FunAsia DesiPages Jan 2020

Happy New Year from the Management Wishing everyone a very happy 2020. Funasia respects & admires our community’s constant love, association, and support. Looking back in retrospect, 2019 has been a great year. We started off with visions and dreams to take this media platform to a different level, to enhance your experience and to give you different products. We have sure come a long way.

In print, we increased our numbers hugely and started to mail DesiPages to your homes. The magazine that gives you coupons to redeem and benefit from, along with your favorite content.

We invested hugely into programming on the radio side. We created a programming department that is now enhancing the radio experience with Jingles and ads. We hired new talent. Our RJ’s are trained, and their shows are augmented with content and presentation. Our website improved drastically. Radio FAN app went live, and we introduced the TV radio to expand your experience.

Now you can watch your favorite RJ’s and even watch the video of the songs they play. We added 2 more theater locations and have three Fun Movie Grills- in Richardson, Carrollton & Irving with 27 screens where you can watch your favorite Bollywood, Hollywood and regional movies on recliners enjoying your favorite Indian Fusion food. In Events, many stars joined us from India and Pakistan. We had the biggest music concert by Arijit Singh which attracted more than 7000 people. We introduced our fusion food joint through our Fun Pizza Kitchen. We partnered with Radio Mirchi and expanded our presence to 9 different states in the US. We have also developed our relations with Abu Dhabi UAE to start Funasia radio there.

We have many more visionary ideas in place, and also a very talented team to implement them.

Funasia is all about experience and we try and do our best to enhance that. We respect our community’s support and stay true to our motto of ‘Bringing the community together’. Looking forward to a great 2020. Stay tuned on 104.9 FM to see the face of Dallas changing with our creative ideas and elevated platform.

The new year is about new beginnings. As humans, we welcome new in our life. When we get a new home or a car, we feel very excited. Even getting new furniture or clothes uplifts our mood and makes us feel good. The good mood is associated with Dopamine levels going up.

When dopamine is released in large amounts, it creates feelings of pleasure and reward, which motivates us to repeat a specific behavior. So whenever it repeats and we get something new again, we feel happy. On the contrary, when that newly acquired thing stays with us for some time and it starts to become old, we take it for granted and do not feel so excited about it anymore.

The motivation is reduced and there is decreased enthusiasm for things that would otherwise excite most people. However, if we consciously recognize this pattern and are aware of the fact that each day is a new day, and uplifting our mood lies within us, we will never need to initiate an external dopamine doze to be happy.

A very Happy New Year and an extremely successful, peaceful and joyful 2020 is wished to all our readers and listeners.

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BOLLYWOOD talkies B

Shah Rukh Khan

ollywood’s desi girl, Priyanka Chopra has now become an international sensation. The actress has conquered millions of hearts in the West with her performance in a TV series, Hollywood movies and other philanthropic work.

The actress rocked the headlines last year when she got married American pop singer Nick Jonas in India. Since then, the duo has been giving major couple goals.

And recently, she opened up about her career, ambitions and hubby Nick

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hah Rukh Khan recently sat for an interesting conversation with renowned British journalist Tom Brooks for the well-known talk show Talking Movies. The discussion touched upon various topics including his journey in the film industry, the gradually fading line between commercial films and content-driven cinema and the #metoo movement in India.

Shah Rukh is a man of wit and insights, and knows how to hold a conversation. But it took a particularly interesting turn when the interviewer asked us whether he ever considered directing film. He holds an extremely illustrious career, but did we imagine him as a filmmaker? The actor answered that direction was an extremely lonely job, and a director always stood alone with the success or failure of his film. He further mentioned that his career in acting already made him a quieter person when in his own space, and he thinks direction would make him lonelier.

Having said that, he doesn’t ditch the idea of directing an action film! An ardent film of Christopher Nolan, SRK said he would like to make an action film, if he made one.

Now that would be a treat to watch, don’t you think so?

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Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Talking about her equation with Nick, she said that they both love to celebrate each other’s wins. The actress added that the singer finds her ambitious attractive as she never apologises for her ambitions which Nick also supports!

The actress went on to talk about her international icon status, PeeCee stated that she just wants to be a channel for all the immigrant girls who want to enter the entertainment world.

The actress was honoured for her contribution to cinema in her career spanning over two decades at the Marrakech International Film Festival.

She was also recently honoured with a UNICEF award for her humanitarian work and support for children’s welfare around the world.

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anveer Singh after impressing the audiences with his films like ‘Gully Boy’, ‘Bajirao Mastani’, ‘Padmaavat, ‘Goliyon Ki RaasleelaRam Leela’ and others is all set to pull off yet another quirky character with Divyang Thakkar’s Jayeshbhai Jordaar. Be it portraying the evil Khilji or playing a boy next door in ‘Gully Boy’, he has done justice to each and every role he played.

As the first look of his forthcoming film, Jayeshbhai Jordaar is unveiled, the actor introduced yet another interesting character.

Talking about the film, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, puts light on how judgemental society is about women. Ranveer plays an ordinary man who ends up doing something extraordinary when he’s hurled into a threatening situation! Coming back to the look, Ranveer is all set to impress the Gujju audiences with the portrayal of a Gujarati character yet again post ‘Ram-Leela’.

Ranveer in the poster can be seen as a Gujju man, who is protecting the women in the backdrop who have covered their faces with veils.

Singh’s mustache, wavy hair-style, and colorful attire are what impresses the fans. The gold wristwatch on one hand and some holy threads tied on the other hand make the look more

Ranveer Singh

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O

SALMAN KHAN

rs in st loved sta o m e th f o ne . lman Khan a S is d o o Bollyw 3 completed r to c a e Th film industry. e th in s e d deca has rs, Salman a e y 0 3 f o ds In a span t in the min c a p im n a leave films managed to & say h ool swag in tc c a is h w I m ro e F s. r ilm of min of audience f t action avata s is h la y to r e y d v E , Rea every film like Wanted e v lo s n fa series, t in Dabangg wonder wha ld u o w e n o ever, gets of his. How ises that he ra p e th that ll a f star shared ach film. e e h he thinks o d h a it R w e g h T in g keep grow are rubbish. nd improvin a g in and how to w ro g ay of n’t ut it is his w o b a that one ca e k id o a p s s n n a a lm lm a . Sa t interview, S The his work nd can’t ge . a s lm e fi lv h In a recent e c s a m e e with ing th at ps growing es keep prais iz c ti added that ri c n e e how he kee h v t e a e th H d e . n ith it . star mentio lms. away w r to praises fi a t e s a f p a Dabangg 3 e is d h a n o turns I do and cringes e times, he h n e h w Sometimes “ s his own work e , d m ti e e n o m ti o n s d an me aled that d it is a goo n ks they Salm a in rk th Salman reve o e w h n s y ow say, previous film cringe at m ine I watch I m watches his f o lm fi t s ly sign. Every la because on t’ a th s a w ish er. If ‘What rubb d work hard n a w ro g u and then can yo ith yourself w d e s s re p im you’re very (wow, what a iy d r a k kaam is say yaar kya e) then how n o d e v I’ b jo an amazing t be praising o n n a c u o Y thing. ou that a good e to praise y v a h le p o e p er yourself, oth supposed re a u o y , e whil You and after a se praises. o th to g in n to stop liste the praises.” y b y a w a d arrie cannot get c

