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Power of pink
Pink is the colour that stands for many a cause now, right from breast cancer awareness to symbol of gay rights...
It’s the colour of blush, of feminity. The paler shade of it represents fragility but those who associate it with frivolity need to know that pink has more to it than just being cute, sweet and pretty. It promises substance when used to forward the cause of breast cancer, stands for revolution when picked to colour the symbol of gay rights, means happiness when birth of a baby girl is announced and flags off a movement when worn by actors of the Gulaab Gang! The connotations of pink are several and for whatever purpose it is picked, in whichever hue, it does justice to the task at hand. Like it did to the spring summer collection 2014 by Anupamma Dayal, which she presented last year and aptly titled it Gulabi. “I used pink to symbolise power. It has always been considered the sign of feminism. Pink was never considered a colour of substance earlier; rather it was black that meant all things strong and tough. The collection is aimed at turning the whole notion on its head.” The challenge was to use the soft colour on experimental silhouettes and put across the point that pink is beautiful, but not weak. She finds the idea of black depicting revolt ancient and pink an interesting replacement. She presented sarees, gowns, jumpsuits and even bikinis in different shades of pink. Pink shone on the green outfield last year as South African cricketers swapped the colours in their uniform with pink to create awareness about breast cancer. Otherwise promoted through the pink bow, it was a gesture noticed and appreciated the world over. The colour and symbol enjoys their association with the cause since 1991 when it was officially accepted. Bittu Sandhu, one of the trustees of Rani Breast Cancer Trust, feels no other colour would have forwarded the cause as effectively as pink does. “Wear a pink bow and you don’t even have to explain the reason behind it. It is the simplest way to spread awareness, to reach out to women and educate them that early detection of cancer is imperative to a long life,” Bittu says, while sharing that youngsters now readily sport a pink bow to become a part of the campaign. Gay parades were a sight to watch last year, as most of the participants wore some shade of pink. Rohit Varma, a fashion designer and advocate of gay rights in India, explains how pink symbolises gay rights. “Why can’t we associate macho with pink? It is gays who break all rules of dressing up. They live for happiness and on their own terms, thus as a symbol for LGBTs it makes sense.” Now that men have started wearing pink, he hopes that the lines between pink and blue blurs. And androgynous designs are the first step towards diffusing silhouettes and colours. On one hand as pink has been used in symbols to promote social causes, it, for a change, was used to convey rage against the moral police that ill-treated women for visiting clubs. The ‘Pink Chaddi’ campaign initiated a few years back to address the same issue became an instant hit on the social media. It was a platform for people to pledge their protest against moral policing. And now with Gulaab Gang, pink will get a new definition in India, where it will stand for women power, liberty and rights. Those who still consider it a soft colour must not forget that you suffer from blues but stay in the pink of health! ashima@tribunemail.com
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Playing the right notes
Singer-composer Raghu Dixit believes in the reach of independent music. He has set his standards high and hopes to live by them…
The Bangalore-based composer is most famous for fronting the Raghu Dixit Project, a multilingual folk music band. Going independent
The burgeoning Indie music scene receives an impetus through a channel dedicated to the cause and as a composer whose music is an amalgamation of Indian ethnic music and various styles, Raghu accepts, acknowledges and encourages the independent music scene. “It’s great to have a channel that formally recognises the power and contribution of independent music,” shares Raghu, who is one of the performers at the launch party of MTV Indies. He has just released the music of the film Bewakoofiyan and is looking forward to a lot of better things. “I have also been recently out with album Jag Changa and currently travelling to promote it.” The album comprises some collaborations and ballads. What lies ahead, “Is a vacation. It was long due and I am looking forward to it,” he laughs. On a serious note, “I want to continue travelling around the world and doing concerts.” Apart from of course making music! When not playing for others, it’s unwinding with random artists at the end of the day. “It could be random songs on the radio; I also go buy i-Tunes. Different genres, band like Switchfoot, project like Owl City and also an African band whose name I can’t pronounce,” he laughs. He adds, “My favourites change by the week.” manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Look around
Beyond the Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan that most have been to or have heard of, there are vast stretches of land offering spectacles. It takes the wanderlust to experience incredible India and its entire splendor. Each name is worth the status of a destination and as you zoom in, every dot on the map leads to an experience.
