Their label...confidence 
It just took a dream and loads of hardwork thereafter — four girls, including a twin sister duo, from Chandigarh have come out with their own fashion labels and are set to compete against the much-established boutiques in their neighbourhoods… 
Ashima Batish

Free advice flooded Bhavneet. From taking the label BK — abbreviation for her name Bhavneet Kaur — off her creations to stitching just whatever customers strictly demanded, suggestions flowed in from friends, family, retailers and potential customers, many of whom never turned clients. When she did not buckle under the pressure, the same set of ‘well-wishers’ called her naïve, irrational and deprived of business sense.

Not that she would not need ‘masterjis’ to cut cloth material for her or she would not dabble with measuring tape and a pair of scissors, but Bhavneet’s aim, like a couple of other girls from the city, Jaskeerat Matharu, and twin sisters, Puneet and Suneet Brar, was to construct designs and not merely stitch clothes. Although in a city where boutique culture runs so deep, coming up with labels was thought of as a desperate attempt to sound different by people around. Add to that the decision to make creations only with their own stuff, which might or might not be liked by customers, further made it a risky proposition. Yet these young girls from Chandigarh took the plunge, came up with their own labels and used their own material to make what they believed in. And that precisely makes every designer different from a boutique-owner! And that’s how designers make it big!

ashima@tribunemail.com

On their own terms

With a huge client base in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar, twin sisters, Suneet and Puneet Brar decided to shift back to Chandigarh from Delhi. They were warned against the move as the city they were coming to had boutiques serving the dressing up needs of women. “We spread our designs before women who walked into our set-up. We were ready to change colours, customise length or fabric, but beyond that we were not ready to compromise on our designs,” Puneet says. They still adhere to the same, self-made rules and fortunately no customer has ever returned them a piece. “We had complete faith in our designs. We had the potential, experience of how the market functions and joining the long boutique queue was never the plan of action,” she adds. They design and make Anarkali suits, gowns and cocktail dresses and attach their label, SP Square, to it. “It feels great to realise that people abroad sport our label, which was initially thought of as a business blunder.” It’s certainly not that!

A journey worthwhile

For Jaskeerat Matharoo, coming up with her label ‘A’ was a well-planned strategic move rather than a casually taken decision. She plans to open her stores across Punjab and by the time that happens, she says that the label will have her introduced to a lot of fashion followers. Presently, she works from her house in Sector 8, Chandigarh. “In a city that has at least a dozen boutiques in every sector, it wasn’t easy to make people understand why I use my own material to make clothes for people,” Jaskeerat shares her experience.

Like any other business, there are risks involved here too and she isn’t oblivious of them. The biggest one is that after so much of hardwork put in a certain creation it might not be liked by anyone. “This leads to wastage of effort, money and material.” 

So far, so good

All boutiques, big or small, make decent money. The boutique owners ask for at least ten days time before they deliver a stitched suit or dress, which indicates the quantum of work they have. So, Bhavneet readily acknowledges the fact that she earns less than women in her neighbourhood boutiques. “It’s just a matter of time. If I have been able to increase my client base by three times in the last one year; I am sure I will fare better in the coming times.” It began with convincing a few people who gave her a free hand to do her bit. “They loved what I made and spread the word about my label, BK, around.” She made block-printing her signature style, a traditional printing method that she took up only because no one else in the city was doing it. “Now people refer to me as the girl who does beautiful block-printing. What my friends thought of as a futile effort is now helping me carve a niche for myself in the market.” 

High design
Famous fashion designer Ritu Kumar will be awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award by the Government of India. Here is what designers from the region feel about her feat…
Gurvinder Singh

It is proud moment for the fashion fraternity - designer Ritu Kumar, who has given Indian fashion a new dimension and garnered international recognition, is being awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the Government of India. And it is for the first time that a fashion designer has been chosen for the award

“Ritu showcased the culture and heritage of India at the international level through her collections,” says Gunjan Nagpal, a Chandigarh-based fashion designer. “She was the one who brought recognition to the field of fashion as a serious profession, which earlier was rather considered more of an art form or hobby. Many got inspired from her to take fashion industry seriously,” she says.  

