Kate Elizabeth Hallam, the wife of singer Lucky Ali, isn’t just a former beauty queen and actress. She’s also a music enthusiast and accompanied her husband to AR Rahman’s studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai.
Posting a selfie with the maestro on her official fan page, Kate says she’s now learning Hindi and soon hopes to bag a role in a Bollywood film!
Amish Tripathi was at a popular book store in Bangalore recently to launch his latest novel Scion of Ikshvaku. Judging by the crowds at the book store waiting to catch a glimpse of him, its no surprise that the book sold off the shelves like hot cakes that day.
It all began as a pretty harmless post by a 19-year-old on a website most of the world hadn’t even heard of. She went on to write about ‘Why girls love the dad bod’. And no it wasn’t a spelling error, it was just an American kid coining a new term in Gen Y lingo for daddy’s body. Harmless enough we think, but we do wish people would just use the Internet for what it actually is, a tool to aid our daily life, and not turn it into the Gospel and then some.
As fitness enthusiasts freaked their brains out and beer-bellied men flaunted their bulging paunches, muscular men began to doubt their masculinity and women shrieked from the rooftops that they hated men with a gut and jowls.
We decided to play peacemaker and find out what the hullabaloo was all about.
How?
By speaking to those who sport a dad bad and those who don’t. By asking women what they want and what they don’t.
Simple, easy….
Didn’t we tell you we were sensible too? Never though much of believing the Net for everything it vomits out. It’s always better to talk to people and decide by common consensus, don’t you think?
I can’t say I ever sported a physique that manifested from hours spent in the weight room. Rippling biceps, washboard abs and a tight tush were what I always wanted… but like we all know one can’t always have what they want. And so I tried to make do with my slightly non-muscular arms, reasonably slim waist, decent legs and butt and compensated for the lack of it all with oodles of panache and swag.
A little over two months ago, a 19-year-old slip of a girl (and I call her girl ‘coz that’s what I think she is) from Clemson University penned an innocuous story in the Clemson Odyssey titled ‘Why girls love the dad bod’.
Now till such time, I urge you to note, the word dad bod was literally absent from English conversation and suddenly the Internet was freaking out, belching up frenzied deconstructions of the phenomenon that all seemed to arrive at the same angst-filled question:
“Do women really like the dad bod?”
I am north of 40, a tad soft-bellied, though I do put in my hours in the weight room religiously, and am here to do a bit of mansplaining on this particular term that’s sent all self-respecting men into a tizzy.
Pop a chill pill mates, for women, really and truly do love the dad bod.
Take this from someone who’s never been a bunch of rippling muscle, but never lacked in female attention either. Now, I don’t mean to gloat or laugh at all those hunks who spend hours chiseling their bods in the gym, but the average male, above the age of 25 whose testosterone levels no longer burn with the irrational desire to make a conquest each night, has long known women like dad bods.
The poor Internet is the only one who just figured this out!
Now, most men when asked about the dad bod and what they thought of it, first jumped on the defensive.
Take for example our conversation with Hifzur Rahman, the marketing head of a popular event management company from Bengaluru, who’s a few years over 30 and in the prime of his life. He’s physically fit and doesn’t hesitate to show it. In fact he prides himself for his trim physique and gives a predictable response when the D word is popped. “Every man wants a toned body,” he says. “It’s laziness that makes them accept their body as it is and be cool about it.” However, ask him what his woman wants and he’s quick to respond: “I don’t know about the dad bod (for I don’t think I have one) but my woman likes a non-chiselled body anyway, therefore loves me as I am. Chiselled bodies are for youngsters on the ramp. A toned body is more for the masses.”
Strike 1 for the dad bod.
And do note that I personally think Rahman is supremely fit considering his hectic lifestyle and looks pretty slick in the picture where he’s posing with his tot.
Since the term was coined by a young lady I decided to delve into the mind of another female in the similar age bracket.
Supriya Lahoti is 21 and an entrepreneur from Hyderabad. It’s obvious the girl is clever and sensible for she’s opened a successful art cafe in the city at such a tender age. “I think it is cool when men pay attention to their physique, but not to the extent where they are vain. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet is essential; not paying attention to that is not attractive. However, overly built and sculpted bodies do not look natural.”
So can we safely conclude that young women definitely see sense and stability in men with a dad bod?
Strike 2 for it, I say.
Every man in Bengaluru presently wants a physique like former tennis player, model and entrepreneur Karan Medappa. The man is sculpted, cut and carved in all the right places. And that shock of curly hair just adds to his glam quotient. It’s no secret that many women lust after his hot body. In fact he probably needs to employ someone to shut those gaping jaws as he walks past, especially if he’s shirtless, considering that’s how he’s spotted on the ramp most times.
He opines: “Though the term dad bod has been coined recently and trending all over, in the present sense it is nothing but the body of an ex-enthusiastic, short-term fitness inclined person, who was once motivated to have a body like Brad Pitt or Ryan Reynolds or even our very own Hrithik Roshan. But my reference to a dad bod would be all the James Bonds from Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan, who were not so muscular but had a good framework and a slight paunch!
I do think women feel that men with the dad bod are realistic, but I also feel that the men with the dad bod do take it too easy sometimes, maybe because they are blessed with high metabolic rates or simply because they are lazy! It does not take much time for the dad bod to turn heavier.”
Yes Karan, we’ve noted that. But we aren’t trying to put you down here. Your body rocks the ramp… that we know. What we’re trying to find out is how hot women find bodies such as yours, and for how long?
