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One for the road
Chandigarh maiden cyclothon brings in stars from different walks of life Like all
things first, we brush aside the minor commotions, little confusion here
and there, bit of chaos and move to the brighter bigger things. The
spirit and the cause of the event to be precise. Soaking in the spirit
were a string of sponsors, each vying for a share of the pie; bringing
you a brief preview of all things principal and all things peripheral to
the event. In the din of categories of participants, there were
fillers, there were performers and there were stars. Virender Sehwag,
flagged off one event, made a blink and miss appearance. Mingling among
the crowd, flagging off the rally, sporting a Green Ride tee was Punjabi
singer Jasbir Jassi. But how much of a cyclist is he himself in real
life? "I’ve been a cyclist almost all my life. The
event, as part of the World Tourism Week’s celebrations, brought in
first timers to the city itself. Shares Mainudin M. Sayyad, from
Maharashtra, "I’ve been here for the first time and it’s
extremely fresh and green, have been here only for two days now and will
be here for another day or two." Chips in CWG probable, Bikram
Singh, from Manipur, "This is for the first time I’ve come here,
of course it’s relatively nice and clean." As for the
commonwealth, the professional cyclist for seventeen years now, ‘Would
rather not like to say much and concentrate on the game." He adds,
"There are lot of categories but most probably I’ll be in sprints
and short distance." manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Live wire
Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh to stage 70 special shows during 2011 to mark his 70th birthday Reigning supreme as the most affable ghazal maestro in the world for more than last five decades Jagjit Singh plans to celebrate his seventieth birthday in a unique style. With an unparallel popularity that he enjoys among the masses, Singh credits his success not to his innate potential but the blessings of Almighty and good wishes of his audience. This ghazal supreme has designed a series of concerts (seventy) to be held in seventy cities of India and abroad for which he has received many proposals from cultural organisations and his ardent fans. Besides this, seventy ghazals recorded in seven volumes with ten ghazals or nazams each, both old and new will also be released during the year. “This year long musical celebration begins with the concert at Mumbai on February 5 in which Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia will perform with me,” shares Singh. “On Feb 6 an All India mushaira will be held in Mumbai and a grand party on Feb 7 on the eve of my birthday,” he adds. However, March doe not see any programme on account of students of examinations. In city to perform at a concert at the Tagore theatre for the Sher-e-Punjab Foundation, Singh shared his life long experiences and views on the contemporary music scene in India. “Change in every sphere of life is inevitable. The very patrons of classical music as defined by Bharat Muni during the third century have undergone a substantial change. Likewise all genres of music, folk, classical or say the latest film and pop music have undergone fast changes as conditioned by the tastes of the people and the milieu from time to time,” he offers. History repeats itself and return of the pristine music is surfacing again. “All the folk based songs turn out to be the hits. Classical music, ghazal and bhajans are also being accepted largely because these are performed live unlike some film and pop music, which are an exercise in lip-sync,” he avers. About his love for ghazals, Singh maintains that it is a complete and perfect musical composition as it has the elements of literary poetry, musical melody and the rhythm. “If literary aspect of ghazal is taken into consideration, it is the best in lyrical expression and depth of emotions,” he says. On being questioned on his preferred venues around the world, he says, “Like any artist I loved to perform at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, London. It has a seating capacity of six thousand. More recently, however, I prefer Wembley Concert Centre, London and Singapore Esplanade. Performing in Chandigarh or Punjab is a homecoming and that really rejuvenates me.”
