Filmfare-ME-January-2023

Aly Raza Beig

EDITORIAL TEAM

EDITOR

Aakanksha Naval-Shetye aakanksha.naval@starzmediainc.com

Senior Executive-Digital Marketing Deepali Tanna deepali.tanna@starzmediainc.com

Graphic Designer Amit Panchal amit.panchal@aldanube.com

Arabic Content Writer & Translator Hanan Yehia Mulazem hanan.yehia@starzmediainc.com

BUSINESS MANAGER - EVENTS Mayur Panchal mayur.panchal@starzmediainc.com

Senior Coordinator- Marketing and Sales Anushree Khandelwal anushree.khandelwal@starzmediainc.com

Magazine Co-ordinator Ali Karrar ali.karrar@starzmediainc.com

FILMFARE (INDIA)

Chief Executive Officer D eepak Lamba

Chief Community Officer & Editor Jitesh Pillaai

Executive Editor Anuradha Choudhary Brand Solutions Director Jyoti Verma

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A Happy Start!

As we roll into 2023, we can’t help but be happy about the year that was and even more excited about the year it’s promising to be! After the long lull at the movie theatres, 2022 witnessed some of the highest number of footfalls with record-breaking films like Avatar: The Way of Water, Top Gun: Maverick, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Nope and The Batman, amongst others raking in the moolah at the Box Office worldwide!

On the domestic front, we not only had record-breakers, but also films that are making their presence felt at prestigious international awards. Kickstarting the New Year on a high, it was a proud moment for Indian cinema as RRR’s ‘Naatu Naatu’ won the Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2023. Also the recently revealed shortlisted movies for the 95th Oscars 2023 include Indian films RRR, Kantara, The Kashmir Files, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Chhello Show - which is India’s official Oscar entry, Me Vasantrao, Tujhya Sathi Kahi Hi, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, Iravin Nizhal and Vikrant Rona, and the documentaries All That Breathes, and The Elephant Whisperers. Not only did these pan-India mass-entertainers hit jackpot, the year also saw a plethora of cinema-defining gems - both in theatres and on the OTT. Jalsa, Sita Ramam, Darlings, Qala, Gehraiyaan, Bhediya, Dasvi, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Monica, O My Darling, Goodbye, Brahmastra, Chup: Revenge of the Artist, KGF: Chapter 2, Vikram, Vikram Vedha, Jogi, Drishyam 2… all movies that’ve made a mark with cinema-lovers.

And 2023 is looking just as promising! Particularly noteworthy are the big-budget flicks lined up of the two Khan superstars - Shah Rukh and Salman. SRK seems to be making up to his fans for the long hiatus with not one but 3 releases – Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki, while Salman Khan has Kisi Ka Bhai… Kisi Ki Jaan and Tiger 3. Then there are the others… Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Animal, Shehzada, Satyaprem Ki Katha, Adipurush, Salar, Pushpa: The Rule, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Sam Bahadur, Afwaah, Bawaal, Metro: In Dino, Bheed, Zwigato, The Archies… that we are watching out for!

But setting the ball rolling this year is Arjun Kapoor and Tabu’s edgy thriller Kuttey with a power-packed ensemble cast - read: Naseeruddin Shah, Kumud Mishra, Konkona Sensharma and Radhika Madan - that already has us excited. The movie’s lead Arjun is also our cover star and for a good reason! The actor who has been upping the game with his versatility and strong out-of-the-box choices is on a roll this year with three releases. Rather than putting on starry air, his film background has in fact made him more grounded as the actor tells me that he does not let Fridays dictate or define his pursuit for good cinema. Comfortable, but not complacent in his space Arjun is driven by his passion for the movies and not the number game. “I am not here to win a race,” he says. That he rakes in the numbers, along with all the acclaim is an added. Read on my candid interview with the man du jour!

Also turn on the pages to get your dose of interesting conversations as we caught up with some power-packed performers with Taapsee Pannu leading the pack, and then there are our exclusives with Huma Qureshi, Sanya Malhotra, Prateik Babbar, Prateek Kuhad and Neena Gupta.

Danube Properties Filmfare OTT Awards were all the buzz in Mumbai. Meanwhile, December Social Calendars in Dubai marked Danube Group Founder and Chairman Mr Rizwan Sajan’s birthday celebrations and as always they were high on glitz and glam. Check out all the happening moments and more events in the pages ahead.

So, here’s to the year that was, and even more to the New Year that’s certainly off to a great start celebrating New Beginnings, and a New You. Wishing all, the best of 2023!

Be Healthy, Think Wise and Stay Sassy!

Aakanksha Naval-Shetye

Highlights

SHAH RUKH KHAN AND DEEPIKA PADUKONE’S CHEMISTRY IS ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR IN PATHAAN

Pathaan marks Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after four years. The lm also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. Director Siddharth Anand recently said on a leading portal on how Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan share a crackling chemistry in the lm. “Deepika Padukone is up there with the biggest superstars in the history of Hindi cinema. And we knew we had written a role for her in Pathaan that is not only breathtaking but also justi es her superstardom. Pathaan will show her in probably her hottest and coolest self.” Furthermore, he added, “They have electric chemistry with each other, and they look just so hot together. It’s rare to nd a pairing like theirs, and their jodi is a huge USP for Pathaan.”

a bird’s-eye view of show town’s happenings

AAMIR KHAN ANNOUNCES A HIATUS FROM ACTING

Aamir Khan made a rare public appearance at a friend’s event in Delhi recently and participated in a chat. During the conversation, he opened up about his career and revealed that he is taking a break from acting. Aamir Khan shared that he will be taking a hiatus after Laal Singh Chaddha. As per reports on a leading news portal, he said, “When I am doing a lm as an actor, I get so lost that nothing else happens in my life. I was supposed to do a lm after Laal Singh Chaddha called Champions. It’s a wonderful script, a beautiful story, and it’s a very heartwarming and lovely lm. But I feel that I want to take a break, be with my family, with my mom, and with my kids.” Aamir Khan added, “I feel I have been working for 35 years, and I have been singlemindedly focused on my work. I feel that it’s not fair to people who are close to me. This is the time I feel I have to take some time off to be with them and actually experience life in a different way. I am looking forward to next year, a yearand-a-half in which I am not working as an actor.” He further shared that he will be onboard as a producer for Champions.

Kiara Advani is currently working on her next lm, which is currently dubbed RC 15, with Ram Charan. The two are shooting in New Zealand for the project. And now, the actress has shared BTS photos from the sets. Kiara Advani took to her social media handle to share a photo of herself with Ram Charan. In one picture, the two can be seen gorging on burgers. Another picture shows them alongside the lm’s crew. Revealing that the stars were lming a song sequence, Kiara captioned the post, “Burgers with these buggers. Song shoot diet in New Zealand.” The post was ooded with sweet reactions from friends and fans. So far, we know that RC 15 is an action thriller directed by S. Shankar. It’ll be released in theatres in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.

RC And in

VIDHU VINOD CHOPRA ANNOUNCES HIS NEXT FILM 12TH FAIL

KIARA ADVANI TO STAR WITH RAM CHARAN IN RC 15 will

Vidhu Vinod Chopra has announced his next lm. The producer, who is best known for popular Hindi lms including 3 Idiots, PK, and the Munnabhai lm franchise, is set to release 12th Fail. Vidhu Vinot Chopra will direct the lm, which will star Vikrant Massey in the lead role. It is reportedly a text-to-screen adaptation of author Anurag Pathak’s bestseller of the same name. The book, which is inspired by true events, revolves around the story of Manoj Kumar Sharma, a village boy from an impoverished background who fails his 12th grade exams. Yet, with his passion, he becomes an IPS of cer. The lm will reportedly be shot in Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi. The lm is set to release in the summer of 2023.

AKSHAY KUMAR TO STAR IN COMEDY KHEL KHEL MEIN WITH TAAPSEE PANNU, VAANI KAPOOR

Mudassar Aziz will reportedly direct Akshay Kumar in a new comedy, which is said to be produced by T-Series and Ashwin Varde. We’ve been hearing rumours about the lm since June, and now the project is said to be very much on track. According to the industry grapevine, the lm will see Akshay reuniting with his Bell Bottom (2021) co-star Vaani Kapoor and also with his Naam Shabana (2017) and Mission Mangal (2019) co-star Taapsee Pannu. In addition to this, the lm will also star popular Punjabi singer and actor Ammy Virk in a prominent role.

AMITABH BACHCHAN REMEMBERS VIKRAM GOKHALE, TABASSUM IN A HEARTFELT NOTE

Amitabh Bachchan recently penned a heartfelt note in remembrance of the late actors Vikram Gokhale and Tabassum. He wrote, “The days are lined with sadness..” as he expressed his grief over their passing away. Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog and wrote, “Friends and colleagues... artists of huge merit, leave us day by day... and we listen, see and pray...” He added, “They came to us in our lives ... they played their parts and left the stage empty, forlorn and desolate by their absence...” Veteran actor Vikram Gokhale, who was best known for his memorable roles in Marathi and Hindi-language lms, passed away on November 26, after reportedly suffering from multiple-organ failure. The actor was 77. He had shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in Agneepath and in the Marathi lm AB Aani CD. Tabassum, who is remembered for her stint as a child artist in Mughal-e-Azam and her chat show, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan, passed away on November 18 after a cardiac arrest. The actress was 78-years-old.

expert advice

IT IS ALL ABOUT?

There are problems that would be perceived unsolvable, keeping people longing for solutions that were thought to not exist ever. Hair loss was also considered unavoidable up to the time when there was a breakthrough and people started going back from hair transplant centers with the surety that this loss can be reversed. Here are some facts about one of best techniques of hair transplant i.e. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).

WHAT DOES METHOD OF FUE (FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION) INVOLVE?

It is micro-surgical hair transplantation in which follicular units of hair (one unit consisting of hairs between one and four) are harvested from donor area such as back and sides of the head, nape of the neck or behind the ears which is followed by implantation of hair into the balding recipient area.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL?

Since, no staples, stitches or bandaging is required for this surgery; the recovery time is really less. It is expected to heal within one week as hair starts to grow back by the second week after the surgery. Although, shedding of scabs might continue for up to eight weeks in this area.

WHEN IS THE GROWTH ANTICIPATED TO BE SEEN IN THE RECIPIENT AREA?

