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PLUS points
It's like rating friends according to the relationship you enjoy with them. "It's like making social networking less complicated. If I don't want to share a certain video with all the so-called friends, I will only post it for my close friends," comes from Abhinav Singh, a software engineer with Genpact. Google Plus gets a high five! Google's much-awaited networking site has a lot more to offer. Ask Abhinav and his readymade answer is, "Circles. You have the option to club people into different groups, which offers a lot of privacy. I don't think a second time before sharing a video or photographs on the site, since only people I want will be able to view it." To further help people socialise it provides the application, Huddle, another favourite with Google Plus members. This group chat application enables members of a certain circle to chat with each other. It's for Circles, Huddle and Hangover that some people are changing their loyalties to Google Plus. Sandeep Chauhan, MD Intellgia Technologies, shares his reason for the switch from Facebook to Google Plus, "Privacy is a big concern on FB. You have to decide in the spur of the moment whether you want to post pictures or videos on FB or not. In fact, this has reduced my FB usage." He adds that on the other hand Google Plus neatly organises your contacts. "Gradually the user base of the site will increase and the experience of social networking will become much
more enjoyable." The Google Plus application, if downloaded on smart phones, automatically uploads photographs and videos. "It saves a lot of time. It is then at the discretion of the user whether he or she wants to publish the matter or not," says Jaspreet Waraich, a teacher at Vivek High School, who is another Google Plus fan. The site is user-friendly, has a nice interface and homepage. "The only drawback of the site as of now is its limited utility. Since people are used to FB, it will take time before they create their accounts on Plus." The homepage is called Stream. It then has options of Circle to view friends, Hangouts, a video-chatting provision, Sparks that will send you matter of your subject of interest, Instant Uploads for photos as well as videos and Huddle for group chat. So can it pose a threat to existing social networking sites? Angad Chowdhry, founder, Sphinx Research and an industry expert, feels that the Internet will let multiple forms of social networking sites co-exist. "Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus can have parallel usage. Privacy is not a big issue with people; what people want is a huge network with friends, which is only possible if Google Plus has more members." Waiting for that to happen!
ashima@tribunemail.com
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A thought for the child
I am kalam
Must watch "A very inspiring movie. Great script and a good performance by all actors. A must watch movie." — Tarun Mahajan, student,
Punjab University Strong message "It is one of those movies, which doesn't boast of a great start cast but has a strong message." — Hardeep Singh, IT Employee Chala Mussaddi Office Office
Chala Mussaddi Office Office is the story of Mussadi Lal Tripathy (Pankaj Kapoor), who is a common man. The story revolves around Mussadi, who is a retired school master. Post his wife's death, he decides to go on a char dham yatra with her ashes, but he only returns to realise that the pension office has declared him dead! Despite many attempts to prove himself alive, he fails to get justice from the slow and corrupt administrative system. So, he decides to take the law into his own hands. Starring: Pankaj Kapoor, Deven Bhojani, Manoj Pahwa, Sanjay Mishra, Hemant Pandey, Asawari Joshi Good satire "It's a satire on the corrupt practices in India. A funny movie." — Varun Tripathi, bank employee Average stuff "The film is only for Pankaj Kapoor's fans. Only his performance is worthwhile." — Varinder Kaur, housewife. (compiled by Vasudha Gupta)
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MOVES that charm
Change is the name of the game…and in order to offer its patrons a new experience, Shivalikview-17 has introduced belly dances in their newly opened restaurant Cloud 9. This weekend, it's Shakhrizat who will regale the audience with belly dance. Born in Kazakhstan, brought up in Turkey, Shakhrizat started learning belly dancing when she was five. Since then, she has travelled around the world, giving performances and choreographing shows. For the performance at Chandigarh, her show has four different segments using props - fan, stick, candle and wings. Drum beats are best suited to show all the right moves and shakes. Along with that, this show will have refreshingly different music and beats. "It sounds glamorous to be a belly dancer but trust me, it's a lot of hardwork," says Shakhrizat who is a huge fan of Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit. One would find a Bollywood streak in her performances in Chandigarh as well. "The previous belly dance show got a rousing response from our clientele, so it’s here again," shares Anurag Walia, general manager, Hotel Shivalikview. Check out Cloud 9 Fusion restaurant’s flagship dishes - Honey & Orange Glaze, Jaituni Malai Paneer, Lutyen's Lunch, Jheenga Gol Mirch along with some foot-tapping Russian music this weekend as well as the next (Friday to Sunday).
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Sing, Dance…Swing!
Savour the celebratory spirit of the rainy season and celebrate Teej in the traditional way Mona
A traditional woman's day, Teej, popular in northern India, celebrates monsoons in a colourful way. Women worship goddess Parvati for a blissful married life and enjoy the day by dressing up in the best of clothes and having time off with relatives as well as friends. And, yes, men are supposed to bring gifts for the womenfolk as well. At the event organised at Dahlia Garden-36 (opposite Fragrance Garden), the trees bear decorated swings and stalls are set for some shopping. The highlight is the cultural show that will have artistes performing on Punjabi and Haryanvi folk songs. So gear up for some Haryanvi Ragini, Bhangra, Giddha as well as Bollywood tunes! "We will have known singers — Resham Singh Anmol, Devinder Kainth, Urvi Manocha, Kumar Sajan and Jitinder Kamal to enthral the audience," shares Brigadier (retd) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, the man behind the show. Various troupes will bring the magic of folk dances on to the stage. Well, no celebration is complete without food. And what's better than having typical rainy season food? Savour the taste of kheer and malpua while you enjoy the cultural show. You can enjoy swings during the day — the cultural extravaganza begins at Dahlia Garden, six onwards in the evening. More in the city...
