Stardust - September 2021

Throwback: The true story of Sridevi in her own words

SEPTEMBER 2021 India ₹ 75.00 UK/Europe € 3.99 USA/Canada $ 2.99

A MAGNA PUBLICATION

Exposed: Why Janhvi Kapoor hid from the paparazzi?

Broken Yet Beautiful: Kim Sharma and Leander Paes find love again!

Up Close: Unknown details revealed about Sidharth Shukla and his bond with Shehnaaz

Not taken seriously as a

mainstream actor in Hollywood..

Priyanka Chopra Jonas strikes back & becomes third most in demand actor world wide

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Cover Story: Not taken seriously as a mainstream actor in Hollywood ...........................................................12 Get Snappy: “You know the amount of times I have hidden in the trunk of my car?” – Janhvi Kapoor ....... 20 Get Snappy: “Shershaah has been a life changing experience!” – Shiv Panditt .............................................. 22 Nostalgia: Unknown facts about Sidharth Shukla and Shehnaaz revealed! ................................................ 30 Stardust Exclusive: Has Leander Paes and Kim Sharma found love again! .................................................. 38 In Focus: An Actor Par Excellence – Rishi Kapoor, unplugged! ............................................................... 26 Blast From The Past: Sridevi .............................................................................................................................. 70

FEATURES

Melody Alert: Yasser Desai ................................................................................................................................. 56 Music Room: Hriday Gattani .................................................................................................................................... 62 Starry Look: Shraddha Kapoor ............................................................................................................................ 48

COLUMNS

Neeta’s Natter ....................................................................................................................................................... 06 Starry Sashay ........................................................................................................................................................ 50 Web Show ............................................................................................................................................................... 52 List Show ............................................................................................................................................................... 60 Film Fare ............................................................................................................................................................... 43

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Ranveer Singh sporting a cool ‘Rebel Without A Cause James Dean’ look at his mom’s birthday, burned the dance floor like there’s no tomorrow.

He tried to get his biwi Deepika onto the dance floor but the unsporting girl preferred to while away her time chatting with a friend. But did that bother our rockstar boy Ranveer?

Naah... he danced some more showing off some mean moves that would put any top choreographer to shame.

Deepika dressed rather simply in a red sweatshirt looked rather out of place.

Maybe her mood was off or she just preferred to lie low but the pretty lady refused to budge from her seat. Even when Ranveer and she were posing with Ranveer’s mom, she looked a little tired. Maybe Ranveer with his super affectionate pappi and jhappi ways is a hard act to follow especially for a selfconfessed introvert like Dips. But no worries, we still love her the way she is.

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Guess what Deepika did on a show recently? She complained to Amitabh Bachchan that her husband dear had promised to cook for her some day but till date, hadn’t. Big B promptly picked up the phone and conveyed her complaint to Ranveer Singh who immediately said “Ab toh main usse godh mein omelette khilaonga”.

To which Farah Khan who too was present, commented, “Omlette banna tha, godh mein bitana nahin’. Hilarious!

Farah Khan incidentally is quarantined now as she has tested positive for Covid even though she had taken both her vaccines. But she was on the sets with Amitabh Bachchan who told everybody that Farah would often shout at Abhishek and him when she was choreographing their dance for a film. Supposedly according to Big B, Farah had once told him, ‘Who do you think you are?’ To which Farah said, ‘Not you! I told Abhishek that!’ Poor Abhishek, he gets all the flak!

Talking about love… a couple that has redefined the meaning of true love is Shahid Kapoor and his pretty wife Mira. Both of them with their cute babies took off to the mountains for some chillin’ time. And all Shahid and Mira did is trek and soak in the pristine air all around. Of course, they did find time to take some short breaks just to cuddle and kiss. Aww!

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Another super awww goes to Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani. These two young lovers look so cute together. Though they are careful not to do any PDA, their body language gives the couple in love away. Kiara and Sidharth just can’t stop smiling into each other’s eyes. And when the world stares at them too close, they blush and look away. Aww!

Guess what, we heard that ShahRukh Khan’s beautiful daughter Suhana Khan who always aspired to be an actor is being launched by the big daddy of the industry Karan Johar of course, knowing his penchants for star kids. Supposedly, he has found an exciting project for her and will be launching her soon. Can we hear one Ms Ranaut screaming nepotism on rooftops yet again?

Karan Johar recently teamed up with National Geographic for its brand new property called Your Lens.

Supposedly on the show, he confessed that he loves being behind the camera because “you are a creator of your own universe”. Incidentally, did you know Kjo’s father Yash Johar was an avid photographer? In fact, a lesser-known fact is that he began his journey as a photographer in the entertainment industry. He left his home in Delhi, came to Mumbai and began his journey as a still photographer

For all the brouhaha about Kangana Ranaut’s Thalaivii, the film unfortunately isn’t as great as it sounded. In fact, it is super slow and very exaggerated. The performances too aren’t anything to talk about. Perhaps Kangana should have focused more on her performance rather than the prosthetics and the publicity that revolved around the film.

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Did you know Bhagyashree started crying after hearing about a sequence where she had to hug Salman Khan during a song? In fact, it was Salman who had to convince a teary-eyed Bhagyashree to do the sequence. Bhagyashree at that time was just 18 and was head over heels in love with her goingto-be-husband. She had never ever hugged a guy till then according to her, so she started crying after hearing that she would have to hug Salman for a song sequence in Maine Pyaar Kiya. Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya were scratching their heads to figure out a solution, until poor Bhaijaan came up to Bhagyashree and requested her to please hug him. And she did though rather relunctantly! Guess, Salman never ever had that problem again!

Incidentally that iconic scene of Salman and Bhagyashree kissing a glass wall between them actually originated because Bhagyashree refused to kiss Salman. But director Sooraj Barjatya was adamant that he wanted that kiss. At the end they changed the sequence and the entire sequence was shot with a glass between Salman and her.

Guess what, there was a buzz last month that Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif were getting engaged. Well, according to an insider, the ceremony supposedly was a very hush hush one. But hardly did the press get an inkling about it that both the actors got their PR’s working on an overdrive denying the entire thing.

Hmm… Bollywood sure loves doing things the secret way!

Talking about engagements, Vidyut Jamval and designer Nandita Mahtani have got engaged.

Recently, Vidyut posted a series of pictures of Nandita and him and the focus point was a huge diamond that Nandita was flashing rather coyly. Well, Nandita if you recall is the ex-wife of Karishma Kapoor’s ex-husband and also allegedly Ranbir Kapoor’s ex girlfriend many aeons ago. Gosh, there are so many ‘ex’ factors in this case that it’s tough to keep track.

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Biopics are supposedly trending, and this time, rumours doing the ‘rounds is that iconic cricketer Sourav Ganguly’s biopic is being made. And who do you think is being considered for Sourav’s role, none-other than Ranbir Kapoor. Well, actually, it does look like a bit of genius casting for we definitely can see Ranbir peeling off his tee shirt in the biting English cold after a win and waving it triumphantly over his head like Sourav.

With so many producers and directors scuttling around trying to get Saharashri Subrata Roy’s biopic, news that filtered in is that young dynamic producer Sandeep Singh has managed to acquire the rights for this ambitious biopic. Not only that, he’s managed to rope in legends like A R Rahman and Gulzar into the project.

This venture sure sounds extremely interesting.

Akshay Kumar recently lost his mother and heartbrokenly penned an emotional post for his late mom on his birthday which left us all teary eyed. We all know how close he was to his mother and he would often post cute pictures of her and his sister - in fact, just recently, he put a pic of his mom and sister on raksha bandhan day. Our heartfelt condolences to AKshay and his entire family.

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We are super excited. The Israeli series Fauda which was a blockbuster hit all across the globe is now being recreated in an Indian format. It is being directed by Sudhir Mishra, the king of hard-hitting intense films and the production has already started in Kashmir. We do have a question though…

Sudhir Mishra who made films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Dharavi and Chameli …so can he change gears and make an action packed film on soldiers?

The super hot Mallika Sherawat is back in Mumbai. She was recently spotted on the sets of a popular comedy show where the actress was mimicked by Sugandha Mishra Bhosle and Gaurav Dubey, where Sugandha was enacting the part of Mallika. After seeing the act, the sporting Mallika was doubling over with laughter. She was heard telling one and all that she never felt anyone could mimic her so well, but Sugandha aced it and seemed like a mirror image of her on stage.

Cat’s Crown

This month goes to...

Kartik Aryan.

This man is indeed a cool dude.

Despite the negative publicity he garnered after he was dumped from Kjo’s film Dostana, Kartik has been as cool as a cucumber. After the almost death knell to his career, Kartik did not run to his publicity spinners to give his side of the story to the media nor did he rush around like a headless chicken, he just waited patiently and bagged newer films. Mission accomplished!

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Get Snappy

“You know the amount of times I have hidden in the trunk of my car?

There’s always a blanket in my car every time I am at a place I am not supposed to be at or with someone I am not supposed to be with.”

