Sunday, 24 January 2016

Double treat: Fawad Khan will play popstar Alamgir in biopic 'Albela Rahi'

We often talk about Pakistani artists not getting their due share of publicity or respect — but upcoming film Albela Rahi may change all that.
The film is based on the life of living musical giant Alamgir, and none other than Fawad Khan is set to play the role of the tunester.
This emerged as something of a double whammy this weekend at an event held to promote the film. Production house Fog Catcher Films, a sister concern of Stimulus Productions which boasts of over 200 productions since its inception, announced that work on the project was due to begin soon.
"The film is based on the epic tale of once an ordinary man, Alamgir, who rose to be the iconic pop star of Pakistan and is known as the pioneer of the pop music in the country," the movie's Facebook page explains.
Fawad Khan with Fog Catcher Films' Sultan Ghani Afzal and Faisal Hashmi at the film's announcement – Photo courtesy Albela Rahi's Facebook pageFawad Khan with Fog Catcher Films' Sultan Ghani Afzal and Faisal Hashmi at the film's announcement – Photo courtesy Albela Rahi's Facebook page
Fawad Khan himself described the opportunity to portray the life of 'Dekha Na Tha' singer as 'exciting' while he also entertained the crowd at the event with a rendition of Alamgir's famous song 'Albela Rahi.'
Alamgir, the real life Albela Rahi, also spoke at the event through a video link and appreciated the efforts of Fawad and the film's producers.
Alamgir appreciated the efforts of Fawad and the film's producers through a videolink ─ Fawad Khan's Facebook pageAlamgir appreciated the efforts of Fawad and the film's producers through a videolink ─ Fawad Khan's Facebook page
Fawad, who was first famous in Pakistan as the frontman of rockband EP, impressed with his acting in Shoaib Mansoor's Khuda Key Liye. He earned hearthrob status when his effortless chemistry with Mahira Khan inHumsafar made the TV drama a sensational hit.
Fawad went on to make his Bollywood debut in Khoobsurat in which he starred alongside Bollywood beauty Sonam Kapoor. He has been riding a wave of popularity ever since, picking up the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut last year.
Fawad will soon be occupied in promotions for his next Bollywood film, Karan Johar's Kapoor & Sons, in which he stars alongside Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. The film will be released in March this year.

Thursday, 21 January 2016

How Mahira Khan overtook Huma Qureshi to play SRK's wife in Raees

It's not surprising that Mahira Khan was up against quite a few contenders for her role in Raees. After all, it was a chance to star opposite the Bollywood King, Shah Rukh Khan!
According to the latest buzz, Mahira's impressive audition sealed her fate as the Raees heroine and crossed the name of one Huma Qureshi off of the list of hopefuls.
DNA India reports that Huma was approached first for the role. Their source reveals, "They thought Huma would fit the bill and also they wanted a fresh pairing of sorts. But then, they got Mahira on board because the character required the actress to have a certain kind of mannerism and lingo and being a Pakistani, Mahira totally nailed it."
Mahira is known to enjoy great camaraderie with SRK (inside jokes and all), and he's confident that they will look good together in Raees.
The grapevine also has it that the two have filmed a great dance sequence for the film.
Raees, which is set in a Muslim ghetto in Gujarat, is the story of a gangster's rise to power.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

The house that HSY built: How the celebrity designer juggles fashion, TV and his star persona

