Magazine August 2016

www.visionasia.com.au

August 2016

Amitabh Bachchan Reinventing the game

Jacqueline Fernandez On a new high

Rani Mukerji

Unleashing woman power

Anupam Kher

A unique success mantra

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Speaking Frankly

Amitabh Bachchan has seen his share of death-defying moments, odds and huge setbacks in his long career. From being a non-entity to a struggling actor to becoming one of the biggest cinematic icons of the country, Amitabh Bachchan’s success story is the kind that dreams are made of. At 71, his zest for life and passion for cinema remain unchanged, much like his timeless charisma. Today he continues to give the younger stars a run for their money with his enthusiasm, energy, and his utter sense of professionalism. The ageless superstar is now set to return as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati and take his television audiences on an all-new journey with his first-ever daily soap, Yudh. Vision Asia caught up with the mega star for an exclusive interview on his experiences working in television and his future plans.

CREDITS Editor Sandra Noronha Associate Editor Manishaa Rajender Mandlecha Writers Subhash Jha, Tarla Dalal, Manishaa Rajender Mandlecha Designer Dharmendra Jangid

Stay tuned to Vision Asia for a host of exciting new shows this August.

Kaun Banega Crorepati returns for the eighth season with Amitabh Bachchan as host. Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai, a fictional comedy show shot in the presence of live audience on the sets, debuts on Sab TV. Life OK premieres a new mystery thriller show, Laut Aao Trisha, featuring former Bollywood actress Bhagyashree in the lead. Zee TV brings back the popular India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj after a 10 year hiatus, featuring the likes of Ayushman Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra appearing as celebrity judges in the hunt for the next acting star.

World Television Premieres include Humshakals, Bhoothnath Returns, Total Siyappa and Bewakoofiyan. Super hit movies to watch out for are Queen, Darr @ the Mall, Kahaani, Yaariyan, Barfi, Lootera, R Rajkumar, Bullett Raja. Set Max will be showing two specials this month - an Aamir Khan special with movies like Fanaa, Talaash, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, 3 Idiots and a Dhoom special showcasing all three movies of the franchise. Classics to enjoy include Tridev, Chashme Baddoor, Gambler, Namak Haram.

Images Image Clicker CONTACT US Vision Asia Pty Ltd 97 Victoria Road Parrmatta NSW 2150 Australia ADVERTISING LIAISON Nisha Rehan advertising@visionasia.com.au Tel: 0432099952 Sydney Help Desk Ph: 1300 286 786 Fax: 1300 286 789 www.visionasia.com.au feedback@visionasia.com.au

The excitement continues on Jodi No. 1 Season 7 on Vijay International, with a unique twist on eliminations as individual performers get voted out rather than pairs.

We wish you a very happy Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Parsi New Year this August. We would like to hear from you. Do write to us on feedback@visionasia.com.au Team Vision Asia

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This publication has been independently audited by the Circulations Audit Board.

Audit period March 2014.

CONTENTS 4

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16 TRAVEL 18 OPINION 20 FITNESS 28 FACE TO FACE 31 B-BUZZ 32 PRIME TIME VIEWING 34 FEATURE 36 PREVIEW 38 TELLY TATTLE 40 NEWS EXPRESS 42 TELECHAT 44 FOOD 50 20-20 10 COVER STORY

As a performer, television gives me a wider band width in getting more involved in the character Amitabh Bachchan

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I don’t deny that I have made a great contribution as an actor but you will realize that the film belongs to director Siddharth Anand

You are said to have paid a tribute to Michael Jackson in the film? Was it your own idea?

It was director Siddharth Anand who came up with the idea of doing a number inspired

by Michael Jackson. The idea seemed farfetched and I told him it was crazy. I adore him and it was always a dream to dance like him but I wasn’t the slightest bit sure about how I could match up to the steps of

superhero The invincible

the ultimate pop icon. However, Siddharth was confident that I could do it. He asked me to go ahead. I then decided that I would pay a tribute to him no matter how well I lived up to expectations. It was this thought that helped me overcome all limitations. I

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think love always sets you free.

While Shah Rukh Khan has achieved eight packs for Happy New Year, you too have stretched your physical limits to achieve eight packs for the film. Do you think it makes a difference to the way you look on screen?

Instead of discussing eight packs and six packs, people should talk about the kind of discipline and consistency that goes into building up a body irrespective of age. We actors have to work hard and push our limits to inspire people. The truth is that all of us have six packs in our body but they are not visible because we have a layer of fat over them. It takes hours of painful workouts and diligence to get a body like that. There are many youngsters who don’t have the resources but dream of a great body. We need to educate them with tools to get a fitter body and help achieve their dreams.

How comfortable were you working with Katrina Kaif after you last worked with her in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara?

Katrina and I have now become the best of

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friends. I can relate to her very well too. The two of us have given the film our best shot and we are looking forward to it.

Have your children watched the film and what is their reaction?

My children are far too young to watch films yet but they did see the teaser of the film. They jumped in excitement when they saw the teaser.

They also got down to humming the songs in the film after listening to its music. That’s when I told Siddharth that we had a great product there.

Your separation from Suzanne must have been a difficult phase in your life. How have you learnt to cope up with the whole chapter?

It has been a trying time for me and my entire family and I need the privacy to handle that. I do not want to upset my fans too. I do believe in the institution of marriage and will always adhere to it. I feel sorry that things did not work out between us. Suzanne is and will continue to be the love of my life. If her smiles are brighter without me, my love for her must accomplish that.

If she is happy, I am happy for her and for my children. I will try to give them as much love as I can.

You and your father share a great bonding with each other. Tell us about your relationship with your parents.

My father has been a friend and a mentor and has always stood beside me in good and bad times. He is a strong person and has never shown any weakness even in the most difficult of times.

He has had a tough life himself and I want to give him all the happiness I can as long as I live.

We are two different individuals from different schools of thought. It is said that old is gold and he is one of those golden people whom I truly adore. We argue a lot but we have no egos and that works for our films. Either ways we are both convinced in the end. He never sympathizes with me when I am down. Instead he encourages me to go ahead with life. I want to be that kind of father to my children too.

My father has been a friend and a mentor and has always stood beside me in good and bad times

Rakesh Roshan on his son Hrithik Roshan “Hrithik is a strong and courageous boy and he has gone through so much in life but he has never accepted defeat. Hrithik is a true fighter in life. In fact when doctors advised him not to do certain things, he defied them and moved ahead confidently.

He has become a self-appointed doctor now as he knows about a lot of cures for ailments. Whenever any of us is unwell, the first thing we do is to call him and ask him for a home-remedy. He is also a great moral support to my daughter Sunaina. She is a fighter too in a silent way.

While Hrithik is a great son to me, he is a great actor in his own right. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that he is one of the finest actors we have in the industry. When I have an actor like him at home why do I go about looking for other heroes? When I think of a role for him, the first thought that enters my mind is whether the role will be challenging enough for him as an actor. As an actor too, Hrithik has climbed up the ladder of success, without harming anyone. He has never tried to overshadow anyone in his career. He is not in the numbers race either. I think it is his destiny which got him to where he is.”

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His success story is all about resolve, perseverance and the determination to make it against the biggest of odds. His Greek God looks and chiseled physique were not achieved overnight either. From overcoming his speech disorder problems as a child to mastering the ropes of film-making as an assistant, and finally attaining superstardom, Hrithik has worked his way to the top. The actor, who recently recovered from a brain surgery and a tumultuous marriage, is determined to take his career to new heights.

10th January, 1974:

Hrithik Roshan was born to film director Rakesh Roshan and mother Pinky in Mumbai.

1980: Hrithik made his first appearance

It takes hours of painful workouts and diligence to get a body like that

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on screen as a child artist in his maternal grandfather J.Om Prakash’s film, Aasha. The little boy who was dancing spontaneously was unaware that he was being filmed at the time.

1992:

After training in Kishore Namit Kapoor’s acting institute, Hrithik joined his father as an assistant. For six long years from Khel to Koyla, he went on to learn the ropes of film-making even as he interacted with some of the biggest stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixt and Kajol.

2000: Hrithik made a smashing debut on screen with his father Rakesh Roshan’s film, Kaho Naa….Pyaar Hai. His electric dancing moves in the chartbuster Ek Pal Ka Jeena made him an overnight sensation. He also won the 2001 Filmfare Best Male Debut Award and the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his double role in the film. His next two films saw him playing the dark role of a terrorist. While Fiza proved to be a flop at the box-office, his

STRAIGHT TALK

performance was widely appreciated in Mission Kashmir.

Deenanath Chauhan, originally played by Amitabh Bachchan.

After a long courtship, Hrithik got married to his lady-love, Sussanne Khan. The two dated each other for four years after Hrithik fell in love with Sussanne, an interior designer, when he spotted her at a traffic signal.

2013:

2001: Hrithik was paired for the first time

with Kareena Kapoor in Subhash Ghai’s romantic drama, Yaadein. The film failed to perform in India, though it became a huge success in the overseas market.

Later that year Hrithik bounced back with producer-director Karan Johar’s mammoth venture Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, in which he co-starred with Big B and superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

2002: Hrithik’s career hit a new low with

three consecutive flops at the box-office.

There were great expectations from his last release of the year, Mujhse Dosti Karoge from the Yash Raj banner, but the film got a dismal response.

2003: His chemistry with Kareena Kapoor

was once again evident in Sooraj Barjatiya’s Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, which co-starred Abhishek Bachchan but the film did not click at the box-office. Hrithik teamed up with his father for the second time and bounced back with a vengeance with a sci-fi film, Koi Mil Gaya. His performance in the role of a mentally challenged boy got him rave reviews from the critics. The film proved the highest-grossing Hindi movie of the year and also won him his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

2006:

Hrithik became the proud father of Hrehaan, his first son. His second son, Hridhaan, was born two years later in 2008.

Hrithik attained the status of a superhero with his death-defying stunts in Krrish, a sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya. Directed once again by his father the film saw him playing a triple role for the first time on screen. The film became a major critical and commercial box-office success.

Hrithik stole the show in the role of an enigmatic and sexy master thief in Dhoom-2, the sequel to the highly successful Dhoom from Yash Raj Films. He was featured opposite the beautiful and talented Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The movie emerged a global blockbuster and also won him his third Filmfare Award.

2008:

Hrithik essayed the role of the young Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, who marries the Hindu princess Jodhabai (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) in a political alliance. The film also won him his first international award for best actor at the Golden Minbar International Film Festival in Kazan, Russia.

Hrithik stunned the audiences with his performance in his next film, the mega-project Krrish 3, in which he was paired with Priyanka Chopra.

He obtained the cult status of a superhero with kids going crazy over his antics.

Hrithik underwent brain surgery after suffering a severe head injury while attempting a stunt for Bang Bang. The brain surgery strengthened his will to fight against all odds and come out unscathed.

2010:

There was a tremendous prerelease curiosity around Hrithik’s next family-production Kites. The actor was paired with Uruguayan-Mexican actress Barbara Mori in the ambitious multi-national romantic thriller. The film underperformed in India but did very good business overseas.

It also sparked off rumours about a passionate affair brewing between Hrithik and Barbara.

The year also marked Hrithik’s first collaboration with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the bittersweet drama Guzaarish, in which he was paired for the third time with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film received excellent reviews for Hrithik’s amazing performance of a quadriplegic pleading for euthanasia.

