In the Ice Candy Man, written in the backdrop of 1947’s Partition, Bapsi Sidhwa wrote: “And the gramophones and speakers mounted on tongas and lorries scratchily, endlessly pouring out the melody of Noor Jehan’s popular film song that is now so strangely apt,” Mere bachpan ke sathi mujhe bhool na jana, dekho, dekho hanse na zamana, hanse na zamana. When director Deepa Mehta made the novel into the movie Earth, she chose the same voice from the same 1946 hit Anmol ghari, but a different song: Jawan hai mohabbat, haseen hai zamana.

The Jami we know from various commercials and videos is broody, elusive and has some phenomenal projects to his credit, like Pal Do Pal, Chaye Chaye, Ankhiyan, Chal Dil Mere, Dhanni, Anjaane and many more. The Jami we don’t know is the man, who likes to speak up his mind, digs movies, is laid back. We take a peek on the other side of this director’s fence.

How does it feel to be known as the best video director in Pakistan?

I’m trying to enjoy it. Because when you’re at the top, people want you to fall down, which is why I get scared of being called that. But honestly speaking, we are not doing that well. Abroad, there are so many good short films being made by the kids. We’re doing commercials to run the kitchen, making music videos, and we try to balance both, which is why we try not to sell our souls in music videos. We should do justice to the song. In commercials, the clients will listen to you to an extent. Like in the Indigo commercials, they’ve given a very free rein, but you know that you have to sell something.

Pakistani film star, Meera has claimed that she will give a better performance than the late Bollywood actress, Madhubala as the enchanting palace maid in a Pakistani serial, ‘Anarkali’. Madhubala had given a memorable performance as the stunning sweetheart of Prince Salim in ‘Mughhal-e-Azam’.

‘Anarkali’ is one of the mega-budgeted serials of Afreen Baig. He has produced highly acclaimed serials like ‘Kabhi Kabhi Pyar Main’ and ‘Chandni Raatein’.

According to a report, the mega serial is expected to be Meera’s best classic venture. The cast of the serial includes Babar Ali, Talat Hussain, Ayub Khoso, Mohini, Meher Rizwi and Azra Aftab.

Nabila talks in headlines. Most of her talk revolves around Nabila the person, Nabila the professional and Nabila the phenomenon. If at all she ever talks about anything other than Nabila, then it is almost always how Nabila views the world around her. No wonder the media loves her to death. Every time she opens her mouth, there is a rippling effect in the fashion pond. There is no denying the fact that she is no small fish in the pond.

For those who do not know her well enough, these statements sound like cryptic mutterings of a megalomaniac; those who do have learned to decipher her statements. And they all vouch for her sensibility. Surely, all the encoded mutterings of a megalomaniac have some truth in them. Nabila has achieved a status where she manages to get away with verbal blue murders. But it did not happen overnight. It has taken 20 years of hard work, an ever-evolving vision and a very, very sharp and strong focus. She does not have a last name. She does not even need one. She has gone way beyond a name, becoming a brand.

From a cherubic face in “Anarkali” to “The Best Newcomer Female” at the famous FilmFare Awards. From one broken marriage to another. From the director of a Nigar Award nominee for Best Film (Babu) to a normal human being who hates to school in this unbearable heat. Zeba Bakhtiar is a multi faceted personality. Coming from a politically know family, with passion running in her blood. It is no wonder that Zeba is a name to be reckoned with in the world of showbiz. She is one of the few members of this elite world of glamour who realize the power of the media and are constantly struggling to make a difference through it. Let’s heat what the charming lady has to say about some of the issues that confront each of us on a daily basis:

It is not clear whether the enchanting story of Anarkali is a myth or reality, but the fact is that this tale has captured the imaginations of nearly all the subcontinent’s big names in the performing arts for the last 100 years. It began in the first half of the 20th century when famous drama writer Agha Hashar Kashmiri wrote his masterpiece for the stage about the dancer who fell in love with Mughal Prince Saleem.

Pakistan government has provided security to Lollywood actress Meera, even as a petition was filed in a Pakistani court seeking to ban her from acting in Indian films.

Meera, who returned from the sets of Mahesh Bhatt’s film ‘Nazar’ in Mumbai three days ago, was provided security after she took up the issue of threats with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Information Minister Sheikh Rashid. She had received threats for allegedly featuring in a kissing scene in the film. Meera lives in Lahore, the home of Pakistan’s fledgling film industry.

With all the negative publicity and flak that Meera has received in Pakistan thanks to her recent performance in Mahesh Bhatt’s Nazar and subsequent interviews to the Indian media, it is not surprising that the actress is now avoiding interviews like the plague. However, hurt and angry as she is, she agreed to give an exclusive to Imagesin which she confirmed that she had been fined by the government for her role in the film. The following are excerpts:

On her role in Nazar

The latest Drama Serial being made on the love tale of Shahzada Saleem and Anarkali will be aired in January. This drama serial is directed by Farooq Mengal and written by Aqueel Ruby.

Talat Hussain has been aptly chosen to play the role of Akbar while Meher Rizvi plays his wife, Dilaram is being played by Mohini, grand daughter of General Yahya Khan and Babar is Shehzada Saleem. And of course, Meera plays Anarkali.

Let’s start with a rather scathing khabar which is sure to be the start of a new war in showdom. We have it from very reliable sources after her much-trumpeted casting by Farooq Mengal as the lovelorn courtesan- Anarkali, Meera has been given the boot.

Her replacement in the mega budget bonanza is - make a guess - Sana. No Javed Sheikh had nothing to do with it - at least on the face of things it seems so.

It is Meera’s irresponsible behaviour that compelled Mr Mengal to sack the dusky dame from Sheikhupura.