Anything to do with reality on television, as we know is hardly real. As a dedicated TV audience, we still try to find speck of genuineness in everything that is thrown at us. So, we did in all earnestly found out a show that we thought wasn't 'playing up' anything Khatron Ke Khiladi hosted by Akshay Kumar. One good time by Piggy Chops, Priyanka Chopra. But the Season 4 'A' list of contestants most of them wearing an undisputed controversial queen tag crown makes us think on the reality of a reality game show.

It is an interesting assortment—Kashmera Shah, Poonam Pandey (World Cup 2011 official stripper), Sambhavna Seth, VJ Bani, Dina (Vindu Dara Singh's wife). The last name, however, is a real surprise. Dina, Vindu's wife, a Russian model was seen recently in Maa Exchange, but before that did we ever hear or see him anywhere. Couldn't stay away from the limelight for long? What say Dina!

"I am not desperate to get into the television or the movie industry. I was a model, I am used to giving interviews or being in the limelight," says Dina who is preparing for the show that begins in May. "I am doing Khatron Ke Khiladi for myself. I don't have to prove a point, and neither have I made any plans on what I would do after the show," Dina clears the air lest you ask her about the next reality show she would like to work in.

We get her point. What we are interested to know is what brings this doting mother out of her shell. She smiles, looks up, (a gesture in the industry which means 'it's destiny), "I did Maa Exchange. It was an experience in itself. Later, I was approached for Khatron Key Khiladi, something that I would have loved to do always. I am a big fan of Akshay Kumar, this was another reason to be on the show," she adds. Oh! Akshay, we've heard is an affable host. "Sure he is. I've heard he is very supportive of his contestants; he jokes around on the sets. I am looking forward to it." Preparations if any, Dina who knows it is going to be a tough fight says, "I am competing against tough girls. I am all prepared for it. I am a regular with my exercise and swimming."

Any advice from Vindu, the man has been there and done that with reality shows. She laughs and looks at Vindu, "He advises me to concentrate on exercise and practice under water swimming. Rest, it is for me to see what I can do last long there," provides Dina, making it clear once and for all that she has her hands full with lot of things. "I assume you want to know whether I am thinking of a career on TV for films? I am busy with work in designing and family." Lock kar diya jaaye Dina?

Imagine Indian, Continental and Chinese delicacies all fused in one and a new type of dish is served to you in the form of sizzlers and steak. This is what ‘Steaks and Sizzlers’ festival at The Lobby, Sector 26, is all about? “Till now people only know of two kinds of sizzlers: veg and non-veg. We want to introduce newer tastes associated with these dishes through this festival,” says Vishal Mehtani, Executive Chef, The Lobby.

This festival is all about experimenting and fusing the delicacies with one another. Even the names given to the dishes are mouth watering. Paneer fused with pineapple, vegetables and mint chutney takes it to some other level. “Chandigarh people are experimental but they hardly get any opportunity to satisfy their nature to experiment. Their knowledge related to various delicacies is very limited. Our main aim is to satisfy the taste buds of the people with something new,” says Vishal.

The festival offers a wide range of exotic dishes for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Even the simple paneer and potatoes have been complemented with sauces and rice. The non-vegetarians still have the upper hand here. Chicken, fish, prawns, lamb... you name it and it would be served on your platter.

The chef feels that presentation is the reason for success of any dish. “Rather than just providing these dishes in a boring way, we have complemented them various types of sauces. However, the criteria of selecting the sauces depend on its recipe,” says Vishal. Moreover, if you think at the name of sauces you would just be served mint chutney, you are wrong. This festival is ready to take you to the finger-licking world of sauces. Apple Jus, Lemon Butter Sauce, Barbeque Sauce and Cheese with Tangy Tomato sauce are few among the many.

The festival aims to change the definition of sizzlers and provide the city residents with tastes they have not come across before.

On till April 22 

For art, it is rather extemporaneous. When a group of artists visit a place, there is an instant inspiration. The one they put down on canvas. However, the photography exhibition Maldives Through the Eyes of Indian Artists at Punjab Kala Bhavan-16 by Gurdeep Dhiman, Sadhna Sangar and Chaman Sharma is rather an extension of their personal albums.

Shares Gurdeep Dhiman, “None of these works were planned. We went to Maldives to take part in the International Artists Camp, meant for only a select few. So, when we came back, it was an attempt to show Maldives to other people.”

Most of the works focus on shells, sea, sun and sand. Adds Gurdeep, “That’s because this is where the charm of the place lies. It’s all about sea shells and scenic beauty and some amazing historical architecture.”

