Summer scorchers
Big, bold, black and white checks are the big news this season. Here are some tips, straight from the ramp, to update your summer wardrobe…
Manpriya Singh

Foot Loose: A summer dress by Rachel Joe
Foot Loose: A summer dress by Rachel Joe

The big boys of fashion came up with their verdicts for the spring and summer of 2013 way back in October; just when we were gearing up for winters and weddings. Whether the orange was the new black or the black is back, is a hazy memory now. Maybe someone can recollect that Marc Jacobs was seeing all squares for the coming season and for Louis Vuitton range. Straight from the ramp, big, bold, black and white checks are the big news this season. Bringing you brand new updates for a fresh summer wardrobe, from people whose opinions matter.

On the ramp

A perfect dress is like a Midsummer Night’s Dream, although twisted a bit. Karl Lagerfeld had something similar in mind for his spring summer couture show for 2013.

Apart from the heavy dose of fashion and glamour, there was tailoring that was simple, with skirts that remained straight and tops that did not touch the body. Exactly, loose, flowing, slouchy…the keywords that celebrated designer Stella McCartney stuck to while giving her version for the coming summer. Her sleeveless dresses came in neon and spearmint, black and white, and jumpers in sheer and light fabrics. Moving on and coming back to Louis Vuitton, there are checkered dresses in brown and white, yellow and white, or black and white.

Prints & colours

Then some predict the fusion of seasons. It is winter styles in summer fabrics and while there’s no layering, there’s a lot of mix and match. Read summer jackets. Christopher Kane and Stella McCartney have already given their nod to bomber jackets. Opines Jaskirat Matharu, Chandigarh-based designer, “Summer of 2013 comes with monochrome checks, white shirts and fitted tuxedo jackets.” She adds, “We will also see striped fitted trousers and front slit skirts teamed up with lady like but chunky handbags. Feet will be adorned with pointy toes and bold colours.” When it comes to summer, there’s a sea of trends. Moving on, Michael Kors predicted short suits to be the find of 2013’s summer. On the home turf, Jacqueline Fernandez has already sported one at a recent press meet.

Brisbane Fashion Festival promoted spring and silk. A fabric that stays strongly associated with winter. Says Shweta Uttam, city-based designer, “I just launched women’s wear for my label Shoolin Designs. My inaugural collection called Spring Floral is inspired by my recent trip to Paris. I’ve used a lot of imported silks from Taiwan and Korea. The concept of silk in India is still not associated with summer wear. The collection also comprises a lot of shift dresses for summer, inspired by the flapper movement of the 1920s.”

As for the prints, they all come inspired by the underwater elements, “like star fish, butterflies.” She adds, “I did a fashion forecast project for Bacardi India, where we divided our findings into three segments comprising Ashrock, Bling and Activo.” Bling is for evenings, what white is for summer. Shares Sanjana Karwal, from the label Shades, “This time, the white shirt becomes flowing and oversized. White tuxedo jackets will make a strong presence. They are not only versatile but also practical because they protect you from the tan and keep you cool at the same time.” She adds, “Jump suits are here to stay; as most of the major brands that are available in the city have jump suits in their latest collections. However, summer fashion on the whole is about garments that are wearable.” Ready, steady shop!

manpriya@tribunemail.com

The power of two
Sisters Monica and Sonica Malhotra have taken the hospitality industry in Ludhiana by storm
Poonam Bindra

Even though they received business acumen in legacy from their father, running the giant MBD group was by no means an easy task, but sisters, Monica and Sonica Malhotra, have held their own and succeeded. Their latest venture is in the hospitality industry with Radisson Blu after having already been successful with one such venture in Noida. Such is their expertise that in less than two years the hotel received ‘Asia’s Best Performing Franchised Hotel of the year for 2011’!