New hair starts to grow at approximately four months and the process of growth may stretch to 18 months by which the new hair growth must be mature, healthy, thick and begin blending in with surrounding hair.

POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS THAT MAY ARISE:

It is known to be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive surgery, however, complications may come up as happens with any other medical surgery due to practitioner being inexperienced, use of unperfected vacuum-based devices , blood clotting abnormalities or an allergic reaction to anesthesia.

DR. SANA SAJAN Director of American Aesthetic Medical Center

THE AMERICAN AESTHETIC CLINIC ENSURES THE BEST HAIR TRANSPLANT TREATMENT IN THE REGION – FUE. HERE’S WHAT

Your hair loss is not only your problem, it is ours as well

Arjun Kap r on ! roll a

PHOTOGRAPH: KUNAL GUPTA | STYLIST: RAHUL VIJAY | MAKE-UP: VIKRAM BANATKAR |HAIR: TEAM HAKIM AALIM

3top-notch films lined up in 2023, kick-starting with the edgy and much-awaited thriller Kuttey, Arjun Kapoor is clearly set to raise the bar once again. In this exclusive interview, the Bollywood star gets candid about refusing to being pigeon-holed or following diktats of what a typical conventional hero should be like on camera. Excerpts from our tete-a-tete

Aakanksha

Naval-Shetye

He may have stepped into Bollywood playing the quintessential hero, but having completed a decade in the industry it has been near impossible to box the Bollywood star in any genre. A feat, that if the actor prides himself on, is with good reason. With the pressure of having to prove himself as a newcomer having long become history, the Bollywood star has proven to be fearless, unpredictable and yet dependable in his choice of roles. For every Gunday, Mubarakan and Ek Villain Returns, he’s also done a Finding Fanny, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and a Ki & Ka! Dodging the trappings of being the ‘hero’, Arjun Kapoor has in the past 10 years let the confidence of his acting mettle shine through even in the most unconventional roles and risky characters that he has never shied away from exploring on screen. Coming from an illustrious film family, it’s never been the success or failure that’s driven him forward - that changes every Friday, he is well aware, he tells me. Instead, it is what he brings to the table that matters more and there’s no compromise in that sincerity. His attitude may spell laidback, but make no mistakes when it comes to either his professionalism or his take on life matters, reflecting a depth that could’ve only come from someone wise beyond his years and having seen it all. And as we settle for our exclusive interview, Arjun Kapoor talks all about it and being on a roll all year long with as many as three releases. He also tells me about his upcoming Kuttey and reveals why he is immune to being insecure as an actor. Read on…

YOU COMPLETED 10 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY LAST YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE DECADE. SO, WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT ARJUN KAPOOR TODAY VS WHEN YOU HAD STARTED OUT?

I think that’s very tough for me to answer subjectively. But, from what I see of myself growing, I think I was a very impulsive actor when I started out. I just followed instructions to the Tee and I just did what I felt right in the moment. The prep was more about making sure you understand your character, learn the lines. Today I do feel I’m able to read in between the lines to find the layers. And that comes from experience of life and of course working on set and somehow I think there’s less pressure on me in a strange sort of way. When I’m approaching a scene, it’s more about curiosity and excitement. So, I guess today fundamentally when I do a film, of course you are scared and apprehensive about how will you pull it off, but I think I’m far more intrigued by the prospect of the fact that 10 years back I would have been afraid to do a Kuttey. Perhaps it might have not been but it feels like that, but today the excitement is that I really

want to do it, to put myself out there and see when I’m standing in front of Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, Radhika Madan, Kumud Mishra; I want to be able to look like I belong in that world. And I think for me that is a big change. Earlier I would have maybe thought ‘yaar main fit nahin aaunga shayad isme. Mujhe bahut mehnat karni padegi, phir bhi shayad fit na aau.’ Today, I feel there’s a certain amount of excitement to prove my own mindset. Earlier I would have a followed a little more conventional wisdom because I was relying on others experience. Today I have my own.

ALSO I THINK THERE’S A LATENT CONFIDENCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE PULLED OFF CHARACTERS WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY RISKY AND CHALLENGING ON PAPER…

Yes. So I think, looking back, to be able to dance in that get-up in Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar’s climax is a person who’s willing to not be insecure of the masculinity or about his stardom. I think I’ve evolved into... I won’t say not caring. Of course you care and you love the adulation you get, but you can’t always hold onto that.

Sometimes you make choices when you’re starting out. You’re making choices as an actor in your scene also, you are afraid of making a fool of yourself. You’re thinking what will people think and why is he behaving like this. I think over a course of time; you start trusting your audience - however big or small. You start trusting yourself and you don’t mind failing and trying different stuff on a set. I’m not particularly talking about box office because that’s in nobody’s hand. But I’m saying on a set, I feel perhaps I would have just liked in the beginning stages of my career to just impress my director by getting a take right and doing what he wanted. But today because I do back myself and I have some implicit faith in the fact where I’m coming from and if I’ve understood the character, I can push the envelope and I can give my director more than I bargain for. I feel today I can give more value for my director pushing myself. And even if I don’t pull it off, I would know that at least I’ve tried. So I think I’m a little more

fearless and a little more excited than I was earlier. By the book, today I’m okay playing outside the rules.

AFTER A MOVIE’S RELEASE, ARE YOU VERY ANALYTICAL ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN OR WHAT SHOULD HAVE?

I think I went through that phase in the middle, pre pandemic. I’m trying to follow the conventional wisdom hoping I’ve achieved the status, I should do these kind of films, I should do that, I should sign films to head towards the upward trajectory and there should be bigger and better and more mainstream projects. And then analyzing when they don’t do well, what

could have possibly gone wrong because the kind of burden or pressure you feel as a mainstream actor. But I think the pandemic taught me to go back to being a child and being impulsive and being that guy who used to love going to theatres to watch films or who used to stay awake till late at night to enjoy films. So in a very strange sort of way, my craft I feel has improved but the choices that I’m making are far more impulsive and far more rooted to the kind of work that I always liked watching and I’ve always envisioned doing. I think in the middle, I was perhaps doing what was expected of me versus what I was expecting of myself. And today when I do sit and analyze, I’m more analytical about the work I’ve done vs analyzing the absolute entirety of the film because I’ve somehow learnt to just let go of that aspect that’s not in my control.

THAT INCLUDES NOT FALLING PREY TO THE TRAPPINGS OF STARDOM WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING YOUR PROJECTS…

I would like to believe so! I mean I’ve fallen for those traps and I’ve seen the highs and lows of that, of course. Choices you make are also about circumstances that you are going through at that point of time. I think COVID and the sitting at home just taught me how to go back to basics in terms of when I started my career versus the middle part and the post COVID section of it. I think, for me Kuttey is the film I agreed to during the first COVID lockdown. So I think I wouldn’t have done a film like Kuttey if I was being too analytical and trying to project myself as a mainstream hero. I would have definitely shied away from it. But it’s the genre I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve loved watching Guy Ritchie films, I’ve loved Kaminey. So I think I just follow the fact that agar mujhe ye picture dekhne me maza aayega aur mujhe ye karne me bhi maza aayega to main karunga

When I started out, there was always this nervousness - will I be able to do it? But right now it’s about excitement of how to do it, how can I do it? And I think that switch of mindset has happened by working with various people and doing various kind of films . “

YOUR BROMANCE WITH YOUR CO-STARS IS AS TALKED ABOUT AS THE ROMANCE AND THE CHEMISTRY IN BOTH EQUATIONS IS AMAZING. ARE YOU NOT WARY ABOUT THE COMPETITION?

I do feel it’s a very strange mindset that sometimes gets gathered over a course of time. This profession has to be collaborative, empowering one another and coming together to tell stories. Friday to Friday things change. So if you have the same interest in mind and that is to make good films, have fun along the way, to entertain people; why do you need to be insecure about it? Also, I’m not cut out of that cloth that I ever came to be No. 1 or No. 2. My ambition was to do all sorts of work, to be embedded in the system, be a part of cinema. I never came with the approach that I want to supersede anyone. Maybe I’m cut from a different cloth. I’ve always looked at how I can work and collaborate with people and to learn from them. I’ve always found myself doing better when I’m working around better actors and more secure names perhaps… It’s a lot to do with the mindset and I have a very different mindset. My bromance with Ranveer (Singh) or Varun (Dhawan). When I work with Alia (Bhatt), Bebo (Kareena Kapoor Khan), today when I’m working with Tabu; for me the comfort I have with Bhumi (Pednekar) now working on two films back-to-back, I just feel, like for example if Bhumi gives a good shot, it’s better for my film. So, I really enjoy getting stimulated by the people around me. Sabke saath kaam karo. Learn out of that, get better with that. Maybe because I’ve grown up in this profession and in this environment, I think it’s easier for me to be amicable with more people. I’m not in a race here, I’m not a race horse. We didn’t come here to win. We came here to make films and entertain people. And along the way come relationships that help you enhance that journey. So, I always rely on that emotion and that feeling.

YOU HAVE SEEN THE HIGHS AND LOWS TOO. WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH?

I guess the fact that I’m used to the highs and lows in my personal life, so it’s been able to translate in a strange sort of way that it keeps me calm through my highs and lows. And I think in this profession I’ve also seen it in my family. So, I’m not too attached to my highs and I’m very prepared for my lows. This profession is all about surviving your lows and not flying too high when you are high. And I think there it connects to the fact that you have enough equations in this profession when you know that you will rely on people to remind you why you are an actor. Because

Maybe because I’ve grown up in this profession and in this environment, I think it’s easier for me to be amicable with more people. I’m not in a race here, I’m not a race horse. We didn’t come here to win. We came here to make films and entertain people. And along the way come relationships that help you enhance that journey.

