AUGUST 9, 2019 60 A Times of India publication

BIG KRITI
LITTLE LIES
Why secrets SANON
ruin relationships Spunkalicious!
DELECTABLE
SINDHI
DELICACIES
TO TRY RN!

Beauty looks
to show your
true colours

Mood Killers
And how to
deal with them

Nextup nd- up
Top sta us LOL
who make
comics
 EDITOR’S
LETTER
Looking to laugh? Look at our politicos.
When Trump is not giving us reason to ROFL by referring to the royal-in-waiting in England as
the Prince of Whales, we have the front row to the greatest circus in the world to witness upfront
FOC—the run up to Indian elections gave stand-ups so much content that they will be able to run
the show for another five years. Yeah, that bit about Narad Muni being like Google (that gem from
Gujarat’s CM Vijay Rupani is a classic), not to mention the many benefits of cohabiting the planet
with cows who allegedly not only inhale but also
IT WAS FOUND THAT THOSE exhale oxygen (Uttarakhand’s minister Rekha Arya
WHO COULD TAKE A JOKE can take a bow); lest we forget, the WhatsApp
OR TWO ON THEMSELVES favourites aka Pappu specials and Didi’s memes
WERE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER keep the country in splits (and some people in jail).
HUMANS. LAUGHING IS GOOD It would serve some of us better if we learned
to laugh at ourselves though. In fact, a study
FOR YOUR HEART; LIGHTENING conducted by Time magazine reveals just that.
UP CAN LITERALLY LENGTHEN It was found that those who could take a joke
YOUR LIFE SPAN. or two on themselves were healthier, happier
humans. Laughing is good for your heart; lightening up can literally lengthen your life span. They
discovered that the merry respondents had 40 per cent less chance of a heart disease. Also when you
laugh, your resilience builds up and scientists have proven that you learn to manage pain better. Yet
another study proves that being humorous boosts our short-term memory.
So many reasons to LOL and we have one more to add to the laugh track in your life. Our Big
Story this issue features India’s young crop of funny people. Women and men who take the mic and
bring back the mirth in our ho-hum lives.
However bad things may look, duck the punches and head for the punchlines. Cheers!

Tanya Chaitanya
@tanyachaitanya
@tanyachaitanya27
 ON THE COVER
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CONTENTS VOLUME 60 NUMBER 15

31
Shell
shocked

8
The big story

26 Celeb cheat sheet

FIT AND FINE
Bollywood actors that go all out to
ensure they are in top shape

FASHION
27 Front row
TELL ALL
Boho wardrobe staples which are
hot this season

31 Jewellery
OUT OF YOUR SHELL
Break the monotony this season
with tortoise shell jewellery

Some of our country's funniest 32 Accessories

OVER MY HEAD
comedians share their stories
Add an adventurous twist with
in the vein they know best bucket hats. Here are some of
our favourites

33 Hotlist
TRENDING
The round-up of the latest news,
views, and buzz in fashion

35 Watch
ABOUT TIME
This distinctive satin-brushed
stainless steel bracelet personifies
elegance
ALL ABOUT YOU
20 Passion 36 Unstoppable at any
BEDROOM BLOOPERS occasion
Deal with awkward situations BLINDINGLY BRIGHT
between the sheets How to flaunt a neon palette for
various occasions
22 Love
SECRET GAMES 38 Details
How do you know your partner is MIX AND MATCH
keeping things from you? Here are Patchwork details that have been
some tell-tale signs trending on the runways

24 Life BEAUTY
39 Feature
WHICH MARVEL SUPERHERO IS
YOUR PERFECT BOYFRIEND?
Find out which Marvel man would
22
Suspicious
SHE’S ELECTRIC!
Play with pulsating hues for vibrant
make the ideal partner minds beauty looks
 LIVING
68 Food
FROM THE HEART OF SINDH
Traditional recipes for a classic fare

71 Quick bites
CREAMY AND LUSCIOUS
Our favourites from lassis of
India–smoothies with a twist

72 Travel
ADVENTURE PARADISE
The action-packed side
of Mauritius

76 The buzzmakers
PAROMITA VOHRA
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Award-winning documentary
filmmaker and writer talks
about her sex education
platform and more