– Janhvi Kapoor 20

From escaping from the pap’s to cooking up a storm, Janhvi Kapoor known for her fancy moods and quirks, gears up for an intense session of food, fun, pap’s and more…

She’s got a whole host of good films lined up – from Dostana (which got embroiled in some unsavoury controversy after Kartik Aaryan was ousted from it) to being a part of the ambitious ensemble cast in Takht. Janhvi Kapoor is indeed happening, and how!

Recently, she was spotted at JW Marriott, Juhu, Mumbai shooting for Star vs Food season 2 on discovery+. She was preparing a Korean meal for her friends under the guidance of Abhishek Basu, Executive Chef at JW Marriott, Juhu.

Not too many people know, more so after seeing her super svelte body, that like everybody from the Kapoor Khandaan, Janhvi too is a huge foodie. But this time, she was trying her hand at cooking.

The setting was perfect - in partnership with Korea Tourism Organisation, Star vs Food S2 was featuring Chef Abhishek Basu who planned a lunch spread in consultation with the K-Pop artist AleXa who incidentally has also made a striking appearance in the episode.

Janhvi attempted to make a Korean rice dish, Bibimbap along with sea food scallion pancakes named Haemul Pajeon. The cooking affair was followed by a successful taste test carried out

by Janhvi’s guests and some candid conversations around lesser-known facts about her life!

It all started with Janhvi’s friend Namrata Purohit who shared a hilarious story of Janhvi hiding from the paparazzi.

According to Namrata, “There was this one time, for some reason she didn’t want to get clicked at the gym. So, she told me “Namo, you have to help me, they can’t see me, they can’t click me whatever.” So, we sent her car outside. I felt like a horrible person because those guys outside are actually sweet guys.

But it was just like a situation that she needed to get out of that day. So, her car went the other way and the paps followed her, then she jumped into my car and we had gotten out and then we had like this whole chase going on. I felt like I was in a Fast and Furious movie.”

Recalling the incident, Janhvi added with a laugh, “Because I wasn’t supposed to be at the gym, I was supposed to be at home, tired and sad. They were literally chasing us on bikes, and we were going around in her car and we had to stop at some dingy location and then I had to get back into my car. You know the amount of times I have hid in the trunk of my car? So many times! There’s always a blanket in my car. There’s always a blanket every time I am at a place I am not supposed to be at or with someone I am not supposed to be with.”

Talking about places, supposedly Janhvi loves coming to the Marriott. She averred, “Ya I have been coming here a lot actually. It’s the first club we became members of. You know the pond by the pool, I used to steal the fish, little orange baby fishes. I used to get like a bucket, and I used to steal the fish and I used to go home. I was like a fish kidnapper.”

So how did it feel cooking for her friends? Janhvi said, “More than the food and more than me making this meal for them, it was just lovely to be able to do something for them and have them together. I feel like with my busy schedule I am not really able to give my friends the kind of time and attention that I want to so I’m so happy that I was able to do something for them to show my appreciation and I am really happy that we could all do this together.”

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get snappy

“Shershaah has been a life changing experience!”

– Shiv Panditt Shiv Panditt has garnered rave reviews for his performance as Colonel Sanjeev Singh Jamwal in Shershaah. In conversation with Sumita Chakraborty, Shiv talks about Shershaah and how it has changed his life and more.

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His code name in Shershaah was Sangram, and that’s what he has been doing in the last 10 years of his career in the film industry, fighting his way in and making his presence felt.

Meet one of the most understated yet brilliant actors, Shiv Panditt, a powerhouse performer, who has proved himself over and over again. Though he has not garnered the response he should have got, Shiv is definitely considered one of the most competent and dependable actors in the industry. His performance in Shershaah has been the talk of the town but the actor as usual instead of shouting it out on rooftops, has moved on to his next project to do what he loves to do most – act. Read on as Shiv talks about his journey, Shershaah and more.

Shiv, you’ve debuted in 2011 in Shaitan and entered the Hindi film industry, how has the journey been?

It’s been nothing short of magical as I am getting to live my dream and do what I love on a daily basis. Whether there have been ups and downs, I’ve always enjoyed every moment as each moment teaches you and prepares you for the next. It’s been 10 years for me in this industry and I’m very grateful to be a working actor even today!

Shaitan was critically acclaimed – in fact you even won an award for best debut, did it affect you as an actor in terms of films and more challenging roles?

Vidyut (Jammwal) won the awards for the best debut (for Force), I was nominated for them - This was at Filmfare & Big Star Young Entertainer awards. Now many years later, not only is he a dear friend…but I’m happy our paths have aligned as friends and work colleagues. Shaitan’s critical acclaim felt more like a relief and the appreciation for the film and our work in it, felt like an acceptance/ validation from the audience and industry that I can realistically look at making a career out of professionally acting.

interesting thing was that since we were all boys -15 to 16 of us - in Kargil shooting together… it was nothing short of a riot on set and past pack up. There were no egos, as we had all come with a common objective of excelling and being the best versions of ourselves. But I will forever be grateful to the journey of Shershaah as it’s given me some amazing friends and colleagues for life!

“I will forever be grateful to the journey of Shershaah as it’s given me some amazing friends and colleagues for life!”

How was it working in Shershaah? Any incidents that you can share with us working on the sets?

Shershaah has been a life changing experience. It’s been the reminder that every civilian in this country needs to get from time to time about our Armed Forces - their bravado, courage and sacrifice due to which people like you and me are able to feel safe and secure on a daily basis. I am eternally grateful to my director Mr. Vishnu Varadhan… it’s due to his genius that Shershaah is what it is today. There are too many incidents to share but one really 23

“My reaction if I was propositioned would be to say “thank you…Kisi ne toh iss layak samjha’. Hahaha…

I’m kidding but on a serious note I would feel creeped out!”

You’ve worked in the South as well as in Hindi films, is there any difference in the functioning of both these industries?

Which do you prefer?

Yes, I have done a film called ‘Leelai’ in Tamil which was critically acclaimed. The differences are not too many but there are differences when it comes to time management. I don’t have any preferences per say but since Leelai was my one and only Tamil film, I would love to opportunity to do more!

Since it’s the raging topic, what is your opinion about this “insiders versus outsiders” debate?

All insiders were outsiders at one point.

The casting couch is said to part ‘n’ parcel of Bollywood, have you faced it? If no, what would your reaction be if propositioned?

I don’t think people considered me good looking enough to get me on the casting couch with them. Fortunately, I have not faced it… My reaction if I was propositioned would be to say “thank you…Kisi ne toh iss layak samjha.” Hahaha… I’m kidding but on a serious note I would feel creeped out!

What’s next in the pipeline?

I have 3 feature films up for release – Zindagi Kashmakash, Meet The Patels and another one I can’t talk about right now. It is also a very interesting web series as well with a superb cast and director.

Lastly, when you look back at your journey, is there anything you want to change?

I wish I was more decisive and I wish I did not think so much! But having said that, I’m here due to what I’ve been and I’m very grateful for that.

“All insiders were outsiders at one point.”

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“I wish I was more decisive and I wish I did not think so much!”

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in focus

An Actor Par Excellence – Rishi Kapoor, unplugged!

Chintu Kapoor and his khullam khulla baatein It’s the iconic Rishi Kapoor’s birth month and we take this opportunity to raise a toast to this charismatic actor. An actor par excellence, he was a natural performer who acted with great ease so much so that it looked as if he wasn’t acting. Extremely articulate with razor sharp wit, his ‘no-holds bar’ interviews were a delight, his tweets were much sought after and Rishiji was a frequent guest at audience debates on prominent TV channels. His khulam khulla statements had no filter and minced no words – they were as it was – honest and hard-hitting.

We take a stroll down memory lane, remembering some of his most khlullam khulla statements from his biography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Unplugged available on Audible.in and also look at what wife Neetu Kapoor and superstar son Ranbir Kapoor had to say about him too.

Be it the charismatic young man holding a violin in ‘Karz’ or the quick-witted old man romancing a cut-out of Mandakini in ‘Kapoor and Sons’, Rishi Kapoor never failed to enthrall audiences.

Unfortunately, last year, the world lost this lovable actor. But his legacy – be it in films as an actor, director, producer or as a man – will forever remain.

We take excerpts from some of his most candid statements. Read on…

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Born with a silver spoon!

“I was born lucky and stayed lucky,” said actor Rishi Kapoor. The actor was not just another Kapoor man in the Raj Kapoor family; Rishi’s maternal side (Krishna Kapoor - Mother) of the family was also quite famous. Raisaheb Kartar Nath Malhotra (Krishna Kapoor’s father) was an inspector general of the Central Provinces.

Childhood Memoirs

While remembering his childhood, the actor mentions, “My childhood was a dream, like an unending mela.” He further highlighted how people from the film fraternity were constantly flowing in and out of his house. While Rishi has always been open about his family, he talks how Deewan Sahab was his favourite family member and was fond of his story of digging a tunnel to reach his girlfriend’s house. While the actor feels blessed to be a part of the Kapoor family, he also agrees that “Acting was in my blood and there was simply no escaping it.” To add to this, he says, “The Kapoors have also been proud of their profession.”

The love of his life: Neetu Kapoor The actor remembers, “When I started dating Neetu, I didn’t formally speak to them (my family) about it but they sensed where I was headed. My father tactfully fended off all proposals by telling the family that I was seeing someone and that they presume I would be marrying her.”

