TGS Life 07/11/2015

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

PUNE, NOVEMBER 7, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Diwali delights!

Want to gift something unique to your loved ones this Diwali? Here are some great picks from around the city

2 TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

Grooving with guitarist

STAGE

Steve Groves

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF EVENTS Third Son Get ready to party with Third Son. Born into a musical family and studying many different styles of composition from an early age, it seemed a logical progression to follow the path into electronic music. This path has seen two previous successful music projects and, Third Son promises no less. Having already signed to Noir Music, Underground Audio, and Material, within a week of the birth of the project, the music speaks for itself.

When: November 8 Where: Euriska, Koregaon Park

Bom Shanka Blast Om Boomika and Control Change Records presents the Bom Shanka Adventure Part 2 at F Beach House. This is going to be a psychedelic trance dance music extravaganza with artists like the Dirty Saffi, Nuky, Psymmetrix, Alta, Psykotose, Wicked Ninja, Enflame and many more.

When: November 8 Where: F Beach House, Koregaon Park

Steve Groves (centre) and the Crossroads band

The legendary Jazz and Blues guitar player from Canada will step onto Pune stage with local Blues band Crossroads

By Sudheer Gaikwad @TGSWeekly

S

teve Groves, from Ottawa Canada, is 67 years old and is as thrilled about playing the guitar as he has ever been. He is even stretching his horizons far beyond his home town and for the last few years, Spain and India have been his musical destinations for a large part of the year.

“Things are just popping and I see an explosion of music and creativity wherever I go,” says Steve. “It’s a great bonus for me to find such ardent Blues fans and musicians here in India, in Pune and Goa,” he adds.

A Berklee School of Music alumni, Steve was told by his first and most favourite guitar teacher at Berklee Mick Goodrick to practice all day, play all night and make sure he always had a gig. Steve decided to adopt it as a life mantra. “I was on the road with a rock band when I was 17 and I have never stopped,” he says. The artist has recently released his new single called ‘6 String Boogie’ online.

He counts the pioneering Jazz guitar man Wes Montgomery, and Blues guitar stars Robbie Robertson and Albert King among his inf luences.

In the 15 years Steve spent in New York, he played alongside star performers like The Holmes Brothers, drummers Omar Hakim and Cindy Blackman, and multi-instrumentalist Booker T, who led the band MGs. Steve founded the Ottawa Guitar School back home, where he teaches Jazz and Blues guitar.

But his guitar playing stretches

far beyond as he is greatly allured by the Brazilian Bossa Nova, Flamenco and even Classical music. His thumb and finger style is ideal and very conducive for these genres, as it is an asset when it comes to Jazz or Blues music.

“I plug my guitar directly into my amp and rely on my fingers to create the dynamics,” Steve said, who is an exception at this age when guitar players tote along an arsenal of effects pedals and processors. “There’s an unseen electricity and synergy between the strings and fingers that makes magical things happen,” says Steve, who believes that music, particularly Blues music, opens the door to very intense, immediate experiences for the aware musician.

“I am a groove player,” is how he describes his style and approach and this emphasis on rhythm, the beat and pulse of the music are integral to Steve’s music-making, which are evident on even his slow Blues songs.

In fact, his favourite guitar, which goes wherever he does, has an inscription carved into the body, declaring ‘don’t mess with the groove’, where instead of the word ‘mess’ a far more common and popular but unprintable Anglo-Saxon term is used.

“Playing the Blues with Steve has been one of my greatest experiences. He knows the guitar fret board like the back of his hand and his tips on music in general and guitar playing specifically are invaluable,” says Koshy John, founder, singer and rhythm guitarist of Crossroads, the Pune Blues band that Steve Groves is performing with. Crossroads also features Mig Muang (guitar), Anand Joshi (drums) and Tony Mungpi (bass).

“Music may be the highest of art forms. It’s simply pure vibrations,” says Steve.

The sound of his trusty guitar is oh-so easy on the ears and his licks and phrases are as articulate as his smooth-f lowing vocal, with lyrics that are sprinkled with salty humour.

Where: Shisha Cafe, ABC Farms, Koregaon Park When: November 12, 8.30pm sudheer.gaikwad@goldensparrow.com

“I was on the road with a rock band when I was 17 and I have never stopped”

Bollytastic Night in Town Shake your Bollywood Thumkaas to the most Bollytastic Night in the town where DJ Anthony will be spinning some high octane tunes to pump your heart beats only at the top of your city’s skyline, Atmosphere 6. We all have Bollywood running through our veins irrespective of the commercial we like and to glorify that with a mix of close friends clicking selfies, drinking some awesome cocktails and mocktails with extended Happy Hours cooks up a great way to make Saturday delicious.

When: November 7 Where: Atmosphere 6, Skymax, Viman Nagar

Krank Pre-Party Get a taste of the Krank Experience in Pune with a pre-party at blueFROG featuring Ankytrixx and Kohra. With a supporting act

by DJ Deep, this will be a night to remember with some funky tunes and a great vibe. Ankit Kochar aka DJ Ankytrixx is ranked as No.1 in the country for electronic music, the celebrated DJ has been spinning the console for over 12 years now. Fondly called as the console general by his fans, DJ Ankytrixx has shared stage with bigwigs like John Digweed, Henry Saiz, Armin Van Buren and Axwell among many. He is truly the master of technique and tunes as he makes the clubbers groove to his enigmatic blend of tech, progressive and house music.

When: November 7 Where: blueFROG, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada

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TGS LIFE

Get ready for some

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

Hindi rock

ENTERTAINMENT

Die hard rock fans, gear up for Daira. The band is back in town with their latest album

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

he Hard Rock Cafe is all set to lighten up this week with a Mu mba i-ba sed Hindi rock band Daira.

The alternative rock band took shape in 2014 when six friends jammed together.

The band comprises of Piyush Kapoor on vocals, Chaitanya Bhaidkar and Vikalp Sharma on guitar, Govind Gawli on bass and Pratik Kulgod on drums. “All of us are friends and we would earlier play for different bands but none of us was happy because we didn’t get to do what we wanted to. Once Piyush came in as a substitute vocalist, we instantly connected over music. Then we decided to form a band,” says Vikalp, a self-

taught guitarist hailing from Jaipur. His music is as powerful as his voice.

Their album includes a number of inf luences, with none of them dominating the other. The album covers eight songs that express different human emotions. The music is inspired by Pink Floyd and various other bands from the 70s that have inf luenced them over the years. “The lyrics are in Awadhi, so it’s rich in Indian inf luences as well. Here we have experimented a lot with our music, in order to keep it simple and groovy at the same time. The songs are meant to appeal to the youngsters,” he adds.

The band wants to bring a revolution in the indie music scene and to explore different music genres. After singing six cover songs for Kappa TV’s ‘Music Mojo’, the band is

“The lyrics are in Awadhi, so it’s rich in Indian influences as well”

now focusing on working on original material.

