Direct to the point
Ishqiya rocked; Dedh Ishqiya was not far behind. Young director of the two movies, Abhishek Chaubey, sure has talent. In Chandigarh, he is eagerly looking forward to his upcoming movie, Udhta Punjab…
Somya Abrol

The quirk of his characters isn't an ostentatious reflection of his demeanour, maybe that's why two-movie-old director Abhishek Chaubey intrigues more than he lets on. An earnest, rooted film-maker, the kind who travels with a bag full of fruits, is as much an illusion as Mr Chaubey a reality.

Glad to be revisiting his second film, Dedh Ishqiya, at the recently concluded Chandigarh Literature Festival, UP-born and brought up Abhishek is not one to let the razzle dazzle of the industry get the better of him. Accepting humbly that it's always great for a director's work to be reviewed at such festivals, Abhishek starts the interaction with his upcoming film, Udhta Punjab, largely based on drug abuse in the state. "It's all at a very nascent stage. I'm still working on the script and developing the story," rapt comes the disclaimer.

Giving us a general feel about the film, like only Abhishek can, he says, "It's a drama-thriller; for me, it's a big departure from the Ishqiya space. It's not a romance. Drug abuse is one of the parts of the film. Like Rajasthan and even parts of Jammu, Punjab also happens to be a gateway for drugs coming from the other side. So, it is something around that. But, overall, it's about the life of four people."

Rustic flavour

Having worked closely with director Vishal Bharadwaj for years — right from Makdee to Omkara to Kaminey — Abhishek's indulgent love affair with UP in Ishqiya and Dedh Ishqiya has one peg him as 'rustic', as they fashionably like to be referred to of late. It makes one wonder though, what made him look the Punjab way? "It was about time I moved away from UP. I wanted to discover other parts of the country. Also, I had a basic line of a story in mind. I discussed it with my co-writer, Sudeep Sharma, and we reached the conclusion that this would be the best setting for it, because the story blends itself perfectly well here. Though we're yet to do a thorough recce of the state, I've been to Amritsar for it once and the rest is yet to be decided."

Answering speculations about casting Emraan Hashmi and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles for the film, he adds, "Shahid is definitely in. Emraan we're still in talks with; nothing has been finalised yet. And we don't know about the female lead yet." In July 2014, rumours of supposed ex-lovers Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor being cast opposite each other for the film were rife. They were obviously shelved by the director soon enough.

Poetic note

And with the mention of women, comes poetry, plenty of which was gliding elegantly in his previous film. Mentioning that his favourite shayar remains Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Abhishek says using Gulzar's lyrics and Bashir Badr's poetry simultaneously in the film was a conscious decision that fell into place effortlessly. "Gulzar sahib wrote the songs of the film. Bhashir Badr sahib is one of the best poets of the 20th century. Vishal (Bhardwaj) introduced me to his work many, many years ago; I also had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. As time passed, his poetry became very close to us. We used to often discuss using his work for our films. So, this was an opportunity just waiting for us to finally give homage to him. In fact, Gulzar sahib is also a great admirer of his work and was quite happy about it being included in the film."

Woman power

A sequel, however, was not a part of the original plan for him. "Ishqiya happened because I had the character of Krishna (Vidya Balan) etched in my mind for years, long before direction came about. Krishna was a very interesting character — the widow of a criminal living in an old house in some recluse UP village. She was really on the fringes of society. She was powerless. Yet, she was one of the most powerful women one would come across. So, she was the inspiration behind the story. Then we came about two 'macho men' characters Babban and Khalu Jaan, and built the whole story around her." More power to women, then? "From the kind of city that I come, I've seen men pretending to be the boss of the house and women going about their business under veils. But, when the heads hit the pillows, it's the women who hold the structure of a family together; not the illusion patriarchs are led to believe otherwise."

somya@tribunemail.com

Flying high
It's as high as it can get. Shamata Anchan, who makes her debut with Everest, is starting out on a positive note
Manpriya Singh

It's one thing to scale new heights and it's another thing to start with the Everest. As in Mount Everest! Mumbai girl Shamata Anchan steps into the shoes of 21-year-old small town girl Anjali Singh Rawat, who's out to scale Mount Everest. A character she can proudly call her launch pad.

