CELEBRITY LOUNGE

KATRINA KAIF

6/30/2008 3:19:14 AM

Over the past few months, she has been dubbed as a lucky mascot by filmmakers in the industry. And why not? All of her last 5 films have raked in the moolah at the Box Office. Her chemistry with Akshay Kumar is for everyone to see. Her long-standing relation with Salman Khan has been transformed into public property by the media. With big banners and bigger fans, Katrina Kaif is one actor who still manages to remain grounded.

Adding another laurel to the already over-brimming shelf, she has been recently voted as the sexiest woman in the world. On a high after the music launch of her recent ‘Singh is Kinng’ she spoke to Karmik Varma in a stylekandy.com exclusive.

So what makes you so sexy that you have earned this tag?
The audiences feel like giving me this tag. For me I am like any other common woman. It is the judgment passed on with the voting system. I thank my fans and the onlookers who voted for me and hence I have this.

When was the first time you realised you were sexy?
What a silly question (in splits), I never felt I am beautiful or sexy. My folks always treated me as an ordinary gal and I too believe I am as ordinary as other gals. But I like the attention now, everyone loves to be loved. I think I look the most beautiful without any make up. I just wait to remove my makeup immediately after the shoot is through.

Are you really a lucky mascot?
At least people think that. See, I do not belong to the family from the film fraternity. Nevertheless, I know one thing that has been taught to me by my parents is –hard work. I always try to work hard and maintain the glam quotient, which is essential in the world of show biz.

So what’s up the sleeves with Singh is King’
Singh is King is fun filled film. It traces the journey of a man through various shades of life and places and finally his homecoming. I play the love interest of course. It is a thorough entertainer.

People close to you say that you aren’t as disciplined as one needs to be for looking great, yet you are blessed with the mos amazing figure.
That is so true. And those people know me very well. I am so careless and lazy when it comes to maintaining my personality and make up. My mom always reminds me to get up on time, eat right, sleep early, work out, spa and all that. I am such a baby I feel. And yes I have been lucky. As of now, this persona is God’s blessings, which he has showered upon me whole-heartedly. Lately I have been addicted to Power Yoga. It’s draining hard work man.

You are also involved with some NGO’s. Is it something you have picked up from Salman?
Salman is a great soul and always has something to give. I have learned a lot from him and the process is far from being over. I am already working for woman interest. I wish I could devote more time to it and do it more rigorously. I want the woman of today to realize the importance of extending their duties in the right direction and make a coveted place for them in the society.

And how does the Kat celebrate her days off?
Well! for now, I have been working through my nose. I have been working round the clock no time to laze around. However, this X-mass I am surely going to celebrate the eve with my sister and family. I am longing to go on a leave. I haven’t planned it yet, but you’ll surely know as you know so many of them so close to me.

Posted on: 30-June-2008

ABHISHEKH BACHCHAN

6/23/2008 2:30:40 AM

The audiences have been enthralled with his captivating performance in Sarkar Raj which came alongside the Super star of the Millennium Amitabh Bachchan whom he fondly calls ‘Pa’ and the most Beautiful woman in the World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, his beloved wife. At a recent launch ceremony, Abhi was fully loaded in his elements, maneuvering questions like only he can. Excerpts follow;

Do you think Ramu has created history by picturing the family in one frame?
Histroy- if you insist, Pleasure for me! All credit to him for conceptualizing the story. But it’s not the complete family, I have a mother called Jaya Bachchan, who also is a great actor and has acted in many films, for your info (Chuckles). No seriously, he better work out something for the four of us, then you can make all the history you want.

The ending of Sarkar surely sets the platform for another sequel, who do you think will play the character of Chikoo, your nephew.
Well that’s a question only Ramu can answer. But I think Hrithik Roshan will be interesting to watch. We all know what a perfectionist he is and so is Ramu. It is exciting to watch certain people work with certain others. Or may be is a look alike of Shankar (Abhi himself), cinema makes you do strange things man!

Your inputs in the script were…
As you shoot there are certain suggestions, but the one that I would like to mention here was not made by me. Pa told Ramu that the happenings in ones family are bound to reflect on their professional life. Sometimes the kind of work you do comes at the price of your family, which can get emotionally very tormenting. I think this was a major breakthrough in the making of the movie.

You are known for bringing hip-hop to the masses. Is that your favo genre of music?
I listen to all kinds of music. Even regional and devotional at times. I think it all depends on your mood at the time. My collection has hip-hop songs, U2 songs and songs of mum and dad. I love to hear U2 songs, which are my favourite; I am going to listen to them on this phone most of the time. Hip-hop is no longer just a genre of music. It is a cult that is followed by billions worldwide. I am no exception.

Have you ever asked your dad before endorsing a product; he sure has the expertise with so many under his belt.
Pa’s advice has always been to watch out for the features and then decide. There is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with any kind of endorsement. If I don’t live up to it, I’ll be cheating my fans. So you have to be careful. But with all the perks, its fun, trust me.

That we do. So have you forced you pa and the other family members to buy the The latest Motorokr that you are promoting?
Can anyone in the world force the force called Amitabh Bachchan? I have not forced them as such but yeah, I have asked them to buy it on the basis of its features.

The latest update on Drona?
Drona has been successfully completed. It is gonna be a film of its own kind. The post-production of Drona is on. The film has wonderful baggage of background effects.

You are doing a film with John Abraham, what’s it like?
The title of the film is "Dostana" It is a romantic comedy, which is all for now. Rest I shall update you while the release is nearing.

And the Unforgettable Tour…
We are getting ready with it. Akshay Kumar, Madhuri Dixit, Shilpa Shetty and many more have joined us. We are trying for some more actors and before take off, we will complete and announce every detailing.

The news id that ABCL is making a comeback with quite a few films?
We have already rejuvenated it as AB production. We are planning quite many films under the banner. Right now, the scripts are being finalized and once the scripts are finalized, we shall announce films under our banner.

Lastly, is the blog culture reflective of the media not having their job well done?
No, I do not say that the media is not doing their job well. Having said Blogging is indeed wonderful. You can come closer to your audiences the personal or one on one interaction. I think it is a boon for fans who really want to be in personal touch with the icons. And it is also a great platform to clear the air that might have gone polluted (winks mischievously).

Posted on: 23-June-2008

CELINA JAITLEY

4/23/2008 12:31:24 AM

Winning the Miss India crown sure gave her the ticket to the fast lane of Bollywood. While she is still struggling to carve a niche for herself in the rat race, fashion is one front where she continues to rule. No wonder then, Celina Jaitley sure would have her fashion fundas to share with the world. On the occasion of Akshay Trithya, we caught up with the former Beauty Queen, shopping at the D’damas outlet in South Mumbai.

Wearing a backless magenta corset with fuchsia piping, over a multi-hued flair skirt, Celina sure looked dressed for summer. “I generally plan my attire around seasons. That is basically for the comfort factor. I believe in one funda- Be comfortable to be confident! This outfit is designed by Rohit Chatturvedi. He just knows me so well to tailor make this for me” reveals the sultry beauty.

So what does a girl like her look out for while shopping jewelry? “It has to be classy and elegant. ‘Eclectic’ is the word. Understated yet impressive. Multi purpose pieces suit me better. Jewelry that I can wear casually as well as formally. I opt for contemporary, western wear jewelry, unless if it is an occasion of course. Then I go for heavily embellished ornamental jewelry, I like to match it with what I’m wearing.”

Looking at the royal white gold, diamond studded piece that covered her neckline, diamonds seem to be her best friends too. “I am actually a gold freak. I have been brought up like that perhaps. My family believes that gold is the purest form of jewelry and buying gold brings you luck. This is why I am here on this auspicious day.”

Now she comes across as a morally rooted, superstitious person. “I guess you can say that. See all these rings that I am wearing(there were 3). These are astrology rings, specially designed for me by D’dmas. I need to have that perfect necklace and that perfect ring whenever I go out. Ear rings are something I don’t really bother about.”

You used your first cosmetic product at 15. Do you think that is advisable? “I don’t know if that is advisable, but I sure know that prejudice is not advisable. People know that I used my first cosmetic product at 15, but few know that it was a kajal liner, the one that even a 4 month old is made to use because it protects the eyes. For the face, I advise drinking lot of water and plenty of sleep. I keep myself fit by practicing yoga, I am totally aloof from weights”

Finally, the five essentials you can’t do without in your wardrobe. “The perfect black dress, diamond ear rings which go with anything 'n' everything, perfect belt, black shoes, gold-black purse and a sexy sari. Having favoured black in my list, let me clarify that Ocean green is my favo colour. And though I have mentioned a sari, I love to be wearing a sporty look”

DIA’S KRAZZY 4 FASHION

4/11/2008 12:10:26 PM

She has played it before, she is playing it again! Sultry beauty Dia Mirza surprised one and all, making a shocking entry at the press conference of Krazzy 4 at Cinemax, Mumbai. ‘So what’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?’ a question that crossed everyone’s mind- “I am the surprise trump in the film. I play Anjali, an endearing journalist, pitted opposite Krazzy Arshad (Warsi). The plot deals with the post break up relation between the couple” she amazes the Press.

Playing a journo sure drains out the glam val from the character, quite in contrast to her real life persona which recently got associated with LFW and Miss India 08. “People close to me feel that fashion comes intrinsically to me. My mom always used to tell me that the beauty of a person lies in the fact that he or she remains unaware of it. As an actor, I think we are extremely lucky to be able to play such diverse roles- some glamorous, some serious”

Yet she comes across as an extremely stylish person, making a strong fashion statement. “I don’t really follow trends. I believe in individualism. I applied my first cosmetic mascara when I was 17, that ‘s how my mom wanted me to be- Simple & Natural. But I think over the years, I have developed a characteristic dressing sense. As I said, some things come naturally to some” she claims modestly.

Wearing a black bubble dress, fitted at the top and the bottom and fluid in the centre, Dia sure carried the constructed piece of garment with divine beauty. “This is an Arshiya (Fakih) piece. I walked for Arshiya at LFW. I loved her style of creation. I think its very international and global. The thing I liked about this one is that it is so fluid, yet takes the shape of the body beautifully. And so comfy and cool, just the right thing for summer!”

Also spotted on her were black Fendi glares, black lacy stilettos and a black branded clutcher. I thought pastel colours were the potion for summer. “Black and white are two shades that are never ‘in’ and never ‘out’. I am always dressed according to the season and the occasion. I won’t wear shorts, even if its hot, when I am going to the market to shop. It is a formal event and extremely hot so I chose this semi formal outfit. It’s the right balance between style and comfort, if I may take the liberty to add (gushes).

Looking extremely fit and totally toned down, her secret to the oozing health is- “I am training extensively in martial arts for a forthcoming film of mine (she remains tight lipped about the project). Then there is this huge sacrifice I make every meal, living on salads, fruits, juices, soups and discreetly consumed meat. I guess I have found my inspiration in people like you to keep the sacrifice going!” signs off the naïve actor.

Also present on the occasion was Arshad Warsi, who kept the spirits high with his witty one liners and Suresh Menon who chose to maintain a low profile. Debutant director Jaideep Sen was at his modest best.

JEAN-CLAUDE PROPOSE FOR VALENTINE DAY

3/13/2008 11:29:20 AM

After the overwhelming success of her last flick Jab We Met, Kareena Kapoor is flying high on confidence. Long dubbed as just another glam doll, the stylish actor hopes to silence her critics and use the upbeat aura much to her benefit. 2007 saw the biggest hit of her career, a million dollar contract from Globus, the end of a long-standing relationship between her and Shahid and a just begun relationship with Saif!

Quite an eventful year one may call it! How do you look back at it? “Yes it was and I have absolutely no complaints about anything. All good things come to an end, so did Shahid and I. everything has a shelf life, I guess ours was over, but I harbour no hard feelings against him and am quite confident that he has also moved on.” Can you go on record and end all speculation on who had dumped whom? “You promised you’ll ask only one question about that”, she reminds me; “now you better move on or move aside”, she admonishes jokingly.

As we were on the sets of her second print shoot with Globus, the obvious question was the reason behind choosing to endorse Globus merchandise. “You mean apart from the money (laughs heartily). No seriously, I just love their collection. It’s very vibrant and trendy, something that I can easily identify with. And they have something for every mood.” It’s often believed that celebrities hardly use the products that they endorse. “I think you should ask this to the General Manager of Globus. He will tell you how often I keep bothering them to send across so many of their latest stuff. And let me tell you that they are extremely sweet and co operative in sending all that I demand instantly.” Knowing Bebo’s temperamental nature, do they really have a choice?

By now, I realized that she is in a comparatively jovial mood, so I mustered up all my strength and popped up the question. Why have you remained so quote less about yours and Saif’s relationship while Chhote Nawab has been quite upfront about it? “I thought he is the man in the relation, so let him do the talking.” You do are aware of the fact that you two are Bollywood’s most celebrated couple at the moment. “Yeah and I cherish every moment of it. Yet I would request the media that I am an actor and treat me like one. I think everyone should be left alone in their own private space. They have a right to that and we actors are no exception.”

I take that as a hint to not to probe further on that route and immediately change the line of fire. How are you planning to better the success of Jab We Met? “There are a host of movies lined up but right now I’m, only gonna talk about Tashan. You’ll see a different side of me. I’m totally excited about it and very nervous too. I have a lot of expectations from Tashan”, she signs off.

UDAY KALAAN

2/29/2008 7:06:26 PM

When the Jodhpur Polo team went to England in 1925, Tattler described them as, "hot as mustard." Today, polo player Uday Kalaan—who picked up the spurs from his father and passed them on to his brother Angad—is carrying the mantle forward. He was shown the way to the polo ground by his father. "I grew up watching my father play polo but I was passionate about cricket; it was too fanciful to pursue the sport so I abandoned my aspirations of professional cricket and chose to tread down a relatively familiar path—riding", reminisced Kalaan. "During 1989-90, I started riding seriously under the guidance of my father. We had our own ponies. Though I was schooled in show jumping, I was soon shown the way to the polo ground. Dad was keen that I should become a polo player and encouraged me to try my hand at the sport." "In 1993, I bought four polo ponies. After practicing my stick and ball for a couple of years, I graduated to professional polo. It was not regarded as a serious profession then, but now things have changed," he continued. Played flat out, polo matches are exciting, and it takes superb horsemanship to get the best out of the horses. Has he faced any rough moments, I wonder? "Yes, I have. There was a lot of excitement around the Omega Polo Challenge Cup 2000 in Delhi, as the prize was a costly Omega watch. The event was further hyped by the presence of Omega brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan and Sonali Bendre. The match was unusually rough as all the players were determined to win the Omega! In fact, I got hit a couple of times during the course of the match and sustained injuries." So, how does he keep in shape to soften injuries? "Fitness is important because the injury factor is high. One has to be physically fit, as polo is a very strenuous sport. It is as rough as any sport gets; you have to be prepared to fall off your horse. During such moments, you suffer fewer injuries if you are in good shape. I have a tailormade routine that includes yoga, jogging, lightweight training, cardiovascular exercises, and crunches, which keep me in form." Polo has an elitist image; hence the masses shy away from it. What is his take on the elitist tag? "Polo is trapped in elitist labels because it is a very expensive game," explained Kalaan, adding, "The sport remains out of reach of the common man because a polo horse can cost as much as a car. Add to it the cost of training, feeding, grooming, and transporting the horse to various tournament venues. We should make the sport available to the masses; the entire infrastructure would have to be reworked to facilitate this. We would require more playing fields and clubs, to begin with." Being a polo player has its disadvantages. "All my time is spent on practicing and playing—and traveling, of course. But when I can squeeze out some time, I like going on safaris, reading, and running my farm. The toughest part of being a professional polo player is discipline, like having an early night when I would rather go clubbing with friends." As I prepared to leave the Jaipur Polo Grounds, I asked Uday Kalaan for some pearls of wisdom for polo aspirants, to which he responded: "If you are serious about polo, training should start at an early age; a good age is 14. There is no shortcut to success. To excel at polo, you have to be a good horseman. For this, you have to be dedicated to the sport and spend hours on the field. I practice for a minimum of 2-3 hours every day. Unfortunately, though, the emphasis on sports is waning because of academic pressure."

