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Larger-than-life frame
Showman, a title or a way of living — the man is every bit the word; completely bringing out the real meaning in his frames. Whether it is about giving the film industry a new face, literally every season, or creating music that is as big as the heroes or doing a peek-a-boo appearance in his films, Subash Ghai and his creations are every bit a showman's job!
Dressed in black, looking intently at the audio visual that plays a bit of his upcoming project Kaanchi, snapshots of the success of Whistling Woods International and the successful years of his production house Mukta Arts, Subash Ghai feels he has just arrived and that means there is loads he has to do now. The showman spins his story. I learnt acting… He smiles, bringing the mike closer to his lips. He wants each one to hear it out. "I did my B.Com from the Panjab University, Chandigarh, and was a gold medalist in dramatics. So, to live up to the title I moved to Mumbai," he says. An acting course followed by roles in a few films, script-writing and selling six successful scripts to the best directors to direction and production, Subash Ghai went through the drill to do what he wanted to do — tell stories. "I learnt acting so that I could know and teach my actors how to act." Eighteen movies out of which 14 were blockbusters surely indicates the showman has been a good teacher! Haven't worked with Big B… My films are not about stars; in fact it is the stars that follow a character. I totally believe in following the demands of the script and the character. I could be the only director who hasn't worked with Big B, but not because I did not want to. He is a brilliant star, but my films and characters never had that kind of requirement. I am of the opinion that all stars act the same in the films; it is the character that makes a star. My next… It took me one-and-a-half-years to work on the script of Kaanchi, which is a story of an innocent girl; how she is thrown into a hard situation and how she encounters it. Now, for the most important part, I have come looking for the girl who will be playing Kaanchi. A medium-height, fair girl with good vocals is what I am looking for. I might hopefully find it in North India or Himachal Pradesh. I just finalised the villain and actor Mithun Chakravarthy, who has an important role. Dilip Kumar, my inspiration… He is the man who has taught me how to live with dignity and work with excellence. No matter what happens to my films, I have learnt taking failures in my stride from him. I miss old films… I do miss the old school
of film-making, 150 musicians playing live and so many things. I miss that, but at the same time it is nice to see new film directors working on different subjects and grossing huge amounts. Let's see who crosses the 200-crore figure! Allegations are part… I have been in the industry for 40 years, I have made films with dignity and allegations (read casting couch) are something that come with my work. jasmine@tribunemail.com (Auditions at INIFD, Sector 8, Chandigarh, on December 1)
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Spaced out
There have been no negotiations with space and volume, and they have maintained the delicate balance between rooted and futuristic. For Bobby Mukherji, the principal architect for the upcoming The Lalit Chandigarh, the all-pervading Le Corbusier's influence, in fact, made things easy. "The coffee shop at the hotel has a big background inspired by the façade of the Secretariat. Then there are the little elements here and there, which reflect his lifestyle. There's a piece of him in every room through his characteristic furniture."
That's not where the French connect with the city and base with the roots ends. "Apart from the fact that whatever we did is our interpretation of what Le Corbusier did, we also kept in mind the relationship of Chandigarh with the environment. It had to be something they connect with, for example big spaces. The entire property has a museum like feel to it." With luxury spaces like Le Meridian, New Delhi, The Mariott, Jaipur, The Aamby Valley, and the Royal Orchid, Mumbai, sitting pretty in his resume, there's nothing much that remains to be done. "I feel Burj Khalifa is quite a future drawing, not to forget the ego trip that it proves to be. Then there's some amazing stuff happening at Shangai. For example Grand Hyatt, Shangai's lobby starts at the 86th floor." He rues, "Unfortunately, nothing great has happened in India after the Britishers left. All the architectural wonders that we boast of are happened in the distant past. Things like Taj Mahal, Red Fort et al." As for the property, he draws a comparison with other luxury spaces within the city. "It's grander in terms of volume and space." There have been hurdles of procurement though. "The only problem with places away from the main metros is that we have to literally import everything. We tried making this hotel as Indian as possible. Haven't used excessive imported materials, except for where they were indispensable. The lighting is all energy efficient." Then there's been an effort to keep things in sync with the evolving technology and ecology. "The most evolved clientele asks for eco-friendly options. Worldwide the trends are for simpler-looking and sleek-looking structures. Trends are nothing but a product of new technology. We have a lot of manmade materials now, instead of just wood and iron." Coming up is the world's first private jet airport at the Caribbean; a project that he calls, "interesting and challenging," in terms of concept and vision. "All the people in the world who have a private jet will be landing up there. So you can imagine what sort of an airport it will be." manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Dream role
All her life, Annie Gill had dreamt of nothing but acting and she is living her dream now. Playing Rano on Sony channel's new show Anaamika, this girl from Punjab shares excerpts from her journey so far.
