'सुरतवर अणुबॉम्ब टाकणार होतो!'

अणुबॉम्बसारखे महासंहारक अस्त्र दहशतवाद्यांच्या हाती लागले तर...? नुसत्या कल्पनेनेही थरकाप उडेल असा हा प्रश्न. गेल्या कित्येक दिवसांपासून जगाला छळणारी ही भीती खरी ठरण्याचे संकेत राष्ट्रीय तपास यंत्रणेला (एनआयए) मिळाले आहेत. कारण इंडियन मुजाहिदीनने गुजरातमधील सुरत शहरावर अणुबॉम्ब टाकण्याचा प्लान आखला होता, अशी हादरवून टाकणारी माहिती भारताच्या ताब्यातील दहशतवादी यासिन भटकळने दिली आहे.

इंडियन मुजाहिदीनचा प्रमुख असलेल्या अहमद जरार सिद्दिबाप्पा उर्फ यासिन भटकळ याला ऑगस्ट महिन्यात नेपाळमधून अटक करण्यात आली होती. तेव्हापासून एनआयए, आयबी व विविध राज्यांच्या पोलिसांकडून त्याची चौकशी सुरू आहे. या चौकशीतूनच अणुबॉम्बचा हा कट उघड झाल्याचे वृत्त टाइम्स ऑफ इंडियाने दिले आहे.

टाइम्सच्या वृत्तानुसार, यासिनने पाकिस्तानातील आपला बॉस रियाझ भटकळ यांच्याशी फोनवर संपर्क करून अणुबॉम्बची व्यवस्था करण्यास सांगितले होते. रियाझने तशी तयारी दाखवली होती. तसेच सुरतवर अणुबॉम्ब टाकण्याबाबत त्यांच्यात एकमतही झाले होते. मात्र, आयबीने यासिनला अटक केल्यामुळे हा कट उधळला गेला. असे असले तरी अणुबॉम्बपर्यंत दहशतवाद्यांचे हात पोहोचले असल्याचे यावरून स्पष्ट झाल्यामुळे सुरक्षा यंत्रणांची झोप उडाली आहे.

यासिन व रियाझमधील फोन संभाषण

यासिन: भाईजान... एखाद्या छोट्या अणुबॉम्बची व्यवस्था करता येईल का?

रियाझ: नक्कीच करता येईल. पाकिस्तानाच कुठल्याही गोष्टीची व्यवस्था होऊ शकते.

यासिन: सुरत शहर उडवता येईल, असा अणुबॉम्ब मला हवा आहे.

रियाझ: पण त्यात मुसलमानही मारले जातील.

यासिन: हल्ल्याच्या आधी आपण मशिदीत पोस्टर लावू आणि मुसलमान लोकांना गुपचूप शहर सोडण्याच्या सूचना देऊ.

THIS PLACE - Riding the Wave - The Winds of Hastinapur

ISBN13	name	AUTHOR1	currency	price	Order qty	PUBLISHER	BINDINGTYPE	CATEGORY	SUBJECT
9789351160182	THIS PLACE	Bagchi, Amitabha	INR	499		Fourth Estate	Hardback	Others	FICTION
9789350291788	Riding the Wave	Menon Mini	INR	599		COLLINS BUSINESS	Hardback	Non Fiction	BUSINESS
9789351160878	The Winds of Hastinapur	Komarraju Sharath	INR	299		HARPER COLLINS INDIA	Paperback	Mythology	FICTION

I’M A NERVOUS WRECK BEFORE EACH OF MY SHOWS

In theatre, he’s the man with the Midas touch. With super-hit plays like Tumhari Amrita, Dinner With Friends and All The Best to his credit, Feroz Abbas Khan has consistently managed to hit the jackpot at the box office. The director of the critically acclaimed movie Gandhi, My Father, who opened this year’s Prithvi Theatre Festival with his favourite play, Salesman Ramlal, talks about his love and passion for the stage.

Your association with the Prithvi theatre dates back to more than two decades. How did it all begin? When I was in college, we had a wonderful tradition of participating in intercollegiate drama competitions. Though I had joined college to become a chartered accountant, I got attracted to theatre and started off as an actor. At that time, there were so many exciting personalities around like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Anupam Kher, Amrish Puri, Nadira Babbar and Alok Nath. It was perhaps the golden period for theatre and the standards back then were really high. Soon we formed a theatre company of our own and that was also the time when Prithvi Theatre Festival started. Actors would sit at Prithvi for hours and would be provided with subsidised food. They were also allowed to watch other plays for free, so it was like an abode. During this time, I met Jennifer Kapoor and we struck a kind of interesting and warm relationship. She used to share her vision and aspirations for Prithvi and that’s how the festival came into being. But on the last day of the festival, we got to know that she was suffering from a terminal illness. That’s when the family asked me to step in along with Kunal (Kapoor) and maintain continuity. It was a very difficult time. I felt extremely responsible but for Kunal, it was worse, because it was he who had to carry the torch forward and everyone was looking up to him. There was a lot of criticism and scepticism and people felt the place was going to go down soon. But we pulled up our socks and did a good job. In fact that year, 1985, saw the finest festival the city has ever seen. That year was the most important time in my life.

Through the years, your plays have consistently been appreciated by the audiences. To what do you attribute the success? I haven’t been able to put my finger on the reason why my plays have been so successful. I have found a connection with the work that I do. I first connect with it on a personal level and then share it with a large number of people. But there is no formula. If there was, I would have kept churning out plays! One of my problems is that I take a lot of time to come up with new work. There should be something that will make me want to go out there and feel challenged all over again. Believe it or not, I am a nervous wreck before each of my shows and it’s very difficult for me to watch my own plays. If there is a wrong pause or wrong lighting, it affects me. Whenever I have felt that any play of mine is not going to realise its true potential, I close it down. I have shut down many popular plays even when the shows were going houseful. Because though the audience is very charitable and kind, I have certain standards and responsibilities towards myself.

Tumhari Amrita is going strong even after 21 years. What is it that makes it so popular across generations? It is something that still surprises me. I don’t know why it has worked. It’s one play which I am very worried about; every time we perform it, I wonder if it will work. That is why the play is successful, because it has the freshness and energy of the first performance. It’s almost like a legacy that people are passing down from generation to generation. It has made a deep connection with people’s lives. I would say the credit goes purely to the writing.

