Gossamer complexion, cognac eyes, a stunning smile and never-ending legs; post multiple Myeloma (cancer of plasma cells) model turned actor Lisa Ray was at her radiant best on Thursday. Dressed in black, meeting Lisa was quite a revelation as she defies conventional straitjacketing and turns out to be much more Indian than we thought she would be!

In the city for the Rado Jubilee collection exhibition at the Ethos store in Sector 8, she begins the conversation with her association with Rado: "I can never forget what Rado has done for me. They have stood by me at a time when I needed support the most. I made my first public appearance after the disease for the brand and I was bald at that time. Had it been any other brand, they wouldn't have liked to use a model who was suffering from cancer. And that's not the end of things, they now have an international campaign whose tagline is 'unlimited spirit' and they made me autograph the collection. It was really touching."

With a decade-old association with the brand, she remembers coming to the city for the launch of the brand here. "I came to the city seven years back and in between to do the groundwork for my movie 'Water'. But I have a lot of friends from Chandigarh, and back home in Canada we have a lot of people from the city."

Ask her what keeps her glowing and she says, "Happiness is the quotient that keeps me going, glowing and growing."

Talk about fighting cancer and she says, "I don't believe in giving advice, but my take on disease is-be open about it, share with people. I did so by writing and sharing my experiences on my blog. In a way I also fulfilled my passion for writing (Lisa wanted to be a journalist or a lawyer before she entered the glam world)."

With all gratitude to people in India, she says, "I can never forget the immense support I received from the people in the country and it has surely helped me bounce back as a better person."

So, is she back with full force? "Technically, I am supposed to take it easy but right now I am shooting for a show to be aired on Travel Living and Discovery channel. It's a show that would showcase me and see India through my eyes." For Bollywood, she has loads of offers and says, "I am flattered with the offers I am getting, but right now I am more into public speaking on stem cell therapy and charity."

Talk about fitness post the disease and she says, "I am moderately into everything. I don't deny myself anything. I do cardio and yoga. In fact, I would soon be opening a yoga studio in Toronto."

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

WATCH OUT: Lisa is not an accessory person. Watch is the only jewellery she likes to wear.

WRITE NOTE: She is passionate about writing and has a blog (http://blog.lisaraniray.com) to unleash the writer in her.

STYLE CHECK: Her style statement remains short hair. And her take is shorter the better

BREAK TIME: Her refuge is a hill town in Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala.

FIT ‘n’ FINE: Her way to fitness is Yoga and a session of cardio.

A car screeches to a halt, stilettos pin holes on the soft sand of the parking ground. The giggling, laughing girlie stock marches towards a small shop in the corner. The transaction is neat — a packet of Malboro Lights for Rs 120, and four extra mints to go with it. One intoxicating puff after the other…is it women liberation or just 'why the hell can't we do it' scenario? A RJ on one of the radio stations tosses up a debate about Aishwarya lighting a cigarette in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish. 'What is your take on it," croons the RJ, "should our movie stars smoke on screen? Does it send a wrong impression to the audience? Call me up and tell me," the RJ is all set to form an agenda here.

Poor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The movie anyways is not doing well and now the smoky affair! Actors smoking on screen, why does it create such uproar? Has anyone tried to dive into a director's creative pool, whose sole purpose is to give a real touch to the character? Or you thought it could be easily replaced with actors chewing on a daatun? Wait, wait, wait or the entire ruckus is because a lady actor is smoking, challenging every man's right to smoke? Maybe you have an answer!

Actor Sonu Sood of Dabangg fame does not understand the reason behind getting so hyper over the issue. "As actors, we only play characters as per the demands of the script. So, it should be seen in the right spirit. There is nothing about promoting smoking, thus it shouldn't be taken too seriously," he feels. "Who says we promote smoking, we are doing our job. Thousands of people smoke, why is that not an issue?" he questions.

Call it directors' vision and actors' liberty, which by the way should not be taken personally! As for the public, they feel Aishwarya being an icon for the youth is giving out a wrong impression by promoting smoking. Actor Meghna Naidu can only laugh her heart out. "Promoting…you seriously mean people think smoking on screen promotes cigarette smoking?" she questions. "Don't people have better things to do? If they spend half of their time thinking about the country, we would at least have better roads. Besides, actors only play their part on the screen. They enact as per the role…I think the issue ends here," she politely adds.

If you think Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is the only actor captured in taking a puff on screen, well, Google interestingly comes up with names of 45 women actors who have smoked on screen. Mainsha Koirala in Yugpurush, Madhuri Dixit in Zindagi Ek Juaa, Shabana Azmi in Doosri Dulhan, Preity Zinta in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke…these pretty ladies have taken a drag for various roles.