"Rano's character is like me — friendly, carefree and lively. I am having fun playing the character on screen," says Annie, reflecting a moment later, "the only distinction probably is that while Rano is all emotions, I am bit practical as well." Anaamika, touted as a modern serial, has a hip Bebe (grandmother), who is regular with her status updates on Friendbook (guess derived from Facebook) and apparently also has a chudail, a very modern one at that! Annie spills the beans: "It's primarily a love story that also addresses something that we commonly refer to as buri nazar." This is Annie's first major serial; she has also done two South-Indian films and two reality shows Khatron Ke Khiladi and Zor Ka Jhatka as well as a couple of short films. Acting is where Annie wants to earn name and she is looking forward to serials, films and more. "You know I am the only girl from a Jatt Sikh family. I had to counter my father's initial skepticism to pursue my liking," says this actor, who got all support from her family once they were convinced of her sincerity towards her goal. Wouldn't soap saga compromise her chances at films? "No. As long is one is not caught in an image and delivers, the audiences appreciate," says an audacious Annie. mona@tribunemail.com
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Social calling
A genuine concern, a dream and a sincere wish to give back, all combined with a certain restlessness have contributed to the birth of the portal,
LudhianaCares.com.
Harpreet Soin, vice-president HSBC and president women’s forum of Ludhiana Management Association, puts it this way—“We realised that there were quite a few NGOs working in different spheres but there has been no common platform to share their experiences or to reach out to each other. Hence the concept of LudhianaCares came into being.” After a joint meeting with umpteen NGOs, it was decided to go hi-tech in social work and a virtual platform was made with LC having their own portal and Facebook page, which is adding on new issues and concerned Ludhianvis who are voicing their worries and suggesting remedies. Maneet Dewan, the techie wizard behind it, and who also spearheads the campaign of Goonj that collects clothing, accessories, household articles etc and sends them to various centres in the country. He is feeling quite upbeat about the fact that before LC came into being, he managed to send only one truck of goods but this time it was three trucks. “Such is the power gained by spreading the word technically,” opines Maneet who runs the regional centre for Punjab Technical University. While analysing the work of the local NGOs he found that they are working in isolation, lack recourses and are in need of more information. So whether it is a Nirdosh for the mentally challenged or Arpita for Thalessmic children or Salam Zindagi for blood donation, they all need to benefit mutually from one another by being in contact . Pradeep Malhotra, who is a distributor of Tata steels, goes a step further, “With LudhianaCares.com we can also look forward to making a disaster management plan to even help others both at national and international level.” He adds on a lighter note, “If we can be known for our high number of Mercedez Benz, we can also turn around the acumen to having a highest sense of CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility.” Touché! The worry which seems to be looming large is the awakening of civic sense and civic responsibility among the growing children. Manmeet Sodhia, owner of Ivana Institute for Fashion, has proposed taking LudhianaCares.com to schools, colleges and other institutes to harness the youth power. “It is time for us to give back and help the young Ludhianvis get a breath of fresh air, a pollution-free environment to grow in and feel proud of their city,” she says . Essentially this portal will form the vital link between the donor, the NGOs and the needy.
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Factory-made delight
Jigyasa Kapoor Chimra Infusing warmth into the winter evenings is the newly-opened The Great Kabab Factory (TGKF) in Sector 34. With a variety of kebabs, biryani and some of the restaurant’s signature dishes, the delicate yet flavoursome kebabs lend a new meaning to the otherwise hot and spicy alternatives in the name of kebab. The restaurant is a franchisee of the Indian specialty restaurant of Radisson Blu Hotels India that specialses in kababs. It has a no-fuss interior with a hint of royal blue and ceramic tiles on the walls and wrought iron and wood furniture for that leisure eating. As for food, there is no ala carte menu (except at the bar) so there’s a selection of kebabs and main course dishes for the day (vegetarian or non-vegetarian) that brings in an assortment of kebabs followed by main course comprising dals, biryani, some vegetables, Indian breads along with a curry dish and desserts. The menu changes everyday, but it’s the best-sellers like the galauti kebab that are permanent on the menu. Taking of kebabs, the origin can be traced back to the medieval Iranian soldiers who used their swords to grill meat over open fires but at present the dish involves more delicate handling than grilling over open fire. And it’s after a quick bite of salad that we begin savouring the variety in kebabs, the first being the galauti kebab. Served with an ulte tawe ka parantha and mint chutney, it’s the flavoursome bite that sets the course for a full meal that includes four types of kebabs for lunch and six for the dinner, including the dahi kebab, paneer tikka, bhuna alloo, a variety of fish, rada meat and more. Interestingly, the starters come with special breads like sweet bakarkhani and a special elachi flavoured bread. Well, biryanis too make for a good bite as it’s full of flavour and goes well with the TGKF signature dal. Completing the meal are desserts like gulab jamun, phirni, gajar ka halwa and paan kulfi; but it’s the paan ice-cream that is the show stealer. So, do not give it a miss. The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner. Meal for two: Rs 1,150 (lunch) and Rs 1,600 (dinner). Location: Sector 34, Chandigarh.