The band members have already started working on their second album. “We have completed three songs for the next album but we are, at the same time, promoting the first album. We will continue doing covers and making songs. 90 per cent of

our audience connect with Bollywood music but we want to prove ourselves. We want to change people’s perception about indie music,” Vikalp says.

When: November 12, 8pm onwards Where: Hard Rock Café, Koregaon Park zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

This musician has big plans for the future Vinod Peter set to direct his first Malayalam film, a total commercial romcom

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

A

week after releasing a short film Swadharm in Hindi, musician and short film-maker Vinod Peter is making his debut as a fulltime commercial director. Malayalam film AnganeOrikkal is as commercial a venture as it gets — think romcom, action and thriller element all simmered in the same reel. The film is expected to be released across India next year.

Though the film is in the initial stages and the casting is still in progress, Vinod confirmed that he is roping in some well-known actors to be a part of his first venture. In fact, he is currently in Kerala overseeing a promotional campaign. Expressing his excitement about the film, Vinod says, “I have been waiting for this venture for a long time and I will not leave a single stone unturned to put together the best possible team. The shooting is slated to take place in the scenic locales of Kerala,

Goa, Tarkarli and Pune.” The musiciandirector is keeping his fingers crossed for a positive response to the film so that he can also make a Marathi version of the subject. He has even thought up a name for the venture, calling it Ek Blank Cheque.

The music of the film has been composed by Vinod himself and he says it is soft-romantic just as the theme of the film. “I am taking the safest bet with this film that’s why I have chosen almost all elements that the audience will enjoy, be it comedy, romance, action and thrill. It’s a very normal story which everyone will relate to but I can’t talk much about the plot as of now,” Vinod adds.

Being a first-timer in the industry has its own merits and demerits, claims Vinod. “You have to go by what financers say and fulfil their requirements whether it’s the actors or the location as a lot of, money is at stake and no one wants to run into losses. There are challenges when you are trying to find a

firm ground for yourself but at the same time it’s a great learning experience. Till now, I have found some great people to work with and I hope things will work out just fine.”

Before moving to Mumbai, Vinod was busy composing music for a couple of Marathi films. He had also launched his own music album in Pune a few years ago. “At the time, I had no idea about how important a role marketing plays. My album was appreciated by many but due to lack of reach, I couldn’t gain any monetary benefits.

So with this movie, I am planning to do all the things that are needed to achieve the right results.”

Vinod also composed a song along with his friend Dr Sunil Kharade for Anna Hazare during his anticorruption campaign in 2011 which brought the two a lot of admiration.

Talking about his future plans, Vinod is hoping to make a successful entry in the film industry with this film.

He doesn’t want to restrict himself to

My album was appreciated by many but due to lack of reach, I couldn’t gain any monetary benefits

any particular genre or language and wishes to make great films that people would remember and appreciate for years to come. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

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ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Flying high on her wheels

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

hen she was still a toddler, Kanchan Musmade’s mother Pratibha Musmade enrolled her in a skating class since she was very keen that her daughter must be active in some sort of sport. As the three-year-old gathered the courage to strap on the wheels and take flight, little did she know just how high she would soar in the coming years. Excelling at street skating in no time, Kanchan’s coach suggested that she try her hand at artistic skating.

That prompted her mother, to look for a class and enrol her daughter. Hard-work, passion and a keenness to excel has got Kanchan the name and fame that she very well deserves. Today, innumerable sprains, bruises and falls later, not only has the 22-year-old represented her school, college, and state, but she also made India proud at the World Championship in 2007. She might not have won a medal for her country but standing 23rd world over is a feat in itself.

For Kanchan, the joy of being on the skates is more than winning and collecting certificates and medals. “What I like most about being a skater is the entertainment factor. Dancing is something very dear to me and skating allows me to represent the art differently. I love the fact that skating is a sport that I can perform on my own anywhere, for that matter. All I need are my skates. It’s different from dancing as it needs talent and practice and is better than, say cricket, which requires space and people to form teams. Plus, the fact that I got to represent my country is enough for me to love the sport,� says Kanchan, smiling.

Having completed four years of studying Physiotherapy at Sancheti Hospital, give location, Kanchan is currently interning at the same hospital as well as making time for skating. She

Spinning, jumping, twirling and even performing Odissi on skates, is what Kanchan Musmade is known for

practices regularly for two hours in the evening. Not being able to do the morning fitness routine is the only thing she is willing to compromise on when it comes to skating. Kanchan attributes her success to her parents. “My father is academically inclined.

An engineer by profession, he made sure that no matter what I was doing my studies were always my focus. He is the reason I opted for science in college. This does not mean that he was not supportive of my skating. He just prioritised my academics over sport,� says Kanchan.

Recreate Your MIND, BODY & SOUL

TGS LIFE NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES “My mother, on the other hand, was always present for all my skating competitions, big or small. She stood by my side whether I won or lost and I cannot thank her enough for it,� she adds.

Kanchan participated in her first national-level competition when she was just six years old. Her first win was when she was eight and there has been no looking back ever since. Kanchan has 68 medals stacked in a corner of her house and is extremely modest about all her achievements. A few years ago, Kanchan was also asked to be a student judge at the national competition, an honour not handed to many. Most recently, she had also performed at the Indian Super League.

Her biggest challenge when it comes to artistic skating is the lack of awareness of the sport in the city. “When one talks of national or international competitions in the world of skating, it is always skaters from Mumbai or Hyderabad who get highlighted. Pune is lost in the crowd, more often than not. There aren’t many institutes that teach artistic skating in the city. As a child, before going for national competitions, I would spend months getting coached in Hyderabad. The idea of artistic skating is much more accepted and alive there unlike here,� explains Kanchan.

Owing to the challenge she faced when she was still an amateur skater, Kanchan’s dream is not to represent India or garner worldwide fame. She is content with what she has achieved and, along with her coach, she hopes to open an artistic skating institute in the city after the end of her internship.

Skating might never be to India what cricket is, but even if it gets half the appreciation, Kanchan believes, that she would have given back to the sport what it has given to her. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES Making people laugh is one of the most difficult jobs. Meet four comedians from the city, who tell us just what it takes to be a stand-up comedian

Tickling your funny bone

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

K

apil Sharma, Bharti Singh, Johnny Lever, Russel Peters, Jay Leno, Jeff Dunham and Vir Das all have one thing in common — while it does not come easy, all of them have mastered the ability to make you laugh out loud. Aching sides is a given as you watch most of their performances and this stands testimony to their talent.

Stand-up comedy has found its niche audience in Pune too. In conversation with four talented comedians from the city, TGS finds out the tricks of the trade and highlights the challenges these comedians face.