With the intent of catering to both vacationers and voyagers, India Travel Mart, a three-day travel event gets going with 25 participating names. Travel companies, hotel chains, hospitality institutes, state tourism boards; all aboard, intending to ship you off to explore the world. Religion-centric: Bihar
It doesn't figure in the list of spontaneous destinations for the youth at least. Bihar, as a state of tourism, either remains unexplored or underestimated. Vishwapanshu Upadhyay, representing Bihar tourism, gives a fresh perspective, "We are quite popular in the list of religious tourism. You'll find places of Sikh, Jains and Buddhist importance. It's a place that is a confluence of most religions in India." He adds, "Besides, there are several attractions like Dolphin park, ancient monuments and historical forts." A tourist travels for the lure of the destination, a traveler for the thrill of the journey. Rustic lure: Rajasthan
Heritage tourism takes a step forward. The latest to attract those in search of escapism is rural tourism. Rajasthan, has always been among the country's best options. "We ask the tastes and preferences of the people and then in Rajasthan further recommend them rural tourism or eco-tourism," says Sandeep Shrivastava, asst. tourist officer. Experience the rural lifestyle of villagers, drink from an earthen pot, see herdsmen directing cattle, shop on resplendent memoirs and the like. Heritage tourism has been around for a while and continues to lure the travelers all along. Shares Dhruv Kapoor, assistant manager, sales, Welcome Heritage group, "We have 28 heritage sites converted to hotels across India. Of them, Mandir Palace in Jaisalmer, is the oldest building restored as a hotel." Beach candy:
Kerala & Thailand
When every direction is worth heading out in, a couple of destinations enjoy a constant position in popularity. "The most popular destination abroad is Thailand and within India, Kerala attracts the maximum tourists. As of now, that's unlikely to change over the next few years at least," shares Satinder Singh, executive sales, Make My Trip. He adds, "Thailand offers beaches, shopping, adventure and everything at reasonable rates and Kerala for reasons quite obvious." manpriya@tribunemail.com On till February 23 at Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28, Chandigarh.
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Chin up
Dr Vikas Sharma
The term double chin generally refers to the presence of a flab fold below the chin resulting in a loss of contour between the lower face and the neck. Double chins, the unwelcome destroyers of facial contour, tend to come with advancing years as we naturally gain weight-and the loose skin, weaker muscles, and free-falling fat do their thing.
The people concerned, generally complain of a heavy, drooping neck. A double chin occurs when the skin located under the chin area loses elasticity from the breakdown of elastin and collagen fibers. Generally, a double chin is part of the natural ageing process, but can occur because of dominant genetics, sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, loose and weak facial muscle, bad eating habits, bad posture and even excess sun exposure over the years. The severity of a "true" double chin is related to accumulation of fat in the neck area below the chin. It is often related to an individual's weight and is accentuated with additional weight gain. The pouches of hanging fat not only makes one look heavier but this makes one look older as well, since the flab makes it impossible to demarcate the chin and jaw lines. Also, despite weight loss via controlled diet and exercise a double chin can still remain an issue for some people. In such cases the fat becomes "lazy" and refuses to budge despite all efforts. The double chin becomes prominent more when the bottom jaw is lowered or the head is titled down. Eliminating the double chin is a challenging situation for a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. It requires patience and complete dedication to reduce or remove the flap of double chin. One has to alter the lifestyle routine, sticking to a diet plan, avoiding alcohol, smoking, fast food and foods with high glycemic index is essential. Good exercise routine with special emphasis on chin, jaw line and neck exercises. However, double chins have proved to be a stubborn area in terms of reducing fat stores through diet and exercise alone. The various procedures for reducing or eliminating the double chin include: Ray of hope
