Actress Kiara Advani was launched by Akshay Kumar in 2014 with Fugly, and she is now all set to star opposite the superstar in the upcoming horror comedy, Laxmii.
In her latest role, Kiara plays Akshay’s love interest. Prior to this, the two were seen sharing screen space in the 2019 comedy, “Good Newwz”.
Sharing her experience working with Akshay , Kiara said: “Life’s come a full circle, from being launched in the movies to being the leading actress in a film with Akshay sir. There’s always so much to learn from him, from his work ethics to the energy as an actor that he brings to a scene.”
Akshay Kumar: ‘Laxmmi Bomb’ made me more sensitive about gender equality.
“When we worked together on ‘Good Newwz’ I was a bit intimidated working with sir, I wouldn’t speak as much. I would silently listen and observe him on set, the way he would improvise and add so much life to a scene always inspired me. By the time we started working on ‘Laxmii’ I had opened up, felt more confident and the journey has been amazing,” she added.
Directed by Raghava Lawrence, “Laxmii” is a remake of the filmmaker’s 2011 Tamil hit, “Muni 2: Kanchana”.
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif launched India’s first celebrity makeup brand, Kay Beauty, a year ago. The line was created in partnership with leading Omnichannel lifestyle retailer, Nykaa, with a vision to deliver high-performance, long-lasting, ultra-glam makeup products that also care for the skin.
Celebrating a year of success the actor turned entrepreneur, turned investor, recently signed an agreement to invest an undisclosed amount in Nykaa through a secondary transaction. Kaif’s investment is in alignment with Nykaa’s vision to be India’s most trusted and dynamic retailer and Kay Beauty’s aim to be a full-fledged beauty brand in the future, offering over 200 SKU’s by the end of 2020 with an exciting line-up of colour cosmetics and face products ahead.
To coincide with the first anniversary of Kay Beauty, Kaif also unveiled a campaign titled “KAYCONVERSATIONS” that will feature a series of inspiring stories of women who have stood out with their inner beauty and strength. The first in series is a film featuring Athlete, Mobility Coach & Movement Specialist Ayesha Billimoria, and forthcoming films will feature the stories of Vedika Agarwal of NGO Yein Udaan; Plus Size Models & Body Positivity Influencers Varshita Tharaney and Sakshi Sindhwani, Airbus A320 Pilot Ritu Rathee Taneja and Actress Tripti Dimri of much-celebrated supernatural thriller “Bulbul” fame. These women have patiently faced hurdles, rejection and doubt, to patiently remain dedicated to their craft and reach success.
IANSlife caught up with the gorgeous star to find out all the details about her venture. Read Excerpts:
Most international celebrities who have a strong fan base like Victoria Beckham or Rihanna, have branched out into the beauty business. How does it feel to be one of the first Indian actor to have your own cosmetic line?
People who know me know that I have been fond of make-up ever since my runway days. Every time I worked with a make-up artist, I used to be very intrigued with the different kinds of beauty products laid out before me. I wanted to understand how they are made for individual skin tones and what the different textures or formulas are! I have always had a very interesting relationship with makeup as I have had the privilege of working with so many professional makeup artists along the way, so it also helped me learn a lot about makeup and pick up on lots of tips and tricks. To sum it up, makeup has been an innate part of my journey- from runway to the big screen, and finally I rendered my love for it to launch Kay Beauty, my first ever Beauty Brand!
I always thought that I would want to own a beauty label someday. It was years ago after a meeting with Nykaa – Falguni (Nayar) and Reena (Chhabra), when we decided to work together on our beauty brand, Kay Beauty, and finally it went live in 2019. It has helped me fulfil my dream to own something I can call my own. When it comes to make up one size doesn’t fit all; should women play with products to see what works best for them?
Of course! There is no set rule when it comes to make-up. Make-up is something that should be fun; not daunting and we have applied this principle while creating Kay Beauty products too! You can mix and match your lip shades and you can come up with something that perfectly suits your lips. I love playing around with my kajal and liner. Most women like their liners to be on point, but I think that a little bit of smudging and blending hurts no one! It creates soft-rimmed eyes and renders an element of depth to them. That’s why we’ve kept it super simple with Kay Beauty – the products are not only high on performance, but also super easy to use, travel with and very versatile. For eg, you can pick up our ‘Kay Beauty Lip Crayon’ to flaunt a pout or dab it on your cheeks for a quick blush or use the ‘Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Sticks’ to get an eye look in no time!
