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FASHION-ed to perfection
Here’s lifting the curtains off Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2012-Autumn Winter collection and knowing some of the debutants who have made it to the country’s biggest fashion extravaganza Harried inspections of the outfits, hurried adjustments of hemlines, checking and re-checking the accessories to go with the ensembles...fear of last-minute glitches has started bothering fashion designers. Thank god, in between so much of mayhem, with less than a few hours to go for the first season of the first fashion week of the year, the participating designers take a phone call. Each of them invariably promised ‘only’ five minutes. “You know how jittery one gets before the fashion week; there isn’t a second to spare,” comes from a designer who will be showcasing his collection for the seventh time at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW), which begins in New Delhi on February15. We wonder how difficult it is for the debutants! Here is getting to know some of the first-timers at the fashion week and taking a peek into their collection. And also how they plan to make it a long lasting affair at the WLIFW!
Global concerns
Shantanu Singh
Traditional cut
This Bengaluru-based designer has focused on drapes and explains that the inspiration has been drawn from the Squiggle Art. “Where colours and motifs merge,” explains Tahera. She has also used the traditional Shabori print and Batik work on her creations. “All in a bid to bring the traditional embroideries into the mainstream fashion.” Being a part of the show is no less than a privilege for her. “It’s a big opportunity and I want to make the most of it. The exposure you get here is immense and it also ensures an instant entry into the retail market.” Also when among a thousand applicants, you are one of the lucky few who make it to the finalists, it’s an achievement in itself! Tahera is happy, “I plan to take it forward by coming up with an exciting collection every season.” Tahera Peeran We believe for the rest of the first-timers, it won’t be much different! ashima@tribunemail.com
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Slicing through history
As Mohali-based playwright and director Dr Atamjit is busy giving finishing touches to his historical play
Panchnad Da Paani, he talks about the relevance of history in contemporary times
Punjabi plays and Sikh history…never the twain shall break; rather an umbilical chord seems to connect the two. Not surprising then, a whole lot of Punjabi plays steeped in Sikh history have had a successful run. But when eminent playwright and theatre-person Dr Atamjit, who likes to do things differently, decides to direct a play he not only chooses a chapter of history that preceded the birth of Sikhism by many centuries, but also a character that is not known to many. As he is busy giving finishing touches to his latest directorial venture Panchnad Da Paani, a play that he wrote over a decade ago, he talks about the need to delve into the past; other than the Sikh history. First things first, he came across the incredibly fascinating character of Naila, a Rajput princess who incidentally was the mother of Feroze Shah Tughalq through Manmohan Bawa’s story Incidentally, Bawa had written two stories on the same period. While one hovered around Naila, a historical character, the other on Birju was a figment of Bawa’s imagination. Dr Atamjit’s pen fused the two and created a play that was published in 2002. He felt the need to write this play for he thinks history hides more than it reveals and there is an urgent need to understand social history, which is far more complex than the obvious historical facts. So as he dwelt on the social fabric of the period, he understood why invasions happened, what led to conversion to Islam and much more. As he builds up a scathing indictment of the caste system in his play, he avers that the purpose is not to hurt or provoke. Yet at the same time he reasons, “Caste equations are explosive even today.” Actually, it’s not just caste system which he finds relevant in the 21st century; he also feels that so many other aspects of the play, including the position of women, have a universal ring. Yet the play doesn’t merely echo the subservient status of women. Rather it celebrates women power. Not only through the stoic portrayal of Naila, but also through two Bhaands which are interestingly being essayed by female actors probably for the first time in the tradition of Punjabi theatre. Says Dr Atamjit: “The idea is to look beyond divides, be it of caste, gender, region or religion.” To those who may sense a pro-Islam stance in the play, he quips, “I am not for or against any religion, but yes I did want to reiterate that not all Muslim rulers were autocrats. Never mind their religion, injustices are meted out by all rulers and always subjects are at the receiving end of their tyranny.” Actually the dramatic narrative is not merely a linear account of a Hindu girl marrying a Turk, but also probes into complex questions such as what exactly is sin and who is the real sinner? So what took him such a long time to enact it on stage? Well, he did not want to direct it too close to its adaptation in Hindi by NSD students. As to how different it is from the previous production, all Dr Atamjit offers is: “Obviously its production values will be different. I can’t say better or worse.” Having roped in ace designer Ashok Sagar Bhagat for its light and set design and well-known music director Atul Sharma for music, this slice of history that shall open in Banur’s newly opened-theatre — Bhaji Gursharan auditorium on February 19 — will not be an ordinary production. The play has already been invited to be staged as part of Punjabi Akademi theatre festival in New Delhi on February 22. When will it come to Chandigarh? The director promises anytime soon.
