ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
PUNE, AUGUST 8, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
What made them fall in love with Pune? They’ve travelled from as far as New Zealand and Russia for a glimpse of the city. Little did they know that Pune would charm them into staying put. Meet six foreigners who are engaged in some truly fascinating pursuits in the city they now call home
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It’s show time for Saurabh
TGS LIFE AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
Entertainment By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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he play marks Saurabh’s comeback in theatre, both as an actor and director, after a hiatus of 18 long years. 2 to Tango, 3 to Jive (T5J) has been staged about 60 times across the country and abroad. The show will see an ensemble cast of established film and television actors such as Achint Kaur, Sadiya Siddiqui, Preiti Mamgain apart from Saurabh as the male protagonist, Parminder Singh Sethi. Talking about bringing the play to the city, Saurabh says, “We have performed a number of private shows in Pune, but this is the first public show. It took so long because the entire cast is extremely busy with films and television but we love the Pune audience and wanted to make sure that the play opens this weekend so we could begin a chain of more such public shows with it.” The actor has, however, been away from the theatre scene for a long period. He says, “I got extremely busy with my film projects and couldn’t find the kind of
National award-winning actor, theatre artist, director and screenwriter Saurabh Shukla talks about his theatrical venture 2 to Tango, 3 to Jive, which will be staged publicly in the city for the first time this Sunday
time to make the commitment that theatre requires. But I finally decided to take a six month break and sat down to prepare for this play.” Saurabh has portrayed the role of a married man in T5J, which also talks about a man’s fascination for an extra marital affair. “The play, in fact, deals with a man’s quest to fight loneliness in today’s society. It’s pretty much the reflection of one’s own time but acting and directing wasn’t an easy task either as it took me through my own journey of combating complexities and fears.” Recalling his early days as a theatre artist Saurabh says, “I started doing serious theatre back in 1986. It felt like being re-educated after my formal education. It was a truly inspiring period as I felt that I was being trained as a psychologist, historian, social scientist and philosopher. Being a part of theatre gave me the sense that I was being useful to the society. The best part was that it was all happening amidst f un and games.” Although a busy schedule take up most of his time now, making it difficult to travel for
(L-R) Anchit Kaur, Saurabh Shukla, Sadiya Siddiqui and Preiti Mamgain
leisure, Saurabh does have some interesting memories of the city. He spent some time here as a teacher at FTII. “Pune has always been an exciting city for me. I have taught at FTII before and it gave me a sense of purpose to impart education to the to-be-writers, actors and directors,” he says.
The actor was last seen in the movie PK as Tapasvi Maharaj, which brought him a lot of acclaim. But the best is yet to come, says the 52-year-old, who has some interesting films in the pipeline including Kaun Kitne Paani Mein which will be directed by Nila Madhab Panda of I’m Kalam
fame, Fraud Saiyyan, which will be produced by Prakash Jha, and Aur Devdas, which will be directed by Sudhir Mishra. Currently, Saurabh is shooting for Anurag Basu’s Jagga Jasoos and will also start shooting for Jolly LLB 2. When: August 9, 7.30 pm Where: Nehru Memorial Hall
pluck that string: your weekly dose of events Goshta Eka Kalachi - Kalya Pandhrya Padadyachi
Shesh Lekha – The Last Writings
Stellar International Art Foundation presents renowned artist Paresh Maity’s series ‘Shesh Lekha’ to celebrate Independence season across the country. Shesh Lekha, known as the Last Writings are a group of 15 poems written by honoured poet laureate and artist Rabindranath Tagore in the final months of his life. The series is made up of 15 large-scale water colours, 15 accompanying drawings and 15 calligraphy writings of the poems translated into English by Pritish Nandy. When: August 14 onwards Where: Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar
Goshta Eka Kalachi - Kalya Pandhrya Padadyachi is a Marathi play about the bygone black and white era of Marathi Cinema. It is showcased as a first person narrative of Balakrishnan, a retired professor of philosophy. He takes a walk down the memory lane when he is asked to donate his father’s phonograph. The story progresses by sketching the values and the principles that existed sixty years back and were reflected in various art forms like music and drama. The play is directed by Ashay Walambe, and the cast include Rahul Dattatraya, Swanandi Tikekar, Amit Vaze, Jitendra Abhyankar, and Swarada Godbole. When: August 8 Where: Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, Kothrud
Standup Mondays
Beat Monday blues with some laughter at the Independence Brewing Company’s Standup Mondays. The performers for the night are Angad Singh Ranyal and Anirban DasGupta. Ranyal, born and brought up in Libya - is culturally confused. He is a marketing major who keeps his sanity intact by making fun of everything and anything, including himself. Anirban Dasgupta is an engineer turned corporate salesman turned married man by the age of 24. He likes to talk about his inter-community marriage, corporate life, politics, social media and current affairs. When: August 10 Where: Independence Brewing Company, Mundhwa
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He wants to whistle his way into your heart
TGS LIFE AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
stage
Whistling a tune still evokes memories of a suave Dev Anand singing Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. Artist Sunil Godbole whistles through three-hour-long performances, way more than Kishore Kumar ever did By Salonee Mistry
to keep the audience engaged throughout. Since the songs are not actually sung, it becomes an even bigger challenge to ensure that melodies do not sound the same. “My aim is not only to promote whistling as a performing art but the whistle as an instrument. Although we realise that it is a huge feat to achieve in an era of disc jockeys and remixes, we are still positive about the outcome,” says Sunil.
