Seven up
It's not always the same formula that works. With Stupid Seven, the cast and crew of the Punjabi movie have come up with something different
Manpriya Singh

Ashok Masti

Pali Bhupinder Singh

Guggu Gill

There's no conventional hero, no heroine, no muscle-flexing villain; not even an obvious protagonist and for Punjabi cinema it's a 'non singer' film. Instead there are a bunch of seven young debutants picked up in different contexts from various places who shoulder the movie together.

Thespian-turned-director Pali Bhupinder Singh has a couple of confessions to make on his debut. "Theatre habits die hard. I wanted to make a movie that has depth and truth. If I were completely commercialized, I'd rather make ‘Seven Jatts’ or something like that." For a breather, he didn't and so we have a youth-centric family drama dealing with the generation gap in a Punjabi flick titled Stupid Seven. "It's based on one of my plays Me and My Story," he shares, while promoting the film, along with the cast and crew comprising Guggu Gill and Ashok Masti.

The logistics

The world thinks they are stupid and vice-versa. There are seven intertwining stories, comprising seven dreams, clash of the conventional wisdom and contemporary thinking.

"We auditioned in various cities of Punjab and picked up really talented children from acting workshops etc." While Jaswinder Bhalla could not make it to the promotions, his son came as part of the package. Says Pali Bhupinder Singh, "You'll see immense talent and promise in him." The promos, though a little drawn out, seem promising and so do the seven children — each one representing an alphabet of the word Stupid. There's one who wants to be a musician, the other one a sportsperson, yet another's attracted to the glam world. "We haven't tried preaching in the movie, but we've tried resolving issues." No wonder, they claim to appeal to the 'very young to the really old' alike! If the auditions were a tough part, so was the rest of the casting. He laughs, "Along with the seven of them, we had to find matching mothers and then corresponding fathers." The two-hour-twenty-five minute film releases with forty-five prints and a budget of over one crore!

Role reversal

He's the poster boy of typical Punjabi cinema — the era of jatt, zameen and jeep. Throw in a gun and bring in Guggu Gill. In stark contrast, the movie sees him play a strict father and a self-made man. He laughs, "Perhaps, it's my first role without a gun. On a serious note, the story is very akin to truth. When I heard the script, I instantly felt like being a part of it."

In the act

There are six tracks, out of which Ashok Masti has sung only one. "But I have been thoroughly involved with the music of the movie." A far cry from the present trend of singers and Punjabi cinema! "I have been doing theatre with Pali Bhupinder Singh and have been watching his theatre too. I really wanted to work with him." Apart from the album Over Nite, of which two videos are already on air, there is a Punjabi movie coming up in which you'll see him. "You'll soon get to see me act." He leaves it at that.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

Fit as a fiddle
Fitness is fine as long as it does not become an obsession. Zumba dance instructor Bhavna Bahl shares some notes with us
Ashima Batish

Fitness is not about dieting, but eating right. It is not about strenuous workout in the gymnasium, but undertaking some physical activity. It doesn't mean following a strict lifestyle, but certainly a healthier one. In the last three years of her career as a certified zumba instructor, Bhavna Bahl has seen people follow fitness regimes only in extremes; the obsession having done more harm than good. And that's what Bhavna aims to rectify; she wants to integrate fitness with the daily routines without making it the one-point agenda in life. She was in Chandigarh to conduct a zumba workshop.

Trained in Kuwait, she took three years of coaching to become an instructor. "It's funny when every gym trainer claims that he or she is a certified zumba instructor. One can check the authenticity by entering the name on zumba.com. Those who have their names registered on the site actually know what zumba is all about," Bhavna shares the information.

For the uninitiated, zumba is a high intensity dance work-out, which focuses especially on the cardio regimen. "We play with the heartbeat by juggling with fast and slow tracks." The result is that on an average one loses close to 600 calories during one hour of a zumba session. "People who take to zumba find it difficult to switch to the usual gym mode of working out because it's not just about jumping on the treadmill and walking on it for an hour. The Latin fitness programme is more of a recreational activity," she adds.

