Television
Yesterday, once more

Natasha Sinha: Those were the days

Time was, almost two decades ago when Dev Anand hand-picked her to play the lead role opposite his son Suniel Anand in Anand Hi Anand. However, soon after that Natasha Sinha did the disappearing act and came back a decade later with serials like Buniyaad, Zanjeerien and Viraasat.

Life’s come a full circle for Natasha Sinha as she comes back again on the small screen with Chandramukhi every Tuesday at 10 p.m. She plays the role of Rani Padmavati, the king’s favourite queen.

"For me acting has always been important. Although I keep it limited to one serial, but I need to act to keep myself going. When I was offered Rani Padmavati’s character I immediately grabbed it because it sounded like a challenging role," says Natasha who plays the mother of the cursed Vanraj who turns into a werewolf every moonless night and goes on a killing spree.

Natasha still remembers the good old days when a letter addressed only to ‘Dev Anand, Mumbai’ had reached the actor and he even called her over to Mumbai from Calcutta to cast her as heroine in Anand Hi Anand. "Where do we have such makers in the industry any more? Old timers had a passion for cinema. It was great working in films." A hint of regret. Perhaps!

The ancient conquerer

The True Story of Hannibal: Blood, grit and guts

This is the story of the Carthaginian general who struck fear in the hearts of ancient Romans and wreaked havoc with his masterful military tactics, bringing the mighty Roman Republic to the brink of ruin.

In The True Story of Hannibal on October 31 at 9 p.m. on the History Channel, archaeologists, historians and military experts guide viewers through ancient Carthage and give an insight into his military strategies of the genius warlord. One of history’s greatest military leaders, at age nine Hannibal accompanied his father Hamilcar Barca on the Carthaginian expedition to conquer Spain. Before embarking, the boy vowed eternal hatred for Rome, his people’s bitter rival.

Twenty years later, in 218 BC, he left New Carthage (now Cartagena, Spain) to wage war on "The Eternal City" with an army of about 40,000, including cavalry and elephants.

After crossing the Pyrenees and Rhone River, he traversed the Alps while beset by snowstorms, landslides, and hostile mountain tribes. The engrossing tale tells one epic story—the real story behind the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. — NF

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