Play time Check out Lal Kaner presented by Suchetak Rang Manch, Mohali, at Tagore Theatre-18. Directed by Anita Sabdeesh, the play is based on Tagore's work. Starting 6:45 pm, this is an hour-and-quarter long play adapts the Bengali setting in Punjabi
language. The play is based on labourers in a gold mine, who fill up the coffers of their lords only to be maltreated and how they rise against them. The play has been adapted to give it a Punjabi feel along with the music and dance beats. mona@tribunemail.com |
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The secret behind living to a ripe old age may have nothing to do with what you eat, how much exercise you get, or whether you smoke or drink. It may be programmed into the genes of certain lucky individuals, according to a new study. A study of hundreds of centenarians revealed they were just as likely to have vices as other people - and in some cases they indulged in them more. Almost 500 men and women aged between 95 and 109 were asked about how they had lived their lives for the study. Those quizzed were Ashkenazi Jews, whose relatively recent descent from small founder groups means there is less variation in their genes than in the general population, making it easier to spot the effects of genetics. The results were then compared with the answers of a second group who were born around the same time but had normal lifespans. If lifestyle was more important than genetics, the results would have shown the centenarians to be less likely to smoke than the others and have led healthier lives. But this was far from the case. The long-lived men and women were no more likely to have dieted than the others and were more likely to have smoked and drunk. The study has been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. — ANI
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On stage, off limelight
For 20 years, his stage has been the streets of remote areas of Punjab. His eyes pierce through the soul of the common man and it is his story that he tells through his art. Yes, Samuel John has single-handedly brought theatre to the people living in villages! As his film and the first Punjabi film Anne Ghode Da Daan goes to the Venice Film Festival, he talks about the triumph of the spirit of the stories of the aam aadmi through his plays as well as his second Punjabi film. The genius, credited with keeping theatre alive and kicking in Punjab, now belongs to both mediums of film as well as theatre. However, all he belongs to is the story he wants to tell! The story written by Gurdial Singh in the novel of the same name drew Samuel towards the film — Anne Ghode Da Daan. "Suffering of the mazdoor living either in the village or urban areas is the same. They have always been deprived and that is what the story is all about." "The story is based on how devtas cheated asurs during samudra manthan and drank the elixir," says Samuel. "The film is the story of a rickshaw-puller spread over one day. His dreams of making a better living are dashed on the plane of reality of an urban life, which is insensitive to his existence. The film features a majority of non-actors and has real-life labourers in it," says Samuel. After Mitti, Anne Ghode Da Daan is Samuel's second film. "I thought that cinema was not a serious medium so I stayed away. I was happy going to mazdooran de vehde and doing theatre. We even staged Macbeth in Lehragagga in Punjab. We would spread a bed-sheet, stage our play and move on to the next village with whatever the villagers would give us. From academicians to simple farmers, our plays appealed to everyone and that was our triumph. Socially relevant subjects got me to act in films like Mitti and Anne Ghode Da Daan," says Samuel. "I had fixed a part of my life to devote to theatre. Art was my way of giving back to Lehragagga," says Samuel who stands for real subjects. "My character is that of a rickshaw-puller who is confused, hand-to-mouth, angry and oppressed. To bring variation in that kind of a character was the biggest challenge. I had to go a step further from acting and be natural for the role, which is more difficult. I had to make my silence speak," he says. "Technique of the theatre and film did clash here. In one scene, my character is wounded and confused and in that rage he is pulling his rickshaw fast. To show that rage, nervousness and energy of a rustic I had to pull the rickshaw fast, but the camera failed to capture the scene. That is when I was told to go slow," he laughs. The fact that the film is going for the Venice Film Festival means that Punjabi cinema has come of age. It is dealing with serious subjects. "Punjabi cinema is going for real themes," says Samuel. "To keep the role natural there was no make-up. I had to wear a kambal for the month-long shooting in Sivian village of Bathinda, which even gave me blisters," he signs off.
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Master Chef
Samosas are delightful, small, happiness inducing packets loved by us all. As if you didn't know that already! What you also know already is that they can't sneak into the list of healthy food by any stretch of our imagination. But samosa and jalebi are synonymous with "baarish-ka-mausam", so it's easy to slip up and desire this calorie-laden, soaked-in-oil sin. Needless to say you shall be soaked in guilt for hours later. Why not reduce the guilt by baking your own batch and skipping the oily fried ones? The baked samosa follows the same method of prepping, just that you pop them in the oven, not into hot oil. Another twist in the plot is the filling of chickpeas. Baked samosa of spicy chickpeas
2 cups maida ½ tsp ajwain 2 tbsp vanaspati 1 tsp salt 1 cup chickpeas (kabuli chana) 1 medium potato ½ onion, minced 1 tsp each, ginger and garlic paste 2 green chillies ½ a lemon ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves Salt, chaat masala and garam masala to taste 2 tsp oil Method
(Nijhowne is a city-based cooking expert)
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Leafy dressing
Poonam aggarwal
French dressing 3 tsp olive oil 1tsp white vinegar 1/2tsp mustard powder Salt and freshly ground pepper Put all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Basic French dressing can be flavoured by chopped mint, garlic, chilly flakes and various herbs as required. Mayonnaise 2 egg yolk 1tsp mustard powder 2tsp white wine 1tsp lemon juice 300 ml olive oil Salt and freshly ground pepper Whisk the egg yolk with half the vinegar and lemon juice. Add oil drop by drop and keep whisking till the whole oil is absorbed. Add vinegar and lemon juice slowly. Season well. Whisk till the oil is emulsified and the sauce is thick and shiny. Keep in air tight container for three days in the refrigerator. To flavour mayonnaise add chopped garlic, onions and herbs. Thai peanut dressing 2 tsp oil 1 onion finely chopped 1 garlic finely crushed 1tsp chilly flakes 125 gm roasted peanuts 150 gm coconut milk 1tsp soya sauce 1tsp lemon juice 1tsp sugar Salt and pepper Fry onion and garlic. Add ingredients. Crush peanuts to a paste. (Poonam Aggarwal is a Ludhiana-based cookery expert)
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Care for the HAIR!
