The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

	CELEB POINT Let’s be simple Divya Dutta In our lives even simple things are made complicated by our complicated minds. When you look around, you see everyone struggling to find true happiness, true love. Strangely, we are all stuck in a vicious circle—of ambitions, of manipulations, of being selfish because otherwise you’ll be eaten up by the ones bigger than you. We don’t cherish genuineness anymore. We underrate simplicity. Have you ever noticed that the one who gives you a chase or plays hard to get is the one you seek? On the other hand, someone who comes immediately when you call, who is there silently but surely, I can lay a bet, you take him or her for granted at some level. It could also be that you get comfortable, but are we not complicated? This constant running has become an integral part of us. This constant state of conflict takes the better of us. Most of our time goes in being who we are not. We know it. I tell you even the world knows it! But we are so conditioned to being politically correct or behaving a certain way that we forget who we are really. How many times would you go up to tell someone what you genuinely feel? Why do we layer everything? Why are we scared of speaking out what is in our heart? Trust me, when you speak it warmly and with love and genuineness, it will reach others. If you are fake, they will be good to you but they will still know. Why have we complicated our already complicated lives? Just say it the way it is. With these thoughts I got home, welcomed by my little pet, Sakhi! True, genuine, warm unconditional and expressive, without words! She jumped on me to be patted and then came back with her little ball, clear that she wanted to play. As we played, she came and sat on my lap, a sign of gratitude for giving her company. She saw I wasn’t in the best of mood and she just quietly came and hugged me. Soothing serene simple pure love! Nothing explained, everything understood, no misunderstandings! When she’s so expressive about her affection, it is reciprocated the same way. Why can’t we humans unlearn a bit, unwind a bit, loosen up our defenses and try living the gift of god like a gift, in its pure unadulterated form! No layers, no complications! I was listening to the bhajan, Humko mann ki shakti dena… reminded me of the innocent school time where everything was so idealistic. Can we use that bhajan in our lives today? Far-fetched but can we try it. (Dutta is a Bollywood actress)
	Little urbane, little rustic Ashima Batish Let as many fine dining restaurants and lounges dot the map of Chandigarh, dhabas will always enjoy their share of clientele. At least half a dozen dhabas are as old or half the age of the city. And now with more sprouting, food lovers only have another reason to rejoice. Wednesday saw the opening of Urbane Tadka, a 'smart' dhaba that promises great food at reasonable prices. Done on the lines of Deluxe Dhaba, Urbane Tadka serves Punjabi cuisine. Manish Goyal, owner of the place, says, "Since it is 25-35 per cent cheaper than a fine dining restaurant, people will flock to the place for food that is tasty, yet hygienically prepared. People don't mind coming to such places even twice in a week." The menu comprises popular Punjabi dishes. "People in this part of the country might have Chinese on one day, South Indian or continental on another, but for the rest five days they have to have Punjabi food." Thus, butter chicken, mutton rogan josh, shahi paneer, kadhai paneer, dal makhani are sure shot options in the menu. The ambience of the dhaba is worth mentioning. It's simple yet done aesthetically complementing the theme of the place. There are kites decorated with phulkari work hung on the walls. Also, copper plates with bowls and lamps make for the show pieces used to do up the place. Located in Sector 35, which is also the hub of eating joints in the city, dining at Urbane Tadka will mean value for money. "It is easy on the pocket and I am sure people would love to dine here," adds Manish.
