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Debuting on the web for the Log on to hindustantimes.com/brunch first time, the exclusive interview with Imran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha and a peep into their Damn Good Life!

Man hater

If you succeed in Bollywood, the world is really at your feet.

Just ask the Dabangg girl Sonakshi Sinha and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na boy Imran Khan!

Trend Reports

We’re Logged On

6 SPRING INTO FALL 18

Get a complete lowdown on how the Fall fashions from the runways are going to shape your wardrobe in the coming season.

facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Riz Rehman Rajiv Makhni , no we are not entering the dark age of technology, we can see more light at the end of tunnel.

Glide through the change as Summer turns to Fall with our guide to transition fashion.

Mahesh Adiani Very interesting n informing material.

Rachna Ghai Gogia Always like Seema Goswami’s articles. Very true description of office culture.

INDULGE

Rohini Murthy Seema goswami sure has a knack to convert even mundane topics into interesting one...Brunch ...u have an amazing set of columnists like seema, rajiv etc..Great going team Brunch!

Lance Love Her observation is really profound! The way she scribes is really awesome!

LIVE

Public Figures; Private Lives

It’s time to make the case for privacy, as social media creates personas for us all

Anmol Malhotra Do u even know about a brand called HTC+???????

It’s only HTC..

Raj Verma HT Brunch makes me weekend complete!

Calling All Tweeple twitter.com/HTBrunch @divinapereira @Seemagoswami I hope when I start working, I don’t have to encounter with jerks like you mentioned! @rkhatumria @RajivMakhni #smallevent 2 just to be sure that they can get to showcase hardware implementation standards as high as Apple’s.

Hotels charge what they think the market can bear. There is no set formula.

PLAY

@maninderpals HT Brunch tech article has become hilarious even more funny is people tweeting to thank writer on knowledge they gain out of it :p @thesatbir @TandonRaveena your interview in HT Brunch today and mine in HT. Write to brunchletters@hindustantimes.com For marketing and ad-related queries, contact Suresh Tripathi 09818899646

A Deadly Case Of Upgradeitis

PRATEIK

On my self-inflicted home theatre rebuild journey, here’s what I’ve learned so far

The actor on who he wants performing at his wedding and why he’d like to be Batman

LISTEN

All Mixed Up (And Boxed In)

If you grew up in the Seventies or wish you had, download this mixtape – now!

BRUNCH ON THE WEB LATEST PHOTO GALLERIES

Finish the Phone Frenzy: So many models, features, operating systems and apps. Don’t get muddled. Check out our site for help on what phone suits you best.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Written Retake: The scriptwriter of blockbusters like Rang De Basanti returns to TV after a long break with the official adaptation of the popular ’80s Pakistani TV serial, Dhoop Kinarey.

Check out our interview with Kamlesh Pandey, writer of Kuch To Log Kahenge.

Plus an all-access pass to your favourite stories from this and previous Brunch issues. Log on, now!

EDITORIAL: Poonam Saxena (Editor), Kushalrani Gulab (Deputy Editor); Tavishi Paitandy Rastogi, Mignonne Dsouza, Veenu Singh, Parul Khanna Tewari, Pranav Dixit, Yashica Dutt, Amrah Ashraf

DESIGN: Ashutosh Sapru (National Editor Design), Swati Chakrabarti, Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Singh, Saket Misra

— RAJ MEHTA, via email

Worried sick

Wine’s Cheat Sheet

PERSONAL AGENDA 22

@surabhi_93 @RajivMakhni u really presented the great scenario!! hope this industry booms...wanna step in2 it after my b.tech! fingers crossed

4

DRINK

Girl: Rishta Black wide-legged pants from Ensemble, Zara bustier and jacket. Guy: Armani bandgala jacket and Polo Ralph Lauren pants from The Collective

I AM certainly no misogynist but Ms Goswami (Spectator, 18 September) is certainly a man-baiter, if not altogether a man-hater, writing as she so often does about ‘unreconstructed’ males (whatever that means, as this word is not reflected in the standard dictionaries). Indeed, workplaces do have ‘whingers’, but how is she so certain they are only males? Must be her feminine intuition at work – or, rather more likely, her bias. The take on Lotharios seems ripped off from a smutty comic book; it is so antiquated and irrelevant.

Today’s normal working women are no pushovers to be targeted by such males; nor are workplaces so unprofessional as to condone such social excesses. It is equally ridiculous to treat most women as flirts. Surely, women readers have a right to register their strong protest against such stereotypes. The writer remains on track with her I-hate-men focus by undeservedly suggesting that suck-ups and slackers simply have to be men. Men and women in the workplace have moved on. Regrettably, methinks the lady writes from a time warp.

MIGNONNE D’SOUZA in her story (Doctor My Child is Sick, 18 September) is absolutely right in stating that parents are more confused these days than their older contemporaries. It is a fact that because they are small and have a lower level of immunity, kids do fall sick often but it is up to the parents to not panic and rush to the paediatrician every time their child sneezes, whether it’s because of a cold or otherwise. The time has come for parents not to put their children, their doctor and themselves in a state of panic by creating unnecessary stress even when there is none.

— G K ARORA, New Delhi

Beyond cricket

I REALLY enjoyed your cover story on F1 (Race The Wind, 18 September). It was good to read about a sport that isn’t cricket. And it was also good to know that filmmaker Asif Kapadia has made such a wonderful documentary on Ayrton Senna. Actually, Senna is one of my heroes, and I am dying to see the film. You mentioned it will be shown during the F1 weekend. Any idea where?

— AVINASH, New Delhi

Cover design: Ashutosh Sapru, Photo: Raj K Raj

Location: Aman, New Delhi, Lodhi Road, Styling: Parul Khanna Tewari, Models: Vani and Mohit, Courtesy: Elite Model Management, Girl: Wendell Rodricks dress from Ensemble; Zara jacket, Guy: Zara

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

NOW THAT SUMMER’S OVER AND WINTER IS ALMOST HERE, WE BRING YOU THE BEST OF WINTER FASHION FROM INDIAN RUNWAYS. CHECK OUT THE TOP TEN TRENDS YOU’LL BE WEARING LATER THIS YEAR BY YASHICA DUTT 3D AND CUT-OUTS The other realm remained a favourite with many designers as they explored conical wooden corsets (Alpana & Neeraj), Japanese embroidered basket skirts (Pankaj & Nidhi), plastic and synthetic embellishments (Ritesh Kumar), floral and colourclashing cut-outs (Zubair Kirmani and Rahul Reddy), and tight surface coils (Anand Bhushan). The focus shifts from shoulder pads to the surface, be it jackets or dresses, and we suggest you pair a dramatic separate with a neutral one or pick the wearable Namrata Joshipura cuboid skirts.

am:pm

Shantanu & Nikhil

Zubair Kirmani

Gaurav Gupta

MORE ORANGEY THAN EVER Tangy, fiery and adding just the right amount of zing to your Fall wardrobe, this hue found favour like fire on the Indian runways. With designers either opening (Hemant & Nandita) or closing (Namrata Joshipura) with orange, even the most staid collections relied on it for vibrance. Be it Kallol Datta whose eclectic collection had a set of asymmetrical jacket and shorts in orange or Anand Kabra’s luxurious drape top, Shantanu & Nikhil’s column dresses or Tarun Tahiliani’s cheery sari, everyone wanted a piece.