Hrithik and his wife Sussanne officially announced their separation. In a statement, Hrithik said that it was Sussanne who had decided to part ways and end their 17 year relationship.

2014:

Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne officially filed for a divorce at a family court in Bandra, Mumbai. The hearing of their case is scheduled to take place on October 31.

2011:

Hrithik was paired with Katrina Kaif for the first time in Zoya Akhtar’s multistar comedy Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara about three friends who rediscover their lives and their relationship during a road trip in Spain. The film was widely successful at the box-office.

2012:

Hrithik’s subsequent release, Agneepath, the remake of the classic 1990 revenge drama, once again made history at the box-office. The film also won him accolades for re-interpreting one of the iconic characters of Hindi cinema, Vijay

If Suzanne is happy, I am happy for her and for my children

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f reports are to be believed, Hrithik Roshan may acquire the reputation of being the highest paid actor in the country with his next film, Mohenjo Daro. The superstar is said to have been offered an unprecedented price of Rs 50 crores for the period romance to be produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. While the filmmaker is currently in talks with a top studio to back the project, Hrithik’s reported price is said to be unrealistic considering that the fate of his soon-to-be released action thriller, Bang Bang is not known yet.

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he slim and slender Anushka Sharma recently had a tough time donning a gown weighing 35 kgs for the role of a jazz singer in her upcoming film, Bombay Velvet. Anushka will be seen wearing the heavily sequined green and gold gown in the opening song of the period drama.

The actress apparently took almost two and a half hours to get ready for the song.

Incidentally, Anushka will be seen in 144 different outfits in the film, all of which have been designed by Niharika.

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ormer Miss Asia Pacific and actress turned producer, Dia Mirza is all set to tie the knot with her businessman partner Sahil Sangha at a quiet ceremony in Delhi.

Sahil, who hails from a Punjabi family living in Delhi, is keen on having the ceremony in his hometown. The wedding date has been finalized for October this year. Dia and Sahil met each other about five years ago when Sahil was assisting Nikhil Advani during the making of Salaam-E-Ishq. The two are currently celebrating the success of their second joint production, Bobby Jasoos.

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ctress Shraddha Kapoor has lately been working hard on her physique to develop a lean and muscular look for ABCD-2. Shraddha recently admitted that she was on a strict protein diet in order to build up muscle mass. The actress is also trying to work on her dancing skills in order to match steps with Varun, who is known to be a skilled dancer. ABCD-2 is the sequel to Remo D’Souza’s Anybody Can Dance and it will feature Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead.

he latest news doing the rounds is that Akshay Kumar has been approached to host the next season of the hit reality show, Bigg Boss 8. While Akshay has not confirmed the news, sources reveal that the actor is unlikely to find time for the show as his dates are blocked until next year for his upcoming home-production.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan is yet to take a call on the show and whether he intends to continue with it. Recently Salman had revealed in a section of the press that Shah Rukh Khan would be the best option to take over as host if he decided to opt out.

fter losing out on YRF’s Bank Chor, with which he was to make his film debut, it looked like Kapil Sharma’s film career was unlikely to happen. However, there is news that the popular stand-up comedian has now been signed by the producer duo of Abbas-Mastan for a comic film. According to sources, the film will be a comedy of errors starring five heroines opposite Kapil.

Abbas-Mustan, who are best known for their fast-paced action thrillers like Baazigar, Ajnabee, Aitraaz and Race, are now keen on exploring the comedy genre.

ctors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone will train in Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial arts form, for Sanjay Bhansali’s period romance, Bajirao Mastani.

Bhansali has already hired a leading trainer, Daksha Sheth, who has been training in the area of dance and Kalaripayattu for the past many years. In addition, Deepika will also learn Kathak for the elaborate dance numbers in the film. Bajirao Mastani, which has been planned on an epic scale by Bhansali, will have several war sequences.

Bhansali has also finalized the locations for the intense action scenes.

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amir Khan is likely to team up with south superstar Rajnikanth in the sequel to Robot, which had won commercial and critical success at the box-office. Sources reveal that director Shankar is in talks with Aamir Khan to play the baddie in the sequel.

Robot, the 2010 sci-fi film, budgeted at an incredible Rs 132 crores starred Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead. This is the second time Shankar has approached Aamir Khan to star in his franchise. The director had earlier approached Aamir to play the lead role in the film, after Shah Rukh Khan had opted out of it due to creative differences. However Aamir was later said to have turned down the role.

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ctress Chitrangada Singh, who has been missing from the scene for some time, will be seen setting the screen on fire with an item number in the Akshay Kumar starrer, Gabbar. The actress, who was once a permanent fixture in most Sudhir Mishra films, will be performing on a track that has been recorded by Yo Yo Honey Singh.

Chitrangada, who was going through a troubled phase in her personal life with her divorce from husband Jyoti Randhawa, had not signed any films for some time now. www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016

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mission

On a new

10 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

With due respect to all artists, let me state that a larger screen does not necessarily validate a larger performance.

COVER STORY

At 71, Amitabh Bachchan continues to be one of the busiest actors on the scene. His sense of utter professionalism, absolute commitment to work and the constant need to reinvent himself hasn’t changed over the years much like his timeless charisma. The ageless superstar, who reclaimed his superstardom 14 years ago as the host of television’s most popular game show Kaun Banega Croreparti, is now set to take his television audiences on an all-new journey with his first-ever daily soap, Yudh.

Subhash K Jha caught up with the superstar to find out about the show and his expectations from it.

Your first fiction serial Yudh has just begun telecast amidst great expectations.

How was the experience of shooting for television and how different was it from shooting for feature films?

Apart from the fact that this is not the first time I am shooting for television, I would say that the technique and the creativity relate entirely to film. The only difference is that we are well-aware from the outset that Yudh is a show that is finite in nature, with the story progressing from one stage to other. It is comfortable to know that we are heading in a definite direction, apart from the fact that we are making no attempt to keep the serial alive endlessly.

Between shooting for a film and a television serial, which one would you say is more creatively satisfying?

Cinema is restricted to three hours. Shooting

for a serial gives you the liberty of time in compiling a story or a scene. As a performer this gave me a wider band width in getting more involved in the character and having the convenience of time to execute it. Of course, in the end it all depends on the channel broadcast decisions on the time and duration they want to allocate for the show.

You have been paired with actress Sarika in Yudh. You had earlier done a film with her that never got released. How has the experience been working with her?

The film that I did with Sarika was with UTV and there is no indication about its likely date of release. This is not the only film in which we have worked together. To the best of my knowledge, we have worked in at least three films. Sarika is an accomplished artist, a national award winner and a joy to work with. www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 11

COVER STORY

What about the rest of the Yudh cast? Do you feel that the acting talent on television equals its large-screen counterpart?

You seem to be indicating that artists performing on the television screen are lesser in talent. With due respect to all artists, let me state that a larger screen does not necessarily validate a larger performance. Television may have been sized down technically, but the performers should never be looked upon as being less talented. Let’s not forget that several television performers have gone on do films with their talent and excelled in their careers. Apart from that, the artists in Yudh - hand-picked by the creative team of Anurag Kashyap, are all exceptionally talented. It has been a learning experience for me to be in their company.

How would you describe your role in Yudh?

Yudh is the short form for Yudhistir. He is a real-estate and construction company head, who faces a stiff competition from his business counterparts. There is also a complicated family situation that he has to deal with. His problems are further compounded by the fact that he is dealing with a debilitating disease which could turn out to be terminal. How he deals with these situations is what the serial is about.

There are several interesting turns to the story, which will hopefully leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Do you think the serial has the potential to stretch itself out for another season? If so, where would you find the time to accommodate it?

Whether the serial has the potential to stretch itself out, is for the makers to decide.

If there is potential, we shall certainly give it due consideration. Time will definitely not be a constraint if such a situation happens.

Cinema is restricted to three hours.

Shooting for a serial gives you the liberty of time in compiling a story or a scene.

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COVER STORY

We are wellaware from the outset that Yudh is a show that is finite in nature.

Do you watch Indian television? What are the shows that you enjoy?

I do make it a point to watch news, sports and some of the reality shows and serials.

All of them find an audience in me.

You are also getting ready for another season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). How would the new season be different from the earlier seasons?

KBC starts in August and preparations are on for that as well. It would not be prudent of me to disclose the changes yet, but suffice to say that the basic format will remain the same.

Do you enjoy the role of crusader-anchor on KBC? I certainly do. There are many contestants who come to the show with great aspirations and expectations. When we try to give them an opportunity to become a game-changer in their lives, it gives us great satisfaction.

Kyunki yahan sirf paise hi nahin ... Dil bhi jeete jaate hain (because it is not just about winning money…..it is about winning hearts too.)

You have been busy shooting in Europe for Balki’s film, Shamitabh. The film is very close to your own good name. Is that a coincidence?

I do not have the liberty or the permission to reveal much about the film yet.

How different is the experience working with Balki this time in comparison to your last two films, Cheeni Kum and Paa? Every experience of working with Balki has been novel, out of the ordinary and challenging. Shamitabh is no different.

Which are the other films that are in the offing?

There is Shoojit Sircar’s Piku, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s production directed by Bijoy Nambiar, and a few others that have been green lighted. Once I get closer to their schedules I shall be in a better position to talk of them.

When we try to give the contestants an opportunity to become a game-changer in their lives, it gives us great satisfaction.

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COVER STORY

The

highs

& lows career Amitabh Bachchan’s

From being a non-entity and a struggling actor to becoming one of the biggest cinematic icons of the country, Amitabh Bachchan’s success story is the kind that dreams are made of. The superstar has had his share of death-defying moments, odds and huge setbacks in his career, but he did not let it affect his zest for life. While he successfully battled all the challenges set before him, Bachchan is an institution by himself with his huge canvas of work.

Today he continues to give the younger stars a run for their money with his enthusiasm, energy, and his utter sense of professionalism. Vision Asia tracks the defining moments of Bachchan’s career that changed the course of his life.

OCTOBER 11, 1942

Inquilab Rai Bachchan a.k.a Amitabh Bachchan was born at Allahabad, India, to renowned Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and wife, Teji Bachchan.

1967

The tall and lanky young man quit his job as a freight broker for the shipping firm Bird and Co, and boarded a train to the city of dreams and opportunities - Mumbai, in search of a career in films.

1968 His deep baritone voice, considered to be one of

his biggest assets, failed to impress the bosses at All India Radio, who rejected him after an audition test.

1969

Bachchan made an insignificant film debut as a voice narrator in Mrinal Sen’s National Award winning film, Bhuvan Shome.

Bachchan made his acting debut as one of the seven protagonists in Saat Hindustani. The film tanked at the box office, but it won him the National Film Award for Best Newcomer, the first award in his film career.

1971

Bachchan won the Film-

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Fare Best supporting Actor award for his role of a doctor in the emotionally stirring film, Anand. The lead role was played by Rajesh Khanna, the biggest star of those times.

That was the phase when Bachchan had no qualms accepting the roles offered to him. He played his first negative role as an infatuated lover-turned-murderer in Parwaana (1971). This was followed by several

other films like Reshma Aur Shera and the roadaction comedy, Bombay To Goa. The romance between Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri, also a reigning actress at that time, blossomed on the sets of Guddi, in which Bachchan made a guest appearance.

than one. He got married to Jaya Bhaduri before the two left for London to celebrate the success of Zanjeer.

