www.visionasia.co.nz
April 2014
Ileana D’Cruz
Carving a niche for herself
Kangana Ranaut The Queen of talent
Aamir Khan Social crusader
Arjun Kapoor
The new-age Bollywood hunk
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Speaking Frankly
Ileana D’cruz has had a tough journey from her debut film Devadasu in the south to her latest Bollywood release Main Tera Hero opposite Varun Dhawan. The southern superstar, a former model turned actress, has successfully conquered the audiences with her looks and talent, be it in the south or in Bollywood. Her dream debut in Bollywood with the Anurag Basu directed Barfi!, opposite Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, turned out to be a major commercial and critical success, earning her a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and a nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. In an exclusive interview with Vision Asia, the upcoming, talented actress talks of her varied interests and beliefs, her experiences working with different co-stars, upcoming movies, and her journey so far. Vision Asia has an interesting line up of programs for you in April, with a pick of reality shows across channels. Popular reality show DID Lil’ Masters, which features talented youngsters showcasing their dance moves, is back with Season 3 on Zee TV. Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega is back on the small screen on Sony, after a hiatus of 2.5 years. Anu Malik and Farah Khan return as judges to this show, which gives contestants 30 seconds to dazzle the audience with their unique talent. Sony also debuts a new show – Encounter, inspired by true events of encounters between criminals and the cops that chase them; with Manoj Bajpai as the presenter of the series. Welcome 2 - Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki is back on Life OK with season 2, this time featuring amateur chefs pitted against each other in a battle to be crowned the best dinner party host. Diya Aur Baati Hum & Saath Nibhana Saathiya on Star Plus and Jodha Akbar on Zee TV continue to rule the roost for daily shows. Among the newer shows to watch out for are Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya on Zee TV, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein on Star Plus and Beintehaa on Colors. Super hit movies to watch out for this month include Boss, R. Rajkumar, Singh Sahab the Great, Gori Tere Pyaar Main, Murder 3, Aashiqui 2, Ghanchakkar, Aurangzeb, Talaash. Classics include Kashmir Ki Kali, Guddi, Half Ticket, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Deewar, Karz.
CREDITS Editor Sandra Noronha Associate Editor Manishaa Rajender Mandlecha Writers Subhash Jha, Jasbir Kaur, Manishaa Rajender Mandlecha Designer Dharmendra Jangid Images Image Clicker CONTACT US Vision Asia NZ Ltd 44 Roma Road, Mount Roskill Auckland 1041, New Zealand ADVERTISING LIAISON Bhavin Ladani bhavin@visionasia.co.nz Tel: 021 733 636 Auckland Help Desk Tel (ALL NZ): 0508 933 546 Tel (AUCKLAND): 09 621 0520 Fax: 09 629 4852 www.visionasia.co.nz feedback@visionasia.co.nz
For our Tamil viewers, Star Vijay launches Olli Belly - a new & innovative reality show featuring 14 contestants in their quest to become fit and healthy. We wish all our viewers a happy Mahavir Jayanti, Baisakhi, Vishu, Ram Navami, and Easter. We would like to hear from you, do write to us on feedback@visionasia.co.nz Team Vision Asia
MPA Associate Member (NZ) MPA Associate Member
CONTENTS
12 COVER STORY
“I would be any day excited to work with Salman Khan.” Ileana D’cruz
4
Previews
8
Numeroscope
10
Quick Updates
22
Travel
26
Fitness
32
Nostalgia
36
Glitz & Glamour
Films to watch out for
Birthday predictions of stars
A peek into B-town’s latest happenings
The pristine beaches of Castries
Siddharth Malhotra
Mala Sinha
What are Bollywood celebs upto?
PREVIEW
Vision Asia previews films to watch out for in the months ahead.
Revolver Rani Vir and Kangana - an unusual pair create curiosity The upcoming movie Revolver Rani, slated to release on 25thApril, has an unusual lead pair Kangana Ranaut and Vir Das. Kangana Ranaut will be seen as a quirky, cool, politically active local goon who walks and talks with guns easier than with words, while Vir plays a toy boy who tries to woo Rani (Kangana) for his ulterior motives. But what’s got people talking is the unusual and fresh pairing of Vir Das and Kangana in the movie. Kangana is already creating a buzz this year with her performance in Queen and before we know it, she is back again in a yet another unconventional role in Revolver Rani. While Vir has been doing small roles or multi-starrers in the past, he will be seen as the main lead and romancing a lead actress for the first time on screen. Both are known to have a niche fan following, which will really be a treat for the audiences. So let’s wait to watch how the chemistry between the humorist and the fashionista sizzles on the big screen.
Bhootnath Returns The film is horror comedy drama film and features Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. Sr. Bachchan returns to play the role of a ghost in the film, which also features Boman Irani in a key role. The film is a hilarious take on the prevalent political issues and sees Amitabh Bachchan as the friendly ghost who contests in local elections. Shah Rukh Khan also appears for a cameo in the film. Bhootnath Returns is slated for an 11 April release.
4 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
2 States The film is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel of the same name. 2 States is a love story of a couple, Krish Malhotra and Ananya Swaminathan, who meet at IIT Ahmedabad and fall in love. Problems gradually begin creeping up after the couple decide to get married, because Krish and Ananya come from different states of the country, and have drastically different backgrounds. The film stars Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhat in the lead roles and is scheduled to release on 18 April.
B-BUZZ
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014
5
6 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
B-BUZZ
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014
7
NUMEROSCOPE
Star birthdays and the year ahead Ace astro-numerologist Bhavikk Sangghvi predicts what the future holds in store for actors Varun Dhawan and Ajay Devgn on the eve of their 27th and 45th birthdays.
Ajay Devgn
Varun Dhawan Varun’s numbers Born on 24th April 1987, Varun is a Number 6 person in numerology. Being a Taurean, he is once again ruled by the number 6 (Venus), while his destiny number adds up to Number 8 (Saturn).
Ajay’s numbers Born on 2nd April 1969, Ajay is a Number 2 (Moon) person in numerology. Being an Arian, he is also ruled by the number 9 (Mars) while his destiny number adds up to Number 4 (Rahu). Being ruled by Number 2, he is also ruled by Number 7 (Ketu) as these two numbers always go hand in hand. His personality Being a Number 2, Ajay is creatively inclined and also a moody person. While he is soft spoken and family oriented on one side, the Mars effect makes him hyper, temperamental and aggressive at times. That also explains his expertise in action and stunts. Mars also makes him adventurous but he should be careful as he is also accident prone. The presence of Rahu (his destiny number) will make him indecisive. As a result, he will always be in two minds when taking decisions. What the stars predict for him this year Ajay will now be entering his 46th year which indicates that he will be back with a vengeance. His next release Action Jackson will set the cash registers ringing while Singham 2 will go even further in making new records at the box office. Even on the personal front, he will be able to take time off for his family and fulfill other personal commitments. Remedies to beat the blues Wearing a Hessonite on his middle finger on a Saturday night (at exactly two hours after sunset) will help him to take the right decisions and remain better focused.
8 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
His personality Thanks to the Venus factor, Varun has a charismatic personality which will attract people, mainly from the opposite sex. He will undoubtedly remain popular not only in his youth, but at a much older age too, which will prove a big plus point for him. Also, he will be blessed with a luxurious lifestyle all his life. However, he must keep a tab on his spending habits as he may go overboard with his expenses and can make frivolous purchases. While Venus will give him all the goodies, Varun cannot overlook the Saturn influence. The fact that he chose to go the hard way by becoming an assistant director instead of being comfortably launched in his father, David Dhawan’s commercial potboiler justifies the Saturn effect on his life. What the stars predict for him this year Varun will now be entering his 28th year which indicates mixed results for the otherwise talented actor. His upcoming release, Main Tera Hero directed by his father David Dhawan, will do decent business at the box office. His performance will also be appreciated by audiences and critics in his next release, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, but he will have to share the credit with his co-star Alia Bhatt. On the romantic front, he is likely to face problems. His astro-charts suggest that he should wait for at least one more year before he enters into any commitment in a relationship as the time is just not good for him to get involved. Remedies to beat the blues Wearing a Blue Sapphire (only after testing) on his middle finger will ensure that his passion for his profession stays alive and he achieves super stardom in a comparatively lesser amount of time, with the same amount of hard work.
