MIND Magazine MAY 2019 Issue #17

MAGAZINE

COVER

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Team Sukiran Singh, Editor-in-Chief Simarjot Wadhwa, Junior Editor Disha Shah, Features Editor, Co-ordinator Amelia, Beauty and Features Editor Ankur Bhoria, Photographer Vaibhav Aher, Photography Assistant

Contributers Karan Sarnaik, Photographer Bharat Gupta, Stylist Bhushab Darewar, Stylist Stylistars, Stylist Juveria, MUA Lucky, MUA Shivani Yadav, Writer Alifia S. Bhol, Writer

Thank you Rebel The Fitness Lounge Inega Models Toabh Model Management

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CONTENTS

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Healthcare

Wasted

INDEX

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BEDLAM Annabel D.

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Jasmine Singh

PLASTIC

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Cover Story

78 Kunal Rajput

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Suresh Mukund

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Organic is the way.

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Editor’s note

Honestly, I don’t think I have much to talk about health, as I myself have been unhealthy most of my life. I have been mired by diseases, obesity and bad immunity. Most people in India do not consider health to be the top priority according to many surveys and researches, rather a floundering idea of health. I remember growing up, people in my community would go for a morning walk at 4-5 AM, then eat samosas and have tea at 6 AM, everyday. They would consume more calories than they would burn, repeatedly. Our society prioritizes on wealth, somewhat on education, topics like marriage, and of course politics, but health is left on the back end, till one gets a heart attack or a psychiatric episode.

It’s a serious issue and we all need to bring it forward. Our healthcare system is on a terrible decline due to the ignorance or lackluster of the topic.

This Issue, we talk about some of the problems we face, immediately or in due time. We also talk to experts in the medical and health industry. Check out the articles, you might find something helpful.

Sukiran Singh Editor, M.IND Mag

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OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS A BLOODY JOKE

by Shivani Yadav

Back in 2017, BRD Medical College Hospital, one of the biggest government hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, attracted national attention when 63 children died in the hospital after the piped oxygen supply ran out. By September 2017, in total of 1,317 children had died due to something as avoidable as Pediatric Encephalitis. An investigation by the Government of Uttar Pradesh concluded the no deaths had occurred due to oxygen shortage and arrested 8 Hospital staff members due to negligent behavior, while none of the top government officials, who also shared the responsibility, came under the investigation.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

This is only the most recent example of a myriad of cases which points to negligent behavior by our government and corrupt practices taking place in our hospitals. All of this has been happening since the independence because of the fundamental problem in our healthcare system which eventually ends up benefiting the rich rather than treating everyone as equals.

To understand any government’s basic priorities, one needn’t look past the handling of basic needs of the public, i.e., the education system, security and healthcare; and if you are a tax-payer, I think you would agree that these three services are the primary reasons for why a government even exists.

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Currently India’s world-wide rank of life expectancy is 104 from 183 countries.

Brazil with a similar system to ours stands at 71, China at 53, USA at 37, UK (which is intensely, publicly funded) is at 20 and Canada at 13. All of these countries have a variety of complicated systems and even if the system is flawed, healthcare is pretty much always in the conversation. Back home, while our country’s policies are inclined towards healthcare, with schemes like Asha, Mission Indradhanush and Pulse Polio, collectively working towards providing good to decent healthcare in villages and towns, where it all goes downhill is just like numerous other government services, our healthcare system is underfunded, understaffed and sometimes doesn’t even have an infrastructure.

The Union Budget allocation for healthcare for 2019-20 is Rs. 61,398 crore.

Divide that up with the number of people we have, on average it’d come to Rs. 458/person for one year. Keep that number in mind the next time you go to a hospital! 68% of healthcare expenses in India are paid out of pocket which means that a single disease or accident is enough to push people into poverty and if the earning member of the family gets ill, the financial result can possibly be catastrophic with the following two generations getting affected.

There are many problems within our government. From how they prepare a budget, implementation and appointing people to make sure things are being done but the fact alone that there is no right to healthcare in India is appalling.

Good health is so fundamental to a society that no individual should be denied treatment due to lack of money or access. Back in 2009, when Right to Education enacted, it dramatically affected the number of enrollments and increase in infrastructure that took place throughout India. So, it’s easy to say that a rightsbased approach forces the government to take the delivery of public services seriously.

What our country needs right now is an extremely serious conversation regarding public healthcare and for that, it’s extremely important that central and state governments coordinate together. If our leaders truly understand the basic value of healthcare for all and start working towards it, things just might become hopeful. *** Disclaimer: This article is an opinion piece based on facts, taken from Government provided data.

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Bedlam The Asylum Chronicles

LINA LAMBERTIN I ( TO AB H) Photographed by SUKIRAN SINGH Styling by STYLISTARS MUA by JUVERIA KHAN Production by DISHA SHAH Photography Assistance by VAIBHAV AHER Styling Assistance by SHEETAL REEHAL, VIRTI SAVLA F T.

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Top- Forever21 Pants- stylist's own

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Outfit- Cord Studio

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Outfit- Cord Studio

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Outfit- Cord Studio

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Outfit- Cord Studio

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Outfit- Cord Studio

Minimalist Poster of the TV show 12 Monkeys

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Dr. Jasmine Singh RESIDENT PHYSICIAN IN PSYCHIATRY, CALIFORNIA

Interview by Sukiran Singh To start with, why choose psychiatry as a field?

Choosing the field of psychiatry was a deep and heartfelt decision. Growing up, I was taught that all humanity is created equal, including the vulnerable and underserved. Prior to medical school, my exposure to psychiatry was limited, but I always felt that I was able to connect with and understand people in a unique way. Also, I have always been an avid listener and open communicator.