1973

1976

Amitabh Bachchan was relaunched as the angry young man of Bollywood with Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer. The film proved to be a smash hit at the box-office, catapulting him to fame.

The year was eventful for Bachchan in more ways

Three years after his marriage to Jaya Bhaduri, Amitabh Bachchan met Rekha on the sets of Do Anjaane.

It was the beginning of one of the most talked about relationships even as they went on to co-star in several other

COVER STORY

films like Khoon Pasina, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Suhaag, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Mr. Natwarlal and Silsila. However they never admitted to their relationship publicly.

1975

Bachchan achieved new heights of superstardom with two landmark films in his career- the Yash Chopra directed film, Deewaar and Sholay, which became the highest grossing film of the year.

BBC India later declared it as the ‘Film of the Millennium’.

1977

Bachchan won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in Amar Akbar Anthony where he played the third lead opposite Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor. The film was the highest grossing film of the year.

1978

The year marked the release of Don, another landmark film, in which Bachchan played a double role. His performance won him his second Filmfare Best Actor Award. The film was later remade by Farhan Akhtar featuring Shah Rukh Khan.

1981

1982

Amitabh Bachchan suffered a serious accident on the sets of Manmohan Desai’s Coolie while performing a fight scene. The superstar battled with life and death, even as fans frantically prayed for his recovery. Later, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis. His illness prompted him to reconsider his career in acting.

1984

Bachchan was honored by the Indian government with the Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry.

He decided to venture into politics and was elected to parliament with a huge majority from his home city, Allahabad, but his political career came to abrupt end in 1987, when his name figured in the infamous “Bofors” case.

1988

Bachchan returned to films with the title role in Shahenshah, which was a box office success.

1989

It was the beginning of one of the worst phases in his career with all his films flopping miserably at the box-office from Jaadugar, Toofan, Main Azaad Hoon and others.

1990

While his string of flops continued, Agneepath Bachchan starred in Yash Chopra’s controversial melodrama, Silsila, where he starred alongside his wife Jaya and girlfriend, Rekha. That was also his last film with Rekha.

presented a silver lining in the dark clouds. The film won him his first National Award for his performance of a mafia don.

1992

After the release of Khuda Gawah, Bachchan went into oblivion and abstained from signing any new films. He had no release to his credit for five years, apart from the exception of Insaniyat (1994) which was also a box office failure.

1996

Amidst his dwindling fan-following, Bachchan decided to start his own entertainment production company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited, of which he became the CEO. The banner’s first film was Tere Mere Sapne.

1997

Bachchan returned to the silver screen after a five-year hiatus, with the unsuccessful Mrityudaata, produced by ABCL. ABCL’s sinking fortunes began to show with the company incurring a debt of over Rs 90 crores. The company was the main sponsor of the 1996 Miss World beauty pageant in Bangalore but lost millions. The company was at its lowest ebb.

1998

Bachchan’s next release Bade Miyan Chote Miyan did work at the box-office but that was followed by a series of flops including Lal Badshah, Hindustan Ki Kasam, Kohram and Sooryavansham, though the last film received positive reviews.

2000

It was time for

resurrection. Bachchan accepted an offer to host the Indian version of the television game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The show later went on to garner the highest TRP television ratings, even as it gave him a huge fan-following.

Amitabh Bachchan appeared in Yash Chopra’s box-office hit, Mohabbatein, directed by Aditya Chopra. His role won him his third Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.

The highs of the year continued with Bachchan becoming the first living Asian to have been modelled in wax at London’s Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

2003

It seemed to be the revival of a promising phase with Bachchan playing a range of characters which won him critical and commercial appreciation, from Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) to Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Baghban (2003).

2005

Ghosh’s The Last Lear, his first English-language film. The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September, 2007 and critics hailed his performance in the film.

2009

Bachchan gave another acclaimed performance in the film Paa, which saw him playing his own

son, Abhishek’s Progeriaaffected 13-year-old son. It also won him his third National Film Award for Best Actor and fifth Filmfare Best Actor Award.

2013

Bachchan made his Hollywood debut in The Great Gatsby in a cameo appearance, playing the role of Meyer Wolfsheim opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.

2014

While he continues to attempt newer roles in films, Bachchan has recently made his debut on television in a fiction show, Yudh.

Bachchan gave one of his best ever performances in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s critically acclaimed film, Black. The film starred him as an ageing teacher of a deaf-blind girl. His performance won him his second National Film Award for Best Actor.

2007

Bachchan made his appearance in Rituparno www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 15

TRAVEL

Explore the possibilities of taking an early holiday in beautiful Portugal. Due to its position on the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the spring season can be an ideal time to plan a visit.

The days are warm and the off-season tariffs are highly attractive for the budgetwise traveller.

Quinta da Regaleira, the Portuguese Royal Family weekend refuge, Sintra.

16 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

TRAVEL

Panoramic view of Lisbon from Sao Pedro de Alcantara Gardens

If your idea of the perfect holiday is crowdfree beaches, pleasantly warm weather and bargain prices on accommodation, then Portugal is well worth investigation.

In the height of summer temperatures in the Alentejo area can hit 400C, far too hot do anything other than retreat to your hotel room for a post-lunch siesta. In the spring however, the countryside glows with delicate shades of pink from blossoming almond orchards and the roads are blissfully free of traffic. The Alentejo is the largest producer of cork in Europe and in spring the rural landscape, with its cork oaks, almond trees and olive groves provides great opportunities for photography and painting.

The sparsely populated countryside is the perfect escape from the dankness of a more northern February.

The Algarve on the southern coast of Portugal is the most popular destination for all-year-round visitors but for those tourists who long for tranquillity, this region is best avoided in the high season. However, in the spring or autumn it can be a charming area for walking and sight-seeing. March

and April are wonderful months, when the spring flowers are at their best and the temperatures are a balmy 20-250C. Earlier visitors can enjoy the Shrove Tuesday celebrations in the Algarve, in particular the Brazilian - style Mardi Gras carnival in Loulé.

For those with children under school age, the beaches are warm enough for building sand castles and paddling. Although the sea will be rather chilly for swimming, low season flights and accommodation will be much cheaper and represent good value for a family holiday.

For a feeling of real isolation, drive out to the western-most tip of the province, Cape St Vincent. Standing on the rocky promontory two hundred feet above the crashing waves visitors are made very aware that there is nothing between Europe and America except the Atlantic Ocean. In the summer, the cape becomes far more commercial, with stalls selling knitwear and crafts to the coach loads of tourists that arrive every day. But in the spring it is just man and nature.

Lisbon are a delight for keen horticulturists in March and April.

Although the spring days can be blissfully warm, evenings in Portugal can be chilly so it’s wise to pack a warm sweater for after dark. This is a small price to pay for uncrowded restaurants and public spaces, not to mention low season deals on travel and accommodation.

Sintra’s parks have been recognised as World Heritage sites and the palaces and parks of Pena, Monserrat and the Capuchos Convent are ablaze with camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons in the spring, and still virtually crowdfree. Just outside Sintra is the splendid Quinta da Regaleira. It is one of Sintra’s lesser-known attractions but the gardens are have been described as a magical experience with surprises around every corner. They have also been described as a ‘Dantesque subterranean world’, an effect that will be heightened by a spring visit.

Further north the gardens of Sintra and www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 17

OPINION

My most memorable

Most of us celebrate the festival of lights by lighting the traditional diyas, gorging on sweets, wearing new clothes and welcoming friends home. For Bollywood celebrities however it is an opportunity to spend quality time with their families.

There’s razzle-dazzle too as stars believe in doing everything in style. Vision Asia caught up with a few Bollywood personalities to find out about their most memorable Diwali and what the festival means to them.

I would say the most memorable Diwali for me was the one when I shifted to Mumbai from U.S. with my husband and two kids. It was like a home-coming after a long time. My in-laws and my family later got together for a huge celebration.

This year I am planning to celebrate Diwali with my husband and family members. It is going to be a quiet and a simple celebration. I am against the idea of burning crackers and I have also educated my children about how they affect our surroundings. We all need to believe in celebrating an ecofriendly Diwali. We need to save the environment from getting polluted any further.

Madhuri Dixit

18 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

My most memorable Diwali was the one I celebrated for the first time after marriage as it was also my first Diwali outside home. It was special because we had a huge get-together where my parents and Siddharth’s family got together to celebrate the festival. There was a lot of festivity around with the traditional lights and sweets and gifts flowing in.

I make it a point to dress up in traditional saris on Diwali days.

The festival is also an occasion to go out shopping to buy new saris and jewellery. I like a noise free and pollution free Diwali.

Vidya Balan

OPINION

For me Diwali is all about spending some of the best moments with my family. I started work at the age of 16 and have been travelling ever since. My sister too is away most of the times. So my parents look forward to having us home on this special occasion. I love Diwali sweets and that is one time when I don’t diet, as I gorge on all the delicacies.

However I doubt whether I will be able to get home this Diwali as I am busy promoting Happy New Year, which is set for a Diwali release. I plan to visit my parents soon after the film releases.

Deepika Padukone

My most memorable Diwali was when I won the Gladrags contest for the first time. I got to know about the news when I was home for Diwali with my parents. We had a grand celebration thereafter. For me, Diwali has always been a special occasion because of the grand Laxmi Puja we have in our house. I am not in favour of bursting crackers though. I think we should ban them as it disturbs small children and old people. It also creates the menace of air and noise pollution. Apart from that, the best part that I love about the festival is skipping my regular diets. I find all the Bengali Sweets irresistible and I make it a point to relish them. It’s also the festival of love which is abundant in the air at that time.

Bipasha Basu

The most special Diwali for me was the year my son was born. We were busy welcoming home the cute bundle of joy in our lives.

This Diwali I will be going on a holiday with my family. I want to spend some quality time with my son too. I want to enjoy his growing up process and give him all the love of a father. I do not want to deprive him of my share of love, which is why I have cut down on signing films. Diwali this time will be about the whole family coming together.

Vivek Oberoi

For me, my most memorable Diwali was the one I celebrated last year. I had successfully undergone brain surgery and I thanked God profusely for that. Also Krrish 3 proved to be a big hit. I see Diwali as a festival of love, lights and forgiveness. The family usually gets together for the traditional puja. We Roshans are grounded and love to share our happiness with everyone around. Every Diwali is memorable for me and this year it will be memorable too. That’s because Suzanne and I are not together anymore. I am looking forward to meeting my kids who will be coming over to celebrate the festival.

Hrithik Roshan

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 19

FITNESS

I don’t miss out on a single day of

From being fat to fab, Sonakshi Sinha has indeed come a long way. The actress lost 30 kgs before making her big Bollywood debut with Dabangg.

More recently, the actress stunned everyone with her hourglass figure after she lost considerable weight.

The actress reveals the secret of her fitness and her weight loss.

20 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

FITNESS

Sonakshi Sinha has no hesitation flaunting her figure these days. The actress has been giving her contemporaries a run for their money with her newly acquired slim and svelte look. Sonakshi is happy about the compliments that are coming her way but admits that it was a formidable task trying to get into shape. “A lot of hard work has gone into what I have achieved today. But yes the hard work was worth it,” says the beaming actress.

