|
|
|
|
|
SUCCESS MANTRA Mona It is a story of success fuelled by amazing vision and sheer hardwork. When Binny Bansal, COO and co-founder, Flipkart.com, started his venture in 2007, along with partner Sachin Bansal, they took care of everything from choosing, packaging and delivering the products on their own. Today four years later their revenue figures stand at staggering Rs 2.5 crore a day. Binny, who grew up in Chandigarh, shares his incredible journey with readers as well as the traits that made him turn a small startup into an incredible success story. Exploring opportunities
Flipkart was started in 2007. "The journey has been an extremely interesting and rewarding one for both of us. While the initial plan was to create a comparison portal for various e-commerce sites, a study revealed that there were not too many players competing in the e-commerce space. This is what led to the idea of Flipkart," says Binny. What started as an online bookstore, now has a product line that consists of 11 categories - movies, music, games, mobiles and accessories, computers, gaming consoles, Mp3 players and iPod's, personal and healthcare products as well as home appliances. "With each new
category that we add, we are focused on achieving the same success that we achieved in books, while upholding our
promise of a great shopping experience," says Binny.
Focused approach
Flipkart's focus has always been on keeping all its customers satisfied by ensuring convenience and a hassle-free shopping experience at every customer engagement point. "We achieve this through complete ownership of the customer experience, right from the choices we offer to the post-delivery customer service by introducing and sprucing up all our initiatives like 'cash / card-on delivery', 30-day replacement policy, offering warranty on products, being available 24x7, delivering through our in-house delivery system."
Strong foundation
"Initially, we were faced with numerous roadblocks that are probably common to a lot of start-ups. Setting up bank accounts, getting an online payment option, convincing publishers to share their inventory with us - all of this was a challenge for an unknown company. It was difficult to generate supplier confidence in us. Tying up with logistics partners and ensuring timely delivery of our products was another challenge, but we were confident of the space and the model we were operating in." They continued to focus on delivering a positive customer experience at all stages and this translated into strong word-of-mouth promotion. "This is the base on which we have continued to build our operations. Our efforts have paid off. We are the leaders in the online book retail space in the country by a huge margin. In the near future, we wish to become the largest and most preferred online retailers in the country."
March ahead
"In a short span of four years, we can recount quite a few noteworthy moments. We were recognised as one of the hottest start-ups in 2009. Within three years of inception, we were the largest online bookstore. Some of the other important milestones include the launch of our pioneering cash-on-delivery and card-on-delivery system, the launch of our in-house delivery system which has now spread to 15 cities, the first time we broke into the Rs 1cr/day revenue band and our rapid expansion into other categories like mobiles, electronics, personal and healthcare and home appliances." But all this hasn't made Flipkart sit still. Efforts are on to achieve newer milestones each day!
Obsession with perfection
"We have only one mantra - and that is our obsession with customer delight. The entire company is focused and empowered towards delivering an exceptional experience to the customer and we go that extra mile to ensure that every interaction is a happy one. Our services like cash and card on delivery, our 30-day replacement policy and our 24/7 customer support are all geared towards ensuring a happy and smooth shopping
experience." mona@tribunemail.com
|
|
A swar for the young
Santoor exponent Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya does not mind packaging classical music differently to attract young audiences
It's time to reinvent classical music. A bit of packaging, some attractive presentations and a little improvisation would do no harm. In fact, it could very well draw youngsters towards Indian classical music, believes santoor exponent Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya. "I don't say that we should go for dilution of the grammar of the swars or we should compromise on the basics of the music. My only contention is that we can package it differently. And make some departures from tradition to make this art form more reachable and acceptable to the young people." There are many ways to go about it, he says. "For instance, in hardcore classical music, the alaap goes on for a couple of hours. By this time the youngsters' attention as well as interest begins to flag. If the alaap time is reduced and the audience is told to enjoy music instead of attempting to understand it, there would be a renewed joy of listening to classical music," he avers. "There's a misconception that the youngsters have no ear for classical music. During my performances, I have seen the youth connecting wonderfully with this form of music. It's up to us to provide them the required exposure to classical music," he says. The santoor maestro knows that audience has an important role to play in any music performance. Drawing a rather interesting comparison between the audiences in India and those abroad, he says, "When it comes to emotions, there's hardly any difference. But the style of applause in these two cases differs markedly. Back home, the applause has a 'here and now' quality to it. If your music is brilliant, the audience would not wait a minute before announcing its verdict. In foreign countries, there's a solemn silence while you perform. The audience sits calm and quiet, almost in a meditative silence. But once the performance is over, you are treated to rapturous applause." Bhattacharya was in Ludhiana on Monday for a SPICMACAY programme at Delhi Public School.