An MBA in finance and a PLD (Programme in Leadership Development) from the Harvard Business School, Sonica encourages an open-minded work culture devoid of traditional hierarchies. “Winning over the faith and trust of my father’s employees was tough as a young girl but also rewarding,” says Sonica. The two sisters work in tandem to plan strategies and execute them under various portfolios. Senior director of the MBD group, Monica Malhotra Kandhari started her entrepreneurial journey at a very young age of sixteen and learnt the nuances of the publishing industry with time. She has herself authored award-winning books like Children’s Picture Dictionary and Begin with A – a unique English alphabet book, amongst others.

Along with that, she ventured into the hospitality sector by doing interiors with a difference! Her concept, which is evident at the Raddisson Blu, embraces a composite totality of themes including hard finishes and new concepts in lighting as well as ambient music. “Actually, we want to redefine hospitality to create a sophisticated and comfortable environment but all with a touch of class,” says Monica.

Having been born and brought up in Jalandhar, Monica and Sonica can easily connect to their roots. “It seems as if you are delivering to yourself,” quips Monica, who wants to set her own benchmark.

Always the one to lead by example, Sonica shares, “I got a real emotional high for giving something to the folks of these two cities.” Still wanting to enhance her academic acumen, Sonica is also a trained Kathak dancer. Travelling abroad extensively for various projects, these two ladies want to bring back the best for the folks back home. These two enterprising young women were given the ‘Trident Award for the Young Entrepreneur of the year’ (2006) by The Ludhiana Management Association, the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award in 2007, among others. The future holds a lot of promise!

Bottled up aroma
Gurvinder Singh

It is summer and time for fragrances – deodorants and perfumes are sure coming out of the cupboards! With a host of fragrances available - from macho to feminine, from sharp and strong to subtle, from sophisticated to fruity or spicy – there is also no dearth of top brands as well as interesting perfume bottles to lure you!

Skull-shaped Police brand perfumes will surprise you and so will the leather bottles of another brand. Azzaro’s microphone-shaped bottle would definitely catch your attention, apart from its appealing fragrance. The sparkling ribbon surrounding the sprinkler of Nima Ricci or the magnetic cap of the golden Caroline Herrera perfume are also sure to delight you. Jean Paul Gaultier perfume bottles in the shape of male body and are art pieces in themselves.

Another brand has bottles in the shape of computer mouse. “Some of the brands stand out because of their packaging. These appeal more to the youth,” says Mandeep from a perfume outlet.

Other brands like Versace have a diamond-shaped cap for its women’s line of perfumes, which is more elegant. “Hugo Boss also has the cap tied up with the bottle body, which is kind of cool,” he says. “Although customers are loyal to perfume brands, choosing an alternate one depends a lot on design,” he adds.

“I just love the shape of my perfume, as much for its fragrance,” says Ishwinder, a businessman. “Of late I saw a perfume shape in the form of a dumbbell, which I really liked, and the fragrance was also decent” he says.

It’s show time!

Nikhil Mawkin will entertain the audience at Vanity Fair
Nikhil Mawkin will entertain the audience at Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair brings its spring/summer show to the city. The exhibition will display Indo-western wear, sarees, tunics, western wear, the latest in handbags and shoes, semi-precious jewellery, lifestyle accessories, artifacts, garden and wooden furniture, paintings and prints and home linen.

Whispering Willows, the venue for the fair, offers scrumptious barbeques, pizzas and cuisines catering to all taste buds. Nikhil Mawkin and his band will entertain audiences with retro music, rock ‘n’ roll, pop and jazz music from 1950s to the 1990s.

A host of first-time exhibitors from Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur and Delhi will participate in the fair. — TNS

(On March 16 and 17)

Fair proposition

Hometel-Chandigarh organised The Wedding Fair Day to promote the Imperial Ball Room as a finest available wedding venue in tricity at a best affordable price. It boasts of a professional team to execute the ideas on themes, décor, seamless planning for all functions like rokka, takka, kurmai to the vidai.

