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Naked truth
We fail to understand the artistic idea behind Prakash painting of a naked Arundhati Roy. Or, for that matter nudes of Veena Malik, Vidya Balan or Poonam Pandey. Prakash’s argument is that he only wanted to show Bollywood’s influence on the common man’s life. “Aren’t we taking freedom of expression for granted now? Though I am against violence as a mode of protest, it’s imperative for an artist to be sensitive towards the sentiments of society and individuals he or she picks up as subjects,” opines Diwan Manna, city-based renowned photographer. On the other hand, when it comes to nudity as a theme, he feels there is nothing offensive about it, “As long as the theme is not picked for voyeuristic pleasure. Artists have picked nudity as a subject but then the focus should be aesthetics, where the work looks beautiful or highlights the creativity,” he adds. Also debatable is the choice of popular faces as subjects. Is it not an attention-seeking gimmick? As Mahesh Prajapati, another city-based artist, says, “I have also painted nudes but the focus was on the theme, not the subject. It seems like the artist is cashing-in upon the popularity of celebrities.” The intention, he says, should be right. There is a very thin line that separates creativity from vulgarity! Viren Tanwar, who faced a lot of flak for painting nudes a few years ago, justifies the subject but not the concept of the artist in question. “Had it been wrong to paint nudes, it wouldn’t have been an integral part of academic courses in art colleges. The issue is how an artist deals with the subject. Under the refuge of freedom of expression, self-professed artists shouldn’t try to gain publicity and mileage.” says Tanwar. When it comes to the viable market for nude paintings, it is very limited in India as compared to the West. Vandya Bagrodia, art curator and owner of art folio, an art gallery in Chandigarh, says, “It also depends on how aesthetically the subject is handled. Sudeep Roy’s series of nude paintings, Charulata, is so beautifully done that people bought it without bothering about the subject.” Now it is yet to be seen, how many art lovers are willing to have a nude Poonam Pandey or Veena Malik on the walls! ashima@tribunemail.com
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Lisa says yes to Jason!
Indo-Canadian actress Lisa Ray is engaged to boyfriend Jason Dehni after he proposed to her on a recent vacation in Napa Valley.
A delighted Lisa let the world know via twitter, writing, “Just returned from the glorious Napa Valley — the gourmand’s and wine-lovers’ paradise — with a delicious announcement. Stay tuned... “Delicious update’: ENGAGED to the love of my life. Jason Dehni proposed in Napa. #happiestdayever (sic),” she added. The 39-year-old actress, best known for her work in the Oscar-nominated Water and Bollywood film Kasoor, also posted a picture of herself with Jason. Her fiance also tweeted, “Went to Napa Valley, God’s country, looking for my angel @Lisaraniray. Found her and brought her back an engaged woman.” Lisa, born to a Bengali father and a Polish mother, has had a successful battle with cancer after she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009. She announced she was cancer-free in 2010 after a stem cell transplant.
— PTI
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Brewing love
Anupreet Soni, a physician from Chandigarh, loves to travel and cook. Her favourite beverage is Cappuccino and she has stuck to the one instantly brewed and served hot at Café Coffee Day. “Coffee taste is something that develops with time. Then a particular type or brand grows on you, which you don’t change normally,” she says moving over to her cup of Cappuccino. “I like my coffee strong, and CCD prepares it just right. I have tried other types like hot chocolate, Coffee Latte as well, but I returned to my old cup.” It seems a little difficult at first to understand how people can stick to one kind of coffee for years, especially when loyalty is the word only left to the marketing world to play with. “It brings a smile on my face. My day has to begin with a cup of coffee and I like my coffee strong,” shares Mandeep
Rathi, a banker from Sector-8 who also runs a successful blog on music — Hooked To. “Indian Coffee House in Chandigarh makes the strong coffee that I love. I can virtually live on it,” he smiles. Would he like to try other
flavours? Mandeep shrugs his shoulders, “It is a part of my personality; I don’t change it everyday.” He sure answered this one right! Brand loyalty makes sense, but at the same time the choices in the market have grown; more and more flavours are being mixed with coffee as the base. Nowadays, there are vanilla, Irish
creme, almond, hazelnut and caramel-flavoured coffee drinks to choose from, apart from other exotic fruity flavors such as orange and raspberry coffee drinks. Starbucks would definitely find a fan-following here! “Of course it will,” Sonia
Ahuja, an investment banker from Manimajra, shares. “I liked the dark-flavoured Starbuck coffee that I had in Michigan last year. It was good, but I guess we have a different kind of taste for coffee in North India. Either we like it Espresso way, Café Latte or Cappuccino. I haven’t come across many dark coffee fans.” We have grown with Nestle, Bru and moved to coffee chains under the flagship of Barista,
CCD, Costa Rica, but one thing hasn’t changed…the loyalty of coffee-sippers.
jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Sofia is most desirable
Sofia Vergara has been named the most desirable woman of 2012, in a poll conducted by men’s online magazine
AskMen.com. The Modern Family star jumped two spots from last year’s poll.
The 39-year-old brunette bombshell beat out Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara and Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr, who held the number 2, 3, and 4 spots, respectively. “I am so honoured to be AskMen’s most desired woman this year,” the New York Daily News quoted the actress as saying. “A big thank you to all the men who desire me,” she added. Fashion-forward singer Nicki Minaj took the No.5 spot, followed by Emma Stone, Scarlett Johansson and Kim
Kardashian. Rihanna and South African model Candice Swanepoel round out the list’s top 10. —
ANI
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Work & play
Work-life balance is difficult to maintain, especially in the corporate sector! Some of the jobs demand commitment levels that are more than what are required to run a marriage! So, it is but natural that incentives have to be the driving force. Working holidays are one among them, where employees get to work and enjoy with their families at the same time. Well, that’s a good deal for the hard-working corporate guys as they get to spend at least some time with their family!
“Working holiday is a great incentive for the employees, as one gets to work in the day and can spend some quality time with the family in the evening,” says Abhishek Sood and employee of a telecom company. “But this is not a paid holiday from the company; the employee has to pay for his family’s stay and other expenditure.” Well, who minds the money when the family is together! “While the concept of taking employees to foreign locales is old now, working holiday has replaced it,” says Ritika Gupta, ex-employee of a private bank. She adds, “Nowadays all companies in the world are wooing employees with exotic trips, but it’s a good thing that they are thinking about the families too as it gives the employees an opportunity to work and travel at the same time.” Promoting working holidays, Deepak Mittal, MD, Kanatal Resorts & Spa at Dhanaulti, near Mussorie, says, “It’s not just the multinationals and foreign banks that are flying their teams for working holidays, home-grown corporations are also taking their employees for such trips. And almost every resort and high-end hotel is equipped to provide the best of the conference facilities and also customise the facilities according to specific needs.” While these kinds of holidays not only give valuable work experience to the employee, they also make the family and company bond better; they result in team-building and goodwill for the firm. He adds, “As a resort we have experienced a significant growth among Indian corporate clients. We at Kanatal Resorts take care of each and every requirement of our clients, be it stationary or audio and visual equipment or a special sitting arrangement. After their conference and business meetings the group relaxes at the spa and enjoys in the disc or bar or at the bonfire in the open air”. While hill stations seem to be the perfect choice for such kind of trips, SP Kochhar, CMD, Madhuban Group of Hotels, says, “These company-sponsored trips provide a good platform for creating right understanding, bonding and also boosts the confidence amongst the employees as well as the management. So, we cater to all their specific needs during the visit.” Well, for all those employees who haven’t had a vacation in a long time, there’s an option now!
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The learning Curve
Justin Timberlake and Amy Adams are starring with veteran actor Clint Eastwood in Trouble With the Curve, about an aging baseball scout. Directed by Robert Lorenz, Eastwood’s longtime producing partner, the film is slated to release on September 28.
The road drama centers on an aging baseball scout (Eastwood) who goes on a road trip to search for new talent while trying to save his relationship with his adult daughter (Adams), a rising attorney who is on the verge of being promoted to partner. Timberlake will play a young scout who may be Adams’ love interest. The film will begin shooting in March, the Hollywood Reporter said. Timberlake seems to have left his singing career behind to focus on his acting assignments. The singer-actor recently appeared in In Time, Bad Teacher and Friends with Benefits. His first big acting assignment was in David Fincher drama The Social Network. — PTI
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Udita’s diary
Actress Udita Goswami returns to the big screen after a long hiatus with Diary Of A Butterfly and says like her previous movies this one too has exciting music, adding that it is a matter of luck that her films boast of good music.