Poets across the world have written endless sonnets on rain, but one man here, Jawed Habib, defines monsoon as most disastrous season for hair. In Zirakpur to launch the first JH Hair Xpreso, located at Paras Down Town Square, the hair-stylist has nothing personal against the rain, 'no matter what style one tries, monsoon ensures you look like plain Jane,' he says as he explains the new concept called JH Hair Xpreso.
"It is a unisex salon that will offer quick, contemporary, dry hair cut at Rs 99 only. Hair cutting and styling doesn't fall into everyone's budget. So, I have tried to offer a price that suits all," shares Jawed, who plans to launch his own cosmetic range pretty soon. While Jawed plans to come up with his own range of brushes, scissors, combs, we quickly ask him to break myths and establish facts if any. To begin with, it is fear of using chemical shampoo on hair that bothers most of us. He laughs, "This is the biggest myth I have encountered, people asking whether it is okay to wash hair with shampoo everyday." Jawed's take on it, "Don't we wash our face everyday, so what is the problem with washing hair. Sweating and humidity in monsoon weaken the roots of hair. Wash you hair daily, and avoid any conditioner or styling product." If nothing works, grandma's oil therapy is bound to work wonders? Jawed has a firm reply, "Use oil, curd and other things from the kitchen. Avoid using oil in monsoon, it will do no good to your hair," shares Jawed. With so many nos around, what is the best available option. "Colouring; use light colours when it rains they would look bright and give a style to your personality," tells Jawed, who also shares that nothing works better than a few glasses of water and a bright smile! jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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The rise of Mata Hari
Designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, who completed 25 years in the fashion industry, say fashion was just taking birth in India when they started and people's attitude towards it has changed a whole lot since then. However, both feel too many fashion weeks are spoiling the broth. "It has been a great journey for us because god has been kind. We have been able to work without any boundaries. Whatever we have created has been appreciated. Right from the time that we met and started our first label Mata Hari, we embarked on an exciting journey, which we still find very captivating and satisfying," Abu said. And Sandeep feels the same. The duo have seen the industry evolving and feel that in the past 25 years, the fashion world has come a long way and people's attitude towards fashion has changed too. "When we first started, the fashion industry was just taking birth. Fashion stores were just beginning to open up and designers were taking the leap to start their own stores. Today, people are willing to invest in the trade by setting up stores. The bigger corporates have now started to approach designers to be a part of existing clothing brands," said Abu. However, they feel that too many fashion weeks are somehow changing the focus of the industry. "It's good to know that the fashion week every year is bringing fashion designers and buyers from around the world on one platform. But the sad thing is that with so many fashion weeks, the focus is blurred. Care should be taken to get the focus back on track," they said. The duo have been the favourite designer of the Bachchan family and they say it was very easy to design for Bollywood's first family as they are very humble as customers. "It has been easy to design for them because they have always trusted us and our work and have been happy with whatever we have made for them," Abu and Sandeep said unanimously. Abu-Sandeep not only designed outfits for Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya and son Abhishek for several occasions but also made the wedding outfit for the meagastar's daughter Shweta Nanda when she married industrialist Nikhil Nanda in 1997. Recalling their best moment during the wedding, Sandeep said: "When Shweta was getting married and when the time came for her mothers and brothers to perform some ceremonies, Jaya made us perform them. It was and will remain the best moment for us." Apart from the Bachchan family, the designer duo's clientele list includes actresses Dimple Kapadia, Amrita Singh, Madhuri Dixit, Dimple Kapadia, Sonu Walia and industrialist Parmeshwar Godrej. The two not only designed their garments but also decorated their homes as Abu-Sandeep's interest also lies in interior designing. They did the interiors for Amitabh-Jaya and Dimple Kapadia's houses in Mumbai and Nikhil and Shweta Nanda's palatial mansion in the capital. — IANS
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An unusual pastime that is drawing attention from around the world is chess-boxing, which sees competitors face off in the ultimate clash of brains and brawn. Unlike mainstream pugilism, fighters can win by not only knocking out their opponent, but also by catching them in checkmate. "Chess is a gladiatorial game, just like boxing Chess was designed as a strategy for training for warfare - there's still the will to win," Tim Woolgar, the founder of the UK's first chess-boxing gym in north London, said. "The perception that people have of chess players and boxers is slightly warped at either end of the spectrum. "So that's the beauty of this discipline - it goes completely against those stereotypes, mixing brains with brawn," he added. Some of the world's biggest chess players have played the challenging new sport - in which 11 alternating rounds of chess then boxing take place. —ANI
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Suitably comfortable
Brands! Trends! What is fashion all about? Those who turn around the haute couture to suit their individualistic style are the trendsetters. It may be a retro look, the comfy or the completely neo fashion one, but it sure makes heads turn. A Ludhiana lass, currently studying B Sc in biotechnology in the UK, Trinjan Kaur has a distinctive style… Your sense of style Latest trends and styles are part of our life but I like to complement them with suitability and comfort. Clothes should be suitable for the occasion and comfortable for me. Latest addition to your treasure of clothing or accessories… A few loose fitted, check shirts which are super cool this summer. Brand crazy or street pick ups? A judicious mix of both, I prefer brands only when it comes to jeans. Your style icon would be… Definitely Katrina Kaif. She can carry off any attire with oodles of confidence and attitude. Who do you think is the worst dressed celebrity? I am not very judgmental, but Rakhi Sawant's way of dressing is pretty inappropriate. Which look would your prefer — sporty, chic or glamorous? Glamorous. One fashion trend that goes beyond your comprehension… Fashion for the sake of fashion even when it is not in tune with one's figure. Your take on accessories ? I love accessories and lots of glass bangles are my favourite bet. What gives you a high on the confidence level… When my efforts are appreciated whether it is my way of dressing or my work. (As told to Poonam Bindra)
(If you think you too ft in the profile, get in touch with us at lifestyletribune@gmail.com. We'll sift the best from the rest) |
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We love this one!