Expect Abhishek of Tere Bin Laden to say this. He hasn't seen Guzaarish, but the director nonetheless is surprised on the whole issue. "There is something called the creative license. And if a particular role demands the actor to smoke, take drugs or have alcohol, what's the problem? Hasn't Anurag Kashyap beautifully presented Dev of Dev D going through drugs and alcohol because the role demanded it."

Abhishek finds smoking on screen frivolous because there are other issues that need to be dealt with. "Why not ban murder or rape scenes on screen? They are a more heinous crimes than smoking," he puts across. "Hindi film songs are more pornographic than anything else! How about working on that, rather than crying on whether a male or female actor should smoke on screen or not?" he signs off. Any food for thought?

jasmine@tribunemail.com

If you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head, I should better understand your affairs,' said famous author Charles Dickens. But this is not exactly the case with Gen Y, which opts for more fashionable drinks like coffee or cola over tea.

Although tea has been and is a part of everyday routine of an average Indian, there have been myths associated with it. And to clear the mist, Dr Gautam Banerjee, scientist, Hindustan Unilever Research Centre, addressed the media at Taj-17 on Thursday: "Tea is superfood that has proven health benefits."

Tea has a calming effect, is good for your heart, body shape as well skin, boosts immunity and is the second best drink, next only to water. "A number of studies have confirmed the goodness of tea," says Banerjee. Albeit most studies are conducted on black tea, milk or sugar do not compromise its health benefits, milk only delays the release of useful elements.

And how many cups a day is okay? Banerjee says three would be ideal but one wouldn't be harmed even if it goes up to eight. "The benefits of tea range from immediate (the aroma lifts spirits) to long term (it improves immunity, protects your heart)," says Banerjee.

A national survey reveals that despite the fact that Indians are tea drinkers, they view it as harmful to health. To restore tea to its rightful place, Brook Bond Tea Council has come into being this July. It comprises eminent nutritionists and tea science experts. "The idea is to propagate health benefits of tea," says Banerjee, who is also a member of the Council.

Model-turned actor Deepika Padukone had a dream debut in Bollywood opposite Shahrukh Khan in blockbuster Om Shanti Om. More success followed with Bachna Ae Haseeno, Love Aaj Kal and Houseful. However, her film Chandni Chowk To China opposite Akshay Kumar bombed at the box-office. Karthik Calling Karthik and Lafange Parinde also could not do much for her. The actor is excited about her upcoming release Break Ke Baad, directed by Danish Aslam. She will be seen opposite Imran Khan in this film, which releases this Friday all over. Deepika talks to Lifestyle about work and play.

Are you disappointed that Karthik Calling Karthik and Lafange Parinde did not do well?

It is okay. Things like this happen and one has to understand that everything one likes cannot be liked by others. That is the way life is.

How did Break Ke Baad happen?

Director Danish Aslam offered me the film. When I heard the script, I was sure that I would want to be part of this film. I loved the story. I loved the script and I had to do it.

Tell us about your role?

I play Aaliya, a commitment-phobic girl. Her take on relationships is different. She feels that a break in relationship is good and wants to see if a couple still wants to be together post their break. It is really a very challenging character.

How would you rate Imran Khan as a co-star?

He is wonderful to work with. He is passionate about cinema and he knows a lot about cinema. And to add to that, he is very talented. It was really a wonderful experience.

Are you satisfied with your career?

Yes, I am satisfied with my career. I have done seven films. I have certain goals that I have set for myself to achieve those goals.

Are you feeling any pressure before the release?

Not at-all. I am definitely excited that it is eighth release in my career.

What type of projects you want to do?

I would like to associate myself with good cinema. I do make a conscious effort to look for the best.

You're up coming projects?

My forthcoming projects are Ashutosh Gowrikar's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se, Rohit Dhawan's Desi Boyz, Homi Adajania"s next with Imran Khan, Prakash Jha's Aakarshan and Abbas-Mustan's Race 2. — Dharam Pal

After beating a life-threatening bout of cancer, Hollywood superstar Michael Douglas is on a holiday with his family and was all smiles during a visit to Disney Land.And in an encouraging sign, the 66-year-old looked healthier than he has in months.

The actor was beaming from ear-to-ear as he posed alongside Mickey and Minnie Mouse with his wife Catherine Zeta Jones and their children Dylan, 10 and Carys, 7. He looked tanned and relaxed in a blue polo shirt and Bermuda shorts, while Zeta-Jones got into the holiday spirit in a cowboy hat and colourful tunic top.

The Wall Street star and his wife also celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on November 18.The family's outing comes just days after his father Kirk Douglas said his son was regaining his appetite and was starting to feel ‘feisty’ again.Douglas, who was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer, has been candid about his battle."It really knocks you out. You just never think it is going to be you. But I'll beat this. The tumour is shrinking.. I'm not dealing with mortality issues until I hear otherwise," he had said. — PTI 

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who essays the role of freedom fighter Surjya Sen in his next film, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, based on the Chittagong Uprising, feels ashamed of having remained ignorant about the revolution, which he says awakened patriotic feeling in him.