Do you agree when it comes to makeup less is more, and why?
I love going for a natural look. The only make-up product that I wear on most days is an eye-liner, some mascara and a little bit of foundation. Every time I apply an eye-liner, I smudge it a little to give a soft and more natural look to my eyes. As for the foundation, I use my fingertips because this helps me blend it to perfection. I love nude lipsticks too, be it glossy or matte textured. Billboard shade in our lip crayon and the Smokey Kajal (as a liner too) are my faves! I have always said, and I maintain that a great shade of lipstick and a flick of eyeliner have the power to completely transform your look!
Makeup tools you cannot do without?
Earlier, when I was getting used to the city, I would get burns and rashes on my face very easily due to the humid climate. So, I would make sure that I always carry a moisturiser with SPF in my bag. My skin has gotten used to the weather here but a moisturiser continues to be a must for me. I cannot do without a night cream and coconut oil either. While night creams have been an important part of my bedtime ritual ever since I was a child, I use coconut oil to remove my make-up before going to bed. Have you enjoyed the make-up free staycation thanks to home sheltering?
Even though I have been doing some studying and researching on make-up products, I am not required to put on make-up every day. It is important to let your skin breathe and so, one needs to have lots of water throughout the day. Of course, my work as a beauty entrepreneur requires me to try Makeup swatches. My current skincare routine encompasses thorough cleansing, toning and moisturising. I have also been making lots of masks at home. I use mineral mud masks and other masks which are made using eggs, honey and curd.
Do you think work from home has left women doing a lot more than they normally would and how important is it to take out some R&R time to indulge in feel good activities?
Well, the lockdown, has taken a lot of adjusting for everyone, especially those who don’t have help at home – these are unprecedented times and everyone is trying to find their way. While work continues at home, it is indeed important to take out time from your schedule and engage in activities that help you stay mentally calm and physically fit. I love working out and I have been working out at home and on my terrace throughout this period. My trainer and friend, Yasmin Karachiwala, guides me through video calls at times. I have been doing sets and free-hand exercises that include warm-ups, lunges, squats, planks, push-ups and mountain climbers. Making time to speak to friends and to stay connected is also important.
India is a global leader in manufacturing and one of the largest consumer markets for fashion. Investing in innovations and simultaneously building supply chain capabilities will be critical for faster innovation adoption and scale-up, says a report…writes Puja Gupta.
Fashion for Good and Circular Apparel Innovation Factory have come up with a comprehensive overview of the “State of Circular Innovation in the Indian Fashion and Textile Industry” that outlines the opportunities and solutions across the Indian supply chains that are enabling the industry to leap towards sustainability.
This report, mapping the entire landscape, showcases the opportunities driving the industry in India forward.
Investing in fashion innovation in India. (Photo: Unsplash)
“This report is not only an indepth look into the Indian innovation landscape, but an invaluable tool for anyone looking to make a positive impact in the region. With action and all industry actors coming together to capitalise on these innovations, India is positioned to transform the fashion industry towards circularity,” said Katrin Ley, Managing Director, Fashion for Good.
Some of the key highlights shared in the report are:
A sustained focus on R&D will be essential to promote upstream innovations. In case of “Raw Materials”, R&D efforts need to focus on developing new natural fibres, bi-synthetics, regenerated fibres and processes that consume fewer chemicals, less water and energy. Such efforts also need to be directed towards enhancing compatibility of such products with existing equipment and infrastructure available in India.
Public-private engagement and appropriate policy incentives will be necessary for establishing and strengthening local supply chains (supply side interventions) to ensure availability of, and access to, innovative circular products. This will be particularly relevant for ensuring production and seamless availability of alternative products, particularly in the “Raw Materials” and “Wet and Dry Processing” phases of the supply chain.
Fashion and generation Gen Z.
Investing in innovations and simultaneously building supply chain capabilities will be critical for faster innovation adoption and scale-up. This requirement holds true across the supply chain phases to spur demand for innovative products and processes.
Up-skilling of workers in the supply chain will facilitate easier innovation adoption and job protection. This flows naturally from the earlier point on developing supply chain capabilities and is also applicable throughout the supply chain, especially in phases where innovation unfolds in the form of mechanisation.
