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‘Pandemic changed our view on craft’

The collaboration is a way to forget the past and ring in a brighter future and new beginnings. After a truly testing year, we joined hands with Lakme Salon, FDCI & LFW are striving to spread joy and laughter, in the most trendy, stylish way possible…Pankaj and Nidhi speak with Puja Gupta.

Talking about fashion itself is fashionable trend in the modern world of craft and art. Fashion designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi said the pandemic has changed their perspective towards their craft.

“We’ve realised how prudent and imperative it is to design sharp and focused collections – reduce waste by designing less and ensuring each sample and each stitch and each cut of cloth counts,” they told.

Considering these factors, the duo launched their latest collection at the ongoing phygitical FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week. IANSlife spoke to them to know their views on how the fashion industry will shape in a post pandemic era and the major collaborations that the industry has seen this year. Excerpts:

Q. How do you see the fashion industry shaping up in a post pandemic era?

Pankaj & Nidhi: The pandemic has definitely changed our perspective on our craft. We’ve realised how prudent and imperative it is to design sharp and focused collections – reduce waste by designing less and ensuring each sample and each stitch and each cut of cloth counts. Our planet and nature need nurturing and so do our creative souls and there won’t be peace if one comes at the cost of the other. We need clothing that remains wearable and feels good. The fabric is our immediate environment. Humankind has its environment in nature but the body’s immediate environment is the clothing that we wear. These are cool and comfortably stylish.

Q. How do you see the collaboration between FDCI and LFW?

Pankaj & Nidhi: A much-needed cohesive platform – unified with the energy of two powerhouses of Indian fashion, sending a message of solidarity, unity and cooperation between all stakeholders, a great message for everyone out there watching and following Indian fashion. The collaboration is a way to forget the past and ring in a brighter future and new beginnings. After a truly testing year, we joined hands with Lakme Salon, FDCI & LFW are striving to spread joy and laughter, in the most trendy, stylish way possible

Q. The year already has seen many big collaborations in the fashion industry. How do you see this move?

Pankaj & Nidhi: It was high time the fashion industry put a single consolidated front. Through these collaborations and the phygital editions they can enable designers to expand their consumer outreach.

Q. Tell us more about your latest collection.

Pankaj & Nidhi: The collection is inspired by a kaleidoscope and the myriad of unique patterns and visuals it offers. We’ve always loved geometrics. This time we were really fascinated with how patterns keep changing when you view them through a kaleidoscope. It’s a technicolour explosion and we wanted to do something vibrant, positive, and optimistic. This collection ‘Kaleido’ is geometrically sharp & comes in a burst of rainbow hues of brilliant reds, luscious oranges, unabashed pinks, ultra-violet blues and electric greens. The silhouettes are holiday ready — flowing maxi and mini dresses to kick back and let loose and tailored co-ord sets with sporty elements, to acknowledge our pursuits towards wellness and fitness. The fabrics are sheer, translucent, breathable and easy to wear.

A kaleidoscope generates changing symmetrical patterns from small pieces of coloured glass, symbolising constant evolution. Creatively, too, we are always evolving, and this is the essence of our collection.

Q. What kind of trends do you see in the season?

Pankaj & Nidhi: We love the colours – they are brightly saturated and kaleidoscopic. The collection comprises comfortable jumpsuits and floor and midi length skirts and flowing maxi dresses along with bomber jackets in cropped length, and puff sleeve blouses in electric colours. We need a dose of cheer and this collection brings us a bit of joy and hope it does the same for everyone.

The collection is spontaneously engineered to evoke optimism. With hand-cut appliques, a riot of rainbow colours, a plethora of breathable fabrics, and an array of wearable silhouettes, we want to help usher in a new beam of light into our lives and rejuvenate our souls. We’re excited to be collaborating with Lakme Salon, which shares our core values and has created a collection of fluid, free-spirited hair looks that beautifully offset our pieces.

Q. Slow fashion is the talk of the hour, your views?

Pankaj & Nidhi: Slow fashion is the need of the hour. Sustainability is an idea that we all need to embrace from the stage to of conception to execution. Even small individual contributions make a difference – and we are doing it by reducing waste, using recycled materials, producing sensibly and making each item worthy of being bought with some conscience.

Also Read-Killer Fashion

Read More-Democratizing the trends in fashion

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‘Women should know what they capable of’

Women today are excelling in diverse fields, and that in itself should be a motivating factor for other women to come forward and achieve their goals, she believes…writes Puja Gupta.

