Aijaz Aslam made his debut in the world of entertainment as a model but today he is much more than just a fashion figurine — he is a designer, a TV producer and has donned many hats in his acting career, be it a serious role or a light-weight comic one. This top-tier actor marked the beginning of his journey in the ‘90s with his role in NTM/STN’s Kashkol and continues to impress with his demeanour and good looks.

“Before I made my debut as an actor in Kashkol with the role of the elder Roosho [two characters called Roosho were present in the play], I was offered the lead role in Fatima Surayya Bajia’s drama Aroosa,” says Aijaz. “But when Bajia called me, I frankly refused.” His reasons for refusal were understandable — his bachelor’s degree was incomplete and he didn’t have his parents’ approval.

Despite the hindrances Aijaz faced, he was destined to be a star. So when he was offered a role in Kashkol, he decided to take the leap; while his mother was still against the idea, his father and sister supported him. Director Kazim Pasha, who approached him, said, “Tum pagal to nahin ho,” for rejecting such an offer which in turn, helped shape his decision. This role served to be a stepping stone in his career.

“That’s how it [my career] started,” says Aijaz, with a smile on his face, reminiscing about Roocho making his entry in the play with its sixth episode. “I didn’t realise its worth back then but this play definitely altered the course of my career.” He became a star overnight and admits his phone did not stop ringing for days — young fans, magazine editors approached him for exclusive interviews. “I received film offers as well but that wasn’t my cup of tea; dancing was a little much for me,” he adds.

Aijazz — style, cuts
and fashion

Acting and modeling was not his sole passion and purpose, as far as Aijaz was concerned. While he loved to walk on the ramp, he felt the desire to share his fashion sense and style with the world. “I used to model and wear charming outfits all the time and this made me realise I could be an innovator in the field of cuts and style in Pakistan,” he says. “Hence, the idea to start my own label struck me.” He launched his brand, Aijazz, almost 18 years ago.

He takes his role as a fashion designer seriously and has done various courses from the London College of Fashion; his extensive list of loyal clients includes former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

Coming back to fashion shows, Aijaz admits that while he was paid a small amount (Rs3,000) per show back in the day, as time went on, designers started paying him Rs25,000, as his worth grew. “The world of ramp is very different,” he adds, saying he simply adores it. “The response is very enjoyable and I was recognised for it.”

His plans include launching another clothing line A&F with actor and friend Faisal Qureshi, and a sitcom, Teen, which will be aired on ARY Digital soon. The show also stars Qureshi. “There is a comfort level when I work with him — Our timings are classic, expressions are priceless and the understanding is quite mutual. With a new person there is always an adjustment issue,” says Aijaz.”



Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/507809/aijaz-aslam-between-the-realms-of-fashion-and-acting/

Digital advertising mediums …the new thing “Meri Jaan”

One play, many reviews …that’s what “Meri Jaan” a Creative Workshop project, an adaptation of the famous Tony award winning hilarious comedy 'Boeing Boeing'; by Dr. Enver Sajjad has had. None of these reviews have actually spoken of the drama itself, the actor’s performance or for that matter the marketing and overall advertising methods applied.
The plot itself revolves around Jamil (Faisal Qureshi), a successful businessman, who juggles three flight attendant fiancées: Zareena (Mahwash Siddique), Nargis (Aiman Tariq) and Najma (Zhalay Sarhadi). He tracks their airlines' timetables through online networks, and his long-suffering housekeeper, Bari Amma (Afshan Qureshi), reluctantly resets the menus and bedroom decor depending on the arrivals and departures.