Just 13 years old, Tanaya Sawant has a long way to go before she makes a career choice. Even so, stand-up comedy has been enticing enough and she is all set to make her stage debut next month. Working hand in hand with the standup comedy group, Sanskruti Foundation for their show ‘Vinod Aata Mohta Jhalay’, Tanaya could not be more excited about her performance, titled ‘Bahiranchi Bhairewadi’. “When I was younger, I wanted to be on television. Growing up, I was amazed at the popularity of stand-up comedy shows like Comedy Circus and I dream of being a part of them in the future. There were several comedy shows in Marathi as well. I started with mimicry and now, hopefully, there’s no looking back,” says Tanaya confidently.

Sharnu Jawalgi, one of the main people behind the show ‘Vinod Aata Mohta Jhalay’, is excited about Tanaya performing with the group. Tanaya’s willingness to put in extra effort, despite academic pressure, is a great indication of how the younger generation is being drawn to the art form. Sharnu himself was interested in theatre since the age of seven and was instantly drawn to the art of mimicry.

After working for about one year as a journalist he quit his job to pursue stand-up comedy as a full time career. “I don’t think any other job was capable of giving me the kind of satisfaction that being on stage does. The laughter of the crowd sitting before me gives me immense joy,” says the 26-year-old. Sharnu can mimic around 60 artists, including Amitabh Bachchan, Ashok Kumar, Akshay Kumar, Irrfan Khan and Lata Mangeshkar, among others.

One of Sharnu’s inspirations is the comedian Yogesh Supekar. Currently working in the show Ek Number on Star Pravah, Yogesh has been doing stand-up comedy since he was 13 years old. He has participated in several national, state and zonal competitions Yogesh has bagged the title of the best stand-up comedian in the nationals — who conducts these competitions six times. “I grew up imitating people I saw on screen. Johnny Lever, Makarand Tilloo, Madhusudhan Kalekar and Dilip Prabhavalkar were my biggest inspirations. I find it a little

Sharnu Jawalgi

I don’t think any other job was capable of giving me the kind of satisfaction that being on stage does. The laughter of the crowd sitting before me gives me immense joy — SHARNU JAWALGI

their job is the fact that they have the ability to make a group of people laugh. The more diverse the group, the bigger is the challenge and a positive reaction at the end is a bigger reward.

Being a stand-up comedian can also be a

Tanaya Sawant

Yogesh Supekar

disappointing that in a city like Pune, which is always so encouraging towards all art forms, there aren’t enough performances by standup comedians. Very often, stand-up comedy performances that happen in the city are at restaurants and are by comedians from other cities. Stage shows almost never take place,” says Yogesh.

Agreeing with Yogesh, 41-year-old Vikram Sathaye another stand-up comedian from Pune who is now based in Mumbai is also saddened by the fact that the city lacks a comedy culture.

“The appreciation and response towards standup comedy has been changing for the last four to five years. There is still a large gap that needs to be filled. The younger generation is luckier as it will be much easier for those just entering the profession,” says Vikram who has been doing stand-up comedy for 12 years now.

For all four comedians, the best part about

Vikram Sathaye

very tough task. It is not easy trying to make someone laugh. Vikram recollects his initial days as a stand-up comedian when corporate shows were an important platform for him. “If someone is attending a comedy show they are mentally prepared to laugh and such a crowd is easier. On the other hand, when I did standup comedy for corporate shows, the crowd was more often than not tired after a long day of training and wanted to go home instead of sitting and listening to me. This was one of the most difficult audiences before whom I have performed,” says Vikram.

With the younger generation becoming a part of the niche audience and, more importantly, trying their hand at stand-up comedy, the future of the art form looks bright. Like Tanaya, there are hopefully many more, who will help take the art form to new heights. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Piaggio opens Motoplex lifestyle concept store

TGS LIFE NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

Covers Vespa, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia brands; first in South Asia

P

une continues its forward march as a key destination for motorcycle enthusiasts with the launch of the Motoplex, the Piaggio Group’s premium retail concept store. The Motoplex covers Vespa, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia two-wheeler brands, and is pegged as a premium moto-lifestyle store and joins similar retail locations in Milan, New York City, Shanghai and Beijing. The Pune store, located in Ahamednagar Road, is the fi rst in South Asia and was launched by MD of Piaggio India, Stefano Pelle, who made quite an entrance riding an Aprilian RSV4 Superbike.

Piaggio joins a host of other manufacturers who have recognised the value of the motorcycle/scooter “lifestyle”, the most recent and visible being Royal Enfield, who have revamped their dealerships as lifestyle stores selling apparel, gear etc. The Motoplex will also follow suit, selling branded gear from across its brands.

Unveil the real authentic Traditional Ayurveda

,

US

TGS LIFE NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

Want to gift something unique to your loved ones this Diwali?

Here are some great picks from around the city

FEATURES VISHAL KALE

Diwali de

KUNDAN ART GALLERY

Just as every year, Shilpa Bhide is ready with her stock of Diwali accessories. She has prepared handmade kundan rangoli platter using crystals, pearls and rich brocade ribbons making these a labour of love and grandeur. Rangoli-laden courtyards are a ritual for all our festivities. She has brilliantly accentuated the platter with wooden square embellished cut outs. The diyas come in complimentary colours with a pearl finish. The bejewelled accessories can be made to order to suit your liking or simply as gifts. Shilpa’s forte lies in executing detailed designs and mixing colours to compliment the textures.

Price: Rs 100 onwards Get in touch: shilpasbhide@gmail.com, 9923337674

CHOCOLATE STORY

The Chocolate Story has prepared some very innovative and tempting packages for the festive season. Boxes of chocolates and fireworks have been associated with the festival for a long time now. The Chocolate Story has combined the two to introduce edible crackers like Fuljhadi, Anaar and even Chakri made entirely of chocolate.

Their range of luxury chocolates, called 24k, is a collection that is sure to give one a royal feel. Imagine relishing a chocolate that’s topped with a dash of edible gold. The store has also come up with Praline bites for those looking to be pampered this Diwali.

Price: Rs 120 onwards Get in touch: The Chocolate Story, near Gold Big Cinemas, Kalyani Nagar

THE MIND’S EYE

Last year, after a party, Akshata Ghule was wondering what to do with all the empty bottles. That’s when she started painting them. With fairy lights or light bulbs in the vibrantly-coloured bottles, Diwali gets a unique touch.

Akshata holds at least two exhibitions each month and it’s safe to say that people love her work. Bottle sizes and designs can be customised and they are available in regular as well as neon colours that glow under UV light. A bottle of intricate work takes her around four hours to complete.

Price: Rs 250 to Rs 1,500 depending upon the size of the bottle and the intricacy of the design Get in touch: 8806966415

YERAWADA PRISON INMATES’ CREATIONS

The prisoners of the Yerawada Central Jail have displayed handmade products this Diwali at very affordable prices. From colourful, miniature? wooden bullock carts, paper lamps, dhurries, furniture to agarbatti stands and diyas, there is a range of lovely gift items for sale. The products sure deserve a detour from your regular shopping trail.

Price: Rs 80 onwards Get in touch: Yerawada Jail Ground

elights!