The song from the movie Bodyguard seems to be the perfect choice to introduce the film to the audience. The tune of I love You by Pritam might not be as refreshing, but the soft music has done well for the music lovers. Sung by Ash King and Clinton Carejo, the song is the best from the album, and brings respite from Himesh Reshammiya's jarring tunes, the second music composer of the movie. Music lovers give their opinion on the song. I Love You has soft music that any music lover would plug to. It's an out and out romantic number and will top the charts for weeks to come because we don't get to hear such tracks in films very often. The video of the track is equally good, which in fact is like the trailer of the film. The remix is pleasant to the ears too. Pritam has done a good job this time also just as he has done with other hit romantic numbers. — Amit Khanna, a BPO employee Although there is a marked difference between the two songs, Tere mast mast do nain from Dabangg and I Love You from Bodyguard, what's common is both are typical romantic numbers. Salman's last rom com Ready didn't have a great romantic number, which is not the case with Bodyguard. I Love You is an amazing track, it's fresh, soothing and enjoyable. Pritam as always has done a fantastic job. — Nitish Sharma, a B.tech student The song might fail to appeal the first time but grows on you gradually. The video, which looks like the trailer of the film, adds to the popularity of the song. The lyrics of the song are meaningful and Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor are the USP of the track. The song is already a hit and is certainly better than other tracks of Bodyguard. — Neha Chauhan, a PU student.
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A survey has found that parents routinely allow children as young as six to surf Internet without supervision. According to the poll of 20,000 broadband users, among six-year-olds, one child in six browses the web alone for up to an hour a day. For seven-year-olds, the proportion raises to two in five - and across the six- to 17-year-old age group, around half of all Internet activity is carried out without supervision. Many parents claimed they do not need to monitor their activities, as it mostly consists of social networking or listening to music. Others said they have security measures in place to limit the kind of websites their children can visit, or routinely examine their Internet browser history to check what they have accessed. However, research suggests this may not be enough to protect their children from explicit material. The survey found 14 per cent of six-to 10-year-olds has encountered adult content on the web, either deliberately or accidentally. Internet service provider TalkTalk conducted the poll. Tristia Clarke, commercial director, said it was 'astonishing' that 54 per cent of parents said they 'don't have the time or the inclination' to monitor their children's online activities. "Parents in more affluent homes are a little more likely to let their children surf the web unaccompanied than those in lower income homes," she said. — ANI
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Bollywood actress Ayesha Takia is a happily married woman. She is doing films as she pleases but marriage is her priority. She has no problems about being seen once in two years as she is content in life. She talks about her upcoming film, MOD, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. Secured future I am enjoying my married life. I have always dreamt about a secured future so you know I do everything in a planned way. Like after marriage my film Wanted released which was a hit but after that I wanted to do something different. When Nagesh offered me this film, I was ready. In between I tried to understand the hotel business. When I am not acting... I love staying at home. I have been an actor so I know how an actor's life is but I wanted to know another world too. So I took the break to look at the things from an outsider's erspective. As an actor, it helped me a lot. First love For me, it's really about the craft and I enjoy it thoroughly. So, if I don't sign anything that genuinely excites me, I lose interest right there. I was fortunate that Nagesh came to me with MOD. MOD story It's a story of different people who come from different worlds and how they meet each other. Basically, it's a sweet love story. The character I play is amazing. She is mature, independent, and totally opposite of me. I am amazing but not that independent. She manages her life. She has this clock store and earns her living. She meets Raanvijay and falls in love with him. She is unlike the characters I have ever played before. When you do a Nagesh film, you really go into little details about the character, her mind and her life. So, the character is amazing and I would miss her forever. Nagesh Kukunoor I am not a very social person in Bolywood Nagesh is one of the sweetest people I know. He is very refreshing and has given me a different space in his film Dor. And when he offered me MOD I thought it would be an image makeover role for me. MOD stars MTV VJ Ranvijay opposite Ayesha Takia and the film will release on September 30. — HRM
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Good times for 'bromance' in Bollywood Forget romance, 'bromance' is the buzzword at the box office. Films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Delhi Belly and Pyaar Ka Punchnama are bringing alive boy bonding on the big screen, albeit with a realistic twist. "It's nothing new, just fresh," says film critic Anupama Chopra. "Bromance doesn't get better than Jai-Veeru in Sholay! That was the great Indian bromance! So the concept is not new. It's been there...it's just that stories are not as overblown and over-the-top as they used to be," she added and rightly so! Zoya Akhtar's hit Zindagi Na... narrates the story of three friends who head for a three-week bachelor party and discover their strengths, weaknesses and conquer their fears on their way. Aamir Khan Productions' Delhi Belly, a money spinner despite having an A-certificate, turned out to be a cult project with abuses and mischief galore — in tune with India's growing, notorious, urban youths. There was also the hilarious Pyaar Ka Punchnama, about three friends-cum-flatmates, and their lives after they get bitten by the love bug. "Films on bromance are closer to reality now, without dialogues like Main tere liye apni jaan bhi de sakta hun!'," says Anupama, wife of filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who gave a hit bromance with 3 Idiots. Earlier films like Chashme Buddoor, Satte Pe Satta, Amar Akbar Anthony and Bombay Boys had also touched upon boy bonding. But the Hindi film industry saw a more contemporary take on the trend with Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai about three friends from diverse backgrounds, the bullying between them, their romances, their victories, their defeats - and their never ending support to each other. It was followed by films like Jhankaar