Adds Tanu Vohra, Ludhiana-based fashion designer, “The Indian karigari — intricate designs from India — were brought to the fore by her. Not only designs, she has also brought several Indian fabrics from India such as khadi, jute and silk to the international stage,” she opines. According to Minni Sachdeva, another designer, Ritu deserves the award. “I am personally fond of Ritu Kumar’s designs. The fashion community in the country looks up to her. She is the veteran who has brought Indian fashion to the world-stage,” she says.

Seconds Sonu Gandhi, a fashion designer based in Ludhiana, “The intricacy and quality of her work is sublime,” she says. 

Impassioned journey
Actor Farhan Akhtar is back post the shoot for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and he is more eager than ever...
Jasmine Singh

It is news; he is out of his shell. He was running miles everyday (not literally) and now the drill is over. He is relaxed, so much so that he gave his vocal chords a vent pretty recently. He is still rocking though! Actor Farhan Akhtar has shaved off the look that he was carrying for his most-awaited, upcoming project Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. He still continues to talk of the one helluva experience it was. Performing live at Channel V’s Nokia Indiafest 2013 in Goa, Farhan surprised his fans with his back-to-the-clean look and sang his heart out. This is probably what actors do as catharsis after the successful completion of every project.

Rock on

I love to perform live; it is a great way of connecting with the youth. I had a great time in Goa at Channel V’s Nokia Indiafest 2013 where I performed in front of a great crowd that was enthusiastic and awesome. I generally have my collection of songs ready for the performance, but this time I added the songs of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara (ZNMD). I love to sing live again, as of now though I want to write and sing. In fact, it was for the first time that I took excerpts from the poetry, which figured in ZNMD.

Difficult run

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is by far the most difficult project I have done. Milkha Singh is a legend and playing him definitely defines me as an actor. The preparations for it were tough, involving a lot of work. I had to get into his shoes, which meant don his look and run. I would run off and on for exercise, but this was an altogether different thing. Running, I realise now, is like catharsis; when you are running you feel there is no one along, it is just me and the existence.

Director’s actor

We all have an actor in us, like we have a director in us. As an actor I give myself to the director, whether it is Rakesyh Om Prakash Mehra or Zoya Akhtar. They know their work well. As a director, I would like to take on more projects, though at this moment I don’t know what it would be.

Rs 100-crore club

The success of a movie is being judged by the Rs 100-crore mark, which is not a right thing for any movie. Many factors like script, acting and direction, define a movie. A film is a creative piece and it should only be judged on those standards. Rupees 100-crore doesn’t define a hit or a miss.

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Par Excellence
Putting: Improve your short putts
Jesse Grewal

The percentage of short putts holed drop sharply with every foot we are further from the hole. The average of the US PGA Tour players is close to 90 per cent within 3 feet and drops to 30 per cent at 10 feet. At 5 feet it is about 60 per cent. The first aim of a player should be to match this level at 3 feet. Place a tee a putter length away from the hole and count how many putts you can hole consecutively. This improves focus and also gives you a realistic idea of your putting percentage. Once we have achieved a decent level, start doing the circle drill. Place 10 balls on a 3 foot circle around the hole and count the number you can hole. The difference is that now you would have a varying line. It could be left from one side and the opposite from the other.

If you miss short putts it could be a deceleration of the putter, a face that is not square or an off center strike. To improve your putting if you are decelerating, try this drill. Place a ball 3 feet from the hole and place your putter touching the back of the ball. Make sure that there is no gap between the ball and your putter face. Now push the ball towards the hole. If your putting stroke is with the hands or wrists the putter head will flip upwards and the ball will end up short or not go straight. Try and push the ball with the movement of the shoulders. This drill improves the shoulder action and this provides the smooth acceleration of the putter. After a few strokes take a short backswing and accelerate through with the shoulders. This will improve the deceleration. To improve the putter face at impact, make a lot of putts from 3 feet with only the right hand (for right handed golfers). Make sure that you maintain the angle in your right wrist at address throughout the stroke. This trains the right hand to create a repeated impact position and apart from keeping the face square it stops the flipping of the putter head through the stroke.

