Firm as anchor
Television actor Ravi Dubey, all set to host India's Dancing Superstar (IDS), says anchoring helps dig out his creative potential...
Amarjot Kaur

Ravi Dubey
SCREEN PRESENCE: Ravi Dubey

The television industry has shown a gradual evolution from fiction-oriented to creatively aligned reality shows, which cater to talent with much pomp and passion. Ravi Dubey, who replaced Mohit Malhotra as the anchor of India's Dancing Superstar (IDS), a show that is telecast on Star Plus, is all set to carve a niche for himself as an actor, dancer and anchor. In Chandigarh, Ravi engages in an interesting banter over lunch as he speaks about his present projects and the ones that lie ahead.

After starting his acting career with a show Stree, which was telecast on DD and produced by Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu, Ravi was determined to stick to the television industry, “I was always keen on acting even as a kid and because I come from a family of educationists, my father wanted me to complete my degrees first. So, soon after I was through with my engineering, I started acting,” says Ravi, who has acted in many television shows, including 12/24 Karol Bagh and Saas Bina Sasural, and was also among the top two contestants of Nach Baliye 5.

So, what brings him to anchoring? He replies, “Acting is scripted and it is not live, so I wanted to take up anchoring to explore my creative potential. As an anchor, it is imperative that I build a rapport with the judges, the contestants and the audience. Also, my passion for dancing influenced my decision to a great extent.” He adds, “I think anchoring comes naturally to me.”

Ravi, who was all praise for the contestants in the show, says, “This time around, the contestants are extremely talented and I always try to learn as much as I can from them.” However, with all due respect, he takes the liberty to differ with Saroj Khan, who during her visit to the city shared that the dance reality shows are bringing circus to the stage, “I admire Saroj ji for she is the pioneer of Bollywood dancing, but our contestants don’t just perform stunts on the show; they dance too,” he says.

A self-taught actor and dancer, Ravi makes no charade while announcing his love for Sargun, who he has been dating for over two years and confirms that they will tie the knot soon, “There are some religious formalities that will be sorted out according to the wishes of our parents and wedding is surely on the cards. I will be meeting her parents today because they stay in Chandigarh. She has eagerly waiting for some goodies from home,” he quips. 

CANDID CONFESSIONS
Favourite Bollywood actor: My favourite Bollywood actor is Amitabh Bacchan because not only is he disciplined, but also humble.

Bollywood’s best dancer: Govinda. I think there is nobody who dances the way Govinda does and the fact that he enjoys dancing is communicated effortlessly in his typical ‘Govinda’ moves.

Dream role: Amitabh Bachchan in the film Black.

Future plans: Anchoring, acting and movies, but I cannot talk anything further about it.

amarjot@tribunemail.com

Route to inner peace
Iranian spiritual healer Sahar Gharacharloo has learnt a lot from India and she says it’s time to share all the knowledge…
Manpriya Singh

Sahar Gharacharloo
HEALING TOUCH: Sahar Gharacharloo

Sometimes, small changes and simple practices are neither small nor simple. It’s only a question of discovering the inner strength, challenging the stress, de-cluttering the mind and living peacefully.

Well, only. Just when she manages to perplex everybody with the terminology of the soul and spirituality, Iranian spiritual healer Sahar Gharacharloo, 35, founder of the organisation Energy Healing Bliss, begins to abridge her words and examples. “In the modern spirituality we don’t ask you to give up normal lives or wear white clothes or do anything abnormal. It’s a practice that gives you the art of living in harmony with simple soul purifying techniques that channelise your inner powers to make the dynamic person you are,” shares the Chandigarh-based practitioner. It’s been five years of learning and advocating Law of Attraction and Modern Spirituality, among other healing practices. “Law Of Attraction is a course that has been running in India, for quite some time. It teaches one how to de-clutter your mind, get rid of negativity and bring positivity.”

Sixteen years of residing in the country, which she’s learnt so much from, she says, “I had always been inclined towards all this. When I was 14, I read a book Your Soul Knows It All. But I started to practice only recently. I want to give back to India all the things I have learnt from it.”

