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Bowled over!
She is a Libran…does that explain all? Quite a bit! Like she doesn't plan anything, likes to order a platter because there are different things to pick from; she doesn't stick to one thing and yes, she listens to her heart.
The peach and gossamer skinned beauty Nargis Fakhri makes eyes turn; can get you on your heels literally (oh yes! she stands tall). Dressed in semi-formal attire, with lips that make a perfect pout (though there are many who have something 'surgical' to say), Nargis joined hands with Ajay Bijli to open PVR Bluo at Elante Mall, Chandigarh. If you expect her to entertain you in her Hindi accent, well, she is certainly not doing it. "It's only been one year here; I am trying to learn Hindi, but I don't have a family here with whom I can converse in the language. You know I can only improve Hindi through conversation," she looks at her manager, who tries to talk to her in Hindi but gives up after two lines. Nargis takes her chance at this bowling alley that has 135 cosmic lanes and is spread across 38, 713 square feet, enjoying every bit of it. "I love bowling, I love indoor games as well; video-gaming and all," she speaks through that pout. Well, her fans are already bowled over by her looks and performance in films as well; this leggy beauty doesn't want to stick to a genre though. "I don't discriminate between serious or commercial cinema. I do not want to be typecast in any headstrong kind of role; I would want to do all kinds of films instead."
Nargis loves to travel, "I travel through films what better can I ask for," she shrugs her shoulders while touching on the two upcoming films that she will soon be seen in. "Main Tera Hero with Varun Dhawan and another one with Akshay Kumar is in the offing. These are different kinds of films, different from what I have done," adds Nargis, a brand ambassador for PVR Bluo. Before that, can we get to hear something in Hindi? She slides her hand though her poker-straight hair. "I can, but I get nervous while talking in Hindi, so I would rather interact in a language that I can make my point in." Oh, she always listens to her heart! "And why not, we have to make ourselves happy first and then think about others. Listen to your heart," she adds; her face lighting
up. jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Devotion divine
There is no other genre that has loved music with more pristine sacredness than Sufi. As we engage in an interesting chat with the Lopokee Brothers, our faith in the Sufi school of thought and its existence strengthens to a degree
beyond expression.
Lakhbir Singh and Rajinder Singh, dressed in plain attires and with no added frills to demonstrate their artistic genius, talk in local Punjabi dialect about Sufi music. They make no pretence about being nervous at their first performance in Chandigarh. "When one hails from a village as small and remote as Lopokee, which is two-kms ahead of Preet Nagar located at the Amritsar border, you have very little exposure to how people take to folk and regional music," begins Lakhbir, who started singing with his brother when he was a child. The two were in Chandigarh to perform on the first day of the Surtaal Utsav organised by
Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi at the Punjab Kala Bhawan. "In villages, we would have bal sabhas every Saturday and often sing there. It was then that our teachers prompted us to learn music and get a formal training in the same," shares Rajinder while adding, "We started taking part in various naataks, which were performed at the village. We got our first break during the naatak that
was being performed at the village while we sang; the president of Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kewal Dhaliwal, heard us and so
began our journey." Since then they have performed at several places across the region, including Multi Art Cultural Centre, Kurukshetra, Virsa Vihar and Punjab Naatshaala, Amritsar, et al. Both Lakhbir and Rajinder have been trained in the Kirana Gharana of Hindustani classical music and believe that in order to be an accomplished Sufi singer, one must be open to the divine wisdom of self, pain, love; backed by the formal knowledge of music. "Sufi singing cannot survive independently without the knowledge and practice of classical music; I believe one ought to be truly blessed with the talent of singing to be taking it up. In my opinion, it is the purest form of music and this genre is where the roots of music are,"
says Lakhbir. While the two compose the kalams of Baba Bulle Shah and Baba Farid, they articulate the expression of divine belongingness that they associate with Sufi music. And as they begin to define their art, they waste no breath on
words - rather they sing Nusrat's composition, Kaag Udawa Shagan Manawa, which leaves
us spellbound! amarjot@tribunemail.com
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Musical fever
Hail the deejay culture that set the disco ball in motion and with every round, there began a revolution that defined the essence of music corresponding to the era it belonged to. As the Supafly Deejays, DJ RDG and
Phillora, begin to talk about their music, they lament the music culture the city has to offer.