"Honestly, the music of Diary Of A Butterfly is very good and I am not saying this because it is my film. I think I have that sense of good and bad music as I have had good music in my films. The songs are really exciting," the 27-year-old said here. Udita, who debuted in Bollywood with the 2003 release Paap, featured in films like Zeher and Aksar and the music of the films were up to the mark. "The same is said for Emraan Hashmi also that whichever film he does, it has great music. Same is the case with me. It's a nice feeling but you can't do it consciously, you can't tell the music director that keep this song or that. It's simply a matter of luck and coincidence," the 27-year-old said here at the music launch of the film. Udita says Diary Of A Butterfly music will strike a chord with the audience. Diary Of A Butterfly is about a girl who carves her way to the top of the corporate ladder. The film also stars Rati Agnihotri, Sofia Hayat, Aryan Vaid and Nassar Abdulla. — IANS
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Satish Kaushik’s new cameo
Veteran actor Satish Kaushik has been known to tickle the bones of his audience for almost three decades now. However, in filmmaker Rumi Jaffery’s next movie he will do anything but make people laugh. In the movie Gali Gali Chor Hai, Kaushik plays the role of a supportive father to actor Akshaye Khanna’s character, who is the main protagonist of the movie. “I don’t play any unique character and yet this character is important. I play the role of a common man,” says Kaushik.
“The film is a satirical take on this largest democratic nation. I've played several characters in my entire career but after almost three decades in this field, finally I get a film very close to my heart. In Gali Gali Chor Hai, I play a common Indian man who dreams of a corruption free India. I play myself in this film. The only difference being the name - my character name is Shivnarayan. So in a satirical way you can say Shivnarayan plays a Satish Kaushik in the film — a patriotic, idealistic man, who dreams of a corruption-free nation.” says Kaushik. He further adds, “The journey of this film was quite rejuvenating learned much more about life of a common man. Felt his pain when he learns of a new political scam that tosses his hopes of a corrupt free India. But every dark cloud has a silver lining. Getting into the skin of a common man was fun too and the wit can be seen in the film. I’m glad that the era of punches has returned in Bollywood. In this film, I too contribute to this trend. The audience can look forward to my humble punches all throughout the film.” — HRM
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All about Love You To Death
Love You To Death is a wild, whacky comic thriller in Hinglish that laughs at the crazy times we live in.
Triggered partially by newspaper stories of greed, it includes a bunch of bumbling murder attempts, plus a doctor who is a 'sexpert' by day, a rockstar by night, a theatre director who also organises 'supari' deaths, a spectacular dog funeral with dogs of all castes and 'breeds' in attendance! There's Sonia (Yuki Ellias) who's rich, who loves her dog. Her dog has human problems including anorexia and insomnia. Both receive therapy in the form of crystals and herbal teas from an attractive, manipulative therapist. The therapist is having an affair with Sonia's father-in-law. Sonia's husband Atul (Chandan Roy Sanyal) and his mom are driven by greed and ambition. A Russian Israeli arms dealer (whose son is a 'peacenik') has a business proposal. Atul wants to set up an arms factory with him even as he personally suffers from 'missile failure'. A hilarious scene with the 'sexpert' ensues. Sonia meets a born-again Indian, an 'eco-warrior' whose dream is to build low cost solar panels for every village in the country. Atul and his mother plot two murder attempts. The film culminates in an art gallery with loads of blank guns, a single loaded pistol and some unexpected results! The talented ensemble cast includes Chandan Roy Sanyal (of Kaminey’s Mikhail fame), Suhasini Mulay, Sheeba Chadha, Sohrab Ardeshir, and introduces a new lead actress, Yuki Ellias. There are guest appearances by Russian actors. Instead of Bollywood stars there is a story, a script, and some outstanding performances. The film has been screened in 7 festivals in India, the United States and Canada; it won an Audience Award in Anchorage too.
