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Abhishek-Aish… …Is it a mismatch? Smriti Sharma talks to young cine fans in the city to know how they are feeling about the most happening match of recent times So we all know now that one of the most eligible bachelors of Bollywood is ‘Mr Right’ for one of the most beautiful women in the world. The truth is out in the open; Abhishek Bachhan and Aishwarya Rai are soon going to be pronounced man and wife. Of course, only after Aishwarya Rai got rid of her Mangal Dosh after visiting many Mandirs and Dargahs across the country with the Bachhans in tow. TDH syndrome He is ‘hot’ and charming. She is the green-eyed beauty. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, two of the most talked about stars of Bollywood and their wedding is perhaps the most talked about alliance. After successfully keeping their romance under wraps for many months and denying all the reports that speculated their intimacy in between, finally the duo got engaged. Right from colleagues, friends, relatives, strangers and people from all walks of life, virtually everyone is congratulating the two. But when the wedding bell will finally ring, the big question has sparked off a national debate. Well, till the couple set a final date, we talk to some of their fans to find out what they feel about this jodi. Some of them are disillusioned and some delighted over the news.
At variance Rubina, a theatre actress from the city, is disheartened. “They are total mismatch. Aishwarya is undoubtedly a beauty but beauty fades with time. Moreover, there was a Mangal Dosh in Aish’s kundli that can be harmful for them. So why on earth are they forcing this marriage to happen? Abhishek and Priyanka Chopra would have made a lovely couple,” she says. If Sahil Khattar, a student of BBA, is to be believed, Abhishek needs to be very careful. This die-hard fan of Abhishek is asking, “Why can’t Aishwarya decide as to who she wants to be with? First she was reportedly seeing Salman Khan and then she was believed to be with Vivek Oberoi. May be Rani Mukherji would have been a better option for
Abhishek. (Well Abhishek, you can still take your time and pay heed to his advice!)
Great pair Amidst this bunch of unhappy youngsters, there are those also who are celebrating the news. Vaishali Sharma, a student of M.Sc (Zoology), is just too happy with the fact that finally her favourite hero is getting married. “I am very excited to see them as husband and wife on screen. For me what matters is Abhishek’s wedding and doesn’t matter with whom. And they do make a wonderful pair and he must have taken the big decision after weighing all pros and cons. (We hope so!) Manish Gandhi, a student of B. Sc, could accept the pair only after watching their latest flick, Guru. “Frankly I never liked the pair earlier but when I watched Guru, I developed a liking for the couple and now I am happy about their wedding on the cards. And finally we would see Aishwarya settled with someone. But looking at her past records, I think Abhishek should marry her soon before she jumps to somebody else,” is what Manish feels. Well, happy or unhappy, the fans are well concerned about the D-day. And here’s wishing the soon-to-be-wedded couple all the very best for the married life ahead with a hope their alliance lasts forever.
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Hamari Choupal se Choupal Fresh in Sector 26 gives a whole new meaning to shopping for fruits and vegetables. Based on the western concept, shopping at the showroom is a whole new experience. An ITC undertaking, it is the first off its kind in northern India. There are no usual fruit and sabzi wala’s, but one can just pick up a basket and at once own leisurely pace breeze through the various stalls and select fruits and vegetables. The front side of the showroom caters to retail selling where people like you and I can shop. The backside of the showroom is for wholesale selling meeting the needs of hotels, hostels and retailers. The showroom is open from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fruits and vegetables can be bought coming from the farmers specially trained by the ITC. No middlemen are involved. The product of these farmers is graded and sorted to meet the diverse needs of the consumer. Transportation of the products is by refrigerated logistic to insure a freshness and minimal damage. These trained farmers are given continues field support and they are monitored through field extension officers for farm management and pest control. The showroom offers to its customers the bill booster scheme where if you purchase any thing more than 5 kgs the customer will be charged the wholesale rate. There are also 3 to 4 other schemes simultaneously going on every week. Utmost cleanliness is maintained in the showroom. Timely and periodical sorting and grading of the fruits and vegetables is done to do away with the rotten items. The showroom management lays great stress on customer service and assistance. The prices of the fruits and vegetables are definitely something one can’t grumble about. Infact you might just strike a bargain or two if you compare the prices with other retailers. The fruits and vegetables are divided into 5 categories – Indian vegetables, Indian leafy vegetables, Indian fruits, Imported fruits and exotic vegetables. Due to continuous sorting the Indian vegetables and leafy vegetables makes one want to grab them at once Specially the saag. In the Indian fruit section definitely an eye catcher are the red and rosy Kinnaur apples (red rich, x-tray fancy large and medium). Not to miss are the waxed kinoos which look almost as big as pumpkins. The store has two types of pomegranates- Kabuli (rich red in colour) and Ganesh (yellow). Then of course there are fruits like – bananas, grapes, chikoos. Amla, muskmelon etc. The rack of the imported fruit stall includes apples- Grany Smith, Washington and Fuji, imported guavas, chinese pears, imported grapes and oranges and kiwi. Even out of season fruits can be found at the showroom like watermelon, mangoes and strawberries. Exotic vegetables include baby corn, red colour capsicum, celery, zucchini, cherry tomato, parsley, lemon grass etc. So forget about the cold weather, grab your coat and rush to Choupal. This showroom provides a whole new experience to shopping for fruits and vegetables. You know the kind our NRI relatives brag about. But not to worry this experience will not leave your wallet empty. In fact you will be pleased by the bargains and great deals you get at the store.
