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Bollywood NewsTHIS WEEK IN PICTURES06 Candid shots of stars.THE INSIDE SCOOP10 Priyanka Chopra’s social media nightmare, Aishwarya Rai and John Abraham pair up and some wicked whispers.TV SCOOP... 15 Kritika Kamra and Karan Kundra’s on-off relationship..RAPID FIRE 16 With Arjan Bajwa.

ISSUE 550, 17 JULY - 23 JULY, 2014

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Inside...TELLY STAR INTERVIEW17 Nach Baliye winner and Pavitra Rishta star Asha Negi.MASALA! TALKS TO ALIA BHATT18 We chat with the bubbly and charismatic actress.MASALA! TALKS TO VARUN DHAWAN22 The heartthrob talks films, women and more.STAR FEATURE 26 Meet the non-star kids who have made it big.SCANDAL FLASHBACK30 A look at Poonam Dhillon’s controversial relationships.

Star StyleFASHION NEWS32 The latest style news this week.STYLE FIX33 Chic tips and tricks to looking fashionable. FASHION POLICE34 Style hits and misses.STYLE HOTLISTS38 Fashionable must-haves for your wardrobe.MY HAUTE LIFE40 A chat with designer duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna.MY BEAUTIFUL AND

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HEALTHY LIFE...42 With Esha Gupta.BEAUTY NEWS44 The latest beauty news this week.FITNESS NEWS45 The quick-fix guide to getting in shape.

LifestyleSOCIAL PLANNER46 This week’s event calendar.SERVED HOT 50 Fresh food news and reviews.LOCAL BUZZ52 A chat with ace choreographer Sandip Soparrkar.SOCIETY DIARIES54 The hottest parties in town this week.HOROSCOPE64 What the stars have in store for you.TV LISTINGS65 The must-watch television shows this week.#CELEB SPEAK66 Instagram posts and tweets from the stars.

4 MASALA!

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What Masala! is doing this week...

AZ“tga

In cyberspace, nothing or no one is sacred. People

with the most impeccable reputations and the most

glorious achievements are fair game for merciless

bullying. We have always loved Priyanka Chopra’s

spunk and wit; at press meets and during our

interviews with her, she would impress us with her

chutzpah and quick retorts. But even a cyber-savvy

actress like PC got a rude shock when she was faced

with some really uncomfortable questions about her

personal life. What is it that got Priyanka so rattled?

What are those questions that she doesn’t want to

face? We’ve got the answers (p10).

On to the brightest star in Bollywood today - Alia

Bhatt. We had a candid chat with the chirpy actress

who seems to have got a reputation for doing steamy scenes in almost all

her films. Her take on her lip locks will leave you shocked. But then she

isn’t a Bhatt girl, if not honest (p18).

Speaking of bright stars, we have two of the most gorgeous actors coming

together on screen - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and John Abraham. The

hunky John is Ash’s chosen one for her comeback film and boy, aren’t they

going to set the screen on fire (p13)?

As the countdown to Eid begins, we bring you the best iftars and suhoors

you must catch up on. Let’s bask in the spirit of Ramadan!

Meet you next week on our pages!

See itRiteish Deshmukh and preggers Genelia D’Souza out and about

Masala.com

Get online and...

Read itHumpty Sharma Ki

Dulhania review

PicturesT H E W E E K I N

6 MASALA!

We know John is a soccer freak but why was he giving lessons to ace footballer Baichung Bhutia?

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John’s Football Fervour

Listen buddy, I know you are India’s best footballer but today I am going to give you a few lessons.

Yes, that’s how you hold the ball.

No way! I won’t let the ball come anywhere near you.

There, even Baichung can’t spin it the way I do.

Ha, I can do it with just a finger, look at him!

MASALA! 7

PicturesT H E W E E K I N

Varun Dhawan’s antics during a promotional round

Varun Does Some Dirty Dancing And Heavy Weight Lifting

It’s raining heavily but he-man Varun Dhawan is undeterred. He looks like a man on a mission.

Here is a glimpse of Varun’s ‘Govinda dancing ‘.

… And an example of the Main Tera Hero star’s ‘monkey dancing’.

Whoa! Is that our next heavy-weight champ?

Stop crying and yelling out loud in pain. Who asked you to do all that dancing and weight-lifting?

Vidya’s ‘In Character’ Promotions We caught up with Vidya Balan as she set on her last leg of Bobby Jasoos promotions

Thank god, I have to promote the film in character. So I don’t have to explain my bad fashion choice.

So you think you can dance worse than me?

Yep, I can match steps with these cute kids.

Wow, what a kahaani Bobby Jasoos has! Want to hear it?

My best fans – they

never judge me on the

basis of what I wear.

PicturesT H E W E E K I N

8 MASALA!

Shahid’s a Changed Man

What has happened to Shahid Kapoor? It looks like acting in an intense film like Haider has changed him as a person as well. At the trailer launch of the film, he appeared in character looking rather scruffy. He was friendly with the paps around but you couldn’t help notice his changed body language. The actor, say sources, has worked in the film for free! Probably because it is being made by Vishal Bhardwaj who gave him his last big critical and commercial hit Kaminey. So we guess, the days of Shahid acting pricey and a tad arrogant are truly over. For his sake, we hope the film works for he really needs the success. The trailer launch also saw Tabu emerging from hibernation after a really long while. Once again, it was Vishal’s magic that made her say yes to the project. Given his co-star’s stature Shahid was seen looking up to Tabu at the event - literally and figuratively! All said and done, we quite like the new Shahid.

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A scruffy Shahid Kapoor

Where was she all this while? Tabu

was seen after a long time

Tabu’s sister actress Farha too was seen in public after eons

Shahid, Shraddha, Kay Kay & Tabu

Shahid posing with his much-taller co-star Tabu

Kay Kay Menon with wife

Vishal Bhardwaj with wife Rekha

Shraddha Kapoor

Follow us @MasalaMagazine facebook.com/MasalaMagazine

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NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON THE APP STORE

Scoop!T H E I N S I D E

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THE QUESTIONS PRIYANKA WON’T ANSWER

PC recently got ragged on a social media site where she kept mum on some VERY controversial issues. What does she have to hide?

Among all Bollywood celebs, especially actresses, Priyanka Chopra is

undoubtedly the most tech-savvy. She has over a million twitter followers and engages with her fans constantly on Instagram and twitter. But PC was recently shocked when she faced a barrage of uncomfortable questions on the social networking site Reddit where she appeared for an AMA (internet shorthand for Ask-Me-Anything), a chat session where users can ask, literally, anything! In fact, the bashing PC received on Reddit not only embarrassed

the actress but also gave rise to a huge discussion and debate in the media – mainstream and social.

HOW IT WENT ALL WRONG Anybody who uses social media knows that it has a dark side to it. In this world, no query is off-limits, there is no blind worshipping of celebrities and users don’t hesitate to use the most abusive words and pose the most scandalous questions to them. Incidentally, Priyanka was only the second Indian celebrity to appear on AMA after Anurag Kashyap. But while Anurag’s session was uneventful, PC was at the receiving end of some vicious trolling. The

chat session started nicely enough but soon the really uncomfortable truths about her life came out. Priyanka chose to answer questions on her movies, philosophy, fitness regimen and other harmless topics but ignored some really prickly issues.

WHERE PC SCORED….To be fair, Priyanka took on some negative commentators really well without getting flustered. Here are a few questions where she gave it right back to her detractors: Q: Is your American accent fake or do you have the ability to switch accents at will?

PC: “I don’t fake anything, what you see is what you get. And a correction, I went to high school in the US (a huge part of my formative years). I’m proud to be Indian but also proud of the varied cultural upbringing that I have had.”

Q: Wow, did you go to school? PC: Wow! You always been a hater?

Q: Don’t you think your collaboration with Pitbull (Exotic) is racist (in that exotification is a form of racism)?PC: Seriously? Just stop! The world doesn’t need more hate. We are just two global artists

Priyanka Chopra

MASALA! 11

COVER STORY

collaborating and sharing our cultures.

…AND WHERE SHE DIDN’T Unfortunately, other than a few afore-mentioned retorts, the actress chose not to respond to the most controversial queries, especially about her personal life. The meanest ones were:

Q: What contribution has your father made that a road was renamed after him and not after countless other people who strived and died for India?”This had been a contentious issue because while Priyanka was thrilled about the honour bestowed upon her late dad Dr Ashok Chopra (a road was renamed after him in Andheri recently), questions were raised about it in the media whether he deserved the honour and why some prominent politicians were part of the ceremony.

Q: You keep promoting fairness products for people to look like you. Why is it sub-human to be dark skinned?This was in reference to the countless beauty products she has endorsed over the years.

Q: What is your opinion about Bollywood

directors blatantly ripping off international movies and getting upset that their movies are not accepted at international film festivals?”This was a reference to her film Barfi! which was criticised for being “too inspired” by Hollywood classics. PC had openly voiced her disappointment at the film not being sent as the Oscar entry from India.

Q: How important is auto-tune in your singing career?This question was followed by a lot of sniggers about her singing talent and her success in the musical arena.

Q: Have you seen The World Before Her? You were a beauty queen before you became an actress. Do you think beauty pageants are a bad influence on society, in that they set unrealistic benchmarks and standards for society?Priyanka was Miss World before she joined films and The World Before Her was a recent documentary that exposed the grimy scene of beauty pageants. Needless to say, it was a rather contentious issue. The above were only a few questions that caught

Priyanka on the wrong foot. There were innumerable others some of them quite vulgar and inappropriate. However the debate right now is how celebrities use their PR network to sidestep the controversial chapters of their lives. PC of course did the best she could in the session but the questions were not surprising since the actress, let’s face it, has led a very colourful life!

QUESTIONS PRIYANKA MAY NEVER ANSWERReddit members grilled PC on some of her recent moves but a peek into her life reveals that there were several episodes that raise eyebrows and give rise to more questions. Here are a few that Priyanka

may perhaps never have an answer for:

Why is she so scared of Prakash Jaju, her ex-manager? It is a known fact the Priyanka’s former manager Prakash Jaju with whom she has had a fallout is making a movie based on her life along with her ex-boyfriend Aseem Merchant. PC is doing everything she can to stop the film from being made. Prakash is alleged to have squealed about her alleged liaison with Akshay Kumar to the media. So what other facts is she afraid may come to light if the film is made?

What is the truth to the Akshay Kumar link-up? It was rumoured that Twinkle

Priyanka with Pitbull in the Exotic album

A photo of PC with Shahid Kapoor. Till date no one knows why they broke up

PC seen here at her father’s

funeral

Scoop!T H E I N S I D E

12 MASALA!

STARS WHO WILL KEEP MUMEvery actor or actress will have some secrets and chapters in life which they wouldn’t ever want to talk about.These may related to their personal or professonal life. While they have every right to privacy, unfortunately being public figures, the questions won’t stop. Especially with the advent of social media, the entire halo surrounding an actor has more or less disappeared. We take a guess at the most controversial questions the following A-listers would never want to answer - on record!

Aishwarya Rai BachchanWhat led to the end of her relationship with Salman? The Salman tapes wherein the star was alleged to have had conversations with unsavoury elements created a furore. Ash’s voice was also allegedly on the tapes which were later found to be false. So how were they made in the first place?

Salman Khan The hit and run case has come to haunt him of late. Was Salman really driving the car that night? What exactly happened? Secondly, how does he manage to remain friendly with Katrina Kaif despite their split? Amitabh Bachchan Why did Big B quit politics? What led to the fallout between him and one-time best friend politician Amar Singh? Who are his true friends in the industry?

Aamir Khan Aamir, at the moment, commands a huge amount of respect in the industry and beyond. But even his personal life has hardly been spotless. One of the biggest scandals that surrounded Aamir was related to his alleged love child with a British woman. Was there any truth to it?