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Overcoming obstacles
Keira Knightley has revealed that she overcame dyslexia as a child by reading a screenplay by Emma Thompson. The 26-year-old said the only way she was able to get over her learning disability was by reading the screenplay for Sense and Sensibility, and imagining what Thompson would do in her shoes.
Knightley, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of six, said that she was a “huge fan” of the 52-year-old actress and screenwriter, who won an Oscar for her film adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. “My mum who worked with her [Thompson] on Sense and Sensibility got me a copy of the screenplay Emma had written,” says the actress. “And I was – am – dyslexic and the way she got me over it was to say: ‘If Emma Thompson couldn’t read, she’d make sure she’d get over it, so you have to start reading, because that’s what Emma Thompson would do’,” she added. — ANI
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Bollywood descends at Riteish-Genelia sangeet
From Sanjay Dutt, Gauri Khan to Karan Johar and Abhishek Bachchan — the who’s who of Bollywood gathered for the sangeet ceremony of Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza at the Taj Lands End.
Genelia looked gorgeous in white lehenga with peach embellishments, while detailed stone work on her lehenga and chunni added elegance to her attire. Her beau Riteish looked striking in a royal blue Sherwani. Before going for the ceremony, Riteish told reporters that his "brother and his family members will perform,” adding that "I would love to dance with Genelia if she says yes." The couples are all set to tie the knot Feb 3. At the ceremony the family members of both Riteish and Genelia let their hair down. Among friends and colleagues, Arshad Warsi and Jacky Bhagnani were the first ones to arrive at the venue in Bandra. When asked Arshad who does he feel should settle down next, pat came the reply, “Salman should get married now.” Jacky, who had worked with Ritesh, said: “I am here from the boy’s side. Riteish is my close friend.” “I don’t know who all are getting married this year. I only hope I don’t get married for next five years,” he further added. The guest list included Bobby Deol, Karan Johar, Abhishek Bachchan, Soha Ali Khan, Suniel Shetty, Asin Thottumkal, Sonali Bendre, Rishi Kapoor, Nitu Singh, Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker, Shreyas Talpade, Priyadarshan, Milan Luthria, Aftab Shivdasani and Shweta Pandit.
— IANS
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Daredevil stunts for Katrina
Katrina Kaif is shooting in Havana for Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger and Hollywood action director Conrad Palmisano is making the actress do daring stunts like free-falls.
Katrina, under the protective eye of co-star and friend Salman Khan, is doing what one member of Cuban unit describes as “the real thing”. “These are stunts that any macho hero would think twice before daring. Katrina is really pushing the envelope as far as the female machismo is concerned. She is doing free-falls with Salman by her side. We hear Kareena in Agent Vinod and Kangna Ranaut in Krrish 2 would also be attempting the hi-jinks...,” said the unit member. When asked about her daredevil act, Katrina said: "Yeah, it's scary but great fun. I've only done very feminine delicate roles so far. This is a new challenge for me. I guess that's what I'm looking for at this stage of my career." Palmisano, who has supervised the stunts for over 200 topnotch films and television series, oversaw Sheila LeBeouf’s stunts in Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, Nicolas Cage in the forthcoming Seeking Justice and Jackie Chan in Rush Hour, informed the source from on-location. Apparently Palmisano initially suggested “something softer” for Katrina. “She wakes up at the crack of dawn to get warmed up for Palmisano’s stunts. Then she gets down to action. Very risky ones, I might add which many of our Bollywood heroes would insist on being done by doubles. Lekin Katrina mein ek junoon hai. She is out to prove she can do action scenes as well...,” said the source. — IANS
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Demi’s dilemma
Demi Lovato has revealed that she is not confident enough to appear on TV again, following her stint in rehab last year. The former Sonny with a Chance star is taking a break from acting after admitting her battles with self-harming and an eating disorder, and she doesn’t feel ready to be on camera again yet.