@Sal0412
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n engineer by profession and a musician at heart, Sunil Godbole has turned his hobby into a performing art. The whistling wonder is currently working as an assistant general manager, program management, Suzlon Energy Limited, Hadapsar. While most of us can barely whistle the first line of a song, the 47-year-old is known for his breath-taking performances. The Journey so far Over two-and-a-half decades ago, Sunil gave his first stage performance, under the name Surilee - The Whistling Melodies, at an annual gathering in his college. Little did he know that his talent would soon fuel an enterprise. After performing at family functions and college events, Sunil formally presented his first show in 2009 for the NGO Sneh Seva. It took meticulous practice and patience to master the art before he was sure he could keep the audience engaged for long enough. When Surilee started, Sunil would whistle tunes in a sing-song manner allowing the audience to believe that he was actually singing them. He received an over-whelming response for his first performance, following which he decided to take his hobby a step further. Soon, he released a demo CD com-
prising of 10 songs. Even now, the excitement hasn’t tempered down. Getting ready to perform for a fund-raiser by the Rotary of Camp Poona, Sunil could not be more excited. “The fact that people believe that a performance of this sort could become a fund-raiser is a great achievement,” he said. Promoting the whistle as an instrument In the past six years Sunil has performed at
27 shows throughout the city and hopes to perform in other cities soon. “I wish to promote whistling as a performing art. Simply earning money will never be something that my team and I shall aim for. We have our jobs for that,” says the resident of Navi Peth. Sunil adds that, till date, his shows have never been performed with an intention to earn a profit. The entry ticket to the shows only covers the group’s investment. According to the team, their priority is
Drea ming Big Being positive does not imply that the group is taking anything for granted. Nearly 10 to 14 days before every show, Sunil’s group gets together to extensively plan everything that goes behind the smallest of details. The artists believe it to be a crucial element in keeping the audience engaged. In fact, smaller details make the experience of the show better, they believe. In addition, numerous rehearsals and run-throughs are also a routine. While their ultimate dream is to perform at the Albert Hall in London, at a smaller scale getting artists, and more importantly the general public, interested is the present-day vision. Corporate shows, concerts and out-of-country performances are the stepping stones to their dream. They, however, are not in a rush to get anywhere. A lot of hearts in the city still have to be won. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Fiddlecraft to perform its 50th gig this weekend An upcoming local band with a difference, Fiddlecraft is climbing up the ladder of success with their original music By Sudheer Gaikwad
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t all started in 2013, when all the members of this band who were co-workers at an IT firm, were called on to form a band and perform for a client function. In fact, so auspicious and crowd-pleasing was the band’s repertoire of original music proved, that since then, they have quit their jobs and taken to music-making full time. The band features singer/ songwriter Gaurav Kadu, percussionist Narayanan Sarma, bassist Atul Massey, lead guitar-
ist Akshay More and drummer Prateek Jagdale. Sudeep Shetty who manages the band, calls Gaurav the ‘spinal cord’ of the outfit. “I also happen to be the biggest fan of the band,” he says. “We already have a loyal fan following, which seems to be growing with every show that we play,” he said. About Fiddlecraft’s all-original song list, Sudeep says, “They are all stories from real life, which is why they probably appeal to listeners of all ages, young and old.” Some fans have labelled the band’s music as ‘desi punk rock ’. Some of more popular Fiddlecraft songs include Aye Jhalli and Zindagi yu hai ki chalti hi jati hai. The song Call centre ne thug liya re’ has had 8,000 views on YouTube, and it’s become an anthem of the call centre industry. The band is also working on jingles for pubs,
restaurants and corporates. Fiddlecraft has performed at corporate events for companies like Concentrix, Convergys, Amazon, Energy Australia, Highmark and many more. They have also done gigs at some of the well-known joints such as F Beach House, 121 Kitchen, Flying Saucer, Independence Brewery, MMyra, Atmosphere 6, Chai, Leather Lounge, Pump Room, TJS brew restaurants, and a couple of institutes like the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, ATSS, Extol Bhopal and IIHM. They were the winners of Sunday Soul Sante and wowed the audiences at Za Palooza and Pit Tatto conventions. They have also featured on Radio Mirchi. This weekend, Fiddlecraft is performing their landmark 50th concert. Where: Pump Room, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada When: August 8, 8 pm onward
FG
TGS LIFE
Drishyam
AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
E-SQUARE: University Road: 08:30 AM11:15 AM11:30 AM02:30 PM05:30 PM06:00 PM08:30 PM10:45 PM E-SQUARE Vishal: Pimpri: 08:30 AM10:30 AM01:30 PM04:30 PM07:30 PM10:30 PM PVR: Phoenix Market City, Pune: 08:00 AM09:15 AM11:15 AM12:30 PM02:10 PM02:40 PM03:55 PM06:05 PM07:20 PM09:30 PM10:45 PM City Pride: Mangala Cinema: 09:00 AM12:15 PM03:30 PM07:00 PM10:15 PM City Pride: R Deccan: 10:00 AM12:30 PM04:00 PM06:30 PM10:00 PM Vasant Cinema: Budhwar Peth: 01:00 PM10:00 PM Apollo Theatre: Rasta Peth: 03:40 PM06:45 PM10:00 PM Neelayam Theatre: Sadashiv Peth: 12:30 PM09:30 PM City Pride: Kothrud: 08:30 AM11:30 AM02:30 PM05:45 PM10:35 PM INOX: Bund Garden Road: 09:00 AM11:15 AM12:20 PM02:35 PM03:40 PM05:55 PM07:00 PM09:15 PM10:20 PM Laxmi Narayan Cinema: Satara Road: 09:45 PM Victory Theatre: Camp, Pune: 10:01 AM04:15 PM10:30 PM City Pride: Satara Road: 08:25 AM02:05 PM05:05 PM08:00 PM10:55 PM BIG Cinemas: Chinchwad: 08:25
filmygyan
4 AM09:40 AM11:25 AM01:00 PM03:55 PM07:25 PM09:30 PM10:35 PM BIG Cinemas: Kalyani Nagar: 08:00 AM09:30 AM11:05 AM12:45 PM04:00 PM07:15 PM10:30 PM PVR: Koregaon Park Plaza: 08:30 AM09:45 AM11:45 AM01:00 PM03:10 PM04:25 PM06:35 PM07:50 PM10:00 PM11:15 PM INOX Fun N Shop, Fatima Nagar: 09:25 AM12:45 PM04:05 PM06:25 PM07:25 PM10:45 PM Fun Time Multiplex: Sinhagad Road: 09:15 AM02:15 PM05:00 PM08:00 PM10:45 PM Abhiruchi City Pride: Sinhagad Road:08:30 AM10:00 AM11:00 AM01:00 PM03:15 PM04:00 PM07:00 PM08:00 PM10:00 PM
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
E-Square: University Road: 08:30 AM09:30 AM11:00 AM12:01 PM02:45 PM05:30 PM08:15 PM08:45 PM11:00 PM Cinepolis: Seasons Mall, Magarpatta City: 09:00 AM10:00 AM10:45 AM11:45 AM12:45 PM01:35 PM03:30 PM04:20 PM06:15 PM07:05 PM09:00 PM10:00 PM11:00 PM City Pride: Kothrud: 08:30 AM11:00 AM01:15 PM03:40 PM06:10 PM08:35 PM11:00 PM City Pride: R Deccan: 09:15 AM11:16 AM02:30 PM07:45 PM10:00 PM INOX: Bund Garden Road: 08:50 AM09:45 AM10:45 AM11:40 AM02:30 PM04:05 PM05:20 PM06:45 PM08:10 PM11:00 PM City Pride: Satara Road: 08:45 AM05:00 PM BIG Cinemas: Chinchwad: 05:00 PM11:00 PM BIG Cinemas: Kalyani Nagar: 08:45 AM11:30 AM01:50 PM08:15 PM11:05 PM PVR: Koregaon Park Plaza: 09:00 AM10:00 AM11:00 AM11:50 AM12:50 PM01:50 PM02:40 PM03:40 PM04:40 PM05:30 PM06:30 PM07:30 PM08:20 PM09:20 PM10:20 PM11:10 PM INOX Fun N Shop, Fatima Nagar: 08:45 AM09:45 AM11:30 AM02:40 PM05:30 PM08:20 PM11:10 PM
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Get set for the evening By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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electing your evening attire can be a tricky business sometimes. But if you are a shopaholic and don’t mind heading out to pick up a pretty attire even at the last moment, you have arrived at the right spot. Take a cue from these six dainty and absolutely gorgeous outfits and you’re good to go.