"We have performed across tricity and the common observation which we made is that the city folks do not quite take to the EDM (electronic dance music). A few drinks down, they would possibly want to listen to Punjabi music. Perhaps that is the reason why none of the international artistes have performed in the city," says
RDG. The duo takes to making electrohouse music and seeks inspirations from
Hardwell, Deadmouse and various other EDM artistes, but to their credit, they have the art to make live music. "We do not just make live music. We record the sounds from the crowd and wind it up around several loops of beats," says
Phillora. The duo has also come up with their original track, Inertia, which is yet to be launched. The Supafly Deejays will be performing live at Buzz, Sector 17, on Wednesday. So, let your hair down, wear your dancing shoes on and get ready to rock!
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The grip: palm or fingers
There has been an evolution in the way we grip a club over the years. In the earlier days the grip would be taken in the palm with the left hand and the club would be more in the fingers of the right hand (for right handed golfers). As the golf swing has become a more athletic body oriented action the grip has become stronger and part palm and part fingers with the left hand. The club is still placed in the fingers of the right hand. If the hands get too low at address the club tends to get too much into the fingers of the left hand and the left hand cups at the wrist and the grip gets strong--more than two knuckles of the left hand (pictures 1 and 4). This position increases the opening and closing action of the face and increases loft. It is good for the flop shot and in the bunker. It can lead to poor contact, weak shots and loss of control in the long game. If the left hand and the club get into a straight line when viewed from the back the club gets too high in the palm and the grip gets weak - one or no knuckles visible of the left hand (pictures 2 and 5). This leads to sliced shots and reduces the wrist action thereby causing a loss of distance. This can be used in low chip shots around the green.
The ideal position is with the club partly in the palm and partly in the fingers of the left hand (picture 3). The right hand should be in the fingers (picture 7). An incorrect grip with the right hand is when the club gets into the palm (picture 6). This frequently happens when a golfer with long fingers uses and interlock grip and gets to interlock with the webbing of the left index finger touching the webbing of the right little finger. Get the placement correct for an effective grip which allows the correct wrist action and release while keeping the club square at impact.
(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)
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It’s a problem of repetition
Simmi Waraich
Bijaya, Panchkula Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD) may include all that you have described. These are the commonest kinds of OC behaviour, and they affect more women than men. People with OCs tend to react to things that make them anxious and end up repeatedly washing hands, hair, clothing, bedding, floors—almost anything may be involved. Sometimes the condition can develop very rapidly. Get an evaluation done. It’s treatable. I belong to a poor family. I have struggled for 10 years to get a good job. However, bad luck has followed me. When I had a good job, my company closed down. It has been very difficult for me. I know I have to carry on but I feel hopeless right now. Manish, Chandigarh Life may be a struggle at times. However, I would say that often we are so bent on 'earning a certain amount' or 'going abroad' that we tend to let opportunities slip by. Maybe you worked for certain things but let other opportunities slip by. Everyone would like to have lots of money and do well but many people who do not are still happier than many rich people. So try to live each day. See how much time you spend talking to family about things that they like and see what you are doing in a day that you like, eg, walking with one's mind just on the walk, listening to a song and enjoying it without letting other thoughts intrude. Have goals not just for a job but health, exercise, meeting friends. Give yourself more time regarding a job and write down and weigh your options. People have ups and downs. Many see the downs as a learning experience. Do that and move on. (Waraich is a Chandigarh-based psychiatrist)
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A thank you note
Divya Dutta Good old school days....good old friends....uniforms... tiffin boxes, books....sab ek jaisa. Same grievances against the syllabus and the strict teachers and that guy from the other class who would ignore us...sab ek jaisa... Innocent lives, innocent friendships, innocent problems..... And then life happens. It forces you to grow. It takes you your way, your journey...your problems. What you leave behind is the innocence, those whispers with your friends. And yes, what you leave behind or rather what life makes you leave behind are those friends. Those who've known you for all your madness and stupidity and still love you. Those whom you hate for calling you by your pet names....yes those precious childhood friends, whose memories bring you a smile every time you think of them wherever you are. A few, very few remain in touch through the years. Some, thanks to the social media, reunite and some life makes you bump into...life which gives and takes things away for a reason. I am happy a few came back to my life. Life's taken us all very far, from where I and my other school friends boarded at the same time from Ludhiana junction. The destinations were different, the trains too....but life made us meet again in