During medical school we spent time training in various fields—called rotations.

During my rotation in Psychiatry, I noticed that the patients were visibly suffering the most out of any patient I had encountered. There was a stark discrepancy between the need and availability of care for the psychiatric patient. I had never seen anyone hallucinate prior to my experiences there and I learned during my rotation that due to their severe mental illness they are unable to differentiate what is real and what is not. This leaves them unable to work, earn a living, eventually to become homeless and even victimized. Seeing such level of suffering and the limited resources available to them awakened a passion in me to become a psychiatrist. The mentally ill are the most in need of care and advocacy.

I saw that you’ve done bachelors in Economics and Theatre. They are quite opposite sides of the spectrum. Why did you choose them?

Yes, they are definitely opposite ends of the spectrum! I knew that I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child. My father is a physician and I was always impressed and inspired by his level of commitment to his work, and I thought it was so cool that he could save lives. I was totally that child who played with the doctor play set with a plastic stethoscope!

When I got to college, I enrolled in pre-medical coursework, but I realized that college would likely be the only time I could create a diverse education for myself and develop as a well-rounded human being. I have many interests and I felt that it was important that I formally study them. I found Economics to be applicable to nearly every field and it would provide me with a different but important perspective. I studied theatre because I love the arts, especially per-

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MODERN INDIANS ABROAD outfit -forever 21

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performing arts, and I have often noticed a person’s body language and speech as well as recognized the nuances and connotations of a conversation. In my acting classes, I loved studying and investigating the characters’ motivations and intentions.

To my surprise these degrees have helped me in my role as a physician. Having a diverse set of interests and education has helped me connect with many individuals, especially as a psychiatrist. Much like learning about a character in my theatre classes, caring for the psychiatric patient requires time and patience to peel away layers of their story in order to fully learn about their struggles and how to help them best.

And of course why a sudden jump to a medical profession post that? (that too the workings of our Mind) So as mentioned above, at an early age I knew that I wanted to learn more than science, but I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor. Medicine is not only about saving lives but also about restoring dignity and quality of life to the most vulnerable patient population, which to me is the psychiatric patient population. I seek to provide for these often overlooked and underserved people and give them the superior level of care they need and deserve. I feel that I have the unique ability to communicate well with these patients, and I seek to advocate for them across all cultures and communities, especially those that neglect psychiatry.

How important is Mental Health? Can it cause repercussions to the physical health of a person?

Mental health is incredibly important. Caring for our mental health is vital to our well being. I have learned that we must aggressively protect our mental health by being mindful of our thoughts, behaviors and emotions. We must dissect our feelings and thoughts as well as how we developed these thoughts and how these beliefs could be affecting our life today. Once we have examined ourselves in this manner, we can being living a fulfilling and free life.

Multiple studies have shown that mental health directly impacts physical health: -One study found higher rates of depression in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease.

-Another study noted that if a patient with diabetes also has depression they had a 33% to 52% increase in risk of all-cause mortality compared with those with diabetes alone, meaning having depression on top of diabetes caused them to die from all sorts of diseases at a higher rate.

-Another study showed that if a patient has depression they have approximately a 50% increase in risk of all-cause morbidity.

-Many other studies have shown that patients with chronic medical illnesses, such as vascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/asthma and cancer, with depression die 5 to 10 years earlier than patients without depression. I have seen firsthand how patients with depression neglect their physical health.

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-Another study even showed that if a patient has depression and coronary artery disease, they are more functionally impaired by the depression than their heart disease.

I came across your video on love and break ups, what’s the best way to cope?

Our life is enriched by relationships so a loss of one can be highly disruptive to how we see ourselves and how we see our world. Humans seek loving companionship in order to feel safe and accepted. When that falls apart during a breakup, it can be devastating and can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Allow yourself to be sad. Your feelings of sadness and of anger are valid. There is nothing wrong with being upset, crying, calling your friends, turning to family and one’s favorite comfort food for support. But keep an eye on your symptoms and how long they are lasting: pay attention to your energy level, sleep, and appetite. Be aware of your symptoms transforming into something more than post heartbreak blues. Bodily pain, rumination, suicidal thoughts, isolation, feeling less passionate about work, not taking care of yourself, using more substances like alcohol, and having trouble sleeping can all be indicators that one could be getting depressed or anxious. Consider mental health treatment: therapy to talk through your experience as well as psychiatric medications can be vital to getting through the episode of depression/anxiety. Keeping your emotions and feelings bottled up could potentially set you up to have longer term issues or more symptoms if they are not dealt with appropriately.

Think of your breakup as a change in your role. Research has demonstrated that symptoms of depression can often follows a disturbing change in one’s interpersonal role such as the ending of a marriage or other relationship. This idea comes from a type of therapy known as Interpersonal Therapy. I urge you to find a new role, which may even require new skills. Don’t overlook opportunities for forming supportive relationships with others, especially if you have become isolated. Seek out new supports and new relationships. Also, it can be helpful and adaptive to focus to a different role that you have, like your position in the workplace, while you are going through a breakup.

Go easy on yourself. It can be very natural to blame yourself and erroneously think that something deficient in you led to the breakup. People who are going through a heartbreak will idealize the relationship and neglect to realistically see the negative aspects of that person or relationship. Realistically consider what other factors may have contributed to the breakup. Don’t blame yourself. One person is not entirely responsible for the breakup. After examining the situation, accept it and learn from the experience.