Actors’ medium
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Posh goes the army way
Victoria Beckham, who has proved that she can win over the toughest of fashion critics, delivered a crowd-pleasing military-inspired collection at the New York Fashion Week. As a well-established member of the industry and a British Fashion Award-winner no less, the 37-year-old former ‘Spice Girls’ member’s latest offering felt like her most confident to date.
Aware that she does not need to reinvent the wheel to be successful, footballer David Beckham’s wife delivered a crowd-pleasing collection of form-fitting dresses at her New York Fashion Week Show on Sunday. Gone were the draped numbers that she favoured during her pregnancy, and the sportswear themes of last season. Instead, her signature body-conscious shifts, falling demurely just below the knee, lent themselves perfectly to the military look so many other labels have been also championing. The theme ensured that there was nothing boring or repetitive about the dress shape. A palette of muddy greens, taupe and the occasional shock of red against a constant of black set the scene, while epaulettes, square pockets and crisp, pointed collars injected precision into each one. Black leather belts, double-wrapped around waists and harness-detail backs, completed the look.
A utilitarian shade of blue was something of a palate-cleanser that appeared in a couple of garments. A different dress shape, with a shorter, more flared hem, continued the uniform theme, albeit with more of a schoolgirl vibe than a military one. She said the models’ peaked beanies, designed by veteran milliner Stephen Jones, were inspired by the type worn by her husband. If the tailoring of some of the dresses feels reminiscent of a baseball kit, she explained that it was inspired by the shirts her eldest son Brooklyn
favours. The most significant influence, though, was that of her seven-month-old daughter, Harper, who was honoured in the form of a new handbag. The only thing that Posh couldn’t be imagined embracing next season was the legwear – woolly socks worn with chunky, often flat biker boots by Christian Louboutin. While the designer could be seen wearing one of the new dresses when she made her appearance at the end, her feet were still clad in those familiar platform courts. She said in her show notes that she wanted “to explore how clothes can make women feel when they put them on and how to create an emotional attachment between the garment and the wearer.” “The idea of how the body can connect to the clothes through their construction and detail fascinates me,” the Daily Mail quoted here as
saying. —ANI
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The designer from Kolkata will be presenting the Troy Story, a collection inspired from the film, Troy. Emphasis is laid on structuring of the clothes. The long, flowing garments have been given a prominent A-line shape with cording that renders stiffness and structure to the creation. “The collection comprises corded jackets, leggings and skirts. Even cords are inserted in the sleeves to make these taut,” she says. For this debutant, making it to the fashion week is no less than winning the big ticket to fame. “Showcasing your creations on the same platform with the best designers of the country is an achievement in itself, but at the same time it creates a lot of pressure. The only way to excel here is to work on the original concept, come up with creations that have a good commercial value.”
Nupur Kanoi
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Designs on women!
Abdul Haldar:
He has tried to merge two different wardrobes this time with his collection —High-end Street-wear. “The outfits can be worn to the office and later flaunted at the party also,” says the designer. He has used translucent fabric. Bright colours like orange, red, turquoise are used on the nude palette. “It’s a bold collection for the contemporary woman.” Kanika
Saluja:
The collection has to be revolutionary when the fashion designer shares that the basic themes are feminine and aggression. As a result the colours used are, “Very sad; very dark. And the designs are gothic, well structured.” The collection comprises gowns and skirts but that’s the only feminine part of the collection. The collection falls under her brand, Anaikka. Rahul
Mishra:
The collection is a mix of sports-wear and chic casual wear, something that will increase the fashion quotient for women. Comfort is one factor he has given a lot of importance to, “Need I say that women work as much as men. They also party hard. Therefore the modern-day woman needs to be comfortable and confident in her clothes.”
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Astro turf
ARIES: Your card manages to maintain clarity and direction in complicated work situations. Love ties grow stronger and hotter! Children may be annoyed if they feel restricted. Tarot message: Be articulate to prevent people from drawing their own conclusions.
Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 46 TAURUS: Engaging conversation with neighbours creates a confusing atmosphere. You can have quite a romantic adventure if you take out time. Take care of any dealings with strangers. Tarot message: Dare to accomplish those tasks that take up time. Lucky
colour: Ebony. Magic number: 26 GEMINI: You need some help today. Try to get away with your mate. Changes in your home are apparent, and you must be willing to bend if you don't want to find yourself alone. Do not enter into any speculation. Tarot message: Work on one thing at a time. Lucky colour: Forest Green. Magic number: 47 CANCER: The biggest plans require attention to the tiniest details to turn them into reality. You need more precision. Peacefully resolving recent differences should be relatively easy. Tarot message: Listen carefully to the words of wisdom even if you do not relish them. Lucky
colour: Pink. Magic number: 61 LEO: Friends could get on your nerves today. Be careful about getting into disagreements with seniors. Plan a special romantic evening with your partner. Romantic relationships are on the up. Tarot message: You will receive a useful tip at the stock exchange. Lucky
colour: Black. Magic number: 30 VIRGO: Your card reveals that you gain balance, perspective and clarity in relationships. A frequent change of mood is likely. Further studies will help fine-tune your capabilities to perfection. Tarot message: Allow a sick situation to blow over before you start a new project. Lucky
colour: Burgundy. Magic number: 32
LIBRA: Do not put undue pressure on yourself to take on unwelcome tasks. Be willing to lie low and take a break. Indulge in personal pleasures; like or counting your net worth. Tarot message: Balance and perspective will lead you out of problematic situations. Lucky
colour: Brown. Magic number: 39 SCORPIO: You could be in a restless and irritable mood and loved ones may bear the brunt of your temper. Romance could lead to some light-hearted and happy moments. Monetary gains are indicated. Tarot message: Remember never to fall for rash promises. Lucky colour: Golden Yellow. Magic number: 35 SAGITTARIUS: Make initial moves to get the ball rolling in the right direction. There could be lot of activity at work and this may lead to additional job responsibilities or new assignments. Tarot message: Try a new off beat style of handling things. Lucky
colour: Rust. Magic number: 54 CAPRICORN: Your health and well-being are a priority. Set aside part of the weekly budget for whatever you need to ensure that you stay in top shape. A new approach to an old problem can be the intimate solution. Tarot message: Try a new off-beat style of handling things. Lucky colour: Crimson. Magic number: 43 AQUARIUS: This is a good time to compete for a position of power. A general feeling of dissatisfaction lingers throughout the day. Your health is buoyant, making it possible for you to work long and hard. Tarot message: Use your instincts to get into the top circle of power. Lucky
colour: White. Magic number: 62 PISCES: Flea markets and colourful shops will attract you and satisfy your urge to window-shop and browse. Give a thought to travel plans. Steer clear of money wasting activities. Tarot message: Learn from past experiences and desist from making a similar mistake again. Lucky colour: Green. Magic number: 42
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The year ahead
If your birthday is February 15...
It's a good time to re-connect with old friends or relatives on your birthday. Finding creative freedom is just a matter of changing your priorities. By devoting an hour each day to your favourite activity, you'll be able to create a lot of productive work. Don't ask for anyone's approval in this endeavour. This project is purely for your pleasure. Avoid talking about it before it is finished. You're bound to make some wrong turns at the beginning, but that's part of the process. You will have a great time in April -- all the good energy will make you feel the love, and at least one other person is sure to join you. Things look good, so make sure that you're on top of the scene! Gossip is dangerous, especially about your neighbours. Make your own observations rather than spreading malicious falsities. After a flat period, things will pick up positively. The wind favours you and you'll finally feel in sync with those around you. If you work independently, you'll be favoured by fate, especially if you work in the field of medicine, psychology or paramedics. Avoid building contacts with Leos. Trust your gut feelings. Free yourself from the negative opinions of others. After that, you must get rid of the negative signals that you are giving yourself. Do not let little details get in the way. You might not be getting what you want right now. But it is your turn to be a winner. Housewives have a busy time ahead. Students preparing for their exams should work hard to achieve the desired results. Married will enjoy conjugal bliss or progeny. However, your expenses will be more than your actual earnings. You should make new plans only after careful analysis of the present circumstances. Work and business prospects are likely to improve during July. It will be in your own interest to get along with your business partners and promote co-operation. Teamwork, rather than attempting to go alone, will bring better results. You should be cautious and pay necessary attention in this regard. Mood: Short fused and weary until February end. Compatible signs: Aries, Aquarius, Pisces. Lucky colours: Hot pink, Lemon chiffon. Lucky days: Friday. Lucky numbers: 9, 15, 21, 22, 50. Lucky gem: Zircon, Purple amethyst. Lucky flower: White rose. Suggestion on Birthday: Donate green vegetables or green Moong pulse at a religious place.