(Grewal has coached several national champions and professionals apart from being coach of the Indian golf team for the Eisenhower Cup (World Cup) in 2008. He is currently the Director of National Golf Academy of India and CGA Hero Honda Golf Academy. If you have any queries get in touch with him at parexcellence@tribunemail.com

Creative line
The three-day exhibition at the Punjab Kala Bhawan, Chandigarh, showcases the works of nine HIFA awardees and is indeed a visual delight
Amarjot Kaur

There's no refuting the fact that the cavalcade of thoughts dance attendance to the affections of artist's creativity. The artists at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, Chandigarh, take on a never-ending escapade towards evolution of creative exploits while displaying their works at the three-day group exhibition organised by Haryana Institutes of Fine Arts (HIFA).

The artistic genius of nine HIFA awardees, including Satwant Singh, Nutan Dhiman, Rakesh Bani, Renuka Gulati, Ram Partap Verma, Renu Dhiman, Shivani Parmar, Pawan Bhatia and Rahul Dhiman, is on show at the exhibition. As you look around the paintings, photographs, sculptures and many other art pieces, every painting appears to be a window in the wall. While Satwant Singh highlights the animal instinct that dominates human disposition, he explains his art, "This painting, Circus of life, aims to define the character of time." You cannot stop noticing the horse balancing the wheel, an hourglass with no sand and the woman riding that horse. If you look around, the works of Rakesh Bani, especially Metamorphosis will intrigue you beyond words. The technique he uses is etching with aquatint. Shivani Parmar too invests her artistic aptitude to create magic on canvas. One of works, titled, Life takes you on a timeless journey towards exploring different avenues of existence.

Rahul Dhiman, an artist, shares, "My work is the journey of my suffering and the problems I had to undergo. When I was pursuing an academic course in arts, I had to commute from Ambala to Chandigarh everyday. These paintings are essentially a panorama of railway tracks that I picked up during my journey." He points at a series of paintings, including Daily life, An awaited signal, Attempt to balance life, Struggle a ride and Journey of illusion. The technique he uses is Collography, infused with etching, lithography, and aquatint.

Renu Dhiman, a Kaithal-based photographer who shares, "I want people to feel an obligation towards preserving and safeguarding nature." Renuka Sondhi Ghulati, a Delhi-based artist, says, "My paintings depict women because I think women go through a lot of adversity.” 

Doc Talk 
Hand in hand
Hands are one of the first places where we see the signs of ageing, also its the most neglected part of our body. 
Dr Vikas Sharma

As we age, our skin gets thinner — but when you are dealing with the back of the hands, where skin is already thin, any loss of fat underneath obviously leads to wrinkles, dark spots and pigmentation.

The problems of cracked and chapped hands, Palmar Psoriasis, hand ecezema, Palmar Keratoderma, discoloration of finger nails, pigmentation and darkening over the knuckles of hands, fungal and bacterial infections of hands and nails, increased sweating in patients of Palmar Hyperhidrosis tend to affect a person's lifestyle. Tortured by these problems and an unavoidable exposure to billions of agents your hands yearn for treatment!

Giving hands what they need!

With the exception of our face, hands are by far our most exposed body parts. They are constantly under attack from wind, sun, temperature changes, hard water, soap, and detergents. All this adds up to dry, irritated skin and even premature aging. In fact, the more the skin's protective barrier is compromised, the greater the chances of damage.

The skin of our hands is thin, delicate, and often dry, This is why it suffers from cold winds, frost, and dry heated air inside our apartments.

From physiological point of view hand skin is more vulnerable than the facial skin.

The amount of moisture in hand skin is five times smaller than in facial skin.

Number of sebaceous glands is not so great and production of protective lipid layer in hand skin is 10 times smaller than in the later.

What ingredients should one look for in hand creams and how often should one moisturise hands ?