"This is the story of a regular girl's struggle to win her father's acceptance. Anjali is a small town girl who has regular dreams and aspirations. One day she finds out that her father doesn't love her for she is a girl who cannot fulfill his dreams of conquering Mt Everest," she shares of the new TV series by Star Plus.

It's been a revelation that challenges the protagonist rather than making a rebel out of her. "Her father could not conquer Mt Everest for some reason during his prime; in the story she pushes herself and wins her father's love and affection."

Personal note

Thrown in the drama is the backdrop of magnificent Mount Everest — a peak that assumes the role of a metaphor. "The show emanates from a belief that everyone has a personal Everest they aspire to conquer, however, the question is how far are they willing to go to conquer it? It is the story of ordinary people and their extraordinary dreams." shares Shamata, who made it to the cast through the regular auditions. "I have been born and brought up in Mumbai and was the Femina Miss India South 2012. I had done modelling assignments and television commercials. I was discovered by a photographer, but as a child never thought I'd be in this industry which is why I also completed my post-graduation."

Tough task

As a girl 'coastal' girl, mountaineering never really happened until when it did and how? A couple of workshops and a trip to Nehru Institute of Mountaineering followed. "Physically, it was quite taxing. We had to train for stamina, had to diet and what not…we must have spent 4 to 5 months on the location. Walking and talking at a certain altitude was difficult and you had to deliver your dialogues in time," she signs off, all the while hoping, "that Anjali resonates with the several in India, and inspires to find and conquer their own Everest."

Written and produced by Ashutosh Gowarikwer, the two male leads of the show are Sahil Salathia as Arjun Sabharwal and Rohan Gandotra as Akash Joshi. The cast also includes Suhasini Mulay, Mohan Kapoor, Milind Gunaji, Rajat Kapoor, Kishori Shahane and Manish Choudhary.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

(To go on air on November 3 at 10 pm on Star Plus)

Keen eye, keener take
With Shahid and City Lights, Hansal Mehta has proved his credentials as an offbeat director. He opines that parallel cinema affords more freedom of thought and expression
Amarjot Kaur

There are only one or two considerations that reflect truly upon the art of filmmaking, both in terms of treatment and approach, thereby pronouncing it as either commercial or parallel cinema. This probably reasons the concerns of Indian film directors.

So while some directors look for heroes, there are others who look for ideas. Hansal Mehta clearly falls into the latter category, not compromising on his quality work that is dedicated to the concerns of a common man.

On the last day of The Chandigarh Literature Festival, we engage in a conversation with the director of Shahid (2013) and City Lights (2014), Hansal Mehta, whose disposition spells his existence more like that of an artiste than a film director.

With his film Shahid being screened at the festival, Hansal justifies his fashionably late entry while sharing about his visit to a film festival at Dharamshala, where one of his films was being screened. However, as a director, he places himself on a rather humble ground. "I think as a director I am still learning and finding my creative depth without the fear of failing," he begins. While he condenses his stance on the Bollywood film industry in one line as he says that the art of filmmaking is commercial, he waxes eloquent on the small-scale film industry that comprises parallel or art cinema. "At the end of the day it all comes down to the amount of returns you, as a businessperson are getting, but as a filmmaker, the freedom of thought and expression that ones can practice in parallel cinema adds to the character of the film, and more to my gratification," he says.

Hansal denounces the censor board as well. "I think the censor board is completely redundant," he says while validating his statement with a rather reasonable justification. "Films don't have a tendency to change the world. At the maximum, a film can propel debate or provoke thought, so there is no need for the censor board," he opines.

Hansal dismisses the challenge of making a biographical film as different from making any other film. "It does not matter if you are making a biographical film or a film on any other issue because it requires as much honesty, dedication and integrity to the subject. However, the film Shahid did appeal to my views on politics," he says.

amarjot@tribunemail.com

stress buster
Spare a thought
Taking care of your own self is the key to happiness
Renee Singh

Taking proper care of your body, mind and soul can keep you in optimum shape for handling stress. You can't really control your circumstances, but it is truly in your own hands to control how well you take care of yourself.

