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The long & short of it
Feel for a cause? Make a short film and let the world know about it
Channelising youthful energy and creativity in a smart way are these youngsters, who by virtue of being social agents of change have found a short cut to get the message across. Making short films and documentaries on social issues seems to be the latest weapon of mass attraction. All for a cause! “The aim is to create an awareness and today, the best way to do that is technology. Putting technology to best use, making a short film about social issues gives you wider reach,” says Yogesh Negi, a student who is currently working on a short film on ragging. He adds that youth is the target, using social networking sites, e-mails and e-messages helps in easy accessibility and impact. “We have so many voluntary organisations by youth, but most of them are fading out due to lack of resources or manpower. Here, you can be a one-man-army, all you need is a handy-cam and your creative cells,” he says. For him entertainment is the best way to win attention.
Agrees Ankur Kapoor, another animation student who is into making movies for a cause. “Collecting 1,000 people for a candle march is difficult, but making 1,000 people watch a half-hour movie is easy. If you dump your movies on online portals, on average you can get 400-500 hits everyday, which serves your purpose of spreading the message,” he adds. The animator has made 3-4 PSAs and movies on issues like global warming, traffic awareness and recently on child labour. And his movies have won him awards and rewards as well. Awards in form of trophies and rewards in form of reaction! There is no dearth of promotion vehicles for short films as well. Film festivals accept them as independent entries, distribution in form of DVDs and CDs, screenings at auditoriums and public places, and special screenings at student fests. Unlike a regular NGO, funding is not a real problem. “Getting sponsors becomes easy if your film gets recognition in film festivals. But we usually go for low budgets, we have to ask our friends to join in, either acting in the movie or helping with the production,” says Ankur. Anybody who has got the time and inclination are welcomes to join the gang. And this is one gets a chance to shine in front of camera as well. Now, that’s social work.
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Blast from past
Kala Maitri brings back memories from yesteryears
It’s a journey from Lahore via Shimla to Chandigarh and still continuing. The still of mother institution, Mayo School of Art-Lahore, from D. S. Kapoor’s collection is the first to greet you along with School of Art, Simla. An alumnus of 78 batch and founder member of Kala Maitri, the organiser for the event, he says, “It had been planned for a while and we wanted to bring every alumnus alma mater together under one roof through such an exhibition.” And what of the man of the moment? He says, “Can you imagine when we asked him to inaugurate he said what would he have to bring in return?” So, what does the chacha has to say? “It’s a great feeling. The students mean a lot to me and when the institution shifted from Shimla, I came along.” Getting back to the exhibition. It’s a journey of faces and generations. Time when black and white was the only colour and the only way of getting clicked was a studio position with every face stacked together in a horizontal line! Not to forget the parallel journey of million-dollar memories. So, there’s a frame of Simla batch of 1956, students listening to guest faculty, with an American artist, in an outdoor sketching, during Holi celebrations, with Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, with stars of the film Jungli, on sports day celebration, during annual functions, on an educational tour to Ajanta caves. It’s a galaxy of moments and memories, with quite a few frames in retro sepia tones. One even goes onto declare: 91 batch, no match! Bumping into long ago alumni was usual as was the recent pass outs, shouting, “Hey, did you see me in that picture?” Remarks Shiv Singh, sculptor, “I never used to bunk classes but I always used to be late and anxious to get over with my role call.” We’ve reached the end and the changes are getting stalker. As we move, the photographs go a lot more uninhibited, action like, where getting soaked in rain on the campus is a moment to capture. The poses more asymmetric, casual snapshots of students just being themselves! Hey, did not anybody notice, the girls are ruling literally with each passing batch? manpriya@tribunemail.com On at Government College of Art-10 till 18th August.
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No kidding!
