Actor turned grooming expert Kim Sharma likes all things opulent and elegant. And her Bandra pad reflects that. A massive chandelier in the living room adds to the grandeur of her 2500 sq ft home. A charming sit-out, a walk-in closet, eclectically designed den are some other features.
Click on the link below for my feature on Kim Sharma’s home for Hindustan Times
There is something meticulous about Irrfan Khan, and it’s not just his smouldering softness or the perfectly timed bouts of laughter. We are an hour behind schedule but Irrfan wants to rolls his own cigarette and insists on making one right now. He delicately rolls the filter into a cylinder, fills the rest of the paper with tobacco, rolls it up, moistens the shiny edge of the paper and lets the cigarette sit for a minute before lighting it up. “I’m ready,” he says, pulling at his cigarette. I mean, obviously he’d have been ready to go five minutes ago if he’d just lit up a ready cigarette like most of us do, but it’s clear Irrfan likes to do things on his own terms and to his own very precise standards. You just have to look at his CV to see that.
For more on my interview with Irrfan Khan pls click here
Kanika Kapoor
Nothing is hotter than a woman who can rock a mic. Meet a new crop of fantastic female singers who embody a combination of raw charisma and talent that is impossible to ignore or deny. These songstresses have got the tunes, the personality and definitely the looks which have earned them a following and a rightful place in music history. Here’s a dekho at three such artistes…
Kanika Kapoor
Best Songs: Chil Gaye Naina (NH10), Chittiyan Kalaiyaan (Roy), Lovely (Happy New Year), Kamali (Dhoom 3), Baby Doll (Ragini MMS2)
Kanika Kapoor
An air of casual confidence and effortless cool emanates from London-based singer Kanika Kapoor who proved her musical chops with her debut single Baby Doll. Chart busters like Kamali and Lovely rendered her the first choice for leading ladies when it comes to peppy dance numbers. “Peppy songs are easy songs to sing. You need classical training to make the songs sound the way they do. The antara of Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan is tough to sing. Even Jugniji was tough as you have to hold on your vocals while singing,” says the Benaras Gharana trained classical singer. Her voice which ranges from softly sultry to lung-burstingly powerful are the perfect vehicles for songs laced with Punjabi, Sufi and folk influences.
However Kanika doesn’t want to restrict her talent to Bollywood and is working with international artist and British producer Naughty Boy on a single. When not belting out hits Kanika could be spotted sitting in the front row at fashion shows in Milan and Paris. In fact she is the Indian muse for Italian designers Emilio Pucci and Moschino and has walked the ramp for Amrapali, Alberta Ferretti, Louis Vuitton and for fashion maestro Karl Lagerfeld, whom she likes to call “Uncle Karl”. With her light eyes, radiant skin, lanky 5’10” physique, Kanika rocks leather pants and flowy gowns with equal ease.
Aditi Singh Sharma
Best songs: Sooraj Dooba Hain (Roy), Touch My Body (Alone), Choomantar (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan), Dheaon Dheaon (Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge), Main Heroine Hoon (Heroine), Aali Re and Dilli (No One Killed Jessica), Yahi Meri Zindagi (Dev D)
Aditi Singh
The musical landscape for female artists is increasingly competitive these days. With so many new voices constantly emerging, it gets difficult to distinguish one girl from another. Fortunately, Aditi has no problem with that. From fronting a music band to belting solo hits, this 29 year old is wasting no time making herself known with her alluring style, sound and good looks.
A singer with some edge Aditi mostly sings attitude-loaded songs in a voice that’s deep and guttural, primal and raw. Her carefree attitude, kohl rimmed eyes and unruly hair add to her punk attitude. And though she’s known for singing energetic songs Aditi broke the mould with the slow number Raabta from Agent Vinod.
The androgynous beauty rocks live performances in leather jackets, boots, or shorts with leggings. Her mic covers in fancy gold, silver and red match her outfits on stage. “When I’m on stage or in the studio I feel like it’s my extra dose of oxygen intake,” says Aditi who likes to relax with a mug of tea or listen to music while she gets ready for a concert backstage. Working with maestro A.R. Rahman and singing for Priyanka Chopra remain top on her list.
