Stardust - September 2020

Is Jacqueline Fernandez the New Age Zeenat Aman?

SEPTEMBER 2020 India ₹ 75.00 UK/Europe € 3.99 USA/Canada $ 2.99

A MAGNA PUBLICATION

Snapped: What stars did during the pandemic...

“Neena Guptaji didn’t want Masaba to act…”

– Ashvini Yardi The Original Rockstar: Sanjay Dutt’s amazing journey retold…

Trolled.

Tormented.

Targeted.

Is Alia Bhatt being punished for being her father’s daughter?

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We have several new exciting things – from great articles, interviews, candid pictures and interactive competitions with great prizes in the offing, so watch this space for more…

COVER STORY

Trolled, Ridiculed & Mocked… Is Alia Bhatt being punished for being her father’s daughter? .......................11

IN FOCUS…

“Dream big, have fire in the belly and have solid faith in God to achieve your dreams.” – Shudh Prakash Singh ...........................................................................19

LOCKDOWN DIARIES:

In The Pandemic… what did the stars do….............................................................................................................59 Get Snappy: Dutt’s The Way! ................................................................................................................................27 Get Snappy: Sensuous, Sassy & Sexy – Jacqueline Fernandez .........................................................................31

FEATURES

Music Room: Nikhita Gandhi ................................................................................................................................45 Web Star: Ashvini Yardi .........................................................................................................................................35 Blast From The Past: Moushumi Chatterjee ......................................................................................................69

COLUMNS

Neeta’s Natter ........................................................................................................................................................03 Wild Encounter: Raii Lakshmi ..............................................................................................................................53 My Fave Things: Raima Sen ..................................................................................................................................63 Starry Sashay .........................................................................................................................................................41 Stardust On The Go ..............................................................................................................................................43 Starry Look: Tarun Tahiliani .................................................................................................................................65 STARDUST is published monthly by the proprietors MAGNA PUBLISHING CO. LTD., Magna House, 100/E Old Prabhadevi Road. Mumbai 400025, India. Tel No: 91-22-67091234. Editorial texts and illustrations are the copyright of the publishers of this magazine. No one may reproduce any material before permission is obtained in writing.

All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai (India) only 2020 Copyright Magna Publishing Co Ltd. Volume No 50 (No. 09) Please address all your advertising, subscriptions and trade enquiries for to: Magna Publishing Inc, 125 Central Park North, PH4, New York NY 10026. T: 212-725-7833 F: 212-889-3250 E: stardustmagazine@aol.com

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Tis fire ‘n’ fury in Bollywood… and all the stars are running helter-skelter for cover. No wonder Bhai Jaan Salman Khan prefers to stay put in his farmhouse in Panvel. Maybe because there’s a lot of peace, quiet and Iulia there. Talking about Salman’s Romanian girlfriend, the Sultan has supposedly added an element of her Romanian reality show Ferme Vedetelor concept into Bigg Boss 14 this time. That’s right, supposedly contestants will be farming too…

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Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Vidya Balan and a few others have posted messages of support for Rhea Chakraborty on “smashing patriarchy”. How does ‘patriarchy’ come into a CBI or NCB run inquiry into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, we wonder? More so as Rhea Chakraborty’s whatsapp chats aired by Times Now allegedly were an encyclopaedia on drugs and more drugs…

In the meantime, Shibani Dandekar accused Sushant’s ex girlfriend Ankita Lokhande of trying to get her “two minutes of fame” when the latter accused Rhea Chakraborty of being “careless” in looking after Sushant.

Well, Shibani should know all about “two minutes” of fame more so as her ‘claim to fame’ is purely as Farhan Akhtar’s girlfriend.

Has anyone noticed that Sonu Sood is still carrying on the good work? He’s helped migrants go back, gifted smart phones to students, sponsored a martial arts school for an 87-year old lady, and now he’s sponsoring scholarships to needy students. This guy is truly a real hero. And all those people who said he’s doing it only for publicity, eat your words, please…

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Talking about being accused, why on earth has Soni Razdan dragged Stardust in her squabble with news channels? She had tweeted, “When will news channels actually give us real news and not fabricated spin-offs.

Most seem to have turned into uglier more salacious versions of Stardust…’ Excuse me… when did we ever give Soni cause to complaint? …Is it because we don’t feature her at all? Is that it?

Akshay Kumar by the way is on Bear Grylls’s show Into The Wild and we are super excited to see the Khiladi Kumar do what he does best… climb huge tree and jump down water falls… He by the way is supposedly in Scotland shooting, however there is this strange rumour doing the ‘rounds that he’s petrified of corona so he’s actually holed up in almost corona free Canada instead.

What? Seriously?

Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora are truly in love. And the grave times in 2020 have cemented it further. They’ve both been diagnosed as corona positive and since both of them are asymptomatic, they’ve isolated themselves in their respective homes. However, their love triumphs even over illness…

We’ve been her staunchest detractors but even we concede that this lady has guts. Yes, we are talking about Kangana Ranaut who has taken direct panga with Bollywood by naming top stars who are involved in drugs. You may call her “Mental” but she’s definitely proved that she’s got more courage than the entire Bollywood for taking on the State, the film industry and so many others.

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New kid on the block, the hot ‘n’ happening 6 feet 3 Romil Chaudhary is currently the talk of the industry. His back-to-back films showcase him as a lead in never seen powerful avatars. No wonder, he’s being deluged with offers of films and webseries. Chalo, for all those ‘insiders versus outsiders’ raging debates, it’s good to see that Bollywood has suddenly woken up to welcome a new talent with open arms.

Varun Dhawan too in the meantime is spending quality time with his lady love Natasha. In fact, he has publicly acknowledged that “I wont be afraid, just as long as you stand by me.” Wonder what he’s afraid of? Hmm… but the way things are going on in Bollywood, every star needs to be afraid…

But who doesn’t really need to be afraid of anything is the gorgeous Anushka Sharma who is five months pregnant… She’s glowing and looks amazingly happy. Hubby Virat too looks absolutely head over heels in love with the pretty lady. So cute… How’s that for couple goals?

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Lockdown time in Bollywood was seriously family time. Ajay Devgn too spent quality time with his wife Kajol and kids Nyasa and Yug. In fact, he recently posted pictures of Yug’s birthday where the little ten-year-old was planting trees with the caption ‘Working towards a Green tomorrow, cannot ask for more…’ Nice.

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Another star doing great work is Ayushmann Khurrana who has now joined the likes of David Beckham in UNICEF’s campaign to end violence against children.

He’s been the poster boy of ‘hat ke films’ and now, he stepped into doing charity work with the same fervour. Amazing work Ayushmann!

Bobby Deol’s foray into the web world seems to be doing him a lot of good. His ‘Class of 83’ got him rave reviews but it was his controversial ‘Ashram’ that has been garnering him accolades from all quarters. Everybody deserves a second chance and it looks like Bobby has struck gold this time ‘round. Good for you, Bobby!

Talking about amazing talent, Anil Kapoor is indeed phenomenal. He’s posted a video of him sprinting on the beach with his trainer.

And guess what the caption is: Fitness always comes first, it’s not about the location, it’s about the dedication’. Isn’t this man awesome?

Another awesome couple are Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas.

Those two are just adorable and you can see the love pouring out. And to think there were so many hecklers who insisted their marriage wouldn’t last. Ha! 9

Another adorable lady is none other than our ‘Poo’ all grown up. Yes, we’re talking about our yummy mummy Kareena Kapoor Khan whose having a blast spending quality time with her li’l Taimur. She too is five months pregnant so in no time, there will another li’l cutie pie in the Khan Khandaan. Will the new baby steal Taimur’s thunder?

Naah… Taimur is a perennial fave of the nation and he will remain so.

Deepika Padukone by the way has zipped off to Goa for a shoot. After months at home, she has finally resumed work and is supremely happy to do so. Is she missing hubby Ranveer? Of course, she is… we are still counting the many hearts she puts below his posts.

Cat’s Crown

This month goes to...

Goes to Shahid Kapoor who despite all the upheavals in Bollywood, remains unaffected. He’s always lived a parallel life – professionally as a film star, personally as a doting husband and dad who spends all his time with his family when he’s not shooting. No parties, no gup shup with other stars, he spends time at home only.

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Cover story

Trolled.

Ridiculed

&

Mocked!

Is Alia Bhatt being punished for being her father’s daughter?

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espite her repertoire of stellar performances, she is again being disparaged and ridiculed for being the pinup girl of nepotism. Sumita Chakraborty wonders whether Alia Bhatt is being virtually flogged on social media for being the daughter of Mahesh Bhatt who is embroiled in the eye of the media storm because of the late Sushant Singh Rajput’s mysterious death.

She’s being consistently trolled and sent nasty messages. Mean memes have been created in her name. She has been publicly touted as nepotism’s ill-gotten child. But if that wasn’t bad enough, her motormouth dad Mahesh Bhatt who is now firmly embroiled in the Rhea Chakraborty controversy has made things much worse for her. His clamorous statements on the late Sushant Singh Rajput has fired up hurt fans who have blacklisted him and his daughter Alia Bhatt. So is Alia Bhatt being punished for being her father’s daughter?

Not too long ago, Alia was the golden girl who could do no wrong. She was being hailed as a rare talent. In fact, both the public and critics lauded her for being one of the finest heroines in Bollywood, one who could give a stirring performance. Her films Highway, Udta Punjab and Raazi proved that the Bhatt damsel could act. And, how! She had proved herself to be a strong actor and a thinking performer.

However, right in the beginning of her career, Alia had to go through brutal trolling thanks to her rendezvous with mentor KJo’s Koffee With Karan where she put her foot in the mouth by saying Prithviraj Chauhan was the President of India. That goof up haunted her for quite some time as cruel memes targeting her as a dumb Bhatt. Rude jokes were whatsapped around caricaturing the Bhatt

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girl as a brainless bimbo. The twitterrati had a field of a day creating Alia gags. Quite mean really, considering Alia was just 19 then. But the teenager rose to the occasion by posting a video where she sportingly poked fun at herself. Perhaps that calmed the tornado of haters to stop mocking the Bhatt girl.

Of course, the trollers too were not too wrong. Alia Bhatt was and is a product of nepotism. After all, she didn’t struggle or go from one production office to another distributing her pictures and asking for work.

She didn’t face any momentous nasty incidents or no lecherous producer demanding casting couch favours from her like other strugglers did.

She had it good. In fact, all Alia needed to do was breeze into Big daddy Karan Johar’s office and give an audition. In fact, the audition too must have been just a formality, say her many detractors. Her debut in mentor Karan Johar’s film Student Of The Year was already written and sealed in gold.

The only struggle that she had was perhaps to loose all her puppy fat. Karan Johar had revealed that he had asked Alia to loose weight at the time of her audition and then return for another audition. Alia lost all her baby fat in a few months and then returned to Karan Johar’s office demanding her reward – a main lead role in Dharma Productions and a first class ticket into Bollywood.