Gymming in tender age can leave one with bow legs and knock knees Just like everything else, fitness-freak Gen Y is going overboard with looks too. They do what not to have six-packs like John Abraham's, a toned body like Akshay Kumar's, curves like Priyanka Chopra's and size zero like Kareena Kapoor's. Weight training, heavy weight exercises, cardio, pilates, power yoga… the options are galore. This 'imitation course' to attain the perfect looks (another debatable issue) of their fitness idols can work otherwise for those who are underage or hasn't fully developed muscles. We take cue from fitness experts in the city as to which exercises suit teenagers and repercussions of being a fitness-obsessed teenager. Gaurav Sanotra, fitness manager at the Elemention club, where kids as members are in majority, recommends only lightweight exercises and aerobics. For those, who are too eager to flaunt muscles, he advices, "Don't start straining your body muscles at a very early age. Many youngsters begin to lift weights without even considering if their body qualifies to take stress or the muscular system is strong enough to adapt to strenuous exercising regime." He adds that every individual has a different body type and exercises should be taken up in accordance with it. "Mostly teenagers learn how to exercise by watching TV shows or by reading on Internet, which might be too taxing for the strength of their muscles." In such a case, boys should only go for lifting secondary weights to help strengthen their muscles, play basketball and do cycling to gain height and improve the basic metabolic rate. For girls, he suggests flexibility exercises like yoga and aerobics but even that follows an age limit, "We generally make kids begin with the flexibility exercises at the age of 12. These include all the less intense workouts like kick-boxing, gym and Swiss ball exercises." Taking to exhaustive workouts at an early age can leave a person with permanent deformities. Vivek Kumar, fitness expert at Ozone, informs, "Straining muscles when they haven't fully developed can lead to postural deformities like bow leg and knock knees." Bowleg is caused when the weak muscles are made to bear a lot of weight due to which they turn in outward direction. The same also results in knock-knees, the only difference being, in this case, the knees bend inwards while walking. To avoid these deformities, he suggests one should not go for the usual gymming before the age of 16. "Even if one is beginning with the usual workouts, the gradual process of conditioning should be adhered to. Also, it's important to assure that exercises don't interfere with the natural growth or hormonal process." He suggests the right age to begin with the full fledged work out is 18, "By then the hormonal process is complete and a person's body type can be categorised into actomorph (high metabolic rate), endomorph (average metabolic rate) and mesomorph (poor metabolic rate) and recommended work out sessions accordingly." Jasbir Kaur, fitness expert and owner of Oceanic, says, "Kids should not be encouraged to join gyms at a very early age as that can hamper their height too. Bones are not developed to handle weights and that can retard the physical growth of person." For those who are overweight, she suggests, "Lose weight naturally by playing a lot of games and indulging in physical activities." ashmina@tribunemail.com
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Home alone
Being lonely is as bad as smoking or obesity Case Study: A 30-year-old professional woman, working for a multi-national company, came to the city three years ago. Initially, she didn't realise it, but her constantly deteriorating health compelled her to visit a physician, and then she came to know that loneliness had taken its toll on her. "For a couple of years, I have been facing problems such as insomnia and high blood pressure, and it was my physician who informed me that I did not need medical help, but some friends and an active social life," she quips. It is said there are no freebees in life. This is true also for those who leave their homes and their loved ones and come to other cities in search of jobs, education or even just for being independent. And, the price they sometimes pay is of being lonely and unhappy. Majority of such people may not feel that way but there are many who are introvert and do not mix that easily with others. Such 'loners' have a tendency of being unhappy and depressed, which effects their health adversely in many ways. "A sense of loneliness, isolation and depression are common amongst outstation students and working youth," admits Dr B.S. Chavan, head of psychiatry department, GMCH-32. ''We often get cases where the students and working women, specially those staying alone, suffer from depression," he says adding that this trend is on the rise. Staying away from parents and home in a strange city thus contributes to the feeling of loneliness. "These people experience both psychological and social isolation, which sometimes even pushes them to take to drugs,'' says Dr Chavan. Dr Chavan said the worst part of being lonely is that it breeds depression, which today has become the most popular disease among professionals, who stay alone. "People are not aware that loneliness as a disease. Actually people don't even think loneliness and depression are disorders. Isolation from friends and peers often leads to sadness, loss of appetite, and if anyone is facing such problems, it is advisable to visit a psychiatrist as soon as possible," opines Dr Chavan. Even, a recent research conducted by US-based psychologist at the University of Chicago has revealed that being lonely could be as bad for your health as smoking or obesity. "These findings become much more relevant in the times that we live in today, where many people communicate through Internet rather than face-to-face, which is stalking the lives of many professionals," says Dr Chavan. Health effects
