The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

	gyan zone A fine tune Singer-composer Nakash Aziz wants to make songs that last a hundred years and, of course, lend his voice to them Mona Hits have come his way, so have money and recognition. When a director like Anurag Basu comes to say 'Hi' personally, well, that means you have arrived in Bollywood! What's more…he has turned his passion into a profession! Nakash Aziz, the music-composer who is better known as a singer who has given hits like Saree Ke Fall Sa, Gandi Baat, Pyaar Ki Pungi, Second Hand Jawani and Phata Phati, comes calling to Chandigarh on Monday. Happy living his dream, Nakash is grounded, handles criticism comfortably and most of all, is happy living his dream. "Music runs in my family. I have just bought a car for my dad, which was my childhood dream and I love it." Those present try to run him down on his choice of songs, but he defends, "I am a newcomer. I do what I am offered. If I don't do it, someone else will. And, then my songs are loved. I have these aunties walking up and telling me how much their kids love to dance on my Gandi Baat." Well, little do others know that the devotional track Kripa from Highway has also been composed by him! "I have done two Marathi films. While the commercial one got success, the one I had put my heart into couldn't reach the audience," says Nakash. He is not disappointed though, "I do intend to make songs that last a hundred years." Nakash pursued singing following his father, who had his own band and would do stage shows after work. He participated in 'singing competitions' and 'reality shows' and it was on the advice of Anu Malik that he started learning how to sing. "Being on TV helped me know where I stood. They got me opportunities and I was ready to make the most of them." Ask him on how singing competitions of his school days are different than the reality shows today and he says, "Reality shows focus on how you look, how poor you are and how much you have struggled." Nakash has a long list of friends, right from sound engineers to singers and composers, his ideal remains AR Rahman. "It is not just his music, but how fine a man he is. I have seen personally how he is out to help the underprivileged, if only I can be bit of what he is." While more film songs have come his way, Nakash wants to have his own YouTube channel that will have his creations. He is all ready with a qawwali and a few songs. Music rules his life, "I only go home to take a shower, rest I am in my studio all the while." Happy he is with his parents who supported his endeavour to be a musician right through. "My mother wanted me to be a pilot when I am so weak in studies," says Nakash, who did complete his bachelors. Now that his mom wants him to get married, Nakash is baffled for its looks like he is wedded to music for life! mona@tribunemail.com
	Mind reader Tanessa Puri explores the mind of a teenager in her book Reflections Amarjot Kaur She started writing at the age of six and at 13, she worked as a junior journalist at DNA YA (young adults), and at 14, Tanessa Puri started penning down a book that was launched this year at the Jaipur Literary festival. "I, like every other teenager, was going through a roller coaster of emotions in my early teens and I felt a compelling need to pen all of it down. So, that's when I fell upon the idea of authoring a book that explores the mind of a teenager and the way they can exaggerate a simple pimple even, so I penned a book titled-Reflections," shares Tanessa, who is presently in class 11 in RN Podar School, Mumbai. Like most of her peers, Tanessa too wanted to 'stand out' (as she puts it), but in a constructive way. She says, "While most of my peers were boozing and talking about their crushes, girlfriends, boyfriends and break-ups, I wanted to do something different to stand out, so writing was both, my creative refuge and a platform to stand out." She was born in Chandigarh. Launched at the 'Creating your first book, the writers within' event at Jaipur Literary Festival, Tanessa says that through her book, both, teenagers and their parents can bridge the gap. "I usually write when I am stressed. So, venting my thoughts down on the paper helps me cleanse my system and it is very therapeutic. The story is very realistic and it has subtle undertones of humour," she says. Tanessa seeks inspiration from her life and that of her friends. "I like Deepak Chopra and I guess that reflects in my style of writing too," she signs off. amarjot@tribunemail.com