She adds, “I have an experience of organising a number of soul-cleansing workshop in Canada and UAE. This is for the first time I’ll be organising these workshops in the city. The Law Of Attraction workshop will be for one day whereas the Silver Ultra Mind Workshop will be a five-day course.”

There’s a claim to have treated countless people and problems that comprise, “right from the spinal injury to relationship issues to even cancer.” Titles like Reiki Grandmaster, Arhat Yogi with Pranic Healing and Magnified Healer form a part of the practices and the resume! What she teaches is “a practice towards the right direction in life.” She adds, “From back injury to a bad relationship to problems, I’ve had them all too but I’ve never been at peace as much as I’m now.” If that makes things clear!

Peace prevails

De-clutter your life
Prioritise your work
Let bygone be bygone
Start everyday with a new hope, on a positive note
Love yourself. Take care of your well-being & eat healthy

Just de-stress

Meditation is the first tip for de-stressing. What we teach is a guided meditation lasting twenty to thirty minutes.
It’s important to have some sort of physical exercise daily.
Deep breathing and yoga definitely help.
You have to find ways to balance your chakras. There are 350 chakras in the human body, but seven of the common ones are also the quite prominent ones. We teach you how to balance chakras with the help of chakra dance or exercises.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

In her own space
Sussanne Roshan has remained away from arc lights, but she has carved a niche of her own in the interior design world…
Manpriya Singh

Sussanne Roshan, is literally comfortable in her own space. A space that she’s designed for herself over the years and an identity that she’s carved while remaining confined to the world of interiors. “My attraction to the world of interior design is inborn as I have always found myself interested in creating an amalgamation of styles, themes, colours and other elements to enhance the beauty of any space,” she highlights how certain things have always been a part of life.

“When I was around five years old, I would often go with my mother Zarine Khan for site supervision on her interior design projects. She would always take my opinion and ask me to choose from different colour palettes and even go ahead with my choice. This really built my confidence and gradually I started developing my own ideas and thoughts on design.” Years of working on the design projects led to her own store, followed by the very recent e-commerce venture the Homelabel.com. “It’s a website offering affordable home décor products giving me the chance to showcase various facets of my design philosophy to a much wider audience.”

As a creative director of the venture, she promises a team of experienced merchandisers who create integrated looks for the home with one-of-a-kind products. “The spaced offered on the website shows customers how to beautify any living space whether it is a living room, kitchen, bedroom or even garden.” She adds, “The homlabel.com is a part of me and I’m very involved in it.”

The business-woman forms as much a part of the foreword as a star wife. Quite a feat when the super successful spouse happens to be Hrithik Roshan. As for him, “He is extremely supportive of what I do with all my ventures whether it is The Charcoal Project or The Home Label. He is one of the biggest supporters of my work on Twitter.” Ever felt like following in his footsteps or pursuing the arc lights? “Not at all; my heart has always been in design.”

Sussanne’s tips

Don’t use your décor items in the most obvious manner, but get creative and try using it the way you feel.
I recommend that you gradually start building your own collection of unique home decor items. I’m a huge art lover so I’m always looking for great paintings but if you aren’t an art person, you can even get digital work framed for your living room.
New trends like Chevron and honeycomb are definitely going to be a rage in 2013.
Quirky products are a great way to show-off your personality.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

Motoring along in life
Mike Brewer loves to play with cars. In his show Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up on Discovery Turbo, he gives ample example of that... 
Amarjot Kaur

Mike Brewer is the ultimate motoring wheeler-dealer and in his new series, Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up, which will be telecast on Discovery Turbo, he will be travelling all over the world from India to Poland, to prove his credentials internationally.

With just $3,000 in used notes in his back pocket, Mike's mission is to trade his way across the globe from a cheap runabout to a super-car. It's the car trade journey of a lifetime, over 85,000 miles and it is also not just about car trading, but about car culture as Mike explores it all. We catch up with him.

We hear that you will be travelling across the world, from India to Dubai, with just $3,000 in used notes in your back pocket. Please explain the idea behind this concept and of how do you plan to go about it?