Recognize and manage catastrophic thinking. Heartbreaks can bring about feelings of desperation and insecurity, and distorted thoughts and fears that one will never be loved or chosen. This is called catastrophizing, which is defined as a thought process in which we instantly go to the most irrational, worst case scenario, which can cause anxiety and prevent someone from taking action. The

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past and present do not necessarily dictate what will happen in the future. Good things and bad things happen. Just because today is difficult does not mean all days will be difficult. Also, consider the facts – can your catastrophic thought be supported by facts? Consider what someone else would say to you about your relationship. Force yourself to consider a positive outcome, even though it may be hard to be positive right now.

Distraction! If you’re having trouble forgetting about your relationship, the best thing to do is distract yourself. Visit people who care about you. Take up a new hobby or recognize a hobby or passion that you have not participated in for a while. Try something you’ve always been curious about such as art, physical activity, and charitable work.

Try not to compare yourself to others. This line of thinking is unhelpful. We do not know how others really feel. Be proud you were willing to love and be vulnerable and open to new possibilities.

As you know there are many close minded societal pressures in developing countries, like India. Do you think Marriage is a solution to problems as everyone freely suggests here? What would you like to say to those who are lonely but do not wish to or cannot indulge in marriage?

I have always been fascinated by the Indian cultural pressure to get married, both personally and professionally. I have had patients’ families bring up marriage while that patient is psychiatrically unstable and hospitalized—which is such an inappropriate time to think about marriage! Similarly, I have had various family members dictate when and to who I should get married.

The idea that marriage is a solution to a problem is wildly distorted. It makes me question why such people consider getting married in the first place. Considering marriage as a solution to a problem makes it seem that people are getting married to fulfill some sort of perceived deficiency they see in themselves.

Marriage is a serious step that takes a fair amount of consideration and a realistic appraisal of what life is like with your partner. Ideally, one would find a partner who is accepting, loving, and has shown and communicated their interest, care, and affection over time. I think having such a connection, meaning a source of support that enriches your life, is the goal—irrespective of marriage as a result. If you find a supportive connection that improves your life, hold onto it!

Connection to others gives us a sense of acceptance and well being, and this impacts not only our mental health but our physical health too. To those who are lonely: A study from 2005 showed that love, compassion and joy improve the functioning of our immune system and help us battle disease. Supportive relationships have shown to improve prognosis in conditions such as cancer by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Higher rates of depression and anxiety are linked to social isolation, and human connection, even friendships, could reduce the rate of depression and anxiety disorders.

It may be difficult to establish such a connection, especially after a heartbreak,

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What is love, according to a Psychiatrist?

Love is a deep connection, a feeling of peace, and complete acceptance. To love and be loved is so central to our existence. Finding love and being loved is such a driving force to much of human behavior, and once it is found, it can be quite healing. In my experience, when patients find a loving, supportive partner, their mental health is positively affected. Love is everything!

You also talk about perils of technology and its influence of our health. Tell us more about it.

Technological advancements are important inventions that make things possible today that were not possible in the past. Technology has made our life more efficient and enjoyable; we can connect with people across the globe with ease.

So much knowledge is at our fingertips, and we can learn about any topic within seconds. Even entertainment is more accessible.

However, like anything it is important to know the potential harmful side effects of technology. Not all screen use is bad and using screens has become important for us in our modern life. The problem emerges when people have an inability to control how often or how intensely they engage in online behaviors, even when they experience the negative consequences. Examples of this include: -Foregoing sleep for internet use -neglecting friends and family - ignoring what’s happening in real life in favor of what’s happening in the virtual world.

-Withdrawing from other activities that were once pleasurable.

-Thinking about previous online activity or anticipating the next online session.

-Feeling anxious when away from the device or computer.

-Jeopardizing or risking the loss of a significant relationship, job or educational or career opportunity because of the Internet.

-Using technology as a way of escaping problems or relieving feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression.

-Lying to family members, a therapist or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet.

-Becoming defensive when confronted about the behavior. Feeling restless, moody, depressed or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use.

This has led to the development of a diagnosis called Internet addiction disorder, which brings on chemical changes in the brain similar to those caused by substance use disorder. There are clinics emerging all over the world that treat internet addiction disorder.

Is there a chance that a billion people addicted to social media, will lose the plot and become physiologically unstable if the internet was to shut down suddenly? Or will it have adverse reaction?

This is an excellent, albeit frightening question! If the Internet were to shut down, I suspect that people will seek out other addictions to replace the Internet as they want the same sort of stimulation and neurobiological reward of dopamine.

People could potentially show some aggression until they find a satisfactory substitute that activates their neurochemistry as much as the Internet did.

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Tell us about the most interesting case you have dealt with. You can of course embellish the story; we understand the doctor-patient confidentiality.

In the summer of 2017, I was the psychiatrist for 9 Indian-American patients who were psychiatrically hospitalized in the unit where I was working. I performed a case review on these patients, some of which were adult immigrant patients from India and others were first generation Indian-American patients. Taking care of these patients impacted me in many ways. On the one hand I was so intrigued by their stories of immigration, of parent-child conflict, issues with acculturation and assimilation. However, on the other hand I found that it took an emotional toll on me to take care of patients and families that were so distressed—who looked like my family—and who I spoke with in Punjabi. The case series forced me to think about issues related to Indian culture and how that impacts mental health, which I found to be evident in my patients’ distress. I published this research as a case series and presented it in New York City at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting in May 2018. I look forward to developing my theories further.

I think you were born in US, but as your Instagram feed states, you do have a strong connect with India. What do you like most about our culture and what you think as a person of science, should change or not exist at all?