Jamil has been successful at convincing each girl that she is the only one. Jamil's old school friend Bashir (Saqib Khan) arrives unexpectedly joining the plot and creating waves ad laughter for the audience with his hilarious comments and reactions. Unfortunately for Jamil, a new and faster Boeing jet has been introduced, changing the timetable and along with weather delays complications arise when the girls' behavior does not match Jamil's careful planning. Bashir steps in to help Jamil by keeping one or more of the girls busy as they arrive ahead of (or behind) schedule.
It becomes more and more difficult for Jamil, Bari Amma and Bashir to keep the girls separate once they all arrive, and the lies told become more and more difficult to reconcile, resulting in a rib breaking farcical comedy.
To publicize, different mediums for adverting were applied ranging from billboards seen around Clifton and Defence to SMS, Viral Marketing and Facebook fan page. SMS is the most common medium for exchanging information these days. The very same was applied to publicize for the event as well, were messages where sent to all friends and family members highlighting the features and details bout the same.
The same was done on Facebook where a fan page was created and more than 500 people added or visited it just to get a glimpse of what they could be able to see once they got there.Viral marketing was applied to inform that free seats were available during the 1st few days of the play. This attracted many people to attend it and help in spreading the word of how humorous the play was so that others could come and enjoy as well.
Students, celebrities and people from all walks of life came to watch this play not only once but again and again. It was a show that was not only preferred by all. A lot of people came in for free because they preferred not paying even though they could afford it. It is a shame actually, they can spend money on the most obnoxious things ever but it took the life out of them to pay for a play.
Even though the play was for 15 days and still has 4 more days to go, I have seen it almost everyday and know all the dialogues by heart “balungri” and "naaa mumkinn" being my all time favorite. Every time I see it, there is a slight change in the act that makes it even funnier. The time sent and the marketing tactics applied shall be remembered forever and I can safely say that the days sent at the play will be the most memorable days of my life. =)

Mistakes but no regrets says Spears' mom

Lynne Spears says every mother makes mistakes but she has no regrets about letting her daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn pursue their dreams of stardom.

"I think you have to let them follow their dreams. I think it would be worse in the end if you didn't," Spears, 53, told People magazine in an interview marking the publication next week of her much-anticipated memoir.

As Britney's star rose, Spears said she felt she was losing control over both her daughter and how she was portrayed.

"I let other people talk me out of things that I felt a gut instinct about," she told People.

The memoir "Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World," is published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher of bibles and inspirational books.

It chronicles Spears' family during the phenomenal rise of Britney Spears in the late 199Os and her highly publicized meltdown.

Originally planned for a May release, the book was postponed in January after Jamie Lynn Spears, then 16, announced in a celebrity magazine that she was pregnant.

In excerpts from the memoir to be published in Friday's People magazine, Spears rejected criticism that she was a pushy stage mother or had sought to profit from the careers of her daughters.

CMA nominations: Not so 'Swift'?

Brooks and Dunn have a nifty hit single out now called “Put a Girl in it,” and I only wish the country music industry would take that advice more often. I thought about it as the nominees for the 42nd annual CMA Awards were announced today. Country insiders often bemoan the fact that female artists seem to generally have a tougher time of it at radio than male artists do, or that they at least seem to have fewer slots open to them. That is perennially reflected in the nominations for the CMAs’ highly coveted Entertainer of the Year prize. How long has it been since a woman was even nominated in the category? Here’s a clue: The last female nominee was the then-superstar/now-pariah Dixie Chicks! (You can find a historical list of nominees dating back to 1967 here.) So I was stunned and amazed today when into this reliably vagina-free zone walked Sugarland, who would initially seem, on the face of it, to be half-ineligible. It is no secret by now that the duo are an EW-Approved ™ Country Act (their biggest fan, Whitney Pastorek, found new ways to advocate Sugarland in this very space just yesterday), and thus no surprise that we would endorse this encouraging development on all sorts of levels. Go, “Stay"...etc.

Yet you know I wouldn't be posting if I hadn't found some reason to carp, and so here we go: Where is Taylor Swift? If you are an average reader or fan, you are echoing me at this moment and saying, “Yeah, where is Taylor Swift?” If you are in any way connected with the country music industry, you are saying, “Willman, we knew you were an imbecile, but must you so flagrantly trumpet your complete and utter ignorance of the way the world works?” So let me assure you that I had every understanding going in that Swift’s chances of picking up an Entertainer of the Year nomination were roughly less than zero. The category really doesn't have anything to do with who had a particularly artistic year; it’s largely an ongoing Career Achievement award for performers who are still active superstars. You have to “earn” your way into the category through years of headlining amphitheaters and arenas — I get that, even if I don’t agree with it. And yet, year after year, when Kenny Chesney wins the award (as he will again this time), he comes back to the press room afterward and talks about how good it feels to get the trophy that the industry bestows upon the guy who has been the best or most visible ambassador of country music to the outside world. If that’s really the standard, then, with all due respect to Chesney’s unparalleled live drawing power, wasn't Swift undeniably country’s Ambassador of the Year in 2008?




Source: http://www.fashioncentral.pk/people-parties/celebrity-gossip/story-1-cma-nominations-not-so-swift/