Be positive

This is one of the most important things in life and perhaps one of the best ways of really dealing with stress. Once the body is well taken care of, the mind remains relaxed and in that state of mind one can accomplish anything. It is of course the ultimate state to be in. Also self-care is not only about the body, it is also about taking care of a state of mind. We have to see to it that we make a conscious effort to stay away from negativity and keep ourselves in a comfortable level of mind-body balance. There are many ways with which we can reach this state of extreme self- care and allow ourselves a good, stress-free life.

Sleep well

One of the most important ingredients for your emotional and physical well being is sleep. Lack of sleep negatively impacts your ability to handle stress and be productive. Busy schedules and stress actually make sleep elusive. Power naps are extremely useful and most especially, they are great stress relievers.

Proper nutrition

Hectic schedules lead to improper timings for food, which further leads to stress. Stressed people crave foods high in sugar fat and salt; ice-cream being the favourite! Over-stressed people often skip meals. They do a lot of emotional eating; snacking on junk food or eating when you aren't hungry often becomes a habit. Fad diets are taken up by these people and these can only lead to bad health in the longer run.

Exercise regularly

This gives us mental and physical benefits alike. It also helps release stress and keeps the body healthy. Exercising regularly helps release many endorphins, which increase a feeling of overall well-being. You need to find a way, which is particularly suitable to your disposition and stay on with it.

Social support

This actually creates a buffer against stress by keeping you constantly in a healthy emotional state. Supportive friends pick you up when you are not in a particularly good mood. Cultivate friendships and expand a comfortable social circle.

Sharp mind

Treat stress as a challenge and not a problem that you need to resolve. Enjoy the process like fun and games.

Pamper yourself

Taking care of your body is extremely vital. Going for a spa treatment can sometimes work wonders for the inner state. Feeling good about yourself helps you take on the world.

Find hobbies

Hobbies help you 'stay in the moment'. They provide a great distraction to us. It's often thought that hobbies are meant for people who are quiet and relaxed types. However, people with full and busy lives need them more.

Emotional control

Bottling up your emotions leads to an emotional explosion at some point. Listen to your feelings; they are your guides to your inner being. Writing a 'journal' is very good as a stress reliever as it gives you an insight into your feelings.

Right attitude

Some situations may not be stressful, but our thinking can make them so. These are always stressful depending on your point of view. Seeing an optimistic picture decreases your stress levels and brings success to your lives. You can even change an ingrained negative thought pattern to a more positive one through positive affirmations.

Calming effect

When we lead a lifestyle that includes religion or spirituality, it is generally a healthier lifestyle.

Prayers are a great way of relieving stress and keeping us emotionally healthy. Meditation ultimately helps in relieving stress, as it's a deep personal experience. Research shows the people who believe in a higher power experience a better state of health.

(Singh is Chandigarh—based psychotherapist)

Doc Talk
Mind the seasons
Seasonal changes can have a harmful effect on the skin if proper care is not taken
Dr Vikas Sharma

Skin happens to be the reflection of how one is affected by changes in our environment. For many people, the seasonal change brings uncomfortable variations to the skin of the face, hands and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just a general dull feeling: they get skin so dull, it results in flaking, cracking, even eczema (in which the skin becomes inflamed). In others, oiliness tends to pop out or worsen acne.

Another important enemy in modern city life is the wide range of pollutants that target our skin cells. These pollutants not only darken our skin, but the dirt particles also clog the skin pores and do not allow the skin to breathe. In the process, the skin shrinks and one looks older. Not only does the skin get affected, hair and nail growth, and cycles get affected by the seasonal variation. The normally fine lines in the skin become more visible, the skin feels rough and appears old and flaky.

Drying effect

Dry skin results when there is not enough water in the top-most skin layer "stratum corneum" for it to function properly. As the stratum corneum dries out, it shrinks and small cracks can occur. This exposes the underlying living cells to irritating substances and germs in the environment. By itself, dry skin isn't a medical worry, but serious cases can result in cracks and fissures that invite infection and inflammation. Seasonal skin care is important. To prevent ageing of your skin, follow these simple skincare tips. These anti-aging tips will promote smooth skin and fewer wrinkles.

