The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

Pursuit of dreams
Mandy Takhar left her quiet, peaceful life in the UK to chase stardom…
Mona

Big break: Mandy Takhar

Mandy Takhar, the UK born Punjabi actress, is super excited about her upcoming film Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22. She giggles as she names the film and how the title has been misjudged, mispronounced…

“Bai is for brother in Punjabi and it’s fun when people say it in so many different ways,” she laughs. The film in question has raised high hopes for Mandy, who left her quiet, peaceful, regular life in the UK to pursue her filmy dream.

With Amrinder Gill and Honey Singh for co-stars, Mandy assures, it is music that is going to be the USP of the film, “Right now, we are finishing the last minute shoot of a song which is just awesome. The music is going to rock you.”

With one Hindi film Bumboo, and two Punjabi ones Ekam - Son of Soil and Mirza - The Untold Story, to her credit so far, Mandy is happy exploring Hindi, Punjabi as well as Tamil film industry. With no star connection, no references, she landed in the city of dreams in 2009 and has been gainfully employed ever since.

“I call myself the Google Queen. When I came to Mumbai, I knew absolutely no one in the industry. I Googled the agents, auditions and found work,” says the resolute girl, adding, “No short cuts.”

It had not been easy though. “I knew how India is like, its culture, for I am a Punjabi but in no way I was ready for the hustle bustle. I clutched onto the car seat as the driver took me on my maiden drive. All the while, not being able to make sense of rikshas, not stopping at the red lights and what could beggars be doing right in the middle of the roads,” she recalls. But over the years, she has got so used to all this, that she finds her hometown, Wolverhampton too quiet.

Happy to have found a foothold, here in India, Mandy aspires to better her work. Her parents, who were too anxious to let her pursue her call, are relaxed now. “I am on a battle to prove self. Hope Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22 takes my journey forward,” says Mandy who is looking forward to its release in the coming month!

mona@tribunemail.com

TREND SETTER
Shades of fashion

Abhinav Jain. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Many aspects go into the making of a trendsetter but one common denominator is the correct attitude which highlights the inherent style of the individual. Such a stance always gets noticed, dress and apparel notwithstanding. A student of International Business, Abhinav Jain looks for subtle elegance…..

Your sense of style?

Wearing the right colour combinations and bringing out the suave look with sober undertones is my sense of style.

Latest addition to your treasure of clothing or accessories?

My shirts from the house of Burberry.

Brand crazy or street pick-up?

I am totally a brand person for they look good and last too!

Who is your style icon?

David Beckham for his impeccable style.

Who do you think is the worst-dressed celebrity?

Can’t think of anybody for it is a question of a personal style.

Which look would your prefer – sporty, chic or glamorous?

Glamorous for me!

One fashion trend that goes beyond your comprehension…

Wearing different colours in shocking hues really bugs me!

Your take on accessories?

Besides a classy watch and belt I love to own a variety of shades!

Given the choice which designer you would like to be dressed by?

I would go by my own instinct!

What gives you a high on the confidence level?

The appreciating eye and a compliment or two make me feel good about myself!

--As told to Poonam Bindra

Master Chef
Fire up the grill
Vishvesh Khanna

The gourmand may go in for a variety of global cuisine but nothing beats our good old traditional food. The succulent tandoori chicken was the hot favourite at the Foodies Barbecue Meet in Ludhiana recently.

Method

Make incisions with a sharp knife on the chicken breast, legs and thighs. Apply a mixture of one teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder, one tablespoon lemon juice and salt over the chicken and set aside for half an hour. For the marinade, tie up yogurt in a piece of muslin and hang over a bowl for fifteen to twenty minutes. Remove the thick yogurt into another bowl. Add the remaining Kashmiri red chilli powder, salt, ginger paste, garlic paste, remaining lemon juice, garam masala powder and mustard oil. Rub this mixture over the chicken and marinate for three to four hours in a refrigerator. Skew the chicken and cook in a moderately hot tandoor or barbeque. Paste chicken with a little butter and cook for another four minutes. (Khanna is a Ludhiana-based culinary expert)

(As told to Poonam Bindra)

