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Wedding beat
We aren't sure where marriages are made anymore-in heaven, on social networking sites, in office cubicles or elsewhere, but one thing is for sure, there are umpteen interesting things about marriage. To begin with, funny quotations, like this one-'A long marriage is two people trying to dance to a duet and two solos at the same time.' And second thing is the ceremony. For the couple, well, they have to bear the brunt of their decision! As for the guests it is an occasion to actively utilise their taste buds, and then get down to passing remarks. But one element that actually brightens up the entire marriage ceremony experience is performance by a celebrity singer.
So, just turn your focus on celebrity singers performing on marriages, and see whether you want to add them to your 'A' lists of guests (A stands for affordability). But before that read on what they think about a 'live performance on marriage' and what they don't like about it as well! Select stage Manmohan Waris Punjabi singer Manmohan Waris who recently performed at a high profile wedding in Chandigarh has no qualms about performing at weddings. To him it is a form of entertainment, and is being paid for that too. First things first: I don't sing songs by any other singers. I sing my own songs or my brother Kamal Heer's songs. Secondly, I only perform at select marriages and not just everywhere. I have an office in Jalandhar, which takes care of the bookings or sometimes people approach me directly as well. Price: If you want the electrifying singer to perform at your wedding be ready to shell a lakh and a half or even more. Pretty reasonable, we say! Availability: November, December and January Grand is the name Satinder Satti
I have a few criteria for performing at weddings. One, it has to be a grand affair and second the party should be able to afford us. Family first: I understand it is a family affair, where everyone wants to dance and have fun. So, I turn it to a cultural event, singing and performing various tracks. Who has the time: After the performance it is the time for photo session, where family and friends want to get their pictures clicked with me. This leaves me with no time to eat a single thing. Price no bar: Mostly the expenses are handled by event management companies who handle the expenses for the entire crew. If the crew performs in Punjab, the company would charge somewhere around Rs 4 lakh, and anywhere outside price increases because of the travelling expenses. Soulfully yours Hans Raj Hans
These days people don't like me to perform on weddings because I sing a lot of Sufi. (Laughs), But when I do, I ensure that I wouldn't end up singing in front a bunch of drunkards. I ensure that the crowd will be sophisticated; the marriage venue is good enough. Depends..: If I really like the couple and the ambience then I sing for them. I sing all numbers which have dancing beats. People just flow with the numbers. Beware: In Punjab guests generally get high on weddings, and end up firing in the air. I am very wary of such things. A marriage to remember: I performed at a wedding in 1990, where the groom came on a rath. It was an extravagant yet a simple wedding where I sang traditional songs. Till date I remember that wedding. This performance is priceless. Family matters Harbhajan Mann I have never faced any problem at weddings. Most marriages I performed at, people considered me as part of the family. Watch out: Security is something that I like to keep in mind while performing at weddings. My notes: I am absolutely clear that I only perform on numbers that are my own. Affordability: For private functions I don't compromise on the price, while for social causes money never is an issue. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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A woman's man
Twists and turns in the plot keep the audience hooked, feels Rahul Mittra, producer of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. He has many in real life. Starting as a journalist, Rahul ventured into PR, established his company Brandsmith, started as branding and communication consultant and has ventured into films with Brandsmith Motion "Each phase in life has taught me something significant and it's on the strength of that I am going ahead, though, the process has been gradual," says this Chandigarh-bred producer. The theatrical promos of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster that hit the cinemas along with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara have generated rave reactions. Directed by cult writer-director Tigmanshu Dhulia, this flick takes the tale of love, lust and betrayal to the next level. Does this film typecast woman? "Women have been used as mere sex objects in films, but with my film, women protagonists will be redefined. Mahie as opposed to Jacqueline in Murder 2 is a woman who knows what she wants and goes all out to achieve it. Our film is definitely bolder than recently released Murder 2,”says Rahul.
