MIND Magazine FEBRUARY 2019 Issue #14

COVER

' Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.'

- Abraham Lincoln

2 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Team Sukiran Singh, Editor-in-Chief Simarjot Wadhwa, Junior Editor Disha Shah, Features Editor

Contributers Ranveer Dua, Photographer Karan Sarnaik, Photographer Harmeet Singh Sana, Photographer Ankur Bhoria, Photographer Ruchir Vashishtha, Photographer Sommy eric, Stylist Sahil Gulati, Stylist Shreya Jindani, Stylist Bhakti Khatadia, Stylist Nirali gala, Stylist Shivika Tiwari, MUA Amelia, MUA Janak, MUA Hrida Deepak, MUA Anuj Dogra, MUA Shivani Yadav, Writer

Thank you Inega Models TFM Management Autumn Bar and Restaraunt

3

CONTENTS

12

INDEX 2019 NY

32 Divyendu S.

44 Sugar Rush

4 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

54

Cover Story

70

110

Swing Town

No Room for Grey

Meghna K

Shriya Pilgaonkar

80

118

90

124

Golden Pixie

Danny Avila

5

6 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Editor’s note

Happiness. One word that has different meaning to all individuals, but the essence resonates the same among all. Be it love, material joy, achievement or simply freedom, everyone itches for a little bit of happiness and a small world of Euphoria it creates for them.

February 2019 celebrate a lot of things that create joy, like Bubble Gum Day, Pizza Day, Kite Flying Day, Random acts of Kindness day, Chinese New Year and many more, not to forget the day of love, Valentine’s Day. We wanted to show the essence of Euphoria and deep sighted happiness, which we have tried to show through different scenarios and stories in our February 2019 issue.

Sukiran Singh Editor, M.IND Mag

7

THE REMARKABLE PLEASURE OF CINEMA

by Shivani Yadav

Unlike a lot of other cinephiles out there, I sadly do not have a romantic answer to the question most often asked to movie buffs about which movie made them fall in love with cinema, because for me, not only did I regularly start watching films in high school (when I really should have been studying), but it was an extremely slow and gradual way of falling in love so it’s impossible for me to point out that one movie.

Unlike my younger self, today my go-to answer to feeling good is pretty much always watching a well-made movie because whenever I find myself unable to articulate a feeling, there has always been a film or even just a scene to say it for me. And as a geek who loves to analyze things, even if it’s an art piece, film works as a great medium became of all the technicalities and the amount of collaboration it demands. So, when a girl driving around her hometown after getting a driver’s license, finds herself finally understanding her mom, it works out nicely for me that I can dissect that scene to understand why it really moved me the way it did and the answer is pretty much always self-revelatory.

There are films that I would never forget when and how I saw it. Like, I distinctly remember the first time I saw Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. It was some-

8 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

sometime around midnight and I stumbled upon it while surfing through the channels. I had never heard of the movie before and had zero idea about the plot, but by the end, there was something about it that moved me to tears.

Since then, I have seen it 4-5 times more and it has the same melancholic effect on me. I now know that along with many unknown reasons, I love that movie because Crowe managed to show the love for Rock and Roll on-screen, something that I have a hard time articulating, and dissected those short-lived but extremely intense emotional relationships in a way I have never seen before.

Speaking of emotional intensity, nearly all of my favorite movie scenes have almost zero dialogue and characters just conversing through eyes. It may sound dramatic but I’m not kidding, they always leave me breathless. Like, when in the last scene of Todd Haynes’ Carol, you know that this love story will have a happy ending just by looking at Cate Blanchett’s face; or the ending of Kwak Jaeyong’s My Sassy Girl where you’re left not only feeling shocked by the turn of events but also extremely overwhelmed, or Barbra Streisand’s Yentl – the entire movie.

9

It is very interesting how some films’ lasting value is directly proportional to how much you love them. Like, you can watch these films on repeat and you won’t get bored or find a flaw. I like to think of them as a healthy relationship that only grows with time, something I share with When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail and Ratatouille. The more I watch them, the more I find myself falling in love.

I did not have a similar experience with Breakfast At Tiffany’s, however. Don’t get me wrong, I love that movie. It’s one of my all-time favorites, but the first time I saw, it just found it bizarre in the absolute sense of the word. I’m sure it was intentional though, because Holly Golightly is such an impassioned character that even when she is walking around in her night dress, carrying her nameless pet cat and talking about the ‘mean reds’ to a stranger, it weirdly made sense.