I bought and sold my first car at the age of 17, and I’ve been buying and selling cars for the last 30 years now. I fixed up my first car, sold it for more money and realised that I could do it on a national scale; I did it in the UK very successfully. I did a programme many years ago called Wrecks to Riches, where I started off with just £300 and traded my way up to a new car, post which the Discovery Channel asked me if I could do it internationally. That’s how this new series for Discovery Turbo-Wheeler Dealers: Trading Off started, wherein I travel to six countries with $ 3,000 in my pocket.

I started my journey in Kolkata and traded three cars—a Maruti Alto, a Tata Indigo Marina and a Hindustan Ambassador. I sold the first two cars in Kolkata and transported Hindustan Ambassador. After India, I went to UK and bought a couple of English cars, including a Triumph Spitfire. The next one was a Land Rover Defender and from there, I moved on to Sweden, where I bought and sold some Swedish cars, including Saab and a Volvo. In Japan, I bought some Japanese cars, a Daihatsu and a Nissan and in Mexico I found a wonderful 1956 Volkswagen Beetle. Then, I moved to California, where I bought a Rolls Royce and a Chevrolet Camaro. The final destination for me was Dubai where I bought a Toyota Prado, a typical Dubai family car. For my final car, I amassed $13,000; I went and bought myself a supercar, so in the entire journey around the world, I only spent the original $3,000. I ended up with a supercar that actually owed me $3,000!

What do you think about the existing car culture in India?

It’s really exciting. India has one of the fastest emerging economies and that means its boom time for the car market. I have heard that 75 per cent of all car sales are for first-time buyers. I would love to be a salesman in India.

How was your experience while travelling across India? How is India different from other countries, as far as motor trends are concerned?

India feels very much like the Western world when you are dealing. Bargaining seems to be the order of the day as buyers are always looking for the best price. The only difference is that Indians seem to love this part of the negotiation and will keep going for hours.

How did you take to cars and motors as a profession? Was there any inspiration behind it or was it plain passion?

My dad was a car customiser, so my passion came from him working on incredible cars. I also like the chase of the deal and there's no better feeling than getting a good profit.

What is your next project?

I'm back to making Wheeler Dealers for Discovery. Very exciting times ahead!

amarjot@tribunemail.com

trendsetter
An eye on fashion

A model, an aspiring actress and a music fanatic, she has established her name in the fashion industry. In her free time she loves to dance, listen to music and go shopping. Molina Sodhi truly is a fashionista and a diva in the making.

Molina Sodhi
Molina Sodhi

Your sense of style?

To always look different from others. I like experimenting with my clothes.

Latest addition to your treasure of clothing or accessories?

A golden pair of stilettos.

Brand crazy or street pick-up?

A blend of both.

Who would be your style icon?

Kareena Kapoor.

Who do you think is the worst-dressed celebrity?

Vidya Balan.

Which look would your prefer – sporty, chic or glamorous?

I love to shuffle my looks but out of these three, I would prefer chic.

One fashion trend that goes beyond your comprehension…

Yellow pants.

Your take on accessories?

I love to add matching belts and footwear with my dresses. They look perfect.

Given a choice, which designer would you like to be dressed by?

Manish Malhotra.

What gives you a high on the confidence level?

My eyes.

— As told to Tanya Malhotra

All about almonds
Amarjot Kaur

Dr Shivani Gulati & Chef Nikhil Mittal
Good health: Dr Shivani Gulati & Chef Nikhil Mittal

We have all grown up hearing our mothers talk about the goodness of almonds and you know ‘moms are always right’! The realisation about the same, however, brings a ray of wisdom about almonds in the words of Dr Shivani Gulati, clinical nutritionist at Max Hospital, who was accompanied by Chef Nikhil Mittal of Nik Bakers and Sudarshan Mazumdar, India regional program manager of California Almonds, Almond Board of California, to promote almonds as the powerhouse of nutrition at Park Plaza on Wednesday.

