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Simply Abhay!
With girlfriend and co-star Preeti Desai by his side, Abhay Deol, in Chandigarh for the promotion of his upcoming film
One by Two, is at his charming best, only too ready to share slices from his personal and professional life...
Only the other day he appeared at an awards function 'supporting' a black eye marking his unusual way of protest taking on the giant music company T-series over the promotional issues of music of his upcoming film One by Two. On Tuesday in Chandigarh he is smiling ear-to-ear, looking as handsome as ever ready to take on a volley of questions, including the very personal ones. Call him the poster boy of alternative cinema, star actor or the Deol with a difference, Abhay Deol like the rest of the Deol 'khaandan' charms people easily. Only unlike them he wears his relationship up his sleeve and has no hesitation in admitting that Preeti Desai the co-star of his film is also his real life girlfriend. As open relationships are becoming a norm in the industry, he reasons, "In the age of social media when anyone can take your picture and post it on social networking sites, what's the point of hiding relationships." As for their off screen chemistry rubbing off on screen, the former beauty queen, the first one of Indian origin to have won the Miss Great Britain contest, Preeti answers, "I think it's better on screen." Abhay, too, finds it easier to romance her on celluloid for off screen there are enormous expectations. The film that brings the real-life couple on screen is a romcom for sure, but can't really be slotted in a particular category. For want of better explanation he calls it a quirky romcom, in short a film that treads an unusual path and yet is something most people would be able to relate to. Known for being associated with cinema that defies conventional formulas, Abhay admits to the pressures of living up to an image. But he feels that these pressures are no different from those that superstars deal with, "perhaps theirs are more insurmountable what with the numbers game that they have to reckon with." This critics' darling would love to be box-office's favourite boy too. Being a critically acclaimed actor is a humbling experience and he enjoys the critical appreciation that has come his way. Why awards don't follow suit... not even for sterling performances as in Shanghai? He is candid, "Awards are a sham. I have said it openly so why would they give it to me." Ideally, he would want to have his cake and eat it too, be part of realistic cinema that does well commercially too. Luckily, the actor who shot into fame with Oye Lucky Lucky Oye has tasted success on the box-office too. However, he begs to differ with those who think Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was a commercial film and dubs it the perfect balance of mainstream and offbeat sensibilities. As an actor he admits to being more rigid and going only for relatable parts. However, as he dons the producer's hat (has co-produced One by Two) he hopes to make films as diverse as Chennai Express and Shanghai. Certainly being an actor is more gratifying creatively. For as a producer, he says, "You don't get credit for many of your creative inputs." Still he is enjoying his new found role except for the fiasco with T-series that has been resolved what with the company giving them back the music rights. On the 'I'm Just Pakaoed' song, which is creating waves, he shares that it was an offshoot of his director Devika Bhagat's brainstorming session with music directors Shankar Eshan Loy. Having worked with four female directors, he doesn't perceive them any differently "they are first and foremost directors who come to me with an idea and I say yes if it appeals to me." Among the wide range of characters that he has played, he doesn't totally identify with any, "For cinema is all about playing out one's fantasy and I am drawn to roles that are markedly different from me. Yet each one has a trait that finds a resonance in my personality." For instance, he can easily connect with Amit Sharma, his character in One By Two who chucks his nine to five job to pursue his dreams. Indeed, taking chances and making unconventional non-conformist choices comes as naturally to Abhay as being a
Deol. Deol tag: The Deol surname might sit easily on him, but Abhay Deol doesn't take it lightly. Being a Deol means being honest, being able to walk with the head held high with dignity. While his cousin Bobby Deol is more like a friend, Abhay thinks temperamentally he is more like Sunny
'bhaiya'. And 'taayaji' Dharmendra is more than a father figure, someone he can share most things with. nonika@tribunemail.com
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Music in his veins