In laser liposuction, a small laser fibre is placed beneath the skin and the laser beam heats the double chin fat. Laser liposuction technology is a targeted therapy which melts the excess fat and helps tighten the skin without possible scarring in the neck and jaw line area. Such double chin procedures are much less invasive and less expensive than other surgical options such as the neck lift. Double chin liposuction can be done under light sedation and is considered to be relatively non-invasive, with no visible signs of surgery and often only a few days of down time. After the treatment a chin strap has to be worn by the patients over the treated double chin area for two or three days. For more severe cases of loose skin or muscle, the demi-facelift or mini-facelift involving the lower face and neck are the most effective options. The aim of this procedure is to redefine or restore the contours of the lower face and neck while preserving a natural, balanced appearance. Drug therapy
Scientists have developed a new treatment for reducing double chins. The new treatment targets unappealing fat deposits beneath the chin, better known as submental fat. They have created a drug which, when injected, targets and kills off fat cells which build up beneath the face. This research is a very exciting step towards a safe and non-surgical solution to removing unwanted chin fat. There are other non-surgical treatments for submental fat too, but there is limited clinical evidence to prove their effectiveness. Sound advice
Ultherapy is a skin care treatment that is approved by the FDA. It uses ultrasound technology to stimulate the collagen cells deep within the skin, essentially "waking them up" and making them firm up the skin. The other non-surgical approaches include the non-invasive use of vacuum therapy to break up pockets of fat combined with multiple radio frequency to encourage tightening afterwards. (Dr Sharma is a Chandigarh-based dermatologist)
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Hic hic hurray!
Jasmine Singh Before we get down to talking about the much-hyped film Ishq Brandy, here is one simple question. The film Chandani belongs to Subhash Ghai or Yash Chopra? Second, is Nagaland outside India? You definitely don't need to consult the Encyclopedia Britannica to find out the answers. All you need is some school-level general knowledge. So, when an actor in Ishq Brandy, in a dialogue calls Subash Ghai Di Chandani or when to the question, "Tusi India ton aaye ho," he replies "Nahi Nagaland ton," one wonders is it natural to overlook smaller things in a bigger frame? Here it comes Amit Prasher directed Ishq Brandy that has a generous seasoning of love and brandy both. So, literally till the break one or the other actor, drunk in love, drunk in sorrow, just plain drunk!
Director Amit, who was credited for Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22, is known for his strong hold in comedy. The story, screenplay and dialogues are all written by the new boy on the block, Rupinder Inderjeet. The story is just about okay, but yes it gets unbearable after a while. The director managed to lift the story as much as he could. The story, however, starts making sense only after the second half! The first half as we said, all we see are three drunk friends trying to get a hang of the things. Amit should be credited for handling a battery of actors pretty well. Editor Manish More's scissors, however, could have been a little sharper. The film shows some really sad cinematography. Given the fact that it was shot in Mauritius, one expected something better, definitely some exotic locales! It stretches out way too far, especially towards the climax where everyone is running after a red box. The scene may get you to dig into your pocket for a disprin. Though as a director Amit knows what to extract from his actors, the dialogues fail to impress. You can see fleeting glimpses of Hollywood super hit Hangover and Bollywood's own Andaaz Apna Apna. Coming to the actors, Binnu Dhillon, Roshan Prince, Alfaaz, Japji Khera, Wamiqa Gabbi, BN Sharma, Karamjit Anmol and Shavinder Mahal, Ishq Brandy offers a pool of talent. Binnu Dhillon is pretty good in his role, his timely punches lift the scenes. Roshan Prince and his Facebook updates is something youngsters will relate to. The surprise package here is Alfaaz. As compared to his earlier flick, Jatt Airways, the actor has managed to improve as an actor. If only he could shed that extra weight! As for the actresses, Japji Khera looks pretty, carries Jimmy Choo purses, wears Zara outfits and delivers as much as we expect from the actresses of Punjabi films. Wamiqa Gabbi on the other hand sets no style statement. Her character of a chatterbox can be gulped down nicely. BN Sharma is an actor with versatility and the director gets the credit for giving him a different look. After a while, he does go a little overboard with his don character, but then something is better than nothing. We see less of Shavinder Mahal and Avtar Gill. Karamjit Anmol scores a point for his spontaneous dialogue delivery. Ishq Brandy has a heady concoction of good music. Yes, there are a few background songs, a few falling into the situations and a few more falling direct from the sky. Overall, you would get drunk on this brandy, the hangover might not last for long though.
