Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan’s blue-eyed boy, Abhishek, believes there’s more to acting than just a glorified bloodline, writes Sneha May Francis
Here’s a man blessed with an envious star lineage, smart looks, and a gorgeous green-eyed actress for a wife. One would think his world couldn’t get any more perfect. But despite all these glorious frills, there’s something that’s eluded Abhishek Bachchan so far – recognition. The man is popular, no doubt, but very rarely for his acting escapades. Bachchan junior has had to work extremely hard to create a slot for himself in Bollywood without depending on his illustrious bloodline. It took him 17 films to prove he’s got the stuff that actors are made of, but he’s still a long way from matching up with his legendary parents – Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. His happy act in Dostana might’ve helped garner some critical acclaim, but it wasn’t enough to wipe away the bad after-effect of his clumsy performance in Drona.
We caught up with Abhishek when he visited Dubai to showcase Delhi-6, a film he promised would be a revelation, but which we later found out to be a tad disappointing.
We rewind to our ‘10-minute’ interview slot.
The rush of sunlight at the hotel café set the perfect mood for our rendezvous, only this time we had other journos for company. The hustle and bustle is a given, considering Dubai rarely gets treated to Bollywood visitors.
In any case, the man arrives, bang on time, dressed in a quirky white shirt, blotched on one side with a large blue eagle. It’s hard to ignore the bizarre shirt, but we try. It’s his well-toned body and cropped hair-do that’s caught our attention next. We speculate it’s for Mani Ratnam’s next flick Ravaan, but Abhi shoots that down with "that’s not the title of the film" before conceding, a tad reluctantly, that we are spot-on in our theory that it’s for the film. We ignore the curt response and quiz him about his association with filmmaker Mani, who gave his career the much-needed push with the rebellious Lallan in Yuva and the ambitious tycoon Gurukant Desai in Guru. "He’s (Mani) a dear friend and a mentor to me. I’d do anything for him. He doesn’t need to show me the script, he just needs to tell me when he wants to shoot. That’s the kind of love and respect I have for him," claims the Bachchan boy.
Since we’ve read enough about his "brilliant" sense of humour, we thought we’d put it to test it by asking him to pick one thing he doesn’t like about his Delhi-6 co-star Sonam Kapoor. But Abhishek stalls, looks uneasy and shouts out to Sonam, who’s seated around the corner, for an answer. When we protest, he blurts out a lame: "She’s always wearing flats. I don’t like that. She’s tall and should wear heels". We could comprehend what was really funny about that line, so we let the humour angle pass and allow Abhishek to hide behind his shades and mumble away in his husky voice.
We note his interesting association with Delhi-6 director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who was supposed to launch Abhishek in Bollywood with Samjhauta Express. Fate, however, played spoilsport, leaving it to JP Dutta to do the introduction with Refugee. We prompt him to reexamine his career and ask how it would’ve shaped up had he waited for Mehra’s golden touch. But Abhishek doesn’t believe in looking back. "I only hope it’s the start of a wonderful collaborative relationship between Rakeysh and me, and that we go on to make some wonderful films," he adds.
It’s Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance that we take on next. A film that narrates the smooth ride most star kids enjoy, contradictory to Abhishek’s tough real-life story. He accepts there are perks, but not enough to see you through. "Let’s be very honest. It’s definitely easy to get your foot in the door. There are millions of other actors who are hundred times better than us but don’t get an opportunity to make a film. But I do everyday. I’m blessed, I’m lucky and I’m thankful for it," he adds. But he disapproves of the negativity surrounding the inheritance of such a glorified status. "It shouldn’t be held against us. It’s not our fault. It’s a bonus that our parents have been in this industry. I don’t think anyone blames the son of a business tycoon when he takes on his dad’s business. So why are we being alienated?"
Abhishek claims he was warned about the harsh realities of the film world by celebrated filmmaker Yash Chopra. "He told him that people won’t spend their hard-earned money on you only because your dad is a superstar. Your father will only bring the public to your first show, after that you have to prove who you are." Abhishek went on to do just that. After 17 films, he’s finally getting a stronghold in Bollywood. And this star kid isn’t bitter about it: "Most actors don’t get more than one film to prove themselves, but I got 17! And I owe it all to my parents."
Considering he’s had a rollercoaster outing in Bollywood, we ask if there’s anything special he does to soothe his nerves before his film releases. "I have a disorder: I speak a lot. I meet as many journalists as possible. No, I’m kidding," he adds, hinting he’s got a funny streak after all. He quickly reverts to the serious tone and informs us that he watches all his films at the theatre. "Apart from Dostana, I’ve watched all my films in the theatres. Maybe not the first show, but definitely on the first day," he informs.
While on Dostana, we congratulate him for his brilliant act and confess our love for the character Sammer. "So did John!" he quips. Abhishek adds he’s won a nomination for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for the film as well.
We move onto his latest Bollywood outing – Delhi-6, a film touted as filmmaker Mehra’s semi-autobiographical film. Abhishek corrects us: it’s not semi-autobiographical but has "certain visuals which he [Mehra] had experienced before." We wonder if that’s not what "semi-autobiographical" means, but we don’t argue and allow him to continue.
He adds that Delhi-6 is a film that hopes to revive two things. "It makes you question yourself, which I believe is important. Secondly, it portrays today’s youth in a different light. A section that’s always been accused, wrongly so, of being very complacent and impatient. This film is a wonderful answer to all those accusations."
No interview would be complete without allowing the man to gush about his lovely wife. So we give in. He details how it’s great to work with his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (who also stars in Mani’s Ravaan). "It’s wonderful. We are very professional but the great thing [about working together] is that the minute you wrap, you get to spend time with your wife," he adds.