Shalmali Kholgade
Best songs: Pareshaan (Ishaqzaade), Daaru Desi (Cocktail), Aga Bai (Aiyyaa), Lat Lag Gayi (Race 2) Balam Pichkari (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani)
Shalmali Kholgade
Outrageously talented Shalmali has a husky yet tender voice that could rock you one minute and make you cry the next. And though music happened to this acclaimed singer by accident she quickly proved her mettle with accolades for her debut song Pareshaan from Ishaqzaade. Shalmali is not choosy about the songs she sings but turns down numbers with “unsettling words.” “Songs that are vulgar and don’t speak honorably of a woman aren’t acceptable to me. I have said no to such songs that have come my way,” says the Amy Winehouse devotee. Outside of Bollywood Shalmali has performed as a soloist with a Latvian troupe in a cabaret named ‘Bombaloo’ which toured Moscow, Russia and Yerevan, Armenia.
Not a big fan of bling Shalmali chooses pants, sequined corsets and jumpsuits for live concerts. For the recently held Mirchi Music Awards the 27-year old singer-songwriter rocked it in a net skirt over shorts from Mrunal Yangad.
When not crooning Shalmali works on looking better and fitter on stage. “I’ve been gymming and taking Jazz Funk Dance lessons from Shazeb Sheikh. I want to be able to look powerful even if I’m standing in one place,” says Shalmali who is working on her first English single.
NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
Tapsee Pannu
Decades ago it was the dream of every south Indian star to make it big in Bollywood. That would be the ultimate stamp of approval. But today that has changed. Now the norm is to make a mark in the south film industry before heading to Bollywood. From Katrina Kaif, Shriya Saran and Genelia D’souza in the past, to latest entrants Ileana D’cruz, Tammana Bhatia and Tapsee Pannu these women have all established their careers first in the south before turning to Bollywood to fulfil their filmi aspirations.
The reasons for this shift are many. The film industry in the south produces many more films annually, surpassing even Bollywood. With so much happening there, filmmakers are constantly scouring for fresh faces. Lack of home-grown actresses; compel filmmakers to look out for girls from Mumbai and other cities. Apart from the money being good actresses look at south Indian films as being a good training ground while waiting in the wings to take off to the Hindi film industry.
Delhi based model turned actor Tapsee Pannu received offers from south based filmmakers while preparing for her MBA. “The South Indian films were casting me with better names, so I made a debut there,” says the Punjabi girl who made it to the movies with 2010’s Telugu smash hit ‘Jhummandi Naadam’. Though David Dhawan’s Chashme Baddoor was her Bollywood debut, it was Neeraj Pandey’s ‘Baby’ with action hero Akshay Kumar that brought the girl into the spotlight. Currently Tapsee is one of the most in-demand actresses across the ‘woods’.
Tamanna Bhatia
Another Punjabi actor who took a detour to the south before landing in Bollywood is Tamanna Bhatia. Films like ‘Sri’, ‘Happy Days,’ ‘Kalloori’, ‘Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam’, ‘Kanden Kadhalai’, ‘Paiyaa’, ‘100% Love’ and ‘Rachcha’ propelled her to the top of south Indian actresses’ list. “Initially, it was very difficult for me to get through my lines in Tamil and I had to work really hard. In those days I used to mug my lines. But now I am more comfortable and can perform more easily. I now realize that language is not a barrier to emote,” she says. Despite her hugely forgettable Hindi debut ‘Himmatwala’ with Ajay Devgn Tamanna went on to do the comedy film Humshakals and ‘Entertainment’ both of which proved duds at the box office.
Unlike Tamanna, Goan girl Ileana D’cruz won hearts and pockets of cinegoers when she made inroads into Bollywood with Anurag Basu’s ‘Barfi!’ alongside heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor. Before that Ileana’s had a successful run in the south with super hits including ‘Pokiri’, ‘Jalsa’ and ‘Kick’.
Kajal Agarwal
Then there are actors who tried their luck in Bollywood, didn’t click with the audience and therefore, shifted focus to Tollywood. Despite their box office success the moolah they are offered in the south is far greater than what Bollywood would offer them. So the actors do not mind switching over to the South film industry. Mumbai based model Kajal Aggarwal made her debut in the hugely forgettable ‘Kyun…! Ho Gaya Na’, in 2004. Three years in the wilderness, the wide-eyed beauty turned to Telugu films and became a star overnight. Her girl-next-door image grabbed her many projects in the industry. She made a comeback in Bollywood with Singham which was a blockbuster while her next film Special 26 was also declared a box-office success. Kajal is clearly one of the best South imports in Bollywood.