Try out a bright scarf or wear an orange tee under a sheer shirt.

OPEN SECRETS OF RUNWAY STYLING Don’t just get your foot in the fashion door, have it held open when you style the way pros do it 6

TUNIC OVER SKIRT: Seen at all major shows from Sabyasachi to Anamika Khanna, this clever styling tip will leave you cosy and others gasping. But it works only when done with two opposite prints or materials. Otherwise the look could fall flat.

Pankaj & Nidhi

VISIBLE ZIPPERS: Now this trend demands your full attention. Varun Bahl, Walnut by Nidhi & Divya Gambhir, Shivaji Dutta and Anamika Khanna all showed their zips upfront.

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

Alpana & Neeraj

BLACK

Rahul Mishra

Rajesh Pratap Singh

Abraham & Thakore

&WHITE

This straightforward monotone combination had at least a billion interpretations on the Indian ramps this Fall (okay, not billion, but not far from it either), not unlike their international counterparts. From vintage houndstooth (Abraham & Thakore) to the silk graphics of Rahul Mishra, the pixelated hotness of Rajesh Pratap Singh or mesmerising sweetness of am:pm by Ankur & Priyanka Modi, everyone and their assistant seemed keen on fitting out at least one model in this classic permutation.

So either layer a black scarf with the very popular white dress of last Summer or just pull that skinny black skirt and a crisp white shirt from your closet and you’re good to go.

Neeru Kumar

Rimzim Dadu

ANDROGYNY First they wanted you to steal your boyfriend’s jacket, his trousers, shoes and hats. Now it seems they want you to be him. Well, add your twist to a man’s wardrobe, that is. Snaking in from previous seasons, the androgynous trend takes a feminine curve with wide-legged palazzo pants and saris paired with waistcoats (Tarun Tahiliani and Abraham & Thakore), fitted waistcoats (Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna), leather pants and boots (Varun Bahl and Rajesh Pratap Singh), sharp blazers and button-down column dresses (Ruchika Sachdeva) and fabulously tailored coats and pants by Arjun Saluja. Time to turn Dude Looks Like a Lady on its head with a well-fitted pin stripe blazer if you please.

Atsu Sekhose

SHIMMY THAT SHIMMER Varun Bahl Ruchika Sachdeva

Arjun Saluja

Before you go all Lil’ Wayne (a bling-obsessed hip-hop star) on us, let us warn you, we don’t mean bling for you, your teeth and your dog. All we are suggesting is the warm, muted and tasteful shimmer that just about glittered on most runways this Fall. The earthy gold of Abraham & Thakore and Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna or the muted blue fish scales of Atsu Sekhose, the sheen of wires and cables of Rimzim Dadu, the holographic sheen at Rajesh Pratap Singh and the typical gold-vaganza of Rina Dhaka. There’s enough fodder for you to oscillate between a blinged out Christmas tree to a red carpet siren, depending on your mood.

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

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CROPPED/ANKLE-LENGTH PANTS The reckless dandy is in town and doesn’t give two hoots before cuffing his well-cut pants and showing some ankle. Finally making a debut on the Indian ramp, this extremely popular trend showed up at Sanjay Hingu, Krishna Mehta, Tarun Tahiliani and Abraham & Thakore’s runways. Time to roll ’em up boys, but do make sure you are wearing safe socks.

DON’T HIDE, ACCESSORISE! It's the age of the risk-taker this season, so if you want to sport Lennonesque glasses (Arjun Khanna), slip into transparent shoes (Karan Johar with Varun Bahl), team canvas shoes with a formal suit (Abhishek Gupta), don a bright floral turban, (Sabyasachi Mukherjee), tie a stone buckle belt over your shirt (Tarun Tahiliani) or carry a cross body bag (Abraham & Thakore), you can! And did we forget the hat? Ashish Soni (bowler), Sanchita Ajampur (fedora) and Arjun Khanna (cloche) demand you wear one while you’re at it.

Rajesh Pratap Singh

Atsu Sekhose

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

VELVET DREAMS

OPEN SECRETS OF RUNWAY STYLING

If you’re thinking of the column dress of the ’90s that would hug every embarrassing curve or its lower cousin from the 2000s, shaneel, which we only recently got rid of, then you couldn’t be more wrong. Velvet is back this season, and as luxurious as it deserves to be. It’s rich and burgundy in a Sabyasachi sari and regally purple in a Rajesh Pratap Singh duster coat; has a belted vintage structure in Atsu Sekhose’s collection and is gloriously ruffled in an Yves Klein blue Gaurav Gupta jacket. Pick your poisons at one go or start with a slim waistcoat for baby steps, that’s your call.

PRINTED LEGGINGS: When layering summer dresses with leggings, make sure you get stylish printed leggings as shown by Tanvi Kedia, Prama Pandey and Ritu Kumar.

8

Abraham & Thakore Sanchita Ajampur Arjun Khanna

WILD CHILD: Forget leopards, it is pythons which are ruling the urban jungle. A must-have either as a clutch, scarf, bootie or dress. Cue: Rahul Anand and Anushka Lal’s and Jatin Verma’s lines.

SHORT KURTIS: They are higher and sleeker. Pair a ruffled one with a skirt like VJ Balhara or do it as Payal Singhal did, with a patiala. Loosen the fit if you aren’t blessed with a model’s body!

SKIRTS THAT GO THE LENGTH: Hemlines are generous and not at all boring. Mid-length like Atsu Sekhose and Rahul Mishra or in full flow like Aneeth Arora and Drashta, your pick.

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

SHAWLS: Guys, don’t shy away from looking the sensitive poet.

Loosely drape it on one shoulder (Tarun Tahiliani) or go for rich variety (Shantanu & Nikhil).

MAD ABOUT PLAID Sexy woodcutters unite! Nothing else is more reminiscent of sinewy arms and all-male ruggedness than good ol’ plaid. While you might still have it lying around from the early ’90s, we suggest you look at the all-print suits (Troy Costa), riding pants (Arjun Khanna), low-key shirts (Rajesh Pratap Singh), relaxed blazers (Sanchita Ajampur), kurtas (Rajvi Mohan) and stylish trousers (Manoviraj Khosla, Ankita & Anjana Bhargava and Abhishek Gupta) that are going to be a rage come Fall. That old fashioned charm will work like magic on the ladies, believe us.

Krishna Mehta

Abhishek Gupta

Shantanu & Nikhil Sanjay Hingu

COLOUR SPLASH Govinda with his red pants and yellow shirts might have scarred you for life. That is why we’re taking it slow this time.

Pair a neutral hue with a bright colour, like a pink T-shirt with an all-white suit (Ashish N Soni) or go inside out if you dare with a bright suit and white tee (Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna and Karan Johar with Varun Bahl). You can even try coloured pants but remember to pair them wisely like Sanchita Ajampur with a printed tee and a blazer in a solid hue. And if you still need more time for therapy, we suggest you start with bright socks or a coloured pocket square as Ashish Soni showed.