	A heart-felt gesture Candy Dugal and Firoza Bharucha are trying to revive the art of story telling Like a true blue teacher, she wanted to put a lot of things straight with today's little ones; things like too much of television, invasion by the technology and lost art of good old story telling. Stories From The Heart, a wonderful collection of short stories for kids from the age group of 4-8 years, aims to enchant children while making up for some free time for the parents. Brainchild of teacher Candy Dugal and Firoza Bharucha, the audio project features seven delightful original stories, each with a meaningful message. "I've been a teacher for ever and ever. I had decided early on that teaching kids was the only thing I wanted to do…We noticed that children are watching TV and are always into their iPads. How do we get them interested in stories," Dugal shares giving us the backgrounder on how the stories were conceived. "They have stopped using their own imagination. We also want to hone their listening skills, which is why there are lyrics to each song," she shares while adding that a part of the reason for the project came from her year-and-a-half-old granddaughter. Attribute it to the unexpected feedback or the encouraging response, coming up is yet another CD for even younger age group. "It should be out before Diwali and it might be for even younger children, like three year olds." She adds, "It was not supposed to be a commercial venture but it has been such a success in Pune, where I'm not currently based…I know of a five-year-old who knows all the lyrics by heart. As for the parents, they tell me that the place to listen to the CD is while traveling in a car." The stories last 3 ½ to 6 ½ minutes each, thereby making it just right for kids. A catchy song follows each story and each song comes along with lyrics that kids can sing along. "The stories are on everyday situations. For example like on a little bird that is not supposed to be caged." It sure must not be a piece of cake, conceiving stories and writing lyrics for restless little audience. She laughs, "It comes naturally to me. I understand children very well." Available online at eBay India and Rhythm House Online. — Manpriya Singh
	Master Chef Creamy layer Manju dewan A soft creamy dessert is any foodie's quest and it is a cook's desire to whip-up something light to appease the sweet-tooth. And when it is made with ingredients off the shelf while looking 'so good', it becomes any housewife's pride. Sunshine pudding Ingredients 100 gm walnut macaroon biscuits 1 tin pineapple 2 tbsp gelatine 18 ½ tbsp powdered sugar 2 cups milk 6 tbsp corn flour 300 gm fresh cream Juice of 1 lemon 2-3 drops lemon colouring For decoration 100 gm pineapple slices Whipped cream Method Break the macaroon biscuits into small pieces. Put a big rectangular mould into a refrigerator to cool. Drain 4 pineapple slices and cut them into small pieces. Take 1½ cup pineapple syrup in a bowl. Mix in the gelatine and 6 tbsp powdered sugar. Put into a double boiler to dissolve the sugar completely. Make a custard with milk, 6½ tbsp powdered sugar and corn flour. Let it cool. Whip 200 gm fresh cream with 6 tbsp powdered sugar. Add lemon juice to dissolved gelatine and whip on ice till it looks like cream. Place a big bowl on ice. Mix in the cooled custard, whipped cream and gelatine. Also add macaroon pieces and pineapple pieces. Scrape the sides often till the pudding is semi-set. Pour in the rectangular mould and set in the refrigerator. Unmould onto a serving plate. Whip 100 gm of fresh cream with 2 tbsp powdered sugar, till it turns stiff. Add 1-2 drops of lemon yellow colouring. Decorate the pudding with pineapple slices and cream. (Dewan is a Ludhiana-based culinary expert) — As told to Poonam Bindra
	Verse from the heart Prof Satyapal Sehgal, who has translated Lal Singh Dil’s poems, says it is the poet’s raw expressions which intrigue him Amarjot Kaur In many ways, the work of a translator comes across as an easy one, courtesy the 'ready matter' at the author's disposal. However, Prof Satyapal Sehgal of Hindi Department, Panjab University, who recently penned a book—Lal Singh Dil-Pratinidh Kavitaein—that is a translation of revolutionary poet Lal Singh Dil's poems, says, "Translation, from one language to another, requires much diligence in terms of articulating the same feeling that the original composition has in its capacity to generate. Also, a translator shoulders the onus of retaining the same essence and flavour that the poet wants to create." While Sehgal's choice of translating