konnectv august 2009

Dear Readers,

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Design: DIP Media

THE TUBE >>> 4

HIT or MISS >>> 30

COVER STORY >>> 24

TINSEL TALK >>> 10

GREAT ESCAPES >>> 34

Yahaan ke Hum SikanderSister-brother duo Raima and Ravi come from a small town to

a hip-and-happening city college and form bonds with five

other friends.

'Luck' rides on star power, adrenaline-pumping thrills and a

concept that's novel for the Indian screen- gambling with

life!

Loads of thrills

Salman exposedBrawny Salman Khan had a tough time on Farah Khan's

show when his mum and dad took the centrestage and

gave a tell-all account of his personal life!

Shangri-la called Bhutan

DISCLAIMERKonnecTV does not guarantee the authenticity or take any responsibility (in any way) of the

material in any advertisement or discount voucher.

Love GuruSaif Ali Khan has turned 'love guru' for his 'Love Aaj Kal' co-

star Deepika Padukone as the duo had discussions about

their respective love lives.

KHANA KHAZANA >>> 38

Katori chaatTasty specialties direct from the kitchen of Sanjeev Kapoor

to tickle your taste buds! Turn your everyday meals into a lip

smacking gourmet experience. Now you too can be a master

chef!

ABHISHEK NARANGCEO

Bhutan is at the same latitude as Miami and Cairo. The climate

varies - the southern border area is tropical and in the high

Himalayan regions, there is perpetual snow.

August 2009 I 2 I KonnecTV


A one-hour spe-cial episode!

Catch the audi-tions ofS a R e G a M a P aLittle Champs inHong Kong on ZeeAsia Pacific. Watchthe talented tinytots singing soulfuland foot tappingnumbers and theresults of the same.Among the scoresof talent who com-peted for the cov-eted recognition,lay the talent thatZee acknowl-edged!

Zee TV Asia Pacific launchesnew show 'Yahaan ke HumSikander' which is a story ofRaima and Ravi, a sister-

brother duo, who come from a smalltown to a hip-and-happening citycollege, and form bonds with fiveother friends. To catch this latestdrama tune in to Zee TV Asia Pacificfrom 26th August'09 onwards


In India gangsters are called

Bhai (brother). One such

Bhai is Munna, who is feared

by everyone in Mumbai. He cons

his village-based parents into

believing that he is a doctor.

He gets a shock when he

finds out that they are coming

to verify for themselves. So he

transforms a rooming shanty

house into a makeshift hospital,

populated by patients, people

he beats up. His parents arrive,

are pleased, and happy that

their son is well settled. They

would like him to get married to

a doctor's daughter.

The marriage is arranged,

but before the engagement, the

bride's father finds out the truth

about Munna, and cancels the

marriage. Munna's humiliated

parents see the truth for them-

selves, and hurt, they return

home, leaving Munna with a

strong desire to hurt the doctor

- and force him to let his daugh-

ter get married to him - even if it

means getting admitted in the

medical college - with forged

documents!

Cast:

Sunil DuttSanjay DuttGracy Singh

Munna's humiliated parents returnhome leaving Munna with a strongdesire to hurt the offending doctorand also marry his daughter


Shahid Kapoor has adopted his father, the

illustrious Pankaj Kapoor's mode of acting

to play the double role of Guddu and Charlie

in Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey.

Pankaj had played a double role in Anubhav

Sinha's Dus. When Vishal who has directed Pankaj

in The Blue Umbrella and the short-film on AIDS

Blood Brothers, invited Shahid to play the morally-

incompatible twins, Shahid apparently studied the

way his father played the part.

Amole Gupte who is Shahid's co-actor in

Kaminey says he has never witnessed such dili-

gence. "When Shahid played Guddu he had to

assume Guddu's stammer. He completely inter-

nalized all of the character's traits, including the

stammer so that there's nothing caricatural about

the character." On the sets Shahid never with-

drew into his vanity van. "He stayed on the set

throughout, kept absorbing the ambience, the

sweaty milieu in which Guddu and Charlie had to

function in their own separate ways.

I know Pankaj works the same way. And I truly

believe Shahid has inherited Pankaj's ability and style

of performing without seeming to act. It is definitely

in his DNA," says Amole who has earlier worked

with Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par.

Amole rates Shahid in Kaminey as a bench-

mark in male performances. "I don't think a double

role has been done like this before. Shahid has

entered Guddu and Charlie's world. Naseer and

Pankaj apart I know very few actors who could've

done what he has."

Vidya Balan may be amidst good looking

men from tinsel town but it seems she

doesn't really fancy the Bollywood

types.