The most lonely people have blood pressure readings 30 points higher than the most sociable, making them three times more likely to get heart disease or have a stroke, as compared to those with normal blood pressure. High level of the stress hormone, Cortisol, is found to be more common in lonely people. It can suppress the ability to fight off infection and can push blood pressure up to into the danger zone, making the patients vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes. Loneliness interferes with sleep and poor sleep is linked to obesity and depression. The lonelier you are, the more likely you are to eat fatty, sugary foods and the less likely you are to exercise. Get connected
Stay in touch with your family and try to plan regular meetings. If you have spare time, accept that you may have to do more of the running around. Meanwhile, stay in touch with them through phone calls, texts and e-mails. Even if it's just to go to the shop, make an effort to go out. Smile at people and make conversation with someone you see regularly. Smiling not only releases feel-good chemicals, but it also attracts people. Learning something new keeps your brain active. Sometimes, it could open up a whole new world. Not only does regular exercise help prevent heart disease and chances of a stroke, it can also slow the progression of Alzheimer's. People who have hobbies are never prone to loneliness. If you are interested in, whether it's walking, reading or music, you'll instantly find that you're with like-minded people. People who do voluntary work for two-hours-a-week have lower depression rates and better health than those who don't. Owning a pet helps lower blood pressure, boost immunity and ease depression. And walking a dog every day is a great way to get out and meet people. anujaj@tribunemail.com |
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Rang Rasiya star, Randeep Hooda on fitness Health mantra: It's staying active and eating right. Fitness regime: I don't do workouts in the gym, instead I prefer riding my horses, which is a form of a high cardio exercise. I find gyming boring, and in the little I spend there, I prefer doing only weights. Till date, I haven't spent more than an hour in the gym. Diet: I don't follow any diet chart. In fact, I believe it is all about common sense, one shouldn't eat much, if the daily routine does not allow indulging in much physical activity. I love to have the usual home cooked food, eggs, toasts and khichdi. Of late I have given up milk. I am genetically blessed with a high metabolic rate, so, I needn't bother too much about what I eat. Fantasy food: I eat everything I wish to. Given a choice, I would indulge in chocolates and jalebis everyday as I have a sweet tooth. Sleeping hours: I just get six hours of sleep, I wish I could get more. Best body celeb: Neetu Chandra and Sameera Reddy. — Ashima Sehajpal
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BODY WISE
Garlic: Garlic has always been a miracle food. Garlic contains sulphuric compounds, such as
allicin, which gives garlic its smell, but also its unparalleled protection against illnesses of various types. It is great at fighting viral and bacterial, and fungal infections. Carrots: Carrots are good for you because they are a rich source of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a powerful immune booster that actually strengthens defenses against both bacterial and viral infections. Studies show that the more beta-carotene consumed, the greater the increase in protective immune cells, including those natural killer cells. Other sources of beta-carotene are mangoes, papaya, oranges, melons, and green leafy vegetables. Pomegranate fruit /
juice: One of the reasons pomegranates are a superfood is because they are loaded with immune-boosting antioxidants. Antioxidants protect and repair cells damaged by free radicals, making you better able to ward off infections. Pomegranates are great at neutralising free radicals. Opt for either fruit or juice depending on the availability. Green
tea: Green tea is perfect for strengthening the immune system, and fighting bacteria and viruses. It contains some antioxidants and nutrients that will help to enhance your immunity. Tea has more antioxidants per part than fruits and vegetables. Lemon: Lemons are easy to add to your diet. They offer vitamin C, and equalise the body's balance of acids and alkali. They help the body to maintain an alkalinity, which supports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and harmful bacteria, which thrive in more acidic environments. You can mix lemon juice with tea or water, use it for salad dressing, baking or cooking. Other sources of vitamin C are red bell peppers, guavas, kiwis, oranges and amlas (gooseberry). Yogurt: Yogurt is called a miracle food.