His works include portraits of renowned artist Sartaj, the first diver of Maldives, a dilapidated yet beautiful house that later became the residence of the British High Commissioner. “Basically whatever we liked there, we either captured it or painted it and brought it with us. Some of them are just moments, others the local flavour,” shares Sadhna Sangar. She adds, “It’s a way of sharing with our friends whatever we saw there.” Her paintings include works on water and fish. Large canvases that paint a colourful picture of water bodies and the organisms inside. She adds, “I went out looking for birds there, but found more fish than birds and water bodies and then the sand that changes colours at different times.” One of the paintings draws a contrast between the place and India. Says Gurdeep, “Like we have lotus here, they have corals there. Keeping these two as central elements, I’ve drawn a comparison of the two places.” Yet another work puts together all the small and big islands.

—Manpriya Khurana

Hollywood actress Brooke Sheilds is set to address graduating students at the prestigious Princeton University. The 45-year-old star, who graduated from the establishment with a French literature degree in 1987, will return to the American institute to speak at the annual class event on 30 May.

“We wanted to bring in someone from outside the political and news sphere - in which many recent Class Day speakers have been involved - and to have an alumna as our speaker is particularly exciting. Shields knows exactly what we have experienced over the past four years,” said Class Day co-chair Nikhil Basu Trivedi.

The batch, who is excited to attend the session with the Blue Lagoon star writes an email to seniors about the the visit as: “She is a smart, funny and insightful woman who seeks to use her fame and influence to do good in the world, and we are very excited to hear from her on our special day.” — PTI

She has Julia Roberts for an aunt, but Emma Roberts doesn’t really ask the Pretty Woman for advice as she tries to climb the success ladder in Hollywood. The 20-year-old stars in the just released spine chiller Scream 4.

“She (Julia) is really easygoing and loving. I don’t really ask for her advice, only because I haven’t really needed any so far. Everything’s good! I just kinda learned how to handle things myself. And my family and friends give me advice,” Emma said in an interview.

The daughter of actor Julia’s elder brother Eric Roberts, Emma was exposed to showbiz at a very tender age and made her acting debut with Ted Demme’s 2001 drama Blow—she was just nine then.

But she became popular after featuring as the lead character Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous. Subsequently she did movies like Hotel for Dogs, What’s Wrong with Virginia and Valentine’s Day.

“It’s still really fun for me. It’s definitely different just as far as the roles I’ve been going up for. When I was younger, I used to audition a lot. Now I kind of go to a lot of meetings, which is good because it is easier for people to get to know you better one on one,” Emma said.

As a teenager, the Scream series was one of her favourites scary movies. Now, she is more than thrilled to be part of Scream 4 which was released globally Friday—even though it hasn’t received favourable reviews so far.

Emma said: “I basically spent two months screaming, covered in blood and laughing my head off in between each take. There was a lot of blood. I actually tasted some of it because it smelled like maple syrup, but it doesn’t taste very good. And it’s really sticky.” “Scream was one of my favourites, so to be part of it is surreal. I was probably 14 or 15 when I saw the first one and I never felt that I would be on the set of the fourth one just five years later. I mean that’s just crazy.”

Director Wes Craven’s Scream reached the theatres for the first time in 1996 and the spine-chiller was a huge success and just a year later came part two, which was equally appreciated. However, when the third instalment opened in the theatres in 2000, it failed to have the same effect on the viewers. “For me, I just thought it would be really amazing to get to work with Wes Craven, Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox. Since they did the first three, I figured it would be really amazing. And I read the script and it sounded really fun. Lots of blood, lots of death,” said Emma.

Talking about future plans, she said: “I can still play a high school student if I want, or I can play older. I don’t have to limit myself right now, so why would I?” — Agency 

A vamp, a character actress, playing the stern mother-in-law, a bold dancer, a singer, a seductress Bindu (April 17) celebrates her birthday with you.She appeared with Anpadh in 1962. But the real meaty and negative role came her way with Do Raaste the movie that type-cast her in as a vamp was Kati Patang with Meraaa Naam hai Shabnam, Pyar Se Log Mujhey Shaboo Kahete Hain... She got married to Champaklal Zaveri and is childless .She has acted in over 160 movies in a career that spanned from 1962 through on to the 2004 hit Main Hoon Na.. Bindu leads a low-profile life and makes fewer on-screen appearances, like the one in Shola Aur Shabnam which brought to the forefront the comic trait to her as an actress. She followed this with her light and funny performances in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Main Hoon Na, and Om Shanti Om. Bindu should take care of her weight gain in 2011-12. 