ADHIRAJ SINGH

2/29/2008 7:04:16 PM

This month, the epicenter of the Delhi social scene is Jaipur Polo Grounds in the heart of the city, where a posse of outrageously good-looking polo players is the key attraction. With its alluring combination of beautiful horses, intense competition, and A-list celebrities, Polo has become a hotbed of A-list action. While the popular notion of polo may be a romantic one, a chat with a veteran Polo player makes me appreciate the heart-pumping adrenaline and direct contact involved in the regal sport.Major Adhiraj Singh, Managing Director of Equisport Management Pvt. Ltd., owns and runs some of the most high-profile Polo events in the country, including The Indian Open Polo Championship. Like many Polo stories, Adhiraj's began with his family. Hailing from a family that boasts of four Arjuna Awardees including his uncles Col. HS Sodhi and Col. RS Sodhi and his younger brother Mansher Singh [14 times National Champion in Trap Shooting], he was on the Indian Team from 1982 to 1994, won the Indian Open Championship twice, has been a medalist at Asian Games and Asian Championships, and was conferred the Arjuna Award in 1993 as 'Sportsman of the Year'. Today, Adhiraj plays at a 3 goal handicap. "Polo is a very expensive game. The only way I could indulge in the sport was by joining the army and I followed that path. I served in the Indian Army from 1983 to 1995. During this period, I could devote a lot of time to polo as the army encourages participation in competitive sports after you reach a certain level," he reminisces. The hold the game has on him has changed little over the years. Adhiraj combined the passion with a business angle to then enjoy the passion. "I launched a sports marketing and management firm—Equisport Management Pvt. Ltd.—to promote polo. My aim was to realise the full potential of Polo as a competitive sports and to leverage the glamor and excitement as a promotional platform. Equisport has renewed in the mind of the consumer the royal connection of this sport in India, the country of its origin. Polo tournaments were covered in the sports pages of leading dailies but I shifted the focus to page3 coverage for a wider reach. A large number of luxury brands took notice and the potential for sponsorship of the sport escalated. Today, I want to steer the spotlight back to the sport. The coverage should be about Polo first—and glamor second." Beneath the friendly banter between players is an undercurrent of tension. All players are conscious, on some level, that polo is a frenetic, dangerous game of hit-and-run. Each player practices hard, checks equipment, keeps ponies in good physical condition ... and then leaves the rest to fate. This flirtation with death is one of the things that make Polo so challenging, and so rewarding, according to Adhiraj. Has he faced any rough moments, I wonder? "Yes. I had a severe accident a few years back when I was walloped on the jaw by a mallet. There is a huge injury factor involved in the sport. But the attraction lies in the high degree of risk. It is the ultimate adrenaline rush," says the mallet master with a gleam in his eyes. Adhiraj Singh is built for Polo—lean and not too tall, with the muscles of a runner. Does he follow a particular workout regime, I ask him on a parting note? "Fitness is very important but I don't follow a particular workout regime. The key to success in Polo is practice," he smiles. As I switch on my laptop later that evening to key in my impressions of our dialogue, the sheer responsibility, hours of practice, and ball control that polo entails appears overwhelming. Yet, when a player's sweat and hard work combine in a stellar performance, the time, bruises and sore muscles have paid off in spades.

POLO LIFESTYLE

2/29/2008 7:00:54 PM

From royalty-infused Rajasthan to the stately Capital, India is quickly becoming one of the world's top polo destinations. As the season throttles into full gear, StyleKandy take a look at the polo lifestyle. It's 10-30 A.M. on a Sunday. A few players are sitting on a hay bale, sipping tea. Behind them, the horses are standing in their stalls. They look oddly naked with their manes shaved into stubbly Mohawks to keep the hair from getting tangled in the player's reins. One of the players walks from one stall to the next checking on his ponies, who are recuperating from a body-slamming game the day before. He walks in close, puts his nose up against hers, and exhales raucously. "This is what they do to each other," he says with a sheepish grin, "so I always do that to them." It is a scene that's replayed every morning he's in the Jaipur Polo Grounds this season and then replayed in every city he finds himself in. It is a nomadic lifestyle with months spent on the road, following the circuits—hauling their rituals and their animals with them. The seasons are 3-5 months long. "We just come and we start living," they shrug. The girls who hope to wine and dine the players are likely to be stymied by the presence of girlfriends or wives. "My family comes along with me. Its fun traveling all over the world and living in 10-12 countries," says James Harper. Single men, of course, always find a set of groupies to entertain them. Last night at a hotel pub, some players were waylaid by two-three girls. "When I turned 21, my brother said, 'Think about your future; polo player or clubber?' I say, both!"," grins one of them to his mate as he bends down to swoop the chick in his arms. Occasionally, polo players gravitate toward the sport on their own. But most professionals come from polo families and were handed mallets as soon as they started to walk. James Harper got hooked on to polo at 13. "I took to riding and show-jumping in England and then graduated to polo. It's intoxicating and addictive. You miss shots, you hit great ones. You occasionally fall off, but you get up and go on. I have had a few stitches but nothing broken," he says. Not everyone is as lucky. "I had a severe accident a few years back when I was walloped on the jaw by a mallet. There is a huge injury factor involved in the sport. But the attraction lies in the high degree of risk. It is the ultimate adrenaline rush," reveals Adhiraj Singh. There's snob value to the sport, perhaps due to the fact that there's more money spent than made. The cost of running a team begins at a few hundred thousand; "high-goal polo" runs into the millions. Companies like Cartier, Reid & Taylor, Lladro, and Tag Heuer are among the tournament sponsors, but corporate support does little to counteract the fact that there is little profit margin. The sponsorship goes toward equipment rentals and the maintenance of the manicured grounds. "I am impressed by the number of sponsors in India. It is better than I imagined; I was under the impression that there were only four-five sponsors but I noticed that corporates are more involved", comments Harper. In a sense, polo is too expensive to be adulterated. Which is one reason the A-listers have come to love it so much. During a match, players' wives and girlfriends are out on the field with their mate, casually taking in the action. Players who are not suited inspect their horses; they're also there because it's the only place they really know. Spectators, on the other hand, seem more interested in celeb-spotting than in taking in the game. Out on the field, a player has the ball at midfield. He taps the ball with his mallet, then gallops ahead—and scores! But only a few in the tents pay attention. Twenty per cent are here to watch the game; the rest are soaking in the polo ambience. "I always look forward to the opening of the season," says Saif Ali Khan. "It's sexy," says a lady who pleads anonymity. "Polo gets under my skin. The

ANGAD KALAAN

2/29/2008 6:57:03 PM

It's 5 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon at Jaipur Polo Grounds. My search for Angad Kalaan leads me to the players' box. He has just played for the Sona Polo team, and is chilling out after the grueling finals of the ITC Indian Masters Polo Trophy 2006. Occasionally, Polo players gravitate toward the sport on their own. But most professionals come from Polo families that handed them mallets as soon as they were old enough to walk. Angad Kalaan—who picked up the spurs from his father and brother Uday—was a young boy when his obsession with the sport took hold. "I grew up in a Polo milieu. Watching my brother play motivated me and drove me to the Polo grounds; since then a passion for the sport enveloped me," he reminisces. Often, Uday and Angad are on rival teams. Has this ever upset their camaraderie, I wonder? Angad dismisses this notion. "I have played both with and against my brother. On the field, you are jostling with players for the ball and sometimes you don't even realize that you are running with your brother for possession of the ball! However, the rivalry is limited to the grounds; after the match, we often joke about the game with comments like 'you hit me with the mallet … you ran foul'. Polo is not just about glamor and royal connections, he says. "We put in a lot of hard work. The desire to improve our handicap is insatiable. Besides, our lifestyle is nomadic and hectic; our itinerary involves traveling, playing, and taking care of the ponies. We play in India during winters; in other seasons we play overseas. We are always on the move, from one country to another. And for a Polo player, the most important assets are his ponies; we take care of them as our loved ones. If I hear my horse is not keeping well, I run to the stables to look into the matter and care for him." But the quest to improve one's handicap entails more than just practice. "A polo player has to be physically fit and agile for his horse, and himself. I cannot put 100 kg on my horse and expect it to perform brilliantly under such weight! I have to weigh about 70 kg for my horse to perform well. And I have to be agile to score. To keep myself fit, I do stretches and some cardio-vascular exercises. In polo, you need a lot of strength, not muscle. Fitness is also important because the injury factor is very high," reveals Angad. Has he ever faced an accident, I ask him? "Polo is a dangerous game but the rules are set up to ensure players and horses' safety as far as possible. In the end, the most important thing is that one gets back on the horse even after an injury. The most common injuries tend to be either broken bones or muscular injuries ... something most of us have faced. Very often players injure their riding muscle [a muscle in the thigh], which can be extremely painful and takes about three weeks to heal, during which it is impossible to ride." As I prepare to leave, I ask Angad where India stands on the world Polo map. "Indian Polo is at the sixth or seventh place but it is getting better; we are playing more to improve our ranking, and more horses are being imported. You need to ride the best horses in order to improve your game. If you're good and you don't have a good horse, you'll never get to the ball," is his parting shot.

SANJAY KAPUR

2/29/2008 6:54:21 PM

In a tête-à-tête with Sanjay Kapur following a polo match where he displayed impressive skills on field, he says he is eager to get back on the pony for another bout. Most professionals come from Polo families that handed them mallets as soon as they were old enough to walk. But Sanjay gravitated toward the sport himself. "I love the sport," he assures me. "Naveen [Jindal] introduced me to polo. He has really been helping me with the nuances of the game. I have only really been into polo for a couple of years. The horses, the speed, and the risk are exhilarating. The risk, in particular, adds to the excitement of the sport." Being a leader both in business and polo, he balances the two quite well. How does he manage? "Its tough juggling business and polo—almost schizophrenic—but I do it since I am equally passionate about both. During the season, I get up early to get in some riding in the morning and I practice regularly during weekends. If there is a tournament in the afternoon, I go to office in the morning, play the tournament and then get back to office." How critical is a good horse, I ask him? "An excellent polo horse can be as crucial to a match as the ability of the player. That is why players work to breed horses that blend speed, strength, obedience and courage. Polo horses reach a height of 150 to 160 centimeters, and no other horse has the ability to accelerate so quickly or maneuver in such tight spaces. The best polo horses come from Argentina. They have great endurance and are tenacious competitors, as well as being fast, agile and intelligent," he speculates. The injury factor in polo is quite high. Have there been any serious accidents in his career? "No! Luckily I have never had any serious accidents," he says. But there have been accidents? "Well, nothing that is out of a place for a polo player … like cracked ribs and broken bones. I have gotten some cracked ribs and bruises. That is about it". If he dismisses such injuries as minor, I wonder what he considers serious incidents! Surely then there must be a regime which he follows to keep in good physical condition for a game that does not allow you much time to recuperate from the injuries. "I do not do any special training to keep fit for the game. You have to be in superb physical condition. The game itself keeps you fit. But I do a lot of riding, and I do stretches. Just playing the game is enough to keep you fit." So, where is India on the polo world map, I ask him as I get up to leave. "India is coming up in the polo world," he grins, eager to get back on the horse.

VIKRAM CHATWAL

2/29/2008 6:49:59 PM

"In Hollywood, if you can't do stunts yourself, they will be computer generated. In India, the creativity factor is high as budgets are limited." The 35-year-old hotelier and actor who parties with Bill Clinton, has modeled for 'Vogue', dated supermodel Giselle Bundchen [that explains the 'G' tattooed on his arm!], Kate Moss and Paris Hilton, and acted in 'One Dollar Curry'––flew into Delhi in February 2006––to marry actress and former investment banker Priya Sachdev. It was far from a simple nuptial. The ceremonies lasted 10 days and were spread across Mumbai, Udaipur and Delhi, during which 600 guests from 26 countries flew in on chartered jets. Ask him about the different locales, and he quips, ''Most of our guests flew in from different countries. This was their virgin trip to India and they were very enthusiastic about it. I wanted to show them around our country, and planned the venues for my functions accordingly.'' Prior to a conversation with the former 'Manhattan playboy', I expected him to be a yuppie––but was in for a refreshing surprise. Behind the image of New York's 'hardest partying guy in a turban' is a diligent young man who has earned a Bachelors Degree from Wharton Business School and has worked with Morgan Stanley. His ambition is to be the world's first Sikh billionaire. How does he intend to do it, I wonder? ''I learnt invaluable business rules at Wharton. Their teaching is ingrained in my mind: be passionate about your goal and be doggedly persistent in achieving it,'' revealed Chatwal, whose family owns Hampshire Hotels & Resorts and the Bombay Palace chain of restaurants in the US. ''I want to go down in history as the first Sikh billionaire in the world and I am working on getting there. My father has built the base and I will expand it to the best of my ability. Hopefully, I should achieve my target within a year.'' Vikram Chatwal is pursuing a parallel career in films. Post-'One Dollar Curry' and 'Ek Ajnabi', the die-hard Amitabh Bachchan fan says there is a world of difference between Hollywood and Bollywood productions. ''There is more creativity in Bollywood films. In big budget Hollywood films, if you cannot do certain stunts yourself, they will be computer generated. However, in India, the creativity factor is high as the budgets are limited. Both the Indian films I have worked in had small budgets, which inspired us to get creative.'' Its time to get a bit personal. Chatwal Jr. has earned quite a playboy image, I tease him. ''Hey, I was just enjoying life,'' he grins sheepishly. Yet, life isn't all fun and games for him. There is a religious side to this young man. ''I pray every day and try to visit the Golden Temple each year.'' Visibly proud of being a Sikh, he has a few Sikh tattoos including those of Guru Gobind Singh and a 'kirpan'. With his private life constantly in the media glare, doesn't it make him a bit uncomfortable? ''Well, I am a private person but I do public things. I have made a wishful, willing decision to make myself vulnerable. If I'm going to use the media for certain things then it is only fair for the media to critique my actions. However, when it gets too personal or unethical, then it is wrong,'' is his take. What are his views on love and marriage, I ask? ''Love is an important emotion and marriage is a natural progression when you fall in love,'' discloses Vikram. ''In my opinion, once you fall in love, you should get married. I was a bit of a rake before I met Priya. Our meeting was no coincidence, mind you. My father masterminded the whole gig. He told Queenie and Raja Dhody to look for a suitable girl, and they thought Priya and I would make a good couple. So they introduced us at a party hosted by them and insisted we exchange numbers. I took Priya out for dinner the next evening and we got along famously. Though I returned to the US and she stayed on in Mumbai, we spoke on the telephone several times a day and frequently met in London. I

KUSHAL PUNJABI

2/29/2008 6:48:11 PM

A former employee of Jet Airways, Kushal Punjabi has been there and done it all: modeling, choreography, music videos [Shweta Shetty's ‘Deewane Toh Deewane Hai’, Aqeel's 'Kehdu Tumhe', 'Tera Mera Pyaar', and ‘Loveology’ for Shaan], films [‘Kaal’, 'Lakshya', and ‘Bombay Boys’], theatre, television [‘A Mouthful of Sky’], etc. What's more, he has undertaken training at the New York Jazz Academy too. “I’ve always wanted to direct ... whether it’s a film, theatre or dance performance, so choreographing fashion shows and contests is a step closer to what I finally want to do. I was a participant in Gladrags Manhunt - Mega Model Contest 2001, but with a background as a dancer and a dance instructor, I was interested in the choreography more than the contest. When Maureen Wadia spotted me taking a keen interest in the show, she offered me the direction of her Gladrags Manhunt-Megamodel contest,” he reminisced. But is it a creative vocation, I asked him? “Choreography is as creative as you want it to be; it depends on how deeply you want to get involved in the project,” he responded, adding, “Any performance on stage, in a film, or any style of choreography where the visual is dramatic, inspires me. From my experience, I feel a choreographer must be fashion savvy; he must have visual sense, knowledge of music, lights and stage, keen observation powers, and some dance experience. He must be receptive to the vibe of the audience and he should be a good communicator. The only drawback of this profession would be the lack of privacy, or in some cases, high expectations. The best thing is the sense of satisfaction when you’ve been recognized and appreciated.” As a choreographer, Kushal has a keen eye for spotting talent. “The Indian modeling scene is professional but hasn’t reached a stage where we can compare ourselves with models overseas. Aspiring models should be aware of their weak and strong points and work on the weaker ones, especially on body muscle proportion, skin care, a diet and workout regime etc. They must have a positive attitude towards life, themselves, and their profession. And they should be fashion savvy; they must watch Ftv and live shows like River Dance, to develop an awareness of the performance levels involved.” For a person who is so involved in his career, what is the difference between Kushal Punjabi the man – and the choreographer, if any? “As a choreographer, I am always ready to teach my students everything that has been either inherited by me or been taught to me. On a personal level, I am a very private person who likes to be on his own and in his own thoughts; I have a few close friends and like to spend time with family ... and at the gym,” he smiled. So, how come he’s single, I probe him? “Well, with the erratic schedule and unpredictable timing, there is no time in hand to devote to a girlfriend. I've been single now for the past nine months and it’s a great feeling. I really think living in the 21st century demands a whole lot of a person, whether it's work or family or just living. There's just so much competition in every field that it takes up all my time just being there amongst the top few and I doubt I would've been here if I had someone in my life. Not that it’s a problem, but I think it would be a distraction of some sort and I wouldn't want that.”