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Celestial influence
"Millionaires don't use Astrology, billionaires do." — J.P. Morgan
"I think that astrology, as a profession, has a very good scope and that at least one member of a family must learn astrology. It is true that most of the astrologers these days have made it a route to easy money making, but the true essence of knowledge of this science, they can protect themselves and their near and dear ones," says Sharma, who gives astrology advice for free. Sharma has travelled across the world, including UK, Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Italy. So, when puzzled on what, according to him, was the difference between people's perception of astrology outside India, Sharma replies, "When abroad, I noticed that people are more interested in astrology and they religiously follow all the upaayas that we advise them to follow. However, in India, because most of the astrologers scare people and misuse their knowledge of astrology to mint money, people have started losing faith in astrology." He adds, "If one has a proper understanding of their planets, they will be in a position to safeguard themselves and cushion the harmful blows of these planets." Sharma, who studied astrology from AIFAS (All India Federation of Astrologers Society), has won four gold medals in this field of study. "I conduct a lot of workshops across the world and host gems and antiques exhibitions abroad, from where I earn most of my money," he shares while adding, "I have made several predictions for Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, Dev Anand, Parineeti Chopra, and Tappu of Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah." As he signs off, he leaves us with astrological advice that are applicable to all, "While these days most of us eat food while watching television, it is important that we eat in the kitchen as it increases ones memory, avoids the ill effects of raahu and shani and fosters good health. Also, students should study in the north-east corner and offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati before studying. Meanwhile, the best place to keep your money is in the south-west corner of the house." amarjot@tribunemail.com
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Astro turf
ARIES: Your card the "judgement" gives you strength and strong vision. Communication over legal matters, travel plans and education can be postponed and cause undue stress.
Tarot message: Put your terms and conditions in writing. Lucky colour: Crimson. Magic number: 33. TAURUS: Today you will have difficulty in getting along with associates. Fraud and trickery can be the order of the day. Women: avoid overeating and gossiping. Expect tremendous joy at an evening party. Tarot message: Handle property issues with care. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 44. GEMINI: Health needs some care. Do not be too much in a hurry to get financial plans underway. Property dealers: you can have a tough encounter. Stay at
home and relax. Tarot message: Plan your life better to avoid delays. Lucky colour: Beige. Magic number: 59. CANCER: Today you are likely to spend money on philosophical books. An agreement made today can be very valuable for you. Personal and business partnerships are blessed today. Tarot message: You find within yourself a fountainhead of will-power. Lucky colour: Teal. Magic number: 63. LEO: The day starts with smiles and cheers. Business affairs are under control. Friends are pleasant, but not particularly significant. It's a good day to release anxiety, so stop holding on to old ideas. Tarot message: Take responsibility for your own action. Lucky colour: Blue. Magic number: 26. VIRGO: Meeting new people will bring delightful opportunity for romance and minor flirtation. Get out and about early; activity and social interaction will do you a world of good. Tarot message: You will prevent a lot of trouble by taking timely action. Lucky colour: Violet. Magic number: 54.