"I derive pleasure out of playing for people who don't know music, who don't understand music. When they hear classical music for the first time in their life and after half-an-hour itself, they realise its power and purity," he shares while all set to perform at the Republic Day celebrations to be held in the Middle East from January 25 to February 1. "It's a great honour to be representing India abroad for the Republic Day celebrations. I'm the first artiste from the city to be honoured with a diplomatic passport." He adds, "I will also be releasing my fourth album I Feel-Myself To All, my fourth album, in Abu Dhabi." The album, comprising eight compositions, brings about different moods of music, ranging from the spiritual to the emotional. "The compositions are accompanied by traditional lyrics and thought it's been sung by Bollywood singer Pradeep Pandit, the compositions are by me." He adds, "It's my kind of fusion album and includes a variety from rock to classical to several other forms." As for the celebrations spread over Abu Dhabi, Oman, Muscat, Dubai, among other cities of the Middle East, "I'll have four co-artistes with me, one from Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi each and we will be playing the songs that truly stand for India." Out come the songs long rehearsed in school's music lessons, comprising Bankim Chandra's Vande Mataram and Gandhiji's bhajans, among others. A senior disciple of sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, it's been decades into the art and well spent at that. "I invented theses instruments called sarasvani and swar ragini. Swar ragini is made from a single piece of wood and I launched it in 2011." He adds, "A unique combination of South Indian veena and sarod, the swar ragini signifies the shringar ras of the music." Running his own Academy of Indian Classical Music and Fine Arts in Chandigarh, teaching the underprivileged also takes up a significant part of his time. "One of my best performances happened in Chandigarh itself for children with special needs." A spirit he wants to continue with in the future. "I want to indulge in projects that highlight Indian classical music. In earlier times, the kings and emperors would promote the musicians in their kingdom…that's because true identity of any country lies in the great artistes it produces." Something he's all set to prove in his upcoming journey. manpriya@tribunemail.com
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The right mix
Chef Vaibhav Kaushik says international fast food chains have become a blessing for youngsters Even if self-praise is no recommendation, it does make one feel motivated and instills confidence to strive for bigger goals. Take the example of the fast food chain, Chili’s, which each year bestows its chefs with awards for their performance. This year, 29-year-old Vaibhav
Kaushik, Manager, Culinary Innovations and Supply Chain, India, won the Chef of the Year in-house award! "For this in-house award category, there were contenders from 32 countries and 1,500 outlets around the world." Masters in Culinary Arts from University of City and Guilds, London, Vaibhav says that for young chefs entering the mainstream has been only possible because of the fast food chains that are flocking to India. "Otherwise, if you consider five-star hotels for job opportunities, the scene is pretty grim. Only chefs with experience get to work at five-star hotels. When it comes to young chefs like us, we are asked to join at a junior level, even if we have the talent and knowledge about food." The award was given to him on the basis of feedback from regular Chili’s food lovers.
Vaibhav has worked at a couple of restaurants in London but feels India right now is the best place for those from the hospitality industry to be in. After the US and Middle East, all international food chains are eyeing India, such as Burger King. Vaibhav adds, "Another reason for Indian becoming a hot favourite is Europe's indifference to changing food habits. European countries are happy with their traditional dishes and aren't keen on experimenting much, which is benefitting India." Based out of Delhi, he visits Chandigarh's Chili’s outlet at least once a month to oversee consistency and dishes. "The response we are getting here is overwhelming. When we came here, we thought it might take us time to make our presence felt but people already knew about us a lot. They are
well-travelled and have a taste for international cuisines." Against the popular belief that Punjabis are compulsive dal makhni and butter chicken lovers, he says that people here look for variety, the reason why Chili’s has become a hit. Self-praise thus makes for some recommendation!
ashima@tribunemail.com
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Astro turf
ARIES: Love, celebration, and romance are on the cards. You will be able to accomplish many things today. Working out a new schedule will be useful. You are generous and giving in family and personal relationships. Tarot message: Take timely action.
