The stage is being set for a drama of the visual senses as Vogue, the bible of fashion, unfolds its first issue in India against the art deco Umaid Bhawan Palace here Saturday. The scale of the event seems like a Hollywood production.

Paola Ricotti, a creative director, has been brought in from Milan. The talented Sumant Jaikrishnan, a production designer, will work on enhancing an already imposing palace. His brief: use simplicity and style for Vogue’s debut.

And event manager Vandana Mohan will deftly manage the mayhem with her team backstage to bring in guests from Delhi and Mumbai on charter flights.

Lollywood big guns Sana and Javed Sheikh have signed on for another Indian film, Paak, based on India-Pakistan relations, Mr Sheikh, who is in Mumbai these days, told Daily Times by telephone.

Mr Sheikh said the story of the film was based on positive relations between the two countries. He said he would be performing the character of a goodwill ambassador working for peace.

He also confirmed the participation of Sana as the solo heroine in the flick. Waheeda Rehman, Raj Babbar and his son will take on three of the other major roles in the film, he added.

Meera’s big break in Indian films?

Meera surprised the Lollywood wallas recently when she flew back from Mumbai disclosing that she is acting in Mahesh Bhatt’s movie, Nazar Ke Saamne. Clad in a flaming red sari, Meera looked radiant (and also quite Indian), as she made a surprise public appearance at a music album launch.

Lollywood super star “Moammar Rana”, has been the lead man of a number of successful films Chooriyan and several others and has worked with some of the best directors in Lahore including Syed Noor.

Moammaar is making his Hindi film debut In Dobara, directed by Shashi Ranjan.

on the other hand Shaan is still negotiating with Indian film-makers, Shashi Ranjan has roped in his close rival Moamar Rana for a guest appearance in his Jackie Shroff-Raveena Tandon-Mahima Chaudhary starrer Dobara.

The role was to be essayed by Sanjay Dutt earlier, Shashi told.But we couldn’t manage Sanju’s dates. That’s when I started thinking of a replacement.

Ali Azmat was all set to act in Mahesh Bhatt’s Rog last year, but the Indian government denied him a visa. When asked why, Azmat calmly shrugs and says with a devious smile, ‘‘I don’t know why—there’s no because.’’ Maybe that’s why he doesn’t care much about acting these days. Currently in the city to promote his first solo album, Social Circus, the shiny-headed, irreverent and utterly candid former lead singer of Junoon says he actually quit acting seven years ago. ‘‘I’m not going to wait around for five hours for the female lead to show up.’’

Renowned fashion designer Moazzam Abbasi, a die-hard fan of Parveen Babi pays a tribute to Bollywood’s all time favourite diva.

They blackballed and clapper clawed her. Hissing and hooting. Disparaging and damnatory.. A thousand deaths, that made her die. Helplessly, the more she tried to vivificate, the tighter they shut the grave on her, making her dance on shooting needles, to bury her alive. Mocking her controversial existence, her pravity, her depravity… Frowning faces that spat fire on her morality, smirking at her cloven foot. They kicked her harder when she was almost down, hurting her sensibilities and crushing her being. Her mind was a seesaw, while she yearned for love, they threw her into a winter of discontentment, instead of holding and protecting her. They dug deeper and pulled out a mental horror that she had hidden – PARVEEN BABI they have let you die.

If Bollywood is taking efforts to cement the friendship between India and Pakistan, Lollywood is not far behind. In his attempt to enhance the business and friendship between two nations, Javed Raza, known as Pakistan’s showman; has roped in Bollywood hottie Neha Dhupia for an item number in his Pak film, Kabhi Pyar Na Karna.

Malaika Arora-Khan was the initial choice for the song, however she turned down the offer due to date problems. The song is an integral part of the script and will be shot grandly in Mumbai.

Lahore (Online): Larki Punjaban (Punjabi Girl) is the story of a Sikh girl from India’s north who falls in love with a Pakistani from over the border - directly against the tradition of demonising each other’s country in film.

Traditionally, Pakistanis do often turn up in Bollywood films - and Indians in Lollywood ones - but as the bad guys.

It’s a straightforward, run-of-the-mill eastern musical - with a bit of romance and drama thrown in,” South Asian film expert Neehar Bushan told.

“If you were to compare it with any other film made in India or Pakistan, I don’t think the storyline is any different.

Pakistan’s Sufi queen Abida Parveen said she will perform a concert in Bombay to boost peace efforts between India and Pakistan.

“Music knows no boundaries,” said Parveen, known for her musical renderings of Urdu poets such as Aamir Khusro, Kabeer and Bulesha.

“I’m happy I will be performing in this city for the first time and pass on the message of peace to my Indian brothers and sisters.”

“If a person stands on the border of India and sings, then no way his voice can be stopped from travelling into Pakistan.”

Cultural camaraderie between India and Pakistan hits a new high on Friday with virtuoso singers from both countries set to enthrall a packed audience at the MTV Immies in Mumbai.

Versatile singer Hariharan teams up with the Karachi-based rock group Strings to keep the crowd tapping while Shaan joins up with the Pakistan band Fuzon. Sukhbir and the music duo Josh will also participate.

Hariharan’s teaming up with Strings and Shaan’s with Fuzon will be the highlights of the Tata Indicom MTV Immies 2004.