The fifth edition of the coveted Audi RITZ Icon Awards presented by Radiance Realty and Powered by Bols honoured some of South India’s most inspiring achievers — individuals who have transformed lives through their foresight, vision and efforts — in a scintillating display of celebration, accomplishment and revelry.
[wzslider height=”650″]
The Beat that my heart skipped (De battre mon cœur s’est arête)
Year: 2005
Language:French
Director: Jacques Audiard
Cast: Romain Duris, Niels Arestrup
The Beat that my heart skipped is a delightfully name French film about a real-estate thug, Tom(Duris) who is constantly pulled by his dreams, while continuously being pulled back by his reality. His reality of crime and easy money, the power of force and the rush it brings. It seems as though Tom’s one true purpose in life is to be a real-estate goon. His father, Robert(Arestrup) is a dodgy real-estate dealer who asks Tom for help to deal with difficult customers.
Tom meets his father at a restaurant and his father reveals that he wants to marry his girlfriend and would like Tom to meet her. Tom doesn’t seem particularly excited at the prospect but agrees nevertheless. We realize that he has grown to be protective about his father, especially since his mother’s death because his immediate reaction is to be unfriendly, disapproving and insulting towards her.
The movie doesn’t move very much. It starts off very excitingly and looks like it will be a racy one, filled with gangs and petty crime. That is not so and instead it takes you on a journey of torn ambitions. Tom’s one true desire is to be a concert pianist, just like his mother. He enlists the help of his mother’s ex-manager who tells him to audition. He starts practicing and begins piano lessons with a young virtuoso, Miao Lin to help him perform at the auditions. The scenes between the two make for an interesting watch as Tom can speak only French and Lin can speak only Chinese, Vietnamese and a little English!
But, Tom is unable to complete the audition. He is stressed out and overworked and finds his father murdered in his apartment. Tom knows that the Russian gangster, Minskov is behind this. What becomes of Tom? Does he become a pianist as his heart wishes or does he stick to his low-life career of crime, exploitation and easy money? The character of Tom is wonderfully portrayed and his innocent excitement about all things piano is heart-warming. Watch the movie to know whether Tom gives into easy money or lets his passion take him on the journey called life.
Verdict: Slightly slow but a very interesting take on the assumed polarities in a criminal’s life – easy money or chasing one’s dreams. Can they both co-exist?
Rating: 3/5
Hot: That a criminal nurses such sweet dreams inside him.
Not: Slow. The movie could’ve been faster paced keeping in mind it is about a criminal after all.
4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days
Year: 2007
Language: Romanian
Director: Cristian Mungiu
Cast: Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov
This movie is a strong case for pro-abortion laws all over the world. It is hard to imagine that there still exist countries where it is so difficult to get an abortion. 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days is set in 1987, one of the last few years of the Ceauşescu regime which was basically Communist Romania. Abortion which was previously legal was made illegal except in a few cases through Decree 770. After the fall of the regime, abortion became legal again in 1989.
That the movie is cold and hard hitting would be a definite understatement. It opens with the two friends, Otilia (Marinca) and Gabita(Vasiliu) talking about an impending plan and preparations for it. Have you packed the tissue? What about the soap? And the plastic sheet? The viewer is left wondering what they might be talking about. What are they packing for and why is Gabita so nervous? Slowly, the movie unravels itself on you. Otilia books a room in a hotel for 3 nights. She is extremely insistent about booking a room in a particular hotel but that doesn’t work out… and yes, we are still wondering!
Otilia finally manages to book a room in another hotel and then heads to meet a Mr.Bebe at a previously decided meeting point. Things start to look a bit fishy now. Mr. Bebe (Ivanov) seems a strange sort, someone you might want to keep away from. Otilia gets into his car and they drive to the hotel where Gabita is waiting. Slowly it starts falling into place in your head now. We realize that Gabita is pregnant and Mr. Bebe is going to do the illegal abortion for her…with a probe, some medicine and no anaesthesia. As they start to talk, it is revealed that Gabita had lied to him about being just two months pregnant. He realizes she is actually closer to 4 months and therein starts the downhill roll to misfortune.