Photograph by: vickky idnaani.

Outfit & styling: Shaahid Amir

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Neetu Kapoor’s remembers: “I knew Rishi Kapoor well. I wanted to live with him and raise a family. I wanted this, despite the fact that he was the most troublesome boyfriend in town. He made me cry almost daily, but I still wanted to see him every day.”

And later? “He is the most straightforward man there is. Though I admit, it’s not easy to get to know him…I truly believe I couldn’t have asked for a better man or a better life than I’ve had with him.”

Fact: Rishi and Neetu worked on 11 films together before they got married!

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Being a proud father Rishi Kapoor is blessed with two exceptional children: Riddhima Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor. The actor mentions how he is proud to have the two of them. He says, “Neetu and I were over the moon when Ridhima was born.” He further adds, “My father was delighted when Ranbir was born, his first and only proper grandson.”Through a series of stories, the actor mentions how like every other father, he has a special corner for his daughter (Riddhima Kapoor). He mentioned he quit smoking because Ridhima refused to kiss him because of the smell!

PS: Raj Kapoor, in his will, had left a family heirloom especially for Ranbir - A beautiful gold coin with inscription in Afghani and Peshawari script and a gold necklace!

The privileged second innings The first half of Rishi Kapoor’s acting journey was filled with romantic hero roles. While discussing his roles in the second half of his career, he says, “There is a huge difference between what I was and what I am”. While talking about his role in Agneepath, he says that this was one of the roles that he had to prepare for. “I worked hard to transform my image, including my body language.” He also mentions that films like Do Duni Chaar, D-Day, Kapoor and Sons “tested my mettle as an actor.”

Ask son Ranbir Kapoor about his illustrious father and the actor says, he admires three things that Rishi Kapoor gave him - first, his mother Neetu Kapoor, second, how he was a good husband to his mother; while talking about this, he says, “None of the ups and downs could really touch us.” He adds, “He has been a good husband to my mother. My parents have had their fair share of intense fights, they have sulked with each other and all of that, but he truly loves my mother in a truly solid way.” Lastly, how he taught him to respect his work. Ranbir insists that he is inspired by his father. He says, “I saw his enthusiasm even at that age. He had it in him to better his craft.”

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Nostalgia

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The story of Sidnaaz may be seemingly broken due to its untimely end in this world but in reality, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful and timeless.

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Sidharth Shukla’s untimely death at the mere age of 40 left everyone shocked and devastated. A close friend of Sidharth who insisted on being anonymous, emotionally pens what made Sidharth Shukla so special a man and why SidNaaz was not just a hashtag but the definition of pure love between Shehnaaz and Sid. September 2 is a date that will be etched in our memory for as long as we shall live. A day we saw the universe challenge what we perceived as invincibility, our hearts broke as we saw a mother lose the center of her life, sisters lost their past, present and future, and last but certainly not least a woman that lost her world. A dark day for all those that developed an emotional attachment with an entity that took the world by storm forcing us to fall in love with his childlike personality and lion-like demeanor, our very own Siddharth Shukla, a man who inspired us to stand tall, be fearless and love without limit.

Apart from having a personality that

exudes awe-inspiring qualities of being never afraid to speak his mind, bold and confident, he left in his wake one of the most beautiful tales of love and loss that the world will never forget.

Sidnaaz, a hashtag synonymous with devotion, care, passion and a love so deep it fills your core… a story that inspires you to hope to become somebody’s home, somebody’s world. I feel privileged that I had the opportunity to witness the transformation of the geeky teenage boy into what would become the larger than life Sid of Sidnaaz. I will forever be inspired by this incredible journey of pure love and light.

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“I feel privileged that I had the opportunity to witness the transformation of the geeky teenage boy into what would become the larger than life Sid of Sidnaaz.”

His close relationship with his mom helped him appreciate her role in his life and her contribution to the family.

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He learned to respect women in general because he didn’t have a need to make himself feel more important by putting down females around him.

People lauded the fact that he was a rare male that truly recognized the strength of a woman as an equal hence never seeing them as helpless or inept.

When his sister Neetu led the charge in voicing her opinion against Vijay Mallaya the head of Kingfisher who fled the country leaving thousands of employees without compensation, Siddharth was in complete awe of her conviction and articulation. He was not only proud as a brother, but admired her strength as a person and was clear that he aspired for such strength. Similarly he appreciated that his other sister Priti who was always vocal about social causes and kept a world view for the greater good. What was funny was that he would make these things clear but would still make

them do nearly all his chores. However according to him, it had nothing to do with their gender, they were just better at it than him and he was entitled to the pampering cause he was cute (a quote directly from the horse’s mouth). For him, it was an exchange of care, from his side it was protection that he was quick to jump to, for that was his strong point and his role for those he loved, big or small he felt an internal need to shield all that he held dear from harm’s way. For his niece, he wanted to be the perfect Mama, to be there when she went through things her parents didn’t understand and most importantly, he was committed to doing his part to her having a blast for as long as she could. This is what made Sid of our modern day epic love story, a man who knew to truly love was to encourage empowerment of those you cared for.

“I remember once in the middle of a phone conversation Sid suddenly screamed “Dodh garam hai”, and apparently ran across the room fearing Shehnaaz would burn herself.”

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When his sister Neetu led the charge in voicing her opinion against Vijay Mallaya the head of Kingfisher who fled the country leaving thousands of employees without compensation, Siddharth was in complete awe of her conviction and articulation.

Like many of you I was absolutely obsessed with BB13 and their antics.

As a viewer, it made for a masala film with Siddharth as a hero, Shehnaaz as a heroine, and a slew of supporting characters to add to the pot. I was so engrossed that I forgot that I actually knew what at least Sid was like in real life and what I was witnessing was actually magical. Anyone who knew him saw that there was a very pure, very real love in his eyes for Shehnaaz that was akin to the limitless love we had only previously seen with his family. While the world attempted to label it, it was truly indefinable. At one 34

point I remember instantaneously thinking that whatever this indefinable relationship was, it was authentic and sincere.

These two years post BB13, the world changed in ways we could never fathom. Stuck in a warp of distance and staying connected, many of us were frustrated and flustered. But from these two what I witnessed was contentment. When you forge bonds in a situation with a captive audience, you often wonder what that relationship will translate to in a world full of distractions, but when you see such bonds not only surviving but thriving, your heart

“Anyone who knew him saw that there was a very pure, very real love in his eyes for Shehnaaz that was akin to the limitless love we had only previously seen with his family.

While the world attempted to label it, it was truly indefinable.”

“Let them have their moment.”

Sidharth once said. starts believing in the serendipity of finding something beautiful when not looking for it.

I remember once in the middle of a phone conversation Sid suddenly screamed “Dodh garam hai”, and apparently ran across the room fearing Shehnaaz would burn herself.

That level of awareness and total protection is something I can only dream of experiencing in my life. Sid always placed importance in feeding people; his upbringing had etched the

sacredness of food and feeding others in him. On an occasion when out to dinner, he apparently would ensure that Shehnaaz was properly eating and even insisted she eat a bite more so that she didn’t deprive herself to an unhealthy level. Most of us have experienced that kind of love and care from only our mothers but with him and Shehnaaz, it was apparent at how all encompassing their love was.

Once as friends teased him about his many fan girls his simple reply was that his life was complete with one girl with whom the bond was stronger than anyone he’d met.

Apart from the mutual care and protection, there was an incredible sense of empowerment you saw with the two of them especially when it came to work.

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“Sid was once heard saying that relationships tag - whether it be mother-son brother-sister or husband-wife, are just for this world. In the spiritual sense, there are simply souls that love one another without a designation.”

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Sid was delighted to see how much Shehnaaz loved his work and encouraged his success; she would literally observe every detail and be giddy with excitement about his new experiences. This was a quality he said he always admired and found endearing. On the same token, he was committed to being supportive of Shehnaaz and her career but what was truly empowering is that he believed in her talent and was in love with her dedication. It’s sadly ironic that a section of people who posed as their fans ensued fan wars relating to two people that were each other’s biggest supporters and well-wishers throughout. Even they found it increasingly puzzling that such people existed when it was blatantly clear how important they were to one another. At the end they realized such specimens were simply frustrated souls that felt important when creating negativity.

“Let them have their moment.”

Sidharth once said.

On an occasion when out to dinner, he apparently would ensure that Shehnaaz was properly eating and even insisted she eat a bite more so that she didn’t deprive herself to an unhealthy level.

At the end, one comes to the realization that this bond was in reality not for this world. Sid was once heard saying that relationships tag - whether it be mother-son brother-sister or husband-wife, are just for this world.

In the spiritual sense, there are simply souls that love one another without a designation. This man lived his life on earth with the divinity of the universe beyond. This tag didn’t define him, he defined the tag - teaching the world a lesson about the purity of love.

I chose to speak of this aspect of him because when it comes to his work, the achievements are selfexplanatory. Every realm he pursued from modeling, to television to

films and lastly, a record breaking successful web series are a testament to his talent and unrelentingly hard work. We watched it not because Siddharth starred in it, but because it was incredibly good! But this bond that was seen by the world exhibited the incredibly unique soul he was, this one bond was a culmination of all the bonds he was made up of, all full of power, peace and tranquility. The story of Sidnaaz may be seemingly broken due to its untimely end in this world but in reality, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful and timeless.