Some actors who began with theatre and moved on to TV and films, haven’t returned to their roots. Is it because cinema is more lucrative? Theatre needs a lot of dedication. Today, if you are a TV actor, you can pretty much have a career with five expressions and still be called a damn good actor. But that’s not the case in theatre. So naturally, if you can make so much money with five expressions, why would you want to do anything else? A lot of people believe that being an actor is only about making money. And once you are stuck in that rut, you can’t come back. If you want to come back to theatre, you have to go through the grind again and again and that is a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s a tough place. If a singer thinks he can be a singer without riyaz, he can be, but will he be a great singer? No. That’s the same thing with theatre. It’s a riyaz for actors.

Though your debut film Gandhi, My Father won national awards, you didn’t make any more films after it. Why? I don’t know. I just stumbled into filmmaking. I wasn’t dying to make a film. I am very comfortable with theatre. But when the opportunity came to make a film, I dived into it completely. After Gandhi… I wanted to do my next film, Dekh Tamasha Dekh, a social and political satire. But somehow the recession came and people weren’t ready to back the film. So it took its time. I waited to do the film. It was something that I needed to get out of my system. Now I am open to doing more work in cinema.

You’ve also done a play M a h a t m a V s Gandhi, based on Mahatma Gandhi. Why the obsession with the man? After making the film, Gandhi has become a companion. I think he is a yardstick for everything in life. He is someone holding your hand. So I access all works on Gandhi and read about him. What’s amazing is that when you think you know enough about the man, something new comes up. I am deeply affected by Gandhi.

TODAY AT PRITHVI FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY BOMBAY TIMES
PLAY: Moving Platform’s
Salesman Ramlal DIRECTED BY: Feroz Abbas Khan TIME: 6 pm and 9 pm LANGUAGE: Hindi

Feroz Abbas Khan

Salesman Ramlal

BOX OFFICE REPORT: HRITHIK OVERTAKES SALMAN AND SRK

    In what is seen as the growing impact of Hindi cinema week after week, Rakesh Roshan’s super-hero thriller Krrish3 has shattered all box office records.
The film opened wide, with a count of 3,700 screens in Hindi, while 500 extra were allotted for Tamil and Telugu. This Bollywood offering started with an approximate 21.5 crore on Dhanteras. But distributors and exhibitors across the country said even 21.5 crore is fantastic, because no other film has dared to release pre-Diwali. From Monday, the screen count increased by 150 because several parts of Central India and even the North do not release films pre-Diwali.
    While the first three days’ total added up to 65 crore, with an additional 5.25 crore coming from the regional languages, Krrish showed his magical powers to the fullest when he broke all previous one-day records by collecting 35.10 crore on Monday — November 4, a date that will be marked in Indian film history.
    It was the original release date set for the film and the intention, even when it was first scheduled, was to break all previous records, which it did. Krrish3 has now broken the records of films like Ek Tha Tiger ( 30.72 crore) and Chennai Express ( 29.37 crore).
    Krrish3 also collected 24 crore (GBOC) in its opening period from abroad, a fact corroborated by the Roshans.
    The trade maintained that the film looked bombastic on Tuesday, which is an optional holiday, on account of Bhai Dooj or the Tikka ceremony. It now appears like 100 crore is a four-to-fiveday affair for superstars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. In fact, the producers have said that they had reached 108.61 crore in four days from 4450 screens.

KRRISH 3 (FIRST 4 DAYS) Total 105.35 cr

Deepika finds Ranveer ‘refreshingly lovable’

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh

The sizzling chemistry between Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, the lead pair of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram-Leela, is hard to miss. In a candid chat, the actors talk about what makes them tick as co-stars and friends.

How do you find each other as co-stars and friends? Deepika: Be it as a friend or a co-star, Ranveer doesn’t hold back in terms of support and enthusiasm. It is nice to see someone who is unapologetic about the way he is. He is refreshingly lovable.
Ranveer: As a co-star, Deepika is very focused, professional and disciplined. As a friend, she is someone you’d love to hang out with. She likes to let her hair down and have fun.

Were you both comfortable shooting the intimate scenes? Deepika: As actors, we prepared and approached the intimate scenes like any other scene. There was no extra preparation or discussion.
Ranveer: I don’t have any inhibitions in life, either as a person or as a performer, which works to my advantage. When you are doing a passionate love story, what drives the narrative forward is the palpable chemistry between the two lead characters. You don’t have to gear yourself to make that happen… it’s either there or not there.

How would you rate each other as actors? Deepika: I’ll give him nine on 10, so that he works one per cent extra (laughs).
Ranveer: Infinity!

Who does Deepika look the best with on screen? Ranveer: Me!

And, who does Ranveer look good with? Deepika: Arjun Kapoor!

Ram-Leela, produced by Eros International and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, releases November 15.

Mamta Sharma on the tag associated with those singing racy dance tracks

AN ITEM SINGER IS TREATED LIKE A ‘BAI’

Mamta Sharma on the tag associated with those singing racy dance tracks, faking a bitchy attitude and why she’ll be happy doing item numbers all over the world

Tell us about yourself. I am from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. My mother completed her graduation in music and would take tuitions from a teacher who heard me mimic her. He told my mom to send me for jaagrans and orchestras. I began my career at age 11, modulating my voice and mimicking singers. I have had no official training. I listen to Lataji and Ashaji's songs and practise them. They are institutions in themselves. I consider Ashaji my guru. I came to Mumbai in 2000 and struggled for nine years before I landed up with Munni Badnaam Hui.

Chart your struggle in those nine years. I am an ordinary singer and would often feel that if talented singers find it difficult to get a break in Bollywood, how would I manage? It was difficult initially, as I didn’t have a godfather or other support. When you from a small city, you often brim with confidence. It’s only when you come across the real situation, you realise how difficult it is. I lived at the institution where I pursued music, then moved to a working woman’s hostel but had to leave it soon as I couldn’t adhere to
their timings. Finally, I shifted as a paying guest at a house owned by Ashraf Ali, who is now my husband. Moreover, I was of the opinion that stage shows would be a great way to reach out to the music directors, but was soon proved wrong. No music director takes the singers of stage shows seriously as there are other things distracting you all the time. It was in 2009 during a tour with Jatin-Lalit that Lalitji asked me to meet him. I thought he didn’t mean it seriously and said it in passing. However, a few days later, I called to congratulate him for his composition in a TV show and he reminded me of our pending meeting. We met the same day and Munni Badnaam Hui happened.