This is a heart wrenching movie with carefully etched characters. It makes you ponder over just how much of a stake the rest of the world makes on a woman’s body. There are a couple of side stories as well, like that of Otilia and her boyfriend, Adi and their roller-coaster relationship.
Watch this movie to know just how lucky we are to live in a country where abortion is legal.
Verdict: I’d say it’s a must watch. Let’s give the choice over what a woman must do with her body to the one who owns it – the woman.
Rating: 4/5
Hot: Heart-wrenching.
Not: Heart-wrenching.
For Adil & Vasundhara, a collaborative project based out of New Delhi, music is not about what sells but rather about what connects. They delve deeper into their musical influences in a chat with Rohit Panikker.
The stage was nothing less than prophetic. A studio. That’s where Adil Manuel, a guitarist, met Vasundhara Vidalur, a vocalist, for the first time – and like they say about a lot of epic musical collaborations – the molecules just changed! Well, it’s not too hard to guess that from what the duo of Adil & Vasundhara have been up to in the last four years since then – touring the world, presenting their interesting blend of influences that heavily rely on elements of Jazz Fusion, Funk, RnB, Blues and Gospel, and releasing a rather impressively-produced debut album titled Ampersand in March this year. Based out of New Delhi, the duo recently performed together in Chennai for the first time. “We have been wanting to play in the city for the longest time. The audience here knows their music and they are always open,” shares Adil, as we catch them after a power-packed performance.
With a large bi-lingual repertoire of standards and original compositions, their shows have a mix of songs in French and English. Both Adil and Vasundhara admit that the main reason that brought them together was they felt that they could relate to each other’s tastes in music and how they just felt it. “When Vasundhara and I got together, we had a similar outlook on music and the collaboration just felt right, you know,” shares Adil. “Both of us, we like to do collaborations, and now, what we hope is that this opens up more avenues for music other than just tried and tested popular formats; that this will open up doors and windows for other bands to explore … That’s how we’d like to see it,” shares Adil.
“When you start out as a band in India, first you look at the market. You look at what sells. But we didn’t look at any of that, so I was a little bit antsy,” reveals Adil about how they managed to brew their music away from set norms or templates and managed to build a wholly original sound. “If you listen to us, you’d realize that we are not really Jazz; there’s a lot of funk involved, some heavy RnB and other influences. So what we do is, we fine-tune it and we get some kind of a connecting sound,” shares Adil as his bandmate chips in, “yeah, that’s something a lot of people don’t do … like there’s no point playing something if you’re not adding anything to it … it needn’t be original. Of course, there’s really no chance that you can come up with something entirely original, but having said that, it still takes time to put evolve your sound and to put something like an album together – to stick within a frame yet explore your sound.”
Extensively working with artists based in India and abroad, their focus has been the creation of new sounds and energies through collaboration, exchange and cross-influence. Their debut effort also features a rather powerful roster including jazz pianist Louiz Banks, drummer Ranjit Barot and Indus Creed’s Zubin Balaporia. And that is exactly why they named the album Ampersand, reasons Vasundhara, “The album is called Ampersand because it’s bigger than us. It’s not just about Adil & Vasundhara. Everybody just stepped in. Everybody’s contributed.”
Talking further about their debut album, Adil explains that although they have been touring extensively before and after the release of their album, in the last six months since they released the album, the support and feedback that they have been receiving has been phenomenal. “We never actually expected to gather so much attention for the album. It just happened on its own. We released the album in March and between April and July, the album went viral and we got featured so much in the media, it was not something we worked towards, but just happened. At one point we just lost count of the publications – both mainstream newspapers and other publications that had run articles on Ampersand. That was what really worked for us.”
Adil further explains that the response that they’ve got for the album is proof of the changing popular tastes in music. “Of course, the support we’ve got for the album actually shows that at some level, people are exploring ‘genres’ and listening to music like this.”
As a group that has toured both within the country and outside, the duo have been witness to the growing live music “scene” in India, Vasundhara shares that this is a relatively new phenomenon, especially in the last few years with so many venues opening up that invite musicians and have live sessions on a regular basis. “Also, it has to do more with the access, I believe,” she says. “There are a bunch of music school all around the country churning out batches of musicians. Live music became a trend of sorts and it created work, word went around and people started trying it out and taking chances … and well, some of these chances really worked out!”