  • Having beautiful skin is a lifelong goal. The bath or shower should be in luke-warm rather than cold or hot water.
  • Soap should be used minimally and only when and where needed. Milder, less drying soaps (with pH value closer to pH of skin - that is 5.8) or cleansing lotions should be preferred. After bathing or showering, quickly and gently pat the skin partially dry with a towel (do not rub). Within three minutes of getting out of the water, apply a moisturizer to seal the water in the skin before it can evaporate.
  • Lotion moisturizers are generally the least greasy and the most pleasant to use and therefore are quite popular. However, because of their alcohol content, they can be somewhat drying when used repeatedly compared to ointments and creams.
  • No one is immune from dry lips when seasons change. For this, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Put on lip balm with sunscreen every time you go outside. Avoid being in the sun and wind too much. Don't lick your lips - it may feel better briefly, but it only makes chapped lips worse.
  • Again, there are certain parts of the body that require special care during the winter months. These are you feet and hands. The feet tend to crack and they are the most neglected areas, constantly exposed to dirt and dryness. your scalp is also a part of your skin and requires regular attention.
  • Application of various products only on the outer surface does not lead to healthy skin. What one needs are a healthy diet and a peaceful mind. The meals should have ample amount of juicy fruits and vegetables along with at least ten glasses of water a day. Liquids help your skin retain the essential oils automatically and act as a natural protection against dryness.
  • The final and most important advice especially for atopics and asthmatics is to avoid direct contact with air-borne allergens.

(Sharma is a Chandigarh-based skin specialist)

TRENDSETTER
Formal first

This young man teams his style with oodles of confidence and elegance. At 20, Angad Chahal, who is a student at the Law Department, Panjab University, swears by the formal look that adds copious layers of elegance to his style. As he talks about his fashion statement, he shares, "I like to wear whatever suits me the best and the mirror says it all I guess. If you look good to yourself, there is no way you can look bad to others."

Describe your sense of style…

I like to keep it elegant, edgy and well-defined. However, I do not like to be too fancily dressed, which makes a stupid fashion statement in bold letters. The last thing one could do is overdress.

Latest addition to the wardrobe…

I just bought Armani jeans and Oakley sunglasses

Brand freak or street smart?

I don't entirely go by the brand's name or value, though I like to maintain a certain level of quality, which brands assure one of. I am quite street smart too.

Choose one: Sporty, Glamorous or Chic

Sporty; when it comes to men, sporty defines the new chic.

My style icon…

My father; I think he is very appropriately dressed for every occasion and I have grown up admiring his sense of style.

Who do you think is the worst dressed celebrity around?

I like almost every celebrity, barring a few like Salman Khan in his boot-cut denims and Rakhi Sawant for everything that she wears.

One fashion trend you don't understand…

Fashion trend that I don't understand is about people, especially Punjabi celebs wearing sunglasses at night. I mean it's already very dark at night, so what is the need to wear sunglasses!

Your take on accessories…

I think a good pair of sunglasses and cufflinks. Also, good watches like a Rado, Citizen or Omega is a good accessory to have! It's like having the time on your side.

One thing that boosts your confidence and why?

When people praise me or admire me, it really boosts me up. After all, who doesn't like being complimented!

I would love to be dressed up by….

I'd love to be dressed up by Ralph Lauren because I really like his collection of shirts and trousers; he himself dresses up very well.

One fragrance that you can swear by…

Hugo Boss and Azzaro.

(As told to Amarjot Kaur)

One for the bride

The wedding season is here. And to give wedding shoppers a good option, couturier Rupam K Grewal, who owns the label Jaamawar Minx, unveils her wedding collection at their outlet in Elante Mall, Chandigarh. Says Rupam, "The Indian wedding is a grand affair with the bride being the focus at many events.

There is a trend towards long and flowing designer wear for weddings and associated events this season. My latest collection for the wedding season caters to this demand of the young, would-be brides."