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But what her disparagers do not see is that Alia could have rested on her golden laurels and just settled to do the ‘done to death’ rich spoilt girl role over and over again. No, she in fact decided to test her mettle and do Imtiaz Ali’s much acclaimed Highway. It was suicidal… more so, for a newcomer who had no experience in acting, more so she was pitted against the very talented Randeep Hooda. So for Alia, it was an extremely unconventional choice.

Why? Well for one, it was vastly different from her cliched romcom Student Of The Year (SOTY) that dabbled in stylish brands and luxe settings. Alia’s character Shanaya in SOTY was one dimensional, lacked depth and did nothing to tap her skills as an actor.

Perhaps because of that not too many people thought Alia could be taken seriously as an 13

actor. In fact, there were many armchair critics who really didn’t see Alia more than KJo’s simpering protégé and foretold rather ominously that perhaps she wouldn’t be able to last outside the luxurious bubble gum world of KJo’s. So could this newcomer with zero acting skills be able to actually act in Imtiaz Ali’s high voltage performing drama?

But Alia surprisingly proved everybody wrong. Highway was tough and excruciating but she persevered. “I was a bit confused when Imtiaz Ali came up with the offer. At the same time, I was overwhelmed that he came up with a challenging film and role for me,” says Alia who was just 20 then. But she did the film which was shot in six states in North India capturing the rugged landscape of the region. The off-beat Randeep Hooda was pitted against her rather like David and

Goliath. “I learnt a lot while working with Randeep. He spoke about motivation and following your thoughts,” Alia said at that time, when asked how it felt acting with Randeep, a little bemused and uncertain by what her philosophical co-star had actually said. Perhaps it all went over her pretty head but that didn’t really matter. Highway showcased Alia Bhatt as a powerhouse performer whose latent talent volcanoed to the foremost. The runway success of the film made sure that Alia’s work in it was a befitting slap to her many critics and detractors.

Karan Johar, in fact, himself confessed that he hadn’t utilised Alia’s talent to the fullest in SOTY. In fact in an interview to journalist Rajeev Masand, Karan Johar had confessed, “She (Alia) wasn’t used for her talent at all. In many ways, her emotional launch is Student

of the Year but her real professional launch is Imtiaz Ali’s Highway. The way he nurtured her as an actor, the way he put her out there, is something I didn’t do at all. I always spotted that there was something about her but I didn’t use her talent at all. I actually don’t feel I full-fledgedly ever directed Alia the way I would like to do.”

Quite a confession, right? But absolutely true… so maybe Alia was born out of nepotism but she refused to be confined in the protective boundaries of it. In fact, she wrestled off her shackles to experiment and try something new. Highway was not the only film in her illustrious repertoire as a performer, her film Udta Punjab had critics gasping at her mercurial rise as an actor. Her character of a Bihari labourer at first was severely criticised at the trailer stage. Critics insisted 14

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she portrayed a caricature role of a Bihari but when people watched this dark film, they were entranced by her awesome performance.

A star perhaps was born in the Student Of The Year but in Highway and Udta Punjab, a powerhouse performer was born.

Raazi emphasized further that Alia Bhatt was an actor of high caliber. Director Meghna Gulzar avers, “Everybody knows by now that if she (Alia Bhatt) had not done this film then it probably wouldn’t get made. So, she is a very big reason that the film got made.

It was a pleasure. I tell her that, as a director, she has spoilt me. The level of preparation that she comes with. She will not only know her lines, but other characters’ lines also. She comes with small nuances instinctively and spontaneously. It shows in her performances. If you ask her to make minor tweaks, she comes with whole other alternatives to one performance, which is very gratifying because you see so many possibilities of a character in front of you. It has been a very fulfilling journey making the film with her.”

The golden girl had arrived. Hailed by the

public and critics alike, she was loved by all.

The failure of Kalank of course, damaged Alia’s golden run. But she still remained unsinged by the aftermath of the flop. …Until she fell from grace because of daddy Mahesh Bhatt. Currently, everybody knows that Bollywood is on fire. Unfortunately, one of Bollywood’s most charismatic and handsome stars who would have been a superstar some day, Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely death on June 14, 2020, opened up a can of worms. From nepotism, drugs to underworld links were examined under a microscope by the authorities, public and mostly, the media.

The mad rampage after this was unimaginable. Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty came in the line of raging fire.

Mahesh Bhatt who had produced Rhea’s film Jalebi too came under the scanner of the media after a scurrilous rumour claimed Rhea was allegedly Mahesh Bhatt’s Lolita. Mahesh Bhatt who always loved to give his profound views was also the first one to vociferously claim that “Sushant had gone the Parveen Babi way.”

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Sushant Singh Rajput’s warriors took serious umbrage to Mahesh Bhatt’s words and rightfully so… the young actor was no more to defend himself so it definitely felt like character assassination. Mahesh Bhatt was mercilessly trolled. In fact at the press conference of Sadak, the media grilled him more about Rhea than the film. The 70 plus man in fact lost his cool and spouted out some more profound statements which was again not taken too kindly by the press.

Alia too unfortunately became collateral damage. She was mercilessly trolled. Hundreds of peeved fans unfollowed her for her father’s statement on Sushant Singh Rajput. She was again called a nepotism star and all her accolades and past performances were forgotten.

One of her old interviews where Alia says, she called up Karan Johar to cast her in Kalank went viral. She was heckled and attacked by the social media for being nepotism’s poster girl. Firebrand actor Kangana Ranaut made things worse by calling Alia a mediocre per17

former who bagged awards just because of her powerful connections. Trollers used that as their slogan against nepotism and ridiculed Alia on social media. In fact, first time in the history of films, Alia’s film Sadak garnered 10 million dislikes. Decriers went on a rampage asking fans not to watch Alia’s films. Alia was trolled and targeted.

Agreed, in some ways Alia is a child of nepotism but the fact remains she is beyond her “fed with a silver spoon” beginning and has proved that she is indeed a talented actor.

Many products of nepotism have not survived in the industry despite their illustrious beginning, but Alia has challenged herself many times over, and proved that she is indeed a powerhouse performer who does belong to Bollywood’s eminent club of good actors.

Alia Bhatt has proved herself over and over again… sometimes even walking through burning coal to prove herself as an actor. Perhaps it is time to ease those nasty trolls and give this girl the due she deserves.

Celebrating outstanding achievements of successful South Asians Shudh Prakash Singh

Founder & CEO - Jgroup of Companies 18

In Focus

X X “

Dream big, have fire in the belly and keep solid faith in God to achieve your dreams.

– Shudh Prakash Singh

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He’s a lover, dreamer, a courageous entrepreneur, a super achiever and a good Samaritan with family values who believes in giving back to society. Meet the charismatic Shudh Prakash Singh who has lived his American dream to become one of the most successful Indian American. Read on…

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A successful businessman with a finger in different pies, a philanthropist who dabbles in many charities and a family man, Shudh, could you tell us about yourself?

I was born and brought up in a small town Abohar in Punjab.. I was fun loving charming boy popularly elected President of Students Council of now called Chandigarh College of Engineering. We were the bad boys and hardly paid attention to academic side.(laughs) Among relatives I was labeled a failure in studies & career, but inside me I was beaming with confidence and I certainly didn’t want to be a loser in life. I thought of going to Bombay to make it big like many other Punjabis did over there. As a young single guy with creative mind, I wished to explore new beginnings for a better life of my own even though my family in Punjab was well to do. Instead of Bombay, destiny brought me to America. After 35 years, I can still remember the ache in my heart leaving my most loving mother and rest of family behind. I knew it would be difficult but call it having questionable high confidence or high ambitions... I just knew one day I’d make the American Dream come true.

Tell about your struggles and life in America The struggle, yes, was challenging. It’s been a long journey but I felt I have arrived when Donald Trump Jr son of the most powerful man in the world Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States came to my place a few months ago.

I was told it’s the First time in the history, a sitting President’s family visited the place of an Indian American… and God chose it to be

mine. God has blessed me to do many Firsts like this to make history. I hosted Rahul Gandhi’s First ever public event abroad attended by thousands at Times Square. I am the First & only Indian American ever accorded a summit like hour long meeting with Hon Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, National Security Advisor of India all three together in New York to go over issues faced by NRIs. I feel America is indeed a land of opportunities.

I feel blessed for belonging to the two greatest nations on earth. I like to do activities that can help build U.S. - India relations stronger.

Going back as a new immigrant, sometimes working straight 48 hours between small jobs or years later when I became like a serial entrepreneur (smiles) with starting 30 new companies and working 7 days a week it was an arduous road filled with struggles.

Some companies failed and many struggled … but I was never down, kept hope and perseverance. Even while sharing a small apartment in Queens with my brothers and Bhabhi who joined me later... I would assure my family that something wonderful would come along. Many times, I held my wife’s hand in prayer, sometimes early morning, sometimes late at night, asking for guidance together. There wasn’t a time we didn’t see that light. It was always His hand guiding us.

Today, I am the CEO of the Jasuja group of companies called the JGroup. The group is engaged primarily in commercial real estate in the U.S. and India in addition to owning gas stations and restaurants in Manhattan & Long Island. I am also an Executive Partner of Navika Capital Group. Navika

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owns and operates 70 hotels with all major brands like Marriott, Hilton all over America.

My wholly owned company JGroup has also developed an indoor/outdoor Indian shopping center named after my father Kundan Galleria in Hicksville, New York. It was the first Indian Shopping Galleria of its kind in the United States. This shopping center has now become a community hub for all south Asians.

What are your expansion plans for 2021?

I like that life is so unpredictable. It thrills me that we don’t know what God has in store for us next year or rest of life. I find it refreshing.

For 2021, we have expansion plans with investments in commercial real estate mostly in the New York tristate area. There’s so much I would love to do. A big part of me wants to retire to work full time for charity and pay more attention to praying and meditation, yet a part of me wants to keep going, innovating and creating more businesses. It’s a constant battle. 2021 will be beautiful regardless because of my elder daughter is getting married and younger daughter’s plan to release a special book on me. I want to work a lot more on the charitable organization I had founded “Kundan & Santosh Jasuja Foundation.” naming it after my respected parents.

Can you dwell more on the Foundation & it’s activities It gives me satisfaction that I was able to start the Foundation while our parents were alive unlike most other charities. The Foundation was inaugurated by our family friend Hon Shatrughan Sinha in presence of our parents. Sonakshi, Poonam & Shatru Ji whole family does a lot for charity. KSJ Foundation supports various social and charitable programs helping the less fortunate here in the US and India. We don’t accept funds from anyone and it’s

totally self-funded till now. KSJ Foundation served fresh Indian vegetarian food to the homeless in the Trinity Church of Patchogue, New York. We regularly donate food and funds to the Interfaith Nutrition Network that feeds daily about 500 of the poorest people on Long Island, New York.

About 25 years ago, I started scholarship for the under-privileged students at the Govt. School Abohar and near the holy city of Amritsar at Guru Tegh Bahadur School, Khankot which have helped hundreds of poor students complete school education.