SHOBHA DE

2/29/2008 6:46:06 PM

Recently, a frenzied group of Mumbai socialites, fashion editors, and supermodels were angling for the best photo op when Shobha De, dressed to the nines in a cocktail sari, walked in. The sea of cameramen and their eager subjects parted, allowing her to pass through before they resumed their shenanigans. Such respect is a rare commodity on the social scene, but then, Shobha De is a legend. "Long elegant gloves, the kind worn by Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', would look wonderful with a sari," is her advice. Well, she would say that, wouldn't she? After all, this is the woman who became a model at 17 and founded her own celebrity magazines—Stardust and Society—at 23. At present, she is an author, columnist and fashion designer. In an exclusive tête-à-tête with Stylekandy, Shobha De reveals why she's bored of the little black dress, how a sari can sweep the fashion stakes, and how to achieve a "very international club look" in a cocktail sari. Is the sari evolving into a desi equivalent of the little black dress? Yes. Absolutely! Frankly, I'm bored to death with the little black dress that has become such a cliché. Besides, it does not do a thing for most Indians, who look far sexier clad in cocktail saris that attract enormous attention worldwide. Why follow the herd? If a woman wants to stand out in a sea of predictable little black dresses, I strongly recommend a sari. Where does sari figure on the global fashion map? Well, the last big fashion statement out of India was the kurti. It is still going strong. If we position the sari correctly, it can easily sweep the fashion stakes. It is versatile, sensuous, easy to flat pack, and can see you through three events in a single evening. How did your flirtation with the sari metamorphose into a vocation? I was 15 when I first wore a sari. It was pinched from my sister's wardrobe, and I felt grown up, sophisticated and entirely comfortable in it. As a fashion model, I only wore saris on the ramp ... so, I guess my love affair started really, really early and has only grown stronger over the years. Oh, the 'borrowed' sari was a gorgeous Gadhwal. However, my association with Satya Paul began a few years ago when I wore their signature saris to several launch events and that generated a strong media buzz. Since the label was in the process of repositioning itself, it turned out to be a very positive association for both. I liked their design sensibility and they liked my attitude! It was a win-win situation. It was last year that we took this informal association to the next level by getting involved in a more formal way with the launch of my own label. We both took our time to formalise the relationship and decide on the product line. We studied the market and discovered there was a space just waiting to be taken: the sari space! So we went flat out to grab it! Suggest three innovative ways to wear a cocktail sari. The cocktail sari lends itself to innovation. The only thing that could inhibit the wearer is a lack of imagination or a ghastly figure! Long elegant gloves, the kind worn by Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', would look wonderful. So would a risqué, chiffon wispy choli, worn with the sari pallav in a gown-like drape over the right shoulder. I would also recommend a really glam sari, combined with tattered jeans and a lame bikini choli, for a international club look. Who is your target clientele? My target clientele includes any woman who is confident, stylish, on top of her life, ready to experiment ... and sick of being ripped off in fancy boutiques selling absurdly-priced saris. I am still waiting to build up a loyal client base. That requires time and nurturing. As of now, we welcome all walk-in customers!! Will writing take a backseat now that you are involved with your label? Writing can never take a backseat to any activity I undertake. Why should it?? Writing is not just a vocation, it is a pas

NAVEEN JINDAL

2/29/2008 6:41:18 PM

"Most young politicians have studied abroad and have valuable exposure" Armed with degrees from Ivy League universities … with strategies of economic growth on their fingertips … a new generation of young politicians is making its presence felt in the country. From polo grounds to the corridors of power, industrialist Naveen Jindal has glided through the course as gracefully as one of the thoroughbreds in his stable. To topple one of the Chautalas in their own backyard in one's maiden political outing takes some doing. Naveen showed nerves of steel and cantered home to victory––defeating his opponent by a margin of 1,60190 votes. It was a breeze one would think, but Naveen feels otherwise. "A lot of effort has gone into it. I had campaigned for 18 to 20 hours a day before the elections. I must also thank all the party workers who worked so hard to make this win possible." Contesting election, however, was not new for this young politician, who won his first political derby at Kurukshetra. Earlier, he contested the student president election in the University of Dallas, and walked away with the 'Student Leader of the Year Award.' "I think the people of Kurukshetra liked the work I've done in the past vis-à-vis the national flag. They could see that I had joined politics not to make money, as many people do, but to serve the people. They realized that I was joining politics because I wanted the best for them. A mistake that many people make is to think that political parties are only interested in getting people's votes. Obviously that is important, but in terms of building relationships, it's much better to know what people want and believe," he said. So, how did it feel when he first walked into the hallowed precincts of the Lok Sabha, I wonder? "It felt great to be one among the leaders of the nation. The oath taking ceremony was special. But, I was surprised to see people smoking in the Central Hall of the Parliament. I was also disappointed to see that when our Prime Minister wanted to introduce his ministers, a lot of people made noise and didn't let him speak." What about the home front? Did his wife have any reservations about his political inclination? "Initially, my wife had reservations but later she was quite supportive. In fact, she has spent time with the women of Kurukshetra, trying to understand and sort out their problems," he remarked. Jindal feel young politicians can make a difference. "Most young politicians have studied abroad and have valuable exposure. We have new ideas; we compare ourselves with modern western countries and try to achieve an international standard in every field. Besides, the youth understand our methods and associate with them; it is time the government paid attention to the concerns of young voters," he remarked. Waiting for one's turn, allowing fellow MPs to speak uninterrupted, and the Parliament being able to legislate on bills that would help people instead of wasting valuable time protesting, are some of the changes that Naveen Jindal would like to see in the near future. Corruption needs to be wiped out; it's important we create a society that facilitates people to make the right choices for themselves, he feels. But when you ask him about ministers with a tainted image, he mouths the usual shibboleth. "Tainted is a subjective term. Tainted in what sense? Somebody may say that I'm tainted," said the urbane leader, with a bravado that could make even the veteran of several electoral battles nervous.

VINOD KHANNA1

2/29/2008 6:38:40 PM

When I re-entered the industry, I was a more confident person. Fame was no longer an attractant. Shortly, I got involved in politics. The same confidence was and is with me after I joined active politics" ''I will never forget the day I hesitantly went to seek blessings from Osho in Pune; it was my birthday. There were scores of people waiting to see him and I chivalrously let many of them go ahead of me. To my shock, when I was almost at the end of the queue, Osho suddenly looked straight at me, got up, and left! That was his message to me––be focused; do not let anything distract you from your goal. From that day, there was a change in my life's direction. Back in Mumbai, my films lit up the marquee but my connection with Osho never broke off; I was in Mumbai but my soul was there. Although I wanted sanyas immediately, people dissuaded me because I was an actor, a public figure. But soon, an inexplicable feeling overwhelmed me. I sensed Osho's presence everywhere; one day, the call grew so compelling that I felt I must leave for Pune immediately and become his disciple. My heart was thumping when I was let in through the gates and walked down the driveway. As I took off my shoes at the entrance and saw Osho sitting in the distance, I felt I was being drawn into a charged atmosphere. He looked as if he had been sitting there for a lifetime. Then he smiled and said, ''So you have come.'' It was as simple as that. There was no daily routine at the ashram, only meditation. That does not mean you have to take up sanyas forever. The upshot of meditation is that you don't get stressed easily and are able to look at things objectively. Osho said that ultimately, meditation is not about sitting quietly; the real art of being a sanyasin is to remain in the world, enjoying its pleasures––sex included––while at the same time freeing oneself of attachment through meditation. Not surprisingly, he was a controversial figure and was dubbed as a sex guru because he spoke freely on the therapeutic powers of sex! It was not an easy path to tread. When I took sanyas, my marriage broke up. On returning to Mumbai, I overhauled my life. Subsequently I re-married and had two children. I left the film industry for a few years when I was in the top bracket. When I re-entered the industry, I was a more confident person. Fame was no longer an attractant. Shortly, I got involved in politics. The same confidence was and is with me after I joined active politics. If I had to, I would do it all over again. Osho has changed my perspective of life. My few years under the guidance of Osho infused a new spirit in me. Today, I live life moment to moment. There is no resentment or jealousy in me. Instead, there is empathy, compassion and love. I also accept others more easily. People remark that I have not quit smoking or drinking, but these are mere bodily habits. If they stay, they stay; if they drop, they drop. Though Osho never left behind any dictates, his teachings are with me all the time; what I experienced with him is all there within me. And I know that no matter where I am and what I am doing, it does not matter as long as I do it totally and absolutely. Everything I do, do is full of love and compassion. This is what draws me to Osho.''

ANOUSHKA SHANKAR

2/29/2008 6:35:24 PM

"I'm generally much louder, freer and more fun-loving than people would expect from a classical musician!" Hailed as 'the future of Indian classical music', sitar maestro Anoushka Shankar made her performance debut at 13. Her impressive technique drew immediate praise and made her a concert-hall favorite. The British Parliament presented her with a House of Commons Shield in 1998. A collaboration with Sting on his 'Sacred Love' album was critically acclaimed; the recording of her performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall was nominated for a Grammy in 2003, followed by a nomination for 'Rise' in 2005. She has flirted with Bollywood too—in 'Dance Like a Man'—but that's likely to be a fleeting relationship. Her true love is classical music. Have you always aspired to be a musician or was it an obvious choice, I grilled her? ''I was always interested in music but there were other things too. If I didn't get into sitar, my second choice has always been the piano; I started playing the two at around the same time and initially the piano had a much greater hold on me. Other than music, I was interested in acting [stage, not film] and philosophy.'' Any regrets? ''I wish I were more inclined to sports, I'm pretty unathletic though I am quite coordinated.'' ''Technically, the sitar is one of the most difficult instruments to master, from the sheer size of the neck to the physical discomfort of the sitting position to the cuts on one's fingers or the complexity of the music system. I think it is important to have a lot of determination and drive to keep at it, with an instrument that is this daunting. Of course it really helps—is almost essential really—to have a wonderful teacher or guru to guide you through the process. And the most important thing is that you really have to love the music, and love playing the instrument; that is what shows through most of all,'' she continued. Anoushka fondly recalled a memorable audience response to her live rendition: ''A few years back, there were two concerts in Spain and Italy that my father had to cancel at the very last minute because he was unwell. They asked me to go instead, and I was terrified, because replacing my father is next to impossible! I was really nervous before both the concerts because I knew I had so much to live up to—and did the best I could. At the end of both concerts, I was so happy that they gave me standing ovations, but what really shocked me was that they didn't stop clapping until I came out to do encores! That was really special … I'll never forget it.'' Legends can cast long shadows. But Anoushka Shankar has emerged from under the shadow of her legendary father, sitar virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar, and is evolving the fundamentals of sitar by injecting a contemporary touch. In 'Rise', she steps back from the sitar on a couple of compositions to opt for keyboards, incorporating both acoustic and electronic instruments. ''Musically, he's got a huge influence on everything I do. He has trained me so much that a lot of what I do, and my musical preferences, are what he does. But now, I am more inclined towards modern traditional composing, which is more individual'', she said, adding, ''What I about him is that not only is he the most amazing musician I have ever heard but he is also such an amazing person. He is so humble ... I think that's very rare.'' Intrigued by her persona, I gently asked her about the difference between Anoushka the musician and Anoushka the woman. The lady is refreshingly honest. Describing herself as 'intelligent, goofy, moody, passionate, independent, and loving', she said, ''Because of the genre of music I'm involved with, sometimes I have to play myself down a little bit to fit into the good-little-Indian-girl prototype, or not to shock classicists too much. I like listening to Goa trance, drum and bass, flamenco, and Western classical, in addition to artists like Sting, Madonna, Massive Attack, and Tori Amos. As a per

JALEBEE CARTEL

2/29/2008 6:24:20 PM

The members of Jalebee Cartel [Ashvin Mani Sharma | Arjun Vagale | Ash Roy | Madhav Shorey | G Arjun] have been together for barely two years but have firmly entrenched themselves in the teen idol ghetto. They’ve built an impressive discography in a short timeframe: New York Fashion Week [Ashish Soni], San Francisco Fashion Week [Nikhil and Shantanu], MTV Style Awards 2005 [theme music], MTV Roadies–3 [Background Score], Lakme Fashion House [Music Director/Background Score], "Rock for Krishna" [ISKON], a remix for Italian duo Tyre & Tare. Arjun explains that the provocative title, ‘Jalebee Cartel’, reflects the boys’ inherent nature. “It’s something very Indian, and when you hear a name like Jalebee, you don't forget it; it's a little crazy too … and wacky … 'cause all of us are,” he grins. “It came to us in a flash; we spent exactly five minutes trying to decide on this name, and we stood by it … its works well for us!” The boys all hail from different backgrounds. How did they come together to form Jalebee Cartel, I wonder? “We got together in 2004 to form Jalebee Production, as a conglomeration of Mumbai native Ashvin Mani Sharma and Bangalore boy Arjun Vagale, who met each other at various raves in the city and worked together during the Lakme India Fashion Week. Ashvin was one of the leading trance DJs and his residencies took him to exotic destinations like Russia. I was a House|Breaks junkie and had done the roulette of clubs across India, winning a few titles en route, including the Delhi DMC Championship ‘99. Ash Roy, an established DJ from Kolkata, soon joined Cartel with his signature mix of deck wizardry and tablatronics. His skills and Calcutta DMC Championship ‘99 title got him residencies at prolific clubs in India and Dubai. Madhav Shorey was initiated into Cartel, owing to his wicked drumming skills. Bringing in the grunge factor was bassist|guitarist, G "Force" Arjun from Pune, whose thrash metal background and software expertise gives Jalebee an extra edge.” With such an eclectic background, what genre of music do you specialize in, I quizzed him? “We as a band play electronic music in all its forms, whether it’s Down Tempo, House, Progressive, Breaks, or Trance. Our sound is a blend of our individual styles.” Word is that the boys have flipped Bollywood beats on its proverbial ear. “The average clubber’s musical taste is evolving, and all the electronic deejays in the country have contributed to this change; it’s really nice to go to a club now and hear different genres of music. That said you still have hardcore Bollywood fans. I guess that will never change, but we're glad that we’re pushing global sounds in India. We want to put India on the global electronic music map,” he remarked. The boys have big plans. “We have some international releases in August, on labels such as Pure Substance Records, Soultribe Records and Moon Tribal Records. Some of these tracks are getting major support from International DJs and radio stations. We are also working on our album, as we have signed up with a major label in India; it should be out by year-end. We are also pretty involved in the fashion scene, as we have been doing music for the fashion week since the past four years. I’m looking forward to the second edition of WLIFW, which is around the corner,” reveals Arjun. On a parting note, I asked the young lad for some pearls of wisdom for aspiring musicians and deejays. “Work hard at what you believe in … nothing comes easy,” is his advice.

JOSH [MONTREAL]

2/29/2008 6:20:04 PM

It's been four years since Montreal-based band JoSH [Rupinder and Qurram] dropped 'Main Hoon Tanha'—their debut album. Now, after their Nelly Furtado remix and the release of their second album [with guest shots by Sukhbir and Apache Indian], JoSH has realized long-cherished crossover dreams. So, where did their journey begin? ''JoSH wasn't planned. When I was a kid I just loved music. Driving home from school, we used to bang the dashboards and play around a lot until one day we decided to get a little serious about it. We played instruments but with no real career plans,'' reminisced Rup. ''Our parents were nervous about the whole thing, though. When they realised we were serious, they made us complete our education.'' Perseverance is key, according to Rup. ''Any thought about not making it was replaced by a positive one. We learnt from our mistakes and ploughed ahead. And we never stopped dreaming,'' he said, adding, ''We started out playing covers and slowly ventured into original territory. Production is a challenge; the perfect version is in your head, and you have to protect that for months. Our first major break was a show titled 'The Bollywood Music Awards'. The biggest Indian musicians were to play there. We made up our minds that we would do whatever it took to get on. We sent in demos, visited Kamal Dandona's [the organizer] house in New York, and bugged the poor guy until he gave us four minutes on stage. The show was aired on Zee-TV worldwide and our song got a lot of attention.'' So, which genre of music influenced JoSH? ''I did a lot of Kirtan and played the tabla at the Gurudwara. It's almost the blueprint for what I do now. I also love Qawwals and I'm not at all shy to admit that I love Top 40 pop music! Q, on the other hand, was influenced by alternative music. He religiously listened to Guns 'N' Roses, Pearl Jam and Sound Garden, and later shifted tracks to the UK underground scene. In fact, we are both hip hop junkies,'' grinned Rup. Soon, it wasn't enough to play for the South Asian Diaspora in Montreal; they wanted a chunk of the Indian music-industry pie. ''We saved up money, bought flight tickets to Mumbai, and went there in 1998 without any contacts. It took four years, a lot of guts, and tons of money, to get our first album released. People think it is easy; trust me, when you live thousands of miles away, have no connections or financial backing, it is tough," said Rup. "We were told our sound was too modern for a market saturated with Bollywood music at the time. But we persevered. We borrowed money from friends and family and shot our first video, 'Main Hoon Tanha'. With demos in hand, we went back to India in 2001. This time, TIPS Music released our album." Their second album 'Kabhi' was released by Universal Music India in 2004. ''There was a lot of pressure on us because the second album's the one that establishes you. The debut album's the one that people get to know you with,'' revealed Rup. The album kickstarted a bidding war between MTV India, Channel V and Sony Entertainment Television. MTV India won exclusive rights. ''We completed 'Kabhi' two years before its release. During that time, we also met with Nelly Furtado. It all kind of came together. Working with Furtado was an awesome experience! We approached her manager with a few ideas and after some persistence, they gave us a shot. We got a lot more respect because of that song.'' These days, JoSH has signed up with Chris Smith Management, who also manages Nelly Furtado, K-OS, and Divine Brown; they have a hectic schedule between recording in Montreal, sourcing music from South Asia, and tours across the globe. So, what lies ahead? ''We want to continue doing what we love. As simple as that sounds, society today is made in such a way that doing what you love is almost impossibility. With school, work, and responsibilities, only a few get the opportunity to pursue their dreams...''