It's important to take good care of hand skin and that means using the right hand care products. This is especially true in the winter when hands are most prone to chapping. Look for gentle cleansers that contain glycerine and moisturizers with glycerine, lanolin and rich hydrating oils.

DOS AND DON'TS

Be sure to rinse your hands really well because soap residue is drying and will irritate your skin. Pay special attention to the space between your fingers where soap residue often hides.

Use only very mild soaps having PH of around 5.6 or liquid soaps with a lot of added glycerine.

Moisturise your hands with a good quality non-fragrant hand cream immediately after toweling dry. The moisturiser has to be non-greasy so that you don't mind using it during the day.

Apply the cream to your entire hand, but especially the back, which has thinner skin and is more likely to chap.

( Dr Sharma is a Chandigarh-based dermatologist) 

What should you do if your hands are alreadyseverely chapped?

If you have chapped hands you need to protect them from further irritation. A good rule of thumb is that for contact with things that are too harsh for your facial skin, you need gloves to touch them with your hands. While healthy hand skin is a pretty good barrier, chapped skin is broken. Harsh chemicals get through chapped skin, irritating it like putting lemon juice on a cut. 

Master Chef
Left but not over 
Kandla Nijhowne

Does it happen ever with you that you have a little bit of a paneer dish, a little bit of a cooked cauliflower or a piece of curried chicken shouting for attention from the fridge-shelf? They are small portions of leftovers, which are neither here nor there. Nobody wants them but the housewife doesn't want to show them into the bin either. Well it is time to give these leftovers an exotic makeover! The dish presented today is a Potato Roesti. It is Swiss in nature but takes easily to Punjabifying"! The leftovers get concealed successfully within the grated potatoes, yet add their lovely flavour to the resulting dish.

Potato Roesti with Vegetables

ingredients

6 large potatoes

4 tbsp butter

1-1 ½ cups of cooked leftovers

150 gm grated cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp hot water

Method

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Lower in the potatoes and cook until tender but firm (about 15 minutes)

●  Drain, let cool, and then grate.

Using a light hand, sprinkle in the salt and pepper along with any leftover vegetable or meat dish.

Melt a tablespoon of butter in large nonstick pan. Add a heap of the potato mixture and flatten out gently into a thick pancake.

Cover and cook till it becomes crisp and brown, then flip over with a spatula.

If need be, sprinkle some hot water in the pan before covering. This will prevent scorching.

Sprinkle some grated cheese, dot with a little more butter and cook, covered till the second surface is also crisp and brown.

Repeat to make more similar Roesti with the remaining mixture.

Serve with a salad, a bread roll and seasoned sour cream

(Nijhowne is a Chandigarh-based culinary expert)

Star Track
Following the trail of the young
Year 2012 saw many promising debutants: Ileana D'cruz, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Malhotra and Ayushmann Khurrana. We tell you what's in store for them in 2013.
Alia Bhatt: The cutie pie from Student of The Year is good-looking, charming and a decent actress. She has been fortunate enough to bag Karan Johar's next production based on 2 States. And, also Imtiaz Ali's Highway in which Randeep Hooda is her co-star. Ileana D'cruz: This pretty actress from Barfi made a difficult role work. She is now doing a commercial masala movie titled Phata Poster Nikla Hero opposite Shahid Kapoor, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. Varun Dhawan: He is acting in a movie directed by his father David Dhawan and produced by Ekta Kapoor. It seems exciting as Ekta Kapoor rarely invests in movies that don't do well.  Ayushmann Khurrana: He has already shot Nautanki Saala which is ready for release. He has also signed on for YRF's romantic comedy which stars Sonam Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor as his co-stars. Siddharth Malhotra: He has signed a romantic masala movie in which the bubbly Parineeti Chopra is his co-star. This movie is produced by Anurag Kashyap and others.

King Khan leads the pack!

Shah Rukh Khan has once again proved why he's called the King Khan of Bollywood. The actor's earnings between October 2011 and September 2012 amounted to Rs 202.8 crore, making him top the inaugural Forbes India Celebrity 100 list.

