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New recipe
for fast-food
FILM &
FASHION No more
whining
Problems
of piracy Exquisite
jewels
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Stars may be sprouting like mushrooms in Mumbai-filmdom’s marshland, but Kajol remains to threaten Bollywood’s reigning deities. What’s so special about the bubbly actress? Anandita Gupta finds out from her fans in the city, as they wish her Happy Birthday.
In this age of nip n’ tuck, botox and body sculpting, she comes across as a whiff of fresh air. Her accessories are rare— a pair of spectacles, unkempt hair, unshaped eyebrows and yes, a bestseller in hand, whether it’s a professional shoot or a glitzy award function. Her tantrums — refusing to tuck in that bulging tummy, while shooting in a tight dress, or even to shape that unibrow of hers. No wonder, she hardly ever glances into a mirror—the crutch of every insecure actor. And still, this brusque, no nonsense star has managed to shine in the skies, where attention spans flicker with notorious fickleness. That’s Kajol, uncut. Spontaneous, bubble-gum lover, brattish and yes, natural. Yet, despite the self-imposed recluse post her wedding; she still wields the power to unsettle filmdom’s reigning deities. And though this lady’s lacks the vanity her profession demands, the camera just refuses to drag itself away from her (remember Fanaah?)! As this sharp, but sensible Simran of DDLJ and the frumpy-clumsy Anjali of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai celebrates her birthday today, a couple of her fans in the city gang up to celebrate too, and tell us why they love her sooo much…. A gem at heart
In the opinion of Akanksha Ralli, a student GCG-11, Kajol epitomizes the truly professional actress of today’s film genre. “Though Kajol comes across as a totally mast person in her interviews off the sets, she performs excellently on the shoot. She believes in the character and performs it as if it is the character herself in front of our eyes,” smiles the Kajol fan, adding, “ And on the personal front too, those who know her describe her as a very warm person. As her friend and director Karan Johar had once said, “It looks like she hates the 99 percent of the world but if you are in the 1% she loves, you need an MIR scan , for she believes in killing with love. Musings from mommy dear And now, we come to Kajol’s greatest fan, but before that—her friend, philosopher guide. Yes, it’s none but her mom
Tanuja. “I still remember the day when Kajol came to me very excited and said mom, I am in love with Ajay Devgan. I told her to do what she thought was right. The only thing that mattered to me was her conviction about it, as I didn’t want her to regret later. And see, she made the right decision,” proudly declares the mommy dear who feels her daughter has rare conviction. “Whether it was about her going to Kindergarten, joining films, or marrying Ajay, she managed everything brilliantly,” smiles
Tanuja. Versatility with style
Another GCG student Akanksha Bansal, however, found Kajol quite disgusting initially. “I didn’t like kajol in her first movie Bekhudi, but her amazing acting in Baazigar got me totally hooked to her. Be it comedy, romance, serious or a vampish role, she seems to be the best bet for every genre.” So versatility with style is what this young girl calls kajol. Adds Sumit Narula, a PU student, “Kajol’s recently shed a lot of weight and she looks amazingly beautiful in Fanaah. Her pairing with Ajay is amazing and I like the way she balances her personal life with professional. Earlier I used to think that she looks best with Shahrukh on-screen. But her pairing with Amir in Fanaah has proved that it’s her persona that makes anything work for her.”