The venue offers an open area for pheras, a bride’s room, spacious pre-function area and comfortable banquet that can host 600 guests. It offers global cuisine options too. — TNS

Doc Talk
Hair to dye for!
Dr Vikas Sharma

Once the growing age is reflected in grey hair, the importance of hair dyes and colours becomes paramount. Hair dyeing and colouring, an ancient art, involves treatment of the hair with various chemical compounds. In ancient times, the dyes were obtained from plants. Some of the most well known dyes are henna, indigo, cassia obovata, senna and amla.

The development of synthetic dyes for hair started with the discovery of the reactivity of PPD (Para-phenylene-diamine) with air. Hair dyeing is now a multi-billion dollar industry that involves the use of both plant-derived and synthetic dyes.

Hair colouring is the practice of changing the colour of hair. The main reasons for this practice are cosmetic, eg to cover grey hair, to change to a colour which is fashionable or desirable, and to restore the original hair colour after it has been discoloured by hairdressing processes or sun bleaching.

How does hair-colour work?

It’s the result of a series of chemical reactions between the molecules in hair, pigments, as well as peroxide and ammonia, if present. The natural colour of hair depends on the ratio and quantities of two proteins, eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Eumelanin is responsible for brown to black hair shades while phaeomelanin is responsible for golden blond, ginger and red colours. The absence of either type of melanin produces white/grey hair.

Precautions:

  • Don’t leave the dye on your head any longer than needed.
  • Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after using a hair dye.
  • Wear gloves when applying hair colour.
  • Carefully follow the directions in the hair dye package.
  • Never mix different hair dye products.
  • A lot of people at home just buy a box, skip the test, and put it on. This is a mistake as the patch test is our first line of defence when it comes to avoiding allergic reactions to hair dye. So doing a patch test for allergic reactions before applying the dye to your hair is must. This should be done at least 48-72 hours before you plan on dyeing your hair. To test, put a dab of dye behind your ear and don’t wash it off for two days. If you don’t have any signs of allergic reaction, such as itching, burning, or redness at the test spot even after 72 hrs, you can be somewhat sure that you won’t have a reaction to the dye when it’s applied to your hair. If you do react to the patch test, do the same test with different brands or colours until you find one to which you’re not allergic.
  • It’s important to do this test each time you dye your hair. Never dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. The FDA bans the use of hair dyes for eyelash and eyebrow tinting or dyeing. An allergic reaction to dye could cause swelling or increase risk of infection around or in your eyes. This can harm your eyes. Spilling dye into the eye by accident could also cause irreversible damage.

Hair colouring involves the use of chemicals capable of removing, replacing and covering up pigments naturally found inside the hair shaft. Use of these chemicals can result in a range of adverse effects, including temporary skin irritation and allergy, hair breakage, skin discolouration and unexpected hair colour results.

Side effects of various products result in loss of hair and in extreme cases balding

If consumed by the body by means of inhalation or digestion, certain hair dye brands have shown evidence of causing constipation and other dangerous disruptions within human organs.

Hair dyes can cause allergic reactions, including itchy, red skin, swelling or more rarely, anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.

The most likely cause of itchy red skin associated with hair dye is the chemical paraphenylenediamine, also known as PPD rather than the ammonia.

Lead acetate is used as a colour additive in “progressive” hair dye products. These products are put on over a period of time to produce a gradual colouring effect. Do not use dyes containing lead acetate to colour moustaches, eyelashes, eyebrows, or any parts of the body other than the scalp.

If you do develop any symptoms of allergies, the safest thing to do, of course, is to skip the colour and talk to a dermatologist about alternatives that might work for you.

(Dr Sharma is a Chandigarh-based dermatologist & dermato-laser surgeon)

CELEB POINT
Far from the madding crowd
Divya Dutta

Mumbai, the city that doesn’t stop buzzing and is on the move constantly! Rushed life, deadlines, meetings, household chores! Where is the time to stand and stare? Something that always intrigues me that whenever I go to Punjab, I see, however busy anyone is, jobs or business, they all have some leisure time for themselves. Waqt hota hai, theherne ka!