Yes, I was born in the United States, and my parents immigrated from Punjab and Kashmir to the United States in their 20s. I am close to my family, and they made sure that I had adequate exposure to Indian culture. My grandmother taught me how to speak Punjabi. My father introduced me to Hindi movies, which I love, and

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What I like most about Indian culture is an Indian mother’s love and devotion for her children. I can comfortably say that my mother could do anything for me, and even in Hindi films I have seen Indian mothers depicted as incredibly loving and would sacrifice anything for their children. Indian mothers almost always put their children first. I think such love is amazing, and those who receive it are incredibly fortunate. Of course, I also love the clothing, music, movies, jewelry and food, but the best part of Indian culture to me is an Indian mother’s love for her children.

Regardless of one’s educational or socioeconomic background, I believe prejudice and inequality towards women must change. Humans do not choose their gender at birth but we can control our work ethic and kindness. Demeaning others as inferior due to their biology or any other reason must stop. Personally, my father has been instrumental in teaching my sister and I that we are no less than anyone due to our gender; he has raised us to believe we can do and achieve anything.

I don’t know if you’re following Indian Elections, would you like to say something about it?

I follow current events globally but I am not informed enough to comment on the Indian Elections.

On a lighter note, we love your style. What are your inspirations there and how your curate it to define your image?

I have a variety of inspirations for my style; I purchase pieces that draw me in, instinctively. I garner inspiration from movies, art, street style on Instagram. A major influence on my style has been the runway shows that I have attended at New York Fashion Week with my sister, who used to work in the fashion industry.

But sometimes it can be more about a feeling that I am trying to portray, or a character that I would like to be for an occasion.

Other times I search for a piece that has the colors I have seen in nature or in a painting. I tend to have an artistic eye, and on my travels I often look for unique pieces that express my style which I can also take home as a souvenir.

I am inspired by the style of Sarah Jessica Parker, Priyanka Chopra, Charlize Theron, Deepika Padukone, Alexa Chung, Sonam Kapoor, Amal Clooney, and Beyoncé. I love to see how others express themselves and incorporate a trend into their own unique style. ***

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W ASTED W ASTED WASTED UNACCOUNTED INTOXICATION IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH.

K CW E I SE A M I K O NS (T O A B H ENTERTA I NME N T ) Photographed by KARAN SARNAIK Styling by BHUSHAN DAREWER MUA by JUVERIA Production by DISHA SHAH Photography assistance by SHASHWAT SHANKAR FT.

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Outfit- PapadontPreachbyShubhika Ornaments- Mayur Bhatt:Paon Footwear-Zara

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Outfit-Purnimashetty Earrings-H&M Footwear-intoto Rings- Mayur Bhatt; Paon

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Outfit- Diksha Khanna Earrings-Mirage jewels Footwear-Zara

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

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Dress-Yavi Earrings-PapadontPreachbyShubhika Rings-Mayur Bhatt:Paon, Satat Sustainable Footwear-Intoto

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Outfit- PapadontPreachbyShubhika Ornaments-Mayur Bhatt:Paon Footwear-Intoto

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Annabel DaSilva HIGH FASHION MODEL + BODY BUILDING CHAMPION = WONDERWOMAN

Interview by Sukiran Singh Tell us about you. (Where are you from, what you do and how did you come to India? Etc.) So, my name is Annabel. Born and brought up in New Jersey, USA. Then moved to Brasil for highschool (that’s where I started modeling, at the age of 15) Since 17 I was hopping around Asia with different modeling contracts.

Right when I was about to stop modeling for good, I was offered one last contract and my agent convinced me to accept it.. that contract was to India. Initially it was only supposed to be for three months, I extended my stay for another six... Went back home packed my bags and made the move. Long story short I’m on year five already!!

When did you start modelling? And when did you start Professional Bodybuilding?

Like I said above I started when I was about 15. I found my passion about six years ago but took it very seriously in the past three (that’s when the idea of entering bikini competitions sparked up in my mind) The reason to ask the last question is that we were astonished to see the balance you have kept between the two worlds. So, when you started to define your muscles, did people tell you that you might not fit in the Fashion world post this?

That’s a question I get A LOT. I feel like the first two years I was holding back a

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little. I was afraid to get “too big” and I didn’t want my agency to tell me I had to pick one or the other because it was getting in the way of modeling work.

To be honest the exact opposite happened. I like to believe I created a little niche and anytime someone needs a “fit girl” I’m the first name to pop in mind - and I think that’s pretty cool.

It was never an issue as I started gaining weight and being muscular it wasn’t as big of a deal

as I thought it would be. If the client really wants me they will get a size medium. The industry here has accepted me, my body type and I love the work I am doing. Although what I mentioned above is all the positives I do think there is still a long way to go. And I’m not only talking about India, you hardly ever see athletic built women on covers and editorials. I’d like to change that :) And what was your reply to them, if people did ask?

Initially I would get a bit shy when a casting director would look at me and say in front of everyone “ Wow! You look strong! Or you look healthy!

You’ve gained right?” And I knew

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that was an attempt of a nice way of saying that I looked bigger than other girls.

I remember I’d try to cover up a bit, wear shirts that would cover my shoulders.

Now I rock it. I love the body I’m in and I’m sick of trying to appear smaller. I built this and I’m proud of it. So if anyone would tell me I would need to lose size for a job I would say “thank you,next!” Hahah Everyone has their own selection of technique to keep themselves fit. Why did you choose Bodybuilding?

I fell in love with the feeling of getting stronger. It’s so empowering to push past your limits and to continuously progress beyond what you thought you were capable of.

You’ve participated in professional competitions (for bodybuilding sport) now. Tell us more about them.

Yes I have in 2017 was my very first show (Sheru Classic) where I placed 2cd. Beginning of 2018 was my second show (Sheru Classic) and an attempt at winning the pro card, I placed second again. And then my third show was Olympia Amateur last October where I got the Overall win and I won my pro card.

Have you won any or its target more towards the fun of doing it and health?