Mumbai. Two of my other dear friends I found are married here. One of them now is in New York. But we spent our girlie times together. Who cared who was an actor, who a top jewellery designer, who a banker or who a singer? We all met like right out of school. Not the same uniforms anymore. Nor the same syllabus of life and the lessons being learnt are different too. So are the teachers..... What remains the same is the bond. That child-like innocence is still intact. That non judgmental acceptance and love for the sheer crackpots that we are sometimes. Those giggles, those murmurs about that guy who ignored us... This is a thank you note. Not to you friends because you don't say thanks to you friends. It's a thank you note to life. When you take something away, you give something in return too. These gems of friends who make me feel precious, who love me for me, who scold me for goofing up, who I hate when they call me by my pet name, who I absolutely adore because I know when I fall, there are those strong hands to lift me up. I am dying to whisper in your ears...well, thank you and I love you girls! (Dutta is a Bollywood actress)
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Re-boot
Just about: Ankle boots
Ankle boots are fashionable while keeping your feet warm. A pair of ankle length boot matches best with jeans and dresses. Skinny jeans or tight wool dresses make a good choice to go with the ankle length boots. Long shot: Thigh-high boots
Thigh-high boots are the ones with tall shafts, either low or high heels. These are usually made of leather and are easy to wear, but are best for long-legged women. "While opting for thigh high boots, make sure that your torso is shorter than your legs. You've got to be a leggy lass to carry off a pair of thigh high boots. Also, I think they go very well with short woollen skirts or Scot woollen shorts, as you team the look up with a leather jacket," says Sonal Manik, a city-based fashion designer. Flat comfort: Ugg boots
Traditionally, ugg boots are Australian boots made from sheepskin, with wool as the inner lining and a tanned outer surface. The natural properties of sheep skin results in thermostatic benefits. In winter, the sheepskin prevents heat loss and is highly effective. "The most popular boots in recent years must be the flat boots, with Ugg being one of the most fashionable. They are great for snow weather, keeping you warm and cozy, as many are made from sheepskin. Flat boots look stylish and go with most outfits that you will be wearing in the winter, such as jeans and dresses," says Swati Shrivastava, a Delhi-based fashion designer. Warm up: Faux-fur boots
Faux-fur boots are popular among women of all ages. The well-placed fluff can also keep you warm. They come in a variety of colours and designs which can provide you a casual playful appearance. "You've got to be a rather courageous soul to take to these kinds of boots. Personally, I like experimenting with fabric and textures, so I opt for the furry boots. Plus, they give you the 80's look, which was one of the most experimental era in fashion," says Amrita Kaur, a student of Panjab University.
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Abhay looking for new talent
Abhay Deol, who turns a producer with his upcoming film One by Two, has started his production house with a philosophy in mind. Going forward, the actor turned producer will be seen giving a chance and launching new writers, directors and actors. Abhay has himself walked on a lesser taken route in his acting career by choosing to work with a lot of new comer directors in the industry like Imtiaz Ali in Socha na Tha, Navdeep Singh in Manorama Six Feet under, Reema Kagti in Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and other debut directors like Shivam Nair. The actor feels lucky that he has found good talent for himself each time when he was into acting. Now Abhay Deol wants to get new writer, director, actor talent and give them a new platform to showcase their work. He is keen on creating new-age cinema which is neither on the commercial side nor arty. It is something that he calls 'middle of the road' cinema. Abhay Deol has always gone by his gut feeling for acting and he wants to continue this with his production house. Even in One By Two, Abhay was not supposed to be a part of the cast but the team strongly felt that he fits in the lead actor character perfectly.
Fan following
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who has starred in more than 55 films, is all set to play a fan for the first time in his next film. "Most of the characters I do are the ones I create...for the first time I am going to play what has created me...I will be in my next a "FAN"," the 48 year-old actor tweeted. Directed by Maneesh Sharma and produced by Aditya Chopra, the film has been written by Habib Faisal. "FAN is a 'family film'. It's the family all of you have become for me...the one I didn't have. I want to be as beautiful as you all. Thanx," he added.
Laughing out loud
The first look of Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra movie Hasee toh Phasee is finally out. Directed by Vinil Matthew, the film is a coming of age story of two people in a very warm environment. Now just wait and see if these two actors can laugh away to the box office.
Laughing out loud
The first look of Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra movie Hasee toh Phasee is finally out. Directed by Vinil Matthew, the film is a coming of age story of two people in a very warm environment. Now just wait and see if these two actors can laugh away to the box office.
Farhan to play a cop
Actor Farhan Akhtar is all set to share screen space with Shah Rukh Khan for the first time. While Farhan will be playing a cop, SRK will be seen a bootlegger in Rahul Dholakia's next movie, Raees.