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This is the first time the actress has shared screen space with the intense actor and she found him shy while filming romantic scenes. "Having him as a co-star was a blessing for me. We had a blast shooting for the film. Interestingly, he was more shy than me in the intimate scenes," Divya said. Hisss, directed by Jennifer Lynch, has Mallika Sherawat playing the lead of a snake-woman. The film has already created a buzz and was unveiled at this year's Cannes film fest. After Hisss, Divya is awaiting the release of her crossover movie Heartland directed by Fred Holmes where she plays a Punjabi girl. "It is a light comedy. We have completed shooting and the film should be releasing early next year," she said. Divya's latest release Life Express has her playing a rural woman who agrees to become a surrogate mother for a city couple in exchange for money. "It is a realistic film and I have an endearing role of a woman from the village, who changes the city-bred woman's outlook towards life. It shows how the two women from different backgrounds bond with each other," said the actor. The actress has carved a niche for herself both in commercial and parallel films and Divya says she is glad she fits into both genres. "I enjoy working in both genres as I don't want to be repetitive. Right from playing a simple rural woman in Life Express to being a journalist in Amol Gupte's next, I want to try my hand at everything," said Divya. She played a short but humourous role in Shyam Benegal's satire Welcome To Sajjanpur and Divya thinks she should be a part of all the veteran director's films. "I missed working in Well Done Abba because I was out on a long outdoor, otherwise I think I should be a part of all of his films. He is my favourite director," she said. But the actress has no scope to complain as her hands are full with a number of films. Besides Stanley Ka Dabba with Amol Gupte, she is slated to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Sudhir Mishra. "I am also working with Rani Mukherji's brother Raja in his directorial Life Ise Gale Laga Le," said Divya. — PTI
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John Travolta-Akshay Kumar to dance on stage together Travolta's visit to Mumbai appears to be an uncanny
coincidence. It comes at a time when Akshay's retro John Travolta act in
Vipul Shah's Action Replayy is hotting up. Vipul Shah has
noticed the favourable turn of fortune too. His production team is right
now busy negotiating with Travolta's office to work out an audacious
collaboration between Travolta and his desi counterpart Akshay
Kumar. Yes, the two will be dancing together at a live event. Vipul is
in serious talks for this coming together. Akshay Kumar who loves
collaborating with international entertainers has also pitched in very
strongly for an evening of collaborative Saturday Night Fever.
Akshay is apparently using his Canadian connection to convince Travolta
to get jiggy on stage with him. When contacted Vipul Shah tried to
underplay the excitement of a Travolta-Akshay concert. "There are
talks going on. But talking about it would only make things difficult.
You see, negotiating with an international star is painstaking.
Water-tight contracts have to be drawn up. Unquestionable deals have to
be sealed. We're in the process of doing all that. But like I said I
can't talk about it until the papers are signed." While Vipul
plays it safe, it is reliably learnt that Travolta's songs and dances
from Saturday Night Fever and Grease are being handpicked
as part of this historic live performance. Let's hope Travolta would
have more to do in Akshay's presence on stage than the other Hollywood
icon Sylvester Stallone had to do in Kambhakkt Ishq. — IANS
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Bhindi Bazaar' is for multiplexes, says Britain-based producer Britain-based producer Karan Arora says his first Bollywood venture Bhindi Bazaar, which deals with the issue of pickpocketing in Mumbai, has the global appeal of Slumdog Millionaire and elements of Satya but is not inspired by them. "The movie has an international appeal like Slumdog Millionaire and at the same time it has very similar elements of Satya. But there are no inspirations taken from these movies," said Arora. The movie deals with the issue of pickpocketing in the infamous and densely populated area of Mumbai's Bhindi Bazaar. The film explores the city's dark underbelly. "Bhindi Bazaar has everything for multiplex audiences - intelligent screenplay, entertainment with various elements like crime and thrill, among others. It is a thriller but at the same time it is also very realistic," he said. Arora is the CEO of High Grounds Entertainment Ltd, which started its Indian production house - Picture Thought production - last year. According to Arora, the motto of the production house is to generate content-based movies. With the recent success of small-budget, strong content-driven movies like Peepli Live, Arora feels Bhindi Bazaar will appeal to audiences in India. "People often asked us why didn't we start with a star-studded movie, but our reply was that we just want to first slip into the market, do our homework and test the waters. "We can make the noises later after proving ourselves. This has been our strategy so far," he added. With a Hollywood-driven philosophy, Arora says his team spends a lot of time in "script farming". "Script farming is a word we use in Hollywood. One does a lot of research and reads a lot of scripts before shortlisting a few, potential projects. So far, we have liked three scripts," said Arora. "One of them is Bhindi Bazaar and the other two are Padosi and Let's talk Love," he added. Bhindi Bazaar was recently showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in France. It has been directed by Ankush Bhatt and has a power-packed star cast comprising Kay Kay Menon, Deepti Naval, Shilpa Shukla, Pawan Malhotra, Gautam Sharma and debutante American artist Caterina Lopez, among others. — IANS