Lucky colour: Yellow Lucky number: 25 TAURUS: You may find yourself involved in noisy confrontations with close companions. Leave things to simmer under the surface and they will only continue
to fester. Tarot message: Arrogance and pride will not be rewarded. Lucky colour: Orange Lucky number: 36 GEMINI: You need friends around today to make you feel loved and appreciated. Do not over indulge in food and drinks. Sweeping disagreements under the carpet will only make things worse. Tarot message: Don't read too much into ordinary situations. Lucky colour: Red Lucky number: 59 CANCER: Professional communication flows well. Take chance to throw off all your worries and cares. You are blessed with spiritual insight and clarity of vision. Tarot message: Don't get embroiled in ventures where returns are spread over a large period of time. Lucky colour: Sea green Lucky number: 40 LEO: Don't be in too much of a hurry to spend your money. Do not make new joint commitments of a financial nature. Wait until the end of the day before making serious decisions. Tarot message: Do not cover up your own mistakes and keep the emotions aside. Lucky colour: Brown Lucky number: 33 VIRGO: Do not hesitate to make settlement and compromises in business matters. Essentially, it will be a busy day and you will be rewarded for the efforts you made in the past. Tarot message: Do not let anyone take advantage of you. Lucky colour: Metallic grey Lucky number: 45
LIBRA: This is a good time for parties, social gatherings, and other pleasurable activities. A journey is on the cards. You walk down memory lane with a Taurean friend at a reunion. Tarot message: You must learn to accept responsibility Lucky colour: Black Lucky number: 39 SCORPIO: An excellent day to take stock of your life, to see how you are limiting and holding yourself back, and to determine your next steps. Relationships at work will progress smoothly. Tarot message: Take time before reacting. Lucky colour: Golden Lucky number: 62 SAGITTARIUS: You will be focused and alert at work and this will enable you to get through your tasks without putting in much effort. Those in creative field will be have a productive day. Tarot message: Learn to cope up with success, its demands, and limitations. Lucky colour: Electric pink Lucky number: 36 CAPRICORN: Forgive a friend for an error of judgment, despite losses incurred in a speculation. You may be in a sensitive frame of mind and could overreact to perceived criticism from colleagues or loved ones. Tarot message: Boost your confidence with positive thinking. Lucky colour: Peach Lucky number: 27 AQUARIUS: You will be enthusiastic and optimistic about your assignments. You will spend time in creative and sporty activities. Ego stands should be avoided as they only bring conflicts. Stay positive. Tarot message: Focus on your emotional and spiritual needs. Lucky colour: Crimson Lucky number: 46 PISCES: You will be energetic and confident about your abilities. Students need to focus more on their studies. Try to gather more information if you have doubts about a certain business venture. Tarot message: Don't allow others to interfere in your way. Lucky colour: Fuchsia Lucky number: 32
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The year ahead
If your birthday is January 22...
Positive colours: Dark blue, dark grey, all shades of blue and dark colours.
Select days: Saturday
Favourable numbers: 2, 4, and 8
Gems recommended: Gomed, cats eye, tiger stone
Charity on birthday: You may donate green fodder to cows, copper utensils to the needy or to any religious place today.
You share your birthday with Namrata Shirodkar (January 22, 1972, Mumbai, India), who was crowned as Miss India in 1993. She has played mainly supporting roles in Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Pukar, Hera Pheri and Astitva. 2014 may remain a dormant year for her.
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Travel diary of a chef...
Fox Traveller announced the launch of the third season of its highly successful and most watched show Twist of Taste-Coastal Curries. The show will see the New York based Michelin starred chef and restaurateur, Vikas Khanna, on a seaside adventure. Vikas will travel to the sandy beaches of Udvada, Ratnagiri, Goa, Mangalore, Udupi, Manipal, Kochi and Pondicherry, visiting places, meeting people and giving his signature touch to the local flavours. During his adventurous expedition, he meets home cooks, chefs, farmers, anglers, bakers, merchants, restaurateurs, and chocolatiers as they share with him their food, traditions and the story of their journeys. Inspired by all the delicious, timeless food and the riveting stories of people, Vikas returns to his kitchen, to pay the dish his tribute by giving it his own fascinating signature twist. From Caramelised Cucumber Cake to Shrimp Poha Biryani to Udupi Sambar Jar Cakes, Twist of Taste is a true culinary adventure. Talking about the show, Vikas Khanna exclaims, "I'm delighted to be a part of this exciting show. Through the show Twist of Taste, I have had a chance to explore India's vast coastline and experiment with its cuisine. The people have been very warm in welcoming me into their kitchens and sharing their delicious recipes; I truly feel enriched with newer experiences!" Join Vikas as he explores India's vast coastline in the hunt for the best curries and coastal dishes every Mondays and Tuesdays at 9.30 pm on Fox Traveller.
