All it takes sometimes are some fine strokes of luck to get that perfect picture. Item girl (by the way she doesn't mind being called one) Meghna Naidu happens to be plain lucky in this case. Did she ever know that one scintillating video, kaaliyon ka chaman, would shape her career and life for good? Did she know that one song would crown her as the sexy item number girl of Bollywood, even when she does not fall into the fair and hour-glass figure slot? And did she know some gyrating moves would move a good number of souls?

"Not at all," Meghna flashes an innocent smile. "I was offered this number and I did it without thinking how it would shape up. I am surprised years after doing that video and some good work down south people still call me kaaliyon ka chaman' girl." A compliment is a compliment. She smiles, "Indeed. Trust me, I would be called a kaliyon ka chaman sexy aunty when I would be 70 years old."

In the city to perform at Jashan 2010 at the Chandigarh Press Club on Saturday, Meghna has her priorities clear. The foremost principle — never say no to work! "I never say no to work whether it is work down south, Bollywood projects, live shows, dancing at functions, doing item numbers, reality shows…I am game for work always." One at a time, she explains her fondness for various 'works' she does. South Indian movies? "I have done some great stuff there. You would be surprised to see my work, wherein I have done work totally different from my glamourous image. I am doing two more flicks; I cannot reveal the names (we knew it was coming) with new directors and actors. By the way, working with new directors and actors is the thing down south," explains this sultry girl.

Live shows? "Oh I love to perform live. It gives me a high. You know how it is when we feel sad or happy, we want to do something nice. Dancing does the trick for me." Performing at functions and private parties? Well, even Sharukh Khan doesn't mind shaking a leg at parties or marriages. What is the big deal! She smiles (one thing that she does repeatedly), "I love to dance, and I enjoy performing in front of a live audience (did we someone hear the zing of moolah)", says Meghna.

Next, on her 'say no to line up' is doing item numbers. The answer is as expected and bang on! "I love to dance," she says.

Reality shows next on line. How can someone work so much? And we thought Bollywood babes (including actors, characters artistes or item girls) are choosy about work. "I loved doing Khatron Ke Khiladi. This reality show was amazingly real — real fear, real fights." Ya right, real melodrama! "I did Dancing Queen, another reality show, which I liked doing. I want to do another one like it, as and when I get a chance. I love to dance you know," she smiles.

jasmine@tribunemail.com

What's in a name' — Shakespeare tossed up a query in ‘Romeo and Juliet’. One man sitting in the conference room at the Press Club claims to have found an apt answer for it. "Everything," Shamsher Mehndi says bang on. "My name (precisely my surname) says it all." Sure it does. Even when the only claim to fame lies in his surname, Shamsher, elder brother of Daler Mehndi and Mika doesn't mind resting on it as long as it serves the purpose. "I feel proud of the fact that Daler and Mika are my brothers for they have excelled in their work," says Shamsher.

The first question that inevitably comes to mind is what brings him out of hibernation. "I am the eldest, so it was my responsibility to take care of them. Now that both are settled and doing pretty well for themselves, I thought of fulfilling my dream of singing as well." With both Daler and Mika representing different genres, Shamsher is okay with his own unique style of singing, which reflects Patiala and Banaras Gharana. "I know I sound and also look like Daler when I sing, but I have my own choices, sufi, Bhojpuri," adds Shamsher.

The interview is bound to become interesting when the answer to a question shot at the interviewee is a question itself. "Why did you quit the project Hitler?" Instant reaction to this from actor Anupam Kher was, "Won't your story do without the answer to this one?" Of course, it won't and guess Kher guessed the same too in no time.

"The first reason is my fans didn't want me to play the controversial role." The second reason had more spice to it. "I got irritated because the director and the producer made a lot of unprofessional statements. I decided against it in spite of the fact that the script was well written," shares Kher who was in the city to attend the fourth convocation ceremony of his acting school, Actor Prepares. Kher made sure to add to his answer, "It's a closed chapter and let's keep it like that."