A balanced diet is as important as working out regularly. Bhavna finds it silly when people eat junk food and justify it by working out for hours in the gym. "One defeats the whole purpose of exercising, which is not to burn calories but to live a healthy life." It bothers her when she sees parents putting a lot of pressure on children making them conscious of their looks. "Parents first want their children to concentrate only on studies and when they grow up, they suddenly want them to look fit overnight. Instead why not just let them take part in any sports activity in their school or be a part of the dance troupe. It is very upsetting to see students of class IX or X doing weight training and aiming for a certain pack of abs in gyms."

On fitness CDs brought out by celebrities like Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Shilpa Shetty, she says, "One has to be really strong willed to do it at home because the distractions are many. I don't allow people in my class to even take calls; can one be as disciplined at one's home?" Not really!

ashima@tribunemail.com

For the right image
Actresses and actors are always reinventing themselves for their roles and getting into the character to lend authenticity and uniqueness to their portrayals. We tell how actors have undergone makeovers for their movies this year

Ranveer Singh for Raam Leela: The dedicated and enthusiastic actor grew a beard and moustache for his role and let his thick, dark hair grow wild! He has also pumped up his physique like never before and looks quite beefy and makes a formidable expression with his large and chiseled frame. Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted it this way and was floored by the actor's dedication.

Aamir Khan for Dhoom 3: Aamir Khan has worked hard to train for this movie. He plays a gymnast and got super lean for the movie. He learnt gymnastics and also how to do headstands. He did yoga to become more flexible. He has also become flexible, learnt swimming and surfing and is completely enjoying playing the villain in this hit franchise which he will take to another level after Hrithik Roshan.

Chitrangda Singh for Inkaar: She chopped off her lovely long tresses for a chic, short but equally sexy hair-do. She even got into Bohemian clothes and wore wild accessories, lots of kajal and wavy hair for her portrayal of a rebellious intern in the first half of the movie. The second half saw her in sexy and classy dresses and straight hair.

Parineeti Chopra for Shaad Ali's movie: Parineeti Chopra has played the girl-next-door and has not had any glamourous role so far. Finally, she plays a glamourous babe in Shaad Ali's upcoming movie and will be seen in trendy dresses. She will also have to start living a glamourous life soon to get into character for her movie. Along with the stylist of the movie, she will fly to Europe to shop for her wardrobe. How very lucky and we can only imagine how excited she is!

Jacqueline Fernandez for Race 2: She wears her lovely, flowing dark hair absolutely poker-straight and jet black in the movie. She even tuned her flexibility and fencing skills for the action scenes in the movie. And worked very hard to dance and match steps with her co-stars. She has a glamourous role in the movie and is paired with John Abraham.

pet passion
Feathered friends
Poonam Bindra

Preeti Khemani says she has six kids in her family--Kaeffy, Daisy, Cookie, Tookie, Olive and her son Ishaan and she has to treat her feathered children with care and be sensitive to their moods too.

Kaeffy and Daisy is a pair of Australian Cockatiels by lineage and the lovebirds are known as Cookie and Tookie. Olive is the American lovebird of Jandeyconure family. These winged creatures have open cages with perches and swings as their habitat and they are free to move around her house all the time!

Love me, love my birds

These little winged creatures have got so used to their adopted family that they feel lonely if they are left alone. "If all of us go out we leave the television on so that they feel somebody is in the house," says Preeti, who has done her graduation in Video Production. The love for pets is right from childhood and especially birds for she used to keep Indian parrots till it was banned to keep them.

The cockatiels Kaeffy and Daisy in grey and lutino (canary yellow) with crusts on their head and orange patches on their cheeks make a pretty picture as they both perch on her shoulders. Meanwhile, we can see the multihued Olive swing in his cage. "They will reward you with a kiss on the hands or even lips if happy and expect to be wished 'Good Morning' which they reply by ruffling their feathers," says the avid bird lover.