“Each one of us remembers being told by our elders to consume almonds but we lack the accurate knowledge about the health benefits it possesses. Thus, our consumption is generally intermittent. We encourage regular consumption of almonds, throughout the year to our clients, to snack on them when they feel hungry between meals, or start their mornings with almonds, as just one ounce of almonds contains 6 gm of protein and is 100 per cent cholesterol free. This is all in a mere 160 calories, which gives you a ‘full’ and satiated feeling and helps keep you away from unhealthy options,” says Dr Shivani Gulati while adding, “Almonds are also high in nutrients like vitamin E, protein, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, niacin and riboflavin and have pre-biotic and anti-oxidation qualities apart from being heart-healthy. Also, one serving of these nuts contains 13 gm of good or unsaturated fats and just 1 gm of saturated fat.”

She furthers her argument while sharing, “A lot of our clients also express concern about consuming nuts in the summer. However, there are no studies that indicate any ‘heat generating’ effect of almonds and hence can be consumed throughout the year. It’s best to have them soaked in water, but if you do not have time, then you can have them otherwise too.”

Meanwhile, Sudarshan Mazumdar tells us some very interesting facts about almonds, “As much as 74 per cent of almonds in India are imported from California and it is the healthiest nut because it has zero cholesterol. Moreover, it is available throughout the year.” Well, that should give us all the more reason to have almonds.

Recipe for health

Chef Mittal shares with us some healthy recipes, which will make your almond intake healthier and tastier.

Strawberry banana almond shake

Ingredients
2 cups almond milk or plain milk
4-5 crushed almonds
1 cup fresh strawberries (Strawberry crush can be used)
1 tbs sugar
1/2 piece banana

Procedure
Add ingredients to blender and process until smooth. Refrigerate.
This fun frappe offers potassium and vitamin C.

Almond smoothie

Ingredients
1 cup yogurt, 4-5 crushed almonds, 1 cup of water, 1 cup fresh seasonal fruits (fruit crush can be used)

Procedure
Add ingredients to blender and process until smooth. Refrigerate

Roasted almonds with coriander, chilli and olive oil

Ingredients
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups blanched almonds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
1 to 3 small dried red chilli peppers
2 generous pinches of sea salt

Procedure
Add the olive oil and almonds to a hot sauté pan. Sauté and toast the almonds until golden brown, shaking the pan regularly to colour them evenly and accentuate their nutty flavour. Crumble in the coriander and chilli to taste, and add the sea salt. Toss over and serve hot on a large plate.

The Foodies
Fit for a prince
Poonam Bindra

Like the frog turned a handsome prince, the hero of the fairytale so dear to every child and every adult-turned-child, the new joint for the ever adventurous gourmand of Ludhiana is aptly named as Frog Prince. Situated in the heart of the town, Sarabha Nagar, it is a café-cum-pub offering Anglo-Indian delights in chic and comfortable surroundings.

"We would not call it fine dining but yes, it is a classy yet smartly done up casual place to unwind oneself while doing full justice to the gastronomical fare," says Mehak Chowdhry, the director of the company which has wowed to give something new to the town. With the breakfast menu available throughout the day, Frog Prince is attempting to comfort the eastern and western palette both. The menu boasts of a Taj style keema pao and cornish patties, mirchwaala paneer tikka and a chicken satay on the other hand. The breakfast menu, which includes waffles, ham and bacon delicacies and Punjabi parantha too, seems to be popular for early morning meetings and of course leisurely mornings for the folks who want to experiment with different cuisines. "I have always relished well-made waffles on my trips abroad but having them in our town is sure a treat," says Amit and his friend Kalyan. Interestingly, the menu's nomenclature is in the consonance with the theme of the Frog and the Prince-you could choose between a Frog Prince's seafood platter, the Frog Prince Ceaser's salad or even a tadpole slider which is a mini burger.

The young brigade is too thrilled to try out wood fried meals which are made in front of them. Shruti and Swati Jain give the thumbs up to the oven baked veg cannelloni but Shruti rues the fact, "We love the food here because it is so different but I wish there were more variety in the veggie fare." Taking note of that the young owner Pankhuri Garg urges them to try out the raclette and sure enough it is a winner and a foodie's delight.

The traditional Swiss affair which lets you cook your vegetables or different cuts of meat in a table-top oven and mix in the desired accompaniments like cheese and sauces is something new for Ludhiana.

For dessert, it is the tira-choco-misu and an in-house made ice-cream with the flavour of cinnamon.