	it’s rocking Magic of yesteryears The latest offering from the makers of the film Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobara is a song Tayyab Ali, which recreates the magic of the Bollywood of the sixties. The song was earlier featured in the film Amar Akbar Anthony and was filmed on Neetu Singh and Rishi Kapoor. This time, the song features Imran Khan trying to woo Sonakshi Sinha and is sung by Javed Ali and written by Rajat Arora. Retro ishtyle I like the song because it has a very retro feel to it. Also it is sheer Bollywood, a sort that's hard to find. It's been playing in my car for the longest time now and I love it! Kanika Sharma, student Lyrical delight I love the lyrics and the feels of the song. It is so peppy and the English middles add more humour to it. One can easily relate to it. Arjun Khanna, student Desi beats I like the music of the song. Though it is from the film Amar Akbar Anthony, it has a new feel to it and I think Imraan Khan is looking as cute as Rishi Kapoor did in the one shot earlier. Aastha Sharma, student — As told to Amarjot Kaur
	TRENDSETTER Comfortable in his skin Chandigarh lad Rachit Khasa, 25, leads a fashionable life and for him, the essence of looking good lies not in one's capacity to imitate the latest trends, but being comfortable in the attire that he is wearing. Describe your sense of style… For me, comfort comes first and I wear clothes that I feel comfortable in. The idea behind selecting clothes is not because they are in vogue. One should also consider their personal style, mood, weather and the occasion while dressing up. Latest addition in the wardrobe… A pair of sunglasses from Gucci and denims from Zara. Brand freak or street smart? Both, depending on my mood and occasion. Choose one--sporty, glamorous or chic I think glamorous would be the right choice. Your style icon… Ashton Kutcher. Who's the worst dressed celebrity around and why? Parineeti Chopra. I think she needs a new stylist. One fashion trend that you don't understand… Baggy jeans, they hang down your butt. It makes you look like your diaper is full and needs to be changed. Your take on accessories… It completes the outfit and complements the wearer's look. One thing that boosts your confidence and why? A nice perfume. I think it is very important for a man to smell good. You would love to be dressed up by… Given a choice, I would like Alexander Mcqueen to design my outfit. (As told to Amarjot Kaur)
	Tune tonic Music composer Rochak Kohli of Paani Da Rang fame is slowly but surely carving a niche for himself in tinsel town. His entire focus remains on the notes he offers… Manpriya Singh School-time breaks led to college festivals, choir practices to theatre and smaller stints to bigger platforms. Chandigarh-bred and Mumbai-based music composer Rochak Kohli reflects on his journey and the rest does feel like history. “We were introduced to music in school itself and something beyond Bollywood interested us,” he reminisces the days at St. John’s High School, moving onto the DAV College. It was only a matter of time before the theatre group Aghaaz and the collaboration with Ayushmann Khurrana happened. “I founded Aghaaz in 2001 and that’s when we took it to various festivals, travelled and won a lot of awards too.” He laughs, “Ayushmann and me went to the same school and later were in the same college. He had just shifted from medical to arts and was extremely serious about studies.” The real success story was to begin with Paani Da Rang. It was a song that swept the awards, received stupendous success and resonated all through the air waves. “That was actually the second or third song we came up with. The earlier ones were quite cheesy ones,” he laughs adding, “We were actually banking songs for a band at that point of time. I wrote the lyrics and we started composing; he later added onto the song.” Only to be followed by Saadi Gali, two days later. The song that was to be a part of yet another Bollywood flick, Nautanki Saala. As for Pani Da Rang, it was an accidental trip by the director Shhojit Sircar. “Ayushmann Khurrana happened to be just strumming the song with a guitar when the director heard him and just asked for the song.” Up next The deluge of film offers was not intended, but certainly expected. “At the time I received a lot of film offers, which I couldn’t take up due to paucity of time. I was into a full-time job with a radio station and doing really well.” The passion finally won over profession and there’s a long list of projects he’s looking forward to. “Coming up are four songs with T-series, out of which one will be an emotional Punjabi track for Bipasha Basu-starrer Creature.” He adds, “Then there’s a John Mayer kind of composition.” An artiste that makes it to his all-time favourites! “I’m also a fan of Taylor Swift, Beatles and AR Rahman.” Probably, which is why, there’s a mention of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. “It’s a great story to have given music to.” Meanwhile, he’s out to revive songs from the era long-forgotten, the times of1930s to 1945s. “It’s a project I’m doing with Sa Re Ga Ma and have to recreate the entire catalogue of songs that happened during that time.” There’s a conscious endeavour to differentiate from the word remix. “I would say I’m recreating the songs and not remixing them. We are retaining the soul of the songs and the music is the same. It’s an attempt to present those songs if they were recorded today.” Chandigarh connect While shuttling between projects, the visit to the city has happened after a gap of three years. “I am thinking of opening a studio here. This is the place where fresh ideas come to you unlike Mumbai, where we have cramped spaces and closed places.” manpriya@tribunemail.com