His brothers are Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor. His wife is actress Babita and his daughters are stars Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.Randhir Kapoor made his acting and directorial debut with Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971) which also starred his wife, father and grandfather.
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Chatter box
New on the tube
Get ready for a family drama on Life OK. Producer of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Rajan Shahi brings a show Amrit Manthan, set in a Punjabi backdrop revolving around royalty. The show is about a family’s fading royalty tries to hold on to its public image while competing with the noveau rich who have money.
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Mona Singh returns to soaps
Vivacious Mona Singh returned to fiction shows on television after her hit TV show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. She was averse to doing soaps as they didn’t appeal to her. So what was the clincher in this deal, we ask her.
Why did you accept this show after refusing others? When I did Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi I realised working in daily soaps was tough with no personal life. I didn’t want that. Moreover the roles seemed similar. I was happy hosting. But when I was approached for Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada, I knew I couldn’t let it go. The role, the producer and the execution are just fantastic. This is termed as your
comeback on TV Well I was on TV all this while only not doing serials. I did return to doing serials and I am glad I chose this show. I hope people like me and the show as much as Jassi was liked. What do you think of the role? The show is about a married couple trying to re-discover love in their marriage. I think everyone somewhere will identify with the show and the character. I love my role as the homemaker who juggles kids and her husband. It is a beautiful role. Is it easy playing mom? Well, I don’t think it’s easy but I love it. I think of situations with my mother when needed in scenes too. Playing mom on TV is cool What is your rapport with Ekta? We understand each other. Professionally, I was glad to see we were both on the same page while working on the show. And I admire her for her work and what she has done for Indian television. What is the response to the show? It has been good. People tell me how they identify and find my role relatable. The situations and reactions are all real so it appeals to
people. — HRM
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Is it the girl or is it her dress? Is it the colour or is it the fit? Sensuality for lovely young ladies has just one name ‘Bebe’ A brand that owes its origin to the Shakespearan phrase, “to be or not to be”, Bebe, invited the gorgeous, hip and sexy Sarah Jane Dias to indulge herself on Valentine’s Day. Sarah, who had just returned from a shoot in Maldives, was tanned, bronzed and exuded sensuality. Sarah was wearing a yellow dress from Bebe’s spring summer collection. She gushed, “All girls must thank Manny Mashouf, the man who opened the first ever Bebe store, for giving us a reason to celebrate style and sensuality with such well-structured garments.” Sarah treated herself to some oxygenated make-up from Inglot as well; and marvelled over how the Polish make-up giant had got Indian skin tones just right! Radhika Mukherjee had her indulgent husband Shaan for company, and her sons wore t-shirts that proclaimed ‘thing1’ and ‘thing 2’. Shaan seemed to be making a statement of sorts with his ponytail and well-worked out frame. The couple seems to be growing younger with each Valentine’s Day. Shaan, who attributes the happiness in his voice to his better half, took his kids away to eat pizza so that Radhika could shop in peace. Cute! Also seen was young biz-whiz Sharan Parekh, who had just returned from Paris where he attended the world’s biggest furnishing do. All good things are coming to India, he mused.
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Kiss and tell...