Fans are often credited as the reason for a celebrity’s stardom. But how is the view from the other side? Read on to know what South India’s hottest star, Dulquer Salmaan, has to say about his experiences with fans!
When did you get your first official fanmail? What did the message say?
I haven’t really received fan-mail as such – it’s all mostly text messages these days. I don’t remember any in particular, because being my dad’s son I’ve received messages even before I was in the industry. There were a couple of messages I got comparing me with my father, and telling me to live up to the name that he had earned, and one of them even compared me with a tiger cub.
What was the most memorable thing a fan of yours did for you?
I wouldn’t know if she was a fan or not. Recently, I went to a hospital to visit a friend. When I got out of the hospital, just making my way to the car, a lady dressed in a burkha called out to me by the name of the character I played in Usthad Hotel, Faizee. She said “Mone Faizee!”, meaning “Son Faizee!”. It wasn’t a random fan calling incident, but a term of endearment from a maternal looking woman. She wasn’t smiling or gushing or anything – it was a lovely maternal bond that she seemed to bridge, when she called me that.
What was the worst thing ever that a fan of yours did for/to you?
Nothing at all! I’ve had my critics, but there’s never been anything that qualifies as the worst thing.
Have you been stalked by anyone? What happened? What did you do?
No, I haven’t been stalked.
What’s the scariest fan-related incident you’ve faced?
Sometimes fans wind up outside my house at odd hours – so much so that I wonder if they are fans or have other plans…
Has a fan ever hit on you? What did they say/do?
Somehow, I find that little kids relate to me most. So little boys and girls walk up to me and ask to hold my hand, and speak with me. That is endearing – I guess I connect to the young audiences best!
The Mac Byers concept airship is a blend of Star Wars and a NASA space shuttle, and can hit long distances in the shortest time.
A new concept of travel has been conceptualized by UK-based designer Mac Byers, which allows guests to experience a wide range of destinations in a short time, while enjoying some of the greatest views imaginable. The airship looks like an airship inspired by Star Wars and the NASA space shuttle. The interiors are as open as possible encouraging social interaction like a full service hotel in the sky with at least one restaurant and a bar.
[wzslider autoplay=”true” lightbox=”true”]
Makeup brand MAC ties up with Rihanna to launch an exclusive line of cosmetics titled ‘RIRI hearts MAC’
After her successful spring collaboration with makeup giant MAC, singer Rihanna’s fall line with the cosmetics brand has been a much-awaited one. In addition to bronzer, brushes, eye mascara, eye shadow palettes and liners, the Fall 2013 Collection ‘RIRI hearts MAC’ will offer Rihanna’s signature lipsticks including ‘RiRi Woo’, which was a huge sensation from her previous collection. All products are encased in rose gold metallic packaging, rather than the usual MAC black. The range will release internationally on October 3.
Crafted by hand, the new 18-carat gold earphones by Happy Plugs is an auditory masterpiece.
Combine jewelry and good sound with these exclusive 18-carat gold earphones by Stockholm-based Happy Plugs. The 25-grams of gold are moulded into shape by a Swedish goldsmith by hand, giving it the weight as that of a piece of jewelry. For the common buyer, Happy Plugs has also introduced similar metallic versions in silver and gold costing Rs. 2000 (approx) as compared to Rs.90,000 (approx) for the solid gold ones. Upgrade your look and make some noise!
We’re approaching a season rich in fine parties, fancy galas and high-fashion revelry. For women, selecting the right cocktail dress or ball gown is only the first step in developing the perfect fête ensemble. Jewelry is a key player in finalizing your look for the night. Keeping in tune with the season, Notandas Jewellers unveiled graceful Party-wear collection showcasing Cocktail Earrings, Cuffs & Earrings.
Embrace your beauty and celebrate party with the sparkle of cocktail jewellery this season. This enticing cocktail jewellery range by Notandas Jewellers promises to add a never before bling to your celebrations. Aesthetically crafted, the dazzling Notandas jewellery adds an individualistic appeal to the personality of the woman adorning it. This astonishing collection features an array of elusive jewellery pieces that symbolize the true essence of being Singular, Matchless and Timeless. Each Jewellery piece in this assortment is an arrangement of intricately carved, delicately placed diamonds, colored stones, tourmalines and sapphires, carefully positioned to highlight each curve. Every piece of jewelry is splendor personified.
