Monday Aug 13 9:46 PM
The Grand Ballroom at The Dorchester, Park Lane, London, on the evening of eighteenth August will light up with the most memorable and grand birthday celebrations in years to come, when Akbar Asif will host his daughter Haya Asif's eighteenth birthday with the who's who of society, stars and royalty in attendance.
For the first time ever, renowned painter M. F. Hussain has created a birthday card, the birthday invitation card of the late K. Asif's grand-daughter, Haya Asif. Limited edition invites of this creation would go to the British royalty and important invitees, in addition to invites going out to all the important guests of Akbar Asif from around the world. A fan of Mughal-E-Azam and a great admirer of Asifsaab, Hussainsaab has gifted young Haya with a red Porsche, and has promised an evening to remember on the eighteenth when he will paint her live during the birthday celebrations.
Akbar Asif, K Asif's son and Haya's father, who was instrumental in the release of the colourised version of his father's masterpiece, Mughal-E-Azam, in Pakistan after a ban of four decades for Indian films, says: "An association with the greatest Indian painter was inevitable and what can be more fortunate than my daughter's birthday to bring us together."
Says the 93-year-old painter:" The card is a wish from the heart, a creative first in my career of several decades as a painter and more so as an artist. Mughal-E-Azam has always been close to me as India's finest film, and after creating this special card, painting beti Haya in person on her 18th birthday is something I am looking forward to."
Adds Haya Asif: "Hussainsaab is the most creative and imaginative painter today and it is an honour to have a birthday card created by him, making my eighteenth birthday extremely special".
The evening of eighteenth will have added colour with performances by top international artists like American hip hop star Fat Joe, making it all the more memorable. Fat Joe will be one of the headline acts at the 18th birthday bash that will see celebrities and high rollers jetting in from all corners of the globe to join the excitement, including Bollywood and Hollywood stars (the last party Akbar Asif hosted had stars like Al Pacino, Mickey Rourke, Jackie Shroff… and more). Add to this a belly dance act from The Lido, Paris, singer Cheryl with her entire band and Middle East singing sensation Sami for a celebration to remember.