B-BUZZ
Sonam has no qualms about wearing a bikini anymore She has always shied away from wearing a bikini so it was a pleasant surprise to see Sonam Kapoor s flaunting a bikini in her recently released film, Bewakoofiyan. While the film and Sonam Kapoor’s bikini look, proved of little consequence at the box-office, there was curiosity about what prompted Sonam to take the daring step. When quizzed about it the actress promptly replied that she took up the challenge because she did not want anything to hold her back as an actor. “I did this for myself and not because everyone else was seen wearing a bikini in their films. I want to grow as an actor and do better work. I don’t want anything to hold me back as an actor. Besides, I was not keen on wearing a biking earlier as I was not in shape to wear one. I feel confident about my body now that I have managed to shed all the fat.” Sonam is now looking forward to her forthcoming films, Khoobsurat and Dolly Ki Doli. “They are entertaining and good roles.” she reveals.
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014
9
Quick Updates
I C
urrent heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor is said to have declined the offer to host the reality show Big Boss. According to reports, Ranbir is not eager to take up the show as he does not want to get into any undue controversy with Salman Khan, who has refused to host the next season of the show. There have already been rumours about a cold war between Ranbir and Salman, ever since the former started dating Katrina Kaif. 10 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
A
fter setting the screen on fire with her moves in item songs like ‘ Fevicol Se’ and ‘Halkat Jawani’, Kareena Kapoor Khan is all set to do another item song in Gabbar. Directed by Krrish and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gabbar is the Hindi remake of Tamil film Ramana made by A.R. Murugadoss. The movie will see Akshay Kumar paired with the gorgeous Shruti Hassan for the first time.
f things work out, director Rohit Shetty may well take the initiative in bringing Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan together once again. The hot-shot director who whose films invariably make a business of Rs 100 crores and above at the box-office, recently expressed a keen desire to cast the two Khans in the Hindi version of ‘Bad Boys’, a hit Hollywood film. Shetty revealed this in an episode of the popular TV chat show Koffee with Karan. Shah Rukh and Salman were last seen together in Karan Arjun’(1995), after which their relations soured over an incident.
Quick Updates
A A
ctor Randeep Hooda who was last seen in Highway will be seen playing the role of Charles Sobhraj in Main Aur Charles. The actor has been working on the nuances of the character ever since and has even learnt to speak in a French accent to give the character an authentic feel. Sources reveal that Randeep has also been interacting with French people to adapt to that style of speaking. Main Aur Charles completed an extensive shooting schedule in Bangkok recently.
Y
ami Gautam will be seen playing an old world princess from a Raja Ravi Varma painting in Aabhi Jaa, the music video of ace music composer A R Rahman’s just released album, Raunaq. The actress, who recently shot for the video in Chennai, was transformed into a South Indian bride for the video. Needless to add, she was delighted when she got an opportunity to work with the Oscar winning composer.
ctor Sushant Singh Rajput has been signed to essay the role of Indian cricket captain, MS Dhoni in a film to be directed by Neeraj Pandey. According to reports, Sushant has already started working on his role in the biopic, which is said to have been officially approved by the legendary cricketer. The biopic will be a true account on Dhoni’s life and will trace his journey from a small-town boy to the captain of the Indian cricket team. The film is expected to go on the floors in early 2015.
T S
ony Pictures India has selected actor Vivek Oberoi to be the Hindi voice of the main villain, Max Dillon aka Electro, in the Hollywood blockbuster The Amazing Spider Man 2, which releases on May 1st. In the original English version, Electro is played by Oscar winning actor, Jamie Foxx. Vivek, who last played the super villain Kaal in Krrish 3, is excited at the offer.
I
mran Khan has opted out of Vikramaditya Motwane’s Bhavesh Joshi, a socio-drama about a Gujarati immigrant in Mumbai. The film was scheduled to begin shooting in February this year but it was delayed since Imran wanted to spend time with his wife Avantika, who is expecting a baby. Imran was last seen in Gori Tere Pyaar Mein opposite Kareena Kapoor, but the film did not meet with the expected response at the box-office.
here is considerable curiosity about Salman Khan’s character in Rajshri Productions upcoming film to be directed by Sooraj Barjatiya. The latest reports suggest that the film will be tentatively titled Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Salman Khan’s character will be once again called Prem in the film. It may be recalled that Salman essayed three different characters of the same name in Barjatya’s Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain, all of which made box-office history. Later Salman went on to play Prem in films like No Entry, Biwi No. 1 and Ready. www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 11
Cover Story
It has been a
herculean
task making it in Bollywood
I don’t take up any and every role that is offered to me. 12 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
Cover Story
She had a dream debut in Bollywood with her first Hindi film, Barfi!, after which south sensation, Ileana, was seen with Shahid Kapoor in Phata Poster Nikla Hero. Ileana is now looking forward to her third film, Main Tera Hero, with Varun Dhawan in the lead. The actress, who is working hard on consolidating her position in Bollywood, speaks about her films and her chemistry with her co-stars here.
Main Tera Hero is your third film in Bollywood. How was the experience working with a different hero each time, Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and now Varun Dhawan? Working with different heroes gives you an opportunity to work on your acting skills differently. On the other hand, you interact with each of your co-stars on a different level. Varun is fun-loving, laid back and energetic. He is also focussed. Shahid I didn’t get to talk to as much because there was no link in the film. Shahid Kapoor is fun in life but we didn’t interact much as he was busy. Also, Ranbir Kapoor is so different from Shahid Kapoor. For me, each film was a novel experience.
Who were you most comfortable with working among your three co-stars? I find Varun amazing. He’s very inspiring and is willing to do anything for the good of the film. I hit it off very well with Varun from the very first day. We are of the same age and he is more like a college buddy. My equation and chemistry with him is on a different level. Weren’t you apprehensive about the fact that Varun would hog the spotlight, since the film has also been directed by his father? This is not a path-breaking film. It is a lighthearted film, where you can enjoy yourself. That is why it didn’t matter to me which character would dominate the screen. While Nargis Fakhri is said to have worn the choicest bikinis in Main Tera Hero, you are not seen sporting a bikini in any film so far? That depends on the demands of the character. If a role requires me to don a bikini, I have no issues. The only hitch would be that I would like to work on my body for at least six months before facing the camera. I am very self conscious of my body. Also, I am a shy girl and have still not come out my shell when it comes to certain things.
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 13
Cover Story
How was your equation with your co-star Nargis Fakhri during the making of the film? Nargis and I spent a lot of time interacting during the shooting of the film. The two of us shared a great rapport and have been in touch even after the completion of the film. Nargis is jet- setting all the time. We do catch up but we don’t always get time. We keep in touch with each other though. How was it working with David Dhawan? He is a lot older like my dad. David is a very warm person and very family oriented.
His wife and his other son, Rohit would often visit the sets and we would all have a fun time. He would call me a kamini because I am a big prankster but the truth is that he was the biggest prankster on the sets. That apart, he is quite young at heart. He is like a child. Women-oriented films seem to be the new flavor of Bollywood. Are you looking at doing such a role? I don’t have a check list and I don’t approach people with that kind of perception. I always go by the director’s perception. That’s why I kept asking Anurag why he chose me for Barfi!. I am open to doing glamourous roles and I have done several such roles down south. I am only particular that I do not take up any insignificant role. What was your reaction when Amitabh Bachchan complimented you after watching Barfi!? I was on cloud nine. Coming from a person of his stature it was so humbling. He is so energetic and enthusiastic at his age. It is so inspiring. I have not gotten over that compliment even today. You do not seem to be a great dance enthusiast. You were not seen performing dances in your past two films either. I am not trained in dancing though I can dance very well if I am required to. My first love is music and if I do get an opportunity to sing and act in any film, I would like to give it a try. Have you finally managed to learn Hindi? I can understand Hindi, the language was never a problem but I can’t think in Hindi. I have grown up studying in a convent school so I have a tendency to think in English. The first thought that comes to my mind will always be in English but I am trying to change my thought process now. I am trying to think like all other Bollywood actors.