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Stardust Exclusive

Has Leander Paes and Kim Sharma found love again?

Leander and Kim were first spotted in Goa soaking in the sun, sand and sea, looking deliriously happy and in love.

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Kim Sharma and Leander Paes’s romance has been the talk of the town.

Sumita Chakraborty finds out what is exactly cooking in the personal life of this steamy duo.

When a tennis legend and Bollywood’s self-professed bombshell meet, but obviously, sparks fly. And, how! Well, tennis ace Leander Paes who had kept his personal life out of the limelight for some time is back in the spotlight again.

Past Fervours One can understand why Leander had kept a low profile all these years more so after the rather nasty tangle of controversies that happened between him and Rhea Pillai Rhea insisted she was his wife while Leander claimed they were in a live-in relationship and the legal wrangle had been going on for many years. Kim Sharma on the other hand,

after making a somewhat decent debut in Mohabbatein in 2000, was known more for her personal relationships rather than as an actor. An insider once claimed that Kim would have been a great actor considering her penchant for histrionics and drama in her personal life but the sexy lady was never interested in her filmi career.

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Love Life

The first cousin of Arjun Rampal, Kim at the beginning of her career was linked with cricketer Yuvraj Singh and was seen gallivanting all over the country and abroad with him. Rumours were abuzz that they were very serious about each other until Yuvraj who was a bit of a playboy before his marriage to Hazel Keech, found himself some other distraction.

Kim, however did not spend too much time grieving over Yuvraj, she instead left the country only to come out from the woodworks claiming she had married a ‘Mr moneybags’ Ali Punjani who had supposedly given her a huge diamond ring “the size of a rock, darling,” claimed she.

But a couple of years later, Kim returned to India lock stock and barrel, supposedly Ali had found himself a younger girl and had divorced Kim. In India, Kim in the meantime had designs on design maestro Arjun Khanna and for some time, the merry couple attended many dos together looking very much in love. This unfortunately didn’t last.

Kim at that point took a hiatus and disappeared from the spotlight for some time. Of course, there were occasionally some nasty headlines that claimed Kim

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was penniless and bankrupt. But this didn’t bother this sassy girl who whiled away her time driving through Mumbai’s Bandra bylanes on her yellow scooty.

But love and Kim go hand-in-hand, and soon she found love again and this time, it was with the handsome hunk Harshvardhan Rane.

Harshvardhan then went off to break up rather dramatically with Kim on social media sharing a cryptic message, “K, Thank you gentle soul!

It was amazing, and much more.

God bless you, and God bless me too. Bye. H’

Hunk & The Sex Kitten Harshvardhan and Kim did look super gorgeous together – in fact, the sexy twosome gave out such a steamy vibe that had everyone gasping for breath each time they were spotted. Kim at that point had even called us up and asked us to interview Harshvardhan for the cover. “He’s really very good,” she gushed, sounding madly in love with Mr Rane, though officially, she refused to speak about her relationship with him.

This too didn’t last. Harshvardhan then went off to break up rather dramatically with Kim on social media sharing a cryptic message, “K, Thank you gentle soul! It was amazing, and much more. God bless you, and God bless me too. Bye. H’, after which he deleted all their pictures together. Later in an interview, Harshvardhan opened up about the relationship with Kim saying though he had a good time, he preferred being single, blaming it on his ‘DNA’.

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Recently, Kim posted a picture of them beaming into each other’s eyes looking deliriously happy and in love on her social media and Lee too did the same, looking totally in sync with each other.

Cupid Strikes

Kim then vanished off the radar, perhaps to heal herself. But a true believer in love, Kim Sharma has found love again and this time, it looks as if it is for keeps. Yes, it is with tennis ace Leander Paes. They were first spotted in Goa soaking in the sun, sand and sea, looking deliriously happy and in love. Whispers again started doing the ‘rounds that both Lee and Kim had found love again. This good looking couple had been unlucky in love and perhaps the jinx broke once they met each other. They were snapped by the pap’s walking their dog, again looking like an ideal couple and then after that, at many dos looking happy and content.

Cementing Ties

But now we believe that Lee and Kim are taking their relationship one step further.

Recently, Kim posted a picture of them beaming into each other’s eyes looking deliriously happy and in love on her social media and Lee too did the same, looking totally in sync with each other. Supposedly, now the couple are planning to cement their relationship into something more permanent.

We can tell you, we are thrilled. Kim has always been our favourite. Sassy, amazingly warm and adorable, and funny, she always had this very fairy tale like penchant of ‘falling in love’, so we are glad, she has finally got the very polite and polished Lee as her knight in shining armour. So a toast to this wonderful couple, fingers crossed, we are waiting for some good news to happen very soon. Watch this space.

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Film Fare

5

Fantasy flicks to immerse into this weekend!

In cinema, fantasy has always been the most fascinating genre, allowing us to spark our imagination with fantastical and breathtaking stories! If you too want to take a dip in the fantasy pool, PVR Pictures bring you five of the most amazing fantasy films you need to watch.

The Green Knight Dev Patel can essay any role with pure finesse, and this fact is thunderously evident with his latest film. A mesmerising adaptation of the famous medieval era tale, The Green Knight sees Dev play Sir Gawain, the titular character who embarks on a perilous journey to face the Green Knight, a dangerous, mysterious and powerful being.

The film has fetched numerous plaudits internationally, with critics showering praises on the superbly acted visual feast.

Riddick Vin Diesel fighting monsters on an alien planet? Sounds like an awesome adventure! The third instalment of an incredibly popular franchise, Riddick is what you get when you mix the madness of space fantasy with the brilliance of science fiction. The film follows the journey of the infamous Riddick who is left for dead on an unknown land surrounded by bloodthirsty creatures. While he manages to beam a signal for help, the ones responding are people after his head. How does he get out of this pickle? Watch Riddick on Google Play Movies and iTunes to find out!

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Are futuristic fantasy actioners your go to “guilty pleasures”? Well, this Cara Delevingne starrer is just the film for you! “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” tells the story of a wondrous city that is home to species from a thousand planets. When an evil force threatens the existence of this peaceful haven, it is up to Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline to save the day. With stunning imagery and adrenaline pumping action, the Luc Besson directorial is a simmering edge of the seat affair. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is available on Amazon Prime Video

The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One In a dystopian future, a man on a race against time to save his daughter, teams up with an unlikely ally. “The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One” is a story of hope, family and survival in the garb an epic fantasy thriller. Based in a universe where planet to planet migration is common, a disgruntled soul has to fight through hell and back to retrieve his daughter.

Finding an army man for company, the two reluctant heroes set out to battle a dangerous alien species to achieve their mission. Will they be able to do the impossible? The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One is streaming on Google Play Movies and iTunes.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Leave it to the mind behind Weeds, TV’s most loved dark comedy to take a literary classic and give it a dash of crazy! Filmmaker Burr Steers is at his whacky best in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Very similar to the original Jane Austen novel, this film introduces us to Elizabeth and her four sisters, coping with the pressures of getting married in 19th Century rural England. But, it’s not just society they are up against; also present are countless brain eating zombies! A fun spectacle that will delight fantasy buffs who also love humour, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is available on Amazon Prime Video.

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Close up

“Your lineage cannot make you a star!”

– Meera Chopra In an exclusive interview, Meera Chopra, Priyanka and Parineeti Chopra’s cousin, hits back!

The beautiful Chopra girls from Priyanka, Parineeti to now Meera have been making an indelible niche for themselves in the film industry.

Meera is Priyanka’s second cousin, and she has already been making her presence felt in the South as well as Hindi films. There have been many stories doing the ‘rounds that Priyanka and Parineeti have not acknowledged their cousin Meera and there are problems within the Chora family. Is this true? Well, we caught up with Meera to find out more about her bond with her Chopra sisters, her films and her journey in the film industry. Read on as this firebrand actor takes on each question on the chin and retaliates with fiery responses

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Meera, you’ve been in the film industry for some time, how has the journey been?

It has been sweet and sour. It’s a bit tough when you are an outsider to do meaningful cinema and make your own mark. But I am happy it’s finally happening. I am getting the kind of work I always wanted to do. I’m finally saying ‘yes’ to more projects than ever before, which means something is happening right.

Your presence in Tamil and other regional films has been more impactful than in the Hindi film industry, why?

During my stint in the South, I was younger and did commercially viable movies which were blockbusters. I moved to the Hindi film industry with a conscious resolve to do meaningful work.

Being choosy comes with its own perils; one of them is that it slows down the pace, which I am okay with.

“It’s a bit tough when you are an outsider to do meaningful cinema and make your own mark.”

You are Priyanka Chopra and Parineeti Chopra’s cousin yet both Parineeti and Priyanka do not acknowledge you, why?

This question needs more research by the person who is asking. It’s coming out of sheer ignorance.

How are you related to PeeCee and Parineeti and how is your relationship with Priyanka and Parineeti now?

It’s a redundant question which I would give a pass.

Have you met them after you entered the industry?

Oh no, they live on moon, so it’s very tough to meet them.