“ “

you can’t control your Fridays. You need a good set of people around you to make you realize that all you could do is work hard. Sometimes it will translate and sometimes it won’t. And when you are going high, people should help you to make better choices to remind you. I think it comes down a lot to the people and the circle that you have. I guess I come from a situation where I’ve seen enough ups and down, like I said, in my personal life. So, I don’t take anything too seriously beyond a point. By nature, I’m a hustler. I’ve always been an underdog. I’m unconventional, I’m unique, I’m different. And I’ve always followed that. So, even when I’m doing well, I get happy about the fact that people are appreciating the difference that I bring to the table. And when things are not going well, I understand that sometimes it’s not easy for people to absorb and adapt to that. I have utmost conviction in the work that I do. I work very hard. I always keep my audience in mind and I always try and put my best foot forward. So whether films are failing or succeeding, I do know that my honestly and sincerity is there in every film that I’ve put in. And you cannot get bogged

I guess the fact that I’m used to the highs and lows in my personal life, so it’s been able to translate in a strange sort of way that it keeps me calm through my highs and lows. And I think in this profession I’ve also seen it in my family. So, I’m not too attached to my highs and I’m very prepared for my lows. “

“

down by failure because that happens to the best of us. We’ve seen the biggest of stars go through it. So main kaun hoon? It’s very fickle, this profession and for that not only do you have to be thickskinned, which is one aspect of it. You have to also have a mentality of never giving up. You can only play the hand that you are dealt with and sometimes you just wait on the table long enough to get that one particular win for things to change. So, till you don’t get it, you got to keep playing. It’s a profession which gives you so much of love, so much of adulation. Even after your film fails, you meet people and they still remind you of the films that did well, that they enjoyed. Even if a film has failed somewhere people have liked it even though it has not worked out. So there’s a silver lining in every dark cloud. You will never even be perfectly successful or you will never ever be a complete failure if you actually believe that you’re just working for the joy of actually entertaining people and for becoming a better actor along the way and I think I just follow that in my head.

WHAT IS THE REAL ARJUN KAPOOR LIKE WHEN HE’S NOT SHOOTING?

It’s been a while since I’ve really had that much time to be not shooting. Well, it’s interesting. I think I’m pretty chilled, laid back. I’m quite lazy. I love staying in. I love just being lost and watching movies, shows. Just replenishing my energy. I’m quite bound by my family and friends like anybody would be. But these days I also do like to get away from the city every time I don’t have a shoot going on. Because I just feel that allows me some mental calmness. I feel living in a city like Mumbai sometimes can make it very socially dominating. You don’t realize how much time you need to mentally calm yourself down. So, watch a good film, eat good food, spend good time with your friends. Just usual stuff. I’m no different than anybody else. It’s just, I’m somebody who likes to sleep late at night and wake up late in the morning. I’m not a morning person when I’m not shooting. And it’s a task to get me out of the house unless it’s absolutely necessary. So if I’m not filming, you’d find me mostly at home and that’s the reason I made my gym at home because I really don’t like to get out to work out. I’d rather just do it at home.

WHAT ARE YOUR UPCOMING PROJECTS?

So, I have Kuttey releasing on the 13th of January which I’m very excited about. It’s a caper heist flick. I can’t wait for that. I have Lady Killer with Bhumi, that’s directed by Ajay Bahl. That’s a romantic thriller. Then I have Mudassar Aziz’s rom-com which is with Rakul (Preet Singh) and Bhumi, which I will be finishing in January. It’s an absolute family rom-com, very different from Lady Killer and Kuttey. So yes, three different

films that I’m working on right now, so I’m very excited about these.

WHAT IS THE ONE LESSON YOU HOLD DEAREST TO YOUR HEART?

‘Suno sabki, karo apni!’

HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK AT THE JOURNEY AND THE WAY FORWARD?

Well, I’ve survived the highs and lows like I said. I’ve seen so much along the way and that’s how I believe I’m a survivor. I’m somebody who will continue doing that and make better films along the way. Learn from my mistakes. And even if I make mistakes, don’t be too hard on yourself. Creative processes are never easy. I guess, it’s about just continuing to make films. That’s all I know. And hopefully expand from just being an actor to producing and directing one day, hopefully. That’s what I see my future as.

I’ve always enjoyed doing stuff that people would tell me not to do in that sense. And Kuttey falls in perhaps that category where I do embrace the unknown and I do embrace taking risks. “

“

Warming Up In Style

As Kim Wexler from Breaking Bad says, “Either you fit the jacket, or the jacket fits you”. Wear the right jacket and you will be ready to roll! Check out the jackets in the winter wardrobe of each celebrity and fashion designer! Hanan Yehia Mulazem brings on the winter jackets that will keep you warm and chic!

Black Long Leather Trench

It looks powerful and fancy! The black long leather trench is the new black blazer that everyone must have this season!

Texture and Feather

Feathers, texture, a over-sized style are the highlights of almost every fashion week that happened recently! While we are used to idea of wearing dark colors, this trend brings fun colors touch to the winter wardrobe.

The Sleeper Robe with a vintage Touch

For vintage lovers, here’s your share of good news! Winter sheer robes are joining the jacket trends of 2023 and apparently they are the hottestmodest outwear trend for this winter!

Patterned Trench

Add a twist to the classic trench, and you will get a patterned trench. The patterned trench is all over the runaways of the biggest fashion brands like Dior and Gucci. With colors and prints, patterned trench is our winter bestie!

Fashion Alert

2023 trends are all about being classy and comfy

Year after year, talking about fashion trends will never be “off trend”. While we update our new year resolution list, we should update our wardrobe too! 2023 fashion trends are classy, sassy and comfy! Hanan Yehia Mulazem checks out these trends that might go directly from our pages to your shopping cart!

Cargo Pants

The year 2023 will witness the return of the Cargo Pants. But, yes, the 2023 cargo pants don’t look like the usual cargo pants that we know! They are fancier, classier and with an interesting pocket placement. Silk and organza are the fashion designers’ first choice when it comes to fabric, and the colors are inspired by every shade of rainbow!

Denims

Well, denims join every season but in a completely different way! Now denims are not only for jackets and pants, denims now are for the dresses, gowns and denim thighhigh boots! Many fashion designers consider denims their new best friend for the year 2023, and we are joining the fashion designers!

Shine and

As we all say, all the glitter in the world will never be enough. Shimmer and glitter are our favorite makeup trend, and for the year 2023, these two are going to be our favorite fashion trends! In 2023, we believe that wearing shine and shimmer is not only for night dates, but also for daytime meetings! All the metallic shades are coming back to us, and we are welcoming them with open wardrobe doors!

Shimmer

The Royal Blue

Do we love? We do! Do we agree? We do! Are we following this trend? Yes we are! The strongest shade of blue is coming back to the fashion world through every runway around the world. This shade of blue is not only for gowns, we are getting daily wear in this color for sure!

Maxi Skirts

It might be a shock for some, and happy news for many!

The Maxi Skirts are coming back along with the cargo pants in the most unexpected way! This year we are having low-rise, colorful and with prints! And, denim maxi skirts are not our only option, we are adding velvet to the collection!

Check out the highlights of Danube Properties Filmfare OTT Awards 2022 held recently in Mumbai

Mr Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman of Danube Group with Anil Kapoor and (Right) presenting an award to Raveena Tandon

Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor, Deepak Lamba (CEO - Worldwide Media and President - Times Strategic Solutions) Rizwan Sajan and Madhur Bhandarkar enjoying the evening

Mr Rizwan Sajan shares a light moment on stage with star host Maniesh Paul

Konkona Sensharma

Mithila Palkar

Lucky Morani, Shantanu Maheshwari, Rizwan Sajan and Mohammed Morani

Taapsee Pannu and Aakanksha Naval-Shetye

Rizwan Sajan and Kavya D’Souza

Shriya Pilgaonkar

Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor

Amruta Subhash Shweta Tripathi

Zareen Khan

Anup Soni

Ashutosh Rana Sakshi Tanwar Bhuvan Bam

Divya Dutta

Amruta Khanvilkar

Elli AvrRam

Rizwan Sajan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Bhumi Pednekar

Jackie Shroff

Rizwan Sajan and Vidya Balan Sanya Malhotra

Rewriting Rules!

Taapsee Pannu

ATRAILBLAZER IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, TAAPSEE PANNU HAS BEEN GRABBING EYEBALLS NOT ONLY WITH HER POWER-PACKED PERFORMANCES BUT ALSO WITH HER

BRAVE CHOICE OF UNCONVENTIONAL ROLES. BE IT A PINK OR A THAPPAD, A SAAND KI AANKH, MANMARZIYAAN, HASEEN DILRUBA, BADLA OR HER MAIDEN PRODUCTION BLURR

- THE STAR’S NAME HAS COME TO BE SYNONYMOUS WITH PATH-BREAKING CINEMA. AND EVEN THOUGH THE ACTRESS WHO COMPLETES A DECADE IN BOLLYWOOD THIS YEAR SAYS THAT WAS NEVER THE INTENTION TO BEGIN WITH, SHE HAS MANAGED TO CARVE HER OWN PATH. IN THIS CANDID CHAT WITH ME, TAAPSEE TALKS ABOUT TURNING PRODUCER, CREATING HER OWN NICHE AS AN ACTOR, REDEFINING AND WRITING HER OWN RULES IN BOLLYWOOD

Congratulations on your latest release Blurr. Like everyone’s been saying, you’ve nailed it again! (Laughs) Yes, I mean it’s that ‘again’. Though it just looks like ‘okay, yes again’ but trust me it is harder to maintain the consistency than to do good.

But every time you do raise the bar, so now it is always an “again”! I hope I keep hearing the again then. Because it will be very stressful to not to hear that. Then you suddenly start feeling scared that you’re not a trend because you want to eventually be consistent for a longer time.

But what is this affinity you seem to have for thrillers, especially Spanish remakes – Badla, Dobaaraa and now your maiden production Blurr too?

Actually, I just have an affinity towards scripts that hold my attention very strongly for the entire duration and thrillers do it really well. It keeps you on the edge. It is extremely gripping to watch a good thriller. The definition of entertainment for me is anything that keeps you glued for the entire duration. That means it’s a good film and it has your attention. So thrillers do that for me. Also I think more than Spanish, it’s just Oriol Paulo. I have been saying that I am Oriol’s fan. He writes brilliantly. And his twisted thriller mind is what attracts me to everything that he has made. I think I just manifested and conspired in the universe to get everything that he has made and it’s slowly coming to me. I think I have done everything that he has made, that I can possibly do in India. And I would have it no other way.

Everyone is replaceable but when you carve your own path then people start connecting you with a certain kind of roles, films, genres, it becomes your kind of films which I am extremely proud and happy about.

How was it associating with Zee5 Global again for Blurr?