LIBRA: Avoid speculation today. The married will enjoy a pleasantly romantic phase at home. Take proper care of your health. Social life and political activity will bring recognition. Tarot message: Don't reveal your plans to your competitors. Lucky colour: Rust. Magic number: 40. SCORPIO: Don't rush to make any hasty decisions regarding your family matters. A young member in the family will offer you valuable advice. Defer a short journey. Tarot message: Don't try
to end the entire deadlock at one go. Lucky colour: Grey. Magic Number: 33. SAGITTARIUS: Dispute over a small issue is possible at your working place. Women: don't use harsh words. Heavy expenses will frustrate you. Beware of delays and postponement. Tarot message: You gain by being practical; don't be emotional. Lucky colour: Green. Magic Number: 48. CAPRICORN: Take proper care of your diet. Love life will be exciting. Expectant A friend of same sex will be helpful. Financial matters can come under strain. Singles can be on the lookout for a partner. Tarot message: Do what is right and watch your best interests. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic Number: 56. AQUARIUS: Make good use of the quite morning, and you will be well prepared for the rest of the day. Personal relations will be neglected. Students: mind
your language. Tarot message: Delays are the only obstacle in your way to success. Lucky colour: Black. Magic Number: 38. PISCES: The card "six of wands" will give you extra rewards. Try to keep your schedule
varied and flexible rather than letting yourself get pinned down in one spot. Tarot message: Empty promises are certain, so be careful. Lucky colour: Red. Magic Number: 40
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Behind the scenes
Casting couch has been an unseen reality for long. With another Bollywood director in the dock, we talk to a few personalities from the film world to know more…
Casting couch makes headlines every few years. Once again, director Subhash Kapoor has landed in the net with actress Geetika Tyagi's alleged claims. In a relatively free setting where torrid love affairs are the order of the day, what makes ground for this practice? We talk to some people from the field and they unanimously defend the film industry. Actress Nimrat Kaur, who shot to fame with the film The Lunchbox, claims to have never landed in such an unpleasant situation ever in her journey. "There is always more than what meets the eye. You can't give one party the benefit of doubt just because she is a woman or he is in position of power. If there is willing participation, you and I will never hear of it ever. Out in the open I never faced it; in fact I haven't even come across someone who has been through this first-hand," Nimrat clears her stand. Madalsa Sharma, who has had a stint with regional cinema and debuts in Bollywood with Rajshri Productions Samrat And Co opposite Rajeev Khandelwal, doesn't deny that casting couch exists but it is not limited to Bollywood alone. "Sexual exploitation is probably there in every field but since other industries are not so media friendly, there are not as many stories that are reported," says Madalsa. Being from the industry - her father is a writer, director and producer, and mother an actress — Madalsa believes that knowing the industry probably helped her steer clear of all this. "Men will be men everywhere. How a girl presents herself makes a big difference. We cannot expect laws to protect us all the time," says Madalsa, who makes sure that her demeanour says it all — I am an actor and you can expect only acting out of me! Mita Vashisht, who has been in the industry for the last twenty-five years, goes with Madalsa on the issue — women would be approached not only in the professional sphere but everywhere else, it's for them to deal with it. "Every industry would have women at the receiving end, but the film industry hits the headlines just because there are fame, money and glamour that's attached to it," says Mita. Women would be approached whichever profession they opt for, it's the stand they take that decides the fate, believes Mita. Director Rahul Mittra claims he has no knowledge of the recent incident, but is open to talking on the issue. "Casting couch is as common or as non-common in the film industry as any other, but when it happens in Bollywood it makes news," says Rahul. Principally against anything that's based on exploitation, Rahul says, "Individually I cannot relate to something of this sort. Films are a competitive field and if you have talent, there is absolutely no stopping. And, no need to take this root to stardom." mona@tribunemail.com
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Negatively positive