It seems Kaeffy and Daisy like to play with ornamental tidbits because they keep fiddling with her earrings and pearl string. Keeping them cozy with light shawls, Preeti keeps on communicating with them from her bedroom. The cockatiels have a sweet whistling sound while the lovebirds do "chuk chuk" and sometimes so loudly at night that she has to shout 'Cookie and Tookie, shut up!' Olive Screams and shouts especially when he is not feeling pleased with something.

Yours faithfully

"They are as faithful as dogs and can be good companions," says Preeti. They are very friendly creatures but the lovebirds seem to be more forthcoming than Olive who is busy doing a moonwalk! This is what he does when he wants to ease himself.

No problem of 'pees and poos' for they have been trained to do it on the newspaper sheets right outside the cage. Fond of common fruits like apples and grapes they have a special yen for dry fruits and peanuts besides the regular bird food.

It sure is a funny sight to see Daisy clutching the slice of the apple in her hand and nibbling at it. She informs us that food which are a complete no no for them are - onion, potato, tomato and chocolate. The happy family does paint a pretty picture.

Serving Italy on platter
Italian Food fiesta at Pizzamore brings out the authentic flavour
Amarjot Kaur

exotic taste: Chef Daniel Raddi highlights the similiaries of the food cultures of the two countries, Italy & India

Food at its best, garnishes passion with perception and food served with love, unlocks the heart's deepest desires. At Pizzamore, a fast casual dining restaurant, Sector 22-C, the sanctity of Italian cuisine blends with its authentic flavours, at the three-day long Italian Food Fiesta that is on till Friday.

Striking a conversation, Jyoti Singh, founder director, explains his pursuit, "I was born and brought up in the city, but I've been living in Italy for over 20 years now. While in the city, I worked at a dhaba, where I was acquainted with the cook in me. Though I own five Indian restaurants in Italy, including Rome, Venice and Florence, I want to open Italian eateries in India."

Singh believes that it was important for him to give to Italy what he received form India and vice-versa, "I want to even my debts of knowledge," he quips.

Singh engages you in the interesting banter that details the countryside cuisines of both the countries, but he is interrupted by Daniel Raddi, the visiting chef, who beams radiantly as he greets, "Good morning!" to everybody present. It's his first time in India and he has already found a lot in common, "The people of both the countries relish food with equal passion. The spices are similar too. However, at this food fiesta, I have brought the most loved Italian dishes to the city."

Priced at Rs 300, the non-vegetarian menu includes chicken liver crouton with scamorza cheese and Sicilian anchovies and the appetisers include Pappa al pomodoro, Tuscan panzanella, Penne with lamb ragout and farm salad with parmesan cheese. Though the chef attempts to craft authenticity that is typical of Italian cuisine, it's the preference in the region that stands questioned in the view of the spicy taste-buds that Punjabis are known for. The restaurant offers tuna pizza and genova pizza, "These two pizzas are not served anywhere in the country except here. Also, we serve pizza with pesto sauce, and it's worth every bite," Singh gushes.

For the vegetable lovers, the meat is replaced by potatoes and tomatoes that predominate the taste of Italian cuisine that includes Fantasy of bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil, Tagliattele pasta with vegetables, Pappa al Pomodoro with extra virgin olive oil and Tuscan panzanella, Focaccia and pizza assortments and Eggplant Parmigiana. The resident chef, Attilio Fortuna, presents four variations of pizza and is intact with its geographic parameters, "In Italy, the cuisine changes with the change in region. So, I have made four pizzas that are based on the north, east, west and south, thereby covering the entire Italy."

Though the poignant flavour of meat and pesto sauce makes for a distinct combination, and that the Italians love their extra virgin oil; whether the Punjabis embrace the stark originality of subdued Italian flavours or they look for pickles and spices to identify with, remains to be seen.

For the time being, Singh is quiet about his restaurant and believes that other pizzerias are not a competition to him, "They serve American pizzas and we the actual Italian pizzas."