Ashish N Soni

Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

Manoviraj Khosla

Troy Costa

Sanjay Hingu

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

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THE MOOD WAS UPBEAT, THE CLOTHES CELEBRATORY, THE DESIGNS NEW. INTERNATIONALLY, FASHION WAS WEARABLE AND FUN. LOOK. CHOOSE. COPY BY PARUL KHANNA TEWARI JEWEL TONES

Gucci Versace

What neons were to this Summer, jewel tones are to this Winter. In Summer, the entry of bright neons was a clear indication that the recession-inspired depression of greys and browns was finally over. And that mood hasn’t changed.

This season, rich jewel shades dominated most designers’ collections, including Christopher Kane, Diane von Furstenberg, Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Emilio Pucci, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Brioni and even Christian Louboutin.

Dresses, jackets, skirts, denims and even accessories were flaunted in emerald green, scarlet ruby, blue turquoise, topaz yellow, purple amethyst – all colours signifying opulence. If you’ve got it, show it.

Tip: There’s rich and there’s silly. If you’re going jewel, wear only one colour at a time.

POLKAS

Hermès

The wacky, colourful polkas of the ’60s are back. But this time, they are sombre, elegant and very classic chic.

Polka dots are demure and feminine in white or black. Marc Jacobs had tiny dots on jackets, Stella McCartney had sheer polka dresses, Diane von Furstenberg, Yves Saint Laurent and even Gucci did the polka.

Tip: Never wear polkas on polkas. Stick to one kind.

PHOTO: AFP

SKIRTS

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TURTLENECKS

Gucci Stella McCartney

Givenchy Christian Dior

PHOTO: AFP

If hemlines (a useful barometer of the state of the West’s economy) are to be believed, there is utter chaos in the world.

This Winter, skirts of all lengths (the youthful mini, knee-level pencil, mid-calf midi and toetouching maxi) and kinds (pleated, flouncy, plain, printed, A-line, fitted, high-waisted, long with thigh-high slits) are dominating the imaginations of designers. At Christian Dior, Ted Baker, Tom Ford and Alexander McQueen’s shows, skirts made a comeback, replacing dresses. Chloe gave the pencil skirt a funky leather makeover.

Tip: Pair flouncy with fitted and soften the leather and fitted skirts’ austere look with soft blouses.

Wear the trendy thin belt.

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

Last season the turtleneck made a blinkand-you-miss-it appearance on the runways, but this time the trend is here to stay. Designers Roberto Cavalli, Maison Martin Margiela, Calvin Klein and Hermès all had turtlenecks in their collections. They mainly layered them beneath smart blazers and classic suit coats, overcoats and leather jackets. As with everything else in fashion this year, the turtlenecks went from staid and safe blacks, greys and blues to becoming statement shades.

Tip: Avoid heavy knit turtlenecks (though these are trendy too) if you are not skinny. They’ll just bulk you up. Opt for thin cashmeres or knits that will allow you to slip on a blazer, overcoat or even a denim jacket. Turtlenecks have a formal appeal. You can also wear them with a suit and leave out the tie.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

LOOSE TAILORING This is great news for all those who didn’t know what to do with with those uber tight, crotch hugging skinnies that hogged the limelight until now. And also for those who, under duress, were about to succumb to the pressures of the naturally slim and lean. The skinnies are still hot, but a parallel trend of loose tailoring and loose pants was seen on the ramps. Designers experimented with pants fitted at the waist, relaxed at the thighs and crotch, and pleated. Designers Dolce & Gabbana showed loose pants, Vivienne Westwood had pleated pants, and Jill Sander, Ermanno Scervino and Hermès had variations of the silhouette.

Tip: This is a versatile trend and one that would suit most body types. These pants work great with a fullsleeved body hugging sweatshirt as well as with a loose plaid coat.

Wear a belt to add definition to your silhouette.

Roberto Cavalli

VELVET Dolce & Gabbana

Vivienne Westwood

It's been a favourite fabric with the designers for women’s wear, but this season a whole lot of them used velvet in their men’s collections too. Velvet suits, sports jackets and a classic coat in the fabric were showcased by Dolce & Gabbana, Corneliani, Alexander McQueen, Etro, Tom Ford, Bottega Veneta, Cavalli, Gucci and Lanvin. While the classic greys and blacks were evident, there were also the new rich greens, burgundys, maroons and deep blues.

TIP: A velvet suit (as shown in the pic) is not an ‘everyone can try’ option. A smartly tailored velvet jacket is safer.

Lanvin

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Public Figures; Private Lives It’s time to make the case for privacy, as social media creates public personas for us all

LOVE TO HATE Should our marital problems be published on Facebook? Should our divorces become trending topics on Twitter?

S

O, ONCE more we return to that old chestnut: are public figpolitician was dating someone, it wasn’t a legitimate news story. If his ures entitled to keep their private lives private? This time, girlfriend was using him to make money, well then it was. the question is prompted by recent media reports on the state In this respect, the India media took their cue from the French press of a chief minister’s marriage. So relentless was the specurather than the rabid British tabloid culture, which has made a fetish lation and so vicious some of the rumour-mongering that the chief out of dabbling in the stuff of other people’s souls. We may have known minister had no choice but to issue a statement to set the record full well which minister was having an affair, which one was unhapstraight – which, of course, only gave a further fillip to the coverage. pily married, which one was homosexual; but we chose not to report Now all the newspapers which had ignored the story ran holier-thanthis on the grounds that none of this was in the slightest bit relevant. thou pieces on how the fine line between public and private lives had All of this seems to be changing now. The old rules are in the process been transgressed by the media – quite ignoring the fact that they of being junked as the tabloidisation of our media continues apace. were just as guilty.

Now, it seems that even mainstream publications have no problem I am aware that I am laying myself open to such criticism as well, running speculative stories about the private lives of politicians, all of but now that the issue is on the top of most people’s minds, I think it’s them brimming over with unproven rumours and unverified gossip. worth risking opprobrium to make a few points.

And that, if you ask me, is a pity.

And so, back to our question: are public figures entitled to private The argument used to carry such stories goes roughly like this. lives? Well, there’s no easy ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to that one. But there Anyone who enters public life should get used to the concept of pubare some rules that the Indian media have, on the whole, adhered to lic scrutiny at all times. If you are a public figure, well, then your entire all these years. And for the most part, they have served us well. life should be lived out in public. And the public has the right to take First up, there has always been a clear distinction between how we an interest in whatever part of your life they see fit. In other words, treat politicians and other people in the public life. Film stars, modpublic interest is defined as anything that the public is interested in. els, singers, sports stars have always had their love lives scrutinised, To see just how dangerous this concept this, just extrapolate it outtheir marriages and affairs reported, their break-ups gossiped about. wards to include all those who exist on the fringes of public life. And But politicians and, to some extent, businessmen have always been in this age of social media, that would include you, me and all the sevgranted a measure of privacy as far as their love lives are concerned. eral thousand people who follow you on Twitter or read your blog.