Shah Rukh Khan SRK’s friends and foes generate a lot of interest too. Is he still as close to Karan Johar as he used to be? Did he have any feelings for Priyanka Chopra? What’s his take on the PC scandal?

and Akshay had fought over PC and she had laid the ultimatum that he wouldn’t work with her. Are things so bad that Akki and PC haven’t worked or even shared a stage in the last 10 years?

How did she get a chance to record with stars like Will.i.Am and Pitbull and get a chance to be the sole opening music act for NFL’s Thursday Night Football in 2013? The strides she has made in her music career in just a short span is truly awe-inspiring. While her songs rock, the entire PR campaign that made her a global star is nothing short of incredible.

Why did she split with her manager Natasha? Priyanka, it was rumoured broke her association with her friend and manager Natasha Pal. Tagged as her “girl Friday” who managed her professional affairs with aplomb, Natasha, it’s said, played a huge part in creating Brand Priyanka. Though not much has been said about why the two parted ways, it’s being speculated that it’s because Natasha wanted a greater say in PC’s proposed

production house.

What is her equation with Shahid Kapoor? They never admitted to dating though their on-off relationship was extensively written about. But a few months ago she was seen hanging out with him. Recently Shahid said on Koffee with Karan that he would never date an actress again (with a hidden reference to his relationship with PC). So are they friends or not?

What is the truth behind her link-up with Shah Rukh Khan? This was last year’s biggest scoop that kept the media engrossed. However, there has been complete silence on this issue since the past few months. Even Karan Johar, who doesn’t leave an opportunity to grill celebs on his show, did not even utter SRK’s name when PC was his guest. These and other questions may never be asked on a social media site or by an interviewer. Perhaps the mysteries would be revealed if PC ever decides to write a tell-all book!

COVER STORY

Priyanka’s life has had a lot of controversial chapters in her life

16 MASALA!

STAR CHAT

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Rapid Fire!

Arjan Bajwa

IF YOU WERE NOT AN ACTOR, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN...

Definitely a pilot.

MY ROLE MODEL IS…

..no one but my father.

FITNESS IS…

…a way of life both physically and mentally and not

just something used to prove a point or show off; one

has to adapt from within.

ONE MISTAKE I MADE BEFORE ENTERING BOLLYWOOD…

…trusting a few people who I shouldn’t have because

that delayed success that I should have got earlier.

ONE NEGATIVE THING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY…

It sometimes includes mediocrity and that makes me

laugh. However, mediocrity is in, in a big way!

MY INSPIRATION IN BOLLYWOOD IS…

I have many. Directors, actors, writers… there is so

much talent in this industry

I HATE……rudeness, lies, impolite people and bad body odour.

PASSION IS...

…a lot of things – love, excitement, an adrenaline

rush, aircrafts, fragrances, automobiles – life on

the whole.

SPEED IS…

Speed to me is my Mercedes that I drive every day

(Laughs).

LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT...

…Nothing is in my control. I just have to live every

day as it comes and believe in myself.

MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD...

Aaah well, this might sound clichéd but

it’s Dubai!

AN IDEAL VACATION IS...

Going to Dubai with a lot of good friends.

IF I COULD SNEAK INTO SOMEONE’S ROOM/HOUSE IT WOULD BE…

…Whoever my current favourite Hollywood actress is (laughs). It would be nice

into sneak into Charlize Theron’s room. She is so hot!

I AM SINGLE…

…and ready to mingle.

Hot Arjan

MASALA! 17

TELLY STAR INTERVIEW

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She gained immense popularity playing Purvi in Pavitra Rishta on Zee TV. But off screen, Asha Negi is a sweet and simple yet ambitious girl. Speaking to Masala! Asha tells

us all about her journey – beginning from Uttarakhand to making it big in tellywood and of course, falling in love with the very hot Rithvik Dhanjani.

You hail from a well-to-do family in Uttarakhand; did they support your career choice?That was definitely the most difficult part. My mother wanted me to become an army officer. They found it difficult to accept that I would be staying alone in Mumbai and trying my luck in an industry where I had no connections. But I stood my ground and even went on a hunger strike for two days (laughs). That is how I convinced my mum first and she then convinced my dad.

Considering you won the Miss Uttarakhand title, why didn’t you go for the Miss India contest?Actually, the state pageant was a little easier and at that time, I wasn’t groomed enough to apply for the Miss India contest. Besides, they have certain strict terms and conditions and standards regarding height, weight etc. I don’t think I was prepared. I always wanted to pursue acting so I thought of coming to Mumbai.

Who do you find inspiring in the television industry?I look up to Sakshi Tanwar who I have worked with. She is so senior and talented yet very down to earth. I have worked with many other stars but I always look up to her because I want to be like her.

You have been dating Rithvik Dhanjani for a while now. Did participating in Nach Baliye together help your relationship? Yes, of course it did. Now we have become more patient. Earlier, we would always fight but now we have become calmer than before. It is very easy for us to dance at an event because we gel well on stage together. It has also helped us in our relationship; we understand each other better now.

If one of you loses your cool, how do you sort it out? Who is the more hot-headed

“I Feel Blessed to be with Rithvik”NACH BALIYE WINNER ASHA NEGI TELLS US HOW BEING IN LOVE HELPED HER DANCE

TRIVIA ABOUT ASHA:

Asha has a foot fetish. She takes extra care of her feet and loves going to foot spas.

Asha initially had ideas of joining the army because her father is a canteen contractor in the army and she’s a true army kid.

She confesses to being a party animal.

She would love to endorse a shoe brand. “I love shoes, I can never have enough of them,” she says.

Pavitra Rishta is aired on Zee TV at 9pm on Thursdays.

of the two of you? (Smiles) I am very short-tempered! I feel very blessed to have Rithvik because I am always hyper and I have a huge ego problem. But he keeps me grounded; he is the calmer one and always makes me understand things. He points out my mistakes; even if I am very angry he manages to calm me down.

When did you realise you were in love with Rithvik?We started dating a few months before we participated in Nach Baliye.

This dance reality show is a real test for couples because if you can survive the competition you know that you are actually made for each other! That is what happened in our case too. It is very difficult to get through the competition because there is so much stress and your patience is constantly tested. Moreover, we were also shooting for Pavitra Rishta for 12 to 13 hours at a stretch; post which we had two hours of rehearsals

every single day. Being with each other for those 22 hours was definitely very difficult. I was in love with him then too but I think that was the time I realised I could spend my whole life with him.

How has life been after winning Nach Baliye?I wasn’t prepared to participate in Nach Baliye. I was too scared to match Rithvik’s steps. He being an excellent dancer while I was pretty bad at it. But Rithvik convinced me; he wanted to do Nach Baliye for me. He had already done Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa and so many reality shows. He had experienced that feeling but he wanted me to experience it myself. Post Nach Baliye it was like a dream come true. For those three-four months when we were doing Nach Baliye the only thing on our minds was to win the title. We worked really hard so winning the competition was a dream come true.

18 MASALA!

STAR INTERVIEWW

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“Tiger Shroff has a spark and star

quality”

A Bhatt through and through, Alia is every inch the star. With charisma that transcends the silver screen, the talented actress had us riveted from the moment we met her Bh AliaMASALA! talks to

MASALA! 19

STAR INTERVIEW

att

Alia may be young but she exudes confidence of a star who has been in the business forever. With three back-to-back hits and extensive praise, the actress is now competing

with A-list actresses who have been in the business far longer than her – quite a feat for someone who has been in the biz for such a short while. Giggly and frothy exterior aside, Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter definitely has what it takes to get ahead and is clearly focused on making herself a name to contend with, including shedding her baby fat with alarming alacrity. While she has been in Dubai several times to promote her movies, her svelte avatar takes us by surprise as the petite actress seems to have dropped several pounds since we last saw her. Numerous link-ups, the reputation of being a serial kisser and star quality that has been compared to the likes of Kareena… there’s a lot to know about and chat with Alia Bhatt already.

20 MASALA!

STAR INTERVIEW

People say you have

become the female

serial kisser of

Bollywood…(Smiles) I don’t know which

people are saying that! I

think to be a serial kisser,

you should have kissed

almost everyone and I have

not kissed everyone! I’ve only

done four films so far… and

I have kissed only in three of

them. I really don’t know how

that makes me a serial kisser

(laughs).

Your character in Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania is similar to Kareena’s character Geet in Jab We Met. Are you playing a modern day Kareena?There are no shades of Geet in this film. The only resemblance my character Kavya may share with Geet is that she is a die-hard Kareena Kapoor-Khan fan. Once you have seen the film, the way she speaks, her story and the way the entire story plays out you will see that that is where the resemblance ends.

Tell us more about the ‘Humphie’! How did you come up with the idea? It was my idea to come up with a ‘selfie’ poster. We were just throwing around ideas about what the film poster should be like and on the spur of the moment we decided to do it this way. I thought it would be a cool idea to have a selfie poster since no one has come up with this before. While brainstorming what we should call the poster, we came up with ‘Humphie’. That’s how it played out. The marketing team and Karan (Johar) really liked it and loved the idea of giving it a unique name. We thought since the name of the movie is Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Humphie sounded apt. It was a very random decision and I am really excited that it’s become so popular.

From the trailer, your film looks like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Is this a modern adaptation of the movie?

It’s not actually similar to Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. The situations that the lead pair is put in makes you feel like there are similarities. However, the characters themselves are very different. It’s an out and out filmy love story. Dilwale… is my director Shashank’s all-time favourite love story! When you think of a love story, you think of Dilwale… You could say this is our little tribute to the film.

Sidharth Malhotra says, “Alia has an inherent sense of stardom.” Do you believe that?(Smiles) I don’t even know what that means! I think it’s what he feels. At times when you see someone, you tend to get that feeling. Like for example, when I see newcomer Tiger Shroff I feel he has a spark and star quality. So that’s probably what Sid means. And all of them say that… ‘You’re a star, you’re a star’ and I just laugh it off. I believe stardom is something you get long after being in the industry, after reaching a certain level with a body of good work. And this is just my fourth film. That kind of stardom comes only after having created a loyal fan base who will watch your films irrespective of their success or failure. You only achieve a sense of stardom at that point.

What do you feel makes you stand out among other actresses who started their careers around the same time as you?To be honest, I don’t know what

makes me stand out. I feel the actresses launched just before or just after me have done very well for themselves. Be it Parineeti (Chopra) or Shraddha (Kapoor) who started their careers a year before me. All of them have had good films and good performances in their body of work. All I know is that whenever I pick a film, I choose it based on how I feel the audience will receive it. If my instinct says that as an audience I would want to watch this film, I jump at the opportunity. I have made interesting and different kinds of films to act in. I probably will make bad choices at some time in my career although I hope I continue to pick good films.

Who do you feel you share good chemistry with – Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan or Sidharth Malhotra?I don’t like the word chemistry much. I like to believe it’s some kind of energy between actors that gets created on the basis of certain dialogues, scenes and how the director has played out the screenplay. I wouldn’t like to compare any of them because it would be unfair to the scenes and characters. I think it only depends on the energy and the characters that you are playing.

Since all three of your films have been hits is there any performance pressure?Of course, the performance pressure comes along with every film I have done. God forbid if my next film doesn’t do well, I will have more such pressure to perform in the one after that. For instance, my last film, 2 States, reached the INR 100 crore (approximately Dhs60 million) mark and now I have the pressure to live up to that with this film. That’s always going to be there. It’s a race at the end of the day. But I think you should believe in the subject you work on, take that belief forward and give it your best along with great positivity and energy.