Vidya Balan thinks cricketer Zahir Khan is

the hottest! "He is the hottest cricketer on the

block, he may be quiet, but he seems to be a

strong man from within" is what Vidya told a

popular tabloid.

Now considering that Zahir is not single

any longer and will be tying the knot soon,

will this mean that Vidya's hot property will

be taken away? And Vidya has not just taken

to cricket but also cricketers. We wonder

what Zahir has to say about his latest fan

from the tinsel town!

“Zahir is thehottest cricketeron the block, hemay be quiet, buthe seems to bea strong manfrom within”


For Bollywood`s original

`Dreamgirl` Hema Malini,

beauty queen-turned-ac-

tress Aishwarya Rai is the only one

who deserves the `Dreamgirl` tag

among all the new age actresses.

"Whoever is on top is the

Dreamgirl. I feel it is Aishwarya Rai,"

Hema told reporters on being asked

who, according to her, deserves to

be called the `Dreamgirl` nowa-

days.

Taking about the hardships an

actress has to face, she said: "An

actress` life is the same - nothing

has changed. It is what it was even

20 years back. They have to work

very hard, make themselves look

beautiful and need a lot of dedica-

tion to remain at the top," said Hema,

who was in this suburb of the na-

tional capital to felicitate winners of

supermarket Big Bazaar`s `Meet

The Dreamgirl` contest.

Snubbing the idea of having a

size zero figure, Hema said: "You

must have a flat stomach - not a pot

belly - and a nice and beautiful face

- at least a tolerable face - and you

can be an actress."

Dressed in a pale yellow, elegant

sari, the 60-year-old actress who

has delivered hits like "Seeta Aur

Geeta", "Satte Pe Satta", and

"Sholay," admitted she is toying with

the idea of getting into production

and returning to direction after al-

most 17 years.

July 2009 I 11 I KonnecTV

The brawny Salman Khan had a tough time on

Farah Khan's show when his mum and dad took

the centre stage and gave a tell-all account of his

personal life!

Salma Khan, Salman's mother made the actor

squirm on his seat as she went all to un-

ravel his life on choreographer/director

Farah Khan's forthcoming show 'Tere

Mere Beech Mein'.

"Though it started off as a

Salman Khan show, it was soon

evident that the star was Salma

Aunty. She was candid and natu-

ral and stole the show from her

superstar son. She broke so

many of Salman's bhaandas

that at one point an embar-

rassed Salman actually

didn't know where to look

even as the audience was

very amused", said a

member of the audi-

ence.

If this wasn't all,

Salman's dad, Salim

Khan gave one of his

most controversial

statements when he

said "Salman always

falls in love with ac-

tresses but then

wants them to give

up everything and

stay at home much

like the most special

woman in his lifeÖ

his mother. He has

been spoilt silly by

his mother."

READY TOMARRY BUT…G

oddess of beauty Katrina Kaif

gave out shocking confessions

about her personal and profes-

sional life in a famous magazine. The Su-

perstar, who carries her boyfriend's pic-

ture all times, says she is happy in her

current relationship but has no plans to

marry this year. She said that though Salman

is ready to tie the knot, she still isn't.

Apart from that, Kat gave out clarifi-

cations about her alleged link up with

Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahaani co-star,

Ranbir Kapoor, Salman's latest muse

Claudia Ciesla etc. O.K., at last Katrina

is ready to marry Salman but only after

making her career.

FEARLESSFRIENDK

atrina Kaif and Salman Khan

might have many times hit the

headlines for their differences

and break-up but the duo never give

clarifications and keep their relationship

away from media glare. Kat, who rarely

speaks about her beau, has this time

opened her heart about Salman. In six

years of liaison with Sallu and with ups

and downs in her professional life,

Salman has been a true guide and a

teacher who teaches her how the in-

dustry works and shows direction

whenever she needs it.

Katrina Kaif has grown as an ac-

tress and she gives credit to Salman for

being her constant guide. Kat revealed

that Salman very often tells her that she

is changing but when she claims she is

growing, he warns her to be careful

and make sure that she doesn't get de-

viated to wrong ways.


SalmanxE POSED

July 2009 I 12 I KonnecTV August 2009 I 11 I KonnecTV

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan

have been dating for long and now

Sharmila Tagore wants her son to

settle down. She has been knitting the

dream of Saif and Kareena's marriage but

Bebo has spilled water on her dream. She

informed Saif's mom that she and Saif won't

be getting married for the next three years

as their careers are going great guns and

both need to concentrate on career now.

For Kareena getting into marriage is a

tough commitment, "I know once I get mar-

ried I'd like to devote myself completely to

that. When it comes to my emotions I'm not

a multi-tasker. So at the moment, specially

after Kambakkht Ishq, I need to work.