It’s my second association with Zee5 after Rashmi Rocket

It was also my second release in Hindi during lockdown period and I was still coming to terms with how a film releases on OTT. Because I’d never had that before. That made me realize the reach of OTT. Being a theatre going audience I never had the fascination of seeing a film on small screen. But when it happened and I saw the reach, I started to see the good side of it. Especially in terms of access, with OTT platform, it becomes easier.

What made you turn producer with Blurr? What is the kind of content we can expect from your production house?

I think it will be very much in sync with the films and stories that you’ve seen me as an actor. I don’t want to become a different person while I select the films or any kind of content to produce. Dhak Dhak is already done which was the initial plan to start my journey of being a producer. Blurr came in between and it was a very mid-way decision to come on board as a co-producer. I realized mid-way through the preproduction that I probably wanted a little more of say in things. Because when you sign up as an actor, your job

is just to do your job and be an actor and go back home. It’s unfair to get into other domains. But when you’re a producer officially, then you do have a say in who should do what and how things should be done. So that’s why I wanted to step in as a co-producer there. And then thereafter yes, I mean Dhak Dhak is ready, it’s in the editing stage right now. And I’m already working on the preproduction of the next stuff that I’m producing.

You have chosen rather unconventional roles and made them mainstream. But on paper they must have been a risk at some point…

I never got the conventional parts, no matter how badly I actually wanted them at a certain point in my career. Let’s just say that life is what happens to you when you’re busy making plans. So that’s exactly what happened. I was planning to do conventional stuff like any other girl who becomes an actress, especially someone who never wanted to become an actor in the first place. So I had no aspirations of putting myself in the deep end and jump in. I wanted to see how it’s going and slowly-steadily move. That’s exactly what I was doing in South. Doing the most conventional films and roles that you would expect out of a leading lady. And when I came to Hindi film industry, that didn’t work for me because I just didn’t get those parts. I think there were some really beautiful, gorgeous women who were doing those conventional leading lady roles and were doing it really well. So I was not even in the queue or maybe pretty far away in that queue. So I had to choose a different queue to stand in or a different path actually. I didn’t have an option and when I did that out of no option, I realized that this is the best possible option because then you’re not that easily replaceable. Everyone is replaceable but when you

carve your own path then people start connecting you with a certain kind of roles, films, genres. It becomes your kind of films which I am extremely proud and happy about. I’m glad I have that kind of a recall value in the audience. So yes, this was a path that I had no other option to choose eventually, but then it was a snowball effect. It worked and then I got more options of such kind and then I started choosing only from the options that I got which were only from this unconventional kind.

The movies here largely belong to the ‘male star’. But you seem to have created your own genre of sorts?

As I said, I didn’t have an option to begin with. It was not like I wanted to jump into making every film a Taapsee Pannu film. Like today even if I go out and say that, sometimes it gets too tiring to do films that are always resting on your shoulders. Then you feel like okay you want to also have lesser responsibility sometimes. And I’ve done Soorma, I have done Mission Mangal. I do sometimes do somethings in between to lessen my burden of responsibility and just have fun on set. But even if I go out and say I want to do something of this sort, people don’t offer me that, even now! In fact, now even more. Initially they didn’t consider me for such roles and now they think that I would never do such roles so they don’t come to me with such options at all. But I’m glad that they don’t take me for granted in my films. So it’s better that they choose someone who will work for the part and for the film, better. But having said that, I think I’m very mindful about the fact that the films I do, don’t have frivolous parts for the other gender either. Because when you go through something, you want to make sure that you make a difference and not make others go through the same thing that you went through. I don’t want to

do the same thing what happened to me years back where I was just reduced to being a commodity in a film. I don’t want to do that to the opposite gender. So I’m very mindful of the fact that no actor in the film, be it male or female, should look like a commodity serving the protagonist. So it will always have its own spine and presence and will require good acting to pull that off. Not just sheer presence of standing there in the frame like a furniture.

Tell us about your film with Shah Rukh Khan?

Well, that’s one film that I would have done even if they wanted me to be a furniture (laughs). I mean who wouldn’t? There are certain films I would be okay to become a fly on that wall!

Is that because of Rajkumar Hirani or is it because it’s SRK?

Actually both. Rajkumar Hirani being the director he is, and the vision with which he directs is very unique in terms of his approach… it’s a big learning for someone like me. And also Shah Rukh Sir because from the time I started watching films in my life, he was the hero and he still is. And he was the heartthrob and he still is a heartthrob! So just to be around him and to gain from his experience of just how he is on set, how he performs and how he approaches a scene is also sheer masterclass. So when I’m on that set, it’s just about absorbing as much as I can from the two gentlemen, also the writer- Abhijat Joshi on set. So, I’m just looking at it as more of an educational institute than a film that I’m doing.

You complete 10 years in the Hindi film industry this year. How do you look back? I think I don’t want to look back, because it’s very scary when I look back. Every time I look back, it has been overwhelming. As I said, for someone who never planned this journey in her life of becoming an actor, to be here, to now starting a production house and have a certain kind of audience who has certain expectations out of my films, it’s all bonus. So I feel very overwhelmed when I look back. So I try not to look back.

You have done such an array of characters and it’s unfair to ask an actor which one is a favorite, but do you have a list there?

I am always at a loss of words when this question is asked – to choose one. I’ve given the time of my life to these characters which is never going to come back and each of them is responsible for making me who I am. So I can’t really pick and choose one. Because sometimes a film might fail, a character might fail. But that might just teach me something more than what a successful character would have taught me. So I refrain from choosing and I say that whichever is the next one coming up is my favorite. n

I think there were some really beautiful, gorgeous women who were doing those conventional leading lady roles and were doing it really well. So I was not even in the queue or maybe pretty far away in that queue. So I had to choose a different queue to stand in or a different path actually.

Creating A BUZZ !

Whether it’s playing a baddie in Baaghi2 or a lover-boy in Four MoreShotsPlease!or a realistic character like in IndiaLockdown, Prateik Babbar has been acing it all with aplomb. The actor has steadily been working towards proving his acting mettle and his screen outings have not gone unnoticed neither by the audience, nor the industry. We recently caught up with the star and in an exclusive chat with Aakanksha NavalShetye, Prateik talks all about his journey and creating his space as an actor.

YOU CREATED QUITE A BUZZ WITH YOUR LATEST INDIA LOCKDOWN ON ZEE5 GLOBAL. TELL US MORE ABOUT IT.

Prateik Babbar

It’s been quite overwhelming to be honest. The film is being really appreciated everywhere. And I didn’t expect it to do this well, but it’s very overwhelming. My entire team is thrilled. It’s been quite surreal. It’s feels like I’ve achieved something.

YOU’RE VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CHOICES. SO, WHEN YOUR CHARACTER GRAPH STARTS IN ANY SERIES OR ANY MOVIE, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TWIST OR TURN TO EXPECT… LIKE IS HE A GOOD GUY HERE TURNING BAD, IS HE A BAD GUY TURNING GOOD.

I guess that’s a good thing. I’m doing something right as an actor.

I think it’s very encouraging and it’s nice to know that people enjoy your work and it’s quite something when people live your journey with you. It’s a special feeling so I’m very grateful for all the appreciation from the audience whether it’s for my show like Four More Shots Please! or a movie like India Lockdown

That’s an interesting question. I think it just comes down to the basics of how good the story is and the script is. How good a character resonates with me and I could tell a story that people would want to watch and know about. It’s just as simple as that. If I feel like a certain character is a challenge for me or if the story moves me, and I feel like I want to be part of the story. Like India Lockdown had a bit of both. I was very invested with the idea of our country being under lockdown and that being documented and shown as a film, inspired by true events. So, I was very excited about being a part of the film that has literally been something that each one of us experienced.

AND IT IS DIRECTED BY MADHUR BHANDARKAR, WHO IS AN ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR.

Yes, and my character - it was a win-win for me. Being a part of an emotion that everybody shared. I’ve never played a character like this and it was a huge challenge and a huge responsibility but I was

ready. And seems like I made the right choice.

THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY, YOU’VE HAD A LOT OF LEARNINGS, THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR METHODS. WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE FINALLY IN A HAPPY PHASE WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE RIGHT NOW?

Absolutely. I’m very happy. But I’m not content. I don’t think I’ll ever be and I never want to be satisfied and I never want to be content. Because I don’t want to get complacent and I don’t think I ever will because I am an extremely passionate actor and performer and I love acting way too much for me to get complacent. But I’m happy, absolutely. I’m very happy and very grateful for the opportunities that

I have got in recent past and they’ve given me a chance to revive my career. And I’m very grateful to be working right now. I’m very happy but I’m not content (laughs).

DO YOU THINK THAT WITH AN OTT PLATFORM LIKE ZEE5, YOU HAVE MUCH MORE FREEDOM AS AN ACTOR VERSUS ONLY BEING DEFINED BY THE BOX OFFICE?

Yes, absolutely. But the OTT and cinema releases and theatre releases, I think, coexist in harmony. And there’s an audience for both. I think, what OTT allows is, it reaches people faster and instantly. It’s a wider reach and that is a boon for all of usactors, technicians, directors, writers. That’s what we want. We want as many people as possible to watch our films and shows. I think OTT is a boon.

IN FOUR MORE SHOTS PLEASE! THE ENTIRE SHOW WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CENTERED AROUND THE WOMEN OF THE SHOW. WASN’T IT KIND OF INTIMIDATING? DID IT MAKE YOU RETHINK ABOUT GIVING A NOD TO THE SERIES?

MANY

FEEL

YOU ARE UNDERRATED AS AN ACTOR… In time, in time. It’s inevitable.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO?

I think the beauty about being an actor is that you could be anybody. Of course people don’t have that much of choice and stuff. But it allows you to dream and dream about being anybody. I don’t want to box myself. I want to do everything, absolutely everything.

I mean the usual. If the character is impactful, how much value does the character add to the story or the show or the film. I think those are the basics. Those are the kind of questions we all have when we read a script. But I think it was testing the waters with Four More Shots Please! We weren’t sure there were more seasons. And Inshallah more seasons. Everyone just went with it. We were curious to see what we shot. We got lucky, audience loved it. They continue to love it, continue to give so much love. When I read the script, I think my character needs to add value to the story, needs to have an impact.