I love my job but if things don’t work out for me tomorrow, I will pack my bags and leave. 14 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
You were said to be the highest paid star in the south at one point. Now reports suggest that you are commanding an equally hefty price in Bollywood too. I am not aware of the other star prices but I do feel that I deserve what I earn. I have made it on my own and worked my way up in my career. Which are your forthcoming films? Are there any films lined up in the south? I am doing a romantic comedy, Happy Ending, directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K,
Cover Story
If I start worrying about my fans and image, I will lose my identity.
in which I have been paired with Saif Ali Khan. As of now, I have not signed any film in the south. Working in a film here takes far more time so I am concentrating on one film at a time. For me it has been a herculean task making it in Bollywood. I am practically new here and still understanding the norms of the industry. Don’t you think your fans will miss you there? If I start worrying about my fans and image, I will lose my identity. I do reciprocate their love, but I would not like my decisions to be influenced by other factors. It is rumoured that Salman Khan has recommended your name for Sooraj Barjatya’s next. I am not aware of any such development but I would be any day excited to work with Salman and other big names in the industry. If I am indeed considered for a role in the film, I’d be delighted. What is your criterion for choosing roles? I don’t take up any and every role that is offered to me. I need to like the script. I listen to the story in its entirety. I don’t just focus on my role. In order to be a successful actress, you have to be diverse and mould yourself into any character just like clay in the hands of a potter. You need to have a good director too. There are other perks of
working with a good director, one of them being that you get to work with actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and now Varun. You have not been linked with any of your co-stars yet? I show my chemistry on screen but off screen I interact on a different level. They say there’s no smoke without fire when there are stories about link ups. I have not been attracted to any of my co-stars yet. What are the qualities you seek in your ideal man? I would like a man who is genuine, truthful, chivalrous and honest. I am not certain whether any of the actors I have worked with meet those expectations but I can definitely say Varun is a good man and is someone whom I am close to. Are you a spiritual person in real life? How do you de-stress? I believe that each of us has an inherent power in our souls. My father is a Goan Christian and my mother a Muslim, but I am not strict about pursuing one particular religion. I go to the Mosque as well as the Church and Temple. I try to seek peace from within. I find cooking therapeutic too. I cook to de-stress. I make continental food and biryani.
The industry is said to be an insecure place with fortunes swinging between success and failure from Friday to Friday. How do you look at this aspect? I am not at all insecure. I love my job but if things don’t work out for me tomorrow, I will pack my bags and leave. I can’t hang on to the tag of a successful actress forever. I am aware that I will have to give up the job some day. Every actor has to realize that acting is something that is not going to last forever. By S. Bhagat www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 15
Cover Story
Ileana D’cruz-
the journey
from Devadasu to Main Tera Hero
Her first name Ileana comes from Greek mythology, meaning Helen of Troy, which aptly applies to southern siren, Ileana D’cruz. The former model turned actress, successfully conquered the audiences with her looks and talent, be it in the south or in Bollywood. Vision Asia takes a look at Ileana’s success story. 16 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
Cover Story
I would be any day excited to work with Salman and other big names in the industry The early years
Her Bollywood debut
Born in Mumbai on 1st November, 1987, Ileana was brought up in Mumbai in a multicultural environment. Her father, who worked as a mechanical draftsman in Mumbai, was a Catholic, while her mother was a Muslim. Ileana has two sisters and a brother who are not into films. When she was 10 years old, the family relocated to Parra, Goa. She did her Higher Secondary education in Goa in St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School and College, Mapusa, Goa. Ileana got her first modelling assignment at the age of 17. The manager of the hotel in which her mother worked suggested that she had an attractive personality and fixed a meeting with leading model, Marc Robinson. While she was not very successful in her first portfolio, her second one helped her bag three advertisements from Electrolux, Emami Talc and Fair & Lovely.
After completing almost 15 Telugu and two Tamil films, Ileana got her big break in Bollywood when director Anurag Basu saw her and offered her a role in his Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer, Barfi!. Prior to that, Ileana was said to have been approached for the female lead in Wanted (the remake of her Telugu hit Pokiri) opposite Salman Khan, but she refused it.
Her debut in films It was while she was doing her modeling stint that Ileana was spotted by south director Teja and called for an audition. The very reluctant girl was persuaded by her mother to go ahead. However the project did not materialize. Instead Ileana was offered the lead role in a Telugu film, Devadasu, directed by Y.V.S. Chowdhary. The film turned out to be the first major commercial success of the year and Ileana was an overnight sensation in Tollywood. It also won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debutant. That was followed by the immensely successful Pokiri, which emerged as the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time. In the film, Ileana played an aerobics teacher, who is harassed by a corrupt police officer. Later she appeared in many commercially successful movies like Jalsa, Kick and Julayi which established her as one of Tollywood’s leading actresses. During this phase, Ileana worked as the leading lady to some of the most popular actors in Southern film industry like Junior NTR, Siddharth, Allu Arjun, Rana Daggubati and others. She also made her debut in Tamil films with Kedi. Apart from this, she also did a cameo in the Kannada film Huduga Hudugi.
Ileana took up her first Hindi film, Barfi! at a time when she was the highest paid actress in the south. In the film, she portrayed the character of Shruti Ghosh, a girl who leaves her true love for material comforts. The film proved to be a major commercial and critical success and Ileana’s performance was applauded earning her a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and a nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her next film Phata Poster Nikla Hero also proved to be an above average success. Ileana is now set for her third release in Bollywood, Main Tera Hero opposite Varun Dhawan. She will also be seen sharing screen space with Nargis Fakhri. Her forthcoming films: Ileana’s next release will be Happy Ending, in which she has been paired with Saif Ali Khan for the first time. Ileana will be seen in the role of an Indian writer in the film. The film has been extensively shot in California. Apart from that, she has also been confirmed for a role opposite Imran Khan in Nikhil Advani’s yet untitled film. Recent reports also suggest that Ileana is being considered for a film with Aamir Khan. Her personal life: Unlike the other actresses, Ileana has never got involved with any of her costars either in the south or in Bollywood. She has always kept her professional and personal life apart. The only other news about her romantic life is that she has been dating an Australian photographer named Andrew. However she refuses to talk about her personal life and feels that it is strictly personal and private. She insists that it is
only her work that matters to her more than anything else. Her endorsements and business interests: The actress has several endorsements to her credit, prominent among them being Forever Precious Jewellery and Clear. She also owns a chain of restaurants (the “Fat D’Cruz Burger” chain) in New Delhi, a football team (the Mumbai Angels) and has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderd’Cruz - India). She also launched her own top-selling perfume (With Love from Ileana) and a fashion line called Ileana D’Cruz Seduction.
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 17
ENCOUNTER
write I would like to
direct &
a film one day
With no Godfather to look out for her in the industry, Kangna Ranaut started off with films like Gangster and fought her way to the top despite fierce opposition. In her latest performance in Queen, in the role of a girl who rediscovers her true identity, Kangana has consolidated her position as an actress par excellence. In a candid chat with Vision Asia, the actress talks about her life, her growth as an actress and where she sees herself today.
18 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
ENCOUNTER
I still miss the peaceful life in my hometown, where the whole family would sit together in the evening and quietly watch the beautiful sunset.
You seem to be on a career high with the kind of appreciation you are getting for your performances, the latest being Queen. Looking back are you satisfied with the way your career has progressed? It has been almost eight years since I first made my debut with Gangster. For some time, I continued to get the same kind of roles and it took me a while to get out of the slot. While Fashion made a difference, it was the romantic comedy Tanu Weds Manu that helped me to partially come out of the dark and intense image that I came to acquire. Krrish 3 was also an experiment in that direction. All this while, I worked hard on my roles. Even when I took up the role in Queen, I practically lived the role of Rani off-screen too. I lived in her clothes and tried to lead her life. To be honest, it has taken a lot of hard work to get to the place I stand today. Queen is the inspiring journey of a woman. How well did you relate to the role? Queen is not particularly the story of one girl. It could be the story of any girl for that matter. There comes a point in our lives when we lose confidence in our abilities and stop respecting ourselves. In this case, the girl loses her self-esteem and confidence and decides to set out on her own journey alone. Her spirit evolves through the journey. I could relate to the character really well. I come from a social system where girls are not allowed to talk loudly, laugh or even ask a question.
