DENVER, CO The Matthew Shepard Foundation today announced the launch of  a comprehensive online resource for LGBTQ youth in America.  The website is launched on October 12, 2007, the ninth anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s passing, with a series of local events throughout the country and an online video stream featuring Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.   

“MatthewsPlace.com is a dream come true for the Matthew Shepard Foundation and hopefully for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied youth all over the country,” said Shepard.  “It is a safe online place full of critical resources and information, a place where LGBTQ youth can see themselves reflected in our society, feel affirmation, and gain insights to help them lead healthy, productive, hate-free lives.”

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He was Pakistan’s pop icon together with his sister, the legendary Nazia Hasan back in the eighties. They had the moves, the tunes, and the Hasan siblings were a powerhouse of pop music. After Nazia’s sad demise in 1997, Zoheb shut himself away from music. But now, he’s all set to taste the Pakistani music scene with a new album slated for release soon. Enttwist.com caught up with Zoheb to find out more…

Enttwist.com: Your album was supposed to release in May – why the delay?
Zoheb Hasan: Actually, Kismet is also a play airing on a local channel these days and they were waiting for it to air. Now, Kismet will release by the end of June.

Enttwist.com: Sohail Javed was directing the first music video. Then it was heard that Jalal was doing it. Who is making the video?
ZH: Basically, we’re looking at a couple of storyboards but nothing is final yet. It all depends on Fire Records (my record label). It’s their decision. I’m just waiting. But we will release two proper music videos.

Enttwist.com: How would you say your album is different?
ZH: The main aspect of my album is melody. Back in the eighties with Nazia and even today, I have concentrated on melodies more than anything else. If you look at it, a revival of melodies in the west is taking place with Coldplay and U2 going back to traditional tunes. A lot of my songs are featured in the play and so far the response from the audience has been quite good.

Enttwist.com: Is this the first time that you’re acting in a play?
ZH: Yes.

Enttwist.com: And how did this play exactly happen?
ZH: My wife heard the album and she’s also a writer. Kismet is a very visual album. She asked me if she could write a story on the lines of the album. I said sure. She wrote it, we pitched it to a channel and we got a great response. So, we did the play.

Enttwist.com: Why acting?
ZH: One should keep on doing something different. I had already done music videos. This was new and exciting.

Enttwist.com: How was the entire experience?
ZH: A music video is maximum 4–5 minutes whereas in a play you keep coming back in every episode. In a video, you play to the camera but in a drama, you play away from the camera. It was hard at first but overall the entire experience was great. We had a great director and everyone – Iman Ali, Aijazz Aslam, Tooba – knew that it was my first time so they were professional.

Enttwist.com: Does this mean that you’ll also venture into acting?
ZH: Being a musician and actor is quite different. It’s a completely different mindset when acting. I’ve got many offers from here as well as from India. But I don’t think that I will take up acting as a career. If a musical play comes my way, I might do it but not serials.

Enttwist.com: Apart from the release of Kismet, is there anything else that you’re working on?
ZH: I’m making a telefilm on my sister, Nazia. It’ll be shot on 35mm just like a film and will be a collaborative effort between India and Pakistan. Currently, we’re looking for teenagers who can play Nazia and me. It’ll be Nazia’s life in its various stages. Her life in Pakistan, visits to India, her work with UN in New York as well as her life in London. I will be directing the soundtrack and producing the telefilm.

Enttwist.com: After the album release, will you do concerts?
ZH: It’s too soon to say anything. It all depends on public response. But yes, I would like to do some shows but right now, it’s early to say.

Enttwist.com: What’s your take on the current music scene in Pakistan?
ZH: I think the coming up of so much new talent is very good. No one is indispensable. We have seen big bands have unsuccessful albums so the audience is well aware. It’s a volatile industry but do your best and that’s it.

ZQ is one of the most talented female stars of our country. She is a top model a talented actress and needs no introduction. She was crowned the ‘Best Model of the year 2004′in Lux Style Awards and won the Most Stylish TV Actress Award’in Indus Style Awards 2006. Read on to get to know about ZQ’s point of view on career, marriage, politics and more.

