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A political script
In a split-screen between a politician and a celebrity-turned-politician, the latter is perceived to have it all easy, on the platter. Some public appearances, a few emotional speeches garnished with apt anecdotes, references to their art form…and a vote-bank is generated. But how many votes are converted on the D-day is the actual litmus test because had it been that simple, Amitabh Bachcan would have never called it quits, Govinda would have been a popular MP, Dharmendra would have been around!
The induction of Miss Pooja into the Punjab wing of BJP has once again raised the debate if celebrities make for better leaders. Does the influence of their art help political parties garner votes? Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans, who contested elections from Jalandhar parliamentary seat on a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party ticket, feels that the artist in him couldn't adapt to the measures that politicians take to win elections. "A politician's job is a very difficult one. At the same time, it is not easy for artists to understand the nitty-gritty of politics, they can't understand how distributing alcohol helps secure votes or how to generate vote bank based on caste system." As for Miss Pooja, he wishes her luck. "I hope she realises that politics means give and take. But you end up giving much more than you take from a political party." Usually, celebrities give up their art form as they take to politics. It's a compromise they have to make. Consider Govinda for example, his career hasn't been able to bounce back once he took a break from Bollywood to pursue his political dreams. A couple of rare successful celebs-cum-politicians are Navjot Singh Sidhu and Mohammad Sadiq, who have been able to strike a balance between showcasing their talent and political careers. While political parties have been hiring services of singers, actors and comedians to gather crowds at rallies, celebs as politicians is a better bet. They have an emotional connect with people and are projected as ideal leaders. Bhagwant Mann, who is a founder member of Punjab People's Party (PPP), feels that artists can become better leaders for they empathise with the common man and his everyday issues. On the other hand, as Mann suggests, induction of more and more celebrities by the regional and national parties also indicates that there is dearth of leaders who can woo voters solely by their claims. Bhagwant adds, "What matters is if celebrities are able to deliver or not. They should also ensure that the political parties are not using them as a bait to secure a seat in the assembly or Parliament." Bhagwant consciously stays away from cracking jokes or doing stand-up comedy acts on political platforms. He adds, "Once you have taken to politics, you have to leave your image of a celebrity behind. Only then people will accept you as a politician and not a mere entertainer." The number of successful celebs-turned-politicians is far less than the ones who haven't been accepted by the masses. Only in South India it's a starkly different picture, where all politicians with an acting background have converted their vote banks. "It also depends if a celebrity wants to work for people and development of the constituency or just mark attendance in people's houses," Vindoo Dara Singh, son of late MP Dara Singh, says. He feels that it is not everybody's cup of tea to become a successful politician. "Politics is a dirty game and not everybody can dare take the plunge." As of now, Miss Pooja has. As for her role in the party, wait and watch! ashima@tribunemail.com
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Virtually class-ic
Learning curve The curious.com is for all the curious learners and teachers. From basic French lessons, sign language to making crafts, there certainly is something for everyone. What caught our eye was how to make beaded Crystal Heart Cake Topper, and then there is salsa for beginners too. Child's play Read on If books are what entice you more than anything else, go for goodread.com. Neatly labeled under different genres right from classics, comics to crime; right from art to psychology, you can easily browse here. It can help if you want to decide on which tome to pick next, join a conversation with those who have similar tastes or be part of a book club. The site also gets you review and ratings of the books if you are considering them. Melody note Music lovers can tune in to 8tracks.com. Free music play list gets you the best of Christmas, party, instrumental and much more. Plug into the site and let melody drown you in the emotion you want to - love, melancholy or calming. Hands full If a makeover is on your mind, head for bebeautiful.com. Its homepage has it all - trend spotting, expert advice and plenty more. Know food that helps your complexion, how to stick to healthy diet or five must wedding makeup haves…it's all here. From just-launched to make up experts, they are all here to help with some amazing DIY. By no means could the list be exhaustive. Wake up the dormant photographer in you or give life to the gardening instinct that's been lurking to come to life or travel around the world virtually or laugh away to glory…make the most of the season of staying indoors. mona@tribunemail.com