By Team TGS

I

t’s that time of the year again when the markets are abuzz with pretty and practical gift items. Diwali is the perfect occasion to give your near and dear ones a little sweet surprise that will not only light up their eyes

SS CREATIONS

and fi ll their hearts with joy but remain in their minds for years to come. From attractive and colourful handmade diyas or pearl and stonestudded lamps and lanterns, pooja accessories, gorgeous artefacts to crackling new chocolates shaped like fi re crackers, there’s something you can buy for everyone.

HMMN...

Saketa Joshi has always been the arty kind. Channelling her creativity, she started SS creations and began making lanterns and other objects using colourful pearls. The lanterns come in two sizes, with options for customisation. Depending upon the design, Saketa also adds crystals to her products. She started off by selling her products at exhibitions around the city and plays the role of a wholesale supplier to other sellers. She makes all of the orders by hand with a little help from her daughter Samita. With the need for precise and delicate work, it takes her around half a day to make one lantern. This Diwali, SS creations has had orders for over 30 such lanterns.

Price: Rs 90 onwards Get in touch: 9860877296

Started by two former corporate workers, Amrita Potdar and Suvarna Patil, Hmmn... is in the business of quirky home products. One of their bestsellers, particularly during Diwali is their twig lantern. Their customers usually include those looking for something different to light up their home during the festive season. More than the time needed to assemble the lantern, sourcing twigs is their most important concern. “Since we do not break branches from living trees, it sometimes takes a while to find the right kind of twigs needed for the lamp,” says Amrita. Draped in fairy lights, this lantern adds a soft glow to your home.

Price: Rs 1,500 Get in touch: 9011020437 connect@hmmn.biz

R CHOCOLATIERS

They have 45 varieties of chocolates, specially prepared to satisfy the taste buds of your family and friends. Skip that boring old box of mithai and pick up boxes of sinful, customised chocolates. From flavoured and crispies to centre-filled and special dessert, R Chocolatiers has created an indulgent range of chocolate options. Available in gorgeous packages, you’ve got the option to choose between tins and boxes with different quantities of chocolates.

Price: Rs 100 onwards Get in touch: Tejovalay Apartment, Vasantrao Deshmukh Path, off Ghole Road

NUTAN’S DIYA

A journalism professor at a city college discovered her artistic side when she starting painting diyas for her home. Soon she started getting orders from family and friends and have now sold about a thousand colourful diyas.

She has added crystals, kundan and glitter to give it a royal look.

Get in touch: nutankanegaonkar@gmail.com

CANE LAMPS BY ANDHRA CRAFTSMEN

Every year these Andhra craftsmen come to city and make cane hanging lamps, baskets and flower vase to sell during Diwali. And all these at very cheap rates as compared to high end shops. So if you are looking for something really unique and long lasting to decorate your house, drive down to the Khadki highway and you will find a bunch of these pretty decor items right on the road side Price: Rs 350 onwards Get in touch: Khadki main highway

GIFTEASE

Giftease helps you pick from a wide range of handpicked, attractive items, tailored to fit your budget and the occasion. Light up your house with amazing designer lamps and lanterns. Choose from a wide variety of spiritual artefacts, show pieces, and pooja accessories to enhance the decorations for the auspicious festival.

In fact, post-festivities, you can turn their lantern-shaped candle holders into home decor accessories.

Price: Rs 500 onwards Get in touch: Giftease Store, Koregaon Park

TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

PICS BY VISHAL KALE

INDULGE

Your ultimate guide to

festive binging

This weekend, when you head out shopping to stock up sweets and savouries for the overwhelming number of guests who will soon be visiting, don’t forget to visit these places to pick up some lip-smacking fare

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

he spicy Chivda and Chakli, the sweet Karanji and Shankarpali and the tangy Kadamboli and Shev together evoke happy memories of the festival of lights, which is just around the corner. It’s that time of the year when those on a diet forget to watch their weight, instead preferring to stuff themselves with delectable sweets. With preparations on in full swing some prefer to go the traditional way and prepare every delicacy at home, while others are on a lookout for the best places to bring home some delicious Diwali faral. There are innumerable shops and small establishments around the city that diligently prepare the snacks by the kilo, ensuring that every household enjoys the homemade farar.

In pursuit of the best, most delicious faral in the city, TGS shortlists six places that you must visit this festive season. Not only are these places reasonable and easy on your pocket, but they also provide a wide range of options to choose from

GRIHINI SHOP Tata Motors’ Grihini Social Welfare Society is a hub for women to use their skills to gain financial independence. The 70 women working at this centre prepare everything from Besan Ladoo’s to Chivda and Chakli. The centre has been running for the last 40 years and while the shop sells faral throughout the year, they receive 10 times the orders during Diwali. All the women who work at the centre need the extra income to procure their daily necessities.

The Besan Ladoos available at the shop are made of pure ghee and are the right mix of besan, sugar and ghee. The ladoo melts in your mouth instantly and is not too sweet either as is the case more than often. It is fresh, tasty and the perfect gifting option

SHRUSHTI CATERERS Handling her growing business from her small house in Kasba Peth, Archana Malegoankar has been cooking commercially for eight years now. As we climb the steps to her home, the smell of spicy Chivda fi lls the air and guides us to the right door. Archana prepares everything from Chivda, Shankarpali, both sweet and salty, Karanji, Kadboli, Chakli, Shev and every other preparation one could think of. Over the years, she has created a loyal customer base. Everything she makes is made-to-order to ensure that it is fresh. Archana starts preparing the faral about a month before Diwali since that is when the orders start pouring in.

The Chivda she makes is not only crisp and spicy, just as it should be, but is the perfect balance of spices as well.

Her speciality is that the Karanji is made using rava instead of maida, which is used by most other places in the city.

While her clients vouch for everything that comes out of Archana’s kitchen, the Shankarpali get bonus points for being just the right amount of sweet, ensuring having just one would be a sheer insult to the super cook.

Must try: Sweet Shankarpali, Chivda and Karanji Get in touch: Natu Wada, Kasba Peth, 9763353237

as far as sweets are concerned this Diwali.

Must try: Besan Ladoo, Chakli Get in touch: Tata Motors Colony, Pimpri, 02065111508

TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

INDULGE

VRUNDAVAN If you are near Deccan, you can’t miss the big utility store that offers you everything from your daily requirements to spicy, crunchy Diwali faral. Vrundavan’s loyal customers have been dropping by over the festive season for the last 34 years.

In fact, Kishore Nadke took over the

reign of the shop from his father a few years ago. The shop offers Diwali special faral throughout the year and gives you the opportunity to help out those in need. Sourcing the delicacies from different women groups, Kishore helps them earn an income throughout the year.

The Fresh Coconut Karanji at Vrindavan

is one of the best in the city. Not only is the coating crisp on the corners and soft in the centre, the insides are well stuffed and extremely delicious. Apart from this, another speciality of the place is the spicy, spirally Garlic Shev.