Trust HSY to launch into a new city in a grand way. HSY the designer — Shero, the celebrity — has always been larger-than-life, easily flitting from his many avatars of rockstar designer, ace choreographer, garrulous talk show host or simply, glamorous showman.
His ‘World of HSY’ is an enchanting one; resplendent with the shimmer of crystals and sequins, glistening with bright lights and colour, replete with drama, celebrities and sheer joie de vivre. It is this love for glamour, in heavy, unadulterated doses, that he brings to his new quarters in Karachi: a glorious, reconstructed mansion near Karachi’s Mohatta Palace.
A gilded lion roars at the door — for he is fashion’s sher — leading to chandeliered rooms, spiraling staircases, vintage-tiled floors, sun-dappled rooms lined with windows and walls bordered with images of Shero’s career milestones.
“This is my way of making visitors feel special,” he smiles. “I’m not just welcoming them to my workplace, I am inviting them into my home. We’re planning to set up tables in the courtyard where, once every week, we’re going to host afternoon tea. People can drift in and sit with their friends, roam about the studio and try clothes on. The photographs on the walls are by Alee Hassan but later on, I want to make this space available for exhibits of photography, jewellery, art or even furniture.”
His work is just about to be seen at a Hollywood red carpet affair and in Pakistan, his retail dreams are already underway.
“We launch our first retail store at Dolmen City Mall in Karachi around April, timed with our fashion showcase at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week. The collection will simultaneously become available at our store in Lahore, at the new store in Karachi as well as at this mansion.”
Why bother with setting up an entire mansion when he could have just made waves with a store in the city’s most popular — and most expensive — mall?
“It is expensive,” he agrees, “and setting up this mansion has been a labor of love. It’s more than a hundred years old and it was in shambles when I came to it more than a year ago. It’s been difficult resurrecting it back to its former glory but this is the kind of space that defines my brand. It is luxurious and classically beautiful and it creates an aura that ultimately leads to higher retail sales.
“The store in Dolmen City will stock the HSY Limited line which begins at Rs2,500 and primarily features cotton and silk tunics for working women, our ready-to-wear light formals priced between Rs10,000 and Rs25,000 and luxury-wear priced above Rs25,000. Anybody who wants our heavily-embellished pieces will be able to take an appointment via the store for the mansion.”
For a designer who is constantly ricocheting between Lahore and Karachi, this market expansion makes long-overdue logistic sense. Shero spends days on end recording his TV talk show in Karachi, which is now in its third season. At other times, he is flying in to choreograph shows or even take part in the occasional fashion week.
As fashion’s self-professed ‘couture king’ — and a popular designer — it was about time that he extended his market beyond his home-base in Lahore by dabbling into other, equally lucrative markets.
This deep blue floor-length ensemble with a matching sequined jacket worn by Cybil at the Lux Style Awards in 2014 caught actress Brooke Shields’ attention
“I have always had a strong clientele in Karachi,” points out Shero. “Many of them fly in to place orders at my Lahore studio and they follow my fashion week showcases. Also, the TV show has made me a household name and improved upon my brand’s popularity. But yes, it was certainly time for me to set up store in Karachi. I intend to follow it up with more expansion in the future and a greater focus on building my brand. This probably means that I will choreograph fewer shows although I do plan to continue on with my TV show.”
His TV show has been building a considerable audience but is simultaneously criticised for being a Koffee with Karan spin-off. Does he agree? “Any talk show that is mostly in English will seem similar to Koffee with Karan,” he argues. “But I think that Tonite with HSY has an edge of its very own and its popularity is testament to it.”

Talking about his successful career as a choreographer Sheru says: “I do feel that shows are being over-styled now. The elaborate accessories and hairstyles actually take away the limelight from the designs."


Moving on to his choreographic talents, it would be a pity if he retired from the field altogether. Shero, at the helm of a fashion week, brings an unmistakable energy to the catwalk as he spins and rolls it to his tune. He has hitherto always professed that he is easily able to waltz the balancing act between choreography, design and his TV show. Why the sudden change of heart?
“Whenever I do something, I plunge into it wholeheartedly and have to do a fantastic job. I just need to invest more time into my brand but having worked as a choreographer for the past 22 years, I don’t think I’ll ever leave it altogether.”
With fashion slipping into a repetitive rut, does he feel the ennui slipping in while he choreographs umpteen shows?
“I don’t usually even look at the clothes because I am so occupied with organising the shows,” says Shero. “I do feel that shows are being over-styled now. The elaborate accessories and hairstyles actually take away the limelight from the designs.”