Probiotics, or the 'live active cultures' found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs. You can also take a probiotic supplement, to boost your body's natural immunity. Fish: Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce cytokines--proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the body. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections. Turmeric: When it comes to boosting your immune system, turmeric is the way to go. This magic spice has a variety of medicinal properties. It works as an anti-inflammatory when eaten, and is speculated by physicians to have properties that allow it to generate more immune cells. Broccoli: Not only does broccoli have extensive vitamins and minerals to keep the body healthy, but it's also one of the most effective immune system boosters out there. It contains vitamins A, C, E, anti-cancer agents, and potent antioxidant compounds. Enjoy raw broccoli in your favorite salad, or
steamed/sauted as a side dish to your main course. Oats and barley: These grains contain
beta-glucan, a type of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities. It helps boosts immunity, helps prevent colds, flu and serious infection, speeds healing and may help antibiotics work better. Mushrooms are also another source of
beta-glucan. Ginger: Ginger is a strong antioxidant. Two natural antibiotics are found in ginger and it contains anti-inflammatory agents which help to eliminate congestion, kill cold viruses and combat chills and fever. Ginger-root tea also helps to ease throat pain. Instead of drinking coffee in the morning, have a cup of green tea served with ginger and a dash of lime for a healthy alternative. Apples and cilantro (green coriander leaves): Both have special abilities to remove heavy metals (which weakens the immune
system) from the body. They also have many other great nutritional qualities that help to boost the immune system. A good multi-vitamin recommended by your healthcare professional will also be helpful. Though nothing compares to the getting your vitamins the natural way, we do not always eat the right foods in the right combination every day. Multi-vitamins are insurance against inadequate nutrition. Boosting your immune system is not connected solely to diet choices and vitamin intake. Exercise is also important. kalrasachin@hotmail.com |
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Verses from the heart
Ujjagar Singh Nirala feels simple themes suit Punjabi poetry Mingling memories and scintillating reveries, hard realties and facts of life, all etched on the whole panorama of his mind’s landscape, the octogenarian author. Ujjagar Singh Nirala keeps on building verses decades after his retirement from active service. Born and brought up in village Nagla, now transformed as sector 27 of City Beautiful, young Ujjagar , undeniably was the only one from the region to get admission at IIT Kharagpur in 1955. Having secured high percentage in his B. Tech. (Hons) he joined Hind Motors at Kolkata, before joining Director Punjab Scooters Limited with a stint in Khanna watches later. His fourth Punjabi book titled Simratian de Sang was released at a rather a family function organised under the aegis of Poadhi Punjabi Sath at the Chandigarh Press club on Sunday. Prominent Punjabi writers, including S.S. Bahri, Gurpal Sandhu, Daljit Singh, SR Arsh, Amarjit Bathlana, Prem Gorky, and G.P. Singh graced the occasion and spoke about the literary works of the author. Nirala with four publications to his credit was candid enough to accept that by no means he is a great writer, but has sincerely articulated his thoughts in an appealing paradigm of poetry or prose. But it will leave an impression on your mind as the contents very closely relate to the aspirations, problems and challenges of a common man. “As a youngster, I had read the likes of Bhai Veer Singh, Mohan Singh, Nanak Singh, Amrita Pritam and others at IIT Kharagpur in the company of all English and American professors. I had extensively studied English literature.” He adds, “Their fictional creations had potency of thematic content in proximity with the life in its varied manifestations.” “A modern writer prefers a flowery language, dramatic treatment to script inducing a thrill without sustaining effect,” feels Nirala. “Poetry of Shiv Batalvi and Surjit Patar is characterised by spectrum of emotions brought to life with metaphors and idioms. Unlike Urdu poetry , a curious art work, Punjabi poetry should be simple, lucid with themes close to pulse and heart beat of common man,” says Nirala.