Priyanka Chandiok is yet another student who finds Kajol’s girl next-door image very endearing. “Kajol doesn’t perform, she lives her roles. She can act as a glamorous lady as well as present the picture of the girl next door without much difficulty. She moulds herself into the image of the character she is playing so well that she makes one forget that its not the
real but the reel life,” chirps the young fan. And now, all you Kajol fans out there, here’s
your chance to sneak peak into some personal moments in Kajol’s life, in ‘’Kuch Khatti
Kuch Meethi Yaadein,’’ a programme that will be telecast on 5th August at 11 AM only on Star Gold. |
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In a sequel to A.J. Philip’s article, “Let’s eat, let’s go to theatre” in Lifestyle on July 29, Balvinder writes about the hurdles on the way to art I, a past film buff who once had nurtured a dream of becoming a film maker, have of stopped even going to cinema halls only because of losing compose to tolerate similar nuisances that A.J. Philip encountered at the Tagore Theatre. Most irritating are those viewers who keep foretelling their mates, rather loudly, the details and at times even dialogues of every following scene. Ever dare stopping them? You are bound to receive such dirty looks that make you feel a culprit. The following incident would elaborate further the bizarre intellectual interests of Chandigarhians, who generally clap or nod-their-heads or wah-wahs at wrong intervals, particularly during classical performances. Before narrating that incident I must confess that since I am not a music connoisseur the above stated view is a mere endorsement of what late Parkash Vadhera of The Hindu once said in his review of a classical music festival held here in the city. Long ago, amidst a classical dance performance, an almost huffing young girl occupied a chair, to her bad luck, next to late Rammasamy, a senior editor of The Tribune. Nudging her elbow into his arm she asked him the name of the performer and the performance. A hurt Rammasamy, both by the sudden nudge and the unpleasant distraction, gave her wrong replies though he had rightly guessed that she was some cub reporter of some local daily. As the luck would have it, the next day Rammasamy found that the wrongly credited dance review was published in his own paper. Though as per the ‘carefree’ cultural character of the city no one, from the performer to the audience, took any notice of the wrong review, Rammasamy did request his news editor to ask the scribe for an oral explanation. “How am I to blame for this? This was what a ‘Madrassi’ sitting next to me had told me!” pat came a cool reply. No wonder with such critics around, even sub-editors at the desk find difficulty in giving appropriate headlines to their stories and often end up with cliché of “…so and so ENTHRALLED”! The local world of visual arts is no different. The crowd at the opening of an art exhibition depends more upon the celebrity status of the inaugurator rather than of the artist. Since big shots of the Indian art world generally do not prefer to exhibit here in Chandigarh, purely because of abysmally low commercial possibilities, one never finds at art exhibitions the kind of crowd that one confronts during shows by the likes of Jagjit Singh and Naseeruddin Shah. Yet the behaviour of the arty crowd here too remains the same — cool as a cucumber! Since the success of any ‘function’, from an akhand paath to a kirtan to a jagratta to a bhog-ceremony to an art-exhibition, in this land of (once) five rivers is measured from the quality and quantity of snacks or food (called langar) served after the event, exhibiting artists often do keep the trend going. Little wonder that at the time of inauguration of any art show the rush remains stuck more at the tea table than in the exhibition gallery. Though the much talked about Corbusierian city boasts of not one but two separate Art Akademis – Punjab and Chandigarh - they have not succeeded in improving the artistic taste buds of the Punjabis. Perhaps because Punjabis can not digest cultural concepts on empty stomachs someone had rightly suggested that these Akademis would run better if they provide subsidised eats and “drinks” at their outlets. Any takers? |
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Star-trekking
Young professionals from Delhi are in Chandigarh, looking for guys and damsels who can twinkle over the world of modeling. And they believe it’s not essential to be good looking, says
Saurabh Malik Money may not buy happiness. But it can surely get you the crown! If you are having doubts about the power of crisp currency notes wriggling in your wallet, ask Latika Gulyani and Nidhi Chopra. The star-gazers from The Ramp School of Fashion Modeling — with branches across the country right from Delhi to Mumbai — will tell you all about it. The two young professionals are in Chandigarh for spotting heavenly bodies. Right, for adding that extra sparkle to their persona! “It’s good to be beautiful. But even without those stunning looks that launch a thousand admiring glances, you can make it big,” says Latika, working as senior manager with the school. “All you need is will to succeed and basic looks”. Even as she speaks, scores of damsels in teeny-weeny spaghetti tops over folded jeans, and even short-skirts, line outside the lounge in Chandigarh Club. Among them is Anureet Walia. The plus-two student, putting up in Sector 45 along with her business executive brother, is not exactly a