What happened to Mumbai? If you are travelling for a meeting, from town to suburbs, there goes half your day. Then yet another meeting will take up the rest of the day. Yes, we promise friends that we will surely catch up for a coffee or drink, but by the time you are home, you are too tired to do what you promised, unless of course it’s a social engagement. Yes, the long day hasn’t ended, they say the city never sleeps!

Earlier, I used to find it fake when acquaintances at parties would say ‘let’s catch up’. I would think they will forget the moment they are out of this party but gradually I realised, the intent is correct! More often than not, they do want to catch up but the city absorbs you. Ask anyone and they say, ‘bas lage pade hain!’ True, in the quest to attain, achieve, fulfil what this city had promised! And in that quest one forgets, one stops living, for oneself. That little ‘me’ time! Whatever little time we have, the lovely smartphones have taken it up all! Connected to the world via social networks is amazing but the mind gets tired and the heart says, ‘hey when do you have two minutes for me?’

The pace here gets the better of us and the worst is that we don’t realize it. It hits me when I reach Punjab. The air itself relaxes you, slows down the pace your mind is set to. The fresh breeze, the warmth, the leisure time—you become uncomfortable being so comfortable! But that discomfort is only momentary, because the heart loves it and the mind is at peace!

One day, in those green fields, I will have a little house with a charpoi and me sitting and chewing on the awesome gannas! Feeling the fresh breeze and the silence...where I won’t hear the sound of that phone ringing and I won’t even bother. Pure bliss!

(Dutta is a Bollywood actor)

Master Chef
In-grain-ed taste
Manju Dewan

Rice has always been on a winning streak. Whether it is salty, spicy, sweet and sour or just sweet, it is a welcome treat. Here we have added the Mexican touch to this wondrous grain to give it a global touch.

Mexican rice

Ingredients

1 cup rice (boiled)

½ cup rajmah (boiled)

½ tsp garlic paste

1 tomato (finely chopped)

3 tbsp ghee

½ tsp black pepper powder

2 onions (chopped)

½ tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp vinegar

A pinch of ajinomoto

½ cup carrot (thinly sliced)

1 capsicum (thinly sliced)

1 red capsicum (thinly sliced)

1 yellow capsicum (thinly sliced)

1 tbsp chilli sauce

1 tsp soy sauce

Salt to taste

Method

1. Heat ghee in a pan. Sauté onion, black pepper powder and garlic paste for 5 minutes.

2. Add all three capsicums and carrot and sauté for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add red chilli powder, salt, vinegar and rajmah and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Add ajinomoto, chilli sauce and soy sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes.

5. Put rice in a bowl and then turn that bowl upside down on a plate.

6. Spread the rajmah mixture around the rice.

(Dewan is a Ludhiana-based culinary expert)

—As told to Poonam Bindra

Break your fast!
Tanya Malhotra

A healthy mind, beyond doubt, has a lot to do with a healthy diet. A right start with a healthy breakfast is just what one needs to begin a perfect day. Well-begun is half done! With this in mind, McDonalds introduces a unique concept of National Breakfast day on March 18.

Cool concept

McDonalds is already a renowned international name with as many as seven outlets within the Tricity itself, offering a mix of globally known products and locally developed innovations. Always ahead to initiate something fresh and inspiring, McDonalds is here to introduce yet another brilliant concept of the world’s biggest breakfast ever! And the best part is that it is an easily affordable happy priced menu! Can it get any better? Well, yes! This breakfast is calorie-controlled and nutritional, which is ideal for people who are always on the go.

A free McMuffin in the breakfast hours! So is the city intrigued? “We are a huge fan of McDonalds already, but we usually go for our favorites- McChicken, fries and cold coffee,” says a resident of Sector-8, Chandigarh. How about the breakfast menu? “We don’t prefer to try anything new, but this initiative sounds interesting! We will love to be a part of it,” she adds.