How important do you feel it is for an actor/actress to endorse brands?I am endorsing a couple of brands that I believe in. I think when an actor or an actress endorses a brand they shouldn’t just preach about it, they should practice what they preach as well. They should use the products. When I endorse products, I make sure I endorse the products that I use on a day-to-day basis. I think the advertisement industry is huge in our country. The ads are so creative and every ad has a different story to it. Ads, per

MASALA! 21

STAR INTERVIEW

Alia has had three back-to-back hits, a rare feat for an actress

se, give very good exposure to an actor or actress as television, in India has a humungous reach. For me, an ad is very exciting since it’s a short film, which involves me acting. The ad has a short story and you have to sell that product with conviction. Whatever I have endorsed so far, I have done it with pure conviction, for I believe in that product.

Is it true that you have a tattoo that says ‘Pataka’? Do you associate with it?

Yes, I do have a tattoo that says ‘Pataka’ and I got it for the film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. Although it’s a temporary tattoo, I do associate with it. I think it’s a very cool tattoo. It says ‘Pataka’ and it’s written in Hindi. It basically refers to my character being a firecracker in the film. At times I think that in real life too, I am like a ‘Pataka’!

Define Alia Bhatt in a few words?I don’t think that’s possible.

a

Ate

22 MASALA!

STAR INTERVIEW

Varun Dhawan in a still from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania

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MASALA! 23

STAR INTERVIEW

Varun Dhawan is HOT – there’s no doubting his stardom. With two hits behind him and a modern take on the famous DDLJ on its way, Varun’s star power seems to only get stronger with time...

Varun Dhawan

His popularity is on the rise as is his fan following. However, Varun still seems like he has his two feet firmly planted on the ground. Perhaps

his filmi upbringing and the fact that he has witnessed, through his father’s career, how dizzying success and horrible failure, can alter one’s life. Whatever the reason behind his polite persona, Varun is refreshingly unpretentious. We caught up with the star at Dharma Productions at 9am as he walked in, smile in place, with a cup of coffee in hand. Dressed in a black tee, a cap and jeans, it’s clear why girls all over go ga ga over junior Dhawan. We settle in for our chat and what ensued was

nothing short of laugh-out-loud fun.

Main Tera Hero was quite a success. When will we see your dad David Dhawan and you do a film together again?Not now. I will be teaming up with him only after a year-and-a-half. I think this break is necessary so that we come up with fresh ideas. Apart from that, I have already signed a few projects. There’s Badlapur next and another film with Sriram Raghavan.

How much does your father help when it comes to you selecting scripts?I am the one who chooses which films to do; my father doesn’t select scripts for me. But he doesn’t like sadness... he tells me to spread happiness wherever I go and do films that put a smile on people’s faces –

MASALA! talks to

24 MASALA!

STAR INTERVIEW

that is his personality.

Were you confident working with a new director like Shashank Khaitan in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, so early in your career? Shashank is new but I was never in two minds about working with a new director and neither was Alia. Her last movie, 2 States, was also directed by a new director. Yes, I would love to work with established directors but then I believe that if someone gives us a chance as fresh faces, we too should give a director that space and chance. After all, we aren’t very established like

other senior actors.

After losing Alia in Student of the Year, you have finally snagged her in this movie…Hopefully there is something in store for me this time around (chuckles)! In Student of the Year our love story was incomplete as we didn’t walk into the sunset eventually. Woh Sidharth beech mein aa gaya (laughs). Now in Humpty Sharma..., it should be fun for the audience to see me and my dulhania.

Which of Alia’s movies do you like best?It has to be Highway. She has clearly

grown a lot as an actress; the kind of accolades she has been getting right through the year pretty much proves that. There is a marked difference in her. She has not changed as a person but she has improved as an actor. Now having her in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania only helps the film since family audiences really like her.

Alia and you must know each other very well now after doing two movies together…I’m not dating Alia Bhatt. There’s just friendship-wala love between us. People keep saying that we share amazing and intense chemistry but I believe the on-screen chemistry should be there otherwise people will be disappointed.

When people ask ‘are you guys dating’ and ‘if not, why are you guys not dating’, how do you react to such questions?Well, we aren’t in love with each other and I find it very absurd to use such things to market the film. Yes, we share good chemistry but I don’t want to be dishonest and give the impression that I am dating someone just so that it will create hype and help the movie. Love is something that you cannot be dishonest about. Where the whole love bit is concerned, as romantic as it must sound, we do share good chemistry and there must be some underlying flirtatiousness going around but there’s no love in real life ... (quickly adds)... as yet!

How much do you relate to the character of Humpty Sharma?Not much except in the climax of the film.

Have you come across someone like him in reality?Let me put it this way. My brother Rohit always gave me everything of his, right from his Game Boy to any other toy that I wanted. Actually, when it comes to anything, right from opportunities in life to other aspects, Rohit has always given them up for me. In my upcoming film, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania I play Humpty who has a heart of gold. Rohit is the Humpty in my life as, in reality, he has a heart of gold!

Tell us more…There is a scene in the film where I am watching Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and crying. When I was young I would watch films sitting behind Rohit. He was a big Dilwale… fan

Varun once said that he would never date an actress which induced Ranbir Kapoor to yell at him

MASALA! 25

STAR INTERVIEW

“There is no love between Alia and me... as yet”

You once said ‘I would

never date an actress’.

What made you say

that? I have been banned from saying

such things in public. Ranbir

(Kapoor) called me and shouted

at me for saying so! He actually

called my brother and told him

‘Tell him (Varun) to stop making

such stupid statements and tell

him to talk about his films only’. I

think he must envision me dating

someone from the industry in the

future. But what I meant by saying

that I would not date someone

from the industry was that I don’t

want to end up discussing films

when we are out. I would want to

talk to my partner about everything

but films or work. So now I am

leaving it to fate and Ranbir’s

judgement (chuckles).

and I remember sitting behind him and watching him getting emotional during the film. I have imitated that scene in Humpty Sharma....What made you take up Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania?The character and the script attracted me to the movie. It is the new age, or rather modern day, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. In Humpty Sharma… the situations are dealt with differently as compared to the way they used to be 20 years ago. Now if a boy goes to meet his girlfriend’s father and gets insulted, he’ll be like ‘S----- you man!’ Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is not typically filmy – it is contemporary. Many times, while shooting, I would say, ‘But, in Hindi films this is not how it’s done...’ To which my director Shashank would say, ‘Bro, we are doing it the 2014 way. React to the situation as you would do in today’s time’. We had fun shooting, debating and filming the movie.

You are often pitted against your co-star Sidharth Malhotra. Are you very competitive with one another?Any film of Sidharth’s is special to me and mine are special to him. He is always a brother and always calls me be it for Main Tera Hero or Humpty… I don’t think there is any competition, especially between Sid and me. All this talk of cold war and rivalry are just rumours. When we meet, we laugh about these things.

Varun as seen in the get-up of his debut

film Student of the Year

Bollywood, as is well known, is a tightly-knit industry. It is rather suspicious of the proverbial

‘outsiders’ who come armed only with their talent and ambition but no filmi connections. Breaking this particular ceiling is difficult but in the last few years there have been some incredible names who have made even the bigwigs sit up and take notice of their phenomenal performances. It doesn’t matter whether they are the leads or part of the supporting cast – their names on the credit list is enough to ensure credibility to a project. We applaud the non-star kids who have taken Bollywood by storm.

RANVEER SINGH BAND BAAJA BARAAT, LOOTERA, GUNDAY, RAM LEELAWho He Is: Born in Mumbai as Ranveer Singh Bhavnani to Jagjit Singh Bhavnani and Anju Bhavnani, few know that Ranveer is related to Sonam Kapoor (Ranveer’s dad is Sunita Kapoor’s first cousin). But considering the idea of acting as “too far-fetched”, Ranveer focused on his BA degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. In university, he decided to take acting classes and then there was no looking back.How He Impressed: When Aditya Chopra signed Ranveer for Band Baajaa Baraat, his friend Karan Johar exclaimed, ‘Adi! What did you see in him? ’ But after the release, K Jo saw what Adi had seen and admitted to being super impressed. Ranveer gets into the skin of his character – be it the soft-spoken Varun Shrivastav of Lootera or the raunchy Ram of Ram Leela. Add to that his knack for staying in the news and you know why he is hottest young actor of Bollywood today.

TheOUTSIDERS

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They may not boast of a godfather or a famous second name but they’re on the wish list of T’town’s biggest filmmakers. Meet the new generation of actors who have proved that it’s sheer talent and not rich dads that can get you stardom

26 MASALA!

Ranveer Singh

They may not b

Gunday was one of Ranveer’s

biggest hits

Sidharth Malhotra

MASALA! 27

STAR FEATURE

RAJKUMMAR RAO SHAHID, KAI PO CHE! QUEEN, CITY LIGHTSWho He Is: This Gurgaon lad was bitten by the acting bug at a very young age. But instead of modelling or assisting a filmmaker, he took an unusual route - graduating from the prestigious FTII (Film And Television Institute India) which changed his perception towards acting. Rajkummar had to struggle a lot before he made it. The actor says, “I’ve been turned down at auditions for the most ridiculous reasons like ‘you are not fair enough’ or ‘your eyebrows are not right for the role’. He then got a break in films like Love, Sex and Dhoka, Ragini MMS, Talaash and Gangs of Wasseypur where he was noticed for his performance. How He Impressed: Rajkummar gained popularity in Kai Po Che but had to share the honours with Amit Sadh and Sushant Singh Rajput. But the film that turned his life around was Shahid. The biopic had been doing the festival rounds for a long while but once it got a commercial release, he made an impact that few actors had. Not only did it fetch him great reivews from hardnosed critics, it even won him the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and the National Award. Rajkummar is that rare actor who does not need a full-fledged ‘hero’ role to make an impression on your mind. Even a 10-minute role in a female-oriented film like Queen is enough to prove he is capable of.

SWARA BHASKAR TANU WEDS MANU, AURANGZEB, RAANJHANA, LISTEN AMAYAWho She Is: Born and brought up in Delhi, Swara Bhaskar says the passion to become an actress was sown secretly in her head when she was five years old. Her desire to see herself on screen made her take the decision to move to Mumbai. She says, “No famous friends. No boyfriend. No godfather. I got all those roles after the tedious, long route of auditions.”How She Impressed: It is tough being an outsider and tougher to say ‘no’ to lucrative offers from big production houses even if the roles offered are not very significant. After Tanu Weds Manu, she was flooded with offers but they were all about playing supportive roles. But she waited for an equally good role and was rewarded when Raanjhana came her way. As Dhanush’s love-lorn friend, Swara was vulnerable yet wonderful. She could convey volumes through her bright eyes alone. She is also a refreshing change from air-headed actresses who live in a bubble of their own. Read her blogs on current issues or listen to her opinions on different topics and you will realise why she is that rare combination of beauty, brains and fantastic acting skills.

SIDHARTH MALHOTRA STUDENT OF THE YEAR, HASEE TOH PHASEE, EK VILLAINWho He Is: Born to a doctor father and a school principal mother, Sidharth had no connections in Bollywood or Mumbai. Prior to his acting debut, he was an active model and also worked as an assistant director

to Karan Johar on his 2010 film, My Name Is Khan. But this doesn’t mean it was easy for him to make it. In Sidharth’s

words, “It’s always tough when you come from a different town: you don’t know anybody and don’t have any family. There

is no support system, professionally or personally. Mumbai is a tough city but it has given me everything today. It requires you to be a

little patient, to be focussed and to work hard.” How He Impressed: When filmmaker Karan Johar introduced three newcomers Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra, they were known as the Dharma newbies. The spotlight was more on Varun and Alia considering they were star kids. But Sid stood out and how! Emerging from Dharma Productions’ shadow, he came into his own with the recent super-hit Ek Villain which was preceded by the pleasant and charming Hasee Toh Phasee. Three superhits in a row is a dream start for anyone. Moreover, he is a complete package with killer looks, great body and some good acting chops. Way to go Sidharth!

pable of.