10 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

But as wonderful it is to discuss characters like these, it’s generally a lot more fun when the film is controversial and you’re debating it with a person with a different opinion than yours. Hereditary, a supernatural horror film that came out last year, is one example of that because not only did it completely divided its audience, but reminded me once again that two people can enter the same room, watch the same movie and have widely different reactions. I absolutely loved that multiple layering of that movie and cannot seem to convince my sister who found it straight-up stupid. Same goes to Arrival, a sci-fi movie that left me feeling rather existential contrary to my friend who was more focused on the kind of technology the characters were using.

There is so much to talk about this art form and I can probably go on and on about it for hours where I would probably end up directing you to some scene of a film to articulate my feelings properly. Oh, the irony.... yet another thing that can be discussed, but we can put a pin on that. ***

11

Credits - outfit - Furen Regn Ring - Anaqa jewels Bag -duet luxury Earring & headgear - Roma narsinghani

12 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

YEAR OF THE PIG

F T. LISA MAARTI NEZ (TFM TALENTS) PH OTOGR AHER - SUKI R AN SI NGH STYLIST - DI SHA SHAH MUA - AMELI A ASSISTANTS SHR EYA JI NDANI ANKUR BHOR I A

13

Credits - outfit - Furen Regn Ring - Anaqa jewels Bag -duet luxury Earring & headgear - Roma narsinghani

14 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

15

16 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit - Furen Regn Ring & earring - Anaqa jewels

17

18 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

19

20 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit - Shreeya Somaiya Bag - duet luxury earrings - Anaqa jewels Hair accessories- Roma narsinghani

21

22 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

23

24 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit - chisel Red skirt - shreeya somaiya Belt - duet luxury Hair accessories - Roma narsinghani Earrings - Anaqa jewels

25

26 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

27

Outfit - Furen Regn Earrings - Roma narsinghani

28 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

29

30 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

31

Divyendu Sharmaa MODERN INDIAN ACTOR- NEXT GEN.

Photography by Ankur Bhoria Styling by Shreya Jindani MUA Hrida Deepak Location Bombay Coffee House (Kurla) Interview by Disha Shah What inspired you to be an actor?

Honestly I don’t know. Acting came very naturally to me, I never had to think about it. Right from the school days... where my first stage appearance I was playing a bhaalu (bear) to performing stories by Premchand. But it all became more serious in my college days, where while doing theatre I learnt more about acting and then finally FTII, so it all happened very organically. Where there is a will, there is a way.’ If not an actor, what profession would you choose to occupy?

I would have loved to explore Archeology. Learning about old civilisations, excavations, it all fascinates me.

What is something that you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting out as an actor?

PR is very important. I still lack that skill. But I am trying.

How do you prepare for the role?

Script is the key. I try and read it as many times as possible. And then from there you try and give a face to your character. I prefer going inside to outside. I think about the emotional quotient , insecurities, trigger points, history of the character, relationships etc first and then the OUTSIDE where you decide the look of the character, body posture, mannerisms etc.

If you could choose, which three actors would you really want to work wi

32 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit - SS homee T-shirt - Zara shoes -Zara watch- Jaipur watch company

33

Outfit -Karrtik D shoes - Zara watch- Jaipur watch company

34 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

with?

Oh the list is endless. There are so many great actors, but to name a few,Meryl Streep first. I think she is the greatest actor of all times. She can play ANY character and that I think is a biggest achievement of any actor. Second, Penelope Cruz, she is such a power house of acting and very raw. My third name would be Sean Penn. He transforms himself with every character he plays and does so convincingly. His skill set is enviable.

Do you prefer acting for film or for the theatre?

I can’t pick one. Theatre would always be first love. It’s the purest form of performance. The feel of the stage, taking an entry from the wings, feeling the light on your face as you as you enter it’s all so magical. In films , I think it’s more to do with your craft. I find acting in films much more difficult because there are so many technicalities one has to be aware about so to perform with all that is not an easy task.

What has been your favourite role so far?

Munna Tripathi from Mirzapur. It’s the most complexed character I have played so far. To have vulnerability in such a dark character was really unique. His troubled relation with his father makes him very gullible. Although you wouldn’t want to meet such a character in real life.

How did you prepare yourself to get into the skin of the role of Mirzapur ?

