Absolute resolve!
It's that time again, when one analyses how many resolutions of the past year were completed and then make a set of new ones for the coming year. Here's checking out with some well-known people from the region
Jasmine Singh

Three cheers! We successfully managed to surpass the Doomsday prediction. This 2013 as we all wish for good health and prosperity, it's time to make a quick list of must-do things for the rest of the year. And it's called the resolution time! As Charles M Sheldon said — good resolutions are like babies crying in church; they should be carried out immediately. A cross-section of celebrities in Chandigarh share resolutions they haven't been able to cope up with and the ones they have baked fresh for 2013.

Family first

Gurpreet Ghuggi, Punjabi actorMy kids plan to hire a father because I keep promising them a family vacation every year, which never materialises.

Family time: I plan to devote more time to my family. I am starting my first production in Feburary under my own production house Round Square Production. This is the first Punjabi movie presented by Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar.

Gurpreet Ghuggi, Punjabi actor

Run along

Gagandeep Singh, general manger, Park PlazaEach year I prepare a set of ideas that can make my job more creative. In 2013, I have a set of creative ideas for the hotel, which means more live cooking is on the cards.

Run a mile: I ran a half marathon and each year I prepare for a marathon, this year I am going to fulfill this resolution.

Gagandeep Singh, general manger, Park Plaza

Fitness focus

Amit Prasher, Punjabi film directorEating healthy and staying fit is something that I have always thought of, almost every year. But with my movie Tu Mera 22, Main Tera 22 slated for January release, I have no time for myself although I do understand that I need to take out time for fitness.

Best of cinema: Making more and more movies, touching different genres; working on the best of cameras is something I resolve as a director.

Amit Prasher, Punjabi film director

Justice first

Suresh Arora, DGP-cum-Chief director, VB, PunjabThis time I would like to dedicate my resolution to people who have been denied justice.

Forum for people: I want to create a forum where young boys and girls can share their problems and take advice. I would be following up with the action that would be required. Thirty years in the service, I know certain grey areas of our work, but the idea is to provide justice to the common man.

Suresh Arora, DGP-cum-Chief director, VB, Punjab

Time out

Monica, Monica's Puddings and PiesOn a lighter note, losing weight is one resolve that is carried forward from one year to the other without successful execution.

Chill pill: My profession leaves absolutely no time for me. So, this year, I plan to give more time to myself; read and relax. Also, I strongly believe in making people happy through my gestures and if in any way I can do it through my profession, nothing like it.

Monica, Monica's Puddings and Pies

Play on

Sahib Singh, Writer and theatre directorI have a habit of leaving things to the last minute; a habit I need to work upon and completely curb.

Mobile theatre: For 2013, I plan to convert all the plays into books. I want to make Punjabi theatre technically sound in terms of writing and direction. In the coming year, I can raise the level of Punjabi theatre to the national level. I want to take it to more and more people.

Sahib Singh, Writer and theatre director

Get, set, go…
The New Year has dawned and here are a few suggestions to keep you busy in the first month…
Manpriya Singh

There are two ways to take it — brand new beginning, fresh start, first month or end of the party, end of the vacations, end of the holiday, end of the story and that's about it! Apart from shuttling like a cock between the two schools of thought, there's a lot you can do to make merry in January.

Light it up

It's the first month and we've just got started. A breather for a couple of days and it's time to warm up to the ultimate festival of bonfires — Lohri. Gather some logwoods, call friends over, play music in the background, sit back and enjoy a quiet retreat.

"What I like about Lohri celebrations is that it comes minus the maddening New Year's frenzy," shrugs Stuti Bansal, student, Panjab University. Those on campus can also look forward to some official celebrations with their friends.

Watch out

A still from Matru Ki Bijlee Ka MandolaFor some reason, January seems like a favourite child of the box-office. While the list of Hollywood releases runs long and exhaustive, the Bollywood cinema doesn't lag behind either. Apart from the ensemble cast in Race 2 and the much-awaited Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, there's Table 21, Dehradun Diary and Inkaar. Keep a movie date each Friday, throughout the month.

Telly tale

No celebrating and dancing on the table tops or sulking and battling withdrawal symptoms. The holiday stress is long over; curl up among the sheets and enjoy the chill, all the while catching up on some serious television. Sports lovers already have things planned with the "players favourite" Australian Open. For those who can't catch the action live in Melbourne, there's the television screen to keep you updated from January 14 to 27.

Wedding bells

We've entered the New Year and the wedding bells resume. Kickstart the wedding season by attending your friend's wedding, friend's friend's wedding and then there's that distant cousin! This is India; get people married, get clicked, wear colourful wedding costumes and have fun!