And no, there was no double standard at work here. The logic was To that extent, most of us are public figures now because we have that film stars and other entertainment celebrities had no problems disa presence on social media networks and platforms. Journalists, blogcussing their private lives in their interviews. They happily talked about gers and just regular folk who like to post their wisdom on Facebook their boyfriends/husbands, dished the dirt on their break-ups, and or Twitter – all of us have created public personas for ourselves. We announced their engagements/weddings with much fanfare (think John are constantly blogging and tweeting about our spouses, our kids, Abraham and Bipasha Basu or Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya). So where we went on holiday, what we ate. And in that sense, we are given that they themselves opening the door to our priOPEN SECRETS opened the door to their vate lives on a public forum.

Film stars like John Abraham and Bipasha Basu and Abhishek Bachchan and homes, in a manner of speakBut in doing so, have we Aishwarya had no problems discussing their private lives in their interviews ing, they had no right to comforfeited all our rights to priplain if we all turned into vacy? Are our private lives Peeping Toms. fair game as well? Should But when it came to our marital problems be politicians, the game was published on Facebook for played according to all to see and snigger at? different rules. As Should our divorces become long as politicians trending topics on Twitter? didn’t bring their Should our shouting matchwives and families es with spouses/partners into the public be posted on YouTube for domain, we steered the amusement of the clear of reporting on world? their private lives, no If your answer to any matter how tangled of the questions above they might be. As long is a horrified ‘no’ then as their private lives think long and hard didn’t impact on how before you dip into a they performed their story about a chief minpublic duties, we ister’s marital problems. took the line that it There, but for the grace was no one’s busiof God, go you... seema_ht@rediffmail.com. ness but their own who Follow Seema on Twitter at they did or did not sleep twitter.com/seemagoswami with. In other words, if a PHOTOS: REUTERS

spectator

Seema Goswami

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HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

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One Wine – Many Prices The Cloudy Bay

DIFFERENT COSTS The Oberoi charges R1 lakh for the 1999 Mouton Rothschild (left), while the Taj Palace only charges R28,900! The Mouton Rothschild Vintage 1998 (below) is the more expensive one

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

rude drink

Vir Sanghvi

Wine’s Cheat Sheet

Sauvignon Blanc is one of New Zealand’s most famous wines. The winery is now owned by Moet et Chandon, which supplies the wine to Indian hotels.

Even so prices vary.

Here are the prices of the 2010 vintage.

Taj Mahal: R7,000 Leela Palace: R7,500 The Imperial: R9,100 The Maurya: R8,000 The Oberoi: R8,000 (includes tax) Taj Palace: R4,700 (2007 vintage) The Taj Palace is the cheapest. The Imperial and the Maurya are the most expensive.

Every hotel should be able to buy the wine at the same cost.

The difference in selling price only demonstrates the levels of greed.

Hotels charge what they think the market can bear. There is no set formula. Prices of wine are based only on a desire to maximise profit

I

HAVE MY ex-boss to thank for this piece. It happened this way. I was sitting at the Orient Express having a quiet family dinner when I noticed that the restaurant’s staff was buzzing around a VIP table at the end of the restaurant.

It turned out to be Aveek Sarkar, who paid my salary till 1999 (when I left ABP and joined the HT), along with TN Ninan (another ex-employee of Aveek’s who now heads Business Standard), Chiki Sarkar (Aveek’s daughter who has just been appointed head of Penguin – on her own merits, though Penguin India is also part of Aveek’s empire) and Nandan Nilekani (who needs no introduction).

This star-studded gathering was interrupted when Aveek set off for the loo. He passed our table, took in the very nice, but hardly exceptional, wine that we were drinking and generously promised to send over a bottle of the stuff his table was quaffing. It turned out that Aveek, Ninan and gang were drinking one of the world’s most famous wines: Mouton Rothschild, a first growth from Bordeaux. It also turned out that they had drunk the hotel’s entire stock of Mouton 1998 (according to Aveek, “an exceptional year”) so Aveek asked the sommelier to send us a bottle of the 1999 vintage (“good but hardly in the same league,” he said, stroking his beard thoughtfully) and to put it on his bill.

I would never have been able to afford Mouton Rothschild at the Orient Express so we accepted the bottle gratefully as a gift from an ex-boss to an ex-employee and did not dare ask how much the wine cost.

But the next day Aveek called. “Do you know how much the Mouton cost?” he asked. I gulped and said nervously that I had no idea.

“Well, the 1998 we were drinking cost R39,900,” he said (and there was a pause in the conversation owing to my sharp intake of breath), “but the 1999 I sent you was R28,900.”

“Ah, yes,” I said, not sure where the conversation

was heading.

“I am having dinner with a very high profile person today,” he continued (more high-profile than the claret-swilling Ninan and Nandan?), “and I thought I would order the same wine at the Oberoi.

But do you know how much the Oberoi charges for exactly the same bottle?”

I indicated that these were not wines I ordered on a regular basis, the way he did, so could he please just tell me what the Oberoi price was?

“It is one hundred thousand rupees!” he expostulated. “Not the 1998, which is the more expensive one. That is how much the Oberoi charges for the 1999! And the Taj Palace only charges R28,900! How can they justify it?”

I mumbled something about how the Oberoi’s prices included tax while the Taj Palace’s prices do not but I knew that taxes, though high (around 29 per cent) could not account for the vast price difference. (R1 lakh versus R28,900.)

“There is a piece in this,” said Aveek.

DECENT RANGE At the Imperial and the Taj, where prices are higher than the Taj Palace, the range of the wine list makes up for the prices to some extent

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

indulge Storm in a wine glass It is a common enough phenomenon at fivestar hotels. Guests arrive for dinner. The waiter suggests an aperitif of a glass of champagne.

Guests think it sounds too cheap to ask ‘how much’? So, they just say yes, thinking it can’t cost

that much.

Actually, it can.

Most hotels buy their basic champagne at around R2,000 a bottle or less. But, as I discovered, that isn’t always reflected in the prices charged to guests.

My colleague, Tavishi Paitandy

Rastogi, asked Delhi hotels how much their cheapest glass of champagne was. The variation in price went up to 90 per cent.

Shangri-La: Bollinger Special Cuvee; R850 Leela Palace: Louis Roederer NV; R1,350 Taj Mahal: Pommery; R800 Taj Palace: Mumm

Cordon Rouge; R1,100 ITC Maurya: PiperHeidsieck; R950 The Oberoi: Moet et Chandon; R1,500 (includes tax) The best value is the Taj Mahal. The worst is that serial offender, the Leela Palace, more expensive even than the Oberoi once you have added tax.

dramatically?

And as the man had been my boss (Editor-in-Chief of all ABP It turns out they do. publications) for over a dozen years, who was I to disagree?

I took as my starting point, the price of basic Moet et Chandon, Besides, he was right. If there are such huge disparities in wine the world’s best-selling champagne. Nobody will confirm this in writpricing, consumers needed to be made aware. None of us will order ing but hotels buy it for something like R1,800 to R2,000 a bottle. the same wines as Aveek does, but the principle of variable pricWhat they sell it at is a different matter. Here is a comparative ing is a dangerous one. list of the prices of a bottle of Moet et Chandon.

