Making of a writer To begin with, it was reading that was a passion for eminent novelist Manju Kapur, not writing. How she went on to win an award for her first book, shares Kapur For established chronicler of the Indian middle class Manju Kapur, writing did not happen till she entered her forties. It was after the birth of her youngest one that she decided to give writing a try. “I was a teacher, a wife and a mother, but I was looking for something more of my own,” shares Kapur who was in Chandigarh to be part of the Summer Bonanza organised by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi (CSA). WRITER AND READER: Manju Kapur — Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Let the child be The 25-minute flick Raju, based on the theme of child adoption, will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival Had this short film come before Brangelina went on an adoption spree, the world might have reacted a bit differently to their generous act! Contrary to the usual belief that adopting a child ensures him or her a bright future, the film, Raju, takes a telescopic view of the actual situation. It is about a child adopted by a German couple from an orphanage in Kolkata. They gradually realise that more than the materialistic pleasures, it’s the child’s environment that’s dear to him. “Nobody before this film would have thought that adoption has another side to it,” says Taranjit Kaur, who plays the role of a warden in the film and is also the casting director. SCRIPTING SUCCESS: Taranjit Kaur

Salman Being Human(e)
Bollywood star Salman Khan, also known as the Hindi film industry’s enfant terrible, says he wants to help workers in filmdom by sharing his income and also work for the underprivileged in society. “Right now, I want to give a part of my earnings from the film that I will start to workers of the film industry,” Salman says. He added that the amount was not fixed yet.

Notes from the heart
Jagjit Singh’s magic casts spell on his fans
The ghazals genre of light classical music used to be the favourite of a niche audience. Today, ghazals have an ardent fan following in almost every city in India. So, when it’s about the concert of Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh, there has to be a swarm of fans queuing up to be a part of the rare experience.

Lace it up
Lace has transformed into the most pronounced fashion statement this season. Though Kate Middleton's lace wedding dress has only accentuated the trend, it is nothing but an extension of the sheer fabric that has firmly cemented itself as an independent fabric from some time. And before she adorned the lace, Hayden Panettiere, Helena Christensen and Nicky Hilton have also popularised it.

Summer trouble Embarrassed by body odour? Here are some tips to get rid of it Bharti Malhotra (24) has been going through embarrassment due to her body odour. It has also crushed her confidence, especially after she was gifted a pack of deos on her birthday. Many people like her suffer from body odour, but there is no need to despair, say experts who give their reasons for the predicament and suggest helpful tips.

How about a 17-day trip around the moon? If you are ready to fork out millions of dollars for an unusual vacation then the moon might just be the place. Space Adventures, a Vienna, Va, firm that has emerged as the world's first true space-travel agency, is working with Russia's Space Agency to devise a 17-day trip that includes a stop at the International Space Station before venturing on a trip around the moon and back, officials said.

Your fitness is vital for your partner!
According to a new study, spouses have a greater impact on their partner's health than previously known. It finds strong associations between the physical and emotional health of older married couples - and provides important new information on the psychological toll of physical limitations in old age.

Reaching adult-hood
Vidya Balan is a versatile actress and she is extremely sweet in real life. She flashes her pretty smile endlessly and throws no tantrums. She is down-to-earth and has a sense of humour. The pretty lady talks about doing adult films, her upcoming projects.

Beginning with …the End
Luv Ka The End marks a new beginning in pretty-young-thing Shraddha Kapoor's career. Shakti Kapoor's daughter made her debut in Teen Patti last year and now she has a three-film contract with Yash Raj Films' Y Films. She talks about her latest movie and career aspirations.

No more shifting for James
British actor James McAvoy has no plans to shift base to Hollywood to further his career in the US. The 32-year-old actor insists that he is content to stay in London with wife, theatre actress Anne-Marie Duff and their 10-month-old son, Brendan.

Hillary is not Bonnie anymore Hilary Duff dropped from new Bonnie and Clyde movie Singer-actress Hilary Duff has been dropped from the much-hyped remake of the cult hit Bonnie and Clyde. The former child star was set to play Bonnie Parker in the reprisal of the 60s movie but she will now be replaced with another actress. Although, the name of the new star has not yet been announced, Duff will still be paid even though she is out of the job. DROPPED: Hilary Duff

Dear devils They play daredevil spies in the hit Charlie's Angels franchise and Hollywood beauties Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz are no different in real life. The best friends share death-defying hobbies like sky diving and swimming with sharks without a cage. "It's my life, I live it the way I want to," said 38-year-old Diaz about her kamikaze streak. STUNT WOMAN: Cameron Diaz

GET PHYSICAL
BEAT THE HEAT
Here's how to avoid heat-induced lethargy. The simple steps can be incorporated in any normal lifestyle.
Drink lots of water: Drinking water is simple but can sometimes be ignored. Most people drink fizzy and sugary drinks in summer to quench their thirst, not realising excess sugar leads to lethargy and extra calories. Choose water instead. It helps digestion and quenches thirst better than sweetened beverages. Water keeps the body cool in summers and will help rehydrate the body.

CHATTER BOX

ASTRO TURF

THE YEAR AHEAD