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Free spirit
The Independence Day saw the party scene rocking
DJ Sameer and Rohit of Chakra: Vu along with vocalist Zorawat Wadali spelled magic on the partyites with a soulful blend of Sufi and electronic music at Zinc Lounge. Songs like Piya Rey, Ranjha, Jaaniya, Challa on drum and base set the mood for the evening. Well, even when these songs didn’t make people dance in frenzy, they certainly swayed to the amalgamation of folk and electronic. “The enthusiasm is double because of Independence Day. I can see a lot of ‘free’ spirits today,” smiles Sameer as he belted two lines from AR Rehman’s famous Vande Maatram. The freedom factor was evident at Score, Voodoo, Rock in Rio and Black Magic. DJ Surya mixed some foot-tapping tracks doing justice to the theme Vande Matram. “The energy amongst the party-poppers was different. They were enjoying freedom and danced to it,” says DJ Surya, whipping up tracks so that people celebrated the moment of independence. DJ Sonee from Pune rocked at Rock in Rio in Sector-43 with popular Bollywood, trance, hip-hop and Punjabi numbers. “Music and dance are the best expressions of freedom. I am glad we live in a free country and have the freedom to express ourselves. Today’s celebration is all about it,” says DJ Aabhi from Rock in Rio. With no dress code, some party freaks were wearing white and green. Some even sported tri-colour bands. DJ Abhishek and DJ Sweet too created the magic on the turntables with Jai Ho, and commercial music Dhan Te tan (Kaminey and Kambhaqt Ishq. Tricolour soaring at Voodoo too created an ‘Independent’ magic. jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Aiesec thrives for a world without boundaries Never mind, where you’d locate Latvia and Vietnam on an atlas. Here the two places along with Russia, Taiwan, Ukrain, Kenya, Holland, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Poland were juxtaposed and happily so! The Aiesec Chandigarh’s Empower-2009, was about as they call it, ‘world without boundaries’. Here at St. Stephen’s, Chandigarh, it was a world without worries. For the still not tuned in, Aiesec, the international student exchange organisation, with a reach of around 1,100 universities, decided to rope in everyone. “Empower-2009 is scheduled along with our recruitments in colleges across Chandigarh,” Anand gives a context to the slew of activities going on. The one-day event aimed to establishing interaction and developing leadership qualities from the word go. “Our sponsors are JCBL Group, Indo global colleges and Bulls Eye and we’ve actually learnt a lot under the aegis of this organisation, right from co-ordinating an event to interacting to what not,” nod Nischay and Anand, the Aiesecers. And did they miss representatives from other countries in their speech, where all countries are represented by their stalls against the colourful backdrop of other countries? Veronique from China, would teach you how to eat with chopsticks and play a traditional game with paperballs from her place. And, Wangechi from Kenya has been here for over a month. “I was in this small village, near Hoshiarpur, teaching kids hot to speak English.” Did she learn any Punjabi? “Yes, I can say Sat Sri Akal and even I love you in Punjabi, but I’m forgetting it now.” Chips in Orpah from Canada, “It’s main tanu pyaar karda haan.” Ivan came all the way from Latvia. “People here don’t know much about my place but that’s ok, I’ll teach them about it,” he says while handing out a souvenir. Meanwhile, the music playing at the backgrounds just got louder and we leave it to them, leave at that. —Manpriya Khurana
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United Spirits Limited, the flagship company of the Dr Vijay Mallya owned UB Group, today launched Whyte & Mackay Special, a uniquely blended scotch whisky in Chandigarh and Punjab. It is bottled in India, giving a fillip to the company’s presence in the bottled-in-India scotch segment. The key to Whyte & Mackay Special’s success is its unique double marriage blending process that no other scotch in its category can lay claim to and one that lends the scotch a seductively smooth and rich taste. Whyte & Mackay Special will be available at all premium retail outlets and on premise outlets across state at Rs 1,000 for a 750 ml bottle. The scotch is bottled at United Spirits’ facility in Nashik and will be launched across the country in a phased manner. —TNS
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Spice up
When a young girl begins to use make-up, she may end up using more than she should. For a young girl, it is best to “play down”. It is helpful to experiment with make-up, as this helps in knowing what really suits you and also gives you practice in applying it. However, for a teenager, an over made-up look can really spoil the entire effort. Young skins look fresh and natural with less make-up. Very dark colours, like dark maroon and dark brown, can also have an aging effect and you will end up looking older than you are. The effort should be to accentuate your features and achieve a natural look.