Being in the league of Indian actors who have done crossover cinema, he feels that actors here are yet to come across something substantial. "But we do see actors from Indian origin doing cameos in Hollywood flicks. It is nothing more than a marketing strategy that helps in attracting more Indian audience, which have increased considerably in the past few years."

Other than the only example, Frieda Pinto and Dev Patel and now Anil Kapoor in 24, he says the West hasn't offered much to actors from the region. Reacting to Dev Patel's take on the same — Asians get only typical roles in Hollywood flicks, he says, "It entirely depends on the requirement of the role. In Bollywood too, we have certain actors who have fair skins playing the role of foreigners only."

What we refer to as experimental cinema, which he has been a part of since his first film, Saransh, Anupam defines it as, "Realistic cinema that enables you take a closer look at the life of a common man. Small budget films like Khosla ka Ghosla or Peepli Live will find huge audience as people can relate to them."

Now, about the venture he is here for — his acting school. He believes the institute has done pretty well in terms of placements of students. "There is a lot of scope for professionally trained actors considering the exponential growth of regional cinema and television. The ever-expanding national television and Bollywood will also provide the support."

The next big projects Kher will be seen in are Hawai Dada, Zokkomon, Yeh Fasle and Yamla Pagla Diwana. His favourite? "Hawai Dada', a story about a girl, her grandfather and how she manages to make him enjoy his first flight." A bit of it again is realistic cinema!

ashima@tribunemail.com

He made his Hollywood debut singing an AR Rahman composition in Couple's Retreat and his sufiana renderings had the audience dancing at the Santa Monica Pier and Hollywood Bowl. But Kailash Kher says that he has no ambition to make it in the West.

The singer who is back from his successful US tour, said that though the Western audiences love the new sound of Indian artistes, his style does not fit the Hollywood mould.

"Performing at the Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier was a great experience because at events like that you reach out to a totally different audience and the people went crazy when I sang Bum Lehri. The concerts went so well that I received offers to sing in the films too," says Kher. But the 35-year-old singer politely declined.

"If I am doing a Hollywood project, it has to be worthy of my time and not the cliched idea of Indian music.

The offers I got were all for the same kind of stuff," says Kher.

The frontman of the folk-pop group Kailasa who took Bollywood by storm with the song Allah Ke Bande from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai in 2003 said that he has bigger and better plans than Hollywood.

"I have composed and sung a song for the upcoming film Allah Ke Bande and am working on my third album, which is my priority right now. My Indian fans are most important to me. There are a number of concerts including the Qutub festival during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi," says Kher.

The singer began training in classical music at the age of 8 but it was the traditional folk songs sung by his father that exerted the most influence on him and his style.

In 2001, after a series of unsuccessful forays in various business ventures, Kher left Delhi for Mumbai to pursue his musical dreams. Homeless and living on a train station platform in Mumbai, Kher's first recording was an advertising jingle.

He has come a long way since then. Besides Bollywood hits like Ya Rabba and Tu Jaane Naa, his collaborations with Naresh and Paresh Kamath created three successful albums Kailasa, Jhoomo Re and Chaandan Mein.

But one of the biggest achievements in Kher's life came seven months ago, when he welcomed son Kabir with wife Sheetal.

"Kabir comes before all now. The one thing I don't like about touring is that I have to leave my family behind, because he is too young to be travelling very long distances," said Kher. — PTI

Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore has revealed she had no reservations about starring in a romantic comedy with her on/off boyfriend Justin Long.

The Poison Ivy star insisted their real life relationship made their onscreen love affair in Going The Distance more believable.

Barrymore enjoyed a yearlong romance with the actor which ended in 2008, but they remained close after the split and have since kept the press guessing over the status of their relationship.

The pair stars in Going The Distance as a couple forced to live apart by work, and Barrymore admits her off screen turmoil with Long made him the perfect choice for the role of her lover.

"I thought it would be a unique experience to go work with someone I had a history with and who I had emotional times with and who genuinely makes me laugh and who I'm genuinely attracted to," she said.