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bollywood news this

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Month

MUMBAI SAGA

Gangster dramas have always been a favorite genre of Bollywood buffs and Sanjay Gupta is amongst those rare filmmakers who can handle it quite deliberately with a sleek treatment. His upcoming Mumbai Saga featuring Emraan Hashmi and John Abraham has piqued our interest owing to the era it’s going to trace. Now, there’s one interesting development of the project that is coming in and it’s about the actor portraying Shivsena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray.

Earlier, Jackie Shroff was supposed to be a part of Mumbai Saga but later due to dates’ issues, the actor humbly stepped down and veteran actor and director Mahesh Manjrekar was roped in as a replacement. And according to the latest reports flowing in, the actor has a huge responsibility on his shoulders as he will be portraying the late firebrand political personality of Balasaheb Thackeray.

The movie will narrate the story of the 1980s and 1990s, during which Thackeray had a strong political influence over Mumbai.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta says he is excited, anxious and nervous to begin shooting for his film Mumbai Saga.”

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KARTIK

DURGAVATI Actor Akshay Kumar has revealed that he requested Bhumi Pednekar to be part of his upcoming film Durgavati - in which the Bala star plays the lead role. Akshay and Bhumi have previously worked together in Toilet Ek Prem Katha where they were paired together.

Talking about casting Bhumi in his production, Akshay told, “I thought it was an IPS female’s role and Bhumi would fit the bill well. I wanted a girl-next-door kind of image and Bhumi is someone who can pull off any role with ease. So I requested her.” Talking about his venture, he added, “I have done many such films where I have presented it. This will be my first film not being an actor.”

Titled Durgavati, the film is touted to be a thriller and is set to go on floors by January. It will be directed

by Ashok - who has also directed Telugu hit Bhaagamathie. It is not clear whether Durgavati is a remake of the Telugu film which featured Anushka Shetty, Unni Mukundan, Jayaram, Usha Sarath, Vidyulekha Raman in lead roles.

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Kartik Aaryan’s rise to success is an inspiration to many of the struggling actors and for all the right reasons. A small-town boy who arrived in the city of dreams with no connections and then went on to become one of the most sought after stars of his generation, isn’t this the perfect Cinderella story? However, things were not easy for this star!

The actor has never shied away from sharing his experience and has been honest about his struggles before making it big in the Hindi film industry.

In an interaction with popular Instagram page Humans of Bombay, the actor revealed how he struggled while trying his luck in film auditions. A part of the post reads, “ I got projects like a few seconds in an ad & they kept me going. Eventually, I rented a flat in Andheri with 12 boys. I had limited finances. I couldn’t even afford a portfolio—I’d crop my face out of group photos to send to agents! All the while I’d skip college to give auditions & my parents didn’t know about any of this. Once I saw an ad for a film audition & decided to go for it. They liked me & auditioned me many times. My final audition script was the monologue that then became my identity!

Finally, when I got the role, I was at Andheri station & immediately called my mom!”

He also revealed that when he saw the Shah Rukh Khan starrer-Baazigar, he knew that he wanted to become an actor, but he was unsure of his parents’ take on it. So, he decided to study and move to Mumbai for college. Post which he started trying his luck in films and eventually became the success that he is today.

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Important Taxation Tips for Expats in the USA

Millions of people live in the USA as expats and tax planning can be a complex process. There are many who believe that tax filing should be simpler, but the world of taxes is complicated. Let’s help you with a few basic things.

Register with the IRS – Obtain a SSN (a social security number) for yourself, and for all your dependent family Vaishali Thakkar members, and get registered with the IRS or applying CEO Perfect Tax for a TIN (taxpayer identification number) is important. & Finance Keep your paperwork organized – All your financial documents must be well organized if you wish to file your taxes without any difficulty.

From your bank statements to credit card statements, mortgage interest statements and investment related documents.

Understand the law of the land – This may be a no-brainer, but there are many who fail to adhere to the taxation rules for expats as stated by the US government.

Know your deductions – Don’t forget to keep a check on the deductions that are available to you. You can save a lot of money with genuine tax deductions from your income.

Don’t forget the state and local tax – Keep in mind the tax for the individual state that you live in, and at times, you may even have to pay local tax.

Always keep a track of the important dates – In addition to keeping a track of the important financial documents, you must also keep a track of the tax filing deadlines.

This will help you avoid penalties and paying higher interest on your delayed tax payments.

Don’t skip the filing process – It is always better to be a late taxpayer rather than being a defaulter on purpose. So, as soon as you realize that you are behind your tax filing procedure, work and file your taxes. You will be glad you did that.

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SHAHID KAPOOR

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‘HAD THOUGHT ABOUT TRYING SOMETHING ELSE AS MY FILMS WEREN’T DOING WELL’

hahid Kapoor has said he wondered, at times, whether he should try his hand at something else when his films weren’t doing great numbers at the box office. With Kabir Singh, Shahid registered his career’s biggest hit earlier this year, which also turned out to be one of 2019’s biggest blockbusters.

His next is Jersey, the Hindi remake of the Telugu sports drama of the same name. It will be directed by Gowtam Tinnanauri, who also helmed the original 2019 film, starring Nani in the lead. The film chronicles the story of a talented but failed cricketer, who decides to return to the field in his late 30s driven by the desire to represent the Indian cricket team and fulfill his son’s wish for a jersey.

“I related a lot with the story.

Sometimes I used to wonder if I should try something else because no film of mine was going blockbuster.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you feel ‘why is it not happening to me? Have I done something wrong?’,” said Shahid. The actor said he eventually realized one should always continue doing what is close to heart, irrespective of the scale of success.