The highlight is different styles of shararas. These include long jacket types with front open and those that boast of intricate zardozi work. The there are short shirts with embroidered shararas. The fabric used is georgette & Silk. There are also Indo-Western long collar shirts with sharara pants. The entire collection is a nice mix of traditional as well as Indo-Western wedding dresses. Beautiful wedding bridal suits and Lehengas too are part of Rupam's Bridal collection. The work on these, which mainly is Gotta Patti, Zardozi and Aari adds a 'bling' that is quite exotic. — TNS

Clean sweep

The advent of smart phones has made our lives so easy that just with the touch of a finger on your mobile screen or tablet screen you can gain access to a world of information. Since the phone's screen is frequently pressed against your cheek when talking, it has a tendency to get soiled.

Combined with the dirt particles, this 'oily mix' can become bit of a nuisance and cloud the clarity of the screen. However, All Clean wipes work like magic and promptly removes all the oily mix in one or two wipes bringing shine and sparkle back on to your screen. Another good place to use All Clean wipes is around the space surrounding the navigation keys, which accumulates quite a bit of oil and dirt over time.

All Clean is engineered to clean spectacles and touch screen surfaces. Available in five colours in a handy and smart packing, All Clean is available at all the leading mobile phone shops at just Rs 105. — TNS

In memory of a beloved pet

Actress Emma Watson has dedicated a Britannia Award to her pet hamster who died on the sets of the first Harry Potter film. The 24-year-old actress accepted the award for British Artist of the Year at the Britannia Awards, hosted by BAFTA, reported a website.

"I'm especially honoured to be receiving this award from the BAFTA LA because the British film industry hasn't just been a workplace for me. It's been the place that I grew up. It's been a surrogate family, really. And a sweet, but slightly morbid example of this, is when on the first Harry Potter film, my on-set hamster Millie had a heart attack and didn't quite make it," she said after winning the award.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower star explained how the movie's set decorators built a mahogany coffin for her pet, which had a velvet lining and a silver plaque with Millie's name inscribed on it. "You're all very special to me and your vote of confidence means a lot. And I take it as such a great honour that you're giving me this award tonight... Thank you very very much. And rest in peace, Millie, this one's for you," she added. — PTI

Alia unplugged

Alia Bhatt is currently on a winning streak and she has become media's darling too. She has her hands full with link ups, short videos, commercials and movies. Having been linked to every co-star, she talks about men and more.

Time on hand

I chill with my friends. I do normal things like going for a movie or watching movies at home. If I have enough time, I take a holiday. I miss going to malls. I liked shopping at the Palladium Mall but now I cannot do that.

Some relationship advice

I'm the wrong person to advise anyone. I would like every girl to love herself more than anyone else. That's the only way they'll never land up hurting themselves. Boys need to be honest and straightforward. Sometimes girls get attached to guys much faster than guys get attached to them. So if guys see that happening, they should tell the girl to slow down. Girls are more sensitive that's why I say love your self more.

Turn-ons and turn-offs

A nice perfume, a good sense of humour. But a good looking man haan. Hrithik Roshan is my fantasy man and he is now single too. Bad breath is also a big put off. I can still deal with body odour but bad breath? No. He should have a sense of humour and I should be able to have a conversation with him. I hate people who only talk about themselves.

Commendable co-star

Atonement star Keira Knightley has praised the compassion of co-star Bendedict Cumberbatch and commended his incredible rise to fame. The pair star in biopic The Imitation Game, in which Cumberbatch plays trailblazing mathematician Alan Turing, who helped break the Enigma code during World War II. Knightley, 29, plays close friend Joan Clarke, who later became engaged to him, reported a magazine.

"Benedict is a very good dinner companion: always interested and interesting, up on politics and the news (so he's got an opinion) and always ready with a story, although occasionally you have to pin him down to one subject because he tends to veer off in all directions," Knightley said.