Special gesture
Veteran singer Asha Bhosle, who completed 70 years in the music industry, performed some of her classic tunes in Dubai last week. Actress Rekha made a point to travel to Dubai especially for her. How sweet!
John joins the league
John Abraham is the latest Bollywood star who has put their money in the business of sports. John has bought a 13 per cent stake in Hockey India League's Delhi Waveriders team from Wave group, a real estate firm, for an undisclosed amount.
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On a high pitch
We don't get to hear you much these days.
Have you consciously cut down on assignments? You see, a lot of new singers have come up. Work gets distributed. Yes, there is definitely less work but as it is I used to do less work even earlier. I have never been a prolific singer who keeps on recording every day or every week. I like to live with every song and give it all that I have. I have never been in a hurry. If there are many songs coming to me, I would not choose all of them. I don't want to be all over the place. If you try and dominate music, it doesn't look good. You have never won any big awards in spite of delivering great hits. What's the reason? To be honest, I have never wanted an award. To win something, you have to want that thing. You will be able to buy a BMW only if you want it in the first place. If you don't want it, you will never get it. Why have you never felt the desire for an award? I have only wanted good songs and I pray to God asking him to give me good songs and awards to my friends. So, for me the bottom-line has always been songs with great lyrics. I have never felt like, "Oh My God, award nahi mila." For me, the satisfaction lies in going to the studio and singing my heart out. That is what matters to me more. You have sung a song in Aashiqui 2 but the more popular one turned out to be Arjit's Tum Hi Ho. Ever felt that you
should have sung the more popular numbers? Never. Arjit has sung it really well. I don't think, I have ever heard a song and said that I could sing it well or perhaps better. For me, when you hear the original song sung for the first time by a singer, you learn to appreciate what that person has done to that song. The special quality that he has brought to that number. I have never tried singing someone else's songs. Even saying that I could sing it better is
blasphemous. You are known for his high octave voice and most of your popular numbers like Tadap Tadap are high pitched in nature. Do you think that’s
your USP? I really don't know. Yes, people say that my higher notes sound really great but having said that I think songs like Awarapan from Jism and some other lower octave songs have been appreciated as well.
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Prized role
Rukhsar Rehman, who is currently seen in Life OK's Tumhari Paakhi, is thrilled to bits about having bagged a role in Aamir Khan's next and Rajkumar Hirani's much-talked movie P.K. She has earlier done movies like Sarrkaar, God Tussi Great Ho et al.
Nothing comic
Kapil Sharma is looking for a popular comedian to star in his show Comedy Nights with Kapil. He approached comedian Suresh Menon, but the latter has declined it. He would rather be part of his own show than be on another!
Show time
Producer Yash Patnaik is famous for introducing new talent in the industry. He is the producer of the very successful Veera and is now doing Sadda Haq…My Life, My Choice on Channel V. Known in the industry for breaking stereotypes, Yash A Patnaik and Mamta Yash Patnaik have roped in two young authors, Durjoy Dutta and Sumrit Shahi, who has been brought up in Chandigarh, to write the story and screenplay for the show. He says, "At Beyond Dreams we have always tried to bring new content to television. Be it a unique brother-sister story in Ek Veer Ki Ardaas Veera or widow remarriage in Rang Bdalti Odhani or a woman police officer's journey in Monica Mogre Case Files.
Ronit’s New Year plans
Only a few days are left for this year to end and our television stars have already started planning for the New Year bash. Ronit Roy, who is currently seen in Sony Entertainment Television's Adaalat, has made a special promise to his kids this New Year's. Ronit Roy, who has always given his family importance, will be spending this New Year's with his kids and wife. So, Ronit has planned a vacation to Disneyland in Hong Kong.
Big question!
As Bigg Boss nears its grand finale, the competition is high. To add to it, anchor and editor-in-chief of India TV Rajat Sharma will enter the house on Wednesday and fire some explosive questions at the contestants in his Adaalat. Known to grill India's renowned personalities, he will question Tanisha, Armaan, Gauahar, Kushal, Sangram, Andy and Kamya.
Bidding adieu
She played the role of a mother-in-law, Gayatri, in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai for five years but now actress Sonali Verma will no longer be seen. She has quit the show as she's getting married and shifting to the US with her husband Sachin Sachdeva. Although her wedding date isn't fixed yet, she has wrapped up her role.
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Tough girl Kamya!
After spending 13 weeks inside the Bigg Boss house, and coming so close to the Grand Finale, Kamya Punjabi has finally got evicted. All-rounder, fighter, sensible; these words best describe Kamya as she proved her mettle with her incredible journey in the Bigg Boss house. We catch up for more.