Our 10-minute slot draws to a close, with just enough time for Abhishek to fill us in on his future projects. "After Mani’s film, I start work on Balki’s Pa, with my dad and Vidya Balan. And then a film with new director Abhinay Deol," he adds.
Looks like it’s about time Abhishek got his fair share of the big Bollywood bite. Considering he’s got another chance in Bollywood, we only hope he doesn’t take his second innings for granted.
Published as cover story in e+, May 14th issue
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Burgers versus veggies
It’s the battle of good versus tasty. But new age parental wisdom says your kids can have their cake and eat it too, writes Sneha May Francis
hen I was eight years old, I did not know the difference between white and brown bread. Probably because our options were limited then. But my mother would happily allow me to eat whatever I liked, simply because she wanted to avoid dealing with my tantrums. But the times have changed. Eating healthily is not just what the adults adopt to keep kids happy, but something that the tiny-tots can learn to appreciate too.
You would be amazed how 9-year-old nothings have a clear idea about their healthier preferences – it’s wholemeal bread over the white loaves. (Minus the butter, mind you!) But this doesn’t mean they are willing to give up their burgers and French fries for a portion of veggies. The kiddies are happy to take the healthy bait, only if they are allowed their occasional junk food indulgence.
Eating out = eating well
Kids love their burgers and French fries, so you need to chalk out innovative ways to make them eat well. Parents claim it’s all about striking the right balance. If you allow them to have their burgers, then you could trade in some veggies and fruits as well.
Lama Khayer stresses how kids eat out a lot more than when she was little. "I’d prefer if my son ate at home, so I can monitor his meals. When he goes out, it’s only burgers he wants and you can’t stop him from eating them. I do allow him to eat burgers because it’s important that he enjoys what kids his age do. So it’s about finding a balance."Prabha agrees that children end up eating out a lot these days. "With my son, we eat out at least three to four times a week, which is quite a bit. It’s a challenge to keep him away from McDonald’s or Burger King. So we try to do a little bit of both. There are times when he gets to choose and there are times when we get to choose. Out of the four outings, two are fast food joints and two are regular restaurants," she says.
And if they aren’t game for the balancing routine, then some parents find fun ways to lure their kids to eat well. Lisa Burrows says, "My 9-year-old daughter loves to live off carbohydrates, even though she knows about healthy eating. So I have to bribe her to eat the right portions of fruits and vegetables."
Healthier options at home
Healthy eating habits should be taught at home, with parents initiating the first step to creating awareness. Celebrated chef Giorgio Locatelli claims variety is crucial while planning kiddies meals. "Parents should use a variety of ingredients. I don’t believe it when they say he’s a lazy eater; it’s because they have been lazy planning the meal. Kids will eat anything as long as you make it exciting," he adds.
Caroline Alexander agrees with this idea. There’s more option than the "classic meat and two veg" from the childhood days she recalls. "I try to give my kids as much variety as possible, offering food from all over the world, I’d like to believe. Probably more vegetarian food than what I was given as a child," she says.
Planning school meals
Often parents find it hard to plan their kid’s meals day in and day out, and wish the schools would provide hot meals. Caroline explains how she finds it tough to make her kid’s school meals different and nutritious every time. "But I do have my good days and bad". She recalls her time in the UK, when her daughter’s school would provide her with hot meals that were cooked on-site. "It was quite well-balanced. There would be vegetables and fruits, and even a pudding. But now Laila’s school doesn’t provide that." She would prefer to get more assistance from the school. "I think parents need a bit of help. It’s a lot easier to pay and know that your child is being provided wholesome, hot meals," adds Caroline.
Lama, however, feels schools do make an effort these days to ensure their kids eat well. "Before, we could pack anything in the kid’s lunch boxes, but now they check them. Even cornflakes, if they are chocolate-coated, are not allowed. This is definitely a good change." She explains that this uniformity helps eliminate peer pressure as well. "My son doesn’t come back saying my friend is eating chips so I want some too". Schools are keen on informing kids about healthy eating options. "Kids do learn about the negative impacts of junk food. They might not say no to it, but they do realise it’s not something healthy and would feel guilty before eating it, which is definitely a sign of improvement," says Lama.
The school Lisa’s kids go to also monitors what the kids eat. "They do check their lunch boxes regularly to see if they are eating well. We have letters sent back from school saying kids shouldn’t be given a lot of chocolate." She cites the example of some schools in the city that have initiated the smart card systems for kids, where those who choose the healthiest meals get prizes, money back or vouchers. "That’s a fantastic concept," she says.
The parents’ verdict is out. They believe children need to be taught the benefits of eating well early on. An occasional burger won’t harm them, but it should be coupled with a large portion of fruits and veggies. The trick is to feed kids the best of both worlds, only then will they stay fit and healthy.
(Published in e+, gulf news April 23, 2009)
Recipe for a healthy life
Sneha May Francis caught up with a few celebrity chefs who jotted down the perfect formula that allows you to dine out minus the guilt
Do you find it tough to let go and enjoy a lavish spread at swanky restaurants for fear of piling on the kilos? There’s no denying we have become a weight-obsessed lot. Calorie talk weaves into most of our daily conversations, with everyone showing their concern about staying fit and eating right.
Eat more fish, use olive oil, drink green tea… there’s an abundance of ‘what to dos’ available in print, dedicated exclusively to this way of life. Reports of new-found health theories always make headline news, forcing us to change our diets radically in keeping with the latest trend. Everyone wants to stay healthy without having to chew on carrot and celery sticks. So we decided to tweak our outing with celebrity chefs and ask them how to spice up our lives without having to clog our hearts.