Saheb…is scheduled for a September release. Mittra is planning a promotional tour. "I would like to start my tour from my favourite city Chandigarh," says Mittra, who studied at St John's in Chandigarh. Rahul Mittra has already announced his next ambitious project- an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet. "We will set Hamlet in the North and I would like to shoot in the city that I owe a lot too," says Mittra. Back to Saheb, is it a modern take on Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam? "I can say it's loosely inspired from it. But it's an out and out a modern story," promises Rahul! mona@tribunemail.com
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When the pen brakes…
Since ten days, she could not add a word to what she had written; while earlier ideas effortlessly took the form of words, this time Neel Kamal Puri struggled to streamline her thoughts after completing the first chapter. In no time, she realised it was the writer’s block!
Delhi-based Jaishree Misra had a publisher, a story idea; even an interesting climax but she couldn’t begin her book till a month from the due date. There was something stopping her, “I didn’t want to begin writing just for the heck of it. The block had to be done away with first.” Search for the writer’s block and the Internet throws up names of the likes of Leo Tolstoy, Virginia Woolf, Katherine Mansfield, Joseph Conrad, Ernest Hemingway et al. Rap star Eminem suffered from it too, the experience, which he later mentioned in the hit, Talking to Myself, from his album, Recovery. The term is generally used to describe the writer’s condition when he is unable to select apt words or move further with the storyline.
Neel Kamal describes the situation as an unpleasant break that at times can jolt your confidence. “There is no point forcing yourself to write the book. It’s a gradual process, wherein the characters and the storyline develop on their own. You do it under duress and the story gets spoilt.” So, instead of just writing down anything, she took a break, diverted her mind and played video games. Whatever she had written for the second chapter was dumped, “I started afresh and it came out to be far better than the previous version.” Jaishree Misra fought her block the other way round. She coerced herself, made it a compulsion to sit and write at least a few pages of her book A Scandalous Secret. “I face the block everytime I begin with a new book.” She feels that writer’s block can be at times misused as a convenient excuse to not write. “The best way to overcome the block is writing everyday, religiously.” For that matter, she doesn’t mind doing passable writing, “Which can be improved in the second draft.” After six books, she says that she has realised the importance of meeting deadlines and ignoring writer’s block. “It’s difficult to gain momentum once it’s lost.” After six books and all these years of writing, Dr Jaideep Singh Chadha still has to try really hard at times to progress with the storyline. It’s not that he lacks ideas but he feels that the more you force yourself, the more difficult it gets. Since, his storylines are emotional, with undertones of humour, it gets difficult to find the apt words. “I get stuck on as insignificant a problem as finding the most suitable word to describe a particular situation.” The block may take any amount of time, from a few days to a couple of weeks. It also depends on the project. Sangeet Sharma surprisingly faced the block while writing his second quasi-fictional book, Architecture, Life and Me. “The first book was a smooth sail. Maybe you do better as an amateur writer. After one book is out in the market, you get conscious. You try hard to make the second book better and end up suffering the writer’s block.”
It’s any day more challenging for fiction writers than non-fiction writers, as they have to back imagination with logic. The reactions to writer’s block vary from continuing or taking a break from writing. Dr Chadha’s reactions are rather different. “I feel like dropping the idea of writing the book or breaking my computer,” he quips. And the way to get back to writing is? “You just have to be patient. The inspiration, sooner or later, comes from within.” Time is the cure of this problem as well! ashima@tribunemail.com |
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With action films like Wanted, Dabangg and now Bodyguard, Salman Khan seems to be fast becoming the Rajinikanth of Bollywood, but the actor is frank enough to admit that it will take him 20 years to be anywhere near the South superstar. Like Rajnikanth, Salman has done it all—fought several bad guys at once, managed to tear his shirt apart without even touching it, throw punches that unrealistically fell dozen of goons and dodged bullets. Interestingly, all his recent movies have been south remakes. Even his latest venture, Bodyguard, is a remake of 2010 Malayalam movie of the same name. Asked if he is following in the footsteps of Rajinikanth, Salman was quickly said, “No... please no. He is on a different level altogether. I need that extra 20 years to be Rajnikanth. But I don’t want to go into that direction as it is too hard to be there. I am good with my stuff here.” Prabhudeva-helmed Wanted, one of the biggest hits of 2009, was a remake of Telugu blockbuster Pokiri. The film had Salman as the wisecracking thug later revealed as a cop. In Abhinav Kashyap’s 2010 blockbuster Dabangg, the 45-year-old played a corrupt cop. And now, in Bodyguard he essays the role of a bodyguard to Kareena. —PTI