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Produced by Jamnadas Majethai, the movie is inspired by a popular television serial Khichdi. Majethia said that film was made seeing the popularity of the serial. "The trend was changing, so keeping this in mind we thought that when you want to make a film, you look for a subject which would be liked by the audience. Here, the situation was the opposite - the audience liked something and they were telling us to make a film, so basically I think the idea to make this film came from public demand," said Majethia. The film will feature gags and situations different from the serial. "The content of the film is totally new. The jokes, humourous interactions that were there in the television show, those will not be found in the movie. You will get to see a fresh look. Style is the same but storyline and presentation are totally new," said Aatish Kapadia. The film is scheduled for release on October 1. — ANI
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Facts on fitness
Sachin Kalra
Muscle turns into fat when you get old or stop lifting: Regardless of your age, if you don't use your muscles on a regular basis, they'll get smaller from disuse. This atrophy process is your body’s way of reclaiming some of the protein from which muscle tissue is made. If you continue to eat a lot of food, just as you did while training, you'll become fat. But muscle can't be converted to fat. Fat is stored from the food you eat because you're eating more than you need. Women need to focus on toning: The word "toning" has become a source of misunderstanding over the years. As you use your muscles against resistance, which is a stress situation, they remain in a state of partial contraction, even at rest. This partial state of continuous contraction gives your muscles a firm feeling that we call toning. So, just like men, women should concentrate on getting stronger and making their previously unused muscles return to normal size. Using free weights build size while machines shape muscles: Used correctly, both machines and free weights provide the required source of resistance to build muscle size and a clean diet provides definition. Learn how the machines in your gym and the dumbbell/barbell exercises can work for you, and then use one or the other or both to best meet your needs. You should train your abs, calves and forearms every day: While you can train any muscle every day, you won't get away with it for very long! Even though slow-twitch muscles, such as your forearms, abs and calves, are somewhat more resistant to fatigue in comparison to other muscles, such as your chest or quads, they still need rest. Basically, if you plan on getting as big as possible, you need to train every muscle hard and heavy. This kind of training requires plenty of rest, even if you're talking abs, calves or forearms. High reps build definition; low reps build bulk: Again, dieting provides definition and weight training builds muscle size! For the greatest size possible, you'll have to lift heavy and lighter weights, do fast and slow movements. Though emphasis should be laid on lifting heavy weights as they are more productive in terms of building size, the point is that you simply shouldn't train only one way. Gains can be best attained by training in many different ways. Squatting will make your hips wide: Your skeletal structure, not a particular exercise or your gluteal muscularity determines the width of your hips. No amount of squatting will alter your skeletal structure. In fact squatting is the single best exercise any beginner can do. Deadlifts and rows are bad for your back: There's no such thing as a bad exercise. If you use proper technique, exercises will only be beneficial. More people get hurt from using poor technique than anything else. In most back exercises, the key is to maintain your spine's natural curvature - that's the position of strength. If you round your back off, you're inviting trouble. When you do these exercises, focus on keeping your back straight, your shoulders back and your chest out. Squatting will harm your knees: With good technique, squats are good for your knees. In fact, squatting will keep your knees healthy, as long as you don't bounce into the bottom. Common problems include doing squats before you're schooled in proper technique or trying to do too heavy squats. The gym should be hot for a better workout: Well, not exactly. Research suggests that slightly warmer temperatures, about 65-75 degrees F, are better for intense training than cold temperatures. Once you're sufficiently warmed up, the temperature doesn't make much of a difference. Be sure to stretch before you train: Many people confuse warming up and stretching, as well as stretching and flexibility training. Very little evidence suggests that stretching before training or competition increases performance. In fact, some shows that prolonged stretching will make you weaker. It's much better to do an activity-specific warm-up. Now, if you want to work on your flexibility, do so after your workout when your muscles are warmed up and much more pliable. Flexibility training is far more productive when muscles are in a mildly fatigued state. (The writer is a health and fitness expert) kalrasachin@hotmail.com
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Heart & happening
In 1999, the World Heart Federation in alliance with the World Health Organization announced the celebration of World Heart Day with the intention of increasing public awareness about the global impact of cardiovascular diseases. It also emphasises on its prevention. It was decided to hold the last Sunday of September to commemorate the event. World Heart Day of 2010 has been dedicated to the theme of workplace wellness and the initiative for this year has been named as ‘work with heart’. The intention behind this assertion is to improve the cardiovascular health of the employees around the globe and also to reduce the economic consequences of loss of productivity on account of workforce sickness. Workplace wellness