The target is to beat my past physique to continue making improvements and of course I’m pretty competitive. I want to be the best I can be, I have big goals which require a lot of work. I’m currently taking an off season (dedicated time to grow muscle) for my pro debut next year 2020. The big dream is to compete in the most prestigious bodybuilding show (The Olympia) which requires an invitation after acquiring enough points from pro shows.

Is it hard to maintain this lifestyle?

It definitely takes a lot of effort and work... Especially with the goals I have and what I wish to achieve. When you’re so passionate about something you don’t really think of the things that are hard. You just do them knowing you are one step closer to your dream.

Any female bodybuilding icons that you follow?

Yes the queen, 2x Miss Bikini Olympia Champ and fellow Brazilian - Angelica Teixeira.

At the same time, any models that you get inspired from, who follow a similar routine?

A lot of models do get inspired. They think what I’m doing is really cool. I’m not going to generalize but I think most are still afraid to get “too big” thinking that it would hinder work. Our entire career we’ve been told that the smaller you are, the better - so I understand where that fear stems out from. I also think just like anyone else they are a bit confused and hesitant at how to start or they have these unrealistic goals and are extremely discouraged when they don’t achieve it.

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What would you say to girls who wish to do Bodybuilding, but are scared that it might spoil their female form or felinity (psychologically speaking)?

I’ve been lifting for a little over three years now and I still don’t look like a man.

So get that out of your head ! Lifting weights, getting stronger will build muscle and give shape to your body. (Honestly owe all my curves to bodybuilding hahah) Another piece of advice.. don’t be afraid to ask for help!!! Don’t use the “I don’t know what I’m doing” as an excuse to not go to the gym. There are many credible accounts that share knowledge online and videos on YouTube where you can cross check/learn exercise form and technique.

Lastly, we see you have found love in India and you are also becoming slightly Indian at heart I bet. What would you like to say to all Modern Indians?

Hahah I’ve always considered India home and keep it close to my heart for all the things it brought into my life... The friends I have made, the passion which I discovered, the modeling industry for accepting me and now for introducing me to the love of my life.

One thing to tell modern Indians.. hmm travel more, laugh till your belly hurts and love harder!

Hey there! Firstly thank you so so much for having me as a feature this month ***

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Plastic F T. ALICIA K AUR (I N EG A) PH OTOGRAH ER- AN K UR BH ORIA H AI R AND MAKEUP - J UVERIYA

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Would you go

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under the knife

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to satify your complexes?

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What I've never understood is why some women use plastic surgery to make themselves more attractive to men. The most beautiful woman is someone who's happy and is always smiling.

- Irina Shayk Everybody does what she needs. And if you want plastic surgery, and then you feel better, why not? There is no law.

I've nothing against using something to help your beauty - but do it in a good way, with intelligence.

Monica Bellucci I wish I had a twin, so I could know what I'd look like without plastic surgery.

-Joan Rivers I definitely believe in plastic surgery. I don't want to be an old hag. There's no fun in that.

- Scarlett Johansson You know, let's put it this way, if all the people in Hollywood who have had plastic surgery, if they went on vacation, there wouldn't be a person left in town.

- Michael Jackson No Quotes from Indian Celebrities there. They like to keep it under wraps.

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ORGANIC IS THE WAY

by ALIFIA S. BHOL, Clinical Nutritionist & Dietitian Is this you too ?

Standing in a store and wondering to buy conventional Apples or Organic Apples ?

Organic foods have created a buzz claiming to be Healthier, more nutritious and environmentally sustainable.

So, What Exactly is Organic Food?

The term organic food refers to the process of how certain foods are produced.

Organic agriculture restricts use of artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotic or genetically modified organisms (GMO) with all produce free of artificial food additives including artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colouring or flavouring.

According to U.S ‘Organic’ Guidelines, Farmers must NOT: • treat animals with antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed made from animal byproducts.

• apply prohibited substances to their land for at least three years prior to harvest

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• •

use irradiation or genetic engineering fertilize with sewage sludge

BUT, The organic Label on the Foods Have hidden stories !

“Organic” does not mean animals are grass-fed, humanely treated or free to roam pastures.

Moreover, “organic” doesn’t necessarily mean healthy, low-fat, low-sugar nor unprocessed food.

There are three standardized organic labels defined below, but countless other label claims exist. Here is the label lingo to look for: 1. CHEMICALS : A lower intake of chemicals is likely better for our health.

Lower Chemicals in Food = Lower Risk of Diabetes, Cancers, Fertility Alterations, Alzheimer’s Etc. • Still, the USDA does not claim that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than traditionally produced foods.

2. Nutrients : Normally, it is believed that organic foods have more nutrients.

A review showed That organic foods have more : Iron, Vitamin C, Magnesium, as compared to conventional foods. Recent studies showed Organic foods having more antioxidant Power.

Yet , no conclusive Studies are presented yet.

• Furthermore, the fatty acid profile in meat from organically raised cows and pigs is favorable to conventional, along with the cows milk output. The nutrient levels in chicken meat have been variable.

3. Acceptability : Organic apples, carrots, broccoli, potatoes have all been rated as sweeter, firmer, and/or moister than conventional varieties.

But reports show the unpredictable availability of organic foods. The produce can go as low as 40% due to no use of artificial fertilizers.

4. Shelf life of organic foods is low as compared to conventional foods.

5. Environmental sustainability : Most people feel they are doing a good thing for themselves and the environment when buying and eating organic. But the environment benefits of food produced without pesticides is compensated by amount of greenhouse gases emitted through shipping, which is about the same as with non-organic food.