Sonakshi gives the credit for her slim and trim look to her fitness trainer Abbas, with whom she has been training for some time now. “He has a gruelling fitness routine and it was exhausting at times.” The actress initially had a tough time because she was not very comfortable with the idea of working out at the gym every day. “I am not a typical gym person and I hate going to the gym,” she says. But it was her firm resolve that helped her overcome the inertia. “I was determined to shed all the weight and I decided to go through with it,” the actress reveals.

Her daily fitness regime: Despite already losing considerable weight, Sonakshi has been adhering to her exercise schedule to maintain her figure. Her training sessions are a combination of exercises like kick boxing, hot yoga, cardio training and a game of tennis.

The actress reveals that she trains six days in the week, “I don’t miss out on a single day of my exercise. My weight loss training begins early in the morning. I start my day with a lot of stretching exercises followed by cardio exercises, spinning and cycling, after which I do weight training using light weights.”

When she is shooting outdoors and unable to go to the gym, she compensates for her workouts by going out jogging and playing lawn tennis.

While the workouts have helped her tone her body, Sonakshi attributes her perfect figure and glowing skin to the new version of hot yoga that she has been practicing for some time now, “I have been practicing hot yoga in a temperature controlled room with different postures. I think that has made a big difference to the way I look and feel,” she says.

Her diet: Being a great foodie, Sonakshi initially had a difficult time resisting all the rich delicacies that she used to indulge in. However the actress gradually switched over to a balanced diet prescribed by her trainer Abbas. To start with, she was asked to cut down on carbohydrates and substitute it with a lot of protein. Also, she makes it a point to have something every two hours so that she never goes hungry. Sonakshi says that it helped her get over the habit of binging on fast food. The actress is allowed to gorge on her favourite snacks and sweets once in a while. “I can never be a size zero even if I wanted,” she smiles.

I have been practicing hot yoga in a temperature controlled room with different postures. I think that has made a big difference to the way I look and feel.

Her breakfast consists of cereal and milk or a whole wheat toast, followed by dry fruits and a cup of green tea a few hours later. Lunch is usually all about homemade rotis, vegetables, salads and fish.

In the evening, she once again has a bowl of fruit followed by green tea. According to Sonakshi, green tea aids in weight loss and is excellent for detoxifying the body.

“In addition, I drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day. It is good for the skin and also helps you curb your appetite,” she says. She has an early dinner consisting of chicken, fish and dal with a lot of vegetables.

The actress says that she has realized that there is no shortcut to losing weight. “Being disciplined is at the core of losing weight, be it with food or exercises.

It’s about looking good too. Once you fit into good clothes there’s no looking back,” she quips.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 21

FITNESS

I have never been

weighed down by challenges

All challenges can be overcome if you are determined to go ahead 22 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

For an actress who hated going to the gym, it was a tough challenge for Priyanka Chopra to get into a rigorous fitness routine for the role of the international boxing sensation Mary Kom. It was her grit and determination that helped the actress to achieve the desired level of fitness. She recounts her fitness journey.

FITNESS

There was a time when Priyanka was wary of snacking on vegetables and fruits and spending long hours training for her role of Mary Kom. The actress had to literally push herself to play the role of the boxer in the film. Even more challenging was the fact that this time her fitness training extended way beyond Bollywood related workouts.

The actress had to bear heavy weights and reach the point of exhaustion day after day. But Priyanka was not one to give up easily, “I have never been weighed down by challenges in life. It was tough no doubt but I knew that I was prepared to take it head on and overcome all my apprehensions. I had taken up the role and I was determined to attain the level of fitness required for it,” the actress recalls.

Fortunately for Priyanka, her trainers Prashant and Samir Juara supported her in her endeavour and made sure that the actress trained every single day for the role of Mary Kom. “They were the disciplinarians who kept a vigil on my diet and workouts all day long and I owe my success in the role to them,” smiles the actress.

Her diet While her exercise routine underwent a total change, Priyanka’s preparation for the role started with a heavy protein diet to build up her muscle mass. “I was put on a diet rich in proteins. I was totally off fried foods and carbohydrates when I was training. I was not allowed to cheat even for a single day.

Prashant made sure that I took care of my diet,” says Priyanka Chopra.

Her daily diet routine consisted of oatmeal and two egg whites for breakfast followed by a glass of skimmed milk an hour later. Her midday snack consisted of coconut water and a small bowl of nuts comprising of almonds, walnuts, raisins, figs and sunflower seeds.

Lunch was two rotis, green veggies, pulses or grilled chicken and salad. That would be followed by a bowl of sprouts or a turkey sandwich in the evening. Dinner had to be wrapped up by eight p.m. and consisted of grilled fish or chicken and sautéed vegetables.

There were occasions when she was tempted to have a Punjabi delicacy after a long workout but her trainers would curtly refuse her requests. It was Mary Kom who would occasionally come to her rescue, “I would curse my trainers at times. They would never let me eat anything though Mary Kom was surprisingly known to have rice in her daily diet. She was naturally thin and she had survived on rice all the time. Sometimes she

It was tough no doubt but I knew that I was prepared to take it on head on and overcome all my apprehensions would get rice for me and I would have it on the sly,” she smiles.

Priyanka admits that the last few months were even more challenging, when she was required to shoot for some of the action scenes in the film, “That was a truly grueling period because I could not afford to cheat.

I used to have plenty of liquids like juice, coconut water and water. Water is a must as it keeps your skin healthy. I kept having small meals so that I never went hungry or craved for food,” she says.

Her exercise routine In order to build up her muscle mass, Priyanka was put on a complex training program, which included reverse lunges, bench jumps, crunches, weight training, running and spinning throughout the day; followed by mental training too. “I trained on different parts of the body on different days, followed by a routine of training in boxing” she reveals.

The actress trained so hard that a bag filled with weights went everywhere that she was shooting. She had to suffer aches and injuries but there was no respite as she prepared for her look of a boxer in the film.

She also had to undergo a lot of functional

training and stretching to improve flexibility and increase her stamina.

Her well-toned abs and muscles however began to pose a problem when she had to start shooting for another film, Dil Dhadakne Do. The director was not too happy with her muscled body. Priyanka then switched over to wearing long-sleeved dresses to hide the bulk.

However she was delighted when all the hard work paid off and she began to feel the intensity of her character in the film.

The most satisfying moment for her was when Mary Kom complimented her on her performance, when she saw the film for the first time, “It gave me a new high. I was also convinced that all challenges can be overcome if you are determined to go ahead,” the actress recalls.

According to Priyanka, it is very important to be in the right frame of mind if you have to achieve anything in life, “It is all in the mind. If you are positive and focused in life, the sky is the limit. Besides fitness needs to be inculcated as a way of life”.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 23

FITNESS

feel

Fitness can make a difference to the way you

From an adult star to a popular Bollywood actress, Sunny Leone has made the transition with a perfect sense of dignity. The actress has no inhibitions discussing her past and takes pride in her work. With captivating looks and a great figure, Sunny has now come to be accepted as the perfect Bollywood heroine. The actress reveals her fitness secrets and the key to her great-looking body.

24 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

FITNESS

I do a lot spinning which helps to keep my legs, lower back, thighs and hamstrings strong and in shape

Sunny Leone credits her fitness and her great looking body to her husband, Daniel Weber. “He is my inspiration when it comes to exercise. When I feel lazy to go for workouts, he is the one who pushes me to go the gym. He is the one who has made sure that I adhere to a fitness plan,” the actress smiles.

Fitness Regime Unlike other stars Sunny is not a great yoga enthusiast. Instead she sticks to cardio exercises and spinning. The actress makes it a point to visit the gym at least thrice a week. She also does push-ups in order to build up her core strength and burn all the fat, “I do 100 push-ups and 100 squats every day after my cardio and weight training. That helps me cut down on all the fat and increases my stamina,” she reveals.

Like other actresses, Sunny also has a tendency to put on weight on her hips, “It is the problem area on which I really work on. For this, I do a lot spinning which helps to keep my legs, lower back, thighs and hamstrings strong and in shape. I try and burn out at least 500 to 600 calories in every workout,” she admits.

Sunny has also chalked out alternative exercises when she is shooting round the clock and has little time for workouts, “When I have no time to visit the gym, I make it a point to do spinning on my bike for 30 minutes.”

Her dietary norms: Sunny believes that water is the best hydrant for a good skin and healthy body, besides fresh fruits and vegetables. “I keep sipping on water throughout the day. I make sure that I have at least 8-9 glasses of water in a day. I also include several servings of

chicken, salad and steamed fish.

There are days when she feels like binging and Sunny does not hold herself back. “I call them cheat meals. I love chocolates and can’t avoid all the sweets so I eat in moderation. I make up for it by working out an extra hour in the gym.”

vegetables and fruits in my diet, besides chicken for my protein intake.”

Among the list of foods that she strictly avoids are soda, coffee and friend foods.

“I keep away from all the stuff that is not good for the body. I see to it that I stack my fridge with healthy food,” she says.

The Ek Paheli Leela actress says it’s difficult to have a healthy diet in India as a lot of oil is used in cooking, “I try to restrict my oil consumption as far as possible but it is not always possible to control it,” she says.

She also makes it a point to curtail salts, “I avoid salts as it leads to water retention and bloating,” she explains. When she is busy shooting for long hours at a stretch she prefers simple food such as egg whites, vegetables and chicken.

Her regular diet plan Sunny starts her day with a cup of Dunkin’ Donut coffee followed by breakfast which consists of egg whites and toasts.

Lunch consists of chicken and salad with vegetables. Sunny avoids snacking as far as possible between meals but if she does feel hungry she prefers to have seasonal fruits or dry fruits. Dinner consists mostly of

Hair and Skin Care: While she keeps a regular tab on her food intake and exercise, Sunny also has a proper skin care regimen in place to keep her skin bright and glowing, “I moisturize my skin a lot. Since we have a humid weather I make sure that my skin is clean before I go to bed. I use a lot of water-based and natural cosmetics and make sure that all my brushes and sponges are clean before use. I have trained my make-up artist to do the same,” she says.

According to the actress, there are three factors that influence the way you look and feel- a regular exercise plan, proper diet and the right amount of sleep, “It is important that you balance these three factors if you want to keep looking good. It shows on your face and your body language when you eat well, exercise properly and have a sound sleep. Besides it is very important to be responsible for your fitness. Fitness can make a difference to the way you feel,” she quips.

I keep away from all the stuff that is not good for the body. I see to it that I stack my fridge with healthy food www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 25

26 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

Shraddha Kapoor www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 27

FACE TO FACE

Working with Salman is a

dream

come true

I am single and ready to focus on work, but not ready to mingle 28 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

FACE TO FACE

Jacqueline Fernandez has come a long way since her first film, Aladdin, with director Sujoy Ghosh. The actress, who was mired in controversies over her personal life and her recent break-up with director Sajid Khan, has moved on in life. She is back in the news for her latest release Kick, in which she has been teamed up with superstar Salman Khan. The Sri Lankan beauty spoke to Vision Asia on her interaction with Salman, her career, her friends in the industry and her future plans.

What was your first reaction when you were offered the role opposite Salman Khan in Kick?

Initially I couldn’t believe it that I had been signed for the film. I was called for a meeting with Sajid Nadiawala in his office, after which he offered me the film on the same day. I was even more surprised after I learnt about the many actresses who had been considered for the role. I kept asking Salman why I was chosen for the role when they could have very well opted for any other actress in my place. Salman always maintained that I deserved to be there as I had worked hard in my career. I guess my luck was with me and I was at the right place at the right time. I am grateful to the people who made this possible. I personally believe that your luck only works when you have lots of dedication and hard work to put in.