Hollywood calling

In contrast, accessories were kept to a minimum at Shero’s ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ showcase at October’s PFDC L’Oreal Paris Bridal Week. Was the line-up well-received by his clientele considering that it had him leaning towards anglicised silhouettes whereas traditional wedding wear has always been his USP?
“People appreciated it but they really took notice of it when I tweaked it into traditional wear for my show at the recent Telenor Bridal Couture Week. Girls want to look traditionally beautiful at weddings, it’s as simple as that,” he observes.
Does he feel that by pandering to traditional market-friendly silhouettes, he allows his brand to meander towards the boring?
“I do think that fashion, in general, is getting repetitive with far too much emphasis on economics. Having said that, with my own brand, I stick to my DNA and manage to evolve within it. I do feel that backless gowns and slinky cholis don’t hold much significance beyond the catwalk. But it is possible to create design that is fashion-forward while simultaneously marketable.”

A deep blue floor-length ensemble with a matching sequined jacket caught actress Brooke Shields’ attention and had her agents placing an order at the HSY design studio.


It was a gown, though — a deep blue floor-length ensemble with a matching sequined jacket worn by Cybil at the Lux Style Awards in 2014 — that caught actress Brooke Shields’ attention and had her agents placing an order at the HSY design studio.
“She’s going to be wearing it during the awards season,” says Shero. “I will be flying out to her for the final fittings. I think that Brooke Shields emulates my brand well because I usually design for the adult woman. Also, I think this is going to be a great red carpet statement, equating Pakistan with fashion and craftsmanship, overlooking cultural and religious prejudices.”
It will, of course, showcase the oft-ignored glamorous side to Pakistan and who better to put it forward than HSY? It’s what he does best … at star-studded red carpets, backstage at fashion weeks, on TV, at the LSAs or now, holding court in his glorious new mansion. Karachi today, Hollywood tomorrow — where next, HSY?



Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Next on Priyanka's agenda: Be a Baywatch babe!


There will be a Baywatch movie, and Priyanka Chopra may star in it.
Such is the latest development in the Bollywood actress' career overseas. According to Hollywood Reporter, Chopra is in talks with Paramount to play the villain in the film adaptation of the 1990s television series about California lifeguards.
Confirmed stars in the film include Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, who play lifeguard leader and young ex-Olympian respectively. The two have to join forces to save the bay in the Baywatch film.
Seth Gordon, who has helmed features like comedy film Horrible Bosses and documentary Freakonomics, will be directing the movie.
Chopra recently picked up the People's Choice Award for her performance inQuantico, her debut American TV series in which she plays the lead role of an FBI recruit suspected of being a terrorist agent.
At present, her talks with Paramount are in its early stages and scheduling conflicts with the film’s shoot and Chopra’s ABC show still need to be worked out.
If Chopra accepts the role, Baywatch would be her Hollywood debut film.

Monday, 11 January 2016

Did you know? Salman Ahmed's Bollywood debut film will be out on Feb 19

Salman Ahmed is keeping Junoon alive. He is starring in a Bollywood film, titled Rhythm, in which he plays the frontman of a Sufi rockband, i.e., himself.
The film is soon to hit the screens, as the musician excitedly announced its release date on Twitter himself:
While Salman makes a cameo appearance in the film, its lead cast features another Pakistani singer Adeel Chaudhry.
The film, set in Poland, shows a young Junoon fan finding "a symbolic angel" in Salman Ahmed.
The Vicky Kumar film has been nearly seven years in the making, and has faced delays in production due to budget constraints, reports Times of India.

In Sangat, the rapist is both hero and villain — and that's a problem


The Pakistani drama industry may have found its new favourite topic: rape.
We have to give TV producers credit for not shying away from addressing difficult social issues. In between the now routine doosri teesri biwi stories, the mismatched love affairs and soaps with 'mayka' or 'sasural' in their titles, there are always dramas with an original or challenging storyline.
Rape, in particular, is a highly important subject, given the steady rise of sexual assault awareness after the high-profile Nirbhaya case in neighbouring India and the steady stream of similarly tragic stories that haunt the Pakistani news cycle.
However, TV dramas often contribute to rape culture, rather than attempt to dismantle it. Hum TV's Sangat is an unfortunate example of this.