Master Chef
Pass on the pasta
Ajay Mathur

To make penne pasta with vegetables tossed in cilantro pesto, you need the following ingredients —

Ingredients (For four portions)

• 500 g penne pasta
• 40 g fresh cilantro
• 40 g fresh basil
• 25 g parmesan
• 10 g garlic
• 100 ml olive oil
• 30 g roast pine kernel
• 500 g vegetables: Cherry tomatoes, green asparagus, broccoli, baby carrots, mushrooms, baby onion

Method

• Boil the penne pasta al dente.
• Make a pesto with the cilantro, garlic, fresh basil, parmesan, pine kernel and olive oil season with salt and pepper.
• Blanch the spring vegetables.
• Put 1 tea spoon of olive oil, add chopped garlic.
• Add boiled vegetables, give a toss.
• Add boiled pasta in the pan; stir it well along with the vegetables.
• Add pesto into the pan and give a gentle flip.
• Season accordingly
• Pour the parmesan cheese on top and serve hot.

A new dimension
Funcity has come out with unique Motion Chair 5 D Theatre. This action-filled offer is surely going to give the thrill of the life time

According to Kamaljit Singh, managing director, Surya Funcity Limited, Motionchair 5D Theatre will prove to be an ultimate experience for the cinema lovers. Most exciting part of this is definitely going to be the Motionchair sports rolling seat. This, in fact, is not the usual cinema seat which twitches in un-coordinated manner. This is an action-stimulation seat. While sitting on this, one experiences exciting effects.

Out of this, water surprise is probably the most exciting one. In this a few but heavy drops of water fall on the head and give the real feel of rain. One can have the real feeling of air blast, smoke, wind, aroma, snow and number of water surprises. —TNS

Doc Talk
Roll away your woes
Dr Sukhdeep Kaur

Dermaroller is a German-designed and patented device which has revolutionised the field of cosmetology and aesthetic medicine. It is a magic device which has been scientifically proven for anti-aging, skin regeneration improvement, scar reduction and collagen-induction therapy.

Dermaroller is defined as a Transdermal Needle Roller. It uses multiple fine, microneedles to stimulate tissue regeneration.

• The size of needles varies from 0.5 ,1, 1.5 ,2 mm.
• The 0.5 mm needles are useful for fine lines and wrinkles, 1-1.5 mm are used to treat deep acne scars, burn scars. The 1.5-2mm needles are useful for treating stretch marks, post pregnancy lax skin.
• It has wonderful results in treatment of acne scars, burn scars, accident, trauma scars, stretch marks, open pores, fine lines, wrinkles, hair fall, baldness, skin rejuvenation, glow, pigmentation (blemishes) over face, dull, uneven and lifeless skin.

The Procedure

• It involves complete patient counselling and consent.
• The patient is advised to apply local anaesthetic cream 35-40 min prior to the procedure.
• The affected area is marked and divided into different zones.
• The dermaroller is rolled in six different directions until fine bleeding points are created. This is the end point of the procedure.
• Similarly, the other areas are treated. At the end, the area is cleaned, antibiotic cream and sunscreen are applied.

Post procedure care

It includes daily cleaning of the area, application of 2 per cent mupirocin cream twice daily. A broad spectrum sunscreen has to be applied daily without fail.

This procedure has to be repeated at two weekly intervals for total of six sittings.

Side-effects

It is an absolutely safe, painless procedure. However, the patient might experience slight erythema and redness for half to one hour post procedure.

Advantages

• It is absolutely safe.
• Very time efficient.
• Pocket friendly.
• Genuine results.
• Free of side effects.
• Addresses various difficult skin disorders.

STAR TRACK
Amitabh recovering from Don injury

Actor Amitabh Bachchan, who had a near-fatal accident on the sets of Don in 1978, is having a tough time as he is still recuperating from it.

"The pain been in brace the entire day .. I think there is some improvement .. mostly due to old injury during climax shoot of DON. No, I shall not disclose details, for, that would be unethical and immature. One needs to keep working — results will speak !!" he tweeted.