The cocktail rings of party-wear collection are a reflection of contemporary grandeur and modern elegance. Replete with exquisite designs of cuffs and earrings and superior craftsmanship, this party-wear collection spells graceful grandeur. The party-wear collection of graceful Cocktail jewellery by Notandas Jewellers compliments both Indian and Western outfits, making them look elegant and sophisticated. This collection will not only add glitz and glamour to your celebrations but also make this party season the most memorable one. Adorn yourself with Notandas Jewellers’ stunning jewellery and begin the party with sizzle.
This mesmerizing collection is available at Notandas Jewellers, 6, Mangal Darshan, Water field rd, Bandra (w), Mumbai 400 050.Tel:26428616
Preparation for the Christmas cake begins much in advance. The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace set the ball rolling with the traditional cake mixing ceremony – Wednesday 6th November 2013. It’s all about rum-soaked dry fruits and nuts going in with raisins, tuti-frutti black currant, orange and ginger peel mixed in wine and brandy. This time to do the honors we have invited the two charitable organizations whom we have supported through the years – Heal a Child & Cheers Foundation. “To make a perfect Christmas cake, we need to do lot of planning in advance. All the cut dry fruits should be mixed really well with the spices so that the flavour is well absorbed. When mixed in advance, the desired flavor is attained. Alcohol helps retaining the flavour and acts as preservative. Ingredients mixed in correct proportion is the key to a perfect Christmas plum pudding.” said Executive Chef Steffan Dawson “During this event we will share our joy with children from Cheers Foundation and friends from Heal a Child Foundation. This will year mark the beginning of the festive season at The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace” says Ko van den Hil – General Manager – The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace.
[wzslider height=”650″]
A host of celebrities decked up in their best Gucci wear for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) third annual Art + Film Gala honoring filmmaker Martin Scorsese and artist David Hockney. The evening, which was Co-chaired by Leonardo DiCaprio and LACMA Trustee Eva Chow, celebrated the art of the moving image and brought together luminaries from both communities. Also celebrated was the first collaboration between The Film Foundation (founded by Martin Scorsese), LACMA, and the Annenberg Foundation to preserve four films by acclaimed French filmmaker Agnès Varda.
[wzslider height=”650″]
She is just 32 but has already gained recognition from the prestigious World Gold Council, featured in Fortune magazine and even garnered praise from the likes of Jimmy Choo! And we, at RITZ, have always been in awe of the sheer passion and creativity that defines this independent spirit. On that note, jewellery designer Suhani Pittie does more than just scratch the surface in conversation with Vinita Nayar.
Suhani Pittie never planned to become a jewellery designer; she was a gemmologist who turned to jewellery design by chance. But what a chance that has been! Today, this talented young designer from Hyderabad has gained national and international recognition. She has been featured in the illustrious Fortune magazine and been praised by the iconic Jimmy Choo. Her flagship store in Hyderabad has won many awards and Suhani herself has been feted with several awards, catapulting her into the league of India’s top jewellery designers. She has also launched her online store www.suhanipittie.com/shop, another successful venture from this gifted lady. Suhani talks to Ritz about her business, the challenges she faced, her passion for designing and her own style quotient…
What made you decide to become a jewellery designer? Was this your ambition as a child? Did you have an interest in designing from then?
It was absolutely unplanned! I was teaching gemmology in Kolkata before moving to Hyderabad in 2004. One fine day, I was toying with some old silver. I heated it, and made something for my mum in law and got orders on it from most people who saw it on her. Thereafter, I participated in Bridal Asia. My work got picked up by some leading stores and suddenly I found myself a career!
My first love was gemmology. I was never inclined towards design or jewellery. I have always enjoyed the technicalities. Even now I love to get into the thick of technicals. Whether its gadgets or cars or even the refractive indexes of gemstones, I am a sucker for detail and love researching and reading up on topics. So gemmology was my first love. I was never interested in ‘drawing’… I never looked at heirlooms or traditional pieces. I would always be toying with the rocks and pebbles in the garden. When I was sven, I saw an amber in a book and got drawn to the world of gems. Of course, I didn’t know then that there was a subject related to it that I could actually study. But somewhere I always felt I wanted to do something with stones and after class 12, I got the chance to study at the Gemological Institute of America. So, design was never planned!