Another who echoes his thoughts is actor Harshvardhan Rane. His answer is quite amusing actually. He says: “I believe men were built to hunt and gather, so anyone who is still hunting in life – not literally for here it could be finding his answers, making a career, finding a partner – would end up looking like a hunter. And anyone who has found what he was looking for in life would have what we call now a dad bod. So both are justified, one is still looking and the other is settled. It’s just a phase where we are noticing men who are famous and have a dad bod.”
And what is it about women and a man’s perfect body that scares them off, we ask. To which pat comes the reply from Harsh. “I don’t think it scares them off, I think any woman who believes in her own fitness will always appreciate good genes in the opposite sex. Everyone has a personal taste, just like how some men like Vidya Balan and some like Kareena. There are some women who like a ripped body and some prefer the dad bod.”
A diplomatic answer, we think… but sometimes it good to be cautious.
Now Bengaluru’s Ila Naidu has no qualms about speaking her mind. She’s married to a good-looking, loving man, who is well over 6 feet 2. And our Ila is no slacker in the looks department.
Here’s what she has to say about the dad bod. “I’m most appreciative of the perfect body, I always appreciate the way a well-built man fills out his clothes. Especially European men who are built so differently from their Indian counterparts. The way their muscular legs fill out their trousers, their strong shoulders, wide chest and tight butt… they’re so easy on the eye.
But I wouldn’t want my partner or husband to be built like that. If I can find those attributes attractive, then I’m sure other women will too. And today, many women throw themselves at men (single or not) blatantly. I wouldn’t want my partner to be ogled at and targeted by them.
Secondly, though I’m hugely into fitness and maintain myself to the best of my ability, I know my body is not perfect. So I do not want to demand the same of my partner. I’m happy with him the way he is and love him like crazy, imperfections included!”
She’s no hypocrite, that’s all I have to say.
Dad bod… Strike 3.
Don’t pull out pictures of a paunchy Leonardo DiCaprio or Vince Vaughn or Adam Sandler and say they’re attractive.
No, they’re not!
And you know that just as well as I do!
And then again let’s not look at Hrithik or Will Smith or Ryan Reynolds and think they’re the epitome of what a women wants. Most of these men, for all their muscles and rippling abs, have not been able to hold on to their women!
Shaun D’sa from Chennai is 31. He’s vociferous in his opinion: “This dad bod post – is the chubby look in – I think it’s an easy way out for the larger majority of men, including myself who have barely enough time to pursue an exercise routine. Let’s all stop joking about the chubby guy for a change and throw him in the spotlight. Let’s fashion those curves in and forget about the ideal body. Some part of me loves this, (that’s the run-with-the-Internet part) mostly because my day is turbulent and I just about make it home in time to read my little girl a few bedtime stories. I have been trying to work out for the last three years and have kind of lost touch with any sort of exercise routine. The other part of me (the logical side) says that Leonardo DiCaprio was probably working on getting chubby for the next new film and got caught in a moment that is now described as the ‘dad bod’.
My wife bakes like a goddess. It’s easy to develop a dad bod with those kind of calories going around. I push myself not to grab night time dessert. Her perspective is that I need not be built like the hulk or ripped like an athlete, she would have me stay healthy and charged. I think most women are generally happier with a man who is brisk and high on energy from a daily routine of exercise.
The 20’s have left me with a series of small health tragedies and called for lifestyle changes. Eating right, lots of colours on my plate and a large disregard for rice keeps my metabolism just about right. So yeah, I don’t work out, but not bad for my dad bod, eh?”
We agree Shaun, we agree. That’s why we are showing the world how good you look in the picture with your little girl.
Strike 4 for our hot topic of conversation.
And finally we head to an expert to wrap up the debate. Vinod Channa is a personality trainer who works with most of Hyderabad’s hot movie stars. He’s surrounded by high levels of testosterone and adrenaline morning, noon and night. He can recite the names of protein shakes and food supplements like a kid recites poetry. Yet he has a different opinion on the D word.
He says, “First things first, fitness encompasses various elements and has a different definition. There are some people who are really fit and can do about 30 to 40 pull-ups or push-ups even if they don’t have a visibly fit body. There are also some people who have a ripped body but can’t even jog properly for 10 minutes.
So you have to judge the person according to his strength, stamina, mobility, agility, speed, flexibility, impact bearing capacity, power, and endurance – all of these, which translate into fitness. If even one of them is missing, you don’t have a fit body. Six pack abs look fabulous – but what is the point if you cannot perform?
There are a lot of people who are impressed with guys who are fit. I think ladies get bored with someone who has a chiselled body very soon, as it is a short term thing. But being fit is a long term process! Nowadays, women are more into men who can lift weights, do one hand push-ups or any exercise but may not necessarily have good physique.”
So yeah… its Strike 5 for the dad bod!
Take it from me mates, for I have a wife of 17 years and a load of lady friends who like me just the way I am, there’s no need to sweat it out and pump yourself up just to get popular with the gals. Use your brains, be compassionate, listen patiently, talk to them, treat them nice and appreciate them for who they are and not only how they look, and they’ll do it right back at you.
Gleaming lights, booming music, all-pervasive cigarette smoke and alcohol, the morning after headache and hangover, strong smell of smoke on your hair… Sounds familiar! Most of us have been there and done that. When Oliver Cheatham, an American R & B singer crooned years ago, “I like to party, everybody does,” he may not have estimated how many millions of young people identified with it. Or maybe he did when the song continued to rule the club circuit decades after!
Who doesn’t like to have fun? With age and means on our side, we feel invincible. As if life is one big party. And why not? Partying is a sensorial experience and heightens all five of them. When you’re in that zone, you forget the things you’re supposed to do, there’s no time but the present and you live it up.