Sale spree

Spend and save at the same time. All the shopaholics, the retail addicts and the creatures of consumerism know what we are talking about. January is the official month of the winter sale and that's some serious business for very many. Start from the middle of the month and continue well till the Republic Day.

Meanwhile, keep calm and ring in the second month. Every lull is only a harbinger of another storm!

manpriya@trbunemail.com

Quality over quantity

Actress Chitrangada Singh, who features in Inkaar, a movie which deals with sexual harassment at the workplace, says she knows where to draw the line when it comes to doing bold scenes.

"As long as I am comfortable with my director and the co-stars, I am open to doing the bold scenes. But I do have my own limits and I know where to say no," Chitrangada said in an interview.

"If you are not involved in a scene, your discomfort shows on screen and it makes you look stupid," she added.

As an actor, Chitrangada has opened up to new things - commercial Bollywood movies as well as item numbers. Chitrangada, who has earlier featured in off-beat films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and Yeh Saali Zindagi, entered the commercial movie zone with Desi Boyz. She recently also did an item number in the movie Joker.

"I am more comfortable dancing now than before. Dancing is a lot of fun. I am open to doing item numbers. Let's see if any interesting thing comes up, then I might do it (again)," she said.

In Inkaar, she shares the screen space with Arjun Rampal and she guarantees this is Arjun's best work so far.

"Arjun is a very nice human being. He made me feel very comfortable and that energy translates on screen. He is extremely professional. This is Arjun's best work that I have seen," she said.

Inkaar is an 'A' certificate movie, but Chitrangada maintains she is choosy with her scripts.

"Yes I am choosy about my scripts. I want to do good roles that suit me. I want to choose the best because I have waited really long to be part of good films. I should be convinced with my role," she said.

She isn't even worried about the competition among Bollywood actresses. "I don't know about competition, I only choose to do good work that I like," Chitrangada said nonchalantly. She also says box office numbers don't matter as long as she gets a good film. "Numbers don't hurt at all. Everybody wants their film to earn as much money, but at the same time, I am greedy to be part of good films. (Of course) I would be happy if my film collects Rs.100 crore," she said. — IANS

Kareena follows Aishwarya's footsteps

New identity: Kareena Kapoor Khan Kareena Kapoor tied the knot with her long time boyfriend Saif Ali Khan in October and she appealed her fans to address her with her beautiful new name, Kareena Kapoor Khan.

In the past, actresses stick to their original screen name despite getting married but today the scenario is altogether different. It all started with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. After getting married to Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya changed her surname to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Bebo also wants to do the same.

Kareena Kapoor Khan insists others to use her updated marital identity. "I keep telling people to please address me as Kareena Kapoor-Khan. Besides, that's my name now, isn't it? Although I've not converted, Saif is my husband and it's a beautiful surname to have," states the actress.

Post her wedding; Kareena received a grand response for her item number Fevicol Se and she gives credit to choreographer Farah Khan for that, "Farah (Khan) has done a fabulous job with the whole routine. I've never performed a pelvic thrust before in my entire career, so, yes, I was looking forward to an encouraging reception. The tune is for masses: something tailor-made for the aam janta!"

Kareena who is on a break will start shooting for Prakash Jha's Satyagraha next month. However, she says she doesn't have a dream role as such. So, which actors does she look up to? "I love Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie. They are not only wonderful actresses but also strong personalities. In my filmi career, I think I've done almost everything but I want to continue acting till I'm 80!"

No make-up for Sonam Kapoor

Change of gear: Sonam Kapoor It was Juhi Chawla who once said, "I always thought no make-up meant you could use a bit of lipstick at least." And Govind Nihalani had a tough time convincing Kareena to simply wash her face, and face the camera in Dev.

For a mainstream actress especially one as fashion-conscious as Sonam Kapoor, no make-up and no designer outfits and certainly expensive accessories, are inconceivable. But that's exactly what Aanand Rai demanded-and eventually got out of Sonam in Raanjhanaa.

However, it wasn't easy to convince Sonam. Crew members from Varanasi where the film was shot report "substantial arguments" between Sonam and her director Aanand Rai over the question of a no make-up look for the actress.

"Aanand ji was very clear that he wanted NO make-u at all. Sonam had her own interpretation of what 'no make-up meant'. There was much back-and-forth of opinion on this between them, since Sonam is a very fashion-conscious actress. She had never appeared without make-up on screen and to do so she needed to build a new kind of self confidence. To her credit she did finally relent," said a crew member.