TGS LIFE AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
SHOPPING
Orange Black Asymmetric Long Tunic Dress Tunics are comfortable and versatile. Pair them with lot of junk jewellery and you are good to go. The orange colour gives you an eccentric gaze and the black balances the overall look perfectly. Where: Rudraksh, Aundh Price: Rs 7,700 Sequin Shift Dress Prep yourself for this season and start your search for the party dress of your dreams. With sequins all over, a shift silhouette, and a sleeveless cut, this is the perfect combination of elegance and chic. The dress is sure to give you the confidence to charm anyone in the room. Where: Forever 21, Phoenix Marketcity Price: Rs 2,449
Women Polyester Knee length Dress This printed dress comes with a high low hem which adds on to its appeal and makes you stand out in the crowd. Where: Haute Curry, Shoppers Stop Price: Rs 1,649
Women Georgette Knee Length Dress Enrich your wardrobe by owning this chic dress by designer Rocky S. Crafted with a fine fabric to keep you at ease, this dress features an attractive design. Pair it with accessories of your choice and you are all set to rock in style this season. Where: RS by Rocky Star, Shoppers Stop Price: Rs 944
Dancing Flamingo Box Pleat skirt Sonam’s signature style has oodles of fresh colours and an eccentric dose of bling. The flamingo print skirt can be paired with a pink top, and you are all dolled up for any evening do. Where: Sonam’s studio, Baner Price: Rs 6,500
Women Cotton Knee Length Dress Let the world take interest in your style as you wear this dress which is perfectly suited for the parties and get-together. Team it up with black stilettos and minimal jewellery to complete your look. Where: All Vero Moda outlets Price: Rs 2,995
TGS LIFE AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
indulge
A beery affair!
By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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his International Beer Week, celebrate the world’s most popular beverage by giving it a twist of flavours. Go beyond your usual escapade and try these five refreshing and totally drool-worthy beer cocktails especially crafted by the master bartenders around the city.
Hit-N-Run
Amit Dara, Aufside at Hotfut Ingredients • Orange Juice 50 ml • Green apple Syrup 10 ml • Blue curacao syrup 10 ml • Black currant syrup 10 ml • Lemon juice 5 ml • Lager Beer 150 ml • Crushed ice Preparation Mix together all the ingredients in a cocktail mixer and serve in a tall glass or a funky cocktail jar and garnish with a few slices of green apple
Happy Mich
Somrup Chanda, Hyatt Regency Ingredients • Salt 1tsp • White pepper 1 tsp • Lime wedge 1 • Watermelon 2 cubes (cut into 2-by-2-inch) plus 1 slice for garnish • Freshly squeezed lime juice 1 tbsp • Hibiscus concentrate 1 tbsp • Tabasco 2 dashes • Regular snack sauce 2 dashes • Ice cubes 1 cup • Lager beer 275 ml Preparation In small saucer, stir together salt and 1 teaspoon white pepper. Rub lime wedge around rim of pilsner glass. Invert glass and dip part of rim into salt mixture, coating outside of glass only. Rotate to coat halfway around rim. In a blender, combine watermelon cubes and remaining white pepper. Purée until smooth for about 10 seconds. Add lime juice, hibiscus concentrate, hot sauce, and Tajin sauce and stir until combined. Fill prepared pilsner glass with ice cubes and pour in watermelon mixture. Top with beer, stir until combined, and garnish with watermelon slice.
YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN When: Till August 31 Where: Fishbowl, Hyatt Pune Kalyaninagar
Unwind with irresistible drinks
Around The World Food Fest Celebrate the arrival of monsoon with a global culinary tour of 9 countries. Bottlerock is celebrating an ‘Around the World in 30 Days’ with a specially crafted menu with the most popular comfort food? from around the world. Treat yourself to wonderful delights whether you order boxed dim sums from Tibet or Taco de Mexicano. When: Till August 31 Where: BottleRock, Pashan
A Malty experience at Hyatt Grab a beer and delicious finger food while you kickback at FishBowl in Hyatt Pune all this month. Relax in this urban lounge while you enjoy ice cold beers and some lip smacking beer flavoured starters like the batter fried Calamari, Basil and Beer marinated Barbeque Chicken and for vegetarians the Cottage Cheese Shashlik in Mint and Beer.
Gang up at T.G.I. Friday’s which will ensure you an evening full of fun and frolic. They launched the Happy Hours offer where customers can avail buy one get one free on the entire bar menu. The deal is available every day from 5.pm to 8.30 pm and Late Night Happy Hours are available from Sunday to Thursday. The menu includes a variety of cocktails such as Mojito, Cosmo, Martini, Margarita, etc. amongst many others.