Lal Singh's work is purely influenced by his sensibility as a revolutionary poet, he also romances Lal Singh's disposition, which he says was extremely genuine and had no layers of any kind of pretence whatsoever. "I first me Lal Singh in 1993, and the last when I met him was when I was accompanied by my friend and we visited his house at Samrala. He was almost dying and his house looked like a makeshift impoverished apartment," begins Sehgal while adding, "Lal Singh was a political revolutionary poet and the reason why his poems had such honesty of expression and truth in its meaning, was because he too belonged to the economically weaker section of the society." Sehgal continues to explain his choice of subject as he shares, "I first read Lal Singh's poems in a Hindi journal called Pehal which appeared along with Paash's poems. There was a certain kind of rawness in his poetry, to which I took to instantly. Also, he was from a very humble background and he wanted a change, he yearned for it and that vas very evident in his poetry too. Perhaps, it influenced me to read his work more and translate it from Punjabi to Hindi." Though Sehgal was convinced that he wanted to translate Lal Singh's poems, translating it did not come very easy. "You see, Lal Singh was a raw poet and he used very typical regional jargons, the meanings of which were not even documented in any Punjabi dictionary even. So at times, I would ask my students belonging to those regions to know the meaning of that word. In fact, there are many of Lal Singh's poems which still haven't been published anywhere. So it was a tough task." Shegal, who has authored as many as ten anthologies of Hindi poetry and one independent poetry book titled Kai Cheezein, now intends to pen an autobiographical book on Lal Singh. "I'm also translating the works of Sant Ram Udasi, who is also a Punjabi poet and am writing one book on poetry and criticism," he signs off. amarjot@tribunemail.com
	pet passion From the horse’s mouth Poonam Bindra Some call dogs as 'man's best friend' and some on the other hand call the horses as 'man's most intelligent friend' and Glenn Peat, the GM of Hyatt Regency Ludhiana, seems to be in agreement with the latter. "They are the ones who can exploit any body if they sense fear in the rider," he says. Riding since the age of eight and rather having grown up among horses in New Zealand and Australia, he could actually rekindle his passion for these handsome four-legged friends when he came to India and bought himself four of them. He gets to ride them four to five times a week. All praise for the thoroughbreds from India, he bought one from Mullanpur, one from Pakhowal and two from the Chappar Mela. The black stallion answers to the name Jaanbaaz while the chocolate browns are Zeus, Trigger and Bull's Eye. They sure are big horses and seem to be looking disdainfully at you from the corner of the eye as they stomp in agreement or disagreement, we don't know! Another strange character trait "unlike dogs who are very forgiving and will continue to wag their tails even after getting a scolding these fellows hold grudges," quips the master. "And when they show their emotion and affection, it also is in plenty. But somehow they are continuously testing the master by the body language and react differently to different people," he adds. We saw it when Glenn handed over the reins of the cheeky and naughty 'Jaanbaaz' to somebody else and it just went off in a huff and Glenn had to run after him. Zeus is gentle while Trigger and Bull's Eye are termed as 'the nice ones'. They too are favourite with the 9-year-old Jenna and 6-year-old Ashleigh who get to ride them on the weekends with their mom Karen. The kids exclaim in unison Zeus is our favourite and Karen, adds "He is a gentle giant and I trust the little ones with him." According to Glenn one should be absolutely tension free while riding a horse for they are very quick to detect tension and fear and that's when they try to exploit the one riding them and will not obey commands so easily. An ardent fan of Indian horses Glenn says, "They are neat and fantastic and my favourites are the horses from Sindh and Majhuke." Though his horses have a comfortable stay in the Punjab Equine Sports Academy, Glenn takes time off to take part in their grooming. Appreciating the ban on the export of Indian horses, he feels in tune with the rulers like Maharaja Ranjit Singh who were known for their equestrian skills. It seems Glenn may be the forerunner in developing this hobby for the folks of Ludhiana.