Scientists claim to have discovered why some people like to spend their nights at wild parties while others prefer to stay home. The brains of introverts and extroverts differ in the way they respond to experiences, according to a new study conducted by Yu Fu and Richard Depue at Cornell University in New York. Their research says that extroverts like instant gratification while introverts tend to be distressed by excessive stimulation. Extroverts experience rushes of dopamine as a result of their environment while introverts do not. As a result, the researchers concluded that party animals have fundamental differences in the way their brains work.
So now we know why some of us are wired differently and why we love to party, whether it’s good, bad or ugly! After every party, there’s always a new story to tell. However, no matter how euphoric a moment can be, you have to acknowledge, at some point in time, that it’s only as good as it lasts.
So why do people prepare for hours to go to a place where the unexpected can be expected but the outcome is more or less the same? And what happens when it’s no longer fun and games but turns into a serious addiction, an irresistible dependence? When does that moment of reckoning appear in the lives of party animals when they say `enough is enough, let me get my act together?’ When do they feel they have over stayed their limit in the party zone? When do they realise it’s time to clean up?
RITZ seeks answers from well-known South Indians…
There is a thin line between being a party lover waking up with a hangover and a party addict sleeping through a black hole. Many who live in the fast lane start slowing down and get their life back on track. This is the story of party lovers who transformed into achievers with a focus and a balanced way of life.
For Danish Sait, actor and anchor from Bengaluru who describes himself as “ambitious, passionate and determined,” the change happened all thanks to his determined mother. “Too much drinking and partying in my late teens had made me quite the waster. I would spend the night drinking with friends, not return home for days, wouldn’t get out of bed when I was home, plough my way through jars of Nutella…. in a word, I was ridiculous.” His wake up call came to him when, “One day, when I was 20, I remember my mom waking me up and she literally threw me out of the house. I had ` 2,000 in my pocket and she told me not to return till I had sorted my life out. It was like a wake -up call for me. I began hunting for a match-box to live in (laughs at himself) and hats off to my mother, she sent me everything that I would need to live there – my Play Station, TV, bed etc. She just didn’t want me back under her roof!”
If you thought Danish was a early starter at 17, wait till you hear the super successful and suave Oum Pradutt, Founder & Managing Director Phase 1, the award-winning Entertainment & Events company from Bengaluru, “My stint as a bad boy began early in life – I was in my early teens when I actually began moonlighting on the wild side. All of my friends were older than me and looking back now I am shocked at myself for the things that I did and indulged in.”
All party animals have crazy incidents in their lives. “Depends on what you think crazy is. I don’t think you should stop doing crazy, you make sure you have the right gear and are in a space designated to do your kind of crazy. And you start calling it a hobby,” is Hichem Osman’s take on it.
Too many people get hurt when things go out of control. And all of them realise that in retrospect. On a lighter note both Danish and Hichem concur that they “gave parents sleepless nights.”
And in Oum’s case, “I was living my life on fun, never caring for the worry and stress I put my folks through. There were no mobile phones or pagers then, just simple land lines. And I think at times my folks were just a step away from heading to the local police station and filing a missing person’s complaint. Whether it was cigarettes, liquor, driving fast, roaming the streets at night with friends and basically bumming around, I think I tried them all.”
For Hichem, co-owner of Silkworm Boutique, Studio BAS and Splendid Food Co., which focus on handwoven sarees, bespoke tailoring and catering respectively, the idea of fun changes as one gets ahead in life. “Change didn’t happen overnight. It’s been gradual. Thanks to parents who always kept it very real for my brothers and me. We were constantly reminded that there are no free lunches. Everyone’s got to work! ”
So how exactly did they set out to change their lifestyles and habits? Says Danish, “So I got myself a job with an event management company and started earning `13,500 a month. After paying my rent with my first month’s salary, paying for utilities and groceries I hosted a small party for my friends; and that’s when I realised how important it was to balance your life and do both – work and party.”
Says Oum, “Finally, when I was 20, I realised that all my peers were making something of themselves, while I chose to sit around and waste my time and my life. It was like a revelation to me. I realised I needed to get a job and get my act back on track. Four years later I opened Phase 1 World and the rest is history. There has been no looking back since and from being an absolute bum I’ve catapulted into a success story.” According to him, the change has to come from within, “I firmly believe that unless one reaches that stage of self-realisation through an incident, a tragedy or life-altering event, it never works to get off the downhill ride and get one’s life back on track.”
In Hichem’s experience, ““The transition from college to work and deciding what one wants to do with the rest of their life as a profession or a career is always tough. Looking back, I did give my folks a tough time with that. After giving me all the space and time I needed to try my hand at anything that caught my fancy, I made a choice, to do something positive and constructive, and Silkworm Boutique came about.” Passion for something also plays a role in finding your fun elsewhere he says, “Another big change happened when I started to ride horses again at the Madras Riding School. It’s important to find a hobby or sport that you enjoy the most, it’s important to give it everything you got, it gives you a sense of purpose and fulfilment, and helps you focus and grow.”
If you have no regrets, you haven’t lived, goes the Yiddish saying. And if you you don’t change, you don’t evolve, we all know that.
Says Danish, “No regrets, only fond memories. You hurt, you get hurt, it’s all a part of growing up and life! Learning to accept your faults and saying sorry eases the lousy feeling of screwing up! You learn from your mistakes. Most important, you learn to be humble and gracious. Not that I have given up partying but the realisation that balance and moderation are the keys for a healthy lifestyle has made all the difference. I still do both today, though maybe I work harder and by the time I’m done with work most days I don’t have the energy to party. But yes, life is good now and I am who I am all thanks to my mother Yasmin Sait.”