|
|
Caught in the WEB
From small-time shopkeepers to college and even school kids, almost everyone wants to have a website of their own
As they say, when in doubt - Google! In a similar way, put your name out there on the search engine. "There was a time when only big corporate houses would consider having their own websites. The trend slowly moved onto smaller firms and even shopkeepers. Now from each college to even school kids, almost everyone wants to have a website of his or her own," shares Amitesh Arora, web developer with EazyTech. Your personal poetry, random musings, thoughts, paintings, musical works need not be lost without a trace — anything that you'd want to put out to the whole world. Opines Inderjeet Singh, director, city-based IT firm, Big Basics, "We are soon entering an era when every small shop-keeper would prefer having each of his ware on display on his website, so that everything that he sells can be bought online as well." Promotion of business is perhaps an ancient reason. The list gets bigger, better and personal! The clientele, the reasons
The need that started with companies, progressed on to small-scale firms; moved over to each fashion designer having his own website, to wannabe actors looking for work, freelancers trying to make an extra buck... and it all begins with a link tagged onto your Facebook profile. From every college band to a group of student NGOs, almost everyone feels the need to exist online. Says Mehak, computer science student, Chitkara Institute of Technology, Rajpura, "Many students who come to me to get a website in their own name feel proud of the fact; it's like you have a life running all over the world." The F-factor
Part of the credit goes to the finance dynamics of the concept. Flexible rates of websites, Google advertisements and above all the desire to have a world wide application in your name. Says Ritesh Saxena, managing director, Digital Ideaz Pvt Ltd, "The cost of a website begins from around Rs 3,000 and goes up to Rs 75,000, depending on how interactive or dynamic you want it to be." Does he have a lot of college students walking up to him for developing a website? "Many of them come. This is also because they want to earn money through the Google adverts." For
each click, you get paid a certain amount. Adds Amitesh, "I've even designed a website for a groom looking for a prospective match; he wanted to put all his details and requirements on the website. As for the youngsters, many of them are not even clear about the content of their sites but they still want it. Each year either it is for their college fest or musical band's sake; while some want an exclusive in their name." It's like adding a domain to your name and having a site of your own! manpriya@tribunemail.com
|
||
|
A drill for the takeaway
Jesse Grewal The takeaway is one of the most important dynamic moves of the golf swing. If a player starts the swing incorrectly there is very little chance of making a corrective move on the downswing to hit the ball well. Professionals have different views on the takeaway. Some like to take the club wide with a one piece action which basically means to move the shoulders as the first move with very little hinging of the wrists and no lifting action of the arms. There are others who prefer to let the club head start the backswing and pre-set the hands by hinging the wrists and move the body later to complete the backswing.
The one piece takeaway is better for players who tend to snatch the club back and end up quick on the backswing and also tend to take the club inside or behind them. Whenever the backswing or takeaway is fast the right side of the body is over active and the club tends to go inside. This results in a downswing which comes from outside or over the top resulting in a pull-slice. Use this drill to feel the takeaway. Place the butt end of the club in your abdomen and extend your arms and grip the club down on the shaft (picture 1 and 4). As you make the backswing feel the body create a turning motion with the arms remaining in the same position they started at (picture 2 and 5). At the halfway stage when the shoulders have turned approximately 45 degrees lift the arms upwards and let the butt end of the club move away from your body. The butt end of the club would be pointing towards the ball to target line. The arms will feel that they are moving straight up and staying in front of the body and not moving sideways behind the body. The wrists will cock naturally at the latter part of the backswing. This drill ensures that we start the backswing with the body followed by the lifting of the arms and the cocking of the wrists. (Grewal has coached several national champions and professionals apart from being coach of the Indian golf team for the Eisenhower Cup (World Cup) in 2008. He is currently Director, National Golf Academy of India and CGA Hero Honda Golf Academy. If you have any queries get in touch with him at parexcellence@tribunemail.com)
|
||
|
Soul dance
It has been a while that Samira Koser, a kathak dancer is slightly nervous. She is preparing for a kathak performance to be held at Tagore theatre on November 2. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, “An artiste is always nervous, come what may. In fact, slight nervousness helps better the performance. Besides, I have the blessings of the god, the support of my family and Shobha Koser(guru and mother-in-law) by my side,” she begins to smile. Kathak is not only her dream and her life, for Samira it is way of getting in touch with her inner self.