Appreciating his fans' concern, the 70-year-old actor added: "Look ... there are far too many problems with my system to be fretting over it .. I appreciate your concern, but we must get on!" He also explained why he was missing from the 58th Filmfare Awards ceremony. "Yes .. I did bring it on about my neck because that is what I told Filmfare as the reason why I could not attend the Award ceremony," he added further.

Prachi gets a makeover

Prachi Desai, John Abraham, and Chitrangda Singh star in I, Me Aur Main. Prachi Desai's look in the movie is totally different from the other roles she has done. She talks about various aspects of it.

New look: Prachi Desai

Making music

I play a musician in the movie and learnt how to play the piano. I always found it fascinating. I took instructions from a teacher and trained for a few weeks so that my fingers dancing on the piano looked real. And it's so soothing and so much fun and so classy to be able to play the piano.

Dancing diva

I haven't really danced in the movies so far. I love dancing. We shot a special promo song for the movie and I got to dance my heart out in the song which has many dancers and has been choreographed by Ahmed Khan. I am glad people liked my moves. My look in the song is inspired by Beyonce Knowles and Katy Perry.

Fun role

My role is fun and different from what I have done before. She is a sweet-girl-next-door but with an edge. She loves having fun and is kind of a pal even to guys. I got to have fun with my clothes too, wearing cute skirts and frilly blouses and making it colourful.

Sunny enjoying her stardom

Shining bright: Sunny Leone

Adult star Sunny Leone, who made her Bollywood debut last year with Pooja Bhatt's Jism 2, is currently shooting for second film Ragini MMS 2.

With several endorsement deals in hand and movie offers lined up, Leone is enjoying her newfound stardom in Bollywood.

"I honestly believe if you treat people with respect and love that they will in return show you the same. Some amazing people work for Balaji! I saw some shots today & I have never felt so beautiful on camera ever. Naraan the DOP is flipping awesome!!" she tweeted.

"It feels so good to be directed by a calm director who explains his shots so well! Mr Bhushan Patel is fab! Lol I sound so mushy. I guess all and all another amazing day. Never knew it could be this fun," she added.

Heart of gold

kind soul: Salman Khan

Salman Khan did his bit for the marathon runners. In the wee hours on Sunday, Salman drove to the marathon spot, closer to the finishing line with his friends. He put up a counter with water, sweets and biscuits and gave them away to the marathon runners. Of course, people recognised him and he had to be whisked away. His gesture was super sweet and generous!

Average fare

Both Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola and Inkaar have got mixed reviews and have done average business at the box office. Inkaar has made around Rs 6 crore till now and Matru has made around Rs 36 crore till now.

Desi charm: Ameesha Patel

Ameesha resurfaces

Ameesha Patel will shoot her movie Desi Magic this year. It is a fresh, youthful film which is an out-an-out entertainer and will have two new faces alongside Ameesha. She will be seen in Race 2 and Shortcut Romeo this year.

chatter box
Happy times are here again

On the sets of Safar Filmy Comedy Ka

Safar Filmy Comedy Ka, a non-fiction show that is aired on SAB TV, traces the journey of comedy through 100 years of cinema. The show that is being premiered on January 27, 2013 at 9pm will be hosted by Sunil Grover, a well known name in comedy and Muskaan Mihani.

Each episode of the show will detail a trend of comedy, including physical, action, slapstick, cult comedy and mistaken identity. Moreover, the show will also pay a tribute to the popular comedians belonging to the different eras, including Juhi Chawla, Prem Chopra, Divya Dutta, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, Asrani, who will share their cinematic experience in comedy with the audience.

The show is being produced by Dheeraj Kumar and Zuby Kochhar of Creative Eye Limited. Anooj Kapoor, executive vice president and business head of SAB TV says, "The style, content and pace of Indian movies has advanced vastly over the years and so has the way in which the film industry treats comedy. Comedy as a genre has evolved so much so that comedy centric movies are turning out to be blockbusters."