Deepshika has mastered the art of playing negative roles on television. She is currently seen in Madhubala on Colors as a step-mom. She talks about her role and her daughter's reaction to the same. What is your character on the show like? My character Pam is the lead Abhay's step-mother. There isn't much of a difference between their ages and though she has an ulterior motive, she plays goody-good in front of him. What made you take up this show? I wasn't doing TV for a while. We were producing a show Bhoot Aaya and people thought I wasn't interested in acting, but I wanted to although the shows offered to me weren't that good. And as I turned a few shows down, the perception became stronger. So I am glad the makers of Madhubala approached me as I had worked with them earlier as well. Are negative roles your forte? Whoever meets me says you are not like the role you play — well of course not! I am acting on screen. I don't come across as a 'bechari' woman in real life. Every story needs a drama and that comes from negative characters. I always believe that a villain in a story gives tadka to it and provides twists, so why not. How comfortable are you in saris that you are wearing in the show? I love wearing saris. And on Madhubala, we are making a style statement. I have lace blouses and designer saris. How do you kids react when they see you playing a vamp? My kids wanted me to do Madhubala, as I asked them about the show. They watch it of and on. And once when my voice wasn't dubbed in the show, my daughter recognised it. She used to ask why I was doing such a role, but when her teachers and other classmates talked about my role in flattering terms she's was fine with it. — HRM Whoever meets me says you are not like the role you play —well of course not! I am acting on screen. I don't come across as a 'bechari' woman in real life. Every story needs a drama and that comes from negative characters. I always believe that a villain in a story gives tadka to it and provides twists, so why not. Tough girl
Latest in the wild-card entries on Khatron Ke Khiladi is Miss India UK Deana Uppal, who was also a contestant in the Big Brother house. The 24-year-old is multi-talented as she is a black belt in karate and is up for challenging
tasks. Together forever
Puneet Sachdev and Pariva Pranati tied the knot in a hush-hush ceremony in Gwalior last week. The two actors met on the sets of Bhabhi years ago and were seeing each other. Puneet, who is currently seen in Madhubala, is working on getting some time off to go for a honeymoon. Censored stuff?
One of the upcoming episodes of Karan Johar's chat show Koffee With Karan will air at 11pm. That's because guests Nargis Fakhri and Freida Pinto had a candid conversation about sexual topics and more. The channel might air a repeat telecast after deleting some of the sensational quotes. New avatar
Life Ok's reality show Welcome-Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi Ki will soon return on the channel. But this time there is a big change, as it will not have any celebrities. In Season One, multiple celebs were seen every week bickering about food and their counterparts, but now the show will feature common people. It will be shot in Delhi and air on March 3. Kapil
goes big
Kapil Sharma has signed a three-film deal with Y films of Yashraj production. His first film called Bank Chor will have him as the lead, but he says the role is not that of a regular comedian. The film goes on the floor in April.
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An experience called Highway
Alia Bhatt and Imtiaz Ali talk about their labour of love, Highway, from the casting to the travels to their expectations. A grueling shoot
Alia Bhatt: It was quite adventurous. We travelled across six states and ventured into remote, isolated places. We did physically exhausting things like running, climbing trees and mountains. Going de-glam was very refreshing for me. I didn't have to worry about make-up and my clothes. That helped me focus on my performance. I asked my mother and sister not to join me at shoots because I wanted to be alone and put my capabilities as an actor to test. Casting Alia Bhatt
Imtiaz Ali: It came as a surprise to me as well! I was looking at someone with more life experience. But when I met her, I realised she has an emotional insight into things and since she has never been on the road before, she would do an honest job of it. Imtiaz Ali vs Karan Johar
Alia Bhatt: Karan likes to sit before the monitor, but Imtiaz prefers to get physically involved. So much so that you could see his hair or arm in the frame! Sometimes, he would even drive the truck. Shooting in Kashmir
Imtiaz Ali: Shooting in Kashmir was, in fact, the easiest schedule. My crew comprised of travel enthusiasts and that made shooting in Himachal Pradesh so much fun. Taking tension
Imtiaz Ali: No, I am not tensed at all about the reactions Highway will get. In this business, there is so much pressure to perform that after a point, you become shameless. Luckily, I was born that way (laughs).
Trouble in Abhi-Ash’s paradise?