“Kathak helps me touch base with my conscience; it helps me know myself better. It is like catharsis for me,” says this trained classical dancer who is giving a stage performance after almost three-four years. There is no long and short story behind the break. “Everything is important in life - one has to sort out preferences. My family was to be taken care of. Now, the kids have grown up and they push me to pursue my passion,” there is a glint in her eyes and a prayer on her lips. How many people actually get to realise their dreams? “I am nothing without dance, without kathak, and I am so thankful to my family and god for giving me the hope and faith to fulfill my passion. One should never let go of one’s passion; ultimately it defines a person,” adds Samira, philosophically. When it comes to kathak, Samira is certain about things. “Anything that has to sustain for long has to go through certain changes. This is true for kathak as well. I strongly feel that certain things should not be touched at all. For instance we need to teach our kids the form with slight improvisation, without touching the soul of the dance form.” Samira is all for living the passion and for it she is ready to go an extra mile. “There is no substitute for riyaaz, I try to dedicatedly follow a routine and I know there is no substitute for it,” she returns to her practice, hoping she lives her passion thoroughly–every minute. jasmine@tribunemail.com
|
||
|
Foot note
With the winter round the corner, it’s time to hunt for that perfect pair of ballerina shoes. And Chandigarh markets offer plenty of options…
One usually starts buying clothes and then moves onto footwear, but this time you can invest in some pretty footwear and then buy the clothes accordingly. If you have been waiting for ballerinas and pumps to arrive in the market, the wait is over. Chandigarh markets are flooded with them, in all possible colours, designs, with heels or without heels. These can be teamed up with narrow-fit jeans or winter skirts. Colour palette
High & mighty
Wedge heels topped the hit-list this summer. Now, there are bellies with wedged heels. Shelly’s Wardrobe-8 offers a variety of wedged heels in black, peach and white. Also, there are closed heels in bright colours and pencil heels with tiger print bows at the back that starts from Rs 1,450 onwards. Says Shelly, “The demand for ballerinas has been amazingly high even though the season is only beginning. I’m left with the last pieces of them and planning to stock up my store as soon as possible.” Pump up!
Try something interesting this time rather than buying plain bellies. Las Vegas-8 has bellies with a smiley on them or suede bellies in bright colours like burnt orange, pink and yellow at Rs 545 onwards. Says Shivani Singh, “Besides ballerinas, pumps are also in demand which are bellies with pencil heels. While buying bellies one should keep in mind the comfort level. And as the prices are reasonable, one should have a good collection of them for the winter.” The pumps are available at Rs 1,245. Glittery effect
The bling is here to stay, especially closed heels with bright sequence work in gold and silver. Stone broaches are also a must-have for party-goers. At Waga Lifestyle-10 pumps are available at Rs 1199 onwards. The bellies too shine with the element of glitter at Rs 850 onwards. Different take
Keeping away from the usual bellies, there are shoe- like ballerinas in suede with heels or without heels available at Apparel and More-17 and 10, for Rs 799 onwards. Says Vikas Nayyar, owner, “A lot of thought-process goes in while getting the collection and this time I wanted to give my customers something different.” For all those who are brand conscious and are willing to shell out a bit more, there are brands like Benetton which has come up with their basic collection at a price range of Rs 2,500 onwards. Woodland comes with elastic bellies with a grip at Rs 1,600 onwards. Street smart
To go easy on your pockets, you can always depend on Shastri Market-22 and Sector-15 mini market. There is a variety of suede bellies in colours like red, blue, black, brown and also transparent bellies with sparkle designs on them available at Rs 300. So which belly are you going to put on? sabiatalwar@tribunemail.com
|
||
Fashion has a different meaning for different people. Chandigarh girl Mehek Walia, who is currently doing her masters in English from MCM DAV College, tells us what it is to be fashionable… Your sense of style is… I am a fashion freak. The perfect way to express yourself and your personality is through what you wear. You’ll want your clothes to say something about you while looking stylish. Latest addition in your wardrobe… High-waist skinny pants. They are classy and add a glamorous look. Brand freak or street junkie? A mix and match of both to spice up my wardrobe. I pick stuff randomly to widen my clothing horizon. Choose a look— sporty, glamorous or chic Surely glamorous. It adds a spark to your personality making you stand apart from the crowd and that’s what women are all about. Your style icon is? Megan Fox for her individualistic choices and Sonam Kapoor as she carries off almost anything and everything gracefully. Worst dressed celebrity around? Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerjee who somehow act as clones and have their own clueless sense of dressing. Trend you don’t understand… Girls wearing fitted shorts or skirts with leggings, which is boring and makes skin bulge. It is a big fashion disaster. Your take on accessories… For me, they can do wonders as they add glitter to a dull piece of clothing. A watch and a pair of sunglasses are the most arresting accessories. One thing that boosts your confidence… A smile, which begins from your lips and ends in your eyes. (As told to Vasudha Gupta) If you think you fit in the profile, get in touch with us at lifestyletribune@gmail.com. We’ll sift the best from the rest.