You have known Sajid Nadiadwala as a producer how was it shooting with him as a director?

Sajid is someone who is fascinated about cinema. I am glad that he has explored the director in him. I remember he would come on the sets of Housefull and give us interesting ideas. He was also open to feedback from us. Even on the sets of Kick, he was always open to suggestions. Only an experienced director can do it.

What was the experience like working with Salman Khan?

Salman Khan is a superstar in the true sense of the word (Smiles). Working with him is a dream come true. Many people have asked me about Salman’s temperament but I would like to clarify that he is completely different from the way he is made out to be.

He charges the atmosphere on the sets with his warmth and energy. There were days when he used to be reserved, but then we

are all human beings and we have our good and bad days.

Has your rapport with Salman grown over a period of time?

I shot with Salman for seven months and I felt that he has some amazing qualities.

Once he takes you under his wings, he is very generous with his love and attention.

I remember he would push me to go to the gym and also ensure that I was well-fed on the sets. He is a very good hearted person.

His love for giving has no boundaries.

You are said to have had a difficult time dubbing for the film in Hindi. How good is your Hindi diction now?

It is much better now than it was a few years ago. One thing that has helped me in my Hindi language skills is my love for Hindi songs, especially the classics from the 70s. Listening to Hindi songs is the best way to master the language and diction. I can understand Hindi much better now and after dubbing in my own voice for Kick, I feel much more confident about the language.

Did your lack of Hindi language pose an impediment in your career in the initial stages?

I had to face major problems initially because of my inability to speak fluently in Hindi. The biggest one was when my scenes were cut drastically because of my dialogue delivery not being right. Some of my important scenes were simply deleted because the makers did not have the confidence that I could deliver the dialogues in Hindi. Now after spending a few years in the industry, I have finally managed to polish my Hindi language skills. In Kick, I was required to mouth long dialogues but I managed to live up to the expectations of director Sajid Nadiadwala, though it took me extra time to prepare for the scenes.

A lot of people have told me not to make friends inside the industry because friendships don’t last for a long time here

Jacqueline’s Australia connection Few are aware that the former Miss Universe Sri Lanka, Jacqueline Fernandez, was into television and broadcasting before she participated in the beauty pageant. The actress graduated from the Murrey University in Australia with a degree in mass media studies, following which she started modeling in Australia, Singapore, Dubai and Sri Lanka. According to Jacqueline, she had a great time while living in Australia. www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 29

FACE TO FACE

One thing that has helped me in my Hindi language skills is my love for Hindi songs, especially the classics from the 70s Did you face rejection in the industry as an actress any point?

I did face rejection on several occasions, when I initially started with my career five years back. I would go for auditions and convey to the producer that I was very keen on doing the role. There were times when I did not get any feedback from the producers, sometimes for a big film and at other times for a small film. It was Murder 2 which changed things for me, besides my presence in Race. Post these films, I never had to go for auditions. I got the opportunity to choose films when offers started coming my way.

When was the first time you realised that there was an actress in you?

I guess it was at the age of seven. When you are young you tend to idolize your favourite stars. My exposure to films was limited to Hollywood all the way. I was never introduced to Hindi films in my growing years. In fact, it was only in 2002 that I saw my first Hindi film, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas. When an outsider like me watches a film like Devdas, the experience is just out of this world. I liked all the detailing in the movie. That’s how my fascination with Hindi films began.

Which actresses do you find inspiring in your career?

I am inspired by all the contemporary actresses, though my all-time favourite is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She is an epitome of beauty and has great acting skills. Then there’s Katrina Kaif, the girl from London who made a success of her career with her hard work. I adore Katrina for the way she has handled her career. Today she speaks impeccable Hindi and does her own dubbing. I also find Deepika very inspiring. From her debut in Om Shanti Om to her recent successes, Deepika has worked her way up to the top. There’s also Sonam Kapoor who has built her own brand in the industry with her style statement.

What is your take on the friendship in the industry?

A lot of people have told me not to make friends inside the industry because friendships don’t last for a long time here.

The general opinion about Bollywood is that the people who pose as friends today may backstab and turn into arch rivals the next day. But I don’t agree with this contention.

I have friends like Sujoy Ghosh who is also the director of my first film. Then there is Riteish Deshmukh with whom I have done a couple of films. Sonam Kapoor is also a very dear friend of mine and now Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiawala have also been added to the list. These are the people who are more like family to me. They are the kind who will stand by me when I need them the most.

How do you see your career a few years down the line?

Right now I am happy with the way my career is going. I am glad that the audiences have accepted me, but I feel I need to explore more interesting roles. I am eagerly looking forward to my next project Roy, which stars Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. I have a double role in the movie. I am really keen on doing some international projects. Actresses have a very short period of time to prove themselves in Bollywood, which is why I want to broaden my reach as an actress.

You have often been linked to your costars in the past. How do you react to it?

I guess it is because I am single. It’s strange that people take the on-screen pairing a little too far. I am not the only one, this has happened to every other actor and actress in the industry.

Have you found love again?

I am single and ready to focus on work, but not ready to mingle. I am happy that I am giving my hard work and full attention to my work more than anything else.

By Srabanti Chakravarthy (with inputs from S Bhagat)

30 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

B-BUZZ

Aditya Roy Kapur wants to get out of the ‘drunken’ slot After playing the role of an alcoholic in his last two films, Aashiqui 2 and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Aditya Roy Kapur is glad that he is playing a different role in his forthcoming film, Daawat-E-Ishq. The actor recently revealed that his role in the film is a far cry from his past characters, “After drinking so much you will now see me eating in the film, as I play a chef from Lucknow,” he said, adding that he was excited about his new look in the film.

The actor added that he did not intend to play drunken characters anymore and was planning to make it as a part of his contracts, “I guess I was cast in those roles because I played the role of a drunkard perfectly but I don’t want to get slotted in those roles,” he said.

While his previous roles had a serious brooding look, the actor will be seen in a happy-go-lucky avatar in his upcoming film. Since he plays a chef, he had to learn a few nuances of how a chef works in the kitchen. However Aditya admits he is not a good cook, “I did learn how to chop vegetables like a chef for the film but I am not a great cook. I can’t make anything beyond an omelet and tea,” he said.

Priyanka Chopra to turn playback singer with Mary Kom She is one actress who has never hesitated from stepping out of familiar terrain and pursuing her dreams. After rendering singles like ‘In My City’, ‘Exotic’ and the more recent ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’, Priyanka Chopra is now set to take her singing career one step further, by becoming a playback singer for Mary Kom. The actress recently revealed that she had been longing to sing a song in her earlier films but the opportunity never came along. When the makers of Mary Kom approached her to lend her voice for a number in the film, she was more than willing. This is the first time Priyanka will be rendering a full-fledged number for a Bollywood film. Prior to this, she had sung a line from her Bluffmaster number ‘Ek Main Aur Ek Tu Hai’.

Recently on the eve of her birthday, Priyanka had mentioned that she believed she could achieve everything she wanted in life with her sheer determination and will to succeed. Priyanka is the third actress who has lent her voice for a film recently. Prior to this, Shraddha Kapoor’s rendition of ‘Galiyan’ in Ek Villain had won her a lot of appreciation after which Alia Bhatt had sung the unplugged version of ‘Samjhawan’ from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 31

PRIME TIME VIEWING

What’s on VISION ASIA

India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj The Anupam Kher Show – Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai In a world where people are starved for happy news, we bring you a show that is going to leave you feeling pretty good - The Anupam Kher Show – Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. The Anupam Kher Show is a chat show hosted by actor & life coach Anupam Kher.

Bringing his unique attitude to the small screen, Mr.Kher is setting out to inspire and bring hope to viewers. It is an extension of Anupam’s renowned autobiographical play ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai where he has openly spoken about his failure and how he has manipulated his destiny. In every one hour show, Mr Kher invites a well-known personality to his set where they talk about many things – some that are public knowledge and some that one would only share with a close friend. The thespian through these conversations plans to uncover the hidden chapters from their book of life, stories of their resilience, heart breaks, and triumphs and how they’ve turned every obstacle into a milestone just the way he resurrected his own life.

Time: On Colors -every Monday. 18:30 AEST/16:30 AWST 32 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj is a 13 week non-fiction format which will unearth India’s finest acting talent.

These cinestars will light up the silver screen with their acting prowess and charisma. Award winning director Anurag Basu will join actress Sonali Bendre and Dhoom 3 director Vijay Krishna Acharya aka Victor on the Judge’s Panel. Bollywood A-listers like Parineeti Chopra and Ayushmann Khurrana will partner with the judges to search for the hidden cinestar. Hussain Kwajerwala will host the show.

The participants will have to prove their mettle in genres such as romance, comedy, drama, dance and action. So, gear up to have entertainment filled weekends with some power-packed histrionics and mind-blowing performances.

Time: On Zee TV - every Sunday-Monday.

20:00 AEST/18:00 AWST

PRIME TIME VIEWING

Suhani Si Ek Ladki This light-hearted romance set in Allahabad revolves around how the ideas and ideologies in life and love differ for Suhani, Soumya and Yuvraj.

Suhani, an innocent, simple and average looking girl, wants a man who may not be good-looking or rich but is blessed with a heart of gold and who would love her for who she is. She finds good in everyone and loves her family unconditionally. In contrast to Suhani is her extremely beautiful best friend Soumya who lives in her own dream world and believes that true love is all about being pampered by your partner. On the other hand, Yuvraj is a handsome and rich scion of a business family whose ultimate dream in life is to marry the most beautiful girl in the world, his belief being that external beauty alone is the marker of a good heart.

Arrogant and rich, he shares a very close relationship with his mother. The show will explore how the ideologies can collide and alter the lives of those involved.

Time: On Star Plus – Mon – Sat. 18:30 AEST/16:30 AWST

Meri Aashiqui...Tum Se Hi They say life begins with your first breath. But that’s for most of us common people. For those special some, life begins at one life changing instant. For Ranveer his life began at 10, when he saw Ishaani skipping down the stairs holding her father Harshad Mehta’s hand.

Ishaani was Ranveer’s breath of fresh air, Ranveer’s first and only love.

Harshad gets a marriage proposal for Ishaani. Ketan Paresh, Harshad’s best friend asks Ishaani’s hand for his son Chirag. Harshad thinks Chirag is the best option for Ishaani. He asks Ranveer for his help, to help Chirag and Ishaani to come together. Ranveer is stunned, but he agrees. He can’t say no to Harshad for anything and he honestly tries to bring the two together.

What happens to Ranveer’s love? Will the vibrant confident Ranveer change? Will Ishaani ever realise that Ranveer has been in love with her all these years?? What does fate have in store for Ishaani and Ranveer??

Time: On Colors - Tue-Sat. 20:30 AEST/18:30 AWST

Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai is an innovative family comedy show which revolves around the lives of the owners and the tenants living under the same roof of Bungalow No. 5. This TV series explores the funny side of the incidents that happen in the daily lives of all the characters. Alok Nath, veteran actor will play ‘Babuji’ in the show. Other cast in the show include Rajesh Kumar as Maalik, Shweta Gulati as Maalkin, Apara Mehta as Basundi, Ami Trivedi as Khandvi, Samir Shah as Khakra, Sugandha Mishra as Pillavakandi, Dhaval as Pillu, Manoj Goyal as Anu, Abhishek Awasthi as Malik, Monica Castelino as Victoria Bai and Sukesh as Sher Singh. Popular and talented actress Supriya Pathak will be seen making an appearance on the show.