"When I was offered the role by director Ashutosh Gowariker, I felt embarrassed that I did not know about freedom fighter Surjya Sen. Shamefully, I did not know about the Chittagong Uprising too. I got to know everything through Ashu," Abhishek said.The 34-year-old actor was quick to clarify. "History was one of my favourite subjects in school time. I love learning about culture and past events. When I was eight, I was sent to boarding school in Europe…so I have learnt more of European history. Hence, I don't know much about Indian History."Also, I felt a strong patriotic feeling during the making of the film. It awakens a huge patriotic sentiment. I was much into the role as one is mentally involved into it," he said.

The actor feels the story of Surjya Sen needs to be told to the people. "Surjya Da and the kids are not mentioned in great detail in Indian History. I feel it needs to be told to the common man on the same breath as Chandrashekar Azad and Bhagat Singh." The film is based on journalist Manini Chatterjee's book Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34. It showcases the true story of a revolution against the British empire in Chittagong, a district in undivided Bengal back then. — PTI 

Bollywood's very own badman Gulshan Grover says his industry friends like Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff are green with envy that he has bagged the role of Hollywood hottie Salma Hayek's husband.The actor says his friends now want to kill him for being the lucky man.Grover is playing Hayek's husband in the upcoming Hollywood production The Driver, to be directed by Bill Duke, whose credits include films like Sister Act 2:Back in the Habit with Whoopi Goldberg, A Rage in Harlem and The Cemetery Club. And if reports are true Hayek won't be the only celebrity on stage as actors Will Smith, Janet Jackson and Whoopie Goldberg will also make cameo appearances."

All my industry friends want to kill me. They are very jealous that I am working with Salma. I have like 16 messages for her from my actor friends like Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff. Some of them say 'Gulshan please die so that we get a chance to work with Salma!'," Grover told reporters on the sidelines of 41st IFFI."I am very happy to see that Salma is so popular here. My friends want to meet her and they have already requested me for the same.

Anil Kapoor, my friend and batchmate, is also jealous even though he is working with Tom Cruise in MI4," he added.Grover said Jackie Shroff wants to gift a shawl to Hayek but has forbidden him to drape it on her. The Driver begins shooting in Los Angeles in March next year. The 55-year-old actor says he had met Hayek few years back but is yet to meet her on this movie.The badman has also acted in Hollywood projects like Prisoners of the Sun and Nephilim, British picture Honour Killing and an Indo-French collaboration with participation from Unicef titled I Am Kalam. — PTI

Film: Break Ke Baad

Producer: Kunal Kohli

Director: Danish Aslam

Music: Vishal-Shekhar

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Imran Khan, Shahana Goswami, Sharmila Tagore, Lillette Dubey, Yudhistir, Urs and Navin Nischol

Break Ke Baad is a romantic comedy in which Deepika Padukone plays a commitment-phobic girl. The leggy actor portray the role of Aaliya. Imran Khan plays Abhay Gulati who is unsure about what he wants to do in life. This is Kunal Kohli's first film as a producer. The original story draft is written by Danish Aslam. The screenplay and dialogues are written by Renuka Kunzru.

The movie opens today at theatres in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Zirakpur.

For heaven's sake

Film: Allah ke Bande

Producer: Ravi Walia

Director: Faruk Kabir

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Sharman Joshi, Faruk Kabir, Anjana Sukhani, Atul Kulkarni and Rukhsar

Young Faruk Kabir's Allah Ke Bande tracks the journey of two young boys who commit two murders and the two are exposed to the ruthless world of juvenile detention.

She defines her jewellery appropriately - 'statement pieces'. Meet Maheep Kapoor, wife of actor Sanjay Kapoor, jewellery designer and a doting mother who says her designs ooze style but are definitely not flamboyant.

In the city to showcase her jewellery exhibition at Hotel Mountview, Maheep is a powerhouse in her own right, and represents the modern Indian woman who has found the perfect balance between her family, friends and career. "I am first a mother and the rest follows," says Maheep.

Born and brought up in London, Maheep took a course in jewellery designing when she was pregnant with her daughter Shanaya. "I was actually bored at home so took to designing, but I must say it's just the basics that you learn in a class; creativity has to come from within."

Having designed for 'who 'n' who' of Bollywood, Maheep has nine years of experience in jewellery designing and her jewellery has been used in Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om and also for one season of Koffee with Karan. She says, "I firmly believe Bollywood actually makes a difference and gives your career a boost, which no other platform can do. A star wears your piece and you are famous overnight." But she doesn't forget to add, "Connections and creativity go hand in hand."