Hichem says, “One has to evolve, your idea of fun changes as you get older, things happen and suddenly you realise that it is not compulsory to party right through the weekend.”
So that’s how the story of people who indulged their wild side and went on to err on the side of caution goes. Yes, they gave sleepless nights to their dear ones but they woke up in time to take life and work seriously. For them it’s all been about letting life happen, getting the reins back in their hands and understanding the stages.
Like they say, there are no mistakes; everything is an experience. What you do with that is entirely up to you.
“I’ve had a long history of addiction. The problem progressed through college and employment. Then I got married and like most brides and parents thought (wrongly) that marriage will solve this problem. Of course it didn’t and the problem only got worse. Ultimately, my wife could not take it anymore and left me along with my daughter. This was the one incident that made me realise that I need to do something about my addiction.
I had to go and stay in rehab for a long time – nearly 3 years. I had to give up my self-will and follow the directions of my counsellor totally. I had to become humble. I had to be patient. I had to get honest with myself. In short, I had to begin to progress spiritually.
With my long history of addiction, there are so many crazy incidents. So many mornings when I would wake up with a black out when I wouldn’t remember what happened the previous night. Then I would proceed to find out tactfully what happened. Once I got into an altercation with a cop on the street and was hauled up to the police station. I caused so much embarrassment to myself and my family so many times.
I regret starting to use alcohol and drugs; I wasted so many years of my life using substances and then so many years trying to get out of it. However, ultimately, I did leverage this experience in my endeavours to help others with a similar problem. My experience gave me a unique perspective into addiction. So you can say the thing I most regretted is also the thing I am most grateful for! My regret gave me purpose in life.
An alcoholic or addict does not merely cause harm to him or herself, but to all those around him or her. Especially, those who are close, like family members. This hurt is emotional, social and spiritual. My family tried over so many years to ‘reform’ me and their hopes were repeatedly shattered. I caused huge hurt to them and it has taken years to heal that.”
“I was an addict for the longest time. I didn’t quit even after marriage and fatherhood. It wasn’t by intent that I cleaned up my act. When my son asked me to quit doing drugs, I quit living with him instead and took to the streets. Only because he decided to give me a chance and intervened by putting me in rehab did I get clean. No alcoholic/addict is in charge of his life while using, he is a slave to the substance of abuse.
The authorities at the rehab asked me to stay a year, but after the first year I stayed a further two years to make sure I knew myself and wouldn’t relapse. I still follow the 12-step program which begins with Acceptance, Surrender and living one day at a time.
I have done crazy stuff including tripping on acid and sitting with a beer bottle in my hand, which my so called “friends” substituted with a bottle of whiskey which I downed bottoms up on a dare, waking up after a stomach pump in a hospital.
My family, friends and I have at some time or the other been hurt directly or indirectly through my using for which the only amends I can make are through staying sober (9 years now), being productive, responsible for myself, and working to being a better human being till the end.
But I have no regrets.”
Volvo Auto India announced the launch of the S60 T6 petrol in India. The new S60 will be available in T6petrol, Automatic8-Speed FWD with 306HP and a whopping 400Nm torque. Priced at Rs. 42 lakhs (Ex-showroom, Delhi/ NCR), the Volvo S60 T6Petrol will be retailed through Volvo dealerships across the country from now.The new Artemis Cars showroom in Chennai is owned by Ms Nrithya Shetty and Mr. Sivaganesh Balasubramaniam. Located on the Anna Salai Main Road, Teynampet, Chennai, this stand-alone luxury retail experience is spread over an area of 4600 sqft having a true Scandinavian ambiance. It is a modern and contemporary looking showroom having an ‘inviting interior design’ speaking of the new Volvo’s Retail Experience concept, with a ‘Cool on the outside’ and ‘Warm on the inside’ feel.
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Tom von Bonsdorff, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India said,” India is one of the fastest growing markets for Volvo. An array of recent launches – XC90, V40 Cross Country Petrol, V40 and now S60 T6 Petrol will add a positive thrust to the brand presence in India. The Volvo S60 is a beautifully balanced combination of dynamism, style and comfort. I look forward to further strengthening Volvo car’s presence here.We are happy to bring the new Volvo Retail Experience with our new dealer in Chennai. VAI is confident of expanding its market share and creating more patrons for its brand.”
Volvo’s Brand Philosophy:
‘Designed Around You’ is the brands translation of going an extra mile to understand customers better. This human-centric approach enables Volvo Cars to know the pulse of the customers and gauge what they desire in a product. With this thought the brand places the customer at the heart of its design. Every Volvo car boasts of cutting-edge technology with engineering that is executed around human values.
NTR Jr gets a makeover and how! Stylist Ashwin Mawle posted these photos of the actor recently and we were surprised and happy to see his new avatar from his upcoming flick. Totally trending, this hipster look of his is sure to have a lot of woman folk swoon over him. #win
It’s that time of the year when youngsters are trawling stores for jewellery and bridal wear, scouting around for the ideal venue and giving wedding planners sleepless nights. The wedding season closes in on us and we speak to three newly engaged couples about their wedding plans, that special proposal and how they’re planning their big, fat, Indian wedding!