Another attraction Frog Prince has is a book café and an in-house bakery. The book café also offers the 'keep one and take one system', where you can keep your own book and take one from the display to read at home.

Price points: A meal for two is for Rs 900k

Musical offering

Malhar, an exquisite collection of jhumkis and balis brought to you by ORRA. Handcrafted in precious metals and adorned with brilliant diamonds and semi-precious gemstones, these classics are reminiscent of traditional artistry with a touch of contemporary design.

Created in 18 K diamond studded designs, elegant platinum designs and the classic 22K gold designs, this collection has something to offer for every one. The price range starts from Rs 30,000. —TNS

first-day-first show
Disappointing comedy

Yamla Pagla Deewana 2

Dharmedra (L) & Bobby Deol in Yamla Pagla Deewana
Dharmedra (L) & Bobby Deol in Yamla Pagla Deewana

Directed by Sangeeth Sivan and a sequel to Yamla Pagla Deewana, the 2011 hit film, Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 is a Bollywood action comedy film. The film features Sunny Deol, Dharmendra and Bobby Deol from the previous film along with Neha Sharma and Kristina Akheeva (debuting in this film) as the female leads. The super-hit trio of Dharam (Dharmendra), Paramveer (Sunny Deol) and Gajodhar (Bobby Deol) reunite, this time in the United Kingdom! While Paramveer opens up the Yamla Pagla Deewana club, he re-encounters a visit with Dharam and Gajodhar, after their last presence in Canada. Now, the trio is back with Johnny Lever and double the romance, with the Suman (Neha Sharma), and Paramveer's love Reet (Kristina Akheeva).

Stale script

I liked the performances by the Deol trio but the storyline of the film is a disappointment. Their characters in the film are more or less the same as they were in the prequel and there is nothing new in the film other than the orangutan.

Amit Gorai, student

Not so funny

The film has very little meaningful jokes to tickle your funny bone. Also, the concept of introducing an orang-utan in the film did not sit well with it. If you want to watch the film, leave your brains at home.

Atin Khanna, businessperson

One-time watch

I like the film for the Deols and the fresh comic adventures that have gone a long way to light up the film and its plot. However, this is not the kind of film that one can watch over and over again. But I do think that it qualifies for a one-time watch.

Kirti Sharma, student

After Earth

A still from After Earth
A still from After Earth

Directed by M Night Shyamalan, After Earth is a 2013 American science fiction adventure drama film that he co-wrote with Gary Whitta. The film is based on the original story idea by Will Smith, about a military father and son crash-landed on Earth one thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to abandon it for a new planet. The teenage son must save his dying father by trekking alone across the hostile terrain, encountering highly evolved creatures and a ruthless alien beast along the way, to recover their rescue beacon and also prove that he can live up to his father's reputation as a legendary soldier. It stars Smith and his son, Jaden as Cypher and Kitai Raige, with Will Smith also acting as producer.

Visual treat

I totally loved the film, especially for its visual appeal. The creative team of the film seems to have done a wonderful job in making it aesthetically marvellous. Also, Will Smith and his son have performed rather brilliantly in the film.

Pukhraj Sodhi, student

Surreal and nice

In my opinion, the concept of the film, which is so surreal, is exceptionally amazing. I like the plot, the storyline and the action scenes in the film. There is a lot of technical creativity in the film that will keep you glued to your chairs.

Nitin Sharma, student

As told to Amarjot Kaur

star track
Not so perfect ending…
The glamour world often attracts everyone, but behind the glitzy curtain of showbiz lies the dark world where insecurities can often be a fatal flaw

Life was not a bed of roses for many actresses in Bollywood. With the sudden death of Jiah Khan, this reality has once again struck us. With no consistency in their personal and professional life, the stars in reality do not actually have the ‘oh-so-perfect’ life as projected in the media. Unfortunately some stories don’t have a happy ending. We take a look at some of the beauties who left us a little too early.

Meena Kumari Meena Kumari

She was 40 years old when she died of cirrhosis of liver caused by excessive drinking. The saddest part was when she died, her super hit film Pakeezah was still running in all the theatres. She didn't even get a chance to see how much people loved her and appreciated her performance in the film.