All is not well at Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's paradise. Rumor is doing all the rounds that the duo had a fight at Kokilaben Ambani's birthday party. The reason is said to be Ash's unpleasant relationship with her mother-in-law and veteran actress Jaya Bachchan. Abhishek is said to be unhappy with his wife's behaviour towards his mother. At the recently held events like Ahana Deol's wedding reception and Kokilaben Ambani's birthday party, bahurani Aishwarya has been maintaining a safe distance from mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan. At the birthday bash of Kokilaben, Ash and Jaya totally avoided each other. While Aishwarya was by husband Abhishek's side throughout, Jaya was seen mingling with other guests. On looking at the duo, it seems they do not exist for one another. They totally ignored each other and even avoided eye to eye contact. Not only at the Ambani's party, the distance between the two Bachchan ladies was also seen at Ahana Deol's wedding reception. At Deol's wedding reception, Ash remained connected to her hubby while Jaya chose to stick to Amitabh's side. The two ladies were spotted together in public last year at filmmaker Subhash Ghai's party. For quite sometime, such rumours have been doing the rounds. It is heard that Ash is not happy with Jaya who keeps a tab on her every activity, professional or personal.
This Romeo is a gay!
While several renditions of Shakespeare's historic romance Romeo and Juliet have been attempted, trust Balaji Motion Pictures to do something different and daring. The prolific production house has announced Romil and Juggal, a hilarious and heart-warming re-imagination of Romeo and Juliet, except that both the protagonists are male! A first-of-its-kind entertainer, Romil and Juggal looks to break stereotype as the coming-of-age romance, never seen before on Indian celluloid and explores what it means to stand out from the crowd. While details of the film are kept under wraps, given the subject of the film, news has it that two fresh faces will be launched by Balaji for this bold yet emotional, romantic saga. The film goes on floor in May. Kunal Kohli's assistant Danish Aslam (Break Ke Baad) will direct this quirky romance. Danish says, "When it comes to topics like these, in India at least, we have a tendency to go completely over the top. We either make slapstick humour, like Dostana (2008) or we go extremely serious about it like Onir's film. My treatment will be realistic and not exceptionally dramatic."
No action from Prabhu’s side
Despite a legal notice from Warner Brothers claiming copyright infringement, director Prabhu Dheva and his producer Gordhan Tanwani are in no mood to budge from the title Action Jackson. We hear that the production company TIPS is now gearing up for a legal battle with the American studio. The film's leading man Ajay Devgn has also pitched his might with the producers. Explaining the title, Prabhu Dheva says, "We named the film Action Jackson because our hero Ajay Devgan is known as 'AJ' and we thought it would be a good idea to use the initials and extend it into the title Action Jackson as Ajay is doing both action and dancing in the film." The director says they aren't changing the title. "It isn't like Rambo Rajkumar where Rambo was a patented name by the Hollywood studio. How can anyone claim copyright over the words 'action' and 'Jackson'? And since the word 'Jackson' is in my title for the dancing we might have Michael Jackson's family claiming copyright violation. We can't just keep giving in like this for every title," he adds. As for the title belonging to a Hollywood film, Prabhu defends himself and says, "I had never heard of a Hollywood film entitled Action Jackson. Didn't it come 25 years ago? So many films are titled Romeo and Juliet. Should Shakespeare's family sue?"
Family show
The Bhatts, including the reclusive Pooja Bhatt, gathered at a suburban multiplex to watch Alia Bhatt's Highway. Other guests were Alia's grandparents, father Mahesh Bhatt, uncle Mukesh, her cousins and friend Anshula
Kapoor.
Children first
For Farah Khan, as is the case with most mothers, children come first. She was leaving her home to go to work but one of her triplets threw up, so she decided to stay back.
Release date
Shuddhi, the much delayed Dharma Production film, will release on December 25, 2015. Karan Johar tweeted this information and said that he would announce the lead cast shortly.
Fans go fanatic
Shah Rukh Khan returned to Mumbai from Malaysia on a Malaysian Airlines flight and the staff and passengers went completely crazy trying to catch a glimpse of him and taking pictures.
New face for Dum Lagake…
Director-cum-producer Maneesh Sharma has cast a new girl opposite Ayushmann Khurrana in Dum Lagake Haisha. She is Bhumi Pednekar and was in the casting department at YRF.
Sick leave
Katrina Kaif has been shooting non-stop for the past three-four months and has been doing exhausting stunts too. She had fever while shooting Bang Bang in Manali and the shoot had to be cancelled.