The other more insurmountable problem was regarding the difference in skin tone between the lead pair. Sonam and Dhanush belong to two completely different schools of skin pigmentation. To co-ordinate their looks to a point of compatible screen-presence was not easy.

"No matter how different Sonam and Dhanush might be in personality they finally had to look like two halves of one complete whole. If I may so, I've succeeded in making Sonam and Dhanush look like they were born to be together. When my wife saw them together she wondered why all legendary love-pairs are from the past," shared director Aanand Rai.

Curvy women are super-sexualised: Scarlett

Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson says her 'bombshell' persona is a result of the way curvy women are portrayed. The 28-year-old actress, who stars as Janet Leigh in upcoming biopic Hitchcock, talked about how her figure has earned her a reputation on a recent shoot.

"I think any woman who is curvy and wears a gown to an event is, like, super-sexualised," she said.

Johansson said despite her age, her shape earned her comments in the media from the outset of her career.

"I mean, at the time I was 18, 19. I was young. I've always been curvy. It runs in the family. Throw on an evening frock and it's like all of a sudden you have curves and everyone is like, 'Bombshell'," she added. "Instantly it was 'The new Marilyn'." — PTI

Miley fuels marriage rumours

Hollywood couple Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have sparked rumours that they have wed after they posted photos of themselves sporting new rings. Cyrus, 20 and Hemsworth, 22, wore the rings on their left-hand ring fingers on Christmas Day and posted picture on Twitter.

In one picture, Cyrus is seen wearing a leopard print onesie and a Santa hat and beard on Christmas Day. Her finger appears to show two rings - an engagement ring and seemingly a wedding band.

Another image that Cyrus posted on her account appears to show that Hemsworth is also sporting a wedding band on his ring finger.

On June this year, the couple announced that she and Hemsworth are engaged. — PTI

Healthy recipes by the Holly star

Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow is making her second foray into cookbooks by releasing a collection of her healthy recipes. The 40-year-old Shakespeare In Love star, who is an avid cook and foodie, will help readers improve their diets with It's All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel.

The new book contains 185 recipes, including hummus tartine with scallion-mint pesto, salmon burgers with pickled ginger, huevos rancheros, and power brownies. According to the synopsis, Paltrow cooks the nutritious dishes when she wants "to lose weight, look good, and feel more energetic". — PTI

On a luxury break

Caring parents: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have reportedly brought along 12 nannies to look after their brood during their visit to the home of designer Donna Karan on Caribbean islands Turks and Caicos. According to a local the Hollywood power couple were in town with two nannies per child, which is 12 nannies.

According to a publication, the couple is living it up along with the 49-year-old actor's parents Jane and William, his brother Doug and his sister Julie Neal, their spouses and their children. — ANI

Century Queen

Sonakshi Sinha has done five movies: Dabangg, Joker, Rowdy Rathore, Dabangg 2 and Son of Sardaar. Out of these four movies have crossed the century mark. This is a feat few actresses have achieved in such a short time and this is only the beginning of her career.

We gotta give it to her, even though all her blockbusters are pretty much in the same category and she does little else than dancing and looking pretty in them!

Gaga turns GURU

Singer Lady Gaga will offer free counselling to fans for their personal problems on her next tour. The 26-year-old will set out for her Born This Way Ball concerts Jan 11, 2013 in Vancouver, Canada and will counsel everyone in a bus.

In a series of tweets, the singer explained about the initiative, which she has started with her mother.

"For those wondering about the 'counselling' at the BTW Ball BornBrave pre-show, it will be a fun tailgating experience for monsters (fans) to unite," Gaga posted. "At Bus, you have access to professional, private or group chats about mental health, depression, bullying, school and friends," she added. — IANS

A step, a time

Singer Rihanna, who has reportedly reunited with ex-boyfriend Chris Browm, says she is in no hurry to start a family. In a recent interview, she was asked whether she wanted a family within the next five years.

"Definitely not in five years! Eventually I want a family," she replied.

"God has a way of working things out the way he wants to and you have no say in that," said the 24-year-old. — IANS

CHATTER BOX

Popularity graph: Barun Sobti Barun in demand

Barun Sobti might have left his popular TV show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon after signing a film, but it seems some TV producers are trying to woo him back. Barun who took a break and went to London post his show has been approached by a producer who is willing to let him shoot for half-a-month and leave the rest for his film work commitment.

Popularity graph: Barun Sobti

Second innings: Tasneem Sheikh Time for about-turn

She became famous for her role of Mohini in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and now Tasneem Sheikh who hasn’t been seen on TV from the last four years is planning to make a comeback. Her four-year-old daughter kept her busy all this while. She has approached a few producers.