Parveen Babi Parveen Babi

She had quite a sad death. She died in her Juhu residence. As she lived alone, nobody got a hint of what was in store for her. Her door was locked from inside, so the police had to break open the door and that's when they found her body three days after her death. It’s still unclear if it was a natural death or a suicide case.

Madhubala

MadhubalaShe is regarded as one of the most beautiful faces of Bollywood. This legendary actress too died at an early age of 36. Her performances in films like Mughal-E-Azam, Howra Bridge and Kaala Paani to name a few are remembered till date. The sad part was that she was surrounded by a number of people when she was a big name, but during her last days when she was bedridden, she had no one stood besides her. She died a lonely death.

Divya Bharti Divya Bharti

At the age of only 19, she fell to her death off a five storey apartment building in Mumbai, sadly ending a potentially successful career. She was secretly married to Sajid Nadiadwala. The situations behind her death were considered suspicious by the media. However, despite an investigation, police found no evidence that her death was a murder. To this day her death remains a mystery.

Smita Patil Smita Patil

The day Smita Patil passed away; it was a great loss for Bollywood. She died at an age of 31. She passed away after giving birth to her youngest son Pratiek Babbar, who is now an accomplished actor. Smita was not just an amazing actress but also a newsreader and a photographer.Nafisa Joseph

Nafisa Joseph

A tall, lithe and strikingly beautiful, she won Miss India contest in 1997. Her poise and personality had the makings of a winner. A few nights before her death, she called off her marriage withJiah Khan automobile parts businessman Gautam Kanduja. She committed suicide at the age of 26. Her mother blamed her fiancée for the suicide.

Jiah Khan

She committed suicide by hanging herself. Before committing suicide, Sooraj and Khan had called each other for more than 10 times and they had an argument. It was also revealed that she had tried to kill herself eight months before as well but doctor Anant Pal Singh saved her. She was only 25.

The blessed girl

Actress and fashionista Evelyn Sharma is on cloud nine. After the super success of Rohan Sippy’s Nautanki Saala and her much-appreciated performance with Ayushmann Khurranna in the number Dil Ki Toh Lag Gayi; the girl is being noticed all over again in Bollywood’s latest blockbuster Ayan Mukherji’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

And why not! “Starring with Ranbir is every girl’s dream,” beams the 23-year-old half-German half-Indian, who has received a positive response from public as well as the industry. Beautiful, charming, entertaining, sexy and appealing — are words the critics have used for her. “I've never played a sexy character like Lara before, and I admit all the flirting was a lot of fun,” she gushes.

Apart from having set a mark as a fashion icon in India over the last few months, Evelyn has also become a sought-after face for campaigns. “Year 2013 has been Evelyn’s best so far. And come to think of it; it’s just her beginning. She is blessed,” quips her publicist.

Meanwhile, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani continues to roar at the box-office, having joined the 100-crore-club, even before completing a one-week-run in theatres.Evelyn Sharma with Ranbir Kapoor The worldwide net collections of the film as of now; are in the range of Rs 111-114 crores. In fact, YJHD even managed to break into the US Top 10 and was at the ninth spot over the weekend.

Evelyn has Issaq with Prateik Babbar coming up for release next month, followed by Yaariyaan; the directorial debut of T-Series’ head honcho Bhushan Kumar’s wife Divya Kumar; and Evelyn’s fifth release in a year. Indeed, this chick is blessed!

Flirting fun: Evelyn Sharma with Ranbir Kapoor

Tamannah to romance Saif Ali Khan

Tamannah It seems like a good going for Tamannah in Bollywood. The heroine from the South Indian film industry got her first major break in Sajid Khan’s comic action movie Himmatwala, which released this year. Her hero in the film was Ajay Devgan.

Though the film didn’t do much at the box office, her performance was noted by the audience and the critics alike. Director Sajid Khan was so pleased with her performance that he has decided to cast her in his next film as well, opposite Saif Ali Khan.

The film is named as Humshakal and is heard to be the remake of Angoor (1982). Along with Saif; Riteish Deshmukh, Sonal Chauhan and Esha Gupta are also the part of the star cast of the upcoming movie.