So, I looked at the wine lists of other deluxe hotels. The 1999 Taj Palace: R5,500 Mouton on the Imperial list (the wine Aveek had sent me and which The Oberoi: R9,000 (includes tax) cost R28,900 at the Taj Palace) was R62,000 or more than double Taj Mahal: R5,000 the Taj Palace price. (But still cheaper than the Oberoi!)

The Maurya: R7,700 The Leela Palace had an even more outrageous price: R1,25,000.

Leela Palace: R7,200 If you include around 29 per cent in tax, that meant that the wine So will somebody explain to me how the same champagne can would cost around R1.6 lakh or 60 per cent more than the Oberoi’s go from R5,000 (the Taj price) to R7,700 (the Maurya price) to price! (The Maurya doesn’t have much quality wine so the Mouton R 9,000 (the Oberoi – though that includes tax)? It is an easily availdoesn’t even feature on its list. Though I am assured that ITC will able wine bought from the local outpost of Moet et Chandon by now take wine seriously.) everybody at roughly the same price.

I then had another thought. There are two Taj hotels in Delhi.

When you look at premium champagnes, it gets even more conDo they charge the same amount for wine? fusing. Here are the prices for the 2000 vintage of Dom Perignon Apparently not. At the Taj Mahal, they did not have the Mouton (also made by Moet et Chandon).

1998 (the wine that Aveek, Ninan etc. drank the Taj Palace out of) The Oberoi: R22,500 (includes tax) but they did have the 1999. They were selling it at R58,000.

Leela Palace: R20,000 That was nearly twice the price of the Taj Palace’s Mouton 1998 The Maurya: NA but the 1999 is R27,500 but still a fraction of the R1,25,000 that the Leela Palace charges.

Taj Palace: R15,900 Even so, it seemed a bit odd for one Taj to charge twice the price Taj Mahal: R22,000 for the same bottle of wine as the other.

So how does the Taj Mahal justify charging R6,000 more All this got me thinking. Is there any logic to wine pricing? How than the Palace (about 40 per cent more) for exactly the same can the Leela charge R1,25,000 for a wine that costs R28,900 at wine? the Taj Palace, a mere 10-minute drive away? I can understand I think you have got the point by now. Hotels charge what Le Cirque charging more than the Orient Express (though they think the market can bear. There is no set formula.

Aveek also insisted that the food at the Orient Express was Prices are based only on a desire to maximise profit. As far superior to Le Cirque) because restaurant prices are suba general rule, I found that the cheapest wines (across all jective. But a bottle of wine is the exact same product. price brands) were at the Taj Palace; and the most expenCould it be that hotels think that the rich don’t care; that sive were at the Leela. At the Imperial and the Taj, where if somebody is willing to pay R30,000 or so for a bottle of wine, prices were higher than the Taj Palace, the range of the he won’t mind paying R1.6 lakh for the same bottle? wine list made up to some extent though, in my view, If so, then they are clearly wrong, judging by Aveek Sarkar’s there is nothing to touch the Taj Palace’s list, for price reaction. and range.

Given that most of us will have to mortgage our homes Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps Aveek Sarkar is an to pay for the kinds of wines that Aveek Sarkar drinks exception. But my guess is that as Indians become on a regular basis, I don’t suppose we should worry too more knowledgeable about wine, they will start resentmuch about the prices of first growth clarets. On the LUXURY PRICE ing being ripped off. Even if they can afford expenother hand, many of us will order say, a bottle of chamThe cost of the 2000 sive wine, they will not condone highway robbery. pagne, at one of these hotels to celebrate a birthday or They will just stop frequenting hotels that cheat an anniversary or something special. Does the same vintage of Dom Perignon is different in every hotel their guests by ripping them off on wine sales. principle apply? Do champagne prices vary as

GOOD PRICE The Taj Palace has the cheapest wines across all price brands

NOT LISTED The Maurya doesn’t have much quality wine so the Mouton doesn’t even feature on its list

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

THE BEST

VALUE OF A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE IS AT THE TAJ MAHAL. THE WORST IS THAT SERIAL OFFENDER, THE LEELA PALACE

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

TOO STEEP The Leela is the most expensive when it comes to wine prices

TAXING FARE Oberoi’s prices include tax but that does not account for the vast price difference 15

indulge

live | sip |

play

A Deadly Case Of Upgradeitis

| listen

I’ve just started my self-inflicted home theatre rebuild journey, and here’s what I’ve learned so far

techilicious

Rajiv Makhni

BIG BOOM THEORY HT sound must go big if you want the best deal

I

T’S A serious disease, one that affects a very large part of the population, and one that has devastating symptoms. It’s a deadly ailment and has almost no known cure. It’s called ‘upgradeitis’ and even though it largely affects the male of the species, its deadly tentacles are also truly entrenched on the opposite side now.

A four-month-old mobile phone and you are already itching and reading up on new ones. You’ve just installed a nice 42-inch flat screen TV and yet the 55-inch LED TV is making you swoon. Your laptop isn’t even a year old but the new ultra sleek and thin one is what you’re already eyeing.

It’s a deadly disease that is brutal, merciless, self-defeating, ignores all counselling and defies all logic. Hi, I’m Rajiv and I’m a victim of upgradeitis.

I have a pretty good home theatre. A big room, nice seating, a large flat display, good speakers, an awesome receiver – and I’ve just chucked it all and am starting the whole process from scratch. I want the perfect home theatre from every aspect and every angle; I’m poring over the latest reviews; I am talking to the top experts in each field, looking at specs like a man obsessed and basically home theatring myself to near death. This really is quite a minefield as this involves a mix of almost every category (and not every aspect is tech-related). Room interiors (the experts say paint a room matte black and you’ll get the best picture, but who wants to watch movies in a dungeon?), room acoustics (too many conflicting views on fabric walls, sharp edges, effect of furniture and carpeting), room size (rectangular is best but what size of perfect), projection versus big flat screen, speaker choices and layout (5.1 or 7.1 and which speakers), receivers and amplification, projector screens (curved, with gain, aspect ratio).

It’s an incredible array of decisions and conflicting opinions and it’s almost enough to want to give up. While I’ll keep updating you on my progress, here’s a primer on all my new learnings.

DREAM ON Plan your room before you can dream of having this in your home

SOUND IS BIG

SOUNDING OFF Getting the sound all perfectly mixed (above) needs extreme patience WOOF, WOOF Subwoofers (left) don’t need to be ugly but you still need to place them right

A CENTRE SPEAKER IS

CRITICAL TO REPLICATE THE AMAZING EXPERIENCE OF A MOVIE HALL

PROJECTION TECHNOLOGY HAS GROWN UP

A projector-based home theatre doesn’t need a completely dark room any more. Projectors are super bright, and, when mated with highgain screens, allow you can keep the light on. Imagine a set up with a 150-inch screen, a full HD broadcast cricket match, ten friends over and no need to be in a pitch-dark room. This is totally possible now.

