Lucky Lark of the Week

Abhijit Sawant, the first Indian Idol is in America touring with Himesh Reshammiya. Though his career as a singer hardly took off he has been getting offers for film ever since. And here’s another Sawant— Rakesh — Rakhi Sawant’s bro who has actually signed Abhijit for his forthcoming April Fool. It’s said to be a comedy about a guy and five gals! Well, Rakesh found Abhijit to be the man to handle all these ladies and the role. And is Abhijit singing!

Mallika Sherawat

Five minutes with Mallika...

Mallika’s leaving Bollywood for good? Her last two films were flops and now she has one with Rahul Bose, Pyar Ke Side Effects. But she’s not banking on that either. So, she decided to do an item song for Mani Ratnam’s Guru. And while there Down South, she zeroed in on the maverick Kamalahasan who was suitably floored by her “energy and enthusiasm”! Now that’s quite something since Kamal’s brush with Bollywood in the form of Tabu or Manisha hasn’t been all that smooth. But Mallika has been signed on by Kamal for his Tamil next, Dasavatharam, where Kamal is playing 10 roles. Mallika was refused an appointment as Kamal was very busy with work at home, and wasn’t even attending office. But Mallika convinced him that all she needed was “five minutes anywhere”. So, who do you think won?

Sherlyn Chopra

Last name?

When she signed her first film, producer Anil Sharma changed her original name (what that was, we have no clue) to Mona Chopra for the film, Time Pass. Then with a flop in hand and two names she moved on to her next film called Naughty Boy, and the producer of the film here suggested that her name should be Menka. Now she is on to her next movie, Red Swastik, and again her producer, Vinod Pandey, has changed her name! Now she will be called Sherlyn Chopra. She is been led to believe that this name will suit her personality perfectly. Sooner or later, the lady is sure to have an identity crisis — if she remains with an identity at all, that is.

SPOTLIGHT

Our babe in Bollywood

Rituparna Sengupta, the next big Bengali babe, going the Bollywood way, has already set the alarms going with her pleasing performance in Main Meri Patni Aur Woh. And now she has actually shifted base to Mumbai.

Rituparna believes in ‘simple living high thinking’ and that’s quite evident from her simply-furnished home in Mumbai. A bright smile fills up her living room as she speaks about her home here. “The incandescent sunlight, the lovely breeze that enters through the wide spilt-open windows with drooping branches of the tree almost entering the room through the balcony is what I like the most about my house here,” says the ecstatic Bengali beauty.

But why Kandivli, a far-away suburban Mumbai locality? “What enchanted me when I first came to see the flat was the natural environment and I love nature from the core of my heart. The spacious rooms that are rare in a compact city like Mumbai was one of the most important criteria for me,” clarified Rituparna. And there was yet another attraction for her. “Early in the morning when I sit on the sofa next to the window with my cup of tea, I can see the clear blue sky and the natural villa trees that brings the freshness and coolness into the room making me feel like the most wanted being on this earth. The openness of my flat is one thing that will keep me attached to this apartment. The nature induces energy and removes all the stress and strain of the hectic day before. It is the peace and serenity that attracts me most in my flat,” says Ritu, almost in a whisper. “I hate a claustrophobic environment and that’s why I don’t have heavy furniture stuffed in my house.”

Talking about her personal collection, she gushes, “I am very much in love with the statue of Ganapati and Mahavir that I have especially reserved for the corner of my living room. I love certain beautiful pieces like the statues of our gods or some antique or cute wall hangings. If I spot them on the road, I make it a point to immediately stop my car, buy them — and the moment I reach home, I start looking for an appropriate place for the new entrant.”

Ritu has lots of cards stuck on the mirror of her dressing table. “These are the cards and gifts from my friends,” Ritu gets sentimental. “You know why I keep them in such a place? I do it so that I can see them every now and then and feel happy about it. I do not like to dump them as collections in one corner. I enjoy looking at them and derive utmost pleasure from that.”

She emphasises her love for light coloured walls, “I love light coloured walls. Light colour makes the atmosphere bright and brightness further brings freshness not only to my mind but also to my heart. I like cream-peach walls with soft dark brown curtains, as these are elements of light and hope.”

Which is the room she likes best in her house? “My best resting place is when I cuddle up with my cushions comfortably tucked under me while I am on the bed,” pat comes the reply. “My bedsheet is always of light colour and it has to be plain simple cotton. Light colour makes me feel light and fresh. The other area that I adore is my balcony which has trees planted next to it and the branches droop down inside the house.”

Carpets are a complete no-no for her. “I do not like the floor to have any carpets as I like to freak out barefoot on the floor. Being a dancer, I like a spacious floor. I find great relief when I sit down on the floor and plan out my day. But, yes, small rugs, like the ones in my house in Calcutta, which are spread during winter make me feel cozy.”

On being far away from home, she says, “I live with my cousin and her hubby. At times when I am depressed they are the ones who console me and I do not feel alien in the crowded city of Mumbai.”

— Lipika Varma (Sampurn)