Munna like the name suggests is very childlike. He is very moody which comes from emotional instability. His constant struggle to get validation from his father drives this character. So I tried to navigate through that big emotional vacuum.

There was enough meat in the script to chew on.

How was your experience working for Mirzapur?

The experience was one of the best so far,although we had a lot to shoot but things were immaculately planned which is a necessity in a mammoth project like Mirzapur. Had fun working with all the three directors. Amazon and Excel are both big names and they knew precisely what they were dealing with.

How was your experience with other co actors ?

I think we have a dream team there. It’s very important to have a good co-actor and there are plenty in Mirzapur. I had such a ball working with everyone! And especially with my gang,we used to have so much fun shooting. Everyday was like a party.

What projects you are currently working on? Which project is going to release first in the coming days?

I am working on couple of very interesting things which includes a web show and a film. I think the film will come out first.

What is one message you would give to your fans?

Don’t be like Munna!!(laughs) . But just have fun, do what you want to do but treat it with respect. Whatever you do, learning is very important. Be kind. And

35

36 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

suit - Vikram bajaj white tshirt - Zara Shoes - Zara watch - Jaipur watch company

37

most importantly keep loving me :).

Do you think you’re a modern Indian if yes? Why? Well, i try not to judge people or situation with any preconcieved notion of ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ ...my mantra is ‘to live and let live’ and encourage diverse opinions for not just a healthy debate but life too. ***

38 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit - Vikram bajaj shoes -Zara watch - Jaipur watch company

39

40 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

outfit - SS homee shoes - zara watch- Jaipur watch company

41

Suit - Jagx Singh Shirt - Zara Shoes - Zara Watch - Jaipur watch company

42 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.�

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

43

Sugar Rush Ft. Ayesha K an ga ( In e g a ) Photography by Ka ra n Sa r n ai k Styl ing by Shreya jinda ni Makeup and hair by Amelia Photography Assistant Sha s h wat

S h ank ar

44 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit -Vidhiwadhwani Earrings by Vasandhura Braclet - mirage

45

46 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Dress - Vidhiwadhwani Jacket - Karleo Earrings - Mirage Ring - Minerali

47

Outfit -karleo earning- Minerali

48 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

49

50 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit - VidhiWadhwani Earrings - Minerali bracelets - Mirage

51

52 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.�

- Dalai Lama

53

54 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Outfit- Siddartha Tytler Shoes - dmodot

Cover Story

Neil Nitin Mukesh Modern Indian Actor RANVEER DUA R ET O U C HI N G B Y SUKIRAN SIN GH S T Y L I N G B Y SAHIL GULATI S T Y L I N G A S S I S TA N T CHINTAN SHAH H A I R A N D M A K EU P B Y SHIVIKA TIWARI P R O D U C T I O N B Y DISHA SHAH, SUKIRAN SINGH P R O D UC T I O N A S S I S TA N T SHREYA JIN DANI P H O T O GR A P H Y A S S I S TA N T DILPREET SIN GH, ANKUR BHORIA L O C AT I O N AUTUM N BAR & BISTRO P H O T O G R A PHY B Y

Interview by SHIVANI YADAV You come from a family of excellent artists. What made you choose a different path for career progression?

Creativity has no boundaries. You cannot limit yourself in a creative feild like ours. My grandfather and father are both singers but I wanted to be an actor since the age of 4 and trained myself to be one. Lucky for me to have a father like mine. He persued my dream for me and helped me at every step.

How do you think music has affected you in your life?

Oh I’m completely musically inclined. I play the piano and compose and sing well enough not to call myself a bathroom singer :) . But mostly when I perform I keep music in mind so that there is a certain flow in my performance. My de-stress is music.

Johnny Gaddaar was released over a decade ago. Looking back now, what are the memories you cherish the most and how do you feel knowing that it has a strong cult following?

Johnny Gaddaar will always remain my most favourite. All these years later and it’s still fresh in my memory like I just shot for it yesterday. My entire unlearning and learning process happened on the sets of johnny.

It has a major cult following till date and I give all the credit to Sriram Raghavan and his entire team. They made a fab film. I have people still calling me Johnny and I simply love it.

Which movie had a significant impact on your life?