Do not forget to try some of the appetisers which when combined with drinks are heavenly such as Grilled Caribbean Wing, Fried Mozzarella Fish and Chips, etc. When: Ongoing Where: T.G.I. Friday, Season’s Mall, Hadapsar
The Big Brunch
Craving a lazy brunch on Sunday? Aufside at Hotfut is hosting a brunch with some delicious food and tipple, live music and fun board games. The brunch packages are divided into Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large. The small package is only valid for children below 12 and includes food whereas the medium package is valid for adults and only gets you food. The large package gets you food, beers, mojitos and sangrias and the extra large deal entitles you to food and an open bar with international spirits. When: August 9 Where: HotFut, Mundhwa
TGS LIFE
Dark Storm
Manjay Thakur, Hyatt
AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
Ingredients • Cranberry Juice 50 ml • 7 Up 50 ml • Beer 250 ml • Fresh mint 1 sprig • Sweet lime 1 or 2 slices • Ice cubes 1 cup
The Badge of Honour
Abhishek Shevade, The Four Points by Sheraton
Preparation Mix all the ingredients together in a cocktail mixer and serve in a glass over lots of ice cubes. Garnish with mint leaves and sweet lime slice
INDULGE
Ingredients • Raspberry juice 50ml • Lychee juice30 ml • Caramel syrup 15 ml • Lime juice 5 ml • Fresh Mint a handful • Draught Beer 45 ml
Crazy Nuts
Peter, The Beer Café Ingredients • Raspberry syrup 30 ml • Hazelnut syrup 10 ml • Lime wedges 4 • Beer 275 ml • Ice cubes 1 cup
Preparation Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail mixer and serve in a tall glass garnished with mint leaves.
Preparation Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail mixer and serve in a tall glass garnished with lime wedges
heena.grover@ goldensparrow.com
WEEKEND FOOD COURT
RESTAURANT NAME
LOCATION Panash, Four Points By Sheraton Viman Nagar, ahead of Phoenix Market City
CUISINE TYPE TABLE BOOKING
TIMING
SPECIALITY
PARKING
CARD
HOME DEL
Sushi, Dimsum, Teppanyaki
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Cuban Food
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X
Pan Asian
020 3093 1030/ 7709006688
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19.00 - 23.00
Global Cuisine
020 3093 1030/ 7709006688
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12.00 - 24.00
Mediterranean
020 3093 1031/ 7709006688
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19.00 - 23.00
Global Barbecue, Desi Tandoor, Moroccan Tagines
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X
The Eatery, Four Points By Sheraton Viman Nagar, ahead of Phoenix Market City
Multicuisine
020 3093 1031/ 7709006688
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19.00 - 23.00
Indian and Continental
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Chhavni, Hatel Deccan Pavilion, At Navale Chowk Narhe, Pune
Multi-cuisine
020-66834500, 8796075745
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11.00 - 15.00 19.00 - 23.00
Punjabi
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Parichay Hotel & Restaurants, FC Road
Multi-cuisine
020-25531511/2/3
Maharashtrian & Punjabi
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W
X
Royal Symphony at President Hotel, Erandwane
Multi-cuisine
020-30255555 Ext 08
Indian and International Cusine
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X
Rumaani Veg/ Non Veg, FC Road
Multi-cuisine
020-25538365
Mutton Kheema Pav Chicken Rassa
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W X
Cuba Libre s37, 2nd floor Season Mall, Magarpatta city Alfresco Beyond The Eatery Four Points By Sheraton Viman Nagar, ahead of Phoenix Market City
X W X
11.00 - 23.00
11.00 - 23.00
7.00 - 23.00
TO PARTICIPATE IN TGS FOODCOURT, CONTACT- } Ananda 7507169414
} Prasad 9527507064 } Yogesh - 9011055077
814, Demech House 4th Floor, Law College Road, Pune 411 004 | Tel: 020-2432 4332/33 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
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PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR AND RAHUL RAUT
TGS LIFE
TGS LIFE
AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
What made them fall in love with Pune? By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
Pune’s thriving expat community sees people from around the globe visiting for work and study. While some come
FEATURES
They’ve travelled from as far as New Zealand and Russia for a glimpse of the city. Little did they know that Pune would charm them into staying put. Meet six foreigners who are engaged in some truly fascinating pursuits in the city they now call home
Jessica Dionne Abouelela | Helga Esperanca | Deborah Clearwater Indiana, USA | Aveiro, Portugal | Balfour, New Zealand
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here on short-term assignments, others decide to stay back taken in by the city’s charms. We meet six such foreigners who travelled far and wide to reach Pune and make it their own, all in a bid to fulfi l their passion heena.grover@goldensparrow.com
Jan Ali Limerick, Ireland
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aving lived in different parts of the country since she came from Ireland in 1992, Jan Ali spent the fi rst few years as a volunteer at one of the missionaries of Mother Teresa in Kolkata. She then left for Madhya Pradesh and ran a safari camp for seven years. It was during this time that she met her future husband Rashid Ali, who is also a wildlife enthusiast, conservationist and a certified guide. “I moved to Mumbai, got married to Rashid and started my family soon. Our passion and love for nature, history and wildlife brought us to Pune in 2006. We fell in love with the beauty of the city and realised
Oleg Alentyev Sochi, Russsia
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leg has been working as the head coach with Arsenal Soccer Schools in Mumbai and Pune since 2012. He took up football professionally back in Russia but due to an injury he had to miss an entire season. “I tried to find jobs after that as a coach but I was not able to get anything substantial. Then I thought about moving to India and started applying here. Initially, it was a very difficult phase for me as I didn’t know how to speak in English because of which my application would get rejected. After spending two months in Mumbai, I found myself in the middle of nowhere and was on the verge of going back home. My friends, however, insisted that I stay back for some more time and be patient, which finally paid off. Ever since, I have not looked back,” Oleg recalls. Today, Pune is Oleg’s second home and he says that it’s the best city to live in India. “I have made many great friends here and the children I coach give me immense love and respect. I keep hopping between Russia and India but I would like to settle down here for good one day.” What he likes: I love the warmth and hospitality of the people here, which I have not seen anywhere else around the world. What he doesn’t like: One thing I find disturbing is that nobody follows rules of any kind here. For example, people don’t obey traffic rules and drive carelessly. I’ve even met with an accident because of someone’s negligence a few days ago. People don’t wear helmets because they think it’s uncool. I wish they’d become more responsible towards their own and others’ lives.