Tandoori chicken

Ingredients

Chicken (whole) 800 gm

Kashmiri red chilli powder 2 teaspoons

Lemon juice 3 tablespoons

Salt to taste

Yogurt 1 cup

Ginger paste 2 tablespoons

Garlic paste 2 tablespoons

Garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon

Mustard oil 2 tablespoons

Butter to taste

Chaat masala 1/2 teaspoon

Onion cut into rings as required

Lemon, cut into wedges as required

stress buster
Find your way…
renee singh

Stress comes in various forms from many areas of life and stress relief comes in many forms too. Some people have one favourite way of handling their stress.

Stress relief plan

An important first step is to have one or two quick stress relief strategies that can help you relax your physiology or de-stress your mind. You must also learn to reverse your body’s stress response so that you can think clearly and avoid the negative effects of stress.

Try these following simple strategies to de-stress and watch yourself ease and flow.

Breathing exercises

One of the most popular ways of calming down quickly is breathing. They can be done by anyone at any time without too much formal training and little or no expense.

Guided imagery

It is actually easier than simple meditation as you flow with the images. Play natural sounds as background to help you promote your experience.

Visualisation works

Visualise yourself doing the tasks you are trying to master so that you can improve your performance.

Self hypnosis

This enables you to directly connect with your sub conscious mind to enhance your abilities to help you give up bad habits more easily, feel less pain and more effectively develop healthier habits.

Try exercise

This helps decrease stress hormones like cortisol and increase endorphins, your body’s ‘feel good’ chemicals, giving your mood a natural upswing.

Distract mind

Physical activity takes your mind off your problems, it either redirects it on the activity at hand or gets you into a Zen like state.

Progressive muscle relaxation

It is a technique you can learn. With some practice you can acquire the skill to relax all of the muscles in your body quickly thereby releasing tension from stress. PMR helps you to reverse your body’s stress response quickly.

Mini meditation

This brings so many wonderful benefits including resilience against future stressors. Meditation should be kept simple. Five minutes of meditation makes all the difference to your stressful life.

Aromatherapy works

Studies have shown that certain types of aromatherapy can be effective for stress relief. It is the easiest and best way as it is passive stress relief. You can continue with your work and chores while this therapy keeps working on you.

Good laugh

Laughter is the best medicine is truly well said. Laughter connects people is a social support and thus good for stress relief. Maintaining a sense of humour can relieve stress in certain ways. Keep an open mind.

(Singh is a Chandigarh-based psychotherapist)

Kristen Stewart, Ben Affleck to star in Focus

Twilight star Kristen Stewart has confirmed the rumours that she will be starring opposite Ben Affleck in a comedy titled Focus. The 22-year-old actress has entered talks to appear in the Warner Bros production as an inexperienced con artist who hooks up with the more seasoned Affleck, reported the Huffington Post.

"I can confirm that rumour. It's a comedy. I'm really excited about it. We start shooting in April," she said. The film will be written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who previously teamed up on Crazy, Stupid, Love. Stewart recently finished a world tour promoting Breaking Dawn 2, the fifth and final installment in the Twilight series, which turned her into a global superstar.

She is now making the awards-circuit rounds in support of her next film, On the Road, an adaptation of the famous Jack Kerouac novel, due out on December 21. —PTI

In memory of Mercy

Lost battle: Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian's snow-white kitten Mercy, which was a gift from rapper beau Kanye West, three months back, has died from "a cancer-like virus often associated with breeding." The reality star shared the sad news on her blog, saying that she was heartbroken, reported a publication.

"It is with deep sadness that I have to tell you all that my kitten, Mercy, has passed away. My heart is completely broken," she said. Kardashian found out she's allergic to cat after she got Mercy. "I had never lived with a cat before and so I had no idea that I was allergic." The kitten was then given to her sister Khloe's assistant who just lost her own cat. A couple of weeks later, Mercy got very sick due to "a stomach problem that we weren't aware of." "Her stomach had filled with fluid and the doctor said she had a rare stomach cancer and that there was nothing we could do for her.