Tell us about your husband Ashraf. My husband is my biggest support, guiding force and my backbone. He is also the co-lyricist of Fevicol Se (with Sajid-Wajid) and Pinky (with Shabbir Ahmed). I’ve know him
since 2005 and we got married in 2011. He never forced
me to convert. I did it on my own. I haven’t changed my name and don’t even wish to as I want every bad and good to be credited to my real name.

Do people get shocked to see you in real life? People get shocked to see me in real life as they perceive me to be a total dehati because of my songs — Munni Badnam Hui and Fevicol Se. I was asked to sing Munni in a nasal tone with a little dehati touch. And my name only adds to the confusion. They think a woman named Mamta will be like those aunties who sing at jaagrans. They think of me as Mamta Maiya.

Why did it take you so long to break away from the item songs zone? Don’t you think I have achieved a lot already? It’s hardly been three years and I am getting a lot of offers. I don’t have any regrets or complaints... I can sing in 11-12 languages. I am proud of my songs and I feel I have achieved a lot in so little time. My songs are being played over and over again. I feel I should get all the item numbers across the world. I feel lucky as I am only three years old in the industry and I already have six to seven hit numbers to my credit. I would like to add that an item song is like the much-needed salt in food. That being said, who doesn’t dream of singing for a big banner?

Item songs are often looked down upon. Comment... One has to understand that when you are in a mood to dance, you perform to item numbers and not sad, slow numbers. Unfortunately, item singers are treated like ‘bais’ and mellow singers are like caretakers of the house. What people fail to realise is that it’s more difficult to attempt an item number as the whole attitude towards the song undergoes a transformation. You have to have a bitchy attitude and you have to fake it, which can be really difficult. You need the ‘desi-pan’ in your voice while attempting an item song. I think that’s what pulled people to Munni and Fevicol. You can’t use polished diction for such songs. The lyrics ought to be funny, but not vulgar or else it won’t be liked by the class. Also, you won’t be comfortable hearing it with family. I tried to be as clear as possible with the lyrics.

How did the title song of Krrish 3 happen? I received a call from Rajeshji (Roshan). I was shocked initially and asked him twice if he has heard my songs. He told me yes he had and sees a different potential in me. I’m honoured to be associated with his movie.

Who are the music composers you look up to? I like Sajid-Wajid as they make you feel very comfortable. They make you feel as if it’s your own song and you are the captain. They correct you very subtly. I love Pritam dada’s work too. I keep asking him to offer me a song. I also like Anu Malik. Believe it or not, he can compose four to five songs at the same time.
Your upcoming projects...
I’ve sung a Vishal-Shekhar song for Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, which has a Western touch to it and I have sung a few lines in English in it.

SHARMAN JOSHI, ACTOR “A man must invest in a good perfume”

SHARMAN JOSHI, ACTOR

“A man must invest in a good perfume”

Fashion to me is I Not trying too hard to look stylish. At the end of the day, you’ve got to be comfortable with what you’re wearing.

I would describe my personality as I Balanced with a bit of evil and a bit of good. It depends on who I am with.

My style mantra I Very casual. I don’t believe in following trends blindly.

Five essentials of a man’s wardrobe I A black shirt, a white shirt, a pair of jeans, a great pair of shoes and underwear if you care(winks).

Three things I never leave home without I Mobile, credit card and car keys.

A priceless possession I’d never want to give away I My classic Rolex watch. I wouldn’t part with it for anyone and anything in the world. I am very attached to it.

My ideal outfit for I A fun party: Jeans and shirt

A formal work setting: Trousers and a well-ironed shirt or maybe a tuxedo, depending on the ambience

A casual day out with friends: Track pants and a T-shirt with a cool print

A date: A pair of denims and a crisp white linen shirt.

My shopping strategy I I follow my instincts. If I like something, I pick it up.

One valuable grooming tip for men I To smell good is very important. Make sure you invest in good deodorants, perfumes and mouth fresheners. Also, avoid having facial or chest hair for a neat and tidy look.

A style trick that never fails I Sport a cap. It goes well with everything and adds a dash of style to your look. It works great on bad hair days.

A fashion trend I cannot stand I Ganjis. I am not comfortable in them.

Shoes every man must possess I A pair of sneakers, black party shoes and bright-coloured slip-ons.

My fashion icon I My father. He manages to look classy even when he is wearing something simple.

Perfumes I swear by I Azzaro, Hugo Boss, Polo Green and Issey Miyake.

Colours that dominate my wardrobe I Shades of white, black, blue and red. I am not much into monochromes.

My ultimate fashion destination I Paris and Italy. These are the only two places where men dress up as well as women.

Most stylish people in showbiz I Kabir Bedi, Amitabh Bachchan and my father-in-law, Prem Chopra.

If I had to spend my entire life wearing just one kind of outfit, it would be I Kurta pajamas. I look and feel great in them.

On fashion blunders I I don’t think I have committed any. To be honest, I always play safe and it has won me a lot of compliments.

“Six-pack abs do not always amount to fitness” Actor and martial artist Vidyut Jammwal shares his fitness fundas

“Six-pack abs do not always amount to fitness”

Actor and martial artist Vidyut Jammwal shares his fitness fundas

What does fitness mean to you? A lot of people have the wrong idea about fitness. They think people with great bodies are healthy and fit. The truth is you may not be fit in spite of having a six pack. Fitness is never about short-terms goals. It’s not a fad or a trend. It’s about making a lifelong commitment to the ideology of holistic health. Fitness, for me, is a way of life.