There was a time when you were going through a turbulent phase in your personal and professional life during your initial days. Did it ever occur to you to quit the industry and go back? It has happened several times in the past, when I simply felt like packing up my bags and leaving everything behind. But that had nothing to do with my professional and personal problems. I still miss the peaceful life in my hometown, where the whole family would sit together in the evening and quietly watch the beautiful sunset. Life in Mumbai is very stressful in comparison. There are no open spaces and the city is noisy. But you have to lose something to achieve success. What stopped you from going ahead? It was my dream that prevented me from taking any hasty decisions. I had left home against my parents’ wishes to fulfill my dreams. I wanted to achieve what I had set out to do. That was about ten years ago. Now I am enjoying the struggle called life. Today I may rank way below the other actresses here but I have my own vision and I may not be wrong. Why haven’t you worked with Aditya Chopra as yet? He has his own school of thought. He has talented actors like Anushka Sharma and Parineeti Chopra. I think he’s quite selfsufficient and does not need any other actors. Even for Mardani they approached Rani Mukherjee. If she had refused the film, they would have probably approached me.
Whom do you consider competition in the industry-Anushka, Parineeti or the latest entrant Alia Bhatt? I don’t see any competition because I have my own distinct identity in the industry. Competition comes in to the picture when you invade someone else’s space and grab roles. Anushka is nice and Parineeti is quite talented too. I liked Alia Bhatt in Highway too.
When I took up the role in Queen I practically lived the role of Rani offscreen too. www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 19
ENCOUNTER
Today I may rank way below the other actresses here but I have my own vision and I may not be wrong.
Do you feel that the heroines in the industry get a raw deal in comparison to the heroes who walk away with the meatier roles and better prices? It is not just about heroes. It is always the men who end up getting a better deal in our films, whether it is the assistant directors, music composers or technicians. Fortunately, the perspective towards women is changing of late. Female centric films are now doing well and filmmakers are relying on actresses to carry films on their shoulders. Your foray into the film industry was built upon rebelliousness at home. Are you still as rebellious about your desires?
What do you do when you don’t get what you want? I rebelled when I did not get what I wanted. I was young and naïve at that time. Now I am independent. I have my own house and car. I am responsible for my own actions. I only rebel when it comes to my work and roles. I keep looking for exciting roles. You do not seem to have too many friends in the industry, nor do you participate in social dos. Are you cautious about socializing? There’s hardly any time for socializing when you are busy with acting. Apart from that, I have not made too many friends here. I do have friends from outside the industry. People here are not very friendly as most of them think that their work will be snatched away the moment you get friendly to them. Priyanka Chopra is among my few friends in the industry. Apart from that, I spend my free time watching Hollywood films. I don’t like to dance in weddings or attend parties either. I don’t like to indulge in empty gossip. Do you have dreams other than acting? I have always dreamt that I will write and direct my own film one day. That’s one of the reasons I enrolled for a course in scriptwriting at the New York Film Academy. I would also like to visit different countries and study their culture and language. Besides this, I love cooking, doing laundry, washing dishes, all of which I enjoyed doing in New York. What according to you is the number one quality that a person needs if he or she has to survive in films? Good looks are not a prerequisite to succeed as an actor. I can cite names of several good looking actors who cannot act. Looks can be cultivated by grooming but talent is inborn. It is important to have the charisma or the so called X-factor to make it in films and survive here. What would you say is the best and the worst part about being an actor in Bollywood? The best part of being an actor is that you can connect with so many people. Whenever I travel I meet people who come and hug me lovingly and talk about my work. The worst part is that you lose your privacy. There are times when you are not in the best state of mind but people still expect you to put in your best behavior when they greet you. By S. Bhagat
20 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
B-BUZZ
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 21
travel
Castries Captivating
It is difficult to find a more photogenic setting than Castries, the charming capital of Saint Lucia. This port city in the Caribbean Sea is bustling with life, with the market area at the heart of all activities. Flock to the market for a shopper’s paradise or take in panoramic vistas, historical architecture and pristine beaches to enjoy all that Castries has to offer.
Petit Pitons and Gros Pitons of St. Lucia 22 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
travel
Castries is the capital of Saint Lucia, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Saint Lucia is located in the West Indies and is one of the Windward Islands. The island is in the sub-tropic climate so it has hot summers and warm winters. With the trade winds, the weather is usually very nice year round. The island itself is volcanic and is therefore more mountainous than most Caribbean islands. It has one main mountain called Mount Gimie, but is more famous for the twin peaks called the Pitons. Tourism is the main industry in Castries and the people are very warm and friendly. Besides being a major cruise ship port, Castries is serviced by Vigie Airport, or Hewanorra International Airport. There is helicopter service between the two airports. There is also a ferry service between Castries and Fort-de-France on nearby Martinique. Even though the island is mountainous, Castries is built in the lowlands on reclaimed land next to a sheltered harbor. Cruise ships dock at nearby Pointe Seraphine almost daily for the duty free shopping. There are plenty of taxi services to take you into Castries, on tours of the island or
to visit other areas. There is also a water taxi service that runs between the port and the city. Most of the hotels on the island are near Castries so finding a place to stay is rarely a problem. One favorite local hotel is Windjammer Landing. There are some historic landmarks in the city, such as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a beautiful old church, La Toc Battery, and Fort Charlotte. But the main reason people come to Castries and Saint Lucia is the beautiful beaches. There are several in or near Castries and the entire island is dotted with lovely secluded beaches, some of which are accessible only by boat. There is also a bus service which runs throughout the island and is a good, inexpensive way to tour the island. For great sightseeing, get a taxi up to Morne Fortune, a hill overlooking Castries, which provides a panoramic view of the city and the bay. For the shoppers, there are many duty free shopping areas at Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carinage, which carries jewelry, electronics, and fragrances from all over the world. For more local flavor, visit some of the out of the way shops located behind
A secluded beach in St. Lucia
this main tourist area, or catch one of the local buses to one of the nearby villages. Restaurants can be found serving local food and great seafood, as well as international cuisine from Chinese to French. For some local flavor, take a tour to nearby Marquis Estate, an old banana plantation. The tour includes a boat ride on the Marquis River as well as a driving tour along the coast. The tour usually also stops by a local sugar mill. Off the coast is the beautiful clear Caribbean Sea which is a great place to go snorkeling or diving. If you want a fun, relaxing vacation on a beautiful, scenic island full of warm and friendly people, visit Castries on the island of Saint Lucia.
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 23
24 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
Sonam Kapoor www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 25
Fitness
Fitness
helps you endure stress
If you have to please others at a party have a glass of good wine but refrain from over doing it; instead have a glass of water. It is important to respect your body. 26 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
Fitness
He captured the hearts of millions of girls with his baritone voice and lean physique in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year. The tall and handsome Siddharth Malhotra discusses his fitness regimen and how he has been working out to achieve the perfectly chiseled look for his forthcoming film, The Villain.
His Diet There was a time when Siddharth had no problems eating outside food on the sets. Being a hardcore non-vegetarian and a complete foodie, he would enjoy the lipsmacking and heavily loaded Punjabi delicacies. He decided to curtail it when he realized his diet was going haywire. “I decided that I needed to check the oil content in the food, so I got a cook who would take care of all my meals. My mother has trained my cook so he makes high protein meals for me.” Siddharth now has organic food with less sugar, salt and oil. “I also make it a point to drink a lot of water every day at regular intervals.” He admits that he does indulge in homemade sweets, dark chocolate or even low fat ice cream once a week. “But I don’t go beyond that. When I do have the craving for sweets, I satisfy myself with a piece of jaggery as it contains iron. I even munch on fruit.” Siddharth’s lunch generally consists of meat, chicken, fish and vegetables. “I ensure that I have proteins, carbohydrates and fiber in my diet. When I can’t have a meal, I make do with a good quantity of protein shakes,” he says. His workouts Siddharth admits that he has never skipped a single workout ever since he joined films. “That’s because I am very hyper and need to release my pent-up energy. I need to work out every day or else it makes me dull and lethargic,” he smiles.