He said he didn’t plan to do another remake after Kabir Singh, the Hindi version of the

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2017 Telugu-language film Arjun Reddy, but was drawn to the story. “I wanted to do an original film so that people don’t think I’m doing only remakes.

But when I saw the film, it touched my heart... I cried four times while watching it. The character isn’t like Kabir Singh. He’s a quiet,

introvert man but his intensity and journey was inspiring for me,” he said.

“I felt I should take this story to people because even I have been through weak moments when I used to feel ‘Should I try something else?

It’s not happening here.’ But acting is the only thing I know and love,” Shahid added.

The actor said he is very nervous to begin work on Jersey post the mammoth success of his latest. “After Kabir Singh, it feels like ‘What will be the right film? What will be the expectations of the audience? If I can match those expectations because people have loved it so much. I’ve never got so much love before so, I really don’t know.” Jersey is scheduled to be released in August 2020.

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HEALTH

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MISTAKES YOU MIGHT BE MAKING...

If you are sniffling as you read this, you are not alone. We are in the middle of the flu season and it is not uncommon to find people sniffling and coughing all around. With sneezing co-workers and germ-laden rides on the public transport, even the slightest tickle in your throat could be a sign that you are coming down with a cold.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a typical common cold lasts about 7 to 10 days. However, it is not always the case. There are times you might be stuck with a lingering case of sniffles. If you too are tired of the runny nose and the raspy cough, check for these five mistakes.

YOUR SLEEP-CYCLE HAS GONE FOR A TOSS

A lot of people ignore the importance of catching a goodnight’s sleep.

However thanks to our increasingly busy lifestyle, it gets really difficult to get enough rest. If you are battling a nagging case of cold, maybe you need to give your body enough time to recover. Make it a point to hit the sheets on time every night and keep the gadgets away. You need to rest to fight the cold.

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YOU ARE NOT EATING WELL

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When you feel down and out, it is natural to reach out for comfort food.

However instead of reaching out for chips and chocolates, when you are coughing, stick to a balanced diet. Sweets are known to aggravate the symptoms of cold and cough as they can suppress the immune system.

YOU ARE TAKING ANTIBIOTICS

It is important to understand that antibiotics only work on diseases which are caused by bacteria. The common cold, on the other hand, is caused by viruses and antibiotics do not affect them. If you feel that your cold has progressed into another serious infection like the chest infection, it is still strongly advisable to consult a doctor before popping any pill. Remember, if you take antibiotics when your body does not need it, you may also develop antibiotic resistance.

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YOU ARE TOO STRESSED

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If you are constantly on your toes and trying really hard to balance your work and life, it could be wreaking havoc on your immune system. When you are really stressed, your body is not able to battle the viruses that cause the common cold.

YOU ARE NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER

05

Thanks to the over-the-counter medications, running nose and fever, your body loses a lot of fluid when you catch a cold and cough. Hence, it is important to drink plenty of water to help the body flush out the toxins. It also helps in lubrication of mucus present in your nose.

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CHHAPAAK

attack,” Laxmi said while speaking on the impact of the film on society.

“They (people) will understand the life of an acid attack survivor instead of rejecting her or him,” Laxmi added.

“There has been a perceptible change in the attitude of people over the years, after facing rejection, I decided to fight for the acid attack survivors’ cause. There was a time when people did not want to see our ugly faces. Now they want selfies with us. They are willing to become our friends and also marry us. What else do we want from society other than their willingness to listen to us and our story,” Laxmi said.

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axmi Agarwal, the acid attack survivor Deepika Padukone is portraying in Meghna Gulzar’s film ‘Chhapaak’, is overwhelmed by the public response to the trailer of the film and ‘her’ looks in it. “There was a time when people did not want to see my face, some got scared. Now they are eagerly waiting for the release of the movie. I am very excited,” said Laxmi.

“Deepika’s make-up is amazing. Some of my friends find our looks very similar and often ask me, ‘Is that you?’ They think I am playing the role myself,” said Laxmi, who is busy promoting the film. She added that she feels very positive about the movie.

Laxmi said people now realize that looks and faces are not so important. “This fact is reflected in the manner in which many people posted and shared Deepika’s picture on social media,” she said.

“The film is bound to create more awareness and remove acid from the minds of people who used it as a weapon to take revenge. Otherwise also, as and when some celebrity raises an issue, it becomes an issue of the society as people realize that someone from amongst them made the (acid)

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Asked if ‘Chhapaak’ was her true story, she replied, ‘Yes.’ When asked how she felt ahead of the film’s release, she quipped, ‘Positive, Positive and positive.’

“Even the acid attack survivors, after seeing the film, will accept that it as a ‘positive’ challenge”, she added. Laxmi is not allowed to speak more about the film.

Interestingly Laxmi, who is a good singer, has recorded her first song and will release it shortly.

She had sung some songs with Kailash Khair at the HT Women Awards event in Lucknow in 2013, in which many other acid attack survivors had shown their talent of dancing and catwalk. Laxmi had met Meghna Gulzar in 2016 and shared her life story with her.

Laxmi had always aspired to be a singer. Born in a Delhi middle-class family, she was barely 15 when 32-year-old Naeem Khan, desperate to marry her, refused to take her ‘NO’. He attacked her with acid in the posh Khan Market in 2005. Multiple surgeries failed to stop her from filing a PIL in court, demanding a total ban on the sale of acid in 2006. She won the case.

She, thereafter, became a crusader, counseling and helping acid attack survivors to rehabilitate.

Asked who all would accompany her on the first day of the movie show, she quipped: “I can’t say just now.”

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RANi mUKeRJi

Rani who opened up on why she’s become so selective with her on-screen appearances. Speaking about it, she goes on to say, “I think I’ve chosen my path like this because I’m a mother. And I have to balance motherhood and being an actor. It’s important for me to be able to relate to the stories I do, the characters I play. It has to be something special for me to leave my daughter and come and do a film. Mardaani 2 has been special, Hitchki was also special. What I do in the future, has to resonate with me in some way.”

She goes on to add, “ Because film(s) is definitely an entertainment medium and I would like to portray roles that are thriller, comedy, romance, drama and or a socially relevant film like Mardaani. But they have to really relate to me. It should have a quality that makes me leave my home and want to do the movie.”