These are the best years of my working

life. And Saif is with me, neither of us are

running away from a full commitment to

one another. So no marriage for another

three years."

Saif too has convinced his mother.

"Amma loves Kareena and of course

wants us to be together always. But we

both need and want to focus on our work

and we'll think of taking our relationship to

the next level when the time is right. Right

now, things are beautiful the way they are,"

Saif says.

arriage mirageM

“I know once I get married I'dlike to devote myself completelyto that. When it comes to myemotions I'm not a multi-tasker”

M


The Blenders Pride Bangalore Fashion Week had

on show some of the most exquisite and exotic

fashion. The list of designers showcasing their

collections includes Rocky S., Abdul Halder, Jattinn

Kochhar, Samant Chauhan, Lina Tipnis and some

of the best Bangalore designers such as Manoviraj

Khosla, Sanchita Ajjampur, Namrata G. and Ramesh

Dembla. The Week also saw top talent in terms of

models, some of the big names walking the ramp

through the week were Zulfi Sayed, Shawar Ali,

Bruna Abdullah, Candice Pinto and Bangalore's

very own Acquin Pais and Priya Nayak.

The models sashayed down the ramp in cre-

ations by Parvesh & Jai, Abhi & Rahul, Zubin Vakil,

Tejas P Gandhi, Neelam Ashley, Lina Tipnis,

Bhumica & Hiral, Namrata G and Abdul Halder.

Bollywood actress Koena Mitra walks theramp as she presents a creation by designerPriyanka Thakur during the second day of the

Bangalore Fashion Week

Models walk the ramp as they present creations by designer Rekha Jacob


After the ramp-scorching, King-

fisher did the rounds by the

poolside. Models Pashmeena

Barker, Acquin Pais, cricketers

Manish Pandey, Parthiv Patel,

snooker champ Pankaj Advani,

actors Diganth and Kiran, de-

signer Manoviraj Khosla and

choreographer Sheetal Sharma

were all caught basking in the

very fashionable air!

Designers in Bangalore say

that they are now reinventing

themselves by making use of

less expensive fabrics to cope

with the prevailing downward

trend in global economy.

"They (fashion designers )

are reinventing themselves,

presenting the whole thing in a

new way so that... we are try-

ing to cut down the cost, we

are trying to use the fabric not

that lavishly exorbitantly costly.

So, this is how we re trying to

incorporate the whole thing,"

said Abhi, a fashion designer.

Some feel that fashion has

its own following and so those

looking for new trends will defi-

nitely buy albeit they would look

for something that doesn't make

a hole in their pocket.

"People will be compromis-

ing on the budget but not on the

quality. So there will be sales,

there will be business. This is

just a small little phase at the

moment that is little recession

hit in fashion but it is not a total

attack," Tejas P Gandhi, another

fashion designer.

Indian fashion industry has

raised its global profile in recent

years, but it has yet to make a

major impact on the international

fashion arena.

Some designers including

Manish Arora, known for his

colourful and distinct clothing

line, have showcased their col-

lections abroad. He will be the

first Indian to participate in the

prestigious Paris Fashion Week.

According to a report of As-

sociated Chambers of Com-

merce and Industry of India

(ASSOCHAM), the Indian fash-

ion industry, driven by increas-

ing investments, is expected to

reach Rs.7.5 billion by 2012,

more than double its current

size of Rs 2.9 billion.

Creations by designer Sanjay and ShammyModels present creations by

designer Yash Vardhan


Imran has been shooting around the

clock for Aamir Khan's Delhi Belly di-

rected by Abhinay Deo. There's patch-

work shooting to be done for Soham

Shah's Luck, Imran's only other film on

hand.

And for this, he needs to regain the

weight he lost for uncle Aamir Khan's Delhi

Belly. Says the affable young Jaane Tu Ö

star, "For Kidnap I beefed up a lot. Did

weights and worked out rigorously. Then

for Delhi Belly I needed to get lean. Now

I'll have to get bulky again for the remain-

ing portion of Luck, which got stalled be-

cause of a railway strike in Namibia. I'll

have to put on weight. I'll have to hit the

gym very hard. I stopped going to the gym

and cut down on my food intake drasti-

cally for Delhi Belly."

Imran finds going to the gym very bor-

ing. "I'd rather exercise by living healthy

and doing outdoor sports. I like offbeat

extreme sports like scuba diving and roller

skates. I wouldn't say I hate the gym.

That's too extreme. But I find it boring.

Imran describes Delhi Belly as a labor

of love. "It's back to the Jaane Tu Ya Jaane

feeling. We're all working as a team. We're

all a pair of hands on the sets. When I

shot for Kidnap and Luck I was treated

like a star. I was called 'Mr. Khan'. I had

my own van, and all the trappings.