55

56 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

57

58 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Suit - Paresh Lamba Signatures Shades - My Style Sutra Shoes - dmodot

Shoes - dmodot

59

Jacket - Sahil Kochhar Shirt and pant - Siddartha Tytler Shades - My style sutra

60 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

For me as an actor all my films have had an impact on me in someway or the other. Have had the privilege to have worked with some really fine directors who have taught me alot.

Any character that you’ve played that has stayed with you?

I move on to the next. But Parag Dixit from Madhur Bhandarkars Jail stayed with me for quite sometime post the filming. That’s one film i approached in a different method for acting as the world was new to me.

If there was one person you could play, real or fictional, which one would that be?

My Grandfather Mukesh ji. I was extremely close to my grandmother who has told me so much about him that though I never had the chance of meeting him, it feels like I knew him. Also my father tells me that I remind him of my grandfather and have similar traits.

What inspires you or pushes you to grow in your personal and professional life?

Challenges. Not being a rebel but when ever someone has said that he can’t achieve this, I’ve worked hard and achieved exactly that and proved them wrong. I work hard and understand the ups and downs professionally but I don’t let the creativity take a back seat. My family is my biggest strength.

If you could, what would be that one advice you’d give to your younger self?

Neil don’t be so naive!

Streaming services have been dominating the market for the past couple of years and only seem to be growing, and while some industry members have shown keen interest in it, most of them have been stubbornly against it. What do you think about it and where do you stand?

It’s about time that it picks up. It’s been there in the west for a while now. Im glad it has been introduced beautifully here. There are some strong players in the market with some phenominal amount of content.

Its a great platfrom for all creative people. Also i think the platform allows you to be indulgent with your thought process without any restriction, which is great. It has opened up genres that never existed and styles that were a taboo. Its given rise to some amazing talent. Would love to be a part of something like this if the content and the makers match wish-list.

Continuing on from the last question, with the rise of streaming services, movie theaters have been struggling to sell tickets. Do you think the community experience of PVR is in danger? If yes, what do you think is the solution?

A theatre experince will never go out of business. Infact the recent movies relased have done very well at the box office. That shows that there is an audience there at large who want to go to a theatre. Having said that with the exposure of content on the platforms, the audience have become smarter and can judge a film right at its introduction. It’s then that they decide whether to put their money on it or no. Content is king. Simple. No amount of star power can pull the audinece into a theatre.

Has being a father affected to how you consider roles now?

Most definitely. It started affecting right after marriage. My wife is conservative and I would like to honour her decision and sentiments. Her happiness is most important. Similarly my becoming a father has made me not choose many scripts.

Any new projects that you are excited for and your fans should look out for?

Saaho, which I’ve been working on for long starring Bahubali fame Prabhbhas and Shraddha Kapoor and ofcourse my younger brother Naman Nitin Mukeshs directorial debut BYPASS ROAD. Really excited about this one too!

***

61

Suit - Mint Blush Shirt - Siddhartha Bansal Shades - My Style Sutra

62 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

63

Outfit- Pawan Sachdeva

64 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

65

Shirt and suit - Unit By Rajat Suri Shoes - dmodot

66 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

67

68 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

69

Swing Town

I MR A N KH A N Photographed by HARMEETSINGH SANA Styling by SAHIL GULATI MUA by ANUJ DOGRA F T.

70 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Jacket - Siddartha Tytler shirt - Chatenya Mittal Trouser - Mint Blush Shades - My Style Sutra Shoes - Balenciaga

71

72 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Jacket and shirt - Siddhartha Bansal Jeans - Zara Fannypack - Trill Shades - My Style Sutra Shoes - Balenciaga

73

Outfit- Trill Shoes - Amen

74 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Top by Adidas Pants by Forever 21 Tie by Kerry Parker Jacket by Tommy Hilfiger

75

76 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Jacket and pants - Trill Shirt - Mint Blush Shoes - Jeetinder Sandhu

77

78 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Leather top- Llavi Tyagi shirt - Trill Trouser - The Natty Garb Shades - My Style Sutra Shoes - Balenciaga

79

Meghna Kaur YOUTUBER & INFLUENCER- SHE TROUBLE MAKER

Photography by Ankur Bhoria Styling by Bhakti Khatadia & Nirali Gala MUA Janak Thapa Interview by Disha Shah

When did you first realise you were famous?

Probably when people started coming up to me and asking for pictures Why she-troublemaker and not Meghna Kaur what made you choose this username? What does your username mean?

