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Dressing up divas
To the first question — how and when did you begin styling celebrities — Rajit trades his story of life. "At the age of 16, I left my house for Mumbai to be a part of the tinsel town. I used to compere shows and was a part of the local fashion scene. I got a lucky break in Bollywood and there was no stopping me from there on." As filmy as it may sound, Rajit says that like any outsider he has done his part of struggle to find his foothold. "I took up any work that I got in the industry; did all kind of assignments. It has been a long journey, but there are no regrets." Now, after so many years, he features among the best stylists the industry can boast of. He even went ahead to come up with Entourage, a celebrity management company that works for promoting and publicising actors. "Presentation has become really important. You step out in a wrong ensemble and wait till you are tagged as a fashion disaster! Being a celeb is difficult; I just try to make the going easy for them". He believes fashion stylists role in the industry is still unsung. The credit is largely taken away by the fashion designers, "But it's us who bring the creations to the actors. It's us who decide what they deserve to wear." He doesn't necessarily go for the big labels. The looks of actors should complement the product they are hired to promote and even the backdrop. With almost every big name in Bollywood endorsing half-a-dozen products, the job of fashion stylists becomes more meaningful. "There is a lot of pressure on actors to look good; we handle that pressure for them." As for the future, he believes Shraddha Kapoor and Aditi Rao Hydari are the actors that one can look forward to for their style statement. ashima@tribunemail.com
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If looks could kill!
She is actress who experiments with her look and style more than you can think of, probably on an everyday basis. This could be the reason why director Madhur Bhandarkar thought of casting her in different styles in the upcoming movie Heroine. Kareena Kapoor looks sexy and ultra-cool in her new campaign. A check shirt on top of a white gunjee, flowing curly hair She quickly gets on to her new advertisement for Limca, the tagline Pyaas Badhao to which she thoroughly relates to. "I closely relate with the new Pyaas Badhao campaign since I feel it reflects my life's philosophy, As a career-driven person, I have always had the desire to do something more, something challenging, something that no one would ever expect me to do," she continues without pausing. "I have always pushed my boundaries to take on new roles, which push me beyond my comfort zone and make me give in my best efforts. This clearly reflects in my roles in Chameli, Jab We Met and Omkara, which were very challenging," she says. Challenge, Kareena Kapoor has lived with this word to the hilt! "We generally get very complacent and satisfied with what we have achieved in life, whether it is big or small. Through the latest communication, we want to inspire all consumers to push themselves, get even more 'thirsty' in whatever they do and emerge as winners," adds the actress who has just wrapped up the shooting for Talash. "It is an interesting and quite a sought-after project, which is going to be different in many ways. Also, I am in the middle of the shooting for Heroine, which is a spectacular script and I'm working with Madhur (Bhandarkar) for the first time. I have signed two more projects as well." Kareena likes working in commercials as it gives her an opportunity to work with many minds. "I have met some amazingly talented people while doing ads. And of course, I love the fact that I shoot for a day or two and the film is released within a month," she laughs out loud. She enjoyed one more thing recently — seeing her sister Karisma Kapoor's movie Dangerous Ishqq. "She has done a great job and she is back with a bang." jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Collector’s delight
What is the purpose of your visit? I am visiting India to launch the Grace Kelly collection. This will be the official launch for India and henceforth the products will be available at our boutiques nationwide. What is the Grace Kelly collection all about? The Grace Kelly collection is a tribute to one of the most remarkable individuals of all time — Grace Kelly, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco. It gives support to her artistic legacy, the Princess Grace Foundation — USA. The Collection, consisting of fine jewellery, timepieces and writing instruments, is true to Princess Grace of Monaco's much admired style and sophistication. What do you think about Chandigarh as a market for luxury brands? Chandigarh is a city of wealthy and cultured people, which is our target audience. It is a great market for luxury brands and has grown consistently. What is your vision for the brand? Our vision is to be the luxury mason, which helps cultured people to express their lifestyle through beautiful products. Today majority of our sales is from writing instruments and we are leading players in this market. Where do you see the demand for luxury writing instruments in the future? Montblanc writing instruments' business is constantly growing every year. We are sure that despite high technology gadgets and other products, a lot of people will continue to write important letters and sign with a Montblanc fountain pen. There are several high-end brands for jewellery and leather. What makes Montblanc different from them? Montblanc is a brand that has a history that goes back to a hundred years. It stands for craftsmanship and creating products with a soul. All our products are timeless and not following trends and therefore will never be out of fashion. What are your areas of focus in India? We want to become stronger players in the watches segment. We still see a great opportunity in jewellery for women. We wish to expand the retail network at airports and cities like Kolkata where we don't have a presence yet. vasudha@tribunemail.com
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Exchange programme
New bee: Evelyn Sharma
Reigning queen: Katrina Kaif
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The rhythm divine...
Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao has many hit songs to her credit such as Khuda
Jaane, I Feel Good, and many others. She talks about singing wonderfully. Tip
1: You must practice sincerely. This way you know the range, strength and
weaknesses of your voice.
Tip 2: You must also rest your voice. Don’t
go overboard practicing. Tip 3: You must always be open to learning about different types of music whether it is Indian classical or Western Classical. Listen to world music and singers from different parts of the world Tip 4: Experience life as much as you can. Go out with your friends. Watch movies, hang out, do whatever you like. The wider the range of emotions you have felt, the better you will express emotions in your songs. Tip
5: Be yourself and don’t lose your identity or your roots.
Embrace your uniqueness. Only then will you stand out and
get noticed.
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Handling success
“Success should not go to your head and failure to your heart” says Randeep Hooda, who has got a tremendous response for his performance in movies like Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai and now of course, Jannat 2.
The actor, who has been on a signing spree with back to back big banner films like Jism 2, Heroine, Cocktail and Mayanagari, believes that one should know how to sustain success. “People should be composed and not let success reach their head,” says Randeep. The actor, who has been through his share of ups and downs, believes that the life of
an actor is never steady, success and failure are a part of life and hence one should not let failure enter one’s heart. “Just be sporting and take it as a challenge,” says Randeep. Randeep’s next release is Cocktail with Saif, Deepika, and Diana Penty in July. —HRM Up swing: Randeep Hooda
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Blame it on the boyfriend!
Singer Kelly Clarkson, who is known for break-up songs, says she is so happy in her relationship that she is unable
to write tough songs. The 30-year-old has been dating talent manager Brandon Blackstock since last year, reported a magazine.
“It is killing me. I’m trying to write a tough song and it is coming out like butterflies and rainbows. It is ruining my creativity. I’m writing all this happy stuff,” she said. Clarkson said her next single will be Darkside but her happy love life is making it difficult to tap in to her own darkness. “People are going to be, like, ‘What the hell happened to you,’. It has been really difficult. I love it. It’s an awesome problem to have.” —PTI
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Jam packed...
Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur is certainly making the right noises at the 65th Cannes Film Festival where the world premiere of the film received a full house. Crowd lined up the streets to lend their support for Bollywood film, being screened at Director’s Fortnight section, an independently-curated, non-competitive event that runs concurrently with the festival.
Actresses Huma Quereshi, Richa Chadda and Reema Sen, and music director Sneha Khanwalkar joined Kashyap and the male leads Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui on the red carpet. Gangs Of Wasseypur, based on the coal mafia of Dhanbad, has been divided into two parts. The first part is set to hit the Indian theatres on June 22. Vasan Bala directed Peddlers, another film from Kashyap’s production house, also premiered at Cannes last evening. —PTI
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Why RGV won’t work with Sanjay Dutt again
It has been a while since director Ram Gopal Varma and actor Sanjay Dutt were reported of having creative differences over some scene in Department. Now that the film has flunked at the box-office, the difference of opinions has led to quite a rift between the two.