Rajkummar Rao

Rajkummar shone

even in a small role in Queen

Swara Bhaskar

Swara won great reviews for Raanjhana

Sidharth Malhotra’s

latest big hit is Ek Villain

28 MASALA!

STAR FEATURE

NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI GANGS OF WASSEYPUR, TALAASH, KAHAANI, AATMA, BOMBAY TALKIES AND THE LUNCHBOXWho he is: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who hails from a very small town in Uttar Pradesh, went to the National School of Drama but this didn’t help his career. He once shared a small room in Mumbai with Irrfan and struggled endlessly to get a decent break. As he says about playing tough roles, “People from the film industry have rarely seen the world outside. I’ve seen the characters I play, for real.”How He Impressed: While his friend Irrfan’s popularity increased, Nawazuddin was stuck in a rut for a long time. But he didn’t give up, only because he felt it would be a shame to go home without work and money. Thankfully, there were people like Anurag Kashyap, Aamir Khan and Sujoy Ghosh who recognised his talent. Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur and Talaash came one after another and established him as one of the best actors Bollywood has seen in a long, long time. Such is his popularity today that just having him on-board for a project lends it a certain credibility.

HUMA QURESHI GANGS OF WASSEYPUR, LUV SHUV TEY CHICKEN KHURANA AND DEDH ISHQIYAWho She Is: She is a Delhi-based restaurateur’s daughter. After starring in several theatrical productions, Huma moved to Mumbai and signed a two-year contract with Hindustan Unilever to appear in television commercials. During the shoot of a Samsung mobile commercial, Anurag Kashyap noticed her acting ability and signed her for Gangs Of Wasseypur. How She Impressed: Her choices of roles has been quite unconventional and she has impressed in every film she has done so far. Watch her in Dedh Ishqiya to know how she can stand her own against seasoned performers like Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit and Arshard Warsi and still come out on tops.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Huma Qureshi

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s versatility is his biggest asset

MASALA! 29

STAR FEATURE

NIMRAT KAUR THE CADBURY DAIRY MILK SILK ADVERTISEMENT, PEDDLERS, THE LUNCHBOXWho She Is: Nimrat hails from Rajasthan and moved to Mumbai where she did theatre with Sunil Shanbag. Her take on being an outsider is, “What I am doing today and what my current status is, is far more important than where I’m going to go or what will happen tomorrow. If you allow a space for those kind of worries in your life, that’s really the end of you as an actor.”How She Impressed: After seeing The Lunchbox Karan Johar said: “For me, the soul of The Lunchbox is Nimrat...expressing and conveying marital angst and longing for your loved one like a true legendary actor.” That was quite an endorsement for her performance! The fact that a rank newcomer made such a huge impression at Cannes alongside an actor like Irrfan itself speaks a lot about her talent.

RICHA CHADDA GANGS OF WASSEYPUR, FUKREY AND GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA: RAM LEELAWho She Is: Born to a Punjabi father and Bihari mother in Amritsar, she was brought up in Delhi and started her career as a model. She then moved on to theatre with Barry John and in her words, “I learnt about the film industry and wanted to be a part of it one day.” That’s just what happened when she was later spotted by Dibakar Banerjee.How She Impressed: Her acting debut in Dibakar Banerjee’s Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! was appreciated despite the fact that her role was not the lead. But it was her foul-mouthed, de-glam avatar as Nagma Khatun in Gangs Of Wasseypur that brought her into the limelight. Fukrey and Ram-Leela followed which further cemented her status as an actress of substance.

Huma and Arshad Warsi in Dedh Ishqiya

Richa Chadda

Nimrat Kaur

Nimrat Kaur in The Lunchbox

30 MASALA!

STAR FEATURE

Scandal Flashback 1997

POONAM DHILLON’S UNHAPPY LOVE LIFE

The Players POONAM DHILLON

- ACTRESS

RAMESH TALWAR – FILMMAKER AND

THEATRE PERSONALITY

THE STORY

Chandigarh girl Poonam Dhillon joined Bollywood when she was only 16. She had no ambition to become an actress since she was busy with her studies but

fate willed otherwise. It’s said Yash Chopra saw her photograph in a magazine and then approached her through common friends to offer her a role in Trishul. The talk of a big filmmaker like Yash Chopra introducing a new face, made Poonam an instant celebrity. Thus at 16, she worked with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhi, Shashi Kapoor and Sanjeev Kumar. Poonam, who had signed Trishul just for a lark, thought she would go back to Chandigarh after the shoot. But soon more offers came her way, the most prominent one being Noorie. The fact that she had an author-backed role made her rethink her decision to quit films and she decided to give it her best

Poonam Dhillon was a popular actress but she was unlucky in love. She finally married producer Ashok Thakeria only to split with him 10 years later. We take a look at her relationships

turned director. When Ramesh came up with the story

of Noorie, the only girl he could think of for the title role was Poonam. He helped her a lot during the film and along the way it’s said, they became more than good friends. But Poonam didn’t want the relationship to be talked about. Even Ramesh would deny his close association with her, brushing off all rumours of a link-up saying, “She’s a nice girl. She’s friendly with all of us at the Yash Chopra camp.”

PEOPLE COULD SEE THAT Ramesh was trying hard to suppress his feelings for her. But the same could not be said of Poonam who completely denied any relationship between them. Some people said they had jointly decided to keep their friendship a secret but Ramesh’s close friends like producer Ramesh Behl and actor Rishi Kapoor spilled the beans. Once,

shot. Noorie was shot mostly in Jammu and Mumbai while Poonam was still in school. The producers had arranged her flights in such a way that she could give her exams in Delhi in the morning and fly to Mumbai for shoots in the afternoon or evening.

In her initial years, Poonam trusted only a few people in Bollywood – Yash and Pamela Chopra and Ramesh Talwar. Pamela was like a mentor to Poonam but there was another person who had a deep impression on her – Ramesh Talwar, Yash Chopra’s assistant, who scripted Noorie and then

ayers

P onam Dhillon was a

ASHOK THAKERIA – PRODUCER AND POONAM’S EX-HUSBAND

MASALA! 31

STAR FEATURE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx

CURRENT STATUS Poonam Dhillon: She is currently doing a TV soap titled Ekk Nayi Pehchaan and recently, her best friend of many years, Padmini Kolhapure, has also entered the serial.Ashok Thakeria: He leads a quiet life in his Palm Beach apartment in Juhu, looking after his mother. He is occasionally seen at social events and parties.Ramesh Talwar: In 2010, he made his debut as an actor in soap called Mukti Bandhan which was aired on Colors TV. He has also been a jury member for the Screen Awards, Filmfare Awards and Indian Films Panorama over the last few years.

when Rishi and Poonam were seated on a sofa on the sets of Yeh Vada Raha, a photographer asked Rishi to move a little closer to Poonam. The actor reportedly said, “Don’t be silly yaar. She’s Ramesh Talwar’s exclusive property.”

The industry was soon abuzz with the news that she was secretly engaged to Ramesh. But the denials didn’t stop primarily because Poonam thought she would lose good offers that came her way. The media also reported that Ramesh had bought a bungalow for the pretty actress in Juhu. But the relationship did not have a happy ending. They split, it’s said, when a columnist wrote some nasty things about Yashji (Chopra) and Poonam.

Around this time, Poonam’s family felt it was time for her to get married and settle down. Her mother was on the lookout for an ideal groom for her daughter but the actress had other plans. After Ramesh Talwar, she allegedly had a brief involvement with married filmmaker Raj (fondly called Daddu) Sippy. Raj was obviously not willing to leave his wife for Poonam and the couple broke up. Insiders say she was very hurt when they split and married producer Ashok Thakeria on the rebound.

POONAM MET ASHOK THAKERIA through a common friend, producer-director Umesh Mehra. Poonam’s father had expired and she had decided not to celebrate Holi that year. Umesh, however, invited her to his Khandala farmhouse for the celebrations. She initially refused but agreed since

,

Umesh and his wife Ritu were very close friends. Ashok, who was present at the bash, was instantly attracted towards her. ‘Why she is not playing Holi?’ he is supposed to have asked Ritu who explained that she was mourning the loss of her father. Ashok decided to help her get out of depression and he apparently poured a bucket of water on her. That was the first time they met and though Poonam didn’t know anything about Ashok she found him sweet and considerate. Thereafter, they spent some time chatting at the Holi celebrations.

Later, when Poonam returned to Mumbai, Ashok, say friends, sent her flowers almost every day till she accepted his proposal of marriage. Initially they seemed

Poonam with the late

Yash Chopra

Poonam and Ashok in happier times

With Rishi Kapoor in Yeh Waada Raha

to have a good marriage. Poonam sat at home doing nothing while Ashok got busy with work. She then had her first child, Anmol and was thrilled to be a mother. Sources say her sister and relatives advised her to do something to keep occupied but Poonam enjoyed being a mother. The first few years were great but as time passed, Poonam began to get bored and decided to take up television. She then decided to take up television and did a show, Andaaz, produced by Himesh Reshamiya where she had to shoot just five months a month.

HOWEVER, ALL THESE MEASURES were only temporary as cracks started showing up in the Poonam-Ashok marriage. As years passed, their incompatibility increased and they started having arguments. Finally, in October 1997, Poonam walked out of Ashok’s home and moved into her sister’s home. The main reason why they drifted apart was apparently because she felt there was no passion left in her relationship with Ashok. He failed to give her time and his Sundays were reserved for their children Anmol and Paloma. Poonam was heard telling a friend, “I don’t feel connected to him the way I used to earlier and I don’t have him to myself even on a Sunday.” A friend of Poonam recalls, “She began to feel that Ashok didn’t care.” Most of their friends could not figure out why they had split since there were no substantial grounds for the separation. Perhaps it was just the lack of passion and a certain amount of boredom that had crept in, felt many.

Poonam was firm about wanting a divorce and met her lawyers to start the proceedings. Then, around 1993-1994, Ashok, allegedly started seeing another woman which made Poonam insecure. When she allegedly confronted him over this, he made no efforts to hide it but promised to remain faithful to her. But Poonam’s suspicion added to the existing problems between them.

Later, Poonam allegedly got involved with a successful businessman from Hong Kong named Kiku. He would visit her in Mumbai regularly and she would apparently also fly to Hong Kong. That proved to be the last straw in her broken marriage. The mounting problems and instability proved too much to handle and he couple finally divorced in 1997.

Poonam with her kids

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INFO: Visit www.designer-24.

com

THE GALLERIAWith longer Ramadan shopping hours, several amazing spots to have iftar and a fabulous selection of high street and designer stores, there’s no time like the present to visit this fabulous shopping destination. INFO: Visit The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi.

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MASALA! 33

FASHION

FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR, VIBHA DANIA-DHAWAN’S CHIC TIPS AND TRICKS TO LOOKING FASHIONABLE THIS WEEK

Style Fix

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1. Whether your entire outfit is one print or a clash of

prints, there’s just no going wrong with this trend this season.

2.If you aren’t a fan of prints, follow in Priyanka

Chopra’s stylish footsteps and opt for a matching top and skirt instead.

3.This trend even extends to your shoes, bags, phone

covers and sunglasses. The more you match or mis-match, the better.

How to...DRESS MATCHED-MISMATCHED

VIBHA’S BUYING...What: Spiked cuff by Philpp PleinWhy: Looking biker-chic has never been easier – simply slip on this spiked clear cuff that will go with just about everything in your wardrobe. A summer must-have, we say.

Buy This Cool Watch With..

WHY? This light, white and funky watch is perfect for summer. Whether you sport it during

the day or at night, this piece of wrist candy is sure to get you noticed.