The best way to go healthy? Go natural
Celebrated chef Gary Rhodes, who has put British cooking back on the gourmet map, feels healthy eating translates into eating with the seasons. After feeding many a hungry stomach across the globe, he’s found his way to Dubai with the Rhodes Mezzanine. "In England, I always use the English asparagus during May and June. We also have it flown over [to Dubai]. And since it’s that sensational, we need to do very little with it. Consequently, what we are giving our customers is just very great depth of flavour that a natural ingredient holds," he explains. Natural ingredients are the key to making it right, agrees executive chef at Grosvenor House, Garry Hollihead. "I stay away from canned products and work with natural ingredients," he says. Chef de cuisine in Maya restaurant Rubén Herrera concurs: "The more natural the food, the better it tastes".
Drilling the point home is Indian chef Vineet Bhatia of the popular Indigo spot. He claims healthy eating should begin at home. "Unfortunately when it comes to ordering out Indian food, it’s very oily, but that’s not how it’s cooked at home," he explains, stressing how clever technique will help "flavour and texture" the dishes without adding the calories. Neil Wilkinson, sous chef in Dubai Creek, feels, "More ingredients doesn’t mean more fat, it only has to be natural."
Chef Muthu of BiteRite Cafe and Restaurant talks about a concept where chefs design the recipes and send them to a nutritionist to modify them and then add them to their menu. "Customers can choose the recipes according to their needs."
Organic food – the flavour of the season
It’s the new ‘in’ thing. Everyone’s talking about organic, craving organic, and wanting to add a slice of organic to their daily diet. Supermarkets stock up exclusive shelves for organic veggies and fruits and it’s moving into the restaurant kitchens too.
Grosvenor House’s Hollihead confirms this trend has hit London, with more customers showing preference for organic food. He’s not alone in his observation. Wilkinson says the reason people are going organic is because it is natural. "People are constantly learning how to eat better, which makes us create different dishes by constantly experimenting with the flavours," he adds.
Most chefs agree that this healthy movement doesn’t mean they have to drastically rework their recipes. Italian celebrity chef Giorgio Locatelli, who stirsup his magic at Atlantis, believes it’s not the recipe but the ingredients that need more scrutiny. "I don’t really make an effort to change the recipe, but to choose the right ingredients which are produced in the right way. I’m a strong believer in organic food," he says
Develop a taste for the unusual
The white-capped men were unanimous in their observation about how more people are willing to experiment with a variety of cuisine. Mexican chef Herrera reasons it’s mainly to find a particular one that might use the best healthy cooking method. "Often people think Mexican cuisine is not healthy because they think the food is deep fried. On the contrary, our cooking is healthy. We try to minimise fat or oil as much as possible and use fresh ingredients," he explains. Wilkinson also notes the trend to try new things. But in his words, it’s often the same dish revamped in a different way, mainly because "people only go for what they know".
More to a dish than what meets the eye
The men in aprons identify this sudden trend in food talk and public concern about what we consume. It’s about whether the vegetables have been pumped with chemicals or pesticides that are harmful for the body. Locatelli believes it’s a good sign that people are taking more interest in their food and are no longer satisfied with eating straight out of the supermarkets. "Customers want to know where the food comes from, how the animal is being reared," he adds. Hollihead chips in with the traceability factor, which tracks where the food comes from.
Herrera agrees that people don’t eat and go. "They are genuinely concerned about what they are being fed. Especially when it’s red meat or fish, customers want to know where it’s coming from; if it is farm-reared or if it’s wild. Also some people like it 100 per cent vegan." Wilkinson says there’s an increase in demand for olive oil. "Now everyone wants to use olive oil instead of the heavy oils or butter, because they believe olive oil is lighter and healthier."
Sweet nothings on the dessert menu
For those who can’t allow a few scoops of white sugar into their diet, then there are healthier options. The trick is to tweak the ingredients so that it gives the desired effect with less harm to the body. Executive chef of Right Bite Chadi Fakhoury says it’s about eating clever. "For sandwiches we use wholewheat bread, egg whites, less salt and no fat at all. Even the sugar we use is either brown sugar or fructose, which is natural sugar."
With so many options around, it’s only natural that there’s way to our tummies without guilt. And feeding your tummy without mistreating your heart is a complete winner.
But all this health food doesn’t sound fun
Squashing the common misconceptions that anything healthy doesn’t taste good, Hollihead claims that’s not the case at all. "Of course, it can be tasty. It can be very clean, very simplistic and very fresh." Vineet explains how he works on making the dishes a bit more lighter. "We are very strong on fish in our menus because it’s healthier. We have seen a shift in people’s dining out taste, they all want to eat something ‘light’ and not heavy." But the fat trimmings are done away with without compromising on taste. "Instead of adding two tablespoons of ghee you use oil," explains the chef.
A healthy night out is all down to balance
It’s not like you gorge on fatty food everyday, so the men in white do allow a one-off indulgence. "The old French cuisine has cream but again, that’s not what you eat everyday," explains Locatelli. Rhodes reasons that one sweet indulgence once a month, 12 days in a year, can do no harm to your body. "We create our menus for our customers. I’ve had a lady come up to me and say ‘whatever you do, please don’t take the bread and butter pudding off the menu’. Now if I told you how much cream I use in that pudding you’d shoot me." Rhodes doesn’t slash the pudding off his menu, because he claims the trick is to balance your meal.
Fair enough. With a little reason, more natural choices and a balanced approach, it’s goodbye guilt and hello waiter.
Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai (April 23, 2009)
Monday, 13 April 2009
Not picture perfect
Nagesh Kukunoor and Akshay Kumar team up but fail to thrill, writes Sneha May Francis
8x10 Tasveer
Rating **
In a nutshell
It is said that photographs capture a moment in time. This seems obvious, but it is the entire premise for Nagesh Kukunoor’s latest film 8x10 Tasveer. In it, the protagonist Jai (Akshay Kumar) has supernatural powers that allow him to mentally step into a photograph. It is this that helps him to solve the secret behind his dad’s fatal boating accident.