Were you always health-conscious? Yes. It hasn’t happened overnight. I have been training professionally in various forms of physical activities — martial arts, free running and strength building — since I was three years old. As a child, I was quite regular at whatever activities I took up. Gradually, I started enjoying them. Fitness is more about the mind than the body. You need to enjoy what you do to stay fit; else you won’t be able to sustain interest in the activity.
People often complain about the lack of facilities, like a gym around their locality. These are excuses. The truth is that you can sprint anywhere – be it on the streets or a treadmill. Most of the strength-building exercises like chinups, push-ups and sit-ups can be done anywhere, anytime.

What is your fitness regimen like? I train every single day. Five days of the week are dedicated to martial arts training and two days to weight training. My martial arts routine comprises gymnastics, acrobatics, street stunts and tricking (a mix of flips, kicks and twists). Weight training includes extensive lower body training, which includes squats, lunges, jumps and calf exercises, along with upper body workouts on Roman rings and parallel bars. And then there’s the push-up routine. I focus a lot on lower body workouts, especially legs and calves. People who weight train tend to focus more on the upper body than the lower, not realising that the lower body works as a pillar that supports the upper body. It needs to be worked on.

Do you follow any diet plan? I don’t have a written plan. I eat at regular intervals, as and when I feel hungry. I start my day with one litre of water, followed by breakfast that comprises white oats with muesli, fruits (especially kiwi), along with skimmed milk. Since I am a vegetarian, tofu serves as a source of protein. I make sure I consume the required amount of carbs, sugar and salt. It is important to listen to your body’s signals. Also, I make sure I keep myself hydrated at regular intervals.

What are the benefits of martial arts beyond fitness? Martial arts instill a lot of focus and discipline. And anything that helps you focus, gives you clarity of mind. That’s why martial arts bring about a lot of positive psychological changes in an individual. They give you a deeper understanding of yourself, your strengths, motivation and your boundaries. With time, they also help you break your limitations and move forward. They also teach you to work on your shortcomings.

How important is self-defence in today’s world? It’s a necessity. Basic knowledge of selfdefence tactics equips you with the right techniques that can be applied when you are in an emergency. Anticipating danger and having the presence of mind to deal with it is also a part of self-defence tactics. In fact, being able to outrun an unpleasant situation without having to indulge in violence is the best form of self-defence.

AYAAN ALI KHAN Musician - HOW i START MY DAY?

AYAAN ALI KHAN Musician

HOW i START MY DAY

“Breakfast sets the mood for things to follow” I am an early riser. No matter how late I sleep, I have to be up early or else I feel half the day is wasted. As strange as it may sound, after I get up, I check my mails. Following this, I greet my family after which we have many rounds of tea. This is the time when work, concert dates etc are discussed. Conversations vary from music to concerts to important events. Since all of us are connected through music, there is a lot to share and talk about. This could go on for over an hour sometimes. Then, I have breakfast and that pretty much sets the mood for things to follow. Most importantly, the weather, whether it is a sunny day or a rainy day also affects my thinking process. Surroundings play an important role in how I plan my day.
I either practise sarod soon after or head to the gym. However, music is always priority, so mostly, I head to the music room after I’ve taken a shower. Now that I am a father, I also spend quality time with both my sons. They are up rather early too. I plan my day and hope to achieve something, at least, by the end of the day. For musicians, mornings are the same, whether it is a Sunday or Monday, except that we get a thick set of newspapers on Sundays.

Bachchan proposes to Sangeeta on KBC

Before you get the wrong idea, lets make it clear that Amitabh Bachchan was only showing Ruslaan Mumtaz who plays Dhruv in Jee Le Zara, how to propose to Sanchi (Sangeeta Ghosh)! Of course, it was a dream come true for Sangeeta when Big B went down on his knees and proposed to her with a rose and a dialogue from his film Silsila. Of course , it was a dream come true for Sangeeta. She says, “It unbelievable. I was shocked, in awe — it was a mix of reactions. I was blushing. It took me completely by surprise, my husband was there in the audience. He thought it was sweet of Bachchan.” Though she played the game after that Sangeeta confesses that she was distracted. The Je Le Zara stars made an appearance for the Dussehra special episode and during the game, Bachchan asked Ruslaan when will he finally express his feeling for her in the serial. “Sir aapne bol diya hai ab mein jaldi kar dunga” quipped Ruslaan! To test this, AB asked Ruslaan to demonstrate how he would propose to her. He gave Ruslaan a rose and told him to go ahead. Ruslaan said, “Yeh ek phool hai and pointed towards himself - aur yeh ek fool hai, agar aap is fool se yeh phool le, toh mein apne aap ko foolish se coolish samjhunga”. To which AB replied, Agar aap aise propose karoge toh ladki bhaag jaaegi and proceeded to demonstrate how it should be done! —

Mohit Raina: Mallika Sherawat? No Thanks!

Indian television’s most popular resident-deity Mohit Raina is amused and a bit exasperated by reports that he was expected to join Mallika Sherawat as one of her prospective husbands on her show The Bachelorette India. Mohit vehemently denies any ambitions of holding a spousal status in Ms Sherawat’s life. “No, not true at all. There was never any question of my being on this show. How could I do something of that sort when I have my Mahadev’s image to uphold? It sounds like a PR exercise. Till Mahadev is there in my life I won’t be attempting anything else. I am not looking for a change of image.”
As for this screen Shiva finding a real-life Parvati, Mohit shrugs. “I am still single. I guess no one wants to be with God. As soon as I revert to being a human being I think it will be easier for me to find a soul-mate. Or else I’d have to find a Goddess soon.” Mohit’s hands are full with playing Lord Shiva on his very popular show Devon Ke Dev Mahadev which has been on air for two years and shows no signs of wrapping up. The actor is very careful about his public conduct. “I’ve been given a role and a responsibility. It is good to be recognised as the face of Mahadev among people, so much so that when another mythological serial Mahabharat went on air they insisted that I play Mahadev in the serial for a day. I guess they couldn’t imagine anyone else playing the role. They didn’t want to take a chance. But no more Shiva roles for me, thank you.” Mohit reveals he wanted to play Karan in Mahabharat. “But they didn’t let me. They said I’ve to play Mahadev’s role. I happily agreed. I’ve Mahadev’s blessing.”