Tell us about you’re your background and your journey into the modeling world?
My family comes from Kohat and I was born in Karachi . I did my O levels in Karachi and then moved to Lahore to do my B.A. and M.A.

I taught at ‘Grammer school’ for a year before joining Libas as an assistant editor. I worked there for two years and did my masters again for another two years. I have been modeling for the past fourteen years.

Modeling has been your major career. Are you going to continue it for long?
I am very happy that the new crop of models is coming up and soon they are going to take our place. Until that transition takes place I think I have another year to go. I am concentrating more on my plays these days.

Talking about the current Pakistani modeling scene, why don’t we get to see many new faces compared to India.
First of all compare the population of India and Pakistan and their provinces and states. It is a bigger country than Pakistan . Models in India are coming from everywhere from Madras and Bengal . They have got the two Miss Universe and Miss World from Bengal. India has so many regions.

In Pakistan you can forget the province of NWFP and Balochistan, these are tribal areas and have feudal families who do not let their girls model for whatever reason. The girls that do model are from Punjab or Sindh. It is still not easy for girls to take up modeling, in these provinces, as a profession. People put you down with comments like ‘no one is going to marry you, you will have no reputation and all, etc’. Things have changed considerably though.

But why is it so in our culture?
Our culture does not allow modeling. We have been able to put the Pakistani fashion scene on the world map with great difficulty and thanks to the support of General Pervez Musharraf. We are given more permission nowadsys. There were many restraints earlier.

There are so many preconceived notion and stereotypical images about modeling; it is very hard to shatter these. I am referring to the general public as well as members of highly educated families. They would rather have their daughters become rocket scientists and dentists than models.

Even I agree that modeling is not a full time profession; one has to complete their education. A fall back is necessary as in modeling the fun only lasts for five to six years. This is my fourteenth year but you cannot drag it longer than this. The essence of modeling is constant change.

Will you ever encourage your daughter to become a model?
Being a 21 st century woman, I will ingrain proper values in my daughter and make sure she does not let her education suffer. If she wants to become a pilot I will let her do it. I will let her do anything.

I think this is where parents go wrong. My mother gave me full permission knowing that she had taught me everything about right and wrong. If you have given your kids good training and taught them the right values, there should be no issues.

There is nothing wrong in modeling. If I had seen something wrong with modeling I would have quit before asking my daughter to quit.

Do you see Pakistan taking part in Miss Universe and Miss World competitions in the next 5-10 years?
We cannot unless they respect our values, we cannot go through the swimsuit round. Anita Ayub did try but it just doesn’t work that way. It is not in our culture. It cannot happen.

We do have beautiful women. Even the Indians themselves say it. There have been so many Indian actors and directors who come here and they all say that Pakistani women are gorgeous even without makeup.

Does religion hinder?

Of course! And I don’t think we should bring religion into this because there is going to be a never-ending debate.

I think if ones conscious is clear it is fine, I know my conscious is clear. I know I am not flaunting my body I am basically modeling the clothes. It depends on the audience whether they come to see my body or my clothes. It is all about intentions.

Who is your favorite Pakistani designer? Whose clothes would you like to wear for your wedding?

I have worked with everyone in this industry, the established ones as well as the newcomers. I would really like to get married in just my jeans and T-shirt. I think I have become a bride more than 3000 times.

When do you plan to marry?

‘I think Abhishek, John Abraham and Brad Pitt are busy right now.’

It is not about when I want to get married. Whenever it is destined to be, it will be. Probably when I meet the right guy. When kuch kuch hoga tou hojaye ga!

You advised Zhalay to turn to modeling instead of acting. Why?

No particular reason. I met Zhalay at the set of Marina Khan’s ‘Dhoop’which she did for ARY. As she is tall and has got a good figure, I suggested to her that she should try modeling. I just thought that along with acting she can take up modeling.

Which one do you prefer to do acting/ compereing or modeling?