Marcus Corbett Marlborough, UK Marcus first came to India in 1976 thanks to his fascination towards travelling. He was only 18 then and was enchanted by a musician singing on the banks of Ganga in Varanasi which he says ‘twisted’ his mind for life as he had never heard anything like it before. He went back home, completed his graduation, but something told him he had to return to India and learn
full-time on our travel venture. Our USP is that we organise tours for a select number of people, not exceeding six at a time, so that we can plan according to the interests of the group. For instance, there there was a lot more to Pune than are some expats who want to settle just the pleasant climate,” says Jan. here and want to know more about The couple worked as boarding the city. Then there are people who parents at the Mercedes-Benz visit the city on offi cial trips and International School, Hinjewadi, want a quick tour with like-minded for around four years. Owing to people. We show them around their involvement in several snake and familiarise them with all the rescue operations, Rashid and their important places, the history and son are now affectionately culture of Pune,” Jan says. called sarp mitras, or What she likes: I love that friends of the snake. there are still so many open Having lived in the and green spaces in the Not your city for nearly a middle of the city despite usual decade, the couple the rapid urbanisation. was familiar with its People are extremely expats nooks and corners friendly and are fascinated and so they decided with foreigners. Some even to start their our travel go out of their way to help agency called Chalo Heritage which is great. and Nature Walks, which largely What she doesn’t: I fi nd caters to foreign visitors in Pune. the general chalta hai attitude “We provide customised trips in disturbing sometimes and wish the city including nature walks, a people feel more responsible and tour of the old city and numerous accountable towards their own city. such travel activities. Two months Get in touch: jan@chalowalks. ago, I left my job to concentrate in or janrash@yahoo.com
classical music. “Today’s generation of this country does not have the same connect that my generation had. It was more like a fairytale, especially so because my grandfathers had served here at one point of time. I have always been fascinated by their stories of India and that’s what brought me here,” Marcus says, pausing a few times so his deep green eyes can make sure everything around is alright. Marcus learned music and followed many internationally acclaimed Indian musicians including Sitar maestro Pt Ravi Shankar. But he was most keen on learning Hindustani vocals so he went to his teacher and asked him for guidance. The teacher
he three bubbly and talented expat wives met through social networking websites and common friends. Helga loves meeting people and it was during a charity functions in the city that she bumped into Deborah, a photographer. Helga recalls, “I met Deborah and we got along instantly as our interests were similar. I also connected with Jessica on Facebook and was intrigued to know that she had a publishing background.” Helga, along with Jessica and Deborah, is writing a book on women professionals in Pune, who have interesting stories to tell about their work life. After initiating the idea, Helga connected with around 21 women from as many as 17 nationalities in Pune, which include India, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba and many more. Jessica is involved in drafting and editing the interviews, while Deborah’s camera has captured the lives of these women. “The book releases in November though we can’t disclose much about it at the moment. For now, all we can say is that it’s going to be a journey of self discovery of these women from the time they moved here,” says Jessica whose own story is nothing short of a movie plot. It happened one fine day in 2011; Jessica was
directed Marcus towards Pune as he knew a few famous classical vocal artistes here. “I finally came to Pune almost 13 years ago and started learning vocals. I have had the opportunity to learn from different gurus. I have been trying to mix my guitar skills with Hindustani vocals as well as trying to learn tabla. I have recorded a few songs for an album, which I hope to release early next year.” Though Marcus has been travelling to different parts of the country to polish his skills, he has made Pune his second home. He spends around six to eight months a year living in different locations and with different people every time when he’s visiting. “Back
feeling jaded at her job and decided to sell all her belongings to buy a ticket and fly down to India. She came to Pune in November 2012 and worked as a volunteer with Ashraya, an NGO that works for vulnerable children. She also met her Egyptian husband, who works for a global consultancy, in the city. After living in Australia for over 20 years, Deborah moved to Pune last September with her husband and two daughters. She was working as a professional photographer back home and even now continues her passion. What they like: The energy and positivity as well as the colourful and warm people in the city. They are easy to reach out to and are open to ideas. Safety is another important aspect of this city, the trio says. What they don’t: “Not finding the right shoe size,” laughs Jessica, adding, “It’s intimidating at times when people keep staring at you, but you eventually get used to the attention. One thing that makes us sad is that people don’t work together towards keeping their surroundings clean. There are many garbage dumps across the city that people don’t pay any heed to. It’s such a beautiful city and could become even better if only its citizens start caring a bit more.”
home, I do a few small-time jobs, such as decorating and painting, and most of the money is saved up for my India trips.” What he likes: I like the way this city has maintained its heritage. The little bylanes around Mandai, or the old wadas, are immensely fascinating. What he doesn’t: While it’s good to see a lot of people getting involved in various activities to keep the city clean, it’s sad to note that waste collectors aren’t given proper know-how to safeguard themselves against health hazards. A simple thing, such as a mask and gloves, can make a lot of difference.
TGS LIFE AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING
Less is more Two corporate cousins with wildly differing ancestry deliver on a singular promise: fun!