6. Microbes : Organic foods generally cost more, and some argue that eating

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them increases our exposure to biological contaminants like manure, mycotoxins and bacteria. Yet research has determined that there is no evidence that organic foods may be more susceptible to microbial contamination than conventional foods.

In a NutShell : • Organic fruits and vegetables contain fewer chemicals than conventional varieties and most chemicals exert effects on a dose-related basis (in other words, the more chemicals, the stronger the effects) • Some animals raised organically have the potential for bacterial contamination since they are not treated with antibiotics • In some cases, organic foods may have higher levels of nutrients • There may be increased microbiological hazards from organic foods.

So how do you Decide ?

- Consider what you’re getting, the price you’re paying, the taste, and your priorities - Consider where you’re shopping – small farms might not be certified organic, yet they may still not use pesticides.

- Consult a Qualified Dietitian who understands your needs and requirements.

- Spend More time worrying about developing a healthy relationship with food instead of worrying about the produce. Why? Because Food culture will change at a Rapid Pace and we must look at local, available foods that are low cost yet at the peak of nutrients!

A simple Rule to get you out of the struggle between organic and non-organic foods : Eat it if it’s from a farm, Avoid it if it’s made in a Factory.

Live life to the Healthiest!

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Harshvardham Rane MODERN INDIAN ACTOR Photographed by ANKUR BHORIA Styling by BHARAT GUPTA Makeup and Hair by LUCKY Interview by SHIVANI YADAV

What made you want to become an actor?

As a kid, while watching Deewar on TV, Bachchan saab’s dialogue “main aaj bhi phaike hue paise nahi uthata” had a huge impact on my psyche. There was a blast of chemicals inside my brain when I heard that line. I don’t know whether it was the way it he said or was it the subtext of that dialogue; or maybe I just needed to hear it at that point of time but that was when I realized the power of this medium. As an actor, you have this capability to inspire a human being sitting front of a TV, faraway. So, I fell in love with the idea of this medium and started feeling this big pull towards this field.

Are there any movies that had a major impact on you and why?

Initially the films I was exposed to had Mr. Bachchan in the lead role. I think Trishul, Sholay, Agneepath and Deewar are the 4 films that perfectly captures what a boy goes through.

Left Right Left has quite a presence among Indian millennials. How does it feel to have been a part of that show?

It was my first and last show (laughs). It came into my life so that I could wear

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Cover Story

Outfit- Nivedita Saboo Shoes-Jeetindra Sandhu

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outfit -Mehraab

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a uniform and somehow feel that I was on the same path as Shah Rukh Sir because he also started his career with a TV show (Fauji). But I remember it had a very catchy tune and a lot of spunk in it. A lot of intensity, grit, sweat and definitely a lot of fun because few people that I met through that show have stayed and will stay in my life forever.

In your experience, what differences have you noticed between the Hindi and Telugu film industries?

I think the Telugu film industry treats the profession as worship. You see a lot of devotion, whereas, in the Hindi film industry there is an admiration for the craft.

All the major films have had this huge emotional connect with the audiences.

Honestly, one can’t really differentiate but if you ask me to pick up one word, I’d say dedication and devotion for Telugu industry, and love and emotion for Hindi.

If you could change one thing about the film industry (Hindi or Telugu), what would that be?

I think we have very few theaters in comparison to our population, so having more would be great. Apart from that, I love it as it is.

Are there any Hindi film actors and directors that are on your wish list?

Of course every actor has some legends in his/her mind that they want to associate with. I would love to share the screen space with Mr Bachchan and Shah Rukh Sir. After that day, I’ll take a month long holiday and go to Rishikesh!

You are considered as one of the most desirable men of India. What does desirability mean to you? (laughs) I really don’t have any idea about the scale of this. It’s really kind of you and people on the social media to say this, though. I think my father was very desirable. He was a man of commitment and integrity. He was brutally honest, sometimes uncomfortably honest but he was a very straight-forward human being and that’s what made him a hero to me and people around him.

Your Instagram bio mentions that you are dyslexic. So, how have you managed to navigate a profession that challenges that particular disorder?

I read very slowly and if it crosses 2 or 3 lines, there’s a tendency of words getting jumbled up. So, I can manage 2-3 lines but after that I get confused and my eyes cannot land on the same word. So, I either have to keep a finger, paper, ruler or something else to keep my eyes going in a singular direction. Regarding the script, I usually draw my scenes out. Like for Sanam Teri Kasam, I made a whole story boards for every scene.

In the age of social media, how do you handle fame? What do you do keep yourself grounded and at peace?

I don’t think I’m famous because if you go to my Instagram, 99% of people are just giving me love and when you are famous, 50% of people tend to be against you. As for the second part of your question because I’m from a small town, there’s no actual need for anything to keep me grounded. I feel like I’m at

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Top- Vikram Bajaj Bottom- Mehraab

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Track suit -Moschino Jacket-Narendra Kumar

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peace when I’m being myself. Very early in my life I understood the importance of standing by oneself and am still practicing it!

If you weren’t an actor, what would you be doing right now?

I would be a carpenter and I would be making lots of nail-free furniture (chuckles). I think it’s really beautiful how two pieces of wood can be joined together.

It requires a lot of precision and patience, though.

What advice would you give your younger self who is just starting out?

Even though I consider the gradual graph of my life to be perfect, I would probably tell myself to enjoy life more and click a lot of pictures. I don’t have any pictures from my younger days because camera wasn’t easily accessible. So, that would probably be my advice to my younger self.

Do you read reviews? What is the harshest critique you’ve read about your performance that’s actually helped you?