Actually, today’s trends favour the “natural” look – sheer and translucent, with subtle use of foundations and bases. The skin should not be covered with foundation. In fact, you can leave out the foundation, especially during the day. After cleansing, apply an astringent lotion, wait for a few minutes and then apply powder. Translucent powder, like a baby powder, is good. Avoid applying too much and pay more attention to the oily areas of the face, like nose, forehead and chin. Press the powder all over the face and neck, with a slightly damp sponge. This helps it to set and last longer. Foundation can only be used to cover-up pimples. The best way to do this is to take a little bit of creamy foundation and apply it directly on the pimple or pimple scars. Avoid rubbing or smearing. Instead, pat it into the skin and then apply loose powder on top, blending the powder with the rest of the skin. If you want to use foundation at night, choose a water-based one. Adding a drop of water will give you a lighter coverage. Blend well. Then, apply it on the lower part of the face, on the chin, and on either side, along the jaw-line. The entire effect should be natural and should not have a mask-like look. Then apply powder to “set” the foundation, brushing off excess powder with cotton wool. Use a blusher, but be subtle. The aim should be to give the complexion a healthy glow. Blushers come in powder, cream and even gel form. Use a powder blusher, as they are much easier to apply. They usually come with their own applicator brushes. Apply on the cheekbones and slightly below it. Then, blend with the brush, outwards and slightly upwards, making sure there are no harsh lines or a blotchy effect. Choose a shade that would subtly enhance your natural skin tone. Pink or peach blusher would suit most skin tones. The best effect is achieved with a little experimentation, by mixing colours till you find the shade, which is just right for you. For fair skin, try pinks and reds. Avoid orange if you have sallow (yellowish) skin. For olive complexions, try rose pink or coral. For dark skin, plum, wine or bronze colours would suit. For the eyes, use a brown eye shadow on the eyelids. Try using the same brown shadow under the lower lashes, instead of eyeliner or kaajal. Take a darker brown eye shadow and apply it on the upper lid, close to the upper lashes. The entire effect will be natural. If you want to line the eyes, use an eye pencil, rather than eyeliner. Give your eyes a light touch of mascara. Make sure the lashes do not stick together. Brush them with an eyelash comb. For a young girl, dark smokey eyes, loads of mascara and false eyelashes would be “too much” and rather overpowering. For the lips, plain gloss can bzeeelips more and draw more attention to them. Nowadays coloured gloss is also available. Choose a light colour, like light pink or mauve. Avoid using lip liners. At night, you can go for rose, coral or bronze, or just stick to pink. Avoid dark red or maroon lipstick for the night. They make you look much older. The natural look needs to be complemented with hair that has a healthy, sleek and shiny look. Avoid an elaborate hairdo or a “set” look. If your hair is long, you can leave it loose, or wear it in a ponytail. In fact, you can use a satin ribbon, co-ordinating it with your clothes. For short hair, straight-layered styles and a broken texture have been in. It seems the new trend will be long hair, with curls and waves at the ends. Varied lengths of fringing are also in, but you need to decide if it suits you. Girls with long hair have also been going for simple straight cuts. Straight hair with jagged edges, whether short or shoulder length has been “in” for some time, but now the soft, layered style ending with waves and curls is the new trend. The nails should not be too long and have a clean look. Use a clear, light pink, mauve, light brown or beige nail varnish. Lastly, use a light flowery or lemony fragrance. |
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Shilpa slams stores for black-marketing masks Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty has blasted stores that are selling masks at ‘three times’ the price when the swine flu situation in many parts of the country is ‘grave’. “Three days ago I scurried to buy myself a mask wanting to use it at the airport. Imagine my dismay at learning masks were out of stock at the medical stores but are being sold at three times the cost by some unscrupulous stores,” Shilpa posted on her blog. “It’s insane that people could think of capitalising on such grave situations. I finally procured mine from my dentist where I had an appointment,” she added. The actor was leaving for the Mumbai airport to catch a flight to New York, where she is a guest at the ‘Grand Marshal for the Independence Day Parade’, which will happen Sunday. “Indeed a proud moment, considering the 1st Grand Marshall was Raj Kapoor. It’s endearing to know that every year NRIs congregate in huge numbers to celebrate the fact that they are proud Indians. Hope I add to their joy,” she wrote. “Hope and pray this serious swine flu situation tides away... please take care, prevention is better than cure... take care of your health and for those ill, get well soon,” she posted. —IANS
