The stage was set. The aspiring rock stars ready to fire from their guitar and drums to prove their supremacy in the battle. Every thing was in place for the auditions of Campus Rock Idols at Leisure Valley - a loud stage, the cult of metal worshippers and high-energy music. It was an opportunity that no city band could let go of, a chance to become the next big thing in the rock scene.

So, we had 16 campus bands jamming it up for themselves and for the cheering headbangers. The event saw wannabe rockstars from across the region performing in front of the crowd and the judges - Vaasav Vashist, Nitesh Vasnandani and Tazeem Raza, band members of Prestorika, winners of the first Campus Rock Idols. "Out the 16 bands, six will be finalised to perform at the regional round," says Vaasav. And while the passion and the energy comes naturally to the cult, what's the deciding factor? "Apart from the guitar and drums, what matters is the co-ordination between the band members and that's what we look for," clears Vaasav. While amateur was the word for the bands who performed, but they were no dearth of attitude. And if it was on-stage experience that favoured some bands, then some turned out to be dark horses. Like this band from GGSD College-32, This Side Up. "It is our first-ever live performance, but we are all geared up for the show," said Himanshu, one of the members. The four-member-band that plays contemprory blues is one of the six finalists. Talk of some more confidence and we have The 9th Cadaver, a band from the PEC, who believes in no restrictions when it comes to music. "We don't limit ourselves with the kind of rock genres. We just play metal," says Anupam, the drummer. And it takes a lot more than just the taste and the craze for music. The competition saw some of the bands playing their original compositions. Like, This Side Up performed their original Cake. "We focus on the entirety of our music, the vocals and not just growling," said Varun, another member of the band. And when it comes to the first timers, even Vaasav admits to the jitters. "we started when we were in school, so we too had to go through the jitters of performing in front of the live audience for the first time. The pressure is always there and it is sure to effect your performance if you are not ready to take it head on. I know what difference few good stage performances can do to your confidence."

And if the auditions were a warming up session, evening was electrifying with six selected bands performing live for the massive crowd. It was pure, unadulterated high decibel music for city rock-lovers. The other bands selected were Harmonic Friction, Carrot Fish, Batree and Fringe Pop. The night was set on fire by The Headline Act performed by Indigo Children.

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Brother of the angry Khan, Salman, he is the calm and composed one (from his voice). Call him husband of sexy siren Malaika Arora Khan or an actor with credibility, Arbaaz Khan has the brainpower to twist and turn questions as per his desire, that too without sounding rude. In a telephonic interview with the actor, he talks about his forthcoming flick Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, Bollywood big banners, television, the role he would like to play and much more.

Up-to-the-minute

Having started his career in 1996 with Daraar, the actor has made his presence felt in Bollywood with big and small roles. Talking about his latest movie, he says, "I play husband to Raima Sen in Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye. This is a husband-wife story, where the wife falls in love with an imaginary guy. It is all about their aspirations and believes and how this imaginary lover affects their married life." On other projects that he is doing, he says "I have completed shooting for my home production Kissan."

Love talk

Describing love as the need of life, he says, "There is no ideal man or woman for anyone. For loving someone you don't look in for perfection, as it is too easy to love a perfect person. The beauty of a relationship is finding solace in each other despite your differences." Talk about his relation with wife Malaika and he says, "Its difficult to describe it in one line."

Grey zone

Having mostly done multi-starrer films Arbaaz says, " Solo is not prerogative. Call it a fortune or misfortune, but I got offers of multi-starrer films and the roles appealed to me, so I went with them." Ask him if he like playing the hero or the villain. "Every character has its pluses and minuses. And as an actor one wants to do each and every kind of role." But hasn't he done more of negative roles, "Yes, I have had my stint with negative shades but then I've had positive performances too in movies like Malamaal Weekly, Shootout at Lokhandwala and a cameo in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na."

Banner ka dum

"Big banners definitely matter. They have established themselves with hard work. Though I don't say one should only do big budget movies, but yes banners do matter. If you work with a big banner you obviously get noticed and the film fraternity respects and acknowledges the fact," says Arbaaz

True or false?

Ask him about his role in Fashion and how true is the scenario to real life and he says, "There is an element of truth in the film. Though obviously the story has to be dramatised for an impact but whatever is shown has a streak of truth. Some bosses sure take advantage of the girls, there are drug addicts in the industry, wardrobe malfunction do happen and then even a single incident can inspire a director to make a movie."

Telly ho

"It's a powerful medium. Though we associate glamour with cinema but television is no less these days. People actually relate more to this medium. And if I get something that interests me, I am game for television." What about reality shows? Does he want to play the judge or a participant, "I think a judge. But in the end it should suit me and my personality."

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We love chilly winter. But the sole reason for it is the steaming delicacies we get to binge on to keep ourselves warm. So, when Moti Mahal Delux organised a Dum Biryani and Mast Kebab Food Festival, we jumped to it. Be it Luckhnowi patther ke kebab, Punjabi kukad masala, Hyderabadi dum biryani or Paneer Jaipuri, dum Pukht biryani and also for those who swear by the green food, the festival caters to everyone.

“Like the usual food fests, we aren’t just offering a particular region’s food. The menu has an extensive Indian cuisine which includes Rajasthani, Avadhi, Hyderabadi and of course Punjabi cuisine,” says Manvir Singh, head chef, Moti Mahal. Hold on! We just read — golden fried prawns and that doesn’t sound Indian at all. “We have customers who order a butter chicken, naan and noodles with that. People here love Chinese and it has almost become a part of our food culture,” he adds.

And if you are not fond of Chinese all that much, then we have an Indian version of prawns here — prawns tawa masala. Other than this, as the chef claims, authenticity in every dish is maintained. “People from the city are well traveled and have developed taste for cuisines other than Punjabi. We wish to give people a slice of authentic Indian food.”

For vegetarians, a must-have here is paneer sesame sola, a Mughlai dish sautéed with eight different spices. Also aalo Akbar is irresistible in which potatoes are stuffed with cheese and vegetables. Khumb bhutte makki palak, dal panchrangi and dal bukhara are some other dishes being offered here.

But when we have a kebab festival, the non-vegetarians are sure to have an advantage? “Not everybody here can name even five non-veg dishes other than the likes of butter chicken, tandoori chicken or shammi kebab. We will be serving an array of non-veg dishes that will be treat for the foodies.” Some such dishes are achari murg, lahsuni chicken, dum jheenga biryani, Peshawari kebabs and gola kebabs.

Also, the desserts available here are tira misu and kesar firni. The special festival menu comprises of around 25 food dishes that includes appetizers, main course and desserts.

The nine-day-festival will begin from January 24.

Fed up with responding to queries about her family background, actor Preity Zinta has finally revealed her British connection.

"Some people think I'm south Indian, while some feel I'm a Muslim. There have also been fans who have asked me whether I hail from Himachal Pradesh," said Preity.

"In the early 18th century, when marital alliances between the Rajput and British became quite common, the Zinta clan was born. I'm the rare combination of British and Rajput blood," she added. The actor has reportedly signed a film with Aamir Khan to be made under the Yash Raj banner. — Agency