stunner and has no qualms in admitting the fact. For, Walia has attitude, determination and a body that does all the talking on her behalf even before she utters a single word. Looking at her from close quarters, Latika says: “This is more or less the requirement. For everything else right from skin care to hair style and even the right kind of expression, we have professionals. They not only teach you the art of carrying yourself, but also how to communicate and so many other things.” Flashing a broad smile, Latika says: “In fact so many girls from Punjab staying as paying guest come to us for training. Good, but what is the right age for entering the industry? “Well, there are no hard and fast rules. But sweet 16 is actually the age to tie the shoelaces for stepping into the world of modeling. You see that is the time when you gain the right kind of height and maturity.” But isn’t it a bit too early? After all, it’s a wild world and the chances of getting lost are more due to immaturity. “That’s not entirely true in case of grooming and finishing schools,” says Model Coordinator Nidhi. “For, we provide the youngsters with everything, right from grooming to a launch pad. So chances of losing way in the wilderness are very little”. But why dream big? After all, Indian beauties have not made it big internationally during the past few years. “The problem is not with the models. They have the potential to shine on the international horizon. The trouble stems from the fact that Indian beauties are over-confident. And that’s where they slip off the ramp”. So, all you good-looking damsels and Plain-Janes; don’t let the dreams die. And just in case you want to walk-the-talk along with Latika and Nidhi, go to Ludhiana on Saturday. They will be there, star trekking. |
Buffets are out of the menu cards of so many city restaurants. For, the entire concept is not only tasteless, but also hard to digest. True, you do not have to wait for the dishes to arrive on the table, but then the not-so-hot foodstuff, stored in the serving dishes, is often too cold to savour. And then you have to place the knives and the forks on the table before walking all the way to that corner for replenishing your plate. No wonder, eating places across the city are fast adding new ingredients to the recipe for preparing buffets. Right, the intention is to make the concept all the more palatable, delightful and yet easy on the pocket even for once-a-month eating out “commoners”. Having doubts about the new concept on the platter? Just hop into your jaunty jalopy and drive down the road meandering its way to gourmet’s delight. Reach Moti Mahal Delux in Sector 17, make yourself comfortable and just ask for “A La Minute” menu introduced only this week. Guys, you will not have to shift uneasily on the comfortable sofa set in anticipation of the food’s arrival. Nor, will you have to walk down the aisle for picking up the stuff. For, all the items ever included in a buffet will arrive at your table and that also within a minute. “The concept is similar to that of buffet. Rather, you can savour whatever you like to your heart’s content without wiping beads of perspiration dotting your brow worrying about the bill,” says Sanjay Ahuja of Moti Mahal. “But then the food is served on the table for gourmets craving for variety, and that also within no time of ordering so that you do not have to play games on your mobile to kill time”. Flashing a broad smile, Ahuja agrees: “We have actually redefined the concept of fast food in the sense that the food-lovers get real, and not junk stuff, and that also instantly in days when people have little patience, and even energy, to wait”. Folks, for “just” Rs 275, you can fill up your platter again and again with three types of “starters”. And then you can have as much soup as your taste buds desire before savouring the main course. This is not the end of the eating session. You get your share of dessert as well. You can go in for vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, anything you like, without pulling out anything extra from your wallet. Another thing! You do not have to wait for specific hours. The stuff can be ordered anytime. “Everyday, we will have a new menu so that you do not end up savouring the same dishes again and again,” says manager Vikram Bedi. “Needless to say, the quality will be excellent”. As for the reason behind introducing the new concept that promises not to upset the pockets of people, he says: “Customers’ feedback encouraged us to go in for the change”. Just give it a try folks, it all sounds so delicious. — Saurabh Malik |
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COOL STUFF Commemorating a decade in India this year, Pizza Hut, world’s largest pizza chain, has introduced the Great Indian Treat, a new menu catering to the Indian palette. The new product range offers a four-course meal to the customer, through a variety of delicious beverages, appetisers, pizzas and desserts. The new Indian menu is available across Pizza Hut’s 123 restaurants in 32 cities. The Great Indian Treat menu will also be available for delivery and carryout. One can order a meal bundle for 2 comprising of two personal pan pizzas and one spin roll (Indian appetizer) along with the chili dip for only Rs. 225/- for vegetarians and Rs. 275/- for non-vegetarians. Moreover, Pizza Hut will be gifting its customers a music CD comprising of Indian remixes with every delivery bundle. Magical celebrations