"I knew the chemistry between us would be honest so we would be able to bring a truth to the fact that a relationship can be very difficult and I thought that would be a real benefit. I think we balanced the line really well and I think we were willing to bare that chemistry and the pain and joy we'd felt in life," she added. — IANS

Hollywood's 'It' couple Jude Law and Sienna Miller have reportedly wed in a traditional 'Baci' ceremony in Laos.

The couple took part in the marriage blessing during a holiday in Laos, where their wrists were tied together with sacred thread and they offered coconuts, bananas and rice to the priest who performed the rites.

And although they have kept the ceremony a secret, 38-year-old Law was photographed wearing the red and white thread that marks the union. He and 27-year-old Miller split in 2008 but were reunited last year and plan a more conventional wedding in front of family and friends in the next few months.

They visited Laos, which is bordered by Burma and China, in April and stayed in Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital noted for its golden Buddhist temples.

The couple rode an elephant together through the picturesque falls at Luang Prabang and backpacked across the country.

Law, who has three children with his ex-wife Sadie Frost, was engaged to Miller before they broke up when the actor had a fling with his children's nanny. — PTI

Poker Face singer Lady Gaga has moved into a 3.3-million-pound mansion in Hollywood. Gaga, 24, real name Stefani Germanotta, who had once professed her love for hotel rooms and had also said she would never settle down, will now have Los Angeles as her home base. The six-bedroom home sits in the Hollywood Hills complete with a suspended pool, but estate agent Chad Rogers has refused to give details of its location.

Though he did tell In Touch magazine that the house is perfect for Gaga.

"It's a very interesting house - it's a mixture of styles, everything from contemporary to Mediterranean. It's got a very eclectic vibe," he said. — ANI

The co-founders of Google are set to get the 'Hollywood treatment' with a feature film on the way. According to Deadline Hollywood, the entertainment industry blog, the film will be based on the Ken Auletta book Googled: The End of the World As We Know It and will tell the story of the Google founders.

"It's about these two young guys who created a company that changed the world and how the world in turn changed them," says Michael London, the film's producer, as saying.

"The heart of the movie is their wonderful edict: don't be evil." "At a certain point in the evolution of a company so big and powerful, there are a million challenges to that mandate." "Can you stay true to principles like that as you become as rich and powerful as that company has become?" he added.

Page and Brin founded Google while they were PhD students at Stanford University in the 1990s. They are now billionaires. No actors have yet been cast to play them.

It follows the soon-to-be-released The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, which chronicles the founding of Facebook, the social networking website.

The Social Network has been adapted from Ben Mezrich's 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires. — ANI

Justin Timberlake has taken his passion for basketball to the next level. The pop star has got a NBA size court built at his home so that he can shoot hoops whenever he wants.

The Sexy Back hit maker has a 94-foot long court built at his stunning Hollywood home, complete with regulation markings.

The new addition compliments the existing pool and the five-hole putting green that he has recently completed on the mansion on Mullholand Drive.

The star, who is a frequent front-row attendee at NBA-games during the professional season, is often seen playing while in between shooting his videos and films.

While shooting his latest movie, Friends with Benefits, Timberlake has been spotted tossing up jump shots in between scenes to blow off some steam.

He also filmed a scene for the movie which featured an outdoor game alongside his co-star Woody Harrelson. — PTI

Halle Berry is planning to move to San Francisco to protect her daughter from paparazzi. The movie star recently rented a house in the Bay Area; so she could spend quiet time with two-year-old Nahla - her daughter with former partner, model Gabriel Aubry.

And now she's seriously thinking about quitting Hollywood for good so the tot can grow up "in a place that is less of a fishbowl".

"I worry that this whole insatiable appetite for celebrity children will somehow adversely affect Nahla. I don't think it's fair, and I don't think it's safe. How will she grow up, having been objectified like this for most of her whole young life?" she says.