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It’s happening War has many facets, each strung together with anguish, heartbreak, pain and suffering. Although the emotions would be the same, the stories are different and when it is women we are looking at, they are even more poignant. As we know, war has its own impact on women, even though they are not out there on the battlefield. In an internationally acclaimed adaptation of 9 Parts of Desire, which was written and performed by Heather Raffo, inspired by a trip to a modern art museum in Baghdad in August 1993, the play details the lives of nine Iraqi women that span the decades between the first and second Gulf Wars. Described by The New Yorker as "an example of how art can remake the world", it is a portrait of the extraordinary (and ordinary) lives of a whole cross-section of Iraqi women — a sexy painter, a radical Communist, doctors, exiles, wives and lovers - and delves into the many conflicting and complex aspects of what it means to be a woman in a country overshadowed by war. The play is an unusually timely meditation on the ancient, the modern and the feminine in a war-torn world. As topical as today's newspaper headlines, these rich monologues have the ability to transcend time, space, politics, religion and even gender. Each of the stories will touch a chord within, helping the viewer to visualise, feel and empathise with the stories as well as the lives of the women protagonists. The play will be enacted by Ira Dubey, who hails from a family of theatre artists with her mother Lillete and sister Neha already having a strong presence on celluloid. Ira too successfully straddles the worlds of films, theatre and journalism. Three of her films are getting ready for release, one of which is M CREAM, an English film, written and directed by Agneya Singh, co-starring Barry John, Tom Alter, Lushin Dubey and Imaad Shah. (On December 17 at the Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh) — TNS
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A mirror to reality
Vijay Saudai's debut novel is out. Called Dalit, it's a story that starts from an unprivileged colony and ends at Chief Minister's House! A contractor by profession, Vijay has been fond of reading and writing. He wrote two books earlier too but failed to get them published. Fond of writing on society's ills, Vijay's novel Dalit focuses on the corrupt political system and how it has ruined our society. "Why we are not doing well as a society is largely due to political system which isn't working fine. My book has Anna Hazare kind of movement though I wrote much before that happened," says Vijay, who took two years to pen the book. He has drawn inspiration from real life incidents to write this novel. Vijay released the book on Sunday in Chandigarh. Published by Satluj Prakashan, this 300 pages plus novel is priced at Rs 495. It's a tough time for Hindi writers, getting a book published is very difficult too. "It's not easy to find a publisher. One has to spend money from pocket to get it published and then one hardly earns profit."
In love with Munshi Premchand, Rabindranath Tagore, Yashpal, Dharamvir Bharati and Acharya Chatursen, Vijay has tried new authors but has been left unimpressed. "I will stay loyal to the classic writers," says Vijay, who is already writing another novel that addresses communalism in our
country. mona@tribunemail.com
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Weight
watch Renupreet Kaur
A myth Contrary to popular belief, there's no scientific evidence to prove that we're biologically predisposed to weight gain in the colder months of a year. Contributing factors Winter weight gain happens for the following reasons: Body stores more fat It seems likely that we have a natural genetic inclination to store more fat as winter approaches. Extra layers of adipose tissue on the body protect us against the cold. Tendency to eat more Equally important is that we probably have a tendency to eat more in this season. We may also unconsciously tend to choose fatty foods at this time. Hormonal changes Another likely reason for this seasonal weight gain is the influence of hormones in our body. The fluctuations of hormones and other chemicals in the brain can result into variations in appetite and cravings. Seasonal affective disorder Generally people feel low in the winter. They tend to overeat or eat the wrong foods due to this seasonally induced depression, leading to weight gain. Less physical activity Often our physical activity levels drop in the winter and we have a tendency to want to stay home and rest. How to lose weight Here are some easy ways to lose weight in winter: Eat fresh Eating more fruits and vegetables is key to losing weight. They provide a lot of vitamins, minerals and fibre, all of which are important when losing weight. Drink more tea Black, green and herbal teas are great in the winter. They're warm and cozy and low in calories. They also help you get more water, which can help you feel full. Keep a food diary It may be helpful to keep track of your calories for a few days or weeks to make sure that you aren't going above your daily calorie goal. Drink more water The heated air can be extremely drying and we often forget to drink water because it's so cold out. You still, however, need to drink 7-8 cups of water each day. Regular exercise Get some exercises by signing up with a gym or get a stationary bicycle. Burn those carbs into energy now instead of keeping them on you until spring. Get more sleep Not getting enough sleep boosts the production of certain hunger hormones. Get your full 7 to 8 hours of sleep to ensure that you are rested and better able to make healthy choices. (Renupreet Kaur is diet therapist and obesity expert)