And I was very uncomfortable with

that. If you ask me I'm much comfortable

working as part of a team in Jaane Tu.

And Delhi Belly. See, the making of a film

is essentially a team thing. The more of it

the better."

Imran startles you by saying he trav-

els to Delhi by economy class for Delhi

Belly. "I don't want to be treated differ-

ently. I don't even have to insist on travel-

ing economy. It just happens. It's an Aamir

Khan production. It's like a home produc-

tion. This is how it's done here."

And then comes the second surprise.

Imran has worked in Delhi Belly free of

fee. "Yeah I haven't taken money for Delhi

Belly. How can I take money from Aamir

after all that he has done for me? He did

far more for Jaane Tu ÖJaane Na and

me than any producer could. No, I can't

charge him. Besides, Delhi Belly is a niche

English-language film. The budget is lim-

ited. Will I charge him for my next film with

him? It'll depend on what it is. Right now

Aamir is really preoccupied, with Kiran's

film happening and all."

To Imran stardom is still a process he's

discovering. "What I like about stardom is

the great service I get at restaurants. I

don't need table reservations. That's

what I like the best. I don't attend events

and parties.î


Sonam Kapoor loves to talk

straight. When she was re-

cently quizzed about wear-

ing a bikini the Saawariya actress

replied she had no qualms in wear-

ing one. In a very candid manner

Sonam had worn angarkhas,

salwar-kameez, bandana, jeans,

skirts, gunjee etc as the script de-

manded. She added that if it was a

beach scene she would like to

wear a bikini.

Kamal Haasan's apple of eye, Shruti, has grown into a big

girl. One movie old Shruti is very keen to be independent

and create a niche for herself in the big world of cinema.

A singer, music composer and actress, Shruti has send ripples

in Bollywood and also in her Southern hometown.

Bollywood being her launch pad for acting, Shruti is plan-

ning to shift her base to Mumbai. Sources revealed, "Shruti has

been looking out for an apartment for herself, she is all pre-

pared to make it big on silver screen and it's very difficult for

this pretty lass to travel in and out." After Luck she has few

good offers in her kitty and wants to concentrate on Bollywood.

Of course, her passion for singing and music will always re-

main her priority," the sources further added.

FOND OFBIKINI

A smiling Sonam said that she

wore bikini in her real life and it is

no issue for her to appear on-

screen in a bikini. Sonam will be

next seen in the movie I Hate Love

Stories opposite opposite

Bollywood's chocolaty hero Imran

Khan. The movie will be directed

by Punit Malhotra.

Sonam said thatshe wore bikini inher real life and itis no issue for her toappear on-screenin a bikini

After Asin, Shruti


Shah Rukh Khan is now a doctor. He has been

awarded a doctorate from the Bedfordshire

University in the UK for his contribution to arts

and culture. "The honour brought me a lot of joy,''

says SRK and laugh, "It makes me feel slightly older

when someone calls me Dr Shah Rukh Khan.''

Describing his time on the podium where he re-

ceived the honour, he says, "Wearing that square

cap with tassels tilted to the left, brought images of

the heroes of the 70s; it was an oft-repeated thing in

films those days. I didn't know whether etiquette re-

quired me to take Aryan and Suhana along for the

convocation ceremony. So I left the children behind.''

Happily, Gauri was by his side when he received the

honour. "I sincerely hope my parents could have

watched this... and I hope it was a proud moment for

them, wherever they are,'' SRK says emotionally.

Dr Shah Rukh Khan


HANGOVER!INDIAN

Abhishek Bachchan and Katrina

Kaif will feature together in the

remake of Hollywood block-

buster The Hangover. Producer Firoz

Nadiadwala has purchased the rights

of the film.

The film would be directed by

Anees Bazmee. In the comedy, four

men travel to Las Vegas for a 24-hour

stag party. They wake up with the

worst hangover and find that the

groom is missing, as they try to recall

the details of the debauched night.

Abhishek Bachchan will play the

role played by Bradley Cooper and

Paresh Rawal will step into the shoes

of Zach Galifianakis. Katrina Kaif will

play the role of the fiancÈe.

Sanjay Dutt and Riteish Deshmukh

also figure in the film.


Hereís a new story of bonding in tinsel

town. Actors Ajay Devgan and

Bipasha Basu gelled very well on the

sets of their forthcoming film All the Best inGoa over gym sessions as both are fitness

freaks and worked out for hours together.