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COPing up with the crime scene Salman Khan in Wanted This blockbuster revolutionised Salman Khan's career and resuscitated Boney Kapoor as well. The film is a super-duper ride and Salman Khan's formidable cop character is part of the suspense. The suspense is unveiled at the right moment. Prabhu Deva's film unabashedly capitalises on Salman Khan's stardom and will entertain you from start to finish. Salman Khan in Dabangg Repeating the success and formula of Wanted, Abhinav Kashyap's debut film is executed like a South-Indian movie with a rustic setting. Salman and his stardom make the movie work. He plays a corrupt cop (with a good heart ala Robin Hood) and has a gala time doing it. He dominates every frame. He makes anything and everything look good with his star-quality and presence. He is not his usual uninterested self and you can see that he has worked on bringing Chulbul Pandey to life. Sonu Sood in Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap The rugged and fit actor shares an uncanny resemblance with Amitabh Bachchan. He plays an honest cop and a good son to Hema Malini. He holds his own opposite Bachchan and watching them in the same frame is quite a delight. Abhishek Bachchan in Dum Maaro Dum
Abhishek Bachchan was on an unlucky streak prior to the passable success of this film. He has played a no-nonsense cop before and this is his most earnest and powerful performance in a while. You feel for his character and he holds the film together. Having played a cop in the Dhoom series, he gets into the character of a determined, drug-busting cop quite easily. Rajeev Khandelwal in Shaitan Prior to Shaitan, Rajeev was seen in the breathless thriller, Aamir. The good-looking actor makes a superb comeback to the silver screen with Bejoy Nambiar's brilliant debut. His powerful entry scene might get some whistles! With his hard-hitting portrayal of a no-nonsense and hot-headed cop, he takes you back to cop characters in films of the 1990s. Emraan Hashmi in Murder 2
In the sequel to the hit, Emraan Hashmi plays a former cop who crosses over to the other side. Yet, his investigative nature remains intact and he ceaselessly chases the villain of the movie. The Bhatt protégé proves once again that he is a very dependable actor and grey characters are his forte. He is there in almost every frame and brings out the confusion, angst, and anger of his character effortlessly. He redeems himself after the disaster of Crook and ably carries the film on his shoulders. Randeep Hooda in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai
Kangna Ranaut in Game It is not every day that we have lead actresses playing cops. We must give it to Kangna for venturing out of her neurotic territory and playing a cop. Sadly, she doesn't deliver in Abhiney Deo's debacle. She is an Interpol cop but her unusual accent sticks out like a sore thumb. She looks dazed, clueless, and sleep-deprived throughout the monumental bore of a film.
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Delhi Belly has shocked quite a few with its toilet and sex scenes and generous use of expletives, but the A-certified film got a bumper response. With Haunted and Murder 2 also raking in the moolah, these movies have shown how to make money despite having a restricted audience. "The reason we are seeing A-movies becoming hits is because people are experimenting a lot with the subject. Gone are the days of happy family with Ram Rajya-type subjects. Just to get out of the family drama zone, Bollywood is experimenting with subjects, language and characters," says director Rahul Dholakia. Dholakia, known for making movies like Parzania (2005) and Lamhaa: The Untold Story of Kashmir (2010), which were released with A-certificates. He believes the audience was always ready to accept strong and bold concepts, but producers and directors shied away. "We always watched such things, but it's just that we never really told such stories through our cinema. There were films by Mahesh Bhatt which had strong and bold concepts like Saaransh (1984) and the movie was well received by the audience. " Nirmaan (1974), directed by Ravi Tandon, was another example of strong and real subjects. Though the movie received an average business, the plot is revisited now," he added. In the past few years, things have changed and filmmakers have become bold storytellers and A-movies are setting cash registers ringing. Delhi Belly, an adult comedy produced by Aamir Khan, has broken the dry spell at the box office by earning Rs.15.65 crore on its first two days and Mohit Suri's crime thriller Murder 2 earned Rs.34.9 crore net in the first week. Earlier this year Raj Kumar Gupta's No One Killed Jessica, which makes heavy use of abuses, was given an A-certificate, but it created a box-office record. Anurag Kashyap's Shaitan, about the dark side of the life of Mumbai youngsters, and Ekta Kapoor's horror flick Ragini MMS received critical acclaim and did decent business. — IANS
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Flexible approach
Aamir Khan plays a gymnast in Dhoom 3 and he has to be super flexible.