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it’s rocking
Romantic track Since I am a hopeless romantic, I really like this song. The song has a strong underlying meaning that love is unconditional and that is what makes this song so special and makes it stand out from the rest. Taran, student Touching song I really like the song. It touching and emotional and it is different from the kind of Punjabi songs that I have heard so far. I like the video of the song too. Arun Kaul, student Soulful number I love the song. Hardy Sandhu is awesome. I like the music, the lyrics and the feel of the song. It is one of those few soulful songs, which one seldom gets to hear, especially in the modern Punjabi song. Nitin Sharma, student — As told to Amarjot Kaur
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star track It is a well-known fact that Shilpa Shetty Kundra has bagged the 'yummy mummy' tag ever since she became a mother and has inevitably always scored brownie points for her style, her svelte figure, glowing skin and an effervescent personality always accompanied with that hundred watt smile. The actress turned producer has now emerged the Yummiest Mummy in India as per the recent AC Nielsen poll. The international survey organization AC Nielsen, a global marketing research firm that operates in over 100 countries, with worldwide headquarters in New York City, United States of America, recently conducted a survey on 'Yummy Mummies' and leggy lass Shilpa Shetty Kundra bagged the maximum votes. hot list: Shilpa Shetty
Good side of the bad boys
Superstars Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan have both led such a colourful life till now that it was only a matter of time that their real life story gets chronicled on screen. And that is exactly what writer-turned-filmmaker Muazzam Beg has attempted to do in his latest venture Munna Bhai, Sallu Bhai, a Bollywood feature story through which he hopes to portray the human side of these so called bad boys of Hindi cinema. The film stars debutant actors Shreshtha Kumar, Zubair Khan and Anjali Arora in key roles who are playing the part of Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt's die-hard fans.
Joan’s dead
Joan Fontaine, who won an Oscar for her role in Alfred Hitchcock-helmed 1940 film Suspicion, has passed away due to undisclosed reasons. She was 96. The Hollywood star died on Sunday at her northern California house.
Apart from starring in another Hitchcock-helmed 1939 film Rebecca, the iconic actress' other well-known movies included 1943's The Constant Nymph, 1944's Jane Eyre and 1952's Ivanhoe. — ANI
Julia goes career planning
Hollywood star Julia Roberts says she is not sure she would want her children to take up acting.
The 46-year-old actress, however, said she would not dismiss it if her nine-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus or her six-year-old son Henry want to follow in on her footsteps. "You have to approach each child differently and each desire that they have different. Acting brought me an enormous amount of joy, so I wouldn't just dismiss it," Roberts said. "But I think I would investigate it, especially if they were a child," she added. — PTI
Tusshar’s future
Balaji boy Tusshar Kapoor is gearing up to follow his sister Ekta Kapoor's steps by turning a producer soon. For the maiden production venture, Tusshar will team up with Shabina Khan, who had produced the highly-successful Rowdy Rathore.
The film will be directed by Raghava Lawrence and reportedly stars Tusshar's Golmaal co-star Ajay Devgn. Sources also claim that the film is the Bollywood remake of Tamil comedy-horror flick Kanchana.
Sleepless in Saroj land
Actress Nandita Das, who will be seen with husband Subodh Maskara in upcoming Spanish film Traces of Sandalwood, finds it tough to keep pace with ace choreographer Saroj Khan for one of the songs of the film.
After 23 years in the film industry, Nandita has finally got a chance to do a typical Bollywood dance with Anna Soler-Pont's film. She would be performing the full-on filmy dance for the first time in her career and the director has roped in the formidable choreographer to teach Nandita her dance steps. Rehearsals are on full-swing for what promises to be the biggest challenge of Nandita's career. Apparently Saroj Khan, known to reduce the likes of Raveena Tandon to tears with her exacting instructions, is giving Nandita sleepless nights over the filmy gyrations. Speaking shyly of her first steps at Bollywood dancing, Nandita exclaims: "Can you believe it, in all these years I've never danced on-screen, probably because I've been seen in a particular image both off and on-screen. But hey, I also enjoy dancing! And I'll prove it." Known to be a hard task-master, Saroj Khan is spending considerable time coaching Nandita on the latka-jhatka. Apparently the actress is not too comfortable with some of the gyrations, but she is getting there.
Mad experiment
Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra will be seen playing a 'mad scientist' in her forthcoming film Hasee To Phasee. Speaking during the film's first look launch Chopra said that in the movie she plays the role of a scientist who is actually a little mad.