"Already they (press) write things about her: 'Oh, she looks like this; oh, she looks like that.' But nobody knows her." "They just pick her apart on a very superficial level. How will I be able to help her keep that in perspective in this town?" she added. — ANI

Hollywood beauty Angelina Jolie has revealed that she enjoyed her role in action film Salt because it toughened her up. The actor, who plays a CIA agent trying to prove she is not a Russian spy in the film, said that she was thrilled to get the chance to do her own stunts in the action movie after giving birth to twins Knox and Vivienne in July 2008 because it toughened her up.

"It was difficult to switch to being an action hero for a minute. But it was so nice to have an excuse to get out of bed and get back in action and not feel so soft with the pregnancy and all that comes with it after," she says.

In addition to Knox and Vivienne, Jolie has four other children, Maddox, eight, Zahara, five, Pax, six, and Shiloh, four, with her partner Brad Pitt. — ANI

Rosebys Interiors India Ltd unveils its key collection of bed linen under the name of Indulgence. The new theme is exotic, stylish and spells modernization. Indulgence collection is a very versatile collection that includes bed linens, pillow covers, cushions and pillow covers.

The range of bedspreads offered by Rosebys is highly gorgeous. These are washable and the color-fastness property marks as one of the most significant attribute of these bedspreads. These bed covers feature unique floral motifs, patchworks and prints. The vibrant colour combination of the bed covers and curtains are beautifully mixed to offer an enthralling aura to the bedroom. The superior quality fabric of the bed sheets makes it durable. Made with soft colours and beautiful texture, these bedspreads will look marvelous on any room's decor. Priced at ` 699 to 2,499. — TNS

Of all the performing arts, puppetry is the most popular in Hanan province of China," says Zhou Xianghui, leader of the famous Hanan Puppet and Shadow Art Troupe of China. Zhou is in the city with nine artists for a performance at the Law Bhavan on Saturday. The event has been organised by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC).

Over time, innovations and changes were incorporated in the art form for contemporary acceptance and popularity. Puppet shadow art is still open to endless improvisations, suiting diverse themes. "In China too, especially in our province Hanan, which is known for fish and wine, like India, which has a substantial potential for this art, most puppet theatres are creation of artistes who have preserved various forms through time," says Zhou.

But China has an edge over India in terms of recognition of puppetry as a performing art at the national level. "All our artistes have a five-year degree in puppetry and shadow art. Youngsters love to make it their calling for better prospects, which is not the case in India," he adds.

The Puppet and Shadow Art Troupe of Hanan Province was formed in July 1956. Its members have toured various countries, including DPR Korea, Czech Republic, Poland, former Soviet Union, France, Switzerland, Hungary, former Yugoslavia, Mongolia, Romania, Germany, Vietnam, Iran, Australia, New Macedonia, Fiji, Japan, the United Stated as well as Hong Kong. Their shadow play won the Best Performance Award in the Third International Puppet Festival in Romania in 1965. Gold Scale won the Honorary Award in the Australia International Puppet Festival in 1983.

Puppet show Fire Cloud Bird won the Wenhua Award issued by the Ministry of Culture for New Theatrical Work in 1993. The shadow play Three Mice got the Wenhua Award for a new programme in 1997.

Actors of the troupe include Zhou Xianghui, Yang Zhoumou, Zhang Fan, Peng Zeke, Li Dongliang, Feng Wei, Xue Bing, Xiao Shunhua, Man Jianghong, and Tong Shandan.

Indian classical music, especially its Dhrupad genre, is endowed with spiritual serenity and celestial peace. The form is said to be centuries old, but came to prominence in the 15th century under Raja Man Singh Tomar's auspices. Dhrupad, however, lost its sheen later, as people preferred the lighter khayal gayaki," says Pandit Shri Datt Sharma, an internationally acclaimed classical music guru and dhrupad exponent.

He does not believe much in gharana traditions or baanis like Dagar, Gohar, Darbhanga, and is more of a purist Dhrupad singer. "Dhrupad is richer in thehraav, sur, laya, tal and discipline. The genre is staging a comeback," he claims. Initiated into the realm by his father-cum-guru Pandit Shri Kishan Datt Sharma, Shri Datt has devoted all his life for the promotion of classical music and Dhrupad singing. He has taught classical music to thousands of students all over the world.