The tale
Jai has supernatural powers that help him travel back in time for a minute after a photograph is taken. An 8x10 photograph (tasveer) of his father Jatin Puri (Benjain Gilani) just before his death has Jai running from pillar to post to find the murderer. And the man can run: his athletic prowess is highlighted every few shots. He chases everyone and everything. His power is such that even the gigantic GMC Yukon is scared of a head-on collision with him!
Jai’s a forest officer who is so zealous in his work (to the point of jumping off cliffs to find clues on crimes against the environment), that he’s clearly not normal. So if that’s what Kukunoor wanted to tell us, he was successful.
Jai’s dad mouths a clue to his son just before he dies, suggesting wrongdoing. But it’s the eccentric cop ‘Happi, with an I’ (Jaaved Jaafri) who convinces him to look further. So begins the journey through the photograph taken by his mum (Sharmila Tagore) a minute before the accident.
The loopholes
^ We are told that all Jai needs to look into the past is an 8x10 photograph taken a minute before an incident occurs. The 8x10 size is stressed, to justify the title perhaps. But Kukunoor slips when introducing Jai’s unique power as he is seen reading the past through a mobile-phone picture. And it’s not an 8x10 mobile phone screen that Jai is peering into!
^ We do know that Jai’s lady love, Sheela Patel, played by the lovely Ayesha Takia, has a job, but what it is we don’t know, nor do we know how these two met.
^ Jai can only see a minute after a photograph is taken when looking into the past. So what would have happened if the photograph was taken 2 minutes before the murder? Pretty convenient, right?
^ The annoying cop Happi is obsessed with cleanliness but when he goes through files in his office, he rummages around without even wiping off the dust!
The lead acts
^ Jai: Aki looks dazed and his face is expressionless. His finest moment is when he mouths: ‘Everybody thinks I’m mad. Do you think I am?’ No comment.
^ Sheela: There’s nothing really in Ayesha Takia’s chubby-faced performance. Perhaps married life has made Takia dull.
Thumbs-up
^ Jaaved Jaafri is brilliant as Happi-with-an-I. But something falls short and we think the poor comic writing is to blame.
^ A good supporting cast – Anant Mahadevan, Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad, Benjamin Gilani. These artists’ controlled performances come with age and experience. They don’t falter. It’s only the length of their role and their poorly etched characters that let them down.
Thumbs down
^ For a thriller to work, it needs a tight script, crisp editing, eerie background music and slick special effects. But this film misses the mark on all of these.
^ The bad men are just not bad enough. There’s no sense of real anger or motive.
Track-ed
Aki lends his voice to the song at the end of the film. But after sitting through the movie we couldn’t bear to hear the man sing, so can’t really comment.
The turn-out
On a usually busy Thursday evening, and during the film’s opening night, the theatre was almost completely empty at the Grand Sahara, Sharjah. Telling?
The only reason to watch...
You want to spend around two and a half hours watching Ashkay Kumar running. Or you’ve had a fight with your spouse and were kicked out of the house.
*: Not worth your time
**: Barely watchable
***: Wait for DVD
****: Head to the cinema
*****: Stalk the cast
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai: April 16, 2009 issue)
8x10 Tasveer
Rating **
In a nutshell
It is said that photographs capture a moment in time. This seems obvious, but it is the entire premise for Nagesh Kukunoor’s latest film 8x10 Tasveer. In it, the protagonist Jai (Akshay Kumar) has supernatural powers that allow him to mentally step into a photograph. It is this that helps him to solve the secret behind his dad’s fatal boating accident.
The tale
Jai has supernatural powers that help him travel back in time for a minute after a photograph is taken. An 8x10 photograph (tasveer) of his father Jatin Puri (Benjain Gilani) just before his death has Jai running from pillar to post to find the murderer. And the man can run: his athletic prowess is highlighted every few shots. He chases everyone and everything. His power is such that even the gigantic GMC Yukon is scared of a head-on collision with him!
Jai’s a forest officer who is so zealous in his work (to the point of jumping off cliffs to find clues on crimes against the environment), that he’s clearly not normal. So if that’s what Kukunoor wanted to tell us, he was successful.
Jai’s dad mouths a clue to his son just before he dies, suggesting wrongdoing. But it’s the eccentric cop ‘Happi, with an I’ (Jaaved Jaafri) who convinces him to look further. So begins the journey through the photograph taken by his mum (Sharmila Tagore) a minute before the accident.
The loopholes
^ We are told that all Jai needs to look into the past is an 8x10 photograph taken a minute before an incident occurs. The 8x10 size is stressed, to justify the title perhaps. But Kukunoor slips when introducing Jai’s unique power as he is seen reading the past through a mobile-phone picture. And it’s not an 8x10 mobile phone screen that Jai is peering into!
^ We do know that Jai’s lady love, Sheela Patel, played by the lovely Ayesha Takia, has a job, but what it is we don’t know, nor do we know how these two met.
^ Jai can only see a minute after a photograph is taken when looking into the past. So what would have happened if the photograph was taken 2 minutes before the murder? Pretty convenient, right?
^ The annoying cop Happi is obsessed with cleanliness but when he goes through files in his office, he rummages around without even wiping off the dust!
The lead acts
^ Jai: Aki looks dazed and his face is expressionless. His finest moment is when he mouths: ‘Everybody thinks I’m mad. Do you think I am?’ No comment.
^ Sheela: There’s nothing really in Ayesha Takia’s chubby-faced performance. Perhaps married life has made Takia dull.