The halt over the market and economy due to the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought a severe economic issue to the industries all over the world. The situation has introduced us to a rapid change in lifestyle as well as the whereabouts of running the economy within the hemisphere of risk and adaptation…writes Puja Gupta.
Affected severely by store closures and not responsive to e-commerce, the jewellery industry is one of the luxury segments that has suffered the most from the consequences of the health crisis. The long-term effect of this catastrophe is more intense and consequential to every aspect of society, says Ageerika Hari, Founder, Vaitaanika.
“Many businesses irrespective of their size, were forced to shut down and others were just limping without any precautionary measure and absence of hope to survive. People feared for their jobs, their lives, and their dwindling toilet paper supplies. They went into survival mode, stocking up on essentials and forgetting everything else,” she says.
Online jewellery: Millennials, minimalism and the marketplace. (Photo: Pixabay)
No one – not even the trend analysts are exactly sure what the future of fashion looks like, what they agreed on is that, because of the pandemic, the future of clothing and Jewellery is arriving way ahead of schedule, with back-burner projects front-burner and fashion’s never-ending hamster wheel getting a good, hard look.
The pandemic has also forged people to change their taste while adapting to a certain lifestyle including food, cosmetic, jewellery, etc. The current scenario of the fashion life is always on a peak, of course, certain aspects that have affected the industry and declined surplus, Hari says.
“People may have just stopped taking the effort to dress like before. Styles of fashion in a simple and classy Jewellery will emerge largely than before. Choosing Plains or Solids overprints and pattern or neutrals over new trending colours jewels is being seen for workwear fashion. For people who operate a small jewellery business, the impact of COVID-19 has seen a shift from in-person sales to online sales.”
“This is perhaps the biggest indicator of where the jewellery industry is headed as a result of the pandemic. Learning a new normal happened nearly overnight for many small businesses and making changes and figuring out how to proceed is something that is going to impact how these small businesses are run for many years to come.”
How Indian jewellery market will adapt with the pandemic.
People used their time in quarantine to evaluate their life and their values and many of them are now purchasing jewellery as a self-care measure to reward themselves for their time in quarantine. Others are buying jewellery for loved ones as a way to acknowledge the difficulties we’ve been through during the pandemic.
Also, people are shopping as a way to escape the reality of what’s happening in the world. This pandemic has inevitably changed the fashion industry forever. The necessity to purchase clothing or Jewellery frequently no longer exists.
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja who is also known for her style statements, says she never intends to dress up for others because her style statement is all about her individuality and self-expression.
“I realised I don’t care and just did what I wanted to do, because of my upbringing. I did what I felt like doing. I think that’s what girls and boys should be able to do. Nobody should be giving you permission. My style statement, if there is one, of me being a complete individual. I like being myself and expressing myself. I don’t believe in dressing for others or dressing for someone’s opinion, it’s just for myself, my individuality, my self-expression,” she claimed.
The actress has played a girl next door in films such as “Saawariya”, “Delhi-6”, “Raanjhanaa”, and “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, and she is also known for her sense of high fashion in her public appearance.
The actress shared how clothes and jewellery she received in legacy hold sentimental value.
“My Nani left me her wedding jewellery. They are simple, old, small and beautiful. She left me pearls as well that I wore at my wedding. It was a necklace. I also wore a necklace that my father gifted my mother on her 50th birthday. It is one of my most prized possessions as my father gave it to my mother and she gave it to me,” she said.
Shilpa Shetty shared a mantra to stay fit, positive and increase self-confidence.
The actress, who defies age with her fitness, took to her verified Twitter account to share a photo where she can be seen performing yoga amidst mountains.
“The power and potential to achieve all that your heart desires invested in your mind. Don’t allow your age to determine what you can and can’t do. Surround yourself with people and situations that emit positivity. Your determination stems from within. Work on the energy within and around you. Believe YOU CAN and trust me, YOU WILL!” tweeted the actress, who is currently in scenic Manali.
Shilpa Shetty tries archery in new video post
Shilpa is known for being a fitness enthusiast and yoga lover. She keeps sharing photos and videos of her performing yoga asanas and shares words of encouragement for her followers on social media.
