NOTE FROM PERFECT TAX CEO, MRS. VAISHALI THAKKAR
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erfect Tax has undergone a remarkable evolution in the past few years and we are growing every day. We couldn’t have done this without you. As we start a new chapter of our journey in 2019, I would like to thank each and every one of our clients, partners and close friends for choosing Perfect Tax and giving us the privilege of serving you to achieve your personal and business goals. Your trust in Perfect Tax allows us to deliver exemplary service that continues to exceed expectations. Our success is always based on your satisfaction and our ability to adapt to your constantly changing needs. One of the needs that we keep hearing constantly is the need to have our presence nationwide. Thanks for your suggestions, today I’m pleased to announce our firm’s newest office in New Jersey, NJ and Los Angeles, CA. We believe in an open mind and communication. Therefore, we invite you to share your thoughts. We take your feedback seriously and always welcome it. Meanwhile, Perfect Tax will continue to strive toward its vision of industry leadership and its goals in the year ahead. As we do, you have our commitment that we will be working to extend our performance in areas where results are already strong, while diligently addressing those aspects of our performance in which we see the greatest opportunities for improvement.
Winter FASHION LOOKING FOR WINTER FASHION INSPIRATION? YOU CAN EASILY RECREATE KANGANA RANAUT, SHRADDHA KAPOOR’S LOOKS
Dressing up in winters can be really tricky. If you are looking for inspiration then, look no further. Take cue from these Bollywood celebs on how to add glam to your wardrobe. If winter fashion inspiration is what you are looking for then look no further. Bollywood fashionista Kangana Ranaut and Shraddha Kapoor recently gave us two looks that can be easily replicated. All you need is a good pair of sheer stockings.
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angana Ranaut paired her plaid dress with the stockings. You can layer it with a heavy coat and probably leave your hair open. It’s comfortable and chic.
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hraddha Kapoor’s look is doable too. While it might get difficult to get your hands on a similar oversized orange sweatshirt, you can go for a balloon dress and team it with a smart fanny pack and black stockings. Another actor who served some inspiration is
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eepika Padukone. While leaving for a vacation with Ranveer Singh, the
beauty stepped out in a black high-neck tee that she styled with a matching skirt and rounded it out with hair parted at the side, black sunnies, matching boots and a bag.
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riyanka Chopra when we are talking about fashion? During her Swiss vacation with husband Nick Jonas, she made quite a statement in a white pullover teamed with a matching fluffy jacket and a cute beanie.
TOTAL DHAMAAL
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t the trailer launch of Total Dhamaal, Anil was ecstatic about reuniting with Madhuri after 19 years. Talking about working with Madhuri, Anil said, “We have had a phenomenal association. To be back together is not only professionally great but also emotionally.” The film also happens to be the reunion of Anil-Madhuri with their Beta director Indra Kumar. The 1992 film was a musical blockbuster and had swept through all top awards that year. Anil said Total Dhamaal was a great experience. “More than anything else, it was wonderful working on this set with Indu ji and everyone else. When the director and the producer are so good, everything else is good. There was no moment in the film which had a hiccup,” the veteran actor said.
KAJOL
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ajol, one of the most sought-after names of Hindi film industry, believes it has become easier to get famous, but being a star is not a cakewalk even today. “The words star and fame cannot be put together. There are lot of people who are famous today but there are a very few stars. So, it is not synonymous anymore today which used to be there earlier,” Kajol told. The actor, who has been active in films for over 25 years, said she stayed relevant as she decided to grow with time both personally and professionally. “I believe I am relevant today. I believe my personality has a lot to do with it. My personality has grown on screen and off screen with age. I am way smarter, cooler than what I was at the age 16. I am more beautiful. I think I am bound to be relevant in a lot of ways,” she said. “I did not have a great start. My first film did not do well. I have never considered it (acting) as a career, it happened to me and I just went with the flow. I was always on my toes (while choosing a film) and have been choosy always.