Lately, Mohit feels a change in the way audiences perceive him. “To an extent people have now begun to see that I am not Lord Shiva. That I am an actor playing the role with sincerity and conviction. This happened because of a negative character born out of Shiva in the story. This character gave my image a more human angle. People saw there was a lot of acting skills involved. Earlier they used to fall at my feet as though I was God. Now they feel I play God effectively, which to me is a more satisfying perception than the blind idolisation I encountered earlier.”

How to Find a Music Festival Near You Harley Rock Riders — an annual music festival

Rock and ride!

In it’s fourth season now, the Harley Rock Riders — an annual music festival helmed by motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson in India — after touring Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Delhi will host its grand finale in Mumbai. The idea behind the initiative is to encourage promising indigenous rock bands and provide a suitable platform for talent. Pallavi Singh, Marketing Manager, Harley-Davidson India explains, “Music and motorcycles go hand in hand. Since the brand has just completed its 110th anniversary we wanted to explore the theme of freedom further and reach out not only to Harley fans but let others experience the brand’s culture. Each band that’s performed at the various cities represent a freedom story.” For the finale, bands Shaa’ir and Func, Junkyard Groove and Overhang will perform along with the winners of the Find Your Freedom contest. The contest, which was open to musicians and bands from across the country, required each to submit an original rock anthem on the theme of freedom. The winners will get a chance to perform at the European Bike Week 2014. “We got a great response, with over 119 bands entering the contest and 80,000 people voting for the winner,” adds Pallavi.

Shahid Wants a bigger heroine! Walked out of Milan Talkies as he didn’t want to act opposite Shraddha Kapoor!

Shahid Wants a bigger heroine!

Walked out of Milan Talkies as he didn’t want to act opposite Shraddha Kapoor!

What goes around, comes around. Sometimes at lightning speed. It wasn’t too long ago that Shraddha Kapoor nixed a film saying she didn’t want to work with older heroes like John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan. Now it comes to light that Shahid Kapoor has refused to work with her. He was all set to do Milan Talkies but he has just one condition. He wanted an established actresses like Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor or Katrina Kaif opposite him.
Perhaps this has to do with his last film Phata Poster Nikla Hero’s (with one-film-old Ileana D’Cruz) bombing at the box-office. Also, Ranbir Kapoor’s Besharam with newbie Pallavi Sharda sank without a trace, so Shahid cannot really be blamed for wanting to work with an established actress. Even though most Bollywood films have nothing much to offer to actresses in terms of length and depth of roles, their draw at the box office cannot be denied. No one can deny Deepika Padukone’s contribution to both big hits of the year — Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Chennai Express. Ms Kapoor is not yet in the position to draw in the crowds. So she lost out on the chance to work with the Kapoor lad. Nothing personal. It’s purely a commercial decision.

When ordinary folks meet celebs

Accounts of people who have encountered or met Bollywood and cricket stars in person, as posted on an online portal

Brushing shoulders with royalty is a dream that most of us harbour since our childhood days. While in some cases they do come true — case in point Kate Middleton and Prince William, the rest of us have to be content feeding off gossip mags. Bollywood and cricket in India is considered on par with royalty and stars are worshipped like demi-gods. There are a lucky few who get the opportunity to meet their favourite celebs off screen. Some take back memories, others walk away with momentos and still others share their experiences online. Reddit has put out a list of people who supposedly have come face to face with an Indian celeb, and have shared their experiences. How authentic these accounts are, we cannot say, but they do seem very close to the real thing. Read on to decide for yourself...

Kareena Kapoor
‘She has a ridiculous acne problem’
Location - Fairmont Hotel in Dubai
A family friend who knows the editor of Stardust magazine asked us to join him and get to meet Kareena, who was there for some awards function. Seeing her without makeup makes me realise that A) she has a ridiculous acne problem and B) she has striking features, but I still think I’ve seen even more naturally beautiful girls out there. She was pretty okay, although I didn’t really talk to her that much because I was a bit...well...shy.

‘Nice guy Amitabh Bachchan’
Location Vijaya Bank branch in Wadala, Mumbai
We were on our annual holiday during the peak of the monsoon and accidentally got caught in the rain because dad wanted to visit the bank to sort some stuff out. A few minutes after we were rudely told to wait, he comes in and is immediately handed a towel for getting slightly wet from the short trip from his car to the front door. He spots us sitting in the waiting area dripping wet and starts raging at the manager and insists on us getting towels too and to stop giving people preferential treatment.

Ravi Shastri ‘Saw him speak rudely to a couple of folks’
Saw him in a hotel I was staying. Mega douche to all the people working there as per the staff. Saw him speak rudely at a couple of folks for not bringing hot towels. Also, saw him trying to avoid people in the lobby although nobody seemed interested in him.

Mandira Bedi
‘I tweeted a ‘hi’ to her and I was sitting next to her’
Location Globus Theatre, Bandra (W)
I was watching The Artist. Mandira Bedi comes and sits next to me. I didn’t know what to do. So I just tweeted a ‘hi’ to her and that I’m sitting next to her. After the movie we were in the elevator together as well. She checked her Twitter only in her car though. She replied and asked me what I thought of the movie. So yes, I don’t know if this counts as “meeting” her.

Shah Rukh Khan ‘Guy smoked at least three cigarettes during 10 minutes...’
Location Ooty railway station
I met Shah Rukh Khan during the filming of the Chaiyya Chaiyya song. He seemed pretty cool. Guy smoked at least three cigarettes during the 10 minutes I saw him. Looked a bit aged even then.

Palash Sen ‘Dude is an ultra mega a**hole’
He was to perform at our college fest. Refused to do so until he is upgraded to Presidential suite at Taj Hotel. Was already in Taj but not in the presidential suite. Was also pissed at the Honda Civic sent to pick him up at the airport and demanded a “BMW or higher class car” to travel around. This was when all his arrangements were communicated and confirmed beforehand with them. Rahul Bose and Kailash Kher visited during the same fest. Both stayed at the on-campus guest house and ate at the student mess. Really cool people. Another person says Palash Sen performed in his college a while ago too. He thinks too highly of himself. The fact is his band is out of the circuit and dead.

Rahul Dravid ‘Never saw such a humble and nice guy’
Location Bangalore airport
Never saw such a humble and nice guy. It is almost like talking to your friend or brother. No ‘celebrity’ gestures in the way he talks. Awesome guy. Respect for sure!