You know as a kid you think about a handle that sounds really cool? I really felt this would be unique and catchy, and that’s how Shetroublemaker came up.

Which three words describe you best?

Motivated, Ambitious, Fun From ask.fm to YouTuber and now Instagram sensation how has your journey being so far?

I think I’m still too young to say I have even started my journey yet as such.

It solely depends on how you look at it. Life has not always been nice to me.

I have had my share of sorrows. All the same, I am grateful I have had the strength to deal with the hardships. They don’t look big when I know there are better reasons to enjoy.

Who are your biggest influences? Who do you admire most? Who or what inspired you to do what you’re doing now?

I have the most wonderful parents supporting me in all walks of life - be it my education, social life, outings etc. Also I have always enjoyed two things the most - getting clicked and going places. I’m glad that I have been able to do both of these.

80 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

81

Bomber jacket –Arabella Denim top – frekins x (shetroublemaker) Pants –strey Earings – h&m

82 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered?

I’m not really aiming for a legacy, I only hope that the people who knew me when I was alive remember me fondly when I’m gone.

What surprising lessons have you learned along the way?

I firmly believe that our personalities are a product of our cumulative experiences. Our greatest lessons are usually learned from the worst mistakes, so don’t be afraid to get it wrong at times.

Like everyone, I’ve always been petrified of failure, but the surprising lesson I’ve imbibed is that failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts.

What has been your biggest Career Challenge so far?

I perceive every challenge as a new opportunity, and I believe I enjoy and thrive on challenges, so ranking them as a hurdle wouldn’t do justice.

Who inspires you to live healthy and be your best?

My parents.

What is one message you would give to your fans?

Make mistakes, learn when you do. Love what you do. Love everyday. Most importantly, love yourself.

Any new projects that you are excited for and your fans should look out for?

This year has started off on a great note! I’ve been super pumped the last month because I just launched my own clothing collection, something that I’ve wanted to do for a while now. I’ve envisioned a lot of exciting stuff for the coming year, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

Lastly, do you think you are a modern Indian? And why?

The definition of modern is subjective. The transition from orthodox to modern comes with the widening of one’s outlook, and I think that comes only from being empathetic towards others. I believe in spreading happiness along my journey in every manner possible. Our concern should be to build a harmonious society rather than just a modern one, and that I think is the real Modern India I’d love to thrive in. ***

83

84 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Bomber jacket-Arabella Dress – Arabella

85

Top-Zara Jacket – Strey Skirt – esse Loops – h&m Necklace – h&m

86 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

87

red top n white pants - esse

88 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

89

F T.

L IUD A S , L U K A

( S K Y M O D EL M A N A G EM EN T )

RAISOULL SATYAM RAI. K A RT D I R E C T I O N A N D S T Y L I N G B Y SOMM Y ERIC H A I R A ND M A K EU P B Y M AKEUP MAFIA INDIA S T Y L I N G A S S I S TA N T G RACE SON I

P H O T O G R A P H Y A N D R ET O U C HI N G B Y

90 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

This video is available only on Download Version of the PDF

91

92 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

93

94 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

95

96 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

97

98 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

99

100 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

101

102 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

103

This video is available only on Download Version of the PDF

104 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Euphoria

105

Twenty four Carat

106 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

This video is available only on Download Version of the PDF

107

Euphoria

by Sukiran Singh How delightful the delicacy!

Exclaimed in Ecstasy.

She swung her feet in exultation, and danced around in jubilation.

The smoke of intoxication, the experience of exhilaration.

No Lines on her forehead, no anxieties, no depression.

Could it be the feeling, the one you get in Heaven?

No tricks no ploy, the elation, the joy.

The one he left, the one he shall come back for, the tingling escalates, the rhapsodies of Amore. ***

Happy Valentines Day! 108 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

109

On Dayavati Shirt - Siddartha tytler Leather dress - Llavi Tyagi Heels - Zara On Sachin Suit - Unit By Rajat Suri Shirt - Sawan Gandhi Shoes - Zara

110 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

No Room For Grey Ft. DAYAVATI

(NINJA MODELS), SACHIN KABIR (PURPLE THOUGHTS) Photographed by HARMEET

SINGH SANA Styling by SAHIL GULATI MUA ANUJ DOGRA

111

On Dayavati Outfit - two point two On Sachin Shirt - Unit by Rajat Suri Pants- two point two

112 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

On Dayavati Long jacket - Sawan Gandhi Skirt - Siddartha Tytler Heels - Zara On Sachin Outfit- Siddartha Tytler Shoes - Zara

113

Outfit - two point two

114 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Suit - Siddartha Tytler Shoes - Zara

115

Outfit - two point two Shoes- Zara

116 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Bralet - Llavi Tyagi Dress - Llavi Tyagi for Prama by Pratima Pandey

117

Shriya Pilgaonkar New Gen Actress Interview by Disha Shah

What is the first memory of yours as an actor?