The special breakfast menu includes Veg McMuffin and Veg Supreme McMuffin, Hot cakes with maple syrup and Hash brown. Also, egg-lovers can dig into the egg and Cheese McMuffin, Sausage McMuffin, Sausage and Egg McMuffin. “Apart from the regular visits, we love the breakfast at McDonalds after parties or during a get-together,” says Rajat Sharma, student, Law Department, Panjab University.

In conversation with Dibakar…

Short take: Dibakar Banerjee Dibakar Banerjee is one great director. His cinematic works, namely Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Khosla Ka Ghosla and Shanghai, have helped him to carve a niche for himself. In a candid chat, the ace director speaks about his short film with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his 3-film deal with Yashraj Films…

Have you finished shooting your short film?

Yes, I’ve just completed it. It’s part of a feature film that would have short films by three other directors, Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap. It’s been a great experience shooting with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. It was almost like shooting the core of a film.

Please explain…

A feature-film on the concept level has six or seven key scenes. Martin Scorcese said, ‘When I think of a film I always think of those key scenes’. For example in Raging Bull the key scene is Robert de Niro beating his head against the wall. So, those key scenes become the core of your film.

Your short film will be part of the larger scheme of films called Bombay Talkies?

All the four films are stand-alone products. But they will be released together. A bit like Paris Je T’Aime. But the unifying theme would be cinema in Bombay Talkies. But we aren’t making documentaries. We are celebrating cinema.

You’ve been lately been in the news for your 3-film deal with Yashraj Films. How did you and Aditya Chopra come together?

Frankly, we are quite similar in our goals. We both like making films. If I didn’t make films I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. Aditya Chopra and I share the sheer passion for filmmaking, all kinds of filmmaking. I’ll be directing two films for Yashraj while a third film would be directed by Kanu Behl who wrote Love Sex Aur Dhokha.

But your next two directorial films are for Yashraj?

They’d be Yashraj-Dibakar Bannerjee co-productions.

Since you’d be directing for Yashraj, would you incorporate elements from the Yashraj School of Filmmaking?

Not at all. It would be entirely what I’d like to make. When I met Aditya Chhopra, he made it clear that he was only interested in the kind of cinema that I made. The whole idea of bringing me into Yashraj is that I can bring my sensibility into the production house.

Which of your films has Aditya Chopra liked?

Khosla Ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and Love Sex Aur Dhokha. I am told he sees all the movies as part of the public audience. We had a long discussion on the climax of Shanghai. Aditya really liked Abhay Deol’s performance in Shanghai.

Will an element of surprise continue to underscore your cinema?

Trying to say something new and finding new answers to the question of life is what I find most enriching in my work.

A short film then two back-to-back feature films for Yashraj. Does that look like a lot of work to you?

Oh, it looks like a lot of play to me.

Hope to see you making an intense love story?

Well first, I’ve to grow up for it. It isn’t easy talking about love at 40. Most love stories are about the 18-25 age bracket. To do a true love story you’ve to know the man-woman relationship. It takes a lifetime to know one’s own self and then it takes another lifetime to know a woman.

Sonal comfortable in bikini

Sonal Chauhan has gone all out to flaunt her shapely body in a bikini in 3G after playing relatively demure roles in Jannat and Buddah Hoga Tera Baap. She plays a confident girl who is a firecracker in 3G. It has been shot in Fiji. She talks about her bikini body and more.

No big deal

Whoever wears a bikini in Bollywood is said to undergo an image transformation or makeover. I feel wearing a bikini is no big deal and no transformation for me. My character is sexy, confident and a firecracker. Plus we shot in Fiji, so bikini was the natural choice of outfit. I have always worn bikinis on personal beach holidays. There is a pressure to wear a bikini on the big screen. I had to be toned yet remain curvy. 