Sonal Chouhan
Sonal Chauhan too shifted her base down south after her films ‘Jannat’ opposite Emraan Hashmi, ‘Buddha Hoga Tera Baap’ with Amitabh Bachchan and ‘3G’ with Neil Nitin Mukesh failed to ignite the box office. The pageant winner continued to churn blockbusters down South after her Telugu debut film ‘Rainbow’. According to industry watchers, the south Indian film industry is far more forgiving. The fact that these girls had a national launch and are known faces works in favour of their regional films. That’s the reason actors attracted to the shine and shimmer of films have a have a swift rise to stardom in the south.
NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
Kareena Kapoor Khan at the Lakme Grand Finale by Gurav Gupta
Gaurav Gupta created a world of fantasy, sculpted structures and silhouettes for the grand finale of Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 at Mehboob Studios. Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan added grandeur and glamour to Gaurav’s creations.
The spectacular Lakme Grand Finale show
The stunning show had a magnificent white giant sculpture of a gorgeous women rising from the centre of a circular stage around which the spectators were seated. A flight of stairs amongst the white stage décor created the mood for a breath-taking opening.
Couturier Gaurav Gupta’s designs were were minimal yet vibrant with moondown gray, albatross black, showtime ivory and reminiscent red. The silhouettes, colours, embroidery and sculpted fabrics were just breathtaking. Gupta’s models strutted down the runway with well-defined matte and crème lips in a stunning palette of rich plums, deep reds and feminine pinks from the new Lakmé Absolute face collection.
Ayesha Kapur
Every year, Bollywood sees a barrage of new faces, new hopes and new aspirations. The year 2015 is no different and the industry is geared to welcome talented debutantes. Check out these hottest newbies, who are all set to make their marks and became stars, almost overnight.
Ayesha Kapur
Ayesha burst onto to the scene in 2005 with Sanjay Leela Bhasali’s Black. As a deaf, mute and blind girl she delivered a multilayered performance that undercut expectations. Though she went on to win awards for her performance she soon faded into oblivion. “I went back to school in Pondicherry as my parents were very particular that I get myself a good education,” explains the heir of Hidesign the leather accessories company. Post boarding school and whilst waiting to get into NYU for an acting course Ayesha landed in Mumbai for a short internship with Sanjay Suri. Her fondness for the camera bloomed into serious passion and she stayed back in the city to pursue her acting dreams. Auditions for over two months with Yashraj Films casting head Shanu Sharma led the child prodigy to bag a three film deal with the production house. The first film is slated to be Shekhar Kapoor’s futuristic Romeo & Juliet set in Mumbai in the future when water is the greatest wealth. Sushant Singh the male lead plays a boy from the lower city who steals into the higher city where he meets Ayesha.
Undaunted by the delay in her debut Ayesha says, “I am positive about the wait period as I know I am working on my art. I want to show the audience of what I am capable of with my first film.” The preparations for the big ticket debut include hectic schedule of a run in the morning followed by acting classes, dance classes, lip-synching, Hindi classes and so on. What’s her strategy to be ahead of the curve in Bollywood? “I am not worried about the competition. I just need to stay true to my art and creativity as an artist. As long as you are in the industry for the right reasons I believe things will happen naturally. I have the right team backing me.” When not honing her acting skills the equestrian sets off to Pondicherry to ride horses, write poetry and work on her brand of accessories – Ayesha.
Would she join the ranks of other phenomenally talented child actresses like Sridevi and Urmila Matondkar who grew up to be stars in their own right? Only time will tell.
Zoa Morani
As daughter of Karim Morani, Shah Rukh Khan’s closest friend, film producer and owner of Bollywood’s biggest event management company Zoa Morani’s Bollywood aspirations aren’t surprising to say the least. When kids her age were playing doll Zoa was touring the world and watching Karisma Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan enthral audiences with their stage performances. “The energy was contagious and watching the actors on stage would give me goose bumps. I think that sowed the seed of acting in me,” she remembers.