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Vedika Kejriwal looks back at her relationship with Manoj Mahadevan and says “We first met on a golf course with some friends, he was just someone in the group. Soon we got talking, but it was just as friends.” She calls their story a remake of two states with Manoj being South Indian and Vedika being Marwadi. A tennis player of high repute Manoj has won the All India Men’s National Grass Court Championship. He represented India at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open and the World Youth Games in the junior category. Having trained in leading tennis academies on scholarship, he has an MBA in finance and works with the capital markets team of an American multinational company. “When we started talking we were setting each other up with other friends, but the idea of us being together hadn’t struck,” tells Vedika. Later while talking one night she the idea of them being together was brought up .They decided they needed some time to think about it and let the idea slide. But Vedika being the more assertive one in their relationship opened up the idea again, showing Manoj why she thought their relationship would work and Manoj couldn’t agree more, If there was someone he wanted to be with it was her. It didn’t take much time for Vedika to realise what she wanted in life – it was Manoj. She had made up her mind.Eventually he came around and saw his life with Vedika. Manoj says, “ Without the pressure of marriage to get to know someone is what made us click. We first got to know each other as friends before making it anything more.”
Ironically it was the lady who proposed in this relationship. Manoj had planned a romantic beach-side dinner during which Vedika was sure he was going to propose but it didn’t happen , When he visited her she popped the question and they were enganged and happier than ever. “Looking back I guess it does seem like everything happened really fast, but when you know I guess you just do” explains the pretty lady. Manoj took some time to think about things, he recalls how it took him a while to even figure out what was happening. He says, “I had gotten used to my bachelor life and suddenly everything changed in the span of a few months. But since knowing her I had some time to think and I realised that she was the one.” After that breaking the news to their parents was barely an issue as they were both certain that if they were to get married it would only be to each other. They decided to embrace the large difference in heritage and plan out weddings in both styles. They planned a proper Tamilian Brahmin wedding, with the swing and the madisaar, in Chennai and had a sangeet and cocktail party in Bengaluru, which is where Vedika was brought up. Being together, they both agree, has been the best for them. The way their personalities are so different, it makes them work harder at their relationship. Since their courtship and marriage were quick, they say that they are still in their honeymoon phase and are constantly learning things about each other, making each day together a constant adventure that they are excited about embarking on together.
It’s that time of the year when youngsters are trawling stores for jewellery and bridal wear, scouting around for the ideal venue and giving wedding planners sleepless nights. The wedding season closes in on us and we speak to three newly engaged couples about their wedding plans, that special proposal and how they’re planning their big, fat, Indian wedding!
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All the world loves a lover, said the Bard. And when you meet the newly engaged couple – Monty Sen and Mehjabeen Raza – you can’t help but want to fall in love. Such is their sizzling chemistry and evident compatibility.
For Hyderabadi couple Montgomery Sen aka Monty and Mehjabeen Raza, the momentous occasion of sealing their relationship happened after nine long years. Says Monty, “Love makes you do crazy things, which sometimes have no rationale! Yes, it was rather funny as to why I would travel across the world and propose to her after all these years in NYC when I could have done that in not so harsh weather and rather a pleasant February of Hyderabad or in Delhi but I guess that’s what love does. ” While Monty, who was born and raised in Delhi and relocated to Hyderabad in 1991, started his career in capital markets from Hyderabad Stock Exchange and is currently involved with a Sydney based private equity fund focusing on South East Asian markets, Mehjabeen Raza, a true blue Hyderabadi, worked for HSBC, Deloitte, Kingfisher Airlines and Standard Chartered Bank and is currently director in a New York based firm.
Together, M&M (as they like to be referred ) have decided to use their cross-cultural experiences and set up a base in NYC in addition to Hyderabad and Delhi – as they see themselves spending a lot of time together there.
“We first met in November 2005 and have been together since,” says Monty. Even though, he moved to Delhi in 2007, they were still together and after nine years, they decided to make things formal.
So was it the clichéd ‘going down on one knee’ kind of proposal? “Yes, but with a little more drama at an international landmark,” reminisces Monty. “Despite the long distance relationship, we both felt we had the bond of a lifetime and this year on 14th February, I decided to get on a plane to propose to her in Times Square,” he tells.
A scene right from the movies, did you say? We agree. Explains Monty with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “I didn’t want her to say NO, hence the proposal at -10 degrees centigrade – she quickly said YES and we moved indoors before we froze!”
The next logical step was confiding in their families and announcing their official togetherness to the world. On May 23rd, in Hyderabad, they had an intimate engagement ceremony to give their relationship a legal twist. Even as they share their bliss with us, they are busy making plans for the wedding. “We’re definitely planning a destination wedding and then a reception for friends and family in Hyderabad and Delhi. It’s going to be a really unique, exclusive and memorable one!” says the groom to be.
It’s that time of the year when youngsters are trawling stores for jewellery and bridal wear, scouting around for the ideal venue and giving wedding planners sleepless nights. The wedding season closes in on us and we speak to three newly engaged couples about their wedding plans, that special proposal and how they’re planning their big, fat, Indian wedding!
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Theirs is a story of young love that has survived the test of time and matured into a bond so strong that even a decade of togetherness has not tarnished. Meet Nikita Shreedhar and BS Sukesh, a newly engaged couple from Bengaluru, who share their unique and adorable love story with us.
” We so in love,
Yeah, we so in love,
And I just can’t get enough of your love
Yeah, we so in love, love, and I want you to know
You are my baby love, my baby love “
The lyrics of Nicole Scherzinger’s Baby Love ring so true for young Nikita Shreedhar and her fiancé BS Sukesh.
Theirs is a match literally made in heaven. The newly engaged couple have known each other since they were ten, been best friends for more than five years and have now been engaged for five months. They will soon tie the knot in November this year and embark into a new phase of their relationship, pledging love and togetherness for the rest of their lives.