By Tushar Burman @tburman
W
hile science marches on, delivering humans, takeout food and sexual gratification to their intended recipients in ever-faster fashion, there have always been those who prefer to take things a bit slower. For auto nuts, those would be the collectors, hoarders, obsessive polishers of decadesold cars of limited classic value. People
PICS BY ROHAN PAWAR AND ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
who are perhaps past a certain age and want to be reminded of a simpler time. Th is won’t be the fi rst missive on the perils of electronics in modern auto technology, but it really has become quite ridiculous. I can think of more than a few vehicles I’ve driven or ridden in the past year that simply wouldn’t be possible to operate without the computer nannies monitoring my every move. Sure,
one could get by, but one would need to have the focus, skill and reflexes of a professional motor racer. Hundreds of horsepower, rear wheel drive, a wet surface and an
inattentive right foot: there really aren’t very many ways that can end. But do you need that much power for anything apart from bragging rights? Is harnessing that much potential the only way one can convince oneself of self-worth? I’ve never had the skills or motivation to drift cars up hairpin bends, but that hasn’t stopped me from having fun around them. Which brings us to our two models this day: corporate cousins in fact, since Audi purchased Ducati back in 2012 . The Audi TT and the Ducati Scrambler share more than a common ownership. There’s an elemental purpose to both vehicles that transcends bragging rights and offers the operator w h a t humans truly desire:
TGS LIFE
pleasure and the illusion of control. The fact that both the Scrambler and the TT come with relatively modest powerplants and features isn’t just a matter of segmentation or getting people in the door. They’re good, honest machines that can cash the cheques their glamour shots are writing, at a price that a larger swathe of owners can afford. These vehicles don’t approach the exoticity of the R8 or the Panigale, but they don’t need to. The Audi TT, as tested, comes with the VW group’s workhorse turbo’ed 2 litre four-cylinder motor putting out 230PS through a sweet 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. Power goes to all four wheels through Audi’s celebrated quattro system, and forward or rear bias can go as high as 80% . The result is a car that has vast reserves of grip and stays as fl at as can be, even when you’re misbehaving a bit. Shape and size is still unmistakably TT, but this new one has more of the new Audi family face with those bright, angular LEDs in the headlamps. It cuts a sporty, but unintimidating stance. Enough for double-takes and the occasional curious onlooker, but not so much to get you mobbed. I was able to comfortably leave it parked along with a line of nameless cars on a late night coffee run with no anxiety. Uncannily, it’s the same sort of feeling you get with the Ducati Scrambler. Sure, the ‘62 yellow is more “look at me” than the par-forthe-course rosso on the Audi, but it attracts far less attention than you’d garner on a typical superbike. The shape, size and stance is that of what your four-year-old brain would associate with ‘motorcycle’. A tank, seat, two wheels and something resembling a speedo. Ducati describes the design as an evolution of the original ‘60s Scrambler, as if it had never gone out of production. Audi is quite proud of their “virtual cockpit” interface in the new TT, and it is indeed a refreshing change from the spaceshuttle level button consoles we’re used to in modern luxury cars. In their place is a touch-sensitive jog dial, a few buttons and a big, beautiful TFT LED screen where
your speedo and tacho should be. It’s designed such that even the passenger can look across and control everything about the car. Minimal, clever. Back on the bike, things are even more spartan. There’s a left/right clicker with a cancel button for the indicators that does double-duty as an “enter” button for the menu system. Which really isn’t much of a ‘system’. You can disable ABS, set the clock and, well, that’s it. It’s part of the charm of the Scrambler. Electronic aids are limited to ABS to save your skin when needed. There’s no traction control or riding modes. There is, however, a USB charging port below the seat. If that isn’t a sign of the times, I don’t know what is. On the go as well, there’s a lot that strikes you as common between these six wheels. Like the TT, the Scrambler is easy to go fast on. Unintimidating, involving for the senses but ultimately not outrageous. Put it in sport mode and punch the throttle, and the TT will leap forward and bark at upshifts much like those other sports cars from Affalterbach. The engine sounds a bit like a motorcycle on occasion, but that’s not a bad thing. There are drive modes to choose between, but you may as well just leave it in ‘dynamic’. Steering is nicely weighted and the car is no harder to weave through traffic than a VW Polo. Turn radius is conveniently tight and visibility is spectacular for a sports car. With the Scrambler, you have the same sort of reactions -- of not needed to un/relearn anything. An upright stance, wide bars and plenty of room lock-to-lock makes for an excellent traffic carver. You needn’t fiddle with any of the buttons for TT-level jollies on the Scrambler, though. The bike is geared such that, effectively, you’re always in ‘sport’ mode, and can wheelie/slide at will. It’s almost unnecessary, since the 68Nm of torque it generates comes in early and there’s plenty of poke for all sorts of hoonery. It does this using a modest 803cc air-cooled 75hp motor from the last-gen Monster - a dinosaur by today’s standards, but very
AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING
likeable and perfect for the package. As you’d expect from an Italian motorcycle, handling on the Scrambler is very good indeed, let down somewhat by its budget suspension. Too jarring for street riding, but not sophisticated enough for the more demanding. As a two-up tourer, you’re in for some compromises as well. There’s a flatish seat that’s too short for pillion comfort, slick but almost unusable grab rails below it and absolutely no place to tie down any luggage.
The TT fares better in this regard, with a well-sized boot below the hatch that can be expanded to very generous proportions if you fl ip down the useless rear seats -- the TT is not a 2+2 except for the very imaginative and/or flexible. I tried being both. It still hurts. Whether you’re spending Rs 6.5 lac or Rs 60.3, two wheels or four, what you’re buying is relatively small, light and powerful enough to get your kicks without breaking your shin. The Audi TT in this iteration, is suddenly far ahead of its
predecessors. Sharp and grippy enough to throw you against the seat bolsters, with a surprisingly compliant ride that’s practical as it is comfortable and enough boost to keep your lumbar support honest most times. The Scrambler brings back the archetype of the motorcycle with minor nods to modern conveniences and safety, while maximising the reason we ride: fun. Neither of these VW group products inspire Bilzerianlevel Instagrams, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be compelled to double-tap to like. tushar@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
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TGS LIFE
The art of cut and paste
AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
Features
Rahul Raut
Tiny bits of paper, placed meticulously across the canvas, form chiseled cheekbones and deep eyes, just as much as they portray the chaos of a marketplace. Artist Sukanta Dasgupta, the whiz of the whimsical world of paper collage art, shares its intricacies By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
T
he untouched beauty of nature and imagination is most precious to this collage artist and he tries to capture its nuances on canvas. Enter Sukanta Dasgupta’s home at Talegaon and several of his paper collage artworks welcome you. On one corner hangs a vibrant landscape, while a saxophone collage occupies another corner each created brilliantly by pasting torn bits of paper onto the canvas. “My subjects are inspired from what I observe in the world around me. I like to bring out the hidden simplicity in the everyday, chaotic surrounding. I make something simple and let the viewer adapt the elements along with their own personal experiences and memories,” says the 53-year-old artist. Sukanta is a former defense official, who gave up a secure job to pursue his passion for the art. He was inclined towards arts at a very early age, but did not undergo any professional training. He is a self-taught artist and has been experimenting with Papier Colles for the last four decades. “Papier Colles is a French word that means paper and paste. It is a type of collage-making that involves both painting and pasting paper. I have explored various mediums, subjects about art and artists. My interests in