He adds, "The show, Safar Filmy Comedy Ka is a tribute to the contribution of comedians and industry veterans towards the genre of comedy. It will offer differentiated content to the viewers and a great family viewing experience. It’s a privelege to be a part of this show. "

Sunil Grover, who's known for mimicry and stand-up comedy, says, ''I'm making a come-back to SAB TV family with the show. It is an honour to be a working with the legends of the EVP actors who have redefined comedy over the years. I have always admired and looked upto them, their contribution to films is phenomenal. I have learnt so much from them and I feel honored that I get to relive their magical moments with them".

Muskaan Mihani says, "Comedy has always been my favourite genre. Safar Filmy Comedy Ka enables me to experience the journey of industry stalwarts who have given award winning performances. By being a part of this show, I feel I am honouring comedy in my own little way."

SAB TV's Safar Filmy Comedy Ka is the ultimate comedy blockbuster on TV! Enjoy this unique experience with your family only on SAB TV,Tune into Safar Filmy Comedy Ka on January 27 at 09.00p.m., only on SAB TV!

show is on: Giaa Manek

Rumour mill

Buzz is that Giaa Maanek, who stars in SAB TV's Jeannie aur Juju, might be replaced as she has date issues. However, Giaa denies the rumours. She is happy to be working on the show.

Deepika bonds with Shilpa

business minds: Deepika Padukone & Shilpa Shetty

Actress Deepika Padukone, who visited the sets of celebrity dance reality show Nach Baliye 5 recently, to promote her upcoming film Race 2, bonded really well with the judge Shilpa Shetty. Both the actresses met each other after a long time.

Shilpa, who was also excited to have Deepika on the show, clicked a picture from her phone and shared it on Twitter. Deepika also set the stage on fire while performing some dance steps from her upcoming movie.

This episode will air on January 26, 2013.

Thrice the dose of thrills

A still from cid

One of the longest running shows on television, CID, detective crime thriller, will now be aired thrice a week. Following its current timings on Fridays and Saturdays, from next week, the show will also be telecast on Sundays between 10 to 11 pm. It will be aired in place of KBC on Sundays, while the episode on Friday will revolve around kids.

Goodbye KBC

Television's most loved game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, has reached its climax and it is all set to bid adieu. During the last episode of the season, which will be aired on Saturday, Big B will celebrate the 64th Republic Day while highlighting the nostalgic movements. Bachchan, along with the kids of Terrence Lewis group, will begin the episode with a performance on AR Rahman's Vande Mataram. The special act, designed by the ace choreographer, Terrence Lewis, is all set to infuse patriotic mood in the show. Catch the episode on January 26, 2013 at 8:30 pm only on Sony Entertainment Television.

Astro turf
P Khurrana

ARIES: Problems are bound to arise at home. A neighbor will be a cause of worry. A disagreement with your partner won't be resolved for a few days, so don't try to push your point. Tarot message: Try to avoid serious discussions with loved ones. Lucky colour: Aqua-blue. Magic number: 39

TAURUS: Early hours will be difficult. You will give some of your time to working for those who are less fortunate than you. If your physical fitness is a concern, start a class in yoga and nurture your well-being in a gentle manner. Tarot message: Seek advice and judge it on your own. Lucky colour: Crimson. Magic number: 48

GEMINI: Home and family affairs will be most enjoyable. You will not be able to get teamwork going. Personal plans will be opposed by friends and be much harder to carry out. Tarot message: A shopping spree can upset your budget. Lucky colour: Purple. Magic number: 36

CANCER: You are on the crest of a lucky wave. Do not sign new agreements; a hectic day for businessmen. No arguments please. Sit back and enjoy the day as it unfolds. Tarot message: Make the best of a bad situation by being polite and understanding. Lucky colour: Deep-red. Magic number: 59