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Philipp Plein Dhs2,100

White watch, Swatch at Hour Choice, Dhs550

Embellished top, Splash, Dhs80

Brera Sunglasses by Mr Boho, www.bysymphony.com, Dhs480

Electric blue skirt, Marks & Spencer, Dhs340

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34 MASALA!

FASHIONFASHION

Fashion PoliceMasala! decides who looked hot and who did not this week!

Ed’s Pick

9/10Deepika PadukoneMASALA!’S TAKE:Dressed to impress in a sizzling hot red Stella McCartney mesh panel gown, Deepika stole the show this week and how. Aside from her gown, her retro hairdo deserves a special mention as do her coral lips. Both of them are a refreshing change from what we usually see on the red carpet.

6/10Ileana D’CruzMASALA!’S TAKE:While we approve of Ileana’s Pankaj and Nidhi applique jacket and white pants, they make her look older than she is. Her hairdo adds to that and her tan pumps are really doing nothing for her look. Thumbs down!

Sack It!Aditya Roy KapurMASALA!’S TAKE:Why Aditya? Why?! With a great physique like yours, why would you hide it under this super oversized T-shirt which looks like it’s been in your wardrobe for decades?

MASALA! 35

FASHIONSLUGXXX

6/10Kalki KoechlinMASALA!’S TAKE:Kalki’s printed Shift by Nimish Shah skirt has won our style vote but that’s about it. The strappy top and shearling bag just don’t seem to work together and her shoes are nothing to write home about either.

7/10Neha DhupiaMASALA!’S TAKE:We love Neha’s fresh and fun Aztec printed pencil skirt from Express. She is even accessorised to perfection. Our only gripe? Her crisp white shirt. We wish she had opted for a more fitted style.

5/10Parineeti ChopraMASALA!’S TAKE:Dressed in a Diva’ni embellished maxi dress and jewellery by Sapphire, Parineeti misses the style mark by a mile. Her hairdo, accessories and sandals give off a very going- to-prom vibe.

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36 MASALA!

FASHIONFASHION

Fashion Police 6/10

Chitrangada SinghMASALA!’S TAKE:While Chitrangada’s Neeta Lulla anarkali looks elegant and pretty, we don’t think the statement earrings by Curio Cottage and her smoky eyes work well with it. She should have kept her make-up light and fresh and earrings a little simpler.

8/10Varun DhawanMASALA!’S TAKE:Varun looks super cool in a leather jacket, washed denims, a skinny tie and suede boots. What we love even more though is his stubble and spiky hairdo. Great job Varun.

MASALA! 37

FASHIONSLUGXXXFASHIONSLUGXXXFASHIONFASHION

7/10Sophie ChoudryMASALA!’S TAKE:Dressed in a Milly Laughing Skulls sweatshirt, Sophie looks cute and chic in this casual ensemble. Her hairdo though should have been given more thought. Why is it so drab?

5/10Arjun KapoorMASALA!’S TAKE:Either Arjun is making a serious effort to look retro or he’s trying too hard to look cool. The aubergine suit, purple printed shirt and pocket square put together spell just one word - disaster!

6/10Mandira BediMASALA!’S TAKE:While we admit Mandira’s Sonam and Paras Modi creation is fun and bright, it’s a bit too yellow and doesn’t do her gorgeous figure any justice. Stick to saris Mandira, you rock them all the time.

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38 MASALA!

FASHION

HotlistTHE

This week’s fashionable must-haves under Dhs1,000

Value

1. Printed bikini, Missoni, Dhs8492. Pop-colour hair bands, Evita Peroni, Dhs50 each3. Ankle cuff sandal, Bebe Dhs6504. Red maxi dress, Promod Dhs2295. Kimono by Lady Mauve on www.fashlink.com, was Dhs570 now Dhs4006. Metallic plate belt, was Dhs59 now Dhs397. Kasbah cuff at www.sivvi.com, Dhs3708. Dubai Outlet Mall, Beyond The Beach Outlet, Dhs859. Dubai Outlet Mall, Beyond The Beach Outlet, Dhs14510. Ear cuff, JLC at www.sophiescloset.com, Dhs69511. Structured bag, Marla at Shoe Mart, Dhs23512. iPhone covers by Masaba Gupta at Label 24, Dhs249 each13. Nude handbag, Parfois, Dhs189

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Make sure your iPhone looks just as stylish as you

do with one of these cool covers

A straw hat and pretty pink flats will make sure you look summer chic in

an instant

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FASHION

HotlistThis week’s fashionable must-haves over Dhs1,000

THESplurge

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1. Statement necklace, Rosantica Raissa on www.bysymphony.com, Dhs2,685 each2. Emerald earrings, Mawi at www.sophiescloset.com, Dhs1,0503. Ankle-strap sandals, Kate Spade, Dhs1,5004. Embellished belt, Kenneth Jay Lane at www.sophiescloset.com, Dhs2,8005. Structured handbag, Kate Spade, Dhs1,7506. White pleated skirt, Patrizia Pepe, was Dhs1,450 now Dhs1,0157. Printed tunic, Chloé on www.sivvi.com, Dhs1,1258. Culotte shorts, Tibi on www.bysymphony.com, Dhs1,2509. Lavender clutch, Gerard Darel Dhs1,65010. Studded flats, Chloé, Dhs2,425

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A staple in every woman’s wardrobe. If you don’t own a white skirt, this elegant

piece is a must-have

DSS

Whether you are by the beach or on a summer city holiday, this stylish kaftan

will keep you cool and comfy

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40 MASALA!

FASHION INTERVIEW

Rohit Gandhi and Rahul KhannaDesigner duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna are known in Bollywood for their impeccable and stylish prêt wear for both men and women. The clean and straight lines of their collection are inspired by linear structures, geometrical lines and modern contemporary art. Rohit and Rahul’s creative partnership has been impressively ongoing for the past 18 years and together they have dressed several Bollywood’s A-list stars. We talk to the designer duo about their label CUE that offers high quality western wear with liberal doses of sheen and shimmer and what it is that makes them tick.

MyHaute

Life GETTING TO KNOW CONTEMPORARY DESIGNER DUO ROHIT GANDHI AND RAHUL KHANNA

s that make

We think differently on…

Many things!

When overworked you…Listen to music.

Women who wear the label ‘Cue’ are..Independent, fierce, strong and confident.

The Quiet Vanity SS14 collection… …attempts to bring forth a personality with immense depth, a figure of immense reserve and an individual with style and substance.

A recent splurge …

Five pairs of Prada shoes.

The sheer trend is for…

… people with enviable bodies

who have the confidence to

carry it off. Layer sheer looks with a

nice jacket or wrap but don’t wear towering heels

and loud make-up when sporting

this trend.

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FASHION INTERVIEW

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Two trends to look out for this season are…Sheer and sorbet.

Designing men’s suits…..…may look simple but it’s very challenging. The exploration starts with the fabrics and designing them is a challenge on its own.

Bollywood celebs who wear our label…

Kangana Ranaut, Shilpa Shetty and Deepika Padukone.

We love Kangana’s style sense because… …she’s adventurous!

The best dressed men in Bollywood in recent times are… Ranveer Singh and Arjun Rampal.

International icons we would love to dress…Beyoncé, Anne Hathaway and Justin Timberlake.

Our nicest holiday in recent times… Mykonos, Greece.

Bebo wears

Rohit Gandhi

& Rahul

Khanna

Our partnership works because… We have the same

aesthetic sense.

The one thing we both have a passion for… Contemporary art.ARJUN RAMPAL

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The secret to my skin…I believe in using natural products. Except for general creams and things, I like to use yoghurt on my face around twice a month. Yoghurt is the best product to use for flawless skin. If you don’t like being tanned, use a mixture of baking soda and yoghurt to get rid of your tan – it’s a natural bleach.

The secret to long and lustrous hair…I have inherited my hair from my mother. Both my sister and I are lucky to have thick hair. However, to maintain it, whenever I have the opportunity, I soak my hair in water that has been infused with fenugreek. I know people say that oiling your hair is very important but I don’t oil it that much. To wash off the oil, I have to use twice the amount of shampoo I normally do, which dries and my hair and scalp. Instead I prefer to opt for hair treatments like spas and deep conditioning treatments, amongst other things.

My favourite beauty products…Lush has these really wonderful products and hair packs. So any hair pack from Lush is very good.

My preferred make-up…I prefer to wear minimal make-up. There are times when I don’t apply any at all. The only two things I cannot possibly live without are my lip balm and mascara. They are life savers.

My signature look…It depends, but I mainly wear jeans and T-shirts or shorts and T-shirts along with flats or sporty shoes. You will rarely see me in heels if you happen to bump into me randomly.

My diet consists of…I don’t eat any dairy products and am on a strict no-wheat diet. I am also a vegetarian. Apart from meat, wheat and dairy, I eat everything.

ESHA GUPTATall, statuesque and drop-dead-gorgeous, Esha Gupta, while naturally beautiful, does have certain tips and tricks that she employs to look and feel fabulous. We get you the lowdown from the actress and model herself.

Eating healthy and fresh food is a part of Esha’s diet

Esha can’t live without her lip balm

You will always find mascara in Esha’s make-up bag

MASALA! 43

Esha Gupta’s shiny tresses

Healthy greens

The Lush hair care range

Fresh strawberries

Esha loves Lush products

44 MASALA!

POP OF PINK

Shades of pink may be a Spring-Summer hue but seeing it all over the Autumn-Winter 14 catwalks means it’s going to be huge this Fall too. Whether it’s applied as an eye shadow or a mascara, blended into your cheeks or

smeared on your lips, this pretty hue is here to stay.

BEAUTY

Balinese MassageWhere: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dubai on The Walk at JBR, 04 399 4000, spa.dubai@ritzcarlton.com How Long: 60 MinutesHow Much: Dhs480The Treatment: If you have not been to the revamped The Ritz-Carlton Spa in JBR, we highly recommend a visit. Complete with a massive new wing, state-of-the-art amenities, tepidarium

beds, hammam rooms and even a sleep lounge, it’s really super impressive. I arrived with tense muscles and was feeling quite run down. After a brief consultation with my therapist Pinky, I opted for the Balinese massage. I was then whisked into a spacious and plush treatment room with an equally luxurious bed. Pinky began my massage using acupressure, skin rolling

and flicking techniques with the help of a muscle ease oil with lemongrass and ginger. I have to say, every stroke was perfect. She fully understood my back issues and even combined hot stones with the Balinese technique to iron out any kinks. The Result: The tension in my back was gone and I felt completely relaxed. It’s worth a visit at least once a month.

JETSETTERFor a hairdo that makes you look like you’ve spent all summer relaxing by the beach, book an appointment with Hollywood’s colourist to the stars Negin Zand (who will be in town 21 to 27 September) NOW, and walk out of JetSet looking and feeling like a million bucks. INFO: Call 050 298 8787 for more info.

TRIED & TESTED Reviewed by Vibha Dania-Dhawan

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING FABULOUS INSIDE-OUT

Beauty

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Bourjois Contour Clubbing Waterproof Liner, Shade: Pink About You, Dhs76, Wojooh

NCLA Nail Varnish, Shade: Beverly Hills Bunny, Dhs70, www.shopncla.com

Bubble Gum Lip Scrub, Dhs60, Lush

CC Colour Correcting Compact, Shade: Illuminate, Dhs142, M.A.C

Silk Blossom Fragrance, Dhs300 (30ml)Dhs600 (100ml), Jo Malone

Playland Lipstick, Shade: Happy Go

Lucky, Dhs104, M.A.C

Dior Addict Mascara, Shade: It-Pink, Dhs170, Harvey Nichols-Dubai

JUST PARADISESun, sea, sand and palm trees paint the perfect picture for an ideal summer vacay. Spritz on this lush exotic scent from the brand new Fijian Water Lotus range by The Body Shop.INFO: Available at The Body Shop across the UAE.

