Actress Rasika Dugal is a rare celebrity who does not shy away from admitting that she reuses clothes.
“I don’t buy things that I can’t reuse often enough. I get attached to the comfort of the few things I have. So, reusing clothes is a part of my personality. That’s one side of sustainability that comes easily to me,” the actress said.
She thinks that it’s a great idea to wear the same thing in a different way.
“I encourage people to do that and be conscious of the products that they are buying,” said Rasika.
She recently graced the virtual Green Carpet Fashion Awards 2020. The interesting dress code was a piece from the attendees’ wardrobe that is special to them.
As sustainability was the message of the event, Rasika wore an organza silk saree that has been in her family for 45 years.
Recalling memories of the saree, Rasika said: “This is a very special saree because it has been in my family for 45 years. It was gifted to my mother by my grandmother on her wedding day. I wanted to keep the tradition going, so I wore it on my wedding day, which was ten years ago. I am wearing it for the first time after that. I am so happy to have the opportunity to wear it again and to have it as part of my wardrobe along with the many memories that it comes with.”
Alia Bhatt reads out from 'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone'.
Actress Alia Bhatt
Yet another Bollywood celebrity to join in the business world is youth icon Alia Bhatt. The young superstar has made a personal investment in leading omnichannel lifestyle retailer, Nykaa via a secondary transaction for an undisclosed amount.
iCommenting on the development Falguni Nayar, Founder and CEO, Nykaa said, “Alia and I had a very interesting conversation about how both she and Nykaa were both launched in 2012. She said the three reasons she wanted to invest in Nykaa were because it has Indian roots, it is founded by a woman and Nykaa is proof that the best in India can take on the best in the world. I loved her clarity of thought and got a glimpse of that keen mind which has placed her on Forbes 30 Under 30 list.”
Adding, “I really admire how much Alia has achieved at such a young age and the sheer diversity of characters she has portrayed on film with so much depth. All of us at Nykaa are delighted to welcome her as an investor in the company.”
Along with Bhatt, even Katrina Kaif is part of the Nykaa investor family.
Madhavan completes aromatic non-hybrid coconut project in Tamil Nadu.
Madhavan
Actor R. Madhavan is happy with the love he gets from fans on social media. He says he does not put up pictures that make him feel entitled, but he likes to put up things that make people happy.
Madhavan has a fan following of over 2.6 million on Instagram and enjoys a virtual family of over 2.7 million on Twitter.
“I feel very grateful. I don’t know what to say. It’s very humbling. I am 50-years-old and I will be 51 next June and it feels people just want to give me love. I try to form my social media and always spread positivity,” Madhavan told IANS.
He understands that the digital space has become dark and toxic.
“The world is like that — even if you put a picture of a small smiling baby, some negative comments will be there. So, if I can spread happiness whichever way I can (I will). I don’t put up a picture that makes me feel very entitled, but I like to put things that make people happy and they feel that he too has the same insecurities. I think it is the reciprocation of that positive attitude which makes people give me so much love,” he said.
Madhavan was recently seen in the digitally released thriller film “Nishabdham”. The film also stars Anushka Shetty, Anjali, and Subbaraju along with Hollywood star Michael Madsen in a special role. The film released on Amazon Prime Video.
Mirzapur 2 and A Suitable Boy: Rasika Dugal has 2 mega releases lined up on same day.
Rasika Dugal. (File Photo: IANS)
Actor Rasika Dugal, who has recently narrated ‘Uncovidable’ (Hindi) – a pandemic-inspired humorous account by a woman who is told to stay put for 21 days in a nationwide lock-down, finds audio work to be a space free of people’s impression of an actor’s physicality …Rasika speaks with Siddhi Jain. Excerpts from her interview:
What do you think is going to be the impact of Coronavirus on the quality and kind of content we are going to see now?
We are living in a Pandemic. Our lives have changed significantly. These have been uncertain times for everyone. But I am always moved and surprised by how quickly we adapt to new situations and reinvent ourselves. Till a few months back I hadn’t imagined that entire films or series could be shot from home, dubbed in the smallest room and promoted on Zoom. Many writers, creators, actors have responded to these dire times in a light-hearted way. ‘Uncovidable’ is one such example. It explores the experiences of a woman amidst the pandemic, but with a humorous, relatable twist, because God knows we could all do with some laughter now.
Your series on Audible traces WhatsApp voice notes exchanged between you and a friend. Please tell us more about it.
‘Uncovidable’ (on Audible) is the story of a woman whose life is turned upside down when she is told to stay put for 21 days during a nationwide lockdown, as a result of the Covid19 pandemic. The series is based on Vekeana Dhillon’s humorous and semi-biographical account of her experiences during the lockdown. The sudden halt in her daily activities has her taking a closer look at the situation around her and the behaviour of those she interacts with regularly. The story unfolds through a series of unanswered voice messages she leaves on her evasive best friend’s phone, while doggedly pursuing her for a response. She recounts the days she spends in confinement, along with her husband and brother. It is a light hearted, funny story and will resonate with many.
