NOTCH Magazine Issues its 9th Edition with Aamir Khan on its cover

INDIAN VOICE GLOBAL ACCENT
JUN‘13.Vol1.Issue9
TM

2 june 2013
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Chairman, NOTCH Media Pvt. Ltd.
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BOARD OFADVISORS
TEAM CREDITS
EDITORIAL DESIGN
Yagna Balaji
Editor
Asmita Aggarwal
Bureau Chief - Delhi
Tushar A. Amin
Entertainment Editor
Arpita Chatterjee
Spl Correspondent - Mumbai
Bijoy Bharathan
Assistant Editor
Rohit Panikker
Senior Sub-Editor
Anupriya D
Content Manager
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Creative Director
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Graphic Design
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Illustration
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Executive Director
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Online Editor

3june 2013
edit
Of
newsmakers
and
noisemakers
A standard shoot: Star, manager, stylist,
hair stylist, make-up person, PR agency rep,
photographer, assistants, production unit,
unit hands, props, studio, camera crew,
lights and sets.
An Aamir Khan shoot: The star, a photog-
rapher.
Natural light, no make-up, jeans and a tee
and his inimitable range of expressions.
That’s it! We say this just in case anyone is
still wondering what sets this Khan apart.
25 years in the industry (40- if you count his
acting debut at age 8), and he remains true
to himself, his craft and his conscience. In
his interview, Aamir talks with pride about
celebrating 25 years in the same year that
Indian cinema completes 100 years.
The annual Cannes International Film Festival
too is celebrating 100 years of Indian cine-
ma. From invitees, jury members, brand am-
bassadors to trespassers, this year’s Cannes
contingent from India was a colourful mix.
The red carpet saw more sarees, lehengas,
nose-rings and maang tikas than a Punjabi
wedding, with both guests and gatecrashers
turning up in large numbers.
India is waking up to global recognition and
we have no doubt that it’s a heady feeling
for our desi entertainers to share carpet
space with famous thespians. Sure, our
Cannes special feature separates the wheat
from the chaff, but we doff our collective
hats to the sheer effort Bollywood ho-hums
made for their 15 seconds of flashbulbs in
the French Riviera.
Our take-home from the entire brouhaha is
that if you believe in yourself, make some
noise because, as author John Ortberg
says, “We’d like to be humble, but what if
no one notices?”

4 june 2013
contents
MR PERFECTIONIST
Aamir Khan talks
about his
silver innings
people
TURNING
EASTWARDS
Michael Andrews
settles the score
CARLOS SANTANA
Gets high on India
WENDELL
RODRICKS
Comes clean in The
Green Room
MANISH MALHOTRA
On dressing B-Town
beauties
SHRUTI HAASAN
Reveals her favourite
style icons
SONG OF THE
SARONG
Resortwear for a
stylish vacation
fashion
GO PSYCHEDELIC
With neon footwear
CANNES
SPECIAL
Catch all the
action on and off
the red carpet
RANBIR KAPOOR
Dribbling along life’s
playground
THE NON-
CONFORMIST
Richa Chaddha steers
clear of cliches
cinema

5june 2013
contents
AN EXOTIC MIX
John Abraham shares
his fave vegan recipefood
SWEET EMOTION
Two-die-for French
desserts
GET GORGEOUS
With Isha Koppikar’s
beauty tips
wellness
BULK ORDER
Hrithik Roshan’s
trainer reveals the
actor’s fitness mantra
RIDE THE
WAVES
Everyone’s
surfing in India
travel
WANDERLUST
Priyanka Chopra’s
holiday hotspots
DATE WITH
DESTINY
Sheetal Dewan
predicts
TROPICAL
DELIGHT
Eat, drink and wear
the mango
BOYZONE
What the
dudes just
ordered
Notch Lit
In our digital
library

fashion
6 june 2013
Asmita Aggarwal
He has dressed
the best of Hollywood
and Bollywood.
Manish Malhotra
shares his look book
for the leading
ladies of tinsel town

fashion
7june 2013
I
t was in the
nineties when a
young Manish
Malhotra realised that if he
wanted to make a transition
from modelling to designing
he had to have the resources to
launch his own line. Not only that,
it would also mean competing with
well-established stalwarts like Tarun
Tahiliani, Rohit Bal and Abu-Sandeep.
Manish took the road less travelled – he
decided to start costume designing for
films, something none of the other
designers had done.
Today 1,000 films and 23 years
later Manish says it has been a
journey well travelled, with many
milestones achieved.
There is no other
designer who works
with almost all the top
leading ladies –
Katrina
Kaif, Kareena
Kapoor, Priyanka
Chopra and Sonam Kapoor
to Deepika Padukone and
even Alia Bhatt without anyone
telling him not to work with
the other. Manish is converting a
vintage haveli in Mehrauli into the
biggest ever designer showroom in
India. He has met and dressed Michael
Jackson and Hollywood celebrities like
Demi Moore, Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss
and Reese Witherspoon. He is launching
his nephew Puneet Malhotra and is
finally getting accepted
by couturiers as a
true trailblazer
especially for
his efforts in

fashion
8 june 2013
contemporising and reviving the
forgotten crafts – Chikankari,
Phulkari and Kashmiri embroidery.
“I try to keep away from politics
and I never get into gossip sessions.
I wake up early in the morning to
start work – designing for films,
weddings, red carpet events,
finalising two stores in Delhi and
in Mumbai and trying to get three
more going by the end of this year,”
he says. For Manish, the biggest
thing is sustainability, to be able to
survive in an industry where many
of his contemporaries have fallen by
the wayside.
Rangeela starring Urmila Matondkar
may have been the turning point
in Manish’s career when Filmfare,
for the first time, recognised a
designer for his contribution to
film costumes, but it was in
1989 that the Mumbai boy
started his career in films
with a costume designed
for Juhi Chawla for a song
in Swarg. “Ritu Kumar
may have restored the
Kareena’s wedding outfit,
but she wore my creation
for the Walima (marriage
banquet). I prefer to do my
work quietly. Karishma and
Kareena, both enjoy my fits
and trust me implicitly. I’ve
been close to the girls for
over 20 years now and our
friendship has survived the
test of time,” he adds.
Manish feels that Kareena
wears her clothes with great
panache. “She was the
coolest bride ever – no
tantrums, no cold feet,
she knows what looks good on
her, and let me decide colours, cuts
and fabrics for the D-Day. I feel my
biggest achievement is that I can
win people’s trust,” he smiles. And
talking about trust Manish says he
shares a special bond with Karan
Johar as “I started working with
Dharma Productions, even before he
was in the fray, with his father Yash
Johar. I value his friendship.”
Amongst the younger lot, Manish is
delighted about working with Ranbir
and Deepika Padukone in Yeh Jawani
Hai Deewani, where
he has dressed both
stars. “They meet
after eight years
and the chemistry is
captured on screen. The movie also
showcase a lot of hiking
gear as they go on these picturesque
treks, but Deepika has such a
phenomenal body that everything
looks amazing on her. The
sangeet sequence has some fun
Indian wear, the colours are brighter
– I particularly liked the mulmul
ghagra (long skirt made of muslin)
I gave her with oxidised jewellery
as well as the indigo blue sari that
makes a great first impression,” he
admits
Moving beyond the Bollywood tag,
retailing from Pernia’s pop up shop
or dressing royalty in Riyadh, Manish
has come into his own in the last
three years, by collaborating with
Mijwan, Shabana Azmi’s NGO and
by giving old crafts a modern appeal
and thus a new lease of life. “I’ve
launched my nephew Puneet. I
urged him to work with Imran
Khan and Sonam Kapoor in I
Hate Luv Storys. And I am
working with Kareena and
Imran in Gori Tere Pyar
Mein. So it feels
good to keep the
family together
and see Puneet
grow,” he
smiles.
Hard work and
single-mindedness have got
Manish where he is today. “I
simplified fashion, made it
real, believable, now what
film stars wear becomes a
rage. In the end it is the
trust factor that counts –
money, fame and power
are all transient,” he
concludes.

fashion
9june 2013
Manish Malhotra and
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Manish Malhotra and
Priyanka Chopra
Kareena Kapoor
Katrina Kaif
Karishma Kapoor and
Manish Malhotra

fashion
10 june 2013
Wear them
-Bright neon shoes with a crisp white dress
-Nude coloured shoes with spikes in
shades of neon
-Add one piece of statement accessory to
your entire outfit
-Add a little bit of silver or gold to your
outfit. Just make sure the neon in your
shoe is present somewhere in your outfit
-Try neon shoes with a colour blocking out-
fit. Just make sure there aren’t too many
colours in your entire outfit!
Bold choice
If you really have got the attitude then team
it up with a contrasting number. If you have a
bold sense of style you can even team it with a
print. Else the safer options remain a short
white dress or a nude jumpsuit. At the end of
the day you have to be comfortable and
confident about what you are wearing.
neon
blastVivacious pinks, electric
greens, spikes, studs
and more. Here are some
quick tips on how to
make your outfit pop with
colored footwear
fashion
10 june 2013

fashion
11june 2013
Pair themPair them in a way that they don’t
look jarring. Neons give you an edge
and attitude that’s yells confidence.
Go a little easy on other accessories so
that you do not look over-the-top.
Make sure there aren’t too many co-
lours in your entire outfit. Let the
shoes be the center of attention.
Jazz
it upNeon buttons, different pop
coloured spikes on the shoes
itself. Apart from shoes in shades
of neon fuchsia pink and parrot
greenspikes on beige shoes are
in vogue
Haute coloursAcid orange
Parrot green
Crazy hot fuchsia pink
Electric blue
Ultra violet
Sulphur yellow
fashion
11june 2013
Inputs from: Shruti Kaul Sachdev of Trushuli

fashion
12 june 2013
I
t’s that time of year when most of us
are getting ready to take a cool holiday
so, if the sun and sand is what finds
favour with you we have some snappy
tips to make this a stylish vacation.
Resort wear is all about summery, relaxed
clothing with a sensuous touch, says
Kuwait-based fashion guru Pria Kataria
Puri. “You can add a lot of sexiness to
resort wear with semi-fluid, sheer fabrics
that skim the body. Opt for crush-free,
breezy fabrics like silk, lycra-silk, chiffon-
silk, crepe and luxurious cottons. I would
suggest a halter maxi in chiffon, rompers,
halter maxis, halter jumpsuits – all of
which are super fun. Skimpy tunics, halter
or cut-out dresses and tunic blouses
always work well on the beach,” she
adds.
The destinations that have inspired Pria’s
newest resort wear line include Ibiza, Lake
Como and Tahoe, Istanbul, Goa, Nice and
Cannes. “I always carry lots of kaftans
and kaftan blouses, shorts, bikinis, a cool
pair of sunglasses, espadrilles, wedges
and sun hats,” she smiles.
Pria’s line is Indian woman-friendly as her
kaftan-inspired maxis and tunic blouses
are a free size and flatter women of all
sizes. They also come in vibrant colours
making them ideal for lunch parties as
well as cocktail dinners. “I wanted to
create a happy mood, so I have worked
with vibrant colours such as neons, hot
pinks, sea greens, sunshine yellows,
bright reds, tangerines, fuchsias and
turquoises – the styles all drape and skim
over the body,” she says. “Take clothes
that are multi-functional and can be worn
through the day,” she adds.
No look is complete without accessories –
trendy sunglasses, stacked bangles, cuffs
or feathered earrings work best with hip-
pie and crossover bags.
Images:RajdeepRanawat