Salman Khan is second whereas cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has come third. The two, however, have been ranked ahead in terms of popularity and fame. Nonetheless, Shah Rukh has proved himself as the most bankable star.

Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Kareena Kapoor, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Katrina Kaif are among the top 10 earners whereas Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman is the only musician to be featured in the top 20.

Karan Johar is the most powerful director whereas Malaika Arora Khan is a leading TV personality.

After chronicling the inspirational lives of the country's most illustrious names in its quest to give India its true role model, a show showered praise on the enigmatic superstar Amitabh Bachchan as India's Prime Icon.

Later on Twitter, he added: "Honoured and humbled that Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma take time out to present me India's Prime Icon of 2012. Prime Icon ??!! Gosh that is far too far fetched for me ... and to have Sachin, Lataji, Aamir, SRK, Modi, Nitish .. as contenders !" Amitabh also joked about his punctuality and tweeted: "Reached venue on time at 7 pm, and no one there .. !! Story of my life .. so did a mock speech, mock award receipt and mock left !" he added.

Kat out of YRF?
Katrina Kaif may have acted in many of Yash Raj films, for her next , she might have to wait...

There are few actresses who have had the privilege of doing more than three YRF films. Katrina Kaif is one of them having starred in hits like New York, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Ek Tha Tiger, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and the Christmas release Dhoom 3. Other than her, Anushka Sharma has done five films and Rani has done eight films under the banner.

Now, reportedly, Aditya Chopra feels that he and the movies have had a Katrina overdose and is working with other actresses, rather approving them for the movies that are yet to go under production and have just begun production. The directors mention Katrina and Aditya refers other actresses. For instance, Gunday with Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor now stars Priyanka Chopra but Ali Abbas Zafar's first choice was Katrina Kaif. She also had schedule conflicts because she has to shoot the Knight and Day remake with Hrithik Roshan around the same time. Even for Nupur Asthana's romantic comedy starring Sonam Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana, Aditya Chopra recommended Sonam Kapoor instead.

It seems Aditya Chopra wants to work with new actors and also give audiences fresh pairs and stories. It might be a while before Katrina does another Yash Raj film.

Season of love

Anushka Sharma unveiled Gitanjali's Season of Love offer. The actress looked lovely in a striking red gown. She even dished out some advice on what to gift your girlfriend this Valentine. "The best way to woo somebody is by giving her a diamond. This Valentine, the Season of Love offer gives you a chance to gift or indulge in a dazzling piece of jewellery to create an everlasting memory," she said.

Promotional drive

David was shot in Ireland and Neil Nitin Mukesh is keen on doing some promotional activity and events for the film over there because Ireland is known for its revolutions, mobsters and renegade behaviour. David releases on February 1. Ireland is supportive towards Bollywood films being shot over there as it helps their tourism.

Commitment concerns

Neetu Chandra says that Randeep Hooda and she are together at the moment but she does not know about her future with him because he is too busy with his films to commit to her and get married. Will they or will they not tie the knot?

 

 

chatter box
In her own world

Aamna Sharif is happy with her comeback show Honge Juda Naa Hum. She talks about her show, doing TV again and why publicity doesn’t matter to her.

How has audience received you after the comeback?

It has been good but it wasn’t like I was away from TV for a long time. It feels great to do a daily soap again. It is so much unlike doing a film. I am working with a great production house. It’s a good show and I am creatively satisfied as an actor.

Why are you a reclusive and media shy?

I like my work to speak for myself. Unless there’s something new that I can talk about, I don’t seek media attention.

Recently there were reports that your co-star Deepshika quit the show because of problems with you. How would you like to clarify that?

I am very fond of Deepshika and so is she. I don’t want to give these rumours importance by talking about them.

How was it working with Rajeev Khandelwal on HJNH in which he did a cameo?

It has been great and it didn’t feel like 4-5 years have passed since we worked with each other. I guess that’s the rapport we share. I am glad the comfort level is the same.

Which other actors do you like on TV?

Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar are popular actors on TV and good actors too.