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On the neutral ground
Simmi Waraich I get very angry and lose control at times. I am a 38-year-old farmer. My father also used to get very angry and among all us brothers and sisters he used to single me out and often beat me when I was a child. I was naughty but his beatings were quite harsh. I have been divorced twice and have problems with my current marriage too. I get angry over small things, that is what my family tells me, like if my wife does not keep the kitchen clean etc. I do want to control this. Can I do something? — H Singh, chandigarh Children who face violence as children often grow up to repeat the same. It is a strange thing. Freud called it repetition compulsion when one repeats certain behaviours again and again despite knowing that they are wrong. It occurs so spontaneously that it takes time and effort to change it. Human behaviour is complex yet simple--if mistakes are followed by punishment they decrease but the punishment should be reasonable, like sending a child to bed 30 minutes early or restricting TV time that day or a run around the park etc. However, hitting a child is not an acceptable punishment. As it teaches them that hitting is okay. To change your own behaviour now, you may need to have a few sessions of anger management over 2-3 months. First, keep a list of what made you angry and why? Then see what else you could have done in the situation instead of what you did? For eg, even if your wife did not keep things clean, is it that important? People view things differently and she may have her own way of living. Could you talk to her more? Note what you say to her on a daily basis. Then analyse it--is your conversation mostly negative or critical? Try and change it to more neutral topics. You could see how others communicate with each other. Keep working on it--change does not happen overnight but practice and persistence pays off. I am in love with a South Indian boy. I am a Sikh girl. My parents have not accepted this and are against this. They say they will disown me if I get married. The boy I like was married before and is divorced. However, we have been working together in Bangalore since 2 years and I have met his parents too. I do not want to hurt my parents and so am waiting for them to agree. I am 29 years old and I do want to get married. I will not marry anyone else. At times I feel very hopeless. Harleen, Chadigarh In Indian society we are brought up to follow our parents and our immediate society’s wishes. Also, girls are more often brought up to believe that they should not answer back and should do as their parents say. While this may not be bad overall girls are also not given property rights and supposed to get married. Often this does not apply to the male children. You are 29 years of age. You do not need any other person to give you advice. You are an adult and probably know what to do already. See if you enjoy things with this man- Is he worth it and will he be worth it after 10 yrs? Is he adjustable? Keep talking to your parents- wait it out a little bit- If the man cares for you, he can wait a little bit. Be patient with your parents- talk about other things- see what is going on in their life and be there for them. A little understanding goes a long way- often we take parents for granted. (Waraich is a Chandigarh-based consultant psychiatrist)
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Full of suspense
Mona
When Aamir Khan comes back on silver screen after a long wait of three years, expectations are high. Reema Kagti’s Talaash, a suspense thriller, has Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Vivan Bhatena and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles. The film explores the underbelly of Mumbai in the backdrop of flesh trade. Here is how the audiences rate this film… Fabulous fare A beautiful film despite its heavy subject. Each actor lives up to its character in a fabulous way. Aamir, Rani, Kareena and Nawazuddin are brilliant on screen. Kamal, Law student Worth watch I was rather surprised with Talaash. I would call it a philosophical thriller. The films works on many levels and unites them all. Sukhpreet Singh, engineering student Niche audience It doesn’t come anywhere near 3 Idiots or Taare Zameen Par. A good film for those who are interested in this genre but not for the masses. Rahul Vats, class 12 student Class apart When one goes to see an Aamir Khan film, one has certain expectations in mind. Talaash certainly lives up to that. The plot, acting, background score make it a class apart. Uday Kumar, banker — As told to Mona
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Exotic slice
It’s a yummy start to the winter…Hotel ShivalikView is all set to usher December in good cheer by organising a four-day pizza festival starting from today.
The décor inside the coffee shop gels with the theme of the festival and has live music. The best, however, is that one can enjoy unlimited thin-crust gourmet pizzas by the slice and by the pie for Rs 150 per person (vegetarian) and Rs 175 per person (non-vegetarian). One can also opt for a combo meal at just Rs 150 for a vegetarian and Rs 175 for a non-vegetarian, respectively, which comprises three kathi rolls, one piece of gulab jamun and one Espresso coffee. “It is true value for money,” says the unit head Anurag Walia. “Our chefs have created imaginative and wickedly tempting exotic food,” he adds. What’s more, you can don a chef’s hat by trying your hand at making pizzas. So get ready for a treat, choose your flavour from traditional margarita, exotic veggies, chicken tikka or kathis that also offer healthy options like sprouts and that too without pinching your pocket! On till December 4. —
TNS
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Right cut
It’s an attempt at adding to the city’s already-crowded, ever-growing labels by offering couture, prêt and diffusion all under one roof. Anand Design Studio, Sector 7, brainchild of Damini Anand, promises vibrant styles, colours, fabrics…. replete with all the jargon of a design studio. For those who picture an ensemble that sounds like a colour-blocked distraction, there’s a breather. “If I’m using a very bright colour, I make it a point to co-ordinate it well with a lighter shade. For me the foreground and the background are very important.” For years now, the nearest metro Delhi hasn’t just been a preference for the city people, but rather a necessity. “I wanted to provide similar options to people here. Having grown up in Chandigarh, I know people’s tastes and preferences,” she shares, a pass-out of Pearl Academy of Fashion. “I would describe my designs as a fusion of different colours and believe in combining the prints to form an ensemble.” The studio stocks an assortment of items like jackets, sarees, lehengas, dress materials in velvet, sequins, raw silks, brocades, among others. She adds, “We forecast trends and then do our own designs. We also specialise in customised tailoring because the underlying philosophy is attention to every client’s needs and creating a signature apparel that reflects the clients personality.” She adds, “I design for the woman of today, who’s bold and can carry herself.” Nevertheless, age is no bar. “I’m fond of creativity and making people look good. From teens to 50-year-olds, everybody can be my client.” manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Full of Masti