ASPECT RATIOS ARE A PAIN IN THE A$$

HD Movies are mostly in ‘scope’ (cinema-scope). That’s usually called 2.35:1. But then some of them are not. Some are also in 16:9 and some in 4:3. Most HD television broadcast is 16:9. If you’re going with a flat screen TV, then you’re pretty much stuck with that and you’ll learn to live with it. If you’re going PJ, then this is a whole new can of worms.

If you go with a scope screen, you’ll end up with a smaller screen and HDTV will look all boxy. Decisions, decisions....

16

There are really no two ways on this one.

Satellite speakers, lifestyle speakers and other little thingies are great, but they just don’t compare to a good solid floor-standing speaker solution. I’ve tried demos and while those small little speakers have come a long way and are neat, clean and easy on the eye, they can’t match their big brothers when it comes to the ear. When you need your home theatre to roar and thunder and explode – you need to think and hear big.

7.1 VS 5.1

Yes, there is one more standard now in HT sound. Seven speakers and 1 subwoofer.

Seven speakers mean two in the front, one in the centre, two on the side and two behind you – thus perfectly replicating the amazing whizbang of true surround sound wizardry in a movie hall. Unfortunately, there are very few movies that are released that have true 7.1 sound. You’re better off spending more on a higher quality five-speakers set up then wasting time and money on this right now.

SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT IS ANOTHER PAIN IN THE A$$

You’ll get most of your speakers in the right place as they have a logic to them. What you’ll definitely screw up with is your subwoofer. And this is critical. All your dialogues can get muffled, sound will be boomy and most actors will sound like they have a sore throat.

Not nice. While nobody has really broken the science of subwoofer placement as it is very relative to room size and furniture, placing a subwoofer dead centre underneath your display can be best. A few inches here or there can give you perfection.

PLAN YOUR ROOM BEFORE ALL ELSE

Messy cables, light that shines directly on to the screen, speaker wire hanging in all places, too small a room and speakers that are too large (or vice versa), a room with direct sunlight streaming in from behind, the colour of the walls, a room also used as a gym or living room, too much bling, glass and chrome... all this can make the final effect of the home theatre underwhelming. You need to get your room planning in place much before you start thinking that you’re going to have a little IMAX theatre in your own house.

I’ve just started my self-inflicted home theatre rebuild journey and will keep posting as I learn and build. It seems like it’s going to going to be a long and painful journey. But those are the exact symptoms of upgradeitis.

Rajiv Makhni is managing editor, Technology, NDTV and the anchor of Gadget Guru, Cell Guru and Newsnet 3. Follow Rajiv on Twitter at twitter.com/RajivMakhni

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

indulge listen All Mixed Up (And Boxed In) live | sip | play |

download central

Sanjoy Narayan

BROTHERS-IN-ARMS The Dropbox mixtape, put together by a chap called Goodboy, has gems by many greats, including familiar ones like the Everly Brothers (left)

If you grew up in the Seventies or wish you had, do yourself a favour and download this mixtape – pronto!

W

HEN A Facebook friend sent a Dropbox link to a mixtape called San Francisco Dues, I just had to explore what it was all about.

San Francisco Dues is a Chuck Berry album that was released 40 years ago and any mixtape that evokes Berry needs to be given a BOOM BOX BLUES listen to post haste! So I wasted no time in Dropbox (that big, blue box downloading the mixtape and to my most on the left) allows you to pleasant surprise, it turned out to be a bonanconveniently ferry files za. But before that, a bit about Dropbox. Do across the Internet. So you use it? I’ve just started and I can’t stop when I received a Dropbox raving about this most convenient way to ferry link to a mixtape called San your files to wherever you want on whatever Francisco Blues, named device you like or happen to have with you. In after a Chuck Berry album more technical terms it is a Web-based file (above), I had to check it hosting service that uses cloud computing to out. It also contained enable users to store and share files and original music by country folders across multiple devices as well as with singer Hoyt Axton (right) other people.

Okay, 80-word plug (sans any honorarium) on Dropbox over, here’s what I found on the Much of the mixtape is bluesy. You have Bo aforementioned mixtape: a total of 105 tracks.

Diddley, John Lee Hooker and you have BB Yes, 105. It’s put together by a chap who goes King. But you also have familiar songs by the name of Goodboy who quite clearly covered by not so familiar names. Sometimes lives up to that moniker (but more on that in it is the original you never heard. Heard just a bit).

Steppenwolf’s The Pusher or Blind Melon’s version of it? Well, the original is by country The 1971 San Francisco Dues album had a particularly rakish photograph of one of modmusic singer Hoyt Axton and that’s the PSYCHO MAN ern music’s most influential rock and rollers version you get on the Dropboxed mixtape. on the cover, complete with wild hair and all. British singer and guitarist Dave Mason is best Bluesy, I said, but it’s not all blues. There’s known for his psychedelic folk-rock It had 10 tracks, including the title track, San soul, folk and funk. And lots and lots of psyFrancisco Dues . Berry, who’ll turn 85 in chedelic rock. Remember Arthur Lee’s band, October, still tours. And simply put, he is synonymous with rock Love? Or Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band? Or Funkadelic? and roll. Famously, John Lennon once said “if you tried to give rock If you grew up in the Seventies or wish you had, you’ll have a ball. and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry”.

Many of the bands are from California, a hat-tip no doubt to Berry’s But I digress from Goodboy’s mixtape that dropped into my album title, but several of the songs are by people from all over. collection via Facebook. The high point of the compilation is its I’d say Goodboy’s mixtape is replete with goodness. And bands length – 105 tracks is a lot of songs. And yes, Chuck Berry’s SF Dues that you may have missed. You may have heard Bill Monroe and is on it. But so are so many gems by so many greats. The familiar his Bluegrass Boys but what about The Louvin Brothers, The ones include the Everly Brothers, blues-rocker Lonnie Mack, Muddy Delmore Brothers or The Wallace Brothers? I hadn’t heard of any Waters (his You Gonna Need My Help comes pretty high up on the of these and – after sampling them – I thought that had been such playlist) and Mike Bloomfield. Even Paul McCartney marks his a shame. presence with Mama’s Little Girl. But it is the rare ones that I On the web version of DC, there’s a link to Goodboy’s mixtape really enjoyed. Remember Neil Young’s one-time band, Crazy Horse? and to many other mixtapes. Goodboy is a prolific compiler, They’re there doing a track called Dirty, Dirty. So is Dave Mason apparently and his website is a portal to a trove of music worth (the British singer and guitarist who is best known for his psycheexploring. delic folk-rock and for his stint with the rock band, Traffic). Mason’s To give feedback, stream or download the music mentioned in this column, go to Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave showcases his unique http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/download-central, follow argus48 on Twitter or vocal style on Goodboy’s mixtape. visit our website: www.hindustantimes.com/brunch

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

17

SPRING INTO FALL Seasons don’t change overnight; neither should your wardrobe. Girls, here’s your guide through the fashion transition

by Yashica Dutt

N

OW THAT you’ve read and seen all the Fall-Winter fashion trends (well, we can hope!), we know what you’re thinking.