The auspicious occasion of Rakhi, celebrated widely across India on the 9th of August this year, is an ideal occasion for sisters to send cherished wishes to their brothers oversees. Uniquely designed, the Rakhi is encased in a silver-coated Thali with small containers for the propitious tilak & unbroken rice grains that symbolize steadfastness and a small kalash for holy water. This inimitable Thali is also decorated with an attractive Diya. Coupled with an exclusive DHL Rakhi Express Greeting Card and Envelope, sisters can also personalize their Rakhi Express packages. To take this initiative a step further, DHL’s customers will also receive a free gift voucher worth Rs. 250 which they can use for their next express shipment. You also have the option of sending your own Rakhi and gifts that weigh upto 500 gms which will be picked up free from your doorstep. The charges applicable for DHL Rakhi Express are discounted upto 40% as compared to standard DHL tariff rates. Dream Team
Maybelline New York, the world’s No. 1 color cosmetic brand, epitomizes the spirit of New York - the fashion and cosmetic capital of the world - translating it into both a fashion and life-style statement. Maybelline New York’s international dream team represented by multi ethnic, sexy and youthful models from across the globe, welcomes a brand new entrant -
Deepika Padukone. This young, vivacious supermodel has several prestigious campaigns to her credit & is a much sought after name in the fashion & glamour industry. A subtle combination of the cool and urban girl-next-door with a hint of western verve, she is the quintessential face of Maybelline New York. Youthful, audacious, sexy & likeable..... Deepika represents the values of Maybelline New York to perfection. Exotic diaries
Nightingale, India’s leading premium paper products company, has introduced unique stone finish dated diaries for the year 2007. Designed to appeal to the aesthetic sense of the user, the diary has a unique appearance reminding us of various ancient cultures.
Nightingale has launched these Exotic Stone Finish diaries in two sizes - A5 and executive. These come in four different unique designs. These aesthetically appealing diaries are priced at Rs. 195 and Rs. 280, and are available at all leading stores across India. 5 Star cooking
Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co- Appliances Division a leading manufacturer of Consumer Appliances across the country, today introduced a new range of State-of-the-Art Microwave Ovens with POWERWAVES Technology for convenient 5 Star-style cooking for all households. The new range of microwave ovens includes 5 sleek models with capacities ranging from 20 L to 30 L. The range includes Solo, Grill as well as Convection models. In addition to the Powerwaves Technology, with features such as ‘one touch express cooking’, ‘quartz grill’, ‘feather touch control panel’, Godrej Microwave Ovens are set to make microwave cooking a convenient method of dishing out exotic food recipes. |
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The Italian palette Kandla Nijhowne
Ingredients 200 gms mushroom Method Simmer chopped mushrooms and salami with the bay leaf and chicken stock for ten minutes. Fry chopped onion till soft. Add chopped potatoes, celery, carrots and tomatoes. Fry for 2 minutes. Add washed rice grains and stir in some stock along with the mushroom and salami bits. Add only one ladleful at a time, adding more only when the first batch has been absorbed in. Continue until all the stock is incorporated. This slow process allows the rice to release its starch. Sprinkle in grated cheese, stirring till it melts to give the rice a creamy consistency. This processs is called manticare in Italian. |
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Stars descend on MCM Daft mayhem and radiant madness rules! Yes, this was exactly what one co witnesses at the local MCM DAV College in Sector 36 where the shooting for a forth coming film Jane Bhi do Yaaro is going on. Not only did all the students miss their classes but also queued up the whole day to watch the shooting in progress for the title song of the film. The film, directed and produced by Sanjay Sharma is in the last lap of completion after its earlier shooting schedules in Hyderabad and picturesque Manali. The film is a comedy with a love story woven into it, informs the production manager, Mohan Singh. Playing the lead is the Chandigarh girl, Kulraj Randhawa of
Kareena–Kareena fame. However unlike her character in the serial, Kulraj is playing a more substantial and not so timid role in the film. Hoping that the audience will surely like this film, for this is a comedy with the right timing, Kulraj says: “It always fun coming back home and this particular shooting schedule in MCM College reminds me of my own college days.” Also in the film, only for the title song is the young and petit, Sneha (of lucky-no time for love fame). “It was more like a friendly appearance which I am doing, as both my family and the director’s family are known to each other long before I was born”, informs Sneha (sitting cosily in her make up van). Spilling the beans on her forthcoming ventures she has many films in her kitty), she informs that she is doing a film with Ahmed Khan and also the directorial debut film of the music directors duo
Nadeem-Shravan titled “Yahan ke hum sikander”. She surely knows where to draw a line for she is here to do clean, decent films, with no obscene scenes at all, the ones which she can herself watch with her parents. Her career in films was never planned.” In fact, had it not been for films, I would have been in the advertising field”, reveals