Must try: Garlic Shev, Fresh Coconut Karanji Get in touch: Deccan Corner, 02025674208

NALINI KHOJE CRISP AND CURRY Working with 30-40 women on a regular basis, this shop, in the heart of Sahakarnagar, has been doing flourishing business for the past two years. Earlier, Rakesh Khoje ran his business from his house itself.

He would take orders on the phone and deliver them to the customer’s doorstep. Then, he decided to expand his business and open a shop of his own.

The shop is named after his mother as it was her idea to venture into the business. While Rakesh’s shop offers every variety of faral, his best-selling products are the spicy, crispy Chakli and the Dry Coconut Karanji.

Must try: Chakli, Dry Coconut Karanji Get in touch: Parvati Gaon, Opp golden art photo studio, 9823166621 GANBOTE Working day and night to complete an order for 3,500 kilograms chakli, Ganesh Ghale has a lot on his plate.

GanBote was started by his mother 14 years ago and Ganesh is merely taking his mother’s dream ahead. He sells everything from Karanji, Shakarpali, Shev, Chakli, Katboli, Anarse, Chivda and Ladoo from his small shop on Tilak Road. Most products are available in whatever quantity one desires. The faral is cooked by his mother, wife, sister-in-law and a few women living in his neighbourhood.

In fact, Ganesh outsources the making of some of his products just to ensure that the women can earn an extra income and help out their families during the festive season.

Ganesh himself knows how to make almost everything he sells, even as his speciality is Chakli and Chivda. The Chakli he sells is perfect for those who prefer a less spicy version of the savoury. It is not spicy, yet it manages to taste exactly like the perfect Chakli.

Must try: Chakli, Anarse Get in touch: Tilak Road, behind SP Biryani House, 9527998998

SRIRAM BAKERY Just before you take the right to enter Anand Nagar at Kothrud, a discreet shop by the name of Sriram Bakery is hard to miss since the huge crowd outside the shop catches your attention. The bakery sells everything from fresh chapati’s and vegetables to even eggs and bread. Be it Diwali or Ganesh Chaurthi, the shop sells the most scrumptious farar throughout the year. Nestled in a corner for the last 28 years, DP Borkar has been running the shop and outsources everything to help the

women who live in his neighbourhood.

The sweet and salty Shankarpali, Besan Ladoos, Karanji and Garlic Shev are the shop’s top-selling items. The salty Shankarpali can be used as a perfect snack for the Diwali get-togethers and can be easily combined with the crispy, spicy Chakli. The sweet Karanji and Shankarpali substitute as perfect dessert options too.

Must try: Salty Shankarpali, Sweet Shankarpali Get in touch: Anand Nagar, Kothrud salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES Saurabh Chandekar is one of the country’s finest illustrators and advertising geniuses

An artist with a difference

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

A

n illustrator and an advertiser are two identities that Saurabh Chandekar adorns with pride. After working on innumerable projects like the Vespa digital campaign — ‘Once upon a Vespa’, which became a big hit, or the Lifebuoy campaign, he is thankful for everything he has achieved.

Winning the Cannes Award for the Best Ad Campaign for Lifebuoy in 2013 was a big boost to Saurabh’s career. Currently working on a few projects of his own and setting up his own branding company, Aaiba Brand Strategy and Design, he speaks with TGS about the inspiration behind becoming an artist, why he moved to Mumbai, and what his art reflects.

Not good at studies, at a very young age Saurabh had made up his mind to venture into something that needed him to be creative rather than learn theories by rote. Hailing from a house where the atmosphere was always

culturally inclined, Saurabh started out his career by joining theatre. His father, Sadanand Chandekar, is a well-known name in the theatre circle while his mother Hema Chandekar was also actively involved in the same field.

Following in their footsteps, Saurabh started participating in theatre and eventually moved to Mumbai for better prospects. Pune, he believed, did not give an artist enough opportunity and exposure like Mumbai did and so he decided to relocate.

He had started creating illustrations at the age of eight but began thinking of it as a career choice only when he was in Mumbai. “Living alone in Mumbai was not easy. It was the first time I was away from home and there weren’t really many ways to keep busy. This is when I decided to start sketching. I would roam around the streets and seek inspiration from everything and everyone I saw,” says the 29-year-old.

This was the start of his journey as an illustrator and the only way to commercialise the talent was through ad campaigns. Till an artist does not present himself correctly, he is at a loss, claims Saurabh. He worked with Ogilvy and Mather on several projects and has a few

ongoing projects with them. He has now started his own company and hopes it will succeed.

Speaking of his art Saurabh says, “I only illustrate what I see around me. Observation is the key to not only understanding the kind of work the people around you will appreciate but also producing good work. My father always guided me and has played a huge role in making me the person I am today.”

Pick any of the artist’s work and you will notice the attention to detail and the small

patterns that make up the big picture. His most recent work, titled Dambh, which literary means passing figures, is a collection where he portrays the theme — people pretend, art reveals. Chaos is Saurabh’s best friend and meeting new people for inspiration is his favourite pass time. He puts forth the thoughts that he observes in people around him in his paintings. He has also been categorised as one among the top 10 illustration experts in India by the magazine Creative Gaga. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Capturing the essence of the Indian woman Artists Ruby Jhunjhunwala and Shraddha Borawake are showcasing their interpretation of Indian culture through a combination of their respective fortes: ceramics and photography

By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit

A

woman stands outside her home in rural India and dusts her bright pink blanket. The colours of the blanket beautifully contrast with her visibly parched surroundings. A series of eight pictures shot by lenswoman Shraddha Borawke, at Sachkuri Village in the Ahmednagar district, of an ordinary woman dusting a thick blanket, was the starting point for the project. Ruby Jhunjhunwala, a ceramic artist, was inspired by the images and thus began a collaborative venture to create an abstract interpretation of womanhood and Indian culture.

The blanket turned into their muse and the artists spent two years obsessing over it,

dissecting it to its most minute details. Each element of the blanket — colour, stitches, texture and movement in the photographs has been depicted through ceramics, images, weaving, embossing and a large mural installation.

Shraddha and Ruby believe that women are very accommodating, Indian women especially. Since generations, society has pre-determined a woman’s role. Her most important responsibility is that of the caretaker. Having personally abided to these roles, Ruby has always juggled between them and her work. Shraddha, being from a younger generation, has stepped out of traditional expectations and held her own. The exhibition ‘Her: Within and Without’ is a combination of these personalities, depicting the Indian

Shraddha Borawake and Ruby Jhunjhunwala with a piece from their exhibition

woman as one who can juggle all her roles, without compromising. It portrays the woman as an inspiration, someone who must be

admired and respected.

Indian culture is also an important element of the project. A blanket, or godadi, is something that is passed from generation to generation, particularly in rural India. It symbolises culture itself. Those who are brought up away from a cultural influence, strive to find their roots later on in life. Those who are brought up strictly within cultural norms, eventually struggle to leave its confinement. In the last of the series of photographs taken by Shraddha, the woman’s face is covered with the blanket, perhaps to symbolise the loss of identity she faces while engulfed by societal and cultural norms.