My first memory of myself as an actor is when I did a play in the 4 the grade called Dilnaz and the chocolate cake where I played Dilnaaz and the only reason I did it was because we would got to eat chocolate cake every day.

As we already know your Super Talented and you have done a lot of things like Direction Production Acting our readers will like to know what you personally enjoy the most?

Once an actor, always an actor. All my energies are completely focused on acting right now .However, when I am working on a film, I like to learn about all the aspects of the process which will eventually help me when I decide to make my own feature. At some point in life, I’d like to do all three successfully but acting will always be priority .I won’t ever stop acting. It’s what I am most passionate about.

Coming from an Acting Lineage was it easy to be in the industry?

It’s never easy for anybody in that sense because every actor has a unique journey. Of course, one has access to people in the industry easily and an overall better understanding of how everything works, but no one can guarantee success for you just because you’re coming from film lineage. You might get a few opportunities but without your hard work and talent, they will mean nothing and remain mere opportunities. In my case, the first film I did was a Marathi film directed by dad but he only offered that to me because he saw me perform on stage and felt I would be apt for the character. After that, it was all up to me how I made the most out of that and my journey thus far. I received the state government award and the screen award for promising new comer and thankfully no one said that I wasn’t deserving of that opportunity. But after that film, every project I have done has been me making my own way.

118 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

119

120 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

Which is your favourite character from all the work you have done? And why?

It’s always hard to pick a favourite character because I tend to get attached to all of them. But from the work that’s released, I would say Sweety Gupta from Mirzapur has a lot of swag and a lot of layers. She is fearless, full of life and lives life without hesitation. I love that she is non-judgemental and very protective of the people she loves. I also love the character I am playing in the British Series I shot last year which will release on 2019 called Beecham House directed by Gurinder Chaddha.

Who has done justice to the character as per your point of view? In Mirzapur One of the best things told to us after Mirzapur released was that the audience felt that we all perfectly fit the parts we were playing. Everyone’s performance has been outstanding but I will mention that Ali transformed himself completely to play Guddu and he nailed every aspect of his performance from voice to physicality. His performance as the strong and vulnerable Guddu in Mirzapur blew my mind.

Who inspires you to live healthily and be your best?

Definitely my parents and not by words but by their actions. My father is incredibly disciplined about his habits. He believes enjoy everything but do it in moderation. And mom keeps a check on me on a daily basis with my food and workout. She pulls me up when she can see I am being lazy which happens very often. But the most important thing they emphasise on is being happy and not stressed out because that’s the basis of everything.

What has been your biggest Career Challenge so far?

My career has just started off so I am sure many challenges await me. Getting work is a combination of talent, luck and opportunity and at times things might not always workout the way you plan them but something amazing can still come out of different opportunities. So I would say that it’s always a challenge to be patient and not become restless when it comes to work.

What sort of acting roles will you be seeking in the Future?

I want to do it all. Actors are greedy people and I am open to all kinds of characters. I’m happy that all the roles I have done till now have been very different from each other and all of them have been strong characters. I am looking forward to the release of my next Hindi film which is Anubhav Sinha’s Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai and the British Series that I shot directed by Gurinder Chadda called Beecham House. I will also be making my Tamil and Telugu debut in the trilingual film ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ with Rana Dagubatti which I am very excited about. I am dying to do an out and out masala Bollywood film which I’m sure will be super fun. I enjoy action movies a lot and would love to do that too. But I’m not someone who overly strategizes so I’ll make the most of any interesting opportunity that comes my way.

How do you maintain a good work/life Balance?

121

My work is my life to be honest and that’s how I look at it. But I’m not very good at maintaining a balance when I am working, I get completely consumed but I make up for it when I am free. I guess I’ll be better at it in time.

How was your experience working for Mirzapur?