|
||
|
Gaga's gift
International pop star Lady Gaga has left a special gift for Shah Rukh Khan —she gave away her sunglasses to the superstar for his 11-year-old daughter Suhana, a huge Gaga fan.
"Lady Gaga is all heart and soul. Gave me her glasses for my daughter. yippeee..brownie points unlimited," Shah Rukh posted on his Twitter page. Gaga has gifted the same shades to Suhana that she wore during her press conference in the Capital. Incidentally, it is Suhana thanks to whom Shah Rukh got hooked to Gaga's music. "My daughter is a big fan of Lady Gaga. She listens to her music and introduced me to her music, and I am also a fan of her now," King Khan told reporters at the F1 after-party in Greater Noida Sunday night. SRK, sat down with Gaga for an exclusive tete-e-tete before the party. Shah Rukh's hope of working with Gaga for a song for his film RA.One remained unfulfilled due to time constraints, but he was delighted when he got to meet her for the chat show, to be telecast on UTV Bindass in
November. Of his experience of chatting with Gaga, SRK told reporters: "It (the interaction) was very nice. She (Gaga) was very sweet. I sat with her for a couple of hours and exchanged a lot of good things about life. She is very deep, very sweet." He also joined her at
the party, organised by actor Arjun Rampal at restaurateur A.D.Singh's lounge-bar Lap. Gaga came to India on Thursday night, addressed a press conference Friday and performed for her Indian fans on Sunday.
— IANS
|
||
|
She is always a woman to me
It’s very hard to find a good looking guy; on the contrary it is pretty easy to spot a girl with attractive features. There are hundred things, which makes a girl attractive. We ask popular TV stars, irrespective of their marital status, as to what qualities attract them in a woman. Check it out…
Simplicity in any girl is what attracts me. For me, make up and wealth are something that is immaterial. It’s the simplicity
and nature, which entices me. A girl can be beautiful from many ways but the most important thing for me is her nature, behavior and the way she interacts.
Fit and fine: Barun Sobti
Charm personified: Karan Tacker
Sweet indulgence: Aditya Redij
Love all: Dakshjit
Bold & beautiful: Kinshuk Mahajan
|
||
|
Astro Turf
ARIES: Passionate emotions are likely to dictate your actions and you might be more
impulsive than usual. You will have a better chance of getting through odd jobs connected with home and family affairs. Tarot message: Lack of confidence can cause losses. Lucky colour: Rust.
Magic number: 45.
TAURUS: Spirituality indicates that you are inclined towards acting curious. Keep your temper in check today. Take your partner for a movie this afternoon and enjoy escaping into fantasy and adventure together. Tarot message: Focus on your dream project. Lucky colour: White.
Magic number: 56. GEMINI: A fine day to plan for future business expansion. Relax with your mate in the evening; it’s just the antidote to keep away from the tensions. Someone you are attracted to at work feels the same way. Tarot message: Take limited risks while speculating. Lucky colour: Crimson.
Magic number: 55. CANCER: Conquer your fear and have strength to face reality. You may be concerned about certain family issues. There could be delays with certain business ventures. You could be the center of attention in a party today. Tarot message: Outline your goals ahead of time. Lucky colour: Deep red. Magic number: 28. LEO:
Things happen quickly and you need to take quick decisions. Be active and aware to catch opportunities. Children will be a source of joy and their progress will make you proud. Indulge in a session of yoga or TAI-CHI.