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif says ‘self-love is numero uno’ and urges every woman to be fiercely independent and voice her opinions.

“People will tell us all kinds of things and that is why, self-love is numero uno,” she tells. Adding: “Women should know what they are capable of. Sky should be our limit. We should not give anyone any kind of power to bog us down or even under-value ourselves.”

Katrina says she feels happy to see changes towards how women are perceived today.

“The gap in education, the lack of access to equal opportunities and the deep-rooted belief that women are the weaker sex is a problematic perception. The stereotype that we attach to women should end and I am glad to see a change taking place as we speak,” asserts the popular star.

Adding, “I grew up in a family where I was always surrounded by my mother and sisters. They are the strongest women I know. I believe that I am quite privileged that my gender has never made things difficult for me,” Katrina says.

Women today are excelling in diverse fields, and that in itself should be a motivating factor for other women to come forward and achieve their goals, she believes.

“Sometimes, I’ve noticed as women we feel apologetic for asking what we deserve. Instead, when we see women from different backgrounds and walks of life excelling across diverse fields and carving a niche for themselves, that in itself should be a motivating factor for other women to come forward and achieve their goals,” she says.

“If you do not have anyone’s support, remember that you are self-sufficient. Change should come from within. We need to have a strong sense of self and not forget that we are made for the greatest things,” states Katrina, who recently launched Reebok’s ‘It’s A Man’s World campaign’.

Speaking about the campaign, Katrina says that it is all about celebrating the differences between all individuals, making us all unique. “Our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful. I have always believed that respect stems from understanding and embracing each other’s personalities no matter how different they are to ours. I am glad to be a part of this important campaign,” she says.

Does she feel the campaign is relevant to today?

Kaif replies: “Like I said, it is extremely important and relevant. Men and women are different from each other in terms of their emotionality and physicality, among other things. The idea is to complement and respect each other. We are different but we are all equal in value. The campaign is even more relevant because it makes us think about how unique we are.

“No two people can be the same and they shouldn’t be either. At a time when times are challenging and constantly changing, we need to keep reminding ourselves that we are who we are because of our unique personalities.”

Also Read-Katrina’s new hair cut for new film

Read More-Katrina speaks on sustainable fashion

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New age creators to go beyond normal

About releasing a movie on an OTT platform let’s go with the famous movie dialogue “Picture abhi baki hain” and for sure we will let you know if any such development were to happen…. Imtiaz Ali interacts with Puja Gupta.

OTT is a great shift happened in the cinema industry and most of the film makers are accepting it as a ‘new normal’ system of development. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali says that the upcoming storytellers want to showcase their stories in new and innovative ways and with the latest technology available.

As a step forward, Imtiaz has directed and shot his latest short film ‘Eyes For You’ exclusively on the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G smartphone. With this association, the director aims to push the new age creators to go beyond the normal and aim for new horizons with technology that enables them to create superior content on the go.

In a chat with us Imtiaz shares his views on the shift which Bollywood has seen, how OTT platforms has been a game changer. Excerpts:

Q: Given that video consumption has increased both from a creation and consumption standpoint, is it safe to assume you will be releasing a movie on an OTT platform?

A: 5G has enabled explosive growth in video content creation, especially short-form videos, amongst consumers. This sentiment has been bolstered which saw a massive uptick in video content consumption. With the majority of the people staying at home, the type of content consumed has changed which has led to a change in the creation of content as well with more focus being on people around us rather than it being about just us.

Today with enhanced networks and stronger internet connectivity the presence of Indian subscribers on OTT platforms is rapidly increasing. A recent report states that the boost in OTT consumption in India can be attributed to the addition of new subscribers emerging from across India. It surely is the best way to reach out to the audience.

OTT platform is not only a place to be but the people viewing the content are so diverse that I would love to see their feedback. About releasing a movie on an OTT platform let’s go with the famous movie dialogue “Picture abhi baki hain” and for sure we will let you know if any such development were to happen.

Q: Tell us about your collaboration with OPPO? How did it happen?

A: I remember when I was approached for this campaign by OPPO, what struck me the most was how the campaign focused on the power of envisioning something in the domain of videography which is beyond the reach of others, an insight I try to bring out through my work. I thought this was an excellent opportunity and jumped into it.