Ananya Panday became a social media sensation way earlier than her Bollywood debut owing to her amazing fashion sense and her fandom increased even more after fans witnessed her acting chops in Karan Johar backed Student Of The Year 2. And now, the star kid has two more releases in Pati Patni Aur Woh and Khaali Peeli.

While Pati Patni Aur Woh features Ananya who plays the sexy other women who has enticed a married man with her beauty, Ananya will play a conventional Mumbai tapori girl alongside Ishaan Khatter in Khaali Peeli.

Speaking about her role in Khaali Peeli, Ananya said, “I play a girl from Mumbai in the film and so, I will be seen speaking in the Bambaiya language. It’s similar to what Alia (Bhatt) did in Gully Boy. I don’t know if I can be as good as Alia, but I will definitely try to match up to her.”

ANANyA PANdAy

ARJUN KAPooR

BOLLYWOOD BONANAZA DesiPages

In a recent interview, Arjun revealed how he aspires to become like Ajay Devgn one day. He said, “I want to be a well-rounded film person like Ajay Devgn. He quietly directs and produces films, acts in them and also has a VFX company. He has built all this while battling the highs and lows in his career.”

In the same interview, Arjun Kapoor also commented on the highs and lows of his career starting from his debut film Ishaqzaade to Aurangzeb among others. “Ishaqzaade and Aurangzeb released within a span of 12 months, so I saw both the highs and lows of an actor’s life in the first year of my career.

Eventually, nobody is above failure, it’s how you react to and survive the low phase, which defines you as a star, an actor and a human being. One needs to take responsibility for failure, own up to the fact that audience did not like the film. I will never disrespect any film I have done, but I hope to align with the audience’s choice. Two bad Fridays can’t define who I am, there’s more to me than that.”

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SUSHMITA SEN ANNOUNCES RETURN TO FILMS

‘MY FANS HAVE WAITED 10 LONG YEARS’

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ushmita Sen has announced that she is returning to films, nearly a decade after her last Bollywood outing, Anees Bazmee’s No Problem (2010). She shared the news in an Instagram post and said that it was the love of her fans that encouraged her to do films again.

Earlier, in an interview, Sushmita had said that she made a conscious decision to take a break from films after adopting her younger daughter Alisah in 2010.

She said that she did not want to miss out on the early milestones in her daughter’s life.

She said, “I know that people say that your best years are your youthful years where you can do films and you look younger, etc. I asked myself, ‘If I don’t do films right now and I focus on this, will I regret it? And if I choose to not be with Alisah and go do films, which one would I regret more?’ It was a no-brainer for me.”

“It’s not just seeing their first step or first word, that I missed out for Renee. It’s their personality development, to witness who they are becoming. I did not sponsor a child; I became a mother,” she said.

Sushmita said that she did not regret her sabbatical from the big screen.

“I wanted to see her through her formative years. After she turns six, I can look back at work. If my career in films is done by then, so be it. I’ll get into business or I’ll do something else. But this, I cannot miss,” she said.

The 44-year-old actor was distressed by the fact that she missed out on her elder daughter Renee’s big moments because she was too busy being the “provider” to be the “nurturer”.

She did not want to repeat the same mistake with Alisah.

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STARS REVEAL Saif Ali Khan

Deepika Padukone

Saif Ali Khan might belong to a heavyweight legion but despite that, he has also had to battle several perceptions that were created about him. While he reveals that he had to live up to his mother and father’s name in the business, Saif doesn’t shy away from admitting that he was clueless in life at one point.

Actress Deepika Padukone says the success of any film depends on its impact and longevity in the market.

“I was clueless after school and I didn’t know what to do when I joined films. I just knew I didn’t want to do a desk job. I thought I’ll die if I have to do a 9-5 thing. The idea of films was very different because of the variety of the job,” said Saif.

He also admitted that there was a huge barrier that stopped him from being a cricketer. “Cricket was in my blood, it’s treated like a religion. Not just my dad, my grandad also captained India and played against Don Bradman. I played good cricket and I never played in school or college. What let me down is that cricket is a very mental game, it’s about patience and timing. That I was strongly lacking in and that’s why my cricket career was doomed.”

Apart from that, he reveals how terrible he was during his first few auditions, how people commented on his voice and his looks, called him a ‘girl’.

“People have been nasty. They have been mean.

People talk about your looks. I guess I didn’t look like a hero. Akshay Kumar did. They felt I looked like a girl. I certainly had a bad voice which I hadn’t worked on. So sometimes, I was squeaking away in an English accent.”

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“I feel that now, more than ever before for me, success of a movie is really about the impact it is able to have on people’s lives. Are we able to change mindsets?

Are we able to make an impact? And don’t get me wrong, not every story needs to be hard-hitting. It could be a simple emotion, like joy or love. As long as it makes you feel something, think (about) something, and evoke emotions. I think, for me, that truly is the meter of success. Also, the film should have longevity.

A film that I would want to watch 10 years from now, for me, is a success,” said Deepika, at the launch of her film “Chhapaak“.

The trailer launch was also attended by the film’s director Meghna Gulzar and Deepika’s co-star Vikrant Massey. In the film, Deepika portrays real-life acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

Deepika also talked about working with prosthetics and make-up artists to get the look of an acid attack victim right.

“It is so Ironic, even I didn’t know what I would feel when I saw myself in the mirror for the first time (after make-up). I remember that moment very clearly, when we were doing the look test at Fox Studio office. It took me four to five hours for the look, and when I did look at myself in the mirror, I told Meghna that I still felt like myself. Nothing had changed. That is the day I found my character, and I knew what I need to do in this movie. I don’t think we are defined by our external appearances,” she said.

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Bollywood remixes are all the rage these days. So many films have been revamping old songs, giving it a modern twist, adding some English lyrics, disco beats and reselling it to the masses. Be it weddings or just a night out with the girls, these Bollywood remixes make everyone hit the dance floor and get their best moves on.

OHGOD..

GOD..

OH onemore moreremix remix one Remixes Of Old Songs That’ll Keep You Grooving!

Laila Main Laila

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rom Shah Rukh Khan’s film Raees, Laila Main Laila is a very popular song starring Sunny Leone. The original was an iconic 80s number featuring one of Bollywood’s biggest names, Zeenat Aman. Recreating this wouldn’t have been easy but SRK and Sunny’s energetic dance moves along with Ram Sampath’s music and Pawni Pandey’s vocals have made it one of the best-made remixes ever.

Get up and get on the dance floor!