Back home in Delhi, the actor admits to being a complete outdoor person. “I often played football as I was a sportsperson since childhood. That made up for all the physical activity. However, life in Mumbai is totally different so I stick to the gym as far as possible.” Siddharth’s workouts are planned according to the need of his roles and his trainer Satish Narkar takes care of his posture and flexibility. For instance, he admits to doing a lot of weight training for Student Of the Year as he needed to look lean and fit. The struggle with six-packs While he enjoys his exercise schedule, Siddharth admits he has a tough time when it comes to maintaining six-packs for a particular role. “It is quite a task maintaining six-packs since one needs to go off salt and follow a regular regimen of diet and exercises. I have the tendency to put on weight easily because I am shooting at odd hours and have no regular time to sleep or eat. It becomes difficult to maintain the right metabolism. Also, since I am prone to injuries I have been advised regular rest and eight hours of sleep by my trainer,” Siddharth reveals.
His advice to youngsters Since he is a youth icon, Siddharth advises youngsters to refrain from smoking and drinking. “If you have to please others at a party have a glass of good wine but refrain from over doing it; instead have a glass of water. It is important to respect your body.” He adds that one needs to be physically fit and mentally fit to deal with the pressures of life. “These days everyone is stressed out because of their work and lifestyle. Fitness helps you endure stress. So be regular in your meals, have good rest and drink lots of water. There is nothing like the feeling of being healthy and fit,” he signs off. www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 27
STRAIGHT TALK
I am
enjoying this phase of my career
28 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
STRAIGHT TALK
Initially, there were a lot of upheavals in my life including the loss of my mother and I was reserved for a long time.
On his the initial days of struggle
His last release Gunday did not prove to be a big box-office success but Arjun Kapoor was widely appreciated for his performance in the film. This three-film old actor has come up the hard way in his career, despite being the son of famed producer, Boney Kapoor. He is now looking forward to his next two releases - Two States and Finding Fanny Fernandes, besides his father’s production Tevar. Here the actor speaks about his work and his personal life.
When I did my first film Ishaqzaade, I had lost somebody that I had worked with and was grieving. I could not understand all the new found success as I had lost someone dear to me. Initially, there were a lot of upheavals in my life including the loss of my mother and I was reserved for a long time. Now I have come out of my shell and am comfortable with my profession. I am enjoying this phase of my career. On his forthcoming film 2 States I had signed 2 States when I signed Ishaqzaade. The film is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel of the same name. I have not yet read the book but I could connect to the character in the film. The characters I played in Ishaqzaade, Aurangzeb and even more recently in Gunday were not regular characters. I was always projected as the strong, gun-toting angry man in the roles I played so far. In 2 States, I will be seen as a cool young guy clad in jeans, T-shirt and glasses. Instead of guns, I will have flowers around as I travel across India to woo the girl I love. It is a lot like who I am in real life. On Gunday and his bromance with Ranveer: The film didn’t do too well as was expected but I enjoyed working on the film. It was my first buddy film and I enjoyed the experience of working with Ranveer Singh. I never looked at him as competition at any point of time. I believe that there are some things
he could do well and some things I could excel in. The audiences liked our pairing as well and we are looking forward to working together in the future too. Besides, I love ensemble films with a huge star cast. I am not adamant about working in solo-hero films. I look at the script and take a final call on a film. On his father’s production and why he wants to put in his level best for the film: I am working with my father for the first time in Tevar, which is a remake of a famous Telugu film, starring Mahesh Babu. I am a little tensed and nervous as this is also the first time I am working with my father. I have to prove myself to him. It’s a fun-loving character completely different from the angry young man image that I have come to acquire. This film will not be easy for me as I will have to outshine Mahesh Babu. I have also worked extensively on my looks and my physique for the film. On his equation with his uncle, Anil Kapoor: I have always been an ardent fan of my uncle, Anil Kapoor. He’s my first star and I am always in awe of him. We have sat down and had lunch together on so many occasions in my childhood days. I have watched all his films and he is aware of it.
Salman has seen me change and has always been there for me. www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 29
STRAIGHT TALK
Lately, Ranveer Singh’s infectious energy has rubbed off on me, which has also made me more open and talkative.
On the friendship he shares with his costars: I am friends with most of my co-stars as I was born here and got to know a lot of stars when I worked as an assistant director. I have danced and partied with almost everyone, though I am close to Ranveer Singh. We have known each other for the last six to eight years and we are comfortable discussing everything on earth, including our personal lives. I also have some friends who
have known me since my initial, struggling days and continue to support me. An actor’s relationship with friends and co-stars is all subject to individual beliefs. There are some actors who just believe in restricting their relations to work and don’t believe in making friends. On Salman Khan He is my friend and guide. He has seen me change and has always been there for me. He knows my passion for cinema. I have observed the way Salman conducts himself and how he approaches his work. He never gets affected by failure and success. Now that he is doing reality shows, people are getting to know him better. I have been lucky to be close to him and spend quality time with him. I am still trying to imbibe some of the good qualities he has. Salman has retained his core qualities with dignity and I want to be just like him. On his insecurities If there is anything I am anxious about, it is the feeling of not being able to put my best effort in my work. It worries me if people say I don’t know anything about acting. That would break me and that’s the fear I constantly have on my mind. That’s one of the reasons I work doubly hard for each of my roles. I love my profession. On his low-key and submissive image There’s an unfortunate perception that I am pretty docile. I can be as energetic on the sets as any other actor, but no one has commented on it. Lately, Ranveer’s infectious energy has rubbed off on me, which has also made me more open and talkative. Ranveer has been unfortunately misunderstood and people feel he is enthusiastic because he wants to attract attention, but that is how he is. Ranveer has been unabashedly funloving for the past 27 years of his life. I would like to take life with the same positive and fun-loving spirit. By S. Bhagat
30 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
b-buzz
Sunny Leone is open to doing television offers While her second film, Ragini MMS, hasn’t been able to create much excitement at the box-office despite all of her sex-appeal, Sunny Leone, is now looking at diversifying her career. The actress recently revealed that she is open to doing television serials and she would definitely take up a role on television if she was offered one. She also revealed in a media interaction that several years down the line she was looking at turning film producer and had set her sights on Bollywood. “I had my own company when I was 18. My husband also has his own company. We want to make films here but it will take time. I want to make a complete Bollywood venture a few years down the line,” Sunny disclosed. When quizzed whom she would like to cast as the hero, the actress said that she would love to cast Salman as the hero. “I am looking forward to working with him,” she said.
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 31
NOSTALGIA
my
My work was
holiday The box-office queen of yesteryears, Mala Sinha in a never-before-chat with Subhash K Jha.
I was known as ‘Baby Lata’ in Kolkata, where I spent my childhood. I never wanted to be an actress; I wanted to be a singer. I’d be called for singing at Durga Puja & birthday parties. I wasn’t a trained singer though. I had a god-gifted ability to sing. My father would bring home Lata-ji’s singles every day & I’d pick up the songs immediately. In those days, singles were released on wax records. How was I to know that one day Lata-ji would sing for me? Some of her best songs like Aapki nazron ne samjha, Neend kabhi rehti thi aankhon mein & Ja re ud ja re panchi were sung for me. I feel blessed. My life & my aspirations changed on the eve of my school’s annual day. A Bengali filmmaker Ardhedhu Bose spotted me at the event & expressed a desire to cast me as a child artist in Jog Biyog. Soon after, I started getting other Bengali offers. Fortunately, my school principal was very progressive. She generously allowed me to take time from school to act. School notes of the brightest student in my class were kept aside for me so I could catch up with my studies. Few people are aware that I am a Catholic by birth & my real name was Alda. Friends in school would teasingly call me ‘Dalda’ instead of ‘Alda’. Dalda used to be the favourite cooking medium then. Later, I was christened ‘Nazma’ for my movie career in Bengali films. Later it was changed to Baby Mala. 32 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
NOSTALGIA
I never negotiated with any producers. It was my father who would do it. I became Mala Sinha soon after I came to Mumbai & got a break with filmmaker Amiya Chakravarty The big break in Hindi films came in 1954 after I did my first photo-shoot at Orient Studios in Kolkata, where my picture was displayed. Amiya-saab spotted my picture & approached me to play the supporting role of a princess in the Pradeep Kumar starrer Badshah. Unfortunately, Badshah was an utter flop & my father decided that we should go back to Kolkatta. However his friend, Janki Das, who was a reputed character artist, told him not to give up hope. I got Kidar Sharma’s Rangeen Raatein soon after. It was the film’s heroine Geeta Bali who introduced me to her mentor Kidar Sharma. He was amazed how a girl who spoke Bengali at home spoke such fluent Hindi & Urdu.