Are you seeing someone?

I am very much single.

Comic relief

Creative Eye is all set to air its first non-fiction comedy show, Safar Filmy Comedy Ka, on SAB TV. The show has a huge list of film stars including Juhi Chawla, Prem Chopra, Divya Dutta, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, Asrani, Chunky Pandey, Johny Lever, Dharmendra, Satish Kaushik and Jitendra, who will be sharing their experiences with the audience. Each actor will feature in one episode. And the latest we have learnt is that Shakti Kapoor, who was last seen on TV in Bigg Boss season 5, is also a part of the show.

Second innings

When a show goes off air, it’s presumed that it has been put a full stop to. But it was different in case of Na Bole Tum Na... Na Maine Kuch Kaha. The cast also knew that they would be back as they had a season 2 in store. Back on the tube after three months, we caught up with Kunal Karan Kapoor.

This is probably one of the first TV shows to have a second season. How does it feel to be a part of it?

As a TV actor, I wouldn’t want to be a part of any never-ending show. I would ideally like a story to have a beginning and an end but that rarely happens on TV. I am glad the story of Na Bole Tum has moved forward and it has brought the trend of seasons on TV. 

Now you play a grown up Mohan who is 12-years older. Did you worry about the older role?

Not really. I feel as an actor, one should be prepared to do any role. I am glad that I have got the chance to play such a role in my career. Very few actors get the opportunity to diversify in terms of roles. I have no complaints. I love Mohan’s role.

When the show went off air to make way for Bigg Boss, were you aware it would be 
back so soon?

We knew about it when it went off air. But that was because our show got appreciation and acclaim but not high TRPs which is a must in the TV world. It is after all a business. But I was told later that more than TV, our show had lot of online audience and enjoyed viewership on the net. 

How was the three months break?

It was very relaxing. I went off for a vacation. I visited my family and enjoyed a holiday abroad. 

What else do you like to do in your free time?

Travelling is an absolute pleasure and that is something I always look forward to whenever I get any free time.

That’s so unfair! 

Ragini Khanna who is currently in Life OK’s Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi Ki, is upset with the channel and the production team of the show.  It’s a celebrity cookery show, wherein TV actors visit homes of their friends from the fraternity and witness their mehman nawazi.

In one such episode, according to Ragini, the channel aired scenes which demeaned her and her mom, Kamini Khanna’s image.

The actress took to Twitter and slammed the channel. “I never expected from @LifeOKTV to damage my image through edit tricks for cheap TRP ideas,” she tweeted. When contacted her mom, she said, “Both Ragini and I are very sad. We were not aware of the show’s format. I had requested the production team not to air anything to damage Ragini’s image. One of the contestants Andy, while entering our house read my name wrongly. Instead of Kaa-mi-ni, he said Ka-mi-ni. I thought all this will be edited. The channel should have made sure to edit this part.” 

On a different track

The launch of Ghar Aaja Pardesi has been announced on Sahara One. It is the first fiction show by Gajendra Singh, who has earlier conceptualised various singing reality shows. Ghar Aaja Pardesi is about a girl who tries to find his father. She also highlights the sacrifices of her mother on one hand and yearn for fatherly love and his duties on the other. Gajendra Singh, MD, SaaiBaba Telefilms says, “Venturing in TV serials has been on my mind for quite some time now. Benaras makes for the backdrop of the show as its one of the perfect places where one can explore music and festivals. The reason behind this conception was to showcase the diversified cultures and traditions of our country. The story is also about how a girl from London adapts to the new cultures and lifestyle offered to her in India.”

The year ahead
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is January 29...

The year 2013 is the time to bring your plans into action. This year you will be appreciated from all walks of life. This time is going to get you major achievements. Seniors will be very cooperative and great progress is seen on the professional front. Some important responsibilities will come your way and your loved ones will give you overall cooperation.