One of the many USPs of this fictional comedy show is the presence of live audience on the sets which adds the element of spontaneity to the entire humorous offering.

Time: On Sab Tv - Tue-Sat. 21:30 AEST/19:30 AWST www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 33

FEATURE

Heal Thy Self David Dhawan, known to be one of the longest-lasting directors of Hindi cinema, recently commented that the secret of his survival was that he was constantly learning and reinventing himself, imbibing the preferences of the new generation. It is a fact that stagnancy is tantamount to death for a creative artiste. Subhash K Jha analyses the works of some directors who made it big and now need to reinvent themselves in order to keep going.

The Showman is now facing rejection from mass audiences. Ghai once made Hero, Saudagar and Ram Lakhan. His script sense did have its flaws, but what carried his tales to box-office glory, was the towering actors and the wonderful dialogues.

Now with Kissna and Kanchi, he needs to work with a young dynamic team the way Yash Chopra did till he passed away.

SUBHASH GHAI

RAM GOPAL VARMA

He changed the face of horror and underworld violence in Indian cinema with Raat and Satya.

However there came a point when his horror films became horrific and his films on the underworld began to threaten all aesthetic considerations. His subsequent series of flops made no difference to Ramu. He continued to plunder the fertile fields of filmmaking that he had so confidently ploughed.

Finally good sense has prevailed and Ramu has taken a break. He has gone back to his home town Hyderabad to rediscover his roots.

We will wait for his recovery and return.

He was once considered the wizard of raj-tantra. In his attempt to explore the political scene in India in films like Gangajal, Apaharan and Raajneeti, Jha managed to get commercial endorsement. However the filmmaker has to his discredit three films that were expected to be game changers. Alas Aarakshan, Chakravyuha and Satyagraha were bitterly disappointing. Jha is now writing a gritty cop drama, hopefully without his signature stamp of mobs rushing for revenge and fleets of government cars speeding down at rushhour. The Ambassador car is dead. So are the governmental conclaves on the roads.

PRAKASH JHA

34 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

FEATURE

How could the director who gave Lagaan and JodhaaAkbar be responsible for Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Se and What’s Your Raashee? This brilliant storyteller needs to cut down on the length of his films and introduce a certain amount of emotions in his storytelling. Hopefully his next, Mohenjo-Daro, will revive the lost glory of Gowariker.

ASHUTOSH GOWARIKER

VISHAL BHARDWAJ

MADHUR BHANDARKAR

SUDHIR MISHRA

When Vishal made Omkara and Kaminey, his style was stunningly original and fearless. However his recent films show a smug over-confidence bordering on self-indulgence. This trendsetting director’s last two films Saat Khoon Maaf and Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola were damp squibs.

Bharadwaj probably needs to look within himself to see where the guttural storytelling needs to be updated.

He made a disastrous start with a formulistic farce called Trishakti.

He found his métier with Chandni Bar and went on to re-write the language of commercial Hindi cinema for an adult audience with Page 3 and Fashion. But then Bhandarkar got stuck in a single groove. Heroine made little impact except as Fashion relocated from the modeling to the movie world. His attempt to do a sex comedy in Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Jee fell flat and his next film Calendar Girls apparently has 12 hot newcomers revealing their story of exploitation and redemption. Errrr...Fashion 3?

He has made 11 films so far, all of which deal with the politics and crime of the Indian middleclass.

Of these only three of his films have managed to make money.

His dark brooding cynical style of storytelling has not changed over the years. His last film Inkaar about sexual harassment at work places was found to be shaky by many critics. Sudhir needs to do some soul-searching. The raw realism in his cinema needs serious upgrading.

Sajid’s forte was farcical laughter aimed at everyday quirks. His comedy is broad but it has lately become stubbornly rigid and repetitive.

After Himmatwala and Humshakals, this exuberant and over-confident teller of comic stories, needs to know that audiences are no longer tickled by the funny-broom that he uses to sweep all logic under the table.

SAJID KHAN

MANI RATNAM

He could be called the most dismaying creative menopause in the history of Indian cinema. After bathing the screen in brilliancy with one masterpiece after another, Mani Ratnam has inexcusably delivered two back-to-back duds in Raavan and Kadhalan. Wisely he has decided to postpone his next project for some serious introspection. Mani seriously needs to get out of his comfort zone and work with Alia Bhatt instead of Aishwarya Rai.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 35

PREVIEW

Vision Asia previews films to watch out for in the months ahead.

IT’S ENTERTAINMENT Produced by Tips Industries Ltd and directed by debutant director duo, Sajid-Farhad (best known for their dialogues in Golmaal and Bol Bachchan) It’s Entertainment is a slapstick comedy revolving around a young man Akhil Lokhande (Akshay), who makes devious plans to kill a canine in order to inherit a fortune but later ends up sharing a bond with the animal.

While the plot may seem devoid of all logic, the makers claim that the film is replete with fun and entertainment, coupled with the right amount of action, comedy, drama and a dose of romance. All in all a complete Bollywood entertainer!

The film stars Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah Bhatia and Mithun Chakraborty in the lead roles, besides Johnny Lever, Prakash Raj, Krushna Abhishek and Sonu Sood. However the hero of the film is undoubtedly Akshay’s four-legged co-star, the golden retriever. The film is scheduled for an 8th August release.

SINGHAM RETURNS Co-produced by Ajay Devgn Films, Rohit Shetty Productions and Reliance Entertainment, Singham Returns, is the sequel to the 2011 action film, Singham. Ajay Devgn, who reprises the role of cop Bajirao Singham from the previous film, is expected to deliver an even more power-packed performance this time. Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen playing his love interest in the role of a spunky middle class Maharashtrian girl.

The first installment of Singham, which revolved around an honest cop’s fight against the system, had created history at the box-office. The film was also a huge hit with the cops, who connected with the character of Ajay Devgn.

The team of Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty has delivered super-hit entertainers in both the comedy and action genre from the Golmaal series to All the Best, Bol Bachchan and Singham.

On the other hand, the Ajay-Kareena chemistry has also been widely appreciated in the past.

Expectations are running high on the film with the makers scheduling it for an Independence Day release on August 15.

36 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

NEWS EXPRESS

I don’t intend to

quit television yet

He had a minuscule role in the recently released Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, but Siddharth Shukla managed to create a flutter with his brief appearance. The television heart throb has two other films lined up with the same banner, but he is in no mood to quit television. He talks about his film debut and how television has made a big difference to his career.

Despite having signed a three-film deal with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, television heartthrob Siddharth Shukla has no plans to quit television yet. The handsome hunk, who became a huge craze with television audiences with the character of Shivraj Anoop Shekhar in Balika Vadhu, is determined to keep his television career going for some time, before he decides to switch over completely to films. “I owe my success in life to television, particularly Ballika Vadhu. I share a great connect with my co-stars in the serial. I also have a great regard for my Babul Ka Aangan Chootey Na director. I learnt how to say ABCD in front of the camera because of him. I don’t intend to quit television yet,” says the superstar of television.

Siddharth’s fans were not very happy seeing him in a fleeting appearance in his debut film, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, but the actor maintains that he did not opt for the film. It was the other way round, “It was a classic case of the film choosing me. I was doing Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa when Karan Johar noticed me and asked me to come to his office. I never behaved like a wannabe who is desperate for a role. I always kept a low profile though I had expressed my desire to work in Karan-ji’s films” The actor admits that he has always wanted to make a career in films. “But I simply didn’t know how to act. The only other choice was

to do an acting course which would have taken three months. Television was the other alternative where I could learn and act,” he says.

Siddharth recalls how he landed into films when he got a call from the office of Dharma Productions one fine day. “I thought someone was playing a prank. But Karan Johar messaged me and asked me to come and meet him. I went to his office and the next thing I did was to sign the deal. He was very honest and I am very happy about the fact that it has been a very nice experience for me so far,” he says.

Despite being one of the most popular stars on the television scene, Siddharth had his apprehensions when he worked with Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt for the first time, “I was nervous as well as excited. Both Varun and Alia already had three hits to their credit but they were both approachable. They never made me feel that I was new to the medium.”

According to Siddharth, Alia is very spontaneous in front of the camera while Varun works at it. “I watched them and did whatever I could. I just followed them,” he says.

While he is busy trying to lose weight for his next film, Siddharth is hoping that he will prove equally successful in films, “A lot of television actors have already made it big and proved themselves. I hope I can prove myself too,” he concludes.

By S. Bhagat

I owe my success in life to television, particularly Ballika Vadhu. I share a great connect with my co-stars in the serial www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 37

TELLY TATTLE

Sreesanth is bowled out in the second innings

Former cricketer turned actor, Sreesanth has been trying to make all the right moves to further his career in the world of showbiz.

But it seems like his adamant nature is coming in his way. Recently, Sreesanth came under heavy criticism when he stormed out of the sets of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa during the elimination round, when the judges Remo Fernandez, Madhuri Dixit and Karan Johar offered their views on his performance. Ever since, Sreesanth has been trying to argue and justify that his walking out of the sets was not intentional.

He recently revealed that he was in excruciating pain and that led him to take the extreme step of walking out. Apparently, Sreesanth was performing with a nunchaku (a martial arts weapon), which hit him hard when he swung it during the performance. “It was the pain that prevented him from taking the judges’ comments sportingly,” a source revealed. The former cricketer who was looking at Jhalak…, as the “second innings of his life”, is still hoping that he may just come back on the show after his elimination.

38 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

Archana Puran Singh on the Pagalpanti Express

Archana Puran Singh has been having a gala time on the sets of Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. The lady, synonymous with her boisterous laughter, has become a hot favourite with the contestants of the show after she filled in for Farah Khan’s absenteeism. Farah has been working round the clock on her ambitious film, Happy New Year, and the channel decided to zero on Archana to take her place.

Sources from the sets reveal that Archana was more than excited to be a part of the show with judge Anu Malik and hosts Krushna and Mona. The enthusiastic actress even managed to break a tile with her bare hand, inspired by a young girl’s performance on the show.

An excited Archana recently expressed her feelings on the incident, “In this stunt, my physical competitiveness really came in handy. The moment I looked at the tiles, I said to myself “izzat ka sawal hai” and put my full effort into the chop! Also, I was completely blown away by the acts and the energy on the sets,” she says.

TELLY TATTLE

Neil Bhatt keeps his co-stars guessing Neil Bhatt’s recent look has caused quite a rage on the sets of Diya Aur Baati Hum, where he plays the role of Cadet Zakir. We hear that Neil’s co-stars were unable to recognize him when he recently landed on the sets in his new look. The actor had a great time confusing the entire unit and playing pranks on his co-stars. Recalls Neil, “When I went on the sets with the new look, my crew didn’t even realize who I was.

They kept staring at me. One of the spot boys questioned me about my identity to which I replied that I was a fan of the lead protagonist Deepika and had specially come from Italy to meet her.”

Neil was later led to Deepika, who plays the lead role of Sandhya in the show, who had no clue about his identity and kept looking at him. “I told her in an Italian accent that I was her ardent fan who had come to meet her. At first she looked at me in disbelief but then I couldn’t stop myself from laughing which is when she caught me.

