Planet Collab

Haroon is a passionate singer. No different is Aima Baig. So when they sing together, it has to be worth listening to over and over. The song Chha Ja that has been composed for a children’s animated series Planet Champs is a pretty good track. It features both Haroon and Aima B as singers, although the former has more to do, vocally, in the song than the latter. Still, it’s a nice little number that reminds us that Pakistani pop music, compared to its Subcontinental counterparts, is uniquely listenable in its own distinct way.

The Vision

Among the celebs who went to see the Pakistan-New Zealand Champions Trophy cricket match (which we lost) at Karachi’s National Stadium was Adnan Siddiqi. Obviously, he was in the VIP enclosure. It seems, or some suggest, that the actor did not like what he saw from there. He shared a video of the view that he was getting from where he was seated and called it “helmet vision.” We think Adnan S must be paying a compliment to the hundreds of thousands motorcycle riders in the country who wear helmets to go about their daily business — and never complain about it.

Meet-Up in Lahore

Last week, Indian actress and filmmaker Nandita Das was in Lahore to take part in the Faiz Festival, an event dedicated to the life and works of Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. She was in the city after a gap of five years. She met up with her old friends from the world of performing arts such as Nadia Jamil and Samiya Mumtaz. Their pictures on social media sparked speculation that there may be a collaboration in the offing. Just speculation, of course, nothing more.

A Common Quietude

Indian actor Arjun Kapoor has been single for quite some time now. Ever since he broke up with model Malaika Arora — which some believed was always on the cards once the relationship began because of the age gap between the two — he has not been with anyone. He has now aired his views on where he stands vis-à-vis romance: “What I want from love today is someone to share my silences. Even if you’re in different spaces, you can still be connected without having to speak all the time.” That’s profound. Much like the silences that Arjun K shares with the audiences when his movies tank at the box office.

Caged Heat

In July 2024, Hollywood A-lister Nicolas Cage’s eldest son, the now 34-year-old Weston Cage Coppola, was arrested on two felony charges, including assaulting his mother Christina Fulton (whom his father dated for three years from 1988). He was later released. Now the 57-year-old Christina F, a former model, has accused her ex, Nicolas C, for taking “numerous affirmative actions to enable Weston and his criminal behavior.” The actor’s lawyer in response has termed the allegation “frivolous and absurd”… Sad. Sounds like this is material for an absurd, but not frivolous, movie.

The Beliebers

A little over a month ago, Justin Bieber unfollowed his wife Hailey Bieber on Instagram. It triggered the rumour that their relationship is on the rocks. Soon, the pop star clarified that the unfollowing happened by mistake. Recently, to prove they’re still going strong as a pair, he joined his better half at her Rhode beauty pop-up event, posting pictures from the event. Interestingly, in one of her social media messages for hubby dear, Hailey B posted a meme with the caption: “When you’re mad at him, and he says ‘come here, baby.’” Hmmm… Is it all hunky-dory in Bieber Land? Hard to belieb, sorry, believe.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 2nd, 2025