FLIRT DIRT

Actress Asma Abbas is in the news these days. By now, everyone knows why. She has said that there’s no harm if a married man flirts a little bit. Her statement has caused quite a stir in the chatty world of mainstream and social media. Even showbiz celebs such as Yasir Hussain made a comment or two on the subject, though in a lighter vein. We say, Asma A is entitled to her opinion. However, it’s always a little bit of something that snowballs into a lot of everything, isn’t it?

UPBRINGING POINT

Sadia Imam, who left the world of acting to look after her nine-year-old daughter, appeared for an interview after a long time. She spoke about the importance of giving full attention to her child. We think she should be commended for it. Once you become a parent, your children should be your top-most priority in life, because they’re an innocent lot. During the chat, Sadia I also mentioned that although she doesn’t have any (formal) degree in education, her real degree is her upbringing. Yes, there are degrees of everything.

BOLLYWOOD RETURN

Hot off the gossip oven is that Priyanka Chopra will soon appear in an Indian movie again. And that movie will be directed by none other than Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Since Sanjay LB is known for his period dramas, you might think that this film too will fall into the same category. Apparently, it’s an ‘action drama’ set in a certain time period, which has not been disclosed yet. Hmmm… Priyanka C has done a few action-packed series in Hollywood, such as Quantico. Perhaps the filmmaker is tapping into her action, and not acting, talent. Come on Sanjay LB, she can act! Just remember Barfi, not Fashion.

CHANGE IS CONSTANT

Back in the day, there used to be an Azfar-Mani show on a local radio channel, hosted by comedian Mani and Hum Sab Set Hain actor and director Azfar Ali. Apparently, that show has been revived on some platform. But that’s not the crux of this piece. The news is that they’ve given an interview, in which they have talked about their earlier allegiance to the former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his political party, the PTI. According to them, they changed their views or stopped supporting him when the politician ‘changed in the middle’. Hmmm… not going into the nitty-gritty of the change, but we wonder, isn’t this what everybody says when they change their loyalties to a certain party or person?

FRESH NARRATIVE

Last week, filmmaker Atlee (who in 2023 made one of India’s biggest blockbusters, Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan) was at an event where he was asked whether the second part of Jawan was on the anvil. The director replied in a cryptic way that a surprise is in store. He then said that he likes to offer to his audience fresh narratives rather than predictable sequels. Wait a second! Fresh narratives? Does that mean Jawan actually had one?

OO7 ANEW

The last James Bond film that Daniel Craig did as the titular character was No Time to Die in 2021, after which he announced that he’d be no more essaying the role. Of course, it made sense since Daniel C’s Bond did ostensibly die in that film too. What ensued was a series of speculations as to who was going to be the next Agent 007. Well, actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been offered the part and it is more than expected that he’s going to do it. In case some of you are finding it hard to place him in your mind, he appeared in Tenet and Bullet Train. We shall reserve our comments about his selection.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 31st, 2024