Shooting for Mirzapur was an amazing experience and fulfilling in every way. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to enter the digital space. We had the best of the best on board from Excel to Amazon. I am so grateful to have had this experience and the love we have got from everybody has been overwhelming.

It has personally changed a lot of things for me.

What is one message you would give to your Fans?

Thank you for all the love and support that you constantly give me. On days that might be low, it’s what keeps me going! 2019 is going to be an exciting year and I can’t wait for you’ll to see what is in store!

Do you think you’re a modern Indian if yes? Why? I would say I am a modern Indian who is not rigid in her beliefs and way of life and believes that no one should judge anybody and the way they chose to be. ***

122 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

123

Danny Avila International Electro house DJ and producer

Interview by Sukiran Singh

Tell us about your Origins.

I’m Spanish! And this year I achieved the highest ever place a Spanish DJ has ever reached on the DJ Mag Top 100’s. I couldn’t believe it!

How was growing up in Madrid?

Amazing, it’s a great city. I actually grew in Marbella though and moved when I was 15 to move on with my music, which Madrid is great for.

Why House as a genre of choice?

I just love all dance music! Anything that can get your feet moving in a club is my genre of choice.

What all genres you’ve explored? And what all you wish to?

Most dance music genres I’ve dipped my toes into. I like to keep experimenting, so that my music is always fresh and changing.

Do you have any interesting story about any of the first gigs you ever did?

Sure! One of my first shows was playing support for Tiësto. Although I knew what was going on, I did not anticipate him to be so close and welcoming. I mean, he is a superstar and I was a newcomer. But he started talking to me right away and it felt like I knew him for all my life. This gave me such a boost in self confidence.

Any Gig that changed your life?

Ultra 2013 was one of those shows. Never seen a crowd that energetic and music thirsty in my life. Every drop was pure mayhem. The stage (Worldwide Stage) itself gives back such an energy and is so loud. I loved it!

You’ve worked with many amazing artists. Who was the most influential to your growth as an artist?

124 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

125

When I released Poseidon on Musical Freedom, Tiësto helped me a lot, which was really great and gave me even more energy to focus on my music. In general, all the collabs I did gave me a deeper look inside the different work flows of other artists and there’s always something you can take from that.

When you make music, how does the inspiration strike?

Sometimes I need to just start, and then the ideas will follow. It’s hard when you aren’t making music to get in the zone, but as soon as I’m focused and in the studio, it’s easy to experiment with sounds, rather than keeping it all in your head.

Tell us more on how you create music. What all stages you go through.

There’s definitely the inspiration stage, where I’ll just go through what I have previously recorded and try to find the right angle to create something with it.

Then there’s the production stage. This is by far the most time consuming stage, as this will include everything from musical arrangements, recording vocals, mixing everything, etc. And then there’s finalization. This can easily take just as long

126 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

as the production itself, since those last 2-5% are often the most time consuming.

To those who think real Instrumental music is the pure music, how would you explain EDM? (I ask this, as not a lot of people understand EDM in India) You know, I think if you want to explain EDM, you need to understand a couple of fundamentals of music production in general. Yes, it is right, that way back music was produced purely analog and so all steps of recording/production were done with a different piece of hardware. But ever since the digitalization, almost all studios have moved to computers that help with all those steps of production. Even the recordings of instruments are nowadays all coming together in a computer. The main difference with EDM is that the instruments are often also in the computer and are easier to approach for people who haven’t gone through a classical musical education. A lot of production happens “in the box” (meaning only in the computer). But you can still usual the instruments you want to use and if you want to make it sound real and natural, you have to understand how each instrument actually works. Otherwise it will always sound unnatural. EDM is exactly that: It’s just the electronic side of music, rather than the classical side.

Which track of yours is the closest to your heart, and why?

I would have to say my Ibiza Remix of “Too Good To Be True“.

What would you have been doing if not Music?

I’d probably be doing a lot of stuff in sports. I love being active, in the gym or outside.

We missed your concert in Mumbai due to some uncalled for reasons. Are you coming to India anytime soon, again?

I definitely am coming back! ***

127

It's not possible to experience constant euphoria, but if you're grateful, you can find happiness in everything.

- Pharrell Williams

128 M.IND MAG February 2019 Mindmag.media

MIND MAG is absolutely free for our Readers. Subscribe below to get a copy every month. www.mindmag.media/subscribe

129

www.mindmag.media

M.IND Mag Publications LLP