ESHA DEOL
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sha Deol and husband Bharat Takhtani are set to become parents again. The actor shared the happy news with a click of her daughter Radhya Takhtani. The caption on the photo read, “I’m being promoted to BIG SISTER.” Deol had recently shared a click of herself with husband Takhtani, and the baby bump was visible. The couple were blessed with a baby girl on October 23, 2017. Esha Deol, daughter of Bollywood actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini, had announced her first pregnancy too on social media. She even went for a babymoon to Greece with Bharat Takhtani. Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani, a businessman, got engaged in February 2012 after dating for many years. The pair tied the knot in June 2012.
REFLECTIONS
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ith back-to-back hits in 2018 Vicky Kaushal may have become one of the most soughtafter actors from the younger lot, but he is aware that success and failure go hand-in-hand. The 30-year-old actor, who was part of films like Raazi, Sanju, Manmarziyaan, Netflix’s Lust Stories and Love Per Square Foot, said his aim as a performer is not to repeat himself. “My only attempt is to keep surprising the audience. I want to be honest to a character that I play. I have started, I might fall, might get up, then again fall and rise and this will continue to happen. But I will never stop trying,” says Vicky. The actor made a mark for himself as a versatile performer in the year gone by and he feels blessed to have received the love from the audience. “On most occasions before 2018, I was referred as the ‘Masaan’ guy and the biggest change is I got my identity as Vicky Kaushal, the actor. I feel blessed and fortunate to have been working with some great directors.” he said. “I have learnt a lot as an actor and that will reflect in my work henceforth. It is a beautiful thing to be loved. It makes me feel I am the best version of myself.
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abu has created a unique space for herself as a heroine in Bollywood - as someone who is a rule-breaker and risk-taker with her choice of films. But the actress does not see herself in the same vein. In an interview with a daily, she says that she has never made choices aimed with the idea of becoming rule-breaker. In fact, she has never lived her life - be it personal or professional based on demarcations. If at all, her film choices reflect her as a person.
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hah Rukh Khan seems to be keeping a low profile ever since his last release, ‘Zero’ failed to create the magic numbers expected from it. Besides, the actor is no stranger to misses in his 25-years in the industry, he has always returned with a bang. Be it ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’, ‘Asoka’, ‘Dil Se’, ‘Swades’ to the recent ‘Fan’. On the topic of failures, the actor, in an interview said that if all the challenges and negatives had not happened in his life, he would never have achieved what he has today. He cherishes the time he was a nobody. He believes that one cannot be complacent even in success as one has to figure out ways to get up and get back into the game. mixed in with a little bit of adventure.”
NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH FAWAD KHAN
NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH FAWAD KHAN
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ver wondered why tattoos are becoming increasingly popular? Right from Bollywood stars, athletes and musicians, to your friend, neighbor and may be even your spouse is getting inked. At some point, when I was considering a tattoo and initiating a fun discussion about it, someone remarked “Isn’t that a very western, liberal fad and not for conservative desi folks?” Well, not really. The tradition of tattoos has been around since time immemorial. In India, many tribal communities have permanent jewelry markings as a form of beautification. In other communities, it’s sadly also been as a symbol of subjugation with women not being given a choice and are forced tattoos to identify the tribe they belong to. Certain communities tattoo religious symbols (such as Lord Krishna’s crown, Lord Shiva’s spear) as emblems on little innocent kids, so they always know the religion or caste they were born into. Many villagers in India have their date of birth tattooed in the absence of actual records. Studying some of the traditional tattoo patterns can reveal hidden secrets, pieces of history and ancient culture. From being a taboo for many and a tradition for some, the tattoo has emerged as an urban trend and many talented tattoo artists are showcasing their unique designs to lure folks to experiment with this art. Tattoo salons have sprung up in metro