Sangat and its strange plot twist

The happily wedded couple of Sangat - Ashy and Adnan - see their life turn upside down – Publicity photo
Sangat is the story of Ashy (Saba Qamar) who is happily married to her college sweetheart Adnan (Mikaal Zulfikar). On a rare visit to her mother’s house, Ashy falls prey to her long-time admirer Shavez (Zahid Ahmed), who breaks in under the premise of a robbery and rapes her.
Ashy soon discovers that she is expecting a child and is forced to go through with the pregnancy by her mother. Neither her in-laws nor her husband suspect a thing and are ecstatic about the new addition to their family whom they name Sangat.
TV serials tend to follow an unfortunate formula in the treatment of rape: a happy family life is shattered and supposedly strong relationships are tested to breaking point. But a majority also try to portray the difficulties of the victim. One of the best dramas to explore this topic with the respect and gravity it deserves has been the award-winning drama, Roag.
Sangat, however, defies all norms (and logic) by trying to whitewash the rapist. Whatever commercial or clichéd faults dramas like Chup Raho orMain Gunehgaar Nahi had, one thing was for sure: the rapist was the bad guy.

The rapist in Sangat: Hero bhi, villian bhi?

In Sangat, everyone's nice to the rapist villian – Publicity photo
In what seems like an attempt to appear “different”, Sangat sets up the rapist to be as much of a victim of cruel circumstance as his prey. So far into the story we have learnt he suffered as a child, was brought up by a single father and at one point his mother was robbed at gunpoint.
What's more, the TV serial imparts his character with a hero-like desirability. Despite the fact that he is known to be good-for-nothing goonda type, his landlady swears that though she isn’t sure what he does outside the house, he enters their home with a modestly lowered gaze.
If anyone were in doubt of this rapist’s complete sharafat, the writer has added the character of Salma, the lovelorn daughter of Shavez’s landlord who throws herself at him with monotonous regularity.
Salma and her family desperately try to trap our hero – oops, I mean villian – into marriage, but he steadfastly maintains that “Main kissee aur sey mohabbat karta hoon“ (I love someone else) in Zahid Ahmed’s no doubt sonorous voice.

False, dangerous messages in Sangat

12 episodes down and apart from Shavez’s 'love' for his victim, writer Zafar Mairaj has given us no clue why this misunderstood paragon would actually commit such a heinous act.
The audience is left to conclude that this rape was about unrequited, obsessive love rather than a particularly evil act of premeditated violence. The whole story feeds into the myth that rape is about sex or lust or attraction, when the overwhelming evidence from studies on this subject indicate clearly that it is about dominance, power, control and humiliation.
The seeds of repentance do not come from Shavez’s realization of the horror of his actions but from the pain he sees he has caused the woman he “loves”. The writer does a great disservice to victims of sexual violence by romanticizing the rapist and his motivations.
The drama does get one thing right, however: many rapists (but not all) are known to their victims, not strangers. Shavez is the son of an old colleague of Ashy's mother and his assault is a carefully planned attack disguised by the robbery.
Much of the drama is then taken up with Shavez's regret, his tears and his many contrived meetings with the unfortunate Ashy.
The story sets up a dangerously false equivalency between the perpetrator’s need for forgiveness and the victim’s need to recover, placing the burden of resolution firmly on the victim’s shoulders. The completely baseless idea that the victim can only be free to live her life if she forgives this man is insinuated throughout the story.

No respite for the victim, Ashy?