Dhool Ka Phool was not the only bold role I did. In B R Chopra’s Gumrah I played a married woman in an extra-marital relationship. Subsequently, I became like a ghar ki beti in Chopra Saab’s films, just like I became like the resident heroine for Vijay Bhatt’s banner & for Ramanand Sagar’s banner. The Chopras even offered me Ittefaq with Rajesh Khanna but I had to refuse it because of date problems. That was one film I regret losing. Yash Chopra felt hurt that I had turned down a role for a banner that was like home to me. He never offered me another role.
My favourite co-star was Raj Kapoor He was so gifted & supportive. I had never seen such humility in any other great artist. Raj-saab & I did a classic Phir Subah Hogi 40 years ago. It’s still relevant today. It was about the poverty of the working class. Raj Kumar & Dev Anand were also terrific actors & co-stars. Raj Kumar was not really eccentric. He was very helpful. But Raj Kapoor-saab was a class apart. He taught me how to remain humble.
Hamlet flopped but I clicked It was Janki Das who recommended me to Kishore Sahu for Hamlet. When Hamlet was released the actor David hugged me at the premiere & exclaimed, ‘A star is born!’ The film failed to make an impact, but I was signed for a lot of Muslim socials thereafter. Among them, Jahanara is the closest to my heart. Every song in that film composed by Madan Mohan-saab & sung by Lata-ji is embedded in my heart. The role of an unwed mother in B R Chopra’s Dhool Ka Phool made a big difference to my career. Chopra-saab saw me in Hamlet & contacted my father. The film was to launch B.R Saab’s brother, Yash Chopra as a director. It starred Rajendra Kumar who was an upcoming actor at that time. I was hungry for a challenging role & eager to prove myself. I knew it was a role that many other heroines would turn down. The film later proved to be the turning point of my career. So many unmarried college & school girls wrote to me saying they had learnt the pitfalls of physical intimacy before marriage.
So many unmarried college & school girls wrote to me saying they had learnt the pitfalls of physical intimacy before marriage.
I shared a great equation with Waheeda Rehman during the making of Pyaasa. I had a negative role in the film. On the other hand, Waheeda did full justice to her role. There was no rivalry between us. We loved each other. And we always praised each other’s works. In those days heroines shared a great camaraderie with one another. When Waheeda saw me in Sanjog, she wanted to know how I had done a particular dramatic scene. Later, when Guide released I called her up & complimented her about a scene in the film. Heroines in my times encouraged one another. Do you know how I got Jahanara? Meena Kumari-ji sent actorturned producer Om Prakash to me.
Raj Kapoor-saab was a class apart. He taught me how to remain humble. It was my father who looked after my entire career. I never negotiated with any producers. It was my father who would do it. I met the director straight on the sets. Every time I’d do a shot I’d automatically look to my father for approval. My father made sure that he never left me alone in the studios. Even when I went to the wash-room, I would ask him to stand guard outside. He used to give me Rs 1,000 per month from my earnings. I never needed more. I ate studio food, wore shooting clothes & never attended parties. My work was my holiday.
I also did Bahurani with Guru Dutt where I played a wife who fights for her docile husband’s rights. It was like my own Ram Aur Shyam...Oh that reminds me I also turned down Mumtaz’s role in Ram Aur Shyam. I never got a chance to work with Dilip Saab. My favourite films are Jahanara, Gumrah, Anpadh, Aasra, Baharen Phir Bhi Aayegi & Pyaasa. Whatever I did was good enough. I have no regrets. I only hope I did not hurt anyone in my career. I had a long-distance marriage to my husband, Chidambar Prasad Lohani. My husband & I met when I was shooting for a Nepali film Maiti Ghar in Kathmandu. My father took my proposal to Lohani Saab’s mother. She had no objection to my being a Catholic. My husband was a customs officer by profession but a born artiste. Even now he sings beautifully. He divides his time between Nepal and Mumbai. He had lots of ancestral problems & I could not possibly ask him to leave everything & join me in Mumbai. We trust each other implicitly.
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Glitz & Glamour
Kareena Kapoor Khan at the book launch of author Rujuta Diwekar Priyanka Chopra at FICCI Frames Priyanka Chopra was a picture of complete poise and confidence when she was spotted on the final day of the 15th edition of FICCI Frames. Dressed in a Victoria Beckham white shirt and black jacket and pants from Dolce & Gabbana, Priyanka impressed everyone around with her slick corporate look. She later spoke on women-centric films in the industry and how actresses were finally getting their due.
36 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan released the title ‘Don’t Lose Out, Work Out’ authored by popular fitness and nutrition expert, and best-selling author Rujuta Diwekar at an event in the city. The actress looked stunning in a Tarun Tahiliani full-sleeved, collared shirt and skirt. It may be recalled that it was Rujuta who initially inspired Kareena to lose weight, after which Rujuta shot to fame for helping stars achieve their enviable figures. The fitness trainer has written two diet books prior to this, ‘Don’t Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight’ and ‘Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha’.
Glitz & Glamour
Sonakshi Sinha walks the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week The vivacious Sonakshi Sinha turned the showstopper for designer Manish Malhotra as he kick started the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2014 on March 11. Sonakshi looked graceful in a long black kurta with stunning white embroidery. The show titled, ‘A Summer Affair’ also saw the likes of Kajol, Kangana Ranaut, Sophie Choudry and Sonali Bendre.
Mohit Raina at Hindustan Times, Mumbai’s most stylish awards 2014 held at ITC Parel Popularly known and revered as Mahadev, Mohit Raina was adjudged Mumbai’s most stylish television personality at Hindustan Times Stylish Awards 2014, held at ITC Parel. The 31year old actor, who is usually at his casual best in jeans, shirt and an occasional jacket, has a carefree and laidback sense of style. Coupled with his magnetic personality and gift of the gab, it is not surprising that women are crazy about him.
Ritesh Deshmukh at 4th annual Ghanta Awards The Ghanta Awards, India’s version of the Golden Raspberry Awards, were recently held in Mumbai on March 14. Actor Riteish Deshmukh walked up to collect the ‘That’s Anything But Sexy’ trophy for his film Grand Masti. He received a standing ovation from the audience for being only the second actor, after Sonam Kapoor to attend and personally collect the Ghanta Awards.
www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 37
food
Rajgira Paneer Paratha
Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 20 mins Makes 3 servings
These paneer stuffed parathas are a meal in their own right. Remember not to use too much force when patting the parathas to ensure that they do not break.
To be mixed into a stuffing 1 cup thickly grated fresh paneer (cottage cheese) 2 tsp finely chopped green chillies 1/2 tsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp sugar 2 tsp finely chopped coriander (dhania) Rock salt (sendha namak) to taste Other ingredients 1 cup rajgira flour 1/4 cup boiled, peeled and mashed potatoes 1/2 tsp black peppercorns (kalimirch) powder Rock salt (sendha namak) to taste Rajgira flour for rolling Oil for cooking For serving Green chutney Fresh yoghurt
38 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
Method 1. Divide the stuffing into 6 equal portions and keep aside. 2. Combine the rajgira flour, potatoes, pepper powder and rock salt in a bowl and knead into a semi-soft dough using enough water. 3. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions and roll out a portion into a 75 mm. (3�) diameter circle, using a little rajgira flour for rolling. 4. Place a portion of the stuffing in the centre of the circle, bring the edges in the centre and seal tightly. 5. Roll out again into a 150 mm. (6�) diameter circle, using a little rajgira flour for rolling. 6. Heat a non-stick tava (griddle) and cook the paratha, using a little oil, till it turns golden brown on both sides. 7. Repeat with the remaining dough and stuffing to make 5 more parathas. 8. Serve hot with green chutney and fresh yoghurt.
