Ather-Shehzad is professionally a single entity shared by two men who have become the media and fashion industry’s most favoured - and most controversial - names. They are favoured by celebrities and models for their volte-face photographic and, more recently, make up techniques to transform the fair-to-middling into unforgettable faces. And controversial, for beating their rivals on a common turf. Ather and Shehzad could not have been better rewarded for gliding smoothly out of the ‘others’ shadows than winning the Lux Style Awards two years in a row.

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.

This week, we bring you eight fantastic females who made it big enough to enter the LSA by making a mark both in the field of acting and direction …

Music, drama, theatre, plays… our entertainment industry is growing day by day. What began as one TV channel way back in the ’60s, airing everything from news to dramas, now has turned into a scenario where we have a separate channel for every genre of entertainment - be it music, drama, or simply news. Of course, it brought forth a lot of artists amongst which women carved a niche of their own. Now, they are not just confined to acting but have ventured into film making and production as well.

Just as the controversies and spurs caused by his first film began to lose their fizzle a new buzz started going around in both the Lollywood and Bollywood circuits about Shoaib Mansoor’s new film. News had it that the big wig had finalised plans for a follow up to ‘Khuda Kay Liye’, and supposedly has Shaan as the main lead. Well, a little bird has told us that the ‘follow-up’ of the colossal hit ”Khuda Kay Liye’ is not going to kick off any time soon. The idea was proclaimed ludicrous by the director himself who said it he was still in the middle of considering different ideas and projects and hasn’t finalised a thing! He also laughed off the idea that Shaan would be part of his next project if any. Hmmm… seems like the superstar did not give Shoaib an easy time on the sets of KKL. Could it be it’s because he did so little to support the film’s rocky progression after its release? So who will it be? Maybe some of the Indian talent is about to cross the border. Well, as far as Shoaib Mansoor’s next film is concerned, keep your fingers crossed for something amazing, we can expect no less!

Spunk and bold moves. That’s the new mantra of the Pakistani ramp. Models from Lahore and Karachi are wooing the world of international fashion.

Meet Neha Ahmed. At 23, she’s already catwalked in Paris and Dubai. Next month, she’ll do a show in London for designer Hasan Sheriyar. “We’re getting a lot more international exposure now. I’m listed with agents in Paris and Dubai and keep going for shows there,” says Ahmed. But entry into modelling wasn’t easy. “My father, an armyman, was furious. But that was then. Now, he’s cool about it.”

Sunita Marshall, having done ramp shows in London, Sri Lanka, India, Singapore and Dubai, is one of the most sought-after models on the Pakistani ramp. “Though modeling is seen as a short-term profession in Pakistan, there’s a lot happening in the industry: we’re looked upon with respect and the money is amazing,” says Marshall, set to make her acting debut in the play Sukhay Patay, which has been shot in Canada and co-stars Suresh Oberoi.

Indian actress Bipasha Basu will star in the Pakistani film Khulay Aasman Kay Neeche to be directed by actor-turned director Javaid sheikh.

Earlier Mr Sheikh’s choice was Kareena Kapoor, because of certain reasons he had to drop bollywood deva . Rs. 8 million film would be shot in Karachi and Australia. According to the Daily Times.

KAKN features, Bipasha Basu, Sana, Saleem Sheikh and Humayun Saeed. He said that an Indian actor would be in the lead role of the film.

Lollywood big guns Sana and Javed Sheikh have signed on for another Indian film, Paak, based on India-Pakistan relations, Mr Sheikh, who is in Mumbai these days, told Daily Times by telephone.

Mr Sheikh said the story of the film was based on positive relations between the two countries. He said he would be performing the character of a goodwill ambassador working for peace.

He also confirmed the participation of Sana as the solo heroine in the flick. Waheeda Rehman, Raj Babbar and his son will take on three of the other major roles in the film, he added.

Gia Ali - a name that spells trouble. An actress who ends up chasing more trouble than any other actress in the business. Wild. Wanton. Home breaker. Man-eater. One-hit wonder… All these allegations and a lot more resound whenever the name of Gia is mentioned; anywhere. But is she as bad as she has been painted? Let’s ask Gia.

You had to your credit one of the biggest hits of Pakistani cinema, Deewanay Teray Piyar Kay. But even its mammoth success didn’t have directors lining up at your door. Doesn’t this make you a one-hit wonder?

It doesn’t have songs, is in Punjabi, is made by a Pakistani and is considered a mainstream film — documentary filmmaker Sabiha Sumar’s first film “Khamosh Pani” is finally set to be released in theatres across the country.

But will there be an audience for a film about a victim of the partition of India into two countries whose past catches up with her in unexpected and tragic ways?

The question needs to be asked even though the sweet tender film has floored everyone who has seen it so far.

Dir: Sabiha Sumar
Cast: Kirron Kher, Aamir Malik, Shilpa Shukla

In conversation with a friend, a visibly disappointed Ayesha (Kher) casually mentions, “If your son cannot be yours; who can be?”

She obviously refers to her once innocent and sweet boy Salim (Malik), who’s turned a religious fanatic. Also, her supposedly protective Sikh family in pre-partition India, who had preferred to abandon her, force her to commit suicide, lest she face the horrors of being a non-Muslim girl left behind in Islamic Pakistan.