Tarot message: Don’t build into accepting situations you dislike. Lucky colour: Yellow.
Magic number: 34. VIRGO: You will be in a relaxed and happy mood. If you need to make any personal decisions, go with your instinct. Romance will lead to happy moments and singles can meet someone special.
Tarot message: A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 36.
LIBRA: Spending time with family will bring about a sense of peace. A gain from past investment is on the cards. It is best to watch and wait for things to change by themselves. A casual conversation can lead to romantic good times. Tarot message: Beware of depleting your energy on others. Lucky colour: Forest green. Magic number: 46. SCORPIO:
Business problems need your attention today. Stop waiting for the right time to attend to them. You will be hearing from someone unexpected. Couples are prone to cabin fever.
Tarot message: Trust your heart and stay away from any confusion. Lucky colour: Sky blue.
Magic number: 54. SAGITTARIUS: You are articulate and others are ready to tune in to what you are offering. Business deals are on the boil but still inconclusive. By evening you can be in an irritable mood.Tarot message: Avoid frictions with business partners. Lucky colour: Brown.
Magic number: 62. CAPRICORN: A busy day ahead but any partying of previous evenings could be catching up with you. An important task to maintain a sound relationship seems difficult. Your chances of success are better today than ever before. Tarot message: Be firm and stand your ground. Lucky colour: Pink.
Magic number: 59. AQUARIUS: Don’t trust unreliable friends or relatives. Travelling will yield valuable information. You should take some advice from the people whom you see as your ideal in all the matters of life. Tarot message: Remember never to fall for rash promises. Lucky colour: Purple.
Magic number: 52. PISCES: Mixing with friends could be a tricky business. If you don’t want to be alone, choose a companion who is least likely to irritate you. Don’t get involved in petty arguments. This can be the beginning of a whole new chapter.
Tarot message: Consolidate your gains. Lucky colour: Grey. Magic number: 58.
|
||
|
The year ahead
If your birthday is October 1...
You are lucky to be born on this day when 3 states came into being in 1966 with renewed future. Born on this date under Scorpion Zodiac you are in ultimate control of your destiny. The planetary position on your birthday indicates that from January 22 until June 4, you are likely to see benefits in the areas of work and health, as well as daily routines. The new position of Saturn and Jupiter in November 2011 enhances your ability to handle the details required in doing a good job. Others become more aware of your skills. Benefits may come through work itself, co-workers, or employees during this cycle. Any type of service that you may provide is likely to go well now, mainly because you are finding more joy in providing it. You are more successful in hiring good workers. Improvements to your working environment are likely. You find more enjoyment in the work you do, and it is easier than usual to find employment now. You may get a new job now. Integrity, directness, and honesty you bring to your services and work will pay dividends. Health is likely to be good in 2012. There may be an inclination to put on some weight, however, if you don’t watch your appetite and choice of food. Some people get a new pet during this cycle, and this brings them much joy. These positive circumstances won’t necessarily fall into your lap, and are unlikely to come all at once. You need to keep your eyes open for opportunities in these areas of life. Sometimes Jupiter brings too much of something, and this could mean taking on more work than you can handle, getting lost in the details and organisation necessary to keep your daily life running smoothly, and so forth. Mood: Overall cheerful. Compatible signs: Libra, Cancer. Lucky colours: Red, snow. Lucky days: Friday and Monday. Lucky numbers: 8, 11, 15, 22, 60. Lucky flower: Daffodil. Lucky gem: Ruby.
Aishwarya was a model and became Miss World in 1994. She had acted in more than 50 movies in Hindi, English, Tamil and Bengali. She made her acting debut in Mani Ratnam’s Tamil biopic film Iruvar. Aishwarya’s number 1 and 5 will make her number 1 in the industry. |
||
|
COMMERCIAL angle!
"I never thought I had it in me to be behind the camera, but Prahlad made me understand that to be a good actor one should be aware of what happens behind the camera as well," she says. Garima has traded her easy-going life for the challenging work of an assistant. "It's like being a slave. There is no life except for work," says Garima who claims that the end result gives a great high. Garima has almost worked on some fifteen ads, out of which Rasna, Officers Choice, Lilliput, Nivea, Maggi are all on air as of now. Three years in Mumbai now, Garima had modelled and also been part of a reality movie. "Working with a genius that Prahlad is, it's a new beginning for me. I am enjoying every bit of it and getting trained to enter the big Bollywood world," says Garima. Good luck girl! mona@tribunemail.com
|
||
Singer-actor Justin Timberlake says he dreams of starring in a musical, but is still looking for the perfect role.