Sukanta Dasgupta
Artist Sukanta Dasgupta working on his latest artwork. Both his creations depict the chaos in the market
mythology, religious beliefs, culture, and my educational background, in nuclear science, have all added to my knowledge base,” Sukanta adds. He has banked on ideas that are a result of his imagination, a mythological story, or, simply a moment caught on camera. The inspiration drives him to produce effects that are similar to an oil painting. Every artwork begins with a thought of an image, which is then sketched on paper. Then he collects torn paper and glues them into the sketch just like a painter fills in colour. “I use the medium slightly differently from how it has been used classically. The coloured paper, which is cut from newspaper or magazine, is used like a paint brush. I select a specific portion of a printed, coloured picture, cut and paste it on paper or
canvas. In this process, it is only the colour of the paper which is of importance; the content of the picture is irrelevant. The paper surface, type of paper, shape of cutting and method of cutting is selected based on the subject and required effect,” the artist explains. The direction that Sukanta pastes the bits of paper and the colour combination is a challenge. Sukanta’s medium has a few technicalities, for instance, there is no mixing of colours on the palette or the canvas and there is no drying time. Unlike the canvas of an oil painting, a picture cannot be developed as a whole. Also, at times, the end result is quite unexpected. “White spaces left behind during the process of creating the Papiers Colles make it difficult to understand the fi-
nal effect. A complete picture needs to be constructed in the mind, like in water colour painting, and yet an artist must be ready to re-organise the final colour arrangement. I have strived to achieve the effects of oil paintings in my works. Painting with paper collage is challenging and the outcome is apparent only when the work nears completion. It is unpredictable at times and may even generate multiple images,” Sukanta adds. His past exhibitions have received praise from all quarters, and presently he is engrossed in creating artwork for his upcoming exhibition. “Collecting material takes a lot of time, sometimes it takes as long as a year. Execution may take nearly a month. In the world of Papier Colle, it’s all about bringing about a balance between the overall
composition and the hues that lend it colour. I have one unfinished artwork, which is very close to my heart, it’s been 22 years and it’s still incomplete,” Sukanta adds, hoping to complete the work soon. He strives to present an onlooker with an opportunity to find something new in his artwork. So, his works hold plenty of room for individual interpretation. “You need to say something through your art. I don’t want to send out any political or social message, through my work. I just want people to feel happy when they see it,” he smiles. Catch the exhibition Unpretentious Elegance by Sukanta Dasgupta on August 8, at Bliss Art Gallery, Koregaon Park. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
Pune Lit Fest gets bigger, better! By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
T
he third edition of Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) which will kickstart from September 4 promises interesting takeaways for city’s literary enthusiasts The curtain-raiser opened with a captivating interaction session between city-based author Sudha Menon and the guest speaker Sujata Massey who flew down all the way from the US to kick-start the event. A renowned writer, Sujata has penned 11 mystery and historical novels and spoke at length about her upcoming novel which is based on the first lady lawyers of India.
Announcing the exciting lineup for this year’s festival, Manjiri Prabhu, Founder and Director of PILF said, “When we started the festival in 2013, we had no funds, but I always had a vision to make this event one-of-its-kind in Pune and I see the dream coming true. While I don’t want to compare us to the Jaipur festival which is a gala event, but I want PILF to grow so big and famous that people don‘t feel the need to go out of the city. In fact, I want the city to become the literary destination for everyone.” This year’s highlights The opening day will have interactive sessions featuring eminent personalities such as Shashi Tharoor, Sudha Murthy and Ashok Chopra. There
will be three major book launches on legendary singer Mohd Rafi and actor Shammi Kapoor along with a Marathi book by Ronnie Screwvala. There will be panel discussions with well-known international and national authors like Piers Moore Ede from UK, Anand Neelakantan, Ashok Banker, Neil Hollander from France, Sunil Sethi, Satyajit Bhatkal, R Raj Rao, Shanta Gokhale, Jerry Pinto, Francois Gautier, Kathryn Hummel from Australia and Katharina Ritter from Germany. There will be an interesting and fun roast session called the ‘Court martial’ where author Ravi Subramanium will face questions by the audience. To mark the 125th birth anniversary of the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, a special exhibition will be
(L-R) Bharat Agarawal, MD, Vishwakarma Publications, Sabina Sanghvi, Director, Radio One, Manjiri Prabhu, Rahul Karad, VP, MIT Group
held on all days of the festival. Besides, there will be workshops on multiple subjects including Haiku and different genres of writing, ad filmmaking, Ayurveda and Allopathy. A special story-writing workshop-cum-competition will be organised by iPop Media. Book Readings and Poetry sessions by eminent writers and poets such s Randhir Khare, Kala Ramesh and regional poets like Salma and
Mamta Sagar will also take place. Like every year, the festival has a social theme. This time it’s about ‘the ‘Global Image of India’ where every citizen is encouraged to work towards upholding the core moral values of society, and contribute to the social and environmental welfare of the country and be a global ambassador for India. When: September 4 to 6 Where: Yashada Campus, Baner Road Register at: www.pilf.in
TGS LIFE AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
NightLife
When beauties take on the stage
On a night with all strings attached, the girls played like never before By Manasi Shroff @ManasiShroff
I
t was a relaxed evening at Blue Frog, Pune. The place had the perfect atmosphere where one could sit down, have a drink and appreciate some music. So, what happens when five girls come together and create music? Well, there are beautiful rhythms and a whole lot of fun. Geetu Hinduja, Meera Shenoy, Alisha Pais, Gowri Jayakumar and Vasuda Sharma have been together just for a few weeks but the friendship they share truly brings out the best of music and lyrics out of them. “We just blended in so well in a matter of few days and the next thing we knew, we were creating music,” says Geetu, who conceptualised Girls with Guitars. When asked about their style of partying, the girls together agreed that house parties are the most fun. “Beer and
14
Rahul Raut
friends make the best combination for a party,” claimed Gowri to which Meera agreed, adding, “Although I’m not too fond of beer, but I truly believe that house parties are the most epic parties you could have.” Alisha believes, “A nice lounge, some good music and dancing makes my party night a fun night.” Vasuda smiles as she agrees that good music and dance are the highlights of a party for her. When it comes to girls, it’s difficult to miss out on fashion so the artistes spoke of their style for a night out. Gowri instantly smiled and called herself a total ‘ jhalli’. While Geetu seemed like the classy woman, Alisha was all about being a rockstar with a feminine touch. Meera likes to keep things casual, while Vasudha said she was all about comfortable maxis. As the girls began to play the strings, the crowd seemed to be simply mesmerised. Vishal, Ninad and Siddharth, a team of filmmakers, focussed their entire attention on stage as they listened to each composition. “We love watching fresh talent, especially when beautiful women are involved,” laughed Siddharth. “It’s a delight to see people in Pune respond so well to new artists these days,” the boys stated.