Diet chart

I had to let go of my chocolate cravings. I am a total foodie. For two months, I ate more protein, fresh fruits and salads. I gained muscle definition and also gained some weight. I am loving the response to my look and I had so much fun shooting in Fiji. I am a water baby. Now I am back to eating whatever I want.

Singing sensation

I make my singing debut in 3G. My directors heard me singing on the set and they made me sing for Kaise Bataaon. Mithoon is the composer for the songs and he felt my voice was perfect. I was scared and nervous but it all went well. I enjoy singing. I might do it in my future projects too.

Priyanka gets naughty

Sexy diva: Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra has been making headlines since the news of her first item number broke, and her garb for the song is going to take the popularity of the song a notch higher. Her Babli Badmaash look is finally out and it shows the sexy diva not in usual ghagra choli but in a black leather and rubber attire. 

This is Priyanka’s first item number which she is doing for Sanjay Gupta’s Shootout At Wadala. The costume was designed by ace designer Manish Malhotra. The song Babli Badmaash was sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, composed by Anu Malik and choreographed by Ahmed Khan.

Since the song has a retro set up, Priyanka Chopra was dressed in the 70s look. Talking about the song, Gupta shares, “Feroze Khan and RD Burman have both been two of my all-time favourites, but the two never worked together. So, I have tried to mix the flavour of the two in this song and Anu Malik has been able to recreate that magic of the era superbly well.” Going by Priyanka’s looks, it seems her get-up is inspired by Zeenat Aman, the style diva of the 80s. “Manish has retained the 80’s feel, yet lent it a contemporary flavour,” says an insider.

Co-produced by Ekta Kapoor and directed by Sanjay Gupta, Shootout At Wadala stars John Abraham, Sonu Sood, Tusshar Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Mahesh Manjrekar and Kangana Ranaut. The film is slated to release on May 1.

CHATTER BOX

In Love: Mona Singh Romantic confession

Actress Mona Singh has finally broken the silence over her relationship and accepted that she is dating actor Vidyut Jamwal. Mona says that she is in love with Vidyut, but denied the rumours of her marriage. In fact, she is upset because her relatives kept calling her parents to inquire about her marriage. She insists that if she gets married, she will announce it to the world.

In Love: Mona Singh

Small package, big surprise

If you think one needs long legs and a svelte figure to do an item number then think again. World’s shortest girl Jyoti Amge, who stands two-feet tall, is all set to break the norms by featuring in one such song in the upcoming film Pyar Mein Locha. Jyoti, who was last seen in Bigg Boss Season 6, is also the female lead of the movie, which is loosely based on her life.

Fading glory

A still from the show DurgaTelevision show Durga, which was launched with high hopes, is apparently not doing well. Despite various twists and turns, the show is continuing to garner less TRPs. The sources reveal that Durga was initiated so that it could compete with Mahadev, but the popularity of Mahadev kept its audiences glued. Therefore, the track of Mahishasur (played by Ali Hasan), which was scheduled for later, has been introduced by the makers a bit early, so that they can cash in on the good ratings. The new promo will be aired soon.

1,000 episodes of drama

A still from Pavitra Rishta Pavitra Rishta, telecast on Zee TV, is all set to enter the 1,000 club. The channel, along with producer, Ekta Kapoor, have planned a one-hour long special episode, which will have the right mix of fiction and non-fiction.

Balaji Telefilms and the channel are planning to add an interesting ‘reality byte’ segment wherein the show’s popular women will interact with people living in chawls.

The entire family will be shown performing at the Shivrathri pandal. Also, the channel is planning to air the show’s ‘story so far’. Though the date for this three-hour special is not yet decided, it is believed that it will be a part of the weekend programming.

Pavitra Rishta will complete its 1,000 run on March 15 and the date to mark in your calendar, to catch a glimpse of the major celebrations, is March 16

New role: Sara Khan Bollywood calling!

