STRINGS STILL ATTACHED

It’s been quite a while since pop band Strings, comprising Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, broke up. After the split, some sort of explanation came along for it, mainly from Bilal M; but it seems that he is not over it. We repeat: it seems, because every now and then he comes up with a statement about the parting. The latest, as quoted by a section of the press, is “We never wanted to hog space as senior artists.” Understood, sir. Move on. You are hogging space in the media.

BREWING BROMANCE

Everyone knows that Indian rapper Badshah is an admirer of Pakistani pop star Asim Azhar. His appreciation for the latter’s track Habibi is known to all and sundry. Last week, the two met in Lisbon and shared a photo on social media, in which both are standing next to each other in a garden with a chessboard in the musicians’ background. Some believe that a joint venture is on the anvil. Hmmm… chessboard in the background. Check (out) mate(s)!

WEDDING BELLS

After Aalia Bhatt and Kiara Advani, one more Bollywood actress is reportedly all geared up to tie the nuptial knot. It’s Parineeti Chopra. The dusky gal is apparently going out with a politician named Raghav Chadha, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The two have known each other from their days at the London School of Economics (LSE). However, they have only just started dating and rumour has it that they will walk to the altar soon. Wise couple, because both now appear to be thinking about their future economics.

K-JO ACCUSED

Who would have thought that the word bully could be used for Karan Johar? Recently, Priyanka Chopra gave an interview, in which she claimed that, prior to moving to the US (read: Hollywood), her life in India was made difficult by certain Bollywood bigwigs, which forced her to migrate. Kangana Ranaut (who else) has validated her opinion by ‘clarifying’ that it was director/producer Karan Johar who chased Priyanka C out of the film industry, over her relationship with Shah Rukh Khan. That’s a hard-hitting accusation. She has taken K-Jo and SRK’s names in one breath. Leaving us breathless about what might come next.

EARMARKED

Comedian and former A-list talk show host Jay Leno met with serious accidents twice in the span of two months. First, in November 2022, he suffered burns in a gasoline fire and then, in January this year, he had a motorcycle accident. As a result, the surgeries that he had to undergo to get back on his feet and to be hale and hearty involved the replacement of one of his ears. He now claims that he has a ‘brand new ear’. Good for you Jay L and a Happy New Ear!

THE SKI TRIAL

After the Depp-Heard trial, live court proceedings seem to have become a thing with the showbiz glitterati. Why are we saying this? Well, in 2016, while on a Utah skiing slope, Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow had a collision with another skier, a retired optometrist named Terry Sanderson. The latter sued her over the incident, asking for more than 300,000 dollars in damages. The actress counter-sued him, seeking one dollar in damages along with her legal team’s fee. Both claimed that the collision was the other party’s fault. On March 30, the court gave the verdict in Gwyneth P’s favour, saying the collision was 100 percent Terry S’s doing. The trial was shown on TV. Our verdict: what a waste of prime time!

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 9th, 2023