It is increasingly recognized that well-being of a state is primarily depends on the health of its workforce. Healthy employees contribute effectively to the productivity and profitability of the workplace and eventually of the nation as well. In the highly competitive corporate environment of present times, employer cannot afford absenteeism or poor performance from an ailing employee. By a certain estimate it was observed that at least 25 percent of organizations loose 14 percent of their annual working days due to employee’s sickness in India. Globally, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death among all diseases and by one approximation over 17.2 million people die of these aliments every year. Almost half of these victims are the people in their working years and are employees at different organizations and establishments. Loss of most productive years not only is a problem for family members, also leads to shortfall of business productivity and increased curative health care costs. It is estimated that countries like India currently loose more than 20 million productive life-years annually to chronic diseases and that number is expected to grow by further 65% by 2030. Stringent scheduling and corporate competitiveness do not often allow employees to devote free time for leisure and exercise activities. Matters of heart
By making workplace ‘heart considerate’ dual objective of not disturbing the work schedule and better health of the employee could be achieved. Abstinence from smoking, regular preventive health check-ups, promotion of healthy foods at the site and adequate stress busting measures for exercise as well as leisure times are some of the options. World heart day celebrations endeavor towards prompting such perception amongst the employees as well the organizations so that a healthier workforce engages in the nation building. For the employer the measures could increase commercial productivity, lesser absenteeism, lower medical costs, improved morale with better corporate image and enhanced staff retention. And of course, for the workforce it translates into healthier heart with extended and happier lifespan. (The writer is a city based cardiologist) |
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Art of the times
Prolific writer, curator and the recipient of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres - Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters conferred by the French government, Dr Alka Pandey in Chandigarh throws light on the art of new media What is new media art? Can Nek Chand be called new media artist? Is new media the art of alienation? Where is the common man placed in this avante garde art? These and very many other niggling doubts were put to rest by Dr Alka Pandey, consultant arts advisor and curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. All through her slide lecture show on Saturday evening at Government Museum and Art Gallery auditorium, Sector 10, as part of the National Art Week organised by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi and later in the interactive session, the prolific author who calls herself a facilitator between new media art and people dispelled many myths regarding what new media art exactly is. To begin with, she clarified that the intervention of technology is an essential ingredient of the new media. "New media art by its very nature encompasses all art work created with technology from digital art to computer graphics to computer animation. Why even virtual art and biotechnology are part of it," she elucidated. So in that sense Nek Chand may be a pioneer, a path-breaking artist in his own right but it would be fallacious to call him new media artist. Similarly, she feels that artists like Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher may be using new mediums but cannot be strictly classified new media artists. Instead she introduced art lovers to names like Sheba Chhachhi and Tejal Shah who are employing the new technology in many interesting ways. In India she revealed that there are several gifted artists and bright minds doing remarkable work in the new media. The problem she pinpoints is that even today the canons for the new media are in the west and but for few centres like Shrishti in Bangalore, there are few places where training for new media can be imparted. Beseeching the HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to look into art education, she feels that it is because of absence of funding and support in India that artists like Kiran Subbiah, who believes art doesn't have to serve any purpose, are compelled to live abroad most of the time. It is because of absence of critical discourse on new media in India that Pandey's own daughter, new media artist, Mandakini Devi finds the atmosphere in India not so conducive. Interestingly, Pandey shares that it was through her daughter that she learnt the finer points of new media like time lapse theory. In fact, Pandey's journey into new media began when she, along with Dr Nils Roller of Zurich University, brought out a journal on new media, the first of its kind in the country. Understanding this new media art, often comparing it to cherry picking, she asserts, is not easy. To begin with, she was overwhelmed if not baffled by the works of Bill Viola who uses multiple monitors to make the viewer part of his creation. But to dismiss this art as a spectacle, she asserts, would be presumptuous. "Nor is it instant art which can be created in a jiffy or art that will fade out soon. Technology is here to stay and there is no way you can keep it out." Sure many may find it difficult to relate to it for "each one of us has our own aesthetic trajectory" but to be judgemental she asserts would be unfair. "We can't guide artists, only remember that technology has opened a gateway to new choices." Not surprising then that artists who reflect the spirit of the times would exercise their right to choose how best to express themselves and in a language they understand better.