"I wish I could tell you everything about my role. I play a scientist who is actually a little mad. It's something that I have never seen on screen," she said. Chopra claimed that the film will surprise the audience with what it has to offer. "The film has much more than what we can show in the trailer. I can assure you that you will get a big surprise when you see the film," she added. The movie, which is directed by Vinil Matthew, also features Siddharth Malhotra and will hit the theatres on February 7. — ANI
Manoj’s Cliffhanger moment
Manoj Bajpayee and actor Amol Parashar had a narrow escape while shooting for the film Traffic. Manoj was driving and had to take a sharp turn at high speed. Since they had created an artificial rain he couldn't see the cliff's corner properly and was about to flip across.
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chatter box While actresses on television seem to have plenty of work, male actors don't do much, which is why there's a trend of popular male television stars juggling multiple shows — mostly as the host. We take a look at some of them. Hiten Tejwani He hosts the crime show Savdhan India along with his daily soap Pavitra Rishta. While in the former, Hiten feels he can connect with the audiences, in the latter he can give them a dose of his histrionics. Anoop Soni He is the face of the popular crime show Crime Patrol and Anoop too enjoys the responsibility of being on a platform that helps bring change in society. His role in Balika Vadu as Bhairon is also righteous and just. Gautam Rode In his second season as the host, Gautam seems to be at ease while going about his hosting duties in Nach Baliye. His intense character and power-packed acting in Saraswati Chandra are dramatically opposite. Rithvik Dhanjani Rithvik brings freshness that was the requirement of a show like Yeh Hai Aashiqui, which showcases love stories based on true stories. His stint in Pavitra Rishta gave him immense popularity.
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Driven by passion
Actress Sheetal Singh, who is currently seen as the female lead, Roshni, in producer Sudhir Sharma's newly launched show Paanch — Five Wrongs Makes a Right, talks about her role and more.
How did you start your career? I was pursuing my education in Delhi when I got an opportunity to join Kingfisher Airlines. As I was to fly from Mumbai, I shifted to the metropolis. And since I always wanted to be an actor, it was a great chance for me to pursue my passion. Why did you choose to debut with
a TV show? I chose this show since this is a finite series (52 episodes). I don't think I will ever be comfortable doing a daily. Apart from that, TV gives you a great exposure and a chance to connect with your audience. Paanch is a very different show and will surely have the audience hooked onto it. What is your character like? Roshni is someone very shy and full of fears. Having been brought up under the care and love of her father and sister, Roshni is very timid. But the unfortunate incident of her sister's death has changed her and now she is all geared up to avenge the same. She is doing things that she would never dare to do in her life. Do you relate with the character? I don't really relate completely with the character. But her drive for achieving her target is really impressive. We stay in a city that teaches us to be strong and confident. Apart from that, I have to often close the real me off to become Roshni. It's difficult, but this is my job and I hope to do well. The show touches a serious topic of ragging. Have you ever faced anything of that sort? It's an irony that even though I am playing this role, I have never gone to college. Since I started working from the age of 18, I completed my education through a correspondence course. And this is the reason why I am really enjoying the show.
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Serial order
First he played a negative role in Na Aana Is Desh Laado and surprised everyone; next his wish to play the lead role was fulfilled when he was chosen for Sahara One's family show Aakhir Bahu Bhi Toh Beti Hee Hai. He is 25-year-old model-turned-actor Aryan Pandit. We catch up for more.
What is your role like? I play Samar, who is an ambitious cricketer. As it unfolds, his dreams take a backseat. It is a powerful lead role that I am playing. How was your transition from modelling to acting? I have completed many modelling assignments. In between, I got a negative role in Na Aana Is Desh Laado. The transition from modelling to acting was much-needed and nice. What attracted you to this show? I read the script and thought it was really exciting; when I was asked for audition I jumped at the opportunity. Was there any homework you had to do to play Samar? The role happened so quickly that I did not have much time, but discussion with the co-stars helped me a lot to pick up some useful points. What are the similarities between Aryan Pandit and Samar? Aryan Pandit is just like Samar in real life. I am also very much focused, like the way Samar is. What are your ambitions? Like every actor, I have aspirations to enter Bollywood. But right now I have a big show in hand and am concentrating on it. What was it like working with Prachee Pathak and Payal Rajput? Both are very talented, hard-working, sincere and, of course, very cooperative. It is nice to work with both of them. — Dharam Pal
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Astro turf
ARIES: 'The Priestess' manifests material and emotional abundance with inner strength, maturity and communication skills. This is a good time to compete for a position of power.
Tarot message: Use your instinct to get into the top circle of power. Lucky
colour: White. Magic number: 62
TAURUS: The card 'Magician' reveals your imagination can run wild now and you want to act out a strange desire. Promotions will be yours if you have acted professionally in times of crisis.
