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The big stage
When you are jostling, pushing around, shouting, trying hard to see people on the stage, there are two responses that you finally land up with — ‘the show is awesome’ or ‘what a crappy show’. And when it is Shubhra
Bhardwaj, the founder-director of Ferriswheel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, the former is
most likely!
For this enterpreneur, it is the audiences’ reaction that makes all the difference. With almost two decades of experience in the field of sports, performing arts and entertainment, Shubhra has provided creative services in more than 30 countries ranging from mid-sized festivals to largescale events. If you talk about her forte — it is organising largescale public events. “I have directed several stage shows, festivals and open-air stadium events in India as well as abroad. I always trust my gut feeling and depend on bang-on coordination among my team members,” she talks with the confidence that comes after pulling up big shows, faltering here and there once in a while, going with it full throttle and in the end seeing audiences have a great time! Shubhra feels a good live event can be pulled up only if there is coordination between the team. “My job begins with what the event is aimed at, understanding what the client wants and how it can be achieved on a large scale,” adds this entrepreneur who also has popular stage productions such as Ticket To Bollywood and Bollywood Through The Ages, and promotes cultural exchange through festivals such as ‘Worldfest’ and ‘Glimpses Of India’. “My idea about any event or show is always grand. I lay a lot of emphasis on high-end technology,” shares Shubhra, who ensures that an event flows without any glitch. She laughs, “Talk about sixth sense here. That is how it goes sometimes.” jasmine@tribunemail.com
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On the edge, Virtually
A 27-year-old walks into office at 11 in the morning and logs in to his e-mail; then opens search engine Google’s home page and quickly types the words ‘pain in left, lower abdomen’. Google throws up 10,200,000 results in 0.21 seconds. The day starts on a note of worry – the pain could mean anything from Crohns disease to ectopic pregnancy.
Many like this 27-year-old are hooked on to the Internet for finding answers to questions life throws at you. Googling about a particular course in a prestigious university abroad certainly gives one an edge over others, but many times we end up getting into an overdrive in cyber space. For Aman Sharma, a marketing executive from Sector 40, Chandigarh, a simple muscle pull became a source of further pain, for he chose to visit the virtual world rather than a general practitioner. “I had a muscle pull and as I Googled, I found thousands of ways to cure it on various sites. I tried and it was only after a week of self-treatment that I saw doctor; the correct therapy started then,” he says, rather uncomfortable in divulging details that he considers have been foolish. These two belong to the much larger community of cybercondriacs. The term refers to any ‘individual that reads symptoms of illnesses on the Internet and begins to believe they're sick’. From blood pressure, difficulty in sleeping to conceiving troubles, Internet provides a ready doctor albeit a difficult one. Believing that you are suffering from an illness just because you show some of its symptoms may be a cyberchondriac’s trouble, but there are a few who found much help not only in terms of information but also support in the virtual world. When Munish Kumar, a rather introvert 25-year-old was left paralysed following a few headaches, the family went into a tizzy. Doctor’s diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) went beyond anyone’s comprehension. A year-and-a-half on, Munish is under treatment. His brother Manoj has found many answers in his online research and even support. “It was a tough phase. There was uncertainty and ambiguity on treatment option, but I am glad I got directions on the Internet. Consoling comments from total strangers in the same situation as my brother made me take stock of the situation,” says Manoj. Well, the cyber world provides ample opportunities and it’s totally up to us to make them constructive
or otherwise. mona@tribunemail.com
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A shot at fashion
Actress and model Gurleen Chopra re-launched La Opulence, a unisex salon and a leading name in hair styling, professional beauty care and skin treatments on Sunday.
It has now become Tricity’s first salon to provide with all beauty solutions and spa along with an exclusive fashion photography studio by Sunny Dhiman. AS Virk, director, Link Enterprises, the company which runs La Opulence salons says, “This is the first time in Chandigarh when any salon has come up with such out of box idea. La Opulence has collaborated with ace fashion photographer Sunny Dhiman, whose studio will be on the same floor where the salon and spa services are provided. I am quite confident that people of Tricity will appreciate this experiment.” Rajesh Bajaj, director, Link Enterpises, says, “With changing trends people of Chandigarh are becoming more conscious about their looks and not only that, they even want to flaunt it. That is why we have come with this initiative of bringing fashion photography and beauty services on a same platform. Portfolios now days are not just limited to modelling world only but people are going for photo shoots to look good on even passport size photos and social networking sites like Facebook too.” On the occasion, actress Gurleen Chopra shared, “Chandigarh is a beautiful city and people here are not only generous, but also have a good sense of fashion and dressing. I am very happy to see this one of a kind salon- cum-fashion studio.” —
TNS
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Explore creativity
Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi is inviting entries in painting, sculpture, graphics, photography, drawing and installation for participation in its Annual Art Exhibition 2012 to be held in December or January 2013. There will be three awards of Rs 50,000 each for professional category and five awards of Rs 15,000 each for student category. Artists only from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali are eligible for participation in this exhibition.
