South Asian Glam!: June 2013

Friday, June 7, 2013

2012's Pakistan's Most Eligible: 8/10 Bachelors and Counting

For the August 2012's Men's Special Issue of HELLO! India, I interviewed ten dynamic young bachelors and set a bevy of feminine (and some masculine) hearts in a tizzy across the border.

HELLO! India, August 2012

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Here are the remaining 8 who haven't succumbed to matrimony since then (as of June 2013):

Shehryar Taseer

Shehryar in his characteristic down-time attire; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

Alexandre 'Sikander' Rizvi

Xander continues to lend his personal touch to his self-named cafe in Karachi; Photo by Maryam Rahman Agha

Bilal Lashari

Bilal awaits the release of his film, Waar; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

Adil Omar

Adil is seen working on his latest album, The Mushroom Cloud Effect; Photo by Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Shahzad 'Shezy' Malik

Shahzad pursues music in his leisure time at his basement studio; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

Valy Rangoonwala

Valy skiiing in scenic Courchevel in the French Alps; Photo from personal collection

Hissam 'Namoo' Hyder

Hissam counts among Pakistan's top polo players and competes internationally; Photo from personal collection

Muhammad Saigol

Muhammad on a night out on the town; Photo from personal collection

...And speaking of avid fans, this 'tribute' painting was posted on Shehryar's Facebook wall by a friend of his who happened to see it:

An (unknown) fan's tribute to Shehryar Taseer's feature in HELLO! India

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Wedding Bells chime for some of our dynamic bachelors

2012's Men's Special Issue of HELLO! India featured ten of Pakistan's most interesting young men who also happened to be single (and ready to mingle).

HELLO! India, August 2012

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Since then, Osman-ul-Haq and Isfandyar Zaman Khan have entered marital bliss with their sparkling spouses, Misha Sadiq and Zehra Hyder Ali. Congratulations, newlyweds!

Isfandyar and Zehra host a pub-style soiree for friends in Washington DC to mark their engagement

A winter wedding for Osman & Misha

The feedback on my profile was great!" says Osman about his feature in HELLO! India. (Great enough to meet your future wife?)

"I met Misha right around the time of the interview for HELLO! India and got married in January of this year," he reveals. "I also left NYC after living there for 5 years and moved to London to pursue another role in finance."

Misha Sadiq grew up in Abu Dhabi and moved to Pakistan at the age of 16. After graduating from the University of Toronto, Misha worked in the HR department of Coca Cola in Lahore and consulted for a nonprofit organization specializing in education.

When I ask Osman what he loves most about his bride, he responds with the humorous cynicism of one who has been married for a decade, let alone a couple of months: "Uff ubh yay nahin hosakta please!"

Mehndi; Misha in Saira Rizwan

Osman weds Misha in Lahore; Photo by Farrakh Bhatti

On their wedding day, Misha wore her grandmother's dupatta with a Sana Safinaz lehnga

Osman and Misha at their walima reception in Islamabad; Misha wears Elan. Photo by Zeeshan Jamal

Summer celebrations for Isfandyar & Zehra

"I met the sweetest girl possible at a circus party in Lahore a few years ago, was told to stay away from her and as always I never listened," says Isfandyar about the first time he met Zehra.

Isfandyar and Zehra in the mood for love; photo from their personal collection

After appearing in HELLO! India, Isfandyar reveals that his Indian colleagues came up to him and took pictures. "That was odd," he shrugs.

When asked about his fiancee at the time, Isfandyar responds in his typical self-deprecating fashion: "Zehra is based outta Lahore, DC and somewhere in between...She grew up across the canal for me and does insulation for low income housing. And is from MIT."

Zehra elaborates: "Ghonsla is the company's name and we provide sustainable and affordable insulation to underserved markets, starting with Pakistan. Not just low income, but housing across the board and commercial buildings too."

When I asked where they plan to live after getting married, Isfandyar aptly replies, "Everywhere!"

Friends arrived from all corners of the world to attend the wedding--including many of Isfandyar's friends who had met, hooked up and gotten hitched over the last decade vis-a-vis the unwitting Mr. Khan. Isfandyar is a remarkable friend to all!

Nikkah ceremony; Photo courtesy of Marta Zimina

Isfandyar weds Zehra in Lahore; Photo courtesy of Marta Zimina

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Talented Designer Maheen Karim with Muse Aamina Sheikh

For the September 2012 issue of HELLO! India, actor Aamina Sheikh modeled exotic Maheen Karim creations in sultry Marrakech, Morocco.