Jasmine Singh
He has been singing for almost 16-17 years, but he is not in a hurry to cross any finish line. Punjabi singer and performer Ashok Masti mixes peppy beats and desi style, and is known for his electrifying masti type performances. Out with his latest work Over Nite, an album which according to him has a perfect blend of beats and romance, Masti says he doesn’t believe in numbers. It is quality that he chases in every work he picks up. We bring in unplugged masti by Ashok Masti I could only be a singer…. I wasn’t good at studies, besides I did not want to join my family business. Singing was the only way I could get out of my village Giddarbaha and stay in Chandigarh or Delhi. I think I knew I would be a singer, always. English, my biggest scare I guess almost 99.9 per cent of students in Punjab are scared of English and so was I. Ask us to speak to Obama and we can do that, but don’t ask us to study English! Singing and acting—one at a time I have been singing for so many years. Of course I see myself as a better singer. I am reading 2-3 movie scripts, and would be soon acting as well. I believe that singing and acting cannot be mixed. If I sing, then I do nothing else. When I would act, I would concentrate on it completely. Style check I am a total fitness freak. Any kind of attire looks good on a fit and healthy body. There is no point in spending nickels on Armani suit if you don’t have a well-toned body. I don’t know what ice-creams taste like! I am not a control freak, I eat everything in moderation to keep my mind and body healthy. I have not eaten an ice-cream ever. Fountainhead of inspiration I come from Giddarbaha, and I have grown up listening to Gurdas Maan. Other than him, I admire all old and new vocalist who have added something to the music scene. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mohd Rafi are some of the singers I have always admired. Best performance ever There are many but I can’t forget my performance at Vancouver five years ago when I performed in front of 17-18,000 people. Thereafter my performance at my own village Giddarbaha will always be the most memorable one.
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Smoking hot
In order to introduce something new to city palate, chefs at Hometel have brought delicacies from some 13 countries around the world. International Kebab Festival on at Terrace Grill has
special smoky treats on offer.
It took lots of research and unending hours at work for chefs Ashish Bali,
Bidesh and his team. “Finding the recipes for the fest and adapting them to
Indian tastebuds have been a long journey,” says Ashish. The toughest part
was, however, to source the ingredients that were not readily available in
Chandigarh. Persian grilled mushroom, falafel stuffed pita bread, iskender
kebab to joojeh chicken are some of the special treats of this sumptuous
spread. “We have here Kolkata’s famous roadside egg chicken roll as
well as Arabian delight. We have picked recipes from Arab, Iran,
Lebanon, Malta, Turkey, France, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Greece,
Kazakhstan, Poland and Mexico,” offers Ashish. Vegetarians have as
much choice as others, for the chef is a vegetarian too. While Arabian
delight, Arabian mix-spiced kebab rolled with roti is what we recommend,
do try kibbe with hummus, lamb with Labanese spices too. The kebabs come with salads, baghali polo, Iranian rice dish for veggies and zereshk polo, saffron chicken with rice. Do save some space for desserts like pistachio burna (an interesting vermicelli dish), lemon or chocolate cake and sugar-free baklava. Enjoy the food on the terrace at Rs 450 plus taxes for vegetarian and Rs 550 plus taxes for non-vegetarians.
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High Spirits
Let's celebrate Sangria Festival this December.
Ingredients
Crushed ice Instructions nIn a cocktail shaker pour fuel vodka, pineapple and cranberry juice add some ice cubes, shake and pour half of it in a wine glass, now add crushed ice and add 90 ml of Nine Hills wine, again add some crushed ice and top it with the remaining liquid in the cocktail shaker. Swizzle it and serve chilled. Garnish with pineapple flag. Cocktail tip: Always use fresh fruits for garnishing and splash some cold water during storage to your garnish to keep it fresh for long hours. (Mishra is a cocktail jockey) (Mishra is the owner of
CocktailJockey.com)
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star track
On World Compassion Day, Bollywood stars attended the function where the Indian chapter of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) was launched in the presence of Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama.
Raveena Tandon shared a picture of her with Him and her husband Anil Thadani together and tweeted: "Blessed by his holiness The Dalai Lama on Guru purab.. What an Amazing day!!His Holiness,with anil and me.. #blessed" The Tibetan spiritual leader also propounded the ideals of ahimsa and vegetarianism. "He's too cute..he is talking on compassion towards animals and then jokingly sez but his "relationship with mosquitoes is not good!!" Loses his tolerance as far as mosquitoes goes!!" Tandon added. Actress Sonam Kapoor, whose keeping a low-profile these days, was recently also spotted at Dalai Lama's convention, held on the occasion of World Compassion Day in Mumbai."It has been a joy to see @sonamakapoor grow into such a beautiful person. Her sense of affection is infectious.:)" actor Anupam Kher tweeted with a picture of him with her and her father Anil Kapoor. Riteish Deshmukh tweeted: "Blessed to listen to His Holiness Dalai Lama, at the event celebrating World Compassion Day. Classy, Elegant n thought provoking- Congrats @PritishNandy" FilmmaKker Pritish Nandy, who organised the event, wrote: "An afternoon with the Dalai Lama! There was so much joy and magic in the air. #WorldCompassionDay" Stars like Ayesha Takia Azmi, Anil and Sonam Kapoor were also present at the event.