Into a family that eats, lives and breathes cinema, ask her about her extended family (read Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Boney Kapoor and the star kid Sonam) and she says, "We are a close-knit family that lives apart but are connected."

Talking about husband Sanjay Kapoor, their meeting and marriage she says, "I gate-crashed into their party and met the whole family that very day. Went out to a night club, exchanged numbers and then dated for good five years before getting married."

And now the happy and contented couple support each other to the hilt. "He's into production now. His movie with Harman Baweja and Geneila D'souza should be releasing somewhere in February 2011," she shares.

Mother of two, daughter Shanaya and son Jahaan, ask her about the kids of the family and she says, "Sonam is already a known name and Arjun would soon be debuting in Yash Chopra's movie. As for the kids, though they are too small, my daughter is sure game for movies."

Fit as a filmstar, last we ask her to spell her fitness mantra and she says, "I am a regular at the gym, but if I don't get time then a brisk walk is a must. Other than that I am more than conscious about what I eat. Though I don't mind sugar, but my food has to be without oil."

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

Macramé is derived from the Arabic word migramah meaning a striped towel, an ornamental fringe or an elegant embroidered veil. Ever since its inception in the 13th century by the Arab weavers, who very skillfully knotted threads along the edges of handloomed fabrics to create beautifully decorative fringes, this simple yet, impressive art form has travelled a long way.

The historical roots of macramé date back to the early 14th and 15th century in France and Italy where it carved a niche for itself in the churches, chapels for vestments and sophisticatedly designed altar clothes. It was after the Moorish conquest and it being used as a leisure activity by sailors on board - who created a variety of artifacts showcasing their artistic talent in the true spirit — that led to its presence being felt in parts of N. America, Europe and China. Other than this, the art form is known to find favour with the artistic history of Great Britain, where it was introduced with the efforts of Queen Mary, who herself learnt this art form from Holland in the 1600's and ultimately reached the pinnacle during the Victorian age.

Macramé continued to create a lukewarm impact across the tunnel of time, until it approximated the era of revival, which was not earlier than the 19th century with the onset of the Hippie movement, the practice of Genoa style of macramé and the exhaustive use of this art form by the Chinese to meet the demands of the royal patronage and the country households, showcasing a wide variety of artifacts ranging from elegant dresses, pouches, fans, Buddhist rosaries and decoration for paintings.

However, the traditional art of macramé seemed to lose favor worldwide in the 1980's but, with the turn of the century, it has been able to regain its lost reputation by being experimented upon as a medium by artisans, craftsmen and reputed fashion designers across the globe.

Macramé is the art of knotting strings of fabric decoratively combining it with beads, trinkets and at times semi-precious stones, weaving those using ornamental patterns and intricate geometrical designs into exotic fringes involving great artistic skill, calibre and patience.

However, mastering the art of macramé requires one to be well adept with the length and type of fabric to be used, and the kind of knots and patterns to be weaved. The fabric can vary from simple cotton crockets to strong and tough hemp, embroidery floss, polypropylene, leather strips to the satin-like appearance of the rattail cord. The types of knots used vary from design to design and pattern to pattern ranging from half knots to square ones, half hitch knots that may be double or diagonal. To add sequence and neatness to the knots and dignity to the creator's creation an anchor (mount) is used.

Macramé is known to create some of the most delightful crafts ranging from exquisite bags, pouches, purses, baskets, potholders, dog leads and wall hangings to clothing and dresses, durable textiles, draperies, cushion covers, shawls and bedspreads in vibrant and exotic blends, designs and colours to the most sophisticated variety of jewellery beautifully ornamented with semi-precious stones, laces, sterling silver, and Swarovski crystals, etc ranging from bracelets, armlets, necklaces, chokers and earrings - truly knotting our lives with elegance and grace.

Gifted with a highly imaginative mind, Harjit Singh Purewal has created some living wonders on the canvass. An alumnus of Government College of Art, he later completed a five-year post diploma in commercial art. Purewal has been a proud recipient of Punjab State Award-1968, Haryana State Award-1970, Punjab Lalit Kala Award-1980, among others. He has also been honoured at the World Punjabi Conference in 2004.

Purewal has participated in over 40 solo and group shows at prestigious venues in India, while his paintings adorn many galleries and private houses in Europe, Canada as well as other countries. And nature has always inspired him. "During my long stay at Shimla, I attempted to give a new dimension to my creations," shares Harjit.

A few of his paintings are on display at the Kalagram including 'Harmony with Nature'. His work 'Shiv Shakti' depicts the energy that emanates from Shiva. Purewal eulogises MF Husain as a magician artist. He also gives credit to his life partner Opinderjit Kaur for supporting him all this while.