Silent retreat
If rubbing shoulders with strangers at a disc in the name of New Year celebration is getting monotonous, Jasmine Singh offers a few fabulous alternatives
Unexpectedly there seems to be an unexplained fondness for the calendar. Pretty unconsciously, the gaze rests on the month, date and day, inadvertently leaving a curious smile on the face, and a feeling of warmth in the heart. Yes, this is the last page on the calendar, some last days of the month winding up with a promise of many more happy years and days to come. As you open the drawer, take out a marker and bloc the dates of the calendar, we quickly jot down possibilities of where you can head on those 'cross-marked' days.

Track record
The city's crowd is still gaining a hang of 'how to party' speak out city disc jockeys
He could be playing the 70s era track (if you've requested it!), but he senses how developed the music taste of the crowd is, how pulsated the jiving audience is, how receptive everyone is. While at it, it happens perhaps as quickly as the beats per minute that control the party. The celebrated man behind the console essentially has the last word on most soirees.
DJ Angel

Laughter challenge
Shreyas Talpade tries out comedy
Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade, who is all set to tickle the funny bone with three rom-com releasing next year, says his transition from serious to comedy roles is deliberate. "The directors used to feel that I am good at doing serious roles so it was a kind of deliberate attempt to change the gear. Also, instead of getting typecast it was better to try a different genre. I wanted to prove I can do anything," Shreyas said. The actor feels through Golmaal he proved that he could efficiently perform comedy roles as well because prior to this movie he acted only in serious movies like Iqbaal and Dor.

An underdog lover
Hollywood actor Hilary Swank loves to play underdogs who face difficulties in ther lives. The 36-year-old actress who won Academy Awards for her role as a transgendered teenager in Boys Don't Cry and a troubled female boxer in Million Dollar Baby is attracted to characters experiencing hardship who have an unusual story. "They are people who have the odds against them in so many ways. I love the underdogs," she said.
Hilary Swank

Kaur is Queen
Popular actor Achint Kaur, seen in shows like Banegi Apni Baat, Swabhimaan and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, will now be seen as a feisty queen in Zee TV's Jhansi Ki Rani. Achint, who has also essayed cameos in Bollywood films, has been cast as the sharp and aggressive Rani of Orchha in Jhansi Ki Rani, and she is upbeat about playing a historical figure and performing stunts.

Action replay
Bollywood's original 'khiladi' Akshay Kumar's next will be a "big action movie" directed by Prabhu Deva. The 43-year-old actor is in London to promote his much awaited comic caper Tees Maar Khan, where he stars alongside Katrina Kaif. "My next film will be a big action movie, produced by Prabhu Deva, the South Indian actor-choreographer and filmmaker," Akshay said. In Tees Maar Khan, Akshay Kumar plays a shameless con man, Tabrez Mirza Khan aka Tees Maar Khan, aka TMK, in a role inspired by English folklore hero Robin Hood. "He steals and cheats with alarming audacity with his gang comprising of Dollar, Soda and Burger," said the film's director Farah Khan, whose previous two films Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om have been blockbusters.

Actor Emily Blunt poses at the premiere of Gulliver's Travels at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California, recently.

Once upon a time
Bollywood superstar Katrina Kaif has revealed that she was once turned away from a UK modeling contract for being too fat. "They said I didn't fit their size requirement. I knew I was never going to get any thinner. I'm not skinny, I am healthy and toned," the Sun quoted the stunning size-ten star as saying. "I've been training hard for the dance scenes in my latest film and I'm in good shape but I have curves too. "If you're naturally thin, that's great. But I think it's so unfair on those girls for whom it doesn't come naturally.

Jolie good encounter
Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depp was apprehensive about meeting actor Angelina Jolie but was pleasantly surprised to find her a "normal" human being. The 47-year-old actor has rubbished rumours that Jolie, who raises six children with partner Brad Pitt, is dark and brooding, saying that she has a great sense of humour. "What I was most impressed with Angelina was her normality. I was immediately impressed by her. Well, not that I read much in the press about myself or even anyone, but you can't help but know that she and Brad are globally hounded and tracked down. Also, she's a great mommy," said Depp.