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Well, viewers if you need relief from the routine saas-bahu dramas then switch on to the Star Plus where Kaun Benega Crorepati will be back at 9 pm on January 22. The third season of this much awaited show will be hosted by King Khan (Shahrukh Khan). The new KBC has moved from being a weekend special back to its original 9-10 pm slot from Monday to Thursday. The prize money of this show is the same as before Rs 2 crore. Again, like before there will be 15 questions but with our superstar Shahrukh Khan. KBC will be airing in to 70 million television homes. The set is excellent and the show brings the latest communications technology to ensure more calls from the viewers. The expectations are very high from Shahrukh Khan and KBC. Star Plus has singed King Khan for 52 episodes. The format of KBC is the same in 106 countries. Siddharth Basu’s Synergy Communication has produced this show. For Shahrukh Khan, It is a biggest challenge for him because he is returning to small screen after 17 years. The countdown has begun for KBC. Watch Prasenjit Sarkar on Kaun Banega Crorepati on January 22, 9 pm on Star Plus, the first contestant on the hot seat with Shahrukh Khan. Prasenjit Sarkar hails from Kolkata and is the first roll-over contestant from KBC-2. — D.P.
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Making it Up
The class was unique and so were the questions that poured on the teacher conducting the workshop. One of the girls (it was an all girls class) asked, “ How does one create the effect of blood oozing out?” Surprised? No, it was not Mr. Frankenstein sharing his techniques to his students. In fact, it was a three-day advanced professional crash course in media make-up (read movies and television) at VLCC Institute in Sector 34. Remember the metallic look that drove everyone crazy for Aishwarya in Dhoom 2. So the metallic look was only one part of the three-day workshop conducted by renowned make-up artist Mithlesh Chauhan, the other two being air brush make up and illusion make up as in films and soaps. Elaborating the latest make up trends, Mithlesh having 22 years of experience in the field and has done the same for stars such as Mahima Chaudhary and Malaika Arora Khan and the recent Miss Punjab contest, reveals, “Nowadays very few have the background, space and money to set up a beauty parlour whereas on any given day a freelance make up artist can earn around 10 to 30 grand in a day”. Like we have specialisation in all the fields so it is even in make up trends. One can specialise in theatre, movies or media make up and make big bucks after under going the short-term make up courses at institutes like VLCC and others. For those who want to know what’s in and what’s out in make up and hair do’s, here is a quick checklist. A full base coverage is a must with the scars and pigmentation marks if any, concealed accurately. One can use fingers to dab that concealer and make it blend with the skin perfectly. For the Lips, glossy lip colour would do the right trick making them look softer. Outlining is a strict no-no. So the make up in winters should be glossy and matte for harsh summers. For the tresses, the best would be to leave them open, as that’s very in. Buns and tied hair are out except for formal occasions like a wedding and that too is optional. Straightened or rebonded hairs are the style of the season and say bye-bye to those curls and perms. Armed with these useful tips from Mithilesh, who along with her dedicated team is also responsible for the neat looks supported by nurses and doctors in Max hospitals across Delhi, Indian Airlines and Sahara channel’s anchors, go ahead and make yourself stand out with these tips.