‘Shreyas Talpade has a lot of ego’
Have personally known Shreyas Talpade, he has a lot of ego. Have a friend who has worked with many celebs. Shah Rukh... pretty decent... Virat Kohli ... %#*hole. Sachin, the most down-to-earth guy. Many others pretend to be nice, but are not.

Abhijit Sawant ‘Some Indian Idol something’
Super pretentious. Trying to hide himself in an effort to avoid getting detected. But no one was paying heed to him even after recognising.

‘Yuvraj Singh is a giant dou***copter’
Not me but two unrelated friends have interacted with Yuvraj Singh who is apparently a giant dou***copter.

Scene 1
Friend: (enters Shatabdi express and spots his seat, next to which is Yuvraj Singh and his luggage is on said friend’s seat (not on the luggage rack overhead) Excuse me.
Yuvraj: No autographs.
Friend: Your luggage is on my seat.
Yuvraj: (begrudgingly removes his bag and mumbles abuses)

Scene 2
Friend of friend is a flight steward and Yuvraj is on his flight.
Yuvraj: Ek orange juice le aa. (Get me an orange juice)
FoF: (gives him litchi juice by mistake)
Yuvraj: C*&%*#@ hai? Sunaai nahi deta?
FOF: Sorry I’ll just...
Yuvraj: (correcting him) sorry “Sir!”

‘He was actually a nice guy’
So, back when Yuvraj was in the US getting his chemo... a few of us, went and met him. It was f&*%#ing cold @ 8 in the morning, this guy had the nerve showing up late. I mean, yeah... Sure, he was sick and all, He was throwing up all morning and all... But come on!! He made us wait in the cold for an hour, then finally came out and met us and talked to us for an hour or so, in the freaking cold weather... He was actually a pretty nice guy, He came out, talked to all of us... Stood in the cold (given that he was weak, was undergoing chemo... That’s a good thing!) till everyone had taken a photo with him, then finally retreated back to his apartment for some well deserved rest.

Ajay Devgn

‘He had been smoking all along’
Location Bombay airport
We (wife and twin daughters five years old) were waiting for our international connection. I spotted him strolling around in front of a restaurant/cafe, pointed him to my wife (she loves Hindi music). She said, we should take a pic of him with our girls so when they grow up, so I reluctantly walk over to him and politely ask if I could take a pic of him with my toddlers. He refuses, points me to a board that says ‘No photography’ which I had not noticed before. So I apologise and walk away. Dragging my toddlers away trying to explain why this man refused to take a pic. Right beside the ‘No Photography’ sign ‘No Smoking’, yep you guessed it, he had been smoking all along. Not a biggie, didn’t upset me much, but an incident that stuck with me.”

Anurag Kashyap
‘He was totally cool and straightaway asked me to pour myself a drink’
I hitchiked from Heidelberg (south of Germany) to Hamburg in the North. The journey was about 700 km. I had done this to watch Gangs of Wasseypur (1&2) as it was being screened in Hamburg and on Twitter he had announced that he was going to be there. Couldn’t get to talk much to him apart from smoking half a cigarette with him outside before he was rushed in and had to conduct Q&A.
The next time I met him was in August 2012 in the midst of my exams. He had announced onTwitter again that he was in Amsterdam writing his new film (Ugly). I study and live in Delft (an hours train ride away from Amsterdam) so I pestered him on Twitter enough for him to let me come visit him. Went to his hotel ( I was two hours late from our pre determined meeting time). I was thinking he’d snub me and tell me it was too late (11 pm). But he was totally cool and straightaway asked me to pour myself a drink. I did and just watched him and Vikas Bahl (director of Chillar Party) talk about films for hours. I ended up crashing in his cottage. He was cool enough to offer that since his hotel was in the middle of nowhere and there was no public transport out of there at 1 am. Dropped him to the airport in the morning and had a nice chat with him about my life and the fact that I want to become a filmmaker as well. Didn’t once make me feel like I was with Anurag Kashyap.

Farhan Akhtar and Dev Benegal to associate?

Farhan and Dev Benegal to associate?

Farhan Akhtar, who is now considered as the thinking filmmaker’s symbol — and also a commercially successful actor after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag — is being toasted in several film circles. While Farhan’s film with Rahul Dholakia may star Shah Rukh Khan, it is being suggested that Shyam Benegal’s nephew, filmmaker Dev Benegal (of the English, August and Road, Movie fame) is reportedly developing a script with him as the leading man.

Farhan Akhtar

Dev Benegal

SHAHID AND SONU’S BHAICHARA

Actors have less to worry about while shooting action scenes with other actors as compared to those with actresses. Case in point is Shahid Kapoor, who revealed that his leading lady in R... Rajkumar, Sonakshi Sinha, has strong hands, vis-à-vis the scene in which she slaps him.
However, when asked about the hardcore maara-maari scenes with Sonu Sood, the actor said, “We’re currently shooting a high-octane climax and we’re looking out for each other. While we’ve to maintain the authenticity and conviction of our characters, we’re also being cautious that the other person doesn’t get hurt, even accidentally.” Looks like all that on-screen maar-dhaad has resulted in bhaichara between Shahid and Sonu.

Shahid Kapoor

Sonu Sood

Salim Khan prefers Jai Ho to Mental

Heard that the Khan khandaan was divided on the title of Salman Khan’s next film. While many preferred the original title, Mental, the patriarch of the family, Salim Khan, preferred Jai Ho. Salman loves and respects his father tremendously and so, his January 2014 release will be called Jai Ho. Also, heard that the suggestion to call the film Azaad — yet another name that did the rounds for a short while — was shot down.