Those who wish to participate but not compete, can enter in the ‘not for competition’ section. For ‘competition section’ minimum two original art works along with three photographs of other art works are required. The entry forms are available free of cost at the Akademi office in Sector 34 A, State Library, with Ravinder Sharma, Government College of Art-10, Bheem Malhotra, Chandigarh College of Architecture-12, Madan Lal, assistant professor, NIIFT, B 68 Industrial Area, Phase 7,
Mohali. —TNS
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Star track
Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen has marriage on her mind and says it's her dream to have a lavish Christian style wedding.
"It is my childhood dream to have a Christian style wedding, just like the fairy tales. I always imagine myself as a bride who will wear a gown, with a long train and veil. I find the idea of walking down the aisle and then being handed to the groom by the father very romantic," Sushmita said. The 36-year-old former Miss Universe, who has two adopted daughters Renee and Alishah, said she is now thinking seriously about getting married. "I will also do a traditional Indian wedding since my father wants me to. Right now I am seriously thinking of marriage. May be something will happen next year," she added. — PTI
Veena’s wish-list
Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who is on her maiden visit to Bihar, has expressed her desire to work in regional Bhojpuri films. Malik, 28, who had been to Patna to inaugurate a restaurant, said she has seen and heard a lot about Bhojpuri films and would love to work in a movie made in the state's regional dialect.
"I have seen a lot of Bhojpuri films online and read about it... If given a chance I would love to work in a Bhojpuri film," she said. She also compared Patna with Rawalpindi, where she was born in 1984. "Patna resembles Rawalpindi. After visiting Patna the memory of Rawalpindi came to my mind at once," she said. The Pakistani actress said RJD President and former Railway minister Lalu Prasad was quite popular in her country and she had met him
in the past. Veena will be seen next in Kannada version of The Dirty Picture. —
PTI
Tearful adieu
Several Bollywood celebrities today reached the Yash Raj Studios at suburban Andheri to pay their last respects to iconic filmmaker Yash Chopra, who passed away here following multiple organ failure.
Chopra, 80, was admitted to Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra on October 13 after being diagnosed with dengue. He passed away at 5.30 pm yesterday. The filmmaker's body, covered with white flowers has been kept on stage number 3 of the studio since morning for people to come and pay homage. A huge black and white photo of the director is also there with several candles lit around it. Son Aditya, Uday and actress Rani Mukerji were seen standing in front of the stage with moist eyes, while the family members and those from film fraternity were seen sitting behind. A string of celebrities were seen entering the studio from both the front and back gates, guarded by policemen and security personnel owing to the large number of fans that have gathered outside. Among biggies who turned up at the studio include Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Shahid with father Pankaj Kapoor and mother Supriya Pathak, Parineeti Chopra, Sridevi with husband Boney Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Kajol with mother Tanuja and sister Tannisha, Tabu, Kabir Khan with wife Mini, Prem Chopra, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Vipul Shah, Abbas Mastan, Ramesh Sippy, Gulzar, Subhash Ghai, Shyam Benegal, Saroj Khan, David Dhawan, Resul Pukkotty, Imran Khan and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, son Ranbir, Randhir Kapoor, Archana Puran Singh and husband Parmeet Sethi, Punit Malhotra and Varun Dhawan were also seen offering tributes to the 'King of Romance'. Chopra's body was brought yesterday from Lilavati hospital to his residence in Juhu and then taken to the YRF studio of which he is the founder. His last public appearance was at Amitabh Bachchan's 70th birthday bash on October 11 with wife Pamela. — PTI
Not fair
Singer Cher is upset after her unfinished comeback single leaked online. The Believe hitmaker is gearing up to release her first album in 11-years, and fans were thrilled when a short snippet of lead track Woman's World made its way onto the Internet and was played in a club in Michigan.
However, Cher said that the song was leaked without her permission, and is angry that it has been heard before it was completed. In a series of posts on her Twitter page, she writes, "I'm upset about the leak. It's not the end of the world, but don't understand how club in Michigan played min (minute) of it? It's not final mix! "Vocal sounds different, well there is more but I'm not going to stress, it's just it's my first CD in a gazzion years (sic) & I've worked so hard on it. Wanted it to come out like it is now," she said. "I have 2 real problems with this leak! First I wanted people to hear final mix & we haven't done video! Also record company had changed roll out date to January). They wanted to have videos finished, world promo tour etc to coincide," she added. —
PTI
Crying over spilled champagne
Actress Emma Roberts was taken aback when one of her fans spilled champagne over her at a recent party.