	A road less travelled The team of upcoming album Sadkan has come together to produce music that they hope will rock with the youngsters… Ashima Batish The unannounced dress code for the event is a pair of glares. It seems like an unsaid protocol here — ‘The ones who have it will only be allowed on stage’. As if it is to identify all those who are a part of the upcoming album, Sadkan, launched by JMD Music, a new company that aspires to undertake many such ventures in the future! Sadkan is an interesting compilation of Punjabi and Haryanvi songs. The album introduces new names in the field of music composition and singing, only exception being Nawaab Saab. Here is getting know them better. Haryanvi flavour Hailing from Rohtak, Nawaab feels that Haryanvi music hasn’t got its due while Punjabi music has become popular worldwide. “It’s only because anyone who can sing wants to become a Punjabi singer. I preferred Haryanvi for two reasons; first I want to take Haryanvi music to people and second, it will be a novel concept to try,” says the singer who has sung for Houseful 2. Nawab started his career as a rapper, but soon took to singing. He has also written songs for the album. Nawab isn’t professionally trained, but claims that on-the-job training is helping him to master the art of singing. So will he be able to achieve in Haryanvi rap what Honey Singh has done in Punjabi? “It’s just about clicking with the people. Once they like your music, they follow you, which becomes an inspiration to make quality music.” He next hopes to sing for Punjabi films and bag a couple of Bollywood projects as well. Happy note He is happy to sing four songs in his debut album, all of which, he says, are very different from each other. “There is a sad song, a club mix and a song meant for friends and Sadkan, which is also the title of the album.” He has contributed for the Punjabi part of the album. Since he isn’t professionally trained, he makes sure that he does riyaaz daily. “There is so much competition in the industry that you can’t survive if you don’t work hard. And I know I have a long way to go before I become a good singer,” confesses Karan. Sing along Sadkan is this music composer duo’s debut album and they have tried their best to leave an impression. “We took two months to make music for this album.” The duo started by composing music at college youth festivals. “We have tried our hand at making music for Haryanvi rap, which hasn’t been done before. It was a challenge to do so, since we had no music records to refer to.” They have given a twist to the traditional beats of Haryanvi music to cater to the youth. “We want youngsters to follow our music and that is only possible if we give them what they like.” Needless to say, it will be something like pop Haryanvi music. As for the ‘all glares’ brigade on the stage, Sni Nagra was the only exception. ashima@tribunemail.com
	Star Track Ranbir Kapoor’s link chain! Bollywood's leading boy Ranbir Kapoor has everything going for him, both professionally and personally. He's become one of the most bankable actors and his reputation as a casanova has become a bit of a legend. The list of his so-called girlfriends is just as colourful as the roles he picks up for himself. Here's a look! On again, off again Katrina Kaif: It's the classic case of perfect timing. Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor met on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani, when both of them had just come out of committed relationships. Katrina was seeing Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor was in a highly publicised relationship with Deepika Padukone. The couple has allegedly been seeing each other, on and off, since then. The first crush Avantika Malik: In school, Ranbir was smitten by classmate Avantika Malik and was later seen hanging around the sets of Just Mohabbat, a show that aired on Sony in the 1990s, starring Avantika. After a considerable time together, they called it quits and Avantika moved on to Imran Khan. Calling it quits Deepika Padukone: Many believed that they were a match made in heaven. They complimented each other and people loved their chemistry in Bachna Ae Haseeno. But it wasn't meant to be. Insecurity, boredom and a roving eye were apparently the factors that ruined the couple's love life. So Ranbir and Deepika called it quits. Up in the flames Nargis Fakhri: The newest in the line of pretty lasses, that have sashayed in this Kapoor boy's life, is his co-star from his film Rockstar. Ranbir reportedly got close to the model/actress from New York while they were shooting for the film together. But even before they could officially come out as a couple, they apparently broke up and Nargis is now dating someone else. A brief stint Sonam Kapoor: What do you get when you put together two star kids assisting a director on his film? Before they debuted with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, Sonam Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor were assistant directors on his 2005 film Black. The youngsters' romance never really took off. Zarine Khan steps into mustard fields… Of late, a lot of faces from Bollywood have ventured into Punjabi cinema, which is growing into a multi-crore industry. We will soon see another familiar Bollywood face. Zarine Khan, who debuted in Bollywood as Salman Khan's leading lady in Veer, is making her Punjabi debut in Rohit Jugraj's film titled Jatt James Bond. She will be paired opposite Gippy Grewal. Poonam Pandey bags another film Her debut film Nasha may not have done well at the box-office, but Poonam Pandey has managed to bag another film. She will be playing a plain Jane in a yet untitled film. She's quite excited about the film as she will go all de-glam. Actress Preity Zinta, who was last seen in Ishkq in Paris, recently shot with actor Saif Ali Khan for an untitled rom-com. Co-incidentally she also bumped into Hollywood director Michael Bay, who was shooting for Transformers, in the same area. The hunt for Helen! While Randeep Hooda has been finalised as the male lead, filmmaker Pooja Bhatt is still looking for the leading lady for her next film Cabaret. Pooja says that the film is going to be a complete musical. 'CABARET is a musical bonanza! Of that I am certain. Have zoned in on our Male lead. If only life will present us a new age Helenji as well!' the 41-year-old director tweeted. The best acknowledgement Sachin Tendulkar has rendered a poem in Marathi for Farhan Akhtar's MARD (Men Against Rape And Discrimination) campaign. Farhan took to Twitter to thank Sachin and tweeted: 'Thank you @sachin_rt for supporting #MARD. Marathi poem in his voice to go online soon...' A chance meeting Actress Preity Zinta, who was last seen in Ishkq in Paris, recently shot with actor Saif Ali Khan for an untitled rom-com. Co-incidentally she also bumped into Hollywood director Michael Bay, who was shooting for Transformers, in the same area.