fashion
13june 2013
Resort wear designers
keep it cool with
style tips for your
beach holiday
Asmita Aggarwal
Designer Rajdeep Ranawat makes it a point
to travel to a minimum of two destina-
tions each year. In the past, Langkawi was
inspiring and then there was Paris, Milan,
London, and recently his trip to Greece re-
sulted in the Santorini collection for Spring
Summer ‘13. Rajdeep also developed his
Autumn Winter ‘13 range – Quixotic Re-
galia that took its inspiration from Greek
architecture as well as jewellery and paint-
ings from the Renaissance era.
“Pack your bags keeping a resort in mind
– somewhere tropical, a beach or then
even a lovely landscaped spa on top of a
mountain. Your clothes should be com-

fashion
14 june 2013
fortable, not too fitted,
mainly breathable fab-
rics such as cottons and
light silk blends that are
organic in nature with co-
lours/prints that could either
be subdued or vivid depending on
the kind of destination being visited.
Carry a few pairs of slippers for the
beach, or comfortable sandals and slip-
ons for exploring the area, a big bag
to carry essentials like towels or some
hydrators,” he adds.
Rajdeep tries to keep his silhouettes
simple and generic so that they suit
all shapes and sizes. “Our resort wear
line has a lot of kaftans and wraps and
some headgear too. There isn’t much
of a market in India for swimwear, so
while showcasing our resort ranges,
we ideate the swimwear with cover
ups as kaftans, ponchos and tunics,”
he confesses.
Rajdeep’s printed ponchos, drawstring
tunics, shirts, stoles, cropped pants
and skirts are comfortable yet trendy
and he has put an element of fun into
the shades he’s used that range from
crèmes to canary, lime, red, blush,
aqua with black and indigo.
There are no hard and fast rules for
resort dressing says Rajdeep. “Resorts
are where you can have fun with your
clothes,” he smiles.
“We also do a lovely range of printed
stoles and scarves that could be added
to mix and match with plains. I have
kept the look light by using voiles and
lycra cotton twills. Neutral colours like
white, ecru, crème, taupe, beige and
pastels like mint, aqua, blush, pale
yellow and peach are ideal. Nautical
colours like indigo, red, etc., look great
for cruise wear inspired by yesteryear
sailor dressing,” he says.

fashion
Shruti Haasan reveals what she likes about her
fave international style gurus
Asmita Aggarwal
15june 2013

fashion
N
ymph-like Shruti Haasan, who is looking forward to playing
diametrically opposite roles – an innocent girl in Prabhu Deva’s
Ramaiya Vastavaiya and a commercial sex worker in Nikhil Advani’s
D Day – tells us which international style gurus she loves and why...
Atsu Sekhose
I like the way he plays with transparency
and makes the most feminine, simple
silhouettes look strong and classy. He
wears his north-eastern identity quite
lightly and creates the breeziest evening
gowns that I love to wear.
Givenchy
Who hasn’t
seen Breakfast at
Tiffany’s? Hubert
de Givenchy was
a maverick who
made Audrey
Hepburn the most
iconic character in
the 21st century.
My personal
favourites are his
bib necklaces,
tiaras, cowl neck
sweaters and his
luxe casual
chic looks.
Balmain
I like Pierre Balmain’s sensibility.
Most of his red carpet couture is
pleated and draped, contouring
your body and accentuating
its most flattering parts. I think
Olivier Rousteing’s rock chic
glamour really works for me!
Alexander
McQueen
He was the
enfant terrible of
British fashion, he
mixed hi-fashion
with drama and
technology and
made it cutting
edge. I loved
his controversial
Armadillo shoes
inspired by Charles
Darwin’s theory
on the Origin
of Species and
admired his superb
tailoring, his sense
of aesthetics and his
flamboyant flashes
of inspiration.
16 june 2013

june 2013 17
cinema
Newsmakers
THE
CANNES
SPECIAL
The only true representation of Bollywood at the 66th Cannes Film Festival
came in the form of the rising new Indian cinema brigade. While these
films are as different from mainstream Bollywood as French cinema is from
Hollywood, Bollywood has no qualms about basking in the reflected glory of
these new kids on the block.
The
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan may have just made his
Hollywood debut with The Great Gatsby,
but his importance was not lost on the
Festival’s organisers. With Bollywood in
focus this year, it was Amitabh Bachchan
who was called upon to officially
inaugurate the event. The Big B went on to
address the gathering in Hindi and left a
strong impression as always.
Anurag Kashyap
Anurag Kashyap, the poster boy of the movement, has mastered
the demanding art of festival schmoozing. More importantly, he has
backed it up with a slew of films that have wowed film critics from
the West for their well, non-Bollywood (read Western) sensibilities.
Following up on the well-received five-plus-hour Gangs Of Wasseypur
presented as part of the Director’s Fortnight (non-
competition section) last year, Anurag’s hard-hitting Ugly
created ripples this year with its gritty take on the
subject of missing children. Anurag was also
honoured with the prestigious Chevalier dans
l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the
Order of the Arts and Letters) this year. As the
most prolific filmmaker and presenter of films at
Cannes, Anurag is definitely emerging as the
Harvey Weinstein of India.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
For an outsider, Nawazuddin Siddiqui would seem like the only actor in India. Much
like Rahul Bose of the 90s, only with a zillion times more talent, Nawaz’s films have
been invited to Cannes consistently. Last year, Nawaz was part of four of the six
Indian films invited. With Bombay Talkies and Monsoon Shootout, Nawaz continued
ruling the Indian presence at Cannes this year as well.

18 june 2013
cinema
Tannishtha Chatterjee
Tannishtha is fast emerging as the female counterpart of Nawazuddin
Siddiquion the new Indian cinema front. Her credentials include films
like Brick Lane, Shadows of Time, Bibar, Anna Karenina and Dekh
Indian Circus. This year, her film Monsoon Shootout was screened
as part of the celebrations of 100 years of Indian cinema alongside
Bombay Talkies.
Tannishta Chatterjee’s been to Cannes twice
before – once for her UK release Brick
Lane and another time for her Indo-German
collaboration Shadows of Time
Arpita Chatterjee
RED CARPET
REGULAR
S
urprisingly, this year was
the first time Tannishta
was in Cannes to promote
an Indian film, Monsoon
Shootout. “It was really
interesting to be representing
an Indian contingent especially
since this year the focus in
Cannes was India and its100-
year-old industry,” she says.
Tannishta, who has done a lot
of international films, is quite
dissatisfied with the films made
in India. “I think we focus on
the wrong things. Instead of
focusing on the content of
cinema, we pay more attention
to publicity stunts and who’s
wearing what. Mercifully,
this trend is slowly changing.
Monsoon Shootout developed
by the British Arts Council has
been co-produced by Anurag
Kashyap – India’s well known
screen writer and director,” she
says.
Tannishta, who is also a
classically trained singer,
has recently sung for the
film Gulaab Gang. However,
she feels that in India “films
are made for the lowest
common denominator – just for
commercial purposes. Indian
cinema was flying high
once with Satyajit Ray
and Mrinal Sen but
we lost our status
in the 1980s and
1990s. Today we
are slowly regaining
our standing as an art
powerhouse. I hope this wave
reaches its logical conclusion
and puts Indian films back on
top,” the actress says candidly.
The red carpet for Tannishta is
“all part of the entertainment.
And there is a strong element
of art and aesthetics in fashion.
I just have a problem with
it becoming the highlight
of a serious film festival like
Cannes,’’ she declares adding
that she wore “an outfit created
by my Australian designer
friend.”

june 2013 19
cinema
A champion of small, low-budget and off-beat subjects, Guneet
Monga is trying to change the way Indian films are perceived
across the world
Tushar A Amin
Gamechanger
T
he Hollywood Reporter ranked
her among the most influential
figures in international cinema
and she was recently awarded with
the Industry Leadership Award at the
Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
Guneet has effectively emerged
as the face of Indian cinema on
the international stage (alongside
Anurag Kashyap).
After being the woman behind films
like Miss Lovely, Peddlers and Gangs
Of Wasseypur that were invited at
Cannes Film Festival in 2012, she
had two films, Monsoon Shootout
and The Lunchbox invited for this
year’s event. The poster girl of Indian
independent cinema – Guneet
Monga has been instrumental in
ensuring that Indian films are no
longer equated with just song and
dance numbers.
She says, “Indian cinema
has come a long way. From actually
talking about content being king,
we have now started practicing it.
Yes, there is a perception of Indian
cinema being only song and
dance, and I believe there is space
for this genre to coexist. I think we
need to learn to hard sell our films,
to be open to the idea of
exploring newer avenues of
distribution. Initially buyers would be
like, ‘Oh you make Bollywood films’,
a lot of time was spent explaining to
them that while yes I do, the films I
produce are made by great directors
on quality stories and that the
country of origin is not the definitive
Guneet Monga
Anurag’s comrade-in-arms,
Indie producer Guneet
has emerged as a worthy
lieutenant in the new
Indian cinema movement.
Last year she presented
films like Miss Lovely (Un
Certain Regard section)
and Peddlers (International
Critics’ Week) and this year,
two of her films Monsoon
Shootout and The
Lunchbox were invited. Her
consistent presence at the
Festival further consolidates
her ranking among the
most powerful women
filmmakers in the world (as
listed by The Hollywood
Reporter recently).
factor. Today, they understand this.
So yes, it is a slow process, but not
an impossible one.”
Guneet adds, “All my films bring
me pride. Peddlers by Vasan Bala
and Haraamkhor by Shlok Sharma
are films we collaboratively funded,
then there’s Vakratunda
Mahakaaya by Punar Vasu which
is our first Marathi film, Monsoon
Shootout by Amit Kumar and The
Lunchbox by Ritesh Batra being the
first international co-productions. We
are also doing our first international
project with the Oscar winning
director Danis Tanovic directing it,
that’s a first too.”