“Right now I don’t need to get in front of a TV camera which adds 10 pounds and makes you feel more self-conscious about your body image. Being on camera makes me nervous. It takes a level of confidence and security which I’m still
working on,” she said in an interview. “When I’m ready I’ll find the right role and get back into it, but for now I’m being cautious. “I’m walking with my head held high, but I never forget that I’m a work in progress,” she said. Demi was admitted to rehab for her issues in 2010, and her time in
therapy was intense, with her undergoing sessions lasting for over half a day at a time. Since rehab, Lovato has been concentrating on her pop career, releasing her third album Unbroken last September. — ANI
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Dare to bare
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who is all set to go naked for his new film Kill Your Darlings, says he is comfortable with nudity.
The 22-year-old actor first stripped off for psychological drama Equus on the West End stage. "I'm comfortable with my body," Radcliffe said. However, the actor also said that he will never be able to compete with Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint's muscular body. "I'm not going to try to compete with Rupert on the arms front. His dad is a big guy, so if anyone was going to get the proper muscleman build, it was Rupert. You'd have to search pretty hard to find a more handsome ginger. He's also a dude. "I wish I could be that calm. I'm lucky to have found an industry where this level of hyperactivity is encouraged. Otherwise I'd just be a nuisance," he added. — PTI
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Verse-wise
Bureaucrat-cum-author Dheera Khandelwal released her latest book Taaron ki Tarf on Tuesday. She also released the English version titled In Search of Stars and Punjabi version Taarean Walh to reach out to a wider audience.
"I had my maiden book Mukha Maun printed in other languages as well," she says. Her second book is an anthology of 207 poems. Explaining the poetic format, Khandelwal says Haiku is a form of traditional Japanese poetry where the poet has to express his or her views in three lines and 17 syllables. "Haiku is based on Zen-Buddhist philosophy of brevity and simplicity. The term Haiku, coined in 1890, means 'starting verse'," she adds. She dedicates this book to her in-laws, Ram Sahai and Prem Lata. The verses in the book cover issues ranging from birth to death, family relations and solitude. The sincerity of feeling and vividness of imagery are deftly combined with the rhythmic flow of words.
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Flavours of Kashmir
The traditional Kashmiri platter includes tabakh maaz, rista aab gosh, rogan josh, marchawagan korma, ghustaba, nadru ke kabab and kofte. Says chef Razak, "The tradition of warzan comprises 36 delicacies; it was inherited from artistic cooks who settled in the state in the 15th century." The tradition continues in authentic flavours and spices like asafetida, aniseed, saffron and other aromatic spices. "We prepare the food in mustard oil; it spices-up the food and helps it keep warm.”
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Sad without net
Forty-nine per cent of British children aged 12 and under, would be sad without an Internet connection, while one in five would be lonely, a new survey has found. The 'Digital Futures' project, which surveyed 1,000 young people in the UK between the ages of eight and 16 about the impact of the internet on their lives, found that the emotional attachment to the web was even stronger with teenagers.
Sixty per cent of those aged between 12 and 16, said they would be "sad" without a web connection, while 48 per cent said they would be lonely. The poll, carried out by British research firm, Intersperience, also found that two-year olds also dominate the family iPad and teenagers are the heaviest users of mobile devices. Children under the age of 12 emerged as 'sophisticated internet users' with 74 per cent playing online games, 65 per cent using the internet for homework. — ANI
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Glass apart
Sukhmani
(Sukhmani is an interior decorator and landscape designer)
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Romantic touch
Good lyrics
Though I haven't heard the Tamil version but I like this track so much because of its touching lyrics. Although it is a slow song but the softness of the tunes makes you listen to it again and again. Rohini Atmaram, CA trainee Cool composition
It is a composition by AR Rahman and therefore has to be beautiful. This track definitely receives thumbs-up with the combination of Hindi and English lyrics. Leon D'Souza's youthful voice is perfect for the song. Rohan Saini, student, GGDSD College Filled with love
Love is the essence of this song and it makes you want to fall in love (again and again)! An amazing atmosphere is created with the peppy beats and guitar strumming together. The English verses by Blaaze give it a truly modern setting. Chandini Anand, housewife (As told to Sabia Talwar)
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Bend it like Shiva
Anil Juneja
Natarajasana
Natarajasana is a balancing back bend which develops concentration and balance. It tones and lengthens the leg and hip muscles. It will stimulate a full range of motion in the shoulders. As you stretch your whole body, arch formed by the back and stretched leg gently aligns the vertebrae of the spine restoring suppleness and easing strain caused by poor posture or long periods of sitting. It tones the muscles of the shoulders as well as stimulates the chest muscles. To start with, stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides. Now, shift your weight onto the right foot. Bend your left knee, lifting your foot up behind your thigh with the knee pointing down. Hold the inside of that ankle with your left hand. Gently press your ankle into your hand, reaching your knee back and up. Lean your body forward as you extend your lifted leg, and reach your right arm up in line with your body. To make balance easier, keep your lifted ankle firmly pressed into your hand, and keep your standing leg strong and straight. As you extend your leg higher, your body opens in the backbend and your chest may go toward the floor as part of the opening. Hold the posture while breathing gently through the nostrils. Keep your gaze fixed slightly above the horizon. Remain in the Natarajaasana for about one minute then return slowly to a standing position. Begin by holding the pose for about a minute and gradually increase the time as you become more comfortable with this posture. Repeat it three times on each side, alternately from right to left. If you cannot easily reach your foot, simply use a belt or strap to hold your foot. This pose is not recommended in case of high or low blood pressure and injury to the legs, hips, low back, knees or shoulders. (Juneja is a Chandigarh-based
yoga expert)
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Living together?