Yes, of course I read reviews. I perform to connect with the audience and to convey a emotion, and critics, while only handful, are a part of that audience that have the opportunity to express their views on a public platform. A lot of critics have been very kind to me but I don’t think any critic can be extremely harsh to me because I’m very hard on myself. Nevertheless, I always welcome critiques of my performances, the kind and the constructive ones, because that is the only way I can grow as a performer.

If you could spend an entire day with one person in history, who would that be and why?

It would be the one and only, Bruce Lee. I deeply love him for his purity, integrity, the stance that he took in life, his openness and his nature to adsorb everything. I love the balance that he had of processing everything internally but also being able to project it. He has a very particular style and flair of executing everything and I am an absolute fan of that.

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

My sister and I didn’t really have an option but to become modern at a very young age because my parents got divorced when I was around 10 years old, and my mother’s sister became my step-mom. So, I think we had a very modern scenario in my house. But I think that has really helped me to keep my mind open towards any given situation because we have seen many unconventional ways of life and are never surprised or shocked by anything. So yeah, thanks to my childhood and my father (laughs), for eventually making me into a modern kind of a guy. ***

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Outfit- Narendra Kumar

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Kunal Rajput Celebrity Fitness Trainer INTERVIEW by DISHA SHAH

How did it all start?

I wish I had a dramatic story for this and I wish I could tell you that there was this one particular day that changed my entire perception and made me fall in love with fitness. There isn’t.

In all honesty, it was a series of events over the period of time that led me into the world of fitness professionally.

If I had to put it concisely, I’d say that the love for sports and the dislike towards engineering made me choose a career path that would make me strive hard to be a better person, every single day.

What is The Movement?

Movement is a strength and condition based group fitness sessions that has a unique programming.

It focuses on different types of training method on different days.

We focus on Strength, Power, Toning, HIIT, Endurance and conditioning workouts on unique days.

It’s unique in its approach towards getting to a better fitness level.

How did you come up with the idea of The Movement? What is your ultimate goal?

I’ve always tried to find answers to reach higher fitness levels in my own journey.

It’s been 8 years since I’ve started working out and I’ve tried multiple forms of

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training methods and done my professional certifications in them.

The Movement is an amalgamation of these 8 years of training and learning.

It’s ever evolving as I don’t mind trying different fitness routines and I believe in all forms of human movement.

There are honestly no ultimate goals that we have set for ourselves.

We do have check points and smaller short term goals as a brand.

We are catering to 100 unique members every week and our immediate goal is to make sure that number triples in size by this year end.

We hope to set new standards in the fitness industry and make sure that more people are exposed to the Movement’s training philosophy.

What is your coaching philosophy?

I feel that the thing that differentiates coaches is not the knowledge rather it’s the relationship that an athlete and a coach builds up.

It’s all about energies for me, I believe that for that 1 hour that they are working out with us, it’s my job to fuel them with my own energy and push them whenever they can’t.

I like my sessions to be fun yet intense and I strive to make them the highlight of my athlete’s day.

Who was your first celebrity client?

Ah, Nimrat Kaur.

I still train her, she is lovely!

What is the difference between working with a personal trainer compared to exercising alone?

The fact that a personal trainer is a professional who has dedicated his or her entire life to the craft speaks volumes about their expertise in the field.

A personal trainer is not only responsible to make sure that you reach your goals in the quickest and safest way possible but is also in charge of your fitness journey.

If you hire a personal trainer, you are answerable to someone and you can’t slack because it’s his job to keep your consistency in check.

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You might have your own knowledge in fitness if you’re working out alone, but a personal trainer brings in a lot of other elemens such as expertise in different forms of training, his own vast experience and professionalism.

Why is it important for people to stay fit… and how can we overcome the procrastination and fear of working out on a regular basis?

It’s no secret that being in a better health constant boosts your efficiency in different aspects your life and actually improves the quality of life over all.

For me, being Fit has allowed me to enjoy life in a better way, I am up for any physical activity at any given time, I’m up for playing, I’m up for working over time, I can push my body more than my peers can, just because I have been training it.

I personally think that difficulty in achieving a good fitness level is pretty overrated.

People fear putting in a lot of work because the whole idea of achieving good fitness level is put at a pedestal.

These days, If you look around,how many people do you see living the fit life?

I’m sure it’s more than what it was 5 years ago and even more than what it was a decade ago.

People who are aware of the benefits of a better fitness level stick to it because they know it’s the only way and that it makes them feel great and feel confident about themselves.

People procrastinate for different reasons, they either do it because they fear commitment or they don’t like adding a new discipline in life or maybe because they are just plain lazy.

I think it’s more of an internal fight that you have to fight first and get cleared in your vision with what you expect your body to be like in the coming 5 years, if you feel like you have to be in a better position physically, mentally and spiritually, you need to start making amends from now.

You’re your youngest self right now.

In your opinion, what’ the biggest reason people fail to meet their fitness/ weight loss goals?

Consistency.

People hate being consistent. There are two kinds of people who can’t stay consistent.

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The major reason for both of them to not be consistent is that they have short term goals.

They do set goals, but some are acheiveabe and some are extremely difficult.

Achievable goals once reached easily, makes people complacent I feel, and maybe that’s why they can’t be consistent.

Setting difficult goals again, needs extreme amounts of commitment which is really hard to come by.

People leave their journey even before reaching half way as the goals then seem unachievable and that’s why they can’t be consistent in their fitness journey.

Do you have fitness goals for yourself? If so, what are they?

Honestly, I would love to be fitter than what I am right now. If I could put in the time in training and getting 8 hours of sleep, I’d be in a much better shape than I am in right now.

But you have to realise what’s your calling, for me it’s coaching and that takes up most of my energy.

I do train enough to look the part of a coach but I could be much better.

My short term goals would be working on my endurance and improving my runs over the next year as I really want to complete a full marathon in 2020.