The shooting for the film is scheduled to begin from September this year. The film promises to be a ‘paisa wasool’ for the viewers. Well, let’s wait and watch!
Step up: Tamannah

Anushka Sharma Zipping around

Anushka Sharma has bought to two new cars. Recently she wrapped up a shoot in the wee hours of the morning and enjoyed a ride back to the suburbs from South Mumbai. She drove herself.

Mukesh Bhatt with daughter Sakshi Fancy ride: Anushka Sharma

All in the family

Mukesh Bhatt's daughter Sakshi wants to become a producer when she grows up and has no interest in being in front of the camera. Her brother Vishesh is a director. Mukesh Bhatt is very excited that his daughter is following his footsteps and he would not be surprised if Alia Bhatt acts in a film produced by Sakshi and directed by Vishesh!

in dad's footsteps: Mukesh Bhatt with daughter Sakshi

Value what you have!

Nikhil Dwivedi is making himself useful. He raised his voice against wastage of food at an up-market restaurant which does not allow people to pack and takeaway the food and throws it away instead. He felt bad because he has been taught not to waste food and there are so many people dying of hunger and here food is being thrown away.

Desi Bond

After Ranbir wraps up Besharam and Bombay Velvet, he will start shooting for Vikram Singh's Roy in which he plays a brooding thief on the lines of James Bond.

chatter BOX
Meet Dr Emily Owens

This July Big CBS Love will introduce you to Emily Owens—a young medical intern at Denver Memorial Hospital. Emily Owens MD is not your regular medical drama. It's Mean Girls meets ER. From drama to comic moments to even a little romance, Emily Owens MD starring Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer has it all. The show is a must-watch for young urban audiences who want a taste of good wholesome entertainment.

Emily Owens feels like she can finally put her high school days as theMamie Gummer geeky-girl-with-flop-sweats behind her. She's graduated from medical school, and she's beginning an internship at the hospital, where, not-so-coincidentally, her med-school crush Will Collins (Justin Hartley) is also an intern. However, she realises that the big hospital is not that different from her high school. She finds out the hard way—her high school nemesis, the gorgeous and popular Cassandra Kopelson (Aja Naomi King) is also an intern at Denver Memorial. Emily soon discovers that the cliques at the hospital are all too familiar, the jocks have become orthopedic surgeons; the mean girls are in plastics; the rebels are in the ER. Emily finds out it's all just as awkward as high school. Watch Emily Owens MD starting from July 15.

Playing Doc:
Mamie Gummer

Madhuri loves balancing roles

Madhuri Dixit is surely enjoying her expedition being a judge on TV with Jhalak Dikhhlaa Jaa. Her take is to create a balance in life.

Is it now easy for you to judge?

Not really. Being a judge, we have a lot of responsibilities. We observe, focus on the contestant's strengths and flaws and then make the right comments.

But it is easy than any other job on TV?

No doubt we don't have to run around, but it's not that easy either.Madhuri Dixit

How do you feel when people dance to your numbers?

It feels great! I particularly like to see if they just imitate or add their own individuality into the act.

What can you tell us about your films?

I am very thrilled to be a part of Gulab Gang and Dedh Ishqiya. Both the roles are powerful and I enjoyed working in them. I would like to do a challenging role in the near future too. Something that makes me eager to hit the sets as soon as I wake up.

With so much work, how do you get time for family?

I like to maintain a balance. We plan outings to spend some quality time together. Recently, I celebrated my birthday where we all went out and had a good time.
Happy feet: Madhuri Dixit

AB to redefine telly!

In a move to personify magic on the small screen, Sony Entertainment Television has announced the debut of the living legend of Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan, as an actor for the first time in a fiction series on Indian television. He will play the lead protagonist. Helming the show will be ace film-maker Anurag Kashyap as the creative director. He will lend a special creative language to showcase AB's supreme talent.

Working with the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, Sony Entertainment Television will once again reinvent the television space in India by giving the small screen a first-of-its-kind finite fiction series showcasing an explosive combination of the finest industry talents ever. An enthusiastic Bachchan said, "I am delighted to be a part of this venture."