20 june 2013
cinema
Arpita Chatterjee
W
hen I was at the
Cannes Festival in
2010 the world was
really confused about what
kind of films they wanted to
see from India – commercial
or arthouse? And they were
surprised to see that the films
from our country were a mix
of the two. Since then we
have moved forward. Today,
distributors are interested
in buying our films in the
marketplace in Cannes, which is
great news. ”Vikramaditya says,
“We must write good original
stories, keep growing as an
industry, keep improving our
craft. As long as films like Ship
of Theseus, Peddlers and Miss
Lovely are getting made, we are
moving in the right direction.
We are getting funding for
movies that are far-removed
from the mainstream and that
is really
good news.”
The director feels that a ‘big
Cannes moment’ is when
“you show your film to a
thousand people for the first
time at a place where people
are watching the world’s best
films.’’ Says Vikramaditya
candidly, “It’s a really nerve
wracking experience. You feel
like you have your balls in your
mouth!”
So what did he feel when he
heard his film was selected? “I
remember thinking, ‘Oh crap
my film is not even ready!’
It was a crazy completing
the final film before I left for
Cannes. It was only when I
landed in Cannes and the
official car came to pick me
up that it all sunk in. But my
proudest moment was when
I saw my name on the official
screening board alongside
Woody Allen’s and Pedro
Almodovar’s!”
So, after all this, why make a
film like Lootera next? Says the
director, “It’s a story I really
wanted to tell and the film
needed presentation and a
large budget. So, I decided to
use stars to tell a period love
story.’’
FLIGHTOF
FANTASYVikramaditya Motwane, director of Udaan that
had its world premiere in Cannes in 2010, talks
to us about what this Holy Grail for filmmakers
is all about
Vikramaditya Motwane
Vikramaditya Motwane delighted audiences and critics alike with
his independent coming of age feature Udaan, which had its world
premiere in Cannes in 2010.

june 2013 21
cinema
Fakers THE
CANNES
SPECIAL
The
Mainstream Bollywood has always
been more of a gate-crasher at the
Cannes Film Festival – the fact that
this global event is celebrating 100 years
of Indian cinema is really neither here nor
there. The Festival and its coveted Palme d’Or
may be the Holy Grail for filmmakers across
the world, but the bevy of Bollywood stars
could well make a layperson believe that
it is in fact, Cannes Fashion Week. The red
carpet sees Bollywood’s parade of pretenders
and wannabes provide the Festival with
exotic glamour. Back home, these ‘stars’ get
mileage in the gossip columns, their fashion
sense becoming the talking point rather than
their work. But no one is complaining. After
all, it’s a win-win for everyone – the stars and
the desi media.
Mallika Sherawat
When it comes to all play and no work, you
have to hand it to Mallika Sherawat. This
sassy girl makes up for what she lacks in
acting mettle with her social skills (and other
assets). She may not be seen in an acting role
in a film but that does not stop Mallika from
being a permanent fixture on the Cannes
red carpet and yacht parties. Since her first
appearance at the Festival in 2005 alongside
Jackie Chan to present The Myth, Mallika has gone from
strength to strength. The ‘Cannes do’ attitude of this most
experienced Cannes red carpet (rivalled only by Aishwarya Rai in
this department) veteran is evident from the fact that she even
screened Hisss at the Festival. She deserves a Palme d’Or just for
her persistence and courage.
Sherlyn Chopra
If Mallika is there, can Sherlyn
be far behind? After the much
talked about Playboy photo-shoot,
Sherlyn Chopra graced the Film
Festivals’ holy of holies this year to
unveil the trailer of her forthcoming
film, Kamasutra 3D. Usually in
the news for not wearing many
clothes, Sherlyn went to town with
her plans to wear seven ‘outfits’
representing seven different states
of India – one for each day of the
week-long event.
Jacqueline Fernandez
“I was in the area, so I thought
I would just drop by.” That’s the
story with Jacqueline’s Cannes
appearance this year. She was
invited to attend the Monaco
Grand Prix, and since Cannes is
just half-an-hour’s drive away,
Jacqueline decided to make
an appearance and show her
solidarity for Bollywood. She sure
knows the value of a photo-op!
Ameesha Patel
Ameesha Patel
may have had
her troubles
with Bollywood
but she is not
one to give
up, yet. When
work stopped
coming her way,
she launched a
production house. And she
displayed the same initiative with her
presence at Cannes this year for the
screening of Shortcut Romeo.
Minissha Lamba
This petite actress who made a
promising debut with Yahaan and
promptly went on to break all those
promises was actually invited to
Cannes by the legendary filmmaker
Woody Allen in 2011. Where the
twain met, we would never know
but she sure made the most of the
invitation by attending gala dinners,
after-parties and the screening of the
Oscar winning Midnight In
Paris.

22 june 2013
cinema
THE
CANNES
SPECIAL
JudgeandJury
Vidya Balan
She is the female superstar of
Bollywood, and her work got
international endorsement when
Vidya Balan was invited to be
a jury member at Cannes this
year. As usual, her clothes
made more news than her
work but we believe that Vidya
truly deserved the honour and
that this is just the beginning
for this gutsy performer.
Vidya says, “When I saw Mr
Bachchan on stage, I choked.
I grew up watching Amitabh
Bachchan’s films. My niece
and nephew are just about
two years old and they know
who Amitabh Bachchan is.
Indian cinema and Amitabh
Bachchan are synonymous
with each other. And when he
spoke in Hindi, it was just such
a proud moment. Personally,
for me to have shared the stage
with him and on an international
platform where the talk is about
India celebrating 100 glorious
years, it felt really special. These
are the times when you have to
pinch yourself and say ‘Oh my
god, this is for real.’”
Nandita Das
Activist, filmmaker, actress Nandita
Das has been a quiet presence in
Cannes for some years. Having been
on the Palme d’Or jury in 2005,
this time around, she was on the
jury for the short films section.
Here is one actress who prefers to
stay under the radar rather than
flaunting her laurels.

june 2013 23
cinema
THE
CANNES
SPECIAL
Years Of
Indian
Cinema
AndCannes
100
Here is a look at the films
that actually made a mark
on the Cannes canvas
over the years
Neecha Nagar,1946
The only Indian film
to ever win the most
coveted award in the
film world, this Chetan
Anand film was based
on Maxim Gorky’s
short story, depicting
the rich-poor divide.
Amar Bhoopali,1951
V. Shantaram’s biopic
on the life of Marathi
poet/musician Honaji
Bala was nominated
for the Grand Prix but
managed to win the
Excellence in Sound
Recording honours
instead.
Do Bigha Zameen,1954
Bimal Roy’s neo-
realist drama
revolving around the
struggles of a farmer
in debt to a landlord
was awarded the Prix
Internationale at the
1954 Festival.

24 june 2013
cinema
Salaam Bombay,1988
Mira Nair’s debut film won the
Camera d’Or and the Audience
award at the 1988 Festival.
Marana Simhasanam,1999
Murali Nair’s Malayalam film was
honoured with the Camera d’Or at
the 1999 Festival.
Kharji,1982
Mrinal Sen’s sensitive drama
was awarded the Special Jury
Prize in 1983.
Pather Panchali,1955
Satyajit Ray was awarded the Palme
d’Or for the Best Human Document
for the first in the Apu trilogy
in 1955.

june 2013 25
cinema
Fashionistas
THE
CANNES
SPECIAL
They make news by simply being seen. These actors have aced the art of bringing
beauty to the red carpet. Here’s a lowdown on how India’s fashion-forward stars fared
at the 2013 edition of Cannes
Outfit byAbu Jani-Sandeep
Khosla
Gown by Elie Saab
Aishwarya Rai
In her 12th year at the festival,Aishwarya Rai is one of the most
recognisable Indian faces at Cannes.Her sartorial fashion sense has been
Ash’s Achilles heel,but this year she won over critics with her surprise
guest - daughter Aaradhya.
Zach Posen skirt,Saint Laurent
shirt,Armani belt,Casedei
shoes

26 june 2013
cinema
Sonam Kapoor
She takes her fashionista tag so
seriously,that Sonam likens her red
carpet sojourn to the most important
day of her life! “Every time I go onto
the red carpet I feel like I am getting
married,’’ says Sonam showcasing a
trousseau style wardrobe at Cannes
Frieda Pinto
A red carpet favorite with
her international fashion
choices,Freida Pinto is
the one to watch out for.
This year,she picked a
desi designer – Sanchita
Ajjampur’s melting
metallic vintage creation -
and in her own words the
response was “rocking”
Gild web gown designed by
Sanchita Ajjampur
Gown by Gucci
Anamika Khanna ensemble Dolce & Gabbana evening gown
Lace Lehenga by Shehla Khan

june 2013 27
people
Shabbir Ali and Noel Singh Dias
“I am not scared of new paths,
nor am I scared of taking
risks,” says Aamir Khan
Images:Yogen

28 june 2013
people
H
e is the ultimate contrarian.
In a world where quantity trumps
quality and all publicity is good
publicity, Aamir Khan chooses to
march to the beat of his own drum.
Reclusive, choosy, stubborn, difficult…
Despite all the connotations implied
by those words in a politically correct
industry, Aamir has time and again proved
that success does not need sycophancy.
His work speaks for him, both as an actor
and as a person. And it is this illustrious
oeuvre that is being celebrated in a
year in which Aamir also earned a
mention among the prestigious TIME
magazine’s list 100 most influential
people in the world.
And while the byte-starved media
has unleashed a frenzy to celebrate
Aamir Khan’s ‘silver jubilee’ in Bollywood,
this is only the 25th year of his first
commercial success, Qayamat Se Qayamat
Tak. His actual acting debut was in his uncle
Nasir Hussein’s Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973)
when Aamir was just 8-years old. In effect,
this is Aamir’s 40th year in Bollywood. Aamir
made his adult debut in Ketan Mehta’s
critically acclaimed Holi (1984). This is where
Aamir cut his acting teeth alongside Ashutosh
Gowariker, beginning a friendship that would
culminate in the form of Oscar nominated
Lagaan (2001).
Betting on a script that others had turned
down, Aamir not only agreed to act in, but
also produce Gowariker’s Lagaan. Aamir’s
conviction and hard work paid off when
Lagaan emerged as the biggest Bollywood
film in decades, before going on to win an
Academy Award nomination in the Best
Foreign Language film category. Thereafter,
Aamir evolved into a strategic thinker, working
on just one film at a time and giving that film
everything he has.
Today, Aamir is a one-man conscience keeper
army of Bollywood. The presence of Aamir
Khan in a film has become synonymous with
entertaining-yet-intelligent cinema. In an era
when silver jubilee is a forgotten word, here is
a man whose legacy will continue to influence
us even if he were to hang up his shoes and
retire to his dream destination – Coorg, at
this very moment. That is not superstardom.
This is virtual immortality. And if anyone in
contemporary Bollywood deserves that, it is
Aamir Khan.
This year marks 25 years since your
first movie...
I have no clue how 25 years went by. It
feels like I joined just yesterday. When I first
came into the industry, I wondered if I’d be

june 2013 29
people
successful. They say an actor’s lifecycle is five
years. Then various factors affect his career —
either the audience gets bored, or competition
kills his career aspirations. But somehow I have
survived all this and here I am… celebrating
25 years in the same year that Indian cinema
completes 100 years!

I would like to thank the directors and everyone
who helped me make this journey. Some
names I would especially like to mention are
Nasir and Mansoor Sahib, who directed my
first film. As well as all those technicians, music
directors, co-actors and most importantly,
the audience that tolerated me and gave me
unconditional love and affection. I would also
like to remember my family who helped me be
a part of this industry.
You had a golden debut.
When I joined the industry I never knew how
well known I would become. Qayamat Se
Qayamat Tak made me a star overnight. Then
I had a spate of three or four unsuccessful
movies. These were movies I wasn’t supposed
to do, but I learnt from the mistakes and
moved on. Ever since then, I made up my mind
that I wouldn’t do a film for money, success,
fame or because it was a big banner. Only if I
felt for the movie, would I be part of it — and
I have stuck to this method. If a script doesn’t
touch my heart, I don’t do it.
What was your first day at a
shoot like?
My first day at a shoot was in Ooty with
Mansoor (Khan). As the first take finished
it began to get foggy. We thought the fog
would lift in an hour or so, but it stayed for
eight hours and we all thought this was a sign.
People can be superstitious but it really doesn’t
matter if you have a bad start because you can
always work towards the future if you believe
in yourself.
Is working alone a challenge?
When you are alone, there is nothing to be
scared of. When I started working people
assumed that I wouldn’t be able to stick
around for too long. They thought I was
choosing films foolishly, but I walk the path
that I feel is right. I am not scared of new
paths, nor am I scared of taking risks. If one
has truth and courage by his or her side, he or
she will win in the end.