food
Rajasthani Dal
Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 20 mins Makes 4 servings
Rajasthani delicacies are traditionally laden with ghee but not to worry, for here is a healthier version! Chana dal helps to thicken the dal and imparts body to the dish. Add amchur as per your taste, more if you prefer it sour. Ingredients 1/2 cup green moong dal (split green gram) 2 tbsp chana dal (split bengal gram) 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi) 1/4 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) 1 tsp finely chopped garlic (lehsun) 1/4 cup finely chopped onions 1 tsp ginger-green chilli paste 1/4 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tsp coriander-cumin seed powder 2 tsp dried mango powder (amchur) Salt to taste For The Garnish 1 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)
Method 1. Clean, wash and soak both the dals in water for 2 to 3 hours. Drain well. 2. Combine the dals, turmeric powder, 1 cup of water and salt in a pressure cook for 2 whistles. 3. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Keep aside. 4. Heat a deep non-stick pan on a medium flame and when hot, add the cumin seeds and dry roast for a few seconds. 5. Add the garlic and onions and dry roast on a medium flame for 1 minute. 6. Add the ginger-green chilli paste, chilli powder, coriander-cumin seeds powder and dry roast for a few seconds, while stirring continuously. 7. Add the cooked dals and ½ cup of water and mix well. 8. Add a little salt, dry mango powder and ½ cup of water; mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes. 9. Serve hot garnished with coriander.
Tarla Dalal Noted Indian food writer, chef, bestselling cookbook author, Padma Shri awardee and host of cooking shows like “Tarla Dalal Show” and “Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal”. She has written over 170 titles, several of which have been translated into various languages and sold around the world. www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 39
TELECHAT
The show is meant to depict all the wrong things that are happening in our society.
I don’t
fear
40 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
threats
TELECHAT
Give me Rs 100 crore for a film and if I don’t like it, I will not do it. I cannot compromise with my emotions, and money cannot buy me.
The second season of Aamir Khan’s much talked about show Satyamev Jayate is back and this time with more expectation and hype. Vision Asia caught up with the perfectionist Khan just before the launch of his iconic show to get his perspective on social issues, his views on politics and the inspiration behind his endeavours.
The frequency of this season’s Satyamev Jayate has been planned in a unique way -thrice in a year, each for one month. Any special reason? We took a conscious decision to air the second season in three parts. We are dealing with really intricate topics and we are keen that the audiences understand and reflect on the each of the issues in question. This season we have also introduced the Vote for Change’ campaign. Through this, people can vote and give their opinion on any issue. We plan to give these results to the government. On the whole, the interactivity levels of this season are far higher than the first season. We are also expecting the audiences to actively use their phones to express their viewpoints. A lot of people feel that Sunday being a holiday is not exactly the right day for such a serious show… If you really look at it, Satyamev Jayate has everything that a blockbuster movie haslove, pain, villains and even songs at the end. In fact, Sunday is the best day to air the show. Besides as I keep saying, jine desh
ki fikar hai voh Satyamev Jayate dekhenge (the people who are concerned about the country will definitely watch the show). I am quite happy with the Sunday time slot. There is a perception that your show is one sided. What would your response be to that? The show is meant to depict all the wrong things that are happening in our society. I am not interested in showing a balanced view; I am simply projecting the reality. If there is a perspective that is contrary to what is shown and if it is right, we have no problems showing it. I don’t expect the viewers to agree with everything that is shown. They are free to disagree, but there is no question of projecting things in the wrong perspective just to please others. How was your experience in the first season? What have you learnt from it? I was touched by the power of forgiveness of some of the affected people when I interacted with them in the first season. For instance there was a mother who wept about her son who was killed, but had no
anger against the person who murdered him. I am a very emotional person so I do have tears in my eyes when I hear a heartbreaking story. I can’t pretend. The show has also been a learning experience for me in terms of awareness. There are so many things happening around us but most of us, including me, are unaware of them. Now I find myself in a better place when I am hosting the show for the second time. Above all, it has been a valuable experience meeting and working with so many amazing and talented people all over the country during the journey of Satyamev Jayate. When will we see you in politics? Why does one enter politics? The idea is to serve the society. If I can serve the society from where I am, why should I join politics? I am not a social activist. An activist is one who takes up a cause close to his heart and lives with it. I am an entertainer and a creative person and will continue to remain so. My responsibility is to entertain people and that also includes building a moral fabric. www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 41
TELECHAT
I am a very emotional person so I do have tears in my eyes when I hear a heartbreaking story. I can’t pretend.
Which party you are supporting in this election? I don’t think any of the present parties would make a big difference to the existing scheme of things, if they come to power. Any political party which uses power and muscle in the country is wrong. Also, I believe that elections should be free and fair. I am no one to influence the people.
What is your family’s take on your show? Whenever I am at home we all prefer to watch it together. Everyone is very curious about the topic of the show as I do not reveal it to anyone beforehand. My mother has a different take altogether. She feels that I am complaining about issues that have been in existence for so many years. She is also scared for me and is apprehensive that I might become a target of hatred for certain sections of society. Is that is the reason for you to buy a bullet proof car? Honestly speaking, I have not got any threats. Those are plain rumours. On the other hand, I don’t fear threats either. I consider myself as a communicator, my responsibility is to talk about an issue, present the data and talk about the existing law. I want people to join and engage in the movement and stand up for the right things. Talking about money business, how important is it to you in today’s scenario? It’s not that I don’t need money. All of us 42 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
do need money, but from what I know I earn the least amount of money compared to others. I am very happy with what I earn because I do what my heart says. I never work for money. Give me Rs 100 crore for a film and if I don’t like it, I will not do it. I cannot compromise with my emotions, and money cannot buy me. What would you say are your positive and negative traits? I think I have two qualities in me that are both good and bad. The first is my passion and madness towards my work which I also consider as my strength. On the negative side, this can be dangerous too for the simple reason that when passion and madness grows, you tend to forget everything around you. The second quality in me is that I am very stubborn. It was this stubborn attitude that compelled me to do some films that people cautioned me against doing, suspecting that they could flop. But I have no regrets about any of those decisions. What is your greatest inspiration? I derive inspiration from various things, be it a circus act or a great piece of music. It could also be a tough match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. I feel inspired when I see any human being rising against the ordinary, in terms of skill, endurance or courage. By Srabanti Chakravarthy
B-BUZZ SUMMER TIME CHANGE B-BUZZ
Vision Asia HD SET TOP BOX – Change in Summer Time Mode Dear Subscribers, As you are aware, Daylight Savings Time ended on 6th April 2014. As a result, we suggest the following changes to be done on Vision Asia HD Set Top Box to match EPG timings. Note: Please check EPG before reading steps below. If the programme time is matching with local time, then you DO NOT need to make any changes. If it is not matching, please read ahead for required steps. In order to do so please follow the steps below: 1. Press Menu on your Vision Asia HD Set Top Box remote control 2. Press the Down Arrow key to go to the Maintenance option and Press Ok 3. Press the Down Arrow key go to Common Set option and Press OK 4. You will see the following options: • Menu Language <English> • Menu Transparence <100%> • Summer Time<ON> : 5. Please press right arrow key and change Summer Time to OFF. (Please note: If Summer Time is already set as OFF, proceed to step number 8) 6. Please make sure The Summer Time is OFF. 7. Time Zone set <GMT+12:00> 8. Press the exit button three times to close the Menu on the screen. To confirm if the timings are correct, please press the EPG button and check if the program timings are matching. Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy viewing our channels. Team Vision Asia www.visionasia.co.nz www.visionasia.co.nz || April April 2014 2014 43 43
FACE TO FACE
I am still trying to find
my place in this industry
44 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
FACE TO FACE
It has been three years since U.S born modelturned-actress Nargis Fakhri made her successful debut in the super-hit musical romance, Rockstar. Her recent performance in Madras Café, also won her a lot of appreciation but Nargis insists that she is yet to find her comfort level in the industry. In a candid interview with Subhash K Jha, the actress talks about her career and why she finds the industry a lonely place to be in.