Thumbs-up
^ Jaaved Jaafri is brilliant as Happi-with-an-I. But something falls short and we think the poor comic writing is to blame.
^ A good supporting cast – Anant Mahadevan, Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad, Benjamin Gilani. These artists’ controlled performances come with age and experience. They don’t falter. It’s only the length of their role and their poorly etched characters that let them down.
Thumbs down
^ For a thriller to work, it needs a tight script, crisp editing, eerie background music and slick special effects. But this film misses the mark on all of these.
^ The bad men are just not bad enough. There’s no sense of real anger or motive.
Track-ed
Aki lends his voice to the song at the end of the film. But after sitting through the movie we couldn’t bear to hear the man sing, so can’t really comment.
The turn-out
On a usually busy Thursday evening, and during the film’s opening night, the theatre was almost completely empty at the Grand Sahara, Sharjah. Telling?
The only reason to watch...
You want to spend around two and a half hours watching Ashkay Kumar running. Or you’ve had a fight with your spouse and were kicked out of the house.
*: Not worth your time
**: Barely watchable
***: Wait for DVD
****: Head to the cinema
*****: Stalk the cast
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai: April 16, 2009 issue)
Curry talk
From the bylanes of Britain to the swanky Marina Walk, Indo-British fusion makes its way to Dubai, writes Sneha May Francis
There’s a curry house on almost every inconspicuous lane in Britain, each stirring up a delicious concoction of Indian and British cuisine. And it’s in these tiny kitchens that the popular Chicken Tikka Masala was created. The dish became the rage across the globe but for the robust Indian tastebuds it was a tad insipid. And this is probably why our gastronomic journey to The Rupee Room wasn’t excitingly flavourful.
Arriving at the bustling Marina Walk we find a neat outdoor eating area. The picture-postcard view of the anchored yachts was inviting, but the weather didn’t permit sitting outdoors that night. So we headed to the tastefully decorated interior and found a nice corner by the large glassed-off kitchen where the chefs entertained us with their acrobatics.
Once seated, our courteous waiter arrived with the menu. We skimmed through the neatly divided list to pick our favourites. Our hungry tummies made us act fast, rather too impulsively perhaps. I know gluttony is a sin, but it’s extremely tough to reason with a growling tummy.
We started our meal with a Tandoori platter, a lavish spread of assorted kebabs – Malai, Botti, Reshmi, Seekh – along with Tandoori Chicken and Rupee Room naan. We were taken aback by the pure monstrosity of the spread. The thought of the rest of the order that had yet to make it to our table had us worried! The collection of neatly arranged meat chunks worked wonders on our tastebuds. The spiced and succulent pieces of meat were cooked to perfection, each retaining its unique flavour. The spread of tantalising pickles complemented them well. Though we would have loved to clear the platter, we had to restrain ourselves from filling our tummies before the other dishes had arrived.
Thankfully we had enough time to sip on fresh orange juice and soothe our tastebuds before our waiter appeared with the steaming hot mains. Our seafood instincts had prompted us to pick the Jhinga Dum Masala, which didn’t deserve the slots we had reserved in our stomach. The large jumbo prawns didn’t quite blend in with the delicious dressing. The prawn meat needed to be marinated for longer in order to retain the spicy tang. The Rogan Josh also missed the mark. The meat tasted insipid, and we longed for a more zesty and tangy tomato base. The Indian bread accompaniments, however, were impressively soft and fluffy.
We talked ourselves into the Prawn Dum Biriyani, only because we’d heard rave reviews about it. But it failed to impress. The prawns weren’t flavoured enough to blend in with the spiced rice. I think the essence of a good biriyani is its spiciness, which was missing here.
It’s customary to finish a meal with a sweet dish. So, despite a rather stuffed stomach, we braved the Rasmallai and Gajjar Ka Halwa, and are glad we did. The sweet dishes truly made our meal burp-worthy! The milky cottage cheese bowl and the steaming hot carrot pudding were the best we’d ever tasted.
We sat a while longer at our table, and were weighed down by our stuffed tummies. In hindsight, we let our tummies rule our minds and perhaps we didn’t need to order so much food. Oh well, next time!
The rupee room
What Indian cuisine
Where Marina Walk, North Podium, 04 390 5755
Why For a nice kebab treat with a view over the spectacular Marina Walk
Cost Bill for two Dh490
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai for April 9th issue)
There’s a curry house on almost every inconspicuous lane in Britain, each stirring up a delicious concoction of Indian and British cuisine. And it’s in these tiny kitchens that the popular Chicken Tikka Masala was created. The dish became the rage across the globe but for the robust Indian tastebuds it was a tad insipid. And this is probably why our gastronomic journey to The Rupee Room wasn’t excitingly flavourful.
Arriving at the bustling Marina Walk we find a neat outdoor eating area. The picture-postcard view of the anchored yachts was inviting, but the weather didn’t permit sitting outdoors that night. So we headed to the tastefully decorated interior and found a nice corner by the large glassed-off kitchen where the chefs entertained us with their acrobatics.
Once seated, our courteous waiter arrived with the menu. We skimmed through the neatly divided list to pick our favourites. Our hungry tummies made us act fast, rather too impulsively perhaps. I know gluttony is a sin, but it’s extremely tough to reason with a growling tummy.
We started our meal with a Tandoori platter, a lavish spread of assorted kebabs – Malai, Botti, Reshmi, Seekh – along with Tandoori Chicken and Rupee Room naan. We were taken aback by the pure monstrosity of the spread. The thought of the rest of the order that had yet to make it to our table had us worried! The collection of neatly arranged meat chunks worked wonders on our tastebuds. The spiced and succulent pieces of meat were cooked to perfection, each retaining its unique flavour. The spread of tantalising pickles complemented them well. Though we would have loved to clear the platter, we had to restrain ourselves from filling our tummies before the other dishes had arrived.