30 june 2013
people
Are there any films you regret
choosing?
I have no such regrets. Some of my
films were unsuccessful at the box
office, but whatever I am today I learnt
from all those films. I give my failures
as much credit as I do my successes.
What would you say are two of
your integral qualities?
I have two qualities that are good and
bad at the same time. One of them is a
passion to accomplish tasks. The other
is my stubbornness which gives me a
lot of energy. When someone tells me
not to do a particular film, I do it on
purpose.
How are your relations with
the media? You are often seen
playing hide and seek with them.
Currently, I have a very good
relationship with the media. There was
a point in my career when the media
would write many untrue things about
me and I would be very hurt. I am a
very emotional creature. When I didn’t
interact with the media, they assumed
things and wrote about them. When
I was quiet, they would assume I was
fighting.
In Taare Zameen Par, my character asks
Dr Shetty what do children need the
most — security, dignity, faith or love?
If the first three things don’t exist,
there is no point in love. I realised
that this also holds true for people
and thought about all my soured
relationships — media included —
with this in mind and our relationship
automatically got better.
What do you think about
Bombay Talkies, the
tribute movie?
It made me glad and sad
that I couldn’t make such a
film. It’s good to see such
talent.
Name a legendary
actress whom you
admire
Without doubt it has
to be the one and only,
Madhubala. Just one
smile from her and
that was it – you were
floored!
On the personal front, do you
plan to get into politics?
(Firmly) I have no such plans.
And your favourite films?
Pyaasa, Mother India,
Mughal-e-Azam and Garam
Hawa to name a few.
Who are your
favourite actors?
Dilip Kumarji. He is
one of the best. I
regret that I haven’t
had a chance to work
with him yet.

31june 2013
Richa Chaddha talks about why
she gave up theatre for films, not
wanting to be typecast and how
Mira Nair inspires her
Asmita Aggarwal
cinema

cinema
32 june 2013
R
icha Chaddha is nothing like
the Dolly of Oye Lucky! Lucky
Oye! She is well spoken, has
a great sense of humour,
likes designer gowns and is
lots of fun! After all, she comes from
an academic family, with a mother who
teaches in Delhi University. Richa herself
started out in theatre – maybe that’s why
she is now known for her unconventional
choice of roles like Nagma in Gangs of
Wasseypur. Richa is now gearing up for
the Farhan Akhtar-produced film Fukrey.
“It is a light-hearted comedy, something
I have never done before. I am used to
dark, edgy roles so when I got Fukrey I
was overjoyed, as I play the antagonist.
Great acting skills are all about taking the
road less travelled. I am young so I have
nothing to lose,” she says.
Richa plays Geeta Arora aka Sonu Pan-
jaban – a criminal who rose to the top
of the ladder in her early 20s in UP and
Bihar, by trafficking well-groomed college
girls and paying them exceedingly well.
“I was surprised to see how well turned
out she was in real life. She was married
to Vijay, a small time gangster whom she
loved, but I was surprised to discover that
she had many lovers and was a mother
too! I liked the character so when I was
offered the role I agreed almost immedi-
ately,” Richa says.
Unlike most stars Richa had it quite easy.
She was spotted by Dibanker Banerjee,
while she was doing a play for Barry John.
“I wanted to reach a wider audience as
I believe only a few people have access
to theatre and films have mass appeal. I
have to thank Barry John who taught me
all I know. I found my own voice quite
early in my career because of him,” she
says.
Interestingly, when people meet Richa
they speak to her in Hindi thinking she is
really like Dolly in real life, so when she
answers back in chaste English, they are
quite taken aback. “People tend to type-
cast you in the industry – they think I am
one of those actresses who can’t talk to
save her life and that’s perhaps why I play
such characters with ease,” she laughs.
“There are two kinds of people –
one who are performers like
me, and others who like
to be behind the cam-
era,” Richa explains.
Perhaps it was this
fire in her belly
that got her a
role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela,
when Kareena Kapoor walked out of this
Romeo and Juliet remake. “I am doing
quite an offbeat role in the film which
was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
As a newcomer I learnt so much from
Sanjay Bhansali – everyday with him was
like attending an acting workshop,” she
confesses.
Tired of playing negative characters, Ri-
cha made up her mind that in 2013 she
would like a change of image – so taking
a 180 degree turn was mandatory. “I
enjoyed working with Mira Nair. I did a
small film called God Room, co-written
by Zoya Akhtar. Mira is a real artiste. She
doesn’t write novels, but manages to un-
derstand their essence and frames them
in a language everyone can understand.
God Room is a short film that deals with
gender politics, caste, beauty and the
young and old. It was a riveting experi-
ence to interact with Mira and extremely
exciting to observe her thought
process,” she concludes.

cinema
Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor
opens up on Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,
his ex-flame Deepika Padukone and his
love for football
Asmita Aggarwal
W
hen the Bollywood
dreamboat shot
the first scene for
Abhinav Kashyap’s
Besharam in
which he steals a car, it was the
thrill of sharing screen space with
his parents that excited him! That
there was a stampede outside
an apartment in Delhi with fans
screaming, “I love you Ranbir,”
didn’t seem to matter. “It was
fun being in the frame with my
parents for the first time in my
career,” he says.
Today, Ranbir is looking forward
to acting in Ayan Mukerji’s film
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani which
also stars his ex-flame Deepika
Padukone along with Kalki Koechlin
and Aditya Roy Kapur. “This is my
second film with Ayan – the first
being Wake up Sid – who is a good
friend,” he says.
Interestingly, it is after a gap of five
years that Ranbir and Deepika are
sharing screen space, and with the
RK tattoo intact on the nape of her
neck, the Kapoor son has only good
things to say about his co-star. “She
is a fine actress whom I last worked
with in Bachna Ae Hasenoo in
2008,” he says with a smile.
33june 2013

cinema
In a world of brittle relationships, fame
and money, the Ranbir-Deepika love
story turned sour after two years in the
limelight. The ugly break up, his alleged
affair with Katrina Kaif and accusations
of repeated cheating took their toll.
Deepika’s revelations on the Karan Johar
show didn’t help things either – “He is
a great person but he needs to work
on his boyfriend skills. I do forgive, but
when it becomes a habit…”
Despite the unpleasantness, Ranbir
played the chivalrous ex-lover when
Deepika was reduced to tears at a
press meet to promote Yeh Jawaani
Hai Deewani, where uncomfortable
questions were asked about her still
intact RK tattoo. In true Bollywood
style Ranbir admonished the media
person for delving into “private and
personal lives”. But then, that’s Ranbir for
you, always standing up for his friends,
like he did for Sanjay Dutt. “I vouch for
Sanjay Dutt as a human being, what
has happened is very sad. Sanjay is a
wonderful, generous and good-hearted
man. He has suffered enough. This blow
has come just when he was getting back
on his feet.”
The same innate decency was at play
when Ranbir got a chance to show
some of his skills on the football field
where he struck a chord with his
teammates – street kids for the NGO
Ranbir played the
chivalrous ex-lover
when Deepika
was reduced to
tears at a press
meet to promote
YehJawaani Hai
Deewani...
34 june 2013

cinema
Magic Bus. Ranbir was the vice-captain
of the All Stars Football Club (ASFC)
that competed against the All Hearts
Football Club (AHFC), brimming with
Indian cricketing stars in a charity match
for Magic Bus at the Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium in March.
“The game plan was just to have fun
and the cause was a noble one,’’ says
Ranbir who has been an avid football
player since his school days. “Once
my career started I got busy and forgot
all about football but ASFC has
changed all that. I think it is important
to play some form of sport, it teaches
you a lot – discipline and to work as a
team,” he adds.
Ranbir says that he carries a football
with him when he travels and he gets
an opportunity to play with ASFC every
week. “We are trying to rope in the
English Premier League football team to
play a match here and also in Kolkata.
Pepsi is also trying to get football players
in from Spain and England. However, we
don’t have a decent football ground in
Mumbai, which is shameful. We must try
and create a proper sports infrastructure
only then can we create sports stars at
the school level,” he adds.
With no heroines participating in the
game as yet, Ranbir laments, “My game
would be better if there were actresses
playing!” Any takers?
Ranbir carries
a football with him
when he travels for
whenever he gets an
opportunity to play
35june 2013

travel
36 june 201336 june 2013
insider
Blessed with delicate porcelain
features, Evelyn Sharma and Dia
Mirza are virtually indistinguish-
able. For Evelyn’s sake, we hope
the similarity ends there as Dia’s
career has been on a southbound
trajectory for a long time now
Priyanka Chopra is sweating it
out at the gym to play Mary Kom.
And her sur-namesake Sherlyn is
sweating it out under the sheets to
reintroduce western audiences to
the Kamasutra. That apart, Sherlyn’s
working hard to replicate PC’s look.
Until the latter finds a new look.
Bollywood is reeling under déjà vu. We’ve
got movies resembling other movies; songs
sounding like we’ve heard them before. So why
should it be any different when it comes to the
actresses? Here’s our pick of the top female
doppelgangers in B-Town today.
HEYSOULSISTER
EARNING THEIR CHOPS
BOO BETTY BOOP
Actress Riya Vij had pinned all her
hopes on Gippi, an Ugly Betty-
esque indie feature. Sadly, the only
thing that came of age was her
resemblance to Boney and Sridevi
Kapoor’s youngest daughter Khu-
shi. Well, some publicity is better
than none, isn’t it?

june 2013 37
people
37june 2013
Forever a child of the sixties, guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana finds
India to be “spiritually evolved with a lot of kindness”
Rohit Panikker

