Frieha Altaf, the CEO of Catwalk Productions, is credited with pioneering the concept of the red carpet in Pakistan. In a brief tete-a-tete, the multi talented Altaf recalls her road to glory and the LSAs.
How did the Lux Style Awards come about? What was the initial objective?
In 2000, when I returned from Canada, I was brimming with ideas. One of them was ‘Miss Super Model’, which I’m doing in collaboration with Veet, and I had watched the VH1 style awards which were not just about fashion, but also about film …

The oft-delayed ninth edition of the Lux Style Awards (LSA) was held in Karachi on Monday night. Bringing together a multitude of actors, models and designers — all dressed in their off-the-runway best — the event was not of the usual song-and-dance variety. This year’s edition was a sober affair, comprising a simple sit-down dinner with an emcee, presenters and award announcements.
However, the elements seem to be conspiring against the LSAs. Shortly after celebrities began to amass on the red carpet, panic spread when the fire extinguisher was set off …

If the Lux Style Awards continue, they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary next year. But it’s a very big ‘if’ considering they are rapidly losing steam. A far cry from rejoicing a decade, the fear is that if the award show isn’t revived to its original glory this year, as is the premonition, then it looks as if it’s been taken to heights only to be pushed off to certain death.
“Lux stands committed to promoting the fashion and art industry in the country,” …

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 …

Truly one of the best video directors in Pakistan, Sohail Javed has come a long, long way. His videos have left a mark in the Pakistani pop music industry, and have been an inspiration for the new generation of video directors.

How many years have you been in this field?
It’s been eleven years. I started out in 1993 as a director, borrowed money from somewhere and made a programme.
Were you assisting someone?
Nope. I’ve never assisted anyone. I am not the sort who would assist someone. I know people who were assistants …