Asked why Cumberbatch makes such a caring friend, Knightley said, "There have been moments in our friendship when I have been going through tough times and he has been right there, taking me out to dinner, coming round to the house, being the one who listened. I appreciate that hugely." The actress also spoke about the Sherlock star's meteoric rise to fame, adding: "He is really enjoying his success. He is 38, and has wanted this for such a long time and has worked so hard. More importantly, his love for acting is something I haven't seen in anyone else. He has found the one thing in life he is singularly passionate about and he is making the most of it." — PTI

It’s over and how

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence was spotted visiting her ex-boyfriend Chris Martin's house in Malibu, California. In some photos, the X-Men: Days of Future Past actress could be seen behind the wheel of her plateless Cadillac CTS, reported a website.

Lawrence, 24, kept a low profile when arriving at the house. She reportedly spent two hours inside the house to collect her personal belongings.

"Jennifer went over to Chris' (house) to apologise for the coverage of their breakup being so one-sided, reclaim her possessions and to ensure there were no hard feelings," a source said. The actress and Martin split after four months of dating. — PTI

Strolling on new heights

Nik Wallenda, The King of the Highwire, is back at it again. This time, he is heading to the historic windy city of Chicago to attempt his most audacious and challenging tightrope walk yet. And like the legendary Wallenda family tradition, he will do it all without a net or harness. He is also planning to walk a portion of the tightrope walk over the Chicago skyline wearing a blindfold.

Skyscraper Live With Nik Wallenda will air live globally in over 220 countries on Monday, November 3, at 5:30 am and a special telecast at 9 pm exclusively on Discovery Channel. The live event will be hosted by NBC News' Willie Geist, Natalie Morales and The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore.

In June 2013, Nik became the first person to ever successfully traverse the Grand Canyon on a tightrope. Globally, 30.4 million viewers across 186 countries tuned in to witness the historic live event which generated nearly 40,000 tweets per minute, with #Skywire holding seven of the trending topics worldwide and generating 1 million mentions for the day. The special was recognised as the most social show across all broadcast and cable networks in the US. It was also recently honoured with an Interactive Emmy for Multi-platform Storytelling for its companion website, which featured a compelling video, 360-degree interactive views, backstage moments, real-time social updates and many other digital elements.

"I'm always pushing myself both physically and emotionally. I hope to inspire people around the world and show them that impossible is not so impossible if you set your mind to it," said 35-year-old Nik. "This has been a dream of mine and something that I've been practicing for a while."

"For both parts of the tightrope walk, I'm going to face challenges like I've never experienced before," said Nik. "I'll not only need incredible physical strength to complete this walk, but laser-focused concentration too. I'm incredibly excited to show the world what you can do anything if you put your mind to it."

CHATTER BOX

Shake a leg

A still from DID Super Moms Not all shows can make superstars out of commoners, but a property that is considered to be the biggest home-grown reality show in India, Dance India Dance, has been doing it for over five years now. The show along with its various sub-franchises like Dance Ke Superstars, DID Dance Ka Tashan, Dance India Dance Li'l Masters, Dance Ke SuperKids and Dance India Dance Doubles, have had a successful run in the country.

A still from DID Super Moms

One of its hit property, Dance India Dance Super Moms, launched last year along with other two big non-fiction properties, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa on Colors and Indian Idol Junior on Sony. And if numbers are to be believed, out of the three, DID Super Moms emerged as the clear winner and opened with the highest ratings.

Following the success of the first season, the makers (Essel Vision Productions Limited) and Zee TV are back with the season two of Super Moms, to give a chance to mothers to spread their wings and bring out the talent hidden within. The show will hit television screens immediately after the on-going show, Dil Se Naachein Indiawaale, goes off-air by November end.

The format remains the same. After a rigorous selection process, the 15-week series will have 16 finalists that will be shortlisted from across the country. The contestants will be divided in a group of four, and they will be coached by four best choreographers. The auditions for the show has already begun from October 7 in Patna followed by other cities like Lucknow, Ranchi, Dehradun, Guwahati, Amritsar, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Indore, Vadodara, Delhi and Mumbai.