The major obstacle is that the people around me speak in English. So how do I become fluent in Hindi? From Rockstar to Main Tera Hero, how has the journey been so far? I’ve learnt a lot about the ways of Mumbai’s entertainment industry these past few years, but I am still trying to find my place in this industry. At times, I feel like a fish out of the water. For instance, I am not too comfortable with the idea of using accessories like wigs, false eye lashes and tons of make-up, which I am told are the prerequisites of being in Bollywood. I am totally an anti-accessory person. Why don’t you put your foot down and go by your beliefs? I will be accused of being difficult if I attempt such a thing. It’s very tough to strike a balance between what I am comfortable with and what people expect of me. If I have to survive, I have to behave like a conformist. What hurts the most is that people here pretend to be so friendly when they are working with you. However their friendship extends only till the tenure of the film. Once the film is over, the friendship is
also over. For someone like me who is very picky about friends that’s very painful. You feel stupid when you are conned by people. But eventually you come out wiser. You recently ended up raking a controversy with your bold and outrageous comments against some of your co-stars on Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan. Is that so? I don’t remember saying anything that sensational on the show. Good God! Now I am actually beginning to feel anxious. I hope I didn’t go too far. I hope people take some of the excerpts of the interview in a lighter vein. You have also called Ranbir Kapoor a ‘gossip queen’ on the show. What made you say so? Isn’t it self-explanatory? That apart, I feel very uncomfortable when people say bad things about others. More surprisingly, they smile at and make friends with the very people they bitch about.
Do you miss not having your family in Mumbai? My mother did visit me in Mumbai for the first time, earlier this year. Regrettably, I couldn’t spend more time with her because I had to promote my new film. But I am glad she saw how I lived. How is your relationship with your mother? Has your mother seen your films? I discuss everything under the sun with my mother. She is my best friend. We’re very close and I take care of her financially and emotionally. She did see Madras Café and loved it. She also loved my dancing in Phata Poster…. She found it cool and entertaining. Phata Poster …offered you little scope for dancing. Have you bettered your dancing skills in Main Tera Hero? I cannot say that for sure. Here the dance movements are given to you 40 minutes before they are shot. You are also expected to learn the steps and lip-sync. You have to be a seasoned dancer for that, which I www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 45
FACE TO FACE
Varun has now become my favourite co-star. He’s a smart young man and very caring too. I also saw how kindly and generously he treats his staff.
am not. It’s difficult for my mind and body to be in sync because I have trained in western dancing and Bollywood dancing is altogether different. Was Main Tera Hero a pleasant experience? It was great fun. It was like working with my family. Ileana and Varun were very helpful. I hope I get to work with such people every day. Moreover, Ileana and I bonded very well with one another; the two of us think similarly. We both have our heads perfectly on our shoulders, although I am a lot crazier than her. How was the equation with Varun, who also belongs to your generation? We hit it off immediately. Varun went to college abroad. We had a lot in common. In fact, I won’t hesitate to state that Varun has now become my favourite co-star. He’s a smart young man and very caring too. I also saw how kindly and generously he treats his staff. For me that’s a sure sign of a good human being.
46 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
Which are your other films in the offing? I am in discussions with a few directors about upcoming roles. I was really excited at the prospect of working with the team of Shaukeen, where I was paired with Akshay Kumar for the first time. However I had to let go of the film due to date conflicts. Apart from that, the other projects are still happening and I cannot comment on any of them yet.
How is your Hindi now? I am still in the learning stages. I did dub my own lines in Main Tera Hero. I needed help to get it right though. The major obstacle is that the people around me speak in English. So how do I become fluent in Hindi? My environment doesn’t allow me to do that.
b-buzz
Has Vidya Balan taken an official break from films? The Bollywood grapevine is lately abuzz with Vidya Balan’s rumoured decision to opt out of two of her under-production films and the reasons behind the decision. The films in question are Sujoy Ghosh’s next Durga Rani Singh, co-starring Irrfan Khan and Mohit Suri’s Hamari Adhuri Kahani with Emraan Hashmi. Sources reveal that Vidya has been lying low on the two films, as she wants to be doubly sure after her last two films Ghanchakkar and Shaadi Ke Side Effects, failed to live up to expectations. However sources close to Vidya point out that the actress is drained after back-to-back shoots and promotions for the two films. The buzz is also that Vidya is in the family way and is all set to enter motherhood, which is why she has officially called off from work for some time. Meanwhile, Sujoy Ghosh has gone ahead and signed Kangana Ranaut for Durga Rani Singh.
Baisakhi Ke Rang Travelshop Ke Sang* From NZD 1595* Return & NZD 1037* One-way Delhi / Bangalore / Mumbai / Colombo / Dhaka / Hyderabad / Chennai / Kochi
SALES UNTIL 30TH JUNE 2014. TRAVEL TO COMMENCE BEFORE 17 NOV 2014
CALL US: SHELL 021 297 3259 ZULFI 021 915 329
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Unit O, 8 Bishop Lenihan Place, East Tamaki P 09 272 3522/272 3544, F 09 272 3577, E travel_shop@xtra.co.nz www.travelshopnz.co.nz Please note availability is limited. Tickets must be issued within three days of booking to avoid auto-cancellation. * Airfares include fuel and insurance surcharges but not Govt. taxes. * Taxes may vary for different cities and as per FX variations. www.visionasia.co.nz | April 2014 47
20:20
Music is my passion Mark Menzes, former drummer of Rock Machine, the biggest rock band in India in the 90s, has been a professional musician since the early ‘80s. Mark, who is extremely passionate about music, migrated to Auckland in 2005 & setup Drumadiddle to teach drums to school kids. He has also played drums in local Community Music Theatre shows around Auckland as well as started NZ’s first Bollywood Band- NASHA. He talks of his varied interests here. 6. How important is it to fail before you succeed? You learn through mistakes but this does not necessarily quantify as failure, which in turn leads to success. One needs to learn from mistakes, pick up the pieces & continue to strive towards success. Success varies in degrees based on every person’s individual abilities & strengths. 7. What do you value most in life? Honesty, integrity & good family ties. 1. What are your Hobbies/Passions? Music has been my passion & to be blessed with the gift to share this with others has allowed me to make it my hobby, my passion & my life’s work 2. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Not sure this actually exists- perfect happiness....Nirvana? 3. What is your success mantra? Passion, dedication, hard work & to inspire & lead by example. 4. Who is your inspiration? It would certainly be my parents, who nurtured me with their wisdom, deeds & action, moulding me into the person I am today! Also, the father of our nationMahatma Gandhi. 5. What is your most memorable moment? The day my wife & I had our first child, even as I witnessed the miracle of life for the first time.
48 April 2014 | www.visionasia.co.nz
8. Favourite movie & star? There are way too many good movies & stars to name just one.
9. Favourite food/restaurant? Home cooked dal, rice & fried fish or a good Italian/Chinese Restaurant will always do the trick...there is no favored dining establishment. 10. Favourite sport & player? I would have to say soccer but now living in NZ I enjoy our All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw; he is a living legend of great sportsmanship & humility bundled into one! 11. Favourite holiday destination? I would have to say NZ; that’s one of the reasons for moving here. I call it God’s own country...Spain would come a close second!! 12. What do you love or admire in New Zealand? NZ is a stunning country in terms of its unsurpassed beauty & serenity, which is reflected in its people & culture. Hence my comment: God’s own country!
13. What outdoor activities do you like / how do you relax? I love being outdoors & just chilling, so the beach normally has huge appeal! 14. Which talent would you most like to have? I have been blessed with one - the ability to enjoy & play music, thereby providing happiness & joy to others. I could not ask for more. 15. The craziest things you’ve ever done? Falling in love?!!! 16. What is your greatest fear? To not be able to do what I would like to do & possibly be a burden on others!! 17. What do you think is the secret to a good life? Be true to yourself & the others with whom you interact...this will always bring great satisfaction & joy! 18. If your house was on fire & you could only grab 3 things what would they be? My beloved & my two kids!! Ooops, Mother in law...that’s four things, aye?!! 19. What phrase or words do you use the most? That may not be printable....so we’ll skip this question! 20. Name one achievement that you are proud of: My ability to draw the best out of my young students at Drumadiddle!! I would have to say seeing my students achieve great results way above their own expectations has not only made me proud but has done wonders for their own confidence levels & morale.
20:20
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