RGV says that he is “supremely happy” that he won’t have to see Sanjay’s
and producer Dharam Oberoi’s face for the rest of his life. “Whatever else happening to Department, I am supremely happy that I don’t need to see the faces
of Sanjay Dutt and Dharam Oberoi for the rest of my life,” he said. He added that Sanjay Dutt even forced him to take Kangana Ranaut out of the film: “From forcing me to take Kangana out of the film to constantly cornering me to change screenplay, I had the most horrible time working with Dutt.” —HRM
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Single-minded focus works
To grow up listening to discussions on history at dinner table sure tends to rub off and mould a child towards raising his or her own benchmark. A pass-out from Carmel Convent School, Surbhi Malik, 25-year-old, a post-graduate in economics from the London School of Economics has secured the 51st rank in the IAS exams and is all set to walk the extra mile and do something for her country.
An IAS father and a mother who is an associate professor in English for a support system, the young lady did not put in more than eight hours of labour each day and did a few things she enjoyed the most, including reading and catching up with friends. Sure of taking the IAS exam while she was still in college, Surbhi had to battle her low points when she did not make it through in her first attempt. But she overcame it and proved herself by coming out with flying colours in her second attempt. Into reading, writing and playing badminton, the lady hopes to come out with an anthology of her poems one day. She gives us an insight into everything her academics have revolved around. Motivational factor Feathers in the cap Strengths and weakness Flipside of being an achiever Words of wisdom vasudha@tribunemail.com
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Flair enough
Ashima Batish Do we need to ask what brings fashion designer, Amit Kashyap to Chandigarh over and over again? “It’s business. There are ample buyers here. Also the NRI market can be tapped from here,” Amit still answers the question.
This summer, he has got a collection that has influences of anarkali elements. “Not only the shirts have typical anarkali flairs, also the lowers are volume rich and have flairs.” To suit the need of the season, he has used light, sheer fabric. “I had to be very careful while picking the fabric, since designs demanded a lot of volume. Heavy fabric wouldn’t have sufficed the purpose in high temperatures.” The use of embellishments are minimal. Colours picked up are hues of yellow, blue and orange. One interesting ensemble is an anarkali lehanga in blue and purple. Amit is planning to make a debut at the Lakme Fashion Week. And designing for Bollywood, as he claims is part of his job profile again. “I am designing for Kashmera Shah and for the actors of Chalo Driver,” he says.
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Skirting around
Maxi dresses have been in vogue but now we have the finer version of flowing maxi skirts. It is a cool and relaxed summer fashion trend. All you have to remember is to keep the hem an inch off the ground and pair it with a tank top. “When we are talking about skirts the length has gone a bit up and we see knee length skirts this season. Lace is one hot trimming that will be seen on many skirts. Other than that we would also witness knee-length dresses in vogue this season,” says an employee of Madame. Coming to shorts, denim high-waist shorts are in fashion. Short shorts, sailor shorts, biker shorts, camo shorts, boyfriend shorts all are to be flaunted with aplomb! And if by chance, you are not the shorts person than try the newest fit of women’s cropped pants. Available with a tabbed waistband, they have deep front pockets and cuffed hems with a buckle closure. As per your convenience, you can roll the cuffs down for a full pant or keep them hooked for a military look. Anyway you are going to look hot in this new look.
Hot shots
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Sheer skirt is the latest and hottest trend to look out for.
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Maxi dresses have been in vogue but now we have the finer version of flowing maxi skirts. n
Looking for shorts; short shorts, sailor shorts, biker shorts, camo shorts, boyfriend shorts all are in vogue. n
If you are not the shorts person, then cropped pant is the next best option.