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SIDE LANES
We both try to hide our body’s southern movement, its greyness and wrinkles with aerobics, creams and packaged promises on market shelves. We both succeed - he with the help of Reid and Taylor, I with stuff from Pallika Bazar. We have both realized that now is the ideal time for makeovers, experimentation with new styles and indulgence in childhood, fashion fantasies. Similar, twin like thinking. I try out various colours for my sparse, limp locks. A royal purple is what I’m aiming at. My twin may not approve but who cares? It’s a Mars and Venus thing. Hairy stories are a thing of the past. An aunt’s home-made brew for dandruff removed fifty percent of my silken tresses. A cousin who tried stronger stuff to ward off thinning, woke up bald as an egg. The aunt had mistakenly switched herbs. Today cousin sports colorful bandanas with matching saris. Germaine Greer would call it freedom. I call it a fashion statement. The morning mirror throws back puffy eyes, a droopy mouth, oiled rat tails. I look like last nights leftovers and need a make-over to boost my aging ego. At Sector 11, Sylvie’s fabulous photograph is before me- styled, blonde, bouffant; off the shoulder dress, stole and all. Dada is cutting the inaugural ribbon. I know that this place cares about feelings and fears. There is a smell of coffee and food. Perfumers may be a better option. Gentle, experienced hands shampoo the head. Shan takes over. He wants to know what I want. “A perm but half my hair never curls –that’s the top half. The rest does but then I look like a bathroom mop. Can you do something and make me look better?” An impossible request from a grandmother to a lad barely out of his teens. He just smiles and promises all will be fine. It is. Careful, patient snips of graying strands; perfect styling and drying - all make me feel like a new woman who has cheated age yet again. Where has he learnt such fine work? At Habib’s in Delhi. Where does he live? In an apartment with other friends. Where does he eat? Wherever he can grab a bite. We spend thousands on a make over and never spare a thought for the youngsters who impart that gentle care. They are invariably smiling, patient, considerate. All their troubles take a back-seat. I wonder if they ever have the time or chance to look great too?
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BON APPETIT
Alibaba and the forty thieves must have tickled the imagination of countless generations of children. When the robbers yelled the magical incantation-“Open Sesame”, the hidden doorway to the den opened amidst a thunderous rumble! How I loved that part, enthralled, feeling the tremors right down my spine too! What would the password have been, had the story been set in India? Jai Maata Di?! I wonder! I also wondered then — why sesame? (I mean, why not walnut, wheat or vinegar? ) Now, after so many years, I have been able to dig out the answer to my childhood query (Thank God for the advent of the net! ) When the sesame pods are ripe, they readily burst open at the slightest touch, hence, “Open Sesame!” The first written records referring to sesame seeds date back to 3,000 BC. Egyptian, Persian, Assyrian, Indian and African mythology have references to these little seeds. In the Middleast, the seeds are ground to make ” tahini” paste and are also used to make a candy called”halvah” ( know what you’re I thinking, but no, its not a relative of our halwa ) In Japan they blend the roasted seeds to make “gomasio”, a sesame salt. An ancient Egyptian tomb depicts a baker sprinkling sesame seeds on to a loaf of bread, proving that the practice is as old as the hills. A hamburger isn’t a hamburger without the distinct sesame seeds on the bun! The seeds are a nutritional goldmine, They have a good protein content, high levels of vitamin A & D, and most of the B vitamins except B12 and Folic acid. The iron too, is substantial, and so are the minerals. Do not roast sesame to a dark brown, or the protein will be lost during the process. Stir-fried Vegies with sesame 15 baby-corns Method Split the babycorn lengthwise, then cut it, along with the beans, at an angle. De-seed, then cut the peppers into bite sized pieces. Slice the courgettes and make thickish matchsticks of the carrots. Toast the sesame seeds in a pan, dry-roasting ONLY till they turn light brown. Plunge the broccoli, carrots, courgettes and beans into boiling water(use a minimal quantity of water)and blanch for 30 seconds. Transfer to a bowl of iced water to ensure a crispy texture. Stir-fry the garlic in hot oil, adding ginger towards the end, rapidly followed by all the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and soy sauce, if you care for it. Toss around briefly(2-3 minutes)adding the stock to the pot.(you can even use the water drained from the veggie boiling) Turn out on a serving dish and sprinkle with sesame seeds. This dish complements Chinese, Thai and Indian cuisine. If you want to serve it with an Indian meal, you could skip the soy-sauce. Hummus 150 gm chick peas (kabuli chana) Method Puree sesame seeds in a blender till smooth. Add all the other ingredients except the parsley and liquidize, using the drained chana liquid, if need be. Add salt, adjust seasoning, and tip out into a bowl, finally adding the parsley garnish. Hummus takes getting used to, but makes an excellent dip to be served with pita-bread, bread batons, raw vegetable sticks(carrots, cucumber) and blanched broccoli.