Beats, Rang De Basanti, Masti, Dhamaal, Dhol, Badmaash Company, Dostana, Rock On!!, Golmaal series, Heyy Babyy and Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji. Director Luv Ranjan, who tickled the viewers' funny bone with Pyaar Ka Punchnama, explains why the audience embraces bromances. "After an age, people get burdened with a lot of responsibilities and these fun moments get lost on the way. So these films give them a reminder or an experience of the life that they perhaps wanted to have, or perhaps the life they miss," says Ranjan. In Bollywood, bromances have usually had staple features - it's a gang of guys, there's confrontation and then a patch-up or there's a nagging girl, love is in the backdrop and friendship takes centrestage. Sometimes, the friends take a road trip and their experience helps audiences relive their past. But a lot has changed in terms of the treatment, says Ranjan. "It's very important to make films realistically. Films work when they are a true reflection of society. It's not as though men never used to abuse each other in their friends circle 40 years ago. But it was just a more closed and covered up society back then. That has changed. "People are now open about using expletives in public, hugging and flirting in public...and so some of it is coming on the big screen, and people are loving it! That curtain of hiding the true, crazy bonding has been removed," added Ranjan. According to actor-comedian Vir Das, that's what worked best for his movie Delhi Belly. "Boy bonding is a formula which seems to be working a lot. In Delhi Belly, the characters were more real. Normally you see friends who are super rich, having fun and having the time of their life...," said Vir. — IANS
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Arbaaz Khan and Abhinav Kashyap had fallen out post Dabangg over arguments regarding the sequel. They met at Sunil Bohra's party and chatted like old friends into the wee hours of the morning.
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Treading cautiously
Shahid Kapoor is in two minds about doing the sequel to Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. The buzz is that he is insecure about sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar. The two have acted together in Deewane Huye Pagal where Shahid got a raw deal so he is a little conscious now. We'd tell him to worry not. Milan Luthria is good with two hero movies. In the first film, both Emraan and Ajay walked away with equal accolades and Emraan held his own opposite Ajay. We are sure he can do the same opposite Akshay. Moreover, this will be a significant film for him, something in the vein of Kaminey but darker and more intense. It will reflect well on his resume. |
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Dressed to serve
"It's not only the décor that makes the theme of a restaurant the people in service make it a complete picture. So, taking the theme (Persia, Afghanistan, North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan and Awadh and Hyderabad in India) Kebab Khan has a typical dress code of a kurta and pjyama," says Kushagra Nagrath, CEO, Alchemist Hospitality. Well the uniforms for the staff at Kebab Khan and Zazen have been designed by a Delhi-based costume designer Pratima Pandey keeping in mind the theme of the restaurants. Known for their concept of food, Barbeque Nation has thought of a new dress code for their staff too. Says Supriya Das, marketing head, Barbeque Nation says, "For GSA's we have a faint yellow colour shirt, dark green trousers and a lighter green waist apron." And the reason for the colour, "These are our brand colours and since green is our brand's essence so nothing could have been better. Other than this the comfort of the staff was on our mind and we wanted to make the clothes comfortable so they were designed in this way." For restaurant chains like Mainland China the uniform is different for the male and female staff. The women wear a Chinese gown and for the man its western formals. "We have black coat and black trousers for our stewards and white shirt, white dotted tie and coat for the action managers. For the women at the front office they are supposed to wear a Chinese gown," says Souro Kiran from Mainland China. He adds, "That's not all the service staff has to wear black shoes and black socks and the waiters have to carry a waiters kit that includes a cloth, pins, pad and a bottle opener with them." Ask him the reason for carrying this paraphenilia and he says, "We are into service sector and we don't want our customers to wait for trivial things so waiters are supposed to carry all this so that they don't have to run for small things." At Kava, black is the colour for dressing up. M.S Negi, restaurant manager, says, "Since we are a fine dining restaurant nothing would have suited better than black. So, people in the service wear black trousers and shirts and for managers its black coat and trousers." Clothes make a man, is an old proverb and believing the same Mannika from Black says, "Black had to be our dress code since it's our restaurant's name. Nothing would have suited better than Black clothes. So for our stewards it is black trousers and black tees." Ask her what the thought behind black and she says, "It gels well with the theme and the name of the restaurant."
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Beery GOOD
Beer in Vanilla flavour, freshly brewed lager in premium, wheat and dark, International Beer Day on Thursday, had even the non-drinkers raise the toast.
Beer, known as 'liquid bread' is one of the earliest known beverages and celebrating the day was Hops n Grains—9, Panchkula, a microbrewery cum multi-cuisine restaurant. A special menu that goes with this fest includes Drunk Vegetables, Beery Wings, Beer Sausages, Drunk Fish and Beer marinated Chicken Roulad. One also has the choice of hand tossed, fresh baked pizzas-Margherita with fresh Basil, Panner Tikka pizza, Barbeque Chicken pizza Chicago style and Tandoori Chicken pizza. Besides the festival, HnG would continue to serve its regular snacks - tikkas, kebabs, pastas and risottos. This 15-day Beery Food Festival starting Thursday is on till August 19. On from 12.30pm till midnight, here a meal for two with drinks costs about Rs 2,000. "Our special Vanilla beer as well as appetisers cooked in beer are a must try," says Amritanshu, proprietor, Hops n Grains. On Friday band 'I Quit' was there to entertain guests
as well. — Mona |
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On the occasion of the first anniversary, Cafe Amor organised a Karaoke night on Thursday night. Says Kushagra Nagrath, COO, Alchemist Hospitality, "Karaoke nights at Cafe Amor are well known in the city, continuing the legacy we wanted everybody who is young in age and at heart to put their innate talents to better use with Cafe Amor's Karaoke Night." And there’s more to add that element of fun to your evening. Page 3 opens its Zen Lounge in a gala function on Saturday amongst the fireworks, sheesha bar and some foot tapping music!