Sneha. Kapil Sharma, the lead actor of the film (incidentally happens to be a nephew of Sanjay Sharma, the producer-director of the film) is playing the character of a prankster in the film .The film according to him, is a fun filled, clean entertainer which audience would certainly
like. About his future plans ,Kapil reveals that besides acting, he would like to direct films (following his uncle’s footsteps, it
seems). So there are stars and more to follow. Veterans like Prem Chopra, Anupam Kher, Vijay Raj, Jagdeep et al would be joining the crew after few
days. This is not all ,two students from the college ,Gurpreet ,a second year B.Sc (medical) student and Shalu ,a first year student have been selected to do tiny roles in the film itself! Bubbling with excitement, the two lasses are all thanks to their lucky stars. This undeniably is the ‘Way to go’! |
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Gardens: let bulbs
light your life With weather patterns turning completely topsy-turvy, we had better export marigolds to the UK and import bulbs from there! Summer has been comparatively cooler in Chandigarh, while England is drooping under 33 C. As three fourths of the year is over, it is time to look into our bulb options for the spring. Most of our material can be bought from or ordered from nurseries in the hills or even around town. There are different kinds of bulbs. A true bulb is like an onion, thin skinned with a complete plant growing within the leaves. Roots emerge from flat bases and stems from the pointed top. Daffodils, tulips and irises are examples. Tubers are fat and misshapen, somewhat like sweet potatoes. Roots pop out from any and every spot as in dahlias and orchids. Rhizomes are thick and shoots come up from the topside as in ginger. Cannas and ginger lilies are two examples. Corms are a bit like bulbs but have flat bases and tops with a wispy, brown covering. Crocus and gladiolus are corms. The following are recommended for indoor planting but can also be grown out doors under controlled light and water conditions: Narcissus or Nargis, a white flower, with deep orange centres and a heady, all pervading perfume reminiscent of India’s immortal actress. Amaryllis with large, flat blooms, mildly perfumed. Crocus-pink, white and yellow- a bit like the saffron Lilly in shape and size. Anthurriums - pink and red- like brilliant flamingoes in a pool of green leaves. Clusters of Hyacinths and of course, the gorgeous Tulip, which holds pride of place in any home. Begonias, those masters of versatility and delicacy abound in any nursery. However, remember that the last never produce large flowers except in the hills. They are quite perverse in that respect. For outdoor planting add the following to the above list: Iris, Dahlia, Orchid and Gladiolus. It is advisable to order your bulbs today, as the parcel post will take time. Precious bulbs like tulips and daffodils need to be stored in thick paper bags in a dry corner of the fridge, preferably the lowest shelf but not the crisper, as that is too moist. The fridge is necessary as these are cold climate plants. |
Elton John withdraws support
Although Sir Elton John is still fond of British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a person, he is planning to withdraw his support from the national statesman’s Labour Party. According to recent speculation, Sir John who voted for Blaire’s party in Government election last year is reportedly no longer convinced about his leadership qualities. “I like Tony Blair a lot, I think he’s a good man, but I think it’s very hard to be in power for a long time. I think you lose touch. It’s that goldfish bowl mentality”, Contactmusic quoted hi, as saying. Blaire had greatly benefited from Sir John’s support in the past, as it helped the UK government become a closer ally of America. Gibson on the verge of suicide? A US press report indicates that troubled actor Mel Gibson was on the verge of suicide because of his alcoholism. Gibson was caught by police on suspicion of driving under the influence after speeding and reportedly crossing lanes in Malibu, California. The star’s publicist, Alan Nero had announced earlier that that Gibson had checked himself into rehab and “is fighting for his life”. A source close to the actor claims that Mel felt helpless against alcohol and did not know what to do about it. “Gibson was really on the verge of suicide because he felt he was helpless to alcohol and didn’t know what to do about it. That’s why he was driving around 90 miles an hour. This was a death wish. If that cop hadn’t stopped him, this guy was going to be wrapped around a pole,” Contactmusic quoted a source close to the actor as saying. |
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No more whining
No, its not about a long drive around some lush vineyard, and nor about a trip to some winery. Neither does it have to do something about meeting some master wine taster. All that you’ve got to do is visit your nearest bookseller and grab a copy of ‘The Complete Indian Wine Guide’ by Dr. Aakash Singh Rathore and a whole new world of Indian vineyards unravels before you. An ideal for your food guide collection, the book may very well sit petitely and prettily on your coffee table. But more than that, the book can be a perfect companion for all Indian wine lovers. And especially those of us whose knowledge about wines can be best described as ‘red’ or ‘white’.