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WORD PLAY
We begin by ‘splitting’ a few terms containing prefixes to understand how prefixes change the meaning of a word. 1. Antisocial – contains prefix ‘anti’ which means ‘against’ and the word ‘social’ meaning 1. Having to do with society and its good. 2. Related to people living in a society. Therefore antisocial means 1. Not friendly, unsocial. 2. Breaking laws. 2. Ambidextrous – The prefix ‘ambi’ means “both” and the word dextrous is a variant of dexterous, meaning ‘skill-full’. Therefore ambidextrous means ‘the ability to use both hands with the same amount of skill’. Today we look at the prefixes ante – anti which sound the same and almost look the same but have different meanings altogether. Ante – is a Latin prefix and means before or in front. Anti – means opposed to, or against. There are a few basic words using ante and anti 1. Antechamber – comes from ante meaning ‘before’ and the word chamber (room). Thus antechamber means a visitors room leading to another room e.g. visitors were waiting in the Minister’s antechamber. 2. Antedate – comes from ante – meaning ‘before’ and the word date. Thus, antedate means ‘to come before something’ e.g. Pagers antedate mobile phones. 3. Antipathy – anti – means ‘against’ and the root path – meaning to feel. Therefore antipathy is feeling of dislike or sort of rejection e.g. some people have a strong antipathy for cats as house pets. 4. Antibiotic – something used ‘against’ to rid to body of harmful organisms that invade the body. Think of more words that start with ante and anti Next week; the prefix circum and De.
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FILM & FASHION Jennifer Aniston’s best friend Courtney Cox and her ex-husband Brad Pitt smoked the peace pipe together, after speaking at the Golden Globe Awards on Monday night. Cox and her husband David Arquette were close friends with the former couple, but their relationship got strained when Pitt left their pal Aniston for Angelina Jolie. Arquette recently spoke about Pitt on the Howard Stern radio show, saying: “When the marriage ended, it was sad. I love Brad, he’s a great guy. He did some stuff that hurt our friend, but you know...” However on 15Jan07, Cox and Arquette approached the Troy actor on a balcony designated for smokers at the awards show and Pitt responded by giving Cox a bear hug and saying, “Hello, sweetheart. It is so great to see you!” reports Contactmusic. The group chatted fora short while before Jolie, who was standing a few steps away, eventually came over and led Pitt back to the party, after greeting the standing couple in a rather formal maner. Love & betrayal British beauty Sienna Miller has said that her ex- beau, actor Jude Law was not the first one to cheat on her. The Factory Girl actress has also said that every single person she knows has experienced infidelity and she will perhaps experience betrayal again “It’s not the first time it’s happened to me, and it probably won’t be the last. We had our problems, but every single person I know has experienced infidelity,” The Sun quoted Miller, as saying. Miller and Law were engaged in December 2004.
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Health tip of the day
Strenuous activity/ High intensity exercise suppresses the immune system therefore should be avoided during high fever, viral infection etc.
— Dr Ravinder Chadha
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The Big B and I could be fraternal twins. We are both in our early sixties. He has a Punjabi mother. So do I. He had a Bengali father. So did I. He has a grey beard which he trims. I have a menopausal stubble which I bleach or pluck (as in a chicken.) He has a jet black mop. As a woman I play around with colours. He conducted and collected from “Kaun Banega Crorepati” while I paid for and watched it. You notice the one and only dissimilarity?
A Prefix consists of a letter or a group of words, which placed before a word, changes its meaning. During the next few weeks we will explore the usage of prefixes in our day to day English.