Unravelling mysteries of the universe

Discovery Science unveils the untold secrets of the universe with a new season of How The Universe Works. The series will explore the inner workings of our world with unseen videos and images. With a dynamic cast of experts, the series will look under the celestial hood to reveal the secrets of our universe: the story of how it's made and how it runs. How The Universe Works will premiere on November 3, Monday to Friday at 10 pm.

How The Universe Works will answer questions that have eluded mankind for years such as, how did an apocalyptic planetary collision and a supernova create our world? How do orbits drive the dynamics of the universe? Could cosmic firestorms threaten life on earth? The fascinating series uses modern astronomy to reveal the inner workings of outer space. From volcanoes and galactic mega storms to mineral-rich asteroids and comets, discover how these titanic forces and extraordinary phenomenon have shaped our world.

Opposites attract

Mismatched: A still from Dharma & Greg Love knows no reason, no boundaries and no distance. It can be unpredictable and can happen in a blink of the eye. When an unconventional Dharma falls for a conservative defense attorney Greg, they take love at first sight to a whole new galactic level. Come November, get ready for a crazy ride with the mismatched yet adorable couple, Dharma & Greg, every Monday to Friday at 7:30 pm on Romedy NOW.

Mismatched: A still from Dharma & Greg

When a free-spirited, bohemian yoga instructor Dharma Finkelstein (Jenna Elfman), meets a sophisticated, straight-forward lawyer, Greg Montgomery (Thomas Gibson) on the subway, sparks fly. From getting hitched on their first date to meeting the parents, these two lovebirds set out to prove that they're a match made in heaven. With constantly clashing parents, Dharma and Greg stumble their way through love, convinced that they're perfect for each other.

This November, set a date with the lovable Dharma and Greg as the adorable couple proves that opposites do indeed attract.

Twist in the tale

Vishal Karwal is all set to enter popular TV show Jamai Raja as the new jamai (son-in-law). The actor, who was seen in the sixth season of Bigg Boss, will play protagonist Nia Sharma's brother-in-law and pose a threat to Ravi Dubey's character on the show. Vishal's character is quite modern and will bring a lot of twists.

Wedding bells!

Popular TV host Gaurav Kapur got married to his girlfriend of two years, Kirat Bhattal, on Sunday (November 2) in Chandigarh. Kirat too works in television and hosts a travel show on a lifestyle channel. The wedding was a small private affair, attended by close friends and family members. We send our best wishes to the newly-weds!

An immediate replacement

The real reason why Irrfan Khan quit Vashu Bhagnani's Welcome to Karachi is because he wanted the female lead to be Nargis Fakhri and the makers had cast a newcomer from Pakistan called Rabia Khan. Irrfan refused to work with her. Arshad Warsi immediately agreed to work with her so he was cast in place of Irrfan.

Mysterious debut

Siddhanth Kapoor, son of Shakti Kapoor and brother of Shraddha Kapoor, will be seen in Bombaiyyaa, alongside Akshay Oberoi and Richa Chaddha. He plays a mysterious delivery boy in the film and is simply known as the biker. He unwillingly gets trapped in a conspiracy.

A look at the box-office

Super Nani and Roar have both received terrible reviews and are going to sink without a trace. Super Nani might get some mileage due to Rekha's presence on screen after a long time. Happy New Year will continue its super successful streak. The Hollywood films, Fury and Gone Girl, have got a great response.

Rumours, rest in peace!

Hrithik Roshan wants to be single for a while and he did not appreciate his link-up with newbie Esha Gupta at all. He has asked their common management agency not to float any stories about them.

On a promising note

Fox Star Studios is set to release Subhash Kapoor's next directorial venture Guddu Rangeela on February 27, 2015. Produced by Sangeeta Ahir, Guddu Rangeela features Arshad Warsi, Amit Sadh, Ronit Roy and Aditi Rao Hydari in lead roles. Subhash had earlier directed the critically and commercially acclaimed Jolly LLB.

Smoking hot: Shraddha Kapoor Lady in black

Shraddha Kapoor is looking super glamorous in an item song called Dance Basanti in Ungli. She is paired opposite Emraan Hashmi in the song, which is now online and on air.