Salman Khan

Salim Khan

Ajay babysits, Kajol spends time with mom Tanuja

Ajay Devgn is the latest to join the ranks of hands-on superstar daddies. Recently, his actress wife Kajol went to Lonavla, to spend time with her mother Tanuja, who was keeping poor health.
And Ajay was home every evening, spending maximum time with his daughter Nysa and son Yug. Other actors who are involved in their children’s day-to-day activities are Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

Ajay Devgn

Kajol

Tanuja

KAT-SAIF FILM NOT RELEASING ON AUGUST 15

Contrary to trade gup, which suggests that Kabir Khan’s film with Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif will be the third one vying for an August 15, 2014 release — along with Ajay Devgn’s Singham 2 and Akshay Kumar’s Gabbar — here is the truth. Katrina and Saif will shoot for six days in Beirut, from October 22, for Kabir. However, the second schedule of the film doesn’t start till July 2014. So naturally, the film will seek a release date either by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

Katrina Kaif

Saif Ali Khan

Manasi Parekh Gohil - Manasi goes glam for her play

Manasi goes glam for her play

Manasi Parekh Gohil, who was last seen anchoring Hindustan Ke Hunarbazz on TV, is currently focusing on her talent in music and theatre. Manasi will, for the first time, act in an English musical play, Club Desire, where she will play a club singer and also sing in the play. She has learnt Gujarati sugam sangeet and is trained in classical music. Says Manasi, “I’m also trained in Western music and my play will have me singing and exploring the punk rock genre.” Manasi is also not focusing on TV now. She says, “I can always go back to telly shows, but they require longer commitment. So, can’t do that now since I am focusing on theatre.”

Manasi Parekh Gohil

Mohit Malik quits one TV show for another

Actor Mohit Malik has quit his TV show, Suvreen Guggal — Topper Of The Year, in which he plays Rehaan. Apparently, he has bagged another show. Mohit confirms, “I have quit the show. I can’t divulge too much, but yes, there is something else in the offing. I’ll be back on the screen soon.”
According to sources, he has been offered the role of a cop in a bi-weekly, which will be produced by the makers of CID. Actress Preeti Chaudhary, who played the protagonist in Kairee — Rishta Khatta Meetha, is also part of the same show. Mohit will commence shooting for the show soon.

Mohit Malik

Sonia Balani - Newbie Sonia replaces Fenil to play Pihu

Newbie Sonia replaces Fenil to play Pihu

Fenil Umrigar, the original Pihu — Ram and Priya’s daughter — of Bade Achhe Laggte Hain, who joined the show post the
seven-year time-leap, has been replaced by newbie Sonia Balani. Apparently, the makers felt that Fenil didn’t suit the part, which is soon going to turn negative. Says a source, “Fenil has soft looks, which made the producer doubt if she’d be able to pull off the negative character.” Sonia confirmed the news. — NMB

Sonia Balani

Meghna Malik - People still get shocked when they see me in real life

People still get shocked when they see me in real life

    It took Meghna Malik 13 years, as an actress, to land that one role that marked a turning point in her career — the lathiwielding rural matriarch, Ammaji, in Na Aana Is Des Laado.
    And now, she is seen in a completely diverse character — socialite Barkha — in Gustakh Dil. Meghna had to undergo a lot of preparations for the role, barring the fact that she is still better remembered as Ammaji. Says she, “People get shocked when they see me in real life. They can’t believe I am the woman who played Ammaji. However, I don’t feel sad as the character has given me a lot. I have nothing to crib about as I am doing a different role currently.”
    Though she has never been on the heavier side, Meghna lost five kilos and is currently working hard to tone her body. Says she, “I am not into strenuous exercises. I get claustrophobic in gyms. I am not much of a foodie either; I prefer small and simple meals.”
    About her character, she reveals, “Barkha wears modern saris with elegant blouses. Though I avoid saris in real life, I have taken a keen interest in finalising the look and other aspects of my character. I don’t have a socialite’s body language, nor do I talk like one. My brains do not rule my heart and my heart has a language of its own.”
    So, who can hope to enter her gustakh dil? “I don’t have a must-have list for my ideal man. My man and I should connect emotionally and should have mature minds. It’s never too late to be in love. I want to fall in love, but somehow, men don’t approach me. I never got the time to tread that zone. It’s a beautiful emotion and I have now asked my friends to find me someone. They say I am hopeless at it. But they also agree that I am a very romantic person,” she sums up.

Meghna as Ammaji

Meghna Malik

Dwayne Bravo to shake a leg in a Tamil movie

He’s known for breaking into impromptu dance moves as much as he’s known for his exploits on the cricket ground. And now, Dwayne Bravo, West Indian cricketer and Team Chennai’s all-rounder, is all set to make his debut with a special number in a Tamil film titled Ula. A source confirms, “Bravo has agreed to dance for a song in the film. He is likely to shoot in Chennai in the coming week. It will be peppy and fast-paced.

Dwayne Bravo

Discover the excitement of a romantic holiday in Hong Kong

Get romantic in Hong Kong

    It’s time to discover the excitement of a romantic holiday in Hong Kong — a living fusion of East and West. Whether you are planning your honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or simply getting to know one another, Hong Kong has the magic to make memories for life. Its celebrated Victoria Harbour makes a perfect backdrop for those in love.
    Asia’s World City offers lovers the opportunity to stay in the lap of luxury, enjoy romantic seafood dinners on the waterfront and indulge in some retail therapy at its famed malls and themed street markets. The city is so compact and easy to get around that you can explore its green outdoors or immerse yourself in its timeless heritage and culture.
    Hold your hands at the lofty Victoria Peak or stroll along a white sand beach between lush, green mountains and the South China Sea. Head for a seafood feast at the picturesque Sai Kung, Lei Yue Mun or the tranquil Lamma Island, and when the sun sets, marvel at the dazzling display of A Symphony of Lights unfolding like a dream, followed by a moonlit stroll along the Avenue of Stars at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. If a chauffeured limousine is not your scene, go ahead and hire a helicopter for a thrilling ride over the territory. Or take a tram tour of Hong Kong Island, or an open-top bus along the neon-lit Nathan Road at night.
    Pamper your special someone with a romantic meal at the fashionable dining hotspots like SoHo or Knutsford Terrace while Stanley and Repulse Bay offer a unique alfresco dining experience. Enjoy the drinks at Lan Kwai Fong or at the stylish rooftop bars with fabulous views.

Win a dream holiday trip to Hong Kong with your special someone or a collector’s copy of Hold My Hand, signed by author Durjoy Dutta.