Thankfully we had enough time to sip on fresh orange juice and soothe our tastebuds before our waiter appeared with the steaming hot mains. Our seafood instincts had prompted us to pick the Jhinga Dum Masala, which didn’t deserve the slots we had reserved in our stomach. The large jumbo prawns didn’t quite blend in with the delicious dressing. The prawn meat needed to be marinated for longer in order to retain the spicy tang. The Rogan Josh also missed the mark. The meat tasted insipid, and we longed for a more zesty and tangy tomato base. The Indian bread accompaniments, however, were impressively soft and fluffy.
We talked ourselves into the Prawn Dum Biriyani, only because we’d heard rave reviews about it. But it failed to impress. The prawns weren’t flavoured enough to blend in with the spiced rice. I think the essence of a good biriyani is its spiciness, which was missing here.
It’s customary to finish a meal with a sweet dish. So, despite a rather stuffed stomach, we braved the Rasmallai and Gajjar Ka Halwa, and are glad we did. The sweet dishes truly made our meal burp-worthy! The milky cottage cheese bowl and the steaming hot carrot pudding were the best we’d ever tasted.
We sat a while longer at our table, and were weighed down by our stuffed tummies. In hindsight, we let our tummies rule our minds and perhaps we didn’t need to order so much food. Oh well, next time!
The rupee room
What Indian cuisine
Where Marina Walk, North Podium, 04 390 5755
Why For a nice kebab treat with a view over the spectacular Marina Walk
Cost Bill for two Dh490
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai for April 9th issue)
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Simply Sonam
No airs. No inflated ego. Here’s a strong-willed star kid who prefers to play the game by her own rules, writes Sneha May Francis
It’s not often that you’d get to sit down and have a chit-chat with a Bollywood actress. Often, it’s a purely professional outing with us, the media, shooting out questions, and them, the actors, replying in full earnest. And after the scheduled drill, each leaves with a tight-lipped good-bye, rarely ever a handshake. But that changed after we met the new star on the block, Sonam Kapoor.
She was refreshingly different, warm and made us feel like we’ve known her for years, even stopping mid-sentence to offer us coffee while she sipped at hers. Unlike other stereotypical star kids, she came minus the star-standard tantrums and was at her chirpy best despite giving back-to-back interviews.
We caught up with the bubbly actress when she was in Dubai for the premiere of her second film – Rakeysh Mehra’s Delhi-6. While most young stars like to hog all films that come their way after their debut, Sonam decided to wait a year after Saawariya, proving she is not one to conform. In fact, she’s the kind who prefers to chalk out her own rules and not depend on daddy-dear, veteran actor Anil Kapoor to do her homework for her.
"One film a year is not bad, if you look at the law of averages. I just decided to do one film at a time, not because I’m being picky or anything. I don’t think I have the stamina or the capability to work on two or three films at the same time. I think it’s unfair to the director and me," she adds.
She takes a philosophical turn and questions how anyone could be true to a single character when they have to juggle two-three films at the same time. The Kapoor girl appears strikingly honest and has no qualms about admitting that it’s her lack of experience that has prompted her to take one film at a time. "Kudos to [the other actors who’ve managed it], but I can’t do it."
Her on-screen image is one of a naïve girl-next-door. So when we saw shots of her glamorous Vogue cover and her red-lipped sassy fashion at numerous social events, it got us wondering whether this was a serious attempt to change her demure image. "I’ve always been like this. It’s only in the movies you see me playing a certain character," she explains.
Mid-way through the interview, she decides to reverse the roles and quizzes us instead. She asks us about our decision to move away from India. "I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the world. India is my country and I’m so proud of it," she says.
The conversation leads to her talking about a desire to go back to her books, something she regrets giving up for a career in films. "I feel illiterate at times! So, I’m constantly reading to make up for it." So if you thought she would put college education on the backburner, think again. Sonam is not one to give up, she’s extremely determined to fine-tune her grey cells even if it means following world-renowned writer/philosopher Rabindranath Tagore’s self-study method.
"He said that reading is the best way to educate oneself. I believe education is extremely important and I encourage everyone to finish their studies before taking up acting or any other profession."
Her thoughts then drift to her father , who also gave up his college education for a film career. Unlike other star’s kids, Sonam is comfortable with her filmy background. "I’ve never known a time when my dad was not an actor. For me, acting was a normal profession. In fact, it felt strange if someone’s dad was a banker or a lawyer." There’s a twinkle in her eye when she talks about her dad’s accomplishments in the Hindi film industry. In fact, she finds it tough to pick a favourite and lists out quite a few: "Besides Slumdog Millionaire, I liked Woh Saat Din, Pukar, Mr India, Tehzaab, Beta, Ram Lakhan… It’s tough to pick just one because he’s done so many good films."
Sonam might be in awe of her dad but she’s practical enough not to let her heart rule her mind. This is clearly evident when she picked box-office success for Delhi-6 over Oscar glory for Slumdog Millionaire. Unfortunately history proved otherwise, with Slumdog Millionaire winning eight Oscars and Delhi-6 finding an unlucky slot at the box office. But, she’s not one to be perturbed by the box office drama, considering this film is the one which brought her fame in the popular Masakali track. "Who would’ve thought that dancing with a pigeon placed on my head, would turn into such a rage. It’s all thanks to [choreographer] Vaibhavi Merchant, [composer] A. R. Rahman and [lyricist] Prasoon Joshi." Sonam goes on to explain the essence of the song: "It is a reflection of [my character] Bittu’s true state. In a way, the pigeon Masakali symbolises Bittu’s personal predicaments."