Anurag Kashyap and (R) Amitabh Bachchan"Working with Amitabh Bachchan is every director's dream. When Endemol approached me with a great concept and the novel idea of launching Amitabh, I jumped at the opportunity. This series will change the way India sees television and open the doors for a new genre in television entertainment," said Anurag Kashyap. — HRM

TEAMING UP: Anurag Kashyap and (R) Amitabh Bachchan

Kishwer Merchantt Good, bad & scary

Kishwer Merchantt, who played vampire earlier in Pyaar Kii Yeh Ek Kahani, now will attempt another supernatural role. She will be seen in double roles, bad witch Kaya and good witch Chaya, in Life Ok's supernatural drama series Savitri.



WITCH HUNT: Kishwer Merchantt

Abhaas to quitAbhaas Mehta

Abhaas Mehta aka Agastya in Zee TV's Badalte Rishton Ki Dastaan is soon going to quit the show. After his earlier negative show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon he was signed to play a grey role in the show. But he felt the character wasn't being developed well.

Abhaas Mehta

Astro turf
P Khurrana

ARIES: It is important that you use your time in a worthwhile manner. Pointless arguments and debates will only waste your time. The future looks bright and hopeful. Take care of you health. Tarot message: Try to avoid serious discussions with loved ones. Lucky colour: Peacock-blue. Lucky number: 61

TAURUS: Some long overdue tasks will be completed successfully. Socially, you will be quite occupied while meeting new people and catching up with old friends. Tarot message: Seek advice, but don't feel you have to stick to it. Lucky colour: Lotus-pink. Lucky number: 65

GEMINI: You will not be feeling very energetic and upbeat today. Spending some time on your own will enable you to recharge your batteries and focus on the tasks at hand. Invest only in safe plans. Tarot message: Take care of your finances. Lucky colour: Crimson. Lucky number: 40

CANCER: This will be a demanding day for many of you, since family and friends will not be very open and welcoming towards the new relationships that you have formed lately. Do not delay matters related to money. Tarot message: Be polite and understanding. Lucky colour: yellow. Lucky number: 32

LEO: This day is all about decision making and strategising with your practical approach towards life. You will be quite active and motivated to take on pending tasks and at the same time, catching up with friends. Tarot message: Spend time on fitness routines. Lucky colour: Ebony. Lucky number: 63

VIRGO: It's the best time to put your productive ideas into practice. As far as relationships go, you will have to help someone out of a dire situation. Take care of your health. Certain financial decisions need to be revised. Tarot message: Renew energy in the relationship. Lucky colour: Deep-red. Lucky number: 44

LIBRA: Putting your home and workplace into order, the results would start to show and this would increase your productivity and confidence. Social gatherings and celebrations will put you in the limelight. Tarot message: Adopt a diplomatic approach. Lucky colour: Green. Lucky number: 51

SCORPIO: Family matters will be fairly uneventful and some of you need to help out a younger sibling or relative. Loved ones will be supportive. Keep an eye on your spending and ensure that you stick to the budget. Tarot message: Beware of making rash moves. Lucky colour: Purple. Lucky number: 46

SAGITTARIUS: Social gatherings will be vital for your growth and success. Travelling and journeys will hold a lot of significance, personally and professionally. It is essential that you deal with issues immediately. Tarot message: Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities. Lucky colour: Saffron. Lucky number: 55

CAPRICORN: Many of you would spend time in exploring and broadening your spiritualistic and philosophical dimensions. Relationships will become stronger and enable you to grow and advance, personally and professionally. Tarot message: Be positive. Lucky colour: Peach Lucky number: 39

AQUARIUS: Efforts of the past will finally bear fruit. There will be changes in several aspects of your life and this will put a fair amount of stress on you, however, these changes will have a beneficial effect on your future. Tarot message: Stop thinking about yourself. Lucky colour: Mauve. Lucky number: 26

PISCES: You need to deal with pending tasks and official procedures. You will be mentally and physically agile and energetic. In relationships and financial dealings, trust your experience and instincts. Tarot message: Take the life the way it comes. Lucky colour: Orange. Lucky number: 64





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