B-Boying, hip-hop popular at this year’s dandiya

Traditional moves get a spin with many revellers including western dance in their routines

    There are a whole lot of new steps around this year, affirms Purvi Vadera, who loves to dance and teach her pals some moves in the run up to the season. She says, “Last year, it was Gangnam Style that was big. This year, Psy’s Gentleman and BBoying steps are big. Each group is also doing their own twist. My husband Ritesh and our friends also have a style. In garba, one usually does the clap, then goes forward and turns, but we clap and go forward, then do two spins, followed by two flips, all done just like B-Boying. It’s not easy though,” she says, adding, “The ghagra is about nine metres, so we have to catch the end part, then do the steps. But it’s fun too.”
    Samir and Arsh Tanna, the husband-wife duo who choreographed Dhol Baaje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, say while Bollywood is still big, international fusion is catching up as a fad. “The dress and look may be traditional, but some moves are clearly westernised. Lots of couples are doing the dandiya with Locking and Popping, which looks like the breakdance. It’s really energetic,” he says.
    A regular at dandiya nights in the city, Dev Kakkad predicts that the freestyle dandiya trend is going to be around for the next few years too. “People want something new. Earlier youngsters mostly did the traditional ‘hinch’ garba, which is performed to teen taal, as well as popat and dodiya steps. Now you have youngsters grooving to a mix of hip-hop and songs like Dhinka Chika or Hudd Hudd Dabangg. In Mumbai, you won’t really
see the authentic
dandiya,” he grins.

ALSO POPULAR Zumba: An intense dance regime, actually meant for fitness lovers.
Jumpstyle:
Incorporates jumping and kicking with catchy numbers.

An ‘I Quit’ video is the latest viral sensation

This has also led to a counter ‘We’re hiring’ video, as well as spoofs from others from across the world

    After Gangnam Style, twerking and Harlem Shake, this time the latest video to go viral has a personal touch. Marina Shifrin, an American woman working in a Taiwanese animation firm, decided to announce her decision to quit through a video. This new favourite features her dancing around in her office, without really naming who she works for.
    Instead, she just lists out the reasons as to why she’s quitting, while prancing around to Kanye West’s Gone in the song. One gets to see her letter, which come as scroll-text throughout. Before proclaiming ‘I quit’, she writes “For almost two years I’ve sacrificed my relationships, time and energy for this job. And my boss only cares about quantity and how many views each video gets. So I figured I’d make ONE video of my own.”
    Marina has been quoted as saying that she was tired of the Taiwanese work environment, which placed a lot of emphasis on quantity, giving her no time or space outside work. In fact, the first thing she stated post the video going viral was that she wanted to go back to the United States for a job.
    Meanwhile, the video, which has gathered nearly 15 million views, has also caught the fancy of many people who are offering Marina a job. Among them is actress-comedienne Queen Latifah, who has offered her a digital content producer job, tweeted, “This girl was so creative! I had to offer this internet sensation a job.”
A COUNTER VIDEO The Taiwanese company has now made a counter video with their staff dancing. The video has lyrics that scroll which say “We want to wish Marina well and let everyone know… we’re HIRING.”
MEMES AND SPOOFS TOO With the video going viral, memes and spoofs were to follow. Among these included a video by Brenna Jennings, a work-from-home mother, whose video says she is tired of the chores at home, but ends with “I’m kidding, we’re out of milk.”

Love, sex aur dhokha in the Bigg Boss house

Bigg Boss has earned quite a reputation for being a love haven. All chapters of the reality show have seen people falling in love inside the house. This season, while Gauahar Khan and Kushal Tandon’s love story is ruling air waves and making other housemates uncomfortable, romance might be brewing between Tannisha and Armaan Kohli, who are fondly called Tan-Man. Here’s a look at the ‘jodis’ that made headlines over the years on the show.

VEENA MALIK AND ASHMIT PATEL
They set the house on fire with their very public display of affection in the fourth season. Not only did Veena give oil massages to Ashmit inside the house, the cameras even captured them resting on a single bean bag, with them cuddling. But the duo parted ways some time after they left the house.

SARA KHAN AND ALI MERCHANT
Sara, who seemed quite close to Ashmit Patel initially in the fourth season, had a public wedding with Ali a few weeks later on the show. However, the two headed for splitsville soon after the season ended. There was buzz the couple was paid a handsome 50 lakh for the ‘wedding’.

CLAUDIA CIESLA AND PRAVESH RANA
The two were seen all lovey-dovey in season three — cosying up and passionately staring into each other’s eyes. Pravesh even gave her Hindi lessons and sang songs for her. But did it last after the show went off the air? Of course not! The two even avoid speaking about each other, fuelling speculations that it was nothing but a publicity stunt.

SANA KHAN AND RAJEV PAUL
Though the couple always maintained they were nothing more than good friends, Delnaaz Paul’s ex-husband Rajev seemed very charmed by Sana in the sixth season. Sana, however, was accused of playing the pati patni aur woh game and also had a scene going with Vishal Karwal.

GAUAHAR KHAN AND KUSHAL TANDON
Gauahar and Kushal are the latest couple to spice things up inside the house. The lovebirds are inseparable and can be heard singing songs, playing games and holding hands well into the night. Guess what Kushal asked the wishing wall a few weeks ago? Gauahar it was! Seeing the blossoming romance, they were even sent on a date. The love story is a hot topic among housemates, who have disclosed how uncomfortable the couple’s presence makes them. And who can forget how Kushal fumed with jealousy when Asif Azim flirted with Gauahar. Now, we wonder if this romance is for real or is just a way to catch eyeballs.

ANUPAMA VERMA AND ARYAN VAID
They started the trend of ‘love stories’ on this show in the first season. Aryan was inconsolable when he had to leave her inside the house after being evicted. But, nothing much was heard once they were out of the house.

PAYAL ROHATGI AND RAHUL MAHAJAN
The two got up, close and personal in the house pool in the second season. Later, there were rumours that Rahul even invited her to participate in Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. But Payal turned down the offer.

AKASHDEEP SAIGAL AND POOJA BEDI
Pooja and Akash aka Sky Walker developed a liking for each other inside the house in season five. Later, after the show, Sky even got Pooja’s name tattooed on his right bicep, thus declaring his love for her openly.