When I am hosting it is very hundred percent me. I am not putting much of an effort. I love talking; I love to talk whether it is my friend or mom. Compereing doesn’t work for me.

I have been modeling for such a long time the clothes change, the ramp changes, the choreography changes but basically you are just walking. It is all very natural.

Acting is very challenging and I love it. Every time it is like a different character and you have to internalize it. Kill your personality and actually transform into the person you are playing.

I am not complaining but since my life is so smooth and boring that being a part of these stormy relationships and love triangles is very exciting.

Tell us about your upcoming projects?

I have just finished ‘Kabhi na kabhi’for ARY which I did with Indian superstars (ones from Star plus) there are Tina Tariq and Shubha Mudghal in it. Riyasat is on air.

I have got two projects with Avenue. One is called ‘Thora thora pyar’where I am staring with Mohammad Rana and one is with Jibran. These will be aired on Hum.

What do you think about all the joint ventures happening between India and Pakistani stars these days?

As long as it is equal there are no issues.

My best wishes are with Meera to do what she wants to do. I really like people like Reema and Zeba Bakhtiar. You know Reema has not acted but Zeba Bakhtiar did. The amount of respect they got is amazing. It is all about being graceful and dignified because you are representing your country.

If an actor is going to be desperate and give me any role type then no way! And it should not be like that one country should be one up on the other. It should be equal representation from both the sides.

If you get an offer from India in the near future, would you be doing it?

I would love to do an Indian film but they have to think that I am really good enough. I would like to do it with big banners like Karan Johar, Yash Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali but they have to keep in mind that I won’t do any anti Pakistani movies.

I do not like to wear mini and I will not kiss- there are so many limitations. If anyone has a really fabulous and mind blowing idea and keeps my limitations in mind I might do it. At the end of the day I am representing my country being a very patriotic, I will not try to tarnish its reputation in any way.

So any plans to get into Lollywood and promote your country.

You know the current state of Lollywood. Unfortunately … You see we are in charge of the modeling industry and for the past 14 years we have come a long way, we have struggled; we have helped develop it.

It is up to the Lollywood stars to develop their industry. Now I am working for TV, the silver screen Lollywood has to take care of Lollywood. They could make it good enough for us to join it.

Why don’t you work with new directors?

New directors would like to work with old actresses because it is all about commercialism and making money. They themselves are new and on top of that if they take new actresses and actors to ‘phir sab hi doobay gay’ (everyone will drown). They also want an anchor for their ventures therefore they prefer the old crowd.

It is really sad that Pakistan just has five male and five female stars and sometimes the heroines look like the elder sisters of heroes. I won’t take names but you go and watch a couple of movies and you will understand what I mean.

In a recent interview with Tariq Amin he said that a model should be 18 and not 36 and wrinkled. What is your comment on this?

Who said that? Tariq said that.

Well I am 31 years old and I am very proud of it. I won’t say that I am fifteen. I don’t think we need to hide our age. We look good and people are hiring us.

Multinationals are taking us and I am glad to be a brand ambassador for Mobilink. If Mobilink thought I was old why would they take me? It is also about popularity, right. If you are popular and look good so you will sell, otherwise masses would reject you. And no one will take you.

I am talking about premium level work. So you could be 18 and total paindoo and have no personality. What is the point? By the time they polish you are already fifty. If we are not going strong then how come it is only the oldies that are being approached?

Don’t you think that Pakistan should have modeling institutes and other similar institutes?

Don’t you think Pakistan should first worry about educating the masses? These are superficial little things. Educate the masses and we will see a progressive change in Pakistani life.

You seem to be a very patriotic person, any plans to join any NGOs.

I am a member of several NGOs.

The only difference is that I am not going to flaunt about it in the press because it is my thing. It is my conscious, if I can give back to my society which is giving me so much. I am lucky enough to have a name in this country but I think everyone should payback to society.

In fact my biggest dream is to do something really amazing for Pakistan and to have the highest civilian award that is ‘Sitare Imtiaz’. I have got the Lux Style Award for best model and I have got the Indus most stylish actress award. The ‘Sitare Imtiaz’would be the ultimate award I would ever get.

