LOLLYWOOD BUZZ...

That perky queen of pout Shahida Minni is on cloud nine these days. The reason behind this elation is the 'Charming Lady of the Year' trophy that has been bestowed on her at the Bolan Cultural Society Awards held in Lahore recently. Of course, the elated Ms M was very much present at the function and accepted the honour with a mile-wide smile. More on the crooner-actress is the news that she is presently recording songs for her third album in a studio. But she hasn't come up with a name for her third musical offering. She says that she would like her fans to help her out on this front. She has announced that a competition would soon be held wherein her fans would be asked to come up with titles for the album. And the person behind the winning title would be given a cash prize of 10,000. A clever little play of generating public interest, won't you agree?


More from the crooning front is the buzz that with the state of our films being quite dicey, that dusky model-actress Zara Sheikh is now concentrating on polishing her singing. Having already sung some numbers from the soundtrack of her flick Chalo Ishq Larain, the gal it seems has decided to also explore the singing option. These days she is said to be performing in functions in tinsel town - obviously testing the waters before she takes a plunge. Plans for a debut album have also been set rolling with the gal recording stuff for her first full-fledged musical offering in a studio.


Happy to know that unperturbed by the bad phase she is going through these days, Shamim Ara is back in tinsel town from Karachi after a hiatus with new verve and vigour. The seasoned actress-turned-director has just floated plans of directing a new movie. And with this new project comes the resolve to give a completely new treatment. Hmmm! Obviously despite the bad rap her offerings have been getting of late, never say die is the motto the fighter truly believes in. Hence the new ambitious venture which will be shot extensively in England. Most of the lead cast we hear would comprise newcomers with the notable exception of Rambo, who has been given a powerful role. As for those, who had written off Madame Ara, we have to say - she isn't giving up yet. And that should be the spirit.

Poor Resham is desperately trying to stay afloat in the topsy-turvy filmy seas. But it seems the efforts are not working. Recently, the silken lass from Faisalabad invited a producer to her house on dawat She left no stone unturned to please and entertain the gent, who also thoroughly relished the attention and adulation showered on him. Towards the end of the feast, upon seeing that the iron was hot, our lass implored the gent to take her in his films, promising that his every wish or should we say whim, would be her command. The man left promising to get back to her. But since then our lass has been waiting. Talk about being taken for a royal ride. Well, we are not shocked as in the unpredictable world of showbiz, where fortunes change at the drop of a hat, one day you are calling the shots and the very next day you could be totally down and out. Right Noor?


It reminds us of Mehdi Hassan, the legendary singing sensation once hailed as the man in whose throat bhagwan bolta hai. Here's some good news for all those fans who are waiting to hear something new by the legendary crooner. It seems his last album, which he had recorded some four years back, before he was taken ill, is ready for release. The album had been delayed, as the producer had not cleared the dues of the studio where it was recorded. Now, it has been learnt that the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's secretary Haji Iqbal has come to the rescue, taking care of the all the hurdles and hopefully the much-delayed offering will soon be in the market. So watch out!


No-Tobacco Day was observed in the capital city by the NGO, Network for Consumer Protection, in the lawns of the Best Western Hotel. Basically, it was a fashion show whose concept was built around the theme of smoking and its hazards, followed by a concert by Isloo's very scion Faakhir. The designer was Isloo's most happening couturier Amna Malik while the choreography was done by the very talented Rezz. The show did have its moments with some of Amna's clothes creating much sensation on the stage. Yes there was no ramp and the staid stage was a one lacklustre drawback. The model brigade was led by none other than our nifty catwalkers - Natasha and Iman. A lot of the local girls, with the exception of sister Mariana and Warjida, were quite 'Nasreen-Parveen' types while the local boys were definitely better than their counterparts. Rezz managed to make his mark with excellent choreography and music. In fact so impressed was the head of an organization with his work that the very next day he called him up to discuss a project they are planning. The team of Depilex led by their coordinator Navaid Rasheed with Naureen and Nuzhat gave a mesmerizing display of their make-up expertise. An average show, which could have been better with more slick handling and arrangements.


After his very successful duet with Adnan Sami Khan, which has become a big rage on both sides of the great divide these days, Amitabh Bachchan is all set to record a number with none other than our Sindh Ki Awaz - Abida Parveen. Whether the song, with Abida's strong folk/sufic roots, will be something in the same realm remains to be seen - or should we say heard. Anyway, the person behind this collaboration is a musician by the name of Adaish Srivastav, who is finalising plans of recording the history-making song very soon. With all this talk of there being a long-awaited improvement in Indo-Pak relations in the offing, the timing of this singing coup couldn't have been more appropriate.