We have heard that Amy Jackson and Prateik are living together at her place in Bandra, suburban Mumbai.
They both stay in Bandra but Prateik has been spending most of his time at her place. They are quite open about their relationship.
Sanjay Dutt doesn’t like being called Kancha, his character in Agneepath. Some media members addressed him by that name and he asked them not to call him that. Gauri’s admirer
Hrithik Roshan finds Gauri Khan hot. He posted a picture and wrote on Twitter: With the most beautiful and talented girl in the world! And hottest if I may add! Gauri Khan!!! Watch out world, she's about to arrive!
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Aishwarya Sakhuja aka Toasty of Sony’s Saas Bina Sasural is the latest target of a cyber attack. She was shocked to see her fan page on a social networking site claiming she had ditched fans after fixing an appointment to meet them. Fuming fans were angry. She explained that she interacts with fans through her fan page and not on any social networking site. She is now wondering how to get a handle on things. Siddhant Karnick, last seen in Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani, has signed on to play the role of an aspiring dancer in Sagar Arts’ Aasmaan Ke Aage on Life Ok. The concept is about a dance reality show and how it affects the lives of contestants and mentors. Siddhant will have a positive role with a different avatar. He became a popular name after his role as a lawyer in the hit TV show Siddhant, but then actor Pawan Shankar disappeared. He claims nothing worthwhile caught his attention. Returning to TV with Ekta Kapoor’s Kya Hua Tera Vaada opposite Mona Singh, Pawan believes one should be talented to survive in the TV world, which is what got him back on the primetime post his hiatus. Break Ke baad: Pawan Shankar Soumya the host
Soumya Tandon will soon be back as host of Bournvita Quiz Contest on Colors. She had earlier co-hosted the show along with quiz master Derek O’Brien and is eager to get going this time too. Soumya not only has fun doing the show but also learns a lot from the kids. Priyal Gor, aka Manyata from Sony’s Dekha Ek Khwab, is perhaps living her role of a princess in real life. Rumours are that she has been throwing her weight around on the sets and being arrogant with cast and crew. Priyal claims and producer Shrishti Arya backs her that these rumours aren’t true and that she has been shooting diligently for her show that airs for 45 minutes, five days a week. Rakshandha turns a temptress
Rakshandha Khan returned to TV in a mythological show as Sati’s friend in Devon Ke Dev Mahadev on Life Ok. Excited about doing a different show, she talks about what keeps her going… Why did you choose to play Madinike? I never had the opportunity to play a mythological character before. So, this seemed like the right role for me. The other reason was that the role wasn’t similar to anything I had done before. Madinike is a temptress, yet a child woman and that tempted me to take the role. Tell us about it. Madinike is vivacious, and bordering on the naughty. She is a woman of the world and has seen a lot in life, but has a child-like quality. There are many layers to the role, which is possible only when you play a character for a definite period of time. Which is why cameos are more exciting than long-winding roles as you pack all the power in the role, in the time frame given. How exciting is it playing a mythological character? It is pretty exciting as the sets, the dialogue, the approach to the role—everything is different. It makes acting, work more fun. What are the pros and cons
of doing such a role? The pros are that you get to do something different but the con is that I didn’t realise I would need three hours to get dressed as everything has to be detailed and elaborately done. Moreover, it takes over half an hour to get back into the regular look. Were you disappointed with the abrupt end of your comedy show on Sab? I wasn’t disappointed, I was heartbroken because it was a show I felt connected to. I was fond of it as it has given me many firsts. It was my first comedy show, I got to work with a talented actor like Faridaji (Jalal). The concept was so fantastic that we all thought it would go on for a long while but the abrupt end
was shocking. Besides acting, what else occupies your time? I have an event management company that I have been running since last four years. In the two years when I took a break from TV, I got it up and running. But now that I am working, I find myself constantly on the phone handling and managing things. I feel like a telephone operator.