Where’s the party tonight Saturday Night at The Flying Saucer
After a long hectic week, it’s time to unwind all your worries and have unlimited fun like never before. Catch DJ duo Anuj and Garry as they play House and Electro this coming weekend. Regularly featured in the Pune party scene, they have broken barriers, and have erased any doubt about their talent. They ooze with confidence that comes with knowing their craft, their ability and their experience. Tap your feet to the best of hip hop and commercial beats played by the duo in the house and go crazy. When: August 8 Where: The Flying Saucer, Viman Nagar
‘Christabel’ at The Beer Cafe This coming Saturday The Beer Cafe brings you Christabel which is a ambient blues rock-n-roll Pune based band. Singer and songwriter Christabel is relatively new on the scene as she began her career about five years ago as a backing track artist, before deciding almost two years ago, at the insistence of strangers, to pick up her guitar again. She now sings interesting covers of forgotten hits and originals. She has also performed at several venues around Pune, Mumbai and Goa, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with other musicians. Christabel’s singing style has been described as bold and bluesy and her songs are either honest confrontations of relationships or positive messages toward humanity. They are known for their colorful performances perfectly blended with energy and they know exactly how to get the crowd rolling. When: August 8 Where: The Beer Café, Koregaon Park
Tribute to Rock ‘N’ Roll
Elvis, Chuck Berry, Beatles, most of us have grown up listening to these bands and have their lyrics running through our veins. The band Luis and Friends will play a combination of African-American genres such as blues, boogie-woogie, jump blues, jazz, and gospel music, together with Western swing and country music. Catch all your favourite, iconic rock songs being belted out, this Sunday! The band comprises of Ruell Baretto on Bass, Kris Mendonca on Drums, Pradeep Mathews on Guitar, Luis Chico on Keyboard and Vernon Noronha on vocals. When: August 9 Where: The High Spirits, Korgaon Park
Sonakshi Sinha eagerly waiting to play Dawood's sister
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onakshi Sinha is all excited to play the role of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena in an upcoming biopic. The film is helmed by Apoorva Lakhia of Shootout at Lokhandwala fame. "Thank you Shekhar (Ravjiani)! It is a brilliant script...I can't wait to play haseena," Sonakshi, 28, posted on Twitter after the music composer Shekhar congratulated the actress for her new outing. Dawood has two sisters, Haseena Parkar and Saeeda Parkar. Haseena, who was known as the underworld queen, used
Aishwarya makes a comeback in Bollywood
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ishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to return to the big screen after a gap of five years with Sanjay Gupta's Jazbaa but the Bollywood diva says she does not understand the hue and cry about it as she never felt being absent from films. The 41-year-old actress' last movie outing was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish in 2010. Aishwarya says she is enjoying being in front of the camera again and looking forward to the release of Jazbaa, which also stars Shabana Azmi, Irrfan, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Jackie Shroff. "So far the experience has been great. Sanjay has been so nice. The whole cast- Irrfan, Shabana ji, Chandan, Jaggu Dada (Jackie)- everyone has been great. I am glad to be working with them. I do not feel like there has been any gap. I am really enjoying," the actress said. The fi lm, which is set to release on October 9, is a remake of the 2007 South Korean movie Seven Days. The Guru star was in the capital recently to walk the ramp for ace designer Manish Malhotra's show The Empress Story at the just concluded Amazon India Couture Week. Despite being unwell, the former model looked resplendent in a chocolate brown floo length gown. The show was also attended by her mother-inlaw Jaya Bachchan.
to stay with her son Alishah and a 21-year-old-daughter in Mumbai's Nagpada. At the age of 55, she passed away last year after suffering a massive heart attack. She was the seventh child in a family of 12 kids. Her father, Mohammed Ibrahim, was a police head constable in Mumbai crime branch. Th is is not the fi rst time Sonakshi, who is currently busy with her stint in Indian Idol Junior, will be starring in an underworld fi lm. She had played Dawood's love interest in Once Upon ay Time in Mumbaai Dobaara, which was said to be based on the life of the fugitive don.
I am choosy about who I am associated with: Kangana
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he is the reigning queen of Bollywood and everybody wants a piece of her but actress Kangana Ranaut says she is very careful about who she associates herself with. Queen actress The walked the ramp for designer Manav Gangwani, and looked resplendent in a deep wine sequened gown. "I am not comfortable walking the ramp for just any designer. I am particular about who I associate with. While choosing a fashion show I take into consideration the designer and the collection,"
Kangana said. After winning the National Award for her performance in Queen this year and delivering a blockbuster hit Tanu Weds Many Returns, Kangana has become the toast of the B-Town. When asked if she has been getting lots of offers to walk the fashion ramp, the actress said, "No, that's not the case. Had things been like that then I would not be shooting fi lms." Talking about her style sense, Kangana said she loves to wear elaborate outfits lthat makes her stand out in the crowd.
Fine with Aarav watching me romance on-screen: Akshay Kumar
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ollywood superstar Akshay Kumar says he is fine with his son Aarav watching him romance actresses on screen and doesn't even put any parental restrictions on him. "It is a film..it's my job. If you and I are walking hand in hand he would be comfortable watching us together," Akshay said. "I don't tell him what to watch and what to not (films and TV). What is the point? They can go quietly and watch whatever they want," the 47-year-old actor said. The Rowdy Rathore star, who is one of the fittest actors in the industry, says he was not aware that Aarav too is a martial arts enthusiast. "He did not tell me about his interest in this field. He has exams (martial art) in about four months time. I think children always think that they can learn
from someone else. I did not groom him. "I can teach him, since, I am a Black belt myself but it is always better that someone else teaches, because a child always says, 'dad you don't know anything'. According to them, I don't know anything," Akshay said. The actor even suggested that the Government should make self-defence skills compulsory in schools. "I think the government should make compulsory for boys and girls to compulsorily learn martial arts in schools as it will help them," he said. On the work front, Akshay is looking forward to the release of Karan Johar's next home production Brothers. He will be also seen in Prabhu Deva's Singh is Bling and PTI Bhushan Kumar's Airlift.
TGS LIFE AUGUST 8, 2015 PUNE
BUZZ
Depression a major issue: Deepika
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eepika Padukone, who faced depression in the past, feels it is a major health issue in the country today which needs to be addressed. “Having experienced depression in the recent past, I realise how difficult it is to recognise the problem, find information and get the right kind of professional help,” Deepika said. The actress launched on Twitter the logo of her ‘The Live Love Laugh’ Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to addressing the issue of mental health in India. “I was fortunate to get the kind of support and through this platform I hope others get the same kind of help.” Deepika had fi rst spoken about her plans to set up the foundation.