How did you take your dream forward? How was it for you to go the woman entrepreneur way?
After my schooling I went to study at the Gemological Institute of America. Thereafter, I came back to India and started teaching at a gemmology school. Soon after that I started my own school to teach gemmology. This was all at age 20. At 23, I got married and moved to Hyderabad… And like I said earlier, everything was unplanned. When in 2004, within a month of my starting, by God’s grace, things started spiralling forwards very quickly; my husband Stouvant joined me and we floated our company Zorya Fashions. Nothing was planned. He was looking at something new to do and thought this business looked lucrative. Personally, I always knew I would start my own business. My entire childhood was inspired by dad who is the most hardworking person I know. At 14, he started taking me to his office. So a life without doing anything was never an option. As for entrepreneurship, it’s hard but there is tremendous satisfaction
What were the highs and lows of floating your own business?
The high of course is being able to decide the course of business. And the discoveries that come with it every day. When you see your business grow step by step, it’s rewarding not just to you but the whole team. That feeling is brilliant! The low of course is that every little trouble is yours to handle. Whether its HR, finance, marketing…especially when you start…every blunder is your own and you have to take responsibility for it. Sometimes that can be very hard. But the highs are way above the lows!
What are the challenges you faced?
Oh boy…many! Eight years back there was very little concept of alternative jewellery in the mainstream market. When I was trying to establish my team of workers, every now and then one of them would rebel saying…this was not the kind of jewellery that the market buys… and I was wasting my time. It took many years for them to have faith in what they were making…and nothing comes out right till you believe in it. Now I don’t even have to sketch…they can just read my mind! It’s amazing.
India has all along been a patron of precious jewellery. Suddenly to break into this market of ‘let the jewellery be sound investment’ and creating a market that says ‘let’s have jewellery for pure delight’ needed thorough planning. Fortunately for me., two months after I started work, the first store to pick up my work was ‘Ensemble’ and with that came terrific self confidence.
Besides that it (Hyderabad) was a new city for me…a new language…a new culture…a new search for raw materials…for people….in fact, it was a new business model (I was actually a gemmology instructor in Calcutta and had started my own school)but it’s all been good. I would change nothing about it!
How is your online business doing? What is your dream with regard to it?
Our online venture is a very massive step toward business expansion and by Gods grace, it has taken off very well. Our aim is to reach out to every town in the country. We get so many requests and orders from towns that are not the metros. We want to reach out! With very good prices and cash on delivery option, I’m sure we would be able to capture a very large client base. And by God’s grace we have had a good beginning! We are getting orders from all over the country…places like Varkala, Wayanad etc. It’s exciting to see how even the B towns are loving our work.
What do you love most about designing?
My designs reflect my love for metal, my mood, my surroundings. The old city, the Charminar, a 200 year old haveli, the dancers on the streets, the women with their ringing anklets, the bangle maker…the local kumhaar (potter)…..the by-lanes…old photographs…tall buildings…brass…steel…history…books. So I guess what I love about designing is that it’s an expression of emotion. I think that’s a fantastic opportunity -to be able to express so vividly what you are feeling at that moment and the freedom and liberation that comes with it.
What makes you tick in terms of design aesthetics?
I do what comes to my heart honestly. That honesty reflects in my design. I guess people relate to that. Plus I’m a diehard Indian. However modern the styling might be, the jewellery always has an Indian DNA. So you can trace it to a history…a source. There is an identity that sets it apart because of a very strong Indian lifeline. I am besotted by our country. I’m besotted by its diversity…by its languages…by its history…by our freedom struggle…by our colours…by the fact that the landscape differs every 100 miles. I’m in love with India though I think love is an understatement for what I feel. We have such a firm cultural past and now such a radically different cultural present, it’s amazing – the juxtaposition in our lives today! I think we truly should take pride in what the country has given us – such a solid identity and such a solid DNA.
That apart, the fact that I do not adhere to a set of rules. I am a non conformist. My canvas can be anything. It’s inhibited and unlimited. Hence the work is a mix of simple and serious, old and new. There’s a madness for candid combinations to create unexpected contradictions.