TIPS & TOES

NEGIN ZAND

JETSET

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAYTo mark the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June, Tips & Toes in Abu Dhabi encouraged a month of paper recycling where staff and customers saved the equivalent of 33 trees through the recycling of 1.9 tons of paper – the same weight as that of a white rhino. Wow! INFO: Tips & Toes are located across the UAE.

MASALA! 45

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THE QUICK-FIX GUIDE TO GETTING IN SHAPE

Fitness

News

Tights of the Moment

The World Cup may be over but who says the fun has to stop? Nike’s Tight of the Moment x Federation Collection lets you showcase your footie pride with tights and shoes in the national colours of Brazil, US, UK and France.

INFO: Price: Dhs449 (tights) and Dhs529 (shoes); Available at Nike stores across the UAE.

RIGHT BITE

Do your part this Ramadan by

participating in Right Bite’s ‘Help Us Fill the Bag’ campaign which encourages you to do a good deed by generously sharing and giving essentials to its partner charity organisation, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC). The campaign will run throughout Ramadan.INFO: For more information visit www.right-bite.com.

Did You Know?

We are all in agreement that Sidharth Malhotra was, quite possibly, in the best shape we have ever seen him in Ek Villain. But his six-pack didn’t come easy. He had to work super hard on his physique for his role in the movie and his trainer changed his workout program every three to four weeks. We hear that instead of running on the treadmill, Sid prefers playing football whenever he can.

YOGURTLAND’S NEW FLAVOURSYogurtland, the first self-serve frozen yoghurt chain from California, is launching three new delish flavours – Salted Caramel Pecan, Raspberry Pomegranate Tart and Taro, all of which are low-fat and gluten free. They also have non-fat and no-sugar added frozen yoghurt flavours as well as non-dairy sorbets. Healthy summer here we come! INFO: Yogurtland is located in The Dubai Mall.

FITNESS FIRSTFitness First has just launched two fitness centres to make sure you look fit and fabulous this summer. There’s an all-ladies branch at Al Seef Village in Abu Dhabi and a platinum tiered club in Al Barsha, Dubai for both men and women. That’s not all, watch out for Fitness First’s all-new look to be unveiled later this year. INFO: Visit www.fitnessfirst-me.com

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Social PlannerWHAT YOU SHOULD DO BETWEEN NOW & THE NEXT MASALA!

Visit the Ramadan Night MarketUntil Sunday 27 July

The Ramadan Night Market is back with a more exciting line up this season! There will be dedicated pavilions for Fashion, Abaya, Health and Beauty, Jewellery and a Food Pavilion, along with a grand Majlis and a massive kid’s area. Don’t miss out! INFO: Zabeel Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre, 8pm to 2am, free entry for all, + 971 4 388 5191, www.ramadannightmarket.com

ENJOY MOVIE NIGHTS AT PLAYERS LOUNGEUntil Monday 28 JulyCatch your favourite Hollywood blockbuster rom-coms, sci-fi, horror, thrillers, and action movies at the Player’s Lounge. It is a great place to unwind with friends this season!INFO: Country Club Hotel, Behind New Gold Souk, Bur Dubai, 10pm onwards, +971 4 398 8840

ADMIRE ERIC PEYRET’S WORKUntil Thursday 31 JulyAcclaimed French artist Eric Peyret is bringing his touring exhibition to town. Check out his work that features urban landscapes in vivid colours that create a lasting impact.INFO: Fann-À-Porter Art Gallery, Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates, Free Admission, +971 4 427 0219

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Family Fun at Bay Avenue MallUntil Sunday 27 JulyDrop by the latest mall in town! Bay Avenue Mall is running daily Ramadan activities from iftar until suhoor. They are celebrating the spirit of Ramadan and are offering options for family entertainment such as Arabic violin and oud players and a henna tent. Kids can also enjoy activities such as a bouncy castle and arcade games. INFO: Bay Avenue Mall, ground and mezzanine floors of the food court, Business Bay, +971 4 391 1114

2 for 1 at Wild WadiUntil Friday 25 JulyAvail of Wild Wadi’s fun offer where two can enter for one! Plan a visit here with your family for a day of fun and frolic. INFO: Wild Wadi Water Park, next to Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 4 348 4444

Take the Sunset CruiseOngoingCapt. Tony’s Sunset Cruise will take you through the beautiful sights of Smmaliyah Island and along the mangrove island channels returning in time to witness the stunning Viceroy Hotel lighting up Yas Marina.INFO: Duration 1.5hrs, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Dhs250 per person, 6 to 12yrs old Dhs150, +971 2 650 7175

Test Drive the Aston Martin GT4OngoingBuckle up and get ready for the drive of your life! Before you climb into the driver’s seat you will receive a technical briefing from your racing coach to make sure you have a memorable experience. INFO: Yas Marina Circuit West Gate, Abu Dhabi, starts at Dhs1,500, 800 YAS (927)

SEE THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BY MATTAR BIN LAHEJUntil Tuesday 29 JulyAdmire the magnificent sculpture created by artist Mattar bin Lahej. These have been made out of stainless steel circles and each one of the circles embodies a valuable piece of information about Ramadan. INFO: Waterfall Atrium, The Dubai Mall, +971 4 362 7500

Fun things

to do at Yas Marina

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Iftars to TryHEAD DOWN TO THESE AMAZING LOCATIONS TO BREAK YOUR FAST THIS WEEK

H Hotel Dubai’s Iftar in a CrateOpt for H Hotel’s ‘Iftar in a Crate’ that can feed up to eight people. The crate is filled with delicious gourmet food and can be arranged for delivery or pick-up. You can choose from two options – the Complete Iftar Crate Experience, which includes the full selection of meat, vegetables and Arabic sweets on offer, plus freshly prepared Ramadan Juices or choose the Emirati Leg of Lamb and Trimmings, which includes the chef’s selection of assorted meat, bread and vegetables.INFO: H Hotel Dubai, Complete Iftar Experience Dhs995, Emirati Leg of Lamb and Trimmings, Dhs895, +971 4 501 8612

DELECTABLE DISHES AT LA PORTE DES INDESBreak your fast with your family by sampling La Porte des Indes’ exotic menu that offers Indian cuisine with a tasty twist. INFO: The Address Dubai Mall, Dhs195 for 5 courses, Dhs175 for four courses, Dhs155 for three courses and Dhs125 for two courses, +971 4 438 8610

IFTAR BY THE CREEK AT QD’STheir dedicated Ramadan tent offers iftar and suhoor with superb views of the Dubai Creek. The buffet offers a selection of traditional hot and cold Arabic mezze, and Middle Eastern and international main courses along with gourmet desserts. INFO: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, sunset to 9pm, suhoor till 1am, Dhs145, +971 4 295 6000

, 971 4 438 8610

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STUNNING VIEWS AT THE DOWNTOWN TENTThis Ramadan tent is a perfect place for families and friends to gather as it offers delicious Arabic cuisine served in a relaxing atmosphere. The seating areas include a large courtyard, private majlis and glass enclosed garden with panoramic views.INFO: Downtown Dubai, located at the foot of Burj Khalifa, 6pm to 2am, +971 4 423 8883

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE AT TAGINEThey offer both buffet and à la carte options that include dishes such as chicken with lemon and lamb and prune tagines. Plus, the sounds of the oud players complement the evening.INFO: One&Only Mirage, The Palace, from sunset till 8.30pm, Dhs190, +971 4 399 9999

HEALTHY IFTAR AT THE FARMTake a break and head down to this eco-conscious restaurant and choose from their healthy selections that include grilled chicken and apricot tagine and dukka-crust fish fillet. INFO: Al Barari Villas, Emirates Road, from sunset till 1.30am, +971 4 392 5660

TRADITIONAL FEAST AT YALUMBABreak your fast at Yalumba with their mouth-watering spread that includes an array of hot and cold mezzes, grills, live cooking stations, with some delicious sweets and pastries. INFO: Le Méridien Dubai, from sunset till 8.30pm, Dhs159, +971 4 217 0000

TURKISH FARE AT OTTOMANSIndulge in a culinary journey and enjoy their buffet that includes classic dishes such as Yaprak Sarma (stuffed grape leaves) and tender Darulziyafe Koftesi (lamb kofte wrapped with saj bread). You can also head out to their terrace after and try some flavourful shisha.INFO: Grosvenor House Dubai, Al Sufouh Road, 7pm to 1am, Dhs250, +971 4 317 6000

DELIGHTFUL IFTAR AT AL AMEERA BALLROOM Their buffet includes a classic spread of international and Emirati dishes along with Lebanese specialities and Arabic sweets.INFO: Grand Hyatt, Iftar Dhs185, sunset to 9pm, +971 4 317 2222

TRADITIONAL VIBE AT SANABELIndulge in a cosy atmosphere inspired by an Arabian bazaar and enjoy an iftar buffet with your whole family. Their buffet includes cold and hot Arabic mezze, main courses and desserts. It also features an indoor play zone for kids. INFO: Sheraton Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, +971 4 377 2353

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TOP TABLE

Skyline Ramadan Tent

Stunning views, a calm and comforting ambiance and a delicious array of food – the Skyline Ramadan Tent at Crowne Plaza Hotel offers this and much more. We couldn’t have chosen a better venue for Iftar than this amazing venue, lit up by bright Ramadan lights. Our meal started with a cooling drink – there were quite a few to choose, from the assorted juices to traditional Ramadan drinks like Jalab, Tamr Hindi, Irk Sous and Laban Iran. I chose the jalab which perfectly whetted my appetite for the range of salads on offer. The main course was a veritable treat – delicacies from Levant cuisine to Indian specialities, international treats, grills and live stations… we were spoilt for choice, to say the least. From among the several dishes I tried, I’d especially recommend the Harees and the spicy seafood harrah. My friend who had a more international taste was happy with what the menu offered – a range of pastas, braised beef, saute chicken among others. Needless to say, the desserts were equally elaborate – from Lebanese sweetmeats and Turkish delights to the ever popular cakes, pastries and puddings. A sip of Arabic coffee and Moroccan tea ended our long and fantastic Iftar that made our Ramadan celebrations extra special.

We ordered:APPETISER

Beetroot Moutable, Muhammara, Chicken

Hawaiin Salad, Hummus,

MAINHarees Lahm, Chicken Maklouba, Sea Food

HarrahChicken Biryani, Achari

Ghost, Dhal Tadka, Local Lamb Ouzi

DESSERT

Date Cake, Camel Milk Pannacotta, Tiramisu

The Iftar is priced at Dhs195

GRAND RE-LAUNCHCipriani Re-opening after Eid, Cipriani has undergone a major refurbishment and will be serving guests scrumptious Italian cuisine along with authentic Japanese fare. INFO: Building Number 1, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, +971 2 657 5400

Healthy Delights

Balance CaféIf you are looking for healthy options for Iftar, check out Balance Café’s Ramadan offerings that include a four-course meal. Their special menu features main courses such as jasmine and saffron flavoured lamb biryani along with delicious desserts.INFO: Oasis Centre, Level 3, Dhs55, +971 4-515 4051

FRESH ‘N PIPING FOODIE NEWS & REVIEWS

Served

HOT

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INFO: SKYLINE RAMADAN TENT,

CROWNE PLAZA DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY,

04 701 2222

Iftar of the week

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HOT ‘N HAPPENING PEOPLE IN THE UAE

Local BuzzTHIS WEEK:

We chat with ace

choreographer

Sandip

Soparrkar

WE WISH GOOD LUCK TO… NITIN MIRANI Dubai’s stand-up comic Nitin Mirani is pursuing international glory. One of the biggest comedy clubs in the world, the US-based Laugh Factory announced its first annual ‘Funniest Person in the World’ competition which will see comedians from all over the globe vying for the title. Nitin is the only comedian from the UAE to have been selected for the competition. To help UAE win, just log on to www.laughfactory.com, click on the Funniest Person in the World competition and vote. Nitin is also awaiting the release of his action thriller Switchh which was shot in Dubai. Good luck to him!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

At a young age, Sandip Soparrkar took to dance because he was fascinated by the idea of dancing with girls. However soon he fell in love – not with

the girls he met but with the various dance forms! His passion for dance grew to such an extent that he decided to put everything aside and make it his full-time career. Against all odds, he pursued his dreams and today, he is the only professional Indian ballroom dancer. His skills have led him to work with some of the biggest names in Bollywood and the West (Madonna and Britney Spears) and recently he even attended the 67th Cannes Film Festival to deliver a speech on Bollywood dancing. The ace dancer-choreographer was recently in Dubai to judge Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa dance competition where Masala! had a long chat with him…

What was your family’s reaction when you decided to make dance your career?My mum was quite okay, she said ‘if you wish to try something different, you can’. My father was unhappy. He is half-Gujarati and half-Maharashtrian so he had a very conservative mindset. He said ‘You may dance but do something else as well’. But I said, ‘Dance bhi nahi karna hai, dance hi karna hai’ (I don’t want to just dance, I don’t want to do anything but dance). He was quite upset but then I think he had no choice. Today, he is proud of me and is taking care of my Pune classes.