“It’s funny how we met; we’d moved into a new house in one of Bengaluru’s suburbs and Sukesh’s family had moved there too. His father and mine are childhood friends. What began as a simple acquaintance, grew into a strong friendship, despite Sukesh being shipped off to boarding school for two years,” explains Nikita. “We got back together when he came back from school and remained friends till five years ago. It was then that we got close and realised our true feelings for each other.”
Considering that the duo’s families knew each other, both fathers were childhood friends and both were of the same caste, the parents quickly realised their children’s feelings and opted to make things official. Nikita and Suresh were engaged in January this year and will be married in November.
Like their love story, their engagement was a special occasion for the young couple. “We had decided on a traditional wedding, performed as per our culture and caste. Hence we wanted to go all out and have a lavish engagement,” tells Nikita with a dreamy smile as she recalls those magical moments.
Hosted at the Taj West End in Bengaluru, the couple opted for a vintage themed engagement party where everything, including the decor, their outfits and the props were in a white and gold combination. “The groom arrived to the engagement venue in a vintage cycle rickshaw decked in white tulle and gold. I, escorted by my brothers and cousins, made my entry in a vintage chariot,” explains Nikita as she animatedly tries to re-create the dream-like ambiance for us.
There was a photo corner, comprising multiple gilded frames, for the bride and groom and their guests to pose for candid pictures. Bengaluru’s celebrity photographer had been hired to chronicle the event pictorially. The guests, many of who had come in specially for the engagement from outside Bengaluru, were stunned by the lavish and well thought out arrangements.
Being a student of fashion design, 23-year-old Nikita and her 24-year-old fiancé planned the entire theme for the engagement themselves. “We hired a wedding planner who executed our ideas and put the logistics intro place. But we visualised the entire concept and were very sure of what we wanted and how our engagement should be,” tells the bride-to-be with much pride. In keeping with tradition she wore a heavy silk saree for the formal ring exchange ceremony and later changed into a gorgeous cream and red Indo-Western outfit for the rest of the evening. The man of her dreams complimented her ethereal looks by appearing in a dashing maroon, white and black velvet tux.
As they danced the night away and celebrated the formalisation of their love surrounded by family and friends, they embarked on the next part of their great big bridal journey by beginning the plans for their traditional wedding and forthcoming life together.
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At the glittering launch of the Telangana Special Edition of RITZ, South India’s leading lifestyle magazine featuring the state Chief Minister’s so and IT and Panchayat Raj Minister, KT Rama Rao on the cover, the Editor and Publisher Aruna R Krishnan was seen in a floor-length Toni Maticevski Technique gown and custom made diamond ring and earrings from acclaimed Chennai-based design house Studio Tara.
Fashionista’s get ready. Autumn/Winter is coming!
Here’s a look from the new campaign for the Autumn/Winter collection from the house of Alexander McQueen.
To call him the man of the moment would be understating his longevity in public life. He is, in fact, the new man of the new millennium. For all those who had apprehensions about the newly elected Government of the youngest State of India, here’s the good news. Not only is he an antithesis of the archetypal politician but also somebody who has the conviction and the means to make Telangana one of the finest global hubs. And if you go by the achievements of the ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi in the last one year, it’s quite obvious that his portfolio has contributed immensely to the party’s and the State’s growth.
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One of the youngest and most progressive in thought, dashing, dapper and dynamic, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao aka KTR, Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj, is probably the only minister in the State to be armed with impeccable educational qualifications – two post graduate degrees, one an M.Sc in Biotechnology from Pune University and an MBA in Marketing and e-commerce from the University of New York. His work record is no less impressive – Regional Sales Director, INTTRA, before he decided to plunge into politics full time. In between countless phone calls and an army of people waiting to see him in the buzzing corridors of the Secreteriat, KTR accords RITZ the privilege of chatting with him in the inner chambers of his spartan office.
What makes him every journalist’s dream is his candour, his immaculate speech that is devoid of any artifice, any pretence. Probably, a lot has to do with the values instilled by his mother, childhood that wasn’t exactly idyllic and an early responsibility in public life. As a young legislator at the age of 27 and a cabinet minister at 35, he has displayed an amazing maturity, much to the chagrin of his detractors. A will to serve combined with a sense of social equality seems to be his guiding principle. While his effortless articulation about his plans for Telangana impresses you, his earnest confessions about his personal life tugs at your heart.
Presenting KTR, the son, the brother, the husband, the father and the politician, in his own words…
‘When I was in the boarding school in Hyderabad, my parents had missed the deadline of paying the fee due to an oversight. I had to stay back in the hostel for a couple of days after everybody had left’
The Child
“I was born in Karimnagar and came to Hyderabad when I was in the 3rd grade. I shifted from school to school. In 10 years, I had changed 7 different schools! The problem was change of place every so often. I was in a boarding school from 3rd to 7th grade. I had some health issue there. So I had to come back home. I moved to a day school in the 8th grade and continued till 10th grade. I was happy to be back home.
Nevertheless, boarding school did influence me a great deal in terms of early exposure to the realities of life. My dad was very busy even then. He was a newly elected legislator in 1985. He was already active in politics much before I was born. My mother was extremely busy, too, with family responsibilities. My father had nine sisters and one brother. His parents used to live in the village. She had to take care of everything single-handedly. While I do understand now that I had to be put in the boarding school given my parents’ hectic schedules, it was very confusing for me back then. I missed home terribly. I wanted to be with my parents, my mom more so. It used to trouble me a lot. But now it makes a lot of sense when I think back. My parents wanted their child to get the best education. So they put me there. At one point of time I remember, it was an oversight more than anything else, when I was in the boarding school in Hyderabad, they had missed the deadline of paying the fee. I had to stay back in the hostel for a couple of days after everybody had left. Now I find it funny though it didn’t amuse me as a 10-year old. Luckily, my grandfather came to fetch me. It’s one of those memories that stands out.