What are the influences in terms of designing? What inspires you?
Emotions,movements and expressions. It begins with the first impression which is initially vivid then intense and then gets slowly ingrained into the unconscious. I like to collect these feelings, memories, connections and observations. Raw, colourful, sensuous…ancients custom…merging and blending with new forces…that inspires me.
Each collection brings with it a mood, a feeling, an emotion. This time, for example, was about the free spirit about the naivety of the heart … about pure love. Earlier it was a stronger mood — about cultures… about strength; it had within it depictions of Shiva or Islam… of tribes… and temples. Another collection was inspired by a jatra dancer who I saw in Begum Bazaar. Another time it was the history of the nizams. This time it was a story of tribal lifestyle. I do not follow trends. I follow my heart, my thoughts… maybe that’s why the collections come out so varied! My work is an unexpected combination of contradictory elements. Fiercely individual and fiercely honest
How did it feel to be featured in Fortune magazine? And to gain recognition from the World Gold Council? Even Jimmy Choo has praised you.
I don’t think I have achieved much yet. But yes it’s all very encouraging. The biggest industry body coming forth and patting you on the back and putting you in the top ten in the world … surely feels like you are doing something right! It’s a high…but it’s also a good high … one that keeps you on your toes … and keeps pushing you to get better. Fortune magazine analysed and talked about our business. So I’m really happy to know that not just the brand but even the business is getting the right kind of appreciation. I met Mr Choo at a very private small dinner. He touched my necklace and said those kind words. We chatted for very long about it. I think I did not breathe for the entire conversation. I think I died and came back!
A very exciting event was when we were chosen to showcase for the British Royalty by the Birtish Council…it brought with it a trust factor. Because a very important body had trusted us to do a very, very important show for some very, very important people. That trust has gone along hand in hand with us every time. It’s like you can’t let anyone down. You HAVE to be darn good everyday! That experience, that solid belief gives me a very firm ground to work on.
How does it feel to have gained so much success and recognition at such a young age?
I have hardly done or achieved anything. I’m on step one of a million-step ladder. But it’s very humbling to know and see how much everyone loves our work. Establishing the brand name was never the initial intention. The intention was always to do good work, to give the market an alternative thought process when it came to jewellery. I’m a very small contributor to the very large jewellery market. But the intention was always to be a significant one. The journey has been such a learning curve.
Where did you grow up and go to school?
I had a very ‘Calcutta’ upbringing, complete with playing football on the street! I was always very athletic! My mom would have a hard time puling me back into the house! But I was decent at studies as well. I was the headgirl of the school and was majorly into quiz,speeches,elocution,dance,music..everything!I don’t think I was ever out of things to do!
Some childhood memories of growing up with your sister, Anamika Khanna.
Ana is 10 years older to me. So she is almost like my mom. I was very young when she got married. But I remember her doing all my art and biology homework because she was so darn good at drawing. I remember her first show..I wasn’t allowed inside because I was underage. I still remember it was called the Shoowa collection. The next day her picture came in the paper. I remember cutting it and putting it in my cupboard next to a picture of Jonty Rhodes. That’s how young I was when I started admiring her. From big sis she was slowly becoming this big designer…all through hard work and talent. I’ve seen her go through the grind and I respect her for all her courage.
I’m so proud of her and so in awe of her. She is really really amazing at what she does. Its inspiring. Anamika is probably the only person I know who eats..sleeps and dreams design and works extremely hard at making it all happen. We all know what a terrific artist she is..but its inspiring to see her always strive to do better and never say ‘this is it’. She is always working on making herself ever better!that to me is the sign of a true achiever!
How were you and your sister as kids? Did u guys ever play dress up?
When it’s a 10 year age difference, you don’t play dress up. You just listen to big sister and do as she says!
You wear only your sister’s clothes. Comment on that please. Does your sister give u any fashion inputs to you or vice versa?
I do wear others as well. In fact I wear a lot of old vintage clothes as well.but yes my wardrobe has a very large section of Anamika Khanna. What to do. She is my favourite! No, she doesn’t really give me fashion inputs. That’s an interesting thing about her. She lets you be. But she does advice me to look more after myself.. whether its my hair or my skin.