LEO: Use your own judgment while taking important decisions. Your family members will not like your association. Do not demonstrate your anger to anybody. Enjoy the evening with your friends. Tarot message: Spend time on fitness routines. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 29

VIRGO: Make your choices wisely today. Family politics or the power struggles in shared living quarters can intensify. Talking about the issues with friends may be a distraction, but if won't make any differences to your situation. Tarot message: Take your partner out for dinner. Lucky colour: Forest-green. Magic number: 47

LIBRA: You will feel irritated at work. A new deal will bring monetary gains. Women: control your diet and focus on exercise. Good friends will be a source of entertainment and support. Tarot message: Adopt a diplomatic approach. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 61

SCORPIO: Youngsters will feel a bit lethargic. New work will prove lucrative. You can safely delegate responsibility of work to others. An old friend might turn up out of the blue and take you out to an exciting venue. Tarot message: Beware of making rash moves. Lucky colour: Saffron. Magic number: 30

SAGITTARIUS: You are unlikely to have any difficulty in concentrating. Diplomacy and tact are the keywords for the day. Your card "The Lovers" is shining its loving light on your house of fun. Tarot message: Keep your eyes and ears open for exciting opportunities. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 42

CAPRICORN: Students: do not neglect your work. Humanity pays. Keep business activities open. Parents' health needs attention. A foolish obligation can be dropped. Enjoy a peaceful day at home. Tarot message: Try to be charming in all situations. Lucky colour: Mauve. Magic number: 25

AQUARIUS: Get into work early because as the day unfolds, everything can become disjointed. An influential person will acknowledge your work. Tarot message: Stop thinking about yourself and see what you can do for others. Lucky colour: Silver-grey. Magic number: 40

PISCES: No matter what problems arise, you will achieve success. The job-seekers will get lucky. Start organising your finances. A new budget to suit your income and lifestyle will help you to make headway. Tarot message: Take life the way it comes. Lucky colour: White. Magic number: 52

The year ahead
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is January 24...

This year, finances will be on an average level. Find out how much you need to live a decent life and then the rest can be saved. Avoid any kind of sentimentality as far as your financials are concerned. Allow your wings to stretch as far as they can, but beware of snares on the way. Certain unwanted expenditure cannot be avoided. Work harder to meet your expenditure.

On your birthday think about your past; revisit some photo albums. These images will remind you of people and places that you had entirely forgotten. You might even be inspired to return to a hobby you abandoned. Don't worry about looking foolish in front of your loved ones. You'll be forgetful, try to remember important appointments and maybe write them down. You'll be very attentive to things that seem significant and you'll try to take the right measures to improve your relationship. Those in business need to be cautious regarding financial transactions. Changes in a partnership will lead to more benefits.

Those keen on working independently will get the necessary support to do so. Consider proposals from abroad. Unfortunately, some things that you once treasured are gone for good. There is no sense in looking back. Even a small victory is still a triumph, which should be considered a welcome change. The trick you need to learn now is how to turn your win into a winning streak. Home and family affairs will be fine, except for your parents who will be unduly worried about you. Events will flow with a better spark and schedule this year. Relationships will enter into a new phase and you will be able to reap the fruits of previous year's projects.

Some moments of uncertainty and melancholy might creep in during the middle part of the year, but do not lose your cool. You will have many occasions to delight yourself as the year moves on. Let your creativity soar to a new level and let the world see it.

Mood: Pumped up.

Compatible signs: Capricorn, Pisces, Cancer.

Lucky colours: Gold, Orange.

Lucky days: Tuesday.

Lucky numbers: 2, 9, 11, 15. 55.

You share your birthday with Riya Sen (January 24, 1982, Kolkata), who comes from a family of actors, including her grandmother Suchitra Sen, mother Moon Moon Sen and sister Raima Sen. She began her career in 1991 as a child artiste in the film Vishkanya. Riya was first recognised as a model when she performed in Falguni Pathak's music video Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi at the age of sixteen. Since then, she has appeared in music videos, television commercials, fashion shows and on magazine covers.