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Looking good, feeling great
Shahnaz Husain
But, whatever the sport, in order to achieve success and distinction, it is necessary to maintain top-level fitness. Players devote a great deal of time to working out and exercise. Next time you look with envy at a trim, perfectly proportioned figure, remember that it has been exercised into shape. Indeed, exercise is not only extremely important for physical fitness, but also makes the body strong, toned and agile. It increases stamina, improves blood circulation and imparts vitality. If you wish to look glamorous, set aside some time for daily exercise and relaxation. You can do this by going to sleep and waking up half an hour early. Start your day with 10 minutes of stretching exercises or a brisk walk. Then do deep breathing exercises for 5 minutes, followed by meditation for 15 minutes. This means you need to set aside about half an hour.
Watch what you wear
Choose clothes that you feel comfortable in. You can wear a tracksuit, or a loose T-shirt and tights. Cotton clothes are best, because they absorb sweat. If you exercise out of doors, go jogging, or walking, you will need special shoes, with good support. Sneakers are good for walking, but for jogging, you will need running shoes to give you the support you need. Posture is so important. Have a look at yourself in the mirror and see how you hold and carry yourself. Posture and deportment are the first things that people notice about you. The age-old practice of walking with books on the head actually works! Yoga is very useful for improving the posture, mainly because it also helps to make the spine strong and flexible. Increasing your awareness about your posture goes a long way in helping to improve it. Warm up
Warming up and cooling down are very essential. Warming up helps to get your joints flexible and ease muscular tension, making you ready for the physical activity to follow. Warm up with five minutes of light exercises, like neck and arm circling, moving shoulders up and down, knee and sideways bends. Stretching exercises can be done as part of warming up for your main exercise programme. You can start your day with a few stretching exercises even before getting out of bed in the morning. While lying in bed, stretch your body. When you get out of bed, stand and stretch your arms and body upwards, as if you are reaching for the ceiling. Repeat the same exercise standing on your toes. Then, let the whole body relax by letting the body flop, loosening yourself completely, arms hanging limply by the sides. Cooling down can consist of a brisk two-minute walk, or repeat the same exercises that you do for warming up. Well-being
There are many physical activities one can choose from, like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, skipping and so on. Remember to take your doctor's 'go ahead' before taking up any regular exercise programme. An organised programme, under professional guidance can also have several benefits. These are usually programmed towards better functioning of the body, starting with light exercises and then progressing to more strenuous ones. This ensures that the body gets used to physical activity and there is no strain on any area. Many health clinics have introduced tests that determine individual capacity to undertake a particular programme. Generally, such programmes concentrate on exercises which follow a rhythmic motion, like stationary cycling, or walking on treadmills. Step by step
Believe it or not, a long walk can be an excellent work out. Walking puts the body in continuous rhythmic motion and exercises most parts of the body. Of course, this depends on how you walk. We are not talking of a window-shopping stroll here. You should walk briskly, swinging the arms. Start slow and increase speed and distance gradually. You should aim for a speed of 6 to 8 kilometres an hour, walking for 35 to 45 minutes. Needless to say, you should check with your doctor first and keep your age in mind. Regular walking not only benefits the figure, but has a relaxing effect on the mind too. In fact, it is said to be a stress buster. Mind, body & soul
Modern research has shown that it is based on scientific principles. It is an ancient Indian discipline and was considered the traditional path to physical, mental and spiritual good health. The word yoga actually signifies union of body and mind. Therefore, it recognises that body and mind are not separate entities, but are interdependent and interlinked. The appeal of Yoga lies in its numerous benefits, as it works on muscle groups, increases vitality, tones the internal organs, stimulates the nerve centres, relieves stress and clears the mind. Yoga has become so popular because of its relevance to modern needs, in terms of delaying degenerative processes and reducing stress. In fact, it has also gained relevance today as a means of attaining a well-balanced personality and delaying ageing. One of the advantages of yoga is that it can be adjusted to suit age and personal capacity. The duration and frequency can be adjusted according to the flexibility and stamina of the individual. The duration can be increased gradually. The yogic asanas are designed to keep the spine and joints flexible and supple and this goes a long way in delaying age-related signs. It also includes exercises for particular physical complaints. There are numerous other benefits. The posture improves and so does suppleness and grace. Muscles are toned and blood circulation improves. It helps to induce relaxation of both body and mind, soothing the nerves and releasing mental tensions. Yoga also helps to relieve fatigue and allows recuperation of energy. Thus, it has renewing and rejuvenating benefits. Yoga can be included in any exercise programme, but it is best learnt under supervision and guidance. Indeed, external beauty and internal good health are two sides of the same coin. Good looks and glamour project a vitality that comes from sheer good health. Unless you are healthy from the inside, you cannot reflect beauty or glamour. For a flawless skin, shiny hair and a slim figure, good health must be on top of the list. |