In 2003, my family funded a project to build a 36 room “Dharamshala” (free lodging) in the Hoshiarpur district of India. In 2006, “Mata Santosh Free Medical Dispensary” was inaugurated at Abohar. The medical clinic treated more than 10,000 patients. In 2008, our Foundation funded mega electric generator and drinking water storage tanks in the Senior Secondary School Abohar. In 2011, the Foundation donated seed money for Women Cancer screenings in Patiala, India. We also supported the Advance Cancer Research Foundation and Ekal Vidaylaya Foundation New York for many years. In 2017, we started the “Santosh Mahila Silai Kender” (Women’s Tailoring Training Center in Abohar. In 2009, Indian Panorama honored me for my philanthropic contributions. Last year, we started another project in Lambra village that will be completed this year.

What do you think will happen to businesses post pandemic?

As I said I’m always optimistic. I feel post the China Virus, the economy will boom.

Life will change as it did post 9/11 but people will get used to the new norms.

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It’s a horrendous pandemic sadly which took hundreds of thousands of lives. On the positive side, Covid brought families together. During the quarantine, with kids we prayed and had dinners together daily.

All five of us spent so much time at home after a long time that created lifetime memories. It was priceless to me. I had created a Walk Club with neighbors. We enjoyed daily walks and got to know more about each other becoming good friends.

What about your beautiful family? Could you tell us about the ones close to you?

As eldest child Sukhmani is known to be closest to me, but the fact is, I truly feel close to Simren, Sartaj & Sukhmani equally. All 3 kids enjoy teasing each other with each one claiming to be my most favorite. I love to

hear it and I am lucky to share special bonds with all kids individually. My father in law Dr Sukhdev Singh and my beloved parents were the definition of purity and paved such a spiritual path for me and my kids to follow.

I have 3 brothers Budh, Yudh & Sukh all elder to me and all love me immensely. My divine wife, Surjit Kaur known as Nina has a zest for life that is constantly refreshing. She shares qualities of my mother. They both like donating, do path - deeply spiritual yet fond of luxurious things also. All our 3 children are so exceptionally beautiful that people often say they should be in movies. My elder daughter Sukhmani has studied at Harvard University and works as an Asset Manager in NYC. We are all busy in preparations for her marriage with a nice Punjabi boy Jaskaran. I am trying to make it a dream

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wedding for her that people will remember fondly. My younger daughter Simren is the most deeply connected child with me, spiritually. She’s a brilliant writer working on a project with university after graduating from Stony Brook. The youngest is my boy Sartaj studying at Hofstra University is very attached to me. We stay connected all the times and live life of an American family with Indian values. Since it’s Stardust, I’d be remiss if I don’t mention my very dear brother Budh - a great singer who was equally passionate about Bombay had created a company Shudh Budh Productions in Bombay to produce films but living in New York it couldn’t be possible till now.

Talking about Films, do you have friends in Bollywood I have met almost every film star and some have been close to me in the past. Now not in touch much as I haven’t been to Bombay for decades. I always felt closest to Rishi Kapoor. After hearing the tragic news, I couldn’t sleep all night, kept thinking about the times spent with him and his beautiful family. I felt it like a personal loss. I found Kapoor brothers the most genuine people in the industry. Ranbir too is such good boy – very grounded & respectful. Chintu Bha Ji as I called him will always invite us home for dinner. He cared & loved Neetu Ji deeply.

Neetu Bhabi is very gracious host, always treated us with a smile. Another great host is Mrs. Poonam Sinha. She is among the nicest ladies I’ve ever met. Our family has been friends with Shatru Ji for long time. Another 23

big loss I felt was when Sunil Dutt Ji passed away. He was so fond of Budh and I. So sad to hear recently about Sanju with whom we have spent a lot of time. I stay in touch with Priya Dutt. I feel she’s the one carrying forward legacy of dad, doing lot of charity work. I know Sunny Deol well, Dharam Ji

is the warmest & humble man. I am fan of Subhash Ghai films. We used to meet Subhash Ji and Mukta Ji a lot. They are very affectionate couple.

What about international operations?

Yes, we did a few projects in India including a security company and real estate development. The results have been mixed.

Though the real estate marked has been down in North India for long time now, we were able to still profit a little due to good

thank God for giving me another day of life.

I thank Him counting all the blessings of life.

It helps me start the day on an incredibly positive note. After that I enjoy my morning chai by the pool surrounded by mother nature with birds chirping. My workday starts around 11 and try to finish before 5 in the evening. I love to spend time with my brothers, close friends, but the most I enjoy is praying with the family and dining together. I do either swimming, kayaking or at least walking daily supplementing with pranayama to stay fit.

locations in Chandigarh and Gurgaon.

What is your advice to the younger generation?

Dream big, have fire in the belly and keep solid faith in God to achieve your dreams. If you will try sincerely, God will certainly help you realize whatever you dream. I talk more about this in my upcoming book, which I’m sure children of this generation will find it interesting. It follows my vibrant college life, mischievous school skipping days to revealing the secret romantic life of being in love with a girl. How we both waited for years for each other keeping it a secret till my return to India and how I asked for her hand from her famous father. Companies are born from a solid idea. My advice is If you deeply believe in your idea, stick to it.

What is your Success mantra?

Winners Never quit and quitters Never Win!!

Have faith in yourself, your God and keep going. In your filmi language - Lage Raho ..

Munna Bhai (laughs) Could you tell us about a day in your life?

I reduced my work at rather young age with the intention to enjoy real things in life that are precious to me. I live a good luxurious life but never desired to keep working forever to keep building more and more wealth as I feel there’s no end to it. I work only a few hours these days. My daily routine in morning, the first thing I do is

According to you, what is the key to happiness?

Gratitude! Thankfulness to Almighty God. Appreciating every day that Akal Purakh has given me. Accepting of His will, and whatever unfolds for me. As Gurbani says, “Your will seems so sweet to me, whatever You do, is pleasing to me. Whatever You give me, with that I am satisfied; I shall chase after no one else.”- (Ang 713). For us humans it’s hard to follow all the teachings of Geeta or Gurbani, yet we must keep trying.

You’ve received so many awards and recognitions, could you tell us about them?

Appointed as Chairman of the newly formed Indian American Economic Advisory Council, I felt it was a special honor that the Nassau County Government selected me to be the First Chairman of this prestigious council.

Last year Punjab Government created a new position and appointed me as Advisor for NRI affairs, Punjab. I was appointed as the President of the Indian National Overseas Congress in 2014, then re-elected in 2017 unanimously, In 2004, I created the slogan of “Chalo Punjab” motivating NRIs to campaign in Punjab elections to support Capt Amarinder Singh and to root out the corrupt ruling party of the time.

It was a super success - as First time in history, a plane load of NRIs went to India to campaign. Never ever before anyone from any political party had done that. I received honors from Captain Sahib, Ambika Soni and Dr. Karan Singh for my leadership. I have received many awards in life like the ‘Achievers Award” from the prestigious “NALU”, the “Management Leaders Award”, “ Businessman of the Year” award, IALI “Entrepreneur of the Year Award”. ‘Gold Medal of Peace’ award by UNO affiliated ‘Gandhi Global Family”. Hon. Sunil Dutt Ji put me on the Board of Directors of “Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation,” New York. I have been honored by Citations from New 24

York State Legislative Assembly and the County of Nassau. I have had meetings with many top leaders of India and America; ranging from Union Ministers, Senators, Congressmen and President of USA to Prime Ministers of India.

You’ve met so many celebs and powerful people around the globe. Can you name some that inspired you?

My greatest parents inspired me the most! But yes I am fortunate to have been associated with many great people who inspired me. The first name comes to my mind is late S. Diljit Singh Pannun, India’s ambassador to Africa whom I met at very young age. We became family friends rather like brothers. Learned a lot from him. I really feel blessed to be closely associated to Maharani Patiala who is the nicest and most caring lady I found in my life. She is the pillar of her family and works hard to maintain the dignity and popularity of the royal family. Captain Amarinder Singh inspires me with his high caliber, graciousness and patriotism. Another power couple who touched my life is Mr & Mrs Bhupinder Hooda. They both are amazingly nice humble and helpful. I had the privilege of spending a few days with Rahul Gandhi. He is such fine human being.

Very honest, very simple man with high 25

thinking. His modesty, truthfulness and boldness inspires me. I have found Tom DiNapoli powerful comptroller of New York State the most honest genuine and nicest man among New York democrats.

Tom’s niceness inspires me. Locally our town supervisor Joe Saladino & Halina are the nicest & genuine couple we have come across. Their friendship and genuineness is very inspiring. Dr Karan Singh Ji inspires me with his sincerity, honesty, royal style, high intellect and always staying cheerful. Last but not least Sunil Dutt Ji’s life and his work for humanity inspired me so much that I used to call him my role model.

Lastly, what is your ultimate goal in life?

To become Shudh ! Our Guru Ji was a true Saint who miraculously named me 4 years before my birth. I am constantly trying to live up to the name she gave - Shudh Parkash. My ultimate goal is to either go out work full time to improve the lives of the poorest or do deep meditation immersing myself completely in love of God. I pray Almighty to either do Parkash within myself or help me spread Parkash to people living in the darkness of poverty.

I’d be happy either way. Let’s see which way Lord takes me.

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Get Snappy

Dutt’s The Way!

He’s truly a rockstar and we truly adore him. In a throwback interview, Sanjay Dutt tells Sumita Chakraborty why he’s no more the wild Sanju Baba of the past anymore, his experiences in life and why his wife Maanyata is definitely his better half.

Sanjay Dutt has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Uptil the time we went to press, he had successfully completed his first quota of chemotherapy and was going for the next. The best thing was even along with his treatment, he made sure that he completed the shoot of his film Shamshera.

We had met up with him a few years ago and at that time, he was in a rather philosophic mood. So he spoke about his past mistakes, what he learnt from them, how instead of making him bitter they’ve made him a better person and more. Read on…

Sanjay Dutt

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Sanjay you’re said to be one of the finest actors in Bollywood. Do you think you’ve got your due?

I do my work and I don’t like to harp on it, so people feel that I haven’t got my dues.

As long as the audience is happy and people are talking about my performance and films, I’m happy. What other people think does not matter to me.

You have had a very checkered life, is there anything you regret when you look back?

I regret nothing. I love my life the way it is.

Yes I know it hasn’t been an easy life for me and it hasn’t been a bed of roses and stuff like that. But I’ve learnt from my mistakes.

I have taken things in a positive way. I have learned from my experience and tried to inspire others not to commit the same mistakes. But whatever has happened, I leave it to the past and I have learnt from my mistakes and moved on.

Has it traumatised you or made you bitter?

On the contrary, it has made me calmer and more loving. it has made me forgiving and a better person. I’m not saying people should go to jail to become a better person but my experiences have changed me for the better.

But is the old wild loveable badass Sanju Baba a thing of the past?