Zoa Morani
After a dream debut with Shah Rukh Khan production Always Kabhi Kabhi Zoa faced some rough weather when the movie tanked at the box office. There was more bad news in store as another film with Shyam Benegal too fizzled out and her father Karim Morani was embroiled in the 2G scam. When it became hard to find good work Zoa immersed herself in theatre. But all that is behind her now as Zoa is now gearing up for the release of her film Bhaag Johnny co starring Kunal Khemu and directed by Shivam Nair.
A thriller shot in Thailand Bhaag Johnny also involves a lot of intense emoting and action sequences. “It was tough and we had to run through fields with dried grass and sometimes thorns. But we pulled through and the result was totally worth it,” says Zoa who is an ardent practitioner of Ashtang Yoga. A theatre enthusiast she has also acted in a couple of plays including Taj Mahal Ka Udghatan. For this Alia Bhatt fan the ultimate Bollywood dream is to work with Sushant Singh and Farhan Akhtar.
Between now and the new year, these actors will go from being relatively unknown to virtually omnipresent. Will they rule the marquee or fall by the wayside – only time and box office grosses will tell.
Athiya Shetty
Athiya Shetty
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty’s daughter Athiya is poised for a debut with Salman Khan’s production Hero alongside another newcomer Sooraj Pancholi. “Growing up I wasn’t part of the film world and never visited dad’s sets. But I was always a Bollywood fanatic when it came to movies. I grew up watching DDLJ, Kuch kuch hota hain and Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham a zillion times,” says the 22 year old who wants to stay in the film industry for a very long time. It’s a dream debut as the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that that his best friend’s daughter gets the biggest opening on September 25th. Hero is a remake of the 80s super hit by the same name. Sooraj and Athiya are enacting the characters essayed by Jackie Shroff and Meenakshi Sheshadri in the yesteryears.
She became a sensation even before she turned 18. Discovered on one of the first reality shows in India Anushka Manchanda went on to be a part of India’s first girl band VIVA. And though the band split, Anushka moved on to be a VJ, model and even lend her bold and sassy voice to the Hindi film industry. Currently she is making waves for her uninhibited performance in the film Angry Indian Goddesses.
But it wasn’t planned like this. In fact this Delhi girl wanted to go to Cornell in New York to study advertising. It was while studying for her SATs that the talent hunt beckoned and the rest as they say is history (or ‘her’story in this case). Although her days of pop singing are long gone, Anushka has managed to carve an interesting niche for herself in the Indian music world. She brings a certain freshness, chutzpah, glam and groove into the music scene. That’s commendable for someone who’s had no formal vocal training. But music was always omnipresent in the Manchanda family that loves its rock and roll. Anushka started playing the piano at a very early age and grew up listening to a lot of rock and roll, Jimmie Hendrix, Santana, Iron Butterfly and Sting.
Anushka made her playback debut with a Tamil song and went on to sing for many more south Indian films, the lyrics of which she didn’t understand. “Whenever I asked the meaning of the songs, they would be very embarrassed and would say, ‘just sing in a sensual husky voice’. Afterwards, when I got a friend to translate the lyrics, I was quite shocked to know I was singing some very raunchy lines,” laughs the singer. Her big Bollywood break came in 2006 when she crooned for Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal. Composed by the hit music director duo Vishal-Shekhar the song turned out to be a thumping success. Numerous other songs followed with noted music composers like Anu Malik, Salim-Sulaiman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Pritam Chakraborty and Anushka became the new ‘western voice of Bollywood’ a tag solely owned by Sunidhi Chauhan. She continued the dream run with hit number like Dum Maaro Dum, Dance Basanti, Bezubaan Kabse and Allah Duhai Hai.
In the meanwhile her affair with television continued and she won the second season of the celebrity version of Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi. The stunts were much harder than they looked on television says Anushka who loves to live life on the edge. Understandably the helicopter stunt where she had to walk from one wing to other still remains her favourite. Biking is another passion and it’s not rare to spot this tall and lanky singer cruising through the Mumbai traffic.
While playback singing is where the money is, live gigs are Anushka’s first love. “There’s so much adrenaline pumping through your body. There have been times when I was sick, but yet went up on stage and had a rocking show. Being on stage just gives you a kind of power and energy that you can’t replicate. It is just amazing,” she says. She can play the crowds as well as myriad instruments (piano, guitar and some drums), with equal elan.