	star track Lose & gain Evelyn Sharma, who's had a wonderful year at the movies with Nautanki Saala, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and most recently Yaariyan, will next be seen in the much anticipated David Dhawan film Main Tera Hero with Varun Dhawan. Evelyn who's known to have an envious body, was required to further shed 5 kilos to suit her ultra glamorous role wearing outfits that would have us gaping, for which she instantly went on a diet. Interestingly because she had only three weeks and a diet wasn't helping, the best solution Evelyn found was in Micheal George—a reputed Hollywood celebrity fitness trainer. The pretty actress who had met Micheal on her many previous trips to LA instantly signed up for a speedy Skype Training Workshop, and Micheal even with his extremely busy schedule accommodated the actress training her for over a week, helping her lose the desired kilos. Micheal George is famous for training celebs like Meg Ryan, Christian Slater and the likes. Now this was one international way to get into shape, we wonder how much more gorgeous is she going to look as her character in the film still remains under the wraps.
	Angelina-Stella team up for a kid’s line Maleficent star Angelina Jolie collaborated with fashion designer Stella McCartney to create a children's clothing range inspired by the Disney movie. The collection, named after the movie, will include eight styles, including sparkly princess dresses, bow-adorned sandals, dragon-print tees and cool sneakers for boys and girls aged 4 to 14. "I've always been a huge fan of Disney growing up, as was my mother, and I grew up watching all the films like most kids did," McCartney said. "When the opportunity presented itself and I was invited by Angelina Jolie to visit the film set, I jumped at the chance." Starting April end, the capsule collection, which will range from $75 to $145, will be available at Stella McCartney Kids stores worldwide, as well as Disney stores and online. — IANS
	Nargis finds her voice Actress Nargis Fakhri, who is still struggling to speak Hindi fluently, has dubbed in her own voice in her forthcoming film Main Tera Hero and says the language is not blocking offers. "There is no less offers because of my language problem. If I get a script, I understand it when I read it," said the actress and added that script reading sessions with co-stars help too. "You get time to sit with your co-actors and prepare, but to improvise in Hindi is tough. (Initially) I had to stick to my lines, but now I can understand and that's a great progress," said the actress who entered the Hindi film industry with Rockstar, a musical hit. In her first film her voice was dubbed by someone else due to her poor Hindi diction, but Nargis proudly says that "It's my own voice in Main Tera Hero." "It was hard, but it was fun. I am proud of myself because it's difficult. It's not easy to learn a new language," she added. Directed by David Dhawan, the fun film will see his actor son Varun romancing two beauties—Nargis and Ileana D'Cruz—when it hits screens on April 4. When asked did Ileana's presence make her insecure, Nargis said: "Why would anyone be insecure with someone else if you know who you are? There is no need to fight or being insecure. I am blessed that my co-actress is a lovely lady. We got along well. — IANS Warrior of Bollywood The 2011 Hollywood sports drama Warrior has inspired a new Hindi film which will be co-produced by leading global entertainment company Lionsgate and Endemol India. Hindi film Warrior, inspired by Lionsgate's critically-acclaimed North American release of the same name, will be the first film jointly produced by the two companies in India. The movie will be made under Eyedentity Motion Pictures, the film arm of Endemol India. "Action-filled and emotionally powerful with themes of forgiveness and the enduring bonds of family, 'Warrior' will be a quality film made with top-of-the-line production values that we believe will strike a responsive chord with Indian audiences," Deepak Dhar, CEO, Endemol India, said in a statement. Warrior tells the story of two estranged brothers and deals with their struggling relationship with each other and their father. —IANS
	Kids over career Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts says her children will always come before her career. The Pretty Woman star is a mother of nine-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus and six-year-old Henry and only accepts one movie a year, so she can spend most of her time with her family. "I make one film per year and that's a good balance. My older kids have just turned nine and my son is six; they still need me. My family takes up a lot of my time and my creative energy, but I'm lucky to have worked enough already to allow myself to take time off," said Roberts. "When I see my friends struggling to juggle both, I feel privileged. I act less, but better; I've always been demanding, now I'm difficult," she added. When asked about her family life, the 46-year-old said: "(It's) the same as every other stay at home mom. Sometimes, there are wet bath towels strewn all over the house, dinner isn't ready and the kids haven't finished their homework..." — IANS