A source present on the sets of the movie

says: ìAjay had his personal trainer Sheru

(Sherveer Vakil) with him on the sets as he

has been a fitness freak for years. He got a

great partner to work out with and she was

Bipasha. Bips has taken a keen liking for yoga

and has also become a complete water baby

as she is swimming a lot now. She works

out more than Ajay actually and puts in

around 4 hours every day. But they had a

great time as they worked out in the same

space and had fun sessions together.î

The insider adds: ìIt was a gruelling

schedule and Rohit Shetty (director) was

filing very quickly and the actors had to give

in everything during the entire filming sched-

ule. But Ajay was amazed at Bipashaís fit-

ness level.

buddiesFITNESS

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WORDSWORTH CREATIVE

THE RIGHT APPROACH.THE RIGHT RESPONSE.


Saif Ali Khan has adopted a new

profession these days. The ac-

tor has turned 'love guru' for his

'Love Aaj Kal' co-star Deepika

Padukone. It seems that he has mas-

tered the art of handling relationships

as the duo had discussions about their

respective love lives off screen as well.

Reacting on love tips, Deepika said,

"I have been getting a lot of 'gyan' from

him. He was my love guru on the sets

and I was his obedient disciple. I think

he can give you some tips as well."

And as the question was passed on to

Saif, he said, "As we were both away

from our loved ones (Kareena and

Ranbir Kapoor) for shooting, the con-

versation was about longing and be-

longing. Actually I was very happy to

see her as a person in love."


"I told her that no matter how much we

are involved in our career and how much

we achieve it is actually the love which

makes it all worthwhile," Saif added.

About their chemistry in the film, the

National award winning actor said, "It is

not about being great friends in real life

to have a chemistry. I believe it happens

because of the beautiful situations cre-

ated by the script and the aura of the

two actors."

However, "Love Aaj Kal" will be an

acid test for Saif and Deepika as their

last couple of films have failed to attract

audiences. "The film's storyline is such

that any common man can relate to it.

It's so real and as you watch the film,

you would feel that so many instances

shown in it have happened to you too in

real life," said Deepika.

Moviegoers will have a definite treat

as the songs have already become a hit

and the promos are looking good.

Showing love in two different eras -

1965 and 2009 - through Veer Singh and

Jai Vardhan Singh respectively, the film

is about the essence of love that never

changes.

While Jai treats matters of the heart

without passion and parts with from his

lady love Meera (Deepika) in the name

of being practical, Veer is curious about

his love for Harleen (Shweta) and trav-

els long distances to catch a glimpse of

her, but fails to open his heart in front of

her.

As both stories unfold, the broad

message it gives is that relationships

might be different in different eras, but

the experience of being in love remains

the same.


First Name: Kajol

Last Name: Mukherjee / Devgan

Birthdate: 5th August 1975

Birth Place: Mumbai - India

Star Sign: Leo

Height: 5 ' 4"

Eye Colour: Light Brown or hazel

Hair Colour: Black

Father: Shomu Mukherjee (Film Producer)

Mother: Tanuja (Actress)

Sister: Tanisha Mukherjee (Actress)

Cousin: Rani Mukherjee (Actress)

Spouse: Ajay Devgan (24 February

1999 - present) 1 child

Daughter: Nysa

Debut Film: Bekhudi (1992)

Kajol is one among the few who broke

the Bollywood expectations of a heroine

with a fair complexion, chiseled features

and a slim body as the credentials. Her

talent was much spoken of by both her

fans and the film industry. Hailing from a

strong financial background, her pursuit

of acting was rather a hobby than a ca-

reer. Hence she was free from making

compromises in choosing her movies for

the sake of money.

Kajol shared a wonderful chemistry on

the screen with Sharukh Khan and there

were a lot of successful Bollywood mov-

ies starring both of them like 'Baazigar,'

'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayengae,' 'Kuch

Kuch Hota Hai,' 'Kabhi Kushi Kabi Gham'.

Her exemplary performance in 'Gupt'

fetched her the 'Film Fare Best Villain

Award'. She also has the credit of being

the first female actor to have won this

award. At the peak of her career, she tied

the knot with Ajay Devagan. Kajol is now

a mother of a baby girl Nysa.

Marriage however did not put an end

to her acting faculties. 'Kabhi Kushi Kabi

Gham' was done after her wedding in

2001. She again made a reentry with 'Fana'

in 2006. She also made a special appear-

ance in ' Kabi Alvida Na Kehna' for the

song ' Rock n Roll Soniye'. Kajol's perfor-

mances were duly acknowledged with a

good number of awards.

Film Fare Awardsï 1996, Filmfare Best Actress Award,

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

ï 1997, Filmfare Best Actress Award

South, Minsaara Kanavu

ï 1998, Filmfare Best Villain Award,

Gupt: The Hidden Truth

ï 1999, Filmfare Best Actress Award,

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

ï 2002, Filmfare Best Actress Award,

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham


Luck may have loads of thrills, but di-

rector Soham Shah ensures that the

grand canvas and stylized thrills ap-

peal to every strata of movie-going audi-

ence. Luck tells the tale of mafia kingpin

Musa [Sanjay Dutt], who has one obses-

sion: To revolutionize the betting industry.