WHAT ARE THE UPCOMING PROJECTS? We have Hiccups and Hookups Season 2 which is a Lionsgate show that we will start shooting in April-May. I have two films, very exciting and special.

WHAT IS THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND GIVING A NOD TO PROJECTS LIKE THESE AND CHOOSING THEM OVER THE ONES YOU HAVE REJECTED ALONG THE WAY?

Zenofar Fathima No out way

What draws you to filmmaking?

Filmmaking is a visual medium that I have grown to not only love but appreciate from my early years. Right from the days that I was taken to the cinema as a child, up till now, I have always been in awe of how filmmakers are able to tell stories, using purely visuals and sometimes no words or dialogue. It drew me in mainly because of the freedom one has with such an art form, and its ability to communicate messages in ways that aren’t necessarily possible through books, or music. Besides being a cinephile, I believe the world needs movies to be entertained and transported to a world different from their status quo, and also to become more self-aware as an individual. It is a compliment when someone says they were entertained by your film, but it’s an achievement when they say they’ve learnt something from it

Supernatural is a recurring theme in your films. Tell us about your fascination for the supernatural and the horror genre.

The supernatural horror sub-genre has always intrigued me as what lies in between our world and the one we aren’t necessarily privy to, is one that has so many interpretations. We as humans do not necessarily have any objective proof of the supernatural, and we resort to movies, books and our personal experiences to conjure an imaginary world of our own. The process of developing, or rather building such a world is one that is very engaging and sublimely fascinating.

You have tackled various significant issues such as cyber extortion, depression, COVID-19 and even domestic violence, and no matter what the genre, all your films have an underlying message at heart. What’s the thought behind that?

The thought behind that stems from being a person who has been hearing about the trials and tribulations of people from all walks of life. The one common element I notice in such scenarios is that everyone is looking for an answer to their issues. With my films, I can’t necessarily promise a concrete answer, but what I can promise audiences is that they will be able to resonate with

the experiences of characters and understand that solutions do exist. Moreover, I am a believer in the idea that if a risk cannot be averted, there is always a way to minimize the damage that has been done, and my films focus on this too.

Tell us more about No Way Out No Way Out is a psychological horror/thriller feature film that is being produced by my boutique production company Zen Film Productions, and directed by me. The film also stars me, as well as up and coming stars such as UAE lifestyle and fashion influencer Muhammad Junaid a.k.a. Ganook King, award-winning emcee and celebrity host Joe Mohan a.k.a. VoiceGuyJoe, and budding teen actor and model Chitraang Chauhan. New additions to the cast include Priya Telavvane, actor, architect entrepreneur and trained dancer, and Allinson Louis Aranha, a professionally trained method actor. No Way Out initially started out as a short film collaboration between Zen Film Productions and renowned escape room brand Horror Rooms by No Way Out Dubai. It focuses on a group of individuals who visit an escape room for an alleged casting call for a horror film. As they learn

about the conditions of the audition, they begin to suspect that larger forces are at play. The short is available for viewing on Zen Film Productions’ official YouTube channel House of Zen. After it reached an unprecedented level of popularity online, we decided to extend the narrative to become a full-fledged feature film, which is now renamed to Specter: No Way Out and slated for a release this year.

As with all your projects, besides promising to be an exhilarating, edge-of-the-seat experience, will Specter: No Way Out also carry a poignant social message to audiences because it is often unheard of in the horror genre?

The most exciting element about Specter: No Way Out, is that it puts a spin on typical escape room films. Whilst most audiences might simply expect a few spooks and scares, the reality is that the plot is actually founded upon a very significant social message which is seamlessly integrated within the narrative.

What do you look at for inspiration? After my own empirical knowledge and experiences and field research or talking to people. Also I watch movies… I pick out any films that I can use as comparatives in terms of narrative, genre and tone. These help

me narrow down the elements of the plot as well as understand my own motives and creative direction for the film.

Have you ever had a supernatural experience that you can share?

I have had many supernatural experiences. Once when I was praying, I saw an angel that told me what was going to happen in the future. To my surprise, whatever it said had happened and from then on I am always ready to expect the unexpected.

How do you balance all aspects of your life?

I do believe that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So one of the main aspects of my life is planning. Though life gets busy, with meetings, work and the gym as well as taking care of my kids, planning my day in the morning as well as in the evening for the next day helps me keep in check with myself, professionally and personally.

Tell us about your passion for fitness!

My passion for fitness started when I realized I needed a change in my lifestyle, which felt sedentary. Making the active decision to initiate my fitness journey was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and it continues to transform my life. A key motivator in my journey were the people I was

With my films, I can't necessarily promise a concrete answer, but what I can promise audiences is that they will be able to resonate with the experiences of characters and understand that solutions do exist.

surrounded with in the gym who pushed themselves no matter what, and that was what motivated me to not give up. Another key force in my journey is my trainer, Christina, who has been ensuring my form, technique and posture is on point during my sets. It is important that your trainer - who is like a second doctor to you - analyses your body and its limits accordingly, because fitness should become a part of life but not the point of injury. I would also like to mention that the gym I train at, Binous1, has played an instrumental part in my journey too, not just in terms of training but also for shooting purposes as well.

What’s the way forward?

As a result of all of my positive fitness experiences, I am now working on developing my first feature film known as Beyond the Limit, which is a coming of age story of an athlete and his battles with life’s many adversities. The film is currently in its pre-production phase and slated to release early this year. We are also currently in talks for the film to be distributed internationally.

Besides being a cinephile, I believe the world needs movies to be entertained and transported to a world different from their status quo, and also to become more self-aware as an individual. It is a compliment when someone says they were entertained by your film, but it's an achievement when they say they've learnt something from it.

“

Hitting the right Chords!

Hailed as one of India’s leading singer-songwriter, Prateek Kuhad, also featured on former US President Barack Obama’s list of favourite music of 2019. We caught up with the singer-songwriter ahead of his show in Dubai. In a candid chat with Aakanksha Naval-Shetye, the artiste reveals that the creative freedom that comes from being in the Indie space is a bigger draw for him than singing for the stars

HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO PERFORM FOR THE DUBAI AUDIENCE?

I’m pretty excited. I’ve played in Dubai once and I’m really excited about the venue too.

DO YOU PREFER YOUR SPACE AS AN INDIE ARTISTE OVER PLAYBACK SINGING?

Prateek Kuhad

I’m fine with doing anything as long as I like doing it. I’ve done playback singing once before and I didn’t like it so much because I’m not really a very good singer actually. In the sense that good singers can execute anything given to them really well. I can only sing my songs well because I get a lot of time to practice. And also I have creative freedom with my songs. I don’t like to be told how to sing a certain song. It makes me feel like it’s a less creative process. Maybe not all playback singing is like that, so I think it depends. I think once you get to a certain stature as a playback singer, you can decide how you want to sing a song. Like I said, I did try it once and it just seemed very mechanical to me, to sing exactly the same notes and exactly the same way. Also, I tend to be less invested in a song if I haven’t really written it

myself, so then it’s really hard for me to emote authentically and really adjust in it. So I don’t enjoy the process so much. And also, I’m not really a singer. I know everybody laughs when I say that but I’m really a musician and songwriter first. I started doing this because I like writing songs and making music. And I still do this because of that. If I couldn’t do that, I would stop doing it. So, I just try to stay in that space and just write songs. And then I kind of sing them because honestly I kind of have to.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD TIME FOR INDIE SINGERS, CONSIDERING YOU HAVE SO MANY PLATFORMS?

Any time is a good time if you want to do something. It depends on what you want in life. It’s good in a lot of ways because you can make music more easily because of a bigger community of people. So if you are trying to just make music and have fun while doing it, I think it’s a much better time than ever before.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ARTISTE YOU WOULD WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH AS A MUSICIAN, AS A SINGER?

Yes, of course. I like working with other people. So, like I don’t have any names, because honestly it has become crazy now in terms of the number of artists and musicians and good people who are out there. I’m mostly just looking for authentic collaborators because I feel like now it’s just… specially the whole collaboration machine has become really activated. It never really used to be that much back in the day. Now it’s just like every artiste is doing collab in every single record. It’s very rare to find an album where you don’t see collaborations or

co-rights. There’re very few. And I think that’s just because it’s become this kind of thing where it’s like you want to combine your audience. Because business-wise it does make a lot of sense but I think creatively, an artiste needs to stem from a more mutual respect for each other as an artiste without an agenda. That’s the key thing. You just work to really make a song. In my case that’s something I care about and I would love to do stuff like that with anybody I like and who likes me.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE GAMECHANGER FOR YOU?

I think, it’s probably ‘Cold/Mess’. But building up to that song, there were a lot of tiny steps. I feel like almost every song kind of did something. My first ‘Raat Raazi’ did a little bit of noise in the small indie scene context that I was in back then. And then I put out ‘Oh Love’ that did pretty well. So there were a lot of tiny steps and that I think was building up to it and I think ‘Cold/Mess’ definitely pushed the envelope the most out of everything that I’ve done before.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST ALBUM ‘THE WAY THAT LOVERS DO’!

Well, we’ve been touring with it and it’s just a collect of songs I’ve been writing that I liked. I don’t like talking too much about the songs and what they are about. I just feel like people should listen to the music and interpret it the way they want.

HOW MUCH DO YOU GET AFFECTED BY THE NUMBER OF VIEWS AND THE REVIEWS BEING AFFECTED BY MUSIC VIDEOS?

I actually studied Math in college so I’m pretty

into statistics and numbers in general across the board. So, I keep looking at my stats, streaming and all. So I keep looking at it and try to analyze it every now and then. But, I try and not let that affect me too much. I think it’s tough these days because I feel like there’s so much feedback. And ideally you want to associate your incentive to write a song instead of what you’re going to get back in return. Like you want to write a song for the heck of writing a good song that you could be proud of and like I said, so that you can respect yourself as an artiste. And I think attaching the result to it too much can be problematic. But I don’t think it’s a bad thing to just

keep in the loop and see what’s happening because ultimately it is kind of like a feedback in some sense. But it’s tricky as there’re so many factors to a music, to a song doing well. It’s not just about the music. Sometimes you’d see a video that is made in a certain way… maybe just has a lot of drama and the song in itself might not be the best. And that’s subjective. I’m not calling any song good or bad honestly. But just sometimes the image of the artist or the video or everything around it can be a lot more hyped and get all the views. So it’s confusing. I’m still trying to navigate it myself.