	Big B is a busy man Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is on a promotion spree for his forthcoming film Bhoothnath Returns and after the film's release on April 11, he will get busy with other projects. "The Bhoothnath Returns promotions now take up all my spare time and travel. There is much to be done and there are time constraints. Radio, television, print, channel shows, visits to cities, premieres," the 71-year-old, who will make appearance on shows like Boogie Woogie and Comedy Nights with Kapil, posted on his official blog srbachchan.tumblr.com. He also mentioned that "there is a mountain of film scripts" that need to be read and decided upon. In the coming months, he is looking forward to "R. Balki's rather unusual and exciting film with Dhanush and Akshara starting work next month, TV serial shooting in progress and we hope that it comes on soon, Shoojit Sarkar's film Piku with Deepika (Padukone) and Irrfan Khan, starting work by June-July, simultaneously starting preparations for Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC)." "And in-between KBC to find days and time for Vidhu Vinod Chopra's production, with Farhan Akhtar. There are a few more that have been green signaled, an Abbas Mustan film, a Rumi Jafri film and a few more with other distinguished directors and two offers from overseas," he further posted. Amitabh also has a desire to show his skills on the stage. "Amongst all this, there shall be a desire to perform on stage with recitations from my father's works, and to be able to take it on an extended form to cities within and without India. Then there is all the charity and philanthropic work, which shall involve personal looking into, to ensure proper execution,” he posted. Recently he was a bit under the weather. He underwent a CT scan and was advised bed rest for a few days, but now Big B is raring to go. "Health issues shall always remain - we are perishable entities, are we not? ... but for the moment the one that had jolted me recently has been taken care of ... — IANS
	No material boy this one! Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan feels appreciation he receives from the audience amounts more than earning money and fame through films. Before making his acting debut in Student of the Year, Varun had worked as assistant director for Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name is Khan, and will be seen next in Main Tera Hero, directed by his father David Dhawan. "Entertaining the audience is important to me. Money and fame don't feature in my list. I love to perform. I have seen my father getting fame, money... Even for him audience is more important than getting all these things. For me also audience appreciation is important," Varun said. Varun said he did not view anybody as his competitor in Bollywood. "I am not here to prove myself to any individual in the film industry. For me the audience is important and their love and acceptance is essential. I will continue to entertain audience with different kind of films. I don't want to bore them by doing one kind of cinema," he said. The projects with Varun at present are upcoming masala comedy Main Tera Hero, a thriller from Sriram Raghavan, Humpty Sharma Ki Dhulania, which is a rom-com, and a sequel to Any Body Can Dance. When asked what sort of changes did he witness in the two-year gap after the release of Student of the Year, Varun said, "The biggest change came after the trailer of Main Tera Hero was released.” — PTI
	chatter box A strong voice Actress Shraddha Musale, who is seen in CID as Dr Tarika, speaks about her life and career. How did you get into acting? I was a Femina Miss India finalist; the event introduced me to the world of glamour, fashion and modelling. I quite loved it. After finishing my education in mass media, I started my career as a ramp model. I did multiple shows and continued doing other product shoots. From the very beginning I had an inclination towards the big screen; it fascinated me. I began to see myself as an actor and that was the inception of the idea. Soon, I got my first show. How did you bag the role in CID? I wanted to work in television and especially in CID, as you know it is a very popular show. As luck would have it, someone from CID spotted me and I was called for audition. There was huge competition, but as they say, if you want something really bad, the universe conspires (in a good way) to make it come true. I got the role. Additionally, I think my personality was a good fit for the role, it definitely