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Astro turf
ARIES: The card Eight of Swords bestows Saturine influence. So, problems are bound to arise at home. A neighbour would be cause of worry. A disagreement with your partner won’t be resolved for a few days. Tarot message: Try to avoid serious discussions with loved ones. Lucky colour: Aqua blue.
Magic number: 39
TAURUS: Early hours could see you encountering some difficulties. Budget goes topsy-turvy. You may give some of your time to work in the hospitals or institutions and talk to those less fortunate than yourself. Tarot message: Seek advice but don’t feel you have to stick to it. Lucky colour: Crimson.
Magic number: 48 GEMINI: Home and family affairs will be most enjoyable. You will not be able to get teamwork going. Short trips could cause minor problems. An attraction to the unknown can take you away from your comfort zone. Tarot message: A shopping spree can set your budget aflutter.Lucky colour: Purple.
Magic number: 36 CANCER: You are on the crest of a lucky wave. The married will be able to see more of each other. Do not sign new agreements. A hectic day for businessmen. No arguments please. Sit back and enjoy the day as it unfolds.
Tarot message: Make the best of a bad situation. Lucky colour: Deep red. Magic number: 59 LEO: Use your own judgment while handling important issues. Problems may arise with your family members. Do not demonstrate your anger to anybody. Enjoy the evening with your friends. Tarot message: Spend time on fitness routines.
Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 29 VIRGO: Make your choices wisely today. Family politics or the power struggles in shared living quarters can intensify. Talking about the issues with friends may be a distraction, but it won’t make any differences to your situation.
Tarot message: Take your partner out to dinner. Lucky colour: Forest green.Magic number: 47
LIBRA: You card Ten of Wands shows deception. You will feel irritated at work. A new deal may bring monetary gains. Women, control your diet, and focus on exercise. Good friends will be a source of entertainment and support. Tarot message: Adopt a diplomatic approach. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 61 SCORPIO: Stock brokers, think before investing. Youngsters may feel a bit lethargic. New work may prove lucrative. You can safely delegate responsibility of work to others. A chance encounter with a stranger may leave your heart beating. Tarot message: Beware of making rash moves. Lucky colour: Saffron.Magic number: 30 SAGITTARIUS: Business can be carried out successfully. You are unlikely to have any difficulty on concentrating. There could be disappointments in store for you as the day progress. A Taurean plays a major role. Tarot message: Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities.Lucky colour: Peach.Magic number: 42 CAPRICORN: Students, do not neglect your work. Drive carefully. Humanity pays. Keep up with the business activities. Parent’s health needs attention. A foolish obligation can be dropped. Enjoy a peaceful day at home.
Tarot message: Do try to be as charming as possible. Lucky colour: Mauve.Magic number: 25 AQUARIUS: Get on with your work early because as the day unfolds, everything can become disjointed. An influential person may acknowledge your work and encourage you to take your career further. Tarot message: Stop thinking about yourself.
Lucky colour: Silver grey. Magic number: 40 PISCES: No matter what problems might arise, you will achieve success. The job seekers could have a couple of interviews and achieve good results. A business deal is likely to go through and give you a secure income.
Tarot message: Take the life the way it comes. Lucky colour: White. Magic number: 52
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The year ahead
If your birthday is February 2...