He keeps reinventing himself for roles and that is quite amazing. He begins training soon.
We are looking forward to this avatar of his. The film will be out in Christmas 2012.
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Bend It Like Beckham launched the Hollywood career of Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Meyers but film's lead Parminder Nagra says it is "frustrating" at times to be passed on because of her Indian background. The actress played a die-hard Beckham fan, who goes against her strict Sikh upbringing to play football for Britain. The film, directed by Gurinder Chaddha', has achieved a cult status. Nagra, who worked on popular medical drama ER for six-years, is now returning to the big screen as a school teacher in Horrid Henry. "I sometimes feel I won't get considered for a lead role because I'm Indian, but I also had a great role on ER," Nagra said. The actress, who is married to a photographer and has a son, however, feels that the perception is changing. "I can't say it's not frustrating at times. But then you see Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto doing so well - so it is happening," said Nagra. — PTI
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Beyonce Knowles has had it all before turning 30, yet is still humbled by what she calls "the biggest opportunity of my life" -- the lead role in Clint Eastwood's remake of the film, A Star Is Born. The singer and burgeoning actress, whose fourth solo album 4 debuted at No. 1 on pop charts after its release in June, says she felt lucky to have landed the iconic role previously played by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland. Eastwood will helm the fourth remake of the story about rising singer and actress Esther Blodgett, and Beyonce fondly remembers being a young girl and watching previous versions of the movie with her mother. "It's when I became a fan of Barbra Streisand's. And I then saw Judy Garland's version of A Star Is Born and I realised every 20 to 30 years a new star is born and a new talent represents that generation and era -- so I didn't think that I would ever get the opportunity to be the star," she said. Beyonce has won 16 Grammy Awards, is married to rapper mogul Jay-Z, has topped Forbes magazine's lists of the most powerful and influential celebrities and is one of the world's top-grossing musicians. She starred in other movies with large ensemble casts, such as the widely-praised Dreamgirls, but she said meeting Oscar winner Eastwood still made her quiver. — Reuters
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Another love story
Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Blake Lively have hinted of a "steady relationship" after they were spotted shopping togetherThe couple, who has refrained from admitting their relationship, seems to have put recent reports of a split behind them as they went on a shopping spree in Santa Barbara, California. "They seemed very much in love. They were in the store for about 10 minutes before a crowd of fans noticed them and they rushed out," said a source.
This is the latest in a string of dates the actor, 35, has whisked the Gossip Girl beauty away on.Despite denying, the couple has been seen together on a yacht in Disneyland, California and on a water taxi in Venice, Italy. It was reported that Inception star has also treated the 23-year-old actress to a helicopter ride to Saint-Paul de Vence, France for a USD 500 lunch at La Colombe d'Or Restaurant, a stay at the USD 5,000-a-night suite at Hotel de Paris and a trip on a USD 52 million yacht and friends have revealed the DiCaprio is determined to please the Gossip Girl star. — PTI |
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Bebo's favourite Khan
Kareena Kapoor is close to all the Khans: Aamir, Salman, and Shah Rukh. Saif Ali Khan goes without saying. When asked who her favourite Khan was, she replied that it was Salman Khan. Sporting Salman teased her about Shah Rukh because he knows they are close. Kareena is working with Salman in Bodyguard, Saif in Agent Vinod, SRK in Ra.One, Imran Khan in Short Term Shaadi, and Aamir Khan in Dhuan (tentative title).
KHAN-DAAN: Kareena Kapoor |
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Another love story
Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Blake Lively have hinted of a "steady relationship" after they were spotted shopping together.