Smoking hot: Shraddha Kapoor

Is it splitsville for Bipasha and Harman?

Bipasha Basu and Harman Baweja have "consciously uncoupled." At least, for a while. They have issued a joint statement and will figure their relationship out. We wish them peace so that they can make the best decision for themselves.

ASTRO TURF
P Khurrana

ARIES: You draw Two of Cups. Relationships would be in the limelight today. There may be some conflicts due to stubbornness, ego, pride, envy, or self-centeredness. Tarot message: Balance in all aspects is recommended. Lucky colour: Ebony Magic number: 25

TAURUS: Focusing on your budget and planning a long-term savings strategy would be the highlight of today. Do not let the monotony of work get to you. There would be some interesting tasks later in the evening. Tarot message: Play your cards close to your chest. Lucky colour: Red Magic number: 42

GEMINI: Love and romance would be the highlighted of the day. Situation at home would be peaceful and calm. In certain relationships, you would need to be extra patient. Tarot message: Take no chances as despite the assurance of people. Lucky colour: Yellow Magic number: 52

CANCER: The Queen of Cups says communication would continue to be vital. There may be some delays and postponements, especially, before noon. Finances and health would be stable. Tarot message: Do not reveal your plan of action to anyone. Lucky colour: Royal blue Magic number: 29

LEO: Work and professional ventures need attention. Have faith in your abilities and everything would be possible. Relationships would deepen and become stronger. Tarot message: Be creative to retain a grip over your business. Lucky colour: Crimson Magic number: 33

VIRGO: Many of you may form new relationships and associations that would benefit you, personally and professionally. There may be some windfall towards the end of the day. Tarot message: A positive and caring attitude heals old wounds. Lucky colour: Pale yellow Magic number: 65

LIBRA: Lovers, friends and partners would be quite aggressive and demanding, wanting to know your whereabouts. However, you would be able to deal with this new development easily. Tarot message: Plan your life to avoid delays. Lucky colour: Green Magic number: 60

SCORPIO: Your mental, physical, and emotional states would be in equilibrium and endow you with a sense of peace and calmness. Your confidence would be on a high. Tarot message: Strive for perfection at work. Lucky colour: Golden brown Magic number: 36

SAGITTARIUS: The increase in the flow on money would continue, especially, since Venus would enter your sign. Emotions would be particularly sensitive and you may get hurt too quickly. Tarot message: Involve yourself as much as possible in a new project. Lucky colour: Crimson Magic number: 50

CAPRICORN: The time is just right to put everything in perspective and remove the element of chaos and confusion that has been prevalent for some time. Splurging should also, be avoided. Tarot message: Do not leave things up to chance. Lucky colour: Turquoise Magic number: 57

AQUARIUS: There would be a flow of ideas, communication and emotions today Therefore, you would be able to come closer to your spouse or partner as well as other family members. Tarot message: Do not be too certain about obtaining a clearance. Lucky colour: White Magic number: 63

PISCES: Business people may face some conflict of interest with partners. At home, you may have to help a younger relative with some work. Try to be supportive towards others. Tarot message: You need to think more about long-term interests. Lucky colour: Silver grey Magic number: 44

THE YEAR AHEAD
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is November 3...

While Scorpio is ruled by Mars, number 3 is ruled by Jupiter and Mars, the God of War in ancient Roman mythology and is the first ruler of Scorpio. In India, Mars is associated with Lord Hanuman Ji. And yesterday, Saturn entered into Mar's sign Scorpio for 27 months. This implies that your financial status will improve. Don't get upset when you confront a tricky situation. Things will go smoothly for those born after 1980. You'll meet important people who'll propose interesting business deals.

Positive colours: Brown and yellow

Select days: Sunday and Tuesday

Favourable numbers: 3, 6, and 9

Gems recommended: Yellow sapphire, and ruby

Charity on birthday: Donate white items to the poor.

You share your birthday with Sonali Kulkarni [November 3, 1974, Pune], who appeared in a total of 32 movies, including one in Italian titled Fuoco Si Di Me for which she won an award in Milan International Film Festival. Sonali's career will run at a slower pace.





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