I don’t like to be told how to sing a certain song. It makes me feel like it’s a less creative process. “ “

Living her Dream!

Huma Qureshi

Huma Qureshi ended 2022 on a high note! The star not only completed a decade in Bollywood but had several hits to celebrate all year long – from Valimai, Mithya, Maharani to Double XL and Monica, O My Darling. What’s more, the year also saw her turn producer with Double XL – a project that the star reveals is very close to her heart. And now gearing up this year she has the ambitious biopic Tarla to look forward to amongst others. I caught up with this powerhouse performer who was in Dubai for her association with Zee5 Global and in an exclusive interview with me, the actress talks about her journey in Bollywood, being a part of meaningful cinema and reveals why it’s important to call out and also empower others to take a stand against bullying of any kind!

- Aakanksha Naval-Shetye

YOU HAVE COMPLETED A DECADE IN THE INDUSTRY AND HAVE HAD BACK-TO-BACK HITS IN 2022. HOW EXCITING HAS IT BEEN?

Very exciting. I feel very blessed, very happy. Double XL was a very important film for me as it also marked my debut as a producer. And it’s a film very close to my heart as it’s exciting to know what people think about body positivity and friendship. So, it’s all just very exciting.

THE FILM SENT OUT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND

STRONG MESSAGE WITHOUT BEING PREACHY. SO IT DID HIT A CHORD WITH SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN.

Yes, it’s a very important message. Also it’s an emotional film which has a lot of funny one-liners, comic situations. The important thing is - normally when you talk about films in which you show plus size people, there’s always a ‘but’ and there’s always a joke. They are never the heroes or heroines in the stories. Almost as if they are not good enough to have dreams, they are not good enough to fall in love, to

have a happily ever after. So I think the idea was to move away from the fringe onto the center stage. And then people who are plus size, people who are dark skinned, who are not so tall or not so short or people who are whatever that are not fitting into the society’s mold of perfection, still have value. Their stories still are important; their dreams still are important. And I feel like this film will resonate with not just young women but also young boys.

ABSOLUTELY. ALSO THIS PRESSURE OF ‘LOOKING

GOOD’ AT ALL TIMES IS MUCH MORE ON YOU BEING A CELEBRITY. HOW HAVE YOU DEALT WITH IT?

I think when I started off my career I didn’t care about it so much. Somewhere along the line all the media attention, all the people writing about it, all the attention got to me at some level. It also got to me till a point where I think I was a bit lost for a few years in the middle. And I think a few years back I didn’t know that I had to take control of the situation to stop it from affecting me so much. And then I was like I’m not going to let it affect me. Because honestly speaking, I have been working every year. So it’s not like the work has not happened. But people always find something to pick on and say something negative about you. And sometimes it affects the person’s mental state which is not cool. And we can’t normalize it. We can’t normalize people trolling each other. We can’t normalize fracturing each other. We can’t normalize people commenting on women’s body as if it doesn’t make a difference. It makes a difference and it’s not cool and we have to call it out. And as an actor today, if I’m in a position where I can talk about it because it has happened to me, then I will. And it’s not cool that it happened. It’s not cool that I should have been at the receiving end of that thing. Despite having the success. Despite working so hard. Despite coming from nowhere building a career, I was still the target of it. And today if I can empower other people to stand and be like - no this kind of bullying, we’ll not take. I think it’s my responsibility to do that.

BUT THERE’S ONE BODY THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT. THAT’S YOUR BODY OF WORK. YOU’VE WORKED WITH RAJINIKANTH, ANURAG KASHYAP, AJITH AGAIN. SO, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAVE BEEN THE MILESTONES FOR YOUR CAREER? Wow! I don’t know, they all have been milestones. The ones you’re talking about are successes. The big superstars, the big league films. The indie

films that sort of burst into global recognition. I don’t know… for me every film is important. For me, also the failure is important. Because sometimes what success does not give you, failure tends to give you. It gives you perspective, it gives you strength, gives you focus, drive, gives you like ‘no, I’m better than this.’ And I think I am a fighter like that. So I don’t let situations bomb me down. In fact, I’ve learnt more from my failures than successes. And I think the fact that all these amazing names that you’ve taken have chosen to work with me, to collaborate with me on some level, gives me a lot of confidence, makes me feel very grateful because I’ve also been a fan of all of them like everybody else. So for me, it’s been like a dream come true.

WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR STRENGTH FROM?

I think I was raised that way. My mother’s a very strong woman. She was born in a village in Kashmir. But I think when she moved to the city and she married my father, she just told us one thing that “as my daughter, I just want you always to be independent and stand on your feet and whatever you chose to do in your life” and I think that has really stayed with me. And she never hesitated to raise her voice or to speak her mind, no matter who was there. And I think I have seen that as a live example in my life. If I think something is not right or right, if I have an opinion, I will always express it. This has been true for me from a very young age. So it’s not like it’s a new thing. I think I have always been a ‘muhfut’.

WHAT IS THAT ONE DIFFERENCE THAT HAS CHANGED ABOUT HUMA QURESHI FROM GANGS OF WASSEYPUR TO THE HUMA QURESHI NOW?

A lot more self-belief. I think, also when I did Gangs of Wasseypur, I wasn’t sure where that journey was going to take me. When I moved to Mumbai, I wanted to do one film. And I didn’t have a plan

after that. So I got that one film, and it became successful, I went to Cannes also for it. That film did well everywhere. So suddenly I got five other films after that. I didn’t know what the plan was after that because I didn’t think that far. I didn’t even think I would make it that far. You know for a Delhi girl, to imagine to be an actress, you never think you will make it this far. So I think I am a lot more selfaware now. I like myself a lot more. When I did Gangs of Wasseypur, I was very unsure of where I was. There’s just an ease. Like if I fail at something also, which may happen. But I feel like I was very harsh on myself if I failed. I would do a lot of negative talk. And today I’m just like, no I faced that situation, in that circumstance, this was the best I could do. I did my best. Now beyond that is not in my control. I think that perspective I did not have in 2012.

AND WHAT IS YOUR WAY FORWARD AS A PRODUCER? WHAT IS THE KIND OF CONTENT THAT YOU WANT TO PUT UP?

Just engaging content. At least the things that I find engaging. Stories that I want to tell. I feel like it’s such an important time in our business with where you have a lot of female content creators coming forward and putting forth their perspective. And I think it’s a very important perspective. I want to tell entertaining commercial stories. I want to tell stories that my mother, your mother, the people, everybody finds a connect with. And I also want to tell good stories, stories with soul. It could be any genre. But I want to tell stories that engage people.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR CONNECT WITH ZEE5 GLOBAL?

Well, last year started with a bang, thanks to Zee5. Valimai was on Zee5 and I’m very grateful for that. And then Mithya which was also number 1 show and that’s been very special. So, yes it was quite a beautiful year, thanks to Zee5.

SO WHETHER IT’S THEATRE, OTT, THE PLATFORM IS NO BAR FOR YOU AT ALL.

(Laughs) Yes, I am greedy like that. Theatrical, OTT, film, series, I feel as an actor today, I have the opportunity of doing all. So, I don’t think medium is a deal-breaker for me.

GOING FORWARD, WHAT ARE THE FILMS THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO?

I have Tarla and Pooja Meri Jaan ready and have a bunch of films that I will start shooting.

We can’t normalize people trolling each other. We can’t normalize fracturing each other. We can’t normalize people commenting on women’s body as if it doesn’t make a difference. It makes a difference and it’s not cool and we have to call it out. And as an actor today, if I’m in a position where I can talk about it because it has happened to me, then I will. And it’s not cool that it happened.

Soul survivor

Neena Gupta is on a roll. After making the audience sit up and take notice of her histrionics in Panchayat Season 2, she wowed us again in the poignant drama Goodbye, where she was paired with Amitabh Bachchan. She worked with him again in her most recent release Uunchai, where she’s paired with Boman Irani. The film, which is an ode to friendship, is making waves at the box office despite starring senior actors. Neena says she’s feeling content in both professional and personal space currently and is raring to do more. Excerpts from a heart-to-heart interview with the talented actress.

Your role in Uunchai has been greatly appreciated. People liked my role because it gives you hope and warm feelings. Masaba has not seen the film but my husband liked it very much. He saw it in a theatre with lots of relatives, and they all liked the film very much. It gives you confidence, and obviously, you feel happy.

How was the experience working with Amitabh Bachchan and other actors?

I have done Goodbye with him earlier. It feels nice to work with such an experienced actor. You learn a lot by just watching him act. It used to be great fun on the set. All of us used to sit and chat or play enjoy the home food.

Your equation with Boman Irani was quite good.

I knew that he is a very good actor. I had seen his MBBS, but I did not know that he was multitalented. He runs a workshop and teaches script writing, where many wellknown writers have taken part. He plays the guitar well. He sings well and is a good photographer. His sense of humour is great.

The film celebrates friendship. Who are your friends who always stand by you?

I have so many friends with whom I may not have been in contact but they are always with me. Actor Deepak Qazir, my oldest friend, is still very close to me. Soni Razdan, Anu Ranjan, and Sunita Rajwar have all been good friends. When Masaba was a child, we all used to stay near each other in Aram Nagar, Andheri. And of course, my

best friend is my daughter Masaba. Even my parents were my best friends. They shifted to Mumbai to live with me when I needed them the most.

You reportedly went through a lot of difficult situations in life… Times were tough when Masaba was young.

I did not ask for anyone’s help financially or emotionally. Whatever life gave me, I accepted it. I brought up Masaba single-handedly. I have learnt to move on in life. From the beginning, my nature has been like this. If I want something and am not able to get it, I do not cry for the rest of my life. If I don’t get something, I may get something else. I move on. And I never regret my decisions.

What is the most important thing for a girl in a relationship?