The industry has its pitfalls, have you ever faced the dreaded casting couch or slimy producers?

The world is filled with both good and bad people, in all industries. It all depends upon one’s choices and the path one wants to take.

There is an ongoing debate about nepotism and insiders versus outsiders, what is your take on this?

Obviously, when you are born into a film family, you have easier access to the right people within the industry who can provide you with your first few breaks. This is true for any sector - be it real estate, or even when a doctor’s son or daughter becomes a doctor.

However, whether you will survive the scrutiny of the audience and deserve the accolades totally depends on your hard work, constant innovation, and talent. Your lineage cannot make you a star.

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“Oh no, they live on moon, so it’s very tough to meet them.”

What are your ongoing projects? Will you continue to straddle between the south and hindi film industry? Wouldn’t it be better if you focus on one thing?

I am only working in Hindi films at the moment.

I made a conscious decision a few years back to shift from the South. You will see my work on OTT and other distribution platforms.

Which projects are you looking forward to?

I am inclined towards current and relevant topics with a focus on issues related to women. I have gone through my fair share of struggles as a woman and I feel there are compelling stories that can be told that can raise awareness.

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“The world is filled with both good and bad people, in all industries. It all depends upon one’s choices and the path one wants to take.”

“Obviously, when you are born into a film family, you have easier access to the right people within the industry who can provide you with your first few breaks.”

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O

Starry Look

GWoithGShlraadmdha Kapoor s beauty goals …

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. p u e k a m d n a n i k on s

She’s downright gorgeous and can easily be counted as one of the most beautiful actors in the Hindi Film Industry. So what makes her so stunning? Well for one, she is a natural beauty but other than that she’s cracked the makeup and skincare code.

We dug a bit deeper and sniffed around Shraddha’s instagram and guess what, we discovered some super tips on beauty and hair. Read on…

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Z

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Z

‘Skin’tillating

Shraddha insists that the best makeup is actually flawless skin. But then again,skin types vary. For instance, Shraddha says, “I have very moody skin. Every day I wash my face on average twice and moisturise it as per the weather conditions.” She also adds that the best thing for your face is to keep your hands off it. Of course, a proper cleanser and moisturizer helps the skin look super stunning.

m

Hide Flaws Shraddha believes her concealer is ‘the’ makeup product that helps you the most and her makeup box always has her fave concealar.

According to her, the concealer is the best bet to keep the makeup look flawless. She insists, “I love when the skin looks flawless, especially when it doesn’t come with added heaviness and the feeling of being made-up.”

Born Ethical Pore Purifying Cleanser

Bright Lippy

Bright lipsticks add a sparkle to the look. So go bold and bright and look beautiful. If you wear a bright red, pink or orange lipstick, it instantly makes you dazzle. Shraddha believes bright lipsticks adds a sparkle to the face with minimal effort. Balance the other features with a more basic nude look.

Foundation

Shraddha loves nude and natural tones. She says, “I love using natural shades.”

Born Ethical Skin Brightening Day Crème - SPF 20 100% vegan and cruelty-free, BE products are also free from toxins such as sulphates, parabens, petrolatum, formaldehyde and artificial colour.

Contoured

No heavy contours for the delicate featured Shraddha. She opts for a bronzer or a highlighter and a slight blush on the cheeks. According to her, “Contouring is really overhyped. I mean you can simply adore your face cuts without changing your nose or cheekbones according to the beauty standards set by no individual but the industry at large.”

Eyes On You

Shraddha loves to use kohl on her upper and lower lash lines as it adds a dramatic element.

MY GLAMM Collection With love from Shraddha Kapoor

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>

Starry Sashay It’s festive time, so obviously our gorgeous actors are being spotted all over in desi wear even during these horrible pandemic times. More so even though the skies are grim, ethnic wear in desi fabrics lift up the spirits for the fashion conscious, which is why so many stars are seen sporting designer Indian wear. …Indeed, there’s something so elegant about an Indian look. It makes the person look so chic, feminine and still adds that extra touch of sophistication.

Here are some of our top snapshots of our beautiful ladies of Tinsel Town painting the town red in desi wear. Rate and tell us who wore ethnic wear better?

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WEB SHOW

Ten

Of The

Best OTT Shows

From the much loved heist to a modern fairy tale and a hardhitting docu-series, the OTT world sure is amazingly compelling.

Sumita Chakraborty picks nine of the most interesting web shows in the OTT domain.

Money Heist, Season 5, Netflix, English Money Heist Season 5 is here, and the much loved robbers are back with a more heartpumping game plan, and this time, the women are calling the shots. This season also traces some of the back stories of some of the central characters, however, there is going to be a loss of perhaps one of the much loved characters. But as the Professor says, whatever happens, you’re sure to be glued to this show.

Cinderella, Amazon Prime, English There have been many versions of Cinderella. However, Kay Cannon’s Cinderella definitely stands out because of its progressive message and Pierce Brosnan’s amazing performance.

The tale is the same – the prince and Cinderella and of course, the glass slippers. But the treatment to this oft told story is amazingly new and wellthought out.

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Dive Club, Netflix, English Dive Club set in Australia revolves around a group of teen divers who investigate a series of secrets. Things go awry when one of them goes missing. A ravaging storm makes things worse and then when a released convict comes to town, skeletons from this place of secrets keep popping out. Watch it, it’s interesting!

Black Widow, Disney Plus Hotstar, English Starring Scarlett Johansson, this film revolves around the protagonist Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow who has to confront her past as a spy as she’s pursued by a determined force who tries to bring her down. She then comes to terms with her past life and her broken relationships, and turns avenger. A racy tale that will keep you hooked till the end for sure.

Q-Force, Netflix, English An interesting tale about agent Steve Maryweather, who was once the Golden Boy of the American Intelligence Agency until he comes out of the closet… and says he is gay. The homophobic Agency is mortified but they can’t fire him because of the public outrage. To save face, they send him off to some obscure place where supposedly, he would not be heard again. Instead, Steve assembles a LGBTQ+ squad of misfits together they’re the Q-Force.

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Alpha Adimai, Sony LIV, Tamil

Three drug dealers strategize and plot their business with clockwork precision; however, though they seem to be in perfect synchronization, there is a pecking order within them which ends up causing a lot of discord. The gritty Alpha Adimai (Alpha Slave), made as a trilogy, revolves around this rather simple plot. However, the treatment is more hard-lined. It is definitely a must watch.

American Rust, Voot Select, English Starring the illustrious Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney, this riveting crime thriller piques your interest from the very first frame. Detailing the life of a troubled chief of police who is forced into a challenging paradigm wherein he must choose between his career and the woman he loves – when her son is accused of committing murder. Set in a murky small town, the gripping narrative captures the complexity of human relationships and the questionable morals of a man afflicted by desperation and love.

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Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror, Netflix, English

Amazingly documented, this docu series is a hard-hitting account with a lot of interviews and data thrown in. This unflinching series documents the 9/11 terrorist attacks – how it started - from al-Qaida’s roots in the ‘80s to America’s forceful response, both at home and abroad. A compelling watch, this is definitely a must see.

Helmet, Zee5, Hindi Aparshakti Khurana is excellent in this flick as his comic timing stands out right from the beginning. Helmet is a zany comedy that is about the topic of condom use and probes people’s mindset and attitude when buying condoms from stores in public view. It is funny and has a deep social message too. Watch it!

Lucifer: The Final Season, Netflix, English This show is very popular all across the globe - in fact, all the seasons have been huge hits. In the Final Season, the show just became a tad more interesting as Lucifer scored the promotion. But the moot question is does he really want the job?

Plus, Chloe prepares to give up detective work, Amenadiel joins the LAPD, and more. Is the LAPD ready for a major upheaval? Can Lucifer make the change? Well, watch the Final Season to know much more…

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MELODY ALERT

“ I am no Shah Rukh Khan or Akshay Kumar.

There has to be a balance between projecting an artiste and acting.” – Yasser Desai He sang the mellifluous Rang Dariya for Emrran Hashmi in the film Chehre and was appreciated a lot. Meet Yasser Desai whose song ‘Dil Ko Karar Aya’ featured on the late Sidharth Shukla and Neha Sharma has garnered almost 100 million views. His Bollywood debut was Beiimaan Love featured on Sunny Leone and Rajnish Duggal which was a huge hit but he came into the limelight with the song Jitni Dafa for the John Abraham-starrer Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran. His other Bollywood songs have received appreciation and accolade. In an exclusive interview, Yasser Desai talks about his musical journey and more. Read on…

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“I am thankful to Anand Pandit sir to have trusted in my vocals and retaining those songs in the albums.”

You started singing since the age of 11.

Can you tell us how you got into music and your musical journey?

I have always been fascinated by music. I have grown up listening to Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Jagjit Singh. I am a huge fan of these legends and tried to sing listening to them. I come from an orthodox family, so my parents were extra concerned about my education. I did my Masters in Biotechnology and worked with a research lab for a few years. Meanwhile, I was also singing demo songs for a few directors. One of the demo songs reached a producer. From there on, it reached a music label. I got my debut chance to become a playback singer. It was a dream come true moment. You can call it my destiny..

Tell us about your Bollywood debut.