The We're The Millers actress was attending the Emma sunglasses launch for Vogue Eyewear in New York when an overeager fellow partygoer tripped over a light and soaked Roberts as she tried to get close to the star. "Emma was nearly knocked over and was soaked in champagne. She quickly brushed it off before regaining her composure. And soon posed for pictures," said a source. Well, stardom comes at a price for sure. — IANS
Role call
Actor Kunal Kapoor, who has been a part of movies like Rang De Basanti and Don 2, says he never planned to do supporting roles in big films. "The roles that I have done so far are distinctively different from each other and that was more important for me. It was not that I had planned doing supporting roles in big films and then move on to big roles.
"The criteria for doing a film is whether the script and people that I am working with are interesting or not. Whatever work I have done till now, I have had the chance to work with interesting people in good films," Kunal said in an interview. Kunal is now looking forward to the release of his upcoming film Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. "I think every film is a risk. It is a very interesting and exciting time that we are living in as the audience is accepting all kinds of films. Small films are doing well today. I don't think there is any better time to take risks than now. If you are not taking risks then you end up doing boring work," he said. Luv Shuv... is about a Punjabi family, the Khuranas, who run a dhaba and take pride in their food, especially the family recipe Chicken Khurana. "It is not a typical comedy. In 70s and 80s, Hrishikesh Mukherjee used to make films where humour used to come from situations, characters and the story. Our attempt is to do that again," he said. Kunal plays the role of a Punjabi boy in the movie opposite Huma Qureshi of Gangs of Wasseypur fame. The film will hit theatres on November 2.
—PTI
Candyman
Nick Cannon has revealed that he and his wife Mariah Carey have a candy room in their Los Angeles house and he likes spending most of his time there. The America’s Got Talent host, who has 18-month-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with Carey, confessed that he and the Hero hitmaker created a candy room in their Los Angeles home — complete with photo booths and tubs full of their favourite treats. “We have a nice side of the house where you can’t sit on the couches,” he told a publication. “I rarely go over there, I spend time here . The kids go crazy for lollipops,” he added. — ANI
Change of track
Singer Kelly Osbourne says she considered committing suicide when her constant partying, drinking and drug-taking went out of control. "I woke up one day and wished I was dead," Osbourne said. "I had therapy and basically just grew up," she added.
—IANS
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Chatter box
Farah ready to Farah Khan returns to TV once again as a judge of a reality show. She will be seen co-judging reality show India’s Got Talent with Karan Johar and Kirron Kher. Read on…
With your entry, Maliaka Arora Khan will leave the show. Why? Well the channel wanted me to be on the show from start to finish but I was busy with some film promotions so they roped in Maliaka to judge the audition rounds and I am here to judge the rest. You have lost weight… Yes, I have. And I am looking forward to showing off some new clothes. I usually wear kurtis but now I will be seen in dresses. I am very excited about it. What is the tricky part of judging? It is easy to judge as I stick to the rule. Whether I have liked a performance or not, I don’t beat around the bush. The tough part about being a judge is to be interesting and say different things each time. Especially if you are the third judge to give your comments and by then everything which has to be said has been said, so what do you say. You are glib, so did you ever get stuck? Many times. After Karan and Kiron have finished talking I wonder what to say. I also feel the lesser you talk the more impact your statement has. Instead of rambling I would rather give the contestants a heartfelt hug. At times to give audiences a good package, do you think you have to sacrifice talent? Not in a show like India’s Got Talent where talent matters but if it was an entertainment show then you need to have some entertainment value. Reality shows are usually interactive and about contestants, so you need some fun but I have never sidelined talent for entertainment.flaunt her new look
A reason to smile
Actor Kushal Tandon has a big smile on his face because of the overwhelming surprises he recently received from fans. In the first, a bunch of teenagers flew in from Bangalore specially to meet him and gifted him a hundred roses each. Kushal graciously accepted them.
He was overwhelmed with this gesture and had the fans stay and ended the shoot early so he could spend time with them. The next surprise was a bit baffling. Kushal received a beautifully wrapped iPad 3 with an anonymous note of appreciation. Expressing his gratitude, says Kushal, "I'm truly blessed to have such loving and supportive fans. I'd like to thank each one of them. It's their support that matters to me." He has decided to return this expensive gift to the sender once he identifies him. He spent the day trying to figure out, while his co-actors Karan and Nia joked that his list of secret admirers is growing, Kushal feels otherwise. He loves his fans and would wish for them to not spend so extravagantly. Instead he would feel happier if they contributed this money to a cause.