	chatter box They all had fun Producer Yash Patnaik of Beyond Dreams Productions threw a bash on Saturday night at Marima Lounge in Andheri (West). The cast and crew of his show, Junoon, were seen having a great time. Guests at the event were Mouni Roy, Sudhanshu Pandey, Sneha Wagh, Bhavesh Balchandani, Harshita Ojha, Shagufta Ali, Kapil Nirmal and Rumi Khan. Celebration time Three hour long Eid Special episode of Qubool Hai will be aired this Saturday only on Zee TV. Various artists of Zee family were seen coming together and performing on different dance numbers. Apart from the elders, even the kids of DID Lil' Champs and India's Best Draamebaaz were seen performing on the sets. While Zoya and Asad were seen creating magic by performing on a romantic number. Tanveer set the stage on fire by doing a mujra. Host with the most! With his debut film Mickey Virus about to release in a month's time, Manish Paul who is hosting Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, is nervous and excited. He talks about his popularity and career. You have become the most popular host in the last couple of years. What do you attribute this growth to? Earlier too I was hosting but maybe I didn't get as big a break as his one. As soon as I got big events people realised that I was different and things began to roll. I add a lot to the script and my writers support me. The fraternity too never felt bad about my jokes. They supported me and my confidence grew. Why do you think you are so popular? I don't try to put on an act. I am like a person sitting with you watching TV. On social networking sites, people say that they feel as if they are talking to a friend. Tell us about your film. Mickey Virus is about a hacker. He is a lazy guy who doesn't like to do anything in life. The film is about how he makes a goof -up and then tries to solve it. Do you also want a show of your own like Kapil Sharma? If I get a show like that I would like to do it. Kapil's show has taken comedy to a different level. People felt stand-up comedy has been saturated but he brought in a different flavour. People are enjoying it as it isn't a repetition of other shows. Which is your favourite show on TV? Sarabhai vs Sarabhai was superb. It was brilliant and I don't know why they didn't come out with a season 2. Shama’s birthday bash Actress Shama Sikander celebrated her birthday recently at a popular water park in Mumbai. Her boyfriend Alexx O Neil got her a chocolate cake. There were many guests including Karan V. Grover, Hanif Hilal, Poppy Jabbal, Jas Binag, Supreet Bedi, Saiwyn Quadras, producer Anjum Rizvi, Vipul D Shah, Shailendra Singh and ambassador of Poland Janusz Wach. Shama said about the party, "I felt the most loved and pampered by my friends and family members. I was jumping around and shouting that it's my birthday like a small child. Everything was just perfect, it couldn't have been better." Let the music play Monsoon means romance and fun and it was indeed an enjoyable time for the cast and crew of Amita ka Amit as they completely enjoyed the Mumbai monsoons. Recently there was a power failure on the sets of the show. With no shooting on the cards, Nishad Vaidhya (Amit) turned up the volume of the music system in his car and started dancing with Chandni (Amita). They were soon joined by the entire cast and crew of the show. Reaching for the stars Star Plus' popular show Ek Veer Ki Ardaas... Veera completed 200 episodes recently. The entire cast of the show is in celebration mood. The story of Veera is about the bonding between a brother and sister. He takes care of his sister's every need. Harshita Ojha and Bhavesh Balchandani play Veera and Ranvijay respectively. Delighted Sneha Wagh said, "I hope viewers keep watching and loving the show.”