How would you define success?
To realize your purpose in life, to get out of all comfort zones and work tirelessly towards your goal. If every day you are an inch closer to where you want to be, its success according to me.
What are you working on now?
We have just finished samples for the Diwali collection. I’m working on designs for New Year now. Both jewellery and giftware!
What is a typical day like for you?
6.30 am to 8am is workout time whether it’s just running or running and then some weight training. At 9.25am, we leave for office and get back at 8.45pm. Then its coffee, anagram, Uno, video games or just tonnes and tonnes of reading.
What habits have helped you succeed?
A realization that there is no shortcut to success. It’s all about discipline and hard work. You have just one shot at life. You have to give it all you got!
Who are your role models for success?
My dad. Because I know of no other human being who works this hard and yet at the end of the day never says he is tired. My sister because she, in spite of being a leader in the industry is always striving to make herself better, and my mom-in-law because she is the most loving and giving human being I know!
What is your attitude when faced with challenges? How do you overcome them?
I don’t panic. I just switch on some Bollywood music and work out on paper, a flowchart to solve it. Music works like magic
How do you unwind after a long day?
Photography. Dancing…all the time and when my body tires out. Reading – I am history buff. So I read books on world leaders, on independence, on economics and political history of countries. I am also a self proclaimed movie critic and the biggest Harry Potter fan there ever has been! And of course, there’s the xbox in our life! And anagram! Or organizing my sticker collection.
You live in Hyderabad. Has that inhibited your growth in anyway, as most people in the fashion field prefer Bombay or Delhi.
Not at all. On the contrary, it’s so nice being in this historic city away from all of the fashion noise. I do my own thing. I have a life after 9pm. I’m not stuck in traffic or on the road trying to make it home. I think Hyderabad, with its cultural background and history, has really given me an eye to appreciate beauty.
Any pointers to our readers on jewellery and how it can enhance a look?
Treat jewellery like the main feature of your dressing and see how the entire wardrobe becomes new.
The Taj Krishna Hotels Hyderabad is holding a Southern Coast Food Fest till the 14th of November at its fine dining Indian restaurant Firdaus. It includes all the cuisines from the Southern Coast of India i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
We sampled the Meen Pollichathu (pearl spot coated with special masalas and grilled inside a banana leaf; Kori Ghassi – a chicken curry cooked Manglorean style, Ulli theeyal – a button onion dish cooked in tamarind, coconut and spices; Malabar Parotha, Avial, Veg stew, Appams and a Mangalorean rice preparation called Sannas.
The Southern Coast Food Fest can be enjoyed over Lunch (12:30 noon to 3:00 pm) as well as for Dinner (7:30 pm to 11:30 pm) with live ghazals.
For more information or reservations, please contact: 040 6629 3306
Click on the image for a bigger reveal:
[wzslider autoplay=”true” lightbox=”true”]
Shruti Hassan recently launched the new range of LED lighting solutions from Philips — the campaign titled See What Light Can Do sees Shruti Hassan don the role of brand ambassador, alongside Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor, who will soon be featured in a music video that aims to revive the iconic Bollywood hit Saara Zamaana Haseenon Ka Deewana.
[wzslider height=”650″]
Kollywood personalities along with staff and in-house guests of the Green Park hotel, Chennai, ushered in the spirit of Christmas by participating in the traditional cake-mixing ceremony at the hotel recently. The event happened at the Sesh Mahal Meadows of Green Park. Among those who were spotted at the event were actors Vijay Sethupathi, Inigo, Prasanna, Ashok Selvan, Gayathrie, Aishwarya, directors Deepan, Balakrishnan and producers CV Kumar, Abhinesh and JSK. The ceremony was inaugurated by Sudip Sengupta, General manager of the hotel along with Chef Thangappan spear-heading the event.
[wzslider height=”650″]
Organized by Chennai Live 104.8 FM, the Idea Youth Icon Awards saw young minds battle it out for the title of Youth Icon of the year. Hosted by popular RJ Niladri Bose, the event also saw movie star Shiva in attendance, along with veteran journalist and advocate Sanjay Pinto, who were seen cheering the contestants on with gusto.
[wzslider height=”650″]