Cultural invasion
Project-ing the right image
Popular actor Manav Gohil, who plays Anirudh Jaitley in The Buddy Project, had to shed a few kilograms for the role. He also saw many films based on teacher-student relationship for reference. "I have seen films like Dead Poet Society and Hip Hip Hooray. I have taken definitely few pointers from this film as Prof Junglee is not like any other characters people have seen.” |
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Astro turf
ARIES: Check newspaper and Internet guides for what is on in your area. You win over one enemy or adversary. Family life is charged with tension. Financially, the first half of the day is rather expensive. TAURUS: Those who are spiritually inclined or want to stay calm are likely to search of solitude. Love life is passing through a rough phase. The married will buy a piece of jewellery for their spouse. Tarot message: Be positive and think carefully before taking action. Lucky
colour: Turquoise. Magic number: 42 GEMINI: Your card “The Universe” favours good progress in your profession and business. Be wary of a situation where it will be easy to make a mistake in haste. Distant affairs will be
favourable. CANCER: You card The Moon reveals a romantic interest. Fortune can smile on you from the least expected sources. Don’t rely on luck alone. Health problem can be satisfactorily treated. Tarot message: Don’t be too certain about obtaining a clearance. LEO: An unexpected bonus will appear in your pay-check. Buy the right outfit for your sports or exercise
programme. Dress up to make a great impression on employers. Enjoy being noticed and acknowledged. Tarot message: Follow the familiar path. VIRGO: Fresh strategies are likely, but initially they may be somewhat hit-and-miss. A household task can be done in record time. Speculation will be unwise. You will feel great with renewed energy. LIBRA: You will be popular with both the sexes today. Boring routine jobs can be made more bearable through teamwork. Stress may be building up, especially if financial issues are weighing on your mind. Tarot message: Focus on better to mitigate the bitter. SCORPIO: Many of you will scurry to be on time, frantically trying to complete all the tasks on the ‘to-do’ list before the day is out. Make extra efforts to conclude pending projects. Concentrate on recovery of old dues. Tarot message: Wait and watch; impatience will lead to failure. Lucky
colour: Cream. SAGITTARIUS: Caring conversations and heart-to-heart talks flow easily. Health problem can be successfully handled. This is a good day for both buying and selling property. CAPRICORN: A burst of domestic enthusiasm can sweep into cleaning and decorating your home. Senior bureaucrats should focus on secret files and documents. It is a good day for travel. Tarot message: You need to cultivate understanding and humility. Lucky
colour: Ebony. AQUARIUS: Differences of opinion within the family could reach a boiling point. A stubborn response on your part won’t help. It is a bright day for intellectuals. Tarot message: If you are tempted to travel overseas, don’t waste money by financing the trip yourself. Lucky
colour: Saffron. PISCES: If you are not okay about a relationship, finances or career issues, take positive action rather than crying about it. The employed will have to work overtime. Keep a low profile and bide your time. |
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The year ahead
If your birthday is October 23...
This year, new duties could mean working in a new department that isn't half as pleasant as your previous one. For the small difference in pay, you are starting to wonder whether it is worth it. The intention was for you to work your way to a better department, but somehow you seem to have taken a backward step. If you aren't able to get your old job back, you will seriously consider looking for a new employer. Let the sleeping dogs lie; some problems will sort themselves out on their own. If it's going to upset someone, why bring up a subject that is better left out of conversations? Think about the consequences of your actions. You need to take control of yourself, your life and your future by acknowledging that no one can force you to do anything you don't want to. Ultimately you're in-charge of what you do. An unexpected encounter is likely. Do not go on the first impression. Try to understand what is hidden under the external veil. Try to avoid dangers and you will obtain long-term success. The emphasis is on your personal life at the moment and it increases further. You'll feel almost invincible at times and determined to make your mark whenever possible. Getting derailed is pretty much possible - take it in your stride, do what has to be done and then get right back on track. If this doesn't sound like the aspects of work that ignite your passion and make you love what you do, inspiration, vision and transformation are favoured. The strength will be your forte and you'll have no problem finishing all your tasks. This will make you feel satisfied and cheerful. Do not let a scarecrow divert you from your chosen path! If you deal with your fears directly, you can easily brush aside all your worries. When you tackle the big problem, your opponents will start running. You can win much power and respect. Despite all difficulties, a marked improvement in financial resources is indicated. Financial gains are imminent through speculation also, provided you are certain about where to put your money. Your health might experience ups and downs; therefore take care of your diet. Success in sports and other competitions is indicated. Logic may be your strength, but it could also be a barrier to love. No one's interested in theories and concepts about how relationships should work. Just give your brain a rest and listen to your heart. Mood: Helpful. Compatible signs: Sagittarius, Leo. Lucky colours: Purple, Teal. Lucky days: Tuesday and Sunday. Lucky numbers: 9, 14, 22, 34, 41.
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You share your birthday with Bollywood actress Perizaad Zorabian (October 23, 1973). Perizaad was educated in New York City and made her film debut with Nagesh Kukunoor's movie Bollywood Calling. She has acted in N. Chandra's Breaking News; a romantic comedy Kabhi Up Kabhi Down with Sanjay Suri and Highway 203 with Kay Kay Menon.