Every guy who is growing up is wild. I was Mr Dutt and Nargisji’s son so I was more in the limelight. Every boy while growing up is naughty, brash and wild. I mean I was just like one of the boys. However, I’m older now. I can’t be brash any more. I have three kids. I have a lovely wife. I’m warm and contented. So all the wildness is a thing of the past. But no, I’ve never been badass.

Your wife Maanayata has been fabulous support. Has she calmed you down?

She has never calmed me down. She is the best part of my life. An anchor, she is a beautiful wife and mother. There were so many things for her to handle especially when I was in jail. To take care of two kids, home, visit me in jail, it must have been difficult.

But she did it and she did it with her head held high. She was always there for me. She never missed a single visit. I remember once during one of the mulakaat, she wasn’t looking very good. I asked her what happened and she collapsed right in front of me. My lawyer told me she had 103 fever was really unwell but she insisted on coming to see me.

You see what happens is that if you miss the mulakaat, you get a date after a month, and these things matter.

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Get Snappy

She’s

sensuous, sassy and sexy In a throwback interview, Sumita Chakraborty chats up the smouldering hot Jacqueline Fernandez to know more about her endeavours, bond with fellow actors and more…

Her foray into the digital world with Shirish Kunder’s Mrs Serial Killer has garnered many accolades. Her Netflix’s film Drive with the late Sushant Singh Rajput has got more than a million hits. And of course, she is also the sequel queen with her films Judwaa 2, Race 3 and Kick 2. On the personal front, this good Samaritan has adopted two villages Pathardi and Sakur in Maharashtra on her birthday. She will be looking after the food requirements of the villagers many of whom are malnourished. …So is Jacqueline Fernandez the next big thing in Bollywood? Let’s find out from the beautiful Jacqueline herself.

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Jacqueline Fernandez

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Jacqueline, first of all congratulations, you’ve become the sequel queen. How does it feel?

It is so funny that it actually feels like it’s my tryst with sequels. My success with sequels started with Murder 2. And post that, it is really amazing that I have been offered so many sequels. But they have been very lucky for me I think. Honestly, it is quite encouraging when you’re a part of a sequel – not only are they widely appreciated, you can be a part of the future sequels as well.

As in the case with the Race franchise. So I am thrilled!

successful is the fact that we have a lot of belief and conviction in the cinema that we are doing, the roles that we are playing and the way we are portraying it. People have often made snide comments that my films are ‘commercial’ films and stuff like that. But I really love them. I believe in them and I think they are very entertaining.

You’ve become a hit song machine too…

Touchwood, I think I’ve been lucky! But everything that I do is different and unique. Even the songs that I have chosen, I do then with a lot of conviction, and it has worked! And I think I do it with a lot of discipline and passion too, I think that’s what works in the process.

Salman has said that if there is anybody who can fill the shoes of Zeenat Aman as a sex symbol, it is Jacqueline. What do you have to say about it?

That is perhaps one of the biggest surprises, and perhaps one of the biggest compliments from him because I think he is someone who has always believed in me. And I really owe him a lot. Because just having someone like him believing in you, boosts your confidence. I am privileged! It’s amazing to have someone like Salman Khan believing that you can be a sex symbol like Zeenatji. I think she is the most beautiful actor/ icon inside out. Salman also really admires her You’ve become so successful commercially with and respects her. First of all, it is a huge complia runaway hit like Judwaa 2, what is the secret? ment for him to give me. But more than that, I I don’t know the secret but perhaps it’s believing think it is a nice gesture from him to give me that in what you’re doing. I think what also makes compliment for sure. commercial cinema and commercial actors 34

Webstar

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“I as a person have always taken risks .

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Ashvini Yardi

With accolades pouring in by the dozen for her show Masaba Masaba on Netflix, producer Ashvini Yardi tells Sumita Chakraborty what made her make this unique show despite the many challenges she faced.

She needs no introduction. The producer with the Midas touch, she was the one who took the small screen by storm by introducing unique women oriented concepts including Saath Phera (as Head of Zee TV) and Balika Vadhu (as Head of Colors). She forayed into films with another out-of-the-box concept Oh My God… But it was her refreshingly liberating show Masaba Masaba on Netflix that crowned her as the out-ofthe-box producer who thinks different.

Meet the very vivacious Ashvini Yardi who tells us why she conceptualised Masaba Masaba, got Masaba to act and Neena Gupta to star in it, her challenges and more. Read on…

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Your show Masaba Masaba on Netflix is extremely refreshing and liberating and definitely, a must see for women especially… what made you think of this concept?

Thank you, right now, I’m extremely happy that it has got such a fabulous response. But If you had asked me a few weeks ago, I had pimples etc with the stress -though I’m past the pimple age. (laughs). Well, I have lived with this concept for two years. I was working on a biopic for a film and during that process, I realised that there are so many dos and don’t’s regarding the person. They want you to show them in a particular way and if they aren’t alive, the family has hazaar instructions. But I felt that it is very import37

ant to show the flaws too. I wanted to show the good and bad part too. Your climax doesn’t work if you show just the good. So that’s the thought I had and that’s when I got this concept. I was of course very clear that it had to be a woman’s concept.

Why did you pick Masaba?

Right in the beginning, I was clear that I didn’t want anybody from Bollywood. So Masaba was perfect. She was in the peripheral… not connected to Bollywood yet connected. I wanted to pick women who were old enough and not afraid to show who they were. So I was looking out for such women who were not afraid, who were bold. I was following Masaba on Instagram and her

stories were just the way she is. She wasn’t afraid to say that she had put on weight and she would put pictures of her flab. I loved the way she was, and I thought she was perfect. Anyways, I had always admired her for her designs and her business woman profile but I wanted to show the many dimensions in her. Her Instagram stories were stories by itself and I wanted my concept to be like that.

So how did you broach the subject to Masaba and what was her reaction?

I called Masaba and we met up at a café.

Masaba was sure that I wanted to make a fashion oriented show about trends etc. So when I told her the concept, she was taken aback. But she got the concept immediately.

She agreed to do it.

Were there any challenges that you faced while making Masaba Masaba?

Anyway after Masaba agreed, things slowly came together. Neenaji (Gupta) also agreed to play her mother. But the problem I faced came later… for the writers to understand my concept. But it was so clear in my head. I had the story in my head etched in bold.

I met up some of the top writers and they told me we don’t understand your concept.

Some of them thought it was a documentary. In fact one writer asked me whether it was like Wild Wild Country which is an Osho documentary and I was like where on earth did that come from? Some of them told me it is a great concept but they thought Masaba wouldn’t be able to act. But I was okay with the thought that if Masaba could manage fifty percent of the acting, I wouldn’t have a problem but of course, she smashed it.

I’m thankful Sonam and the writers got the concept. There was this girl Purnia from Bangalore who is a stand-up actor and she did the additional dialogue. So I had a team of wonderful people which was so refreshing, not your typical film writers, totally out of the box.

But Masaba was very good. Did you have to work a lot on her acting?

When Masaba was out on the sets, she was all out there hundred percent. She was so

natural. In fact, people called me up and asked me how did she do it? And I was like I don’t know. She was fabulous. From day one, she was very confident. I told her six months before we started, did she want an acting coach. But she said, ‘No, I’m fine’. All she did was a ten-day acting workshop. She really worked hard.

Was it because she felt in sync with the character or perhaps the comfort level?

Perhaps both. Also, Neenaji was telling me that when Masaba was a teenager, she wanted to be an actor. But Neenaji stopped her because she felt that in the industry because of her unconventional looks, Masaba would not get the lead role, she would get sexy vamp roles but not the heroine. Neenaji told Masaba that this wasn’t the right industry for her. But at the end, Masaba turned out to be such a wonderful actor.

So how did you go about fleshing the concept?

I spent a lot of time with Neenaji and Masaba and I wanted to explore the way they were, how they thought, their relationship with each other. I wanted to explore the real side of them. For instance, Masaba is a celebrity and people think she has all the money of the world. But at one point of the episode, she didn’t have enough money and her accountant was chasing her all around.

That happens to all of us. It’s happened to me too. People say you’re this producer etc but even I’ve had moments like that. So you realise what your perception of a celebrity actually is. What happens with public figures is that there is mask and you see what they want you to see. Mostly you can’t get through that wall they have around them.

But at the end, they are just like you and me. So I was clear that I wanted to show the inner side here.

How did you get Neena Gupta to come onboard?

I had worked with Neenaji in Saath Phera long time ago. I remember 12 years ago, she had met me when I was the Head of Colors and she said why haven’t you worked with me? I had heard she had got married and moved to Delhi so that was in my head and in daily 38

soaps, you need the actors to be around, and it didn’t occur to me to pick up the phone and check. We assume these things and that was a mistake on my part, and we have used all this in it. Imagine Neenaji had to put up on her Instagram that she was looking for work.

It was such a fantastic thing. Imagine this National award actor doing this… and we used this too in Masaba Masaba.

You’ve called it a fiction but have you used a lot of real stories too?

That scene where you have the accountant telling Masaba that she’s put an extra zero while buying shoes had happened to me. I was so embarrassed but that’s something that happens to all of us. How Neenaji and Masaba were in Masaba Masaba that’s how they are in real life. The clothes they wore in, that’s what they wear. A lot of people told me that where did we get those kurtas Neenaji wore? Well, that’s how she dresses up, we just bought fresher pairs. So the essence of Masaba Masaba was how Masaba and Neenaji are like in real life.

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I believe you had an all women’s team mostly…

95 percent of Masaba Masaba were women from the direction department, editing, costume to everything. All the HoD’s were women. So there was a comfort level and we had fun shooting. Before we started shooting, we – the director Sonam, our team of writers and I would go to Masaba and Neenaji’s house and hear them out.

There were some stories which they said were strictly private so we were okay with not including them because the stories we had were so many. So we got to know them really well and that is shown in Masaba Masaba.

So will there be a sequel?

Let’ see. The response has been fabulous so lets see. We haven’t planned anything out so lets see…

So before Masaba Masaba went on air, what were you going through?

Well, I as a person has always taken risks.

I wrote about my son’s nanny. Saath Phera was written with her point of view about complexes of a dark girl. I always looked for ideas from other women’s point of views.

So while you’re talking to people, you’re thinking of stories?

I’m always looking for stories. I love women’s stories. Like Balika Vadhu… I had the same feeling for Masaba Masaba as I had for Balika Vadhu. Everyone told me it wouldn’t work. They told me I had gone mad. They said who would be interested in a child bride? I remember there were a lot of American guests with me at that time and they were aghast when I told them it was a story of a child bride. But I said, no I believe in this, I will go with it. I was more determined to push it.

But I had the gut feeling it would work this time. I have always done that in my career.