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He is in the city to promote Shakespeare studies at the seminar on Scholars in Shakespeare: A Postmodern Scrutiny at MCMDAV College for Women. This event has been organised with the collaboration of Shakespeare Association (India). The organisation promotes Shakespeare studies, theatre performances and translations of his work through various national seminars. This time, the association has received international platform as scholars from all parts of the world were invited to deliberate on the works of Shakespeare in post-modern context. Prof. Dahiya decided the theme that hasn't been adequately discussed in the earlier books on Shakespeare. His range of interests are wide. He has to his credit many books on countless subject matters. His latest work on his favourite subject is, Shakespeare: A New Biography which discusses his life not from the controversial angle but from a humanist one. He has his hands full with lot of literary activities. The deliberations of the International Seminar are to be compiled into a book and he has almost decided the theme of the next seminar Subalterns in Shakespeare: A Postcolonial Scrutiny. The studies on William Shakespeare shall receive a new dimension with his work and whole world shall benefit from it. — TNS
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Director Ameer Sultan, who has given the Tamil film industry three award-winning jubilee hits in a row, has signed the Bollywood siren in the lead for his next ambitious venture Aadhi Bhagavan opposite Kollywood superstar Jayam Ravi. "Though the Bigg Boss offer was lucrative and tempting, Neetu won't be able to participate as she has to leave for Ameer Sultan's shoot in Pattaya (Thailand) this week," said her publicist Dale Bhagwagar. Ever since she began discussions for the film last month, the 26-year-old Neetu has been learning Tamil with a tutor giving her two hours of lessons each day. Neetu, best known for his role in Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal, had become a hot favourite to enter the reality show due to a recent controversy. Pakistani actress Veena Malik had accused Neetu of having direct links with her ex-boyfriend and Pakistani bowler Mohammad Asif, who is currently embroiled in a match fixing controversy. — PTI
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The Chandigarh regional round of the Tata Crucible Quiz alos saw strong participation from corporates from across the city. The quiz was hosted by ace quizmaster Giri Balasubramaniam aka. Pickbrain who tested the speed of thought and the ability of logical reasoning of the participating teams with interesting questions. The Tata Crucible corporate quiz after Chandigarh will now move to Delhi (Sept 26), Coimbatore (Sept 28) and Cochin (Sept 30). The winning teams from the regional rounds will qualify for the National Finals, which will be held in Mumbai on October 3, 2010. The two new cities where the quiz will be held this time are Nagpur and Guwahati. TPS Walia, Vice President (CDMA Operations) & Regional-COO - North (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh & J&K) Circles, TATA Teleservices Limited was the Chief Guest for the evening and awarded the team from 'The Armed Forces Medical Services 'with a cash prize of Rs. 75,000 and the team from ''Idea Cellular' with a cash prize of Rs. 35,000. In this quiz where the 'winner takes it all', the duo from The Armed Forces Medical Services toppled the other teams to emerge victorious displaying their sharp skills and great quizzing acumen. They will now compete with regional winners from across 18 other cities, at the Grand National Final to be held in Mumbai. — TNS
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Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor says his interest in direction is an immature dream which will take a long time to fulfill as he is busy consolidating his position as an actor. But the 27-year-old Kapoor scion says that he is determined to see his dream come true. "It would be definitely under RK banner and I would like to direct and act in the film too. But currently I am too busy as an actor," he said. Ranbir said he wants to consolidate his position as an actor first so that the family can trust him more. The six-film-old actor, who has attempted political thriller like Raajneeti, story of an underdog Rocket Singh, coming of age movie Wake Up Sid and a comedy Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani, felt action was a tricky genre. "The script should be convincing for me to pull off such kind of movie," he felt. About his relationship with father Rishi Kapoor, he said the relationship was not that of a friend, but an orthodox father-son relationship. "It is the kind he shared with his father Raj Kapoor. We talk more because I have become an actor. We talk about films, directors and investments since he looks after my finances," he said. — PTI
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It’s not something
Chandigarh is used to early in the morning on an otherwise sleepy
Sunday... a performer spinning to the tunes of Mehboob Mere at one
of the signpost streets of the city, on top of the voice and not to
forget, on top of the microphone. Chandigarh Administration’s
endeavour, Cyclothon 2010 was maiden in more ways than one.