The couple, who has refrained from admitting their relationship, seems to have put recent reports of a split behind them as they went on a shopping spree in Santa Barbara, California. "They seemed very much in love. They were in the store for about 10 minutes before a crowd of fans noticed them and they rushed out," said a source. This is the latest in a string of dates the actor, 35, has whisked the Gossip Girl beauty away on.Despite denying, the couple has been seen together on a yacht in Disneyland, California and on a water taxi in Venice, Italy. It was reported that Inception star has also treated the 23-year-old actress to a helicopter ride to Saint-Paul de Vence, France for a USD 500 lunch at La Colombe d'Or Restaurant, a stay at the USD 5,000-a-night suite at Hotel de Paris and a trip on a USD 52 million yacht and friends have revealed the DiCaprio is determined to please the Gossip Girl star. — PTI |
Unlike previous seasons, designer JJ Valaya's show on the opening day of Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week (DCW) was not up to expectation as his collection featured some of his past designs with a touch of his signature luxe. The designer, who is known for grand sets and magnificent collection, chose to showcase the evolving palette of still image through his line titled 'Tasveer'. However, there were no big sets as Valaya opted for camera lenses in different sizes to do the talking as the back drop. The designer went for a music which was mix of drum beats and saxaphones to create the mood. "I have always received great response from my clientele and with this couture line I am hopeful to make the list stronger. The collection depicts my favourite photography which has been converted into designs and garments," said Valaya after the show. The collection offered an assortment of saris, lehangas, anarkalis, and overcoats embellished in semi-precious stones, crystals and digital prints. The colour palette varied from black and white, sepia, red, green, magenta and silver in draped silhouettes. The designer is known for using heavy accessories for his couture garments like head bands and belts and the same was seen this time as well leaving less scope for experimentation and freshness. His favourite muse Sapna Kumar walked as a show stopper in heavily embroidered lehanga teamed up with saffron duppatta which was the only highpoint of the entire line. — IANS
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P Khurrana
ARIES: Make sure you are doing your best. You could be in line for a promotion or recognition in the form of an award. Employment affairs are satisfactory. Tarot message: Rivalry and competition would push you to do your best. Lucky colour: Beige. Magic number: 52 TAURUS: Friction in the workplace can slow down production and affect everyone’s nerves. Try to stay balanced. You are likely be under a lot of peer pressure at the moment so focus on meditation. Tarot message: Balance in all aspects is recommended. Lucky colour: Lotus pink. Magic number: 25 GEMINI: Feeling of love and strong impulses come together in an exciting but frivolous mix. Take it easy. Do not neglect a family matter. Social gathering may be rather dull. Change is possible. Meet up friends and relatives. Tarot message: Play your cards close to your chest. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 40 CANCER: You are unlikely to get very far if trying to put new plans into operation. Infusing energy into your domestic life can give you the lift you need now. Some of you can be worried about finances. Tarot Message: Take no chances as despite assurances by people. Lucky colour: Blonde. Magic Number: 61 LEO: Sacrifices today can put you in a far better place in future. Bring a breath of fresh air into your life by rearranging your environment. Married will find their spouse difficult. Tarot Message: Be creative if you want to retain your grip over your business. Lucky colour: Chocolate brown. Magic Number: 24 VIRGO: Get to work as soon as possible. Not only will you impress the boss but you will feel an immediate sense of achievement. You should be able to ensure that your reputation spread far and wide. Tarot Message: A positive and caring attitude heals old wounds. Lucky colour: Citric blue. Magic Number: 33 LIBRA: The daily grind could bog you down. You could also get caught up in your natural ambition to get ahead. Problems of others may have to be attended too. There is little you can do to advance your own affairs. Tarot message: Penny saved is penny earned. Lucky colour: Lush green. Magic number: 62 SCORPIO: A day of heavy spending. Patience and time are required to progress. The advice of elders, professionals and people with greater experience than yours can make all the differences. Tarot message: Plan your life to avoid the inbuilt delays that come your way. Lucky colour: Pale yellow. Magic number: 59 SAGITTARIUS: Cheer up! Excitement & happiness are on the cards. An increasing income means more luxuries of life to enjoy. Socialising and attending gala events can be costly. You need a breath of fresh air and time out today. Tarot message: Strive for perfection at work. Lucky colour: Blood red. Magic number: 63 CAPRICORN: Grinding through grid lock traffic will be annoying and frustrating. Someone you meet today may give you a useful business tip. Best to stay at home during leisure time. Tarot Message: Be sure involving yourself as much as possible in a new project. Lucky colour: Golden yellow. Magic number: 57 AQUARIUS: Early in the day is the most exciting. You see many of the policies that you have been following bear fruit. Do not allow friends or family to distract you during study hours. Maker fresh starts for success. Tarot message: Do not leave things to chance. Lucky colour: Cream. Magic number: 50 PISCES: Finance and income are in the spotlight. Looking for a higher pay, speak to your boss in the afternoon. Be sure to grasp the opportunity that comes your way today. Discuss the detail plans with loved ones. Tarot message: Don't be too certain about a clearance. Lucky colour: Sea green. Magic number: 41
The year ahead
If your birthday is July 24...