"Poor little Mercy died the very next day. It broke not only my heart that little Mercy died at only four months old, but Sydney's too," the 32-year-old TV star concluded.

"Mercy was a gentle and loving kitten and we are all going to miss her so much. Thanks to Sydney for making Mercy's life, one filled with love." — PTI

the ‘in’ side
Placement theory
Sukhmani

A collection can be anything from shells to matchboxes, dolls or genuine antiques, and the flair with which you display your treasures is what will make them even more interesting for others to see. Do not be afraid to use all the vertical space available.

Tabletops can only hold so much without looking cluttered. If you tend to collect smaller antiques, then custom shelving is a great way to showcase your pieces or frame them. A collection of antique keys would look great framed rather than in a shelf.

Use a curio cabinet to display small antiques but make sure you don’t stuff them all. Keep the size and colour in mind while grouping items. To add visual interest, vary the heights in the grouping. Mix large and small pieces, using small pedestals or stands to elevate objects.

Remember that odd numbers look more pleasing to the eye than even numbers. So place your items in odd numbers.

Create depth by alternating pieces from back to front instead of placing them in a straight line. You might try placing three objects in a triangular shape with the tallest pieces in back. Depending on the number of items in your collection, you can create multiple triangles, overlapping them as necessary.

Don’t display everything you have at one time. Keep rotating your antiques every few months.

Don’t be afraid to put old with new. You can actually group a modern sofa with two period chairs. This provides a beautiful contrast.

Group similar objects together. If you have a few antiques from a particular period, try putting them all together in one place. Avoid keeping unrelated items together.

Lighting is very important to highlight your collection. Use track lights, spot lights, cabinet lights or even antique lamps and chandeliers to draw attention to your antiques. Shadows cast from the object can add to or subtract from its beauty, so evaluate your lighting well. You may even consider using a special coloured wall to compliment and highlight the collection.

Don't let the backdrop interfere with your display. Busy wallpaper, for example, would distract your attention from the object you're trying to highlight. Most often, a soft, solid color serves best as a background, though a bold color is in order if the object is pale.

Ephemera or paper collectables like stamps, old maps, labels, tickets etc. can be framed. Remember to use acid-free materials to preserve them and hang them away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.

Always maintain the theme of the room. Putting Chinese pottery in a French country style room will look completely out of place.

If your expensive pottery and vases are scattered around the house, make sure they are kept on sturdy tables and away from heavy traffic areas.

(Sukhmani is a Chandigarh-based interior and landscape designer)

Women-centric
Jaya Daronde depicts a woman’s emotions on canvas
Ashima Batish

Being a professor at Kurukshetra University has helped Jaya Daronde understand the life of women in small towns. The same is exactly depicted in her works exhibited at the Art Portfolio, Sector 9. Instead of making paintings on how women are deprived of their social rights, she has given shape to their emotions. “That I feel is a far more important issue. Even in the so-called liberal society, a woman doesn’t feel free enough to express her feelings for a man. She keeps her attraction towards the opposite sex suppressed.”

She sites the example that it’s only a man who approaches a woman in India to build a relationship. “If a woman does that, her character is questioned,” says Jaya, whose works mostly are oil on canvas.

The colours she has used for making paintings are in tandem with the theme, Women in Society. “I used lighter hues of pink, blue, orange, green, purple… the sober shades that define the women of India.”

Besides colours, the elements she has put on canvas also suggest what women naturally prefer. “There are flowers and bubbles. Also, I have used a lot of tattoo motifs, which represent the girls in big cities, whom small town girls look up to as style icons.”

Also put up at the exhibition are her Ganesha series. Though Ganesha has been a favourite subject for most artists, Jaya says she has attempted to give the subject a new feel. “I have used geometric shapes to make Ganesha figures, which makes my work different from others.” It’s the eyes of Ganesha she has highlighted in her paintings. “I have used embellishments to highlight them.” The price range of her works begins from Rs 10,000 and goes up till Rs 75,0000.

On till December 15.