Life teaches you that you don’t get everything you want. And that’s not a bad thing. Your parents want to be with you, you want to be with them, but priorities determine circumstances. At that time their priority was to ensure that I get good education. You can call it existential realities of life. Having said that, it does teach you decisiveness, independence, discipline, the ability to face challenges and a sense of individuality. You won’t end up being petty; you learn to look at the larger picture; you also understand that life is full of complexities. So it’s good. It keeps you grounded.”
The Son
“I was closer to my mom. Dad was away for a long time. I never used to understand it back then but now that I’m a dad, I understand how fathers think, what fathers want for their children. He wanted a good life for us. He wanted us to get good education. He wanted us to get the best of everything. Therefore, he was working hard for us. So irrespective of where he was I’m sure he was thinking about us, looking out for us. Mom being mom had to take care of the family.
My mom is a phenomenal woman. She is very grounded and extremely simple. You’ll still see her in the kitchen, cooking, doing simple chores, which is not expected from a Chief Minister’s wife. She is untouched and unfazed by our political life. She has always told us that “Power is transient; it might disappear tomorrow, so you better be who you are; don’t get carried away by it.” That’s the most valuable lesson, I keep revisiting every now and then.
In terms of politics, my father has influenced me significantly. But I have my own set of opinions and priorities. His tenacity inspires me a lot. That will, that courage in the line of fire, that conviction, that resoluteness are what I admire tremendously. It’s amazing how he has managed to accomplish what was considered as Mission Impossible by many, with his sheer grit. It was a fight against all odds.”
The Brother
“My sister is 3 years younger. She has always been strong and far more aggressive and far more dynamic. She’s definitely been more adventurous and risk taking than I am. While I keep saying `You need to sober down,’ she’s definitely somebody I keep learning from. I am a very protective brother. I don’t want her to take to take undue risks; I don’t want her to hurt herself. But she’s her own person; while she respects my opinion, she does her own thing.”
The Friend
“When I was in high school, I made some really good friends. They are still my friends and I try to meet them as often as I can. They are all non politicians. So that takes my mind away from the routine and pressures of my job. So it’s great to have friends who keep you grounded and tell you what you are doing right and what you’re not. They don’t mince words. Friendship is precious. We need to give enough time and space to our friends. I believe in a balanced life. I don’t believe that life is just work, work, work… I do get complaints that it’s not enough.”
The Family Man
“Ours was an arranged marriage. Not a very exciting story there. My wife Shailima is somebody I respect tremendously because she comes from a non-political family. Her father was a bureaucrat and she comes from a different world altogether. I grew up in a political family so I knew what I had to put up with but she had no idea. It was quite tough for her to adjust with the atmosphere. That in itself is a huge accomplishment. That’s why my respect for her goes up every day.
I have two young demanding children – a son Himanshu and a daughter Alekhya. To bring them up and maintain that family balance is a challenge my wife handles so competently.
I don’t think I am a hands-on father. Not as much as I wish to be. I try to attend the parent-teacher meetings. I try to go to their school functions. I do my bit but not as much I should, probably. I think I should do more. But I try, I try my best.
“In India, being somebody’s son or daughter helps you get an easy entry
but people in democracy will be quite critical if you don’t deliver”
I wish to give them a lot of lessons but they are they have distinct personalities already. In fact, I believe we’re a sandwich generation. We’ve to respect our elders and at the same time respect our children too. Children these days are very demanding. It’s an interesting time we live in now. So all I can advise my children would be to get good education and be better human beings than my wife and me. As parents, that’s the best we can do.
“I do miss the days before I got into politics. Recently, when I went to the US, I didn’t feel like coming back. I try to take vacations but not as much as I would want to. My recent holiday was in the US where I had gone for work. Three weeks I was working and the last five days I took off from work. I went back after 10 years so I think I was entitled to it. I keep telling my wife that compared to other politicians, I am doing alright. But she says compared to her friends and brothers, I’m not doing enough. It’s one of those ongoing arguments but I think ultimately one has to strike their own balance.
My favourite destination is Goa. It’s easily accessible, you can get away quickly, has some nice resorts and hotels and you don’t have to travel 16–17 hours to get there. My wife and children love it as well. Outside India, it’s Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong because they are closer. Don’t laugh at me.”
We weren’t; please note it was only a fond smile on our face noting his predicament!
The Routine
“A politician’s job is a thankless one. I think people in our country have a very strong opinion about politics and politicians. And it’s not very good actually. As in, the perception among people about politics and politicians is not so great and I don’t blame them for it. But nevertheless, I think it’s a challenge. So, being a thankless job, it tends to sap you out. My day starts quite early and ends very late. I wake up at 5 am and try to get a bit of exercise. I exercise five times a week on weekdays. I start meeting people by 7.30 – 8.00 am and go on till late into the night especially when I’m touring the districts. For the last few months, I’ve been watching what I eat. High protein, lots of fibre, low carbs etc. Ever since I started working out, my trainer is trying to keep me in check. I wasn’t so conscious earlier. My favourite food is Chinese. In Telangana cuisine, I like the nibbles, the deep fried kinda stuff they make at home. I know it’s not healthy, so I try to limit it. I’m not very fussy about food. I eat all kinds of food.”
The Politician
“In 2004 September, I came back to India to head the South Asia division of the company INTTRA I was working for in the US as the Regional Director. In 2006, there was a by election because of my dad’s resignation. At that point of time, it was a make or break for my father and the party. I kept telling my wife that I wanted to get into politics. Without even telling my dad, I quit my job and started working for the party. Without his knowledge I took the decision. I told him after we won. He was not very happy but once he realised I was very serious, he was supportive.