HELLO! India, September 2012

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Maheen Karim designs for Aamina Sheikh

Fashion designer Maheen Karim; photographed in Karachi by Ayaz Anis, styled by Raana Khan

Here are additional images from the shoot:

Aamina Sheikh at Les Jardins de la Medina, Marrakech; Photo by Ayaz Anis, Styling by Raana Khan

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Thursday, June 6, 2013

Incandescent Isbah: Pakistan's Architect Extraordinaire

My coverage of leading Pakistani architect Isbah Hassan for HELLO! India's February 2013 issue included a fabulous photoshoot.

HELLO! India, February 2013

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Here are some unseen photos of Incandescent Isbah

Isbah at the entrance of her enchanting home; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

On the terrace outside her bedroom; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

In executive mode atop her split-level lounge; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

Glamorous in Saadia Mirza in her elegant dressing room; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

In her dining room dressed in Saadia Mirza; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

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Vivacious Maryam Bashir at the Lahore Polo Ground and her family home

My coverage of the effervescent business executive and philanthropist Maryam Bashir resulted in a fun photoshoot for HELLO! India, July 2012.

HELLO! India, July 2012

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Here's more of Vivacious Maryam

Sauntering at the historic Aibak Ground of the Lahore Polo Club; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

Vivid in House of Kamiar Rokni; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

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Sensational Shazia Bashir at her family home in Lahore

I covered fun-loving banking executive Shazia Bashir as part of a feature spread on the Bashir family for HELLO! India's May 2012 issue.

HELLO! India, July 2012

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Here are additional photos of Sensational Shazia

Dreamy in Elan by Khadjiah Shah; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

Sumptuous in jewel toned Rana Noman; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly

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Fashionistas Samira Dada, Meher Tareen & Sana Khan share their bridal aesthetics

BRIDAL FASHION MOMENTS

When covering Pakistan's Fashionistas as an exclusive for HELLO! India's 6th Anniversary issue, Samira Dada, Meher Tareen and Sana Khan Wahla shared their personal wedding albums with me as they recalled their favorite fashion moments as young brides...

HELLO! India, April 2013

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SAMIRA DADA

In a Menahel & Mehreen outfit; Photo by Maryam Rahman Agha, Karachi

Samira Dada felt “regal” in a pastel Bunto Kazmi lehnga as a bride one decade ago. “I absolutely adore Bunto’s work,” she says. “ It is the epitome of timeless elegance. I always knew that I would wear an outfit designed by her on my wedding day.”

Classic Bunto Kazmi bride: Samira Maskatiya on her wedding day. Photo by Hakim Sons

Samira Maskatiya weds Shazad Dada; Photo by Hakim Sons

At her Walima ceremony, Samira dressed in Shamaeel Ansari, whom she was working with at the time.

Samira Maskatiya Dada at her walima ceremony in an ethereal Shamaeel Ansari bridal; Photo by Sam

MEHER TAREEN

In Muse at the historic Jinnah Library; Photo by Faisal Farooqui/Dragonfly, Lahore

Meher Tareen remembers her wedding, five years ago, as being “amazing.” “It was a blur of compliments and duas,” she says. “I cried like a baby at the rukhsati.” Her bridal attire comprised a lehnga purchased by her mother from a Bombay boutique when Meher was a one-year-old toddler. “I had the shirt and dupatta made by Guddo of Sozan Kaar because her work was as traditional and intricate at the lehnga,” she explained.

Traditional bride Meher Tareen on her wedding day; Photo by Faisal Farooqui

At her walima, Meher wore a pink creation from Sublime by Sara Shahid, her sister-in-law.

Meher Tareen Faruki at her walima ceremony radiant in Sublime by Sara; Photo by Faisal Farooqui

SANA KHAN WAHLA

At Central Park; Photo by Natasha Jehangir, New York

Sana Khan Wahla had her tangerine-meets-sorbet wedding outfit designed by Rizwan Beyg for her wedding one year ago. “Rizwan is a genius when it comes to bridal wear,” she says. “I felt like I was in a fairytale but still myself!”

Sana Khan weds Ahmed Wahla in a vivid Rizwan Beyg bridal; Photo by Irfan Ahson

For her walima event, Sana asked her close friend Khadijah Shah of Elan to design her a gown akin to a piece of jewellery. Her post-walima photoshoot took place at the Lahore Fort’s romantic Sheesh Mahal, constructed by Shah Jahan in 1631.

Sana Khan Wahla in a stunning Elan bridal; Photo by Shahnawaz

Post-walima photoshoot at the majestic Lahore Fort; Photo by Ali Khursheid

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