Over these two years, Shraddha feels that Ruby and she have evolved as artists. “Stepping out of our comfort zones and working with mediums that were new to us brought out our creativity. We would constantly push each other and that positivity can be seen through our work,” she says.

When: November 13 onwards Where: Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES Saurabh Chandekar is one of the country’s finest illustrators and advertising geniuses

An artist with a difference

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

A

n illustrator and an advertiser are two identities that Saurabh Chandekar adorns with pride. After working on innumerable projects like the Vespa digital campaign — ‘Once upon a Vespa’, which became a big hit, or the Lifebuoy campaign, he is thankful for everything he has achieved.

Winning the Cannes Award for the Best Ad Campaign for Lifebuoy in 2013 was a big boost to Saurabh’s career. Currently working on a few projects of his own and setting up his own branding company, Aaiba Brand Strategy and Design, he speaks with TGS about the inspiration behind becoming an artist, why he moved to Mumbai, and what his art reflects.

Not good at studies, at a very young age Saurabh had made up his mind to venture into something that needed him to be creative rather than learn theories by rote. Hailing from a house where the atmosphere was always

culturally inclined, Saurabh started out his career by joining theatre. His father, Sadanand Chandekar, is a well-known name in the theatre circle while his mother Hema Chandekar was also actively involved in the same field.

Following in their footsteps, Saurabh started participating in theatre and eventually moved to Mumbai for better prospects. Pune, he believed, did not give an artist enough opportunity and exposure like Mumbai did and so he decided to relocate.

He had started creating illustrations at the age of eight but began thinking of it as a career choice only when he was in Mumbai. “Living alone in Mumbai was not easy. It was the first time I was away from home and there weren’t really many ways to keep busy. This is when I decided to start sketching. I would roam around the streets and seek inspiration from everything and everyone I saw,” says the 29-year-old.

This was the start of his journey as an illustrator and the only way to commercialise the talent was through ad campaigns. Till an artist does not present himself correctly, he is at a loss, claims Saurabh. He worked with Ogilvy and Mather on several projects and has a few

ongoing projects with them. He has now started his own company and hopes it will succeed.

Speaking of his art Saurabh says, “I only illustrate what I see around me. Observation is the key to not only understanding the kind of work the people around you will appreciate but also producing good work. My father always guided me and has played a huge role in making me the person I am today.”

Pick any of the artist’s work and you will notice the attention to detail and the small

patterns that make up the big picture. His most recent work, titled Dambh, which literary means passing figures, is a collection where he portrays the theme — people pretend, art reveals. Chaos is Saurabh’s best friend and meeting new people for inspiration is his favourite pass time. He puts forth the thoughts that he observes in people around him in his paintings. He has also been categorised as one among the top 10 illustration experts in India by the magazine Creative Gaga. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Artists Ruby Jhunjhunwala and Shraddha Borawake are showcasing their interpretation of Indian culture through a combination of their respective fortes: ceramics and photography

By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit

A

woman stands outside her home in rural India and dusts her bright pink blanket. The colours of the blanket beautifully contrast with her visibly parched surroundings. A series of eight pictures shot by lenswoman Shraddha Borawke, at Sachkuri Village in the Ahmednagar district, of an ordinary woman dusting a thick blanket, was the starting point for the project. Ruby Jhunjhunwala, a ceramic artist, was inspired by the images and thus began a collaborative venture to create an abstract interpretation of womanhood and Indian culture.

The blanket turned into their muse and the artists spent two years obsessing over it,

dissecting it to its most minute details. Each element of the blanket — colour, stitches, texture and movement in the photographs has been depicted through ceramics, images, weaving, embossing and a large mural installation.

Shraddha and Ruby believe that women are very accommodating, Indian women especially. Since generations, society has pre-determined a woman’s role. Her most important responsibility is that of the caretaker. Having personally abided to these roles, Ruby has always juggled between them and her work. Shraddha, being from a younger generation, has stepped out of traditional expectations and held her own. The exhibition ‘Her: Within and Without’ is a combination of these personalities, depicting the Indian

RAHUL RAUT

Capturing the essence of the Indian woman

Shraddha Borawake and Ruby Jhunjhunwala with a piece from their exhibition

woman as one who can juggle all her roles, without compromising. It portrays the woman as an inspiration, someone who must be

admired and respected.

Indian culture is also an important element of the project. A blanket, or godadi, is something that is passed from generation to generation, particularly in rural India. It symbolises culture itself. Those who are brought up away from a cultural influence, strive to find their roots later on in life. Those who are brought up strictly within cultural norms, eventually struggle to leave its confinement. In the last of the series of photographs taken by Shraddha, the woman’s face is covered with the blanket, perhaps to symbolise the loss of identity she faces while engulfed by societal and cultural norms.

Over these two years, Shraddha feels that Ruby and she have evolved as artists. “Stepping out of our comfort zones and working with mediums that were new to us brought out our creativity. We would constantly push each other and that positivity can be seen through our work,” she says.

When: November 13 onwards Where: Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT

Don’t want to spend a bomb on getting your favourite tailor-made dress?

Head to Tulsi Baug where they turn your fabric into pretty outfits for a steal

TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

T

he bustling Tulsi Baug area houses hundreds of little shops and stalls that cater to your clothes, accessories and house ware needs.

It is also home to some very talented as well as the oldest tailors in the city. Between the hustle and bustle stands an old building in an almost dilapidated condition, hiding behind a sea of dress material shops. While walking up the dark and dingy staircase of Ramsukh Plaza, one can never imagine what is awaiting you until you reach the first floor.

Suddenly, the dark staircase opens up to three colourful shops where you find a number of tailors shaping bright fabric into the latest designs and patterns on their old sewing machines. Here, Mahendra Dattatrey, sporting a grey beard and highpower spectacles, is giving final touches to a glittery lehenga. When we asked him how long has he been working here, after hesitating for a few minutes, he begins talking. “I belong to a family of tailors and I

Mahendra Dattatrey has been running this small shop for eight years now

Tailor-made tales learned the craft from my father and uncles. I used to have a shop elsewhere but for the past seven-eight years, I have been running this little shop called Pooja Ladies Tailor. I don’t work for money anymore. My children have grown up and do their own businesses.

I only do this because I don’t like sitting idle at home, watching silly TV shows. Until a person is capable of doing things on his own, he should work. I have a good time here meeting people. My friends come and spend time over tea and discussions about anything which keeps me occupied and content.”

Mahendra specialises in Indian dresses, particularly patialas, churidars, lehengas and designer blouses for which he charges a reasonable amount.

Moving on to the next shop, run by Srinivas for the last 15 years, Saj-le Creative Ladies Tailor is a comparatively bigger set up where a couple of other junior tailors work under Nitin. He began running the tailoring shop after moving from Mumbai where he worked at a garment shop for a long time. His father and grandfather have also been in the same profession and he picked up the skill from them.