helped. What are your interests other than acting? I love nature, greenery and stray animals. Whenever I get time, I tend to the plants at home and in our society. Additionally, we have a couple of dogs in our building; they definitely need attention from people like us. I am very happy to offer them food and some affection. As a kid, I used to help a lot of stray dogs in Ahmedabad around our home in Vastrapur. I have helped newly born puppies; we as a family have given them shelter. What do you love to watch on television? I loved watching the recently finished series 24 - good job done by Anil Kapoor and the whole crew. I like spending time watching TLC, Food-Food and I do like to keep up with what's happening in the GEC segment, as I am an actor and my show is also played on GEC. Who is your greatest inspiration? My greatest inspiration is Arvind Kejriwal and the whole AAP movement. He along with other esteemed members of AAP has given an alternative to India - we have heard the absolute power corrupts absolutely, and we see that as well as feel that on a daily basis. There was need for power to come back to the common man, and what a way in which it seems to be returning, at least in New Delhi. At the same time, Kejriwal, who is very well educated, Magsaysay award winner and a consummate worker for common man has given up much to be at the nation's service. He is a true soldier and I salute him. — HRM
	The big fight What happens when two mighty people meet on the set and do an action scene between them? The least we can expect is a lot of explosive action. That is exactly what happened when Saurav Singh Gurjar aka Bheem and Tinu Verma aka Jarasandha fought on the sets of Siddharth Kumar Tewary's Mahabharat. Says Saurav, "The experience of working with Tinuji was superb and a never-ending learning experience. He is such a veteran when it comes to doing action scenes and stunts. In front of him I find myself very small. Once we started shooting for the action scenes, I went overboard and hurt Tinuji when there was a scene where I was lifting his legs. He also told me that he has trained and directed many physically strong actors in films, but I am someone with whom he is scared of. That's a very big compliment." Saurav, who is trained in kick-boxing, takes a lot of interest in action scenes. "For me doing an action scene is a big thing and I do it with a lot of focus. We also shot an action scene in water and I was clueless as how I would control my expressions, but Tinuji guided and helped me a lot. The feedback has been great so far."
	Testing times Fans of Ekk Nayi Pehchaan - get ready for some emotional drama in a special one-hour episode. The episode unfolds a series of events that appear to be routine in the course of Sharda's household life, but soon she realises that each simple action spins out into a crisis of huge proportions. Her granddaughter Diya and son Chirag get into big time trouble. The saddest part is that circumstances lead to a situation where Sharda is blamed by family members for each misfortune that has befallen them. Sharda is shaken to the core. Talking about her experience, Poonam Dhillon says, "Sharda excels in her coaching class projects because of her hardwork and sincere efforts. But sometimes circumstances in our life determine a lot. Sharda honestly feels that she is responsible for all the mishappenings that take place in her family. Since it is most important to her, she accepts the blame that the family unfairly puts on her. Unfortunately, even today lots of people are of the opinion that a woman who's too educated will neglect her family. I feel that a woman does so much for family, but an educated woman does it even better with more awareness and finesse."
	No dieting for Paridhi Paridhi Sharma who is currently seen as Queen Jodha in Ekta Kapoor's show, Jodha Akbar that is telecast on Zee TV, is busy dealing with her back-to-back shooting schedule. However, the actor manages to stay fit despite all odds. She says, "I believe in doing Yoga, especially Surya Namaskar, which is very beneficial. I feel it is extremely vital to maintain good health." She adds, "Since we work hard for a living (to eat), I don't believe in dieting. I go to the gym regularly and eat lots of fruits and drink fresh juices."
	Close friendship TV Producer Manish Goswami and film producer Subhash Ghai have been friends for years. Both have known each other for 25 years. Their families know each other since two generations and they almost meet once a week socially. Apparently, producer Subhash Ghai has been inspiring Manish to get into film production soon as he has a good body of work on television with expertise of producing thirty-five plus TV soaps, launching many fresh faces, including Anup Soni, Ashutosh Rana, Sachin Khedekar, Kawaljit and Shefali Shah. Manish Goswami is seen on every event of Subhash Ghai.