38 june 2013
people
C
arlos Santana has always cut
his own path. You could say
that it began from his debut at
Woodstock ‘69 with a free form jam
band that christened itself after his
second name. The group introduced
Latin-infused rock, jazz, blues, salsa,
and African rhythms to the half-
million people that attended the free
concert, and was quickly lapped up by
an international audience, garnering
critical acclaim (no one had even heard
of using timbales and congos in rock
n’ roll before!) It was the first time a
completely new band managed to
pull off something of this sort with no
history, no record deal or even a single
on the radio … and that too with a
Mexican frontman who went on
stage and played his guitar like a
Native American shaman in trance!
Cut to the present and the scene
remains the same. Santana’s still
treading his own path. With a musical
repertoire of almost 36 albums to his
name, his last studio release Shape
Shifter was primarily a guitar-driven
instrumental album where he strayed
away from his well-received format
of collaborating with other talents
on vocal duties – like Chad Kroeger
of Nickelback, Jennifer Lopez, Dave
Matthews or Rob Thomas of Matchbox
Twenty (with whom he wrote the
Grammy-winning single Smooth).
In October last year, the guitar
wizard and the patriarch of a genre
we refer loosely to as ‘world music’
performed live in India for the first
time in a career that’s been running
for over four decades. “I am
honoured and grateful to have had
performed in Bangalore and Delhi. If
you’ve have ever visited the zoo at the
time the lion is being fed, he always
roars louder for more. It was the same
effect I had while performing live
for my Indian fans,” he says of the
experience.
A disciple of the Bengali-American
spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, Santana
was also given the name Devadip (the
lamp, light and eye of God) by his
guru. And although it took him this
long to perform in India, it definitely
didn’t take his music too long to get
here. His beats and riffs have been
inspiring Bollywood songs, from the
Afro rhythms of Jingo to the bass line
of Maria Maria. Here, he talks about
his impressions of his time in India,
why he loves collaborating with other
musicians, the whole idea of fusion
music and what he thinks plagues the
music industry today.
38 june 2013

june 2013 39
people
june 2013 39
“I call ‘fusion music’ the
spice of life.I love African
music and the Afro beats.
I love this spicy music,
just as I love spicy food
and women!”
Indian Textures
“It was my maiden concert
in India, although I had visited
before. India is a spiritually evolved
country with a lot of kindness.
The visual imagery and textures
were my first impressions when
I’d visited the country earlier! This
time, I couldn’t stop gorging on
Indian food. I fell in love with the
south Indian breakfast of masala
dosa and the mango lassi was my
favourite!”
Creative Bonds
“Collaborating with other musicians
is a very gratifying experience and
the feeling is mutual. They all
want to share their music. It’s the
complementing collaboration and
not competition that makes it great.
I have no agenda, no fear. I just need
the right song. Once you’ve identified
it, you play with all your heart,
without any fears. With this emotion
and spiritual values, the sound is
always memorable.”
The Spice Of Life
“I call ‘fusion music’ the spice of life.
I love African music and the Afro
beats. I love this spicy music, just as
I love spicy food and women! At the
moment I am focusing on working
with Latin/Spanish musicians. I want
to be able to create music with
musicians from Persia, India, China,
Kuala Lumpur ... with the brothers
Plumbing Issues!
“The problem with the music
‘industry’ today is that there is too
much dependence on technology
and less on singing. The focus has
shifted to money, fame, zeros to the
right on the cheque. In short, the
technology is turning out plumbers
disguised as musicians!”
All Strings Attached
“When I was working on Shape
Shifter, I sang to my guitar. It is
more or less an album for personal
collection, though not so much for
the radio. Though many people
have pointed out that I have moved
away from what they identify to
be the typical ‘Santana sound’, the
process of writing this album was
natural for me and no departures.
I have been the maître d for the
vocals till now. Here, I became the
maître d for the instrument.”
The Sixties
“This was the time we wanted an
end to the Vietnam War. We believed
that world peace could be possible,
we believed in the principles of
Mahatma Gandhi and Mother
Teresa. Humanity took a quantum
leap in consciousness. We aspired to
create this change. Unlike then, the
youth of today have forgotten to ask
questions. Question the authority.”
“I call ‘fusion music’ the
spice of life.I love African
music and the Afro beats.
I love this spicy music,
just as I love spicy food
and women!”

travel
40 june 201340 june 2013
Music
T
his month’s all about the independent
releases! From your next-door garage
band to a dreamy and ambient EDM
album being put together in a modest studio
set up, these musicians are known to walk off
the beaten path and experiment with their
music. With free handouts, online downloads
or even modestly-priced physical copies going
around, music, for these artistes, is all about
being heard!
Pretty Lights - A
Colour Map Of The Sun
What: Pretty Lights, the musical project of the
electro soul hip-hop pioneer Derek Vincent
Smith, will release a new studio album titled A
Color Map of the Sun, in July. The album takes
its title from the writings of Isaac Newton. Around
The Block, the album’s first single an uplifting, soulful,
hip-hop throwback about appreciating the best moments in life
featuring Talib Kweli.
Artistspeak: “By putting together different groups of musicians on a daily
basis, different bands were formed with the purpose of playing styles
from funk, soul and jazz, to folk, rock and classical. I searched for
vocalists that could take my lyrics and put their own incredible soul
and emotion into them. I made beats for some of my favorite
rappers in exchange for the ability to chop up the lyrics they
wrote. It was a laborious yet immensely gratifying
experiment that I could not be more proud of.”–
Derek Vincent Smith, Pretty Lights
Label: Pretty Lights Music
Adil &
Vasundhara - Ampersand
What: Vasundhara Vidalur and Adil Manuel
spearhead a collaborative outfit based out of
New Delhi. Their musical spectrum spans Jazz
Fusion, Funk, RnB, Blues & Gospel. Ampersand
is their debut release and their sound has been
showcased in every major music festival in the
country.
Artistspeak: “While looking for one single word that described what the
album stood for, we realized that the album had become a lot more
than Adil and Vasundhara. The songs were created over many jams
with Saurabh Suman and Sava Boyadzhiev. Luminaries and friends
like Louiz Banks, Ranjit Barot, Loy Mendonsa, Sanjay Divecha,
Zubin Balaporia and Suchet Malhotra came on board and
contributed. This is a mega project. This is a massive
statement. This is an enormous step in the new wave of
independent music. Because for the first time, this is
about ALL of us together” - Adil & Vasundhara
Label: Independent release
Skrat - Bring
Out The Big Guns
What: Chennai-based trio Skrat is out
with their next adventure titled Bring Out The Big
Guns. Featuring TT Sriram on guitars and lead vocals,
Tapass Naresh on the drums and Satish Narayanan on bass
guitar - both providing backup vocals - that provide a simple,
raw, homegrown perspective to loud guitars, catchy hooks
and a whole lot of energy on and off stage! Check out the fun
sing-along track Samurai Badass or the edgy Tin Can Man for a
taste of Skrat.
Artistspeak: “A debut album, several live gigs, a few hiatuses,
personnel alterations and a partial reinvention later, Bring
Out The Big Guns is a compilation of the band’s
collective frustration.” – Sriram TT, vocalist
Label: Independent release

june 2013 41
people
41june 2013
Rohit Panikker
“I had to take a
completely fresh
approach while
doing music
for this film,”
says composer
Michael Andrews
on teaming up
with Mira Nair
for The Reluctant
Fundamentalist
M
usic composer Michael
Andrews refers to himself as
“the one whom filmmakers
approach if they want to try something
outside of convention”. Indeed,
this American musician first shot to
fame with his version of the Tears
For Fears song Mad World, which
he recorded for the soundtrack of
the Jake Gyllenhaal starrer Donnie
Darko. The movie went on to garner
a cult following and Andrews set the
standard for “unconventional” and
experimental music. “The film was
pretty low budget so my portion of
the money was pretty thin. I couldn’t
hire anyone, it was just me. I played
everything – piano, mellotron, mini
marimba, xylophone, ukulele, organ,”
he said about the making of the
soundtrack.
Since then, the composer has gone on
to score music for a variety of feature
projects such as Bridesmaids, Out Cold,
Nothing, Cypher, Orange County, My
Suicidal Sweetheart, a segment of Paris,
je t’aime, Unaccompanied Minors and
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. And
now, he has teamed up with award-
winning director Mira Nair to score a
near hour-long score for her recently-
released The Reluctant Fundamentalist.
“I had to take a completely fresh

42 june 2013
approach while doing music for this film,”
explains the composer as he gets talking on his
experience with the subcontinent and how he
went about putting together the soundtrack
to the tale of Mohsin Hamid’s protagonist,
Changez.
Mira Nair worked closely with Andrews and their
combined efforts have effectively layered the film’s
score with traditional Pakistani songs, Urdu poetry
set to music, cutting-edge Pakistani pop, funk and
rap. “I found the entire process very challenging.
Mira had heard my work in Donnie Darko, liked it,
and then got in touch with me to score music for
The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” explains Andrews.
“Post-production was difficult since we were
working from two different continents. Finally, I
travelled to Delhi and sat with her, sifting through
the footage and trying to cut the soundtrack as we
saw it best … and that from quite a lot of material
we had already put together!”
The soundtrack features an ensemble of sounds
that Andrews has previously not worked much
with. For example, it kicks off with Kangna, a
Qawwali (a style of Sufi devotional music) sung
by a family of 12 renowned Pakistani Qawwali
singers, led by brothers Fareed Ayaz and Abu
Mohammed. This is followed by Pakistani pop star
Meesha Shafi’s Bijli Aaye Ya Na Aye. Amy Ray of
the folk group Indigo Girls performs on Measure
Of Me and there’s also Atif Aslam who sings Mori
Araj Suno in Urdu. The composer explains that
as the movie focuses on a blend of the old and
new; its music succinctly reflects these themes and
combines the traditional with the contemporary
to create the perfect soundtrack for the
film. “It was definitely an exploration.
Mira bounced a volley of thematic
information and ideas off me for over
three weeks,” he explains.
Perhaps the sights and sounds of the
Indian subcontinent helped inspire the
composer, especially since he found
the experience “magical”! On first
impressions, he says, “It was incredible! It was so
much to take in! I managed to find the time to
go around Old Delhi and I totally loved its narrow
alleyways and markets. On my first morning in
Delhi, I woke up to the sound of prayers from
outside. I have no words to express that feeling
except that it was magical. I want to come back to
India again!”
Andrews has also been straddling his solo work
along with his film music. Last year he released
Spilling A Rainbow, his second album, and one he
calls a complete contrast from his film work. “My
solo work is mostly a personal effort, inspired from
my own experiences. Spilling A Rainbow comes
from my experiences of being a father,” he shares
as he goes on, “The main difference between
scoring music for films and working on your own
album is that an album is more personal. There is
no time constraint when you’re making a record.
But, on a film, you have the director who has the
final say with what they want at the end of it.”
people
42 june 2013
Still from The Reluctant
Fundamentalist
Still from The Reluctant
Fundamentalist

food
43june 2013
M
odel, producer and Bollywood
hunk John Abraham and I have
known each other ever since
we worked together for PETA. John and
my husband share a love for cars and
bikes. And while everyone knows that
John is a fitness buff, not many know he is
also a great cook. While sharing this recipe
with me, John told me, “This stir fry is a
tasty, healthy and very filling dish,” and he
was so right! You can have this dish just
by itself as a snack, or teamed with rice
or homemade oat noodles. The recipe is
a favourite of mine because it’s so easy to
cook”.
“I love all the vegetables used in it — broc-
coli, mushrooms, zucchini, bok choy…
They are full of health-giving properties
and taste delicious as well. I sometimes
use yellow zucchini if I can find it, instead
of the regular dark-green one, just for a
change and I use almond flakes with their
outer covering as the peel is full of fibre
that is so good for you. Try making this
recipe and I am sure you will make it again
and again — just like I do!”
IN THE KITCHEN WITH
John Abraham shares his
favourite vegan recipe with
PETA activist Anuradha
Sawhney for her new book