Ruffling through the book’s pages, one gets an overview of the history of wine’s presence in India, cues on how to taste and store wine, an insight into a few wine-myths that need to be debunked, wine and food pairing technique, besides the review of different national and international wines available in India. And yes, the book is woven around the very optimistic vision about India becoming the leading producers of wine one day. No wonder, the well-crafted volume leaves Indian wine-lovers with not even a single chance to whine! |
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Little did
Kawaljeet Dhillon, the co-producer of Mehndi Wale Haath, know
that while fighting against social evils of Punjab, he himself will fall
prey of another evil, which has hit the glamour world in the big way—music
piracy. Even before he could fulfill his dreams of releasing the audio
album of Mehndi Wale Haath, he to his horror, found the songs
flooding the market in MP3 albums. So after fighting against social
maladies like dowry, land grabbing, illiteracy, he is up in arms against
piracy. "I had heard about piracy all the time, but when it
finally hit us, we all were shocked. Making a film requires involving so
many people at the same time, one cannot be too careful regarding such
matter. Despite taking adequate precautions, I never new at which stage
our music got stolen," says Kawaljeet, strongly advocating the
implementation of some legislation like the Goonda Act, which is
prevalent in Tamil Nadu. Kalawjeet along with his unit has given a
representation to the Punjab Government. He also sat at a dharna
along with his brethren at the Matka Chowk on July 10. "We are
hoping that something will come out of it," says the young
optimistic producer who has stepped into the entertainment world with
his debut venture Mehndi Wale Haath. The film which is almost
ready to hit the theatres here features two young and upcoming actor
Gavie Chahal and Goldie Sumal in the lead. The cast also includes Sukhi
Pawar, Sanya Punnu, Prableen Sandhu, Gugu Gill, Manjit Kullar, Gurkirtan,
Ashok Bali and Rana Gill. Kawaljeet has joined hands with
Dalbinder Singh Ladher to produce the film. It is being directed by
Harinder Gill and the cinematography is by Arvind. — Parbina Rashid |
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Exquisite jewels Gahan Kala organized by Show Bizz India, is an enriching affair for the Jewellery fancy individuals. On display is meticulous work brought in from the top notch Jewellery trendsetters of the country. Ranging from far-flung areas of Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Delhi and the city of course, jewellers have arrived with a vivid objective of showing the unseen to the Chandigarhians. ‘‘The basic idea behind the endeavor is providing brand awareness among the buyers’’, says Himanshu of Sparkles Diamonds, Mumbai. Vijay Kumar and Co. has special diamond studded watches made in Switzerland in addition to designer Jewellery. Then there are sparkling diamond pendants and earrings from Poddar and Co., Kundan and Polki jewelry by JKJ Jewelers, Jewel Ace with its solitary brand of Thewa Jewellery and ORRA with its unique designs besides many others. This dazzling arena is open to all jewellery buffs till August 7. |
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Health tip of the day
Earlier it was thought there was a considerable deterioration in various body tissues because of aging but now it is thought to be more due to disuse rather than the aging process itself.
— Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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