The Sexy Back singer, who has left music behind in recent years to concentrate on acting, says he would consider combining his talents onscreen if the right project came along, a publication reported. Timberlake, 30, also reveals he is looking for a more modern take on the classic musical. "That's been discussed... I would love to do a musical one day. I think there might be a way to redefine what that is for this era... My problem with musicals today, and I think a lot of people in my generation probably feel this way too, is that we're sitting here having a conversation and all of a sudden we're singing. Time stops," he said.
— PTI
|
||
|
Time to relax
He has been hopping from one city to another promoting his latest flick RA.One. But for his 46th birthday which falls on Wednesday, superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he wants some
relaxed time with friends and family.
"I am just really very tired. I have just come in from Toronto and LA. The race has exhausted me. So I am just going to go, hang out with my friends. I will be in Mumbai with my friends and family," Shah Rukh told reporters at the red carpet of the F1 after-party. The actor, who plays a superhero in
RA.One, has been acting like one in real life, thanks to the number of promotional and marketing activities he planned around the release of his most ambitious home production. After multi-city promotions in Mumbai, New Delhi,
Kolkata, Bhopal, Vadodara, Chennai and Bangalore, Shah Rukh went to Dubai, London, Toronto and Los Angeles. The exhaustion reflected in his eyes and in his voice too. Though he was excited about attending the F1 party where international pop star Lady Gaga performed, he was quite unsure of his own birthday bash. "I don't know (whether I will throw a party or not)...let's see," Shah Rukh said. Shah Rukh's wife Gauri was also seen at the party's red carpet.
— IANS
|
||
|
Cities beckon
Cities reunite Dunst and Bloom after they starred together in Cameron Crowe's Elizabeth town in 2005. The film is about greed and ambition that takes place in the exuberant months leading up to the all-time stock market high. In New York, a hedge fund manager (played by Owen) has everything he wants - money, sex and power, but he wants more. In London, a young couple just wants to buy their first home, but it seems impossibly out of reach. In Mumbai, a cop fights against corruption between property speculators and his villainous colleague Seth (played by Kapoor). Stories will all collide in a world where the fortunes of individuals are interwoven with the lives of others across the globe, reports a website.
— IANS
|
||
|
Spilling the beans
Reality TV star Heidi Montag is reportedly planning to pen a tell-all memoir about her life. The former Hills star, who recently announced she broke up with husband Spencer Pratt, is set to write an autobiography and reveal shocking details about her marriage and why her friendship with Lauren Conrad fell apart, a publication reported.
"She'll talk about the control that Spencer exerted over her, which forced her to make bad decisions that ultimately got her kicked off The Hills.A big chunk of the book will be about how Heidi befriended Lauren and how devastated she was when she ended up dumping her as her BFF. Maybe something positive will come out of it. She's happy to have people read the full story and make up their own minds," a source said. Montag, 25, is also set to spill the beans on her dramatic plastic surgery which saw her transform her looks with 10 operations in one day.
— PTI |
||
|
Kissing scene
Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan's wax figure has reportedly made it to the list of top 10 most kissed statues in London's Madame Tussauds museum. Though the museum is yet to make an official statement, a source confirms that he has indeed made it to the top 10, adding that last year, actor Shah Rukh Khan had made it to the top 10 list.
According to the source, at least 20 percent of total kissers are males and the rest are women, mostly under the age of 30. Hrithik, 37, is the second youngest Indian actor to have got himself a wax figure at the prestigious Madame Tussauds. His statue was completed in four months and cost 150,000 pounds, the source said. Other actors, who have got their wax statues, are Shah Rukh Khan, 45, Salman Khan, 45 and Amitabh Bachchan, 69.
— IANS
|
||
Glamour model Katie Price is all set to start writing her fifth autobiography — at the age of just 33. The reality star, also known as Jordan, was earlier married to singer Peter Andre for four years and Alex Reid, whom she split up with after
one year. She recently broke up with boyfriend Leandro Penna, reported a publication.