Glam doll
Deepika Padukone has been declared the best dressed actress in Bollywood in an online survey. Be it Indian or Western she carries it with a lot of grace. She is one of the hottest and sexiest actresses Bollywood has.
Her great attitude and style can attract any body towards her. She is elegant and stylish and looks gorgeous in whatever she wears. Her dressing sense and her style position her above all. Her height and toned body complements all the dresses. Even if she wears simple tight fitting tee and jeans, she manages to look outstanding. It's her accessories which gives her a glamourous look. Even casuals and summery looking clothes make her look fabulous. She carries herself brilliantly. Her style statement is fantastic. She looks graceful in all the bold colors she wears. And last but not the least her subtle make up makes her look beautiful. She also looked smashing and sexy in Cocktail and got rave reviews for her performance. Deepika will be seen in Race 2, Raam Leela, Chennai Express and some more movies in 2012 and 2013.
Friendships gone Sour
In Bollywood and politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies. We take a look at friendships gone sour in recent times and what has come of them.
Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan: This is legendary now. They fought over a comment made by SRK about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (allegedly) and came to blows on Katrina Kaif's birthday in 2008. Neither of them will relent and talk to the other. They are happy in their own space and get annoyed when the media brings this up. Akshay Kumar and Farah and Shirish were thick and even though Tees Maar Khan failed, they collaborated on Joker. Akshay refused to promote the movie which bombed and probably did not like Farah reconnecting with Shah Rukh Khan. The couple and the actor are no longer on talking terms. Kajol and Yash Raj Films: Kajol was not invited to the premiere of Jab Tak Hai Jaan. One reason was that she supported her husband Ajay Devgn's film Son of Sardaar which clashed with Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Another part of the story is that she was miffed with YRF for charging Ajay a huge amount for a song when she did special appearances for free for them.
Shah Rukh Khan and
Arjun Rampal: Rumour has it that the former best pals are no longer on talking terms. The wives are besties still. Problems probably began when Arjun demanded a hefty fee for Ra.One and didn't bring it down.
Priyanka Chopra and
Shahid Kapur: These two became friends, then lovers, and had a passionate but volatile relationship. Then they broke up and could not stand each other but they shot Teri Meri Kahaani. Now they are professional and cordial with each other.
Irrfan Khan unplugged!
Basking in the rave reviews of Ang Lee's Life Of Pi, Irrfan Khan is one content actor. He talks about his passion for cinema, his future and more.
Twice over I had to re-shoot my scenes, but, that's right. I had to re-shoot my entire role in Life Of Pi. I'll tell you why 6-7 months after I finished shooting I got a call from Ang Lee saying we had to do some re-shooting. You see, Ang decided to change my co-star who plays the author Yann Martel. Initially we shot with Toby Maguire as Martel. But then after six months I think Ang felt Toby's image as Spideman was too strong. We needed an image-less actor to play Martel because he was a struggling writer and an actor with a strong image could be a hindrance. So Ang got Rafe Spall. When I went to LA to re-shoot I decided to do my entire role again instead of just re-shooting bits and pieces. I discussed it with Ang, and he was game. We both felt the dramatic impact of the story hinged on my scenes with Spall. Huge success The studio (Fox-Star) tells me they've earned much larger revenue worldwide than they expected. They felt a 20-million dollar opening would make it a safe bet. They got a 27-million dollar opening. Cool, no? That's quite an achievement for a film that has no parallel. Audiences are treated to an experience that is utterly unique. They could have rejected it. They chose to embrace the beauty of Ang Lee's vision. That's quite something. Tough task It isn't easy to tell a story where the characters are taken from a text. Ang had to be faithful to Yann Martel's novel. But he also had to be true to his own vision. In a film's climax you generally see action, drama, fights, tears and fireworks. In Life Of Pi audiences are subjected to philosophy in the climax. To condense the book into a two-hour film seemed impossible. Ang's mastery is evident in how he brings alive elements in the book without underlining any episode. Content actor Paan Singh Tomar and Life Of Pi have made me happy. I hope to get stories I want to do. That's my challenge and struggle as an actor. I'm in no hurry. The Indian film industry is changing rapidly. And I credit the audience for this change. Look at Paan Singh Tomar. It made a mark without much publicity. Paan Singh's story was yearning to be told. I am glad I was part of it. I need new challenges. I need to explore myself as an actor. Safe side I can't write! I need a writer who can formulate my thoughts. Until I find that alter ego I can't think of direction.
Getting intimate
Goodwill hunting
PS I Love You star Gerard Butler attended a special screening of his new film, Playing For Keeps, for ill children in Los Angeles.