What about all those Spring-Summer pieces we so raucously recommended at the beginning of the year? The fulllength maxi skirts, the leather shorts and sheer blousons. Should you give them the back-of-the-closet treatment, or even worse, the Paris Hilton one (for the unaware, she allegedly donates her only-one-timeworn designer duds to her maid)? We recommend neither. Stride confidently into Fall with your Summer closet, with just a few tweaks and tricks. And since we don’t want you to go from bare-armed-beauty to wool-wrapped-polar bear overnight, we tell you how to make it look low fat butter-smooth too.

maxi skirts and sheer blouses

dresses

colours IF YOU WENT shopping this summer and were not bombarded with the craziest clashes of colour – pinks with yellows, bright greens with reds and indigo blues with mustards – then you visited the wrong malls, vendors and thrift stores. Colour blocking was the mammoth trend for last season, colouring almost every closet with its eclectic brush. So when you have such eye-popping pieces lying around, why not take them out for a spin?

The key is to still clash the colours but keep them in the same family. And as designer Nachiket Barve says, “Pick and choose what you have and augment your existing wardrobe. Match a hot pink with a burgundy, sunny yellow with mustard or add a hint of grey or black to ultra bright colours to tone them down.” Pick autumnal hues of tangerine, deep brown, weathered green, greys and rust and whip them into your existing wardrobe.

18

FULL SKIRTS THAT graze the ankle have always been an Indian wardrobe staple. The good news is that they are now extremely stylish too. Pull on a pair of trusty tights to keep warm underneath and make the ’70s your style decade. A chunky cable knit sweater goes on top, fastened with a belt. Add ankle-length booties, a floppy hat and round sunnies to the equation and you couldn’t have a more perfect Fall formula. Designer Anand Kabra says that separates are a big trend this season and it’s a good idea to mix sheers with it. “Transparency is the key this Fall,” he says. “You can wear a sheer blouse over a printed camisole and a maxi skirt to create a great look. The colour blocking trend can also be achieved by teaming brightly coloured underclothes with a sheer shirt for the lighter days of Fall.”

COURTESY: ARUSHI KHOSLA, BOHEMIANLIKEYOU.NET

MATCH A HOT

PINK WITH A BURGUNDY, SUNNY YELLOW WITH MUSTARD OR ADD A HINT OF BLACK TO ULTRA BRIGHT COLOURS

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

COURTESY: LESLY LOBENI, LAZYMANXCAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

REUTERS

EVEN THOUGH STYLISTS of the world were united against the ‘dresses’ you wore so lovingly this year, there’s no reason why you should listen to them in the Fall when you didn’t in Spring. Thanks to the biggest turnaround trends of the year – pairing thin gauzy fabrics with thicker fabrics like corduroy and tweed – the dress has been elevated from a fashion faux pas to the wintry look of the moment.

Don’t ditch the floral in chiffon.

Pair it with a tough leather jacket and thigh-high boots for maximum effect. And since the lace dress was the most coveted item of Summer, you can’t ignore it in the Fall either, says Vogue India’s fashion director, Anaita Shroff Adajania. “From the classic black, white and nude to green and red, the lace dress is a must-have,” she says. Match it with a thin cardigan in cashmere or fine wool, pull on some tights and make a night of it.

denim shirts DENIM WAS THE hottest-coolest fabric last Summer and we don’t see why it shouldn’t be so for FallWinter. Just pair your denim shirts with darker jeans or trousers in shades of burgundy and oxblood and pile on a vest in corduroy or wool. “You can wear a pair of loose fitting or tight trousers and team them with a ribbed top,” says stylist Rashi Verma. “I prefer wearing the denim shirt as an overthrow and slipping into brogues, still hot this Fall.”

COURTESY: LESLY LOBENI, LAZYMANXCAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

jeans

WE ARE SURE you already own this winter staple and in some cases might even live through the entire season in just a single pair (we all know at least one person who does that!). But when it comes to being stylish, just pulling on a Christmas sweater won’t do. So get a well-fitted blazer and then get into a bright tank top and flared jeans to finish the look. But do remember to wear comfortable high heels like platforms or wedges. They are a must for the hem to just about skim the ground.

You can try loose, ruffled blouses or buttoned-up shirts with knee-long coats when the chill sets in deeper. “The ’70s staple is still big for Autumn/Winter,” says Anaita Shroff Adajania.

“Choose from classic denim, corduroy or silk lounge trousers for the months ahead and match with your favourite blouse.”

If you still don’t feel like giving up your skinny jeans, then wear them with a slouchy cardigan cinched at the waist. Designer Priyanka Modi of am:pm suggests jersey wraps and jackets worn over your daily tee and jeans. “It’ll also keep you extremely comfortable and snug,” she says.

accessories

COURTESY: LESLY LOBENI, LAZYMANXCAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

JERSEY WRAPS

AND JACKETS WORN OVER YOUR DAILY TEE AND JEANS WILL KEEP YOU SNUG AND COMFORTABLE 20

A LAYERED LOOK screams ‘incomplete’ unless accessories play for the same team as well.

So keep the thin trinkets and slim chains in your summer box and bring out chunky, embellished metallic and wood baubles. Try darker colours paired with Fall tones and look at some vintage brooches to dress your outfit. And while you’re at it, don’t forget the most important Fall accessory – the scarf. Team it with a tube, with jeans, a summer dress or a maxi skirt. But do remember the thick with the thin rule – chunky warmers go with a slim scarf, and gauzy cardigans with a thick one. Any look can easily be dressed up or down depending on your scarf pattern, when a bright scarf pops the look and a sombre one pitches it down. “A chic dress with silver flats can go straight from Summer to Fall if it’s paired with heels and a decadent bag with embellishments,” says Nachiket Barve.

So, don’t forget to pay attention to your handbag. It can instantly bump up your appearance. Fur’s a huge trend, so look for handbags with that texture and other embellishments, such as feathers, studs and buckles.

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

COURTESY: ARUSHI KHOSLA, BOHEMIANLIKEYOU.NET

shorts

SPOTTED EVERYWHERE from Greater Kailash to Bandra, shorts were seen in every colour, length and on practically every figure this year. And you needn’t drop them just because it’s cooler.

Pair your shorts with leggings or tights, not just in boring black now that you have different hues, textures and hosiery materials to choose from. Though do choose darker colours that convey the essence of Fall. If you experimented with leather shorts this summer, team them with a cute Peter Pan collar or a polka dot blouse (loved not just by Minnie Mouse but Marc Jacobs too!) and add a boyfriend blazer on top to provide structure.

Finish the look with ballet flats or high heels.

Wellness

MIND BODY SOUL

MACHINE ERROR G

LANCE INTO any working professional’s briefcase or handbag, and you’ll find a number of gadgets. According to experts, overuse of electronic devices is leading to unhealthy lifestyles and ailments like cerebral cancer, arthritis, psychological breakdown and premature cataract formation.