Bipasha Basu is known for her bold roles in Jism, Raaz and Race. But when it comes to locking lips on big screen, the actress isn’t comfortable. “I am scared of kissing on screen. Yes, on-screen kissing nerves me to death and I had a really very uncomfortable experience in Jodi Breakers with R. Madhavan who is a friend,” Bipasha said. “I had to kiss him, it was important for the film, so there was no convincing that was required. I knew I would do it but the process is not easy. “Even for Raaz 3, it’s not going to be easy but don’t scare me from now. When it comes to it, we shall see,” she added. The Bipasha-Madhavan starrer romantic comedy “Jodi Breakers” is coming out February 24. But Bipasha won’t mind kissing — for her role. “I am not dumb because I seek films and kissing is the integral part of sex, romance, passion—whatever expression you are trying to show. We watch English films all the time and we watch Hindi films where these things have become regular. “I as an individual find it tough to do. I will do it as it’s my work, but I will be very uncomfortable,” the 33-year-old said. Director Ashwini Chaudhary’s “Jodi Breakers” will see Bipasha-adhavan’s for the first time. The actress says their onscreen chemistry has got some rave reviews. “I love Madhavan as an actor. The response that me and Maddy have received as a couple has been stupendous. “Anyone who had a doubt on us, they come back saying we have a very unusual chemistry going on. And when you see the film, you want them to be together. I like our chemistry on screen. Besides we think alike.” This is Bipasha’s first romantic comedy. “It has good content. Like the West comes out with a lot of romcom and they are like really bad one - worse than the other. “Sometimes we tend to ape them in our rom-com but what is nice is that this has a story which has a proper thought in it.” She feels apart from the content, the concept of the film is also unusual. “It’s a unique film. It’s an unusual concept and unusual profession. Lot of couples are unhappy and they just don’t know how to separate. I believe if they are not happy in a relationship, it is better to get separated and find a new life rather than die in a marriage. So, what Jodi Breakers are doing is that they don’t believe in breaking happy couples,” she said. However, in real life, Bipasha, who separated from long-time boyfriend John Abraham last year, says her hands are too full to worry about others. “I am a firm believer in love. But I am neither a jodi breaker not a jodi maker. I don’t advice anybody anything. I am dealing with myself and there is too much to deal with,” she said. — IANS
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Foot loose
Swati Mehrotra, a Delhi-based footwear designer, says spontaneous creativity is very important in her field
Fetish for shoes is common among women, but getting the right size, colour and comfort, all in one, is a tall order. Swati Mehrotra, a Delhi-based designer who runs a brand in the name of ‘SWATIMODO’, solves all the problems at one go. At the Soh-Koh store in Sector-26, Chandigarh, on Tuesday to launch her latest collection Dazzle, Swati has footwear with original swarovski crystals studded on them. “Although like every fashion student I tried to put my hands on garment-designing, at the back of my mind I was always convinced that footwear reflects ones personality. So, I decided to go in for footwear designing.” So are designing shoes and customising them two different facets altogether? “It depends on spontaneous creativity; I have customers walking up to me with their school bags or old clothes, which they want to be used in their shoes. It is all about using different fabrics, recyclable material and in accordance to the needs of customers.” She has created out-of-the box collections like Zodiac (the minute details of your kundli are inscribed on the footwear), Seashore (the perfect beach and summer-wear), Gypset (depicting gypsies who are modern and on the go), Bo-ho (symbolising a young girl and whatever she wants in life) and Pirate Lady (putting forward the negative side of women). “All my collections deal with a story that I have experienced.” Swati has done footwear designing for “I Am She’ beauty pageant, Wills Fashion Week, Bombay Fashion Week and for celebrities like Ila Arun, Shibani Kashyap Jay Sean; and for Vivek Oberoi’s wife as well. How is it like when it comes to designing for stars? “They need everything to be perfect and there are no budget constraints.” And what’s the latest in footwear fashion? “The latest in trend are printed fabrics; lot of chunk heels and pumps with wedges.” What about the old shoes one has, how can they be revamped? “One can keep adding broaches, which are easily available and also straps that can be
got stitched.” She adds, “Shopping for footwear lights up one’s mood; no matter how fat you become your shoe size would
never change.” Swati runs her stores for women, men and pets in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai; in Japan, UK, US and Canada. She is also running a donation festival where one can donate old footwear for charity and can get lifetime vouchers of footwear designed by Swati in return. (On at Soh-Koh till
February 25) sabiatalwar@tribunemail.com
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Road Rage
How often do you think of handing over the car the entire control, especially when you are maneuvering your way through serpentine traffic? Cruise control, the new technology has made life much simpler and driving an experience. Today, almost all hi-end cars come with a cruise control that makes the sail through without any glitch.