"I've had a bad three years but it's all getting back on my feet now. There's lots going on with my autobiography," Price said. The model also said she is planning to start up a men's magazine. "It
will be about me but it will be a men's mag," Price added. — PTI
|
||
|
To hell and back
Actor Johnny Depp says he burst into hysterical laughter when the private plane carrying him and director Bruce Robinson was on the verge of crash. The Rum Diary actor was en route to Los Angeles on a Gulfstream plane when the engines cut out and the pair surprised themselves with their reactions, a website reported.
"The plane just shut down. The sound of the engines stopped. There was silence. Bruce and I were looking at each other and I think I said, 'Is this it?' It was like this weird extended moment when you're just floating for a second and you could feel this unpleasant descent. Nobody said a word except for Bruce and I," he said.
— PTI
|
||
Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock's adopted one-year-old son Louis has become the proud owner of an Andy Warhol painting worth $ 14,000. The Blind Side star's agents gave the iconic Peaches print to baby Louis after winning the bid on the artwork at amfAR's Inspiration Gala at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. On hand to pay tribute to the late Elizabeth Taylor, who co-founded the AIDS/HIV organisation in 1985, the 47-year-old actress herself made use of the event to crack a joke about it, reported a website. "I want to thank Kevin Huvane and Bryan Lourd for not being cheap and gifting my son with his first Warhol," she joked. — PTI
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
It's like having an email id, a personal blog - your link to everything online. The Google better throw up more than a Facebook account when you search your name. And does anybody even need an IT techie listing out ten good reasons for you to have your own personal website? Welcome to your name dot com! 
You can feel the nip in the air as the winter is approaching. And along with the cold comes the excitement of shopping for your winter wardrobe.
Sparkles-35 offers ballerinas in all possible colours—blue, pink, green, sea-green, brown and yellow. The bellies look even prettier with buckles, bows and pearls; in glossy fabrics and suede. The price range starts from Rs 790 and goes up to Rs 990. For all those who are crazy about converse shoes, there are ballerinas with a converse shoe-type effect at the price of Rs 690.
Simply irresistible: Avinash Sachdev
I am married, it’s hard to answer this question but I admire a woman who is fit and obviously beautiful. This is the reason why men generally look twice at women who have maintained themselves irrespective of age. As far as attraction goes, I will say there is always an inner connection that attracts you to a person. Talking about relationships or if you are looking for a date then you would want to be with someone who is sweet natured and understanding.
Women are quite confusing and hard to understand so when someone asks me about what attracts me to a woman I have to think a lot. What attracts me to a woman is her sense of humour. This is something I would appreciate. I get along well with people who have a great sense of humour. I look for the overall personality rather than focusing on external beauty. She should carry herself with dignity.
Looks will be the first thing without any doubt but I think it’s the overall personality, which I find attractive. I admire girls who are well groomed and who take care of their hygiene as well (chuckles). But then it’s the intelligence and the way she projects herself, which matters in the end. The girl should be talkative and smart so that I lose count of time with her. I am a foodie so if she cooks well then it is a sone pe suhaga though I am not that kind of guy who likes her woman to do all the work.
I don’t discriminate with girls I love all girls. I just play a gay character apart from that I respect and love all girls. Because they are made by god and every girl has her own beauty. She may not be beautiful but then she might be cute. I am mostly attracted to her eyes, I like girls with beautiful and big eyes. Talking about attraction, there is something called vibes that attracts you to a person and you want to befriend them. I am very witty so I like my girl to be intelligent. I would appreciate the quality of kindness in her.
Of course, it’s the beauty, which attracts first. And getting physically attracted towards someone happens when you are in your teens. After that, you get attracted to her brain (laughs). Or sometimes, it’s the way the girl carries herself like the way she is dressed up, walks or the way she talks to you. Sometimes, the girl may not be that great looking but if she has a pleasant smile it attracts you. Apart from looks and personality, my kind of girl is one who is intelligent and she should be polite. Girls should be soft spoken.
Won’t you jump with joy to know that you share your birthday with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (November 1, 1973, Mangalore). Very shortly she will celebrate the birth of a new arrival in the family. 
Chandigarh girl Garima Arora has added another feather to her cap. Assistant director to Ad Guru Prahlad Kakar, Garima is enjoying every bit of the hardwork that goes into making a commercial. "Life has totally changed since the time I started assisting Prahlad Kakar," says Garima, in Chandigarh for Diwali break.
Actors Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom are set to join Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor in Clive Owen's new film Cities. The film is being produced by Matthew Metcalfe and Chris Curling. The shooting of the film will start in the November in multiple cities that will include London, Mumbai and New York.