Perhaps it’s because of my background. My grandfather Babaurao Pai was a film maker and he was one of the partners in V Shantaram’s Prabhat films. So I come from a film family but all the same we were so non filmy. I was brought up in a bubble because in my home there was never any discrimination. I never knew of any inequality until I started working in Zee in 1993 and that’s when I realised the world is a kind of different place from what I was living in. It was kind of revelation for me. Its not all hunky dory for women in the real world. But in Zee, I met up with all working women and that’s when I discovered it’s a different world, and that’s when I started getting fascinated by unique women concepts. Even when I worked on Saath Phera which was a turning point for Zee, the concept was different. So when I took over Zee, I was pulled out of my zone which was heading Zee English where I would travel abroad often etc. I was also seven months pregnant with complications.

And I was in the hospital bed but they told me I had to head Zee. So I was running Zee from a hospital bed at first (laughs). But that’s when I realised I couldn’t tell stories form my point of view, I had to look around and find stories of women. So Saath Phera

You’ve forayed into Bollywood too from tv, how was the journey?

The journey has been great. I enjoyed Tv and then the OTT platform. For films, I left my high flying job with a lot of money to make Oh My God… which I totally believed in. But after that, I never found anything that excited me. But the OTT platform has got me excited again because I can do the show the way I want to.

Is there a lot of Ashvini in Masaba Masaba?

I think there’s a lot of Ashvini in Masaba. A lot of Masaba in Ashvini. In fact you’ll find a lot of yourself in it. In fact, a lot of men also loved it.

What’s next for you?

I have a few projects on. Now that Masaba Masaba is done, I need to get back to them.

Your husband Sachin is a director…

I never do anything without telling Sachin about it. He’s like my bouncing board and though I may not go with his suggestions all the time. But I never go without telling him about my concepts first. Of course, I do what I want and some times of course, I‘m like oh no, I should have taken his suggestions. But yes, he is always the first one to know about my concepts.

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Starry Sashay Sensuous & super stylish…

That’s right, the trend this year is to look and feel sexy. Fine, the pandemic has forced us to stay at home but one can still revel at trends that ruled the ramp this year. And this year, it is high slits that show off your shapely legs to perfection. Watch our super-hot actors flaunt their lithe figures on the red carpet. And, how!

Aren’t they looking scorching hot! So go ahead… rank them… who flaunted the super high slit to perfection and who missed the mark by looking plain raunchy?

Deepika Padukone

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Kareena Kapoor

Nushrat Bharucha

Anushka Sharma

Ananya Panday

Nora Fatehi

Dsha Patani

Priyanka Chopra

Tara Sutaria

Kriti Sanon

Malaika Arora, Deepika Padukone, Esha Gupta

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Stardust on the go Are actors outside their shooting world as glamorous as they look on the silver screen? Can female actors in Tinsel Town be good friends?

Who are the new lovebirds in B-town? Team Stardust brings you a bird eye’s view into the private lives of Tinsel Town eye candies.

Chachu Salman Khan with his nephews and niece

Sidharth Malhotra with his best friend

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with her daughter

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Arjun Kapoor and his fave MS Dhoni

Anil Kapoor checks out Alibaug

Kareena Kapoor Khan catches Aamir Khan napping

The sun, sand and Tiger Shroff

Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn bond

Priyanka Chopra Jonas soaks in the sun

Sara Khan Ali slays the camouflage look

Katrina Kaif sits pretty

Raveena Tandon Thadani takes a selfie

Sonakshi Sinha poses with MS Dhoni and his wife

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Music room

“

Somehow I broke all the rules . and that’s what AR Rahman seemed to like about my audition..

-– Nikhita Gandhi

Who can forget the hauntingly soulful sung Raabta or the quirky Ullu Ka Pathha from Jagga Jasoos? Well, they were sung by the very vivacious and the talented Nikhita Gandhi who tells Sumita Chakraborty in her amazingly entertaining way how she forayed into the music world and made it her own.

Nikhita, I believe you are half Bengali, half Punjabi and you were brought up in Kolkata and then relocated to Chennai, so you are a potpourri of wonderful cultures… has this shaped your music?

“Potpourri of wonderful cultures”… I love that! Well yes, my journey and where all it’s taken me has most definitely shaped my music and my personality too. I actually coined a word for my mixed background when I was little – I’d call myself a “Benjabi”.

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Katrina Kaif and was also diffusing a bomb, that voice in the background was mine. All of this led to my first big solo on a song called “Ladio” from the film I by Shankar. That was the most challenging recording of my life.

Picture this - a studio control room with A.R.Rahman, Madhan Karky and the director Shankar himself, staring at this new singer, making her sing in a language she can barely speak in on a ridiculously high pitched track.

It was crazy. But it was also the beginning of my professional singing career. That led to working with Anirudh and then Harris Jayaraj and subsequently, my Bollywood debut Raabta.

You worked with two of the biggest talents - AR Rahman and Shekhar Kapoor at a very young age, could you tell us about that?

Rahman Sir and Shekhar Kapoor had launched a new venture called Qyuki. It was supposed to be the Facebook for artists. For the launch of their website, they were going to release a few music videos with fresh voices from Rahman Sir’s school. Of course, I knew none of this. All I knew at the time was

I was born and raised in Calcutta. Both my parents are dental surgeons and so I grew up in a nuclear family with two very hardworking role models. My parents always encouraged me to learn dance and music.

Thus began several years of Odissi and Hindustani Classical Music, and the jugal bandi of the two really melted into each other like one amazing new flavour of ice cream.

Dental school in Chennai was the second chapter in my life but I needed an outlet and that’s how KM Music Conservatory happened. I enrolled in a part-time course there and started going for western vocal classes once a week. Hanging out with other musicians and artistic people really helped me breathe again and I started enjoying all of it.

My first professional singing experience, however, was in 2012 when I was in a choir that toured with A.R.Rahman on a five city concert called “Classic Incantations” with the German Film Orchestra. It was magical, 100+ people on stage performing some of his most iconic scores. I even met Oprah because of it. Rahman Sir really liked my texture and then started calling me for recordings and scratches for film BGM work. You know that scene in Jab Tak Hai Jaan when Shah Rukh Khan had this filmy moment with

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the choir was holding some auditions and they were recording videos of the audition to show it to some anonymous somebody.

I could not make it to the tryouts because it was on a Sunday and I had my university finals from the next day. I asked them if I could just take a video from my laptop and send it to them and they agreed. The brief was to sing a Celtic Classical piece. So I just took my guitar and sang Scarborough Fair in my sultry cracked voice. Somehow I broke all the rules and that’s what AR seemed to like about my audition. That’s actually the story behind how I got on board with this project and technically, how my music career also began!

How did you come to Mumbai and kickstart your career here?

After my studies were over in Chennai, I stuck around there for a bit working part-time at a clinic and also singing for films there and doing shows. One of the closest people from my life in Chennai, Shashwat Singh was moving to Bombay too, so I came in a train with him to help him set up. Shashwat had already had a break in Bollywood with the song Wat Wat from Tamasha so he moved here to pursue his career. While helping him settle in, I sang a few scratches for Pritam da and a couple of other composers. Then on one of my scratch sessions at Dada’s studio, they handed me a lyric sheet of the new Raabta and said they wanted to try out my voice. I went into that vocal booth with no expectations at all. So I sang it and went back.

When the trailer of Raabta released, my voice was in it. I still remember that day clearly. I was sitting in Raghu Dixit’s studio in Bangalore recording Tan Tan (which later on released in Chef) and then he played the trailer of Raabta on his huge monitors for me. It was such an uplifting moment. I told him that the song is still not final in my voice and he laughed and said, “I thought I would be the one to launch you in Bollywood!”

A week or so later, Pritam da called me himself and said that I need to come back to Bombay and stick around till the song releases, because they need to re-dub me with the lyric changed etc. So I came back to Mumbai, did a few more sessions till they were completely happy with the song. That’s when I said to myself - I guess it’s time to live in Mumbai now!

Raabta and Ullu Ka Patha got you a lot of accolades, how did you get these breaks?

Raabta and Ullu Ka Pattha were recorded around the same time. Jagga Jasoos was on at full swing at the studio at the time, and

so I think all of us were living and breathing it. It’s funny, a couple of weeks after Raabta, the producer Sunny M.R. called me and said, “Congrats on our new track!” I was perplexed and was like, “Raabta released more than two weeks back! We already celebrated together!”

Then he chuckled and messaged me the link of Ullu Ka Pattha. I think that’s when it became real for me. All this while I thought it was just a fluke that I was going to sing Raabta.

Jagga Jasoos was a very special project for me. I really want to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate every engineer and musician who was a part of it. There were about 30 songs in the musical and I had sung a lot of them. One of the most joyous recordings was Aflatoon the theme song of Jagga in which I really just got to be my quirky self and sing the way I naturally do.

One of the most therapeutic and cherished recordings of my life was also at Pritam da’s studio for the song Ghar from the film Jab Harry Met Sejal.

Tell us about your single “Jhalle Kalle”.

Jhalle Kalle is a song that I composed with a friend of mine, Denny. He and I met at a gig in Perth, Australia where I was doing a set and he was DJ-ing). We exchanged numbers and got in touch once he moved here, to dub me on a film song. We became good friends and started writing fresh music together. JK was the second song we created together.

We got Siddhant Kaushal on board to pen down some awesome lyrics and then started pitching it to various labels here in Bombay.

JioSaavn’s Artist Originals came through and we signed the song with them. As soon as everything started falling into place, the lockdown happened and then we all broke into a dilemma - how do we release it?

I wanted Jhalle Kalle to be an escape, an indulgence, and most significantly - timeless.

Instead of approaching a production house, I decided why not invest on our own people.

I put together a team, Shashwat Singh (the playback singer who has also directed some of my music videos in the past), Manas Tiwari who is a fabulous DOP with a lot of movie experience and Shubham Mandhyan who is a dear friend and a killer photographer.

An actor friend of ours, Abhijeet came on board as I felt that he fit the bit to be the guy cast opposite yours truly. And slowly we put together our vision and shot the song at a friend’s house. I really enjoyed the entire process and once JK released, the response has been explosive. People have really resonated with the song and connected instantly.

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What about the digital platform – do you plan to straddle this platform along with films?

Oh yes! I’ve already begun straddling. Apart from the work I’ve done in film, I’ve sung for a few OTT projects as well. Some notable stuff would be the theme song of Imtiaz Ali’s recent web series She composed by a dear friend Ishaan Chhabra, and the song “Yellow Wali Beetle” from Zoom Studio’s series Happily Ever After in which I also appeared in the music video.

Another show, I am extremely thrilled about is an upcoming project of Akarsh Khurana called Mismatched which is going to be a Netflix Original Series. It’s also going to be my music directorial debut as I’ve scored the music for some of it and lent an original track too.

With the advent of the pandemic, in the first 21 days of lockdown I did a series called #21DaysOfLove where I released a cover or video every single day on Instagram and YouTube.

Any memorable anecdote in your musical journey that you would like to share withus?

When the film Manmarziyaan released, it was the first time that the album was being launched with a tour. So all of us singers were travelling with Amit Trivedi and the cast to promote the film through concerts. It was an incredibly cool experience.