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The year 2011 has been good for Kalki. She got married, Shaitan opened to good reviews and packed houses, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara did very well commercially and critically. She has two other releases. The doll-like beauty talks about movies, success, fashion, and more. Success
(Smiles) I got good reviews after Dev D too, but yes Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara was a commercial film and totally different from what I had done before. But success doesn't go into my head because once the lights are off, I am the normal Kalki, who likes to talk and loves to laugh her heart out. But I am very pleased that both my films did well this year. Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara
When Zoya offered me the role, I was surprised as I had watched Luck By Chance and loved the film. The character which I played in ZNMD is different; she loves herself and loves to maintain her image. It was a challenging role because I have to get that attitude in me which many people said I got well. So I was happy at the end that people recognised my character. Style statement
For me fashion is something which I am comfortable in. I wear whatever suits me. I never think about what I will wear tomorrow. I just open my cupboard and select what I have to wear. That's how I am. Next releases
My next film That Girl in Yellow Boots will release on September 3. Then there is Shanghai with Abhay Deol. — HRM |
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Indian actress Freida Pinto got her big break when director Danny Boyle cast the ex-model as the love interest in the 2008 Oscar-winning hit Slumdog Millionaire. Now, she's hitting silver screens in her first big-budget, effects-driven Hollywood movie. Since then, the 26-year-old has appeared on People magazine's "Most Beautiful People List," starred in smaller, art-house films for Woody Allen and Julian Schnabel, and is the current face of L'Oreal cosmetics. In Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which hits theaters on Friday, Pinto plays an expert in primate behaviour opposite James Franco and a bunch of genetically enhanced chimps who prepare to take over the world. The movie is a prequel of sorts to the popular Planet of the Apes movies of the 1960s and '70s, and it follows director Tim Burton's take on the series with 2001's Planet of the Apes. Pinto talks about making of the film and why she is a Hollywood -- not Bollywood -- star. It's been over 40 years since the first ‘Apes’ film with Charlton Heston. Where does this film fit into the story? It's a modern-day origin story. It's about how a scientific experiment with a potentially life-saving new drug goes terribly wrong and leads to an ape revolution. I think the fact that it deals with topics such as animal testing is very relevant and current. It's very different from the original. You play a primatologist. Did you do much research for the role? A lot. Like most people I only knew what I'd been taught in school about chimps, and that's not enough. So, I watched a ton of videos about Jane Goodall, who I'd love to meet. All her research was fascinating and so useful, especially in how she studied human behaviour in comparison to chimp behaviour. Did you get to work with real chimps, or was it all performance capture? No real chimps. It was pretty amazing. We've progressed so much with visual effects technology that we didn't need to use real animals. Avatar was a huge step forward, and in this film we've gone even further, in that we could shoot scenes with the motion capture apes outside -- we didn't have to be confined to a studio like before. Any surprises working with James Franco? I always try to go into every film with flexibility, because all actors work differently and have different styles. Some are very intense in between takes and scenes, but James was very relaxed and always so prepared. So he could be reading a book and the moment they said 'Action!' he'd be totally present. This is quite a cautionary tale about human's tampering with nature, genetics and science. What did you learn from it? It's a message film in a way, but it made me realise how important it is to start a conversation about very serious issues and not just be numb to them. How far do you go in order to better people's lives and fight disease, and at what cost? It definitely made me think about it all. You're next playing Phaedra in another big action film, Immortals. I actually shot it before ‘Apes’ although it's not out until 11-11-11 (Nov. 11, 2011). I'm the oracle priestess who can see and predict the future, although she doesn't quite know how it'll unfold. Although it's set in ancient Greece, we shot it in Montreal, and it was an amazing experience. Director Tarsem Singh created a living set. You're starring in all these big Hollywood epics. Will you ever make a Bollywood film? I just did "Trishna" with Michael Winterbottom, which is my second Indian film after "Slumdog." So I feel I've done the Bollywood thing in a way. — Reuters
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Kutcher the new man
Ashton Kutcher, who is replacing Chalie Sheen on Two and a Half Men, will play an Internet billionaire named Walden Schmidt.
Sheen was fired from the show after he went on a week-long media marathon, ranting about the bosses. CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler revealed details about Kutcher's character but didn't reveal how Kutcher's character will come in touch with Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) and his son Jake (Angus T Jones), but he is not related to any of them. "We have an extraordinary actor in Ashton Kutcher. You have someone who is committed to doing their job and is incredibly professional," said CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler. According to reports, Sheen's character will be killed off in the opening episodes of the show but Tassler did not comment on it.
— PTI |
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To kick the butt
The former Spider-Man star is seeking the help of a hypnotherapy expert to conquer her nicotine addiction once and for all. "I did it once and it worked. Then I started (smoking) again. So I'll try to give up again. I'll do it. You know, I'm much stronger than people think," she said.
— PTI |
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What's haute, what's not!
