Wanted: a rapper for Lindsay
It seems that the skinny troubled soul Lindsay Lohan has successfully undergone rehab. These days she is London, chilling out, and trying to cut a music album (the last time she did that — in 2005 — her single Confessions of a Broken Heart did not enhance her reputation as an artist at all and the song bombed at the charts). She is now more hopeful and wants to give her vocal chords another chance. However, for that to happen, insiders say, she is looking for a good rapper to feature on her new single.
Lindsay dear, the kind of life you’ve so far led, we feel you need a soprano not a rapper to accompany you in music (wink)!
It could’ve been Sandra
Ever since Hollywood A-lister George Clooney got engaged to the very elegant and eloquent Amal Alamuddin, Sandra Bullock is never in a good mood. Those who are close to the actress are of the view that nowadays Sandra B cuts a brooding picture.
When the news of the high-profile engagement broke, she is reported to have said to a friend: “That could have been me.” Well, Sandra B, tough luck. Your role in Gravity has made you lose your gravitas a bit.
Angelina Jolie: no acting
We don’t know how to react to this news item. If you feel the woman with the luscious lips, Angelina Jolie, is a good actor, then it should sadden you; if you feel she hams in front of the camera, you should be happy about it. Why? The Hollywood celeb is taking some time off from acting. The reason for this, as told by Angelina J at a press conference in London last week, is that she wants to do other things. “Acting is going to take a backseat … I’d like to focus more on writing and directing, and above all on my work with the UN.”
Hmm … does the work with the UN involve more adoptions?
Humaima
Suddenly, the very pretty and pencil-thin Humaima Malik is singing praises for Pakistan’s fashion industry. You wonder why the gal, who is these days known for her not-yet-released projects in Bollywood, is looking inwards.
Talking to a journo recently she claimed that our fashion industry has no competition whatsoever (internationally, that is) and is doing its job quite well. Perhaps there is nothing to decode out of this particular news item, except that Humaima M means compared to the fashion fraternity our film and TV industries leave much to be desired, which is why she’s looking for acting assignments across the border. Smart lass!
Ash baby’s ex-lover
My o my, talk about being a heartthrob! And you thought that prior to her marriage Ashwariya Rai had flings only with Salman Khan and Akshay Khanna. No dearies. At least this is what a Sri Lankan man by the name of Niroshan Devapriya suggests. Apparently, this man has filed an official complaint about his relationship with Ash baby which the actress refuses to acknowledge. Niroshan D has even hired a lawyer to fight a case to make his ex-beloved confess of the affair.
It has also been suggested that this guy is suffering from some kind of mental stress. Methinks the stress might have been the result of his relationship with Ash baby, not a post-breakup thing.
Sweet Child o’ Mine and hamnawa
Now that’s what you call creative fun. Who could have thought that one day there would be a qawwali version of the iconic Guns ‘n’ Roses song, Sweet Child ’o Mine? Not just that, the experiment hasn’t gone topsy-turvy: it’s quite a song to listen to. Hats off to Omer Ikram, the man behind the idea and guitarist, for roping in Taji Qawwal and turning a rock powerhouse track into an oriental composition!
The way the qawwal has sung the lyrics in his Urdu accent without giving two hoots about the correct pronunciation and the way Slash’s guitar riffs are played on the sitar, are an auditory treat. Kudos! If you haven’t yet heard the song online, you have no idea what you’re missing.
Sallu mian in trouble
They say justice delayed is justice denied. In Salman Khan’s case it’s hard to figure out whether justice is being done, denied or deferred.
In Sept 2002, Sallu mian was charged with culpable homicide for running (his SUV) over some men in Bandra. The actor’s lawyers managed to stretch the case for more than 11 years saying the Dabangg star was not in the driving seat when the accident happened. But now a twist in the tail (or tale) might force the actor to spend some years behind bars. Three eyewitnesses have emerged claiming that it was Sallu mian who was behind the steering wheel and they had seen him getting out of the vehicle after the incident. If this is proven right, the actor can be put in the slammer for up to a decade.
Wow, after all, showbiz stars too are humans. Ah, being human!
Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, May 18th, 2014