Fashionably absurd
Rexin patches, paper clips, safety pins, soles of used chappals — budding designers have no qualms using such materials for their Haute Couture
Ouch! It hurts. Rexin patches, embellished with hundreds of safety pins, paper clips, thumb tags and a few parts of sewing machine put together to make a chic tube top. Fashion at times has a bigger objective than just pleasing fashionistas and buyers.

Tale of three cities
It is similarities and starkness that Rajnish Wattas captures while clicking through Paris, Chicago and New York
America will always have a disadvantage to it. It's a modern civilization, with a culture that has been adopted in bits and pieces from various other cultures. Unlike Paris, it can't preserve the architectural heritage because it doesn't have one in the first place. Unlike Paris, it has only skyscrapers, not buildings that are also pieces of art made in classic or gothic style. Unlike Paris, America can't boast of a Notre Dame Cathedral that was made way back in 12th and 13th century. "But America is a country of migrants from Europe and Africa, thus impressions of various styles of Architecture can be noticed," says Rajnish Wattas.

Akonic moments
International rap singer Akon, who is in Mumbai to record a song for Shah Rukh Khan starrer, said he is likely to do a concert in India. "World tour is coming soon and India is one of the biggest markets. There are a number of shows lined up in India and elsewhere. We are likely to do a concert here. Hopefully, we will get the opportunity," he told reporters here.  "My goal was to come here. India is my next focus area. I want to try different things, want to explore... want to enjoy my work.

Higher calling
Being an international actor gives me a high: Irrfan Khan
Irrfan Khan, popular for his serious and comic roles in Bollywood, is increasingly making inroads into the western world with projects like A Mighty Heart, Slumdog Millionaire and even an American TV show. He admits that being an international actor gives him a high. "It's always an inner wish of every actor to reach out to maximum audiences. I am lucky that the western world chooses me to play roles in their movies and television, whatever language it maybe. It surely gives you a high to be an international actor with quality work," Irrfan said.

Rags to riches
My voice suits every hero: Kailash Kher
From a struggler to a household name, singer Kailash Kher's musical journey is truely a rags to riches story and he feels that his unique voice suits all Bollywood actors. "My voice suits every hero. Infact the voice itself becomes the hero," Kher said.

Hard facts
Hard Kaur eyeing acting career in Bollywood Billed as the country's first female rapper and hip-hop star Hard Kaur is now focusing on an acting career in Bollywood and is kick starting it with Patiala House alongside superstar Akshay Kumar.Kaur, who rose to fame with the song Glassy, sang her first Bollywood number Move Your Body in Johnny Gaddaar and then delivered a string of hits in movies like Singh Is Kinng, Kismat Konnection, Bachna Ae Haseeno and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. In Patiala House I play the role of Akshay kumar's cousin.

Ex-file reopens?
Cameron Diaz is "thrilled" to be starring alongside ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake in new movie, because she enjoys the singer's on-set antics. In Bad Teacher, the Charlie's Angels actress stars as a junior high school teacher who sets out to steal a colleague's boyfriend, played by Timberlake, in the comedy.

Fun intended

Comedian Bharti shoots for Punjabi flick Ek Noor at Panjab University. Photo: S Chandan

Remembering Bhaskar Rao
Music is a dynamic progressive phenomenon which grows with the growth of life but preservation and propagation of its pristine classical form is equally necessary" opines, Shobha Koser, registrar, Pracheen Kala Kendra. Interacting with mediapersons, she divulged on the details of the 40th edition of their annual three-day classical music Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan, which opens at Tagore Theatre on March 12.

All izz not well
Jhankaar 2010. Day3. Venue one and the seats are empty. No, not completely, there were four head counts in the hall. One act play contest, scheduled to be held at Law Auditorium, early in the morning actually became "once act play" with the event being cancelled.

Shoot at site
If figures provided by a source are to be believed then tourist rush from India to Singapore saw an increase of 13 per cent when Krrish was being shot there. With the same intention, Chandigrah Tourism Club Portal was launched to promote tourism in the city on Tuesday. "Cinema does draw a lot of tourism. People visit Mumbai to see film studios and shoots," says Guddu Dhanoa, who launched the portal developed by ITFT College along with MP Singh, secretary to Governor Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh.

Style statement

Zulfi Syed walks with a model at Panjab University for Jhankaar-2010. Photo: S Chandan

Catch them young
One thing that today's life offers in plenty is choices - food, dressing, gizmos or even career. In such a scenario when everything under the sun is available just a click away, the importance of teaching kids self-discipline becomes paramount. Lifestyle checks out with city folks how they are doing it.

Discipline cuts classroom troubles
Children who were taught skills to tone down anger and other emotions perked up their classroom behaviour, cutting down on disciplinary referrals and suspensions, says a study.

Renee Writes
Taking chances
I am 35, working in Delhi and have been in my present job profile for years now. My boss trusts me but somehow with the rise in the multinational salaries, I feel that I am really not being given my due. Just that I have this comfort zone in my job and with my boss. Do you think I should ask for a raise? I do not want to send the wrong signal. Should I look for a job elsewhere?

Bond wagon
Friends indeed
Relationship: Best friends
Time together: 12 years
Same-to-same: Both of us are shopoholics, talkative, caring, love romantic songs, hate household chores and love gossiping.
Yet different: Friendly sorts - Ritika
Disturb me not types - Neha
Unforgettable moments: The time we have spent in 11th and 12th - we were among the hit list of teachers, opening tiffins in the first period, when the teachers used to make us sit separately we used to talk through chits.

Relatively speaking
Get rid of exam anxiety
Support system
Every individual has a different way of tackling the exam pressure. Parents are the best counsellors at this stage to boost a child's self-confidence. The child should be encouraged for every little effort he makes while preparing for the exams. Avoid uneasy statements and arguments which further worsen the situation. During exam days the parents and siblings need to interact more by playing light games or sharing jokes just to lighten the atmosphere.
Deepa Chhabra

Music to the ear
Massage eases anxiety, but it is no more effective than simple relaxation in a room alone with soft, soothing music, concludes a new study. A new randomized trial has shown that on average, three months after receiving a series of 10 massage sessions, patients had half the symptoms of anxiety. This improvement resembles that previously reported with psychotherapy, medications, or both. But the trial, published in the journal Depression and Anxiety, also found massage to be next best option after simple relaxation.