You survived inside the Bigg Box for 41 hours and made an international record. How did it feel?
It was great. I wanted to prove that women are strong too and I am glad I held my own against Sangram Singh. Getting that award was more than enough for me. Losing out at the last minute must have been tough? Bigg Boss has been a turning point in my life. It helped me discover a lot of things about myself, especially when my patience was put to test. I am glad that I could achieve so much on this platform and even got an opportunity to etch my name in international history. While I wish I had survived till the very end, I am excited to meet my daughter Aara and give her a tight hug. My journey has been truly incredible and I have created friendships for life. Who do you think will win? It is very tough to take any name right now as everyone is doing really well. But if I had to choose, it should be Kushal, Gauahar or Tanisha. What did you learn on the show? I learnt a lot of patience. The house and the task might be tough but people aren't bad. They are all in situations that make them react. Who will you be in touch with now? All of them! I have not made any enemy on the show!
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The year ahead
If your birthday is December 18...
Be willing to compromise. Property affairs take-off, be it house or land. You will get a reasonable offer if you are planning to buy a vehicle. Good financial position is indicated. Your physical shape and the way you look after your body leaves a lot to be desired. You will be pleasantly surprised by gifts received from a loved one. It's a good time to take care of old business. A project will go well but you'll manage to get most of the credit. Mood swings can lead to stomach disorders. Positive colours: Yellow, Red. Select days: Sunday, Monday. Favourable numbers: 3, 9. Gems recommended: Moonga, White Coral Charity on birthday: Feed green fodder to animals.
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Astro turf ARIES: Relax with your mate in the evening; it's just the antidote for the trials and tensions of the day. Someone you are attracted to at work feels the same way. It is for you to make the first move. TAURUS: The day will be exciting. You will be worried about certain family issues and need to take out time to sort things out. There can be delays in certain business ventures or personal projects. GEMINI: 'The Queen of Pentacles' blesses you with the finest of subtle qualities today. Things happen quickly and you need to take decisions fast. You are sharp and aware to make use of opportunities. CANCER: There is good news on the cards. You will be in a relaxed and happy mood. If you need to make any personal decisions, go with your gut feel. Be wary of purchasing stuff online. LEO: The wisdom of "The Hermit" inspires you to make new beginnings and move in a creative direction. Spending time with family will bring about a sense of peace and well-being. VIRGO: "The Magician" conjures up some travel and business opportunities. Partnership, business problems, past disappointments - all need your attention today. Stop waiting for the right time to attend to them. LIBRA: It is a good time to make a public speech or presentation. Business deals are on the boil, but still inconclusive. Work will progress satisfactorily. By the evening you can be in an irritable mood. SCORPIO: It looks like a very busy day ahead, but any indulgence of previous evenings can be catching up with you. Your chances of success are better today than ever before. SAGITTARIUS: The Prince of Wands rides in his flaming chariot of gold to instigate dynamic changes at work. Don't trust unreliable friends or relatives. Traveling will yield valuable information. CAPRICORN: Today mixing up with friends can be tricky business. If you don't want to be alone, choose a companion who is least likely to irritate you. Don't get involved in petty arguments with your mate or partner. AQUARIUS: Passionate emotions are likely to accompany your actions and you will be more impulsive than usual. You will have a better chance of getting through odd jobs connected with home and family affairs. PISCES: 'The Hanged Man' helps you move into a better situation. Spirituality beckons and you are inclined to find out more about it. You struggle to keep your temper in check today. |
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I am 33-year-old and have a 13-year-old son. I have become very particular about order and cleanliness and keep cleaning. It is affecting my family. When I could be enjoying with them, I spend that time worrying about cleanliness. I don't let my family get their shoes in. I get angry if things are not done in time. What can I do?
Since shoes tender a defining statement to one's attire, it's apparent why one must choose the right footwear this winter. While the chill is still setting in, there's no better time to start prepping your wardrobe with warm accessories, and these winter-worthy boots are offering some practical options when it comes to staying stylish in the colder months.
Singer Kay Kay is perhaps the most under-rated singer of the industry. In spite of having sung numerous popular numbers, awards have always eluded KK. But that doesn't disappoint him one bit. He speaks about singing and more…
You share your birthday with Shruti Seth (December 18, 1977, Gujarat), who started her career with modelling, but eventually moved to television. She is best known for her role as Fatima 'Fatty' in the movie Fanaa. Venus and Mercury in her birth chart support her career.