Do you think you’re a Modern Indian? And why?

It’s an interesting question, I do think I’m a modern Indian.

I believe that my parents’ generation and generations before them had a different perception about their career paths and they believed in stability more than anything.

That particular idea made them choose careers which had a longer shelf life.

Those career options were largely accepted by our society and it became the norm then.

I’m lucky enough to be born at a time when internet just boomed in our country and I was exposed to social media at an age where I had to make a decision of choosing a career path.

I realised that I hated engineering and had I been born during my parent’s generation, I would have had no option but to pursue it professionally.

I feel modern Indians are risk takers in the eyes of the society. They believe that

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their career choices can’t be manipulated by any one and they’re more aware of what’s happening in the world and they look at the world from a broader perspective.

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Suresh Mukund International Dancer INTERVIEW by DISHA SHAH

How did it all start?

I was very much fond of dancing from childhood but never has that confidence to show it anywhere. It is when I was in Class 8 that I got to see this movie of Hrithik Roshan which I inspired so much that I started gaining confidence and participated in small competitions to show case my talent.

When and where did you learn dance?

It all started in early 2000 when I was 13 years old by watching Hrithik Roshan dance in his first movie. This is where I got so much inspired and made dance as my passion. After that, I came to know about YouTube as a source of videos so I started to see dance videos and in one of them I found World Hip-Hop Dance Championship videos where many crews from different countries used to come perform in this competition. This inspired me so much that in 2007 I formed my own crew.

How was your Journey till here? How did you come up with the idea of Kings United India?

My journey so far has been very much amazing and difficult as I have been through many different phases of my life, my struggling days along with my crew, our happy moments when we won India’s Got Talent Season 3 for the very first time, being the first choreographer from India to achieve a Bronze medal for his group and last but not the least, getting a movie made on us inspired by the journey of me and my crew ANY BODY CAN DANCE 2. I never expected to come so far in my life but it is always said that hard work, dedication and faith will take you to places you might have never thought of. In 2015, our earlier group got separated and I came up with my new brand of Kings United and it is the very first crew from India to achieve a Bronze Medal at World Hip-Hop Dance Championship which took place in USA. How much does fame matter in your life?

I don’t work for fame, I truly work for what I am passionate for which is DANCE. I work hard to make my crew the best dance group in the world. I believe that if you are working for something you are very much passionate for and achieve success in that particular thing then fame will automatically follow you.

We saw your Videos on Social Media where judges could not stop Praising

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you? What is your expectation’s with World Dance Season 3?

The journey at World of Dance is really getting good for us after first two rounds. Yes, even we didn’t expect judges to give us such insane reactions after our performances. We just focussed on giving our best by representing our own culture on the World’s Biggest Dance competition.

We just want people to recognise our talent and make them believe that yes, India has much more talents as compared to any other country in this world. We will make them believe more in further rounds by bringing diversity in our acts.

What performers or choreographers have been the most influential “game-changers” over the last 50 years?

If you see from the perspective of performance, then it was Hrithik Roshan who was actually influential in my life and a crew from Philippines called Philippine All Stars whom I started watching in World Hip-Hop Dance Championship videos, I started understanding their choreography techniques and that inspired me in forming my own crew. Also, Remo D’souza has been the most influential person because his contribution towards success in my life is very much immense. He was the person who could relate his struggle days with mine and when he came to about me and crew’s journey, he showed it to the entire world through his movie Any Body Can Dance 2. This was the biggest achievement which I could have ever asked for in my life.

What inspires you to dance? What should the viewer take away, interpretation or a message you wish to convey?

Dance itself inspires me the most as it has helped me in evolving much more and I have learnt many other things as well through my passion. Sometimes, your passion only makes you teach many things and helps you to keep growing without expecting anything. I always work on setting an example to all the dance aspirants that keep working on your creativity and thinking rather than following International artists and imitating their styles. I think we should work more on creating our own style by blending in our Indian culture because that is what will make you recognise more in your field. Whenever you dance, people should be able to interpret your passion, what you are truly trying to deliver to them.

What is something that keeps you strong when things get difficult?

Self-motivation is what makes me keep stronger every time along with my faith and confidence in what I want to achieve in life. Also, I always get support of my family, friends and my entire crew and that is what makes me going.

If you could give advice for aspiring younger dancers, what did you discover about the industry that you would want others to know about?

I would just like to advise to work on themselves, on their creativity and creating their identity because that is what will make them unique as compared to others and focus on giving more value than what you receive. Just have confidence and faith in whatever you do and it will take you to places you might have never thought of in your life.

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What kind of role fitness play in your life?

Fitness plays a very important role in my life. Yes, we are dancers and it is very much important for us to stay fit. Being fit doesn’t mean that you need to have a good body but to be strong in terms of stamina, power, endurance and flexibility. It depends on individual choice but I love to visit gym daily and build my muscles because that what helps me in becoming more confident and boosts my personality.

What are some little-known facts about yourself you would want others to know about?

There isn’t much but just to let you all know that I love to spend my time with my family and crew. We have been together for the past 10 years and there hasn’t been a single day when we had gone for clubbing in our lives. Apart from that, I am very much adventurous and have done all types of activities like sky diving, bungee jumping, scuba diving and many more. I love to travel along with my family and crew especially to places which is serene in nature.

Do you think you’re a Modern Indian? And why?

I don’t know whether my work makes me a Modern Indian but I always like to work on something new every time and fulfil what our generation demands today. I always believe in making a revolution in the field of dance here in India so that people start recognising our country as one of the talent hub in the field of dance all over the world. Instead, of being a modern Indian, we are working on Modern India and World of Dance is the place where we will be to accomplish that goal. ***

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