cities in India, while in the US too, it’s an industry by itself. I even heard that Vegas hosts conventions of tattoo artists who visit with their distinctive portfolios from all around the world. Tattoos from a creative perspective are a form of body art; similar to Mehndi, with its intricate detailed designs that are temporary and celebratory, except that a tattoo is permanent. So if you are considering a tattoo, it’s best to think of the tattoo futuristically. Will that symbol or design appeal to you even when you are 80+? Many tattoo the names of their spouses or lovers to symbolize eternal love; but beware! You never know life’s surprises like Deepika Padukone who got an RK (Ranbir Kapoor) tattoo but ended up marrying an RS (Ranveer Singh). To me, a tattoo today is a personal choice. It is a beautiful blend of creativity, ideologies and aesthetic self-expression. A part of your body, is a mini canvas to signify an inspiring image, or a milestone moment (like the date you became a mom). I don’t see it as rebellious sign, but more a personal signature on your body which you identify with. After all, the physical pain of getting a tattoo is short-lived and you aren’t hurting anyone else. I embarked on a mini-mission with couple of girlfriends to get a tattoo done in Dallas. I chose the infinity symbol that has always inspired me. Seeing this symbol many times a day is a reminder of the realm of infinite potential that surrounds us. I believe that there is infinite abundance, love and positivity everywhere if we choose to see the signs and connect with it. My second tattoo is a lotus in bloom with an Om in the center. This aligns with my belief of blossoming as an individual, but always staying spiritually centered. Tattoos have stood the test of time and are here to stay for some but not for all. If you fancy a tattoo, prior to taking that leap of faith to permanently ink yourself, do plan your tattoo, before you toe the line. Choose a symbol you believe you will always connect to and a reliable tattoo artist in a safe and hygienic tattoo parlor. Keep in mind that big tattoos in bold colors or in visible places continue to invite some bias and negative judgment. At the end of the day, your body is your treasure and you can decide if you want beautify or eternally mark it with an inspiring, artistic signature. So in moments of leisure or even pressure, when you can look at your tattoo, it should always bring forth happiness, a smile and a celebration of life’s simple pleasures!
AMRITA RAO
DEEPIKA PADUKONE
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KATRINA KAIF
atrina Kaif was asked about feeling lucky about being the first woman Shah Rukh Khan kissed on screen. She had a witty reply for it. Katrina Kaif knows anyone who kisses her is the lucky one, even Shah Rukh Khan. Actor Katrina Kaif had a witty reply when asked a rather awkward question at a press event. She was asked if she considered herself lucky to be her co-star Shah Rukh Khan’s first on-screen kiss in Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Katrina said, “Who said I am the lucky one. He is lucky.” Katrina said she is grateful for all the highs and lows in her career as they have contributed to her growth as an actor. The actor, who gained prominence in the mid-2000s with films such as Maine Pyaar Kyu Kiya, Namastey London and Singh is King among others, has come to be known as one of top female stars in the commercial sphere of Bollywood. “I feel very fortunate that I’ve experienced so many beautiful things in all these years. I’ve seen ups and downs, the worst times and the highest of times, I just feel fortunate for everything I’ve gone through. I feel fortunate today to be working on a film like ‘Zero’ and to be a part of this with the kind of talent that we have Aanand sir, Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma,” said Katrina.
t the launch of the book The Dot That Went For A Walk, Deepika Padukone was asked why female centric films were more successful in 2018 than the ones which were led by male actors. Commenting on why the films featuring Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir did not work, Deepika Padukone said, “It is different when you say that Khans’ films didn’t work, but say a film like Andhadhun, that was led by Ayushmann , worked. So, it really boils down to the script itself. But yes, I see a trend that films that are being led by women are doing much better. Also, we are in a place today where directors are changing roles, and that was unheard of. You have a script which has a male protagonist, then suddenly directors are like ‘wait, let me just flip that, let me make that a female protagonist and then go to so and so with the film’. So, you hear of a film that was offered to a male actor two-three years ago, and it is coming back to you now with a female protagonist. It is a huge achievement.”
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mrita Rao, who is popular for roles in films like ‘Main Hoon Na’, ‘Vivah’ and ‘Satyagraha’, has been missing from the big screen for a while now. However, she is all set to make a comeback into movies with the upcoming film, ‘Thackeray’. Written and directed by Abhijit Panse, the film will see the actress playing Meena tai Thackeray. Talking to a daily, Amrita said that it was an honor that she was approached for the role because of her image. She added that she was thrilled to work with a brilliant actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays Bal Thackeray. Noting that there were many firsts for her while working on this film, Amrita said that she has enjoyed and cherished every day of the shoot, ever since the film went on floors in February 2018. When asked if she feared being typecast, Amrita replied in the negative. She said that she has always been approached to play ethnic characters and she is okay with that.
TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE FROM THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS TO EXPRESSION OF JOY
JOURNEY WITHIN WITH SWAMI ANAND ARUN
FEB 8-10 (THAKKAR FAMILY RANCH)
Neelima Gonuguntla
President – USICOC Serves on the Board for Communities in School -Dallas Region Chinmaya Mission DFW Johnson School of Engineering - UTD as an Advisory Board US Global Leadership Coalition – Texas
Awards
Recipient of Dallas Business Journal - Women in Business 2018 award. Walkers Legacy Power award - Washington DC based organization that promotes women entrepreneurs and Neel was chosen to get this award as an Advocate of Women Entrepreneurs.
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eelima Gonuguntla, an intelligent and a passionate lady, who gets her confidence and drive from her achievements’ and what she does for the community. It was fascinating to delve into the many things she is involved in and makes us wonder and evaluate the purpose of one’s life. Our correspondent had an interview with her and here is a little peek into her work. Read on some of the questions and her reflections. How did you get involved in our community? Neelima says that she is a very people-oriented person and feels blessed for her upbringing and a comfortable life. She also expresses concern that a lot of people in the community do not have these opportunities. She is a firm believer in the phrase “To whom much is given, from him much is expected”. So, she always tries to give back to the community through her time, service and/or finances. Of all the organization you are involved with (mentioned above), which one are your most passionate about? According to her it is all of them and they fall broadly in 3 categories. -+a) Education. b) Women Empowerment c) International Relations/Global Affairs/ International Diplomacy. From education perspective she says that a lot of people find our community very successful. This is because education is a priority and many who have migrated are well educated people, and that allows them to flourish. But there are a lot of families who do not have access to great education and are underprivileged. They might have access to schools but do not have proper support at home. That is where she steps in, to provide extra resources and accesses to those kids who need the most. So, Communities in school is one such organization serving over 6000 underprivileged kids in DFW. It seeks to give the kids a stepping stool or a leg up to help them grow and reach their potential educationally. Johnson School of Engineering, where she serves as Advisory Board is a similar organization that inspires women to join Computer Science, technology and engineering programs. Unfortunately, statistics show low women representation in these programs. These are highly valued jobs in our community and the goal is to get accesses to those jobs as much as possible.
In the past she had also served on the Board of Chetna, an organization that supports the victims of domestic violence’ both women and men, as their legal counsel. Women empowerment became a personal goal for her since then, which helped her put together a woman conference at the US Indian Chamber of Commerce. The mission was to help struggling women pursue their professional & entrepreneur journeys. Her eyes lit up mentioning the next Conference that is coming up February 22n and it is the 50th anniversary of US landing on Moon. Dr. Anna Lee Fisher NASA Astronaut, Medical Doctor, Chemist and the First Mother in space Is the keynote speaker. As the President of USICOC the vision has always been to grow & expand Dallas Chamber. In addition to that, under her presidentship they are expanding to become a large national organization to promote and grow business interests of Indian Americans nationwide and become a strong support for the community business nationwide. Ms. Gonuguntla serves on the Advisory board of US Global Leadership Coalition – Texas which supports diplomacy between US and other countries. She mentioned the importance of having a healthy diplomatic relationship with the rest of the world. That helps one thrive and grow American Business. When the world is stable, there are opportunities for growing business in other countries. She feels very passionate and humbled to be in this role. Last but not the least, she leaves us with a very profound thought that as humans from early in life we thrive and grow due to support and help from people around us. If we, as a community, give back and have a service-oriented mindset, there will only be harmony in the community. We wish Ms. Gonuguntla success and growth in all her endeavors. We are proud to have such visionary and dedicated community leaders. Interviewed by: Sangeeta Bachani Written by: Navneeta Khemka