Doctors claim they are seeing a sharp rise in the number of patients complaining of sleep deprivation, anxiety, indigestion, bone abnormalities and blurred vision. “Earlier, arthritis was mostly limited to people in their fifth or sixth decade,” says Dr VK Rastogi, senior consultant, internal medicine, Jaipur Golden Hospital. “Now, patients aged 12 complain of bone and spine problems.”

Health apps make things worse, says Aligarh Medical College paediatric surgeon Dr Tabassum Shahab. “They ensure you don’t go out to exercise,” she says.

TABLET TRAVAILS

Not only is overuse of Tablets bad for the eyes, it leads to the ‘bent-spine syndrome’. Users bend their neck to work on the Tab, causing the spine to bend.

This leads to spondylitis and other spine ailments. “We have seen abnormal formations on the fingertips of Tab users.

The skin becomes thick. Chances of dermatitis also increase because Tab screens get dirty, and this can lead to skin infections,” says Dr Rastogi.

TAKE ACTION

■ Clean the Tab screen constantly. Use a

hand sanitiser before and after use.

■ Minimise the number of people touching the Tab. ■ If you have a cut or wound, put on a bandaid and then use your Tablet.

■ Reduce brightness to avoid glare.

IN THE GLOW

PHOTOS: THINKSTOCK

As we acquire gadgets, the number of aches we suffer multiply as well

by Amrah Ashraf

SHIKHA SHARMA

NOT-SO-SMART SMARTPHONES Your smartphone can cause wrinkling, hearing disabilities, joint pain, and increase the risk of developing cancer.

“Early wrinkles have been seen amongst people who use cell phones for over one hour a day. Also, mobile phones increase the brain’s temperature, reducing its cognitive functionality. Keeping the phone on vibration mode in your pocket can cause reduced sperm count among men and lead to bone damage,” says Dr Rastogi.

TAKE ACTION

■ Avoid using Bluetooth earpieces and use the speaker option as much as you can.

■ Reduce phone use to one hour a day.

■ Instead of calling, text people.

■ Right-handed people must use their right ear for listening to reduce cerebral damage to the left side of the brain, which is more active for righties and vice versa.

LAPTOP

While laptops boast of being size zero these days, they are making people obese. Other ailments attributed to overuse of laptops include sleep deprivation, headaches, spine-related problems and indigestion. Laptops have also been linked to low sperm counts.

TAKE ACTION

■ Always keep the laptop on a small table while working.

■ Your arms should be bent at 90 degrees.

■ Make sure your spine is erect while working on the laptop.

■ Take a break every 20 minutes to do basic stretching exercises.

T

oday, people who take care of themselves can remain radiant and youthful well past their fifties.

There are some aspects you must keep in mind to maintain your skin.

SLEEP: If you are sleep deprived, you age much faster. Your sleep should be proportional to the amount of mental work you do. If you do not have time, meditate twice a day for 15 minutes to improve the quality of your mental rest.

WATER: Many of us may not be aware of the fact that water poor in minerals can be nutritionally deficient. Drink one to two litres of water per day. The best time to drink water is as soon as you wake up, and several times after that till sunset.

Sipping warm water one hour after meals helps to keep the digestion going, especially if you have eaten oily food.

HEALTHY BLOOD AND BLOOD FLOW: If your blood is full of toxins, you can develop sallow skin. To keep blood healthy, drink aloe vera juice, amla juice, tulsi and neem juice (1 tsp each diluted with water). Unani and ayurvedic medicines have remedies to ensure healthy blood. The second aspect is the circulation of blood within the body. To achieve good circulation, do some aerobic activity daily.

CHEMICAL-FREE FOOD: Foods laced with preservatives and stabilisers cannot contribute to healthy skin.

A LOVELY SMILE: Many people do not realise that their thoughts are mirrored on their faces. If you are carrying thoughts of anger, criticism, bitterness, etc., then over time you develop a grumpy look.

BASIC CLEANSING: Taking off makeup at night is important as makeup can clog skin. Nail varnishes make nails yellow and dry, so apply oil regularly and keep nails free of varnish for weeks.

Lipsticks make the lips dull, so apply natural oils or moisturisers regularly.

DETOXIFYING ROUTINE: Keep aside one day a week to eat fruits, salads and nuts and drink water to detoxify body and skin. ask@drshikha.com

PERSONAL AGENDA ACTOR

PRATEIK

Prateik started his career as a production assistant with ad filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar and then stumbled into acting. His first film was Aamir Khan Productions’ Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na for which he won critical acclaim for his role as an eccentric young man. After that, offers just poured in. This year alone, Prateik, son of the late actress Smita Patil, has done films like Dhobi Ghat, Dum Maro Dum and Aarakshan, working with directors like Kiran Rao, Rohan Sippy and Prakash Jha. His next film, My Friend Pinto with Kalki Koechlin, will release in October

One word that describes you best?

we’ll only print it!

If a traffic constable hauled you up, what would you do?

You are late for work and all the roads are jammed. Choose a mode of transport: a cycle, a horse or a skateboard. Why?

Dreamer.

I would roll down the window and say “Kay sahib, jau deya na…”

Your first kiss was…

It happened when I was 13.

What makes you feel sexy?

My cologne.

Music.

The colour ‘pink’ for you is…

Good to look at, but I’d hardly wear it.

A tune you can’t get out of your head?

Don’t Cry by Guns N’ Roses.

What did you do with your first paycheque?

I blew it up.

The one law you would break if you could get away with it?

Speeding.

Choose: Air India or Indian Railways.

Indian Railways, they are more or less on time.

Do you love Luv Storys?

Yes I do.

The last time you rode on a bus?

Quite recently during the shoot of Dhobi Ghat.

What is the weirdest thing that ever went into your mouth?

You may not find it too weird, but for me getting mud in my mouth was weird.

Share a secret with us…you can trust us,

A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE LOST FOR A MONTH?

22

I will certainly go with the skateboard, because it’s cool!

Earth’s crowded and full of trash. Choose another planet.

Pluto, the furthest of the lot.

If you could have chosen your own name, what would you have chosen?

You get high on…

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

……… (Print the dots)!

IBIZA. THE PARTY SCENE IS ROCKING

That's a tough one!

Life in the fast food lane: Choose your menu.

McDonald’s.

If you could be born either rich or intelligent, which would you choose?

You can't say ‘both’.

If that’s the case, then I will definitely go with intelligence.

What makes your day?

A good workout.

What screws it up?

Being late.

The last movie that made you cry?

I cry in almost every film.

Your favourite freedom fighter?

Mahatma Gandhi.

Love is…

Dreamy.

If you were the last person left on earth, what would you do?

I’d keep walking/driving.

— Interviewed by Veenu Singh

WHICH SUPERHERO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AND WHY?

BATMAN. HE HAS THE BEST SUITS, GADGETS, CARS AND BIKES

IF YOU COULD HAVE A STAR PERFORM AT YOUR WEDDING, WHO WOULD IT BE?

I WOULD GO FOR THE DRAMATIC LADY GAGA

PHOTO: CC/JOHN ROBERT CHARLTON

HINDUSTAN TIMES WEEKLY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 25, 2011