This new technology is called the active or adaptive cruise control. Cruise control helps in maintaining a given speed while you are driving. In some cars it even comes along with radar technology which helps in keeping a set distance between your own car and the car ahead. The best part about cruise control is that it helps in avoiding the constant application of brakes or acceleration to maintain the distance between the cars. In addition to making driving easy, such technological advances in the cars help in ensuring safety of the users and are easy to drive. From BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar, all the hi-end cars come with this feature. In fact, nowadays, cruise control function is often handled by the ECT (electronic throttle control). It is an important technology after seat belts. All you have to do here is set the car limit on a speed and keep driving. The only time the cruise control is broken when the brakes are applied. With technology getting better, the cruise control is getting better as safety equipment. With this feature long road trips would be more tiring, for the driver at least, and those of us suffering from lead-foot syndrome would probably get a lot more speeding tickets. The driver sets the speed and the system takes
over the throttle of the car to maintain the speed. The system thereby improves driver comfort in
steady traffic conditions. Where the traffic is congested this system is no
longer effective. Most cruise control systems do not allow the use of cruise control below a certain speed. The use of cruise control would be significantly increased if the vehicle speed could automatically adapt to the traffic flow. Soon, cars will be equipped with adaptive cruise control, which will allow your car to follow the car in front of it while continually adjusting speed to maintain a safe distance. If we are talking benefits of cruise control, it also sometimes is seen that this function can lead to sudden acceleration. However, if this happens the driver can either apply brakes or overcome engine torque, switching off the ignition or putting the transmission to neutral. (Gill is a Chandigarh-based HOG rider)
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Fire Brand
Sunny Jind is an avid collector of Zippo lighters of different shapes, sizes and themes
“I got my first Zippo lighter in the late 70s. I must have been fascinated with it and this is how the new chapter of Zippo opened in my life,” says Sunny, opening a briefcase. He unlatches it, eyes shine even more, and he digs into a couple of forms cupped nicely with his hands. The story proceeds from here. Limited-edition Zippo; one has fish engraved on it while the other has a picture of a Red-Indian. Yet another one has a horse engraved on it, which has been done by a woman artist who used to paint for Zippo. Jind sure has a collection of the finest Zippo lighters, in fact, the John Wayne lighter was limited edition - only 5,000 were made, and he has the number 2,414. Why Zippo? “It is an ordinary, old-fashioned mechanical lighter. Its USP is that it has a lifetime guarantee. It doesn’t blow out in strong winds, even if it falls in water, all one needs to do is, clean and flick it,” he says, explaining what makes Zippo lighters so dear to him. “Well-known American artists like Carson Waterman, Linda Picken and Guy Harvey have especially painted for Zippo lighters,” he shares showing the ones he has kept in proper collection till date. “I am invariably looking for them wherever I go. My collection neither decreases nor increases drastically. If friends want, I gift it to them,” he smiles and hoping that he makes sense to us. We don’t need ‘logic’ all the time! Sunny has kept the lighters in proper working condition. A well-kept lighter with a theme painting can be worth four to six times its original price! “Not for sale,” he shoots back just in case we get interested in his collection. Sunny is also an avid angler from the age of seven. He organises fishing tours for people who have the passion as well as the patience to sit and wait for hours together. “I think both my passions have made me more patient in life,” he looks at us. This is logical!
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The healing power
Soul searching
It was her search for reaching paramatma that brought her close to spirituality and meditation. It was not until 1997 that Davinder Gill came in contact with the flaw of jaap. Today, she has mastered the art of meditation and her book, Self Realization gives an in-depth insight into understanding the mind and the body connect.
Dressed in a white attire, interacting with the audience, Devinder’s inner happiness and bliss reflects on her face. As she settles comfortably, for the book launch by Kapil Adwai, also known as Pilot Baba, she talks about her tryst with meditation. “It was in 1997, that due to excessive jaap, that my inner chakras got over activated and I fell unwell,” she says. After countless meeting with physicians, when there was no apparent cause, she came across a book, written by Kapil Adwait, a spiritual guru. “It was during my brief interaction, he cured me and guided me into spirituality,” she says. Having gone wrong with understanding the impact of jaap, her book aims to provide a holistic understanding of spirituality. “I was searching for pace outside and found it inside me,” she smiles. Despite a diploma in Interior Decoration, her search for reaching higher levels of peace came only when she completed her pranic healing courses--basic, advanced and psychotherapy. Working under the guidance of her spiritual guru Pilot Baba, she wrote the book. Now, fully devoted to sewa, she feels it’s not important for anyone to have any knowledge on meditation for understanding and mastering it. A believer in the guru-shishya culture, she has not disclosed the keys to healing in her book. “There are few methods in my book, which will give you hints on tuning,” she says. Tuning, according to her is the key to provide a sense of calm in the body. “Even when you talk about meditation, it is not essential to chant mantras or get into a zone, it is very passive and requires no flow of energies,” she says. Due to constraints in time, she provides selfless services in healing by simply looking at photographs. “It is not possible to meet everyone, so it helps save my time and energies,” she says. Catering to an age group of 18-60, she has several youngsters coming in. “They pretty much want instant healing,” she laughs. vasudha@tribunemail.com
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Let the magic of love touch you!