HARD KAUR

2/29/2008 6:13:49 PM

Taran Kaur, better known as Hard Kaur of 'Ek Glassy' and 'Sexy Boy' fame, is every bit as hard as her name suggests; Hard Kaur because ''it sums up everything that I am: hard because I don't take anything lying down and Kaur is a Sikh princess.'' I caught up with the feisty female for a brief tête-à-tête prior to her performance at Dublin-ITC Maurya Sheraton where a passionate crowd is gathering for Ek Glassy! The UK's first Asian female rap artist, Hard Kaur is a mix of aggression, realness and femininity, blending impassioned words about her belief and experiences with the hyper-poetry of Hip Hop. ''I moved to UK after my father's death in '95, following which I discovered Hip-Hop and fell for rap. I'm also a very big fan of drum, bass, break beats, grime, and soul. I started mastering myself as an MC, lyricist and a song writer, and working on my flow, timing and clarity because I wanted to go out there knowing what I am talking about. Initially it was difficult to write and get the vocabulary moving but then I tried real hard and got my act together. At that time there were no Asian rappers and I had to try hard to make a place for myself. But over the years I think I am able to reach a pedestal where I can do what I want to. And 'Ek Glassy' was a huge hit; I had faith in the song but I never expected it will such a huge hit as it's a song about alcohol but I was ecstatic when the song rocketed on the charts.'' Is this profession more difficult for a girl, I wonder? "Girls are more vulnerable. I don't think that it's a problem in just the Asian scene; it's a problem worldwide. Even though we live in the 21st century a lot of people still haven't changed. I’ve come home many times in tears and wanted to give it all up but, I am not a weak person, and I believe in my dream whether anyone else does or not. I think the main reason is there’s a lot of hate in the industry also as a girl you are not always taken so seriously, and have to end up proving yourself for the smallest, minor things and sometimes, most people just want to get into your knickers. It's a fact that people are not ready to accept them as serious lyricist and rappers. It's quite biased in the UK, where boy MCs are never asked to rap when they go for auditions but girl MCs are asked to rap often, no matter how good you are. But I believe that if you are talented no one can stop you no matter even if there is a bad world out there,'' is her firm belief. Her forthcoming album is titled Super Woman. ''With my music I want to educate women that it is okay to do what you want to and that Asians are no less and can perform much better than anyone!'' Taran feels strongly about racism. ''Shilpa was sober on the show and handled it well; if I was in her place I would have smacked Jade Goody real good! I am so happy that the UK police received so many threatening calls; this incident has taught these people a real lesson. No one can racially slur anyone whosoever he or she is. It's so bad that companies don't promote or give opportunities to Asian artists; they do think they are talented and that is blatant racialism.'' ''My albums are always directed at wider audiences and not just Asians as my music is very universal. My songs are often liked by Asians; that said, when ''Sexy Boy'' is played in UK clubs everyone goes hysterical and not just Asians. My songs have flavours of Asian-ism but are not designed for Asians only as good music has no boundaries and everyone connects with it,'' she remarks, adding, ''I'm glad for everything that has happened, because otherwise I would not be the strong person I am today. I want to thank god for all my opportunities like from the time I performed at Womad to playing alongside Justin Timberlake; from Russia to Israel, every performance has taught me so much.'' ''You feel good when you have done a good job and pulled a song real well when you come out of the studio but the real ecstasy lies in live shows when the c

MC XANDER

2/29/2008 6:07:41 PM

Laidback Waters rocked to the beats of UK-based beatbox artist MC Xander accompanied by flute artist Sagarika Prasanna. The duet came across as a fusion between two worlds: east and west, ancient and modern, hip-hop and classical. Intrigued, I walked over to Xander for a byte of his musical notes. Making music with your mouth … what kind of talent is that? Xander laughs and says, "It is an unusual talent,; It's just strange, full stop. My mom thinks it is an old jazz form. It takes some time to get to a point where everybody is not laughing at you. For the first few years, people laugh and jeer that this is not music and I am trying to make music within one-man beat-box shows. Sadly, Beat-box is confined to two minutes on stage between deejays. There is no longevity or creativity. It's just tricks … like a magician. But for me, I was always a musician before being a beat boxer so I'm trying to make music with it." Whew! What genre of music can beatboxing be classified into, if it at all, I wonder? "I am trying to work out the answer to that myself. Loosely, the stuff I do is down tempo but there is a hip-hop edge to it." What has the reaction been in India, I persist? "I have done a couple of shows here; I was in Vh1 Hip Hop Hustle supporting Mobb Deep and Whoo Kid in Delhi and Mumbai. And I have got a great response; people just lose it. They are all so friendly and up for a party," he says, adding, "I've travelled to Russia, Germany, Romania, Thailand and Australia. The response is varied. I People have to be informed to understand what's going on. Some have asked me, at the end of a show, where the CD player is; they don't understand I am doing it with my mouth! I want my music to be so good that people think it is all vocals. That is my mission right now … to make people like the music so much that they do not care how it is made." Calling it a day, I ask him what we can expect from him. "I have done a lot of guest appearances; that is what beatboxers around the world do; I am playing around with ideas for a new album … I want to devote myself to music."

ROYAL CHALLENGE JETS DOWN PAUL OAKENFOLD

2/29/2008 6:04:16 PM

Paul Oakenfold was one of the first DJs to bring club music to UK, after hearing it in Ibiza in the '80s. It is commonly acknowledged that no one is better than Paul at driving bass lines. His classics include Gatecrasher, Ibiza, Havana, and Shanghai. We caught up with him during the Delhi leg of his India tour, co-sponsored by Royal Challenge, a flagship brand from the United Spirits' portfolio. To contemporize the brand, and appeal to a younger audience, RC is associating itself with international music artistes and events. The latest is the Oakenfold show. "Royal Challenge is a leader brand and has remained a favorite with consumers over decades. It has always been associated with premier events and this association is in sync with the same", says Alok Gupta, Executive VP-Marketing, United Spirits. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW How did you kickstart your career? When I started deejaying, there was no money in this profession, and we did it for the love of playing music. My career started at 16, playing jazz and soul in Covent Garden with Trevor Fung. By the early 'eighties, I shifted base to New York. At that time, hip-hop was the freshest street sound around. In 1985, I spent the summer in Ibiza, and it transformed my life. Dancing to the oddest mix of music I had ever heard, my urge to import this experience - and the Balearic sound - back to England became too great to resist. Prior to my Ibiza trip, I had been spearheading a jazz and soul night at The Project in Streatham. On my return, I convinced the owner to let me host an after-hours 'Ibiza reunion' party. The night was a success and there has been no looking back since! On the production front, I established my record label, Perfecto. Today it boasts artists as diverse as Arthur Baker, Harry 'Choo Choo' Romero, and Timo Maas on its rota, and has gone places by refusing to pander to only one style of dance music. Alongside building the Perfecto brand, I released remix CDs, amongst them my New York set for Global Underground - still the series' biggest seller to date. On the club front, I undertook a two-year residence at Liverpool's Cream. Leaving home was a difficult decision for me, but I risked my UK and European profile, not to mention turning down the certainty of serious cash, to shift base to the US. 2001 has seen me score the John Travolta-starrer Swordfish, remix the theme to Tim Burton's Planet Of The Apes, DJ on Moby's Arena:One U.S. tour, and make a triumphal return to my home shores. Do you tour often? I'm touring every other month. I have a singular approach than what by and large goes on. I'm interested in playing all over America, so I've been in Pittsburgh on a Monday night and San Diego on a Tuesday and Dallas on a Wednesday. I'll go to those places and play smaller venues. It's nice to be invited over to India and play in Delhi and Mumbai. You went to the US when the country was waking up to the underground culture. Have you seen a difference since then? Yes, and it's strange. I wandered into Virgin Megastore sometime back, and I couldn't believe the amount of dance compilations compared to when I started. It's remarkable. And clearly trance seems to be the flavor of the season. There are so many trance albums now. I think my CDs are different, because it's not the same old bunch of new tunes. Do you worry about trance, as a genre, burning out? Yes! But I've always moved on anyhow. I'm not playing that definitive trance sound that you heard on Tranceport. That sound is over for me. That was a classic sound that exploded in the UK at that time. It then became pop. I'm playing darker music now. Not so many riffs although popular trance now is big riff-y sounds. Mine is more progressive, more underground, and darker. How's your label doing? Its doing great! We've got some good signings, some good records. A number of American DJs rue they can't get a break in the UK. Why is this so and what could they do abo

AEROSMITH FOR ROYAL CHALLENGE

2/29/2008 5:54:17 PM

While Royal Challenge enjoys a strong franchise among its existing consumers, it is creating a strong pull among young consumers by making its imagery hip and vibrant. Towards this objective, the brand is associating with top-of-the-line international music concerts featuring Deep Purple, Roger Waters, Iron Maiden, Shakira—and now Aerosmith. Brand image, highlighted through association with relevant events, has been identified as the most important factor in fuelling consumers' demand. The activities that are woven around brands embody respective brands' attributes. An association with Aerosmith helps Royal Challenge transcend geographical boundaries, age, gender and social status, and has the power to unify generations with the spirit of 'Forever Young'. "Royal Challenge and Aerosmith are two brands that can effortlessly unify different generations in one single spell. Very few brands enjoy such wide appeal and hence their association is absolutely perfect and in harmony", says Vijay.K.Rekhi, President and Managing Director, United Spirits Limited. AN EXCLUSIVE MEETING WITH AEROSMITH They got it all. They lost it all. And then they got it all back again. The story of Aerosmith—and no one can deny it's very much an ongoing story—begins like that of any number of rock bands. They were a bunch of middle-class kids who loved the rock'n'roll they grew up listening to, and decided to get together and make some noise themselves. By the '70s, Aerosmith were the rulers of rock in America. The rock band guarantees a crazy concert in Bangalore tonight and trails off on some of their milestones. "This is the first time we are playing in India and we intend to play good music! India has some amazing musicians and the music here is very soulful. We are familiar with artistes like Pandit Ravi Shankar", says Aerosmith's front man Steven Tyler. This rock'n'roll band has been together for over three decades changing the line-up a few times, but never compromising on music. I saw a quote from Little Richard on their website, saying, 'I love Aerosmith! They're one of my favorite rock and roll bands. They're full of filth and full of soul!' Shaking my head in wonder, I quiz them about the secret of their success. "There are few bands from our generation who are still around. It is because they either say "F*** you" or they fight. I have given Joe the finger plenty of times, sure, but it is all about talking now. Keeping that flow of dialogue open is important, that is the way it is," responds Tyler. Is there any new music out today that you’re listening to, or are you still spinning the old stuff, I ask them? "I am really into bands with that bluesy feel to them like Kings of Leon. There is an Australian band called Wolfmother who have this Led Zep thing going on and I was always a fan of Zeppelin. Jimmy Page said they were pretty good too," says Tyler. 2007-08 holds "lots of new stuff, more music, and a studio album" for Aerosmith. However, the boys strongly feel "the illegal download revolution is hurting the bottom line of mega bands like themselves in addition to the lesser-known bands. Music piracy should be banned!" On a parting note, I ask Tyler for some pearls of wisdom for aspiring bands. "Be confident and keep your cool; you will do wonders," is his take. Amen. STAY TUNED INTO OUR NIGHTLIFE SECTION FOR EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AEROSMITH CONCERT IN BANGALORE

KOENA MITRA

2/20/2008 5:36:25 PM

Steamy music videos, bold item numbers, and negative roles––this Gladrags Supermodel has done it all! She ruffled feathers with an MMS depicting a shower with Fardeen Khan but there's nothing sleazy about her. She's no babe-got-lucky either. Koena Mitra had her eye on the silver screen since her teenage years. "Modelling was a conscious decision. It was a platform to get recognition … to get assignments for commercials and music videos, which in turn, would get me film offers. I was trying to get as much experience as I could, " revealed Mitra. "I was in High School when I saw an advertisement for a Lakme beauty pageant in Kolkata. Out of curiosity I filled the form–and won the contest! A few months later, I read about the Gladrags Supermodel contest. I instinctively knew winning the title would be my passport to the fashion and entertainment industry. And I was fortunate to win the title. Since then, there was no looking back. I plunged full-on into the industry and shifted base to Mumbai,'' she continued. For someone who made her Bollywood debut with an item ['Khullam khulla pyar karen' in 'Road'], Mitra does not like the term 'item girl', though it's been used many times to describe her. She didn't object to it violently, but she did point out that she had signed 'Road' because it was a Ram Gopal Verma banner. "I am passionate about dancing; I have trained in Manipuri, Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Latin American, and Jazz. I agree that an item number is not the right debut vehicle. Post-'Road', I was offered 'Aisa jadoo dala re' from 'Khakee', the title song of 'Kaal', and a song from 'Mangal Pandey', but I turned them down. I took this stance because I'm not the kind of actress whose sole interest is to be a sex bomb," she retorted. Even 'Musafir' had little other than the number, 'Saaqi', I persist. Blink and you could miss her. Why did she take on a miniscule role, I wonder? "I have made a conscious decision to choose the correct banners. 'Musafir' was directed by Sanjay Gupta and it starred veteran actors Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. This ensured that audiences would see the film. My role too had some meat; though it was short, I made an impact." Seems like her hard work and strategizing paid off. 'Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena' is a feather in Mitra's hat. I had seen the film prior to our meeting, and my impressions were: a slick, contemporary film. It's about a gang of conmen [and a woman!]. What they get up to, unapologetically, is: sex, alcohol, stealing, and gun toting––when they're not backstabbing each other. "A lot of people warned me against signing the film. They were worried I would end up playing a moll while all the action would be centered on the men. But I had faith in the filmmaker. And I wasn't disappointed; there is substance in my character. I play a psychiatrist who turns into a con artist under the influence of her lover." What of the steamy MMS that was circulated as a choreographed publicity stint prior to the release of the film? Didn't she feel awkward? "Why would I feel awkward? I wasn't caught on candid camera, you know! The shower sequence was a part of the film. So why would it make a difference to me if the scene was being viewed as an MMS clip prior to being shown in the theatre?" Interesting perspective. Well, the future looks bright for her. Koena Mitra is looking forward to her forthcoming films: "There is Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Insaan' costarring Ajay Devgan. I play a police offer's wife and the focus is on our relationship. I am also looking forward to David Dhawan's 'Shaadi No 1' and Subhash Ghai's 'Money Money Money' co-starring Riteish, Riya, and Celina."

AKSHAY KUMAR

2/20/2008 5:32:35 PM

My first impression of chef-turned martial art instructor-turned actor Akshay Kumar is that of a pleasant, but guarded man, who speaks with great deliberation. When the guard drops, rarely, he shows you a boyish grin. Audiences with 'Khiladi Kumar' are rare; he has a strained relationship with the media since they set the rumor mills churning about his alleged relationships with Priyanka Chopra and Sania Mirza. As he leans back in his chair, I quiz him about his eclectic bag of films. Akshay could have easily drifted into obscurity but he realized that after 10-odd years of playing 'action hero', it was time for a change. "It was a conscious move to graduate from action films and explore genres like comedy and family drama," he admits. "The challenge lies in diversity." His choice of films is dictated, he says, by a film's spirit. Does this herald the conclusion of his 'Khiladi' days, I wonder? "No, I am not going to quit action films! I have simply revised my priorities," he states. "I enjoy doing stunts. It is my forte since I am a trained martial arts expert. The thrill I experienced doing the shark sequence in 'Aankhen' is unparalleled. During this sequence, I plunged into a tank infested with sharks! The risk factor was huge. Although the sharks were trained, the trainers did not guarantee my safety. The rush of adrenaline I experienced on pulling it off was incomparable. The Alsatian chase in 'Waqt' was equally thrilling. So the prospect of giving up action sequences does not arise." But hasn't his wife stopped him from signing action films, I continue to grill him. "Well, it does scare her a bit; she is concerned about my safety. That is why I have reduced stunts to a great extent. I only do unusual stunts, which give me an adrenaline rush. But she has not forbidden me from doing stunts, like certain sections of the media reported." With the silver jubilee of 'Waqt', Akshay's potential as an actor who can do action, comic and serious roles with equal élan have been established. "I have experimented with all genres: action, romance, family drama, and comedy. An actor must reinvent himself to avoid stagnation. Plus, I am now at a stage in my career, where I can afford to be selective about films. If I am not going to get roles which will help me evolve as an actor, then I would rather spend time with my family. I am keen to travel to new places with Tina and my son Aarav," he reveals. I can’t resist asking him if all this is a spiraling effect of his alleged link-ups but Akshay dismisses it as mere rumors. “I have always been linked to my co-stars. I don't know where all these rumors spring from. You know, I have met Sania Mirza only once and it was a very brief meeting. I have no idea how it sparked off such malicious rumors.” End of discussion. A stony mask slips on to his face. So what's in his kitty these days, I ask him as I get up to leave. "There's Vipul Shah's ‘London Dreams’ and Rituparno Ghosh's ‘Rahgeer’," he signs off.