I wouldn’t probably have been in politics if I were not KCR’s son. I wouldn’t have been a minister. I am very realistic about these things. In India, being somebody’s son or daughter helps you get an easy entry but people in democracy will be quite critical if you don’t deliver. They won’t vote for you the second time. The first time they may look at you as somebody’s son and vote based on their opinion of your father or your mother. But I’ve won thrice now. So the fact that they have elected me two more times goes to show that I’ve delivered, that I have worked. Being somebody’s son does give you easy access but at the same time, there is a burden of expectations to deal with.”
The Mission
“I can say that I have represented my party and our issues at various national fora. over the last six years, I have done my bit of serving my constituency. More than anything, I have played my own little role in the agitation for a separate Telangana. Looking back at the last 9 years, I feel happy that I was a part of the objective my father and several other leaders set out to achieve. Now our tasks are set out and I hope to play a significant role.
In the last one year, the biggest challenge was to revive the confidence in people. Lot of people thought that after the formation of Telangana, the IT industry would move away from Hyderabad, that new developments may not happen etc etc. Lot of apprehensions, lot of prejudices… We overcame all that in the last one year. Hyderabad remains one of the most attractive destinations, we have positioned it well. We have been able to attract majors like Google and Amazon to open their largest campuses outside of US. We have grown at a very healthy rate. While the country’s IT exports grew at 13%, ours grew at 16 %, 3% more than the national average. We were able to create more than 50,000 new jobs and 2, 50,000 direct jobs. We have attracted a lot of IT hardware manufacturers to Telangana. We have made our presence felt in the US, Hong Kong and Dubai. We have positioned the brand image of Telangana and Hyderabad very well overseas. We have been able to retain the existing investors in Hyderabad and also attract new ones.”
‘There is no better country to be in than India for young people today. There is no better place to explore one’s future, one’s career. Politics decides your future, so you decide what your future politics is’
IT and Panchayat Raj are two ends of the spectrum. The convergence we’re trying to bring about is very unique and challenging. We’re trying to leverage IT and communications to bring about a social change because technology that does not bring about social change is useless. So we’re trying to incorporate IT into the rural sector also. We’re coming up with a concept called e -Panchayat through which services will be offered right at the doorsteps of the villagers. It will be launched soon. We are also trying to lay the last mile connectivity to each and every household in Telangana. If you talk about e-health, e-education, e-commerce, the potential is huge. So there are several things we’re working on right now and you’ll see a lot of things falling into place in the next couple of years.”
“There is no better country to be in than India for young people today. There is no better place to explore one’s future, one’s career. At the same time they can help our country grow. In a country like India, there is a huge scope to make a difference not only in terms of social infrastructure but otherwise as well. Our country is full of challenges and needs solutions to them. Today’s youth have so many opportunities and so much information at their disposal. I think they should make use of it.
One thing I strongly believe in is ‘Politics decides your future, so you decide what your future politics is’. Because in a democracy, everything you do in your daily life is determined by politics. So you better start taking a stand. I’m not saying everybody should get into active politics but you should be aware of what’s going on because the kind of leaders you want, you should definitely have an opinion on. If you don’t like the kind of leadership you have, you should take it up on yourself to change it.”
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Varuni Mohan, Luxury Brand Consultant
She’s well known for her impeccable dress sense and ability to carry off almost any look gracefully. Being fashionably turned out is part of her job description as a luxury brand consultant, hence her closet is filled with classic treasures.
Here’s what Varuni Mohan chose to highlight from her extensive collection of fashion accessories.
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Garment
A black Zara pantsuit is Varuni’s outfit of choice, since it is classic and her favourite thing to wear.
Shoes
The much coveted red heel – Christian Louboutin pumps in lavender, gold and black in patent leather with a super high heel. She wears them during the day and at night, just to add the feel good factor to her look.
Clutch
From Etro, it has the classic brand related paisley pattern printed on leather, embellished with a blingy amethyst gem stone detail. And Varuni loves this since it also happens to be her birth stone.
Earrings
A very special gift from her mother, just because she admired a similar pattern worn by Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge. They’re antique gold chandelier earrings studded with small rubies and emeralds that her mom picked up from Srishti Jewellers in Bengaluru
Cuff
A Salvatore Ferragamo exclusive, this beautiful piece was a farewell gift by the Brand Head when Varuni bid them adieu after having worked with them for two years.
Urmilla Agarwal, Designer & Stylist – Chennai
The stunning Urmila Agarwal who has been a stylist for close to 6 years, has now started her own design studio called Mint Closet which specialises in made-to-order clothing and apparel for woman and kids. One of the most fashionably dressed ladies on Chennai’s social scene, she’s always impeccably turned out and is often seen wearing some stunning designer pieces. Here’s what she picked from her closet to showcase for us:
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Garment
This short brown tassel dress is from BCBG. It’s a fun dress and perfect for a night out.
Bracelet
Like all other women, she loves bling and sparkly goodies. Hence this beautiful bracelet from Cartier. It’s something she loves to wear and goes with a lot of different looks.
Watch
Her timekeepers are exclusive, but classic like the sleek Rolex she’s sporting. It’s a brand you can’t go wrong with, she says.
Shoes
High heels are her best friend and she loves the colourful Valentinos that add spunk to a bold tone to her outfit.
Necklace and hand harness
Two unique pieces from Outhouse. The necklace holds a special significance to her and hence she chooses to wear it, and keeping in mind her slightly funky twist to fashion, the hand harness reiterates her style statement.