Which was the toughest phase in your path to becoming a dancer-choreographer?The time when I used to compete in the European championships were tough. We used to rehearse for six or seven hours each day and it was very exhausting. You were working, not getting enough sleep and you had to make time for exercise and dance. It was too much! But then when I won those championships, everything would seem worth it.

Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is a platform for non-dancers to become good dancers. What do you think is the effort they should put in to improve themselves?The only key is to rehearse. You have to rehearse and practise a lot because dance is an art form that gets better with practice. Some take longer and others less time but everybody can reach there. Some say ‘I’m not a dancer’, which is

Sandip Soparrkar

MASALA! 53

Guess Who? RJs Tarun, Rohit, Meghana, Sid and

Lokesh get ready to host the Emax City 1016 Movie Nights.

THE RJS HAVE A BALL AT EMAX CITY 1016 MOVIE NIGHTS SCREENING EK VILLAIN

OUT & ABOUT

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not true. Everybody is a dancer because as humans everything inside us has a rhythm. We hesitate to let ourselves go because we feel somebody will laugh at us. So it’s more mental stress than a physical issue. If you want to be a good dancer you don’t really need to be flexible. You just have to know how to dance!

Is there any celebrity in particular you would like to choreograph for?I would love to choreograph Madhuri Dixit because I have never done it. She had left the industry by the time I started doing film choreography but now she is back and I hope I get to work with her. I always wanted to work with Hrithik and Priyanka and I got a chance, so I’m satisfied. In Hollywood, I’d like to work with Jennifer Lopez. I have worked with Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyoncé and others but never with JLo.

Are you planning on establishing a branch of your dance institute in Dubai anytime soon?I would love to do that. There have been talks about it for a very long time but it has never worked out.

Is your love story with Jesse Randhawa the outcome of dancing together or was dancing as a couple, the side-effect of falling in love?That’s a very difficult question (laughs)! I think it was the way she used to dance. I met her for the first time when I was choreographing for Pooja Bhatt’s film Holiday. Pooja decided to call Jesse for an

audition because she wanted to cast her opposite Dino Morea. I auditioned her found her to be a beautiful dancer. I wondered how lovely it would be to dance with someone like her! Unfortunately she didn’t get the film because she was taller than Dino even without heels. But she matched my height perfectly so I asked her if she would join me for my shows. Slowly we started enjoying our collaboration. That’s how we got together.

What do you think should India do to preserve its folk dance culture?I think dance reality shows should insist and make sure that the purity of the dance form is maintained. Everything is becoming Bollywoodised. Even in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, we have a Bollywoodised cha-cha, Bollywoodised Bharatanatyam, Bollywoodised everything! The authenticity and purity is completely lost. People who are doing it must make sure that they do not start blending and making a fusion out of it because fusion finally becomes confusion.

Is there anyone you have in mind who will take forward what you have started?I hope to! When I use to learn dancing, my teacher used to tell me that when you start teaching try to have at least one person who will take your dream forward with full dedication and determination. Well it’s not that easy because it requires a lot of dedication which kids today lack. I remember when I used to dance, our teacher would remove her shoes and hit us if we didn’t get our steps right, we would practice for hours and were not allowed to leave the dance class till we perfected a move. Today if I do that I’ll be behind bars! The concept, ways and teaching methods have changed. So something that took 10 years for a classical dancer to achieve will take 18 years now.

Do you believe that dance works as a healing therapy?Of course! When music is played, your body starts moving and you release stress. It kind of excites you when you do something for yourself. It’s like dressing up in a designer outfit and feeling beautiful even if you are not looking beautiful. So I think dance does the same.

not true. Everybody is a dancer because ashuma h

WtIinoEEBoBhevi

Let’s Dans The Dans group impresses the audience at the special Ek Villain screening with a

thrilling performance.

L t’

Movie Time The audience and Team City 1016 get ready for an exciting movie experience

with dance, music and masti.

Mo i

Sandip with Jesse Randhawa

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A GRAND IFTARWhat: HUM TV Middle East and OSN Network’s IftarWhere: Emirates Ballroom, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

Dubai’s stylish set was spotted at this lavish iftar hosted by HUM TV Middle East and OSN Network. The lovely surroundings along with interesting company made the evening a memorable affair.

54 MASALA!

SOCIETY Rizwan, Sameera and Adel Sajan

Ruby andJuhi Yasmeen Khan

Saad and Sadia Qazi

Ruby Dastur, Saba Rehan and Nadia Siddiqui

Vikram and Madhu Arora Saman Ansari

Aamir Mazhar, Sahar Ahmed

Khan and Rashid Saeed

Ahmed and Anam

Syed and Rubina Jilanee

Sana and Heena Husain

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A ROYAL EVENINGWhat: Iftar at Radisson Royal Hotel Where: Sheikh Zayed Road

Radisson Royal Hotel joined in the celebrations of Ramadan by hosting a rather sumptuous Iftar which included a range of delectable local and international delights. It was great to see people of different nationalities come together and observe the traditions of the Holy Month.

SOCIETY

nt

Linda Dabbagg, Pinar Kaya and Tina Fritzsche

Muriel Godinho and Parul Taneja

Mathilde Soulie and Maja Bencic

Sharneel and May Ee Rajaratnam

Salma Salim and Annabelle

Moss-Wilson

Janine and Mamoun Halim

Ghena and Sara Halim Chie Yoshida and Keiko Haneda

Rose and Karam

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A STYLISH BAZAARWhat: Al Reem First Ramadan BazaarWhere: Wafi Mall

Dubai’s fashion lovers enjoyed a stylish night out at the Ramadan Bazaar that had some interesting apparel and accessories created by local women designers on display. We loved the colourful outfits and quirky jewellery. After all, there is nothing quite like retail therapy to keep stress at bay, is there?

Sara , Zubaida and Rand Noor Alhashimi and Deena Al Nuaimi

Meena Rose Al Obaidi

Accessories on display

Marmar Al Hilali and Meriem El Khettar

Yohan Alazet, Lauren Lima and Namitha Jassem

Rania and Dania

Fawaz

Inas and Nibras Alnaimy

Hanna Homayounfar Meena Louay

Menka Chandwani,

Farah Ayub and Seema Meran

56 MASALA!

SOCIETY

BREAKING CELEBRITY NEWS, GOSSIP, FASHION, BEAUTY, PRIZES, GOING OUT AND MORE!

WWW.MASALA.COM

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FOOTBALL FEVERWhat: The Jaguar Tent Iftar & FIFA MatchWhere: Dubai International Marine Club, Mina Seyahi

FIFA season was on in full swing last week and Dubai’s football lovers got together at the Jaguar Tent to experience a grand Iftar that offered an appetising spread as well as enjoyed cheering their favourite teams. The vibe was infectious to say the least!

Eileen Vazquez and Sandra Najjar

L-R: Syed, Ajoy, Shilpa and Arvind

Maya Najjar, Faris Abu Yaghi and Rod Penate

Floris Muller, Tamanna Kittur and Lewis Arbuckle

Fadi Salamoun and Ghada Al Jawhary

Donya Bakhshesh

Hiba Tawfik and Bishi Jacob

Lila, Sophie and Morgane

Aura and Ahmed

Thalia, Maria and Yasmina

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SUNSET DELIGHT What: Iftar hosted by EmaxWhere: Al Samar Tent, A.O.C French Brasserie, Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach

The city’s elite was spotted at this splendid Iftar hosted by Emax. Al Samar’s Arabian inspired lounge showcased all that Ramadan had to offer. Guests had a wonderful time in the Arabian inspired lounge and sampled a range of authentic culinary delights while admiring the beautiful views of the city from the outdoor terrace.

L-R: Jaymon, Neelesh Bhatnagar, Sachin and Shyam

Kamal and Madhvi Vachani

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The wide spread of delicacies

L-R: Florence, Ana, Egor, Sonia and Lydia

Zameer Hassan

Rishi Mohan, Honey Kumari and Madhvi Bhatia

Vincent Maynard, Ghina Dargham and Joe Lipscombe

Riosh Krishnan

Khaled and Haroun

Ambre Naija and Anca Matcovschi

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LOVELY AMBIENCEWhat: Na3na3 IftarWhere: The Address, Dubai Mall

Na3na3 boasts of an excellent location and their Iftar was truly delightful as it offered glimpses of traditional Arabic hospitality at its best. The food, needless to say, was excellent with a wide range of delicacies but what added to the charm of the evening were the great interiors and the ambience.

Varsha and Rajesh Bhatia

Brula D’Souza and Sameer Kulkarni

Martyn Frederick and Fiona Goodwin

Carola Baldassarrini and Zoe Tite

Sara Nael, Tamer Abd El Dayem, Dina Abd Elhafez

L-R: Baha bibi, Ihab Nassar, Lama Bibi and Indri Halina

Chef Hana Dib and Chef Shokry

Abouelsoud

Nazira Kadirova

Noora Nemer

Authentic delights

on offfer

60 MASALA!

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FESTIVE FEASTWhat: Media IftarWhere: Madinat Jumeirah

Madinat Jumeirah recently hosted a fun Iftar that had a sumptuous buffet with authentic Ramadan specialities on offer. The evening was a stylish affair as guests gathered with their friends and family in an ambiance that truly celebrated the spirit of the season.

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p o the season.

Rula, Hind and Luma

Tania Najia and Chadia Awad

L-R: Atif Islam, Shariq Islam,

Amal Shariq and Ali Fetouh

Dana El Ali

Diana ShtewiIssa and Dania Abdul Rahman

Omar and Reem Zamgan

Rasha Traboulsi and Samer Mourad

Caitriona Gaffney, Chef Mohammed

Barafi and Amal

Tasty treats on display

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A SPECIAL EVENINGWhat: Intel IftarWhere: Al Majlis, Madinat Jumeirah

Guests got together for this exclusive iftar hosted by Intel at the gorgeous Al Majlis at Madinat Jumeirah. The glittering lights and traditional lamps made the entire setting quite exotic. It was a perfect way to end the fast as we saw guests meet up with their friends and family over some delectable bites.