For him, life is a gamble and what better

way to skew the odds than play with those

with luck on their side. Different characters

from different parts of the world, each with

Lady Luck in their favor, are brought in to

play the game of death. With millions at stake,

how far will each of them go in courting

danger and deceit?

The very start of the film transports you

to a different world. The viewer is drawn

into a world where bets are placed on hu-

mans and death-defying stunts are the or-

der of the day. The train sequence at the

very start says it all. It's a sequence that not

only introduces you to the plot, but also

makes a hammer-strong impact. You haven't

watched something like this on the Hindi

screen before. The game of death is far

more dangerous than those witnessed in

the reality shows. The revolver sequence

[the first challenge], the helicopter jump, the

underwater sequence with sharks and the

train sequence in the climax give you goose

bumps and remain etched in your memory.

There's a scene involving a lighter too, which

is sure to draw whistles and claps.

Sanju is perfect for this part and enacts it

with natural ease. Actually, here's one role

that only he could've portrayed so effec-

tively. Imran is getting better with every film.

Watch his helplessness at the start or his

confidence when he takes to the stunts. Even

towards the latter reels, he's very much in

sync with his character.

Shruti Haasan is a star, no two opinions

on that. The confidence with which she car-

ries off this role just cannot be overlooked.

Ravi Kishan is another scene-stealer. You

are under the impression that he may get

lost in the crowd, but he stands tall. The

masses will love him. On the whole, Luck

rides on star power, adrenaline-pumping

thrills and a concept that's novel for the In-

dian screens. Rating: 3 out of 5


Akshaye, Arshadtiming clicksL

ife comes crashing down for struggling writer

Akshaye Khanna, when an aspiring actor steals

his script. Luckily for the over smart, non-actor

(played by Arshad Warsi) his film clicks and he be-

comes an overnight star. Now the hard-on-luck writer

decides to get even and make a film with the same

actor. This clash forms the premise for Shortkut-The

Con Is On.

Shortkut presents a far from convincing picture of

the movie business. Most of the characters and situa-

tions end up looking over-the-top and caricaturish.

Were this movie a brainless spoof, it might still

have worked. Sadly Shortkut pretends to be

a straight-out-of-life situational comedy.

If the setting is flawed, the

humour is stale. Whenever

you manage to laugh it's only be-

cause of Akshaye and Arshad's

timing. Their good guy-bad guy

tuning has shades of Anil-Jackie

from the eighties.

Chunkey Pandey is a surprise

as the acting guru-turned-star

secretary. In a rare role where

he doesn't have to showcase any

exaggerated mannerisms,

Chunkey manages to keep it

subtle.

And then there is Amrita Rao

who shows skin and a little more

skin. To her credit she oozes lot

of sex appeal but seems out of

place. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's

melodious music too is wasted

over predictable song situations.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5


Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is

no ordinary place. This is a country where

buying cigarettes is illegal, where the rice

is red and where chillies aren't just a seasoning

but the entire dish. It's also a deeply Buddhist

land, where men wear a tunic to work, where

giant protective penises are painted on the walls

of most houses, and where Gross National Hap-

piness is deemed more important than Gross Na-

tional Product.

Tourism in Bhutan is also unique. Visitors fa-

mously have to pay a minimum of US$200 per

day, making it one of the world's most expensive

countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive, you

don't have to travel in a group and you can ar-

range your own itinerary. What you won't find in

Bhutan is backpacker-style independent travel.

This is Nepal for the jet set.

First off there are the early Buddhist sites in

the cultural heartland of Bumthang Dzongkhag

and the undisturbed traditional Tibetan-style cul-

ture that sets Bhutan aside as the last remaining

great Himalayan kingdom. Then there are the tex-

tiles, outrageous trekking as well as the stunning

flora and fauna of Phobjika Valley. Trashigang is

an interesting town and also useful for launch-

ing into a trip in Eastern Bhutan.

It was not until the leadership of the third king

that Bhutan emerged from its medieval heritage of

serfdom and seclusion. Until the 1960s the coun-

try had no national currency, no telephones, no

schools, no hospitals, no postal service and cer-

tainly no tourists. Development efforts have now

produced all these - plus a national assembly, air-

port, roads and a national system of health care.

Weather

Bhutan is at the same latitude as Miami and

Cairo. The climate varies widely depending on the

elevation. In the southern border areas it is tropi-

cal; at the other extreme, in the high Himalayan

regions, there is perpetual snow.