Fit ‘n’ fine

Karan Chhabra

Television actor Karan Chhabra shares his fitness mantra and eating habits with us…

My workout

I normally like to dance as it keeps me fit and flexible. I go to gymnasium every alternate day for about 2 hours. I mostly do strength and stamina training and practice parkour, a training discipline.

I love fruits

My breakfast is usually oats with milk and boiled eggs. I keep my lunch light because heavy food makes me sluggish. For dinner, I have vegetables and juices. I also love fruits and I eat them throughout the day. I avoid rice and oily food.

No stress

Go to the gymnasium, eat well and live well. Most importantly, do not stress yourself over anything. Also, an eight hour sleep helps remove the unnecessary stress. This my mantra.

STAR TRACK
The creative call

Hrithik Roshan works for passion and creativity, not money. He was offered nearly Rs 20 crore by an international cell phone brand for an advert but he turned it down because he was not happy with the creative concept of it. He did not budge. He is a perfectionist.

Goodwill hunting: Hrithik Roshan

Best foot forward

Aditi Rao Hydari absolutely loves and cannot resist buying shoes! She has 200 pairs and carries several pairs while traveling and then buys some more when she is abroad. She enjoys the fact that she can go on buying shoes and accessories endlessly. Shoes take up most of the space in her cupboard.

Shoe stopper: Aditi Rao Hydari

Be negative!

Prashant Narayanan got rave reviews for his negative turn in Murder 2. He is playing the baddie yet again in a movie called Cigarette Ki Tarah. He likes playing the villain and does not mind the stereotype. His next film is a romantic one called Main Nahi Aana.

Two for one

Priyanka Chopra is already endorsing a cosmetic brand and now Deepika Padukone has joined her as the brand ambassador for the same brand. They might even do commercials together. PC has not been replaced by DP; they both will be ambassadors alongside each other.

Well settled: Priyanka Chopra

Life is a party

Ameesha Patel's life is one big holiday and she rarely stays at home. She is going to Paris, one of her favourite places to shop. She will shoot her home production Desi Magic, in Istanbul and Punjab, once she takes a break from her glitzy, jet-setting lifestyle.

To & fro: Ameesha Patel

Divine intervention

Manisha Koirala is undergoing surgery next week and she is sure that she will recover with all the prayers and good wishes of her fans and loved ones. She is sure that she will make a splendid recovery from cancer. Unfortunately, she is the latest to join the string of celebrities , afflicted with cancer.
Holy spirit: Manisha Koirala

Adventure trail

Farhan Akhtar and his wife Adhuna Akhtar love adventure and recently went for a skydiving event in Lonavla, Maharashtra and had a great time there. They were promoting the event.

Dare devil: Farhan Akhtar with wife Adhuna

chatter box
Here we go

Holiday Time: Manav Gohil

Manav Gohil better known as Anirudh Jaitely of Channel V’s The Buddy Project is all set to take a 15 day vacation to Australia with his family. This will also be his baby daughter Zahra’s first international trip. “I would be taking a short break from The Buddy Project as I have to meet my elder brother who stays in Australia. His wife has given birth to a baby girl. So, the first week will be all about socialising for Shweta (Kawatra), Zahra and me, post which we will have fun time,” says Manav.

He further goes on to add, “Since my brother stays in Melbourne we will stay with them and later we will shift to Gold Coast. I am planning to take up some adventure sports like sky diving and more.” Manav plans to leave for his vacation by the end of December and has already informed his production team about it.

God’s grace

After the huge success of Imagine TV's Chandragupta Maurya and Life OK's Devo Ke Dev Mahadev, we hear that the owner of Spice Telecom, BK Modi is planning to start his own production house named Buddha Films. The production house is gearing up for a television series on Buddha. The casting for this show is on and they are yet to decide on the actor for the lead role.

Not fair

Television actress Kritika Kamra finally broke her silence on her breakup with her ex-boyfriend Karan Kundra. Kamra is upset with the latest episode of reality show The Serial on Channel V.

The show that is based on the true lives of television celebrities and the latest episode focuses on Gumrah host Karan’s relationship with Kritika. However, she denied being a part of the reality show. Reacting to the episode, she tweeted: “I'm clarifying yet again.