The first performance was here in Bombay at Meethibai College. When my song Dhayanchand started and I started performing my rap section , Vicky Kaushal randomly ran onto the stage and started dancing with me. The crowd went crazy and if there was a way to describe that moment in words, I would. Vicky and I started doing that bit in every city, that sort of became our signature “thing” on stage where he and I go crazy dancing to Dhyayanchand.

I then started releasing independent music.

There was this single Kamli with Bharat Goel that gained a lot of popularity. I released an English single called Recreational Love which was entirely written and produced during the lockdown. I really want to mention a big one - and that’s a kickass track composed by the legends Salim-Sulaiman called Beech Raaste released

by Merchant Records, their own label. I got to share that track with Armaan Malik. The whole video was shot on the memoji feature of the iPhone and it was probably the quickest shoot I’ve ever been a part of.

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You were the voice of faces like Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif, which actors in Bollywood would you want to playback for?

I think I’ve ticked a lot of boxes already with this one! I’ve sung for the biggest and most gorgeous women of Bollywood which is really cool.

There’s one more box I’d really like to tick and that’s Priyanka Chopra. More than anything it’s because we share a commonality of very husky voices, so objectively speaking. I feel lending my voice to a song that is pictured on her would be undeniably authentic.

Actors have started singing too, what do you think of this?

Actors who have the skill and have pretty voices should absolutely pursue their singing career too. We live in a multi-faceted world where almost every individual has more than one job title. As an artist especially, it’s important to explore your artistry in all forms. I myself started first with dance and then music. I recently collaborated on a music video with Shashwat Singh and Rishabh Shankar where I appear as a dancer. So I genuinely think we should keep reinventing and applying ourselves as artists. I can’t wait to try acting as well. I’ve acted in a few music videos already, but I surely want to explore the visual arts a lot more.

Do you think you have got your due in the industry?

I don’t think anyone owes anyone automatically.

We earn our place in the world with hard work and dedication. I consider myself very blessed to have come even this far, and to be given the kind of opportunities I have been given.

Sonu Nigam opened a can of worms when he spoke about “music mafias” who try to own a singer, what do you think of this?

Sonu ji is someone who has seen way more in this industry than I can even fathom. I am merely a foetus in comparison. So whatever he has spoken about must have a lot of truth and reality in it.

If I had to throw an opinion out there, I truly feel the issue lies in the core of it all, and that’s the fact that we work in an unorganised sector. Like the roads of Bombay, I suppose the industry is full of potholes and makes you wonder “how do we travel through it smoothly?”. I think being self aware and educating oneself is very important, no matter what industry you belong to. Nobody is going to give you a handbook or manual of how to work the music industry. So know your rights. Don’t at any point compromise your self worth and talent. So building self discipline and self-controlled routines is essential. I myself have not really cracked that so well. Whatever it is, if you are a part of this industry, just remember we have all cried, been miserable and had pointless days. …Don’t let any of that define you or your choices.

What are your upcoming projects There are of course a lot of film songs that are in the pipeline, one massive song from Sooryavanshi is one that I’m aware of! Another really exciting track that’s coming out is a live studio version of Siddhant Bhosle’s Din Aur Raatein. So I guess a lot of collaborations, both in film and in non-film. And then there’s of course the super premature acting career which has not even begun.

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Wild Encounter

“I never want to be that kind of a person who wants a tag of being a

SEX Symbol.

K

You have seen her bold avatar in Julie 2 and her horror comedy side in Kanchana, but Raai Laxmi is more than just an eye candy. In a conversation with Rishira Ganguly, Ms Laxmi opens up about the film industry, her love life and her fantasy. Read on…

”

What are your opinions on sexual exploitation of actors in the film industry?

I think this used to be the scenario in most of the cases for newcomers and strugglers at one point. Sexual exploitation is nothing but the casting couch which has been spoken (about) a lot… that people kind of misuse newcomers who want to make it big. Mostly, it’s more with women and less with men according to me. But I don’t know how it works but of late I think, it’s more about being in control. But this is not just

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“When you have conversations with someone about everything in your life, you enjoy working with that person.”

What is the weirdest place that you’ve made out at?

Made out? I’m not one of those weird chicks who make out at weird places (laughs).

K

Do you think titillating scenes are required in a movie to attract the audience to the theatre?

To an extent, not always. It all depends on the script. Of course, there is a certain age group and a certain kind of audience who comes into the theatre only to look at these (titillating scenes). In Hollywood films when you see such scenes, you are okay about it. But similarly if we do it in our films, people troll us.

in the film industry, it could be with anyone in any profession but only the film industry has been tagged for it because people are more outspoken about it. This has to be stopped because this is like a barter system - like, “give me this, I’ll give you this”. This is not what people have come here for… it’s not a give and take thing, they’re here to show their talent (and) I think people should respect that.

How do you think celebrities can help curb body shaming?

Body shaming is the worst thing that anyone can do because everybody is beautiful in their own self and when you’re less in confidence and somebody body shames you, obviously it’s heart breaking. There are a lot of people who just do it (body shame) to grab attention.

I think body shaming is ridiculous and something that people should not get affected by.

As long as you know what struggle you’re going through with your body… the idea is not to be a certain shape but to be healthy!

Some people are born genetically large so how much ever they work out, it’s still hard.

But you have to love yourself for who you are.

Be healthy rather than be a certain shape.

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“….in Bollywood, it’s a lot of unwanted struggle to reach out to the right person.”

If you could spend a day with your favorite actress, who would it be and why?

Madhuri Dixit! She has been my all-time favorite. I am in awe of her style, grace, her dance, I like her from my childhood days. There’s something about her that’s so appealing. I am completely in awe of her so if I could just be there, just see her… just keep looking at her (laughs). I just love her.

Even if she just keeps smiling, it’s okay for me - I don’t need to talk to her. I am just a fan of the package that she comes with… its everything, it could be great actor, dancer, performer… everything is with grace and it’s something that I would want to learn and it’s something that most of the actors are missing in today’s time.

How different is the South Indian film industry from Bollywood?

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It is way too different actually. The South Indian film industry works in a very different pattern as in we don’t have casting directors; we don’t have too many layers over there to actually reach a director. It’s very simple. In Bollywood, it’s very different… everything is about departments here.

It starts with the assistant casting director, then the casting director, then you sit with the director - it’s a long process to get into a film. In the South if you’re an okay performer, they are very sure that they will get the performance out of you. The working patterns are different too. Like in the South, we start working early in the morning then if the scene doesn’t get over, we still manage to shoot late at night and finish it off.

Whether it’s good, bad or whatever, it’s transparent. Whereas in Bollywood, it’s a lot of unwanted struggle to reach out to the right person. I don’t think Bollywood was like this before (with) casting directors and stuff like that. Casting directors are for those who want to give an audition or a look test, not for someone who has already established herself. But still some people are doing a great job in casting so there is a platform at least, a hope for newcomers.

How do your parents react to your sex/ nude scenes?

Of course, it’s very uneasy and awkward for any parent to see such scenes - I don’t have the guts to actually sit next to my parents when they are watching such scenes even if it is others. I don’t have the courage to sit in front of them; there is a certain line… So, this uneasy feeling, most actors go through unless they have ultramodern parent or have adapted the international culture or are born and brought up abroad. But for a typical Indian traditional family, this is like way too much. It all depends on if your parents are okay with you doing this. So it’s very important if you’re in good terms with your parents. We need to also value their feelings.

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What is the one kinky thing to have in the bedroom?

Kinky? (laughs) You’re asking the wrong person actually. I love candles but, it’s not kinky for me, it’s just more romantic. I love aroma candles. I am not that kind of a person… so I’ll be the wrong person to talk about it.

If you were to ever have a lesbian encounter with an actor who would it be?

(Laughs) I have never thought about this.

It’s very casual with most nowadays… people used to never speak of this before but now it’s very open. I think that’s not in me… I can’t relate myself to it. It’s a beautiful feeling… it’s just pure love. I don’t see myself there but if I have to talk about it… I can only relate to my close friends… that’s where the comfort space is. But, if I have to imagine that scenario, it has to be with someone I’m close to like Sonali Sehgal or somebody who’s part of my group so that we’ll all be laughing about it.

“If I have a one night stand he automatically is in a relationship with me.”

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Who has been your favorite co-actor and why?

I have many favorites including Ajith and Chiranjeevi because that’s where my volume of work is. When I worked with them, I didn’t connect with them as an actor, I just connected with them spiritually. There are times when you just enjoy speaking to someone, not only while working. When you have conversations with someone about everything in your life, you enjoy working with that person.

Which movie do you wish you had been casted in?

I think Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam and Chak De India! I had that feeling when I saw the film.

If you could have a one-night stand with a Bollywood actor, who would you choose?

I’m more of a relationship person. I don’t think I can ever have a one-night stand. If I have a one night-stand, he automatically is in a relationship with me (laughs). I don’t want to say “it is this person and I want to sleep with this one”. I don’t think I can do that!

conditional. Love nowadays has become more of a word and less of a commitment. So, for me, love is about respect, care, affection… everything comes in it and apart from that, commitment. Loving somebody means you are committed to that person, you can’t just randomly love anyone. For me, love is commitment.

What is your favorite song to sing in the shower?

Of late, I’m singing Shallow. I am so hooked to this… its gone into my system, especially the entire album. I am an emotional person so I kind of connect with these songs a lot.

Who in the film industry today, do you think has the most sex appeal?

I think Malaika Arora, she is hot. She just glows and day by day is just getting younger. In the male category, it would be both Ranveer and Ranbir. A lot of girls are drooling over both the ‘R’s (laughs).

Do you think that web series have more millennial audience because they have more freedom of speech and expression and creative liberty than films, or do you think it’s because they show flesh and use crass language?

I am yet to figure this out because I can’t really understand the pulse of the audience. Today if you post a picture in a traditional outfit and if you post another picture in a bikini, which one would get more likes? It clearly indicates that the more number of viewers are for skin show. If this is for a picture, imagine films. Somewhere it attracts - skin show…

Anything that’s wild.

What do you think is the importance of being a sex symbol in the film business?

I don’t think anybody is happy being that.

I’m not that kind of a person who wants a tag of being a sex symbol. You’re type casted in that way so it’s very important to break through the tag even if people are thinking, “You’re one of the sex symbols.” I would not be happy with that tag.

Who would you date, marry, kill? …Siddharth Malhotra, Ranveer Singh, Aditya Roy Kapoor.

Date Ranveer, Marry Aditya and Kill Siddharth!

What is your idea of love?