Farah Abu Salah

Khoulud Barakat and Dalia Kamel Sadiq Shaban and Muaz Shabandri

L-R: Hazem Amer, Bhavish Khanjan, Varun Singh and Nassir Nauthoua

st as s

Tamara Clarke Osama Alasmar and Sara Darwish

Murtada Sameer and Ana Baptista

The elegant setting

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CLASSIC VIBEWhat: Iftar at the Kris RestaurantWhere: Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Bur Dubai

Kris, at the Park Regis Kris Kin hotel is one of those locations that boasts of panoramic views of Dubai. Enjoying an Iftar here, taking in the buzz of the city, is a fun way to spend an evening this Ramadan. And guests certainly appeared to be having loads of fun at the Iftar hosted at this fab restaurant.

Lavender Fernandes

Jojie, Malou and Ria Genolaga

Yaseen Mirza, Rashi Malhotra and Roshith

Stunning views of the city

Kate Maravillosa

Riham Ahmed

Lana Mohammad

Patima Onnorm and Lynn Barrios

L-R: Rommel, Pauline, Lei Zaide and Alvin

Zel Salvador, Jeff De Joya and Maxine Dollente

MASALA! 63

SOCIETY

64 MASALA!

YOUR STARS

Aries 21 MAR TO 19 APRIt feels like you have all the pressures and none of the rewards. Putting less emphasis on work would help lift your spirits. Spending time with family will be therapeutic. Take this opportunity to reconnect with your friends. More money for household luxuries could become available. Take this opportunity to create a homely haven to help you forget workplace worries. Striking a balance between your personal and professional lives will reduce stress.

Gemini 21 MAY TO 20 JUNBeware of digging yourself further and further into debt. Instead of putting more and more purchases on a credit card, start paying off a few bills. It will take sacrifice and restraint to get back in the black, but the effort will be worthwhile. It will be so nice to drift off into a relaxing sleep than staying awake at night, worrying about the future. You could earn fame and acclaim through your creative efforts. This is a great time to put your artwork on display.

Leo 21 JUL TO 21 AUGOverdoing the food and drink can have bad consequences. It’s best to follow a diet mainly comprised of lean protein and whole grains. You’re going to be thrust into the spotlight quite soon. Being in good shape is critical to your personal and professional success. Take extra care of your appearance. Clothes that fit well and enhance your body type will help you exude confidence. Friendship could turn into romance after an intense flirting session. Take a risk on love.

Libra23 SEP TO 22 OCTYou’re tired of being cooped up inside all the time. You feel you need to spread your wings and fly. Enjoying the beauty of nature will make you less resentful of the pressures around you. If you’ve been yearning to take a trip, start making your plans. The longer you put off this journey, the less likely you will go. There’s a good chance you will discover something about yourself that will change your whole outlook on life and cause you to question your future.

Sagittarius 23 NOV TO 20 DECRetail therapy won’t cure a bad mood. It might actually make it worse when the bills come pouring in. Instead of putting yourself in financial jeopardy, satisfy your love of intellectual stimulation. Taking a course will fill you with excitement. You’ll make good friends while mastering a new skill. If you are sent on a business trip, you may be inspired to move abroad. Your outlook usually improves when you venture into unfamiliar territory.

Aquarius 20 JAN TO 18 FEBYour energy is starting to fall so don’t take on more obligations. Enjoy some rest instead. The world won’t fall apart if you do less work. Allow friends and relatives to pick up the slack. They will impress you with the way they knuckle down and get on with things. If you’re looking for love, you could find it with someone whose background is different from your own. It’s hard to resist the allure of an accent. If you’re in a relationship, your partner may have some exciting news.

Taurus 20 APR TO 20 MAYThere’s more to life than duties and responsibilities. Taking a trip, launching a writing project or embarking on a course of study will help you realise this. A change of pace will make you more optimistic. A relative may notice your distress and offer to take some work off your hands. Accept this generous offer. Normally, you’re the one who is the most organised and productive person in the group. All of this preparation and work is taking a toll on you.

Cancer 21 JUN TO 20 JULTake some time out and pamper yourself. You can’t continue spending all of your energy on others. Something has got to give. Your domestic life will become much happier if you can just get away for even a short time and do your own thing. Reading, writing and communing with nature are all good for you intellectually and spiritually. Your income is about to get a tremendous boost. Start saving for a vacation you have always wanted to take.

Virgo 22 AUG TO 22 SEPIt feels like everybody expects you to do all the work while they enjoy themselves. Put an end to this by treating yourself to a day of leisure. Take the time to do what pleases you and brings you satisfaction. Visiting a garden and taking a long nap are all good ways to restore your zest for life. It’s important for a service oriented person like you to take time for solitary pursuits. Filling your schedule with chores only makes you tired.

Scorpio 23 OCT TO 22 NOVThere’s no point worrying about the future. You don’t have control over other people’s behaviour or decisions. Instead of envisioning terrible outcomes, turn your attention to more uplifting pursuits. An exciting career offer is on the horizon. Don’t be afraid to assume a high profile position at a glamorous company. This job could involve lots of travel. Getting paid to see the world may be the answer to a prayer. Your future is a lot more promising than you realise.

Capricorn 21 DEC TO 19 JANDon’t expect a relationship to fill an emotional void. Putting some distance between you and a partner will be therapeutic. You may not realise it, but you’ve abandoned some of your favourite activities for the sake of this bond. Going solo will give you a chance to satisfy your sensual side. Treat yourself to your favourite cuisine. Have a massage; enjoy a long, luxurious bath. Treat yourself to something stylish. You don’t need an excuse to spoil yourself.

Horoscope17 JULY � 23 JULY

If you celebrate your birthday this week, you share it with Priyanka Chopra ( 18 July)

lf further and

*The statements made on this page do not represent the opinion of the publishers or of the publication

Star Birthday Naseeruddin

ShahTurns 64 on

Sunday

“There is some stress between

him and his children”

says astrologer and tarot card

reader Janvi Gaur

NASEERUDDIN’SBIRTHDAY

PREDICTIONS:JULY 20, 1950The cards say that Nasseruddin needs to give complete

attention to his health and family life. There is some stress between him and his children

that are causing disagreements that can upset his peace, creativity and work. He needs to take a

backseat and go with the flow. From the

months of November and December things

will start improving slightly. The year 2015

looks like a brilliant year for him to bring his

ideas to fruition.

CONTACT Janvi Gaur

Tel: +971 50 173 9456; email: janvigaur@hotmail.com

Pisces 19 FEB TO 20 MARIt’s time to draw some firm boundaries with friends. Recently, people have been calling at all hours of the day and night. Although it’s flattering to be popular, you are growing weary of other people’s problems. Turn your attention to a creative project. Exercising your imagination will give you fresh impetus. Don’t be surprised when people start praising your appearance. You’re never more attractive than when you let your creative juices flow.

MASALA! 65

LISTINGS

EntertainmentTHE TV SHOWS AND MOVIES YOU MUST CATCH THIS WEEK

Thursday 17

Monday 21

Friday 18

Tuesday 22

Saturday 19

Wednesday 23

Sunday 20

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah ChashmahCOMEDY: SAB TV @ 19.00Based on the happenings in Gokuldham Society, the show depicts the lives of society members from different cultural backgrounds with a comic take.

Devon Ke Dev MahadevMYTHOLOGY: LIFE OK @ 18.30Parvati transforms into Bhairavi to protect Mahadev from destruction, who performs sadhana for Lakulesh.

Pavitra RishtaDRAMA: ZEE TV @ 21.00Archana’s mother has a sole aim of getting a good, well-educated boy for Archana but her marriage plans have always been full of obstacles.

Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharaana PratapHISTORICAL: SONY TV @ 22.00With Phoolkanwar’s help, Pratap manages to kill Burqa Khan. Maldev gets scared and tells that Akbar was the one who sent him to kill Pratap.

Diya Aur Bati HumDRAMA: STAR PLUS @ 21.00This is the story of Sandhya’s struggles, who dreams of becoming an IPS officer and to break the boundaries of her confined middle-class values.

Bani – Ishq Da KalmaDRAMA: COLORS @ 22.30It is centred around the plight of brides left behind by NRI grooms and is the story of a young and spirited girl from Punjab with dreams of an NRI wedding and a happy life thereafter.

YudhDRAMA: SONY TV @ 22.30If you are an Amitabh Bachchan, Nawazuddin Siddique, Sarika and Kay Kay Menon fan, watch out for this brand new TV show!

RangrasiyaDRAMA: COLORS TV @ 21:30Varun’s brother points a gun at Paro. He fires a shot. What happens next? Will Rudra be able to save the love of his life?

Kitni Girhain Baaki HaiDRAMA: ZINDAGI TV @ 21.00The show is an attempt to create awareness about women empowerment. Catch Bolly actress Kirron Kher feature in this impactful Pakistani drama.

Tumhari PaakhiDRAMA: LIFE OK @ 21.30The story revolves around Paakhi, who is waiting for a reply from her estranged husband since 18 years. What will happen when he finally comes back?

Ek Nayi PehchaanDRAMA: SONY TV @ 20.30 P.M.Will Neeta Manchanda choose Sharda to make the patola saris or will she get attracted towards Pallavi’s offer?

Qubool HaiROMANCE: ZEE TV @ 22.00The show focuses on the story of two brothers Ayan and Asad who are separated by their families but are united in their hearts. It is also the story of Zoya who sends up bringing two warring families together.

Comedy Nights With Kapil COMEDY: COLORS TV @ 22.00This comedy show is hosted by Kapil Sharma and T’town celebs often make appearances to promote their upcoming films.

India’s Best Cinestars Ki KhojREALITYSHOW: ZEE TV @ 20.30The show is a hunt for India’s next cinestar. It is a platform where contestants showcase their acting prowess to the world.

Ek Hasina ThiDRAMA : STAR PLUS @ 20.00Dev confesses that he had sourced Payal’s files and hands them over as he does not want to pursue the case further. While Shaurya wants to take revenge from Dev by hook or crook.

Main Naa BhoolungiDRAMA: SONY TV @ 20.00Samaira purposely avoids Aditya to show the Mohanto family that there are problems in the marriage. Will anyone find out the truth? Will Samaira finally take her revenge?

Ek Veer Ki Ardaas - VeeraDRAMA: STAR PLUS @ 22.30It is the story of a brother, who becomes a mother to his sister. They share an unbreakable bond that gets formed between siblings and often make life-changing sacrifices.

Sapne Suhane Ladakpan KeDRAMA: ZEE TV @ 19.00The show depicts the lives of two teenage girls, Rachna and Gunjan. Their lives are changing everyday due to the constant problems they face.

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa Season 7 DANCESHOW: COLORS @ 21.00Watch your favourite stars battle on the dance floor for the Jhalak Dikhla Jaa trophy. Who will stay and who will remain to mesmerise the judges?

Ye Hai AashiquiDRAMA: UTV BINDAAS @21:30The show revolves around taking inspiration from extraordinary real life love stories.

The Anupam Kher Show – Kucch Bhi Ho SaktaTALKSHOW: COLORS @ 20.00 P.M.Host Anupam Kher plans to uncover hidden chapters from the lives of B’town stars and focuses on their stories of resilience, heartbreaks and triumphs.

ATHOME

AT THE MOVIES

3

ra

AATAA TAT THE MOVIES

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Tweets

of the week

66 MASALA!

LAST PAGE

Bipasha Basu snapped with her family and friends.

#celebspeakStraight From The Stars

Arjun Kapoor trying on a new look with moustaches.

Sports freak John Abraham with soccer experts on a show.

Raghav Sachar shows off his spiritual side at a gurudwara.

Deepika Padukone gets ready to say ‘action’ on the sets of Finding Fanny.

Huma Qureshi wants to know her future it seems!

Ranveer Singh poses with a fan during his shoot in Europe.

Feeling lonely Shraddha Kapoor? We can guess who she is missing!

Shahid Kapoor’s strikes a pose with his four-legged best friend. Shahid Kapoor’s strik

ED’S CHOICE