When to go

The ideal time for trekking and for travelling

throughout the country is autumn, from late Sep-

tember to late November, when skies are gener-

ally clear and the high mountain peaks rise to a

vivid blue sky. While the climate is best in au-

tumn, in Bhutan an umbrella is usually never far

from reach, and no matter when you go, there is

likely to be rain periods. Autumn is also the time

of the popular Thimphu tsechu (dance festival)

and heralds the arrival of the black-necked

cranes to their wintering grounds in central and

eastern Bhutan.

Getting there & away

Unless you are an Indian national, the Depart-

ment of Tourism (DOT) rules require that you ei-

ther enter or exit Bhutan on a Druk Air flight. This

limits the overland option to travelling one direc-

tion by air and the other by land, perhaps visiting

Darjeeling and Sikkim en route.


KRISHAN SHARMA

Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most exciting

places for those seeking adventure and watching the

beasts roam freely. It is located in the higher foothills of

Himalaya in the Kurmoan hills in Utharakhand State.

Having heard of its natural beauty and wildlife, I along

with my wife and two daughters left for the Park in our

SUV one weekend. Having driven part of this highway

few years back I was looking for those potholes. To our

surprise the highway reminded us of a trip we took to

Yosemite National Park in California

several years ago. The entire

stretch except some areas the drive

of 280 km in five hours was a breeze.

Jim Corbett National Park had the

proud distinction of being cho-

sen as the venue for the in-

auguration of Project Tiger

in India. Home to a variety

of flora and fauna, Corbett

Park is famous for its wild population

of tigers, leopards and elephants. In the Jim

Corbett National Park are found 110 tree species, 50 mammals' species,

580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

Corbett Park has always been famous for its tigers. It was first named

as 'Hailey National Park' in 1936. In 1954-55 it was renamed as 'Ramganga

National Park' and again in 1955-56 as 'Jim Corbett National Park' after Jim

Corbett who hunted down tigers that had turned man-eaters, between

1907 to 1939.

Corbett is a haven for tigers as well as its prey, which include four

kinds of deer, wild boar and some lesser-known animals. Leopards are

mostly found in the hilly areas of the Park. Some nocturnal cats found

here are the leopard cat, jungle cat and fishing cat. Sloth Bear is found in

the lower regions while the Himalayan Black Bear is seen in the higher

hills. The Dole or Wild Dog can be seen in the southern areas of the park

along with the Jackal. Some of the smaller residents of the park are

Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Gray Mongoose, Common Otter, Blacknaped

Hare and Porcupine.

Elephants are one of the main at-

tractions of the Park. Along the

Ramganga River shores, one can

spot the long-snouted, fish-eating

Gharial Crocodile and the 'Mugger'

Crocodile. Also seen on the rocky hillsides is the Ghoral or Goat Ante-

lopes. The Langur and Rhesus Monkeys are well distributed throughout

the Park warning the whole jungle with alarm calls when they see either

a tiger or leopard from their tree-top perches.

Best Time to Visit: The best visiting season of Corbett is from

November 15 to June 15. Corbett remains closed during the monsoons

which flood the river beds and cut the fragile road links.

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dsw

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Cre

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DD

001

Home is where good food is:

I believe in one thing. It is food that can keep us fit and healthy. It is food that can make us unfit and

unhealthy. So why not stick to the first type of food so that we can actually experience longevity? And

this first type of food is clearly defined by me as home cooked. It could be hot rotis straight from the

flame with a light drizzle of fragrant ghee, the long grains of dazzling white basmati grains that somehow

make rajma or kadhi as precious as caviar or those spongy wadas that soak up the sambhar. Well, be it a

pulao, or a khichdi, maybe a stew or dal rice, it could be some dry vegetable with roti, but traditional home

recipes do wonders for the spirit. These recipes keep the heart ticking ensconced in warmth of tradition

and cultural riches. Food eaten together keeps the family together and even if there are major time con-

straints I am sure something can be done to get hot food onto the table once a day ìthe more Indian it is the

betterî the more traditional Indian it is the best!

Katori ChaatIngredients :- Refined flour (maida) 250 grams, Salt to taste, Oil

2 tablespoons + to deep fry, Chickpeas (kabuli chana), soaked

overnight 1 cup, Onions 2 tablespoons + medium, Garlic 6 cloves,

Tomato 1 medium, Ginger 1 inch piece, Green chillies 4, Mustard

seeds 1/2 teaspoon, Cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon, Fennel seeds

(saunf) 1/4 teaspoon, Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon, Turmeric

powder 1/4 teaspoon, Coriander powder 1 teaspoon, Garam

masala powder 1/4 tea-

spoon, Tamarind chutney

as required, Green chutney

as required, Sev as re-

quired, Fresh coriander

leaves, finely chopped a

few sprigs

Method:- Sieve together

maida and salt to taste. Add

two tablespoons oil and

mix. Add sufficient water

Chocolate Paan Rolls


Buy Chef Kapoorís

PARTY COOKINGby logging onto

www.sanjeevkapoor.com

Ingredients:- Calcutta paan 8 leaves, Lime paste (chuna) 1

teaspoon, Catechu (katha) 1 teaspoon, Dark chocolate, grated

200 grams, Fresh cream 2 tablespoons, Fennel seeds (saunf) 2

tablespoons

Method :- Halve the paans lengthwise.