Ashy's in-laws don't make her life any easier – Publicity photo
To be fair, the story does explore the victim’s painful recovery from the assault but again we are treated to the typical “zamana kiya kahey ga” mother so beloved of Pakistani dramas.
Despite being a highly educated woman of some wisdom and experience, Ashy’s mother oppresses her, warning her never to trust her husband or expect his support. Amazingly, Ashy cannot even bring herself to tell her mother the rapist’s identity.
Another beloved trope of Pakistani dramas is then dredged up in the form of the unreliable husband.
Ashy wants to share her terrible experience with her husband, but is cowed into silence when he thanks her for saving the “family’s honour”. He never wonders as to why his wife is so traumatised by an armed robbery, and seems more irritated bystander than loving husband, leaving Ashy so disappointed in him that she seriously considers leaving him.
The only person Ashy confides in is a psychiatrist who suffers from a huge compassion deficit and tells Ashy off for “distancing herself from her husband”.
She even asks Ashy whether she would forgive Adnan if he came to her after making a similar ghalti. Is rape just a ghalti, a mistake? Is suffering rape and asking for support equivalent to a man raping another person and asking for his wife’s support? Can a criminal and a victim command the same kind of empathy?
This mind boggling contradiction is presented to the audience as a moment of revelation and acceptance for Ashy, who now understands her strangely insensitive husband.
In contrast to Adnan’s unhelpful attitude, the writer allows the rapist Shavez to save Ashy and her child’s life by giving blood just at the right moment and reinforces this forced irony with dialogues like “Vo jis ka khoon aap ki ragho main daur raha hai" when referencing him.
Essentially the writer is building a case for the perpetrator’s acquittal from his crime, minimizing and mitigating his heinous actions. This story effectively emasculates the husband who is seen as obstructive, unhelpful and very possibly negative whenever he learns the truth.

Shavez has the universe on his side

In contrast to Ashy's plight, Shavez has a lot of help from the local Imam who gives him shelter and advises him on how to attain forgiveness. Ignorant of Shavez’s guilt, Ashy’s mother takes him under her wing and into her house, instead of using that time to focus on her daughter. Despite his disappointment in his son, Shavez’s father is always looking out for him, as is the ever hopeful Salma.
One is reminded of Paulo Coelho’s words “And when you want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." The Universe ofSangat is indeed conspiring to absolve Shavez of his guilt.
The strangest part of this story is that though Ashy looks at her attacker with contempt, she isn’t angry enough to confront him or even ask the most basic of questions: “Why did you do this?” or “Why me?”. Contrast this with the victims who fill the news risking life and limb begging for justice, while Ashy’s only demand is that Shavez get out of her life.
She will of course be punished for even that presumption of self-determination, and soon. In one of the most recent episodes, a desperate Ashy searches for Shavez as her child is in dire need of his blood for a lifesaving transfusion. However, this also drives home the point that once a woman carries her child with a rapist to term, her relationship with him will never end. In fact, it has just begun.

The team of Sangat

Director Kashif Nisar is no stranger to challenging material, having directed the award-winning Ullu Baraye Farukht Nahi. As can be expected from someone of his talent, he has managed to make a very compelling serial out of this flawed storyline and that is the real tragedy. Such a well-made serial should have been a great opportunity to raise awareness and inform the viewing public.
Saba Qamar is without doubt one of the industry’s better actresses and gives a rock steady performance as Ashy. Mikaal Zulfikar’s equally measured performance is the other saving grace. Sonia Mishal as Salma also manages to impress despite her clichéd role.
While Zahid Ahmed as Shavez works really well as the villain of the story, his performance as the penitent sinner lacks authenticity. When face to face with his prey, he may not be able to meet her eyes but away from her retains all the stubborn swagger of an overconfident man. True repentance requires humility, something sorely missing in Shavez’s character.
Perhaps the writer has blurred the lines so much that even Zahid Ahmed is confused; a recent post on his official Facebook page showed a picture of the masked Shavez with the completely inappropriate hashtag “#Herobhivillainbhi”. Hopefully this was a clueless admin and not the actor himself.