Divya Dutta There is something very festive about the Valentine’s Day. Most of the proposals in teens are made on this day and of course weddings and engagements too! The power of the moment is so strong that you get carried away by it, making promises and vows, which life and its twisted ways, does not let you keep always. But power of the moment it is! It makes you feel this is it, this is the partner for life, this is the moment of my life. And then like all things, that fades too! When either you find out later that person is not the right partner or life just makes you more practical. I am not being judgmental and cynical. I have done a lot of it too and still do--wait for those red roses, chocos and something extra beautiful said on this day but life is much more than that. Life is not just about a day to say what you have to! It’s about everyday, how you adjust to your loved ones inspite of everything. The trials and practicalities thrown your way all the time! The bonding that’s grown over the years understanding one another, fighting and understanding a bit more, adjusting and loving a bit more are the ones that stand the tests of all Valentines’ Day! Where the partners don't say, we used to do it in our younger days, now we've grown up. But grown up to what? Not loving each other? Or, taking each other for granted? Or, just too comfortable? I would say never let the young excited child in you die. Nothing is more precious than that bright smile on your loved one’s face? Empower the strongest emotion of them all—love! (Dutta is a Bollywood actor)
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Sleep talk
High school students seem to do better in studies when they have seven hours of sleep, rather than nine recommended by federal guidelines, a study reveals.
"We're not talking about sleep deprivation, the data simply says that seven hours is optimal at that age," said study co-author Eric Eide from Brigham Young University
(BYU). The new study, led by Eide and BYU economics professor Mark Showalter, is the first in a series where they examine sleep and its impact on our health and education. Surprisingly, the current federal guidelines are based on studies where teens were
simply told to keep sleeping until they felt satisfied, said a university statement. "If you used that same approach for a guideline on how much people should eat, you would put them in a well-stocked pantry and just watch how much they ate until they felt satisfied," Showalter said. "Somehow that doesn't seem right," he added.
Analysing data from a representative sample of 1,724 primary and secondary school students across the country, they found a strong relationship between the hours of sleep youths got and how
they fared on standardised tests. "We don't look at it just from a 'your kid might be sleeping too much' perspective. From the other end, if a kid is only getting 5.5 hours of sleep a night because he's overscheduled, he would perform better if he got 90 minutes more each night," Eide said. The size of the effect on test scores depends on a number of factors, but an 80-minute shift toward the optimum is comparable to the child's parents completing about one more year of schooling.
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You are unique
Parvesh Rana
Nisha, Chandigarh It is very normal to feel insecure. But don’t worry.If people praise your sister, this doesn’t make you any less than her. Feel confident about yourself, and take the praise showered on her in your stride. If this doesn’t work, tell your sister about it, talk it out to her and I am sure she will feel better. I am a 27-year-old bachelor working with a MNC. Sometime back I noticed that a female colleague of mine is taking lot of interest in me. I am not liking it, but at the same time I don’t want to offend her. Can you suggest something? Vishal, Chandigarh Why are you thinking so much about it? All you need to do is to approach the colleague in a nice manner and express your concern. Don’t talk to her in front of anyone; she might feel you are doing it deliberately to demean her. Be polite, that’s it. (Rana is a Bollywood actor and TV anchor)
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On a fruit diet
Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie has no time to eat properly, thanks to her six kids
Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie is reportedly surviving only on fruits because she doesn’t get time to eat a meal thanks to her six children. The 36-year-old, who raises six
children with partner Brad Pitt, is so busy taking care of her family that she forgets to eat, a source said. “She requested bowls of the berries, and that is all she ate during the day, even though there was a full buffet lunch on offer. She said she was so busy with the kids that she forgets to eat, and that when she does sit down she prefers all her fruits and vegetables to be organic. “She particularly likes exotic berries and was talking about how they were packed with nutrients. Angie looks painfully thin. She laughs off suggestions that she is too thin or unhealthy in any way and puts it down to her busy lifestyle,” a source said.