OPPO’s focus on integrity, innovation, and teamwork resonate with how I like to approach my work and through the campaign, we have tried to inspire the audience to shoot beyond limits and capture what they can imagine with the new OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G. This campaign gave me an opportunity to shoot on the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G which was an exciting and different experience for me. There were some extra ordinary times as we shot in the dark using the ultra – night video mode on the phone helped the team in getting clear and bright shots while capturing the subjects on frame perfectly. With their latest videography expert, the campaign focuses on inspiring consumers across India to shoot their live story!

Q: How would you define your journey in the industry?

A: I made my way through theatre and television to come into films. I have been very lucky to have started from a place that was far removed from the film industry. Having taken a long journey has given me varied experiences and made me respect people and their journeys more. Like any individual, my journey too has seen its fair share of ups and downs. For me, it’s not the end that matters but how many times you fall, pick yourself up and move forward that matters.

It’s all about believing in yourself, that you can achieve whatever you aspire for, all you need is strong will and determination.

Q: Do you feel Bollywood has to produce more and better content so as to bring back traction?

A: I think we have seen a huge shift in the nature of content that is consumed and how it is made, the approach has totally changed over the last few years. Bollywood has also become open to exploring different themes and it has been a refreshing change to see. I have always welcomed new and fresh stories as it helps in showcasing the real talent Bollywood can offer. The consumers are looking for different ways to showcase their stories and it is exciting to see what they come up with as it is a learning opportunity for us as well.

Like I mentioned before, it is about believing, exploring, and pushing for new ideas, there’s always scope to go above and beyond. The upcoming storytellers want to showcase their stories in new and innovative ways and with the latest technology available, they come out with ideas which is even a learning opportunity.

Q: What are you working currently on?

A: Last year gave me the opportunity to write as much as I wanted, and I made the most of this opportunity. It helped me to think in ways I wouldn’t have earlier, more time meant I could widen my horizons and it all worked out very well. Currently, I am producing and creative producing two shows on the digital platform apart from the new films that I’m conceptualising and writing. I’m also preparing to direct my next feature film as a director.

Also Read-Imtiaz Ali: Shooting in foreign lands is not easy

Read More-Kartik: Imtiaz Ali is not a director but a magician

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Verma identifies himself with music

I think social media plays a very big role in growing the Indie scene because it’s a medium for the artists to reach directly to their audience and their fans…Verma speaks with Puja Gupta.

Pop singer and the voice behind the popular single ‘Tera Ghata’ Gajendra Verma, who recently came up with a series of songs titled ‘Summary: A Musical Series’ for the month of love February, believes that social media is a crucial and transparent medium for indie music artists to reach an audience.

The Qyuki’s artist has collaborated with Virtual Planet Music for the five-song musical series, shot-in-Turkey, on YouTube, which is essentially a simple love story with an extraordinary redefinition. The first song ‘Mushkil Badi’, a foot tapping, upbeat number, was released on February 1. Subsequently, the songs ‘Kitna Maza Aayega’, ‘Ratjage’, ‘Pehla Pyar’ have been released in the run-up to Valentine’s Day on February 14, which is when the last song of the musical series ‘Aaj Phir Se’ will be released. The songs capture the mood of the love in a beautiful manner, Gajendra reaches Istanbul and the journey of love kickstarts.

Excerpts from the interview with the musician:

What is your approach to music? What does it mean to you?

Verma: Music is something with which I identify myself with. One can actually know me through my music, and it is something through which I can express my feelings, very honestly. I think I am most honest with my music.

Your single ‘Tera Ghata’ is an iconic song and has found an international audience. Can you share details?

Verma: Yes, I have received a lot of love for my song ‘Tera Ghata’ and thank you for saying it’s an iconic song, but I can’t really tell what made it such a big hit. I can only guess that maybe a lot of people related to it, and it was exactly today’s generation needed to hear of love.

What are your thoughts on the Indie music scene in India?

Verma: The Indie music scene in India is growing, and it’s a really great thing for the country and for its music because there are so many new songs, new artists, and new genres which are coming out, in the last 2-3 years and I am really happy about it.

How has social media helped in building an audience for independent talent in music?

Verma: I think social media plays a very big role in growing the Indie scene because it’s a medium for the artists to reach directly to their audience and their fans. It’s like a direct proportion where if you make good music, you get good listeners and so that’s like a very transparent thing. I think it’s a great medium to evaluate your music as well.