We have seen you in couple of music videos but mainly Jawad Bashir’s videos. Why is that so?

I think it was a long time ago. Yes I did around eleven or twelve videos. Jawad Bashir is a very good friend.

How come you haven’t asked that I have done over 4500 shoots with Ather Shahzad. It’s the same thing, that you do 25 videos with one directors or whether you do maximum shoots with one photographer.

We are very professional, we work with males and the sad thing is that there is a big controversy that Jawad and I were having an affair. This was very funny. In the beginning it was funny and later it became irritating.

People expect that in the fashion and music industry every pop star, actor and director is vulgar. The models are desperate and have no reputation. When within the industry the such rumors come up it is pathetic.

There was a scene with Ali Haider and some model and so there are these controversies.

That is something totally different and it happened later. I worked with Jawad Bashir because I was going to do a serial and was free for two months. Jawad said he has these videos and wanted me to shoot for them. I agreed. I can do 59 videos with the same director if I want to. How come no one asked strings that why they are only hiring Jami as a director?

I was coming to the photographer part of the question …

The reason to my success and the reason that Vinnie, Iraj, Tanya Shafi (we are dinosaurs na) have made it for such a long time is because we have worked with everyone; freelanced with everyone so no one can complain ‘why she doesn’t work with me?’

It just happened the Ather Shahzad are in Lahore . I have also worked with Pappu, Rizwan Beyg and Rizwan Ul Haq.

Your ambition as a model?

It is over. I have done it. I have got the highest award that is Lux. I have moved on.

I have ventured into acting and if you ask me of my future plans it is acting. In modeling you just get your project and do them. I have been doing it for 15 years now.

So you have no plans of entering into the International Model Scene?

We have been to KL fashion week. Vinnie and I were selected from Pakistan . The oldest model there was seventeen. They have no set rules. There are many short models. In fact when Indian models come here, the only reason we survive is because of our heights.

Kate Moss is short.

Kate Moss is a different class of model and then there is Giselle. Giselle is gorgeous and if you go to her country there are a thousand Giselle’s like her. Just because she is in America and exotic she is very popular. But every Brazilian maasi (old lady) looks just as good; I am being very serious here.

On the other hand when you see Indian movies and Indian models you say ‘wow’.

Go to Bombay and you will see there is so much poverty there that I did not want to step out of JW Marriot.

We were thinking Sharukh Khan, palace and falana khan but when you are looking up these flats. Oh my god I would die if I lived there. Our quality of life over here is way better. MashaAllah. We have been told the same by the Indian models.

Talking about the political scene in Pakistan what are your views about it.

I think General Pervez Musharraf is doing a great job. I really hope InshaAllah; he should last for another 45 years at least. I feel safe in this country when he is the head. I think this is important for a ruler to make you feel like this. I just feel good. He is a brilliant politician, a great general and a great leader. I wouldn’t want anyone else.

On the closing note what would you like to advice the upcoming models and actresses of Pakistan.

Don’t loose your head if you have to the opportunity and if you are lucky to get some importance.

Work hard, there are no short cuts to get to the peak of success. Just work very hard and whatever you are meant to get you will but do not forget who you are. Don’t loose yourself.

At the end of the day, the lights go off, everyone goes home, the makeup is taken off your face and that’s the real you. Don’t ever loose that person!

The late veteran film actor, Muhammad Ali and his wife, actress Zeba’s marriage was the stuff that fairytales are made of. Together, they made quite a couple, with the tall and handsome Muhammad Ali falling in love with the young, beautiful Zeba at first sight and the two getting married and living happily ever after … that is until Muhammad Ali passed away this time last year. The two were married for four decades.

I meet Zeba at her residence, AliZeb, situated on a broad avenue of Lahore bearing the same name. Contrary to the image of a grieving widow I have in mind, I find Zeba dressed in a fetching ice-blue silk shalwar kameez with matching shoes worn over pedicured feet with painted toenails. With sparkling diamonds earrings and solitaires flashing in her slender fingers, she puts to shame women half her age with her captivating beauty.