Not one to mince words Anushka admits to being nervous in a recording studio. Not being classically trained only adds to her disadvantage. “Just like on stage where I know my strengths as a singer, at a recording studio, I know my drawbacks. Since I am not classically trained, it is harder for me to do certain modulations. Some harkats don’t come naturally to me,” she confesses.
Acting was a natural progression and Anushka made her debut in the flop movie ‘Dulha Mil Gaya’. But it’s her second and latest film Angry Indian Goddesses that she’s really proud of. “I don’t think the audience has seen such a film before in India. The depiction of women in Bollywood has been very stereotypical and away from reality. But AIG has very real characters,” adds Anushka.
Apart from her singing and acting the one thing that this Electronic music fan is known for is her fashion sense which is anything but boring. Though she loves fashion, she doesn’t let it rule her wardrobe which is a reflection of her self – fun and irreverent. “Whatever I wear, I will make it strong. Even if I wear a pretty dress, I will wear my boots. It is fierce fashion. I go in for the one thing that no one will wear,” says the actress who admires Neha Dhupia and Kangana Ranuat for their sartorial style.
ASKED ALONG THE WAY
What’s playing your iPod?
Lots of music ranging across Alter Ego, Prodigy, Aerosmith, Bubble, Frou Frou, Sean Paul, Death Cab For Cutie, Reverse Polarity, Shkabang and Pentagram.
One stage obsession
I need my boots. They are strong, making it easy to jump around and they also add to my look. But most importantly, they just get me into the mood to rock.
A ritual you follow before going up on stage
I touch the stage and my heart before she I foot on the stage.
Your biggest advantage over men
My height. I intimidate a lot of men because I am quite tall. I have been subjected to unpleasant instances and have turned around and given it right back which shocks a lot of people.
An actor you would love to go on a date with
Keanu Reeves, so I can profess undying love and a 10-year-long crush to him.
The one thing you would love to do that you have not yet done?
I have not done the concert of my life yet. I am working on it!
What next?
I am looking forward to the song I have sung in ‘Dilwale’. I am also writing music independently as an artiste.
NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
There are some people who radiate positivity, energy and happiness – what we call ‘good vibes’. Yami Gautam is one of those people. And she has reason to be. Not many actors from television make the cut to Bollywood. Her debut film Vicky Donor, directed by Shoojit Sircar was a sleeper hit. Made on a shoe-string budget the film not only vowed both the audiences and critics but also earned her many female debut awards.
But how did a girl born in Himachal Pradesh and raised in Chandigarh land up in Bollywood? A civil servant aspirant Yami was pursuing a law degree when her uncle sent her pictures to a production house. An audition for a television serial landed her in Mumbai and Yami never returned.
Mumbai, Yami says drily, was a bit of a culture shock. “Being independent is ok. But being independent and physically away from family is tough. Back in Chandigarh everyone knew everyone. When I first landed in Mumbai the city seemed so scary. I was also disappointed as I thought everyone in Mumbai stayed next to the sea. That’s what I had seen in the movies!” she laughs.
The journey from television to the movies was a long and arduous one. But Yami held on. “There was never a plan B in my scheme of things. I had to make it. Of course there were moments I when I felt I couldn’t go on. Numerous auditions, rejections, unforeseen delays, etc take a toll on you. What you see in films like Fashion is actually true. I have had several people tell me that I am ‘different’ and not typical Bollywood,” she remembers.
Yami’s first film was about a sperm donor and understandably she was apprehensive about signing on the dotted. “I handed the script to my mom, but she asked me to tell her what the film was about. When I told her, she was chilled out. But I felt very awkward about telling the film’s story to my dad, so I handed over the script to him and told him to read it at his office. Much to my relief, he also liked the script.” It helped that her co-star Ayushmann Khurana was a family friend from Chandigarh.
Dealing with the constant scrutiny and double standards of the industry was even tougher for the emotionally sensitive Yami. “Time and experience toughens you up. Initially I used to be very upset with what’s written about me or when someone spoke bad about me behind my back. But I guess that’s how they welcome you to the big bad world of Bollywood.” The Badlapur actress meditates regularly to distress and calm her nerves.