On Monday, Shilpa had shared a video performing an asana. The actress also revealed the benefits of the asana.
She wrote: “Being able to connect with your inner self amid the quiet surroundings of Manali is a blessing. When the mind is at peace, nothing seems difficult to do. This flow is the Eka pada Navasana going in to Supta Padmasana. It helps improve blood circulation while it strengthens the core, lower back, and pelvic muscles. Additionally, it stretches the hamstring and ankles too! No matter what your day looks like, make sure to dedicate a few minutes to yoga. Try it!”
Shilpa is currently shooting for her upcoming film “Hungama 2” in the hill town Manali. The comedy film, directed by Priyadarshan, also stars Paresh Rawal, Meezaan and Pranitha Subhash.
Singer Sunidhi Chauhan will be part of a fundraiser that aims to support families of cancer patients who are struggling with expenses of medical treatment, especially during the pandemic. The digital concert will be held on Saturday.
Titled BIG Cafe Online with Sunidhi Chauhan, the 45-minute event will see the singer belt out her most popular chartbusters. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Indian Cancer Society for the treatment of the needy, with a hope to spread the message of survival and unity.
“This fundraiser musical concert in its digital avatar will be the medium where we can reach out to people across the country as all the funds will be donated to the patients for their medical aid. I am happy to do my bit for their welfare and I would like to urge all my fans to come forward and support the cause,” said Sunidhi, about the concert, hosted by BIG FM.
World Tourism Day: Jaipur, Goa, Kochi to be most popular leisure destinations.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has altered our lives in unimaginable ways; social distancing has become the — new normal and the — big fat Indian wedding has now embraced smaller, more intimate weddings. It definitely seems small is the new big!
Instead of worrying about what it used to be, couples are chasing the silver lining in this new situation. With restrictions on guest lists, many to-be-weds are leveraging this opportunity to make their dream destination wedding come true!
The pandemic has given couples the chance to tie the knot against the backdrop of an exquisite location, either outside the city without worrying about going over the budget.
A destination wedding that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket is no longer just a fantasy. Expert from Weddingz.in shares the five most budget-friendly cities to host one’s small and dreamy wedding.
Welcome Hotel The Savoy.
Goa
With its sun-kissed beaches and breathtaking views, Goa makes for the perfect destination for an intimate and fun wedding. Couples can choose to host their wedding ceremony at a stunning beach resort without having to spend exorbitantly. Goa is host to umpteen affordable resorts with private beaches, little old-style Portuguese inns and budget-friendly homestays. Apart from being easily accessible via road, air and rail, Goa has a host a lot of restaurants which blend local and continental flavours, and this makes it a perfect destination for a small wedding.
Jaipur
Known as India’s Pink City, Jaipur is steeped in royal history and culture. Apart from being a favoured tourist hotspot, it is also a viable destination for weddings. Jaipur is home to an array of new-age boutique guest-houses and homestays that are pocket-friendly and ideal for wedding festivities with a limited guest list. At homestays and inns, couples can choose curated cuisine, customised dining setup and much more. Jaipur is also easily connected to all major Indian cities and towns and hence, makes for a perfect mini wedding destination.
Pune
Nestled in the lap of the Sahyadri Mountains, Pune makes for an ideal location for a small destination wedding. The city has tons of budget-friendly hotels, farms, resorts and holiday homes. Also, apart from its proximity to all major cities and towns in and around Mumbai, Pune city has the right mix of old-style Maharashtrian culture and new-age city vibes. The cool and dry weather is another upside for those looking to have outdoor weddings.
World Tourism Day: Jaipur, Goa, Kochi to be most popular leisure destinations.
Mussoorie
This hill station town in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range is nothing short of a paradise for couples looking to get hitched. Mussoorie provides an array of breathtaking locales and vistas that couples can choose from. The hill town is full of homestays, hotels and little rustic inns, with local vendors offering reasonable prices for all necessary wedding prep as compared to mainstream cities. This makes for a perfect destination to host a low-budget yet festive wedding.
Chandigarh
With a host of 3-star hotels and farmhouses, the city blends well for small budget-friendly weddings. Hosting an outdoor farm wedding requires minimal spending on the decor, instead one can add some DIY decor personalised as per the couple’s taste. An extremely well-connected city- Chandigarh is also home to some of North India’s cuisine and is one of the greenest and cleanest cities in India. Add up all these factors and you have your perfect micro-wedding destination!
