Luxury… at any cost
Auto Expo Delhi, 2008, there wasn't a single soul that didn't flutter seeing the black glistening Mercedes Benz and BMW lined up at adjacent halls. Mobile cameras captured the 'Oh-my-god-so expensive cars' from all angles. It was difficult to take your eyes at the machines that personified class and royalty. Cut to 2011, parked at the traffic lights, an Audi 8 screeches to a halt.
Maserati Gran Turismo
Top speed 265km/hr
Acceleration 5.6sec(0-100kmph)
Price Rs 1,20,00,000

Many designers, many inspirations
Day four of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week had just the right dose of designers and the accompanying drama expected of a fashion week. There were as many as 18 designers on the show schedule, including some big names like Gaurav Gupta, Niki Mahajan, Anamika Khanna, Abraham and Thakore. Starting with the journey of the Pink City in historical Jaipur, the theme of designer Pallavi's collections. Deriving inspiration from its architecture , her autumn winter collection had proportions and materials taken from hidden small elements of the city. From the history of Jaipur to the woods to the paradise land of Kashmir, the influences were as myriad as the designer portfolio.
Models applaud as designer James Ferreira dances to Sheila ki Jawanii during his show at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi on Friday. — PTI

A Fine blend
"Follow your heart", simple words scribbled unmindfully on a cover of a magazine that Bhavna Batra was reading during her stint as financial analyst in Rolls Royce Energy Systems in the US brought her back to her roots. She came here to do what she always felt was her calling…. designing. Guess who joined her in this journey of following dreams, her sister, Anisha Batra a degree holder in Financial Economics. Thus started their Cover Story.

Satin touch: Bhavna Batra showcases her collection

chatter box

astro turf

the year ahead

beat it

Fergie to concentrate on hubby
Pop singer Fergie says spending quality time with her husband is one of her top priorities for the year. The Black Eyed Peas singer, who married actor Josh Duhamel in January 2009, won't be releasing a second solo album in the near future as she wants to concentrate on her personal life, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Self praise works for Jennifer Lopez
Hollywood actress Jennifer Lopez believes negative thoughts can be harmful and praises herself to build her confidence. The 41-year-old actress, who avoids negative thoughts about herself, uses the method of self praising with words like "awesome" and "amazing" to gain confidence, reported Cosmopolitan magazine.

I am The best: Jennifer Lopez

Facebook founder’s portrayal unfair
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's father Edward Zuckerberg has reportedly criticized his son's portrayal in the Hollywood film The Social Network. Edward Zuckerberg, who is a dentist in Dobbs Ferry, New York, told the Los Angeles Times that the film was unfair to his son, and described it as "inaccurate" and "disturbing", reports the Telegraph.

I don’t know how to beat my own drum: Amitabh
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who supports social activist Anna Hazare's stir against corruption, says he supports every movement for the betterment of the country, and he doesn't need to publicise his support all the time.

On a Silent note: Amitabh Bachchan

Big B thanks Bollywood for wishing Jaya
Actress Jaya Bachchan might not be on Twitter, but this did not stop Bollywood from wishing her on her birthday on this micro-blogging site. In return, Amitabh Bachchan thanked them all on her behalf.

Birthday Bells: Jaya Bachchan

Katherine Heigl to return on telly
Katherine Heigl is returning to television with HBO's adaptation of The Knitting Circle. The former Grey’s Anatomy star will produce and act in the tele film. Based on the bestseller from Ann Hood, the story revolves around a married woman (Heigl) struggling to overcome the death of her young daughter who finds solace in a knitting circle, the Hollywood Reporter said.

Comeback Trail: Katherine Heigl

Tobey Maguire in Life of Pi
Spider Man star Tobey Maguire will join Indian actor Irrfan Khan and Tabu in Ang Lee's movie adaptation of Yann Martell's best selling novel.


Role call: Tobey Maguire

Salman gets painted under zero gravity conditions
A 27-year-old girl from the city, Ankita Joshi, has painted Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in a zero gravity flight. Ankita is the first woman in the world to paint under zero gravity conditions and being a big fan of the Dabangg actor's, she chose Salman to start with. “I am a huge fan of Salman Khan... he is my favourite and I loved his film Dabangg. He has a great personality. I wanted to start with him,” she told.

Indian animation needs to go beyond mythology: Ranvir Shorey
India has a huge market for animation films but the homegrown industry has to move beyond mythological themes, says talented actor Ranvir Shorey, who has just given the voiceover for the Hindi version of the 3D Hollywood film RIO.
Animated: Ranvir Shorey

The journey continues
Thespian Rani Balbir Kaur is all set with her latest production The Courtesan and the Monk
Director, actor, musician Rani Balbir Kaur is back on the theatre scene with The Courtesan and the Monk after a hiatus of five years. Culled from Bhagwat Ajjuke, a seventh century Sanskrit text, this play, farcical in tone conveys profound truths. The play is about a courtesan and a monk whose souls are exchanged accidentally by a 'yamdoot'.
ON STAGE: Rani Babir (in green duppatta with her cast)

ROAD RAGE
Be airbag safe!
Whether you categorise it as a small or a luxury segment car, when it comes to safety there isn't a category it could be slotted into. Every car company ensures that apart from providing luxury and packing it with hi-end facilities, it also lays a major focus on safety. So, here comes-air bags, a standard safety device. Though the device is suggested to be a hi-end device but not many people know that it uses harmful chemicals as well. Here are things that you wouldn't.

Pure harvest
Plain gold jewellery, diamond trinkets, semi-precious stone studded pieces, coins or bars, MMTC's Gold Festival offers purity and surety.
Wedding, anniversary, birthday, first job or retirement, whatever the occasion, gold is considered the best gift in Indian society. To mark Baisakhi, MMTC (Minerals And Metals Trading Corporation Of India) Limited is holding a Gold Festival at Phulkari Punjab Government Emporium, Sector 17, Chandigarh.


jewel deal: That glittering gold…

FLORAL WORLD: Patchwork from Rampur

Colours of India
Fab of India brings a diverse range of handicrafts to the city. On at Kisan Bhavan, Sector 35, Chandigarh, master craftsmen from across the country, Banaras, Gujarat, Rajasthan - have set up their stalls at the exhibition. An array of fabrics, stitched kurtas, stone and silver jewellery and home furnishings are on display. Special attractions here are chikan fabrics as well as trendy jute bags. (On till April 18)

 What's special about reading?
A study has found that the only out-of-school activity that will really enhance a teenager's career prospects is reading. Oxford University academics have found that 16-year-olds who read books at least once in a month were significantly more likely to be in a managerial or professional job at 33 than those who did not read books at all.

Designs on everyone
The three-day fashion event The Woman 2011 brought in designers under one roof
Jewellery designer Devleena's designs are incredible, very much like the accessories worn by divas around the world. The delicate stone-embedded bracelets, chandelier earrings in pearl, statement necklace in real gemstones and Swarovski-studded strings have a striking universal appeal as do the other jewellery pieces in pure silver, coloured crystals and mish-mash of various elements. Each piece exudes power, elegance, style and oomph.
Jewel deal: Devleena