“When I first started this store, I had only one sewing machine and a handful of customers, but slowly I managed to set up the small business and hired more tailors. By God’s grace, my work is going well and my customers continue to increase. I have five machines and five workers working with me. I have also trained a couple of tailors who have now opened their own little shops. I really feel proud of the fact that I could help them start on their own.”

When we went to the building initially we thought it was all about these tailors, but interestingly all these shops specialise in making Punjabi dresses.

The third shop has two tailors one of who is Nitin Kanigiri the owner of Suvarnalekha Ladies Tailor.

“I came from Sholapur eight years ago and started my own tailoring shop. Back home, we are a family of tailors but opportunity to earn are very few. Since this is a busy market area, we get customers all day long. Our shop stays open for 12 hours, starting at 9am.”

The cost of stitching cost a regular salwar kameez

in most shops is Rs 200-250. Depending on the design and work that you would want, the price range varies but doesn’t go beyond Rs 400-500.

Similarly a saree blouse costs between Rs 200350. “We have been doing this work for ages but due to growing competition and bigger brands coming up everywhere, not many people come to us nowadays. We have our fixed customers and festivals are a time when we can make some extra earning,” says one of the junior tailors.

New techniques and machinery, bigger showrooms and malls have been slowly replacing the old charm of tailor-made clothes but these small-time tailors have been keeping the art alive amidst challenges and changing times. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Srinivas started his boutique with just two machines 15 years ago

Nitin Kanigiri came from Sholapur to start his tailoring business eight years ago

TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

FEATURES

Conquering one cliff at a time Ishani Sawant has made the city proud by being one of India’s finest rock-climbers and achieving heights that experts only dream off

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

S

he holds a diploma in Forensic Science, is a law graduate and was on her way to becoming a police officer when she decided to give it up to do what she absolutely loves. The 24-year-old has proved time and again that when she sets her mind on something, she is most definitely going to excel at it. Ishani Sawant trains NDA cadets in rock climbing and has also assisted the Indian Navy create the record of unfurling the largest Indian Flag (40x60 feet) at Maharashtra’s highest point, the Kalsubai peak. Dedicated and passionate about what she does, Ishani shares her journey to achieving everything that she has and how she turned her passion into a career choice.

THE BEST AT WHAT SHE DOES Even though Ishani is only 24 years old she has achieved merits that those with years of experience dream of. Being appointed by the NDA to train their cadets is a big deal. Moreover, she has also assisted the Indian Navy making it a pretty massive feather in her cap. “Working with the NDA cadets and the Indian Navy is a huge honour. I am grateful that I got the chance to serve the people who serve and fight for us. The environment inside the NDA Academy, the way they behave, the procedures, the discipline are worth following. The cadets are physically well-conditioned and pick up techniques with ease,” Ishani tells us.

The young talent pocket also boasts of being one of the few instructors of the Dukes Nose corporate event for creating a number of Limca records for flying fox and rappelling. Ishani and her friend, Prerna Dangi from Delhi, are also the fi rst women to have completed the Dukes Nose pinnacle in alpine style which is without a support team, porters and kitchen staff.

The Dukes Nose, also known as Nagphani, is a cliff at Khandala near Lonavala and is very wellknown among adventurous trekkers. Ishani and Prerna have summited the Stok Kangri peak which is at a height of 6,123 meters in two days. The usual time taken for this expedition is four days.

They completed the climb in alpine style. Th is is just the start she promises us.

“There was a different kind of thrill in hanging by the cliff for hours taking pictures for other climbers”

BECOMING A ROCK-CLIMBER It was her fi rst trek to the Himalayas when she was 13 that mesmerised Ishani. The trip marked the beginning of her many travelling and trekking expeditions. “The grandeur of the Himalayas impressed me so much that I started trekking at highaltitudes. I got a chance to learn all kinds of adventure sports and then slowly mastered them. Adventure photography is something else that I picked up along the way. There was a different kind of thrill in hanging by the cliff for hours taking pictures for other climbers,” says Ishani.

Growing up, she was an avid reader and had browsed through many motivational books about stepping out the comfort zone and exploring oneself.

Always wanting to experience the thrill, she decided to pursue adventure sports as a full-time career. Be it mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, white-water kayaking, biking, off-roading, downhill biking, road-tripping, cycling or slack-lining, Ishani has tried them all and excelled at most activities.

The difficult part of her journey to becoming one of India’s finest rock climbers was the training and fitness regime that she follows to date. Her workout consists of an abs-specific regime that tightens her core, pull-ups and push-ups to build power in her muscles and meditation for mental fitness. She trains in the morning as well as in the evening. She also does a lot of cycling as cardio since running is not her favourite exercise. For Ishani, 90 per cent of her earnings are spent on her training and nutrition because she still has no sponsors. “While training or climbing is all pain, hardship and pressure, it all vanishes once you reach the top,” shares Ishani, unable to hide a big smile.

TURNING HER PASSION INTO A CAREER For Ishani, rock-climbing has become a huge part of who she is.

After not being able to go for a trek to the Everest because of shortage of funds, Ishani decided to start her own adventure company so that she would never have an excuse to not do what she loves. Her business funds her treks and expeditions and she is also able to share the joy of rock-climbing and trekking with fellow enthusiasts.

Deciding to open her own adventure company came as quite a shock to her parents who were expecting her to join the police force. She got a good ranking in her UPSC exams and her entire family expected her to tread down that path. “It was my mother who stood by me throughout and I owe my life to her. Whatever I can do today is because for her backing. Otherwise there have been a lot of women who tried to take up adventure sports as their career but switched after a couple of years. I am really happy I could continue and I hope that I never have to leave it,” says Ishani.

Assuring us that rock-climbing has made her a better person and taught her team-work, dedication, discipline, use of resources and organisational skills, Ishani is currently training for the upcoming Rock Climbing National Championship. She is also busy designing adventure trips through her start-up and has started blogging to share her experiences. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

14

RAHUL RAUT

A super model in the making

TGS LIFE

NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

City-based model and winner of multiple fashion pageants, Milind Bhardwaj, shares his secrets of staying in oh so perfect shape!

MILIND BHARDWAJ Weight: 85kg Height: 6 feet, 3 inches

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club

his starry-eyed young man from the city always dreamt of becoming a super model one day. Every time he would see a hoarding or models walking on the ramp, his desire of being one of them would keep getting stronger. After two years of sheer hard work under the guidance of one of the most popular image stylist in town, Lovell Prabhu, Milind Bhardwaj is fast riding up the pedestal of becoming a top model. But to stay and rise in this extremely demanding industry, one constantly needs to look and stay perfectly fit. So how does this 22-year-old with looks and a body to die for does it? Read on to know more…

Expert rating: 9/10

T

MORNING I get up every day at 7am and start my day with a glass of lukewarm water. Soon after that, I meditate for 1520 minutes and then freshen up. I have my breakfast with my family between 8.30 am and 9 am which consists of an omelette of five egg whites with a bowl of muesli or oats and three slices of brown bread with peanut butter. I leave for work around 10am.