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Mum’s the world
Renee Singh Children bring joy, love and countless other gifts in our lives, and there is no deeper bond than that of a mother and child. However, the joy of motherhood also brings along with them an additional load of stress. A high percentage of women are stressed in the following area Time demands Finances Relationship demands Self-doubt Protective instinct Self care resources
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Body care n
Home spa n
Time alone n
Learning to say no (Renee is a psychotherapist)
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Stage craft
Adakar Manch in collaboration with NZCC presents its annual theatre festival Adakarian 2012. The festival will stage five acclaimed plays by the Manch. All the plays have been written and directed by Sahib Singh. May 25: Baat Suhe Fulan Di Based on two stories Victory and Once There Was a King by Rabindranath Tagore, the play is a beautiful amalgamation of music, dance, stage craft, costumes, tension, suspense, poetry and drama. May 26: Jungle Bolda Hai This play highlights the plight of tribesmen living in the central part of India. How the multinational companies are destroying their natural way of life for their own profit. It’s a hard-hitting revolutionary play. May 27: AadKuari Based on Rashpinder Rashim’s story, the play talks about our double standards as how we worship the virgin and at same time molest young kids. This is a story of a girl who gets raped by her uncle and then becomes a goddess. May 28: Ikko Raah Sawalarah This play is based on the story of farmers who are poor due to social injustice. May 29: Rang Tamasha This play narrates the life of a theatre person, how he draws inspiration and how he reacts to situations. — TNS (At PG Government College-46 from 6:45pm onwards)
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A treat fit for a nawab
In Chandigarh for a
food festival organised by Kava, the chef speaks at length about his experiences and adding the right quantities of masalas for lip-smacking cuisine. Cooking since the age of 15, Rasool got into his life-long passion when he was amazed at how the city food tasted. “I had never seen it before and the taste of it just floored me. That was the point I knew I wanted to cook,” he says, with the right dash of tehzeeb in his voice. Used to cooking in copper utensils of different sizes, the chef has also accustomed himself to using blenders. “Of course, the taste has changed. Earlier, there was one designated person who used to look after the grinding aspect of masalas,” he says. Being held in high esteem by several exotic hotels, Chef Rasool does not let go of his humility. “One of the prime reasons why I am still working in different locations and teaching students is because I never landed myself in an argument of any kind,” he shares. He narrates one incident with a doctor, when his dish had a cockroach. “Since I was responsible, I was called in. I told them that the metthi had broken off and looked like a cockroach and put it in my mouth. Izzat bachane ke liye kabhi kabhi jhoot bolna partha hai,” he says. Aware of the fact that the real essence of Awadhi food is somewhere lost, Chef Rasool is certain if made today with the exact proportions, it will solve many digestive problems. “It used to be very heavy. Once eaten, there is no need for the next meal,” he says. For him, the mark of respect comes from the feedback. People praising his food and he is charged with energy to give extra colours in his biryani. (On at Kava, Sector 26 till June 12) vasudha@tribunemail.com
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Actor’s delight
Tell us something about your serial Upanishad Ganga? The serial is based on the teachings of Upanishads. This serial will bring the audience closer to the Indian philosophy and explain them the Vedas and Upanishads in the form of stories. The serial is a treasure trove of rare stories. The stories are old yet presented in a new format. What is your character in this serial? I am playing 33 different characters in this serial. So you will see me in the avatar of Lord Krishna, Lord Indra, Emperor Ashoka and many more. Thirty three characters in one serial is quiet a score, so which one of these is your favourite character? All the characters that I played were quite exciting but for some reason I liked playing Lord Indra. May be, because I could relate to him. His is more human than a God can be, with his own share of virtues and vices. How was the experience of working in it? It was the most enriching experience of my career. I have grown as an actor with this serial. And working with director like Dr Dwivedi was yet another pleasurable experience for me. Did you prepare a lot for the kind of characters you portrayed? Preparations weren’t much except what I usually do for every character that I play. Since I believe in method acting, I research before portraying any character. For me creative satisfaction is very important. I get into the skin of the character so as to make it more alive and realistic. Tell us about your forthcoming projects. I worked with RGV in Department. I am also working in the Telugu remake of Dabbang and in a movie called Alaap directed by a debutant director Manish Manikpuri.
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All drama, no action
In the upcoming episodes of Star Plus’ Sajda, Mahendra Pratap takes Aaliya to the graveyard and shows her the grave of his dead wife, Julia. He says that he loved her very much and she is not there with her anymore now. Later he enters Julia’s room and thanks her for sending Mehreen in her life.
going far: A still from Mahadev
Waheeda ticks on Tabu
Back on the track
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The year ahead
If your birthday is May 24...