Rasika Dugal has 2 mega releases lined up on same day.
How was your experience working with an audio medium? What excites you about audio?
Usually, in acting work, there are so many tools at our disposal – voice, body language, props etc. All working together towards creating the desired impact. In audio books/series everything has to be created with your voice alone. I thought that would be an interesting challenge to take up. Prior to ‘Uncovidable’ (Hindi) I have also collaborated with Audible for an original piece ‘The Last Boy to fall in love’ written by Durjoy Dutta and the audiobook version of Aparna Jain’s ‘Like A Girl’. As actors, sometimes the roles you get offered get limited because of people’s impression of your physicality. For instance, if ‘The Last Boy To Fall In Love ‘ or maybe even ‘Uncovidable’ were to be made into a film then I don’t know how many casting directors/directors would imagine me in the role of Erika or Vekeana. This, unfortunately, is the frustrating truth about an actor’s life. But the audio book is a space which is free of that. How you look does not determine which characters you get to play! I am looking forward to exploring a range of characters through audio work.
Art flourishes in self-isolation. Would you agree?
Art flourishes anywhere. There are no rules to this one. And that is the beauty of it. Some artists like to get away to be able to work. Some flourish while in the middle of chaos. In my creative journey, I have learnt to embrace the chaos rather than fight it and channel that experience into my work, consciously or subconsciously.
Actress Jacqueline Fernandez has a grand idea for a Dussehra present. She has gifted a staff member a brand new car.
“On the occasion of Dussehra, Jacqueline surprised a member of her staff who has been with her since she made her debut in Bollywood, she gifted the staff member a car but didn’t know when it would be delivered. So, Jacqueline arrived donning the uniform of a traffic police inspector because she was on the set of her film,” a source said.
“Jacqueline had gifted a car to her make-up artiste previously. She is known for being kindhearted and loving,” the source added.
In a video posted on social media, we see puja being performed on the set, because the car was delivered at the set.
Jacqueline also shared a sneak peek from an upcoming fun project on her latest social media post.
On Sunday night, Jacqueline posted a picture on Instagram, where she is seen in a police attire. In the image, the actress holds a coffee mug and flashes a grin.
“How was everyone’s Sunday?? Fun project coming up soon! #myhappyplace,” she captioned the image, which currently has 969K likes.
Jacqueline did not share any details about her “fun project” in the post.
The actress recently celebrated 46 million followers on Instagram by sharing topless pictures.
Jacqueline will be next seen with Salman Khan in “Kick 2”. She also has “Bhoot Police”, which features Saif Ali Khan and Arjun Kapoor, followed by “Cirkus” alongside Ranveer Singh.
Amitabh Bachchan shared a nostalgic post on Tuesday to remember shooting for the superhit multistarrer Mohabbatein, which released on this day in 2000.
On working in the Aditya Chopra directorial, Big B took to Twitter and recalled his famous dialogue about “parampara, pratishtha, anushasan (tradition, prestige, disciple)”, which defined his role of the conservative principal Narayan Shankar, of the boys college Gurukul.
“Parampara, Pratishtha, Anushasan .. ‘Mohabbatein’ is special for many reasons .. 20 years of this beautiful love story, a roller coaster of emotions. Eternally grateful for all the love you continue to shower,” Big B tweeted.
Along with it, he shared a video of his memorable scenes from the film.
Along with Big B, the romantic film also features Shah Rukh Khan, Jimmy Sheirgill, Uday Chopra, Shamita Shetty, Jugal Hansraj, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani, Anupam Kher and Archana Puran Singh, with Aishwarya Rai in a special role.
Big B looks back as Mohabbatein turns 20.
Actress Shamita Shetty, who made her Bollywood debut in “Mohabbatein”, took to social media to celebrate 20 years of the film.
“This is where it all began.. my Mohabbat (ein) for this craft#mohabbatein completes 20 years today #20yearsofmohabbatein #lovewins,” she wrote on Instagram.
Lalit Pandit of the composer duo Jatin-Lalit, who scored quite a few hit songs like “Humko humise chura lo” and “Aankhein khuli ya ho band” in the film, also shared his experience.
“‘Mohabbatein’ was one of the most difficult films to create music for and it became one of the most melodious music albums. The brief for the music and the inspiration of the music came from Aditya Chopra. His narration of the film, his situations of the film were so different that it was always going to be difficult. Difficult because there are simultaneously four parallel love stories going on, they have a different mood and each song had to have antaras which were made for different couples, so the tunes had to be different too,” Lalit said.