The 43-year-old actor thrilled young patients from Children's Hospital by walking the red carpet at a benefit premiere for his new comedy film, reported a publication online. The Scottish actor mixed with poor kids, and delighted one young patient by lifting her up and giving her a hug. Butler's co-stars Dennis Quaid and James Tupper also met the kids at the special event. Playing For Keeps, directed by Gabriele Muccino, also stars Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film is about a former professional athlete who, with a weak past, tries to redeem himself by coaching his son's soccer team. It is set to be released on December 7. —PTI
Age’s just a number
Actor Jude Law says he welcomes the opportunity to age with grace. The Anna Karenina star, who turns 40 in December, said it is nice that people have focused on his talent, rather than his good looks and tabloid life, reported a publication. "In a weird way, it's a kind of a relief to think, 'Oh, I know I'm not that young sort of pretty thing anymore'. It's quite nice talking about what it was like to be the young pretty thing, rather than being it," he said.
Law also says that he has not always chosen his roles as wisely as he should have, and he welcomed the opportunity to grow as an artist in the Joe Wright-directed film. In the flick, Law plays Anna's (Keira Knightley) highly controlling, duty-driven husband Karenina, who unlike the star's previous roles, is a no-sex-appeal kind of character. "Without sounding too pretentious, it's difficult to remember that it's an art form and you are, maybe, an artist and you have to make decisions on that level. I feel kind of more confident, more settled as a human being, more settled in my own skin. — PTI
A Christmas to remember
Singer-actress Selena Gomez has no plans to spend the Christmas holidays with boyfriend Justin Bieber and will instead relax with her family.
The 20-year-old Wizards of Waverly Place star, who is rumoured to have reconciled with Bieber following a brief split, is looking forward to taking some time out and indulging in her favourite foods, reported a publication. "I am going to go home. I want to go home, and sleep and eat a lot of food with my grandparents. It will be awesome," Gomez said. When specifically asked about spending Christmas with Bieber, she replied, "No, no - that will just be me this year." Gomez and Bieber, whose relationship was reported to be on the rocks during the past month, were spotted having dinner together earlier this week. "They were flirting and looked so happy together. When it came time to leave, Justin held her hand and looked very protective of her. It was sweet," a source said. —PTI Family time: Selena Gomez
Paris in Goa!
American socialite Paris Hilton says she felt 'blessed and magical' as she landed in Goa after a tiring journey from her country. "So happy! I am in paradise with @riverviiperi in a beautiful villa on the water. So peaceful here. Such a magical feeling. Feel so blessed," Hilton tweeted, after she arrived here to perform at the India Resort Fashion Week (IRFW) 2012, currently underway at Candolim beach in Goa.
Hilton would be DJ-ing tomorrow, the last day of the IRFW, which is a mix of fashion and music. The 31-year-old hotel heiress arrived in Goa a day ago at Vasco airport after a long flight via Dubai and Mumbai. "After a very long journey, we have finally arrived in Goa," she tweeted. She drove to the hotel and tweeted, "At our villa today chilling on the hammock with @rivervaiiperi. So peaceful and amp; relaxing." The socialite is also excited about the fashion week party, where she is the biggest celebrity name this year. This is not the first time that Hilton is visiting the country. Last year, she had launched the Fall-Winter designs of her handbags in Mumbai. —PTI
Top of the line
Queen of Pop Madonna's iconic conical corset has fetched over 30,000 pounds at an auction, more than double of the expected selling price.
The green silk costume, designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, sparked a bidding frenzy at the Christie's sale in south-west London and the final purchase price, including the buyer's premium, was 32,450 pounds. The pre-sale estimate for the garment was 15,000 pounds, reported a publication. The 54-year-old wore the outrageous garment to perform for three songs, including her hit Hanky Panky, on her 1990 Blond Ambition tour. A black Lycra two-piece that she wore to sing her hit Vogue went for 16,250 pounds. —PTI
Charity begins at Halloween!
Supermodel Heidi Klum will use her belated Halloween party to raise money for victims of super storm Sandy after cancelling the bash in the aftermath of the disaster.
The 39-year-old German beauty was due to host her annual event in New York City but she called off the party in the days after Sandy hit America's East Coast, reported a publication. Klum had said that she "didn't think it was right to dress up... and dance" when so many people had lost their homes. The bash will now take place at New York City venue Finale and will raise money for the Red Cross' Sandy relief scheme. —PTI
Don't understand the fuss about Oscars: Mira Nair
Indian born director Mira Nair says she does not understand the fuss about Indian filmmakers' obsession with winning an Oscar or making movies to win accolades from the West.