The petite girl looks like she is wearing a cake. We are sorry but the neckpiece is tacktastic and ill-fitted to boot! Zarine Khan
The dress is very fairy-tale and we hope she can breathe in it. She isn't making a mark. The headpiece is distracting and should have been of a different colour. The diamond choker is lovely.
She looks elegant and graceful. The jewellery doesn't stand out. However, why on the planet is she wearing slippers on the ramp? Terrible mistake on the stylist's part. Heard of flats? Riya Sen The saree is quite a mess and her make-up is a tad cakey. We love her thick mane of hair. The sparkling little neckpiece manages to stand out.
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Preity good show
Ring side view
No adventure show for
Karan
Karan Kundra might be looking for good work after Kitani Mohabbat Hai ended but he is sure of what he wants. He was approached to participate in the desi version of an international reality adventure show on a popular channel but Karan wasn't interested in being away from his family for so long, therefore he turned down the offer. Karan of course enjoys a cool youth based fan following and the channel wanted him on the show as he would appeal to the youth. The other television celebrities touted to be on the show are Arjun
Bijlani, Karisma Tanna, Priyanka Bassi, Karan Patel while Harshad Chopra too refused the show. Kahani mein twist
Anupam Shyam aka Thakur Sajjan Singh from Star Plus' show Pratigya has a great presence on the show and since his track with Ganga is the highpoint, it is obvious that his absence would be noticed. Anupam was rushed to the hospital after he complained of low blood pressure. He will rest for few days before resuming shooting. For now, the story of the show has been altered and Sajjan Singh will be shown kidnapped in the serial vis-à-vis what was planned earlier wherein he has a confrontation with his family and announces that he will marry
Ganga. As the scenes would need high energy, he was unable to work and doctors advised bed rest.
All-rounder Roshni Chopra has been there and done it all. From hosting, acting to reality shows on television now she is debuting in films with Vikram Bhatt's
Phhir. She is thrilled to be part of this thriller and working with
Viikram. Roshni is currently shooting for her next reality show Jee Le Ye Pal. She loves dancing and it is a great way to stay in shape for Sanjeeda Sheikh. Not only is dance a stress buster for her but also is a cardio workout for the nimble actress. She hates gymming and dances daily for an hour. No doubt it is a cool and smart way of staying fit. Rakshandha's rain dance
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Astro turf
ARIES: ‘The Lovers’ facilitate you to be open and inspired by new ideas. An invitation to a party this evening could bring more of the same; plus an encounter on the romantic angle. Tarot message: Do not be in the rush to spend extravagantly. Lucky
colour: Silver grey. Magic number: 54.
TAURUS: ‘The Priestess’ infuses promise and commitment in a personal relationship. Bring up the sensitive issues that everybody is skirting around which will encourage some open and revealing discussing. Tarot message: Spend time meeting experienced people. Lucky
colour: Crimson. Magic number: 37. GEMINI: "The prince of Wands" comes riding with a promise of power and energy. Activities with your mate or partner and your friends are likely to be good humored and cheerful. Tarot Message: Be positive; you can make things happen out of the most unlikely circumstances. Lucky
colour: Brown. Magic number: 56. CANCER: ‘The Fool' infuses you with courage. A neighbour has some gossip to divulge. If a family member is not cooperating; refrain from arguing. Your personal interests are likely to be stagnant. Focus on health. Tarot message: Don't try to end all the deadlocks at one go. Lucky
colour: Ebony. Magic number: 25 LEO: ‘Ten of pentacles’ bode extremely well for relationship and romance. Today you will be able to enjoy interacting with people who share your views. Your ability to communicate effectively will help you to enhance your reputation Tarot message: Do not let trivial problems haunt you. Lucky
colour: Deep Red. Magic number: 28 VIRGO: The karmic ‘Wheel of fortune’ turns in your
favour. Do not put up with a headache or a neck-pain. Visit a doctor or other health professional before it gets too late. Beware of strangers in the evening. Tarot message: Capitalise on your strength and do not trust others. Lucky
colour: Forest Green. Magic number: 32. LIBRA: ‘The Prince of Pentacles’ infuses financial stability. Libra hosts will find appreciation and applause for their culinary talents. Lace it up with your sparkling personality and lively conversation. Tarot message: Don't do anything at the cost of health. Time will heal all pains and wounds. Lucky
colour: Cherry red. Magic number: 43. SCORPIO: Like the ‘The Knight of Cups’ you are emotional in personal relationship and graceful on social occasions. You are likely to find an ideal partner. Be bold to speak out what is on your mind. Tarot message: Lack of persistence can be disastrous in business matters. Lucky
colour: White. Magic number: 47. SAGITTARIUS: Plan some fun and relaxation with friends. ‘The Magus’ brings change and travel. Today you will be quite amazed to find yourself taking on a more ambitious role. Tarot message: Don't waste an opportunity by being rash or impulsive. Lucky
colour: Turquoise. Magic number: 44. CAPRICORN: ‘Ace of Swords’ pulls you in the opposite direction when making a decision. A yearning for overseas travel could encourage a career of your choice. Be focused. A celebration is on the cards. Tarot message: Keep your eyes on the future as you do so. Lucky
colour: Fiery red. Magic number: 28. AQUARIUS: Some very interesting and unusual people come into your sphere of business and money and give you a few different ideas on how to go about financial matters. Tarot message: Don't do anything at the cost of health. Time will heal all pains and wounds Lucky
colour: Lotus pink. Magic number: 33. PISCES: ‘The Prince of Cups’ brings you to your truths and desires. You are good at getting people to express opinions. Tarot message: Be positive; you can make things happen out of the most unlikely circumstances. Lucky
colour: Peacock Blue. Magic number: 36. |
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The year ahead
If your birthday is August 6...