My first song was for Beiimaan Love (2016) starring Sunny Leone and Rajneesh Duggal.

I had two songs – Mein Adhura, a romantic number with Aakanksha Sharma and Mere Peeche Hindustan with Sukriti Kakar. It happened by destiny.

You came into the limelight with Jitni Dafa from Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran? Can you tell how did it happen?

When I came in contact with a few producers, and music labels, I sang a few songs not knowing the fate of those tracks. Also, I was singing a lot of scratches at that time. Then,

Jitni Dafa happened for John Abraham-starrer Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran. Things were going very fast and I didn’t have much time to think. But whatever was happening was for good. After I sang Jitni Dafa, my career took off and since then I didn’t have to look back.

Which are the music directors you love working for and who are on your bucket list?

I love working for Tanishk Bagchi. When I was a newcomer, I have spent a lot of time with him. So, I am very fond of him. I like working with Gourov Dasgupta too. My bucket list is quite big. Of course, there’s Pritam da, AR Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, VishalShekhar and Amit Trivedi, Vishal Bhardwaj.

I have sung a song for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy but I would love to work with them again. It will be fulfilled in the coming days, I am sure.

“I would love to feature in videos and there’s a lot in the pipeline.”

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You worked with Anand Pandit in The Big Bull and now Chehre. Tell us about your association with him and how it was singing for Emraan Hashmi in Chehre.

It’s great that producers put so much trust in singers. I am thankful to Anand Pandit sir to have trusted in my vocals and retaining those songs in the albums. I sung Hawaon Ke Sheher Mein in The Big Bull and Rang Dariya in Chehre.

I feel honoured that I can be part of projects produced by Anand Pandit. I have been a huge fan of Emraan Hashmi. It was dream come true to sing for Emraan Hashmi. He has got a strong sense of music. If you sing a song in front of him, he knows what can work and what won’t.

You are handsome. Will you also act in films in future?

I am very influenced by the kind of videos the artistes in West do. The videos are not about acting but more about how an artiste is projected. I am no Shah Rukh Khan or Akshay 58

Kumar. There has to be a balance between projecting an artiste and acting. I would love to feature in videos and there’s a lot in the pipeline.

“The current scenario in Bollywood is that we don’t know when the projects are going to come out and in whose voice. So, this has become a bit unpredictable.”

What about politics in the music industry?

Have you faced it?

I think politics is present in every field. It might sound philosophical but it’s in human nature that everybody is looking out for themselves. Wherever people see their benefit they try to soak it. It exists everywhere and not only in the music industry. There are two approaches to handle it. I can keep complaining and do nothing or I can keep working hard and let destiny take over.

So, politics is there… I don’t have a musical background, strong connection with the big producers and I don’t come from a reality

show. It is difficult but not impossible. If a guy like me who had no connection in Bollywood could make it work, then everybody can.

Lastly, please tell us about your future projects?

There are a lot of projects featuring big names of the industry in the future. The current scenario in Bollywood is that we don’t know when the projects are going to come out and in whose voice. So, this has become a bit unpredictable. But I promise, in the future, you will see me in some of the videos too.

“So, politics is there… I don’t have a musical background, strong connection with the big producers and I don’t come from a reality show. It is difficult but not impossible.

If a guy like me who had no connection in Bollywood could make it work, then everybody can.”

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List Show

Surrogacy, unplanned pregnancy, single motherhood and much more…

Bollywood and the OTT are racing with the times to cover newer topics.

Here are five films that have shown these subjects in a newer light.

Light-hearted, yet absolutely lovable, here are a plethora of shows and movies that dare to be different. Bollywood and the OTT are taking to showcase newer subjects like surrogacy, teen pregnancy, single motherhood etc. Read on to know about five such films and shows that have become the buzz of the town.

Mimi

Versatile actress Kirti Sanon plays protagonist Mimi, in an all-new avatar who aspires to become a popular actress someday. In an effort to fast-track her success, Mimi decides to earn a hefty amount of money from a dealto become a surrogate mother to a couple visiting India. The movie encapsulates her journey and the eventual hardships she faces as her life moves in a whole new direction than what was planned earlier.

Firsts Season 6 Faced with an accidental pregnancy, actors Tara Alisha Berry and Karan Jotwani are now required to make important decisions about their future in Season 6 of Firsts. Each episode beautifully unfolds the ‘first’ moments that an expecting couple experiences while showcasing the growing bond between the couple through the journey.

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The Sky is Pink

This movie is a heart-warming love story of a married couple, nostalgically narrating the 25 years of their teenage daughter’s life, who has now passed away. The film unveils the journey of this couple starring actors Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar in an unexpected magical tale of two parents who bear a girl with a rare genetic condition that takes away her life. The parents work towards providing their daughter with all the different experiences possible as they also try to fulfill her wishes and dreams, all before the clock stops ticking.

Good Newwz

This hilarious tale will definitely make you ROFL each time you recall the film. Actors Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Kiara Advani, and Diljeet Dosanjh are two married couples who face difficulty in conceiving and the story unfolds with series of twists after they seek advice from doctors. As the story progresses, the couples ends up in a complicated situation after there is a big blunder on the doctor’s end.

Salaam Namaste

The sweet tangled love story starring the renowned duo, actors Saif Ali Khan and Preeti Zinta melt our hearts as they embrace the idea of becoming parents to their unplanned baby.

While Saif plays the role of the father who is completely against keeping the baby initially, Preeti plays the mother who takes the decision to raise the child on her own regardless of her partner’s decision. As the story moves forward, we see the pair eventually learning to respect each other as they excitedly work towards becoming parents to their child.

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Music Room

“

Being around some of the greatest musicians of our country like Asha Bhosle Ji, Daler Mehndi, Hariharan and A.R. Rahman definitely imbedded a good musical taste and instinct in me.

- Hriday Gattani

”

He’s the boy wonder musician who has made an indelible niche for himself in the music industry. Meet Hriday Gattani who considers A R Rahman as his mentor, no wonder, the music that Hriday has come out with – whether in films or independent music – are amazingly mellifluous. In an exclusive interview with Sumita Chakraborty, Hriday talks about his mentor A R Rahman, working in collaboration with U2, his tryst with the film industry and working as a music supervisor.

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You grew up watching great artistes as your father Deepak Gattani managed music concerts for A R Rahman. Could you tell us about this? How did your music journey start?

I have been very fortunate - every artist needs a muse, something to inspire them and stir the fire within. At a very early age, I was exposed to the world of live entertainment and music. My dad and mom inculcated in me the love for some great music from all over the world - bands like CCR, The Doors, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd - and those became my influences.

I started off my journey young, for me it was initially about the thrill of performing.

I remember very vividly; most Indian households have a charade when we have guests at home and your parents say, “Beta Kuch gaa ke/dance karke batao” - for me that was the best part of my week. I’d have an entire performance planned where my dad would be instructed to turn on the living room lights as I made my entry with a plastic guitar hung on to me and a fake microphone.

I had recently seen an MJ concert on TV and had the idea of doing a knee slide while entering. I never actively thought I would be a musician or go on to learn music but my heart was definitely with being on stage.

Being around some of the greatest musicians of our country like Asha Bhosle Ji, Daler Mehndi, Hariharan and A.R. Rahman definitely imbedded a good musical taste and instinct in me and that being in my formative years, I’d say was my way of getting trained in having a musical ear.

It was later on when I started my band in school that my true tryst with music began. A few of us friends decided we wanted to sing some songs that we all liked. We performed Bryan Adams ‘Summer of 69’ in the assembly and that’s where it all began. We went on to perform at the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards and a couple of local events that gave me the experience of everything I was enacting back at home. I still didn’t know if I wanted this to be an occupation or I was just a kid enjoying the moment, smitten with the aura and brilliance of music.

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As I grew older, my aptitude for music became more evident to me and my parents. My parents were ever so supportive and helped me pave a way into becoming the musician I am today. I learnt to play the Guitar all by myself, watching Youtube videos and figuring what sounds right and what doesn’t. I wanted to learn the piano and without any hesitation, my parents bought me one and I did the same, learnt it by myself and with the help of the internet.

I think all these signs made it very clear to me and my parents that I should pursue my dreams and become a musician.

Tell us about your relationship with A R Rahman – I believe you consider him your mentor?

It’s really surreal - it means the world to call A.R Rahman sir my mentor because to be honest, he’s been an influence to each and every musician in the country. It’s an honour and a huge privilege to be mentored by him. I remember it was in 2005 that Rahman sir was working on a song for Children’s Day. The song was written by India’s then President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Sir. Rahman sir wanted a few children to sing the song titled “One Vision” and I was selected as one of the six. I went to Chennai for the recording and we dubbed all day with the group. Once every one had completed the recording, I stayed back waiting for my Dad to accompany him back to the hotel. As fate would have it, there was a verse that had been added to the song and sir wanted me to try it solo. We went on to record and I think it went of pretty well, somewhere all my influences of music paid off.

In 2007, I started putting a few videos on Youtube with a friend from College, we were just having fun, it was mostly my friend playing the guitar and me singing into the camera. But eureka struck in 2012, when we put the video for my cover of ‘The Beatles- Let It Be’ feat Suchismita Das. Once we put this one out, I sent it to Rahman sir not sure if he’d even get a chance to view it but he did. And he replied saying “Nice voice, should train more.”