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Aankh Marey

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he 2018 hit number from the film Simmba starring Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan is originally from a film called Tere Mere Sapne (1996). The original was sung by Kumar Sanu and Kavita Krishnamurthy and picturized on Arshad Warsi. The remake even has a line that goes, “Oh God! One more remix” and another one that goes, “Kumar Sanu ki awaaz mein.” The remix is sung by Mika Singh and Neha Kakkar and produced by Tanishk Bagchi.

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Maine Tujhko Dekha The Golmaal crew, Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, and Shreyas Talpade get together with Parineeti Chopra for the remix of Maine Tujhko Dekha. The original is over twenty years old, made for the movie Ishq. With the music

by Amaal Malik and sung by Neeraj Shridhar and Sukriti Kakar, this one grossed over 150 million views on YouTube.

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Cheez Badi

aveena Tandon was given her famous nickname ‘The mast mast girl’ after sizzling on the song Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast on the big screen. From the film Mohra, it was adapted from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s song Dum Mast Qalandar Mast Qalandar. The album was so popular that it sold 8 million units making it the highestselling Bollywood album of 1994. It was later remixed into Cheez Badi for the 2017 film Machine. Sung by Neha Kakkar and Mustafa, it was picturized on Kiara Advani and Mustafa.

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Main Tera Boyfriend

his one isn’t from a film but is a Punjabi song by singer J Star called Na Na Na Na. The original track became extremely popular and grossed over 100 million views on YouTube. It was later remixed for the film Raabta starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon. Main Tera Boyfriend also became a viral sensation with everyone dancing to Neha Kakkar, Meet Bros and Arijit Singh’s vocals. The energetic moves, stylish outfits, and gorgeous actors have made it as popular as the original one, if not more..

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Lift Teri Bandh Hai

he catchiness of Lift Teri Bandh Hai gets us even today. The original film, Judwaa was produced by David Dhawan and had Salman Khan in a double role starring opposite Karisma Kapoor and Rambha. In 2017 a reboot of the film, Judwaa 2 was released starring Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Taapsee Pannu. So along with the movie even the song Unchi Hai Building got revamped and made into Lift Teri Bandh Hai. With a Punjabi touch, dhol beats and ultimate dance moves, this makes for the perfect wedding song. You won’t be able to resist busting a move on the dance floor when the DJ hits this track!

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Humma humma

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umma Humma is a 1995 song by ace composer A.R. Rahman for the film Bombay by Mani Ratnam, featuring Sonali Bendre and Nagendra Prasad. It was later remixed into The Humma Song for the film ‘Ok Jaanu’ starring Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapoor. It was composed by Baadshah and Tanishk Bagchi and even had a rap by Baadshah in it. With over 250 million views on YouTube, this number is a winner!

Tamma Tamma Again

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he 1990 Bollywood action movie Thaanedar was probably most known for the song Tamma Tamma Loge and its quirky dance moves. Starring Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Jitendra, and Jaya Prada, the song was said to be reprised for Abbas Mastan’s film Players but was actually remixed for Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan starrer, Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya as Tamma Tamma Again. Sung by Baadshah, Bappi Lahiri and Anuradha Paudwal and produced by Tanishq Bagchi, this one is absolutely loved by the fans.

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Hawa Hawai

ridevi dropped some major lightening with her incredible song Hawa Hawai from the movie Mr. India.

The song was so popular that multiple remixes have been made of it. One was from the Kalki Koechlin’s movie Shaitaan released in 2011 and one from the Vidya Balan starrer, Tumhari Sulu called Hawa Hawai 2.0. Both the songs have the same essence of the original with a modern twist to get you swaying to the melodious tracks.

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travel

Top 5 Reasons Why Traveling Improves Mental Performance

prepare yourself for more crazy A research commissioned by the US Travel Association has confirmed that exposure to an unfamiliar environment jumpstarts a person’s overall mental performance. Hence, these mild waves of ‘fight or flight’ adventurer stimuli encourage the top 5 areas of mental performance

WHERE TO GO IN JANUARY Ring in the New Year at home, then get on a plane Though prices are high through New Year’s, there are deals to be found starting later that first week in January. The skiing is prime closer to home, while tropical and Southern Hemisphere destinations work well for those needing a dose of sunshine. These are the best places to travel in January.

ROCKY MOUNTAINS

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anuary to early February is the hands-down best time to ski in the Rocky Mountains. Especially between New Year’s and Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, you’ll get excellent snow, great value, and smaller crowds. Yes, it’s the coldest time of year, but that means the snow is dry enough for locals to call it “Champagne powder.”

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COSTA RICA

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anuary is one of the nicest times of the year weatherwise for a winter escape, right in the middle of the Costa Rican dry season.

It is often the only time in the high season that you can plan a last-minute trip and still have your first choice of the top properties.

SPATIAL INTELLIGENCE Traveling requires a good sense of direction. For better or worse, the misadventures of getting lost or going around in circles within the foreign territory develop that innate mental compass. With enough exposure (say, three months), a person can move around the unfamiliar ‘concrete jungle’ with relative ease.

ENHANCED INGENUITY In a study conducted by a professor at Columbia Business School, people who experienced long exposure to foreign cultures are more creative than their insular peers. After all, it requires a serious degree of flexibility to accommodate more than one type of society - to think outside the box, per se.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS As an extension of ingenuity, traveling also allows individuals to effectively deal with people within the vast cultural spectrum. In fact, being able to turn on the same page with assorted personalities is (arguably) the most crucial career-oriented trait gained of all the top 5 ways traveling makes a person smart.

KNOWLEDGE EXPANSION Whether it is practicing new useful skills or updating academic trivia, traveling is the ‘textbook and classroom lecture on overdrive.’ Literature provides second-hand knowledge about things that originate in other places. Traveling, however, allows explorers to acquire detailed knowledge via the original source.

NUMERICAL ACUMEN Traveling, particularly one that is done solo entails a gruesome day-to-day logistical assessment. Making every second and every penny count becomes a natural chore of every avid traveler. Simply put traveling forces one to do the math on an hourly basis.

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DUBAI

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n January, Dubai is still warm enough for beaches but also has a shopping festival.

January is the cooler season— which in this part of the world means temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s. Designers descend upon the city for the Shopping Festival when shops and boutiques offer discounts all month long.