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Television soap star Anuj Saxena of Kkusum fame is looking for an image makeover and feels his Bollywood debut in a thriller is the best way out. “I specifically decided to do a thriller for my debut because I wanted to do something different from what I have already done on television. I have done mainly intense roles, so I wanted to take on something else. One of the dangers of television is that people remember the character but not the actor. “Even today many people refer to me as Abhay. So, with Chase, I am trying to establish Anuj Saxena,” told Anuj. Chase, which is being produced by Anuj’s production house Maverick and is looking at a November end release, also stars Udita Goswami in the lead. It is being directed by Jagmohan Mundhra. The film, which was earlier titled Begunaah, is the story of a man who is punished for a crime he did not commit and his struggle to prove his innocence. When probed regarding his role, the actor, who has been working hard on his look, said: “It’s not a different role in terms of the subject. The film is a thriller, which is very normal nowadays. But it’s the action sequences and the presentation of the film that will make it unique.”“Also for me the biggest USP of the film is that the director is Jagmohan Mundhra. He has his fans and he is known for making good and critically acclaimed films,” he added.Anuj, who has an MBBS degree and is managing director of Elder Pharmaceutical Ltd., started his acting career through television with a show on Doordarshan called Aasman Se Aaagey, also starring Amrita Singh and Pankaj Kapoor. He later went on to become a part of popular daily soaps like Kkusum, Kumkum, Kora Kaagaz and Saara Aakash among others. However, he left television in 2006 when Kkusum completed 1,000 episodes.“I left television because it came to a saturation point. After doing five years of Kkusum, it was like doing the same thing again and again and there was nothing new that was happening. Everyone has to move on in life and take a decision. I don’t have any regrets,” said Anuj, whose first film under his production house was Aloo Chaat, starring Aftab Shivdasani and Aamna Sharif. So, why didn’t he launch himself with his first production venture itself? “I didn’t open my own production house to launch myself. I’m a businessman first, for me Maverick is a business house. The company has to make money and I’m responsible for that.” The actor’s next is also a thriller that will go on floors in December. —IANS
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There is a short cut to everything in life. A road less traveled, a secret window, e-tour for success and even love. And so there is a short cut to social work as well. Now, one may argue that changing mindsets, breaking moulds and awareness is a painstakingly gradual process. Short cuts don’t work here. But here’s a surprise, change is all about camera angles, a bunch of youngsters and entertainment, or as these will put it, edutainment. 
Stop, rewind, zoom back to black and white! It was one flashback that blinded everyone and for a change they didn’t click for Facebook. Yaadein, an exhibition of photographs of the golden memories of students of the Government College of Art’ was every inch so. And, look who came to inaugurate it. On the Founders Day of the college, the great grand man, chacha Ujjagar Singh, the man to whom students shout after every lecture ‘once more’ and he gladly serves another round of tea. Has probably done so for the past 50 years! Get set for a story session.
The best way to fight a disease is to strengthen our body's army and that is our immune system. Our immune system is closely related to the foods we eat. There are foods that boost the immune system because of the vitamins and minerals that they contain. Incorporating them into your diet will help decrease your chances of getting sick. Here are some immune boosting "super foods" that should top everyone's grocery list.
The message was loud and clear, and unanimous one as well. Freedom is lot more than endless debates and discussions at party houses and Parliament. It exist as desire and strength in every single soul. Celebrating this strength were youngsters who danced with faith thumping in their hearts. Saturday night saw discotheques celebrate the 63rd Independence Day with a blast.
TV actor Anuj Saxena debuts with Chase, which is slated for a November release