail colour is perfect for those edgy rocker nails like Priyanka’s.

Accessories and Shoes

We are glad that Priyanka made a smart choice and kept her accessories to a bare minimum. Too many accessories would have clashed with the printed dress. You can find similar rings at Accessorize (Rs1,200) or Sentiments (Rs900). We can’t figure out if she is wearing any earrings since her beautiful hair completely covers her ears. Plain black heels look bang on trend with such a busy dress by not overpowering it. Check out Charles and Keith or Next for a similar pair (Rs5,000).

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2013.

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Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela watches Bollywood movies in her spare time and there’s one actor who she finds utterly hot. It’s none other than the boy next door Ranbir Kapoor!

About Barfi!, she says, “It was gentle and beautiful. It taught me a lot about autism. And of course, the man who acted in the film — he was so handsome,” according to the Times of India. “Yes, that boy, I loved him. I think Ranbir Kapoor is [just] too hot,” she drools.

“I also follow Bollywood songs a little. The famous ones — I like to listen to them,” she continues. “South Africa doesn’t really have a film industry, so it’s more of just Bollywood and Hollywood movies here.” She adds that Bollywood movies “make more of an impact” in her country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2013.

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LONDON: Best-selling Harry Potter author JK Rowling will return to the wizarding world for her screenplay debut with a film inspired by one of her fictional boy wizard’s textbooks.

Rowling has agreed to write the screenplay for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a film from Warner Bros based on the adventures of Newt Scamander — the fictional author of a Hogwarts textbook of the same name.

“I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it,” Rowling said on Thursday in an emailed statement from Warner Bros Entertainment.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be the first in a series of films about the adventures of Scamander and will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, 48-year-old Rowling said.

But the story will start in New York, 70 years before the Potter tale gets under way. “Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards, where I was so happy for seventeen years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” she said.

Warner Bros has distribution rights outside Britain of the BBC TV adaptation of Rowling’s first adult novel The Casual Vacancy, Harry Potter theme parks, websites, videogames and consumer products.

Rowling said that Warner Bros. approached her with the pitch for the film, but she could not stomach the idea of someone else writing one of her own characters.

“I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of Fantastic Beasts, realised by another writer was difficult,” she said.

“As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.”

Since her seven Harry Potter novels became a global publishing phenomenon, selling an estimated 450 million copies, Rowling’s every move is followed closely by the industry.

The books, and a hugely successful movie franchise, helped turn her into the world’s first author billionaire.

However, Rowling has repeatedly said that she had no plans to write any more about the world of Harry Potter since her last book in the series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out in 2007.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2013.

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