Yami is acutely aware of the fact that it’s doubly hard for girls from non-filmi backgrounds as the probability of a second chance is low. And that’s probably the reason the actress is cautious with her choice of films. After all her second film Total Siyappa a romantic comedy directed by Eshvar Niwas and produced by Neeraj Pandey of A Wednesday fame proved to be a damp squib at the box office. “It was all too sudden – the applause after Vicky Donor and the pressure of singing the right film. I had to do it all on my own. It’s during times like these that you miss someone hand holding you through these difficult decisions. But that phase taught me lot,” stresses the actor who has been the face of a leading fairness cream for a really long time. Friendly and unpretentious, she has no delusions about the ephemeral nature of fame. Values fluctuate with every Friday and then it all disappears one day, believes the petite actress.
While Bollywood circles are abuzz with rumours of the actor dating her Sanam Re co-star Pulkit Samrat (with whom the actor shares a passionate kiss in the film) Yami has however refuted the rumours. But she is not averse to love when it finds her. Men with good looks and skills in the kitchen have a greater chance. “He needs to be a foodie too. If he can cook that will be the icing on the cake. Or else we could even cook together. All said and done he needs to pass the chai test. I make a really good chai and my man should be able to make a better one,” laughs Yami. Having grown up on Casablanca, DDLJ, Maine Pyar Kiya and Titantic Yami is a dyed in the wool romantic. “He doesn’t have to do something extraordinary. Just cooking together or going on a long drive are exciting enough for me.”
Some more Yami…
I am
Shy, sensitive, soft hearted and a die-hard romantic
Yami means
Daughter of the sun. As a child I would be petrified if my name was to be announced on stage. It was always mispronounced as Yummy or Yamini – anything but Yami.
I fantasise about
Food. I just love food. Just check my Instagram feeds for proof.
I wish I could
Eat all that I want to and never put on weight
I am proudest
Of the fact that I am self made
I am a fan of
Madhuri Dixit
I miss
Gardening with my father in Chandigarh. It used to be a Sunday ritual for us.
Most difficult scene ever
For Sanam Re we shot in freezing temperatures in Pangong Lake and Calgary and then we shot in sweaters in the sweltering Mumbai heat of 46 degrees!
Fashion Mantra
Stay in tune with the trends but respect your body type. Trying too hard is so uncool.
Biggest faux pas
I got clicked wearing an ugly pair of chunky black heels with a beautiful red gown. I thought no one would notice but it was all over the papers.
Fashion icon
I love the way Tyra Banks dresses up – she looks so elegant and glamorous in whatever she wears.
Favourite destinations
London and New York.
Fitness Mantra
I am not a gym person, but I stay fit by playing sports. I try and stick to a balanced diet and drink lots of water to stay healthy.
NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
“I am still to see someone who doesn’t like ice-creams and brownies,” said Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor at the launch of Magnum ice-cream brownie variant. The Bajrangi Bhaijaan star spoke of how she would gobble up multiple ice-creams after school. This didn’t go down well with her mother the yesteryear’s actress Babita. The ice-cream fixations stayed on all these years and the actress indulges in them every once in a while. She confessed to having downed two ice-creams just before the launch! “If it’s a cheat day it’s definitely chocolate icecream. Now even Saif is addicted to them and blames me for his weight gain,” she revealed. And what does she like most about the new variant? “The crackling sound when you bite into the chocolate crust before reaching the brownie. I just love it.” Yes the new Magnum brownie has a Belgian Chocolate coating so thick that it creates a distinctive crack when you bite into it. According to Kareena her Ki and Ka co-star Arjun Kapoor is the dishiest chocolate brownie in Bollywood.
Magnum Brownie marries two all time favourite desserts – chocolate and brownie. It’s definitely a match made in gastronomic heaven! The new variant also comes in Magnum’s brand new packaging, with a bolder more distinct “M” logo and the famous Belgian chocolate crack.
While we don’t usually need a special time to celebrate our favourite frozen, creamy dessert, now is as good a time as ever. The new variant is available across all major stores in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai at Rs 90 stick.
NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
Richa Chadda doesn’t mince words or beat round the bush. She is direct… just like the characters she plays with unblinking conviction. The award-winning actress speaks straight from the heart on movies, men and more…
It’s a cliché, but you really do think you know Richa Chadda from the troubled characters she plays. You’ve seen her play a 42 year old firebrand (when she was barely 23) in Gangs Of Wasseypur, a petty criminal in Tamanchey, hurl abuses with ease in Fukrey and tug at our heartstrings in Masaan. And then you meet her in person, and she talks, gushes, and bubbles with enthusiasm. The 30-year-old actress has just come from the swimsuit shoot, which she raves about not only because the loves working with the photographer Ashish Chawla (“I like his aesthetic sense,”) but also because it involved a pool (“Did you see how happy I was just splashing about in the water?)
Richa likes to talk. She answers questions directly and substantively. At times forcefully. But always affably. If she doesn’t understand what you’re getting at, she will give you the side-eye, but it comes off as genuine, not derisive. “I don’t take bullshit anymore. I don’t even entertain it.” What she’s talking about is the deep-rooted insecurity that actors face in the industry. It erupted suddenly, while narrating a recent incident. “Just yesterday I caught a fellow actor giggling during an intense scene. He was just trying to make me forget my lines. I called him out. I said ‘you can find other ways to express your insecurity. I am not going to budge. I may probably do the scene a little better. So you might want to back off.”
I also expected her to have a voice that you could hear over a jet engine, but it wasn’t. Her voice is almost meek. It cracks. It’s a kind voice. And possibly a little tired. Until she gets going. Talking to Richa is pretty straightforward. On one hand he is unfailingly polite, courteous, engaged and charming. So much for appearances. It’s been a busy career so far for Richa, but its trajectory is perhaps not unusual for a talented actress who has a couple awards and a standing ovation at the Cannes. What is unusual is the story of her life before her debut film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! A history graduate from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, Richa landed in Mumbai to be an actor.
While theatre and TV commercials kept the kitchen fires burning she kept auditioning for movie parts. Incidentally she also auditioned for Dev D a part which eventually went to Kalki Koechlin. Unfortunately for Richa Lucky Oye released to a concoction of ill luck and bad timing. The film which was Dibakar Banerjee’s much-awaited follow-up to his critically acclaimed and commercially successful debut, Khosla Ka Ghosla would have become one of Hindi cinema’s best had it not released just two days after the 26/11 attacks on 28 November 2008. It took several years for Richa to bag her second film Gangs of Wasseypur which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. And though the film earned her rare reviews it led to a string of similar roles – middle aged, angst-ridden woman. Until Mrighdeep Singh Lamba’s comedy drama Fukrey where Richa startled everyone with her performance as a crazy, foulmouthed and manipulative don. Then things took a gritty turn with a meaty role in Masaan. “People advised me not to do it as it was yet another ‘deglam’ role with no songs which could lead to shows and more money. They were only looking at the commercials of it. But I know a good script.”
Disappointments (read Tamanchey, Ram Leela and Sarbjit) haven’t deterred Richa from pursuing weirder, wilder and more interesting independent releases like Love Sonya a film on sex trafficking where she shares screen space with Demi Moore and Frieda Pinto. The making of the film affected the actress so much that she is now involved in rescuing and helping girls caught in the flesh trade. Richa even helped the girls lease a bungalow to stay in. But if you really want to see her face light up, ask her about her future plans. “I want a full life. I also want to set up a business which will be self sustaining. I can’t help people if I am broke. I don’t want to be an Ambani. Money for me is a unit of not working and surviving.” Richa also habours ambitions of turning a producer. Not the gold chain wearing, fat, hairy producer. But a producer who can put a good script and great talent together. Given her eye for staging, costuming, script and characters, it will be no surprise if she’d helm a great film on her first outing.
On the personal front, Richa is more than private. It is her job to invite attention, but she is not always happy with the consequences. She doesn’t mind being in the limelight for her films. For the rest of the year, she has defenses like a castle. “I have no time to socialize. On a day off I just vegetate, watch TV, meet family, relax with friends… I don’t see the point in being in the news all the time. Making a film is a lot of work – script readings, set making, look tests, fitness… where does that time come from? It comes from the time you save socializing with idiots.”