The number 6 people are nurturing, responsible and dutiful. You are easily noticeable in a crowd and usually get a lot of attention and will dress stylishly to fulfill this aspect of their personality. Very kind and are devoted to their families. On the other hand, they can also be intolerant, discontented, dictatorial and dogmatic. Known for the generosity of their spirits, the number 6 people are extremely caring, sacrificing and loving. July is their good month and Fridays are lucky for them. 2, 3, 4, 9, 15 and 24 are the favorable monthly dates for them. Leos can be difficult to work with in team situations due to their unrelenting tendency towards self-promotion, but they are not bad people at heart. Check in with your boss, give a colleague a hand and ask a source nicely for what you need, when interpersonal balance is favoured. Career: This year you'll be hyperactive, super organised, punctual for appointments and highly positive. For those born during 90's, relationships with colleagues could be rather complicated. Romance could come your way in September. Mood: Vulnerable and apathetic. Compatible signs: Taurus, Sagittarius. Lucky colours: Bright yellow. Manoj Kumar (original name Harikrishna Giri Goswami , July 24 ,1937) shares birthday. Incidentally, he was born in Abbottabad, a town of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, then part of India, now in Pakistan where Osama Bin Laden was killed recently. Famous for patriotic themes, has been given the nickname "Mr Bharat" and was honoured with the Padma Shri. After Fashion in 1957, Manoj landed his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudia. Piya Milan Ki Aas and Reshmi Roomal followed. Hariyali Aur Raasta opposite Mala Sinha. He may not keep good health in 2012.
Chatter box
While film stars are in the news for being detained at airports, now Miley Jab Hum Tum star Mohit Sehgal too queues up for the same. The actor was detained at Delhi airport when an air gun was found in his luggage. Apparently airport officials physically checked his bag as the gun seemed like a real weapon in the scan. An embarrassed Mohit laughs off the incident now but we are sure he must have been stressed. back then. Full stop
Launched in March this year Looteri Dulhan was a cool concept that didn't rock the TRP chart for Imagine TV. Even replacing the entire cast didn't help the show nor did replacing the lead Krishna Gokani with Supriya Kumari. The story of a con woman who dupes older men for their money by marrying them wasn't well accepted by the audience so the show now will end and make way for Dharampatni featuring Harshad Chopra and Asiya Kazi. Passion over profession
Shaheer Sheikh is no doubt a cute guy and popular due to his chocolate boy looks in the role of Anant in Swastik Pictures' Navya on Star Plus.
But this isn't his first job as Shaheer has tried his hand at event management, photography, advertisements and even music videos. We were surprised to know that Shaheer has completed LLB but got interested in managing events in Pune which led to other career options. He works on his interests and passions other than his job. Cool. KBC's home delivery
This year, KBC will delight its avid viewers with Ghar Baithe Jeeto Jackpot offer which is an interactive initiative to bring KBC closer to its viewer. In every episode of KBC this year, Bachchan will personally call the winner and inform him/her about the winning amount of 1 lakh and giving him/her a chance to play for the |
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