Your music series ‘Summary’ is releasing episodes. What is your thought about it?

Verma: Basically, what happened was, me and my director, my elder brother Vikram Singh, we were thinking about a story for a song, and it was a different song and we thought we cannot really tell a complete story in 4 minutes because it’s quite short. We thought of a series of songs which tell a complete story, and we get 20-25 minutes to tell this complete story. That’s where we got the idea and I started working on the song and the story simultaneously. It came out really well and it is received very well.

How was it recorded and shot?

Verma: Actually, the whole experience was really new. A lot of challenges you know and lots of disagreements also, but it was great, it was beautiful, it was learning, we were shooting in Turkey and I think we have never shot for such a long schedule before and it was actually great for everyone; we are really happy with the final product as well.

Also Read-I’ll keep singing till I’m happy about my singing: Hariharan

Read More-Sunidhi On A singing Mission To Aid Cancer Patients

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Food Interview Lite Blogs

PATAKA: Explosion Of Magical Flavours In London

Chef Manmeet Singh Bali of Pataka London meets Asian Lite’s FnB columnist Riccha Grrover

Pataka means Firework in Hindi. A meal from here is surely an explosion of flavours. The restaurant calls itself INDIAN 2.0. Pataka is founded by deeply passionate restaurateurs and hoteliers who have built and operated award winning hotels & restaurants around the world. Among them, they have a Michelin Star, a restaurant on Conde Nast’s Top 100, worked in award winning locations globally, TripAdvisor No.1’s, and a few more. But for now they are hiding in their ‘bright kitchen, cooking up an authentically updated Indian experience for discerning diners and delivering them with style and care. 

MANMEET SINGH BALI

They call themselves a food-tech startup. In conversation with Chef Manmeet Singh Bali on Pataka and it’s ‘mindfully modern Indian’ cuisine. 

RICCHA GRROVER– What does PATAKA as a concept stand for? 

MANMEET SINGH BALI – We started with a simple concept – make Modern Indian food accessible to all. We use timeless recipes, updated methods and modern mindfully sourced ingredients to create hand crafted dishes that cater to native and foreign palates alike.

RG– What does the cuisine of your restaurant take inspiration from and what part of India is the menu representative of?

MSB– India is magical with its varieties of cuisine. Pataka means Firework in Hindi. To us it is an explosion of flavour. And for our ever evolving menu, inspiration can come from all corners of India.

RG- What can diners expect when they order a meal from PATAKA? What are the top 5 dishes that you would recommend a first time customer to try?

Riccha

MSB- Our menu is designed where a majority of our dishes are modern interpretations of traditional dishes, without any pretence or fuss associated with it. While we have the Traditional fare like Butter Kulcha on the menu, we also have a Truffle Pecorino Kulcha. The Tandoori Spiced Baby Chicken comes with a uniquely spiced Chili Chutney. The Grilled Kasundi Tiger Prawns are gently flavored and extremely juicy. The all time favorites like Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani exist on the menu, but then we push the envelope by serving a Kheema Pau in a buttery Yorkshire pudding.

RG– Do you Cater to dietary requirements?

MSB- We do cater to varied dietary requirements. There are dishes that can be made vegan or vegetarian. We have the option on some dishes to cater to allergens. So we will definitely attempt to ensure guest satisfaction.

RG- What would be the challenges for FnB business brands in a post covid world in your view? What challenges face you personally as a chef serving customers at home and not in a restaurant space?

MSB– We have designed our menu and packaging to be delivery first. Our food holds and packaging plays a good part in ensuring food remains the way we intend it to, from the kitchen. Delivery and in-restaurant service is very different. A restaurants presentation can make the food incredibly appealing. All of that is moot in delivery.

Without the ability to invite a guest to have a complete dining experience at a physical space, we really need to ensure that our food does the talking. Things will be different when the world opens up, and we hope to wow guests with a very differentiated Indian experience.

RG- Did you always want to be a chef or dabble into the profession? What words of inspiration would you give to budding chefs and aspiring foodpreneurs?  

MSB-To be very honest , I never thought about getting into hotels / Kitchen. Though I liked working with my mum and grandmother in the kitchen. As a child growing up I used to work with the members in the religious community Kitchens (Gurdwaras) for religious functions and weddings . I was very much interested in the kitchen garden back home . It is only after joining the hotel school I got attracted to hotel kitchens . I think the key factor was invocation, discipline, uniform. 