If you wish to undertake a new venture, you must consider the difficulties which will arise in the beginning. Patience and faith will help you but that’s not enough. You must choose someone who can help you. There will be sudden new developments at work that could necessitate a change in strategy. You are still able to follow your goal, though it is postponed or revised. An overseas business is predicted for some of you. It would be wiser for you to work independently to safeguard your position. Focusing on the bright side puts you in the path of luck. A respected teacher or expert is impressed by your positive attitude, and will offer you a job. Getting paid to write and research is your idea of heaven. You will be able to set your own hours and work independently. Be ready to take an ethical stand if you see someone being bullied. If born before 1990, you will be satisfied at the way your career is moving. You can expect little help from friends and you must walk the path alone. The married ones have a better rapport and understanding with their mate. Those in love will find delightful moments in the company of their beloved and make the best of forthcoming festive season. Mood: Cheerful and grateful. Compatible signs: Capricorn, Gemini, Pisces. Lucky colours: Grey, electric blue. Lucky days: Saturday. Lucky numbers: 2, 19, 26, 50, 100. Lucky gem: Moon stone or pink pearl. Lucky flower: White rose
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The defense is readymade and comes in handy all the time – if centuries ago the sculptures at Ajanta-Ellora denoted artistic freedom why bicker about nudity now? Why Husain’s aesthetics are questioned? Why Chandigarh’s very own Viren Tanwar had to put off his exhibition on the same subject? And recently why Delhi-based artist Pranava Prakash was bashed up for painting nude Bollywood heroines? But then there is no denying the fact that a line has to be drawn, creativity and painting nudes for the heck of it has to be distinguished from each other.
‘You can invite me for a cup of coffee’— if this can be an excuse for your clumsiness, it is bang-on way to strike a conversation! Come to think of it, a lot of things revolve around a simple cup of coffee. Office gossips, break-up sob stories, plotting how to dig out extra money from folks; late night BlackBerry message that surprised…a lot can brew over a single cup of hot coffee. No wonder coffee-drinkers have such strong loyalties and not many like trying out different brands available in the market. Now with the iconic American coffee brand Starbucks coming to India soon, we get people to talk about their favourite brand and what makes them stick to it. Everything of course over a cup of coffee!
Cooking is an art, and you can add grace to it with a topping of patience and technique. Kashmiri food achieves the form with the right mix of both. The bottom-line is labourious cooking! The ongoing Kashmiri food festival at Hotel Hometel spreads across a variety of dishes. Celebrity chefs Razak Khan and Rayaz Ahmad ensure the food is authentic in taste and not too spicy at the same time.
Glass bricks are actually a three dimensional glass block. Traditionally, these blocks are made from two units of ½" to 1" thick glass, each representing half a block, which are heat-fused together. A pocket of air is trapped in the space created between them. You can find them in different sizes, textures and colours. You can also find glass blocks suitable for floors, but these have different properties. Here is how you can use glass bricks in your home-
Hosanna, the song from the movie Ek Deewana Tha is quite a hit. The track starts off pretty well and is quite similar to the original Tamil version. Suzanne D'Mello breezes through with her humming which is followed by Leon D'Souza with the lyrics, complimenting the wonderful composition of AR Rahman. The attempt is just to re-create the same song. 
The Sanskrit word nata means dancer and raja means king. Nataraja is another name for Shiva, the King and the Lord of Dance. His dance symbolises cosmic energy. Nataraja or Shiva as the cosmic dancer destroys and recreates the universe with each step. The cosmic dancer symbolises the constant flow of energy. It represents the destruction of the old self in preparation for the creation of a new one.
Sanju’s no Kancha
Cyber victim
Siddhant to shake a leg
Pawan comes back
Priyal’s tantrums
Shamita Shetty (February 2, 1979, Mangalore) is the younger sister of Shilpa Shetty. She made her debut in 2000 with the Yash Raj Films blockbuster Mohabbatein. Since Mohabbatein, she mostly found success in item numbers, including Sharara Sharara in Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2001) and Chori Pe Chori in Saathiya (2002). Later Shetty found success as an actress with her first solo-hit Zeher. She worked once with her sister Shilpa Shetty. Shamita will not be as successful as her sister.