The hoopla about elimination
Rumours about Raqesh and Ridhi were quitting Nach Baliye due to Raqesh's knee injury had been in the pipeline for a while now. The couple had been announced as the third highest voted jodi in the previous week of the show. However, the announcement of them being eliminated came as a shocker as they were anyway bowing out of the show gracefully. On this, Ridhi says, "We had informed the channel about our decision so how can we be eliminated? In fact, we had been planning to make the announcement in the previous week, but due to another jodi already going out, we were asked to hold off for a week." We are sure this will be quite a shock for Ridhi and Raqesh's fans, who have been creating a rage on social networking websites ever since they heard the rumours of the couple bowing out of the show.
Dream come true
Buzz is that Sidharth Shukla of Balika Vadhu has signed a three-film contract with Karan Johar's production company. Apparently, Karan liked his style and personality when he saw
him perform in the show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and consequently signed him in a supporting role. This sure is a dream come true for Sidharth.
Juhi Parmar is thinking of returning to acting. Juhi, who is a mother to 11-month-old Samaira, apparently met some television producers and had a discussion with them. However, she still is double-minded about taking on a project or focusing on motherhood.
Staying focused
Kapil Sharma has been inundated with offers to host award shows this season, but the comedian has turned most of them down, as he does not want to be over exposed. He feels that because his television show is telecast twice a week now, it is best for him to focus his energy on the show.
Happy holidays!
Dilip Joshi has been working hard on his show, Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, for the last five years. He hardly gets any personal time so when he wanted to go to the US for a holiday, the makers were happy to shoot in advance to accommodate him.
Up for a cause
Hiten Tejwani participated in the dream run category of Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. The busy actor wanted to be part of this social cause. Not only does Hiten support the cause of organ-donation, he also pledged his organs for donation during the event.
On the go
Sony Entertainment Television's show Adaalat, will soon have a new entry-Mehul Kajaria, who played the negative role in Saraswatichandra. Mehul will be essaying the role of a public prosecutor, Ramesh Menon, who will fight cases against KD Pathak (Ronit Roy). The actor has started shooting for the show and the episodes will be aired in February.
When contacted, Mehul confirmed the news and said, "Yes, I am doing the show and I had already started shooting. It's a great experience to work with Ronit Roy and the entire crew is really amazing."
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The golden role
Actress Flora Saini, who has worked down South, will be next seen in Nagesh Kuknoor's upcoming film on human trafficking titled Lakhsmi.
Flora will be playing the character of Swarna who is the queen of prostitutes in the red light area. She says, "I had been approaching filmmakers with my pictures. One day I got a call from Nagesh Sir's office and went for the auditions and eventually for look tests. Lakshmi is a very special film and when I got an offer, for the role of Swarna, I was excited. Few actresses get a chance like this. Swarna is a very special character because she is someone who enjoys her importance and at the same time she supports the cause of abused women. She has the humour in her and also the soft side of a woman."
When asked about her homework and reference for the character, she adds, "There were ideas about going to the red light area but we could not manage it so I totally believed in my director’s vision…My research on a few films, which I saw to get into the basic body language of a prostitute, also helped."
But was she was uncomfortable shooting for a few explicit scenes in the film? A confident Flora says, “Lakshmi has been directed by a director who is a genius! There were few difficult scenes but I was never reluctant to do them."
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Raageshwari to tie the knot
Raageshwari Loomba, an Indian pop singer, television anchor, yoga expert, former VJ of Channel V and MTV and a motivational guru will enter into wedlock to a London based international law barrister Sudhanshu Swaroop on January 27 in Mumbai.