The moment we start, she makes it absolutely clear: “I will talk only about Muhammad Ali sahib.” With her past obscure, and she has consciously kept it so during the length of our conversation, the reference point in her life remains her meeting with Muhammad Ali. “When he joined Radio Pakistan, his father who was a religious scholar, opposed his decision. But Ali told him: ‘I’ll never bring disgrace to your name in this profession’ and he proved it so.”

She also remembers how they ended up on screen together: “Our first film together was Chiragh Jalta Raha (released on March 9, 1962 and directed by Fazal Karim Fazli). Its first shot picturised us together. Ali sahib told the press much later that he had decided to marry me the day he first saw me.” Chiragh Jalta Raha also marked the big-screen debut of Deeba and Kamal Irani. Zeba and Mohammad Ali got married some four years later in 1966. Says she, “It took us a while as I am not the kind who trusts someone out rightly or falls in love at first sight.”

So what made her decide to marry him? “His integrity and goodness. He belonged to a deeply religious family and despite being good-looking, he was sharif and would shun the advances made by other women. Muhammad Ali sahib had a generous heart and treated everyone with nothing but respect. He treated me like a queen and loved fulfilling my whims. It was hard not to take the decision to marry him. He would hand over all his earnings to me without a question as to how I spent it.”

Zeba goes on to add that in the later part of his life, Muhammad Ali was actively involved in philanthropic pursuits, specially pertaining to the AliZeb Foundation which treats the underprivileged patients of hemophilia and thalesemia free of charge.

It is commonly perceived that Ali was immensely possessive about Zeba working with other heroes of the time. Zeba, however, has this to say about the issue: “Ali once asked me ‘Would you like it if I accompanied you on your shoots like you do on mine?’ and I thought to myself: What is the point of being married if your work keeps you away from each other? So I decided to act in films that only cast him opposite me. Also, I think our society does not accept a married actress working opposite men other than her husband. Today, I don’t have any regrets as we made super-hit films together. In fact, we worked in 75 films which is an unmatched world record, even in Hollywood and Bollywood.”

Says Zeba, “We always made it a point to have lunch and dinner together. Muhammad Ali sahib also loved to entertain guests at home and never went anywhere without me.” On being asked how Ali was as a father to her only daughter from her previous marriage (they did not have any children of their own), Zeba cuts me short. “I don’t remember anything prior to meeting Muhammad Ali. He was an exemplary father to not only our daughter but also our grandchildren. He would get them expensive gifts from abroad and where I would admonish my grandchildren at times, he would spoil and pamper them to no end.”

With tears in her eyes, she says that life without Muhammad Ali is difficult for her. “I cannot even begin to explain the anguish I have suffered with Ali’s passing away. I have tried to pull myself together with difficulty but I still feel incomplete. The shock of his death has been unbelievable and I still suffer from the stress of it all. I would visit his grave and it would just not register that he is in there. But one can’t do anything against the will of Allah. For four months after his death, I did not read a single newspaper carrying the coverage of his funeral or watch a single TV programme made in his memory.

I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. My grandchildren urged me to see the articles they had saved with them, saying I should see how he left this world in the grand manner that he had lived his life. I think it is only when you are so loved and admired by people that you receive the tremendous show of respect that Ali got on his last journey.”

Finally, Zeba says, “I ask Ali’s admirers to pray for his maghfirat and my forbearance to overcome the loss. I hope and pray that when my time comes, people will show me the same love and respect that they have shown to Muhammad Ali.”
 

Favourite Movie: Titanic and Vaastav
Favourite Actors: Sunjay Dutt
Favourite Singers: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Moby
Favourite Songs: Old Madam Noorjehan songs
Favourite Book: Maut ka Manzar

Zara Sheikh has been one of the luckiest actresses in Lollywood as she had earned quite a name for herself even before her debut, Tere Piyar Main, was released. And by the time the movie hit cinema halls, she was already a star. Her stunning looks and polished style were refreshing and Zara had sufficient acting skills to please the audiences.