The suggestion to new chefs and business owners is that to be mindful and realistic that Professional cooking isn’t easy . Although the skill aren’t hard to learn . One has to start finding the happiness , satisfaction and fulfilment in continuously serving  somebody something good to eat that satiates and it’s good to note this! 

RG– Tell us about your concept of bright kitchen. 

MANMEET SINGH BALI

MSB- We work with existing restaurants and their kitchens to create our product. Hence its not in a trailer parked out of town, but has the potential to be customer facing. We call it a bright kitchen, as it really helps shine some light for restaurants that are otherwise struggling in these pandemic times. We try and add a new dimension to them, an additional revenue stream and try and improve everyones profitability.

The menu is eclectic, the packaging is on point, the flavours are extraordinary, the service delivery is impeccable, attention to detail is delightful, the portion sizes are just right Infact generous, the presentation considering its a home delivered meal is charming and the whole meal experience is certainly to write home about! An absolute must try! 

As the brand rightfully says, indeed when it comes to Pataka’s menu offering there is “Some unique. Some familiar. Everything Reimagined.” 

  • @Pataka, London
  • @Pataka, London
  • @Pataka, London
  • @Pataka, London
  • @Pataka, London
  • @Pataka, London
  • @Pataka, London
  • @Pataka, London
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Lightweight trends in jewellery

Melorra, India’s fastest growing lightweight fine jewellery brand designing affordable jewellery for everyday wear, today forayed into its largest market, Delhi-NCR with three new physical experience centres.

Launched on the same day, Melorra’s brick-and-mortar outlets are located at Vegas Mall, Dwarka; DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj; and DLF Avenue, Saket. The brand is set to launch over 350 stores pan India in the months ahead.

The launch was attended by Sid Talwar, Co-Founder and Partner at Lightbox, Bollywood Actress and Model, Gul Panag, Renowned Singer, Shibani Kashyap and Fashion and Beauty influencer, Roshni Bhatia. The brand has received a tremendous response from the millennial women. Among the 2,000 towns, about 10 per cent of the orders received are from Delhi and 15 per cent from NCR. This is a key market for Melorra given that it’s the capital city and also a prominent hub for jewellery retail.

Jwellery

Speaking about this, Saroja Yeramilli, Founder and CEO, Melorra, said, “We are happy to bring the Melorra experience centres to our customers in Delhi/NCR. The city is a key market for us, an important reason why our seamless, customer-in-control experience will add value here. We are inspired by global trends and bring these elements into every lightweight, gold jewellery piece we offer. Apart from shopping from a collection of over 10,000 unique, contemporary, lightweight gold and diamond jewellery designs, customers can also tag their friends along and have fun at the Bliss Bar, among other things.”

Melorra’s women-centric jewellery ‘experience centre’ for millennials is fresh and fun, driven by the brand’s three pillars — fashion, technology and variety. All the stores are unique, fresh, and iconic and built with the aim of enhancing a customer’s sense of touch, feel and trial of Melorra jewellery. Functionally, they complement the many journeys a customer may choose to adopt: shop online pick up in store; shop in store ship to home and everything in between.

Jwellery

Millennial women in Delhi are known for their fashion sense. Delhi is also famous for some of the most prominent names and outlets in fashion and jewellery. Melorra’s experience centres have been designed taking all these aspects into consideration. The stores also have stylists available as advisors and consultants to help customers build their fashionable fine jewellery wardrobe.

Melorra has been a disruptor in the jewellery industry since it started operations in 2016. The brand is redefining the way fine jewellery is being perceived and worn. So far, Melorra has delivered to over 2,000 towns in the country and made its mark everywhere – from villages with a population of less than 10,000 to cities with population above 1 million.

Melorra recently raised US $12.50 mn in an oversubscribed funding round led by Symphony Asia (one of Asia’s first private equity firms), Lightbox Ventures, Alteria Capital and other leading family offices. The brand has been recording accelerated growth in order value and numbers ever since the lockdown was lifted.

What do you think about the brand?

It’s an incredible Discovery for me. Personally. I’m somebody who has a very understated very practical approach to jewellery and style in general and I find the stuff very contemporary very well priced from the point of view of people who just started work and also well price from the point of view of somebody who wants to make a make a make a jewellery investment and add to their jewellery portfolio. And without breaking the bank. Which is a which is the big very critical feature and the incredible feature here is that it’s an it’s available both in brick-and-mortar store as well as online. And it’s an it’s a genuine Discovery. I’m very impressed.