This leads to a recent report saying her co-star Abhishek picked Masakali, the pigeon, over her as his favourite co-star. But, she quickly clarifies, "[Abhishek] meant Bittu and not the pigeon!" And to prove her point, she cuts our conversation mid-way to check with Abhishek, who is seated in a corner nearby. He doesn’t disappoint her and admits, "You are Masakali," putting a mischievous grin on her face.
She may be all childlike and full of fun, but when it comes to her profession, she shows a lot of maturity. Her decision to do Delhi-6 was based on its great script. "It’s a good vision. I was fascinated with Bittu. I feel it’s more challenging to play someone normal rather than someone who is messed up or depressed."
At first glance, her perfect ladylike posture doesn’t give away her naughty streak. But we caught a glimpse of it when she talked about the shot, in which she was required to accidentally spit on Abhishek while gargling. "Yes I did it… once or twice," she grins. Guess this was her way of getting back at Bachchan junior for playing pranks on her.
On her future projects, Sonam says it’s a mini-family affair – with sister Rhea playing producer and dad donning the acting cap – that’s on the calendar.Our chat comes to an end, but there are no stiff farewells, only a nice big smile and a warm invitation to attend her premiere. For someone who’s so grounded and refreshingly warm, we only hope success and fame don’t change her.
(Published in e+, Gulf News (26.03.2009)
It’s not often that you’d get to sit down and have a chit-chat with a Bollywood actress. Often, it’s a purely professional outing with us, the media, shooting out questions, and them, the actors, replying in full earnest. And after the scheduled drill, each leaves with a tight-lipped good-bye, rarely ever a handshake. But that changed after we met the new star on the block, Sonam Kapoor.
She was refreshingly different, warm and made us feel like we’ve known her for years, even stopping mid-sentence to offer us coffee while she sipped at hers. Unlike other stereotypical star kids, she came minus the star-standard tantrums and was at her chirpy best despite giving back-to-back interviews.
We caught up with the bubbly actress when she was in Dubai for the premiere of her second film – Rakeysh Mehra’s Delhi-6. While most young stars like to hog all films that come their way after their debut, Sonam decided to wait a year after Saawariya, proving she is not one to conform. In fact, she’s the kind who prefers to chalk out her own rules and not depend on daddy-dear, veteran actor Anil Kapoor to do her homework for her.
"One film a year is not bad, if you look at the law of averages. I just decided to do one film at a time, not because I’m being picky or anything. I don’t think I have the stamina or the capability to work on two or three films at the same time. I think it’s unfair to the director and me," she adds.
She takes a philosophical turn and questions how anyone could be true to a single character when they have to juggle two-three films at the same time. The Kapoor girl appears strikingly honest and has no qualms about admitting that it’s her lack of experience that has prompted her to take one film at a time. "Kudos to [the other actors who’ve managed it], but I can’t do it."
Her on-screen image is one of a naïve girl-next-door. So when we saw shots of her glamorous Vogue cover and her red-lipped sassy fashion at numerous social events, it got us wondering whether this was a serious attempt to change her demure image. "I’ve always been like this. It’s only in the movies you see me playing a certain character," she explains.
Mid-way through the interview, she decides to reverse the roles and quizzes us instead. She asks us about our decision to move away from India. "I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the world. India is my country and I’m so proud of it," she says.
The conversation leads to her talking about a desire to go back to her books, something she regrets giving up for a career in films. "I feel illiterate at times! So, I’m constantly reading to make up for it." So if you thought she would put college education on the backburner, think again. Sonam is not one to give up, she’s extremely determined to fine-tune her grey cells even if it means following world-renowned writer/philosopher Rabindranath Tagore’s self-study method.
"He said that reading is the best way to educate oneself. I believe education is extremely important and I encourage everyone to finish their studies before taking up acting or any other profession."
Her thoughts then drift to her father , who also gave up his college education for a film career. Unlike other star’s kids, Sonam is comfortable with her filmy background. "I’ve never known a time when my dad was not an actor. For me, acting was a normal profession. In fact, it felt strange if someone’s dad was a banker or a lawyer." There’s a twinkle in her eye when she talks about her dad’s accomplishments in the Hindi film industry. In fact, she finds it tough to pick a favourite and lists out quite a few: "Besides Slumdog Millionaire, I liked Woh Saat Din, Pukar, Mr India, Tehzaab, Beta, Ram Lakhan… It’s tough to pick just one because he’s done so many good films."
Sonam might be in awe of her dad but she’s practical enough not to let her heart rule her mind. This is clearly evident when she picked box-office success for Delhi-6 over Oscar glory for Slumdog Millionaire. Unfortunately history proved otherwise, with Slumdog Millionaire winning eight Oscars and Delhi-6 finding an unlucky slot at the box office. But, she’s not one to be perturbed by the box office drama, considering this film is the one which brought her fame in the popular Masakali track. "Who would’ve thought that dancing with a pigeon placed on my head, would turn into such a rage. It’s all thanks to [choreographer] Vaibhavi Merchant, [composer] A. R. Rahman and [lyricist] Prasoon Joshi." Sonam goes on to explain the essence of the song: "It is a reflection of [my character] Bittu’s true state. In a way, the pigeon Masakali symbolises Bittu’s personal predicaments."
This leads to a recent report saying her co-star Abhishek picked Masakali, the pigeon, over her as his favourite co-star. But, she quickly clarifies, "[Abhishek] meant Bittu and not the pigeon!" And to prove her point, she cuts our conversation mid-way to check with Abhishek, who is seated in a corner nearby. He doesn’t disappoint her and admits, "You are Masakali," putting a mischievous grin on her face.
