Opening ceremony of Dubai stars – Emaar’s walkable tribute - video Dailymotion

Gulf News

Full Article here: See more at https://gulfnews.com/videos  It was a moment of collective pride as eight icons from across the globe including Emirati singer Balqees Fathi, Egyptian actor-couple Mona Zaki and Ahmad Helmi, Bollywood talent Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Pakistani pop idol Atif Aslam were officially inducted into The Dubai Stars walkway on Sunday amid much fanfare.

Transcript

00:00Your husband is also being inducted in the same day on the same platform.

00:03That's weird, huh?

00:04And guess what, we have the same birthday.

00:07Really?

00:08Not year, but birthday.

00:09Read my interview in Gulf News Tabloid.

00:12Thank you so much.

00:17Good afternoon, this is Manjusha Radhakrishnan from Gulf News Tabloid.

00:21Today we are talking to a galaxy of stars from across the globe,

00:25including the Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, Sonam Kapoor,

00:30and Atif Aslam and a few others as well.

00:32Today, for the first time for the public,

00:34they have been inducted to the Walk of Fame Dubai Stars.

00:37It's called, it's open to the public at Mohabbat bin Rashid Boulevard.

00:42That's in downtown.

00:43So over to you, Mona, congratulations.

00:45Thank you, I'm very happy.

00:47I'm having my own star here in Dubai, actually.

00:51And I'm very excited for this event.

00:55Actually, the energy I feel today is very, it's appreciation, it's peace, it's love.

01:02And I just feel it from everyone.

01:04And that's how I was, I started my day too.

01:08I, you know, it's not like an event that you'd be tensed and you'd be worried.

01:11It's just appreciation and love.

01:13And it's a case of such reflected pride,

01:16because here is a star from the Arab world who speaks her mind,

01:19yet is very talented and is fabulous as well.

01:22You know what I also like?

01:23Yes.

01:24That it's not only about the Middle East, that it went even beyond that.

01:28I think that's what makes it even more special.

01:31Right.

01:32It's stars from the Middle East and even people from abroad.

01:36And I think that's what makes it even more special.

01:38Today, an actor also told us it's not easy being an actor or a role model for others.

01:43Do you feel the pressure as well, Mona, because everybody looks up to you?

01:48I actually never thought of being an idol.

01:52But I just do what I think is right, what I believe in it.

01:55I do it from my heart.

01:57And that's what's most important.

01:59Arab cinema is going through a very interesting phase as well.

02:03What is your take on it?

02:04And you've been instrumental in that change, forefront of change.

02:07I think it's taking a new, let's say, a new era

02:14with different thoughts, different ideas and subjects to talk about.

02:18And that's very important.

02:21Of course, the main thing for entertainment is to entertain people.

02:25But, you know, when entertaining people and you have a cause for it

02:30or you have a message for it, then that's the perfect combination, you know?

02:35Of course.

02:35And you're also UNICEF ambassador as well.

02:38So do you think as public figures, you have this kind of responsibility to do greater good?

02:44And use your voice for greater good?

02:46Of course.

02:46I mean, being UNICEF ambassador for the second round for me means

02:53I just do it from the heart.

02:54You know, I don't think about it a lot.

02:56I care about children in general.

02:58I do think a lot about what to do and how to be progressive and active being an ambassador.

03:06And I just do it from my heart.

03:09That's what really matters, I think.

03:11It really shines and congratulations on being a part of Dubai Stars.

03:14Perhaps you have to tell us how does it feel to be installed in the Walk of Fame?

03:18The whole world is going to watch you and walk through you.

03:21Oh my God, that's weird.

03:24You know, as an artist, as an actor, filmmaker,

03:28I think, you know, you want your work to reach as many people as possible.

03:33And, you know, as you wanted to kind of cross borders.

03:37And, you know, that's all that you can hope for and wish for.

03:40And I'm so glad that my work is relevant in this part of the world as well.

03:44And to get recognition in any way is just the cherry on top.

03:47Exactly. And you've been experimenting a lot with your movies as well.

03:50So do you feel like, you know, it's paying off finally?

03:53Like people expect a good movie from you?

03:55Yes, that is true.

03:57I think in a way, it's a bit of pressure.

03:59But at the same time, I think pressure, you know,

04:02it's like, you know, you're usually a diamond in the rough.

04:04And then, you know, pressure just makes it more beautiful and nicer.

04:08So it's a good kind of pressure.

04:11What kind of movies are you looking forward to?

04:13I know you work with Dilkar Salman.

04:14Yes.

04:15In a romantic comedy, perhaps.

04:16After this, what's next for you?

04:18Well, I've signed two films which are completely different from what I've ever done before.

04:22And I was taking a bit of a break and doing lighter films and lighter work after Nirja.

04:28So with Bad Man, Sanchu, Ek Ladki Toh Dekha, Zoya, Veere Di Wedding.

04:32They were all like, I mean, pretty successful, critically acclaimed films.

04:36But they weren't hard hitting.

04:38I just needed some space and time.

04:40And I think two years is long enough now.

04:44So, right.

04:45I mean, even though I did quite a bit of work, it wasn't like hard and serious.

04:49And that's what I'm going to be doing next.

04:51As an actor, do you think you dwell in that kind of thing?

04:53Do you revel in those kind of dark, perhaps, slightly challenging roles?

04:57I think everything that I do is challenging.

05:00But, you know, to kind of take in someone's personality, which is a little more,

05:05you know, which is a little more serious, I think is hard.

05:09And you need to kind of, you know, you need to have reserves for that.

05:14So now I have enough.

05:16So I think I'm going to go into that next.

05:19And those are the films that I've signed.

05:20Really? And both dad and daughter are being featured.

05:23It's such a cute reunion.

05:24I know.

05:25And he's full of beans all the time.

05:26Yes.

05:27Did he talk to you about it?

05:28No, he didn't.

05:29No, I don't think.

05:30I was informing him.

05:31Yes, you were informing us.

05:32And I had no idea.

05:35I'm just happy to be here.

05:36And I'm going to tell dad that he has a star as well.

05:38He'll be excited.

05:39Oh, fantastic.

05:40And last question, in Dubai, what's your best memory, Sonam?

05:45What do you love doing here and about the city?

05:47Well, you know, my husband and I got engaged six months, seven months before we got married.

05:55And straight after we got engaged, we came together for Soul DX.

05:59Yes, of course.

06:00Because obviously he's like obsessed with sneakers and, you know.

06:03That's not a music fest.

06:04The Soul DX is a sneakers event.

06:07And then we came together for that.

06:09And so for me, like I was telling Anand, I was like, you know, we come here quite often.

06:14His friends are here.

06:15My friends are here.

06:17So it's nice.

06:17It was a special memory for us.

06:20Fantastic.

06:20You guys give us a couple of golds.

06:22You made the boldest pictures.

06:23He did a quad wheel.

06:24I'm like, how is he so agile?

06:26He is.

06:26He's very into fitness.

06:27For him, it's like a big deal.

06:29Fantastic.

06:29And so are you.

06:30You look amazing.

06:31And congratulations.

Opening ceremony of Dubai stars – Emaar’s walkable tribute

Category

Transcript

Recommended