	Astro Turf P. Khurrana ARIES: This is an important day for any job that you can tackle away from public scrutiny. Students: go over the books. An unexpected guest can gate crash on your hospitality. Tarot message: Plan your life better to avoid delays. Lucky colour: Brown. Magic number: 41. TAURUS: You draw the Ace of Pentacles; so you will begin the day full of energy and confidence. People are drawn to you, but do not trust them. New ventures have a better chance of being a success. Tarot message: Bury an old quarrel and be prepared to make a compromise. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 33. GEMINI: This is a great day to jot your ideas down on paper and start planning your next project. Do not let people intrude into your space if you need solitude. Tarot message: Be careful not to go in too many directions at the same time. Lucky colour: Lemon. Magic number: 39. CANCER: Romance and creativity are highlighted. This is the perfect time for initialing a new personal project, so go ahead. Family matters can keep you busy in the evening. Tarot message: Listen to your voice of wisdom. Lucky colour: Pink. Magic number: 27. LEO: The 'Queen of Swords' suggests that the spotlight is on fashion, appearance and charm. Romance is on the cards. Do not allow feelings of frustration to overtake you. Tarot message: Learn a lesson from past mistakes and get on with your life. Lucky colour: Coral. Magic number: 60. VIRGO: Do not start this day by being extravagant. You must cut down on spending. Loved ones will not be very helpful. If you are in a sedentary job, playing a sport will add balance to your daily routine. Tarot message: Think before you open your mouth. Lucky colour: Indigo. Magic number: 42. LIBRA: It is the time to begin new projects and contracts. Make important calls, write a proposal and do anything that requires a starting point. Travel will prove futile. Tarot message: Fitness routines and healthy diets are good for well-being. Lucky colour: Lime-green. Magic number: 54. SCORPIO: Business dealings can fall due to lack of details and information. Confusion over priorities can also cause havoc at the workplace. Do not interfere in the affairs of others. Tarot message: Perseverance is the key to success. Lucky colour: Sky-blue. Magic number: 63. SAGITTARIUS: A career switch can mean having to move out of state or overseas and upsetting the applecart at home. You will spend quite a lot of time on planning. Tarot message: Beware of depleting your energy or resources on others. Lucky colour: Sea-green. Magic number: 55. CAPRICORN: Stick to the beaten track today and look after yourself. At the end of the day, you will be proud of what you have achieved and can be rewarded with a bonus. Tarot message: Be honest to your desires. Lucky colour: Rust. Magic number: 38. AQUARIUS: A special romance in your life can seem aloof. Students: light reading will keep you busy today. Health problem can be satisfactorily treated. Tarot message: Arrogance will not be rewarded. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 40. PISCES: Your card 'The Devil' boosts your enthusiasm and self-confidence. Take this time to expand your social circle, develop new talents; learn new hobbies or plan a vacation. Tarot message: Versatility and a quicksilver mind will bail you out of a situation. Lucky colour: Golden. Magic number: 28.
	The year ahead Madan Gupta Spatu If your birthday is March 25... Your birth on the 25th day of March adds a tone of selflessness and humanitarianism to your life path. Influenced by number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are active, friendly, ambitious, independent, honest and sharp. You are an optimistic person who possesses many in-built talents to impress others, but you need to control your tendency to behave impatient and erratic at times. This year you should move very cautiously, especially when it comes to handling finances. Positive colours: White, Cream, Yellow and Navy-blue. Select days: Monday, Sunday. Favourable numbers: 2, 7. Gems recommended: Pearl, White Coral, Diamond Charity on birthday: Donate saffron-coloured sweets or fruits to the needy or at a religious place today. You share your birthday with Sarah Jessica Parker (March 25, 1965), who is an American actress, model, singer and producer. She is known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO tv series Sex and the City, for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Emmy Awards. She played the same role in the 2008 feature film based on the show.