NOON At 12 noon, I have any fruit or a glass of fruit juice. I have my lunch around 2pm that usually is a mix of dal, curd, chicken curry, leafy vegetables and two chapatis with salad including lettuce, tomato, cucumber, capsicum and carrot. When I am travelling, I try to avoid processed food and eat healthy.

EVENING Between 4.30pm and 5pm, I have mix sprouts after coming back home from work. I take a little nap and then get ready for my workout. The hit the gym around 7pm and before that, I have a banana and an apple. The workout lasts for an hour where I mainly focus on strengthening and endurance. I also do functional training once a week. Post the workout,

EXPERT SPEAK You seem to be very focused on your fitness and diet. Meanwhile there a few points to keep in mind. Try to add some good quality of fat like Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Though because of your high metabolic rate you take extra carbs, so try to increase protein quantity.

Also have protein before your workout.

I have an orange or another apple along with a protein shake.

NIGHT I eat my dinner at 9pm sharp which consists of one chapati and boiled chicken along with some more fresh salad. I drink around four-five litres of water in a day and have enough protein and vitamins required for my body. I also have a bit extra carbs as my metabolism is very high.

I usually have my cheat day on Sunday when I eat everything I wished for during the week. I have a sweet tooth, so I have many pastries and cakes and also have street food on my cheat day.

Also it gives a boost to work harder on my body the next day.

MILIND’S FITNESS MANTRA • Healthy eating is the backbone of fitness.

So try to eat more of organic and unprocessed foods and maintain a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins • Don’t overdo your workout as it may drain your body’s energy and make you sloppy the next day. Always stretch after the workout. It helps you relax your muscles and increases the blood flow and flexibility • Take sufficient rest. Rest is necessary so that the muscles can repair, rebuild and strengthen heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Look stunning this Diwali

H

ere are some trendy tips by Designer Ritu Seksaria which will make your look like a diva this Diwali While you are busy arranging and preparing the house this festival, take a break and rev up your wardrobe to look your gorgeous best for the evening.

• Bright colours go really well during festivals. Diwali should be celebrated wearing eye-catching colours like tangerine, fuschia, red and violet.

• Go traditional with a twist of modern trend. Wear a beautiful red or green saree with a brocade pallu and team it up with a well fitting halter neck blouse. You can opt for something classier like a sheer saree in monochromes, and accessorise it with diamonds and pearls. One can never go wrong with them.

-Go for accessories that maintain the essence of Diwali.

Wear a gorgeous gold bracelet and a lovely choker and jhumkas in gold and Ritu Seksaria precious stones.

• A mid-riff baring choli and a low-cut lehenga does seem to up the style quotient. Try a simple lehenga with an embroidered dupatta.

• It is very important to wear a cut that fits you well and accentuates the right parts of your body. Minimal makeup and a neat hairdo will complete your look and you’re all set to enjoy your the evening with friends.

As told to Heena Grover Menon

TGS LIFE NOVEMBER 7, 2015 PUNE

BUZZ Pune girl, Amruta Khanvilkar, has come a long way from the time she came third in the reality show Zee India’s Best Cinestars ki Khoj

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

he year started off with her getting married. Next, she won the reality TV show Nach Baliye. Then she garnered appreciation for her upcoming film, Katyar Kaljat Ghusli and she got the opportunity to be part of the first episode of Amitabh Bachan’s show, Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi, She is now shooting for One Way Ticket, the first Marathi film ever to be shot on a cruise. For Amruta Khanvilkar, 2015 has been full of surprises and good news. Just before she boarded the cruise sailing off for her next shoot, Amruta found time to share highlights

‘Zareena is one of the best roles I have ever played’ her acting journey as well as her character in Katyar Kaljat Ghusli.

Playing a Muslim girl, Zareena, in her upcoming film, Amruta is positive of the film doing well. The film is based on one of the most memorable sangeet nataks of all time. With a little bit of creative freedom and technological advancement, the movie has been able to capture the kind of magic that is not possible with the limitations of the stage. “Shooting the film took around two years and through this time my patience has been truly tested. Playing Zareena has been a challenge even though I am a lot like her. It needed me to be innocent, emotional, yet every part had to define my role and

make me look confident. Just like me, Zareena stands up for what is right and fights when she sees that something is wrong. I will always be grateful that Subodh Bhave thought me worthy of this role,” says Amruta. The film is Subodh’s directorial debut and Amruta believes that his knack to pick the right people for the roles will prove to be the reason for his success, apart from his logical and practical directorial skills.

There was nothing about the script that Amruta did not like when it was offered to her and so there was no reason to say no to the project. Films like this are made just once, she adds. Her character in the film is responsible for building an confident image of

It’s not the age but the role that matters The pretty telly actress Pallavi Subhash talks about her only passion — acting

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

T

o spread awareness about dental care and oral hygiene, Pallavi was in town to meet children as part of a commercial initiative. Besides the sparkling smile, the actress is also basking in the glory of her current television show, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, which is topping TRP charts.

Pallavi couldn’t have been in a happier space.

From popular TV ads to Marathi and Hindi soaps, the 31-year-old says she is in one of the happiest phases of her career and the role of King Ashoka’s mother, Dharma, is the best thing to have happened to her.

When quizzed about playing a mother at such a young age, Pallavi says it’s the role and the script that matters to her more than anything else. The fact that she has been given an opportunity to illustrate such an important character is only going to help her build her acting graph, she claims. “I have played a mother in previous projects but playing Dharma was a lot more challenging and exciting as it made me push my limits to perform better as an actor. I am thankful that the entire team believed in me,” she says.

There’s a dream role for every actor but for Pallavi just acting is all that matters. “I just want to keep doing meaningful and substantial roles no matter if it is television or films. Acting is my biggest passion and I am content with the way my career is moving.

I like to take one step at a time, so when a great film and role comes my way, I will be more than happy to portray it. For now, I just want to concentrate on what I have in hand and give it my hundred percent.”

Besides acting, Pallavi says she is just a girl next door who finds joy in the little things that life has to offer. She enjoys staying home and spending quality time with her family. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

her. Apart from the film, Amruta was also seen on Amitabh Bachchan’s show Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi and it turned into an experience she would cherish for life. “Amitabhji has always been a role model and someone who I admire a lot. Being in his presence was a great feeling. I was completely mesmerised by just being around him,” says Amruta who couldn’t stop praising the actor. Winner of Nach Baliye, Amruta believes that the reality

show has helped Himanshoo Malhotra and her discover things about themselves that has not only made them better people but also strengthened their relationship.

She, however, assures us that the saas-bahu serials are not meant for her and that is something she will never take up.

Amruta’s film, Katyar Kaljat Ghusli is slated to release on November 13. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com