Farah Recalls Shoot In Freezing Cold
The Aditya Chopra directorial Mohabbatien was released exactly 20 years, and choreographer Farah Khan walked down memory lane and recalled choreographing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the cold weather of London.
Released in 2000, the love story features Aishwarya as the lover of Raj (Shah Rukh Khan). Her character commits suicide when her conservative father (Amitabh Bachchan) refuses to approve her affair with Raj. The film also features Jimmy Sheirgill, Uday Chopra, Jugal Hansraj, Shamita Shetty, Preeti Jhangiani, Kim Sharma, Anupam Kher and Archana Puran Singh.
Farah Khan: Aishwarya shot for Mohabbatein in lace saree amid freezing cold, never complained.
Apart from its cast, the songs and dance are a major factor for the film’s success.
Sharing anecdotes from the film, Farah said: “Ash being a thorough professional, freezing in London, wearing a white lace saree, drenched, and she would not complain. Her and Shah Rukh’s chemistry is something else in the film and that whole poetry of ‘Ek ladki thi anjani si’ — I think that has become almost iconic because of how they did it.”
She added: “We were not supposed to know at that point whether Aishwarya was Shah Rukh’s imagination or not. He would see her in places and she was the spirit behind the love stories.”
About the shoot, she said: “We shot in London. We shot in freezing cold nights with rain and we went to Switzerland to shoot two songs. One of them was ‘Humko humi se chura lo’, which I think is one of the best songs in the film, really beautifully done.”
Farah Khan: Aishwarya shot for Mohabbatein in lace saree amid freezing cold, never complained.
Farah also shared how SRK was an expert at picking up her choreographed steps with utmost ease.
“With Shah Rukh I had done tons of movies by then. So, all these kids (Uday Chopra, Shamita Shetty, Jimmy Sheirgill, Preeti Jhangiani, Kim Sharma and Jugal Hansraj) would do two to three months of rehearsals. And then, Shah Rukh would come and he would learn it in like five minutes, because he never comes for rehearsals. That was the amazing part of it,” Farah remembered.
Telly star Helly Shah has taken up a fashion project, which is all about self-love.
She has collaborated with a label for the Self-Love 2020 collection, which consists of vibrant coloured outfits, and depicts the importance of self-confidence.
Helly Shah. (File Photo: IANS)
“I always want to try something different. For me, fashion is first about comfort rest fills in from the way you carry yourself in the attire you wear. Smart, strong and confident, that’s true fashion for me. What you wear is what you should be,” said Helly.
“Anything which is comfortable and classic is my style,” she added.
On the acting front, the “Swaragini” actress is currently playing the lead role in the show “Ishq Mein Marjawan 2”.
Actor Himansh Kohli has gifted himself a sports car, ahead of his birthday on November 3.
“My birthday is approaching, and 2020 so far has been a dull year for everybody. So, I thought of cheering myself up and giving this gift from me to me. Getting a sports car has always been on my bucket list, and it took a considerable amount of time to attain it. But I’m happy the day finally came when I can drive around in my sports car,” said Himansh.
“I had been thinking about getting a new car, especially after two of my brand new SUVs were stolen one after another from outside the house in Delhi. The first one was stolen in 2015, and the second thievery happened in 2019, within three to four months of purchase.
It’s like my bad fortune turned up after a few moments of good luck,” he added.
The “Yaariyaan” actor also has a reason for buying a blue car.
“I believe I have an eternal connection with this striking colour. Most of my wardrobe, personal belongings, and even my favourite song (‘Aaj blue hai pani pani’) are blue,” he said.
Himansh is currently in a happy after the recovery of his family, who had tested positive for Covid-19 in August.
When Deepika Padukone, Diana Penty were '2 DPs in the same pod'.
I stick to certain aesthetics: Diana Penty.
In a day and age where most things are digital and everything has moved online, one would imagine the same to be the case for fashion shows as well, says model-turned-actress Diana Penty…Diana speaks with Puja Gupta.
The “Happy Bhag Jayegi”, who walked a virtual ramp for designer Disha Patil at the digital edition of the Lakme Fashion Week, speaks about the changing format of fashion events and the pros and cons of it. Read excerpts:
You have been a model yourself. How different was it to walk the ramp for a digital fashion show?
It was poles apart from a regular show! But a very interesting experience. This is easily something we could all get used to moving forward. Of course, as a show stopper, you miss the thrill of a live audience, but the new format is quick, easy and efficient.
Did you ever think fashion shows will held in digital format?
In a day and age where most things are digital and everything has moved online, one would imagine the same to be the case for fashion shows as well. But surprisingly, the idea never did cross my mind before. Having said that, it’s not like I ever imagined I would witness a pandemic in my lifetime and that the world would be brought to its knees by a tiny microbe!