Shri Datt Sharma has inspired his progeny, especially his daughter Aditi Sharma, who is keen to join him in the endeavour of reviving and revitalising the rich musical tradition of Dhrupad. He was in the city for a concert organised by the Department of Information Public Relations and Cultural Affairs. Gifted vocalist Manish Sharma is also his keen student.

His daughter Aditi is a gold medalist in music from Delhi University, has won the gold medal in vocal classical at the prestigious Harivallab Sangeet Sammelan, both in the junior and senior category; won accolades at the Sangam Kala's All-India Light Music Competition; and also the National Sangeet Natak Academy Award in classical music. 

What brings in the difference? The difference itself! No kidding here. In fact, it is this drive to make something different, which brought in all the difference in Bollywood director Abhinav Kashyap's movie Dabangg.

"Of course, I wanted to make a different kind of movie and Dabangg is just the thing that I had it mind. I didn't think of slotting it in a particular genre. All the same, I wanted to make something light, nice and cheerful," says the Dabangg director, who also talks about how rural India is catching the fancy of directors.

Abhinav, who worked as an assistant director in the film Yuva, and wrote dialogues for Manorama Six Feet Under and 13B, wants to look at his directorial debut Dabangg in a different light. "As I said before, I didn't have any genre in mind while drafting the script. Neither did I attach any face to my characters. It is only after I came to know that Salman Khan was doing the flick that I reworked on it a little bit."

So, Sallu Bhai managed to change the format yet again? He smiles, "Salman didn't do anything. As I director I thought that the script needed a tweak, which I did accordingly."

Dabangg stars Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. Produced by actor Arbaaz Khan, the movie has rural India in the backdrop. Who would have thought that! (Normally, it is the politicians who publicise rural India during the elections). Adds Abhinav: "I was surprised when someone mentioned that villages are being washed away from the maps. There would come a time when we would have to describe to the youngsters how villages once looked like. This is also one reason why I chose a rural setting. Rustic dialogues have found their way, but there is still time for many a Peepli Live to be made."

Set for September 10 release, Salman Khan plays a fearless cop in Dabangg (the word means fearless). And fearless is the word that describes the director who doesn't want to be compared to his brother Anurag Kashyap. "I took to visual media because it has freedom of expression. I talk and say what I want to. In addition to this, I get instant feedback and gratification," mentions the director.

As for Dabangg, Abhinav went with its script to various producers till he found Salman who liked the script. "I wanted an absolute fresh face opposite him, so Salman introduced Sonakshi," he says. It is a fearless venture waiting for a fearless release!

jasmine@tribunemail.com

He's here to train the learners on multiple aspects of filmmaking, story-writing, editing, marketing…but that isn't where the pearls of wisdom for amateurs lie. "Don't get into short filmmaking, get into it only if you have the heart and passion for it, don't get into it for commercial gains, success or fame," filmmaker Nitin Das gets candid and forthright at British Library-9, turning the interaction into more than a vox populi of similar sounding questions generally put to documentarians.

Here for a workshop on filmmaking, he continues with the straight talk. "The short film or documentary scene in India is really bad…there's no support from the industry…people would rather go and watch SRK even if it's a typical Bollywood meaningless cinema, rather than something with a message," he laughs.

But things are in a state of evolution, we are in a transition phase, Internet probably is acting as the third pillar. "If your content is really good, your work does get noticed. Especially with the advent of Internet, things are changing." Like with his film 500 on Youtube; with the 9, 50,000 hits already, it's probably adding to the numbers even as he shares the concept of the film. "It's a take on rampant consumerism. In the documentary I ask people if I gave them five hundred rupees what would they do." The project is an endeavour to highlight the starkness of life; to someone the same amount of money could mean a haircut to other it could be school fee. That brings us to his subjects, socially relevant, offbeat, ordinary. "I pick up a community and chose to highlight its problems…the subjects could be an impulsive decision or a well thought out one." Perhaps, that explains Jadui Pankh, a 90-minute film broken into seven tales, seen through the eyes of children.