Tell us about your style.

I typically just wear one or two things and I keep wearing them till I get a little tired in the day take something else out and then I wear something most of the big stuff which Fun ways of weddings in our traditional Punjabi weddings ends up being in the locker, but the everyday jewellery tends to be lighter and mostly Hoops, which you can see you wearing even now so I’m a Hoop person.

Jwellery

Also because of the pandemic the whole things have changed and everything and now the new normal is all road travel living things as a writer or a think how exciting it is for you like?

It’s a good thing that I was already into road trips for a Very long time before the pandemic happened and we really haven’t done that many to be honest, but I did drive from Mumbai to Delhi with my son and my two dogs and my husband because we just want it to be sort of closer to my parents and my parents live on a farm in Punjab and I thought that might be a good place to be at and just when the restrictions for travel lifted we drove down there was the last big road trip. In the middle I did travel to Uttarakhand as well once further restrictions were lifted and that was a nice road trip.

Every road trip is a bit of a challenge now with given the fact that I have a two-and-a-half-year-old child who always I mean, I always put him in a car seat because safety is very important one of those people who agrees to the idea of a child being carried in the goody. So, he’s in the car seat always traps which means he has a threshold of about three and a half four hours that when he has to be taken down and just moved along because he gets tired being tied up in the car seat.

Also Read-2020-2021 Jewellery Trends

Read More-Future Of Indian Jewellery Industry

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Katrina speaks on sustainable fashion

Actress Katrina Kaif says she endorse only those brands that are relevant to her and can be part of her daily life…writes Puja Gupta.

In a candid chat with IANSlife, the actress, who is the brand ambassador of Reebok, gives an insight into her brand collaboration while sharing how she adopts sustainable fashion.

Read excerpts:What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion to me is a way to express myself. It’s a mode of communication to the world and defines your individuality.
What is your idea of sustainable fashion and how do you feel you contribute to it?


My idea of sustainable fashion is to use products that are organic and sustainable in nature. A few changes that I adapted to be eco-friendly and I recommend others to follow too are:

* Buy only what you need and don’t believe in compulsive shopping

* Limit the use of plastic items as much as possible

* Always keep reading about sustainability and educate yourself in order to contribute towards sustainable fashion

* Always share your knowledge with others to create and spread more awareness

* Most importantly, support fellow artisans with their innovations and vision about an eco-friendly future.

How can people contribute towards sustainable fashion?

Before adapting to sustainable fashion, I believe a person needs to adapt to a sustainable lifestyle, be it the products that we use on a daily basis or the food that we use in our homes. Once we start adapting sustainable practices in our daily routines, our fashion choices will also start to improve.

What’s your criterion to select a brand before you start endorsing it?

I endorse brands that are relevant to me and can be a part of my daily life. This is one of the most important criteria for me.

You have collaborated with Reebok for their new campaign. Tell us about it and why did you decide to be a part of it?

In honor of the [Ree]Cycled Classic Leather Legacy and Legacy 83, Reebok is soon to reveal its second iteration of the “Write Your Legacy” campaign. The campaign was created by three ‘Classics Collaborators’ from across the globe who use their talent and creations to pave the way for a better future for their communities. While the means of how they impact their communities varies, their legacy is alike: you can’t change what came before you, but you can change what comes next.

Reebok and the ‘Classic Collaborators’ recognise that what and how we create now impacts our future. Therefore, the campaign celebrates the new [Ree]Cycled Classic Leather Legacy alongside the Legacy 83. The shoes are also designed to celebrate community: the different backgrounds, personalities and outlooks that shape all of our legacies. The importance of community and the ability to make positive change for those to come is what each of the Classic Collaborators embody and celebrate.
What do you think such campaigns like this help?

The campaign is a celebration of creators who use their talent and skills to create a positive future for those around them. The whole idea behind the campaign is to celebrate people with a legacy of work that can make positive change in the world. If brands like Reebok come forward and celebrate such changes, then consumers will have a positive messaging to relate to and that is what the brand aims to drive.
Any fashion tips for readers?

Fashion is all about comfort, you need not blindly follow the latest trends to look stylish. Your confidence is your most special accessory. Don’t be afraid to play around with colours and garments, and remember, you have the power to make anything cool if you’re comfortable and confident.