Tarot message: Learn from
past experience. Lucky colour: Green. Magic number: 42 GEMINI: Your card
'The Princess of Cups' manages to maintain clarity and direction in complicated work situations. Make a list of tasks, complete work or study assignments that are due.
Tarot message: Be articulate. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 46 CANCER: The 'Ace of Wands' strengthens you. You can have quite a romantic adventure if you take time to get to know your mate all over again. Take care of any dealings with strangers.
Tarot message: Dare to
accomplish long-term tasks. Lucky colour: Ebony. Magic number: 26 LEO: 'The Knight of Pentacles' brings healing and attention
to practical matters. You need some help today. Do not enter into any speculation. Tarot message: Take thing one at a time, instead of a multi-pronged approach.
Lucky colour: Forest-green. Magic number: 47 VIRGO: The Knight of Swords instigates you to be active and clever. The biggest plans require attention to the minutest details to turn them into reality. In fact, the higher you aim, the more precision is needed. Tarot message: Listen carefully to words of wisdom.
Lucky colour: Pink. Magic number: 61
LIBRA: Mixing business with pleasure works well for you. Be careful about getting into disagreements with seniors.
Plan a special romantic evening with your partner. Tarot message: You will receive a useful tip at the stock exchange.
Lucky colour: Black. Magic number: 30 SCORPIO: Your card 'The Moon' helps maintain balance, perspective and clarity in relationships.A frequent change of mood is likely. Further studies will help fine-tune your capabilities to perfection. Tarot message: Allow a sick situation blow over before you start a new project. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Magic number: 32 SAGITTARIUS: Do not put undue pressure on your own self to take on unwelcome tasks. Be willing to lie back and take a break. You will be able to spot and correct mistakes in important projects.
Tarot message: Balance and perspective helps. Lucky colour: Brown. Magic number: 39 CAPRICORN: 'Three Wands' representing the Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh 'trinity' brings success in whatever you do
today. You will be in a restless and irritable mood. Tarot message: Do not fall
for rash promises. Lucky colour: Golden-yellow. Magic number: 35 AQUARIUS: A real buzz in the air upon waking up evokes fresh possibilities. Make initial moves to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
Tarot message: Try a new
style of handling things. Lucky colour: Rust. Magic number: 54 Magic number: 62 PISCES: Your health and well-being are a priority. Set aside a part of the weekly budget for whatever you need to ensure that you stay in top shape. A new approach to an old problem can be helpful. Tarot message: Learn to handle things better.
Lucky colour: Crimson. Magic number: 43
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The year ahead
If your birthday is December 17...
Things will not be turning out exactly as you had planned, but it really doesn't matter. A reward for something you did will not be what you expected. Exchanging ideas with friends gives you a burst of energy. Some of you can launch a newsletter or start an organisation dedicated to doing good works. You can be asked to be the leader. Those in positions of power will grant you favours and help you. You are inspired this year, which will help you succeed. This is a fine year for beginning a long journey or arranging travel plans. Positive colours: Grey, Blue. Select days: Tuesday, Wednesday. Favourable numbers: 2, 4, 8. Gems recommended: Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby. Charity on birthday: Donate red masri dal and offer sindoor on Lord Hanuman's idol today.
You share your birthday with Bolywood actor John Abraham (December 17, 1972, Mumbai) who started his acting career with the film Jism. He has done many successful films post that. According to his stars, John will do well in his career.
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If the winter chill has cut down on your socialising, don't worry! Now that the world is available at a click, gainfully use your time and knowledge at hand. YouTube might be the Mecca of internet surfers, but there is plenty more. For a start, we get some of the interesting sites for you to explore.
If you are looking for something to do for your bored kid, check into www.tend.com. Right from recipes, parenting and making family fun time, tend.com has it all and more. This site has neatly packaged them and plenty of links that lead you to what you want - make your doll, don a new look with Holiday Hairstyles for Your Little Lady.
Winter weight gain has been a common complaint of many people. It seems that every winter we add on a few pounds. But the downside to this is that come summer, we don't lose them all. Obviously with the passage of time this goes on adding up. As few of these pounds stick around, they make us a little heavier every year. What is even worse is that it seems to be very hard to lose these extra winter pounds. Why does this happen and what can we do?
The latest single by Hardy Sandhu, Soch is creating waves this season. If you are the kinds who fancies romantic music seasoned with meaningful lyrics, this song is your pick. Having garnered over one million views in just about a month of its release, this song is slated to be one of the biggest Punjabi hit songs of the year. Here's what the city folks have to say about the song.