NEENA GUPTA SAYS SHE’S ENJOYING THE BEST PHASE OF HER LIFE. SUMAN SHARMA CHATS WITH THE GUTSY ACTRESS

I have done Goodbye with him (Amitabh Bachchan) earlier. It feels nice to work with such an experienced actor. You learn a lot by just watching him act

Uunchai

My best friend is my daughter Masaba. Even my parents were my best friends. They shifted to Mumbai to live with me when I needed them the most

PHOTOGRAPHS: RIDHIKA MEHRA

Self-esteem and selfrespect. This gives her self-confidence. Tell me why only girls should run after boys. Why do the boys never run after us? It is because we have low self-esteem. Why should I run after someone? He should come after me. But this never happens. I have also started to understand this now. In a relationship, there has to be self-esteem and equality. It’s a giveand-take relationship. The most important thing is to be self-sufficient and independent.

But compromises are also needed sometimes. Our mothers used to stress this point a lot. Because they had to compromise a lot. Our mothers were not educated. And they could not take up a job. Compromise was a necessity for them as they weren’t earning their own money. Actually, both partners should compromise. But in our country, men are not willing and ready to compromise.

You had never been afraid to voice your views.

I have always been vocal because I am frank and I always speak the truth. People avoid speaking the truth. That is why people call me bindass. People say that I take brave decisions, which is not the truth. I feel that I am really a fool. I had to face losses due to my image. People thought I was a vamp, so I get roles according to my image. I was in need of money. So I accepted whatever roles came my way.

Tell us about your bonding with your daughter, Masaba. How has your equation changed over the years? Pehle main uski maa thi, ab woh meri maa ban gayi hai. Now I have to check her mood before speaking. Or if I post something wrong, she scolds me a lot or calls me, mom… delete this post. Toh main delete kar deti hoon. She also leads a busy life. But whenever both of us get some time, we go shopping. We love shopping, and we enjoy shopping together.

Badhaai Ho (2018) was the turning point in your career. Are you enjoying this phase?

Of course, I am enjoying it. People have started noticing me as a good actor. (sarcastically) I have become beautiful and fashionable. (laugh)When I was younger, people did not like me much.

You have always been appreciated as a good actress. All your films, like Mandi, Rihaee. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, or Sooraj Ka Saatwa Ghoda have been good. So many of my films were good. I won the National Award for my role in Woh Chokri (1994) as the Best Supporting Actress. People appreciated my work very much. But that did not help me. I did not get any work at all. Did anyone give me work after that? I did not get work for years. What would I do with mere applause? Mujhe kaam ki zaroorat thi. Now Badhaai Ho is giving me a lot of work, and I am ecstatic.

Do you think it’s the best time to be an actress

Yes. The industry has changed immensely. Earlier, good roles were written only for the heroes. I consider myself lucky that I am a part of this industry’s good phase and am getting a lot of work. Today, authors write good roles, keeping actresses in mind. People are more disciplined. Content has also become good.

You’ve been quite popular on Instagram.

I enjoy dressing up and getting ready. Mostly, I wear my own collection. Sometimes I wear my daughter Masaba’s brand as well. I am not so tech-savvy but I manage day-to-day posts.

Nowadays, there is a lot of trolling on social media…

I will not blame social media because whenever a new technology comes along, it has good as well as bad effects. You should not write anything on social media that will induce people to troll you. Instagram has proved beneficial for me. I take great care while writing on Instagram. If I post something objectionable, Masaba messages me immediately to

In a relationship, there has to be self-esteem and equality. It’s a give-and-take relationship. The most important thing is to be self-sufficient and independent

delete it. She keeps a close eye on me.

Are you in a happy space now? Yes. I am very content. I am not greedy. When God has given me so much, that is more than enough. I am thankful to God. But I am greedy for good roles.

What gives you happiness at this stage of your life?

Yoga, an evening walk, and home-made food. I would like to remain fit and healthy and Masaba should be healthy, fit, and happy. I have a kitchen garden and some trees. If mere garden mein bhindi ug aati hai, isse zyada khushi nahin hoti. I find happiness in small things.

What do you do when you are not shooting?

Whenever I get time, I go to Mukteshwar or Goa. Recently, I went on a solo trip to Italy. I enjoyed the trip but used to feel lonely in the evenings.

What keeps you going? Work and appreciation.

Work hard without compromising. You will enjoy the result. Don’t take yourself seriously and don’t take life so easy. Work is more important than anything else. Just watch today’s actors like Ayushmann Khurrana, Sanya Malhotra, and Rashmika Mandana. How hardworking and disciplined they are.

You have been working for a long time. Do you feel that you still need to learn some more?

Even today, I feel that I need to learn. Recently, I did a good scene for the film Sabun and came home. That scene gave me a lot of satisfaction as an actor. I was so excited that I could not sleep. I kept on thinking through the night about how to make the scene better.

Your upcoming projects

Ba, Sabun, Dogs Not Allowed, Ishq-e-naadani, Lust stories Season 2. I have done R. Balki’s episode in Lust Stories, Anurag Basu’s Anthology Ghumakkad and Metro... In Dino.

As real as it gets

When you walk in the company of giants, you tend to mimic their gait. A dream debut with Aamir Khan in Dangal pushed Sanya Malhotra to seek perfection. Much like her mentor, she has made a career out of seeking content-centric films. Whether it’s Badhaai Ho, Pataakha, Photograph, Ludo, Pagglait, Meenakshi Sundareshwar, Love Hostel or her recent release, Hit : The First Case, she has wowed the audience with her natural performance. She wasn’t mere eye candy in these films but played characters who were an integral part of the project. Dangal taught her the importance of preparation. “During Dangal we were really made to challenge ourselves. That basically laid a foundation for me as an actor because I saw how appreciative people were when the film got released. Now, whenever I approach a character, even if it does not require any physical training like Dangal, I like to put in the same amount of handwork for it. It’s been five years and it’s been a dreamlike journey for me.”

Having worked with a clutch of talented filmmakers such

SANYA MALHOTRA LOVES TO BLUR THE LINE BETWEEN REEL AND REAL, FINDS TANISHA BHATTACHARYA

I go with what drives me creatively. I know these are things that one should keep in mind, box office success and all, but I have not gotten into it

as Vishal Bhardwaj, Nitesh Tiwari, and Anurag Basu, she has learnt much from the master storytellers. Expressing her gratitude for the same, she shares, “I have been lucky to have worked with such directors since I am an actor with no training. For example, Chhutki from Pataakha was completely different from me as a person. She was so spiteful and loud that I told Vishal ji I couldn’t see myself in her. He said that he could see me pulling off the role nicely and advised me to let go of my inhibitions. That gave me confidence as an actor. If I could do a character like Chhutki, there is nothing that I can’t do.” She says an actor should stay away from being stereotyped and choose roles that make her uncomfortable. “Otherwise how would you grow?”

She questions. “You’ll only do things that come easily to you and inhibit your growth.”

Considering her varied filmography, she mentions how a talk with Ayushmann Khurrana has helped her focus on her goals. “So when I asked him, ‘What’s your secret?’, he said, ‘Whenever I am getting a narration, I listen to it as an audience’, and that is such a good point!” she exclaims.

Like Ayushmann, Sanya likes to play it by the ear, thinking of herself as a viewer first while choosing a role. She’s not looking at big box-office numbers at this point and is only thinking of bettering her craft. She goes for what excites her as an actor. “I go with what drives me creatively. I know these are things that one should keep in mind, box-office success and all, but I have not gotten into it. Maybe a few

What OTT has done is that it has widened the scale of the industry. There’s more work for the industry. People are choosing to invest in stories and not just rely on stars to draw in the crowd

years more and I will start thinking about it but for now, I pick a character or a film purely based on how excited I am about it.”

She has tasted success both with traditional releases and with OTT films and sees herself as a performer who has to give her 100 per cent to every project. She has grown up watching films on the big screen and says that the magic of the big screen will never die. “We escape into another world when we’re sitting in the dark in a packed theatre, experiencing things with a mass of people. We share the laughter, the tears, claps, whistles. What OTT has done is that it has widened the scale of the industry. There’s more work for the industry. People are choosing to invest in stories and not just rely on stars to draw in the crowds. OTT has brought in a balance the industry sorely needed,” she reasons.

Not many people know that Photograph, directed by Ritesh Batra, was actually her second film after Dangal. We often hear that it’s hard for actors to let go of their characters. In fact, actors spend years perfecting that off button. That was the case with Sanya as well. She played an introverted character,

Miloni, in Photograph and it was hard for her to come out of it. “Ritesh Batra moulded me in such a way that I started believing I was Miloni in real life as well,” she reveals. “That’s why the performance looked so real. It stayed with me for a good fourfive months till the time I did Pataakha. Playing Chhutki really helped me come out of it. When you are playing a character your boundaries get blurred at times and you start inducing emotions and making up these scenarios in your mind which can play with your subconscious,” she states. In Love Hostel, there was a scene where she had to react to someone getting shot in front of her. She had no reference point for that and hence requested her fellow actors to keep it as real as possible. “They did it so perfectly that the scene kept playing in my mind. I kept seeing someone dying in front of me. I was in touch with my therapist throughout and she counselled me through the night for me to get out of that frame of mind. I take therapy and I catch myself whenever I am inducing these emotions and know that they are not mine, these are my character’s emotions that I am

carrying back home.”

She talks unabashedly about mental health and how being a public figure comes with its downfalls. She was the sort who’d read every comment posted on her over the social media and was quite affected by them. Taking advice from seniors has helped her to veer away from it. “I was at a round table with other actors and I mentioned that I regularly read comments on social media and they all were shocked. They were like no you should not do it as it would affect your mental peace. Since every senior actor out there was saying the same thing, I took their advice. I have stopped reading comments. That has really helped me,” she reveals. Now, she has stopped heeding what people say about her and relies on positive criticism from family and friends to keep herself grounded.

She has worked with some of the best talents in the industry today, from Ayushmann Khurrana in Badhaai Ho to her lastRajkummar Rao in Hit: The First Case. She has Sam Bahadur to look forward to next with Vicky Kaushal. Speaking of her co-stars she says, “Who doesn’t want to work with Rajkummar Rao?

He is amazing, a brilliant actor. I signed up for the movie it because I wanted to be on set and see what he does and how he does it. As soon as the camera starts, he transforms himself. That was really inspiring to see. As for Vikrant Massey, he too is an amazing actor to work with, he is brilliant.”

Having done all kinds of roles, she definitely wants to try her hand at doing an out and out comedy film. “I have done rom coms but I want to do proper slapstick as I suspect I would be good doing it. My forthcoming comedy, Kathal, is going to be one such film. I’m playing a policewoman who is on the lookout for a pair of stolen jackfruit.”