The pandemic may have played spoilsport for a lot of the couple’s grand wedding plans, but on the brighter side, it has given rise to intimate wedding ceremonies that can be celebrated with the closest friends and family. As an added perk, Weddingz.in is also offering jaw-dropping offers that can be availed by couples looking to book wedding related services.
Wrestler Ritu Phogat shares her nutritional routine. (Photo: rituphogat48/ instagram)
Wrestler Ritu Phogat shares her nutritional routine. (Photo: rituphogat48/ instagram)
Indian wrestling champion and rising atom weight star Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat is an elite athlete. Her rigorous training schedule, which consists of multiple training sessions throughout the day, touching on disciplines such as Muay Thai, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling, as such requires a strict and sustainable nutritional plan.
Phogat is a naturally strong athlete, her raw strength no doubt inherited from her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, who is considered the patriarch of the Phogat wrestling clan.
Since moving to Singapore from India to train at the Evolve MMA, Phogat has had to change her diet, and upgrade in areas necessary to keep up with the growing demands of her world-class training regimen.
She shares with IANSlife her diet, health and fitness regimen, as well as some of her favourite things.
“My diet in India was a Pehlwan diet. Pehlwani in India is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. You train in Akharas, you eat organic food, you have lots of almonds, milk, and ghee. You train for six hours a day, and you eat, and you rest. That’s the mantra of being fit,” said Phogat.
“Over the years, I used to follow the diet but it would change when I started going to camp and international tournaments. So you have to adjust a little there. But one thing consistent is ghee, that is very good for your body. Even here in Singapore, when I came in last year, I ensured I ate home cooked meals as I find that tasty and healthy.”
Phogat is deep in training now, finalising her latest training camp in preparation for her next bout. She’s been living and training in Singapore since last year, when she joined Evolve MMA, all the way up to current, as she spent most of her time training in Singapore’s ecircuit breaker’ lockdown period.
While at home, Phogat says she’s enjoyed her time preparing her own food as a way to cope with stress.
Wrestler Ritu Phogat shares her nutritional routine. (Photo: rituphogat48/ instagram)
“I enjoy cooking. It is my stress burner. I made many new dishes during lockdown. Roti with ghee and kadhi are my favorite. Maintaining a proper diet is very important to pair with a workout routine, especially as a professional athlete,” she said.
“My diet has changed a lot. Back home in India, I had access to natural homemade foods and proteins. But since my move to Singapore, I have had to include supplements, multivitamins and protein powders in my diet. I follow a strict diet schedule that my coach has provided me with.”
Phogat returned to action with her win against Cambodian Kun Khmer World Champion Nou Srey Pov in a three round mixed martial arts contest.
In the main event, reigning ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar defends his middleweight title against top contender Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder of The Netherlands.
Phogat is “more than ready”, and wants to show fans all of the improvements she’s made since her last performance, particularly with an exciting finish.
“I have been working on perfecting a lot of other techniques, but wrestling has formed the bedrock of a lot of my efforts in MMA. Techniques like the takedown are very easy for me. Initially, I had a lot of trouble with striking and jiu jitsu, but now I have improved all of this,” said Phogat.
“This third victory is important as it will bring me one step closer to being a world champion.”
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut says the one thing she misses the most about Mumbai is horseback riding every other morning.
Kangana tweeted a series of pictures riding a horse.
Alongside the image, she wrote: “One thing I miss the most about Mumbai is horseback riding every other morning in race course, I have never been a sports person but I find meditative partnership with my horse, being one with another being is such as exhilarating experience #MondayMotivation.”
Kangana was in her hometown in Himachal Pradesh for a long time during lockdown, far from the maddening crowd.
The actress recently revealed her inner poet yet again and penned a poem about love and longing for summer. She shared the poem, titled “Aasman”, along with a soothing video, which has been shot at her place in Manali.
“Poem I wrote and shot this summer, as winter approaches reminiscing Aasman,” she wrote as she shared the video on Twitter.
The video has a voiceover by Kangana, as she recites her poem. It also talks about doubting a lover’s affection, using the vastness of the sky as an allegory. The clip shows Kangana enjoying summer in the mountains, lying in the grass.
