When I think of celebrities, the name that comes to mind other than my own of course is that of Imran Khan. But seriously speaking, I think the definition that a friend of mine gave me once, is that I find myself agreeing to the most.
He had said, “Every good looking person is a celebrity”
Imran Khan is one celebrity that lives true to the belief that he is one international face from Pakistan that has caught the fancy of both the classes and junta alike. Probably a bad example, but his wedding to royalty was ranked as one of the best weddings of the century, compared with the likes of Luxmi Mittal’s daughter’s marriage parties. That’s according to a poll conducted by an Indian magazine.
Having sold coupons worth thousands of rupees to support his campaign for raising funds for the remarkable Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, earned me a portrait of his with his autograph. And I still have it after more than a decade having passed by. What better way to pay homage to one’s lovely mother!
But it is easy for people on the lonely place like the top, to attract controversies and Imran has managed to comfortably do so too. His acceptance speech after leading the Pakistan Cricket team to victory back in 1992 was dissected inside out by his critics for taking all the credit himself and ignoring the team!
His sermonizing columns in the newspapers and a bumpy ride in the slippery political playground of Pakistan is just a proof that he is human.
I remember presenting a broadcast from Mardan IDP camp, when Imran Khan came there escorted by a handful of party supporters and passed by me. I was so tempted to grab him for a cooment but couldn’t because of technical concerns. I wanted to ask him what message of hope he had brought for the people who were suffering under the scorching sun of Mardan.
Fast forward some months and you find him defending himself against allegations of supporting the Taliban. How bad can it get!
And that day I found out he was addressing a gathering in Ilford, that is the eastern side of London ….dwelled by Asians mostly (Racist huh?). I will tell you about my time in Ilford some other day. But I could picture Imran Khan with the same handful of Party workers delivering a critique of government policies.
But he is handsome to many many in the world and so there is plenty of soft corners for him in countless hearts.
People sympathise with him. They don’t hate him. And that takes me back to my earlier definition of a celebrity. He is a true celebrity - not because women drool over him but because …..…..he has made a real difference in the lives of many ailing poor Pakistanis in the form of the cancer treatment facility. We admire him for that.
Also, if you too are wondering like a friend at work whether I have shook his hand?? The answer is ….yeah, I have- and that was in the studio of Pakistan Television.
He had said, “Every good looking person is a celebrity”
Imran Khan is one celebrity that lives true to the belief that he is one international face from Pakistan that has caught the fancy of both the classes and junta alike. Probably a bad example, but his wedding to royalty was ranked as one of the best weddings of the century, compared with the likes of Luxmi Mittal’s daughter’s marriage parties. That’s according to a poll conducted by an Indian magazine.
Having sold coupons worth thousands of rupees to support his campaign for raising funds for the remarkable Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, earned me a portrait of his with his autograph. And I still have it after more than a decade having passed by. What better way to pay homage to one’s lovely mother!
But it is easy for people on the lonely place like the top, to attract controversies and Imran has managed to comfortably do so too. His acceptance speech after leading the Pakistan Cricket team to victory back in 1992 was dissected inside out by his critics for taking all the credit himself and ignoring the team!
His sermonizing columns in the newspapers and a bumpy ride in the slippery political playground of Pakistan is just a proof that he is human.
I remember presenting a broadcast from Mardan IDP camp, when Imran Khan came there escorted by a handful of party supporters and passed by me. I was so tempted to grab him for a cooment but couldn’t because of technical concerns. I wanted to ask him what message of hope he had brought for the people who were suffering under the scorching sun of Mardan.
Fast forward some months and you find him defending himself against allegations of supporting the Taliban. How bad can it get!
And that day I found out he was addressing a gathering in Ilford, that is the eastern side of London ….dwelled by Asians mostly (Racist huh?). I will tell you about my time in Ilford some other day. But I could picture Imran Khan with the same handful of Party workers delivering a critique of government policies.
But he is handsome to many many in the world and so there is plenty of soft corners for him in countless hearts.
People sympathise with him. They don’t hate him. And that takes me back to my earlier definition of a celebrity. He is a true celebrity - not because women drool over him but because …..…..he has made a real difference in the lives of many ailing poor Pakistanis in the form of the cancer treatment facility. We admire him for that.
Also, if you too are wondering like a friend at work whether I have shook his hand?? The answer is ….yeah, I have- and that was in the studio of Pakistan Television.
If they have Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan etc, accross the border, then we also have our Imran Khan and Diary Khan.
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