Love for me is a commitment where the first thing that comes in is… love is un58

2020

Lockdown Notes

In The Middle Of The

….Pandemic!

obody n s u r i mav o r f g n rse, i l u e o e c r f s i o rld t. So u o b a The wo h stages o muc o k t c s o l w n o n h the u g really k u o h t time n w o d ted. n e it’s lock m e l ring u ng imp i d e o b d y l s s actor u are slow o e g r go ound r r a u e o g o n td ey lou h t So wha o D just time? r n o w s l o l i d k new s the lock n r a e l , ea amas k j a y t p ’s t n e e in silk hing. L t o n g n tering doi t i t l s g a l r b u s of o have a e v i l e hat h t w t o t u n o i b eek ut all a o d sneak p n fi and s r a t s d ime. o t o c i w y m l l e Bo pand e h t g n d duri i d y e h t

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Pretty n Pink

The Nawab’s little daughter sure knows how to live well. Sara Ali Khan goes pink as she lazes around in her azure blue swimming pool. Her pink bikini is completely in sync with her float as she lounges around posing with a book. Isn’t this the best way to tackle the pandemic away?

Cycling Around

That’s right… Salman Khan had moved lock stock n barrel to his Panvel farmhouse during the pandemic.

Of course, girlfriend Iulia was there giving him company. It was ‘me time’ for Salman and he worked on his farmhouse, grew paddy around and cycled to keep fit. Pandemic or no pandemic, the Sultan believes in exercising the natural way.

Musically Inclined

Vicky Kaushal has used the pandemic stay at home time to get himself fine tuned to the better things in life. That’s right, he’s been playing the sitar and rather well if we may say so. Music is the best companion besides Katrina Kaif of course, right, Vicky?

Pet Me

The sultry Disha Patani is spending more time with her cute doggies. So her insta stories are all full of tales of her and her darling pets. So what if Tiger isn’t there, Disha has her other pets to play with.

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Swimming Around

The super sexy Sunny Leone zipped off to Los Angeles to her sprawling hacienda to spend time at her home and hearth. So of course the best way to enjoy some time at home is to pose in an itsy bitsy bikini Sunny style.

PeeCee Diaries

Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the meantime is enjoying frisking around with her furry friends. That’s right after her cute pet Diana, she’s got herself another cute lil one. So all her hugs ad kisses are reserved for this gorgeous furry one. Is NIck feeling lonesome now?

Birthday Bumps

The gorgeous Kiara Advani celebrated her birthday during the lockdown period like so many of us. But this time, she had it extra special as her family and friends made sure that she celebrated it with a dash of tinsel dust and lots of love and cakes.

Deepika’s Fixation

Talking about cakes, Deepika has been gorging away on hubby Ranveer’s birthday cake which again took place plumb in the middle of lockdown. But no worries, wifey Deepika made sure she did her bit by eating his cake and having it too. Don’t all wives do that?

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Sunnin’ Around

Hunk about town, Vidyut Jamwal took a break from his martial arts and films to just lounge around enjoying the gorgeous greenery around him. In fact, it’s the first time we’ve seen him looking so peacefully quiet without kicking around all his woes.

Big B’s Big C

Amitabh Bachchan was diagnosed corona positive. But he was pretty positive about everything and that got him out of that deadly virus aftermath. Though he’s surrounded by doctors, nurses, needles and meds, Big B still found solace in posting poems and motivational words on his insta. We guess that motivated his many million followers.

Abhi Bhi

Abhishek Bachchan too had a wrangle with the deadly corona. But he too has recovered and has used the lockdown time to get himself a new snazzy hair cut. We approve. This new look suits the dapper Abhishek who after the success of his webseries Breathe In The Shadows looks super confident and happy.

Catting Around

Kartik Aryan decided to take his cat for her vaccines as soon the lockdown got eased a bit.

If the pandemic hadn’t happened, little kitty would have been carted to the vet by his man Friday. But thankfully, the pandemic ensured Kartik gave the little one all the TLC. Lucky cat!

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Raima Sen

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Starry Look

Starry Look

“Since its My Identity My Pride, my collection better be more awesome than ever before.”

– Tarun Tahiliani He’s the fashion Czar of the design industry and this designer extraordinaire is none other than the awesome Tarun Tahiliani who in the first-ever digital collaboration with Blenders Pride Fashion Tour celebrates his 25 years in the industry.

The Blenders Pride Fashion Tour has evolved over the years from conventional runway shows to festivals of fashion and now the digital leg, in collaboration with Tarun Tahiliani, celebrates a story of My Identity, My Pride.

We caught with Tarun Tahiliani to know more about this…

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“I’ve worked with Katrina Kaif as a model and Deepika Padukone too, so I would choose them.”

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long time to draw people so you use technology to draw people. You have to make it exciting and feel a vibrancy, and the stream of consciousness has to come out. What I am happy is that we’ve shot what we wanted to shoot.

What is your theme for your show?

My Identity My Pride showcases my 25 years in the fashion industry. The greatest gift that fashion gave me was that from I am a boy from South Mumbai but thanks to fashion, I’ve sat with weavers in small villages, did block painting in the freezing cold, worked on chikankari with craftsman in Kutch. I went to every little town and I’ve seen India the way I’ve never seen before.

I worked with craftsmen and I appreciate the beautiful tradition of our country. I’m happy that people still wear so much of the national crafts through fashion which has helped keep it alive. If you have pride in your identity, it shows in your fashion.

Designer Tarun Tahiliani and model Lakshmi Rana at Blenders Pride Fashion Tour X Tarun Tahiliani Could you tell us something about your association with Blender’s Pride especially now since it’s being done digitally because of corona?

I did the first Blender’s Pride Fashion show perhaps 18 years back and I did a lot of amazing shows for them after that too. So I was very pleased to do the first digital fashion show with them as well. The idea was floated around with Aparna Behl, the choreographer and I thought about it and found it very exciting. Everybody is starved for great content and this time, my collection showcased elements of Pride in my craft and heritage, being modern and yet having a ‘Stream of Consciousness’ as an entity.

The striking experience uncovered the idea of ‘INFINITE’ possibilities in one’s lives by setting an example for the world to follow.

How different will it be from a live show?

It is different because a live show is in front of people but in a video, three minutes is a 67

Deepika Padukone for Tarun Tahiliani at an earlier fashion week

Models walking the ramp at Blenders Pride Fashion Tour X Tarun Tahiliani We’ve always seen you coming out with awesome designs. What can we expect from your collection this time?

Since its My Identity My Pride, my collection better be more awesome than ever before.

Since we are Stardust, and you are associated with the film industry for so many years, if you had to choose your showstopper from the current lot of actors, who would it be and why?

That’s really hard to make me choose as there are so many beautiful girls. Well, there are so many to choose from. I would choose some one older like Rekha as there’s so many textures and fabrics that have a story to tell. Who knows? I haven’t thought of it.

Which heroine would you love to dress up?

I’ve dressed most of them so it’s not in my bucket list at the moment.

Who do you think is the most fashionable actors in the film industry?

To be honest, all of them but since I’ve worked with Katrina Kaif as a model and Deepika Padukone too, I would choose them.

Which actor, according to you, can carry off any style with elan?

Elegance is a state of mind and if you dress true to yourselves, everything looks stylish.

For us, the clothes are the real heroes so we are not fussed about the showstoppers.

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Blast from the past She always spoke first, thought later …… and regrets it today!

Though MOUSHUMI CHATTERJEE also loves to blame the press for whatever went wrong in her life, in our COURT MARTIAL, she grudgingly concedes that the buck ends (starts?) with her!

Yours is the one failure that cannot be blamed on the industry, which has given you the best of breaks. Why do you always chicken out of the race just when the top is within reach? Aren’t you confident enough that the ultimate winner could be you? After all, it is less humiliating to say you never tried than to try and flop!

It’s only those who fail who make excuses that they never tried! Since I genuinely have never tried to be No.1, I haven’t bothered to analyse why I didn’t make it. I have never wanted that kind of success. I didn’t want my mind to become corrupt! I didn’t want to get involved in all those calculations and strategies that come with the position. I must please this hero, attend the party, meet that important producer, invite that important director for dinner, etc, etc. I never took my career so seriously. Everything – marriage, baby, success – happened to me very fast, so right

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from the beginning. I had too many other responsibilities to devote myself 100 per cent to films. There was my home, husband, children, servants, relatives, shopping for groceries and vegetables – I had no one to share the load and had to divide and give only 25 per cent of myself to each. My career was never the main priority in my life. I have never signed more than four or five films at a time, never worked on Sundays, had at least ten days free every month, and took two months holiday every year. Other heroines grumble that they can’t manage any time off because they have too many commitments and have to match their dates with their co-stars. But I have so many free dates that I can adjust with anyone! I want to enjoy my life. I am not one of those greedy people who want more and more. I am a very contented person. If something extra comes my way, I give it away! I didn’t withdraw from competition because of lack of confidence. I was always sure that if not as a star, I would definitely reach the top as an artiste. But I don’t want to grow only as an actress, I want to grow as a human being.

When did you stop wanting to be Meena Kumari and decide to be Rekha? Critics decry the ridiculous spectacle you make when you try to be glamorous and ornamental (‘Jyoti Bane Jwaala’, ‘Swayamvar’).

Can’t you see that you are at your best in subdued make-up, simple clothes and emotional roles (‘Daasi’, ‘Pyaasa Sawan’)?

I also agree that I look better when I am simple. But some filmmakers want me to be glamorous and they have the confidence that I can carry it off. I can’t argue with them. At times I have deliberately applied little makeup to show them how it looks. They invariable say, ‘It looks nice but…’ So I give in. I don’t want anyone to feel that I am throwing my weight around just because I have a certain position. But I am not trying to be another Rekha. I have never compared myself with any other actress. I have never aspired to be another Meena Kumari either.

In fact, I don’t really like to do tragic roles. I prefer light-hearted comedies like ‘Angoor’.

“

I am not one of those greedy people who want more and more.

If something extra comes my way, I give it away!

”

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sion. Madhubala never exposed her figure at all, yet she looked so sexy on screen.

Do you think a confession (“I am a flirt”) gives you license to behave outrageously with men? Spectators were aghast when they saw you freaking out with Suresh Oberoi and Mithun Chakraborty at the ‘Ghar Ek Mandir’ party, in front of your husband?

How can you humiliate poor Babu in public?

I am a flirt, but a harmless one. I don’t let my flirting develop into anything further – it ends there and then. Besides, I flirt with words, I am not demonstrative in behaviour. For instance, all Babu’s friends greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. But somehow, I have never been able to adopt the habit. My flirting is different. Like, once when a friend was cribbing that I hadn’t kissed him hello,

Do you fancy yourself as a sex symbol? An industrywalli insists that you once stripped before her when she refused to believe your vital statistics!

What a ridiculous story! I am one actress who has never revealed or exposed on screen.

So is it likely that I will do it off screen? How can I say whether I am a sex symbol or not? But I firmly believe that you don’t have to use your body to project sex appeal. It can show on your face, eyes, your expres-

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I promptly retorted, ‘I don’t waste my kisses on cheeks!’ Now, to a listener who has heard and read about my wild reputation, this remark will sound like a pass and he will see a lot more into it. But it doesn’t mean anything. It’s all done in fun. But to how many people can I explain that? So I don’t let what anyone says upset me. Why should I make myself unhappy when I know it’s not true and my conscience is clear? I am not the kind who can go around telling people what I am.