This email response changed everything and I packed my bags and made my way to KM College of Music and Technology to get Vocal Training. It so happened that I got a chance to perform in front of him a few times and then slowly, got a chance to intern at his Studio.

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How did you enter Bollywood?

It was while I was in KM College of Music and Technology that I was interning at the studio ‘Panchathan Record Inn’. I’d hang out, observe and take notes, can’t say I was helping much because I was still learning and figuring things out. But yes, I never got in the way of work and carried out the tasks I was told to.

He has always been very encouraging and more importantly very involving. As a 21 year old I was asked about my ideas on things. In my head I’d be thinking, “What do I know, to give ideas to the greatest musician ever?” But he wanted perspective and it was so motivating and refreshing because it made me believe in myself.

Rahman sir would give me a task that I had no clue how to do and once I was in the deep end, I had figure it out. Those are the learnings I can never forget. I’ve also always been super inquisitive so I would stand quietly in the room while he’d be working and try to observe/dissect and understand why and how he came up with something that sounded and felt so brilliant.

Rahman sir is a child at heart, He has the most energy in any room he gets into and is the most eager to learn and try new things. That’s one of the things I try to learn from him. When we were kids, there was no ulterior motive, it was the sheer excitement of trying something new - this in-turn becomes some of the best stories and pieces of art. Apart from music, Rahman sir himself has been a beacon of humility and kindness and that’s what I strive to learn from.

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In this period, Rahman sir had seen a growth in my voice and liked how I was doing at the Institute, so he gave me an opportunity to start singing at his concerts. My dream was finally coming true. My first appearance as a professional singer was in a concert in Kolkata, the tour was titled ‘Rahmanishq’. The stadium was huge… I had never performed in front of a crowd this mammoth. But I had rehearsed for this from when I was very little.

I sang ‘Nadaan Parindey’ with Rahman Sir and ‘Nazar Laaye Na’ with Neeti Mohan. It was an experience beyond compare. We did a four city tour and were back to Chennai.

During this phase is when one day sir asked me if I could try out one song in the studio. I pinched myself to check if I wasn’t dreaming but it was true. I went on to try out the song called ‘Tu Shining’ from the movie ‘Lekar Hum Deewana Dil’ that marked my debut in Bollywood. It was the golden ticket and I have the utmost gratitude to Arif Ali sir, Dinesh Vijan sir, Amitabh Bhattacharya sir and Rahman sir for having the faith in me and giving me the opportunity. The rest is History.

Could you tell us a bit about your songs in Hindi film industry, which is your personal fave? And could you share your experience while recording it?

I don’t know if I could really pick a favourite.

Each and every one of them have a special place in my journey. ‘Tu Shining’ and ‘Maloom’ from Lekar Hum Deewana Dil by AR Rahman sir are always going to be the most special because they were the first and also there is something really carefree and rebellious about the songs. I still remember Amitabh Bhattacharya sir saying that I sounded like ‘Michael Buble’ and it made my day.

Then came ‘Udanchoo’ from Banjo by Vishal/ Shekhar, this song had a huge impact on my life because I was starting off my independent music career with Vishal Dadlani sir at the same time and somewhere it was a very special time in my life. The melody of this song is so beautiful and the amount of love and belief I got from Vishal sir and Shekhar sir was fantastic.

But if I had to pick a project that was super special and close to my heart, it would be this one. In 2019 I walked into the studio and sir had made tons of tunes for a new film. I remember he gave them to us and asked us to develop a few and that was the first time I heard ‘Main Tumhara’ and ‘Taare Gin’. I didn’t realise that I was going to be a part of an iconic film that would be surrounded by emotions and maybe it came to me because I was in a similar space too. I was battling a lot of emotions and it wasn’t the best time of my life in terms of my mental health and this film helped me became a part of my daily life for two years not just as a singer but I was given the role of a music supervisor.

‘Main Tumhara’ was a journey, I knew it was at the core of the storyline of the film and spoke so deeply to the two characters in the film.

Rahman sir, Mukesh sir and Amitabh sir guided me to find the right emotion and record the song. It was definitely very, very heartwarming and in some ways a rollercoaster of emotions

opportunity to play a bit of guitar on the song and be a part of the production team on it.

Sunidhi ma’am was so kind and supportive, Working on this song together led us to collaborating on a song of our own that has recently released called ‘Ishq Tera Mera’.

Which music directors have you worked and bonded with?

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the nicest and most accomplished music directors like Rahman sir, Vishal and Shekhar, Amit Trivedi, Salim-Sulaiman and Mithoon sir to name a few. Working closely with Rahman sir has taught me a lot. Also Vishal Dadlani sir has been monumental in my Independent Music.

He’s the one who gave me wings to fly and helped me release my Independent music I started writing music while I was in Chennai, once I got back I formed a band and started playing local venues like ‘Blue Frog’ and ‘Hard Rock Cafe’ in Bombay only to lead up to playing festivals like ‘Nh7 Weekender’ and ‘Stage Forty two’ where incidentally in Pune at Weekender, Vishal sir spotted my act. That led to him releasing my music and us working on ‘Udanchoo’ together for the Duo. He has been a huge help and great guide to me as well.

Your song Maskhari was very popular… tell us about the making of it?

When Rahman sir composed the song, the feeling of ‘Maskhari’ was already embedded in it and it had a really chirpy, fun energy to it. We all had a lot of fun working on it and the lyrics added to the hustle and bustle of the energy, Amitabh Bhattacharya sir (lyricist of Maskhari) has a beautiful knack of using pop culture references and making it sound beautiful in a song. It was so refreshing to see how he approached the song . But most importantly when Rahman sir wanted Sunidhi to sing it I was overjoyed. I have always looked up to her versatility and her stage persona. She is one of the best performers I have ever seen. She brought an energy to the song like no other; it was infectious. I was very excited to sing alongside her and even more excited as I got an 67

Remixes are one thing that has been around for decades but there is a lot more that artists have to offer. Music was always used as a tool for revolution and remixes are a rehash of the past. We need new messages, new thought and ideas to be delivered to the new audiences out there. It is our duty as artists to keep putting our best foot forward using music that was popular as a benchmark and case study. While remixes can strive and keep exciting audiences, it should be paired with a larger influx of original music which I see happening.. So I am of the strong belief that while remixes are inevitable, the focus shouldn’t be on why remixes are popular but instead should be on the brilliant new music being created by artists all around the country.

What are your thoughts on politics in music?

Any challenges you’ve faced as a singer?

Music comes with its challenges too but it makes it easier to ride the storm because music itself keeps you sane and inspired. The Biggest Challenge in the Modern World with Music is being relevant and the fierce competition. The Internet has made it easy to upload a song and have it reach people and also empowered more talent which makes the competition a lot more cut throat. Instant gratification has become the name of the game with social Media and comments on your work and varied opinions; taking that positively has been something I have learnt to do over the years. Also as a singer, you are at the beckoning of Music Directors which gets difficult as you have to be relevant and in the minds of the artists 24/7. I have been fortunate to great opportunities but also there have been times where work was slow. I worked towards writing my own music and being Independent so I always have my voice out there and get an opportunity to pass on my message at all times.

What do you think of the remixes which are so popular these days?

With the plethora of talent that is available today, there should be a plethora of genres as well.

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Music is one of the most powerful tools of communication. No one can ever have a monopoly on music, it’s too sacred to be taken into any one’s control. While politics exists in every field, if media houses stay out of the politics and stay true to their purpose of entertaining their audiences, politics can never affect music. There are a lot of major Radio Stations, TV Channels and Streaming platforms that are supporting independent talent and that is wonderful to see. I think in the larger scheme of things, politics is too small an aspect to be worried about as a musician, if you have the drive to entertain and an honest story to tell no one can stop you from being heard.

You are also a music supervisor and producer, could you tell us about this aspect of your life?

Music Supervision is a newer concept in Indian Cinema, since the making of music has moved to being digital there are a lot of new avenues that have opened up to making music. Things are done offline and at different times and places on one single time. A Music Supervisor is like an Assistant Director who helps the Music Director execute his vision for a song. I was excited to take up this role on the film ‘Dil Bechara’ and a few other projects in the last few years. It was one of the most wholesome experiences for me because apart from being a part of something way bigger than me it taught me a lot. I worked

alongside Rahman sir, Amitabh Bhattacharya (the Lyricist) and Mukesh Chhabra sir and got to learn so much from all of them.

I started dabbling with production when I started writing my own music. I got the opportunity to learn Production from every musician I’ve ever worked with because everyone has a unique style and tone of playing music and A R Rahman sir has always been on the forefront of production with his unique sound and Interesting arrangements, I was very fortunate to learn a lot from him is this field What I have learnt and urge every singer out there to do is to learn another instrument too and to dabble with Production a little as it empowers you to become independent of others and give your imagination wings as an artist. Production has helped my singing and vice-versa.

You have worked on iconic projects such as the band U2s collaboration with A R Rahman, could you tell us about this and the other projects you have been involved with?