RANI MUKHERJEE

2/20/2008 5:29:19 PM

Surely there's rarely been an occasion when Rani Mukherji's acting prowess has been more appreciated. It's close to 9 p.m. on a Friday night and we're both a little worse for wear, in the now-empty lounge. A bottle of champagne stands upside down in a silver bucket––compliments from the management on her sterling performance in 'Black'. Two hours earlier, I was sitting in this lounge, calling the mobile number given to me by her secretary incase of a crisis and all I'm getting is voicemail. She's already an hour late... We had met a few weeks earlier at the premiere of 'Black'. Rani had stood onstage, seeming inept beside her larger-than-life co-star, Amitabh Bachchan. Later that evening, she was basking in the compliments. She had refused to relax until the paparazzi retired––then she talked about how she was in awe of the 'Big B'. The next time I met her was at an editorial shoot. She was accommodating, if a little austere when the photographer requested a 'sexy pose'. In some ways, Rani's self-consciousness seems more appropriate to a younger girl. But then you think of her string of box-office hits, and you're reminded that this is an actress whose career has spanned a decade––from the girl who was told she looked like 'Shammi Kapoor crying with the entire body heaving' in 'Mehendi' to a gauche bride in 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat' and a prostitute in 'The Rising'. She's suspicious of the media snooping into her life, which is why, as I'm sitting alone in this lounge listening to her voicemail, I dread she's decided to give our dialogue a miss. But when she finally arrives with her cousin in tow, she's full of apologies. She'd had a very rough day juggling a handful of relatives and a shoot, and while I was leaving frantic messages, Rani was catching a powernap. With Filmfare awards in her kitty and a tall glass of nimbu-paani in her hand, she says, ''I am so exhausted…''. She's speaking precisely how you'd visualize her to speak––a nasal voice dragged across the cobbled streets of Kolkata which probably don't exist anymore. All this time, it's been easy to define Rani Mukherjee: hailing from a film background [her father is a retired film director and her mother is a playback singer], she appeared on the film radar effortlessly. But that's not spot on. ''I was studying at the SNDT University. When I heard that from the following year we would have to do machine sewing, I got nervous and quit. I thought I would graduate from a normal academic course instead. In the interim period, I visited Kolkata. There, my grandmother was producing a film and my aunt Debashree Roy invited me to give the mahurat shot. That was my first brush with films.'' Rani recalls how, as a novice, she was a disaster. ''Salim Akhtar offered me 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat' in 1996,'' she said. ''I was game to try my hand at acting because I was in a transit period. So I jumped in, only to realise that I was terrible in front of the camera. I didn't know a thing about acting. When my mother saw me act, she told Salim uncle, 'Drop her; she's no good.' But he advised me to do a crash course in acting. So I joined Roshan Taneja's classes.'' Did you see yourself as an outsider, I asked her. ''I have always felt like an outsider,'' she quietly admitted. ''People used to make fun of me because of my height. I had to work hard to prove myself. And today those people perceive me as high-handed! But I want to lead a simple life, which is not easy thing if you are a part of the film industry. Yet, I think I do fine as my aspirations are not high. My idea of fun is a homemade meal with close friends.'' Today Rani is ranked among the most talented actresses of her time. Her last few releases are testimony to her acting prowess. Her role as a deaf, dumb and blind girl in 'Black' boggled viewers' minds. 'Veer Zaara' had film buffs exclaiming that this girl has better chemistry with Shah Rukh than his love angle, Preity Zinta. And her pairing with Ba

MANOJ BAJPAI

2/20/2008 5:23:22 PM

Manoj Bajpai belongs to a small village in Bihar. His father is a farmer, his mother a housewife. He had always aspired to join films. At 18, Bajpai moved to Delhi to complete his education and pursue theatre. "Initially, I stayed in a one-room lodging with many others. It was a very rough period but I was focused on completing my education and pursuing an acting career. After graduating from Ramjas College, I attempted to secure admission to the National School of Drama but failed––four times," he reveals. Bajpai sustained himself with sporadic theatre work before a meeting with Barry John transformed his career. "He admired my passion for acting and took me under his wing. Theatre became my life and I never felt the need to graduate to films and make big money. I was content in slaking my voracious appetite for acting. I had a bohemian existence and lived for the moment. Until the day I got married. The added responsibility made me realise that I would now have to take life seriously. I did everything I could to polish my acting prowess. I didn't leave any stone unturned. I would even pick up the newspaper, randomly choose a character, and play it in front of my friends." Bajpai continued with theatre until his big break: 'Bandit Queen'. "I was very excited at the prospect of working with Shekhar Kapoor. He made my transition from theatre to films very smooth, and advised me to move to Mumbai. I was nervous because shifting base meant nullifying 11 years of work in Delhi but eventually I took the decision to move." "In Mumbai, I survived on small roles," he continues. "My theatre experience was of no value. Bollywood is very harsh. I am shocked that filmmakers make no distinction between someone with a theatre background and a man with no work experience. I was reduced to zilch and signed bit roles. My marriage too was on the rocks. It was a bad period––both professionally and personally. After four years, I got a call to act in the teleserial, 'Swabhimaan'." Bajpai's launch pad to stardom came when Mahesh Bhatt offered him 'Tamanna'. Ramgopal Varma saw the film and cast him in 'Satya'. 'Satya' was a turning point. Bajpai's character is considered one of the finest in Bollywood till date and he won numerous awards for his portrayal of a hotheaded yet kind-hearted gangster. 'He just tears into a part,' wrote the media. 'There are a lot of actors in the business who cannot really act, some interesting people who can act a bit, but Manoj Bajpai is someone you cannot keep your eyes off.' Did he, at any point, feel like an outsider, I probe? "Yes, there are times when I felt like an outsider," he admits. "People used to make fun of me because I could not converse fluently in English. You know, I could not speak in English at all until Barry John advised me to learn the language! I have worked very hard to prove myself. And now those very people who mocked me as a village bumpkin, perceive me as a snob. It is ridiculous!" Today Bajpai is ranked among the most talented actors in Bollywood. His diverse films are testimony to his acting prowess. 'Jaago' is based on the real-life incident of the rape of a girl in a local train, 'Pinjar' is set in the partition, 'Road' is a fast-paced thriller, 'Aks' has supernatural shades, he plays a prince in 'Zubeida' and 'Veer-Zaara', and 'Intequam' is inspired from erotic thriller 'Basic Instinct'. 'Aks' has a special place in his heart––owing to his admiration for co-star Amitabh Bachchan. "He is my idol. I have been his fan since childhood. On the sets of 'Aks', I was in awe of him. I used to constantly talk about him until people told me, 'Manoj, you have an Amitabh hangover.' But I say, why not? He is a fantastic actor! He's ruled this industry for a decade and yet he's so humble," he enthuses. Speaking of being humble, how has unprecedented box-office success affected him? "Success has got me good projects and financial stability. But my personal life has suffered. I rar

RAHUL DEV

2/20/2008 5:16:24 PM

He has one of the most recognizable faces in Bollywood, but the big roles have always evaded model-turned-actor Rahul Dev––and that's the way he likes it. Judged on any criteria, the man is a bona-fide success story; the mercurial, firecracker presence in some of the most satisfying films in the recent past. But when set against the hierarchy of Bollywood, he remains a supporting player or villain. Rahul Dev's career duly began picking up speed with his debut in 'Champion', following which he bagged a series of negative roles in 'Supari', 'Ashiq', 'Footpath', 'Indian', and more recently, in 'Fight Club'. "My Bollywood entry was not pre-meditated. Mukul Anand spotted me one day and offered me the role of an Afghan terrorist," he reminisced. Since then, Rahul Dev has played every genre of villain. I pointed this out to the Adonis, and he retorted, ''It is wrong to say that I have done only negative roles. I have played positive characters too, the most outstanding one being that of Sukhdev in 'Shaheed', and supporting roles in 'Agni Pankh' and 'Asoka'. I am helpless when it comes to being typecast. And I have no clue why my negative roles have attracted far more attention than my positive ones.'' Rahul refers to his career as a series of steps in the right direction. "I have been pretty fortunate," he said. "I try and do different genres of films and play a variety of characters. And I'm doing fine. I've won five awards, including three for my debut film, 'Champion'." I wonder if this goes back to the old problem of Rahul Dev being regarded as a powerful character actor as opposed to a top-billed leading man. He says it's not so simple. "To be honest, I think it comes down to the material. I want to make a slick comedy but filmmakers have somehow strayed away from that." Rahul will next be seen in 'Benaam'. He is currently adding the finishing touches to 'Sarhad Paar' and 'Kachhi Sadak'. His film credits are now pushing towards triple figures and he is never out of work. And if the bulk of these films are all supporting or negative roles, is he any the worse for that? Rahul Dev, for one, seems happy with the situation. "Leading men crash and burn," he grinned. "Character actors are around forever."

POOJA BHATT

2/20/2008 5:10:34 PM

Legends can cast long shadows. It took years for Pooja Bhatt to emerge from under the shadow of her father Mahesh Bhatt and grandfather Nanabhai Bhatt. But she has blossomed in the recent past, earning accolades with box-office hits, such as 'Jism' and 'Sur', which gave her the impetus to work more independently in 'Holiday'. "'Holiday' is a turning point in my career … in my life. My metamorphosis started with my decision of making 'Holiday' on my own. I did not want my father to be present on my sets and prevent me from making errors. I wanted to learn from my mistakes; I wanted to be accountable for the success or failure of the film. So I went to Goa and made this film on my own. It was important for me to end my dependence on my father. Yes, there were several hiccups, but the end-result was worth it." Pooja is calm and affable, relishing her choice of words. And, the only thing she likes to talk about more than her films is her father. "Why not?" she asks. "He is a brilliant man who has left audiences with thousands of memories. I have got several anecdotes and advice tucked away inside my head. I am always amazed that there are more to come out, but one day something triggers something off, and a new idea emerges." "I have never struggled per se," she says, when I ask her about her performance debut. "I wish I could feed you tales of deprivation, but I just remember my debut being rather cheerful." So was the fun factor high, I wonder? "It never actually feels like fun when you're going through it," says Pooja. "It feels normal." If you set Pooja off, she'll tell stories late into the night. She is a great raconteur. Pooja and I have met a few times in the recent past. The girl who was pretty much last to leave at any party has gone through a complete transformation. "I am not into clubbing anymore. I find it all very repetitive; the same faces, same music––I have had enough of all this. I was determined that my life would not end with a round of parties. You can spend endless nights clubbing but suddenly you wake up and years have gone by. I would rather gamble with a number of films than with how many Tequila shots I can hold! I want to make unusual films and create a platform for new talent; this is why I launch a new face in each film." There's a peculiar pattern to the films Pooja has served up. Hailing from an illustrious family––with several box-office hits to its credit––why does she make only small-budget films, I wonder? "Small budget movies offer me the opportunity to experiment. If I were to make a big budget film, I would be bound by market considerations, which in turn would kill my creativity. I don't want anyone to tell me what to put in my film. Let me give you an instance; when people saw the rushes of 'Jism', they told me to drop John Abraham; it was said that models cannot get into the skin of a character. But 'Jism' [and John!] was a runaway success! People like to bracket and slot actors; give them something new and they don't want it. My point is: a good filmmaker cannot play safe. If you want to stick to conventional formulae, you should be an investment banker! A filmmaker has to stick his neck out and take chances." "I learnt this from my father," she continues. "I have also learnt from observing others direct me." As strong a filmmaker as she's now proving, Pooja is likely to return to acting if she is offered a plum role. "I have not quit acting; I have taken a hiatus. There were no challenging offers. After doing films like 'Daddy', 'Sir', 'Zakhm' and 'Tamanna', a formulaic role will not interest me. Unless the role is challenging, why should I waste my time and energy? I would rather make films." Some say, the success of her previous films has affected her; how true is it? "Such allegations are totally baseless! Look, I did 'Daddy' at the age of 17; I was a veteran actress at 21. After that there weren't any good offers and I asked myself, 'now what?' I didn't want to d

VINOD KHANNA

2/20/2008 5:03:51 PM

''I will never forget the day I hesitantly went to seek blessings from Osho in Pune; it was my birthday. There were scores of people waiting to see him and I chivalrously let many of them go ahead of me. To my shock, when I was almost at the end of the queue, Osho suddenly looked straight at me, got up, and left! That was his message to me––be focused; do not let anything distract you from your goal. From that day, there was a change in my life's direction. Back in Mumbai, my films lit up the marquee but my connection with Osho never broke off; I was in Mumbai but my soul was there. Although I wanted sanyas immediately, people dissuaded me because I was an actor, a public figure. But soon, an inexplicable feeling overwhelmed me. I sensed Osho's presence everywhere; one day, the call grew so compelling that I felt I must leave for Pune immediately and become his disciple. My heart was thumping when I was let in through the gates and walked down the driveway. As I took off my shoes at the entrance and saw Osho sitting in the distance, I felt I was being drawn into a charged atmosphere. He looked as if he had been sitting there for a lifetime. Then he smiled and said, ''So you have come.'' It was as simple as that. There was no daily routine at the ashram, only meditation. That does not mean you have to take up sanyas forever. The upshot of meditation is that you don't get stressed easily and are able to look at things objectively. Osho said that ultimately, meditation is not about sitting quietly; the real art of being a sanyasin is to remain in the world, enjoying its pleasures––sex included––while at the same time freeing oneself of attachment through meditation. Not surprisingly, he was a controversial figure and was dubbed as a sex guru because he spoke freely on the therapeutic powers of sex! It was not an easy path to tread. When I took sanyas, my marriage broke up. On returning to Mumbai, I overhauled my life. Subsequently I re-married and had two children. I left the film industry for a few years when I was in the top bracket. When I re-entered the industry, I was a more confident person. Fame was no longer an attractant. Shortly, I got involved in politics. The same confidence was and is with me after I joined active politics. If I had to, I would do it all over again. Osho has changed my perspective of life. My few years under the guidance of Osho infused a new spirit in me. Today, I live life moment to moment. There is no resentment or jealousy in me. Instead, there is empathy, compassion and love. I also accept others more easily. People remark that I have not quit smoking or drinking, but these are mere bodily habits. If they stay, they stay; if they drop, they drop. Though Osho never left behind any dictates, his teachings are with me all the time; what I experienced with him is all there within me. And I know that no matter where I am and what I am doing, it does not matter as long as I do it totally and absolutely. Everything I do, do is full of love and compassion. This is what draws me to Osho.''