Diana Penty on digitalization of fashion shows.
Do you see this as the future now?
Yes, I think this is going to be the way forward, at least during the pandemic. And as people get more and more used to the idea of watching a fashion show online, maybe this will become the future of the fashion industry.
What do you think are the pros and cons of this format?
The biggest advantage of the new format is a wider audience. With fashion shows going online, there is scope for a lot more people to view them. Pre-recorded shows also means a less likelihood of delays (due to the absence of a live audience) which in turn means a quicker, more efficient way of working.
When Deepika Padukone, Diana Penty were ‘2 DPs in the same pod’.
I personally don’t see any cons to the new format, besides the fact that as an audience, one is unable to see the garments up close and in person. But I don’t see this as hindrance in any way. If shot well, the details of the garments will probably be better viewed online than by the naked eye. I think it is just a matter of getting used to the new format.
Ahead of Dussehra, which emphasises on the celebration of the triumph of good over evil, actors have shared their favourite films that define the theme of the festival.
For veteran actress Himani Shivpuri, it’s the 1998 film Salman Khan-starrer “Bandhan”.
“‘Bandhan’ is easily one of my favourites as the title itself talks of eternal bonds. It is an excellent example of a movie that shows truth always prevails. For all those have not seen this movie, the premise of the story was how Jackie Shroff’s character falls prey to selfish motives and remarries. This leads to him spoiling his relations with his ex-wife and his brother-in-law. He realises much later the importance of relationships and the mistakes he made all along,” the actress, who also featured in the movie, told.
“During this festive season of Dussehra, this movie acts as a reminder to not fall prey to sinful or wrong thoughts, and resentful actions but instead look for the good in people before it gets too late,” added the actress.
Actor-producer Tusshar Kapoor picks his upcoming film “Laxmmi Bomb”, starring Akshay Kumar.
Film “Laxmmi Bomb” poster.
“I can’t think of any other film right now about good winning over evil but ‘Laxmmi Bomb’. It’s a special film because it is a film about good winning over evil, a film with Indian values, something that everyone will connect with, something that will teach you a lesson, something that will inspire and can bring equality within our society,” he told.
Harleen Sethi went a little back in time to pick her favourite good-over-evil film.
“‘Rang De Basanti’ will never be outdated. It encourages the youth to stand up against injustice, sparks a sense of patriotism, and shows collective integrity against moral and political corruption. It forces you to think that letting injustice happen is also a form of injustice. It’s necessary to raise your voice for important issues and not take things lying down,” said the actress about the 2006 film by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra.
For actor Hiten Tejwani, it’s the classic Hollywood film “The Lion King” that fits the bill.
“I love ‘The Lion King’ — how Simba goes away and later comes back, and becomes the king,” said the actor.
Actress Gracy Singh shared the one film that instantly comes to her mind is her 2001 blockbuster release, “Lagaan”.
“The movie truly brought alive the theme of how good triumphs over evil. Burdened by heavy taxes and several years of drought, the farmers of Champaner come together to challenge the British army over a game of cricket, in a bid to stop the lagaan (tax) imposed on them. Their hard work and sincerity pays off in the end. The movie gave out a right message,” said the actress, who starred alongside Aamir Khan in the film.
“Mardaani 2” that saw Rani Mukerji in a cop avatar made many believe that good always beats evil. Actress Shamin Mannan thinks so, too.
“The way Rani not just arrests, but beats the hell out of that serial rapist is just amazing. Everytime I watch that movie, it gives me goosebumps and the way Rani’s character SP Shivani gives that monologue in an interview talking about what all a woman has to go through, and why it should not be even be compared to men, is just outstanding. Such performances beat everything else. Of course the negative lead has done a good job too, we need more movies like this,” said Shamin.
Actress Saba Saudagar agrees with her. “The reason why I love ‘Mardaani’ is because I find it very real and very non-filmy. The evil part of Mardaani reflects the society we live in and the good part also reflects the society we live in but take it for granted. The last scene of ‘Mardaani 2’ where Rani sits exhausted outside a residence, and then beats the antagonist with a Devi idol behind her, literally gave me goosebumps,” said Saba.
“It had a fabulous plot, great screenplay, some power-packed performances and has Durga Puja as a background theme. It was the best for me as a film that shows victory of good over evil. Plus, seeing the reality of how some men treat women, specifically pregnant women, was really heart-wrenching. It really was the most impactful film for me,” she said.
Actress Mugdha Chaphekar shared that there are a lot of films that convey the message of good winning over evil, but she has a favourite too. “‘The Shawshank Redemption’ doesn’t just show how good triumphs over evil, but also shows how truth always wins, you just have to have hope and that’s why I love it,” she said.