I'm not a part of "the serial". U r not gonna see anything more than d same 4 shots, my body double and fake voice. I don't wanna tell my side of the story because its not just a story for me..it never was!” Kamra, who was recently voted as 19th sexiest female in Asia is seen as Dr Nidhi in popular TV show Kuch Toh Log Kahenge.

Meet the shopaholic

Not many know but Angad Hasija is a shopaholic. He loves shopping and also encourages his wife to shop. He admits that he can shop the entire day without taking a break. He likes to pick his clothes carefully and his favourite colour is red when it comes to shirts and t-shirts. Believe it or not, he has more than 50 pairs of denims and 110 underwears. Too much information is it!

Colour me red: Angad Hasija

Bromance!

Rishabh Sinha, who is presently seen in Qubool Hai, is in awe of his co-star and on screen brother Karan Singh Grover. The two share a great camaraderie on the sets. They are often seen cracking jokes and hanging out together. Rishabh admits that he is in awe of Karan’s personality and physique. Karan, on the other hand, helps him as he is a newcomer.

TWO TO TANGO: Rishabh Sinha & Karan Singh Grover

Overweight…no problem

Comedian Bharti Singh, who is often seen making fun of her weight, says that her weight never really created problems for her. In fact, she has been motivated to prove others wrong through her dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. She says that weight doesn’t matter as long as you are talented. She even admits that if god grants her one wish, she would want to be as thin as Katrina Kaif.
Plum issue: Bharti Singh

These fans are no fun

Harshad & Additi Gupta

Both actors and producers like fan following because they give the shows the much-needed TRPs. Not only this, fans also help in making the shows popular. However, after a point, they get unbearable.

And nobody knows this better than the television queen Ekta Kapoor. In order to get roles in the Balaji’s shows, fans of two of her actors namely Harshad Chopda and Additi Gupta have been spamming Ekta for almost five years now. This irked the producer so much that she has finally decided to never cast them in any of her shows.

In fact, on Wednesday, she put up a status on her Facebook page that read, “dear harshad aditi fans, I dnt knw if u guys wl get this msg but it’s imperative I somehow reach u guys! It’s been 5 years u guys hv hounded me!

On a high!
Hookah, sharab, daaru and other songs on inebriation and intoxication seem to work well in Bollywood. While it’s not a very healthy influence but you can’t escape the growing trend of such songs. Here is a list of some hits

Catch-phrase

Hookah Bar from Khiladi 786: Himesh's composition featuring Akshay and Asin is a big hit. The song has a very catchy phrase. The video is quite lively too.

Word power: A still from the song Hookah Bar

The after effects

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tuu from Ek Main Aur Ekk Tuu: The movie was shot in Las Vegas and the lead pair, played by Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan, gets drunk and gets married. The title song was a big hit. So much so that it was played at every party.

Item check list

Chikni Chameli from Agneepath: The video shows hot and sizzling Katrina entertaining men who are drinking and smoking and stuff like that. The choreography and the video show her drinking too.

Audio visual: Katrina Kaif in the song

Slow and steady

Daaru desi from Cocktail: The laidback friendship song was the surprise hit of the movie. The video features and captures the lives of Meera, Veronica and Gautam. The lyrics are, “Chadhi mujhe yaari teri aisi jaise daaru desi.” The song grows on you.

Surprise element: A still from the song

No holds barred

Main Sharabi from Cocktail: This song by Yo Yo Honey Singh is a rage and shows Deepika dancing with abandon in a club. You can't help but dance to this number! The lyrics are hilarious too!

Astro turf
P Khurrana

ARIES: Keep your eyes open. Someone could be out to pull a fast one on you. Be alert while dealing with property matters. Go to bed early. Don’t let dogmatism close your mind to the varied possibilities. Tarot message: Do not expect too much from others. Lucky colour: White. Magic number: 52.

TAURUS: Your mate might feel that you have been devoting too much time to the outside interests. An optimistic and compassionate turn of mind will create a passionate aura. Tarot message: Do not swing away from the course that you have charted for yourself. Lucky colour: Sea green. Magic number: 26.