Sara Khan, who is making her Bollywood debut with Saawariya—Khatu Shyam Ji Ki Amar Gatha opposite Ashmit Patel, is yet another TV actress who switched to Bollywood recently. But that is not just it, she will soon be doing an item number too. In her film Saawariya, she will be essaying the role of a traditional Indian girl, Meeraand, and she says the role was not so tough to play. Also, her co-star Ashmit thinks that she is fabulous in the film.

New role: Sara Khan

Farewell time: A still from RK Laxman Ki Duniya At the fag end

Comedy show, RK Laxman Ki Duniya, is another show to go off-air this month. Sources reveal that the last episode will be telecast on March 22, but it can get extended till March 29. Based on the cartoons of the famous cartoonist, R K Laxman, the show initially grabbed many eyeballs but could not continue to impress the audiences.

Farewell time: A still from RK Laxman Ki Duniya

Hit formula: Saqib SaleemKiller combination

Saqib Saleem, who will be seen in Mere Dad Ki Maruti, has his mind set on success. His formula for success is that he aspires to act like Aamir Khan, have the charm and wit of Shah Rukh Khan, the blockbuster success and fan following of Salman Khan, and the talent and charm of Ranbir Kapoor. Good going!

Hit formula: Saqib Saleem

Occupational hazard: Alia BhattRandeep slaps Alia

Alia Bhatt has never been slapped but Randeep Hooda made history. He slapped her for a scene in Imtiaz Ali’s Highway. Alia, being a true professional, took it in the right spirit. This scene will be interesting to see. The pairing of Highway is unusual but then Imtiaz Ali makes unusual films that click! Highway will be released in the summer.

Occupational hazard: Alia Bhatt

A still from Saheb Biwi Aur GangsterGood reviews but no cash

The much-hyped sequel to Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster received good reviews but average returns at the box office. The film has collected around Rs 13 crore so far and these have not met the expectations considering the first one was a big hit. The budget of this movie was more than double of the first one. Let us see how the collections fare later this week.

A still from Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster

Too busy: Irrfan KhanIrrfan says no to Bullet Raja

Irrfan Khan and Tigmanshu Dhulia go hand-in-hand as they have worked together in Saheb Biwi Aur Gansgter Returns, Paan Singh Tomar, and many more films. Irrfan has opted out of Bullet Raja and been replaced by Vidyut Jamwal because his dates were clashing with an international project. The makers of Bullet Raja feel that Jamwal fits the bill.

Too busy: Irrfan Khan

Leading on: The poster of Ek Tha TigerDestination Japan

Many Indian films will be released in Japan after Ek Tha Tiger. They are 3 Idiots, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Don 2. Japan is the new market for Indian films and Japanese love our films. Rajnikanth is a big star there.

Leading on: The poster of Ek Tha Tiger

New entry: Esha GuptaEsha in the item list

Esha Gupta is also set to do an item song, becoming the new entrant in the list of leading ladies who are doing item songs. She has bagged a juicy number in Punit Malhotra’s Gori Tere Pyaar Mein starring Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. It is a club song and glamourous and sexy Esha fits the bill perfectly. She adjusted her dates to be available to shoot the song.

New entry: Esha Gupta

 

ASTRO TURF
P Khurrana

ARIES: A strong and vital relationship will cause problems, but its time to deal with it. Your intuitive and perceptive skills will be especially sharp. Take care of your health. Tarot message: Let things run their course and start afresh later. Lucky colour: Red Lucky number: 25

TAURUS: Work out your financial plans. Your love life will be quite interesting. Also, your career and business will witness growth and prosperity. Health will be strong. Tarot message: Avoid the tendency to criticise or judge others too harshly. Lucky colour: Purple Lucky number: 46

GEMINI: You must be patient with people around you. Negative feelings will be momentary. Spend time with family and friends, exercise affection and serenity. Tarot message: Avoid situations that may turn nasty. Lucky colour: Saffron Lucky number: 57