food
44 june 2013
Method
Wash all the vegetables.
Cut the mushrooms into quarters.
Break or cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets.
Do not peel the zucchini. Cut it into two pieces length-
wise and then cut it into one inch pieces.
Break the bok choy into three pieces each.
Peel the garlic and crush it lightly using a mortar and pestle.
Blanch the almonds, till the skins are wrinkled. Peel and cut
them into fine slivers. You should have about one tablespoon of
slivered almonds.
Put a non-stick pan over moderate heat and add the oil (optional).
When hot, add the garlic and sauté for one minute.
Add the mushrooms, broccoli and zucchini. Raise the heat to high,
stir well and cover the pan. Let the vegetables steam for about two
to three minutes. The mushrooms will release water in which they will
cook. Be careful not to overcook the vegetables.
Open the pan and continue to cook, till the water starts to evaporate.
Add the bok choy, almonds and soy sauce. Stir-fry for one minute.
Remove from heat and add the pepper.
Taste and add salt only if needed as the soy sauce is salty.
Serve hot with steamed brown rice or homemade oat noodles.
Excerpted from: The Vegan Kitchen Bollywood
Style by Anuradha Sawhney
(Westland Ltd)
Ingredients
Mushrooms —1 packet (200 gms)
Broccoli — 1 head
Zucchini —1
Bok choy — 3 to 4 leaves
Garlic cloves — 6 to 8
Slivered almonds — 1 tbsp
Oil — 1 tsp (optional)
Light soy sauce — 2 to 3 tsp
Freshly ground black pepper — to taste
Salt — to taste
EXOTIC VEGETABLES
WITH
ALMONDSA LA
JOHN ABRAHAM
(2-3 servings)

explore not one, but two tanta-
lising French desserts – Paris Brest
and Chocolate Fondue with Man-
go Milkshake. Our captain at the
helm of this gastronomic voyage
was Chef Fabien Berteau.
Having honed his skills as a Pastry
Chef for more than a decade in
Paris, Fabien headed eastwards
to Chennai. Ask him about the
desserts he specially selected for
NOTCH and he says, “Paris Brest
is a signature dish from France
and it’s one of my favourite sug-
ar-coated indulgences. Although,
it’s a little time-consuming to
make, the result is worth the
effort. I’ve always prided myself
on being able to prepare this for
my guests, friends and family.
The dish has a wonderful history
behind it as well.” And so it does.
This delectable dessert made from
choux pastry and praline-flavoured
cream was created way back in
1891 in commemoration of the
Paris-Brest bicycle race.
The second dessert on Fabien’s
menu for us is Chocolate Fon-
due and Mango Milk Shake. He
confesses, “Chocolate fondue is
an all-time classic. You don’t need
a reason to have chocolate, do
you? I decided to give this recipe a
tropical, seasonal spin by coupling
it with a mango milkshake. Every-
one’s crazy about mangoes. So I
thought, let’s tease those taste-
buds a little and give you the best
of both worlds.”
Tucking into both desserts was a
gastronomic experience for us. So,
watch Fabien in action and bring
a little bit of France onto your
table!
Chef Fabien Berteau is the
Head Pastry Chef at the Park
Hyatt in Chennai.
The French
t
he French have left their
indelible mark on everything –
from fashion and art to films
and culture. And as for the food
… well, it would be hard not to
be enamoured by the flavours of a
nation so obsessed with its cuisine.
We decided to take the plunge and
Chef Fabien
Berteau brings
you two fabulous
French desserts
– guaranteed to
become instant hits
at the dining table
Bijoy Bharathan
food
48 june 2013

(Serves 4-6 persons)
PARISPARIS
For the Choux Pastry
Milk – 75 ml
Water – 175 ml
Sugar – 7 gms
Salt –- 3 gms
Butter – 100 gms
Flour – 175 gms
Eggs – 300 ml – (Approx 5 egg yolks)
Method
• In a saucepan bring the water, milk,
butter, sugar and salt to boil.
• Fold in the sieved flour and dry out
over strong heat.
• Incorporate eggs one by one.
• Pipe the mixture onto baking paper in
doughnut shaped circles
• Bake in an oven set at190 degrees for
25 minutes.
For the Pastry Cream
Milk – 500 ml
Egg yolks – 120 ml - Beat the yolks gently to
emulsify and measure out 300 ml
Sugar – 120 gms
Cornflour – 30 gms
Custard powder – 20 gms
Butter – 150 gms
Praline paste – 100 gms
Method
• Bring the milk to the boil and mix in the egg
yolks, sugar, cornflour and custard powder.
• Stir for two minutes till the mixture boils.
• Add 50 gms of butter. Cool and store in the
refrigerator for an hour.
• Add the praline paste and the remaining soft
butter and mix well to get a smooth batter.
To Serve:
Slice the choux pasty doughnuts horizontally.
Pipe the praline paste onto one choux pastry,
top it with the other half and serve.
Image:DwarakeshIyengar
food
49june 2013 TAP FOR VIDEO

For the Chocolate Fondue
Dark chocolate 70 per cent cocoa
Chocolate – 260 gms
Butter – 300 gms
Eggs – 500 ml -
Castor sugar – 200 gms
Flour – 130 gms
Method
Method
• Melt the chocolate and the butter in a
double boiler.
• Beat the eggs and castor sugar together
till the mix is a pale consistency.
• Add the chocolate into it this mixture
using a spatula.
• Add the flour and mix well.
• Keep the mixture in the refrigerator for
an hour.
• Pipe the mixture into the mould.
• Bake at 190 degrees for nine minutes.
For the Mango Milk Shake
Mango puree – 150 gms
Vanilla ice cream – 500 gms
Full cream milk – 50 ml
Method
Pour the mango puree, vanilla ice
cream and the full cream milk into a
blender for 30 seconds.
Pour the mixture into a short glass
and serve.
CHOCOLATE
FONDUE &
CHOCOLATE
FONDUE &
(Serves 4-6 persons)
Image:DwarakeshIyengar
Videographer:Subash
food
50 june 2013
TAP FOR VIDEO

travel
52 june 2013
Top 5
New York: I love it, as I went to school there. But more
than that, I think, it is a very cosmopolitan city. I like taking
pictures of people placed in an interesting environment. It
has this great vivacity, buzz and great historical places like
the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and not to forget the
Niagara Falls. New York is a melting pot of cultures and
that’s what makes it spectacular.
Mumbai: It is the city that is my home. I am actually
not a great photographer, I am an aspiring one. More
than monuments, statues, malls or markets, capturing
people in their myriad moods, various stages of life
really interests me, or you can say fascinates me.
Mumbai makes a great subject. For me, pictures are
about freezing special moments in time.
Kashmir: I was there shooting for Vishal Bharadwaj Saat
Khoon Maaf with Irrfan Khan and I went ballistic trying to
take pictures at every nook and corner as I was surrounded
by such beauty, that it just swept me away. Everything is so
stunning and natural. Despite the region being strife torn,
the place’s natural beauty mesmerized me.
Ko Samui: I love beaches, sun, sand and bikinis. I like Thailand
and Ko Samui’s clear waters and also Krabi, where you can
go snorkeling or kayaking, it offers crystal clear waters and a
above all peace, as if you are one with nature.
Marrakech: Marrakech: I was there this year for
the Marrakech Film Festival. I like Morocco. It is
as if old world meets new-age, it was fascinating.
Places must speak to you, whether it is historical or
contemporary, I like pictures to tell a story.
Places

travel
54 june 2013
I
ndia’s over 7,000 kms of coastline and
some large island groups have been
attracting surfers from all over the world.
Their aim? To find stretches of silent, unex-
plored beaches so that they may ride the
waves along the coastlines of Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa.
The idea of surfing tourism has caught on
rapidly with surfing schools operating out
of beachside villages or resorts and cricketer
Jonty Rhodes, who often hits India’s beaches
with his surfboard, being declared the official
ambassador for the sport in the country.
So, what has made India’s coastline so ap-
pealing to surfers? “The possibility of finding
new, quiet, exciting as well as exclusive places.
The waves are relatively gentle before the
rains, so it’s perfect for beginners,” explains
Joshua Nguyen, a seasonal surfer who is
exploring the southern coasts ahead of the
monsoons. “This is usually the best time for
amateurs,” he says adding, “the currents get
stronger as you hit June-July. That’s when the
more professional surfers come out, looking
for waves that swell up to over 20 feet!”
Perhaps one of the first people to start a
surfing school on the south-eastern coast,
brothers Juan and Samai Reboul, who were
born in a fishing hamlet in Spain, had their
first taste of the waves as two very impres-
sionable children growing up in Auroville,
near Puducherry. They opened the Kallialay
Surf School in the fishing village of Tandri-
ankuppam in 2009 and have been witness to
the surge of interest in surfing activity over
the last few years. “When we moved here in
1995, there was a community of maybe
10 surfers (who gave Juan and Samai their
first surfboards). Now, on a good day with
good swells and conditions, we have many
times that number of people in the water,”
says Juan.

travel
55june 2013
So, how long does it take for a beginner to
pick up surfing during a holiday? “After a 10-
day course you will be able to surf yourself,”
says Samai. “However, that depends on two
things – how fit or sporty you are and whether
you know how to swim. The latter is an essen-
tial prerequisite.”
If one needs to dole out credit for the start of
the surfing movement in India, it has to go
to Jack Hebner an American surfer monk who
started the first surfing ashram in Mangalore
and is better known as the Surfing Swamy.
Rammohan Paranjape, who is India’s only
professional surf photographer and one of
the founding members of the Surfing Feder-
ation of India, was one of his early students.
“Surfing was introduced to a bunch of us by
the Surfing Swamy in early 2000,” he explains.
“His efforts led to the first ever surfing school
in India that was established here in 2004.”
But Rammohan says that all the recent
attention that India has been garnering as
a major surfing spot is due to the kind of
coverage it gets from the media and
the kind of support they get in terms of
equipment and assistance from different
sponsors and surfing aficionados from
around the world. Now, with Jonty Rhodes
endorsing the activity, it has caught the
attention of the average urban Indian. “The
South Africans love to surf and we had heard
that Jonty has been surfing to keep fit after his
retirement,” says Rammohan, as he looks to
the future. “People from the cities steal away
to these beaches, curious about surfing, and
wanting to learn how to catch a wave. This
kind of curiosity and enthusiasm is what will
take surfing to the next level in this country.
I think it’s just a matter of time before we
see India become a much bigger part of the
surfing map.”
Surfing Tips and Etiquette
• It is advisable to first cover familiar surfing spots in India before at-
tempting to search for new ones.
• Make sure you do not interfere with the fishing activity by the beach.
• Watch out for currents. It is better to familiarise yourself with the rips
(a powerful flow of water rushing back to the ocean due to heavy
wave action), and currents at the surfing spot by asking fellow surfers
or local fishermen from the area.
• Don’t hog the waves!
• While going into the sea in a line-up, the one closest to the peak of
the wave has right of way and should be allowed to tackle the wave.
Safety
• Don’t dive in right away. Talk to the locals and the lifeguard
(if present) about surfing conditions.
• Never surf alone! India’s coastline destinations do not have a
consistent lifeguard programme in place, except for areas like Goa or
Kovalam, near Chennai.
• Never mix alcohol with surfing. Even nursing a hangover can be risky.
• If you ever get caught in a rip, relax. Start swimming towards the
shore at a 45-degree angle. Swimming parallel to the shore will get
you out of the rip and hopefully you can catch a wave or two all the
way back to the beach!
• Dive under large waves.
Surfing Schools
• Bay of Life
# 14/19, Carmel Nagar, Kovalam
East Coast Road
Chennai
Contact: www.bayoflife.com
• Kallialay Surf School
Tandriankuppam
Puducherry
Contact: www.surfschoolindia.com
• Soul and Surf
Varkala, Kerala
Contact: sofie@soulandsurf.com
• Cocopelli Surf School
Beach, Belehittal
Gokarna, Karnataka
Contact: surfschool@cocopelli.org
• Mantra Surf Club
# 6-64 Kolachi Kambala,
Bappanadu Mulki, Mangalore,
Karnataka
Contact: www.surfingindia.net