She said, "I was happily single till December 2012, when my parents and common friends introduced me to this gentle-hearted man. When I insisted on communicating only through e-mails, he kindly obliged. It was awe-inspiring to learn about his work in Afghanistan, Darfur, Syria and the UN." 36-year-old Raageshwari also took to social networking site to inform the good news to all. After marriage, Raageshwari will be shifting to London. She said the decision was not easy. "Shifting to London has also been a very tough decision - it still is! My parents are my twin-souls. But it is only his work as a human rights barrister that made me take the plunge. The fact that he cares for people and wants to make this world a better place makes me deeply happy." 40-year-old Sudhanshu is a famous barrister practicing in London. Raageshwari's wedding gown will be designed by designer Troy Costa while her bridal sari will be designed by ace designer Neeta Lulla. Congrats to
Raageshwari!
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Long lasting
Amarjot Kaur How Long Will I Love You? is a song by Scottish rock band The Waterboys. It is from their fifth studio album, Room to Roam (1990), and has been written by Mike Scott. The song was subsequently covered by English recording artist Ellie Goulding and released as the second single from the repackaged edition of her second studio album, Halcyon, titled Halcyon Days (2013). The song is also included on the soundtrack to the 2013 Richard Curtis film About Time. Goulding performed How Long Will I Love You live in the BBC Children in Need Appeal Show on BBC One on November 15, 2013. On a good note
The song has meaningful lyrics and a crazy video. Also, Ellie's voice is phenomenal. I have been listening to this song for a while now. Jaspal Singh, musician The right mix
It's a nice song because it has the right mix of instruments and the right kind of lyrics. It's really incredible! Bindi Shah, student Heartfelt
I like the song very much as the melody is very good. It's got a good vibe about it and also has a really interesting video. Arushi Sharma, student
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Melodious notes
Only those who understand music, have the ability to create it. Jogan Singh, who recently launched his debut music album,
Inglistani, is heavily into Punjabi music and that reflects in his work as well. "This is the first music album for which I have composed music. Also, I have sung a song in the album and it's called
Soota," he begins. Jogan owns a music production house, Unique Music Production, and the album features singer RV, who is also Jogan's dear friend. "I did my bachelors and Masters in music from Punjabi university, Patiala, and won several gold medals for the folk songs that I sung at the university level, including bhangara
boliya, malvai gidda and jhumar. We catch up with him.
Where do you seek inspiration from? I was inspired by my father, who would sing at household weddings. Right from the beginning, he was my motivation. Who do you think is the finest Punjabi singer and
why? Gurdas Maan saab. I've grown up listening to him. He has love for Punjab and the way he sings, attracts one to his tunes. What prompted you to take up music professionally? I was in the media earlier, where I met a friend and together we decided to take up music professionally. Tell us something about your album… It took us one year to come up with this album. The album features eight songs - four-five beat songs, one sad and two romantic numbers. Sutta is the song I like the best.
amarjot@tribunemail.com
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In vogue
Your sense of style I like to be updated with the 'now' trends and then combine my own personal dressing sense with them. Latest addition to your treasure of clothing or accessories? Long black shoes. Brand crazy or street pick up? Brands are a safe bet. Who is your style icon? Deepika Pandukone. Who do you think is the worst dressed celebrity? Vidya Balan. Which look would you prefer - sporty, chic or glamorous Glamorous. One fashion trend that is beyond your comprehension? Piercings at odd places. What's your take on accessories? I like earrings of all kinds. If given the choice, which designer would you like to be dressed by? I think I would like to be my own designer. What gives your confidence a high? When I have given serious consideration to what I am wearing from top to toe. — As told to Poonam Bindra
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Subjective as it might stand, but to some people a conquest brings greater satisfaction than an honour! A challenge defied brings more pleasure than instant approval. Of all the people he performs for, Chandigarh-based classical musician
Subhash Chandra Ghosh, gets a creative high out of playing for the uninitiated rather than the addicted.
To act or not to act
Winter fashion is at its peak and with many options to choose from in coats, jackets as well as boots, it's time to rock. Priyanka Kapoor, an interior designer at PIFT, Ludhiana, likes to wear the latest available in the market.