She likes her boundaries and dissents the paparazzi culture. “I was travelling for a family emergency to Delhi. Some photographer clicked a few pictures and the caption said “nailed the airport look.’ My aunt was shocked that I had all the time to dress up when there was a calamity at home. I had to make them understand that there are always photographers at the airport these days. It’s quite sad. I know it comes with the territory. But we don’t have to become like America.” Richa is turning more spiritual these days. A far cry from the gullible and pushover Richa in the initial years of her career. “I was young and flippant. Mad in the pursuit of some dream you think you have. I am a better person and a better friend now.” It shows. Richa is constantly checking on her staff so see if they are comfortable and have eaten.
Richa has long had a reputation of being uninhibited and brutally honest. She gets away with telling the truth which is quite unusual in an industry where even the top actors play it safe. “I don’t want to play that game or be among a bunch of loonies in a room. I don’t care about their approval and I don’t want to be them. I don’t think they want to be themselves either (laughs). I don’t think playing the game helps either. Only your work, capability and skill helps.” The last of which she has in abundance. The industry is making and dismantling stars too fast she believes. “The toast of town today is gone within two months. Actors these days are like porn stars who have the shortest shelf life.” She is referring to the concept of success in the Hindi film industry. The pretense is another thing get gets her goat. Especially at film screenings. “No one is going to tell the director that he made a shitty film. Or that he needs to spend more money to fix it.” Richa realizes that it stems from sense of insecurity. But she is not jaded or cynical. If at all she is now better at reading people, she confesses. That, after loosing projects, money and reputation in the early years of career.
Apart from loads of chutzpah and talent Richa is beautiful in person, even unprimped. Some actresses, I’ve noticed, look surprisingly androgynous off screen, gangly and curveless. Put baseball caps on them and give them badges and they could be scouts. Richa is different. She looks like a woman. She exudes womanness. No wonder she is oozing oomph in her next release Cabaret where she plays a bold cabaret dancer. The film is rumoured to be based on the life of Bollywood’s cabaret dancer Helen. “Cabaret is a different school of cinema and a different style of filmmaking. It needed a strong actor. It’s the story of a girl on the run,” she reveals. Richa is optimistic that the movie business is going to change. Better content will rule, she believes. “Big studios are going to run out of patience and money in dealing with the fraudulent Indian producer studio nexus. It’s going to come back to the single producers like Dharma and Excel. In 2013 Aamir Khan did Dhoom and in 2016 he did Dangal. I am happy to be a part of the change. Somehow the films we choose like Gangs of Wasseypur and Masaan and the risks we took is finally paying off.”
Matters of the heart
Richa who was in a fleeting relationship last year is currently single. This die-hard romantic wouldn’t mind wooing a man. “True liberation is when you stop expecting someone else to go down on their knees. I feel really bad for men. They have to buy diamonds, make the story special and are burdened with the belief that they have to make money.” The vegan and animal lover is looking for intelligent and liberal men. Money or looks don’t matter. Companionship, friendship and some amount of care do. “I can’t stand selfish men with huge egos. Or the ones who don’t read and are unaware of what’s happening in the world. I dated one such man and it was a nightmare. He never read a single book in his life but had an opinion on everything.”
I am: Happy and content. Finally I am working with people I want to. I am at peace with my body, heart and mind.
Single or taken: Single and want to very taken. Maybe after the swimsuit cover!
Idea of fun: Being in nature, dancing, take pictures on my DSLR.
What touches my heart: A genuine heart felt compliment.
My man: I want someone who can understand me, look inside my soul and know that I can be vulnerable, weak and completely imperfect.
Advise to men: Stop being competitive with your woman. Appreciate her success. Don’t resent it. And if you want to compete, let it not be on the grounds of gender.
I love: To read, write and just lie on my bed with a book and the beautiful sea view from my home.
I hate: Creating an aura. It’s so fake and draining. I want to have fun while I am working and I want people around me to also have fun.
Diet Mantra: I am a vegetarian and mostly eat dal rice with ghee. On days when I am unable to stick to my diet I have a spoonful of ghee and gulkand before I leave. Ghee is good fat, great for the skin and clears your stomach. Gulkand is a natural antacid.
Fashion is: Important but how about appreciating originality? Everyone’s choking on choker necklaces. There is a lovely quote by Karl Lagerfeld – Trend is the last stage before tacky. It makes so much sense. You can buy a trend. It’s not necessary that you can carry it off.
Singer, model, daredevil, actor…Anushka Manchanda’s life has taken many turns. But it is music that binds it all for this rock chic.
Some More Richa 