travel
56 june 2013
Minissha Lamba
Fresh faced Minissha Lamba is yet to make
her billing as a top star. But her rhinoplasty,
at least going by the pictures, seems com-
pletely unwarranted. Take a look at the be-
fore and after pictures and tell us if flaring
her nostrils was a better alternative to taking
acting lessons.
They are young, they are gorgeous. And
yes, they have a nose (cough) for alter-
ations. NOTCH rounds up the beauties who
sharpened their beaks for a better break
Aditi Rao Hydari
This one’s a double whammy for you. It’s not
just the nose. Even Aditi’s lips seem to have
undergone some cosmetic changes. The actress
garnered accolades for one of her early fea-
tures Shringaram, where she looked quite the
lissome lass. But now, in her uber chic Murder
3 avatar, she’s trimmed out some flab, from
the nostrils and gone for the scalpel sharp
beak. Smells fishy?
Shruti Haasan
The true blue blooded princess of Kollywood,
Shruti Haasan seemed to have everything going
for her - great looks, an unrivalled lineage and
promising talent. But Luck wasn’t on her side
as she decided to go under the knife for ‘health
reasons’. The journey from bulbous to svelte
(nose-wise) hasn’t made any impact on her
career per se.
BEFORE AFTER
BEFORE AFTER
BEFORE AFTER
insider
56 june 2013

wellness
57june 2013
Isha Koppikar shares the secret behind her
naturally gorgeous looks
Selection
Natural
MUNCHING
RIGHTS
My diet includes more liquids especially in
summer. A lot of fruits and veggies are an
integral part of my diet. I cut down on non-
veg during this season. Lemon and mint juice
refreshes and helps me beat the heat. Curd
and butter milk is my favourite especially
during this weather.
For breakfast, egg whites and multi grain
toast is the best. For lunch, jowar ki roti and
subzi and for dinner, fish and salad is my saf-
est bet. In between meals, if hungry, I have
fruits or dahi/buttermilk.
KEEPING IT
ORGANIC
I am very particular about cleansing, toning and moisturizing my skin.
I am very particular about moisturizing my body
with products containing natural ingredients.
Natural moisturizers like coconut based ones
penetrate deep into your skin & and get ab-
sorbed easily to leave
your skin feeling
moisturized
yet in a
completely
non sticky
manner.
HAIR
APPARENT
I also love products with mint as they are so cooling and refresh-
ing. When your hair is exposed to summer heat, it is imperative to
keep your hair free from dirt and stickiness. Remember to nourish
your hair with coconut based hair oil at least thrice a week to give
them the nourishment and shine they need. Use
a mild shampoo to keep your scalp clean. Knot-
ting your hair or braiding it will protect it from
entangling and breaking. Wear a scarf
or a hat to protect your hair from
sun damage. Staying hydrated
is very essential for
healthy hair; drink a
lot of coconut water
and juices to keep
yourself hydrated

wellness
58 june 2013
IRON MAN
Kris Gethin, author of Guide to
Your Best Body, and personal
trainer to Hrithik Roshan
gives us a peek into what the
Bollywood star does to maintain
his incredible physique
Asmita Aggarwal

wellness
59june 2013
Guide to Your Best
Body by Kris Gethin is
available in paperback
and e-book format
from Simon and
Schuster
Word Of Advice
Staying consistent every
single day is Hrithik’s mantra.
Kris advised him to tell
everyone his goals, so he
puts his sincerity on the line
to complete them. Kris also
suggested that he try to burn
bridges with things or people
that hold him back while
building others that would
support him.
The Diet Plan
Hrithik’s diet plan is very similar
to what Kris mapped out in his
book Guide to Your Best Body. He
eats six to eight meals a day with
slow release carbs, lean protein
sources and several protein
shakes when needed.
Steer Clear Of
Duggu has to avoid
carbohydrates late at night,
anything bread-crumbed or fried
and many Indian delicacies.
Lose The Flab In 12 Weeks
Duggu followed Kris’ guidance
without cheating even
once during their 12-week
transformation process and
worked around his injuries.
Training Days
Duggu has been training with
Kris for 16-months now.
Work It Out
Hrithik trains with weights
four hours a week and does
forms of cardio such as cross
fit, swimming, elliptical,
running or stair master every
day for 20 minutes.
Pumped Up Kicks
After waking up, Hrithik
eats a meal, performs
20 minutes of cardio
and then eats his second
meal. He eats every two
hours through the day
and generally trains with
weights in the evening for
around 45 minutes. When
he travels, he never misses
a workout or a meal either.
The Six Pack Theory
Staying consistent with
100 per cent commitment
and controlling your
environment instead of
being controlled by it is the
key to Hrithik’s success.
Achilles Heel
Hrithik’s problem areas
are his spine, knee and
bicep tendons.

NOTCH showcases all the hot stuff,
trends, gizmos, one-liners and quips
that’s got the boys talkin’…
IN YOUR
achelor
BPAD
60 june 2013
variety
60 june 2013

Game
On
Lock and load your
shotgun and prepare
to be drawn and
quartered in the
immersive world of
Bioshock Infinite
The Story
I
t’s circa 1912. And you play the role of a debt-ridden,
former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt. Your mission,
your one last job, is to rescue a damsel named Elizabeth,
imprisoned since childhood in the missing city of Columbia.
She’s got special powers, as you will see during the course
of the game. Her captor and her only companion is a mys-
terious creature called Songbird, who will leave no stone
unturned to return her to prison. At your disposal is an ever
expanding arsenal of weapons and skills that will propel you
and Elizabeth across high speed skylines, gigantic Zeppelins
and the streets and houses in Columbia.
Wham!
Bam!
Thank you,
Ma'am!
Quick Facts
Title: Bioshock Infinite
Genre: First Person shooter
Platform: PC/PS3
Developer: Irrational Games
Distributor: e-xpress Interactive Software (P) Limited
What's not
The developers expect you to have a strong stomach as the
baddies can be disposed off in hyper violent ways. The body
count certainly holds a candle to the level of blood and gore.
Squeamish gamers, you have been warned.
What's hot
The game is visually stunning, to say the
least. The city of Columbia is a floating
entity surrounded by gorgeous clouds that
provide the game with a dreamlike quality.
The environments are painstakingly ren-
dered with attention to detail. There are
plazas, town centres and architecture that
are breathtaking beyond compare. Your
partner Elizabeth is a fully fleshed out AI
(Artificial Intelligence) character who is both
a heartbreaker and a lifesaver. The gameplay
and combat sequences are as action packed
as they come with supersized enemies and
villains ensuring you’re on your toes from
the word ‘go’.
variety
61june 2013

Dating
Guide 'I like a
man who
smells nice'
A thinking woman’s tips
on what turns her on
Arpita Chatterjee
A
ctor Swara Bhaskar is a woman of sub-
stance. She loves to read, went to Pal-
estine for a peace march, has adopted
three stray cats and has a Masters in Sociology.
She’s in two films this year, Aurangzeb and
Raanjhnaa. She’s also delivered a power-packed
performance in Listen Amaya and Tanu Weds
Manu. She doesn’t need a man to look out for
her and is perfectly capable of fighting for her
place in the world. But Swara’s a romantic at
heart. She gave us a lowdown on what impress-
es her about a man and what turns her off.
2. What do you find
a total turn off?
That’s a long list. I abhor violence (of
any kind), egotistical behavior, conceit,
power or big flashy cars and lack of
consideration for those less privileged.
I seriously dislike men who can’t han-
dle alchohol and get aggressive when
drunk. I find people who are sloppy
eaters revolting as well.
1. What are the six
things you look for
in a man?
Consideration and sensitivity.
Sense of humour
Imagination. I love a story-teller.
Generosity of spirit.
He must smell nice and look clean.
variety
62 june 2013

4. What is your top
turn on?
An intimate conversation
3. Where would you
like a guy to take
you on a first date?
I would like a man to take me to a
restaurant that’s quiet and secluded and
overlooks a green valley. The music must
be soft so we can have a long conversa-
tion and go for a walk afterwards. Yes! I
am a romantic at heart, who grew up on
a healthy diet of feel-good romcoms and
I believe happy endings do exist.
5. What pick up
line would you
say works for
you?
I don’t believe pick up lines
really work. Don’t waste your
time thinking of pick up lines,
focus on the conversation.
Bestselling author Amish Tripathi
talks to us about one-night stands
and romance…
TALKING
STRAIGHT
I
have been with one woman since I
was 17 years old. I have never been in
one-night stands, rebound relationships
or two timing scenarios. So, I don’t know
what that is all about. Although I find my
love story very exciting, people might
find it boring. It’s probably why
I don’t see myself writing
love stories.”
variety
63june 2013

Microbreweries specialising
in handcrafted beer, made
from exotic and indigenous
ingredients are now piquing
the curiosity of beer lovers
across India
Bijoy Bharathan
The
Hangout
The Micro
Beer Belly
T
here’s a Homer Simpson in every
one of us. Brewmeisters seem to
have woken up to
this reality as microbreweries are now
cropping up across India faster than
you can say, ‘Doh’! It’s a far cry from
the time when standard issue beer, in
its bottled, canned and draught variants
served as the unifying agent in watering
holes of all shapes and sizes. Today, mi-
crobreweries are handcrafting different
varieties of beer in small batches, in the
old-school artisanal way. Suketu Talekar
and Oliver Schauf, the co-founders of
Doolally Brewing Company, Pune, tell
us, “We celebrate local ingredients and
try our best to constantly reinvent our
beers with new and more interesting
elements.
Our truly Indian beers – Millet Beer (Bajri
Beer), Karvand Cider, Mango Beer and
Jaggery Ale celebrate local handpicked
ingredients. We love using new ingredi-
ents like these, especially since it’s rare
to find them in beer-making regions like
Germany and Belgium!”
These beers can be had at
The 1st Brewhouse (Doolally on Tap!)
Corinthians Resort and Club, Undri,
South Pune – 60
variety
64 june 2013