YANA GUPTA

2/20/2008 4:56:39 PM

'Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo' is the item number that, for most people, defines Yana Gupta, spawning the image of her as one of the hottest 'item girls' in Bollywood. A reviewer once remarked that the Czech model makes even the most mainstream dance sequence seem arthouse just by her presence. When she was chosen as the Face of Lakme and brand ambassadress for the House of Christian Dior, Yana could've ordered the world off its axis. Presently, she is a multifaceted model whose fingers are in so many lucrative pies they call her Yana. Inc: she is anchor of a countdown show, author of a fitness book, and plans to cut an album shortly. I met Yana at India Brand Show where she was walking the ramp with actor Rahul Dev and roped her in for a brief tête-à-tête. Yana's story began at 16, with a catalogue shoot for a European brand, 'Ahava'. "My closest friend was in the modeling business since she was 14. I got hooked on to it because of her. She joked, 'I'm going to be a supermodel, and we could rule the world together," she reminisced. Her friend taught her the ropes and, when she felt ready, Yana took her first photographs. "I was told I would be allowed to do modeling if it did not interfere with my schoolwork. Initially I could only model after school or on weekends. I somehow managed to strike a balance between my career and academics, and my passion for traveling took me to Europe and Japan for assignments like Toyota and Honda. I love to experience different places and cultures. I traveled to Australia, Europe, and then I came to India via Japan, Bhutan, and the North-Eastern region. I lived in Pune, where I found solace in meditation at the Osho Ashram. It was here that I met [former husband] Satyakam." Yana found her future in India. Her schedule was full, "for months and months,". She became so immersed in the competitive world of modeling that she never even realized it when, soon after her arrival, she had become a supermodel. How did she cross the divide between modeling and films, I wonder? "It was not a conscious decision to enter the film industry! I was focused on modeling. Till I was offered 'Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo' in 'Dum', I'd not seen a Bollywood film! Perhaps that's why I didn't grasp the concept of an item number. I had done music videos, so I did it. That's it. And I didn't think, 'This is my launch pad in Bollywood'." What caught Yana by surprise was the fracas post-'Babuji'. It makes no difference that she has avoided item numbers since. Wary, perhaps, of that enduring perception of her as a sex object, she took a hiatus from films. How ironic, then, that she's still defined in such narrow terms. "I had no inhibitions about signing 'Babuji' because I love dancing. And I wore 'skimpy' clothes for the song because I'm used to wearing shorts and minis. I did not realize it is considered vulgar here! I would not wear the 'Babuji' outfit today," she rued, adding, "Though I've been in India for years, I am not accustomed to the ways of the film industry and the mindset of the people." One morning, the pressure finally got the best of her. "I thought to myself, 'I have a brain! I got accepted to so many schools! I don't need this.' It was a major move forward, but Yana began stepping out of magazine covers and films and into larger arenas, writing her first book and simultaneously working on an album, for which she is writing, singing, and composing all the songs. She is also working on Project Crayon for underprivileged, physically challenged orphans. "And none of this involves me on camera," she enthused, though she was quick to clarify that modeling and films are not over for her, yet.

AMITABH BACHCHAN

2/20/2008 2:48:45 PM

He's the original Bollywood charmer. He has built such a coherent body of work that it's easy to forget how varied his roles have been. The haunted alcoholic in ‘Sharaabi’ is a far cry from the brash gangster in ‘Don’. The eternal romantic in ‘Silsila’ has little in common with the blind school teacher in ‘Black’ or ‘Aankhen's’ ruthless banker. Synonymous with the Indian film industry, actor-entrepreneur Amitabh Bachchan has been there, done that … yet his enthusiasm never wanes. Amitabh Bachchan shares his spiraling rise to fame, his dreams, aspirations and outlook with Jasmeen Dugal in a short tête-à-tête. You chucked up a good job to enter films. It must have been a struggle… Well, I was employed with a corporate house in Kolkata when I suddenly decided to give it up and try my hand at acting. So one fine day, I found myself in Mumbai with hardly any money and no place to stay. I stayed with friends for a few weeks but when I felt I was invading their privacy, I moved on. I even spent a night on a bench in Marine Drive! Were you confident that you’d make it? No! There were days when I didn’t have the assurance to approach filmmakers. I would visit the studio with the intention of meeting a producer-director who was shooting there but not be able to gather the courage to enter the studio gates! In 1969, I met filmmaker Khwaja Ahmed Abbas through my friend Tinnu Anand. At first glance, he rejected me. But I coaxed him into giving me one chance, in ‘Saat Hindustani’. Fortunately, he liked my work and recommended me to Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who cast me in ‘Anand’. Even at the peak of my career, there were moments when I thought I had lost everything. I felt there were flaws in my looks and acting. Why do you think ‘Zanjeer’ became such a huge hit? I guess because my ‘angry young man’ image was a stark contrast to the romantic roles played out by most popular actors in those days. You had a near-fatal accident on the sets of ‘Coolie’. What happened that day? In an action sequence, Puneet Issar accidentally hit me on the solar plexus. I somehow rushed to the lawn outside and lay down on the grass, writhing with pain. I was driven to the West End Hotel. Jaya and the children were there. I asked for my doctor and brother to be brought from Mumbai. The pain was so bad that I was put on morphine. Next morning, I was admitted to a hospital. The doctor pronounced that I’d die if I weren’t operated upon immediately. There was a gap between ‘Khuda Gawah’ in 1991 and ‘Mrityudata’ in 1997. Was there any specific reason for this hiatus? Yes, I’d been working non-stop for years. There came a day when I applied the brakes on my career and stopped signing films. For the next couple of years, I traveled a lot. Everywhere I went, there was immediate recognition. It wasn’t so much a reflection on me as a reflection on our film industry. People didn’t know me as Amitabh Bachchan; they referred to me by my screen names! I thought that if our films are recognized to this extent worldwide, we should make an effort to showcase and promote them on a larger scale. That’s when I thought of corporatising the entertainment industry. It wasn’t the lure of money; it was a vision to bring in some managerial discipline into the film industry. I also felt that if there was so much interest worldwide, why wasn't it being exploited? I was excited about the prospects and signed a number of films and advertisements to generate money, to form ABCL. The investors felt that brand Amitabh Bachchan could be exploited to put money back into the company. Why did ABCL get into troubled waters? I'm not a businessman; I'm an actor. I had a vision and when I sought advice, I was told, 'You're the brand figure; you don't have to get involved in the managerial arena.' So, I stayed away and concentrated on my films. That was a wrong move. Let’s get back to films, or rather, films, endorsements, and music videos … this appears to be the bu

ARSHAD WARSI

2/20/2008 2:29:18 PM

Arshad Warsi has managed the 'fame game' remarkably well considering his oft-stated aversion to it. Since his ‘tapori’ role as Circuit in the runaway hit ‘Munnabhai MBBS’, he has maintained a relatively low public profile while simultaneously becoming a hot property in Bollywood. He's a guarded interviewee, pleased to talk about his work, tight-lipped about his personal life, and edgy with the trade-offs that fame demands. “I did some awful films before ‘Munnabhai’ but I don't have any regrets. It's a learning curve. Before, I would listen to the script and picturise the story in my head. And it would look good to me. But the director had his own vision and it sucked! I was in no position to state my viewpoint so I went along with the filmmaker’s directions. These days, I have several discussions with the director and try to figure out how he plans to shoot the film. If our thoughts are not on the same wavelength, I will not be able to do justice to my role.” “Circuit was the most challenging character I've played till date,” he says, “but there is something scarier about a whodunit. I have to get it right.” He is referring to his role as a conman in ‘Anthony Kaun Hai?’ Sanjay Dutt plays a contract killer and Arshad Warsi is his target. But is Warsi really the prey or is there more than meets the eye … is the crux of the film. “It was a beautiful shoot in Thailand,” he enthuses, beaming at the memory. But isn’t he wary of raised expectations after the successful paring of Sanjay Dutt-Arshad Warsi in Munnabhai, I ask him? “No! For me, it was, ‘bring on the expectations; we’ll live up to it’,” he grins. So far, that easygoing but clear-headed approach has paid off handsomely. His next release is the much anticipated film, ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’. Though reluctant to be drawn on the politics of the film, Warsi is quick to reject the accusations that the film is a sequel. “‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ is not a sequel; it is a new film altogether. The only similarity is that Sanjay Dutt and I play the same characters. The story is different,” he reveals, “It's a whole world away from Munnabhai MBBS.” Arshad is getting meaty roles without being the hero of the film. Is he enjoying it, I wonder? “Oh yes! I like to stand behind the protagonist and let him take the burden, while I share the credit. Jokes aside, from next year onwards, I will be doing all kinds of roles. There’s Kabir Kaushik’s ‘Kazaa’ [death] among others.” When I mention his swelling, devoted female fan base, Arshad Warsi seems genuinely embarrassed. “It's not that intrusive,” he smiles, “besides, when they recognize me, they never seem to remember my name; it’s always Circuit!” How has unprecedented box-office success affected him, is my parting question? He thinks about this for a moment and says, "Success has got me good films. The important thing is to keep your head screwed on.” Arshad Warsi doesn't believe in the need to be a tortured artist in order to do great work. “I just want to challenge myself with each role and not repeat myself. I want to enjoy my family, too, and have a regular, rewarding life. You often feel that gets lost in the equation somewhere along the line.” With that, he's off, back to the unobtrusive life he treasures above all else. He appears to be that rare thing: an actor blessed by good sense.

SHAH RUKH KHAN

2/20/2008 2:24:56 PM

When he announces, "I’m the best," you cannot scoff! An outsider to the film industry, arguably one of the most powerful men in Bollywood [winner of 13 Filmfare awards], and the toast of advertisers … the last decade has belonged to Shah Rukh Khan. His latest offering, ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ is smashing box office records, and like his previous films, the film would be indifferent without King Khan's smoldering passion. I can barely contain my excitement as I wait for his publicist to arrange the tête-à-tête. He is soft spoken and talks slowly into the phone with a smooth-as-velvet accent. Khan is in Mumbai for a Tag Heuer event where a new advertising campaign and plans for the Shah Rukh Khan Monaco 69 limited signature edition timepiece, are being unveiled. “Tag Heuer was the first watch that I ever bought with my own little money and it is a great sense of achievement that I am now the Brand Ambassador,” he reminisces. But the phenomenon of SRK is merely the latest in a line of portrayals that have stood out for ingenuity and quirk. He has cannily chosen roles demanding these qualities: ruthless killer [Baazigar], star-struck townie [Raju Gentleman Ban Gaya], psychopath [Darr], tragic lover [Devdas], journalist [Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani], single parent [Kuch Kuch Hota Hai], and cancer patient [Kal Ho Na Ho]. Yet, he has never developed Bollywood's airs and graces. "Sometimes I sit back and wonder how it all happened. Am I really successful? I have made a lot of money and I have earned respect; my films have done well at the box-office and people look up to me. But I just follow a set routine; I get up early and work for almost 18 hours a day. That’s why I find it a bit weird when someone calls me a star! I get embarrassed. I work hard and I am very passionate about my films. Besides that, I guess luck has favored me!" Does success have a price tag, I ask him? Khan lives in a huge mansion with his wife Gauri, son Aryan, daughter Suhana … and six bodyguards to control the inevitable crowds each time he steps out. Doesn't he miss leading a regular life? "I don't want a regular life," he says. "Actors work half their life to get recognition, and then spend the rest of their life wearing dark glasses so people don't recognize them! I'm happy that people know me. I find it very strange when people who are famous say they don't want to be photographed or interviewed! I wouldn't like being hounded by the media or mobbed by fans, but besides that, it's a wonderful life." This is a pleasant surprise, since many people had warned me that he is arrogant and just plain rude, I tell him. "Why would I be arrogant? Unlike actors who come from film dynasties, I am self-made. My father ran a transport company and my mother was a magistrate. I was 15 when my father died from cancer; his treatment had been very expensive and the family business suffered. My mother worked very hard to rebuild the business but never insisted I assist her. She supported my dreams of becoming an actor and always told me, ‘One day, you’ll be like Biswajit’ [her favorite actor]. But she passed away before I became famous. I have really worked hard to reach where I am today; I would never show off or be rude to people." So what’s next, I ask him? Is a crossover to Hollywood on the cards? "I am not flooded with offers," he quips. "There are actors in Hollywood who look better than me and act better than me. So, to be honest, I don't think there's any reason why Hollywood directors would want to cast me in their films." On a parting note, I compliment Shah Rukh on ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’, but he completely ignores it as though he's uncomfortable with the praise. Other than the power of his performance, it is this quality, I feel, that may have led to his iconic stature. And like cinegoers everywhere, our message to SRK is just keep it up.

SOHA ALI KHAN PATAUDI

2/20/2008 2:20:52 PM

She sits before an enormous mirror surrounded by lightbulbs. She has just had her hair done and is waiting for the make-up artist. Looking at herself in the mirror, Soha Ali Khan Pataudi says she truly appreciates how lucky she has been. A standard Bollywood cliché, yet something in that earnest gaze assures me that, yes, she probably does understand how lucky she has been. Three times over, in fact. Lucky to play Sonia in 'Rang De Basanti', the film that shot her to stardom and launched a nascent film career. Luckier still, because that stroke of luck was based on another: her doe-eyed beauty. But luckiest of all, because of her blue-blooded ancestry. Armed with a degree in modern history and economics from Oxford University, Soha studied international relations at the London School of Economics, and then moved to Mumbai, where she worked as an associate banker with Citibank. Around three years back, everything changed. Soha developed the urge to experiment with films. What made her go against her parents' wishes and join the Bollywood bandwagon, I ask her? Rubbishing rumors about her parents' opposition to her career switch, Soha claims she has their complete support. "My parents have brought me up to think for myself. I didn't join films on a sudden impulse. I was always interested in cinema but I made a strategic decision to delay taking it up professionally. It was my father's wish that I put my education to use before joining films". Suddenly, agents and managers wanted to sign her. While most aspiring actresses tend to sign unimpressive films until they get a good break, Soha bagged 'Dil Maange More' costarring Ayesha Takia, Tulip, and Shahid Kapur. This was followed by a role in Rituparno Ghosh's 'Antar Mahal' and 'Shaadi No. 1', and of course, the cultural phenomenon 'Rang De Basanti', which evolved her from co-artist into international celebrity. And now she's on the cusp of Bollywood's A-list. But thankful, she says, to have grown up on the other side of the fence. "I'm glad I wasn't a 'star child' so to speak, because now I can appreciate the value of a good education and corporate experience. It taught me to get on the sets on time and the value of teamwork, among other things. I wasn't successful as an actress until my third film, and I'm glad about that, too. All this would have completely gone to my head if my first film had been a runaway success. I wouldn't have known how to handle it." A lot of people undermine her hard work and talent, crediting her success to her father's royal genes and her mother's name on the marquee. "I am unequivocally proud of my family name but I believe that my distinction comes from who my parents are as individuals. They're warm, conscientious, and supportive. I admit I do get preferential treatment sometimes. However with a background like mine, proving my mettle becomes even tougher considering the talent in my household. I have learnt a great deal from my parents and Saif but I'd like to create an individual identity too." Lately, she's taking control of her screen image and shaking it out. "The challenge for me as an actress is to not get typecast. 'Ahista Ahista' dwells on the relationship between Ankush [Abhay Deol] who works as a witness for court marriages, and Megha who hails from Nainital. Megha has run away from her home to marry Dheeraj [Shayan Munshi] but he doesn't turn up. It is a very touching, heartfelt story'', explains Soha. ''Since Megha is from a small town, she is very timid. When she finds herself alone in Old Delhi, she is intimidated. Finally she begins to trust Ankush and their relationship develops. He gets her a job and she slowly realises that there is more to life than marrying Dheeraj. So, it's not your average cookie-cutter movie.'' Her strategy, however, to avoid the Bollywood Heroine Syndrome, whereby female actors are typecast with supporting roles, is already in place. ''My future projects are interesting and diverse. I'm looking

MAHESH BHATT

2/20/2008 2:14:58 PM

No subject could be more sensitive for Mahesh Bhatt to film than the tragedy of the late Parveen Babi. But with the autobiographical film 'Woh Lamhe' slated for release, he has everything to play for. Their relationship, the last days he saw her as a sane person, and the incident that drove her to the brink of madness, is the subject of 'Woh Lamhe'. ''I was watching the last scene of 'Woh Lamhe' in my editing room when it dawned on me. I know why human beings have always tried to keep their dead alive: We try to keep them alive in order to keep them with us. When my mother died, I had to descend into her grave to turn her face towards the sacred Kaba. So overwhelmed was I at the thought of leaving her in that cold grave that I was seized by this overpowering longing to stay there with her 'forever'. It was there, in that moment of finality, that I learned that if we are to live ourselves, there comes a point at which we must let go of the dead, let them go, keep them dead. Let their bodies disintegrate into dust and fuel the never ending flow of life. Let them become a picture by our bedside. Let them become a melody which people can hum, and let their lives and their dreams flicker on movie screens and fill the living with some hope. 'Woh Lamhe' is my last good bye to the memories of Parveen Babi. A woman whom I loved and lost. The streets of Mumbai for me are littered with memories of half-lived yesterdays. Nostalgia is pain. The day Parveen died, I realized that in spite of the claims I had made to myself, her memory had not withered within me with the passage of time. Her breakdown is an old story. But I wonder if anyone can imagine what it is like to live with a person who is going mad. The morning I left Parveen's house before it all began, comes back to haunt me. She was off to her shoot for Prakash Mehra, and I was off to fill up my long empty days with talk of cinema with my struggling out-of-work contemporaries in Mehboob Studios. In retrospect, I remember that there was a strange feeling of dread in the air. She kissed me good-bye making sure that the kiss would not spoil her makeup. Little did I know that that was the last time I would see her as the Parveen that I knew. How can I ever forget that heartbreaking image of her, when I walked in to the house that evening, and found Parveen, in make up and a filmy song costume, cowering in a corner of the room, with a knife in her hand, shivering with fear? She looked like an animal, one that I had never seen before. 'Close the door Mahesh,' she whispered. 'They are coming to kill us. Close the door quickly!' And with those words, ended my days of love and splendor, sin and passion with Parveen. I was looking into the eyes of madness and the face of death. Because, the person that I knew had died, and with that our relationship as we had known it, died too. Parveen started to break up into little pieces in front of my eyes, and I was helpless in the face of her madness. Parveen's illness was genetic. The chances of her recovery were slim to none. The doctors who treated her knew this but were not decorous enough to tell us this bitter truth, because if they did they would be out of business. It was in those terrible times that I discovered for myself that it is we who push the so called 'mentally disturbed' to commit suicide. That is the reason why I have no hesitation in saying that the psychiatrist is one of the worst enemies of our culture. Because it is he who is forcing all those people who have thrown in the towel to fit into this brutal value system. Parveen's madness, the threat from the mighties of the film industry to put her before the camera at any cost, the psychiatrists throwing up their hands, and her 'ignorant' mother yielding to the pressure for electric shock treatment, climaxing with me running away with her to the jungles of Kodai where we spent the 'best' moments of our life is 'fictionalized' brilliantly by Mohit Suri an