	first-day-first show No express stuff... Chennai Express Directed by Rohit Shetty and produced by Gauri Khan under her production banner Red Chillies Entertainment, Chennai Express is an action-comedy film. The film features Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. Chennai Express is about a man's journey from Mumbai to Rameshwaram and what happens after he falls in love with the daughter of a local don. Nothing extraordinary I like the film, but it does not have anything extraordinary to sustain the audience. It starts very well but as it continues, it gets boring and clichéd. There is nothing new to the film, except the fact that SRK is pulling off a comic role. Anahita Sachdeva, student Very entertaining It is a funny film that entertains you Rohit Shetty style and that is the USP. I enjoyed watching the film because I am a die-hard fan of SRK and he has done complete justice to the role. Namrita Sharma, student Far and beyond I think the film is funny, but it has a very weak storyline. The plot could have been better and that is where the film fails to connect with the audience. However, it definitely qualifies as a one-time watch. Jasmeet Kaur, student — As told to Amarjot Kaur
	Astro Turf P. Khurrana ARIES: Not much out of the ordinary is likely to transpire today. Do not load yourself with work. Working women: Control your temper. Pearls of wisdom from an older person are valuable. Tarot message: Boost your confidence with positive thinking. Lucky colour: 38 Magic number: Aqua blue TAURUS: There are too many problems to cope with at home. Business conferences can go off smoothly under your direction. Romance with a friend can start up unexpectedly, becoming a very productive alliance. Tarot message: Avoid situations that may turn nasty. Lucky colour: Mauve Magic number: 59 GEMINI: Not a particularly busy day. You'll prefer not to share your thoughts or ideas with people from your past. If you are thinking of rekindling a past affair, make plan for a weekend retreat just for the two of you. Tarot message: Results are guaranteed if you stick to plans. Lucky colour: Navy blue Magic number: 47 CANCER: Love life is controversial. Give more time to domestic duties. Sportsmen perform well. Do not suppress your feelings. Love and friendship are likely to take up most of your time. Tarot message: Do not let anyone take your advantage. Lucky colour: White. Magic number: 53 LEO: You must try harder at work. Avoid speculation. A hectic day to undertake business activities. Travel plans need a double check. Expecting women: Focus on your diet and exercise. Tarot message: Do not cover up for your mistakes and keep emotions aside. Lucky colour: Saffron. Magic number: 30 VIRGO: There will be new projects to deal with. Mothers: Take proper care of your little child. Businessmen: You can expect to double the output. Social activities will make your thought process active. Tarot message: Don't get involved in ventures in which returns are delayed. Lucky colour: Sky blue. Magic number: 31 LIBRA: Nothing is going wrong today. Home and family life run smoothly. You will get more time to do what you want. Evening favours social get togethers. Co-workers are controversial. Pamper yourself a little today. Tarot message: Avoid gossip sessions. Lucky colour: Orange Magic number: 36 SCORPIO: Women will be bored with their daily routine. Love life will be controversial. Your health can stand in the way of travel plans. Think about what you are going to wear for an upcoming job interview. Tarot message: Try to get your work in order Lucky colour: Pink Magic number: 61 SAGITTARIUS: Avoid tiffs and angry words in the heat of the moment. Students: A day when you may be confused about your career. Someone close to you might be constantly complaining. Tarot message: Be articulate to prevent people for making their own conclusion. Lucky colour: Silver. Magic number: 32 CAPRICORN: Overseas inquiries for business will be encouraging. Investments made in new ventures are sure to bring good dividends. Your mind could be daydreaming. So, stay focussed. Tarot message: You are advised to focus on professional changes. Lucky colour: Yellow Magic number: 29 AQUARIUS: Do not sign new arrangements. Use your sympathy more than your ambition for best results. A strong independent streak will push you to get things done your way and in your time. Tarot message: Arrogance and pride will not be rewarded. Lucky colour: Green Magic number: 43 PISCES: The vibes now call for reflection and re-evaluation. Contracts and agreements can stall, messages can get mixed up, and appointments can be canceled. So, be attentive. Tarot message: You need to be creative if you want to retain your grip over your business. Lucky colour: Peach Magic number: 65