Bad decisions of the past will lead to frustration and mental turmoil. You may be stranded and unable to decide what to do next seek help from others. Losses are likely if you invest without seeking advice. Friends will be supportive but minor problems due to difference of opinion with your spouse may spoil peace at home. Personal relationships are sensitive and vulnerable. Your innate trust and goodwill might begin to cross the line into gullibility as year begins. This is a time to ask more questions, get more information and generally think twice (or more). This kind of critical thinking keeps you in
good stead. You will be able to count on rich pickings and excellent occasions for new contacts and collaborations. Students will do well in their studies and their hard work will bring them good results. Those appearing for competitions will see their names in the merit list. They will subsequently get admissions to the college or university of their choice. A fun gathering scheduled may end up being more work or expense than you planned on and the only way to fix it will be to throw money at it. The employed will have a successful run in their jobs and career. Youngsters working in the field of media, hospitality industry and marketing will excel in their jobs and can look forward to promotion with salary hike. Friends can be most helpful in solving problems and avoiding hassle. Call upon the best of your buddies, especially in errands, domestic challenges and for loaned items to save having to buy. Those who may have put on weight and wish to lose extra pounds will begin their workout in earnest and get good results. Love and friendship deepens, even if your social circle grows smaller and richer. Married will be loved more wisely by their spouse. Avoid high calorie diet to keep yourself fit and fine. Watch your tendency to live and to spend too much on entertainment. People close to you will create problems at personal level. Love pangs will not make you sleep, you will have a hidden adversary who will love to prove you wrong. Mood: Vulnerable. Compatible signs: Cancer, Scorpio. Lucky colours: Beige, Maroon. Lucky days: Monday and Wednesday. Lucky numbers: 5, 19, 20 25, 50. Lucky gem: Diamond – Gemstone of Venus. Lucky flower: Lavender.
2012-13 may not prove a very lucky year due to his unfavorable period but 2013 does belong to him owing to number 6.
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Astro Turf
ARIES: Go steady. Do not try to hurry jobs that require meticulous handling. Arguments may arise with your partner. Consult experts when cash questions come up. Your mood is likely to turn to romance and fantasy. Tarot message: Use your instinct to get into the top circle of power. Lucky colour: Red. Magic number: 64
TAURUS: You draw The Emperor, so the day brings all comforts. Spare time for family and children. Women patients; do not neglect any gynecological problem. It should be much easier for you to meet challenges today. Tarot message: Set the pleasant set of events into motion. Lucky colour: Turquoise. Magic number: 53 GEMINI: An irritating co-worker can push you to your limits. Practice deep breathing and you can maintain your composure and avoid a confrontation. Leave the rigorous pace and expectations of others . Tarot message: You must learn to accept responsibility for self and others. Lucky colour: Crimson. Magic number: 40 CANCER: Your card The Moon indicates an emotional setback. Stick to what you know and understand. Children, enjoy with your friends. Disagreement with a female family member will cause you trouble. Tarot message: Your determination to succeed will pay dividends. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 61 LEO: At work colleague steers you to a new direction. Love stars are behind the clouds. A small celebration at home is likely. Cheer up a patient and stay long enough for him or her to relax. Tarot message: Yet work could pose certain minor difficulties but don’t worry. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 26 VIRGO: Get cracking early. What you need now is energy. You must push yourself harder. This is not the right day for writing official letters. An irresistible attraction can override your common sense. Tarot message: Plan your life to avoid the in-built delays that come your way. Lucky colour: Mauve. Magic number: 47