Ask her who her competition is and she diplomatically names herself as being her only competition. She catches me rolling my eyes and defends her argument. She smiles,“I will change my answer and say I’ve risen above competing. I’m not in school anymore na, where you’re supposed to get better grades than your mates. I’m not even competing with myself. I used to dream of becoming an actor and I’m living my dream. It’s a dream, it isn’t a race.” Well said. n

Hit: The First Case

During Dangal we were really made to challenge ourselves. That basically laid a foundation for me as an actor because I saw how appreciative people were when the film got released

This

PAVIT GUJRAL

Bold, Inspired & Opulent Designs!

Located at Dubai’s most art-savvy area, Dubai Design District, Pavit Gujral’s jewellery pieces have a hidden pièce de résistance: her designs make you feel what she felt, experience what she experienced while the muse behind a piece made itself known to her.

Talking about her collections, she says, “Life is too short to wear boring jewellery!”

Living by this vision, Pavit has masterfully given life to 5 stunning collections - each one having its own muse, its own story.

Pavit’s Marine collection is inspired by her scuba diving adventures and by the famous ocean explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau, who once said, “The sea, once it casts its spell, it holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

The octopus ring, for instance, flaunts the unique Chocolate Opal along with the 9.68cts round brilliant Diamonds that are set to mimic the camouflaging eight-legged creature, after which it is named.

and true to its name, this collection features scenes from nature that can only be found by an adventurous soul - a trait that Pavit is well known for! The collection derives its inspiration from this well-known quote, “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” The quote manifests itself in the Langur earrings, set in 18K Gold with two 77.60cts Pear Brilliant Morganite Beryl’s.

Tuscany Earrings’, set in 18K white & rose Gold with 38.69cts Bi-Colored Tourmaline, to the torrential rains of Mumbai depicted in ‘The Mumbai Rain Collection’ which has been set in 18K Gold with 37.03cts beautiful blue Turquoise.

than making a Black Forest Collection with her stones!”

The word Sylvan refers to “located in the woods or forest”

As the renowned explorer Ibn Battuta once said “Travelling; it leaves you speechless then turns you into a storyteller.”, Pavit turns her experiences into forms of wearable stories with the Voyage collection. From the sunny, welcoming Tuscan sun reflected in ‘The

“Memories are simply moments that refuse to be ordinary.” - Diane Keaton. And taking a page out of the book of memories, is the Memoir collection. This collection displays her unafraid nature to match ancestral gems with quirky stones and brings emotion to jewellery. Case in point - The awardwinning Black Forest Collection! Talking about the collection, Pavit says “This collection is very special to me as the star of the flower –Black Star Diopside belonged to my grandmother and because she loved black forest cake, what could have been better

The latest collection by Pavit is the La Fleur collection, which is inspired by the famous quote by Xan Oku - “May the flowers remind us why the rain was so necessary.” Just as the quote makes people stop and think, the iconic Bellflower Earrings that are a part of the ‘La Fleur’ Collection achieve the same. The flower in nature has hues of blue, which is captured in this piece with three stunningly unique stonesAmethyst, Blue Topaz and Turquoise.

For more information, please visit www.pavitgujral.com/ and follow the brand on Instagram @pavitgujraldesigns for the latest updates.

Octopus Ring

1The Marine Collection:

2The Sylvan Collection:

Langur earrings

3The Voyage Collection

4The Memoir Collection

5La Fleur Collection

Tuscany earrings

Black Forest Ring

Bellflower earrings

Introducing

ALISH APPAREL

More than just a Brand

As we celebrate the new year, we celebrate the launch of Alish Apparel. A brand that celebrates women empowerment from the inside! Ms. Shabnam Kassam, the Director of Danube Welfare Center, collaborated with Dubai Police to present Alish Apparel, the brand that started for a good cause. Fashionable, classy, and affordable are our three favorite words, and this is what Alish Apparel promises us with! From the women jail in Dubai, Danube Welfare Center discovers the talent of these women and gives them the chance to earn an extra income by sewing beautiful clothing pieces. Here’re glimpses from the launch event of Alish Apparel that took place at Palazzo Versace Dubai. Shop today on www.alishapparel.com

Ms. Shabnam Kassam, Director of Danube Welfare Center, collaborated with Dubai Police to present Alish Apparel

Up Close

Bollywood’s most-loved Bad Man - Gulshan Grover - revealed little-known facts about himself at Vevek Paul’s ‘Up Close and Personal’ held in Dubai

Personal &

‘Up Close and Personal’ is a unique concept that brings some of the most-loved Indian film personalities to the Middle East and presents them in a completely new avatar. The brainchild of award-winning producer, Vevek Paul, the first ‘Up Close and Personal’ was graced by the ‘Bad Man’ of Indian Cinema, Gulshan Grover. An interesting experience that gave the audience an insight into the illustrious life of the star whose journey spans more than 4 decades of experience in films, in India and across the globe. The event was a glimpse of the dedication and passion that the actor has for his profession.

It began with a stunning dance performance by Gulshan Grover taking everyone by surprise. It was followed by a fun session of Q&A and interaction with the audience. Also gracing the event was Dubai’s leading businessman and Founder-Chairman of Danube Group, Mr Rizwan Sajan.

Gulshan Grover spoke about his first Hollywood film, and how he was able to change the perception of Bollywood actors in Hollywood by his sheer dedication to the profession. He even touched upon many of his personal and professional relationships with various personalities and dignitaries across the globe. His library of archives in the form of photographs and videos was a disclosure into aspects of his life that have never been spoken of in any interviews ever.

“

Vevek Paul

People think that these stars are not accessible but with ‘Up Close and Personal’ , it will be an opportunity to know more about these personalities which one might never find on the Internet.

Gulshan Grover and Vevek Paul

Mr Rizwan Sajan and Vevek Paul

Gulshan Grover with RJ Faizan

Gulshan Grover with Aakanksha Naval-Shetye

Gulshan Grover makes a stunning entry

BirthdayBlingThe

The Sajan Family celebrates Mr Rizwan Sajan’s birthday

It was all Glitz, Glam, Fun and Bling as friends, family and the haute-steppers of Dubai came together for Rizwan Sajan’s Uber-Luxe Birthday Bash

Founder and Chairman of Danube Group, Mr Rizwan Sajan with Mrs Sameera Sajan

Dr Sana Sajan and Managing Director of Danube Group, Mr Adel Sajan

Director of Casa Milano - Mr Azhar Sajan, Vice Chairman Danube GroupMr Anis Sajan with Mr Sahil Sajan Mrs Rubina Sajan

Ankit Tiwari with Rizwan Sajan and Mrs Sameera Sajan

Photography : Yasir Arafat and Dawood Shaikh | Videographer: Jafar

Nazim Mohammed, Ruxana, Shaheen and Syed Tahir Ali

Shabnam Kassam and Mehreen

Dr Sangeeta and Dr Sanjay Parashe

Poonam and Paras Shahdadpuri

Mr and Mrs Bimal Bhatia

Vandana and Dr Dhananjay Datar

Tasneem and Riaz Daud

Pinky and Shabaz Elias

Sami Syed with wife

Nadia with daughter

Dr Sana Sajan with Aparna Bajpai and guest

Mr. Rizwan Sajan with Neel Shukla and friend

Anil and Soni Gehani with son

Mr Rizwan Sajan with Mrs Sameera Sajan and friends

Mrs Sameera Sajan and Mrs Rubina Sajan with friends

Party like aKing

In a larger-than-life celebration, Anis Sajan hosted a Don-themed birthday bash for Rizwan Sajan. Check out the highlights from one of the most happening bashes of Dubai

Sajan family members during cake cutting

Rizwan Sajan on stage

Adel and Sana Sajan

Sahil Sajan, Anis Sajan, Rizwan Sajan & Azhar Sajan

Sana and Adel Sajan with Javed Jafferi

Mr Rizwan Sajan and Mrs Sameera Sajan with Adel Sajan and Sana Sajan

Dr. Sana Sajan with family

Anis Sajan, Rubina Sajan and Azhar Sajan with guests

Neelesh and Rachna Bhatnagar

Anis and Rubina Sajan with guests

Harish and Vidya Tahiliani

Anis Sajan with Madhusudhan and Kavitha Rao

Rubina Sajan, Sahil Sajan with Walid Bukhatir, Lalu and Lovely Samuel Ishtiaq and Aliya

Shabnam Kassam and

Mehreen Kassam

Sahil Sajan with guests

Azhar Sajan with guests

Anis Sajan with guests

Madhusudhan and Kavitha Rao with Son

Sebah Chaman, Ruksana Mohammed and Yasmin Sajwani

Celebrating

Success!

The After-Party of the Danube Properties Filmfare Middle East Achievers Night 2022 Powered by Milano was one star-studded affair. Check out the highlights of the success bash hosted at Sajan Villa

Adel Sajan, Yash Ahuja, Sameera Sajan, Rizwan Sajan, Sunita and Govinda, Dr Sana Sajan and Rubina Sajan Humayun Saeed with wife Samina

Sonu Nigam with Tejasswi Prakash

Iulia Vantur

Salma Agah, Rao Ali Khan and Zahrah S Khan Kanika Kapoor Jasmin Walia

The Sajan Family with their guests

Dr Sana and Adel Sajan

Sonu Nigam, Sunita Ahuja, Rizwan Sajan and Govinda

Sonu Nigam, Rizwan Sajan with Salma Agah and Zahrah S Khan

Mr Rizwan Sajan and Govinda with guests

Mr Rizwan Sajan with guests

Amit Jadhav

The Sajan Family with Rakhi Sawant and Adil Durrani

Vandana Sajnani and Rajesh Khatter

Govinda with Lucky and Mohammed Morani and Shweta

Subram

Team Filmfare Middle East

The Sajan Family with Madhurima, Sonu Nigam and family

The Sajan Family brings in Baby Amara’s 1st birthday

Aakanksha Naval-Shetye and Zahrah S Khan

Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash

Maniesh Paul

ZENDAYA

CAMPER SHOES

ADIDAS

OREZORIA

I-STOLE MY BOYFRIEND

SNEAKS UP

J.RENEE

LONDON FALL/ WINTER

VAKKO

KOODING

LES BENJAMINS