I think the entire
twenty- two years of my initial upbringing I cycled, even completed my
M.A itself while I still used a cycle. Though I didn’t fight
competitions like this, but then I don’t think the likes of us even
need practice for such an event," the singer appears qualifies to
be associated with the cause. In keeping with the spirit he later takes
to the pedals himself before doing what he does best. Take to the stage,
make everyone tap to his singles. Did he even croon, "Mere cycle
te aake baija" He chips in, "In Punjabi you have a song
for every occasion, you make a song out of any occasion."
Those who find the clean and green rhetoric
a little heard and politically correct. "I’ve been here for five
days now and as of now I don’t think there’s anything that the city
needs to improve upon. Had heard about its sporting culture and it’s
green environs," shares another first timer, Omkar Jadhav,
participant, men’s category, from Mumbai. Meanwhile RJ Pankaj kept the
things pepped up, in between fillers did his part and everybody
organising had a tough time keeping the audience in control. But yes,
looks like the city cycled; for a city that prides itself on the maximum
per capita vehicles in the country, hope the riding culture becomes the
mainstream. Till then 
Bollywood actress Divya Dutta,
who made a mark with her performances in Veer Zara and Delhi 6,
is all excited that her first Hollywood venture Hisss is releasing next
month. "I am excited that my first Hollywood film Hisss is
releasing on October 15. I play Irrfan Khan's wife, a sensitive woman. It is
the most beautiful husband-wife relationship shown on screen," said Divya.
Bollywood star Akshay
Kumar, who has collaborated with many international entertainers like
Kylie Minogue in Blue, Snoop Dogg in Singh Is Kinng and RDB in
Kambakkht Ishq, will now dance with American actor John Travolta at a
live event.
There are several misconceptions that have been around for a long time. These should concern anyone who wants to keep fit. Work harder to lose weight: By working out longer you are not going to burn more fats. Too long physical training will cause too much catabolic hormones in your blood. And you will start burning muscles as energy rather than fat. Muscles are our strongest weapon against fats and this is one scenario we don’t need. Train smart. Don’t over train.
In recent times, glamour has become an important part of sports, what with sports personalities themselves becoming icons of glamour. Many of them are brand ambassadors and endorse glamorous accessories. We associate fashion and glamour with many of our sports personalities too. Tennis stars like Sania Mirza or Anna Kournokova project a sense of glamour with their particular preferences for clothes or jewellery. Tennis stars, particularly, wear designer sportswear to play, while some have made jewellery and bold colours their signature tunes.
For the President of the Shakespeare Association (India), Prof. Bhim S Dahiya, teaching and learning together have always been a part of life. This process began in 1974, while studying at the University of Cincinnati, USA, where he also taught for two years. He is a master of many arts. Besides teaching English Literature for over four decades, he has been the Vice Chancellor of Kurukshetra University. He was the Chairman of several UGC Committees and was also Fellow at the University of Advanced Studies, Shimla.
Actor Neetu Chandra has turned
down the superhit reality show Bigg Boss after landing herself a
big-budget Tamil film.
The 16th regional round of Tata Crucible Business Quiz 2010 was held in Chandigarh on Saturday, September 24th, 2010. In a spirited battle of brains, Dr. Anurakshat Gupta and Dr. S. Bhattacharya from The Armed Forces Medical Services emerged as winners, after a grueling but exciting regional final.