On a Saturday afternoon, the electronic board near the ticket counter in a multiplex flashes the message ‘Movie: The Kings Speech: Status: Sold Out’. The counter next to it is still selling tickets for the mush story of Tanu Weds Manu. We needn’t tell you, the status says it all. English cinema is gaining precedence over our magic realism portrayed in Bollywood. This applies to foreign cinema as well, which as of now is being screened at community movie clubs and art galleries. Thanks to our exposure to the Oscars and the Golden Globe, audiences are waking up to the world cinema, exploring it wherever possible, be it in the cool comfort of a multiplex or sitting in the open watching it scroll on a projector.

Multiplex like DT Cinemas are bringing in more and more Oscar nominated films and 3D English films for a new and different viewing experience. Anant Verma, director, Business head DT Cinemas, finds a shift among the audience towards foreign cinema. "The distributors have realised that there is an audience for English cinema in tricity. We showcase a number of Oscar nominated movies like The Kings Speech or The Black Swan. Surprisingly the occupancy for all the shows was between 80-85 per cent, which is similar and sometimes even more than Hindi movies.”

DT Cinemas also brought the 3D festival that again had people booking tickets in advance, with all shows going houseful. Ananat shares that they plan to bring more English cinema because there is a good audience for it. “In fact, we are open to cinema from all genres, if only the distributors are ready to explore this as well.”

So, it is isn’t only food and discotheques that are on a changing phase in the city, the people’s taste for movies is also changing. Only recently, PVR came up with the Harley Davidson festival that showcased movies like Easy Riders and Motorcycle Dairies. The response can be summed up in one word Housefull.

While the multiplexes are wooing the audience with English films to begin with, CoVeda MeTa, a movie club, screens films across all genres every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. Documentaries, English, Spanish, German and Portuguese cinema are screened. Amit Tandon, a volunteer with the club, adds that like other cultures this is an interest that can be cultivated through exposure. Their club has a simple funda of sharing cinema that has inspired with all and sundry. “Some films have a niche audience so you don’t expect every movie buff to turn up.” Amit, however, feels that they would love to multiplexes brining in more European and Indian films too.

Wrong Side Up (Czech Republic), Cheese And Jam (Slovenia), The Other Side Of The Bed (Spain), Call Girl (Portugal), Beloved Berlin Wall (Germany), The Unemployment Club (Luxembourg), these titles would be unheard of sometime back, but with screening of the same at Alliance Francaise-36 last week, foreign cinema has been able to gather a wider audience. People who swear by the substance in foreign cinema are glad with the change. Nav Nirman Singh, senior consultant with Enn Enn Communications doesn’t really think that the city multiplexes offer much in terms of foregiun films. “English films are still available at DVD stores, but the foreign language ones have to be downloaded from the Internet. It would be nice if the city opens to more of this cinema,” adds this movie buff, who recommends a must watch, The Stoning of Soraya M for people who like to explore cinema.

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Where’s the party tonight? We come across this query almost every weekend. And the answer to this question is “anywhere you get booze”. Chandigarh has come from the age of being termed as a dull and dry city to a happening one. Discs, bars, lounges, clubs and pubs...describe the city. The young love to let their hair down till the wee hours. No more a city of the tired and retired, thanks to the youth, the city now boasts of nightlife. But unlike the metropolitans, the city lags behind when it comes to the party scene.

Chandigarh residents tend to mix bars, discs and lounges. A layman may describe these places as a place where one can find booze. “Chandigarh people are ignorant about the party scene. Unlike people in Delhi and Bangalore who know what they want, city youth is only concerned about finding a place to drink. Be it a lounge or club it doesn’t matter,” Karan Checker, MD of an IT company.

Partying is all about having unadulterated fun with your loved ones and more so with your ‘special one’. Imagine you take your date out for a fun-filled evening and the moment you leave her side to get her a drink, men at the bar make a pass at her. “The city youth is concerned with who is partying with whom. Rather than having fun with their group. They love to ogle at other’s dates. It’s irritating at times when you see that people can’t mind their own business,” says Vijay Pepper, Merchant Navy officer. Ever thought of hitting the disc in a plain T-shirt, jeans and chappals? Feel like a plain Jane among the high-class socialite! “The city residents are very concerned about flaunting their Prada and Giovani collection. The concept of chilling out in normal clothes doesn’t exist,” says Navpreet Virk, a student.