I guess my disguise was successful.”

Mohit has a difficult time playing the abusive husband

Enacting the role of an abusive husband who physically hurts his wife is a deeply disturbing proposition for any man who respects women. This is especially true for someone like Mohit Mallik, who is known to be extremely warm and respectful towards women.

Over the past few weeks, the actor has been having a tough time portraying the chauvinistic, wife-beating Samrat in Doli Armaanon Ki. Mohit’s most difficult moment however came when he was required to enact the scene where he was seen viciously whipping his wife Urmi, played by Neha Marda, with a belt. Says Mohit, “It was the thing I couldn’t imagine myself doing. The scene required me to be violent and I kept thinking how I would be able to pull it off. The shoot was so disturbing that I had to take sleeping pills. It’s my wife Additie who helped me through the crisis.”

So tensed was the actor about the sequence that he decided to isolate himself from his team members, who usually got together for lunch. Asking his crew to keep everybody at bay, Mohit kept rehearsing his lines and dialogues in his head so that he could finish the scene in a single take and leave the sets as soon as possible.

When the football fever gripped Shabbir

If there is one actor who had a great time watching the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament, it is Shabbir Alhuwalia. The actor, who essays the character of Rockstar Abhi in Kumkum Bhagya, made it a point to catch up on all the matches in spite his busy schedule.

While Shabbir ensured that he watched all the late-night matches, he also ensured that he was at his professional best for the show and did not turn up looking sleep deprived for the shoots. There were times when he was also required to be on the sets at odd hours but instead of complaining about it or asking to leave early, Shabbir would record the matches and watch them later at his leisure. However, the actor was disappointed when his favourite team, Netherlands, was eliminated from the World Cup at the semifinals stage, “I was also supporting Germany but I liked the Netherlands players better, especially Robin Van Persie – he was phenomenal,” Shabbir says.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 39

NEWS EXPRESS

Aditi Rao discovers

in Bollywood It has taken the very beautiful Aditi Rao Hydari quite a while to find her bearings in the film industry. The latest on the actress’ front is an exciting line-up of films besides a prized role in a Farhan Akhtar film. Subhash K Jha caught up with the actress to find out about her happening career.

40 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

Aditi Rao Hydari is on a high these days.

The actress, who was lying low and abstained from signing inconsequential roles, has given her nod to Subhash Kapoor’s Guddu Rangeela and Manish Jha’s The Legend of Michael Mishra. “In Guddu Rangeela I am cast as a deaf and mute girl from Chandigarh. It’s a very unusual role. I love the way Subhash Kapoor has written my character. In The Legend Of Michael Mishra I am an aspiring actress from Patna who believes she speaks very good English.”

However the big leap in her career which has her all excited is an untitled Bejoy Nambiar film for which she has been finalized opposite Farhan Akhtar. “It is a one of a kind role and I am really looking forward to it,” smiles the actress.

More recently, Aditi performed a Kathak dance number in the Marathi film Rama Madav that fetched her tremendous attention. The number was initially meant to be performed by Madhuri Dixit but due to Madhuri’s unavailability, she got the rare chance to perform the Indian classical dance number on screen.

No producer would give me a role just because my great granduncle was the governor of Assam or my great grandfather was royalty.

Says the excited Aditi, “I don’t think anyone in Bollywood apart from Saroj Khan knows I’m a trained dancer.

Working with Saroj-ji was a dream come true for me. People who’ve seen the dance say it reminds them of my dancing in my Tamil film Sringaram. It feels good.”

All this time, Aditi waited patiently for the right roles to come along while other newer actresses raced past her. But she is not complaining. “It all happens when

NEWS EXPRESS

it is meant to happen. I didn’t have any guidance when I did Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi 6 and Sudhir Mishra’s Yeh Saali Zindagi. I got noticed in both the films.

In fact my proudest moment as a newcomer was when Mr. Bachchan praised me for my performance in Delhi 6.”

The girl who hails from a very distinguished family of aristocrats says she lacked the experience, the required lineage and the diplomatic skills to make her way through the film industry. “I may come from a very distinguished background but that meant zilch to my career in Mumbai. No producer would give me a role just because my great grand-uncle was the governor of Assam or my great grandfather was royalty. I was a rank newcomer without any connections in the film industry. I could not hold a drink in my hand and mouth pleasantries at parties either.”

However she confesses that it hasn’t been an easy journey for her, “I didn’t know how to play the game. In the absence of a support system I just did whatever I thought right.

I don’t regret any of my career decisions though I do feel that there are two distinct types of career opportunities - one for girls from the film families and another for girls who come to the industry with no connections.”

Aditi remembers the intervening phase when she faced rejection despite giving scene-stealing performances in Delhi 6 and Yeh Saali Zindagi, “I was told it was a problem slotting me. I’d hear filmmakers stating that I was a complete package and they were not sure how they wanted to use me in their films.”

Ask her whether she has any regrets doing the multiple smooches with Arunoday Singh in Yeh Saali Zindagi and the bikini sequence in Boss and Aditi retorts defiantly, “I am very proud of my bikini sequence in Boss.

I think I had the physique to carry off the swimsuit. Besides, no one can force me to wear what I don’t want to. I wore a bikini in Boss because I was comfortable in that scene. If I am not convinced then no power on earth can change my mind.”

As for Yeh Saali Zindagi Aditi feels things went out of hand. “About the kisses, I’ll have to admit we went over-board. I realized only later that image is very important for Hindi film actress. It doesn’t matter how many times a male actor kisses on screen. If a female actor is seen smooching repeatedly, she acquires a reputation.

Ours is a very conservative audience and film industry. Here smoking, drinking and wearing short dresses are equivalent to being liberated. For me these external trappings of emancipation are secondary.

To me freedom means the freedom to say yes or no as I want,” she smiles.

I don’t think anyone in Bollywood apart from Saroj Khan knows I’m a trained dancer.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 41

TELECHAT

I have always

laughed at my own failures

42 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

TELECHAT

Think of Anupam Kher and the first thing that comes to your mind is films like Saaransh, Daddy, Karma, Lamhe, Dil, Dilwale Duhaniya Le Jayenge and Hum Apke Hai Koun. Of late Kher has been doing select films like A Wednesday and Special Chabbis, which have won him critical acclaim.

The versatile actor, who has dabbled on the television scene with shows like Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle and Sawaal Dus Crore Ka, is back on the television scene as an anchor-host with Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. In a media interaction, Kher spoke about the inspiration behind the show and what makes his show special.

I found Shah Rukh Khan’s story to be the most inspiring.

Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai has generated considerable curiosity in the celebrity circuit and television circles in the industry. How did the idea of the show come about?

The show is an extension of my renowned autobiographical play, Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, which is about my failures, setbacks and eventual success in life. The play has been staged for the last 10 years and has inspired many. Success for me is one dimensional while failure has many dimensions to it. I have always laughed at my own failures.

Can you recall two incidents in your life that aptly define the phrase ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’?

One incident that has been permanently embedded in my memory happened during the time when Saaransh was being made.

The film was all set to go on the floors but just ten days prior to that, I packed my bags and landed up at Mahesh Bhatt’s place to fight with him. For a moment, it seemed as if things had come to a standstill but I went ahead and did the film, which later changed my life. The second incident was during Sooraj Barjatia’s Hum Aapke Hai Koun. I was passing through a very bad stage of my career. One fine day I realised that I had facial paralysis. My face was disfigured and I was not sure how I would continue with the shoot. I had two options in front of me, either to quit acting and sit back at home or continue to do my job as an actor. I chose the latter. If you remember the scene in Hum Aapke Hai Koun when the entire family was shown passing the pillows in a game, there were no close-ups of mine.

Few people are aware that I was actually suffering from a facial paralysis at the time.

How would you define the experience of hosting Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai? It has been a unique experience so far. All the celebrity guests who have come on the show have been interesting and everyone had a story to tell. Moreover, none of my guests asked me for a brief. That speaks of their implicit faith in me.

Which one of the stories did you find the most inspiring?

They all had some very interesting aspects to their lives but I think it is Shah Rukh Khan’s story that touched me the most. From being a television actor in Fauji to becoming the second richest actor in the world, his is one of the most inspirational stories. I have been in the industry for 30 years and I have had the opportunity of working with Shah Rukh so many times. But I got to know only recently that his real name is Abdul Rehman.

A lot of young stars also come to your show. What was your observation about them?

There is so much to learn from the young stars of today. They are so focused. I also like their straight forwardness. Though I was born post-independence, I have always been taught by my parents to be diplomatic.

Today’s children have a different mindset.

They make mistakes and they don’t hesitate to talk about it. We all tend to make mistakes whether we belong to the age bracket of 58 or 18 years. Actors like Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Parineeti Chopra, and Sonam Kapoor have spoken so much in my show.

The whole idea of the show is to inspire the country by telling them these stories. Even if 10 percent of the audiences get inspired, the show will serve its purpose.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 43

FOOD

Fenugreekand-MushroomBrown-Rice Rice is usually a no-no for diabetics because it causes a quick rise in blood sugar levels. To counter the effect of high glycemic index white rice, replace it with high fibre brown rice and toss in some fibre-rich vegetables along with diabetic-friendly ingredients like garlic and fenugreek to create a hearty rice delicacy which is best enjoyed in moderation.

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cooking Time: 20 mins Makes 6 servings Show me for servings INGREDIENTS

METHOD

2 cups finely chopped fenugreek (methi) leaves

1. Heat the oil in a pressure cooker, add the green chillies, ginger, garlic, and onions and sautĂŠ on a medium flame for 2 minutes.

1 cup sliced mushrooms (khumbh) 1 cup brown rice 2 tsp oil 2 tsp finely chopped green chillies 1 tsp finely chopped ginger (adrak)

2. Add the fenugreek leaves, mushrooms, tomatoes, brinjals, surti papadi seeds,and chilli powder, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

1 tbsp finely chopped garlic (lehsun)

3. Add the brown rice, 2Âź cups of hot water and salt, mix well and pressure cook for 4 whistles.

1 cup finely chopped onions

4. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid.

1/2 cup finely chopped tomatoes

5. Serve hot garnished with coriander.

1/2 cup brinjal (baingan / eggplant) cubes 1/2 cup surti papdi seeds (fresh vaal seeds) 1/2 tsp chilli powder salt to taste FOR THE GARNISH 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)

44 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

FOOD

Masala-Karela You will be amazed by how effectively grated cauliflower masks the bitterness of karela, making it a delicacy that even kids would not mind eating.

Perked up with onion, coriander and spice powders, Masala Karela is a treat to the taste buds, and a wonder food for your body too, as karela contains at least three active substances with anti-diabetic properties, including charantin, vicine and as polypeptide-p which have been confirmed to have a blood glucose-lowering effect.

Preparation Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 14 mins Makes 2 servings Show me for servings INGREDIENTS 1 cup deseeded and thinly sliced bitter gourd (karela) 2 tsp oil TO BE MIXED TOGETHER INTO A MIXTURE 1/2 cup finely chopped onions 1/4 cup grated cauliflower 1/4 cup finely chopped coriander (dhania) 1 tbsp besan (bengal gram flour) 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp coriander (dhania) powder salt to taste

METHOD 1. Heat the oil in a broad non-stick pan, add the bitter gourd slices and mix well. Cover with a lid and cook on a medium flame for 10 to 12 minutes or till they turn brown in colour, while stirring occasionally.