The 55-year-old filmmaker, whose first feature film Salaam Bombay (1988) won an Oscar nomination, says Indian movies shouldn't be made so that they are selected at the Oscars and we should back our own films. "I don't understand why India looks up to the Oscars. The Academy awards were set up for Americans, to give a pat on their back but somehow it has become a greater obsession here. "The sad part is the kind of disconnect we have in sending the kind of movies. Unless we establish the reach of better movies, things won't change. Audience is my Oscar," Mira said on the sidelines of the 43rd International Film Festival of India. The Asian premiere of her film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, was held at the festival's closing. It is based on the novel by Mohsin Hamid. "I was interested in making the movie when I first visited Pakistan. The movie tells the other side of the story post 9/11. We have heard the American version but not the other, so my aim was to tell everybody the story from a different perspective. It was a difficult project and took five years to make," she added. The film has premiered at various international film festivals but Mira says that showing the movie in her home country gives her ultimate satisfaction. "I have been to a lot of festivals – London, Toronto, Venice, Doha – but coming back to India and showing the movie here gives a sense of completeness. I am happy and excited to be here and am waiting for the reaction from people here." The movie stars Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber, Kiefer Sutherland, Om Puri and Shabana Azmi. —PTI
Halle Berry selling Hollywood home
Cloud Atlas star Halle Berry is selling the house where a brawl broke out between her fiance Olivier Martinez and ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry. The Hollywood Hills mansion has been listed for USD 15 million. The 46-year-old actress has approached a broker and the property has been given a pocket listing, meaning it is not advertised, reported a publication online.
The five bedroom Tuscan-style estate has a huge backyard, pool and a spa. It was previously sold to actor Frankie Muniz, who later sold the property on to Berry. Aubry and Berry, who split in 2010, have been at odds ever since she tried to convince a judge to allow her to move to France, where Martinez hails from, with four-year-old Nahla, a move which was recently blocked by the courts. Both men blame each other for the fight which broke out on Thanksgiving, as Aubry dropped his and Berry's daughter, Nahla off at his former partner's house.—
PTI
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chatter box
Kareena Kapoor will dance to the Fevicol song for the Saturday special episode. She will be unveiling her much awaited number Fevicol Se from Dabangg 2 along with Salman Khan for the first time ever on the stage of Bigg Boss Season 6. Salman is glad to have Kareena - his favourite Bollywood actress who will unveil the song of his movie on Bigg Boss 6.
Fevicol Se definitely seems to be this year's most awaited item number. The song has been in news for a long time now for being a master-blaster version of Munni from Dabangg 1. This will be Kareena's first item number post her marriage. After giving smash hits in Bodyguard, Salman and Kareena are back with a new hit song. The singer - Mamta Sharma, feels obliged to lend her voice to Kareena. So will this song steal the thunder of various item numbers like Katrina's Chikni Chameli, Malaika's Munni Badnam, and Kareena's own Chammak Challo.
Shikha's in love!
Shikha Singh who essays the role of Shahana in Life OK's Chabbis Barah is on cloud nine. The reason is her new found love on the sets of the show. It's not a co-star we are talking about but a small baby who is a part of the show. Shikha is so smitten by the baby that she spends a lot of her free time with the youngest member of the cast.
Says Shikha, "I love kids! I am extremely comfortable working with them and the baby on the sets is absolutely adorable. I love spending time with the baby. Kids are so innocent and oblivious to all problems." Now that's a cute relationship!
Yeh Rishta takes a leap
Rajan Shahi's Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai will
take a leap of five years next week. After four years the characters and set will have a new look with the kids Ananya, Varsha's daughter and Naksh, son of Akshara (Hina Khan) and Naitik (Karan Mehra) growing up. So watch out!
Mummy's day out
Sweet looking Shruti Ulfat who is currently starring in two television serials is excited about the variety of roles she is getting. She talks about how Sasuraal Genda Phool and how she is enjoying her new roles in Khamoshiyan and Junoon.
Two roles in two new shows... Yes what more can an actor ask for. I play a mother in both the shows but the outfits and mindset of both the women is different, which is great for me. It was a refreshing change to see you dressed in western wear in Khamoshiyan. I play an Indian an heart woman who dresses up in a modern way. I am enjoying myself as I am not clad in saris and not looking like a Christmas tree. It is a good change. In Junoon too, I have a different look as I play Mouni Roy's mom. I am dressed in chudiaar kurta and regular Indian wear. In both the shows the girls are searching for their roots and have you as the mother. What a coincidence! Yes it is. The concept might be similar but the stories aren't. The situation and treatment are very different. Is it good to have two shows back to back? It is fun and not stressful. I am not shooting 30 days a months. It is pretty well-balanced so what more can I ask for. The roles are different so I am having fun. You must be missing Sasuraal Genda Phool? I can never forget the show. We were all like family and we didn't have to 'act' to be a family.
Kaun Banega Crorepati completes 500 episodes!
Popular television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), which first aired in 2000, completed 500 episodes recently. The show also marked veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan's debut on the small-screen. That’s quite an achivement considering that the show has mainted its popularity throughout the time. Thanking his fans host Amitabh tweeted: "Oh ! And amidst all the rush I forgot to mention .. at last evenings KBC shoot, they came up and told me it was my 500th episode ! 500 th episode of KBC for me !! Gosh!! .. this is incredible! Never realised it had been so long ... thank you all for the love !!" KBC is based on the UK game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Big B hosted season 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, whereas Shah Rukh Khan hosted the third season. Wishing it all the best...