Animal magnetism
The Great Appollo Circus offers some action-packed time with its ‘talented’ animal troupe
The Great Appollo Circus is back after 25 long years in the city. A 150-people strong troupe has four elephants along with some 'talented' horses, parrots and dogs are all set to entertain the viewers with their antics. The highlight is an elephant, who pulls a rickshaw.
Photos: Vinay Malik

Right string note
Ustad Ahmed Hussain and Ustad Mohammad Hussain are in sync with melody and mannerism
The Indian classical and other genres of music had been reigning supreme since ages, and musicians world over prefer to hold fusion recordings and concerts to imbibe the best of its nuances. Back home we are shying away from the Ustaad Shagird tradition, which had resulted in the depraving sanctity and standard of musical excellence established by our ancient masters.

Photo: Vinay Malik

Jingle all the way
International Institute of Fashion Technology ( IIFT), Mohali wishes New Year greetings with "Xmas Jingle all the way" fashion show at industrial area Phase VII , Mohali. The young designers showcased their designer collection on this function. The fashion show had four rounds on dazzling jingle, pepe jingle, shimmery jingle and last romantic jingle as grand finale with gorgeous style to welcome New Year. Priyanka entertained with her dance performance.

Spice up
Go Natural
Go Natural' is the key to hair and make-up trends. Make-up continues to move towards the natural look, especially for the skin. The dewy look is in for the younger lot. Light tinted moisturisers find favour with them, both for day and night, with less shine for party night. The aim is to project a sheer skin texture. For foundations, go for translucent ones and a matte finish.

Stone age
Here is a list of dos and don'ts you should follow to avoid getting kidney stones
What a perfect excuse to enjoy a few mugs of beer daily! That beer helps flush stones from kidney is however, a misnomer. Urologists suggest application of common sense to understand the logic. Any liquid taken in large quantities will help cleanse the kidneys irrespective of the fact one is doing it with beer, water, juice or aerated drinks. "I fail to understand what makes people think that consumption of beer will remove stones from kidneys. Rather the simplest and easiest way to do it is drinking 10-12 glasses of water daily," says Dr Hemant Hardiker, consultant urologist, Sai Clinic, Sector-15.

Tea break
Taking tea may prevent weight gain caused by junk food, according to a new study. Researchers found regular consumption of tea also suppressed damaging changes in the blood linked to fatty foods that can lead to type-2 diabetes. They said the research on mice could signal another set of health benefits from tea if they are confirmed in trials on humans. In the study some mice were given a high fat diet and others a normal diet. Each of these two groups were then split into smaller groups and given water, black tea or green tea for 14 weeks. Both types of tea suppressed body weight gain and the build-up of belly fat linked to a fatty diet.

Hale & hearty
When there is a will, there is a way... seems so true for 93 year old retired army personnel from Hoshiarpur, Nand Singh, who has created a record of sorts by becoming the oldest person in the region to undergo an angioplasty at this age. While most people at his age would leave the hope to live longer and opt for invasive surgeries that are considerably riskier in advance ages, this determined 'soldier' decided to go to the operating table.
Nand Singh

wish list

Actor Rani Mukherjee celebrates Christmas during a promotional event for her forthcoming film, No One Killed Jessica, in Mumbai. — PTI

Joint venture
It may do no favours for your breath, but enjoying a diet rich in garlic, onions and leeks could reduce your risk of developing the most common form of arthritis. Researchers at King's College, London and the University of East Anglia investigated possible links between diet and the painful joint disease. They found that women who ate a lot of allium vegetables (in the garlic family) had lower levels of hip osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in adults, affecting around 8 million people in Britain, with women more likely to develop it than men. It causes pain and disability by affecting the hip, knees and spine in the middle-aged and elderly population. Currently there is no effective treatment other than pain relief and, ultimately, joint replacement.

BODY wise
ABS-solutely fit
People still cling to outdated ideas to work on their abs and to get the much-desired six-pack. Let's bust the myths about the torso area once and for all.