2. Add the prepared mixture, mix well and cook on a medium flame for another 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

3. Serve immediately.

Tarla Dalal Noted Indian food writer, chef, best-selling cookbook author, Padma Shri awardee and host of cooking shows like “Tarla Dalal Show” and “Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal”.

She has written over 170 titles, several of which have been translated into various languages and sold around the world.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 45

FOOD

Paneer Mutter Biryani Paneer is a show-stealer! Layers of rice and spicy paneer mutter make this Biryani a real delicacy.

And roasted onions add a yummy touch to the brown rice. I have used low-fat milk to enhance its calcium and protein content, even while curbing the calories. To keep the paneer soft, place it in warm water for a few minutes and then use it.

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cooking Time: 12 mins Baking Time: 13 to 15 minutes.

Baking Temperature: 200°C (400°F).

Makes 4 servings INGREDIENTS For The Paneer Mutter Mixture 1/2 cup low-fat paneer cubes 1/4 cup boiled green peas 1/4 cup finely chopped onions 1 tsp chilli-garlic paste 1/2 tsp ginger-green chilli paste 1/2 cup fresh tomato pulp 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tsp garam masala A pinch of sugar 1/2 tsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) Salt to taste FOR THE ONION BROWN RICE

METHOD For the Paneer Mutter Mixture 1. Heat a non-stick pan on a medium flame. Add the onions and dry roast on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes or till they turn light brown in colour. Sprinkle a little water if they start burning.

2. Add the chilli-garlic paste, ginger-green chilli paste and 1 tbsp of water and dry roast on a medium flame for about 1 minute.

3. Add the fresh tomato pulp, chilli powder, garam masala, sugar and dried fenugreek leaves, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add ¼ cup of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for another 2 minutes.

5. Add the paneer, green peas and salt, mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 1 more minute. Remove from the flame and keep aside.

For the onion brown rice 1. Heat a deep non-stick pan on a medium flame and when hot, add the onions and dry roast on a medium flame for 2 minutes or till the onions turn brown. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of water to prevent the onions from burning.

2. Add the brown rice and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute.

3. Divide the rice into 2 equal portions and keep aside.

2 1/4 cups cooked brown rice 1/2 cup finely chopped onions Salt to taste OTHER INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp low-fat milk 46 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

HOW TO PROCEED 1. Spread one portion of the onion brown rice evenly at the bottom of a baking glass bowl.

2. Spread the paneer mutter mixture evenly over it.

3. Spread the other layer of onion brown rice evenly over the paneer mutter mixture and pour the milk evenly over it.

4. Cover with a lid and bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 8 to 10 minutes.

5. Serve immediately.

FOOD

Kewra Phirni Kewra essence is a flavouring substance extracted from the flower of the Pandanus or screw pine tree. An irresistible flavour, it is commonly used in north India and Pakistan, as well as in places like Australia and the Pacific Islands, where the trees are found in large numbers. This Kewra Phirni is nothing but traditional milk and rice phirni flavoured with kewra essence, which gives it an exotic and rich touch.

Soaking time: 1 hour Setting Time: 1 hour Preparation Time: 5 mins Cooking Time: 15 mins Makes 4 servings INGREDIENTS 4 cups full-fat milk 5 tbsp long grained rice (basmati) 1/4 cup sugar 5 to 6 drops of kewra essence FOR THE GARNISH 1 tbsp pistachio slivers

METHOD 1. Soak the rice in a small bowl using enough water for about 1 hour.

2. Drain all the water and grind the rice in a mixer to a coarse mixture.

3. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and add ½ cup of cold milk to the rice, mix well till smooth.

4. Boil the remaining 3½ cups of milk in a deep non-stick pan, add the rice-milk mixture, mix well and cook on a slow flame for 10 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

5. Add the sugar, mix well and cook on a slow flame for another 2 minutes while stirring continuously.

6. Remove from the flame and allow the mixture to cool completely.

7. Add the kewra essence and mix well.

8. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and serve chilled garnished with pistachio slivers.

Tarla Dalal Noted Indian food writer, chef, best-selling cookbook author, Padma Shri awardee and host of cooking shows like “Tarla Dalal Show” and “Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal”.

She has written over 170 titles, several of which have been translated into various languages and sold around the world.

www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 47

FOOD

Quick Rice Panki Quick Rice Panki, steamed in between banana leaves, is a favourite Gujarati snack. Urad dal flour helps to bind the panki batter and make very thin pankis. Serve them hot from the pan and let your guests peel off the banana leaves and enjoy the steaming hot pankis with spicy green chutney.

Preparation Time: 5 mins Cooking Time: 8 mins Makes 10 servings

INGREDIENTS 5 tbsp rice flour (chawal ka atta) 1 tbsp urad dal (split black lentil) flour 1 tsp curd (dahi) 1/2 tsp green chilli paste 1/2 tsp roasted and coarsely crushed cumin seeds (jeera) 1 tsp oil Salt to taste OTHER INGREDIENTS 2 banana leaves (kele ka patta) Oil for greasing OTHER INGREDIENTS Green chutney

METHOD 1. Combine the rice flour, urad dal flour, curd, green chilli paste, cumin seeds, oil, salt and ž cup of water and mix well. Keep aside.

2. Cut the banana leaves into a 75 mm. (3�) diameter circle using a cookie cutter or with help of scissors.

3. Grease the banana leaves with a little oil and keep aside.

4. Place 2 greased banana leaves on a flat surface with the greased side facing upwards.

5. Put 1 tbsp of the batter on each banana leaf and cover each roundel with a greased banana leaf facing downwards.

6. Press it gently to spread the batter evenly to make a thin layer.

7. Heat a non-stick tava (griddle) and cook the panki on both sides till light brown spots appear on the banana leaves and the pancake in-between peels off the banana leaf easily.

8. Repeat steps 4 to 7 to make 9 more pankis.

9. Serve immediately with green chutney.

HANDY TIP If you do not have a cookie cutter for cutting the banana leaves into circles, cut them in squares and proceed as per the recipe.

48 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

FOOD

Shahi Dal The richness of any “shahi” dish usually comes from the abundance of cream. Here, I have substituted cream with low-fat milk mixed with corn flour, which tastes equally creamy and delicious. Urad dal gives a healthy fillip to this dish, as it is high in folic acid and zinc. Folic acid aids in brain development as well as boosting haemoglobin levels; whereas zinc is required for life long mental strength.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup urad dal (split black lentils) 2 tsp finely chopped ginger (adrak) 2 tsp finely chopped green chillies 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) 1/2 cup finely chopped onions 1 tsp garam masala 1/2 tsp corn flour dissolved in 1/2 cup low-fat milk (99.7% fat-free) Salt to taste

FOR THE GARNISH 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)

Preparation Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 15 mins Makes 4 servings

METHOD 1. Clean, wash and soak the urad dal in water for 3 to 4 hours. Drain.

2. Combine the urad dal, ginger, green chillies, salt and 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker, mix well and pressure cook for 2 whistles.

3. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Remove the lid, whisk the dal well and keep aside.

4. Heat a deep non-stick pan on a medium flame and when hot, add the cumin seeds and dry roast for 30 seconds.

5. Lower the flame, add the onions and dry roast for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle a little water if they start burning.

6. Add the cooked urad dal, garam masala and ¾ cup of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

7. Add the corn flour-milk mixture and a little salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute, while stirring continuously.

8. Serve hot garnished with coriander.

Tarla Dalal Noted Indian food writer, chef, best-selling cookbook author, Padma Shri awardee and host of cooking shows like “Tarla Dalal Show” and “Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal”. She has written over 170 titles, several of which have been translated into various languages and sold around the world. www.visionasia.com.au | August 2016 49

20-20

Stay healthy, eat healthy &

enjoy every minute of your life

Rishi Desai learned to cook at a young age; initially recreating the traditional everyday dishes he enjoyed eating in his hometown in India. The opportunity to work overseas broadened his culinary horizons & inspired his repertoire. As a MasterChef Australia 2013 contestant, Rishi impressed the judges with his flair, palate & considerable skill. This experience provided him with the opportunity to nurture his love of cooking & experiment with the traditional dishes of India. Ultimately, it has established his credibility and identity as a chef of inspired modern Indian cuisine.

50 August 2016 | www.visionasia.com.au

1. What are your Hobbies/Passions?

Family, Food and Formula1, I like to call them the F3 of my life.

2. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Watching Sharang, my son, drop everything & run to me when I pick him up from school.

3. What is your success mantra?

For me, success is directly proportional to innovation & smart work.

4. Who or what is your inspiration?

My family. I look at my mother who has worked in the food industry for more than half of her life & still wakes up with the same passion every day. I look at my wife & son who want me to be successful, who never hesitate to put me first & who never ask for anything in return. That inspires me more than anything.

5. What is your most memorable moment?

I can’t single out one. The day I met my wife, the day my son was born, the day I got into the MasterChef kitchen, the day I met Heston Blumenthal. They all are very memorable & I don’t want to make any one more important than the other.

6. How important is it to fail before you succeed?

I think using the word “fail” carries a negative connotation. There is always something to learn from your unsuccessful attempts, so I choose to call it learning. I strongly believe taking lessons from & improving on your failed attempts is important to succeed in life.

7. What do you value most in life?

Time, it is the most important dimension of one’s life. As one can’t change time, it means it is very valuable.

8. Favourite movie & star?

My favourite movie is James Bond’s Skyfall. Favourite movie star is none other than Madhuri Dixit.

9. Favourite food/restaurant?

My favourite type of cuisine is Sichuan Chinese. My favourite restaurants keep changing as I try new places; my current favourite is Chianti Classico in Adelaide.

10. Favourite Sport & player?

Favourite sport is Formula 1 & sportsperson Michael Schumacher.

11. Favourite holiday destination?

Of the ones I have travelled to so far, it has to be Singapore. I just love the

diversity of food in Singapore.

12. What do you love or admire in Australia?

I love Australia for its natural beauty, food diversity & variety of wines. Most of all I admire Australia for its people I’ve met & made some amazing friends along the way.

13. What outdoor activities do you like / how do you relax?

I like to play golf, tennis & drive go-karts. My relaxation is watching television whenever I can.

14. Which talent would you most like to have?

Salesmanship, I think if I had the ability to sell anything, I would be more successful.

15. The craziest things you’ve ever done?

Walked from Andheri to Vile Parle (2 train stations in Mumbai) on train tracks.

For those who don’t know there are 8 different train lines between these two stations & local trains in Mumbai run every 3 minutes. So while walking on those tracks you have to judge which way the train is coming from. It tops my list of the stupidest things I have done in my life…but I blame it on being a teenager!

16. What is your greatest fear?

I fear one day there will be no fish in the sea due to current overfishing in the world. That will be one sad day in the history of mankind & it’s only a few decades away.

17. What do you think is the secret to a good life?

Stay healthy, eat healthy & enjoy every minute of your life.

18. If your house was on fire & you could only grab 3 things what would they be?

Given my family & my cat are already outside the house, wallet, passport & birth certificate.

19. What phrase or words do you use the most?

“Absolutely Brilliant” 20. Name one achievement that you are proud of: I am proud of the fact that I am able to follow my passion in food & so far have been successful with it.

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