Apply a little chuna and katha on each paan piece. Mix the two and

spread all over.

Melt dark chocolate in a bowl in the microwave oven at 60% for

one minute. Take the bowl out and whisk the chocolate till smooth.

Divide into two portions.

and knead into a dough.

Divide into small balls and roll into

puris.

Grease the outer surface of small

katoris and place one puri on each

katori. Gently press.Heat oil and

gently slide in the katoris. When the

puris get fried they will leave the

sides of the katori. Take out the

katoris and fry the puris till golden.

Drain onto an absorbent paper and

keep aside.

Boil the soaked chana till done.

Grind together onions, garlic, tomato, ginger, green chillies.

To one portion add fennel seeds and gulkand and mix. Add a little

cream and mix.

Melt the second portion of

chocolate for fifteen sec-

onds and whisk.

Shape each paan piece into

a cone and stuff with the

chocolate-fennel mixture.

Dip them in the melted choco-

late and place on a plate. Chill

in the refrigerator till the

chocolate sets.

Across

6. Shahrukh acted as Deva in which film? (6)

8. Kareena's new boyfriend (11)

9. Amitabh-Rakhi 's film (10)

10. Ajay Devgan's film with Arshad Varsi? (6)

12. JP Dutta's film on India-Pak war (6)

13. Raja Babu (7)

14. ''Koyal'' of Indian Bollywood (13)

Down

1. Imran Hashmi's first film as side hero with Aftab (8)

2. In Kuch Kuch Hota Hai- Kajol's name? (6)

3. Rangeela girl (6)

4. Baazigar (12)

5. Karz {1980}'s hero? (11)

6. Amitabh's original film which Shah Rukh made remix? (3)

7. Amitabh's name in film Deewar? (5)

11. Karishma Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit's film? (12)

HoroscopeARIES: Time is slightly adverse till 15th. You canot be

demanding. It will be better to grab the opportunity and

run and bring an end to suspense. Trip will be refreshing

for everyone. After 15th is better to start negotiations with

a well known company.

GEMINI: Money will go towards a future trip but you

have the strongest chance of hitting some kind of jackpot

before August 15th. You may also finish some papers

and mail them to a government agency. Time after 15th

will bring happiness in life.

LEO: Your actions could cause some threat to your repu-

tation if you are not careful before Aug 15th. Do not be

nervous and throw all fears out of your mind that's the

only way things will change.

LIBRA: Lots of suspense will clear before 15th and you

should get ready to reap rich rewards there after. Prop-

erty stuck in market for long will also get disposed off and

you will pocket the money soon.

SAGITTARIUS: You may lack the touch for first few weeks

but the world is yours after 15th. You will be involved in

a beautiful relationship also. Other person is not only

good looking but has brains too.

AQUARIUS: Yexpect some delay from other side till 15th

but thereafter the deal is all yours and it will be sweet.

With new strategy you will overcome all obstacles and

will not be intimidated by strong competition either.

TAURUS: You may be away from home for most of time

before 15th. Weather and unnecessary stress may increase

blood pressure. It will be better to calm down and wait for

your chance when planets become very favorable on 15th.

CANCER: Do not take the risk if you do not have the stamina

and courage or will fail. Be extra careful in all financial mat-

ters till 15th and do not sign any contract in a hurry. Venus in

twelfth brings some extra ordinary excitement in personal life.

PISCES: Good news will not come alone. You will win

the necessary recommendation and the phone call or

email will come. A big reunion may take place after 15th

this month.

CAPRICORN: Planets will cause some disturbance in

personal life till 15th. Keep an eye on outside influence

and get rid of people doing that. You will lay your hands

on some easy money after 15th.

SCORPIO: Very positive time for those looking for another

career. Negotiations may start early but results will come

only after 15th. You will be assigned to a very responsible

position once Sun moves into tenth on August 15th.

VIRGO: Money wise it looks very promising from now and

on. Money may be delayed or blocked for some obvious

reasons till 15th but will be released there after. You will

pay some kind of fine or penalty to government too.

By "Pandit Parashar"

Crossword


konnectv august 2009

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