Starry night
Riding on the phenomenal success of last year's inaugural Star Parivaar Live event, the Star Network decided to bring it back to Birmingham. The top soap stars Arnav and Khushi from Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Do, Suraj and Sandhya from Diya Aur Baati, Kokilaben from Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Pratigya from Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya, stand-up comedian Sudesh Lehari and the music composer and singer duo 'Salim Sulaiman' received an overwhelming response from their UK fans and performed to a packed venue.
Commenting on the success of the Star Parivaar Live 2012 event, Rajan Singh - executive vice president Star International said, "This is an exciting opportunity for the fans to meet the top soap stars up close and personal and watch live performances from the top performing shows on Star Plus."
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The year ahead
If your birthday is December 1...
You suddenly think about someone you haven't seen for a long time. You have the distinct impression that something very important might happen to you if you don't make your contribution at an improvised meeting. Awareness of your mental and physical health arises now. You can enjoy inner and outer beauty if you make a consistent effort to take the very best care of yourself. Overwork is a temptation to be avoided, as is violence and anger. Conversations can be misleading. Bad news comes your way and might keep you off-balance for a few days. Try not to act rashly; though you may be tempted to take quick action, you're much better off slowing down and waiting to see how it all shapes up. You will tend to squander emotive and psychic energy when trying to keep under control a circumstance that seems to slip away from your hands. Calm down. Sometimes you need to take a few steps back before you can make that great leap forward. You are standing too close to the big picture to see the whole thing all at once. A discussion may help to calm down or end a recent problem or even illness. Emotional issues may require more patience than you were expecting to use. Increased aggression and energy is likely. Blessings from a mature person will steer you towards spirituality. You have money pouring in from all directions. You will be working towards an upcoming big event. Follow a diet of low calorie food and herbal teas. Try not to worry too much about a minor psychosomatic disorder. Meditation will also be helpful to keep your mind cool and calm. The thirst for excitement can be so strong that you lose a little bit of self-control. Impulsive words or actions could break down doors and connect you with someone who rocks your world. But carelessness might rub a sensitive partner the wrong way, so think twice to avoid saying something you'll regret. Mood: Emotional. Compatible signs: Virgo, Libra. Lucky colours: Brown, Yellow. Lucky days: Monday and Wednesday. Lucky numbers: 8, 13, 24, 40, 44.
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Astro turf
ARIES: A romantic mood can colour even the toughest situation with a rosy hue. Your ability to organize things will put you on the good side of your supervisor.
Tarot message: Plan your life to avoid the in-built delays that come your way. TAURUS: You draw the Ace of Pentacles; so you will begin the day with full of energy and confidence. People are drawn to you; but do not trust them. New ventures that are launched have a better chance of being a success. Tarot message: Bury an old quarrel and make a compromise. Lucky colour: Orange. GEMINI: This is a great day to get your ideas down on the paper and start planning your next project. Do not allow people to intrude your space if you need solitude. Good day for dealing with accounts. Tarot message: Be careful not to go into many directions at the same time. CANCER: Romance and creativity are highlighted. This is also the perfect time for initialing a new personal project. Family matters will keep you busy in the evening. Misunderstanding must be guarded against. Tarot message: Listen to your voice of wisdom. LEO: The Queen of Swords puts the spotlight on fashion, appearance and charm. Romance is on the cards. A curious mind could take you into some interesting places today. VIRGO: Your card Five of Swords reveals physical activity and pleasure. Do not start this day by being extravagant. You must cut down on spending. Loved ones will not be very helpful. Tarot message: Think before you open your mouth to avoid misunderstandings. LIBRA: It is the time to begin new projects, contracts. Make important calls, write SCORPIO: Business dealings can fall due to lack of details and information. Confusion over priorities can also cause havoc in the work-place. Not such a sensitive day for financial matters. Tarot message: Keep in mind that perseverance is the key to success. SAGITTARIUS: A career switch can mean having to move out of state or overseas and upsetting the applecart at home. You may spend quite a lot of time on planning. Business matters are well under control. Tarot message: Beware of depleting your energy or resources on others. Lucky colour: Sea green. CAPRICORN: Stick to the beaten track today and look after yourself. At the end of the day you will be proud of what you have achieved and could be rewarded with a bonus. Long-term investments may AQUARIUS: A special person in your life might seem aloof and hard to communicate with. Let them know you respect their space. Students: light reading will keep you busy today. Health problem can be satisfactorily treated. Tarot message: Arrogance and pride will not be rewarded. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 40 PISCES:Your card The Devils boosts your enthusiasm and self-confidence. Take this time to expand your social circle, develop new talents; learn new hobbies or plan a vacation. Tarot message: Versatility and a quicksilver mind will bail you out of a tricky situation. Lucky
colour: golden |
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You share your birthday with Udit Narayan (December 1, 1955, Bhardah, Nepal), who has sung more than 15,000 songs in 30 different languages. He bagged the Padma Shri Award in 2009. In Mumbai, he was trained in Indian classical music at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He got break in 1980 in the Hindi film Unees Bees. However, real success came in 1988 with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Due to negative Venus in his horoscope, Udit Narayan's family life may remain disturbed from time to time but career-wise, he will shine in the music world.