Also Read-Kangana hits back Taapsee over ‘propaganda’ tweet

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Kabir Bedi’s Book Reveals New Things

Veteran actor Kabir Bedi says his upcoming autobiography is not a kiss and tell book, but one that will reveal a lot of things new to readers with raw emotional intensity. He adds that he plans to release the book in summer this year…Ahana Bhattacharya.

The actor of international repute chose the Covid-induced lockdown last year to devote time and pen the book narrating his journey, ups and downs, achievements and tragedies.

“I have been wanting to write a book for a number of years and got the time to think about it during lockdown. I figured out how I wanted to tell my story, which is very important. It took me four months to write the book and then I revised it for the next two months,” Bedi told IANS.

Throwing light on the contents of his book, the actor added: “It is the story of my life told through a number of stories. I think people will get a good sense of me as a person, my triumphs and tragedies, milestones, mistakes — everything after reading it.”

He continued: “It is a very honest book. I have friends, family and fans in various parts of the world. So, I feel a lot of people would be interested to know my story, what I’ve learnt from life and the many things that happened on the way. It is a very fulfilling book for me and should be out before summer.”

Autobiographies are expected to bare all. Is there anything that the author chooses not to mention in his book? Bedi paused for a while and replied: “This is not a kiss and tell book but I have talked with raw emotional intensity about the relationships that are known. It’s honest and vulnerable and there will be a lot of things that will be new to the readers. I will be able to talk far more in depth about the book once it is announced.”

Last year has been different, as the pandemic has changed lives as well as our perspective towards it. How did the year treat him? “I feel very sorry for those people who suffered in this pandemic. For me, it has been a brilliantly great year because I spent the time writing my book and fulfilling a long-held desire. In fact, I worked harder during the pandemic than I normally work. Even though acting stopped, I did a lot of writing as well as recording for documentaries, commercials etc. So it has been a very productive year for me in many ways,” the 75-year-old actor informed.

The year 2020 was special for the veteran actor also because it marked the Bollywood debut of his granddaughter Alaya F.

“I am delighted by Alaya’s success in the industry. I think she is the most talented girl of the new generation. I don’t give her any unneeded advice. She has a mind of her own and knows what she wants to do. She has done it all on her own merit,” he said.

On the acting front, Kabir Bedi says he is open to working in web series as long as the content is good or the role that he is offered is interesting, which will allow him to utilise his acting skills and abilities. The 70-plus actor revealed that he keeps getting offers for the web, but is waiting for the “right story”.

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Education Interview Lite Blogs

Learn And Grow Through Activities

Launched during the lockdown by three IIT alumni, FrontRow is an online platform that provides comprehensive skill-based courses, taught by celebrities in different categories…writes Puja Gupta.

Bollywood singer Neha Kakkar, comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath, Indian cricketers Yuzvendra Chahal and Suresh Raina among others have been roped in to take masterclasses to help a community of passionate users learn and grow together through activities, events, workshops and competitions.

The start-up has also managed to get Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone as one of its investors.

IANSlife speaks to Ishaan Preet Singh who co-founded the company along with Mikhil Raj and Shubhadit Sharma, to know more about it and the courses it offers.

Excerpts:

How did you come up with the idea of FrontRow? Tell us more about this learning platform?

Singh: We were working on a different problem in edtech — helping engineering students in Tier 3 and 4 colleges get better jobs. However, as we spent time with college students, we realised that their interest and excitement actually was not in engineering. It was way more in areas beyond engineering such as rap, singing, comedy and cricket.

There are hundreds of companies solving for better technical education, which is of course a big need, but the gap in this area resonated with us deeply. We also realised it is a space that has not been solved for either offline or online which has made the gap only deeper.

Mumbai: Actress Deepika Padukone(Photo: IANS)

How did you get Deepika Padukone as an investor?

Singh: Deepika was really excited by the market and the team. She was always excited about categories beyond academics when she was growing up and has seen these problems first hand.

Can you take us through the categories and how did you manage to sign such big names like Neha Kakkar, Suresh Raina?

Singh: Our current categories include cricket, singing, music, rap and comedy. An interesting learning was that whenever we would speak with celebrities they would instantly relate to the problem since they’ve faced it themselves while building their careers. They often did not have access to mentors or high quality resources that could help them learn, and now that they are successful, they want to give back.

For a layperson looking for a career in music, singing or cricket or stand-up comedy, how will FrontRow’s Masterclass with celebrities help them?