Number six is the peace lover a loving, stable, and harmonious vibration. Ruled by Venus, you will be compassionate, stable, family-loving, trustworthy, domesticated. If expressed, negatively, superficial, jealous, possessive, unwilling to change. Business: Put your own needs first. Spending more time and money on your home will fill you with satisfaction. Buy some beautiful furnishings and artwork. Whether you're managing a large workforce or just trying to keep up with your task list, the early part of the week is all about finding balance. You may need to do some sophisticated shuffling, but it's manageable. Your flexibility is tested just when you think you've got it all down and you may spend the week experimenting with new techniques or messages in response. Career: The week starts well for you as the stars bring news which will determine your success. A productive week for those working in real estate or banking. Education: Something that you thought was lost forever can be found if you make a little effort. All that you need to do is use your imagination. If you find what you are looking for, be sure that you carefully consider your words before you dare to speak. Don't forget about the things that are really important! Family: Devote yourself to cooking, gardening, and all other domestic pursuits that put a smile on your face. Your patience is in peril or breaking down. Speak only after having given it plenty of thinking time, especially with in-laws or any 'spouse connected' personalities. Finance: Housewives will be overburdened with no time to relax. They may even have to cancel an earlier program of having a get-together or going on a short holiday in the company of family and friends. Financially the condition will be stable. Friendship: The Zodiac is lit up with hot potential, mixed opportunities and new connection that is likely lead to career and love pay offs. The best place to spend time with pals is in 'shared hobbies' and activities. Health: Habituate to eat moderately. Love: An emotional cold snap will end by 2011 when your taste for romance, fantasy and travel warms your heart. Seek the company of someone from another culture or experience the flavors and sounds of foreign food or music. This spirit of adventure is bound to spice up your personal life now. Travel: Take it easy in travels. Enjoy in some resort. Mood: Willing to invest heavily in time, effort, money and heart. Compatible signs: Aquarius, Pisces, Leo. Lucky colors: Turquoise, Yellow. Lucky days: Tuesday. Lucky Numbers: 4, 6, 18, 19, 42. |
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It's like distinguishing school friends from college friends, neighbourhood friends, family friends, office friends, friends of friends, best friends, even those for whom the term is used for the heck of it!
I am Kalam is the story of a child, his struggles to pursue his dreams and to surpass the boundaries of reality. It's a story that might have belonged to any developing country. It focuses on child labour, its exploitative nature and a thoughtless individual who aims at profiting from cheap labour. But in India, people rise from the ashes to reach pinnacle of achievement, a case particularly exemplified by the former president of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Starring: Harsh Mayar, Gulshan Grover, Pitobash Tripathy, Husaan Saad, Beatrix Ordeix, Meena Mir
If some colourful bangles, intricate mehandi, dressing up in traditional attire, ride on swings, along with some folk music and dance is on your mind, Art, Culture and Sports committee of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh is organising Teej festival on Saturday.
Salad dressing is vital; they can make them more appetising and wholesome by adding a touch of originality, freshness or distinction or spoil them by being inappropriate or overdone. Match the ingredients of a dressing to the salad ingredients. Too much dressing spoils the taste and texture of the ingredients. Make the dressing 30 minutes before to allow the flavours to develop and add herbs just before tossing. Thin dressings are usually used for leafy salads while
thicker ones are suitable for firm textured ingredients.
It's the age of a well-dressed man. Biding adieu to white shirts, blue/black pants and sports shoe the people in service at the restaurants have turned glam. Thanks to the thinking minds behind theme restaurants, designer collaboration and global travelling experience we see more of well-dressed men and women in service than a yanky man taking your order for food at the table.
It is time to bring your singing skills to the forefront. Page 3 gives you a chance to stretch your vocal chords with karaoke nights.
Hollywood actress Kirsten Dunst is undergoing hypnosis to kick her smoking habit.
Amrita Rao
Hema Malini
Preity Zinta has been trying to regain a foothold she lost when she took a hiatus from films two years ago. With no good film in hand she has turned to television. Having enjoyed her hosting stint in Guinness Book of World Records: Ab India
Todega, now she is looking at hosting a chat show too. The show will be produced by Shah Rukh Khan's company Red Chillies Idiot Box and will be called -obviously-The Preity Zinta Show. Preity has also launched her own production company and will produce a film. With everything kept under wraps, her television show shoot will start on August 5 and Abhishek Bachchan is touted to be the first celebrity guest on the show.
Bigg Boss 5 no doubt plans to make this season bigger than before and which is why after getting Pamela Anderson last year in the show, this time the channel is in talks with bigger celebrities from Hollywood-Mike Tyson! No doubt an international celebrity like Mike is popular in India and will garner great ratings for Colors and of course Mike's controversial image works for the show and the channel as well.
Phirr Roshni
Dancing to fitness
The unit of Ammaji Ki Galli had a Monsoon party recently with a barbeque and rain dance organised for them. As the shoot required them to get wet in the rains and dance, the producers got together and threw a party for them with great food. Not only did everyone dance in the show to hit romantic songs but also got to watch others shake it. Rakshanda Khan danced on the sensuous Kaate Nahi Kat Te, Imran Khan and Kanika Verma on Zoobi Doobi, Upasana Shukla and Alka Ashlesha on Yeh Dosti Ham Nahi Todenge.
Vishal Bhardwaj (August 6, 1960, Bijnor) is a screenwriter and a music composer. He is considered to be one of India's leading film makers. His music and compositions have been regarded as path breaking in Indian cinema. Vishal composed the music for
Maachis, a film directed by Gulzar and Satya, Chachi 420, Omkara and a host of other popular projects like Francis Ford Coppola, Youth Without Youth etc. Vishal's number 6 (Venus) is enough to establish him in filmdom like any big showmen of industry.