THE GRAPEVINE

Mazhar Ali, RIP

One of the finest actors that Pakistan television produced and who ruled the roost in the 1980s and ’90s, Mazhar Ali passed away on October 8. He was known for playing serious, complicated characters and became a household name after doing memorable roles in TV serials such as Aroosa, Afshaan and Kaanch Ki Gurriya. He came from a literary family. His maternal grandfather, Baba Zaheen Shah Taji, was a renowned poet. Mr Ali was also fond of poetry and his friends say he himself composed verses. May he rest in peace!
Good Friends

Shaan and Reema Khan are two of Pakistan’s renowned film stars. There was a time when they worked together with great frequency. Recently, Shaan gave an interview in which he was asked whether the thought of getting married to Reema ever crossed his mind. He replied that he first met her when he was 16 years old and, at that age, one focuses on one’s work and not think about marriage. He added that the two have always been good friends and their bond has strengthened with the passage of time. Sounds plausible. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to see the two in a film again, though. After all, the kind of films that are being released nowadays are no better than those made in the ’90s.
Split, Not Split

The showbiz world is almost sure that Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan have parted ways as a married couple. Almost. Nothing official has thus far come out. However, the way they have been moving around, separately, at big events, and their aloofness from each other, suggests all is not well in the Bachchan clan. Ash baby’s slam book entry published by an Indian magazine has taken the rumours a step ahead: “My sorrows are mine. I cannot fall like others.” Well, dear former Ms World, the thing with relationships is that everyone falls the same way.
Mishi Miffed

The girl who became a household name in the 1990s by acting in television plays, Mishi Khan, is miffed. About what? Well, she’s cross with Maula Jatt actor Fawad Khan! Why? For choosing “unknown” Indian actors over Pakistani A-list stars. The reference here is to the Bollywood movie Abir Gulal that Fawad K is doing opposite actress Vaani Kapoor as his comeback film in Bollywood. We hope Mishi K knows that Fawad K may earn way, way more by working with an ‘unknown’ actress on that side of the border than by working with top stars on this side of the divide. And we all know that money is what makes the entertainment world go round.
Praise-in-Law

Aalia Bhatt’s latest film Jirga, also starring Vedang Raina, hit cinema screens on October 11. A couple of days prior to the movie’s formal release, a special screening was held for showbiz glitterati and industry bigwigs. Aalia B’s mother-in-law Neetu Singh was also there. After watching the film, she took to Instagram and wrote the following for her daughter-in-law: “Aalia Bhatt, you nailed it.” It’s high praise from a yesteryear actress. However, Neetu S’s comments for her as a bahu [daughter-in-law] are still awaited. Perhaps she hasn’t nailed it on that count… yet.
Thousand Apologies

In 2012, Anne Hathaway gave an interview to a Norwegian journo Kjersti Flaa. In that chit chat, the Oscar-winning actress sounded curt and dismissive. But the artist has now, after more than a decade, realised her manners were not befitting that of an artist. So she has sent an email to the pen-pusher, apologising for her behaviour. The journalist was pleasantly surprised: “She sent me a long email explaining to me what she was going through when she did this interview, and she apologised for giving me an awful interview. It was so touching to me.” Well, Kjersti F, in those days, the devil wore Prada.
Published in Dawn, ICON, October 20th, 2024