CANCER: Be attentive and careful at work to achieve your goal. It’s a good time to expand your business. An invitation to a social gathering will help you to spend time with your friends. Tarot message: You are advised to focus on professional changes. Lucky colour: Yellow Lucky number: 26

LEO: There will be an increase in you confidence and energy. You will receive a good response if you’re planning a career move. Love and romance will bring much joy. Tarot message: Keep your finances in order. Lucky colour: Crimson Lucky number: 41

VIRGO: Keep a check on your finances. Excessive spending may lead to a windfall. You will feel much stronger and capable at work and home. Love life will be exciting. Tarot message: Plan your actions well in advance. Lucky colour: Blue Lucky number: 62

LIBRA: The focus of the day would be you optimism and energy. It is vital that you deal with any pending issues, either at work or in your personal life. Keep strong check on your health. Tarot message: Strive for perfection at work. Lucky colour: Rainbow Pastels Lucky number: 60

SCORPIO: This is quite an uplifting and inspiring day. You will be able to realize your goals and work towards them. Social bonds will become stronger and closer. Finances will be strong. Tarot message: Don’t trust anyone blindly. Lucky colour: Ebony Lucky number: 28

SAGITTARIUS: Your strong determination will improve your personal life and relationships. At work, teamwork and innovative ideas will bring better results today. Tarot message: Stay focused and calm. Lucky colour: Green Lucky number: 33

CAPRICORN: It’s very important to be careful with your finances. Domestic affairs will be calm; however, you may feel overburdened. Be patience and focused while you involve yourself socially. Tarot message: Be honest to yourself. Lucky colour: Pink Lucky number: 36

AQUARIUS: Your instincts and your reactions will be relatively fast today. Deal with any pending tasks at work but don’t overstress. Health needs immediate attention. Develop a possitive attitute. Tarot message: Avoid hurrying and being over anxious. Lucky colour: Black Lucky number: 47

PISCES: You will be focused at work. But it’s also, important to be patient and understanding in your professional and personal relationships today. Health will be strong. Tarot message: You must learn to accept responsibility. Lucky colour: Grey Lucky number: 58

THE YEAR AHEAD
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is March 14...

Your life is witnessing boredom currently and you need a change to revive the spirit. Your hardwork will pay off and results will be immediate. You will dispose-off profit making stocks to secure your future. The number 5, the day Wednesday and the planet Mercury, are very crucial in your life. So you will remain active, authoritative, dashing, confident, helpful, sincere and kind-hearted person. Jupiter will usher in prosperity and good fortune.

Consider the other person’s point of view and do not apply your opinions everywhere. Observe precision while taking important decisions. A spectacular leap in your professional career is foreseen provided you make use of the opportunities that come your way.

Jupiter highlights support and aspirations can be materialised as accomplishments. Try, however, not to be too aggressive as it can hamper your progress. Youngsters will experiment and undertake new initiatives at work. They will be dynamic and professional. Good financial position will improve your living style.

This is the time to embark on a risky journey and leave no stone unturned. Hope for the best and expect the worst. The road ahead will be rocky, but keep moving ahead. Your family is important for you despite all the limelight and provides you the ultimate fulfillment.

Extra-ordinary success is on the cards and you will grab hold of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can be life-changing. You will strategise your finances efficiently, thus relieving yourselves of insecurity. Have self-control and do not vent out your anger. Consistent attention and concentration will take you far. Employees will get the credit they deserve.

Compatible signs: Scorpio, Virgo.

Aamir KhanLucky colours: Dark-green, Cyan.

Lucky days: Tuesday and Thursday.

Lucky numbers: 2, 10, 22, 50.

You share your birthday with Aamir Khan (March 14, 1965, Mumbai), who made a debut as a child artiste in Yaadon Ki Baaraat. He later appeared in the art film Holi. In 1988, he debuted with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in the lead and achieved instant stardom. He turned director with the film Taare Zameen Par. Many of his films are considered as cult classics like Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and Andaz Apna Apna. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010.





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