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NICARAGUA

BRITISH COLUMBIA

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anuary and February have the most reliable snowfall, making it ideal for not just skiing, but also ice-fishing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

You also have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Those looking for an extra dose of adventure can even mush their own dogsled team from lodge to lodge led by an expert guide, of course.

n January, In January, the country is lush and green, there is no rain, and the breezes keep temperatures in the high 80s during the day.

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FLORENCE, ITALY

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lorence

is at its least crowded in January— just be sure to go after “Befana,” which is the celebration of the Epiphany and the end of the holiday season in Italy (it falls on January 6, and things will not get back to usual until about January 10). January is a great time for getting to all the amazing museums and galleries and artisan shops without the hordes— and finding deals during the “January Sales”—but bring layers against what might be raw rainy weather.

he weather in January is delightful spring-like temperatures and blue skies—and the holiday crowds have dispersed by January 10. It’s also when the Galle Literary Festival takes place, with luminaries such as Richard Dawkins and William Dalrymple in attendance.

Things get busy again in February, when Chinese New Year and midterm school breaks draw visitors from Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, and other parts of Asia.

SYDNEY,AUSTRALIA

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ydney’s summer months (December to February) bring beach weather, as well as festivals and harborside celebrations: After the world-renowned New Year’s Eve celebration comes the Sydney Festival, a month-long celebration of the arts culminating with Australia Day. There are also outdoor movie screenings and concerts, and professional surfing, tennis, cricket, and rugby competitions throughout the season. (Remember that prices are also at their peak in summer, so book accommodations and tickets early, before they sell out.)

RIO DE JANEIRO,

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BRAZIL

anuary is the best time to visit Rio-assuming you don’t mind temperatures that regularly hit 105 degrees. It’s the height of summer, Cariocas (Rio residents) are at their most relaxed, and the nightlife is at its peak.

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B

ollywood has seen a countless number of hits and misses in its years of existence. And there have been some blockbusters who’ve made it to the 100-crore club with their chartbreaking net collection. Here are a few such films that managed to rope in the numbers in 2019.

WAR Two stars and firm favorites of the action genre, Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, lock horns in War. India’s super-soldier Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) goes rogue after killing his handler on an assassination mission. Kabir’s protégé Khalid (Tiger Shroff) is tasked with tracking his mentor down and bringing him to justice. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor, Directed by Siddharth Anand this action-packed film grossed 318 crores at the domestic box office, making it the highest-grossing film of the year.

HIT MOVIES 2019 BHARAT

It’s no surprise that most Salman Khan’s films make it to the 100-crore club—such is the star’s influence on the box office. A little boy who is forced to be responsible early on, grows up with no regret of a non- existent childhood.

He in fact makes it his life goal to put his family before him. The film follows the journey of Bharat (Salman Khan) over the course of

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several decades as he navigates the ups and downs of life. Co-starring Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Sunil Grover and Tabu, the film grossed 211 crores at the box office in 30 days making it Salman Khan’s sixth film to cross 200 crores.

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SUPER 30

This film directed by National award-winning director Vikas Bahl tells the real-life story of India’s renowned mathematician, Anand Kumar follows his true calling and gives shape to ‘Super 30’ – a coaching class in Patna, designed for 30 deserving, underprivileged students who are aspiring to get admission into coveted institutions like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Starring Hrithik Roshan as Anand Kumar, the film made above 136 crores at the box office.

HOUSEFULL 4 t’s fourth edition the Housefull franchise ensures that it takes its brand of over the top, mindless humour forward. Actually, it’s more like the reverse since it rewinds back six hundred years to the 15th century. In 1419, the love stories of three couples are left unfinished owing to a conspiracy. In 2019, reincarnated, they meet again and the romances are rekindled. But this time pairings are mixed up.

With a huge star crew of Akshay Kumar, Ritiesh Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Boman Irani, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde, Kriti Kharbanda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Johnny Lever, Chunkey Pandey, and Nana Patekar the film made a collection of 206 crores.

KESARI

Kesari is based on the true story of the Battle of Saragarhi in 1897. The film tells the story of the army of 21 Sikh soldiers who fought against 10,000 Afghans. Starring Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra in lead roles, the epic drama made a collection of over 140 crores in a mere 18 days.

MISSIONMANGAL MANGAL MISSION A team of Indian scientists at ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) take on the extraordinary task of successfully sending a satellite into the orbit of planet Mars in a country’s maiden attempt. Under the vision of creative director R Balki and an average execution by filmmaker Jagan Shakti, ‘Mission Mangal’ makes good with its emotional highs and drama. Starring Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sharman Joshi, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kriti Kulhari, Nithya Menon and Dalip Tahil, the film grossed 200.16 crores at the Indian box office.

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HIT Movies CHHICHHORE

The heart and soul of this film is purely reserved for the carefree college and hostel days. Raghav, son of high achieving parents succumbs to the pressure that comes with cut-throat entrance exams. As he battles for life in a hospital, his parents regroup with their friends after decades.

Together, this older generation, goes on a nostalgia trip reminiscing their college days, hoping their bittersweet memories will help save a teenager, who has lost all will to live. The film stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Shraddha Kapoor, Prateik Babbar, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Varun Sharma.

This nostalgic film grossed 150.36 crores at the Indian box office.

GULLY BOY Based on the lives of the street rappers in Mumbai, Gully Boy saw Ranveer Singh as Murad, he fights off his poverty and social disadvantage to realize his dream of being a rapper. His friends and family rally together to help an ordinary boy in becoming an extraordinary rapper... The film also stars Alia Bhatt, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Kalki Koechlin playing important roles. The movie earned more than 135 crores at the Indian box office.

TOTAL DHAMAAL This is the third in the series of Dhamaal films. A hidden booty of 50 crore leads to a mad chase amongst a bunch of greedy and eccentric characters. In them, are a bickering couple on the verge of a divorce, greedy siblings, local goons, a police commissioner and the mastermind of the loot. The comedy stars Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit, and Anil Kapoor in lead roles. Directed by Indra Kumar, this star-studded film made it past the 150 crore mark at the box office.

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K

angan Ranaut is one actor who never plays it safe when it comes to both her film roles and her style.

She’s also been quite outspoken about issues like sexism and nepotism in the Bollywood industry and her fashion sense is as bold as the lady herself. She loves experimenting with her looks and her fans love her for it. Bollywood’s ‘Queen’ Kangana Ranaut’s fashion has always been on point. The star has never failed to impress fans with her amazing fashion sense. She is one actresses to have experimented and nailed various makeover ever since her debut movie ‘Gangster’ released in 2006. She managed to balance her style with the characters she played in her movies.