She may be all childlike and full of fun, but when it comes to her profession, she shows a lot of maturity. Her decision to do Delhi-6 was based on its great script. "It’s a good vision. I was fascinated with Bittu. I feel it’s more challenging to play someone normal rather than someone who is messed up or depressed."
At first glance, her perfect ladylike posture doesn’t give away her naughty streak. But we caught a glimpse of it when she talked about the shot, in which she was required to accidentally spit on Abhishek while gargling. "Yes I did it… once or twice," she grins. Guess this was her way of getting back at Bachchan junior for playing pranks on her.
On her future projects, Sonam says it’s a mini-family affair – with sister Rhea playing producer and dad donning the acting cap – that’s on the calendar.Our chat comes to an end, but there are no stiff farewells, only a nice big smile and a warm invitation to attend her premiere. For someone who’s so grounded and refreshingly warm, we only hope success and fame don’t change her.
(Published in e+, Gulf News (26.03.2009)
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Head bang for a cause
Rock stars from Rock On!!! gear up for a Magik-al evening, says Sneha May Francis
Come March 12, we in Dubai will get to rock with Bollywood’s first reel rock stars. Band Magik – Farhan, Arjun Ramphal, Purab Kohli and Luke Kenny – will team with Rock On!!! music composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for an evening of pure Indi-rock.
Rock music isn’t alien to Hollywood. Numerous films have been made, and the one that stands out is Jack Black’s head-banging teacher act in The School of Rock. But Bollywood had shut its ears to the loud thumping beats. In fact, we’re so accustomed to watching our heroes lip-sync Hindi melodies and dancing with their ladyloves, that playing a guitar could look a tad out of place. But that image changed when Farhan Akhtar hit the right notes in Rock On!!! The music concoction left Bollywood mesmerised and craving for more. It was neither pure rock nor film music, it was Indi-rock re-mixed, Bollywood style!
And in the most befitting ode to their reel-life characters, band Magik will step out from the reel world into the real one!
The Rock On concert has partnered with Dubai Autism Center to create awareness about Autism as a condition. "It’s for a cause. At the end of the day you can do things for profit, for ego, but at times you get called on to recreate the magic that you’ve created onscreen for a particular cause," says Luke Kenny, who plays the keyboard in Rock On!!!
"We get to recreate the experience of the film and help other people… help them get a better life. That’s what motivates us to come on stage, six months after the release of the film."
After touring India and helping social networks, the boys will reach Dubai. For lead guitarist Arjun Ramphal, it’s a special way to thank his fans for their undying support. "It feels wonderful to see all the love and adulation we have gained with this film. I’ve received a lot of calls (of appreciation) from Dubai, so this concert is going to be extra special," he says.
"We’ve all wanted to be rock stars at some point in our lives... Magik is our band and we’ll do everything for it," he adds.
When asked whether he’d sing a few notes, like his reel character, he remained elusive and prompted us to find out at the concert – an added incentive, we think, apart from Farhan Akhtar’s Sinbad The Sailor. So for all Rock On!!! fans this is a rare opportunity to rock with Magik!
tickets…
Where The Aviation Club, Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud
How Tickets are priced at Dh1,000, Dh500, Dh300, Dh175, Dh150; visit www.boxofficeme.com or call 0501524624, or 0503656480
When March 12, gates open at 6pm; show starts at 9pm
(published in March 12th, 2009 issue in e+, Gulf News)
Come March 12, we in Dubai will get to rock with Bollywood’s first reel rock stars. Band Magik – Farhan, Arjun Ramphal, Purab Kohli and Luke Kenny – will team with Rock On!!! music composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for an evening of pure Indi-rock.
Rock music isn’t alien to Hollywood. Numerous films have been made, and the one that stands out is Jack Black’s head-banging teacher act in The School of Rock. But Bollywood had shut its ears to the loud thumping beats. In fact, we’re so accustomed to watching our heroes lip-sync Hindi melodies and dancing with their ladyloves, that playing a guitar could look a tad out of place. But that image changed when Farhan Akhtar hit the right notes in Rock On!!! The music concoction left Bollywood mesmerised and craving for more. It was neither pure rock nor film music, it was Indi-rock re-mixed, Bollywood style!
And in the most befitting ode to their reel-life characters, band Magik will step out from the reel world into the real one!
The Rock On concert has partnered with Dubai Autism Center to create awareness about Autism as a condition. "It’s for a cause. At the end of the day you can do things for profit, for ego, but at times you get called on to recreate the magic that you’ve created onscreen for a particular cause," says Luke Kenny, who plays the keyboard in Rock On!!!
"We get to recreate the experience of the film and help other people… help them get a better life. That’s what motivates us to come on stage, six months after the release of the film."
After touring India and helping social networks, the boys will reach Dubai. For lead guitarist Arjun Ramphal, it’s a special way to thank his fans for their undying support. "It feels wonderful to see all the love and adulation we have gained with this film. I’ve received a lot of calls (of appreciation) from Dubai, so this concert is going to be extra special," he says.
"We’ve all wanted to be rock stars at some point in our lives... Magik is our band and we’ll do everything for it," he adds.
When asked whether he’d sing a few notes, like his reel character, he remained elusive and prompted us to find out at the concert – an added incentive, we think, apart from Farhan Akhtar’s Sinbad The Sailor. So for all Rock On!!! fans this is a rare opportunity to rock with Magik!
tickets…
Where The Aviation Club, Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud
How Tickets are priced at Dh1,000, Dh500, Dh300, Dh175, Dh150; visit www.boxofficeme.com or call 0501524624, or 0503656480
When March 12, gates open at 6pm; show starts at 9pm
(published in March 12th, 2009 issue in e+, Gulf News)
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