I let them understand me according to their own experiences. But sometimes, in spite of their preconceived notions, people have changed their minds after getting to know me. One producer’s wife openly told me. ‘I have seen how other heroines throw themselves at my husband. You don’t even do that – then how come you have this reputation?’

Considering that you’d spread the wildest gossip about her affairs, how could you be so holier-than-thou when Rekha broke the bhanda about you and Vinod Mehra? Once and for all, will you please

clarify what that triangle was all about?

I have never had any fight or quarrels with Rekha. I am still very fond of her, because she is the one actress I have known since years. Do you think I would’ve been able to do four films with her, if there was some problem between us? I still don’t believe that she is the one who spread the rumours about me and Vinod. That whole triangle was blown up by the press. They put two and two and two and made five! Frankly, I admit that I may have given them reason to draw such conclusions. Like, there were times when Vinod and I were invited to the same function.

Those days, there was much talk about Baby living off me, so my husband didn’t like to accompany me on such occasions. He would suggest that Vinod and I attend it together and then join him for dinner at Oberoi. But outsiders only saw Vinod and Moushumi arriving together, sitting together and driving off together – not in the direction of our respective homes, but towards town! Then at times, his mother would call up and say that Vinod hadn’t eaten because he’d had a fight with Rekha, and ask me to take his lunch to his shooting. People naturally presumed the worst when they saw Moushumi turning up at the studio with the dabba! However, when the stories became too much, friends advised me that the only way to put an end to them was to stop signing films with Vinod. I don’t deny that we were good friends. I used to admire Vinod and was quite influenced by him because I was very young and immature then. But when I started thinking for myself,

I stopped being so dependent upon him.

Was Bindiya responsible for your final split with Vinod Mehra? It is said that you openly pushed Vinod to drop her and patch up with Meena Brocha.

I did disapprove of the way Vinod had behaved in that situation, and stopped seeing him for some time. I didn’t like the way he treated his women. It wasn’t that I sided with Meena against Bindiya and I never got the chance to even get to know each other. I wasn’t very friendly with Meena either.

I was aware that she must’ve also heard of my reputation and of the rumours linking Vinod and me, so I didn’t want to take chances. Who knows, she may have thought that I was deliberately trying to be friendly to cover up something… However, it was only after Vinod and Bindiya broke up that he called up

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maker who is repeating me in his films, so when he asked me to help him out, I readily agreed. I haven’t accepted the film for Farouque’s sake – though I would have if he’d needed my help too! Farouque is a very nice person. I like him, his wife and Baby knew each other in college. As regards the marriage-rumours, well, the answer is in the question itself – rumours!

They start whenever an actor is seen visiting my home, and me his. It happened before with Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar…

Insiders insist that you were/are in love with Sanjeev Kumar, and are constantly inviting him for dinner, dates, drives, etc. Is it because of the pampering that Sanjeev continues to accept you as heroine without a fuss, whereas all the other actors are opting for the younger girls?

There are no man-woman vibes between Sanjeev and me. I love him as a human being. He is so mature, intelligent, humorous – I can spend hours talking and listening to him. I’ve been out with him once. I had to go to a party and I didn’t have a driver, so I asked Sanjeev if he would be my chauffeur that night. But once again, it’s the press making two and two into five. In fact, one one day and invited himself over. Everything was fine again, I even removed the bones before serving him fish, like I used to before the rift. But after a few days I came to know that at a colleague’s party Vinod had told everyone that I had done it for old time’s sake! It was a disgraceful thing to say, and though I have run into Vinod after that, I have looked through him. I don’t doubt that he made that remark, because if he wasn’t guilty, he would’ve come and asked me what was wrong. It’s things like this that start gossip… I’ve always partly blamed Vinod for the earlier rumours too. I used to fight with him when he refused to comment on them, because I felt silence meant yes…

What’s the truth behind the marriage-rumours about you and Farouque Shaikh? Isn’t it true that you recently accepted a secondary role to Surinder Kaur (‘Yahan Wahan’) in Rajat Rakshit’s next film, just for Farouque’s sake?

Are you trying to say that Rajat Rakshit is mad to waste Moushumi in a secondary role? I have known him much longer than I know Farouque, and we had discussed his new project nearly two years ago when we were making ‘Rusvai’ together. He is one 73

reporter even told me that she had photographic proof of Sanjeev and me together in a hotel room! I told her I would give her a lakh of rupees if she printed the picture!

Instead of lambasting the press for gossiping, why don’t you be more discreet in your affairs? Did you really expect the scribes to ignore the scandal when you and Ramesh Sippy (Jeetendra’s brotherin-law) were caught in the act, by his wife?

But that wasn’t the first time I was caught!

Previous to it, I’d been caught with Jeetu in Hyderabad, when his wife Shobha rang up and I answered the phone in his room! You know, that magazine had linked me with Ramesh, Jeetu and Sanjeev in the same issue. They had so much gossip, you see, that they were confused and didn’t realise that they were tripping up, Ramesh and his wife Raksha are wonderful people, and both are my friends. In fact, whenever I am hesitant about attending any of Jeetu’s parties, Shobha always says, ‘But your people are coming too’ – meaning her brother and his wife. But of course, nobody writes about Raksha, only about Ra-

mesh who is such a happy-go-lucky, funtime guy. However, I don’t get upset with these kind of write-ups any more. I only get worried because it’ll hurt my parents, my children, my servants may hear of it, and how will I face the other party and his people… At one time, I didn’t bother about such things. In fact, it gave me a kick to behave the way journalists and gossip-writers expected. I guess I am paying for it now.

Where did your tuning with Rajesh Khanna go wrong? Tanuja is still smarting at the way the two of you ganged up against her during ‘Humshakal’, and now ‘Gurkha Jung Bahadur’ is stuck because the superstar wants you replaced?

On the contrary, Rajesh Khanna and I never hit it off all that well. I was too conscious of the fact that he was the superstar. Not that he did anything to make me nervous or uneasy, but I always ended to keep myself

at a distance. And since there always was another heroine in our co-starrers (‘Humshakal’, ‘Prem Bandhan’), that was no problem. Perhaps Rajesh minded this because he was so used to heroine pampering him and falling all over him – which I never did.

With me, it was never a case of if I didn’t get another film, I wouldn’t be able to buy rice for the family! ‘Gurkha Jung Bahadur’ is stuck, but I don’t think it’s because Rajesh wants me replaced. We had no problems acting together. Anyway, as regards Tanuja. I got along very well with her. She was a great help to me. She is the one who first told me that I must have my priorities right.

If I wanted to make it at any cost, I should leave my self-respect at home and be ready to play the game. But when respect was the priority, if a man asked for my finger, I could give him my hand with no harm done!

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Why did Manoj Kumar throw you out of his camp after ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’? Wasn’t humiliating to be the only one who wasn’t considered worth repeating in ‘Kranti’?

Manoj Kumar did approach me for ‘Kranti’ but I didn’t show interest in the way he wanted it! We never had any fights or misunderstanding. In fact, I’ve never had any jhagdas with anyone – heroine, heroes, producers, directors – throughout my career, not even a quarrel with anyone. Gulzar is the only one with whom there was a ‘slight misunderstanding over ‘Koshish’. That’s why I was all, the more eager when he approached me for ‘Angoor’ and immediately accepted the film even though he told me it was small role.

Industrywallas declare that you use the bahana of frankness to pass the most hurtful remarks. Wasn’t it needlessly vicious to call Deepak Parasher ‘a block of wood’?

I never said that. In fact, when I was quoted on it, so many industry people who know me, said that it doesn’t sound like Moushumi! I never comment on people – not even to my closest friends – and I don’t like people to comment on me. How does one know what he/she will become in future? What was the No. hero when he was working with me? Recently, a similar thing

“

At one time, it gave me a kick to behave the way gossip-writers expected. I am paying for it now!

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”

happened with Moon Moon Sen. A magazine carried some comment she’d made about me. The girl frantically called me up and told me that she’d been misquoted. I told her, it didn’t matter and she was quite taken-aback.

She said, ‘You are so nice, you are just like…’

Moon Moon is a sweet person. Incidentally, I really mean it when I say it doesn’t matter what anybody says about me. That’s his opinion, and he’s entitled to it. It doesn’t matter what Babu thinks of me either!

Yours is said to be the shortest friends’ list in the industry. Isn’t it true that you’d desperately tried to join the Shobha-Pinky-Neetu-Uma Chopra clique, but the star-wives rejected you, insisting that having you in a group is as good as breaking it up? How deserved is your mischief-maker reputation?

I am mischievous, but I am not a mischief-maker. I never tried to join any clique. It was just that when I was working with Jeetu, I used to be invited to all his parties and I attended them. It was professional socialising.

But Jeetu and Shobha have come to my place only once. I am not great friends with them.

You can’t strike up a friendship overnight, it

grows… My two closest friends are the ones I have known for nearly nineteen years! I am not desperate to have star-friends. My friend may be a small carpenter, but he’ll be a genuine person – that’s more important to me.

However, it’s a wrong impression that I don’t get along with the industry people. I am friendly with every heroine I worked with – Shabana is such a warm person, Vidya, Tanu, Rekha, Hema, Parveen, even Zeenat about whom people talk so much, has always gone out of her way to say hello and chat with me. I am a great fan of Aruna Irani and I still have Farida Jalal’s autograph. I like them all. In fact, I really miss them when I’m not working with them!

Whatever is happening to your home-production and banner? Has Babu had to close shop because you refuse to waste any more of your money after the last flop (‘Do Ladke, Dono Kadke’)?

Babu is building a theatre and is very busy with it at the moment. So, perhaps he won’t be able to produce another film for some time. But he is too interested in films, so I don’t think he’ll ever close down his production. Incidentally, that business is totally Babu’s. I am not involved with it in any way.

FAST FORWARD 2006 but Moushumi Chatterjee did a lot of Bengali cinema. In fact, she even won many awards for her last film Goynar Baksho in 2014.

In 2019, Moushumi Chatterjee joined BJP and forayed into politics.

Moushumi Chatterjee’s screen presence has always been effervescent and easy.

She didn’t try too hard to impress and was satisfied with whatever accolades she got.

Perhaps that’s why this natural performer never got her due though of course, she was one of the highest paid heroines in the film industry during her time.

But it was after 1985 that she moved to doing meaningful roles. Her last Hindi film Zindagi Rocks for Tanuja Chandra was in

Her personal life despite her bindaas interviews did not have too many upheavals. Married to producer Jayanta Mukherjee, son of illustrious singer Hemanta Mukherjee, she had one daughter Payal.

Unfortunately, Payal was in coma for some time and Moushumi Chatterjee and her husband had moved the court against Payal’s husband for them to see Payal. It was an acrimonious time for them. Unfortunately, Payal died in 2019.

-Sumita Chakraborty 76

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