Second innings: Tasneem Sheikh

Yet another Mahabharat

Get ready for a third version of Mahabharat. Producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary is gearing up with another adaption of the mythological show, which has been in the pipeline for a while. Buzz is that the first schedule of the show will be shot in Jaisalmer.

ASTRO TURF
P Khurrana

ARIES: Go out of your way to hunt down quality. Let life be full of colour. Your chivalrous behaviour and sentiments will be appreciated. Pack up all your cares and have a good time. Tarot message: Don’t waste an opportunity by being rash. Lucky colour: Golden-brown. Magic number: 33

TAURUS: Browse the newspaper and websites for that dream job because you will find exactly what you have been hoping for. Arguments at home are likely to erupt. Career women will be in the limelight. Tarot message: Learn from past mistakes. Lucky colour: Beige. Magic number: 28

GEMINI: If you have been feeling house-bound, arrange an outing with your partner. Refuse any new assignments. Loved ones are unlikely to make special demands from you. Tarot message: Be articulate to prevent people from coming to their own conclusions. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 65

CANCER: Show your love to close ones through practical action rather than empty promises. Be careful while signing agreements. Family members will require your assistance. Tarot message: Dare to accomplish tasks that normally take up a lot of time. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 27 

LEO: If something is already on your calendar, postpone it for a later date. It is time to impress your boss. You will be feeling competent to deal with work that requires creativity. Employment activities are lucrative. Tarot message: Don’t do anything at the cost of health. Lucky colour: Forest-green. Magic number: 39

VIRGO: You will be in a cheerful mood today. You are likely to undertake an overseas journey for a formal course or joining a religious community. Domestic bliss will be high. Tarot message: Make compromises outside and come to terms within yourself. Lucky colour: Deep-red. Magic number: 25

LIBRA: Think about the cost to the family budget next time you spend on entertainment or luxury items. You can plan a profitable business trip. Those interested in modelling will get a suitable break. Tarot message: Lack of confidence or caution can leave you in losses. Lucky colour: Pink. Magic number: 44

SCORPIO: Household expenses and mortgage seem to be pretty well covered now, but pleasurable indulgences might be eating into your domestic expenses. Ignore an unpleasant gossip. Tarot message: You shall prevent a lot of trouble by taking timely action. Lucky colour: Black. Magic number: 55

SAGITTARIUS: Investments in property are likely. A detailed accounting process lets you know what you can afford in the present situation. Shopkeepers may encounter an unruly customer. Tarot message: Be positive and think carefully before taking action. Lucky colour: Purple. Magic number: 64

CAPRICORN: Make the day really enjoyable. Some of you will have lost interest in career ambitions. Students interested in competitive sports will be selected for their school team. Tarot message: Do not swing away from the course you have charted so far. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 46

AQUARIUS: Do not lose hope whatever the case. Keep in mind that situations change and lucky breaks can be just around the corner. Health will need more care in the evening. Tarot message: Be confident and achieve your goals. Lucky colour: Coffee. Magic number: 28

PISCES: Take criticism constructively and accept praise graciously. Make the most of this low-key day because there is plenty of work tomorrow. Money problem is likely to come to the fore. Tarot message: Don't take hasty decisions. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Magic number: 61

THE YEAR AHEAD
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is January 1...

Today is one of the most powerful and sacred day of the entire year. The year 2013 demands that you to fight for your happiness. Professionally, you are going to fly high. Every risk taken by you will turn to victory and people will start seeking your advice for their betterment too. You will be noticed, admired and praised for your intelligent work all over.

If you are in a love relationship, you need to be aware of all the happenings. If you are single then there are chances of starting a relationship with someone really good. Stability in finances is also predicted. If owning a small-scale industry, you will get bulk orders that will keep you busy for long. Export-oriented units make a steady progress. You will be able to achieve more through your routine job or business. Some of you will take up a hobby or develop a creative interest that could become more profitable than your regular work. Mood: Cheerful

Vidya BalanCompatible signs: Aquarius, Sagittarius, Pisces

Prefer colours: Blue, Lavender

Select days: Monday, Friday.

Favourable numbers: 4, 9, 17, 49, 50

You share your birthday with Vidya Balan (January 1, 1978, Ottapalam, Palakkad District, Kerala), who married film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur recently. Balan garnered praise for her first Hindi film, Parineeta, and followed it with Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Heyy Babyy and Kismat Konnection. She essayed five consecutive roles that received wide critical acclaim in Paa, Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica, The Dirty Picture and Kahaani. Balan has received one National Film Award, four Filmfare Awards and four Screen Awards.





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