LIBRA: Your card The Nine of Cups reveals inner strength and enthusiasm. Guys; do not take the risk on road. Drive carefully. Arguments may arise with your spouse or partner over money. Tarot message: Don’t forsake a new learning opportunity because of pride. Lucky colour: Rainbow pastels. Magic number: 65 SCORPIO: Your card Page of Pentacles promises a progressive day. Health problems will be taken care of. Personal plans are likely to progress without too much opposition. Issue over finances can upset one of your close relationships. Tarot message: Put emphasis on spiritual needs. Lucky colour: Saffron. Magic number: 50 SAGITTARIUS: Business will flourish between you and your associate. Attempt to improve your health will be successful. You need time to understand the changes that are taking place in your psyche. Your mind can wander on the job. Tarot message: Balance in all aspects is recommended. Lucky colour: Ebony. Magic number: 62 CAPRICORN: Entrepreneurs will go through a difficult period. The married ones or those in love will find the day exciting. Success in competitive sports is assured. A lot of energy will be expended on communication today. Tarot message: Do not transact in uncertain matters. Lucky colour: Aqua blue. Magic number: 45 AQUARIUS: A sexual relationship might have reached its climax. Talk about this honestly and you may be surprised at the positive outcome. Today you can become conscious of your fears. Tarot message: Be articulate to prevent people from making their own conclusions. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 32 PISCES: Your boss/partner supports you. Do not allow yourself to be talked into an erratic move. Avoid eating out. Working toward your goals may seem a little harder than usual. Don’t panic. Tarot message: Don’t be dismissive of advice from youngsters. Lucky colour: Sea green. Magic number: 52
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Vanity suddenly has gained life-threatening proportions — an actor can do without the basic acting skills, but the lack of basic dressing sense won’t make an actor a star! No wonder Vidya Balan's 'horribly gone wrong' red carpet appearances have been talked about more than her acting exploits. No wonder Sonam Kapoor is a hit without delivering a single hit film! "Styling has become important and stylists indispensable," says Rajit Kumra, famous Bollywood stylist. His client list comprises names such as that of Sushmita Sen to begin with; Aditi Rao Hydari, Chitrangada Singh, Shraddha Kapoor and more.
Punjabi connection
The luxury segment in India is growing with each passing day. Upping the benchmark, Montblanc, now stepping as a diversified luxury brand, brings forth its Grace Kelly collection. Karl Handke, president of the Western Hemisphere, Montblanc, on his recent visit to India, shares his ideology of the latest collection with us.
While British sensation Katrina Kaif continues to rule Bollywood, it was just the other week that we heard of the half-German-half-Indian International supermodel Evelyn Sharma entering Bollywood with three films already under her belt.
A more important factor that pulls him to Chandigarh is the fashion-conscious people. “People in this city are open to experimenting with their dressing sense.”
If you thought shorts were only beach wear, think again! They have smoothly entered the category of daily wear and so far are the hottest casual wear, but raising the bar this season, we also have the sheer skirts and layered maxi skirts. “Sheer skirts are working their way up,” says Geet Sethi, training consultant head from Espirit. She adds, “Sheer and layered maxi skirt trend was showcased at the Spring 2011 collection also, but it is gaining ground now with Hollywood actors like Katy Perry and Olivia Palermo taking it to the mainstream.” Well, though this trend is worth a try but it’s entirely up to you to push the risqué quotient. If you want to play safe, team it up with leggings, mini skirt or pants.
If you follow this chef’s recipe, any food made with love will never be tasteless. Irked by the lack of hard work put in cooking today, Chef Gulam Rasool, misses the time when one took time and care to make authentic Awadhi food.
Known for playing negative roles in films like Department, Gulal, Rakht Charitra, Abhimanyu Singh is opposite to what he portrays on screen. He hasn’t been much on the small screen of late but will return to TV with his serial Upanishad Ganga, produced by Chinmaya Mission and directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, currently on air on DD. Abhimanyu talks about his ventures.
Mahadev on DVDs now
In the final leg of NDTV’s popular chat show Issi Ka Naam Zindagi, Raveena asked Waheeda whom does she think is close to the her in terms of acting. Without thinking, Waheeda responded giving out Tabu’s name. However, this is not the only thing that they spoke about on the show. Anupam Kher also shared his opinion on the way Bollywood industry has grown over the years in various ways. Ranjeet, Kader Khan and Asha Parekh also were glad to share their stories.
Not guilty!
Rajesh Roshan (originally Rajesh Roshan Lal Nagrath born May 24,1955) the son of music composer Roshan and brother of film director and actor Rakesh Roshan. He is also uncle to actor Hrithik Roshan, will join you in birthday celebrations. Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Koi... Mil Gaya and Krrish, are some memorable films in which he composed. Rajesh Roshan delivered several hit music scores pairing with his brother Rakesh, who had emerged as a director of great stature.