Last but not the least is the food. Rather than making you indulge, the food served at these places makes you go on a diet. “Chandigarh food outlets are all about kebabs and tikkas,” says Siddhant Verma, a student.

Senegalese-American singer Akon, who turned 38 today, considers India as his “second home” and loves its culture.

“About India I like mostly is the culture. I simply love Indian culture and equally adore African. I love the fact that it is so parallel to African culture. Both cultures are so similar with an interesting historical background, and I admire the way Indians and Africans preserve them,” he said.

“Most cultures do not put emphasis on history. But in India they (people) never forgot their history and passed it down to the generations. Their approach is so strong about history — from religion to lifestyle. The legacy is carried on for generations. The best part is that people never forget their history,” the singer said.

Asked whether he will be visiting any historical places during his India tour, Akon said, “I wish I could. On this trip, unfortunately, due to my tight schedule I won’t be able to do it. I think I will just make a trip just for that.” The Grammy nominated artiste, who is here for ‘The Venky’s Akon Live In Concert’, will perform in Gurgaon and Bangalore on April 16 and 17, respectively. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to Save The Children India, an NGO run by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty’s wife Mana.

On how he finds India and its audience, the R&B singer said, “In India you have a great crowd. They are very humble...I love India. I keep looking for ways to come here.

You all show loyalty towards my art. I hope I get many more opportunities to come here and share my talent with you. To work in India is a sheer delight. I feel like a family member here. This is like a second home to me.” — PTI

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been chosen as the “tattoo queen” by the organisers of the first Tattoo Convention in India.

The 25-year-old star sports tattoos of her former boyfriend’s initials and another one of an anklet.

After watching her in a remixed song in the upcoming film Dum Maaro Dum, IndiaInk Invention got in touch with the model-turned-actress and requested her to visit their first- ever convention on April 10.

They were keen on her presence at the expo as they consider the Om Shanti Om actress to be the “tattoo queen”.

However, the actress could not attend the convention as she was abroad for a film shoot. The convention’s organiser Manoj Thakur, Partner at Par Excellence Entertainment, said, “Deepika’s absence was felt, especially at an event that she would have readily identified with.

“With her own much-written about RK tattoo at the base of her neck and the cutting-edge Dum Maro Dum tattoo she’s seen sporting in the movie, she would have been the perfect ambassador for this tattoo expo.” As Deepika was shooting in London for Desi Boyz, she could not attend the event, but forwarded the invitation to her Dum Maro Dum team. Abhishek Bachchan, Prateik Babbar and Rohan Sippy attended the convention instead.

Poonam Pandey, who grabbed headlines with her promise to go nude to celebrate team India’s World Cup win, has been flooded with offers from Bollywood but the swim suit model says she will not strip on screen.

The model attracted criticism with her offer, which she claims was declined by the BCCI. But it has helped her land a spot on reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi on Colors. The model says she has been offered film roles and item songs in Bollywood but does not believe that her bold image will have a negative impact on her acting dreams.

“I don’t think that my bold image will hamper my career.

My decision to go naked was for my nation and not a cheap publicity stunt. That does not mean that I will strip in Bollywood. I want to act just like any other actress,” Poonam said.

The 19-year-old claims that despite some brickbats, many people came out to support her decision.

“After I said that I will strip, there were a lot of people who supported and understood my sentiments. I don’t understand why few people had to behave like the way they did and create an issue out of nothing,” she said.

Poonam, who faced the camera for the first time during Gladrags and went on to become a Kingfisher model, says she is keen on working in films and wants to become a successful actor.

For now, Poonam wants to focus on Khatron Ke Khiladi 4, hosted by Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. The show will be shot in Cape Town, South Africa.

“I am preparing myself for the show, I practice underwater swimming. It is very different from other reality shows. They are just fake,” she said. Poonam is also looking forward to meet Akshay, who has been her favourite since childhood.

“I have been watching his films since childhood. He is a great actor,”she added. —PTI 

ARIES: The outcome of lawsuit might be postponed due to matters out of your hands. You should not hesitate to shop around for a better deal. The employed will be given special assignment with handsome incentives. Teenagers: you will be at your charming best. Tarot Message: Bury an old quarrel and be preparing to make a compromise. Lucky colour: Sea Green. Magic number: 32

TAURUS: Double-check appointment time so that they are arranged. Not a day for property deals or legal proceedings. At workplace co-operation will result in more success. Pay attention to your own health. Housewives: spending must be kept down. 8 is your fortune number. Tarot Message: Do not be in the rush to spend extravagantly. Lucky Color: Red. Magic Number: 45