Post a degree from the prestigious IIM, Lucknow, a five-year stint with India Today; a film-making course from New York is not even a switch. "As a creative entrepreneur, I'm producing and promoting films; it's a blend of the streams," he refers to his production company Filmkaar. An entrepreneurial endeavour to make extraordinary films with ordinary people. "Films have huge power, but not many people choose to highlight social aspects through this powerful medium." As for the characters in the films, the ordinary people, he says, "In India, people never get a opportunity. There is so much of talent and potential in them."

In the pipeline is a folk tale and fables on environment and also an international project with people from 19 countries. "It's like we have somebody working in the jungles of Cambodia and people from similar far-flung places; we'll be highlighting their work."

He adds, "Efforts are on for fund raising, for which we are tapping the likes of WWF, corporates etc." As of now, he's off to share the technicalities as well as the wisdom of filmmaking! manpriya@tribunemail.com

This week sees the release of Pradeep Sarkar's latest Deepika-Neil starrer made for the YashRaj banner — Lafangey Parindey. After the dismal failure of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Sarkar seeks to reclaim audience favour by fashioning a romance between the unlikely pair of Deepika and Neil Nitin Mukesh. It's a gamble, but the pre-release publicity has been quite heavy. What matters at the box-office, though, is whether the audience is convinced about the characters and the story.

Film: Lafangey Parindey

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Neil Nitin Mukesh

Director: Pradeep Sarkar

If you are expecting the usual chiffon and lace romance, typical of the YashRaj banner, then you are in for a disappointment. Aditya Chopra is not someone who has been very encouraging of his father's bountiful fixations. Instead, as producer we have seen him concentrating his efforts mainly on realism, action and drama, and the three don't necessarily have to be in the same film. Lafangey Parindey though generic in form, has realism on its side. The film has been executed with a lot of care and concern for milieu, language and character background. But it is hopelessly miscast and lacks intensity and passion. The critical success and high profitability of Parineeta has been dogging Pradeep Sarkar's footsteps for long and one would have hoped that he would come good with this Lafangey Parindey.

Unfortunately that was not to be. The film is good in terms of story and narration, but its lead pairing just doesn't make it engaging enough. This film tries to cash in on the reality talent shows that most people are hooked to on TV. 'India's got talent' is the title of the show that would be Pinky's (Deepika) passport to a secure future. And she tries to achieve that objective by working during the day and practicing skating during the evenings. But fate has another hurdle in store. She loses her eyesight in an accident caused by one-shot Nandu's (Neil) rash driving.

Pinky is unaware that it is Nandu who is the cause of her accident. She and people of the locality she resides in blame it on the local goon Anna (Kay Kay). Nandu tries to make amends by helping her financially and making sure she learns how to see with her heart. In the process, Pinky falls in love with him and decides to make him her partner at the talent show. The problem with that idea is that Nandu is someone who is a boxer; known for his illegal fights and suddenly to turn him into a skater of repute is far-fetched and untenable. But since the script demands that the two have ample opportunity to take their love forward, we have to sit back and accept such idiosyncrasies. From there on, the believability is hampered and things start to get worse. For one, Neil doesn't have the grace or the showmanship to portray a skater of class. Even Deepika for all the practice she puts in, looks terribly mediocre as a skater.

She appears gangly, uncoordinated and graceless while Neil is just too stiff on the rink. It's only in the final face-off that the choreography and skating show a semblance of skill, but even that doesn't seem enough for us to believe in their inevitable final victory. Nandu's remorse is never felt and his attempt to change himself from a tapori to a steady bread earner also lacks conviction. The story is interesting enough, plausible to some extent, but Sarkar's narrative is primed at a tone that is short of the required. It is a bit too tepid and unviable. Also everything that the script throws up on screen is predictable and therefore tends to be boring.

It's the small touches that really stand out in this film. The art direction and setting is well thought out. The relationships are also clearly defined. The mohalla kids' fascination for the ravdya Nandu is well portrayed, so are the relationships between Pinky and her folks.

