Desi wrap after firang beats
They're really 'dressed' for the occasion. Welcome, this season's cheerleaders: All home-grown kudis, cheering is in their jeans
THIS could be a little disheartening for those who come to 'watch' the cheerleaders sway and shake their booty. Well people, they are here again to perform at the ICL, but this time they're all clothed. (Remember the controversy about skimpily clad IPL cheerleaders last season?) So, no skin show here. Neat, clean and completely cheerful cheering. What say, girls?
Famous five: This time at ICL, they say cheers to denims — Photo: Kamal Kishore

Where there's a Wills there's a way
City-trained designer couple Nandita Raipurani and Hemant Lalwani are basking in the glory of having showcased their creations at the recent Wills fashion week
FOR seven long years, 'together' they nurtured a dream that wasn't easy to realise and today, when it has taken a tangible form, they believe it is a mere beginning. "We still have a long way to go but what makes us content is the fact that we have been able to locate the final destination where we want to head," come the words in unison from Delhi-based fashion designers, Nandita Raipurani and Hemant Lalwani.

Hemant and Nandita

Acting with Abhi is Ash 
Pairing up with hubby dear on screen is fun for Aishwarya 
Aishwarya Rai is excited about teaming up with hubby Abhishek Bachchan for Mani Ratnam's next film but is reluctant to reveal much about the movie. "It's a really exciting thought for me and Abhishek to be coming together again with Mani Ratnam. All I can say about the film is that it goes into a completely different theme from Guru," Aishwarya, who turns 35 Saturday, said.

Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan

LIGHT WEIGHT
Director Dibakar Banerjee says his movies have a humorous streak but the issues raised are serious and weighty
AD filmmaker-cum-director Dibakar Banerjee hit the jackpot with his directorial debut Khosla Ka Ghosla, a dark comedy centred on the real estate mafia. Now he is ready with his second film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and says he had to study criminals' minds to make the comedy. Banerjee, who has an eye for detail, said: "My new film required me to know the psyche of criminals since Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye is about a thief in Delhi who wants to be famous. He (the thief) wants to live a luxurious life and at the same time yearns to become the talk of the town.

A still from Khosla ka Ghosla

Ms Doubt Fire

Actor Meryl Streep poses at a screening of her film Doubt during the opening night of AFI Fest-2008 in Hollywood,  California Photo: Reuters

Shoot for loot
Bollywood actors 'gang up' to shoot for Loot, a forthcoming film that revolves around four ambitious people who, in a hurry to make a quick buck, team up to rob a person in Bangkok.  Shetty, who is also acting in the movie, said that he is finding it difficult to match to the moves of the experienced dancers like actor Govinda, critically acclaimed dancer, Javed Jaffrey and Mimoh Chakraborty, son of film star Mithun Chakraborty. Speaking about Loot, Shetty said, "In the film we are going to rob a Bangkok based businessman just to realise that the entire underworld is trying to rob us and then the movie takes a turn as to how we come out of this trouble.
Bollywood actors Mimoh Chakraborty, Suniel Shetty, Sweta Bhardwaj and Govinda during the shooting of the film Loot

Koffee break
Test drive
For Madhur Bhandarkar, every film is an experiment 
FOR acclaimed Bollywood director Madhur Bhandarkar, every film he makes is an experiment and it is the research work that gives him the kick. 

Madhur Bhandarkar

Poster colour
From Raj Kapoor to Dilip Kumar to Big B, here is your chance to get up close and personal with Bollywood’s poster girls and boys
WHAT is dead is gone, as they say. But for those who want to feel the nostalgia of Hindi cinema of the 40s, 50s and the hippy 70s, here's a chance to do so. People for Animals, Chandigarh presents 'Divas Unveiled', an exhibition-cum-sale of old Bollywood posters at the Government Museum and Art Gallery-10.

Bird's eyeview
In his latest book, Vishav Pakshi Kavi Sammelan, B.D. Kalia Hamdam raises a few questions on environmental issues
Ley karkhuloos-e-dil gye,ham toh jahan jahan, Poochha nazr nazr ne ye Hamdam kahan ke hain? Many poetry lovers were mesmerised by entrancing poetic spells of Panchkula-based B.D. Kalia Hamdam at Mushairas. Now, his popularity transcends to the flora and fauna too with the release of his seventh literary treatise Vishav Pakshi Kavi Sammelan, which offers a comprehensive coverage, critical appreciation and review of poetic renditions at an International poetic symposium.

Bon Appetit
Thinner dinner
Kandla Nijhowne 
THE downside of Diwali is the noticeable upswing flickering on our weighing scales, weighing us down further with remorse and regret. I had one laddoo too many and now I'm looking like Lord Ganapati myself, with both me and my jeans bursting at the seams! Low-calorie food does not have to be boring or bland. With some imagination you can skimp on calories without affecting taste or flavour.

Benchmark

Lunch, lounging and loitering at the Plaza-17 Lifestyle photo: Parvesh Chauhan