Missed opportunities

There are a lot of missed opportunities in Sangat. The OST is itself highly offensive ,with the lyrics 'Mera jism mera gunaah hai' (my body is my sin) and 'Maa e Maa sazaa hai sazaa hai' (oh mother, I am punished). It is the act that should be stigmatized; it is the perpetrator who should be punished. What a revolution it would be if instead of using these nauseating lyrics over the victim, they were played for the actual perpetrator.
Instead of playing to the audience’s worst fears and ignorance, the entertainment media should wake up to its responsibilities and think about enlightening and educating the masses.
Moreover, must every mother in every drama be as cruel and unfeeling as the ones in Sangat and Chup Raho? When will we see a woman who stands up for her child, if not in public then at least in private? When will we see a male character who is strong enough to support his wife through such a distressing life event? If we can have a repentant rapist, then why not a real man as a husband, one who despite his pain and misgivings, acts as his wife's covering?
Each time we reinforce such stereotypes, we do injustice to victims everywhere.

Wednesday, 6 January 2016

Star-struck Alia Bhatt confesses she's been obsessed with SRK since she was a girl

Be it a wedding or a game of antakshari, true Bollywood fans know that Shah Rukh Khan's songs will save the day. But who could have guessed that they were actually therapeutic for young Alia Bhatt?
The actress, who's next set to appear in a film with Shah Rukh Khan, told The Hindustan Times: "I would dance to songs like ‘Yeh larka hai deewana’ and ‘Koi mil gaya’. In fact, not many know that I even got the same haircut that Kajol sported in the film. I would also perform to some tracks from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and even to ‘Bole chudiyaan’ from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)."
Talking about her impending onscreen romance with SRK, the actresses confessed to feeling nervous about sharing screen space with him this year: "I think I will die. I’ve been dancing to ‘Gerua’ in my bathroom since its release. Whenever I like a new song, I play it on loop and dance to it. That’s my therapy. I don’t need a psychiatrist when I have SRK’s songs!"
"Someone asked me, “Do you feel the pressure?” the actress continued. "And I said, 'I do, and sometimes you want to die because there is so much pressure.' Of course, it’s an exaggerated statement. I don’t mean that. What I mean is that sometimes, there’s too much pressure. But now I keep myself away from the constant pressure I was feeling. I want to enjoy this phase of my life."
Although still a new face in the industry Alia knows well how to cope up with stress: "I’ve realised that this isn’t the time for me to stress about my work. I have been acting for the past three years, and I have wanted to do this since I was three. So, I should enjoy the fact that I am finally doing it. I should be grateful about it, instead of thinking, “What will happen next?” That’s no way to live," she said.
While it might be a good year for Alia given that she's roped in with Shahrukh and Ranbir Kapoor for two separate films, she has no regrets over Shandaar's failure: "I don’t regret doing that film. When I signed it, I did so based on the script, and not because it was a film being made by Vikas (Bahl), who directedQueen (2014). So, now if Vikas comes to me, I am not going to say, “I won’t work with you, as we did a film together, which didn’t work.” That would be wrong on my part. I still stand by my film. Sometimes things work out well and sometimes they don’t. But the experience will always be special," she shared.
She also doesn't mince word when asked about dealing with failure at a young age: "Even at 30 or 40, if something doesn’t do well, it still hurts. If I pinch someone, the pain is going to be the same whether the person is young or old. The question is, “Do you cry about it, or learn and move on?” It’s the way you take it (failure). I wasn’t explaining, defending or pointing fingers. You can’t be ungrateful. I have to learn from it and keep all those things in mind when I am making film choices in the future," she added.

Confirmed: Deepika to head to Hollywood with XXX — Xander Cage Returns

While most rumours are baseless, some stem from the truth.
For a while now, it had been doing the rounds that Bollywood's sweetheart Deepika Padukone would be making her way to Hollywood. She added fuel to that fire when she uploaded this Instagram post where she has also taggedF&F main man Vin Diesel.
However, the guessing game has come to an end.
The director of the sequel to XXX: The Return Of Xander Cage, D.J. Caruso seems to be more forthcoming than she is. In a Twitter exchange, he confirmed that Deepika is in fact part of the cast and shooting for the movie will commence in January.