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he 24-year-old actor is one of the brightest young stars in Bollywood.

Alia Bhatt hit the ground running when she made her Bollywood debut in 2012. In a short span of eight years, the star has shone brightly in her own light. With superstardom, comes great responsibility - to up your fashion game every time you step out, even if it is not on the red carpet. Alia has come a long way from being a fashion bummer, to transforming into a total stunner, and making it all look so effortless. Done a wide variety of roles and has already won numerous awards.

But what she’s also known for is her enviable personal style. Alia has taken her love for fashion a step further by recently investing in an online personal styling platform called StyleCracker.

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icon

FASHION

There are some actors who look equally great both on-screen and off-screen. We’re talking about those who can pull off a pair of jeans and a simple tee with as much panache as they do luxury designer wear. Here’s our list of the top Bollywood stars who are not just known for their acting skills, but for their immaculate style as well.

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onam Kapoor has topped the bestdressed list in most fashion magazines in India for years and even walked the runway at Paris Couture Week in 2017 for British designer duo, Ralph & Russo. Kapoor also has her own high street fashion label called Rheson, which she launched with her sister Rhea.

Never one to shy away from big labels, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja has been championing the red carpet since her debut and she isn’t afraid to test the waters when it comes to her sartorial choices. Kapoor has been amazing her fans with her unique style. She’s always decked out in designer outfits that have her looking like a goddess.

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anveer Singh has established himself as one of India’s most bankable stars, delivering a series of hits in recent years.

Singh has a reputation for his unpredictable dress sense. He never fails to surprise the press and his fans with his outfits. but he also regularly grabs the headlines for his unconventional love of three-piece suits as well as his unconventional sartorial choices, which include low-waist pleated skirts. He even wore Muppet print pyjamas to the GQ Best Dressed Men Awards back in 2015. Ranveer is absolutely comfortable even while wearing the most outrageous of outfits and that’s not something you can say for every actor.

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bollywood

Deepika

aishwarya

Katrina Initially, she was just touted as a pretty face without much flair for acting, but the ever determined Katrina has proved everyone wrong by taking on some very challenging film roles in the recent past. However, one thing that was never questioned by anyone was the actor’s fashion sense. The British actress and model has won many hearts also because of the fashion diva she is. Her impressive fashion sense really made eyes pop and made people wonder that how she can nail any dress with such confidence and look so chic whether it is eastern, western, casual, boho, classy and in some other conventional wardrobes too.

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Aishwarya Rai has often been called the most beautiful woman in the world. She also happens to be one of the best dressed in Bollywood. At international events, she usually wears ballgowns and back home in India, she prefers Indian ensembles. But no matter her outfit choice, the former Miss World always looks poised and graceful. Aishwarya Rai channeled Scarlett O’Hara with this gorgeous red Ralph & Russo Couture gown with a sweetheart neckline and a tiered skirt at the Cannes Film Festival screening of ‘120 Beats Per Minute.’ Aishwarya Rai swept into the Cannes Film Festival screening of ‘Okja’ wearing a stunning baby-blue Michael Cinco Couture ball gown, boasting all-over embroidery and a mega-voluminous skirt!

Whether she’s wearing an ethereal Marchesa gown at the Cannes Film Festival or a simple saree, Deepika Padukone looks like a million bucks every single time. She’s not only proved herself as a highly talented actor but has also become a style inspiration for many women in India. Unlike her alleged boyfriend Ranveer Singh’s quirky fashion choices, Deepika Padukone is mostly seen sticking to classics. Deepika Padukone has been the go-to fashionista whose looks we’ve always awaited, whatever the event, whatever the time zone. Even before her Bollywood debut, back in 2007, she knew what she could carry and look like a diva in whatever she wore.

She’s made sarees the young woman’s choice of clothing yet again and while we’ve seen her fashion statement evolving over the years, it’s her looks as a bride that had us asking for more.

It’s no wonder that most of us would have revisited hers and her husband, Ranveer Singh’s Instagram profiles time and again, sometimes even zoomed into to check out her complete look.

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“Love is a ladder. It starts with one person, it ends with the totality. Love is the beginning, God is the end. To be afraid of love, to be afraid of the growing pains of love, is to remain enclosed in a dark cell. Modern man is living in a dark cell. It is narcissistic – narcissism is the greatest obsession of the modern mind. And then there are problems, which are meaningless. There are problems that are creative because they lead you to higher awareness.

There are problems that lead you nowhere; they simply keep you tethered, they simply keep you in your old mess. Love creates problems. You can avoid those problems by avoiding love – but those are very essential problems!

They have to be faced, encountered; they have to be lived and gone through and gone beyond. And to go beyond, the way is through. Love is the only real thing worth doing. All else is secondary. If it helps love, it is good. All else is just a means, love is the end. So whatsover the pain, go into love.” ~Osho

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Our very own RJ Chiniji

Dallas has known this voice of the afternoon for the past 10 years. The music and the information around the songs and artists have mesmerized listeners. Today let me go behind the radio and find out more about our favorite Radio jockey who is lovingly known as Chiniji.

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hini ji fondly says that today SOME THINGS ARE when he starts his show DESTINED he introduces himself by saying In 2001 he had come to “Tamam sunne walon ko AG Dallas to visit his son. He had Chini ka pyar bhara pranam suffered huge losses in his SAP aur salaam”. He never ever Software business in India. His has to repeat his name on his son asked him to stay with him 3 hours long show nor mention for some time and recuperate. it while signing off. He feels fortunate that every listener who calls At that time the radio station him addressees him by his name Chini ji. He has never received a in Dallas was advertising for call asking him his name. He says that is a great achievement that RJ positions. Since, that was people in Dallas know him and recognize him by his voice with a his passion and could distract name immediately. him from his pain of losses, he applied for the position.

Within a month people started appreciating his knowledge and gave feedbacks to the owners that he was good.

In 2003 he moved to Dubai when someone who was visiting Dallas, heard him on the radio and asked him to join a radio in Dubai. That was a better opportunity with a good pay, so he accepted the move. He worked there as an from the left: Chini Ji & Actor Dilip Kumar RJ till 2008 and then moved FOND MEMORIES back to Dallas closer to his Chini ji has been attracted to music since he was a 10-year-old kid. family, and again started his He would remember complete songs and loved music. But no one show here. in his family was inclined to music instead he would get scolded for Cheniji mentions that he never listening to the radio. ”What an irony and now I am a radio jockey”, gets his information about he says. He remembers how much of cajoling he had to do to buy his stars from the internet, which first gramophone which played 78 rpm records. He finally got it, but most of the RJ’s do in today’s the issues did not end there, as the gramophone broke after only a world.