Money-making will be an easy task for you. However, you might suffer from some health problems, which will be a cause of worry. Chances of visiting some sacred place are also there. Those who are short-tempered should maintain their calm. Do not get disturbed over small issues. If you are in doubt, ask an authority figure for advice. If you take a chance on something entirely new, you will make a big discovery. You must believe that some dreams can come true.  Be proud of the distance you have travelled.

Mood: Content and cheerful.

Compatible signs: Aquarius, Sagittarius, Aries.

Lucky colours: Dark-green, Brown.

Lucky days: Monday.

Lucky Numbers: 4, 9, 17, 19, 49.

Meera Vasudevan (January 29, 1982, Chennai) made her debut in Bollywood with Rules: Pyar Ka Superhit Formula, a sweet and satirical movie about love and heartbreak, which also starred model-turned-actor Milind Soman. Meera Vasudevan has modelled for a couple of advertisements, including the very popular Om Cricketaya Namaha rangoli advertisement during the Cricket World Cup, which made her an overnight celebrity. 

Astro turf
p Khurrana

ARIES: There will be the issue of a strong and vital relationship to deal with. Around the end of the day your intuitive skills will be especially sharp and you will be unusually sensitive to the vibrations. Tarot message: Let things run their course and start afresh later. Lucky colour: Deep-red. Lucky number: 25

TAURUS: With the presence of Saturn in your money sector, you will need to work out your plans for investing and saving as much as possible. Your love life will be quite interesting and some of you will come in touch with an old love. Tarot message: Do not criticise or judge others too harshly. Lucky colour: Purple. Lucky number: 46

GEMINI: Relationships are essential to our existence and therefore, you must be patient with people around you. There will be times when you feel unloved and neglected; however, it may only be temporary. Tarot message: Avoid situations that may turn nasty. Lucky colour: Saffron. Lucky number: 57

CANCER: Be attentive and careful about everything that you do at work since it will affect your overall career. Let all your latent talents and skills shine through. Business people may plan to diversify. Tarot message: Focus on professional changes. Lucky colour: Pale-yellow. Lucky number: 26

LEO: There will be an increase in confidence and energy as you go about your work. Most of you will also start planning career moves and get a good response from prospective employers. Love and romance will light up your life. Tarot message: DO not lend money to strangers. Lucky colour: Crimson. Lucky number: 41

VIRGO: Finances and spending will be your focus today, along with other things. Favourable day ahead. Take care of your health. There will be some splurging and some of you will also be surprised by a sudden windfall. Tarot message: Do not leave things up to chance. Lucky colour: Blue. Lucky number: 62

LIBRA: The focus of the day will be on your ability to deal with more than one thing at a time. It is vital that you plan everything at work and in your personal life. Some of you may splurge, especially if shopping for the festive season. Tarot message: Strive for perfection at work. Lucky colour: Rainbow-pastels. Lucky number: 60

SCORPIO: This will be quite an uplifting and inspiring day. You will be able to realise your goals for the future and start working towards them in full earnest. Social and familial bonds will become stronger. Tarot message: Take no chances despite the assurance of people. Lucky colour: Ebony. Lucky number: 28

SAGITTARIUS: Take care of your health and exercise caution when driving since you will be prone to mishaps. Some of you will decide to take some concrete action in order to improve your personal life and relationships. Tarot message: Allow a sick situation to blow over before starting again. Lucky colour: Forest-green. Lucky number: 33

CAPRICORN: Some of you have overshot your budget in the past few days due to celebrations, so now is a good time to be prudent. Domestic affairs will be calm; however, you will feel overburdened. Tarot message: Be honest to your desires. Lucky colour: Lotus-pink. Lucky number: 36

AQUARIUS: Your instincts and reactions will be relatively fast today due to which you will be able to make the most of situations. Deal with any pending tasks at work. Take care of your health. Tarot message: Take one step at a time; avoid being hurried and over-anxious.Lucky colour: Black. Lucky number: 47

PISCES: Although you are focused about your goals, it is also important that you avoid being critical of your team members or it will lead to arguments and undue stress. Be accommodating in professional as well as personal relationships. Tarot message: Accept responsibility. Lucky colour: Grey. Lucky number: 58





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