The performances are not passionate enough. Deepika and Neil do not make for a passionately in love pair. Their on-screen chemistry is a no-show. They work hard (and it shows) to make a go of their respective characters, but their effort shows-up on screen. It's just not effortless or believable enough. And this is why the film falls short of expectations! johnsont307@gmail.com

When the star cast of a ready- to-release film visits sector 17 Piazza to promote it, we invariably believe that it's about a Bollywood product. For, film promotion other than a few press conferences was never the prerogative of regional cinema in this region until recently. Jimmy Shergill and Neeru Bajwa attended the premiere of their film, Mel Karade Rabba in the city and now Lakhwinder Wadali will promote the film, Chhevan Dariya in his own way, "I will sing numbers from the film at the event.

It will also help us interact directly with the audience, and inform them about the subject of the film," says Lakhwinder Wadali, the male lead in the film. He feels that factors like appropriate budget, multiplex releases and promotion will catapult regional cinema to the level of Bollywood.

The fact that all the major cities of Punjab now have a multiplex makes it easier for people residing in the nearby towns and villages to watch more Bollywood stuff. "Now the audiences can compare Punjabi with Hindi films. We will also have to be technologically sound to rise to Bollywood standards," Lakhwinder says.

Now about the subject of the film — The story is based on drug abuse on which already many films have been made. However, Lakhwinder feels the subject still hasn't been addressed seriously. "The movie intends to convey the message that in Punjab, the land of five rivers, a sixth river of drug menace flows. There is no city or village of Punjab that hasn't been affected by drug abuse. Youth can only be educated through films." Lakhwinder has also sung two tracks in the movie. "I have inherited the talent of singing and no matter how many film offers I get, acting will always be a part-time job. Music will always be my priority." A foreigner will play the female lead in the film, "If audience have accepted foreign faces in Bollywood films, we hope they will welcome them in Punjabi flicks as well." Everything in a bid to raise the bar! — Ashima Sehajpal

Kurkure, the fun loving family snack brand from Frito Lay India unveiled its latest consumer campaign, Kurkure Spend Time with Family, which encourages people to spend time with their family.

The four-month-long campaign will invite consumers to send their fun ideas on spending time with their family to win exciting prizes. Consumers will win prizes every day, the best entry of the day will win a family trip to Disneyland (Hong Kong) and one lucky consumer will win a mega prize- a house worth Rs One crore. The consumers can submit their ideas on www.kurkure.co.in. "Indian culture is deeply rooted in family values and Kurkure with its unique blend of Indian spices and everyday kitchen ingredients like rice, corn, and chana dal has always been about Indian families. The Kurkure Spend Time with Family consumer campaign is an initiative to sensitize people on the importance of family togetherness and reward them for their ideas", said Vidur Vyas, Head of Marketing, Pepsi-Foods at the unveiling occasion of the campaign.

"We are living in times when people spend very little time with their families. Doing that and being rewarded for it is typical Kurkure - full of fun, masti and all about families", said famous Bollywood star and brand ambassador Juhi Chawla.

The consumer ideas will be judged by panel of eminent celebrity judges who are popular in every household across India. Juhi Chawla, Ragani Khanna, lead actor of Sasural Genda Phool Jaspal Bhatti will have a colossal task cut out to judge the fun ideas. — TNS

On the occasion of World Photography Day, the Museum and Art Gallery, Punjabi University, has put an exhibition by Tribune lensman Rajesh Sachar. The exhibition, which will be on till September 3, was inaugurated by vice-chancellor of the varsity Dr Jaspal Singh.

Having received a number of awards, including a National Award, Rajesh has showcased the best of his work - birds flying in front of the Golden Temple, pigeons giving a message, a parrot looking out of its nest, a sparrow with her eggs, a dancing peacock, tigers looking for their prey, migratory birds, a troupe of monkey; in addition to the elephants, zebras, butterflies et al.

His obsession for photography is evident in each picture, all of which depict a high level of aesthetic sense. "I just love my job and I guess that's what is important. Money can be earned through any profession, but self-satisfaction is very important," says Rajesh.