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A delightful journey
Highway
Directed by Imtiaz Ali and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film, Highway is a Bollywood drama film that stars Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. The film revolves around the life of an imminent industrialist's daughter (Alia Bhatt), who is young, vivacious and is on the highway one night with her fiancé, when she is abducted. While the gang of kidnappers are in a panic because of her father's powerful connections, the leader of this group is adamant about not sending her back and he will do whatever it takes to see this through. But as the days pass by, a strange bond begins to develop between the victim and the oppressor. It is in this captivity that she, for the first time, feels free. She does not want to go back but she also doesn't want to reach where he is taking her. Good treatment
I really like the concept of the film and Imtiaz Ali has done full justice to its treatment as well. It's a dramatic film that traces the journey of a young girl, who discovers her true self in adverse times. I enjoyed the film thoroughly. Niharika
Bhalla, student Alia shines
In this film, Alia Bhatt establishes herself not only as an actor, but as a performer too. She is brilliant. Also, I like the scenic visuals in the film. It's the kind of film that one must watch in the theatres. Kanishk
Arora, businessperson Well knitted
What I like the most about the film is the way it shapes up with each passing scene, especially the journey of Veera. I like the first half of the film very much, but the second half is not quite as good. Overall, a good watch! Saiyam Sharma, student — As told to Amarjot Kaur
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Puppet pleasure
On February 24 Indian group Aakaar Puppet Theatre will stage Dhola Maru, which will be directed by Puran Bhat. The show will be of fifty minutes duration. Dhola Maru is a folk tale that originated in northwestern Rajasthan. This romantic legend of the separation of a young couple and their subsequent reunion was traditionally sung as a ballad, enacted as a nautanki drama and illustrated in numerous painting. On February 25, Spanish group Paca Garcia Aniceto Roca will perform Seven Baby Goats. This forty minute show will be directed by Aniceto Roca. On February 26, a group from Ireland, including Thomas Baker and Boris Hunka, will present The Musical Menagerie. On February 27 there will be Peter and the Wolf, a production by UK-based director Drew Colby. This 35-minute show is based on a boy named Peter who wanders out in search of an adventure. Among others, Nedelina Roselinova, Rumyana Kraleva, Dyan Rusev, Georgi Minkov from Bulgaria will present Tumba-Lumba on February 28.
— TNS
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Fresh look
The season looks set to be marked by strong directions in terms of colour and product. An ode to travel, the Celio Spring Summer 2014 collection showcases the brand's colour expertise, prints and dip-dye effects.
This complete wardrobe takes a fresh approach, reinterpreting the essentials for men in lively colour tones. Blue is expressed in every hue, while indigo remains the shade of the season. Deep, intense, washed or more classic, it is worn on its own or mixed with coloured stripes. From the must-have cotton duffle coat to the revisited sailor tops, a sea breeze is blowing through the collection. Changing direction, Celio is taking its inspiration from Miami. More graphic, tropical prints, dip-dye effects and photo print are given pride of place. Shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts with more daring motifs brighten up more timeless looks. Bermuda shorts are the key piece, whether floral, drenched in colour or
plain. — TNS
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It’s a classic case of reverse psychology; an instance where challenge plays the motivation rather than encouragement. “I was nineteen when this guy not just made fun of me, but also challenged me to make music,” shares Indian singer, songwriter, producer and film score composer Raghu Dixit, while partly explaining the big switch from a post graduation in microbiology to music. There’s also a background in Indian classical dancing. He adds, “I took it upon myself and was initially supposed to devote only two months learning music.” By now, he has experienced music in all spheres and hasn’t left the “wooden instrument” he once called guitar ever since! 
While there are some who wish for the stars, there are others, who study them and as Vishnu Sharma, a Chandigarh-based astrologer talks about astrology, he dismisses several notions that most of us have about this ancient science. 
Since its inception in 2001, the Ishara International Puppet Festival has brought to India over ninety international puppetry companies and promoted numerous indigenous productions. The festival will take place from February 24 to March 4 at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh. The groups participating in the Ishara International Puppet Festival 2014 are as follows: