Twitterrati’s joy that Kamal Haasan has joined Twitter was short-lived, after it was revealed that an imposter had created a fake profile of the actor.

He came, he saw and he tweeted, but ten hours later, he deleted the profile. That’s the story of an Kamal Haasan’s imposter, who took everyone for a ride on Twitter yesterday morning. The drama unfolded in the wee hours of Sunday, when Shekhar Kapur welcomed Kamal Haasan on Twitter. In fact, it was Shekhar Kapur who stated that it was indeed Kamal Haasan’s original profile and within seven hours, more than 8,000 people followed @maiamkhassan, the Twitter handle which the imposter was using. Several celebrities including SS Rajamouli, Harish Shankar and Nani formally welcomed Kamal Haasan on Twitter, but around 11 am, Kamal Haasan’s spokesperson, Nikil Murugan clarified that it was a fake account. “Dear All Kamal sir is not in Twitter…the I’d..@maiamkhassan..is fake and pls don’t believe. legal action soon to the person who operates..(sic),” Nikil Murugan posted on Twitter. Soon after that, the imposter deleted the account and the drama came to an end. This isn’t the first time that someone has created fake accounts of celebrities. In the past, several accounts of Kajal Aggarwal, Shriya Saran, Tamannaah, Nayanthara and several other actors were created and some of the actors had to lodge a complaint to curb the imposters.

Currently, Kamal Haasan is busy shooting for Vishwaroopam 2 in Bangkok, where an action sequence is being filmed on the lead actors. Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Rahul Bose and Shekhar Kapur are reprising their roles in the sequel, along with Kamal Haasan. The film is likely to hit the screens later this year. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan has reportedly agreed to direct a film which will be produced by N Lingusamy’s Thirupathi Brothers banner. More details about the film will be announced soon.

Debutant director Shakun Batra’s first offering Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu will hit cinemas on February 10 and Shakun is busy tying up loose ends

When you have an interesting cast like Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan in your film, you are bound to generate interest and it gets all the more better if the director is new. That’s what director Shakun Batra has managed to do with his first film, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu.

Going by the buzz that the trailer and the music of the film has created, we are sure that Dharma Productions have a winner in hand again. But right now Shakun is extremely busy with last minute touch-ups, “It’s been crazy the past few days,” exclaims a stressed out but excited Shakun. And why not? Not many directors can boast about making their debut with Dharma Productions.

“Anyone wanting to be a director wants to be backed by a good production house and I am lucky to have Karan Johar who has been extremely supportive of my endeavour,” shares Shakun who had initially narrated the script to good friend Imran who liked the script and introduced him to Karan. “Karan liked it too and he suggested a few pointers here and there to make it better,” confesses the young filmmaker.

According to the debutant director, his film is based on emotions and has got easy characters watching whom, the audience will have a smile on their faces. “It is about everyday humour, which sometimes does get sentimental but is not slapstick,” informs Shakun whose first choice for the lead roles in the film were Kareena and Imran.

“It rarely happens that one gets to cast the same actors who are your first choice, but Karan made it happen. While Imran is my friend and I know him well, I did not know how to approach Kareena. And I am ecstatic that we could cast them together because the film has shaped up really well, Imran and Kareena literally owned every piece of dialogue,” explains Shakun.

Though it worked out like a dream for Shakun, for him the challenge was not to let anybody down with his film. “When you get everything easily, the pressure and responsibility is on you not to let down those who are involved in it and always be consistent. It’s very important to stay grounded and not get carried away,” shares the sensible director.

Shakun started out in the industry when he was 22 and so far he has seen enough to sense a change. “It’s good to see that nowadays young and new filmmakers are getting a chance to work,” says Shakun, going on to add, “Every 10 to 12 years, a new set of actors come in who want to work with new people; of course in between too there are new people coming in but not everyone survives.”

The young filmmaker though credits a large share of his success to good friend Imran, “Imran has helped me a lot with my career. Both Imran and Avantika are my good friends and I am glad they have been there for me,” signs off Shakun.

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and the single hearts are worried how to ask the special one out. Read on…

For those in a relationship, Valentine’s Day is a welcome occasion. But for others it is a terrifying prospect. Do you belong to the lonely hearts club who generally end up being alone on this day? Well don’t fret, for there is hope still left. With two weeks left for February 14, you still have time to ask that special person out for a date with you.

Actor Ashish Chowdhry, who is married to long time girlfriend Samita Bang­argi, only knows it too well. He says, “Asking somebody out for Valentine’s Day sho­uldn’t be a last minute thing. It needs to be worked upon for some time which goes on to show the decency of a guy and it definitely has to be non-pushy. The proposal should have an ‘aww’ factor, in the sense when you propose, the girl should go ‘aww’.”

He adds, “For women, Valentine’s Day dates signify something that will go on for the rest of the year unlike guys who aren’t that good a species. Make sure that you ask the woman out with good intentions, if not always, a woman recognises a good guy from a bad.”

Now it ain’t that hard is it? It really helps to have clear intentions from the beginning so that there is no confusion. But if you are amongst the ones who like to keep it a little spicy and out of the ordinary, then actor Vatsal Sheth has the perfect tip for you. “Okay so you have 14 days to go and you need to ask the special one out? I have a wacky way for the guys to go about with and trust me it’s not that hard.

The first few days just ignore her and don’t give her much attention, instead talk about other girls in front of her and appreciate them. You can also go to the extent of calling her fat and asking her to go to the gym but do so politely.

In the process she will get angry but then she will think only about you. In the last few days, you start appreciating her and start wooing her. Tell her that you want to make it up to her and then ask her out,” advises a witty Vatsal.

You can choose either of the tips, which ever works best for you but make sure that this Valentine’s Day if you want to be with someone then you ask her out.

The satchel bag is one fashion accessory, which is getting popular by the day with both men and women. Are you keeping up?

What was at one point of time used to carry books around has now become a fashion accessory and has been embraced by both men and women alike. And leading each list is of course our celebrity brigade; whether it is heading to the airport to take a flight out of the city or just for a night out, the satchel is fast becoming a must-have in everyone’s wardrobe.

It is a comfortable way to carry your stuff around and also makes a great style statement. With the variety of satchels available in the market, you can pretty much pair it up with your formal, casual and party wear. They not only come in various shapes, sizes and colours but designs as well. Today, we list a few celebrities who have bagged it right.

Channing Tatum

Now this actor is definitely a good-looker and a great dancer too, which he proved in Step Up 2 but above all, the actor also has a great sense of style. Apart from always being well-turned-out, Channing also knows the importance of the satchel fashion and knows when to wear it. In this picture he is seen departing from an airport with his satchel by his side.

Saif Ali Khan

We all know that our now Nawab is a good looking guy and has a great sense of fashion. This suave actor can give any of his contemporaries a run for their money and there is no denying the fact that Saif can pretty much carry off any look. From sherwanis to jeans and from shorts to trousers, this man knows how to wear it all, so when it came to carrying a satchel we couldn’t leave him out. He definitely looks cool carrying a satchel around.

Zach Galifianakis

And while we are at listing, how could we possibly not mention Zach Galifianakis? The man who made news with his satchel in Hangover. When he was asked if what he was carrying was a man bag, Zach replied, “It’s a satchel!” Now that is definitely a resounding nod for all the men out there; for the satchel is one accessory, which is not dependent on your look. Doesn’t matter your shape or size, anyone can carry a satchel.

Sonakshi Sinha

While the satchel is overtly popular with females in the West, our Indian heroines are not too far behind. Desi girl Sonakshi Sinha seems to be contributing prominently to the cause as she has been often spotted sporting a satchel at parties and airports. We would want more of the female brigade to join the cause.

Olivia Wilde

One woman in Hollywood who is making waves undoubtedly is Olivia Wilde. The actress has definitely emerged as one fashionista who knows her fashion and wears it well too. And when it comes to satchels, this diva is not left behind. She knows the right kind of satchel to pair with her outfit and carries it gracefully.

Where you can bag ‘em
Mango
Steve Madden
Baggit
Paprika
Burberry

Soniya Mehra has been away from the big screen for a long time, but she is busy with her small-screen endeavours

She made her Bollywood debut with Victoria No 203 and then Soniya Mehra pretty much disappeared from the big screen. Though she was in the news occasionally for her social appearances and link-ups, what most people don’t know is that this young actor has been busy with her stint as a VJ on the small screen.

Soniya will be seen in the upcoming flick Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, though in a cameo. Talking about her role in the film she says, “It’s a very small part and I play a cameo there, let’s just leave it as a surprise.” The scene that Soniya is trying to keep under wraps is a seduction one where the pretty lass uses her charm to seduce Imran Khan and we hear that there was a kiss involved too. “There is no kissing at all, in fact it’s just a sweet seduction which has a fresh and fun flavour to it and it is fun to watch,” informs Soniya. On how she landed the role, she shares, “I got a call from Dharma Productions asking me if I would be interested in this particular role and I was like why not? Who wouldn’t anyone want to be part of a Dharma project even if it is a small role and where you had to share screen space with Imran?” So Soniya went through a screen test and the director Shakun Batra liked her work and she was taken on board.

Though she didn’t get to share screen space with Kareena in the film, nonetheless Soniya is happy with her experience of working with Imran. “Imran is very chilled out and friendly. I had no feeling of discomfort with him while filming that particular scene, in fact he helped me out. We did rehearsals and he even gave suggestions as to how I should enact the scene,” says Soniya.

We wonder why Soniya has been away from films for so long, “When I moved to Mumbai to be a part of the film industry, I was young and did not know how to go about it. Victoria No 203 just happened to me and I took it up as it was a good learning experience for me. I have learnt not to regret and want to be careful with the work I do, I want to do performance oriented roles only,” shares Soniya who signed a film called Basra after that but it failed to take off. “After Basra too I got offers but I didn’t want to be a part of them, I kept looking for interesting scripts,” explains Soniya.

The young actor then went ahead and got herself a job as a veejay with MTV and she is pretty much enjoying her stint. “I host MTV Grind and while doing that, I am also looking out for the right projects. I take each day as it comes,” says the daughter of late actor Vinod Mehra. She doesn’t regret the fact that being a star’s daughter she hasn’t been able to make much impact yet. “If it is my destiny, it will happen no matter what. This is what motivates me and gives me the adrenaline that I require,” offers the wise lady.

Soniya would like to be a part of a project which will give her the opportunity to showcase her dancing skills. “Dance has been a part of my growing up process and I have learnt different forms of dance, so I would love to be part of a film which has lots of dance in it,” signs off the actor, who mentions that Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Rakyesh Om Prakash Mehra are the directors whom she would love to work with.

Designer Paromita Bannerjee might be young but she has already impressed everyone with her designs. A Lakmé Fashion Week regular, Paromita shares her style rules

Dress for the occasion. The keyword is to be simple and effective. It is always better to be under-dressed rather than over-dressed.

Always dress your age. Nothing looks worse than a 60-year-old trying to dress up as a 21-year-old and vice versa. You would look more graceful if you accept your age and dress accordingly.

Don’t overdo anything, be it make-up, accessories or styling. Just like over styling can kill a garment, too much make-up is artificial and can make you look caked up.

Be natural. If you think a certain style or garment will not suit you, do not wear it. Just because your favourite actress is wearing it, does not mean you will look good in it too. Don’t copy anybody else’s style. Stick to your own or create your own.

Wear clothes that are your size. Don’t wear clothes, which are either a size bigger or smaller than yours. Also, never buy an outfit you think you can alter just because that is the last piece in stock!

Try and understand your body shape and size and dress accordingly. Nobody is perfect and we don’t have the perfect-10 figure, so don’t worry. Keeping a few basic points in mind, goes a long way: For those with a heavy bust, take the attention away from it by wearing scooped necks; those who are short, try wearing smaller, delicate prints that do not over-power you and those who are on the heavier side, refrain from wearing fitted clothes.

Saris look good on all body types and according to me, it is the most elegant and graceful attire to carry. So, invest in a couple of basic to heavy saris; they will last forever, especially Indian hand-weaves.

Invest in good lingerie.

A good outfit is never complete without good basic footwear and a bag; so invest in some basic colours in footwear, bags and accessories. It completes the outfit.

Finally, follow your instinct. They always work. We women have a great sixth sense and it is always correct! So use your discretion while dressing up. They will go a long way!

TOP 10 FASHION MUST-HAVES

1. A basic plain black kurta (preferably in fabrics like khadi/ cottons; fabrics that breathe) and a white churidar
2. A basic white shirt
3. A pair of washed indigo denims
4. A pair of linen or cotton py­jamas in nude or natural colour
5. An evening clutch purse
6. A pair of antique silver hoops or baali
7. A pair of nude sandals in brown, camel or tan colour
8. A basic pair of black stilettos
9. A bright colourful stole/dupatta or shawl; the more traditional, the better
10. Finally, a natural lip gloss for that dazzling smile and confidence!

Acclaimed director Gautham Menon is back with his second Hindi film after a gap of 11 years and expectations are definitely high

He is perhaps one of the most successful directors that the Tamil and Telugu film industry can boast of today but Gautham Vasudev Menon remains nonchalant. While link-ups between the lead pair of his upcoming Hindi film,

Ek Deewana Tha, continue to make news every day, Gautham doesn’t dwell on it too much. He instead prefers to set the record straight. “Since I had AR Rahman for music, I didn’t think I needed big stars to be a part of my film,” informs Gautham who is nonetheless happy with the outcome and the work done by Prateik and Amy. Talking about both the actors, he says, “Both are very competent. Prateik is completely a director’s actor and Amy is really fresh. It was indeed a pleasure to work with them.”

The film, Ek Deewana Tha, which is a throw back at the old world charm, has had a successful run in its Tamil and Telugu versions. And each version has had a different ending; in fact in its Hindi one, Gautham has tried a completely different ending, which he is keeping completely guarded. “I thought it was a story that could be told well in Hindi too, and I have tried an ending, which I thought will go down well with the Hindi audience,” offers the award-winning director. “The whole film has gone through a lot of changes, I even had a new director of photography for the film and of course the ending is new. In fact, it will be new to Hindi films too,” shares Gautham.

Quiz the director on why he stayed away from Hindi films for so long and Gautham is quick to answer, “For me Hindi is just another language, I enjoy filmmaking be it in any language. As long as there is a story to tell, I will make a film. Of course, Hindi does have a wider audience and a bigger reach and while I can read and write Hindi, I can’t write the dialogues in Hindi. Though I can surely tell when and where it is going wrong,” he says and goes on to add, “I am perhaps most comfortable in Tamil. If there is anything to change on location in Tamil, I can do so without batting an eyelid.”

Recently, Hosanna, a song from the film has drawn a lot of flak from the Christian community, though the same song was there in the Tamil and Telugu versions as well. Talking about it, Gautham says, “I really don’t know why people are making an issue out of it when there is nothing vulgar about it. The guy falls in love with a girl and treats love as God, what is the problem in it?”

Gautham has, working with Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, in his wishlist and one of them might just come true soon. For the buzz in town is that the director is in fact keen to work with Shah Rukh in the Hindi remake of his Tamil film Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu where Shah Rukh will get to play a cop for the first time.

Gautham is one director who believes that the responsibility of an entire film rests on the director’s shoulders. “It’s a director’s job to get the right actors on board and to make sure that the film translates well onto the screen. We can’t come with excuses like, the producer didn’t give us enough money and so on. That is the same advice that I give to any new director entering the industry. Get to know your distributors and be competent,” signs off Gautham.

If you are not a part of mainstream Bollywood music, then it only makes sense to make your presence felt through the digital medium and singer Gary Lawyer only knows it too well. Recently in association with artistaloud.com, Gary released his songs digitally. Talking about his decision, Gary says, “Digital is pretty much the way to go now. The world is slowly turing digital and anyone and everyone can access the music.”

Quiz Gary as to how he feels on being a pioneer and he is quick to clarify, “I have not been at it as long as people think I have been. It’s just that I have always been in the news but it’s nothing contrived. Whatever I have done, it has always been from the heart and it wasn’t any marketing gimmick for me. It feels nice to be appreciated like that though it is not right to call me a pioneer.

But Gary rues that the conditions in India are not conducive for the growth of Western music here and he believes that the country needs to get pro digital. The musician also feels that only by bringing international bands into the country, can the music scenario change and western music be popularised. He feels that competition is good as long as it is healthy since the goal is to promote talent. “I am not being negative for the sake of being negative, I am being factual. Even if I make a video today, I will have only one channel playing it and if I am lucky then they will play it once a day which is criminal and unfair. So these days, a lot of bands are resorting to digital releases,” says Gary expressing his displeasure. Gary signs off by saying, “India can also change if Indian artists get a chance abroad and get recognition which is highly improbable not impossible.”

Lingerie is perhaps the sexiest and the most important of items in a woman’s wardrobe and it is critical to make the right choices

“Lingerie is the foundation of a woman’s wardrobe,” said famous fashion designer Stella McCartney and she surely knows it all. Stella, who is ‘obsessed’ about lingerie and takes it very seriously, knows only too well about the all-important role that lingerie plays. No matter what you wear, it pays to make sure that you have the right lingerie underneath it all.

Celebrated designer Sanchita Ajjampur only knows it too well. She says, “The right outfit is the key when it comes to looking presentable and making a good impression. But, what is under the dress is equally important. Lingerie and well-fitted undergarments helps put the entire look together.”

When picking lingerie, it is not only the colour and design, which play a pivotal role, one has to keep in mind that comfort and the correct fit is key and style follows it. Sanchita advises, “Like a pair of shoes, never buy lingerie that isn’t comfortable as you wear it throughout the day.”

Actor Kainaz Motivala perhaps couldn’t agree more with Sanchita. She says, “The right lingerie is probably one of the most important things women should invest in. It can help you enhance the way you look in your clothes. A lot of women, especially in India wear wrong sized bras and that’s not right, both looks wise and in the long run for the body shape. Also, your bra size changes with time, so it’s good to keep measuring and buying the right size, rather than sticking to a size you wore 10 years ago. Also, wearing seamless bras and panties under dresses and t-shirts is a good idea.

You don’t want the whole world to see the designs.” Carrying a spare set makes sense when you have to go through several costume changes, “As an actress, it’s important to carry a lot of different kinds of lingerie to shoot because you sometimes have 2–3 changes in a day and you might need different lingerie for different clothes,” confesses Kainaz.

Always get yourself measured when buying a bra as it changes with time and also make sure that the bra you select fits you perfectly. Model Faith Pandey says, “Getting the right fit is important because it defines shapes and protects some very important assets! The comfort factor and the appearance, even though it’s always concealed, are important as well.

Most women I feel go wrong with cup sizes. They wear either too big or too tight and on the whole, a woman wearing wrong lingerie, looks bad. So it’s always wise to know your size and try on lingerie before buying. Usually brands like Etam or Triumph also have a guide to buying the right-size bra and that’s important to know. Also, knowing what works for you, padded, underwire, etc, is also important, for example, women with a heavy front should stay away from push-ups.”

Designer Michelle Salins makes sure to advice her brides on what kind of lingerie to go for whenever she designs for them. “I tell them not only the kind of lingerie they should go for but also which brand to choose,” says Michelle going on to add, “The kind of dress that they wear and also their comfortable level is important when choosing the lingerie.”

Sanchita lists down some Dos and Don’ts that women need to keep in mind when going lingerie shopping.

Dos

Lingerie made of natural fibre such as pure silk, French lace or cotton is appropriate

Measure yourself before buying

Spend time in buying good stuff

Try a new style that suits your body

Dress up in the right kind of lingerie that emphasises your assets and camouflages faults

Don’ts

Do not buy lingerie that is made from synthetic material as it is not durable and can cause discomfort

Stop wearing uncomfortable undergarments; though simple, it’s something most women ignore. Women need to understand that better fit gives a better feel about body and lingerie

Do not wear them till they are tattered and lose their original shape and size; trash the old ones

Writer-turned-director Rumi Jaffery’s next film Gali Gali Chor Hai is based on corruption and Rumi is only too pleased at the timing of its release

After God Tussi Great Ho and Life Partner, Rumi Jaffery is ready with his next release Gali Gali Chor Hai (GGCH), a film based on corruption. Undeterred by the fate of his previous films, which failed to set the cash registers ringing, Rumi is excited and hopeful about GGCH. Talking about the film, Rumi says, “It is an entertaining commercial film that shows the plight of a victim of the system.”

“A film takes a lot of time to start. Once the writing is complete, the cast needs to be finalised and one needs to juggle the dates so that the actors can accommodate the film. I think God wanted to help me with the making of the film and hence it is coming out at a time when the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare is on in the country,” explains Rumi, going on to add, “If you notice, throughout history you will see that whenever there has been a change, it has been because of the common man and not the politicians. In my film, I have shown the same thing.”

“I have made the film with all my heart and I think that’s why God decided to help me with its making,” shares Rumi who feels that there is always a difference in the film from the time it is written to the time it is made. But thankfully Rumi did not have to face many problems.

Quiz Rumi about the difference between just writing a film and directing what he has written, and he retorts, “Same difference between driving your own car and getting a driver to drive it.”

Rumi, who has been in the industry for around 22 years now, wants to direct his own films and it is only when he finds something unique that he will write for any other filmmaker. “I have been writing for so long now that it is only when I get a kick out of it that I will write for someone else,” informs Rumi. Point taken, we say.

GGCH has been shot extensively in Bhopal and one of the recent reports suggests that it was Prakash Jha who had advised Rumi to do so. But Rumi is quick to clear any such misconceptions. In fact he says, “I have been advising people in the industry for the past 22 years to go and shoot in Bhopal. I am from Bhopal and it is a beautiful city, which is culturally alive and very artistic. In fact, it is interesting to see that all the great writers of Bollywood are from Bhopal.

Prakash Jha made two films in Bhopal and the people there got exposed to filmmaking and it became easy for me. It was interesting what Amitabh Bachchan said about shooting there, ‘Usually I want to get back home to Mumbai whenever I get a two-day break between shooting but while at Bhopal, I didn’t feel like leaving it’, such is the beauty of the city.”

What is interesting, however, is the star cast of the film, which has Akshaye Khanna and Shriya Saran in the lead. Talking about Akshaye, Rumi says, “Akshaye is a brooding actor and most of the time he likes to be alone and is quite choosy too, in terms of the films he does. He does take time to get comfortable.

But you just need somebody who will understand him. When I had the script ready, my unit members said that he would not do the film but he said yes immediately after reading the script. He and I actually share an old relationship right from the days of his Aa Ab Laut Chale, which was written by me and directed by Rishi Kapoor.

We have always wanted to work together but somehow were not getting the right script.”The film, which was made in a record time, is the fastest film that Rumi has ever made and he credits it to the involvement of the actors.

Television actors Shraddha Nigam and Mayank Anand have turned designers and they have been showcasing at the Lakme Fashion Week since the Summer Resort 2011 in March. Their collections have met with huge success and today they list out the top-10 rules of style that they think people should keep in mind when dressing up

Your underwear plays a pivotal role in your dressing up; buy good fitting and correct sized underwear. Ill-fitting underclothes tend to create unsightly bulges, which look absolutely horrendous.

Go for a look that suits you and your image. We don’t need to say this twice. Your clothes should reflect your own personal style.

The right accessory can make or break an outfit, so accessorise well. Even a simple outfit can be turned into a jaw dropping one just by merely playing with accessories.

Your shoes and your bag are the first things that people will notice about you. Often a great outfit is ruined because of tacky shoes, or a shabby bag. So put a lot of thought before picking the right kind of shoes and bags and also pairing them.

Dress appropriately for the occasion. Don’t wear jeans to a formal function, similarly, don’t wear something overtly revealing to an office party.

You can’t go wrong with the quintessential little black or for that matter a blue or brown dress. Just get your colour and fit right.

Sometimes less is more, especially when it comes to bling. Make sure to limit it.

Know your body type and dress to accentuate as opposed to hide. The more you try and hide your flaws, the more they have a tendency to show. Accentuate your assets instead.

Wear a perfume always! Smelling good is one of the essentials of dressing up well.

Get your hair styled or cut periodically and make sure your nails are well manicured.

FASHION MUST-HAVES

1. A pair of black stilettos
2. A crisp white shirt
3. A statement necklace
4. A layered maxi
5. A statement blouse, which can be teamed with any sari
6. A perfect pair of sunglasses
7. Basic denims
8. A go-with-all stole
9. A little black dress
10. Good perfume

Shriya Saran, who will be seen in the upcoming Hindi film Gali Gali Chor Hai, doesn’t mind taking a stand when required

There are a handful of stars from the South Indian film industry who enjoy a pan Indian presence and Shriya Saran is one of them. Though a North Indian, Shriya has enjoyed great success in the South Indian film industry be it Telugu or Tamil. Quiz the pretty lady if the mass appeal has helped her and she is quick to agree, “It helps to have a pan Indian image as people recognise you easily and connect with you. People speaking different languages connecting with you is by no way an easy feat.” She then goes on to add, “Though I will always remain obliged to the South Indian film industry which is my bread and butter. I am happy that I started my career here and this is where I have achieved success, I have been good, bad and ugly yet people here have always given me chances and accepted me.”

While Shriya has played a multitude of roles in different languages, her next release Rumi Jaffery’s directorial Gali Gali Chor Hai has Shriya playing a dance teacher. talking about the film, Shriya says, “Rumi is an acclaimed writer and his film is a satire on the corrupt system which is existent in our country currently. It’s an intelligent comedy which will make you come out thinking how you can stand up and bring about change.” She goes on to add, “It’s not a film about the blame game, rather it concentrates on the power that lies within the hand of a common man to change things.” It is a simple film based in Bhopal which is a beautiful city in itself. Going on to share more about the film and her role in it, Shriya says, “It’s is a well-crafted film which represents the audience in a particular way. Most of us get lost in our routine life and forget the deeper self and things around. In this film, I play the role of a small town girl married to Akshaye who teaches street children and her favourite character from history is Rani Lakshmi Bai but she is oblivious to the surroundings. It is only towards the end that she understands what her husband is going through and gets involved in the process of change.”

We wanted to know if Shriya has personally ever experienced corruption in real life. “Directly I have never had to face anyone corrupt so far, thankfully, but yes I have heard people having to give a bribe here and there to get their work done,” offers Shriya. “We Indians have a chalta hai attitude which is the main hindrance to change. Even to get a passport here, we get woven into corruption. It is so subtle that it doesn’t really hit us that much and we just move on without sparing much thought to it or else it will become hard to survive,” she says.

Shriya was working with a very interesting starcast in the film. Talking about Akshaye Khanna she says, “He is a very intense actor and very hardworking too. He comes prepared to the set and knows exactly what he is doing.” But it was Mugdha Godse with whom Shriya hit it off, “Mugdha is a very good friend, she used to always take care of me and we used to chill out together. We even worked out together and we had great fun on the sets,”says Shriya.

You don’t have to let go of fashion when you are pregnant and our celebrities know this really well

Whoever said that you have got to let go of style when you are pregnant, needs to take a lesson or two from our celebrities. During their pregnancies, none of these celebrities ever let go of their style quotient and always kept their comfort in mind. Their hectic schedules notwithstanding, the celeb brigade never compromised on their looks. If anything else, they would easily give the others a run for their cosmetic surgeons if not their money. Today we bring to you a list of celebs who looked impeccable even during their pregnancies.

Victoria Beckham

We have no doubts that if anyone were to lead the gang of stylish expectant mums, it has to be the former Spice Girl. Victoria is known for her fashion sense and she demonstrated it at the royal wedding too where she was dressed in a navy blue dress from her Victoria Beckham Autumn/Winter 2011 collection. It slightly showed off her baby bump and Victoria smartly accessorised it with a Philip Treacy hat which also added to her height. If the various pictures of baby Harper is anything to go by, then Victoria is sure rubbing off her fashion sense on to her little one early itself.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

The high profile Bachchan bahu attracted more media attention than any other when she welcomed Beti B into the world. During the entire term of her pregnancy, she preferred to remain indoors making selective public appearances. But when she did, Aishwarya made sure she did it in style. She seemed to prefer the anarkalis with heavy drapes to keep her baby bump well-hidden from prying eyes. Dressed in Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla churidars, the Bachchan bahu created a fashion statement.

Lara Dutta

Lara is one mum-to-be who doesn’t mind making public appearances, bump or no bump. She has been spotted at almost of the important events in town including the latest where she got to meet none other then talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey. But what remained common in all the events is Lara’s impeccable sense of style. Whether it was a short number or a long maxi dress of just a gown, Lara carried them off with elane, adding her name to the already long list of stylish celebs.

Shilpa Shetty

Now Shilpa is one fashionista from Bollywood who doesn’t seemed to have ever made a fashion faux pas and her winning streak continues even into her heavily pregnant term. Recently, when Shilpa made her appearance at an event with her husband by her side, she looked ethereal in an anarkali suit and the pregnant glow just added to her beauty.

Beyonce Knowles

The singer is a pretty lady with a great curvy figure and she loves to flaunt it too. The only person who can give tough competition to Shakira when it to comes to the shaking the hips is perhaps Beyonce but that’s not where it all ends. Beyonce, who also has a fashion line and recently gave birth to a girl Blue Ivy Carter, remained loyal to fashion during her term. Never was Beyonce spotted dressed in drab which many pregnant ladies tend to do.

Hillary Duff

This 24-year-old actor and singer has certainly taken a cue from the experienced ones and has kept her fashion sense intact. Recently, Hillary was seen with husband Mike Comrie, dressed in a skinny jeans and red stilettoes doing shopping around town. With the right accessories, Hillary seemed to get it right, right from the word go.

For a long time now, linen has been an integral part of men’s wardrobe, whereas when it comes to women, it seems to have limited usage

Let’s lay down the facts first. Linen is enjoyed by men more than women. While men have quite a few options when it comes to linen, be it jackets, pants or shirts, women don’t have to have so much variety. In fact, the usage of linen is limited in a woman’s wardrobe.

Ace designer, Wendell Rodricks says, “There are a lot of women, especially in the high-end clothing line, who have embraced linen. If linen has not reached the medium- or lower-range wardrobe, it is quite simply because of the price factor. It is four to eight times more expensive than cotton. Also, the creasing quality of linen, which is recognised as a sign of quality, is not appreciated by most Indians who have been brought up on a culture of smooth, starched cotton. Hence, linen will not find a place in all wardrobes in India. This is not unusual as even in the West, it is a premium fibre and found mainly on superior, high-priced racks.”

The price factor definitely makes a difference when it comes to choosing linen, but other factors cannot be ignored either. Linen does crease easily and it is also not a friendly fabric to wear during monsoons as it takes time to dry. Though, during summers it is preferred because of its high absorbency.

Linen makes for an aspiring fabric, which remains exclusive to high-end customers. It is one of the few fabrics that has inspired many a designer and has also led to the formation of the Linen Club. This is an exclusive club, which has leading designers of the country as its members. Rohit Bal, Narendra Kumar Ahmed and Michelle Salins are a few names associated with it.

Designer Pria Kataria Puri gives us her take on the usage of linen, “It is true that linen is a very high maintenance fabric, and in Mumbai’s humidity it is difficult to keep looking fresh in it since it tends to crumple easily. The trend these days is to dre­ss sharp and with linen you can’t re­a­lly do so since it is more associated with beach holidays and gives a rela­xed and laid-back look. It is not right for office wear and if we use lycra in it then it becomes synthetic and the whole idea of pure linen is lost. Personally, I find it uncomfortable to wear linen because of its unk­empt look. It is definitely not something that we can experiment with.”

Designer twins Riddhi and Siddhi Mapxencar think that women are very choosy when it comes to linen. Riddhi says, “It is not that women don’t have many options in linen, it’s because not all women are used to wearing linen outfits. It’s also because linen doesn’t have sheen (being a matt fabric), and a majority of women prefer a fabric with sheen.” Siddhi goes on to add, “Few grades of linen are transparent too; so when going for a linen dress you need to line it up with mal or cotton. Linens are most comfortable without any linings so women mostly prefer linen on tops or shirts instead of bottoms unless it’s made of a thicker grade of linen. However, many women these days are opting for linen because of its comfort value. Linen tops, shirts, shirt dresses and jackets work best for the corporate woman. Linen pants or trousers are also a very good option for summers!”

Well, we do see a difference in opinions when it comes to linen, but one thing is for sure, linen is a great fabric and women should experiment with it a little more often.

Model-turned-actor Shaurya Chauhan’s struggle is finally paying off as she now joins Hrithik in the second installment of Krissh

Shaurya is keeping a pretty tight schedule as she shuffles between promoting her film Sadda Adda, which releases today and trains for Krissh 2. Talking about her role in Sadda Adda, the former Kingfisher calendar girl says, “I play the role of a spoilt, rich Delhi girl called Shreya Gujral who has an adventurous streak. She is a strong-headed girl who doesn’t need anyone’s shoulders to cry on. If she loves somebody, then she doesn’t really like to shares their problems.”

But Shaurya is quick to clarify that there are no similarities between the character and her in real life. “There would be no fun in that case in doing the role!” she exclaims, going on to add, “In real life, if I am in love with somebody, I would love to share everything with that person and I will always be there for him. It was difficult for me to do the role because if it wasn’t balanced, it would turn into a negative character.”

While Shaurya didn’t really relate to the other aspects of the character, she did relate to the adventurous part of it. “I too, have an adventurous streak and I like to ride bikes and drive cars,” says Shaurya. It was perhaps this adventurous streak that got her the role in Krissh 2 where she has to perform a lot of stunts we hear. Though Shaurya remains tight-lipped about her role in the action-hero film, on prodding she did share some interesting information. “I play a negative role in Krissh 2 and it will be perhaps the best anybody has seen of me on screen. Rakesh Roshan has given me a great opportunity and he will be the first director to use my talent to its full potential. There is a lot of action in the film and I have been training for four hours every day, which will go on till I finish shooting for the film.

My schedule is quite hectic right now but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I want to do full justice to it. Rakesh Roshan has shown so much confidence in me, I don’t want to let him down,” explains the leggy beauty. We wanted to know if Hrithik has trained Shaurya for the film but apparently Hrithik is now busy taking care of his injuries and is training by himself. “I am training with a well-qualified fitness expert every day,” Shaurya informs us.

The Rajput beauty who did her schooling at Hyderabad considers herself a true Hyderabadi. “I have always loved this city and it gives me great pleasure when I see people from here making it big,” says Shaurya. The journey till here wasn’t an easy one; she has had her share of struggles. “I started off as a model in Hyderabad with just `500 and I still remember how much I had to struggle. Then I went to Bengaluru and Mumbai. It was a great experience and then Kingsfisher happened, after which I got into theatre,” reminisces Shaurya.

The actor then makes an honest confession, “You should see my earlier films, I was pathetic at acting, but my passion to learn kept me going. Now I have improved a lot and have been signed up for Krissh 2. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this successful franchise?” she questions, and adds, “Everyone has their share of struggles and when the time is right you get your due. My experiences have made me who I am and today I am getting my due. There is nothing that one can’t achieve.”

But there is one thing that the actress is unhappy about, she says, “I am from here but I haven’t done a Telugu film as yet. They go to Mumbai and get girls to come and work here, but also I understand they have their own requirements. But I am open to doing Telugu films and I would really like to work opposite the likes of Mahesh Babu and Ravi Teja.”

He is young, dynamic and is making the right moves. Designer Amalraj Sengupta is one of the few designers for whom creativity knows no boundaries. Today he lists his top 10 rules of style

Before dressing up, one needs to know and understand one’s body type. If you are on the heavier side, avoid wearing fitted clothes, it will make you look fat and bulky.

Dressing for the occasion is very important and one should always remember the occasion for which he or she is dressing up. It will help you from over or under dressing.

Always make sure to wear proper lingerie and please avoid showing off your lingerie. For then, you will not be making a style statement but instead be creating a fashion disaster.

Weather too, plays a very important role in one’s wardrobe and we should not miss out considering the weather. So before heading out, make sure you dress accordingly.

Shoes are an important part of an ensemble, so make sure to wear good and comfortable shoes. If you are just going for the show ignoring comfort, it will show up easily.

Guys should always have a good watch as it an important accessory while for girls, a nice clutch completes the look.

Colour is an important element to consider when choosing one’s wardrobe. Don’t go by the current trend or something that is acceptable in Bollywood; instead, consider your complexion and choose the colour that compliments it.

Men and women alike should choose outfits that have a good fit as it goes a long way in making one look smarter and confident.

And before building up a good wardrobe, make sure that you are neat, clean and hygienic so that your personality too, compliments the clothes.

Smelling good is also an important part of dressing up, so make sure that before stepping out, you wear a good perfume.

FASHION MUST-HAVES

FOR WOMEN

1. White shirt
2. Black shirt
3. Nice bright-coloured t-shirts
4. Denims
5. A little black dress
6. A nice pair of earrings
7. Good lingerie
8. A nice bag
9. Perfume
10. Good shoes

FOR MEN

1. White shirt
2. Black shirt
3. Well-fitted denims
4. White t-shirt
5. A nice casual jacket
6. A well-tailored suit
7. A good watch
8. Good shoes
9. A nice tie
10. Perfume

Bigg Boss season 5 came to an end days back but the winner, Juhi Parmar, is still trying to soak it all in

It was no surprise when Juhi Parmar was declared the winner of reality show Bigg Boss 5. There were quite a few similarities between this year’s winner and last year’s, both Shweta Tiwari and Juhi Parmar are soap opera queens. They have had their successful runs on television few years back and enjoyed some good audience connect. But the similarity doesn’t end there, while last year Shweta conducted herself in the Bigg Boss house with great care and was always diplomatic, Juhi also did the same. Quiz Juhi if it was her television persona, which helped her win the show and pat comes the reply, “Obviously the television shows do help you connect with the audience to a certain extent as they see you every day, especially if the show is a successful one. But beyond that, it all depends on the individual how one conducts oneself in the given atmosphere.”

Since the time she came out of the house, Juhi has been busy with interviews and catching up with friends and family. She is, however, looking forward to spending some time with her husband after she soaks in all the excitement.

The Bigg Boss experience has been a rollercoaster ride for Juhi. She says, “It was a fabulous experience. I had decided from the start that I will not be anyone else and live to be myself. It was difficult to witness so many fights and arguments, yet I managed to maintain my calm. I was glad to have made friends, when the rest made enemies,” says Juhi.

Muazzam Beg may not have received due credit for the story of Rockstar but the director has moved on and is looking forward to the release of his ‘first’ film

Though the Hindi film industry has opened up quite a bit to new filmmakers and 2011 itself saw around 70 directors make their debut, there are still challenges that have to be overcome. Finding producers is the biggest challenge of all and debutant director Muazzam Beg seconds this. “I took one-and-a-half years to find a producer who decided to take a risk after seeing the script,” he says, going on to add, “The challenges that I faced while making my latest movie Sadda Adda are actually a long story. Apart from looking for a producer, we also had a limited budget and we were required to do a lot of pre-production work. We shot in 35 locations and that too within 29 days.”

Muazzam’s film Sadda Adda is an autobiography of sorts as the story is based on his experiences in Delhi. “The film is about life on campus where people come from different universities with different professional degrees. Different people come to the metro but their lives truly begin only after their first jobs,” informs Muazzam. The film is about four such characters who share a house in Delhi and who become a family over a period of time. “The tagline of the film says, ‘without a fight you get nothing’ and that’s the same experience I had while making the film,” explains Muazzam.

This enthusiastic director had, in fact, decided on the subject a long time ago. He says, “I was living in Delhi, while studying at Jamia Millia Islamia, I shared an apartment with a few other boys and it was then that I decided that when I make a film it would be on this subject.”

Tell him that there are no stars in his film whatsoever and Muazzam is quick to retort, “Everybody has to start somewhere. Earlier people used to say that female-oriented films get critical acclaim only and they never become commercial hits but see what The Dirty Picture has done. I have also made my film with great expectations and it is based on life’s inspirations. People are open to see good films these days and they don’t mind the investments. Players is a great example; it had a great budget but look at its reviews; it hasn’t been able to garner any good ones. The youth is the target audience of my film and though there is risk involved everywhere, there is no guarantee of success either. I made a film from my heart and I am sure it will reach the people’s heart.”

While Sadda Adda is based on Muazzam’s observation, the recently released Rockstar was also based on the first-time director’s observations for which he never got due credit. “Rockstar’s plot was mine but Imtiaz Ali never accepted it publicly. At the end of the film when the credits roll there was a mention of my name but they have not given me credit separately. I felt bad and that’s why I went to the media, but now I have buried all that and have decided to move on,” says Muazzam who thinks that the art of storytelling has been lost in the recent times.

“India is lost in our times and in Sadda Adda I have tried to revive that lost spirit. We have good sensibility and our films should depict that. All great filmmakers try and reflect the society in their films and that’s what I have tried to do as well. I have made the movie for the audience and not for myself,” he says emphatically.

Muazzam has been a writer for the past eight years but he is now looking forward to only direct films. Signing off, he says, “I will not write for anyone else, a film needs nurturing like a baby. Mostly things go wrong in the screenplay, which is the most important part of filmmaking. With different sensibilities of the writer and director,it tends to go wrong and from now onwards, I will avoid that.”

Director Hriday Shetty makes films not projects and is comfortable spacing them out

Pretty much everyone has the same question for Hriday Shetty, why is there so much time between all his films? “I have never given it a thought,” muses Hriday, going on to add, “I was busy setting up my production house plus there was no good script that excited me coming my way. Filmmaking for me is a passion; it’s not just bread and butter. I knew only two things — to drive a car and to make films and I poured my heart and soul into the second.” He then questions, “If a script is not able to excite me then how can I excite others?”

According to Hriday, he doesn’t make projects, he makes films. “If you keep a DVD of my film in your shelf long after it is released then I am happy. I have always said that I am neither a trendsetter nor a follower. I believe in exploring myself, and as long as my producers recover their investment and I get to make what I want, I am happy,” says Hriday.

In his upcoming film Challis Chauraasi, Hriday has managed to put together a great cast with stalwarts like Naseeruddin Shah, Kay Kay Menon, Atul Kulkarni and Ravi Kissen. Prod him about it and Hriday says, “There was no choice when the script was being written,

I like the script to come up first and then the cast. So we had no actors in mind while writing, it was after its completion that I thought of the cast.”

It’s a complete makeover for these actors as they will be seen in different avatars. “For them it was exciting as they had never ventured into this territory before. But they are not ordinary actors and are always looking for challenges. The script got the cast excited and they readily agreed to do the film as they were also eager to work with each other. It was beneficial for us because you then know exactly which actor plays which character. For us it was a challenge to break the intense-actor image and we have achieved that,” explains Hriday, who loved the experience of working with these actors.

The title of the film Challis Chauraasi is actually the number of the police van in which these four cops drive around in the film. Hriday then tells us more about the plot, “The film is about four undercover cops who are out for midnight patrolling and the story is based on this one night. These men are on a mission and they want to pull it off all by themselves. My film is a blend of crime and comedy and is inspired from a real-life incident. We have tried to tell a story, which is interesting and has not been seen before. One doesn’t know what’s in store for them next, just like the actors.”

But it is perhaps the van with the number 4084, which is the backbone of the film and is a character in itself. “I was clear that I did not want to use the van just as a prop; instead, it is an important character. Then we wondered what to put on the number plate and we came up with 4084,” quips Hriday.

Director Rohit Shetty’s brother Hriday did not want any heroines for the film. “I set out to make an honest presentation of a film and not a gimmick. People ask me, ‘Why is there no glamour value in your film?’ And I ask them back, ‘How do you know there is no glamour?’ My star cast and the title is the USP of the film and there is no space for a heroine,” clarifies Hriday.

In a country obsessed with fair skin, dusky seems to be making its way to the forefront. But can it stay there? We find out

We have grown up watching various skincare companies selling fairness creams on television; not surprising considering that ours is a country where people are basically dusky. While our Western counterparts are trying out various ways to get a tan, we on the other hand are trying to get fairer. Maybe that also explains why models from overseas are the rage here while our dusky breed is ruling the runways abroad.

Bangalore-based dusky model Archana AK for one has been signed up by the Elite modelling agency and she is soon shifting her base to Paris. Does this say something? “When it comes to commercials, I have been told that I am not fit for the Indian market. Here in India we have a product called Fair and Lovely and abroad, the same company has something called, Dark and Lovely as there they love the Indian skin tone. And when it comes to ramp and high fashion, dusky models are not only accepted but also appreciated,” informs Archana.

She further adds, “For the ramp, the way we carry ourselves is important, our complexion is something that is God-given.

Yes, we are racist in our own way. We have Brazilian models capturing the Indian market because they are fair and we cannot shine in our own market. All the jobs are given to models from abroad, whereas Indians are appreciated abroad. I would say it’s this industry’s loss as I am moving to Paris very soon and I will come back a winner. I am blessed with a dusky complexion and I love my skin.”

But a lot of people including fashion guru Prasad Bidapa say otherwise. He says that dusky is in and very much in demand in the fashion industry here. He says, “Most supermodels, whether it is a Carol Gracias, Sheetal Malhar, Noyonika Chatterjee or Nina Manuel are dusky, so there’s no doubt that on the runway, dusky skin is preferred. There are no stigmas attached. One good thing about the fashion industry is that it’s not racist, it accepts any race, religion and creed.”

From a distance, it does look like the fashion industry is more acceptable than any other glamour industry when it comes to skin colour, though the truth might not be that pretty.

Former model and now hair-stylist Sangita Raj agrees with Archana on the discrimination in commercials. “I have always been appreciated and envied for my colour! But during auditions for commercials, the choice has always been fair skin. Though they allow you to audition, it’s a waste of time because they are in two minds. It’s a mix of their perceptions and the media’s requirements, so, no one can really change it,” she says with a resigned sigh and adds, “For instance, Fair and Lovely had Garima on its cover because she is dark and stunning, but afterwards the girls in the ad were changed. Have you ever seen Nina Manuel in an ad? Carol Gracias has one ad — Nokia, where she dances but it’s a blink-and-miss shot. I know my market and I won’t do ads that are not believable.” Is it the same story for the males too? Choreographer Rahul Dev Shetty, who was a model himself, says, “I guess we still suffer from the fairness complex. During my days it was just becoming accepted and a dusky model had to be twice as good looking to be noticed. I guess the skin colour should work in Europe but as long as we believe that fair skin is better or more beautiful and more successful, dusky models will find it difficult to get commercial work.” We have people like Vidisha Pavate, Tinu Verghese, Diandra Soares, Lakshmi Menon and more who are great models making their presence felt globally but finding acceptability in the Indian market remains a challenge.

Making her debut in the Gen Next category of Lakmé Fashion Week is city-based designer Archana Rao and it’s a great moment for her

“For me it’s a dream come true. This is the first time I tried for Lakmé Fashion Week at the Gen Next category and I got selected,” exclaims a visibly excited Archana Rao. The 26-year-old designer, who is a graduate of NIFT Hyderabad, has a masters degree from the US has been selected from a host of other applicants to be a part of the upcoming season of LFW.

Archana, who is currently a senior designer at NSL Textiles, has also worked in New York for a while before making her way back to Hyderabad.

“I am essentially a womens-wear designer and I also design accessories like bags and shoes, but, at NSL I am designing menswear,” quips Archana who was deeply influenced by films in her pursuit to become a designer.

“My love for clothes and all things beautiful began long ago. I used to watch a lot of movies while growing up and the only thing that remained with me was the memory of the costumes,” reminisces Archana fondly.

Archana likes the art of storytelling and her collection for LFW is going to do the same. “I have been doing menswear for a year now and my womenswear collection has been inspired from menswear. The collection is very efficient and though I have named it Prologue, the title doesn’t have anything to do with the collection. Prologue is more about me making my first ap­pea­rance at LFW,” informs Ar­chana about her collection that is made of high-processed fabrics interwoven with handloom. “The fabrics that I have used are not necessarily from Hyderabad alone but from all over AP and they also include Ikat. I have worked closely with weavers from Pochampally while designing this particular collection. There is a coarse effect to an otherwise fluid collection, the designs show a contrast between the contemporary and the ancient,” shares the designer who has also used a little bit of zardozi in the collection.

The collection is very simple and has a soft colour palette and I have used indigo as the key colour. “I used indigo to give it a dye effect,” explains Archana, going onto add, “The collection consists of jackets, stylised trousers and dresses, which are tailored and structured.”

Archana left a lot of room for styling in the collection since she wants to personalise them according to the tastes of her clients.

“You can see the simple style hidden in the detailing of the garments. An interesting thing about the collection is

accidental design, it’s something done on purpose but looks accidental. My creations have a strong sense of style and it is, especially made for women like Alexa Chung, Chloe Sevigny and Lakshmi Menon,” explains Archana who feels that her designs are wearable, useful and efficient.

“I think of fashion as functional art and I want to make things that you can touch and feel. My aesthetic is minimalistic, contemporary and understated.

“I like playing with the structure of the garment and experimenting with various proportions. Texture and prints are also something that I am interested in developing,” says the young designer.

According to her, there has been a lot of change in the Hyderabad fashion scene over the past few years. She says, for instance, street fashion is making inroads into the city. “With more people travelling, one can see a diversity in style in the city and I really like the style of those people selling their wares at the traffic signals. There was a shirt over a lehenga, which I found chic, I think people should look around themselves more and use what is available to style themselves,” signs off Archana.

The sari has inspired fashionistas all around the world but some of Bollywood’s beauties have done more than justice to the alluring attire

Dancing in the rain with chiffon saris, dream sequences in flowy fabrics or attending award functions in those designer creations, our actresses have done it all and have looked gorgeous.

The sari was earlier mostly limited to the screens, but over time, it has been given its due and nowadays most actresses are choosing the sari over Western outfits for all occasions, even on the red carpet.

The sari has often been described as ‘the apparel that covers all… yet reveals all’. What is it that adds so much allure? We find out.

Sridevi

Remember her hot and sizzling number in Mr India? Well, there is definitely something about Sridevi and the sari only enhances it; the actress stands tall and to see her in one is mesmerising. So, whether it is attending a wedding or just making an appearance on the big screen, Sridevi in a sari always makes heads turn.

Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa looks good in anything she wears and her figure is perfect for just about anything. So when she wears a sari, she looks nothing less than a diva and she has proved that time and again. Her height and hour-glass figure makes for a great frame for draping the sari and she appears like a dream, giving a lot of her contemporaries sleepless nights.

Rekha

What can we say about her collection of Kanjeevaram saris? We rarely see her in anything else other than the beautiful weaves. Glamourous and sensuous, Rekha looks celestial and her beauty and grace just add to the effect. She perhaps has the largest collection of Kanjeevaram saris and she always teams them up with the right jewellery. Trust Rekha to always deliver a stunner whenever she has to make a public appearance.

Mandira Bedi

She is the one who made noodle straps famous on Indian television while commenting on cricket. While her fashion sense made more news than her commenting, we can surely forgive Ms Bedi for it. The lady sure has us stumped with her beauty and dressing sense. Not the one to stick to conventions, Mandira has always grabbed eyeballs and her choice of saris with those noodle strap cholis could still give a lot of actresses a run for their money.

Vidya Balan

From Parineeta to Ishqiya and from Paa to The Dirty Picture, Vidya has romanced the sari like no other. She personifies Indian beauty and looks the best in the timeless piece of elegance. While on one hand she has been ridiculed for her dressing sense when it comes to Western wear, Vidya has not only sizzled but also won over many hearts when she wears the sari. Over the years, she has learnt the right way to impress and has stuck to the sari when it comes to any kind of major appearance she has to make. A smart move, Ms Balan.

Celina Jaitley

It doesn’t matter that Celina has been unable to make an impression with her films, but when it comes to wearing the sari, she definitely does make heads turn. Celina has more often than not promoted the sari. Whenever she has to make a public appearance, whether it is for the promotion of her films, award functions or chat shows, Celina has stuck to the sari. She is one of the handful few in the industry who understands its elegance.

Kulraj Randhawa has had a slow start in Bollywood but the actress is hopeful that 2012 will be a good year for her

She shot to fame thanks to her much appreciated role as Kareena on the television serial Kareena Kareena but Kulraj Randhawa has come out of that shadow and is now slowly but steadily making her way into Bollywood. Unlike most newcomers, the actor is taking it slow by being extremely careful with the films she chooses and has made sure that she does not have too much on her plate in a given year. While last year it was the comic caper Yamla Pagla Deewana with the Deols, this year she will be seen in a romantic comedy directed by Samir Karnik titled Char Din Ki Chandni, in which she is paired opposite Tusshar Kapoor.

This is perhaps the first time Kulraj will play a pivotal role in a film. “I did Chintuji with Rishi Kapoor where I played an important role but unfortunately the film wasn’t promoted well. In Yamla Pagla Deewana, I played a sweet girl but there was not much scope for performance, however, Char Din Ki Chandni is going to change all of that. Here, I am getting a great opportunity and it’s a complete package,” shares Kulraj who is happy with how her character has shaped up in the film.

Talking about her role, she says, “I play this well-educated NRI Punjabi girl who falls in love with a Rajasthani boy.” Char Din Ki Chandni is about four days that are spent during a wedding in Rajasthan. It shows the clashes between Punjabi and Rajasthani cultures. “It is a fun film and is a complete entertainer,” informs Kulraj.

The entire schedule of the film was shot in Rajasthan and Kulraj had good fun on the sets and she terms it as her “favourite outdoor shoot ever”. “Every film is a great learning experience and this one in particular is my favourite because I got to interact with senior actors. I learnt and picked up a lot of interesting tips on acting,” quips an excited Kulraj.

Talking about working with Tusshar Kapoor, Kulraj says, “I was quite surprised after working with Tusshar, he is more than willing to absorb anything new. He is always ready to listen and we shared great onscreen chemistry. Tusshar has done justice to his role in the film and has come out as a different person.”

On a more personal note we inquire if there was any truth in the reports that Kulraj and Samir Karnik have been seeing each other. Kulraj is quick to refute all reports and instead praises him for his directorial abilities. “Samir as a director is just great and anyone will be willing to work with him. He made sure to explain the character in detail and so I jumped at it as the role as it excited me a lot. Samir is confident and interactive as a director and clear about what he wants from his actors,” offers Kulraj.

For Kulraj, who belongs to a non-filmy background, breaking into Bollywood was quite a struggle. “My father is from the army and to understand the industry, I took some time. I couldn’t underplay nor go overboard with the acting. I was looking for the right sort of scripts and was choosy about the cast and crew I worked with, which I think is a good thing to do as it shows my calibre,” says Kulraj, going on to add, “I always try to be one step ahead by performing in different mediums, whether it be regional or Hindi films. I never had a mentor, I just met different people and learned since I can’t follow anyone blindly. Everyone has their own perception, and I just went with the flow. Destiny has an important role to play, and I have not been over confident. I am happy with my work so far and don’t see myself doing anything other than this. Films are serious business which some people fail to understand, they think it’s just about picnics and make-up.”

We get the drift Kulraj!

Every year we see new trends making their presence felt in the fitness industry and this year was no exception, with Zumba topping the charts

This year fitness enthusiasts have given the traditional methods of keeping fit a pass and have chosen the fun and interesting way of staying fit. Heading to the gym has become passe with more and more people now opting to dance their way to fitness.

Bengaluru-based fitness expert Wanitha Ashok gives us a roundup, “2011 had a variety of workouts to cater to the growing numbers of fitness buffs and enthusiasts and group classes continued to be the trend. Apart from aerobics other group classes were spinning, RPM, aqua aerobics, salsa, Bollywood dancing, body jam, power yoga, pilates, belly dancing, zumba etc.

They gained popularity as they are music based and have set choreography. Jukari is yet another interesting workout using bands and was popular in certain cities only. TRX and Kettlebell training have just entered the fitness scene and will be seen next year too.”
Zumba sure has taken the lead in 2011 and was a rage all over. Celebrity fitness expert Deanne Panday agrees, “In India, Zumba has caught on and cross-fit training too has become popular.

 A lot more people were seen taking to yoga which I think in a way is good, considering the stressful lives we lead.” Deanne however is concerned that people are working out for the wrong reasons.  She says, “Last year there was an emphasis on a lot of wrong things, people are working out too much and have become obsessed with their looks.

What people need to understand is that they need to have a holistic approach, very few think that way, but I feel in another four to five years everyone will go organic. Instead, meditation should become an integral part of one’s life, and people should indulge in more outdoor activities. “
Every few months, some new trend comes up and people take to it and when they get bored, they get b

ack to the basics. City-based fitness professional Gavin Holt says, “The latest fad is of course Zumba. Every couple of months something comes up and people run for it, they feel that their normal workout routine gets monotonous and look for variety. People try everything only to get back to the basics. Some have tried things like the power yoga and hot yoga, and a host of new things and even a combination of everything, it’s interesting for sometime but then when it becomes a routine people get bored.”

2011 also saw a lot more people becoming fitness conscious. “I see that the reciprocation from customers is much more, they want to be fitter and look better. Earlier they used to take it easy, but now fit people want to maintain themselves and they motivate others in the gym. The unfit ones don’t shy away either,in fact they are even more motivated and mix with people who train hard,” shares Gavin.

Wanitha agrees with Gavin and adds, “Yes, it has remarkably gone up as more and more people are getting aware of the importance of exercising and media I must say has played a very important role in this as these days they carry a lot of awareness and motivational articles. In general, people now use workout spaces to hang out and socialise too.  Additionally some leading fitness clubs offer everything under one roof with an option of choosing different workout routines every day.

This allows the client to beat boredom and sustain the workouts. Hence, the results are amazing. And people have realised that investing in good clubs and working out under certified trainers will not only give them results but also give them injury free workouts.”

Wanitha also forecasts some fitness trends for 2012, she says, “Zumba, Aqua Aerobics and Power yoga will continue to rule the roost this year too as both are equally popular workout regimes due to the hype and the results. TRX and Kettlebell along with PT express workouts will pave the way for this year. Pilates is here to stay, along with group classes like Less Mills and aerobics as they have always been popular.”

Movie buffs are in for a grand treat with the number of films releasing this year. We take a look at the most anticipated movies set for the screens

Last year saw quite a few surprises, while Shah Rukh Khan’s illustrious project Ra.One failed to impress industrywallahs, Vidya Balan’s raunchy act in The Dirty Picture went on to make it a top grosser. Next year there are quite a few films that have raised the curiosity levels.

1. Agneepath

Vijay Deenanath Chauhan will grace the screen again but this time it will not be Big B but Hrithik Roshan who will be essaying the role. Karan Johar is producing the film and newbie director Karan Malhotra will be helming this remake. Going by the buzz it has created, we just need to wait and watch what both the Karans have in store for us. And while at that, don’t miss Katrina Kaif sizzling as Chikni Chameli and Sanjay Dutt’s larger than life villainous character.

2. Heroine

The makers of Heroine were left in the cold when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan announced her pregnancy. While producers UTV and director Madhur Bhandarkar contemplated shelving the project, out came Kareena Kapoor as a saviour. Based on the film industry, this is one film that has everyone’s attention.

3. Ek Tha Tiger

Set to release in Eid 2012, Ek Tha Tiger has Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead. Produced by Yashraj Films and directed by Kabir Khan, this film has raised quite a few eyebrows not to mention expectations. With the former lovers acting opposite each other, we can surely expect some crackling chemistry.

4. Dhoom 3

Any Aamir Khan movie is always an anticipated one because we all know that the perfectionist only does movies that are worth talking about. And especially if he is playing villain in a hit franchise, the expectations are even higher. To be released in December 2012, speculations regarding the cast kept the movie in the news for most of last year.

5. Barfee

Well, we all know who the new rockstar of Bollywood is and when he is playing a deaf and dumb man in a film, we all are curious to see how he fares. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are referring to Ranbir Kapoor and his next film Barfee being directed by Anuraag Basu. The film also has Priyanka Chopra and Ileana in the lead and if reports are something to go by, there has been a lot exchange of cold vibes between the two leading ladies.

6. Shanghai

After having directed laugh riots like Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and Khosla Ka Ghosla, Dibakar Banerjee is on an all time high. Shanghai is his next offering. In fact, with it being a political thriller, the stakes of it being a hit are even higher. We all know of Dibakar’s directorial and storytelling abilities and with Abhay Deol playing one of the leads, the film cannot be anything but a success.

7. Agent Vinod

This baby is Chote Nawab Saif Ali Khan’s home production. It has been in the news for quite sometime now and has experienced a lot of roadblocks. Finally February will see the film hit the theatres. While Kareena will have Heroine, Saif will have Agent Vinod  to look forward to.

8. Once Upon A Time Again

Milan Luthria delivered not only a hit but a great film with Once Upon A Time In Mumbai. He followed that up with the latest blockbuster The Dirty Picture. So, it is only but normal to have raised the audience’s expectations. The sequel to OUTIM will have Shahid Kapur and Akshay Kumar. It only remains to be seen if it will deliver.

9. Student of The Year

When Karan Johar directs a film we all know that it will be a sure shot hit. Karan has once again donned the director’s hat for Student of The Year which will have a couple of newbies making their debut. Alia Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter and Varun Dhawan, David Dhawan’s son will be making their debut. We will have to wait and watch if these director dads have tutored their wards well.

10. Chashme Buddoor

Directed by David Dhawan, this will be a remake of the old Chashme Buddoor which had Farooq Sheikh and Deepti Naval playing lead roles. The remake is going to have a host of actors, including veteran actor Anupam Kher in a triple role. The film will also star Pakistani singer and actor Ali Zafar in an important role.

Challenges are aplenty for models. The constant threat of being replaced by a younger face being one of them. ?We find out more about the reality of the fashion world

Leading a glamourous life isn’t as easy it sounds, more so for the fashion models whose source of income depends on their looks. During the time of Arjun Rampal and Milind Soman, who were the last supermodels, competition was negligible.

But no less cut-throat. The lure of the glamour world has always existed, youngsters influenced by what they see who are willing to go to any lengths to belong to this industry. But this kind of herd mentality definitely poses a challenge.

One needs to start early in this field in order to secure a spot in the top few or for that matter, get noticed even. Seasoned experts however advise that it is always wise to have a back-up profession as this is usually short-lived. But unfortunately not many youngsters realise that and become models tempted by the hype and fame that surrounds this profession.

Rahul Dev Shetty, former model turned choreographer has been there and done that. He tells us more about his previous line of work,”Competition, getting the right break, doing the right jobs, invest it and then what?. This question mark is one of the biggest challenges that a model faces.”

But competition comes second only to the short shelf-life, opines model Arry Dabas. Arry was introduced to the industry by Prasad Bidapa, whom he holds in the highest light. He says, “There is lot of competition, the casting couch exists here, the compensation is less and the modelling career as such is a short-lived one.” Arry at present is looking to get into films and has already started his search for the right opportunity.

While acting in films is a natural progression for many, some like to have their education in place before starting their career. The likes of Tony Lukeand Sahil Shroff are such examples, Tony in fact has a very interesting take on the whole issue. He says, “A lot of challenges exist and you probably must have heard of them all. It’s like a computer virus. They keep coming and there are more where they come from.”

Remaining in the industry without being carried away by distractions that the profession brings, is a tough job. Not many are there whocan handle the pressures of this kind of hectic life. Staying grounded is important.

 Model Faith Pandey knows it only too well,she says,”Modelling is a profession which is based largely on demeanour. And if you don’t have a firm head on your shoulders, there are chances that one might find oneself carried away by the fame and be caught up in the emptiness of vanity.”

Apart from taking care of one’s face, staying fit and in shape is a must for every model and it pays in the industry to have a good body. “You always have to be well-groomed and fit.

 Sporting new looks every season is what gets the clients’ attention and you have to deliver to knock off the monotony,” says Zoheb Yousuf, a model.Coping with the stress is also another challenge in the industry, keeping up with the hectic schedule and demanding profession is not too easy.

The Indian fashion scene has been very vibrant in 2011 as it has a new target audience. Different trends surfaced and made their presence felt, some fizzled out as soon as they came and some are here to stay. All in all, variety was the order of the day

Every season is exciting for fashion since it’s so mobile. Trends keep changing every day and fashion icons across the world come up with something new constantly. While the most basic changes take place every passing season, trends that become popular go on to stay longer. 2011 also saw a lot of swing in terms of fashion. Colour blocking was something that was perhaps the most remarkable one. We bring you the designers’ perspectives.

“Fashion this year has adopted the mantra of emphasising individuality, a tool used to create your own identity,” says internationally celebrated designer Sanchita Ajjampur, going on to add, “Come spring, summer, winter or fall, there is no trend in India at all — trends tend to stay the same from season to season. 2012 sees the world prepared for a fresh start — to enter a new state of wonder and sophistication. The fashion industry, this year, has taken the longer, non-traditional route considering the lifespan of a product in its entirety. A new design direction emerges as we pay respect to originals. The introduction of a touch of the unexpected is the Faux Real product that has its own message pushing design boundaries, questioning aesthetic preconceptions and finding new applications.”

Fashion this year has been more versatile and that goes beyond the obvious choice of fabric colour and pattern, which allow them to be adapted to any taste or style.

One interesting thing that fashion guru, Prasad Bidapa points out is that women in India this year have started investing more in shoes as compared to earlier. “Women spend enough money on clothes and accessories, but they often ignore the shoes. Good shoes are an investment and this year I have noticed women wearing better shoes. The other trend, which I noticed was that a lot more colour was to be seen. The LBD, which is a European concept, is popular among Indian women too, but there was a distinct departure from it. It was also interesting to see people investing in jewellery despite the recession, and it was less of European and more of Indian designs. It was also good to see the Roman sandals being shown the door, which I personally never liked,” he says.

With regards to menswear, there was a return to basic and masculine trends, “Floral patterns disappeared and the masculine look was in. In terms of looks, there was a strong return to our roots,” opines Prasad.

Throwing a little more light on men’s fashion in India this year, Bangalore-based designer, Paresh Lamba says, “Velvet was probably the biggest influence in men’s jackets this year. The Indian look was really big — the bandhgala jacket and its many avatars were big hits and so were the Jodhpurs. Nudes were big in menswear too. There was a reassertion of structured clothing, especially post Diwali and linen was big during summers and the unstructured jacket in linen were big hits during that season too. The silhouette was slim and lean.”

For women, the sari, especially in chiffon was a big hit. Printed sleeveless dresses that morph into tunics when worn over trousers create a chic look. Easy A — line ‘60s shifts, dynamic Grecian drapery, asymmetric off the one shoulder styles, with reinvented folds, pleats and ornamental details are some of the takeaways.

This year, knitwear also gained popularity, which balances the play between a masculine and feminine ‘70s vibe with elongated, slim-fit knit separates in the form of skinny ribs and skirt-sets. The new designs for this year added a modern twist to old classics but also transcend those boundaries to create something new. One can check the global luxury collections. The heritage of the future is being created now and the result is a sublime mix of non-traditional, super-hybrid influences.

Nisha Jamvwal’s on what women will be buying

The big rule for 2012 is to break rules and be liberated in choices. To create trends than be a wannabe, who follows fashion trends blindly. And the greatest accessory for the year 2012 is a smile. Believe it or not , it is the first time that a YSL campaign has the model smiling. The colours for the year are golds, oranges, pinks, salmon and neutrals.

Patterns, prints and embellishments — the sea, which has been one of my favourite inspirations in fashion is here in a big way, representing peace, tranquility and meditative calm. Prints leaning towards baroque design, abstract art motifs reminiscent of Mondrian, deep sea designs with starfish and shells, digital prints, bird prints will be seen predominantly.

Silhouettes are soft and flowing, flirty with feminine details and whimsical carefree drapes are big.

The 1920s drop waist is big and it’s back and the waist is at the hip.

Paresh Lamba on the changes men’s wardrobe will see Checks will rule — in structured and unstructured garments. Colours like fuchsia, lavender, purple, yellow, mint green, lime green etc, will be the ones to go for this summer.

The silhouette will become slightly more relaxed, but the slimmer look will prevail. There will be more regional influences in dressing. Ornate would come in with more force and the festive season will see more bling.

Sanchita Ajjampur gives us the dos and don’ts

Wearing loose clothes instead of clothes that fit properly and close to the body without being too snug is one of the bad trends people follow. Party dresses worn all black can be replaced with feminine and a stylish floaty. A-line dresses always work and the trick lies in the fact that a floaty dress will enhance the blending of the upper and lower part of the legs, creating a uniform and polished look.

‘Jeggings’ for men did not make the cut and therefore did not last too long this 2011. The boyfriend jeans played their role this year but are now being overshadowed by leggings and well-fitted denims.

The world might be warming up to and embracing plus size models with much celebration but is India ready to catch up with the rest of the world?

While Indians in general have a fixation for big bottoms and bigger bosoms, they are yet to apply the same logic when it comes to models. But the fashion industry is still smitten with skinny models walking down the ramp. There is a section of plus sized models in the country but they are lesser known and to be honest, lesser appreciated.

Though many would claim they do not have the right to comment on anyone’s body type, going by the affinity towards skinny models, it is pretty much clear where their loyalties lie.

Whatever else be a matter of debate we can all agree that by and large, India is ruled by Bollywood. One of the most clichéd but apt examples here would be how the whole nation went gaga over actor Kareena Kapoor’s size zero.

Young girls barely out of college, were so ‘inspired’ that they started going to extremes to achieve the same and in the process ended up harming themselves.

Model Faith Pandey says, “I think the concept of having plus sized models to display plus sized clothes is essential and welcome at the same time. Moreover beauty isn’t something that is contained in a 26 inch waist. It is bigger and beyond in the most literal sense. But of course in India, like most other things, it will take a longer time to warm up to this idea. Probably because our opinion of beauty is very parochial.”

“It takes time to break away from these mental blocks, for example, the colour bias between fair and dark-skinned models and actors is way better now but somehow somewhere it still exists. However, in the West, the number of large-sized people outnumber those in India. So in this regard, not everyone can relate to what they see,” she adds.

It was perhaps a year ago when the cover of the fashion magazine V was graced by plus size model, Crystal Renn, who became an icon for big women everywhere. In a fabulous photoshoot, V put a plus sized and a regular model in the same clothes and both looked great in the get-up, both made the clothes look good. More and more people abroad are now opening up to the concept of plus size models but though Indian women have always been curvy, we still find it difficult to accept fuller models.

Designer Sanjay Hingu says, “If you look at the current scenario, internationally the trend of using plus size models has only started of late and purely because of massive criticism and flak from the society due to the impact skinny models have had on the mindsets of young teenagers who want to get into this area of work.”

He goes on to add, “Indian women have always been curvy and with a good amount of flesh in appropriate places, the recently released The Dirty Picture establishes my faith again in what I just said. Some actresses have tried to go the zero figure way but have failed to cast an impression and I am glad because if teenagers had to start following blindly what they see in glossy magazines than we will have a society of skeletons moving around us.”

Articles and fashion news about size zero illustrated with pictures of glamorous, rail-thin celebrities and models whose ribs were countable through their couture dresses had the shock factor and had many people up in arms.

“Size zero was a fad and was appreciated in both Bollywood and Hollywood movies but societies across the world have started moving towards healthier and fitter lifestyles and desire women to look sexier, sensual and smart.

The beauty of a woman lies in her curves, vibrancy and intelligence and personality and not in being rakishly thin and unbalanced,” says internationally celebrated designer Sanchita Ajjampur.

She goes on to add, “We live in a society which has a deeply disturbed attitude towards food, nurture and consumption; we need to educate young children and girls that their growing bodies and normal desires are acceptable and that they must not be starve.

Recent developments in the fashion world also point to the return of curves on the ramp, with designers going in for fuller models as openers and showstoppers on the runway, compared to earlier days, when thinner models ruled the domain. I would say, we do design for ‘real people’ now!”

Designer Abdul Halder is known for ethnic and western wear for both men and women. Today he lists 10 rules for men to keep in mind while dressing up

A lot of us tend to go wrong when it comes to footwear. One should be extra cautious when teaming your footwear with your outfit.

Always pair up the right kind of shoes with your ensemble, it makes sense to have one pair of each kind.

Day and night bring on different moods and this applies to dressing as well. Make sure to dress up for the occasion.

A little over the top dressing makes you look loud and often ends up in a disaster. Try and keep it as simple as possible.

What a lot of men don’t get is that hairstyle should complement one’s height and face cut. So the next time you are at the hairdresser’s get a style that fits the bill.

Clean is in, so try and do away with the stubble which anyway doesn’t suit many.

Lean is in too. Bulging muscles or extra fat in the body is unattractive to the opposite sex and it does not looks posh either.

Well-behaved men always look more fashionable than the ones who are not. They are also a hit with the opposite sex, so stay well-behaved and stay stylish.

Always wear a smile, it is the best accessory you own and it will help you in the long run.

Men have access to limited accessories, of which the watch is the most important. Pairing the right watch with your outfit enhances the look.

Make sure not to wear too many accessories like women.

The 10 must-haves

1. White linen shirt
2. Great shoes to team with every look
3. Pair of blue denims
4. Watches, they add a lot of weight to your personality
5. A decent belt
6. Hot cufflinks
7. Cool shades, keeping in mind your face cut
8. White linen pants
9. A well-fitted suit. A three piece also looks cool
10. A plain V-neck t-shirt, if you have a good body to carry it off else, it’s a total disaster