All his researches few days and demanded repairs. Rs.10 was a big amount then, and are from autobiographies or that was another struggle to get it repaired. He requested for a pocket first-hand information. And money so he could spend on things he was interested in, as he was probably this authenticity is his addicted to music and could not live without it. His struggles ended USP and quickly attracts love when the tape on spool was invented and he could have all his favorite and respect for him and his songs recorded on it. knowledge.

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I remembered the song”. He says.

After that incidence Manoj ji publicity HIS AFFILIATION TO THE FILM INDUSTRY referred to me as an encyclopedia.” He Chini ji mentions that he met stars by chance but emphasizes said ‘My own film songs which I don’t that his love for music gave him the opportunity to be their know, this man knows.” That song was from his first film Reshmi Rumal. friends.

During emergency the film actor Dilip kumar was visiting Manojji publicity referred to me as an Nagpur and he had to later go to Chandrapur, for encyclopedia. He said “My own film badminton due to some political obligations. Chini ji lived songs which I don’t know, this man in Chandrapur. Fortunately, a prominent MP’s daughter knows.” That song was from his first who was his schoolmate introduced him to Dilip Sahib. film Reshmi Rumal.

The meeting tuned out to be quite personal, and when Dilip Sahib visited Chandrapur, he chose to Chini ji fondly stay with Chini ji instead of his booking at mentions about his the Forest guest House. Johnny Walker was association with RD also with him. That is how his journey to be Burman the man who associated to the stars began. One incident changed him. He led to the other and he met many stars who learnt from him to be ended up being his friends. humble and down to In 1977, he started his business in Bombay, earth even after great and he took up an apt in Juhu. His neighbors achievements. Chini were Suresh Oberoi and Raj Babbar. His ji however regrets his wife Nadira Zahir Babbar also became short union of only Chini ji’s friend. He says later Manoj 3 ½ years before his Kumarji also joined their kitty. He had family death. He talks about relations with Daisy Irani and through an his friendship and how acquaintance he met Naushad sahib and their birthdays were Majrooh Sultanpuri Saheb. He also invited just a couple of days Zeenat Aman to inaugurate his boutique, apart. “His was 27th and later they became friends. He says “ this June and mine is 25th way from one person to another to another, the circle became wide,, otherwise I did not know anyone June. We used to say goodbye to my birthday and celebrate his birthday a in the film industry.” day in advance on 26th June. . “His was 27th June and mine is 25th NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR INTERESTS THEY MIGHT LEAD YOU TO YOUR DESTINY June. We used to say goodbye to my Chini ji says that when stars met him. They remembered his birthday and celebrate his birthday a knowledge of songs. Also, people would call him to ask day in advance on 26th June. him about a fact or story. He fondly mentions when once Interviewed & Written by Manoj Kumar ji had called him late at night to ask him Navneeta Khemka about the wordings of a song that was in his film, as he could not recollect the lyrics. “Thankfully at that moment,

DREAMS

He is thankful to his fans and their unconditional love which drives him to continuously do his shows. He spoke very highly of the Group CEO Sam Thakkar & CMO Vaishali Thakkar the visionary and enterprising Management of Funasia Radio.

Chini ji says, ‘’I now can dream again”. Their vision of TV has allowed him to capture a few shows on the video format. He feels very fortunate about this in his life, where he will be able to leave behind a great legacy to his children, grandchildren and for his Fans. I feel it is just the beginning. Our Chaheete Chini ji has a long way to go. We are looking forward to seeing many sides of his talent.

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goodreads

Planting Seeds for a New Decade...

Welcome to 2020! We are not only welcoming a new year but standing on the threshold of a new decade and a significant 10 year period of our lives. Wishing everyone a bountiful Shakranthi/Pongal/ Lohri as your hopes and dreams bear fruit.

May the warmth of the Lohri/Bhogi bonfires light your homes with love, releasing the old, welcoming the new and keeping the positive energy flowing. Salutations to the Sun God for bringing light and prosperity into our lives!

MADHURI’S MUSINGS

Know Thyself: Socrates is known to have said an unexamined life is not worth living.

The New Year is a great time to embark on a journey of self-discovery and understand our strengths, weaknesses, and talents.

Inner introspection will help in realizing what stirs our soul or makes our heart sing.

It will also help in determining if you want to grow an oak tree, a fruit orchard or a flower garden.

Understanding the Creative Cycle: Whether your dream is to write a book vs a column, for example, paint a picture vs hold an art exhibition, volunteer with a nonprofit vs starting your own, understanding the cycle of creation for your dream fruit is critical. Understanding the timelines, the period of incubation and growth will help in fostering the right environment.

Fertilizing and Nourishing the Environment: It takes water, light and sometimes an extra fertilizer to provide a nourishing environment. Collaboration with people and channelizing the required resources at the right interval is key for the seed to sprout into a sapling and slowly This is also a time to plant seeds in the grow to its full potential. garden of our dreams. Dreams are goals without deadlines, but to translate those Enjoying your Garden: Whether its shortdreams into an actual fruit, it starts with term goals that can be accomplished in a the seed of thought or an inkling of desire year or long-term dreams that need a longer to accomplish. Can we endlessly wait for time to mature, when the seeds evolve into flowers to bloom when we haven’t sown the fruits or flowers, it’s time for you to enjoy seeds? We cannot expect to grow an oak the garden in all its glory. Maybe even be tree overnight but must know that even a the fertilizer and help a new gardener just starting his/her creative cycle! little acorn does have that potential.

Here are some quick tips to get started with In this new decade, may we all take time to sow new seeds in the garden of our dreams your dream garden: or paint new pictures on the canvas of our Removing the Weeds: You cannot plant lives. With the grace of the divine, may we new seeds and expect them to flourish all be inspired to live in spirit, to dream, without removing the overgrown weeds. to believe, and to move on to reach new Begin your dream garden by removing milestones in the next decade of our lives. the weeds of negative thoughts and selfAlways knowing that from a dream to an sabotage. Make new space to plant your orchard or a forest of trees, it all begins with seeds. a seed.

DesiPages

DFW | January 2020 VOL 12 | 66

DesiPages

DFW | January 2020 VOL 12 | 67