It has been a dream come true to associate with some of the best in the business, with Symphonic orchestras from all over the world to the biggest band in the world U2, I have had great opportunities. ‘Ahimsa’ a song by U2 and A.R Rahman sir was one of those projects.

Rahman sir wanted to talk about something he truly believed in with everything going around us in the world and so did U2, they came up with the profound idea of talking about Ahimsa and Non Violence. The song is a sheer masterpiece and I was just ecstatic to be involved in the conversation around it. I had a chance to interact with ‘The Edge’ (the Guitarist of U2) over some emails. We shared some initial lyrical ideas and then Rahman sir and the rest of the band Jammed and ‘Ahimsa’ was born.

I also got to be a part of and sing a song called ‘For You My love’ in Gurinder Chadha’s film ‘Blinded

By The Light’ and “Hands around the World’ a project that is being made by the people that made the iconic ‘We Are The World’.

What’s next in terms of future projects?

I am working on an English EP and some Hindi Singles. The English songs are very close to my heart as they are some of the first songs I ever wrote. The EP comes out next month and one Hindi single too. I am collaborating with some artists and writing new material. The focus is mainly independent music and I continue to compose, produce and music supervise on some projects for others. All in all I want to be immersed in the world of Music and the future looks like some interesting avenues could open up. Some surprises are in store for my listeners and me too.

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m o r f t s a l B t s a p e th

“It’s so strange but I didn’t even realise when I became a heroine from a child artiste.”

– Sridevi Due to our reader’s demand, we are publishing this interview penned

by Sridevi herself once again. Her poignant thoughts, emotions and beliefs are all captured extremely well in this article. Read on…

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When ‘Stardust’ asked me to write down some of my most personal thoughts and feelings, I decided to make a note of all the interesting incidents that have shaped my life and made me what I am today…

My first memory of entering a studio was when I was four years old. It was such a huge place and I was so frightened that I would keep clinging on to my mother all the time. I was close to her from the very beginning. Maybe that’s why even now when I’m shooting I feel quite comforted when she accompanies me to the sets.

“I remember the first role I played in a Telugu film was of ‘Lord Murugan’. I just did as I was told. I wasn’t nervous or afraid before the camera as long as my mother was there in those days.”

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I remember the first role I played in a Telugu film was of ‘Lord Murugan’. I just did as I was told. I wasn’t nervous or afraid before the camera as long as my mother was there in those days. I used to get excited when I saw my photographs in the local magazines. I would keep looking at them over and over again. But what thrilled me even more was seeing myself larger than life, on a city hoarding at one of the market cross roads. I ran and told all my friends in school about it. They didn’t believe me at first, but soon they too saw it for themselves. Our relatives (from my father’s side) didn’t quite like the idea of my acting. ‘How can you make your daughter a film actress’, they said.

My father too had some doubts. But my mother was very keen that I continue and since I seemed to enjoy it, they gradually stopped objecting. Though I must admit, at that age, I didn’t quite understand what films were all about and what acting in films really meant.

To be very honest, I can’t recall much of my days as a child star. Life was a routine of going for the studio, doing my make-up and giving my shot. Do you know in those days I was the only child star to have a make-up man?

When I look back into the past, I can recollect one particular incident that shook me terribly. It happened while I was shooting for a Telugu film, along ten to twelve other children. We were required to play in a lake, rather have a bath and then come out on the shore. We had given roughly four-five takes before the shot was finally okayed. I stepped out of the water, put on my clothes and sat a few metres away with my mother, awaiting further instructions.

Suddenly, someone noticed that there was one more set of clothes lying on the grass, unworn… and as he desperately looked around he realised it meant only one thing – a child had drowned! Everyone was frightened. How would we inform his parents? The director sent a man to call the boy’s mother immediately, while we waited anxiously.

In some time, the mother of the child come all decided up in a beautiful saree, with flowers in her hair. She probably thought the director had liked her son’s acting so much that he had called her to congratulate her personally. Or maybe even to sing him for another film. The scene that followed was horrible. The director began by telling her how her son had met with an accident… And before he could finish the lady screamed, ‘where is my son? I want to see my son’. The director remained silent. Th flung the flowers away, tore her saree banged her fists and rolled on the ground: crying, screaming and shouting at the same time. It was terrible. I don’t think I’d ever forget that sight. Somehow it has helped me to grow up.

It’s so strange but I didn’t even realise when I became a heroine from a child artiste. One fine day, a director came home to meet me and all of a sudden asked my mother if I’d ever worn a saree. My mother draped me in one and the following day I was signed for the film. The first day we reported on the sets everyone from the spot boy to the technicians began congratulating my mother. She was puzzled. Till someone said, ‘Congratulations, your daughter has become a heroine’! I was eleven years old then! In the Telugu version of ‘Anurag’ I was to play the role that Moushami played. The only thing funny was that the little boy who I had to mother was my age!

And both of us had a lot of fun playing and running around the studio, in between shots.

The days he didn’t report for shooting I’d feel very lonely and bored with nothing to do.

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“I’ve always been given chaalu, carefree, fun loving kind of roles when in reality I’m quite the opposite – a very quiet and sober girl.”

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“A child had drowned!

Everyone was frightened. How would we inform his parents?

I don’t think I’d ever forget that sight. Somehow it has helped me to grow up.”

It was nearly an hour and a half later that the case came to an end. And then, what do I see?

My father walking towards his opponent, putting an arm around his shoulders, laughing with him, like they were the best of friends. I couldn’t quite believe what I saw.

How could a man be such a loving father at home and behave so differently outside?

One person I truly hero-worshiped was my father. I think I was more fond of my father than my mother. I missed him a lot. Maybe being a lawyer he was busy with his court cases. One day I pestered him to take me along to court. I wanted to see what it would be like. My, what an argumentator he was! Loud and aggressive, hitting out at his opponent, who was actually a good friend of the family.

Of course now I can understand, because I am in a similar situation today. My glamorous, image is quite different from the real-life person I am at home. In fact no director has ever projected me even remotely close to my true self in any of my pictures. I’ve always been given chaalu, carefree, fun loving kind of roles when in reality I’m quite the opposite – a very quiet and sober girl.

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“I remember some three years ago when I had met with an accident and had fractured my leg. I had to keep the plaster and bandages for six whole months.”

But then why should I show this other side of myself to the outside world? They like me as they see me, they’re only interested in viewing that part of my personality. Though, I agree that sometimes bits and pieces of a star’s lifestyle are read with more interest, the people begin to identify themselves with their favourite idol – and that’s the reason why I do disclose some of my likes and dislikes. Like I said before, I like strawberry ice-creams and milk shakes and love to watch video films in my free time.

Honestly, I’m quite a boring person. I know it.

But I don’t want to change either. I’m happy the way I am, my family is happy with me, so why should I bother about anyone else’s opinion?

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I am here to work. And not for anything else, I don’t even mix about with my co-stars except for the customary, ‘hello, how are you’.

Talking about my career, would you believe it, I started off with flops! Not one, or two, but three!! But I have never struggled to get films. I just kept working on the few films I had signed and slowly but surely, some of my films began doing well.

Now I’ve reached a stage where I am not threatened by any other star. Frankly, I’ve got a just a few films on hand, lesser than the other actresses, but I wanted it that way. I only wish I could remain like this forever. Had it not been for my family. I would have never reached this position in the industry. And it’s not only my parents, but also my sister Srilata who has helped me a lot. She has been with me from the very beginning. She has become so much a part of my life that now she’s become exactly like me. We almost think alike.

So much so she doesn’t really have an identity of her won.

I remember some three years ago when I had met with an accident and had fractured my leg. I had to keep the plaster and bandages for six whole months. But the day the bandages were to be removed my mother was afraid, so was my aunt and me too since we didn’t know what a raw would be like. Except for Srilata. She said she’d be with me.

And she was. She held my hand, stood by me and comforted me.

Since we are so close to each other, I think Srilata and I will get married together. At least that is what my father wants. I prefer an arranged marriage. After all it isn’t always necessary to love somebody before you marry him, you can always love him after marriage too. Maybe in a few years time we will settle down.

And in the meanwhile I’ll spend my time working and dreaming of my own future house which will be like the one we now have in Madras -- with plenty of greenery and the sea very close to it …

-Sridevi

“I prefer an arranged marriage. After all it isn’t always necessary to love somebody before you marry him, you can always love him after marriage too.”

FAST FORWARD The iconic Sridevi is unmatchable even today. In fact, nobody not even her gorgeous daughter Janhvi has been able to take her place in the industry.

She was a flawless actor whose expressive face captured every emotion. Every film showcased her immense talent whether it was Mr India, Himmatwala, Sherni, Lamhe or Mom. I remember her being described as - Sridevi is one actor whose innocent face belies a voluptuous seductive body. Indeed, she was a poster girl for so many and a powerhouse performer for the industry.

Even in her personal life, she always looked gorgeous – in fact, her daughters Janhvi and Khushi and she were always centre of attention wherever they went. Of course, her husband Boney Kapoor was always with her protecting her from the intrusive media.

Indeed, Sridevi’s loss is immense. Once in an aeon does an actor of this calibre come to the industry and Sridevi was undoubtedly one of them.

- Sumita Chakraborty

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