SIDDHANTH KAPOOR

2/20/2008 2:10:41 PM

Filmmakers and actors usually describe their careers as having been reliant on luck, of course, and it's rarely very convincing: 'I've been lucky' is smug Bollywoodese for 'I am talented, and, frankly, fame and wealth are the least I deserve.' Well, here's a star son who is refreshingly frank and does not wear his lineage on his lapel. In fact, the first we met, he introduced himself as a deejay, which is what this 'raveoholic' does as a hobby! Siddhanth Kapoor, son of legendary Bollywood villain Shakti Kapoor, feels it's a pretty tenuous profession and you can't have a master plan that determines each rung of your career in the entertainment industry. "I am only 23-years-old and I want to experience whatever I can in the entertainment line and become technically strong. By doing this, I can determine my skill set and choose my vocation. I have just stepped into the industry and don't know what the future has in store for me. Whatever decisions I will make will be later in my life … possibly becoming an actor if I am good at it," he says. Has it been easy for him to get a toehold in the industry owing to his lineage or is he under pressure to prove himself, I ask him? ''It is never too easy or tough being a star son. People always compare a child to his father, which may be a tough thing for me as he is a very successful person and much harder working than I am. You do get a chance to step into the industry but after that it's how you work as an individual, and not your lineage, that determines your fate,'' he responds. Siddhanth is currently assisting filmmaker Priyadarshan in his forthcoming film. ''The film is titled 'Bhagam Bhag'. It is directed by Mr. Priyadarshan who is like my godfather and produced by Ashtavinayak Cine Vision. Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Paresh Rawal have a band in India, which is chosen to perform in London. At the last minute, their heroine fails to show up at the airport and they have to find a new girl for their group to perform in London. You will have to watch the movie to know what happens then,'' he reveals, adding, ''One day, I was giving the clap for a shot and my finger got stuck in the middle; it did not clap and they had to cut the shot there and the whole studio was laughing at me! It was probably one of the funniest things that happened to me!'' Filmmaking is considered a risky business. Does he have back-up plans, I wonder? ''A business is never risky if you give your 100 per cent and have full confidence in what you are doing. The film business may be relatively riskier for an individual but then it is his or her decision. I would advice an aspiring filmmaker to give his or her 200 per dent and help in every which way they can for the film. As for me, my career has just taken off so hopefully an opportunity should not arise where I need a back-up career,'' he smiles.

DEEPA MEHTA

2/20/2008 2:00:12 PM

Deepa Mehta, who won critical acclaim for her riveting portrayal of the oppressed widows in 1930s India, should win an Oscar for "Water". This kind of filmmaking is not without risk. The production was met by violence from extremist Hindu nationalists after one day of shooting. Sets were destroyed and the crew's safety was endangered. But the lady ploughed on; the film was made six years later — shot surreptitiously [under the pseudonym "River Moon"] in Sri Lanka. Her strategy paid off. "Water," the last of her elements series that includes "Fire" and "Earth," will vie for an Oscar as Canada's nominee for the best foreign-language film. The film portrays how widows in India were ostracized. The group it focuses on struggles to choose whether to passively accept the widow's plight or go against societal norms. "It was ugly the way we were driven away from the holy city, the threats, burning of effigies, and demolition of sets," reminisced Mehta. "I've never seen anything so violent," she said, pausing briefly before adding, "Re-shooting 'Water' in Sri Lanka was a thrilling experience. The violent incidents helped me grow as a person and that is reflected in the film." What does she feel about her chances at the Oscars, I asked her? "I have seen all of the other nominees in my category — "After the Wedding" from Denmark; "Days of Glory (Indigenes)" from Algeria; "The Lives of Others" from Germany, and "Pan's Labyrinth" from Mexico — and I have tough competition. But, because they're so wonderful, I'm going to walk on the red carpet without any apprehension because my expectations are nil." On Oscar night she plans to wear a sari that belonged to her mother, and be accompanied by her daughter, Devyani; her producer, Hamilton; and her stars, John Abraham, Lisa Ray and Seema Biswas. As "Water" opens in India on March 9, Mehta feels her spirit as a filmmaker has triumphed. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," she said. As I get up to leave, she says, "My next film "Exclusion" will explore racism; it is inspired by the "Komagata Maru" incident in which a shipload of Indians was turned back from Canada in 1914. It is one of the most notorious incidents in the history of exclusion laws in Canada and the United States designed to keep out Asian immigrants. Amitabh Bachchan plays a Sikh nationalist who hires a ship and sails to Canada with several Indians in search of a new life. But the passengers of "Komagata Maru" are turned back from Vancouver by Canadian authorities, and forced to Hong Kong from where it went to Kolkata where British colonial police fired on them. What appealed to me in the incident was the passengers' fight for dignity."

SUSHMITA SEN

2/19/2008 12:53:49 PM

A Miss Universe title holder in 1994, followed by a flop Bollywood debut, Sushmita Sen has 'come of age' with every film since then. She's every inch the leading lady - and far too charming to brag about the new feather in her crown: walking the ramp for couturier Neeta Lulla at Lakme Fashion Week. Since the ambience is suffused with modeling mojos, I ask Sush about the elation of being Miss Universe … "Miss Universe was a remarkable experience, and if I could live through it again, I would do it without giving it a second thought. Life over there was beautiful from the first moment. It was the first time I flew club class. I was so tired after the pageant, that once I got on the aircraft, I closed my eyes and dozed off. When I opened them again I was landing in Los Angeles! That took a while to sink in! I was landing in America! I cleared immigration and, coming out, I met Bill, my chauffeur, who escorted me to a 12-seater limousine. It was like a dream … When I arrived at my apartment, my apartment manager took me up to my condominium. For the first time I learned what a walk-in closet is. There was a swimming pool on the rooftop. I remember the first day I landed there, I just sat at the balcony and looked down at the streets of Wiltshire; California has lovely weather, so I was just standing up there and day-dreaming … just a few hours ago I was in India, at home, and here I am in a different country. Life had changed so much in a couple of hours that by the time it sunk in, it was 7 a.m. I remember my manager knocking at the door and asking. 'What have you been doing?' And I said 'Sitting outside for a bit' and she said, 'You have been here the whole night.' Shaking my head, I unpacked and went to the pool! I kept pinching myself because I could not believe all this was happening to me, Sushmita. Then life as Miss Universe began. I visited 33 countries; I met several presidents and first ladies. And I went to so many different events that I don't remember how many they were. There were breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings! I went to San Francisco to learn protocols like how to meet the president, what to say, how to get into a limousine gracefully, etc. They taught me seven plate dinner settings, and put me through a public relations class where they taught me how much to speak about religion. I went to Cairo to address a population conference. Fortunately, I had taken population control as my topic. Addressing the conference is not just going up on the dais and speaking. After the presentation, the audience starts asking questions. So, you have to know what you are talking about! I also went for the Oscars in '94 and '95. I travelled to different countries and work for social organizations for children. I was asked silly questions about India, like 'How do you speak English?' I would also be asked, 'We have heard there's no electricity in India?' I remember telling them, 'you have such wrong ideas about India! Go out and explore the country! You know, what's written in the books has to be reviewed every year. People don't do that, so what you read may be a few years old. And you know what? One of my favorite lines was, 'India is the only country where you see a Mercedes Benz and a bullock cart parked alongside! And then, it was time to return to India and films … and life changed again …"

LILETTE DUBEY

2/18/2008 4:57:10 PM

The most interesting thing about this 37-year-old is her wit and spontaneous laughter. I suddenly realize she's never shown it in any of her performances. But if you think there's something ditsy about Lillete Dubey, prepare for a sock in the mouth. She puts StyleKandy straight on acting, her muse, and why her script features plenty of strong characters. Did you train in theatre before joining the medium? No! I never trained in theatre and I can see the difference. I come from a family of doctors, lawyers and engineers. I was an aberration doing Arts. They would look down on me and say, 'Oh my God, you can read Shakespeare at home. Why do you have to waste time studying literature in college?' But when my father realised my passion for theatre he said, 'why don't you go to NSD'? Being an actress on television, stage and films, what is most satisfying? THEATRE! THEATRE! THEATRE! My first and constant love! Though I have discovered that a good film can be a creatively stimulating experience too - with a good script, cast and director! But nothing can really match the sheer immediacy of the acting experience on stage! Most of your roles are of independent women who know what they want from life. Is it because you identify with these characters? I choose roles that have some dimension, which might have some scope for performance, that might stretch or challenge me! I don't have to identify with the character per se, but of course every actor always finds ways to relate to a role. It's just that people perceive you in a certain way in real life and feel safer casting you in a similar role on screen. Tell us something about Siren City? You have always stuck to original scripts in the past, why adapt a Broadway play this time? I have been in love with the original version of Siren City for a decade [it's adapted from an Australian play]. It's a brilliantly written script that works at various levels, and translates perfectly into the urban milieu in India. Sometimes a script speaks so eloquently to you, you just have to do it - and I have adapted it completely. Put it down to an aberration of love! Which genre of acting are you more involved with these days? RIDICULOUSLY, ALL THREE! I won't let go of theatre, I try to keep my television assignments down to three serials at a time [max!] and am doing a few films where the roles are wide ranging, in content and style. I am not really complaining either! Your role in Zubeidaa as Rose Davenport with a devil may care attitude was played with great panache. Do you see yourself more involved in Bollywood now? I am sort of involved with cinema, not necessarily Bollywood only, and even here the involvement is on my own terms. I don't want to be stereotyped, and I am not desperate to do a whole bunch of films. I am a firm believer in LESS IS MORE! What are the projects you are currently working on? I will be seen in an interesting film titled Bow Barracks Forever. And though I had fun shooting for it, I had one big problem on the set. I was the only non-Bengali there. Often the director, Anjan Dutt, used to start explaining a scene in Bengali and I would never understand. He then would have to translate it all for me. It was fun. I even tried learning Bengali; it's such a sweet language but a month wasn't just enough! What's the difference between you the actress and you the woman? ME THE ACTRESS - Often compromises and does roles that may not be perfect. ME THE WOMAN - Seeks to live as honestly as possible; with others and myself. Can you recall any one memorable audience reaction to your theatre performance? Amjad Ali Khan crying at the premiere of Dance like a man in Delhi in July 95 with the audience giving us a standing ovation! What is your definition of style? A belief in one's individuality and the confidence to carry that uniqueness with confidence! What kind of ensembles will we find in your closet? A POTPOURRI

EMRAAN HASHMI

2/18/2008 4:44:20 PM

Most actors recoil a 'bad boy' image, particularly where all-out negative roles are involved. So, I was curious how Emraan Hashmi felt at ease playing rebellious characters in every film. After locking lips with Mallika Sherawat in 'Murder' and Dia Mirza in 'Tumsa Nahin Dekha', he consolidated his 'kissing bandit' image with an adulterous affair in 'Zehar' and 'Aksar', a pimp of sorts in 'Kalyug', ruthless cop in 'Gangster', and college kid in 'Good Boy Bad Boy'. I get an oblique hint when we meet at The Park where he is promoting his latest flick, 'Awarapan'. The actor is warm and gracious. There are no traces of his onscreen image; a curious paradox, when biology is his destiny–a fancy way of saying that Hashmi has got where he is today by kissing his leading ladies, a lot. No one who has seen the film has forgotten his lovemaking scenes with Mallika Sherawat in 'Murder'. The scenes are characterized by a tension between the camera and a total abandon on the part of the actors. Hashmi is comfortable that his Himbo image has been, to a large extent, his fate. And his bank balance! It's not an image he has discouraged and it's served him well. "Show me some deference," he jokes. "People think my job is to turn up on the sets and seduce my co-star. It’s worked for me, though; women like men with a bad boy image … who are passionate yet fickle. Be honest, don't you? I made an effort to break out of this stereotype with 'Gangster', though. And now, my hairstylists Nitin Halim and Slash have given me this rugged long hair look, which gels with the character I play in 'Awarapan'. I hope this image works with the audience!" If not, well, it's a living. On a serious note, I ask him if he would be in the same position had it not been for uncle Bhatt's support. "I would not have got a toehold in the industry without his support and guidance. You need connections," he responds thoughtfully. "But if he is repeating me in his films, it is due to my potential. When he gave me a break in 'Footpath', he told me he would not hesitate to throw me out of the film if I did not live up to his expectations. C'mon, why would he put money on me if it were not beneficial to him?" For someone who has not undertaken any formal training, Hashmi has hit pay dirt. What is his protocol, I wonder? "I meditate on the role. I need a quiet space where I can sit alone and visualize my character. Once I get into the skin of the character, I allow the director to guide me through the motions. My ambition is to get better with every film." 'Awarapan' aside, what can we expect of this Bhatt protégé in the future? "'There's 'Jhamela' with Babloo Pachishia, 'Train', 'Jannat', 'Raaz-2' and a few untitled films," he grins.

BIPASHA BASU

2/18/2008 4:36:18 PM

For someone who wouldn't drop her guard if her life depended on it, Bipasha Basu is fun to be around. The actress, raised in Kolkata but resident in Mumbai since she won the Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996, sits at a corner table at The Intercontinental in New Delhi. She's playfully combative, but she can also be suddenly serious. When I ask if she thinks her recent films are any good, she looks straight at me and says: "I haven't seen them!" Then she gets defensive: "There's no point me talking about what the films are anyway, because I have nothing to do with that. I'm just the raw material." And finally, a dash of ebullience: "What did you think of the films? People have told me 'Corporate' is fantastic." Phew! Her sources are not flattering her: 'Omkara' is something to be proud of. Hers is a supporting part – the film belongs to Ajay Devgun or Saif Ali Khan. But, as a village dancer, Bipasha Basu captures the vibrant, loudmouth woman. "My name in the film is Billo Chamanbahar. When the script was narrated to me, the director said he wrote the character of Billo and he thought of me; I said, "Why? Do I look like a Billo Chamanbahar?" But it's fun. It is a very colorful character," she explains. Bipasha wants to work with people who are her equals in toughness and talent; if this is so, she met her match in the unit of 'Phir Hera Pheri'. On the day of her scenes, she asked the director how he planned to shoot it. "He said, 'Well, we'll shoot the boys, then we'll turn around and do the complementary.' I said, 'That's me, is it? The complementary?' I had to stay concentrated but I was teed off." Still, the scene went well, and the next day she asked him for further instructions. "Just be conscientious and attractive," shrugged the director. "That's when I realised he was teasing me," she grins. She adores that story. "What I loved about the script," she explains, "was that these people are lying and scheming all the time. That's what drew me to it; that double life, the weight of secrets. People ask me why I chose to act in a male-dominated film but I tell them it's the money and a chance to be a part of the brand that has worked in the past." No one who is familiar with recent developments in Bipasha's life can possibly hear this talk of secrets and double lives without interpreting it as some kind of veiled confession. I'm sure she's not playing peek-a-boo here; it wouldn't be her style to drop hints about her personal life when she works so hard to sluice her conversation of personal details. And I know better than to pry. But the fact remains that she allegedly separated from beau John Abraham when the tabloids got excited by her kiss with Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo. All this has coincided with the most fruitful part of her career to date. I put it to her that there are Three Stages of Bipasha Basu. She responds by arching an eyebrow. Well, there was the interesting but obscure stage. This ran from the moment she landed her first film straight out of the Parisian catwalk. "Whenever something wonderful happens to me, it's downgraded because it's me," she rues. "But even so, it was like a fairytale. When Vinod Khanna offered me Himalaya Putra, I was hesitant of the transition from modeling into films. At that time Jaya Bachchan told me JP Dutta was on the lookout for a dusky girl to play the part of a village belle in 'Aakhri Mughal'. Jayaji convinced me I was appropriate for the role. But then they had second thoughts about the film. They felt Aakhri Mughal being a period drama may not work as a launching pad for Abhishek Bachchan. After that I got dull offers until Ajnabee came along and I snapped it up!" She hasn't stopped working since. In no time at all, the Second Stage of Bipasha Basu was upon us, kickstarted by Jism, in which she played the evil seductress with élan. But Bipasha has never been finer than she was in 'Corporate', where she transformed he

UPEN PATEL

2/18/2008 4:31:46 PM

It wasn't infatuation. It was more than that, muses JASMEEN DUGAL. For a couple of years, Upen Patel was virtually my dream man. Why? He is a perfect 10: macho yet suave, warm and witty… a real darling. When he enters the room, he takes it. It crackles with his arrival. He has a presence, but it's not necessarily the one you'd expect, not haughty or demanding. In all of this, I wasn't alone; there were a lot more girls swooning over him. For a short while, he was poster boy to a whole new generation: Generation, er, X. Upen's career was on neutral mode in the UK until he was crowned 'Zee Supermodel of the Year 2002'. The title catapulted him onto the A-list and presented him with the opportunity to come down to India. There was no looking back since. Though he has shifted tracks to Bollywood now, Upen Patel is still in demand on the catwalk; he ties in with the current mood in menswear, which has moved away from fashion's drawn-out obsession with beefcake. His success is more than just appearances in key campaigns like Hugo Boss and Paul Smith. Today, pinning down Bollywood's favorite poster boy is no simple task; with a clutch of powerful roles under his belt, Upen means business. His screen persona has something indestructible about it. There's toughness, strength, determination. Even when he was a playboy in '36 China Town', he was never trivialized. In the same year he did 'Shakalaka Boom Boom' co-starring Bobby Deol, Lara Dutta, Kangana Ranaut, and Celina Jaitley. He has just shot for '123' and is beginning work on 'Money Hai Toh Honey Hai' co-starring Govinda. When I was told to conduct this interview online, I was worried that the result would not have the unstructured give-and-take feel a live interview provides. In Upen's case, his response is reflective of his personality: intelligent and sharp. How significant is participation in a fashion week, I ask? He is instantly open, touchable. "When I was a model, it was important for me to be part of fashion week, as it gave me an opportunity to work with the biggest designers and chorographers. Fashion would be a high point of the week and the media coverage was unbelievable," he responds. "Participation in prolific events is important to remain in the public eye, but for me it was just another job; it was my bread and butter, it was how I paid my bills. After a while I felt I was working with friends, which is why I was a model for four years." From a supermodel's viewpoint, what are the differences in the Indian industry and overseas, I continue to grill him? "Well, modeling is a different ballgame for men in the Indian fashion industry and overseas. I feel lucky to be one of the few to be remembered as a supermodel. The fashion industry has given me the foundation to move on to movies; it made me a household name and I don't think that would have been possible overseas," he grins. But what is the future for men in the Indian modeling industry; is there a drought of assignments or is the pie large enough, I wonder? "I've been out of the modeling circuit for a while but there's always room for everybody," he replies. As we wrap up our brief exchange, I ask him for some pearls of wisdom for aspiring models. And somehow, I anticipated his repartee. "Ha! Ha! I think I am the wrong person to give any advice; all I can say is: timing is the key to success."

MADHURI DIXIT

2/18/2008 4:05:17 PM

Madhuri Dixit says she's a diehard romantic who loves old films. But underneath the homespun charm lies a serious player with a firm grip on the film business, says JASMEEN DUGAL. Madhuri Dixit has so frequently been described as one of the most powerful women in Bollywood that it is hard not to be anxious at the prospect of meeting her. It is a label that carries with it a formidable cachet, so that one immediately imagines her as a self-centered lady with a lethal, Machiavellian ego. So I am understandably taken aback when, instead of sweeping grandly through the doors dripping diamonds and disdain, Madhuri, 41, walks timidly into the room and greets us with a concerned frown. 'I'm a bit worried about the photographs,' she says to no-one in particular, chewing her lower lip. 'The photographer wanted glamour, but I'm not sure I gave him that.' She sits down primly, unassuming in a black shirt, denim and discreet diamonds. Quite frankly, it's not the sort of behavior one expects from a Bollywood mogul. She appears cautious, guarded to the point of shyness and unexpectedly pensive. Is this really the woman who is acknowledged to be one of greatest dancers Bollywood has ever had, the woman who has been Brand Ambassador for Emami, the woman who was responsible for delivering blockbusters like Tezaab, Dil, Beta, Khalnayak, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Dil To Pagal Hai and Devdas, until she married Dr. Sriram Nene and undertook a self-imposed sabbatical? Does she not realize that she has a certain reputation to live up to? She laughs. 'Well, that's very kind of you. To me, the industry is about respecting people. There's no task too great or too small; I will do whatever it takes to get the job done well and correctly and I like to work with people who have the same kind of spirit.' At least she talks like a Bollywood native, peppering her conversation with the sort of homespun wisdom one sees embroidered on cushions. 'My parents raised me to believe that what's important is what goes on in your head and in your heart,' she says at one point, her eyes blinking earnestly. 'What you think about and who you are as a human being and having good values.' Madhuri was born in Mumbai. Her parents were 'an incredibly dynamic, strong, creative couple who taught me that there were no limits to what you could do'. None the less, her decision to become an actress [first studying at Parle College to be a micro-biologist and then training in Kathak] was somewhat unexpected. 'Yes, but they're very proud of me,' she says. 'I grew up in a family of doers. You got out there and you worked hard'. After ruling the film industry for years and bagging 11 prestigious awards, Madhuri married Dr. Sriram Nene, in 1999. A UCLA-trained cardiovascular surgeon who practices in Denver, Nene is also from a Marathi Koknastha Brahmin family. They have two sons, Aryan and Ryan. 'My kids have seen only one of my films: Devdas,' she grins. 'But they are enjoying all the media attention at the promotions of Aaja Nachle. Whenever they see the trailers of Aaja Nachle on television they start dancing. And Ryan, who is just two-and-a-half years old, urges 'dance mommy dance'.' Yet beneath the congeniality, Madhuri Dixit Sriram is a serious Bollywood player. As the face of Aaja Nachle, she is currently promoting her comeback film where she portrays the character of a choreographer in New York who returns to her hometown after her mentor dies… to the town where she learnt to live and to dance. Also the town she left on an impulse, severing ties with her parents. It is a poignant return; not only has her mentor passed away but the institution that he nurtured is under threat of demolition. In an atmosphere of mistrust and active hostility, she picks up the gauntlet and tries to achieve the near impossible task of putting together a theatrical production. She has only two months to prove her point or the bulldozers would be waiting... It is an ambitious plot, rely

AISHWARYA RAI

2/18/2008 3:48:38 PM

Legends can cast long shadows. It took years for Aishwarya Rai to emerge from under the silhouette of her Miss World '94 crown. But she has blossomed in the recent past, earning appreciation with unprecedented box-office hits like 'Taal', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', 'Choker Bali' and 'Devdas', which gave her impetus to cross over to Hollywood. I first met Ash during the promotion of 'Bride and Prejudice' in Delhi. She had stood onstage, giggling self-consciously and seeming ill at ease beside producer-director Gurinder Chadha. Her timidity seemed more appropriate to a younger, sheltered girl. But then she handled the photographers who asked for 'a sexy pose' with aplomb, and I was reminded that this was an actress whose film career has spanned a decade – from an insipid debut in 'Aur Pyar Ho Gaya', to bagging the Filmfare Best Actress Award for 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' and 'Devdas', and a string of international projects. She is, incase you hadn't noticed, in case she didn't want you to notice, the toast of Bollywood, Hollywood and the advertising industry. While she is being marketed in Hollywood as 'something special', she's wary of the media snooping into her private domain. This is why, as I checked my Inbox, I dreaded she was giving our e-mail exchange a miss. But when she finally mailed back, she was full of apologies. She'd had a rough week, and while I had given free rein to my imagination, she was in juggler mode! 'Is it easier for an actress to date actors', was my first query during the promotion of Nakshatra. ''I wouldn't think so,'' she responded. Chapter closed. All this time, it's been easy to define Aishwarya Rai: after bagging the Miss World title, she appeared on the film radar effortlessly. But that's not spot on. ''People think it is a planned move on my part, to enter Hollywood. But it's not! In 2003, I met Robert de Niro, Roland Joffe and Mike Leigh. They'd ask, 'When are you free?' And I replied, 'After a year'. I will not sign International projects at the expense of my other films." Ash recalled how, as a novice, she was given a hard time. "Though my films made money, critics commented that my performances were stiff, as though I were still modeling. People gave me a hard time due to my Miss World status. I was even referred to as a mannequin! But, I think rather than feeling persecuted, it's important to face the challenge." Today Aishwarya Rai is ranked among the most talented actresses of her time. Her recent releases are testimony to her acting prowess. 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', 'Raincoat', 'Devdas' and 'Mistress Of Spices' got her critical acclaim and crossover film 'Bride and Prejudice' won her more accolades than she could ask for. In 2003, Rai was chosen by TIME Magazine as one of Asia's '100 Most Influential People.' The following year, she was featured on Oprah Winfrey's 'Women Across the Globe' segment. Today, her wax statue is on display in Madame Tussaud. However, she describes fame as a lonely business, adding, "Success leads to premieres, film festivals and press conferences; there is little time for family and friends. I do miss home but its okay; I'm a happy person by nature." This declaration is exactly why Aishwarya is hard to pin down. You're left speculating if she always felt this way or if her outlook has been shaped as a result of tumultuous relationships. She is loath to go into details, but when she does comment on relationships, you get an insight into her battle between wide-eyed idealism and the actuality of living. It's this internal struggle that makes her so alluring. "Sometimes a relationship doesn't work out, and that's the way it is." Her nemesis has always been her relationships. Ash was at the hub of a media maelstrom, with ex-beau Salman Khan threatening to harm [now former] boyfriend Vivek Oberoi. And once again, when media reports made her a 'manglik', it allegedly caused tension between Ash and Abhishek before they tied the knot. Staying

ARJUN RAMPAL

2/18/2008 3:43:46 PM

He is one of those few models who have actually made it big in Bollywood (minus any proverbial Godfather), thus breaking the jinx that models can't act. He is what hard work is all about. The hunky man who debuted with Pyaar, Ishq Aur Mohabbat and who is all set to give the baddies a run for their money with his new-look in the much anticipated blockbuster ‘Om Shanti Om’ This lad is truly a showstopper whether he sashay onscreen or off screen. Recently, the man was in city walking ramp and girls were going gaga over his oh-so chiseled bod. Here, we bring you this ubercool guy in rendezvous with us. “Walking ramp has always been my first love. Acting will always take a backseat in my roll. I started modeling much before when I became an actor”, he avows when enquired about his preferences. As I grilled him more and more, he slowly opened up and told me about his family. He tells how much he loves to spend time with his daughters Maheka and Myra and wife Meher. He can’t stop giggling, when I asked him how he is feeling about the success of his blockbuster release ‘Om Shanti Om’? “Although, it was my second hand with a negative role earlier I played a villain in Ek Ajnabee but it was wee tough to materialize the character of Mukesh Mehra onscreen. I will give all credits to my director Farah Khan who has taken best out of me. And here, I am enjoying my newly gained success. On asking about his future plans, he revealed, “I am playing a rock star in Farhan Akhtar’s next Rock On. For this movie only I had changed my looks and kept long hair, as its kind of a funky character”. We will soon be seeing him in Rituparno Ghosh’s 'The Last Lear' where he will share screen with ace-actor Amitabh Bachchan and Preity Zinta. But, he is more than happy with his next release EMI in which he will be onscreen with Sanjay Dutt.

KAREENA’S SECOND STINT WITH GLOBUS

1/5/2008 1:05:24 PM

After the overwhelming success of her last flick Jab We Met, Kareena Kapoor is flying high on confidence. Long dubbed as just another glam doll, the stylish actor hopes to silence her critics and use the upbeat aura much to her benefit. 2007 saw the biggest hit of her career, a million dollar contract from Globus, the end of a long-standing relationship between her and Shahid and a just begun relationship with Saif! Quite an eventful year one may call it! How do you look back at it? “Yes it was and I have absolutely no complaints about anything. All good things come to an end, so did Shahid and I. everything has a shelf life, I guess ours was over, but I harbour no hard feelings against him and am quite confident that he has also moved on.” Can you go on record and end all speculation on who had dumped whom? “You promised you’ll ask only one question about that”, she reminds me; “now you better move on or move aside”, she admonishes jokingly. As we were on the sets of her second print shoot with Globus, the obvious question was the reason behind choosing to endorse Globus merchandise. “You mean apart from the money (laughs heartily). No seriously, I just love their collection. It’s very vibrant and trendy, something that I can easily identify with. And they have something for every mood.” It’s often believed that celebrities hardly use the products that they endorse. “I think you should ask this to the General Manager of Globus. He will tell you how often I keep bothering them to send across so many of their latest stuff. And let me tell you that they are extremely sweet and co operative in sending all that I demand instantly.” Knowing Bebo’s temperamental nature, do they really have a choice? By now, I realized that she is in a comparatively jovial mood, so I mustered up all my strength and popped up the question. Why have you remained so quote less about yours and Saif’s relationship while Chhote Nawab has been quite upfront about it? “I thought he is the man in the relation, so let him do the talking.” You do are aware of the fact that you two are Bollywood’s most celebrated couple at the moment. “Yeah and I cherish every moment of it. Yet I would request the media that I am an actor and treat me like one. I think everyone should be left alone in their own private space. They have a right to that and we actors are no exception.” I take that as a hint to not to probe further on that route and immediately change the line of fire. How are you planning to better the success of Jab We Met? “There are a host of movies lined up but right now I’m, only gonna talk about Tashan. You’ll see a different side of me. I’m totally excited about it and very nervous too. I have a lot of expectations from Tashan”, she signs off.

NEHA DHUPIA

1/5/2008 1:02:59 PM

“I never had boys around me”- Neha Dhupia. The actor discloses her mantra for fitness and beauty. Shedding her glam sham image, Neha Dhupia was dressed in basic blue denim jeans and a plain white top, when we caught up with her near Fun Republic, Andheri. In a bid to promote her forthcoming release Mithya in which she is paired opposite Ranveer Shourie and also shares screen space with stalwart Naseeruddin Shah, Neha was her at usual chirpy and bubbly best! We have seen you in some of the most exquisite and bold costumes. Ask her what the real Neha loves wearing, “I’m most comfy in a pair of jeans and casual tops. I hate prints but I know I have to pull them off on the screen. White is my favourite colour, it just personifies tranquility and serenity.” Then brands must really matter whenever you shop? “I wear branded jeans and shoes, but I am not going to name them, unless they rope me in as their brand ambassador!” jokes Neha with a shrewd face. Drop-dead-glamorous on screen and care-a-damn off it! What exactly is your style statement? “I believe in moderation. I don’t like to go over board with anything that is in vogue. Over accessorisation, heavy embellishments, in the face prints, dripping make up is a complete no no for me. I love myself when I rise in the morning. Recently beads are in fashion, doesn’t mean you have them in your ears, hands, legs, waist, head, everywhere. Then it looks like a fashion blooper. Also, one should realize what he or she can carry rather than just aping blindly”, suggests the fashionable Neha. If some one were to gift you something expensive, what should he buy? “Platinum! I instantly connect with it”, she declares. Strange, we thought you would name a few designer wears. “Well I can name it for you- Varun Bahl, Sumeet Verma, Ritu Kumar, Tarun Tahiliani, Rajesh Pratap and Rohit Bal are my favorite designers. They propel my fashion quotient higher.” And what would your FQ be without wearing any of them? “6 on 10”. Now that’s what we call modesty! What do you have to say to all those girls vying for guy attention? “Trust me, I ‘m the wrong person to advise anyone on this as I myself didn’t have many guys around me most of my life. I’ve been a sports person for the first 20 yrs of my life. When most girls were increasing the no. of shoe pairs in their wardrobe, I was busy improving the distance of my javelin throw! I had a lot of baby fat and boys just over looked me. But I guess everyone should be true to ones character. Impersonating someone who you’re not is not going to fetch you the desired result”, she preaches. But that’s changed now. Is there a strict fitness regime you follow? “I’ve worked out very hard in the past 2 yrs and I follow it religiously. That, accompanied with a balanced diet, enough sleep and plenty of water forms the simple lifestyle I lead.” You’ve been overtly experimental in your looks. Julie, Siskiyaan, etc; all donned a new avatar. Is this a conscious effort? “It’s what my director decides for me. Right now I wanna cut my hair chicken short, but can’t do it since I ‘m already shooting for so many films that demand specific looks”, she signs off.