In no time she was flooded with offers, both acting and modelling which keep her pretty busy, leaving little time for other things. But the young lady makes sure life is not all work for her and there is some play and relaxation too. And one of the first things she likes to do whenever she gets the time is to watch a movie.

Yes, she is a complete movie buff. And she claims, “If I don’t watch at least two movies in a week, I don’t feel alive.” Whenever she finds time, she makes it a point to watch any movie that she can get hold of. But she is highly specific when it comes to naming her all-time favourite movies. She says that this is the way she is — very careful and selective in her choices.

The two genres of movies that she is extremely fond of are horror and romantic. From Hollywood, she cannot think of any blockbuster other than Titanic that is worthy of naming as her favourite. “It has romance and tragedy put it together in equal proportions and my heart goes out to the separated lovers every time I watch this classic.”

Although she didn’t name any other movie from Hollywood, but said that she loves watching any movie that stars Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie. Zara is also a fan of commercial Bollywood cinema. The lavish sets, exquisite costumes and melodious music appeals to her greatly.

“All these ingredients can be found in Sanjay Leela Bansali’s Devdas. It is a complete masterpiece if you look at it from the perspective of acting, music, story, et al,” she declares.

Other than this she also likes Sanjay Dutt’s performance in Vaastav. “His style and acting was the life of this film. I cannot imagine any other actor performing the role of a typical Mumbai gangster the way he did.” After noting that she is so fascinated by the charms of Indian cinema, we ask her the obvious question: Would she like to be a part of it any time soon?

“You see many actors (we know who she is talking about) have gone there and come back without making any sort of impact. I don’t want to do that. It is creating a bad impression for all of us here. In future, Indian moviemakers would think twice before casting any of our artists. This way whatever little respect we have right now will be simply lost. I will be twice as selective in Bollywood than I am in Lollywood.”

When it comes to music, she is all praise of the king of qawwali, the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. She thinks no one else is even close to him when it comes to creating timeless melodies. She thinks that his re-mix songs like Pya Ray are still better than any of the recent pop or filmi numbers. She only listens to Lata Mangeshkar’s old hits when it comes to old classical music. As far as the local pop music scene is concerned, she thinks that Fuzon is the best one around.

“Shafqat Amanat Ali is an artist in the complete sense of the word. He knows his art. Majority of other singers don’t have much to offer. All they do is shout, which anyone can do,” opines the lady.

She also thinks that String’s latest song, Zinda, which features Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham, is a breath of fresh air. “I think Strings is producing a lot better music now than it used to do before,” she discloses. She likes to listen to the very old tracks of Madam Noor Jehan and says, “I somehow only like the songs that she sang a long time back.”

Among the international musicians, she picks Moby as one of her favourite. “He is a versatile musician who gained recognition in the early 90s for his contribution to dance and techno music. His music has a lot of depth and he has a unique style of his own. He is a very moody person just like me, and the same is reflected in his music. Music comes naturally to him and he can add tunes to his lyrics in a matter of few minutes,” Zara states.

She also likes to listen to Eminem, Britney Spears, and Robbie Williams. From Bollywood, Sonu Nigam is the best singer according to her. “Do you see a pattern here? I only like artists who know their art. Sonu Nigam is one of them,” says the actress.

The recent bollywood hit, Right Here, Right Now, featuring Abhishek Bachchan, has also caught her attention.

When it comes to books, Zarah likes to read anything which is based on reality. “I don’t like fantasies and escapist stories that much. I like to read something that I can relate with my own life,” discloses the young actress.

One particular book that is very close to her heart is Maut Ka Manzar. She started reading this book when she was just 13 but could not finish it. She picked up from the same point again after few years and this time continued till the last page. “This book is about the Day of Judgment and life after death. I have felt totally engrossed in it although it used to get a little scary at times.

Other than this I am also very interested in reading about historical events and the great rulers who have shaped the history of the world. These days I am only reading scripts and am myself a part of many stories,” she says matter-of-factly.