Mango beer from the
juicy Alphonso throws
up interesting flavours
for us to experiment
with. This brew is based
on a classic Belgium
Blonde recipe using a
fruit variation. Using
ripe seasonal Alphonso
mangoes, this beer has
an excellent fruity aroma
and balancing sweet
dryness.
Food pairing:
This goes well with all
foods in a pub. But if
you can get your hands
on Potato pancakes
topped with Salmon,
nothing like it!
MANGO
BEER
Blackberry
Brew
(Karvand
Cider)
Karvand is a local berry
found abundantly in
Maharashtra along the
Western Ghats. This
carefully brewed cider is
fruity, mildly acidic with
a beautiful tarty finish.
Food pairing:
Crêpes are tradition-
ally served with cider.
Crêpes are served with
a variety of fillings,
from the simple sugary
crêpes to flambeed
crêpes or elaborate
savoury fillings
Here's the lowdown on
these hyper local suds:
The Jaggery Ale has deep
amber, almost ruby like
colour and an exception-
ally full-bodied, complex
character, imparted by
its star ingredient – Kol-
hapur jaggery. Gener-
ous quantities of noble
hops (an element used
to stabilise a brew) like
Saaz, combined with the
tropical effervescence of
jaggery gives the pale ale
its fragrant bouquet and
spicy flavour.
Food pairing:
This English bitter,
sweetened with good
old Indian jaggery goes
best with spicy food.
Team it up with Tan-
doori Chicken, Vegetar-
ian Kolhapuri or Paneer
Tikka and you have a
winner!
Jaggery
Ale
(Gur Ale)
Millet
Beer
(Bajri
Beer)
An idle thought triggered after a
hearty meal of Zunka-Bhakari at
a friend’s place got our German
brewmaster, Oliver Schauf to
craft a beer using Bajri/Bajra as
the base ingredient. The result
is Bajri - a smooth well rounded
beer, deep amber in colour, with
a pronounced bready nose. This
full bodied brew has a pro-
nounced silky texture with cereal
notes in its after-taste.
Food pairing: Pastas
pair nicely with this beer. Try it
with a Fettuccine with lightly
spiced chicken and porcini
mushrooms.
variety
65june 2013

people
66 june 2013
Asmita Aggarwal
The Green Room is a tell-all account
of ace designer Wendell Rodricks’
journey in the world of fashion

people
67june 2013
T
he Green Room by Wendell Rodricks
gives us insights into Wendell’s
beginnings as a hotel management
student to his evolution as a style guru.
It talks about his life-long muse Malaika
Arora Khan, his love-pact with Jerome that
led to a family boycott, his affection for
the Tatas, his heartbreak over the split of
the Fashion Weeks (Delhi and Mumbai)
and how despite being ‘abused’ by fellow
designers he emerged with dignity.
How did the idea for your book
come about?
Goa Writers, a group I was part of, threw
me a challenge to write a book in two
months at 2,000 words a day. I was the
only person who met this challenge! I sent
the manuscript to my literary agent Mita
Kapur and Raintree published the book. I
am delighted with the result.
Did you set any parameters when
you wrote The Green Room?
Yes. That I would be truthful,
non-judgemental, recount my life as an
inspiration for students and the next
generation. And also not hurt anyone
in an industry that is often portrayed as
being full of crazy designers and fickle
models.
Your first show in Paris – did it
change your life?
Being invited to the Salon Pret a Porter
de Paris is a big deal indeed. Person-
ally, being invited to IGEDO was ca-
reer-changing as I was the first Indian
designer invited to the world’s largest
garment fair. My favourite design
moments were doing the Visionnaire
collection for the visually-challenged and
reviving the Goan Kunbi sari.
You went to a catering college in
Mumbai – when did you realise de-
signing was ‘it’?
I did hotel management as it seemed very
glamorous at the time. But my heart was
in design and as soon as I saved sufficient
funds to study fashion, I gave it a shot.
It was a gamble that paid off. Luck and
destiny also played their parts.
You went to a catering college in
Mumbai – when did you realise de-
signing was ‘it’?
I did hotel management as it seemed very
glamorous at the time. But my heart was
in design and as soon as I saved sufficient
funds to study fashion, I gave it a shot.
It was a gamble that paid off. Luck and
destiny also played their parts.
You were one of the frontrunners of
the Lakme Fashion Week. Was the
split painful for you?
I was consultant to Lakme at the time. We
had absolutely no idea it would become
such a huge event. Credit must go to IMG
for initially getting the designers together
on one platform. When Lakme split from
FDCI (Fashion Design Council of India), I
was unaffected. However, some ambitious
designers called me names but I forgive
them as they had no idea of my history
with Lakme or that I looked upon Simone
Tata more like a favourite aunt or that the
Tatas are a family I admire and am happy
to work for.

people
68 june 2013
Your partnership with Jerome led
to a family boycott. Have things
changed?
Maybe I should not have used the
word ‘boycott’ in the book. The family
knew and loved Jerome for 20 years.
How can any family not used to media
scrutiny be comfortable with a sexual
preference being thrown into public
view? I understood their
angst, forgave them,
they apologised and
we are a family
again. My niece
Tegan walked for
me as opening
and showstop-
per for my last
Lakme Fashion
Week show.
You have
dressed the
most beau-
tiful wom-
en. Who
remains
your eternal
favourite
and why?
Apart from
the stars like
Malaika (Arora
Khan) and
Rekha, there
have been some
people, Anjana
Sharma for one
among many, who
have followed my career since I began.
If I ever need to do a retrospective of my
work, I know exactly which wardrobes to
raid!
What is the one thing that you desire
now that money can’t buy?
I would rather spend a night under a
canopy of unpurchasable stars than sleep
in Frette linen in an artificially lit and
climate-controlled room. I just want to
enjoy this wonderful journey called ‘life’.
Will we ever see you at Wills Lifestyle
India Fashion Week (WLIFW)?
I am part of the FDCI Board and have
been selling at Wills Lifestyle stores. I
show every alternate season in Delhi
(we don’t do winter shows, but we take
a stall) for a while now. WLIFW is an
important financial revenue point for
us. I am looking forward to showing my
collection this October.
What do you feel needs to be
changed in the fashion industry and
why?
We are not even recognised as an industry
by the government despite the fact that
we employ millions. If, during my tenure
on the FDCI Board, we can attain this,
nothing will make me happier. It’s sad
that we need to pay entertainment tax
for every fashion show, including student
graduation shows! Are we just a bunch
of cabaret artistes? We inspire a nation of
glamour-struck people and we indirectly
provide food, shelter and a livelihood to
millions.

69May 2013
Govinda – Krishna Udayasankar
(Hachette India)
For generations, the firstborn dynasty
of scholar-sages, descendants of
Vasishta Varuni and protectors of the
Divine Order on earth, has
dominated Aryavarta, the ancient
realm of the noble. For just as long,
the Angirasa family of Firewrights
has defied them. In the aftermath of
the centuries-long conflict between
the two orders, the once-united
empire of Aryavarta lies splintered.
Now, the last Secret Keeper of the
Firewrights is dead, killed by a violent
hand, and the battle for supreme power in the empire is
about to begin. Govinda Shauri, a cowherd-turned-prince and
now Commander of the armies of Dwaraka, must use all his
cunning to protect his people and those he loves.
Chutnefying English
(Penguin Books India)
Something’s happened to
English; and to Hindi. These
two languages need to be
understood anew through
their hybridization into
Hinglish - a mixture that has
begun to make itself heard
everywhere. How did this
form of urban
communication evolve? Is
this language the new and
trendy idiom of a youthful
population no longer competent in either English or
Hindi? Or is it an Indianized version of a once-
colonial language, claiming its legitimate place
alongside India’s many languages? Chutnefying
English: The Phenomenon of Hinglish, the first book
on the subject, takes a serious look at this
widespread phenomenon of our times which has
pervaded every aspect of our daily lives.
The Cubicle Manifesto –
Mainak Dhar (Random House India)
Welcome to the cubicle. The desk space you
occupy for hours on end. Where creativity is dead
and stress levels are high, where you feel guilty for
leaving, but reluctant to arrive. Is this the place
you’d really like to be? Stressed office worker
Mayukh can’t believe his misfortune when his
computer gets infected by a virus. The virus seems
to have its own agenda and it soon starts a
revolution that will change how Mayukh works
forever. A business parable for the modern age, this
book is essential reading for anyone who wants to
reduce stress and achieve a better work-life balance.
The Other Side of the Table – Madhumita
Mukherjee (Fingerprint Publishing)
The Other Side of the Table is a story about
letters shared between its two protagonists,
Abhi, who is training to be a neurosurgeon in
London, and Uma, who is just stepping into the
world of medicine in Kolkata. Spanning almost
a decade, they ink their emotions onto paper,
and their lives get chronicled in this subtly
nuanced conversation through letters – about
dreams, desires, heartbreaks, and longings,
about a proverbial good life falling apart, about
a failed marriage, a visceral loss, and about a
dream that threatens social expectations.
Wondering what to read ? Here’s a selection of some of the
e-books making waves in the subcontinent
Amul’s India – Based on 50
years of Amul advertising
(Harper Collins India)
The Amul campaign tells
the stories of India, one
hoarding at a time. The
hoardings are markers of
the ‘popular’ history of
India and have been
followed by fans for
decades. Timeless and
ageless, this long-
running campaign has
captivated Indians of all
ages. The key character
in this saga is the little
girl in polka dots, who
helped Amul Butter win over an entire nation.
This book celebrates her journey through the
eyes of prominent writers, public figures and the
subjects of the hoardings themselves. The book
is rife with a series of vignettes, creating a
patchwork quilt of essays, snippets and
selections of classic hoardings.
variety
Mahanayak Revisited: The World of
Uttam Kumar – Swapan Mullick (Westland Limited)
Veteran film critic Swapan Mullick’s Mahanayak Revisited goes behind the
professional life and public face of Bengal’s most
idolized actor Uttam Kumar, to reveal little-known
details of the star’s unconscious power in the film
industry for more than thirty years, the dazzling
achievements dampened by dud disappointments,
and the aberrations attendant on a life constantly in
the floodlights – all of which have resulted in, for
cine lovers, an attachment that survives years after
his death. Mullick researches the reason for our
undying worship of, and emotional links with,
Bengal s most enduring screen hero, emerging with
a gripping portrait of a true master of his art.

70 june 2013
destiny
Tarot reader Sheetal
Dewan is a gifted psychic
whose intuitive
predictions have guided
several celebs and
industrialists
Destiny
atewith
Aries
March 21 to April 19
Card of the month —
The Sun: Clarity of vision
Dear Aries, the Sun which is a
brilliant star in your chart this
month, denotes clarity of vision, a
divine order coming your way and
positivity. It dissipates all that is
grey and gloomy from your
environment. The Sun is one of my
favourite cards as it presents your surroundings with
joyfulness and a ray of hope. It suggests good news for
expectant mothers this month and for those who are
hoping to start a family. This is your month. The first half
of the month is all about family celebrations, travel and
rejuvenation; the second half however bestows good
health. On the work front you will build a strong sense of
enthusiasm with your colleagues and delayed projects
should find completion. So stop being gloomy about
minor things and start enjoying yourself!
Taurus
April 20 to May 20
Card of the month —
The Lovers:Choices
Dear Taurus, today you face The
Lovers card which represents that
you stand at the crossroads. A
significant decision needs to be
made in your life. However, your
head leads you in one direction
where practicality rules even though
your heart aches for you to be more
`free-flowing.’ Taurians who are single will attract a
partner. For singles, this month is all about physical
attraction, attention and intimacy. It however does not
indicate commitment of any kind. Couples may go through
a rough patch during the middle of the month — feeling
trapped and wanting out of the situation. This is where
you have a choice: to either stay in the relationship or slide
out of it. On the financial front you may encounter certain
risks, in such a case you will have to weigh all the pros and
cons before you take the plunge.

NOTCH Magazine Issues its 9th Edition with Aamir Khan on its cover

NOTCH Magazine Issues its 9th Edition with Aamir Khan on its cover

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