— PTI
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Splitsville for Amanda
Actress Amanda is happy to be single now after having many realtionships
Hollywood actress Amanda Seyfried has reportedly been dumped by her real estate broker boyfriend Justin
Huchel. Huchel is said to have ended the romance only after few weeks as he didn’t think it was going anywhere.
“They’re definitely over. He celebrated New Year’s Eve in Aspen and she wasn’t there! The split happened gradually over time. They still talk. They aren’t what they were, but they still hang out and are on great terms,” a source said. The 26-year-old, who has previously dated Ryan Phillippe and Dominic Cooper, recently claimed she doesn’t have the energy to be in a relationship and was happy being single. “Although I think it’s easier to be in a relationship than be single, I just don’t know if I have the energy at the moment. In the past, whenever a relationship of mine ended, my friends would tell me to be single for a while - that it would be good for me,” Seyfried said.
— PTI
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Sallu’s influence
Did Zarine Khan turn down an item song for Salman Khan?
According to many media reports, Zareen Khan opted out of an item number called Main Chamiya No 1, because it also featured Vivek Oberoi who had a tiff with Salman Khan. Is that true? The reports also claim that Zarine used to be a background dancer before she made her debut in Veer opposite
Salman. But Zarine has denied reports, saying, ‘Many articles in newspaper mention me as a background dancer. I don’t know whether to feel upset over this or be amused as before I did Veer I was in no way associated with the Hindi film industry. I wonder where background dancing came from,’ she says. She did not comment on the reports about the item number.
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Nikhil helps spot boy
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Not for the first time, the ramp will be used as a medium to raise a concern for global warming. But Shantanu is sure that he will convincingly make people think about the deteriorating environment through his collection Will We See Tomorrow? The collection has motifs of penguins to serve the purpose. “The colour palette is also in tandem with the theme. Shades of grey dominate the colour scheme; other colours being, blue and green.” Even the silhouettes are in round curve shape, similar to the look of the penguins. He has participated in the Chennai International Fashion Week, but he says nothing can match the thrill of WLIFW. “It’s important to realise that creations should be different from what is available in the market and at the same time should fall in the pręt line. I will abide by the same measure.” 
It seems like designs for the modern Indian women will dominate the WLIFW this time. Know from the established names what they have in store for the woman who works hard and parties harder!
Randhir Kapoor (February 15, 1947, Mumbai) is the eldest son of Raj Kapoor. He is a fourth generation Kapoor and comes from a distinguished Pathan family, which has been part of the industry for many years. His great-grandfather was Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, his grandfather was Prithviraj Kapoor, his paternal uncles are Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. 
Now that Amrit Manthan starring Dimple Jhangiani will air on Life Ok, speculation is on about the timing. Apparently buzz is that Optimystix's Zindagi Kahe - Smile Please, which hasn’t got good TRPs since the launch might be axed. The channel is still working on the time slot and not decided yet.
End of problems
One out of the ten times, it is okay not to have a logical take on certain things that we do. Sunny Jind, for instance, collects Zippo lighters, different shapes, sizes, forms and when you quiz as to why he does it, a smile, glint in the eyes is what we get…followed by a short story. 
I have a sister and we are almost of the same age. People keep comparing us and tell me that she is more beautiful. My parents praise her all the time. I don’t have any hard feelings against her, but I can’t handle this. What should I do?
What started as a prank, turned out to be a dream come true for one lucky spot boy on the sets of Tamanchey, as he landed up with a role in the movie, thanks to actor Nikhil Dwivedi. While packing up one day, the crew was in a relaxed mood and decided to play a prank on one of the spot boys. They asked the man to audition for the role of a gangster in the film. The spot boy felt it was a golden opportunity to prove his skills, and took the prank seriously. He actually started acting and mouthed dialogues in Bhojpuri effectively, says a source from the sets. The unit started laughing at him, but Nikhil, who watched the spot boy’s acting from a distance, appreciated the intensity in the spot boy’s acting, and requested the director to give him a role in the film. Director Bharat Ratan agreed and gave the spot boy a suitable.
— IANS