Singh: The courses will help them in two ways — one you’ll get better at your passion since you’ll get theory, examples and tips and tricks directly from the instructors whether it’s how Neha Kakkar learnt the ins and outs of music or how Suresh Raina thinks of a batting stance. Beyond this, you will also learn the essentials of building a career in those categories and what are the points that really matter.

Can we expect a Masterclass on non-conventional career choices like being a stylist or an influencer, chef, make-up artists etc?

Singh: We are working on expanding categories over the next 6-12 months and you will definitely see more categories launching including more sports and rap and music.

Are you looking to cater to millennials? Who all do you think will benefit from this platform?

Singh: Our audience is primarily 16-35 years old but interestingly it is spread across geographically and socio-economically. The problems are very broadly applicable and common! We have people from over 100 cities already learning on FrontRow and more than half our learners come from outside the top 10 cities.

You launched FrontRow in May 2020 during the peak of COVID-19. How did the pandemic help you?

Singh: 2020 was a breakout year for online education especially in terms of number of first users. A massive number of people across age groups took their first online course, their first zoom call or their first online exercise class. It’s moved the sector forward by a few years for sure, especially since learners now recognise that some things can just be done better online, such as learning from their idols or the absolute best teachers.

Every entrepreneur faces a few roadblocks and challenges. How has your journey been so far?

Singh: It’s a new market and a new opportunity so it of course took us some convincing to get people on board, but we’ve been lucky to have great investors and a great team supporting the vision!

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Interview Lite Blogs Theatre

‘Theatre is the most authentic way of learning acting’

Crime thriller series ‘Paatal Lok’ actor Ishwak Singh, who had quite a productive lockdown, says that creativity is the king in the OTT space. Calling 2020 challenging, he also said it was a remarkable year for him, as it brought him on the map…writes Siddhi Jain.

Singh stars in ‘Unpaused’, a Hindi anthology consisting of five short stories revolved around lives of people impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Excerpts from an IANSlife chat with Ishwak Singh:

You have a background in theatre. Tell us about your time and learnings on stage.

Theatre is a pretty widespread and diverse space but the kind of theatre I wanted to do was very, very realistic and minimalistic – which means there weren’t many sets or too much anything apart from the spotlight and the actor. To me, that was the ultimate training ground. My idea was to learn the craft, and I thought what could be a better space to learn than a play where it’s just the actor and spotlight.

To me, theatre is the most authentic way of learning acting. When I started out, I realised it would take a lot of time, because normally you enrol with a theatre group and it takes a good number of years before you get the part of a protagonist and you build a body of work and get known for it. It’s a slow and ongoing process which I wanted to do, it was a conscious choice and I really enjoyed it.

From an actor’s perspective, how promising would you say the OTT space is?

The OTT space is clearly a savior in that sense, for not just actors, filmmakers, writers, and creative people, but someone who just wants to do basic work and want to tell stories. It doesn’t have the dynamics of what every industry has, where creativity is pretty much at the centre. Creativity is the king for OTT, and that’s what makes it very interesting.

‘Unpaused’ draws from Covid-19 and the lockdown. What were your personal experiences in the lockdown?

During the lockdown, I was aware that this thing is going to go on for a while and I wasn’t ambitious at all about how to make my days productive initially. To me, it was about your sanity, getting past this thing. I got back to basics, did things I really enjoyed, read Shakespeare which I really like, watched good cinema, explored different forms of martial arts. I had been meaning to get back to books, plays and stories.

Well, I have to say it’s been a very very challenging, at times hurtful, at times very difficult year, but at the same time it’s been remarkable, that I can’t deny. It’s unfortunate to use this word for the year, but it did kind of bring me on the map. The biggest regret any artist has got the longest time is that he might have been known before this but I wasn’t known for the kind of skillset, work and acting I represent. After 2020, people get a sense of that, which is immensely satisfying.

Tell us about character in ‘Unpaused’ and how different is it from that in ‘Paatal Lok’?

Every character is very, very different. Anything that is written in a different time and place, if you see it as part of a story and what the story is all about, I think characters of the same profession (would be different). If I have to play a cop, it will be different from the cop I played in Paatal Lok. Here (in ‘Unpaused’) is the premise is different, the format is different, that was long-format, this is a short story. This is more felt, personal, internal, something that comes out of one’s personal experiences because it’s about mental health and hope.

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