GEMINI: You might have some difficulty in controlling your emotions. Consider getting involved in charitable work. Agreements can be successfully negotiated. Work behind the scenes today. Tarot message: Take one step at a time. Lucky colour: Purple. Magic number: 55.

CANCER: This is not time for grabbing centre stage. Try to improve your overall financial situation. Consider your course of action seriously before jumping into anything new and untried. Tarot message: Make compromises outside and come to terms with yourself. Lucky colour: Golden yellow. Magic number: 46.

LEO: Your financial picture will improve. Business matters are under control. Overstress can affect health. A former friend might turn up at your doorstep and have some exciting stories to tell. Tarot message: Don’t do anything on the cost of your health. Lucky colour: Jade. Magic number: 29.

VIRGO: No need to make any important move. The conditions are too weak to contemplate on fresh operations. You should not be too critical of your co-workers. A manicure can make you feel like a million dollars. Tarot message: Don’t reveal your plan of action to anyone. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 27.

LIBRA: Aim at teamwork. Do your job seriously. Be careful while using electricity or operating machinery. A change of home or job is possible. Students: focus on hobbies. Do not take risk for quick gains. Tarot message: You shall prevent a lot of trouble by taking timely action. Lucky colour: Deep red. Magic number: 35.

SCORPIO: Do not give into lethargy. Emotional people may change their mind. Deception from opposite sex is on the cards. You may already be having trouble making your monthly payments, so don’t add to this debt. Tarot message: Don’t reveal your plans to your competitors. Lucky colour: Ebony. Magic number: 27.

SAGITTARIUS: An early morning disturbance will give you a chance to catch up with some housework. Renovation can progress well, if you have help from your friends. An argumentative neighbour might be annoying. Tarot message: You will receive a useful tip at the stock exchange. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 44.

CAPRICORN: The day is going to be rather slow; plan ahead. Take advantage of other people’s experience. Family will be much better company than friends this evening. Focus on meditation or yoga. Tarot message: Dare to accomplish tasks. Lucky colour: Bottle green. Magic number: 32.

AQUARIUS: A financial matter that has been delayed should move forward now. There should be no special problems to deal with at home. Self-control and determination to achieve put you in a promising situation at work. Tarot message: Don't make hasty decisions. Lucky colour: Deep red. Magic number: 41.

PISCES: Business will move smoothly. Hobbies are occupying. Scholars: read a good book at bed time. You can finally feel your self-esteem rising, especially if you have been spending the day with the older relatives. Tarot message: Lack of confidence can leave you in losses. Lucky colour: Forest green. Magic number: 43.

The year ahead
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is December 10...

chances of your recovering from physical illness are high, which will enable you to participate in sports competition. Now, instead of just sitting around get involved in something, this will improve your earning power. If you have pressure on your mind, talk to your relatives or close friends as it would take the burden off your head. You must convey your message to your sweetheart as it might be late tomorrow. Don't mix business with pleasure. You need to take extra care of your luggage if you are travelling.

A bit of privacy should help you think through the bigger issues. Change of plan and misunderstandings can be expected. Try to cast aside your anxiety, avoid fights and focus on what is essential. Those born before 1970 will feel satisfied with their results. Students will get admission in the institutions of their choice. You must control your emotions. When the situation requires use your head more than your heart.

Monitor spending and handling of money carefully, especially bank balances, overdrafts, late payments and missed bills. Charge if you must or try to borrow or substitute. This 2013 is not financially good for some of you. You may have to spend a lot. So, it would be beneficial

for you to make sustained efforts to control your expenditure. Friends can be helpful but not unless you inform them of what is going on.

Mood: Gullible at times

Compatible signs: Gemini, Cancer

Lucky colours: Khaki, Olive Green

Lucky days: Wednesday and Thursday.

Lucky numbers: 9, 12, 31, 45, 60

Anjana Sukhani (December 10, 1978, Jaipur) has acted in a Cadbury Dairy Milk advertisement with Amitabh Bachchan .She has acted in the long awaited release Golmaal Returns. She made an impression in the multi-starrer Salaam-E-Ishq. Anjana will be more in spiritualism than in films.