52
Rise
above
the rest 76
A broad
outreach
47 Trial-a-trend 60 What it takes to be
BARE BEAUTY “PEOPLE LOVE INSULTS IN EVERY ISSUE
Flaunt a fresh, no-makeup beauty WHEN THEY’RE NOT ON
02 EDITOR’S LETTER
look this monsoon THEM”
Standup comic Prashasti 03 TOMBSTONE
48 Hair spotlight Singh tells us on why this 06 FEMINA.IN + INBOX – WE HEAR YOU!
URBAN TWIST works with audiences 49 BEAUTY MANDATE – Q&A
Stay cool and collected with
textured locks and a chic accessory 63 Interview On our July 9, 2019 cover,
THROUGH A ‘COMIC’ Mithali Raj wore a grey tulle skirt
50 Beauty LENS by Nikita Mhaisalkar, a cut-out
HOT RIGHT NOW Mounica Tata takes us bodysuit by Calvin Klein, chunky
sneakers by Asics, and acetate
All that’s fresh and fun on the through her artistic style hoop earrings by Acessorize
beauty shelf
65 Interview
REALITY WOMAN OF METAL GET FEMINA RIGHT AT HOME
52 Cover girl A conversation with Ravija z To subscribe, SMS FESUB to 58888
PACKING A PUNCH Singal, the youngest Asian
Kriti Sanon talks about life as an woman to bag the Ironman z To subscribe online, visit
mags.timesgroup.com/femina.html
outsider in the film industry Australia title

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TRENDS OF THE YEAR
Number five is big everywhere
We asked our followers
on Twitter about their
favourite comedian of India.
Here’s what they had to say:
Shahabuddin Ali
@Shahabu64320143
I think Kapil Sharma
is the best comedian
in India. I never miss any
of his shows.
Rajarshi Halder
@Rajarshi_H Undoubtedly,
Sunil Grover. He’s the best.
Rushikesh Ukirde
@Rushikesh749 In
my opinion, Zakir Khan
does really good comedy.
I like him and his sense
of humour the most.
Anjali Chhimwal
@ChhimwalAnjali Sunil
Grover is one of the best
comedians of our country.
His comic timing is splendid.
Praveen Sankhla
@sankhla88 For me,
Akshay Kumar, Johny Lever,
and Govinda are some of the
top comedians our country
has produced.
All views belong to the authors and Femina
has reproduced them verbatim.
twitter.com/FeminaIndia
WE HEAR YOU! Write to us at femina@wwm.co.in
My husband and I read
Femina religiously. The
articles under the All
About You section—
How Confident Are You
In Bed? (All About You,
Opener) and Bring Sexy
Back (All About You,
Passion) helped us break
out of our shells. The
magazine also helps me
stay abreast with fashion
trends, and how they
can be incorporated
in day-to-day outfits.
Sushruthi Machan, Jaipur
I was impressed by the magazine’s latest
issue (June 24, 2019). From designing
your clothes and making your home-
made beauty products to trying some
DIY pasta and banana bread, The Big
Story made for an interesting read.
Also, the write-up on Shruti Naik
(Reality, Opener) was inspiring. Almost
every article in the issue had a similar
message to convey that women can
overcome any obstacle with their grit
and determination.
Kushy Kadam, Pune
To begin with, the piece, Get Crafty
(The Big Story) that covered various
DIY products under fashion, beauty,
and food sections kept me hooked.
Not to forget, Shilpa Shetty Kundra
looked fabulous on the cover, and
her interview (Reality, Cover girl)
WIN!
AN EXCITING GIFT
FROM LAVIE
These five letters will win this trendy
Lavie bag. This Naziha sling bag comes
with an edgy design, and sleek finish.
was a great read too.
Congratulations
Femina, you proved
you’re a trendsetter,
yet again.
Twinkle Bhalla,
Gurgaon
The June 24, 2019 issue
of Femina, made me
pen down my thoughts
regarding one of the
articles I read. The
feature, Phone A Friend (Reality,
Opener), on psychologist Shruti Naik,
who kicked a cushy job and moved
to the interiors of Telangana to help
distressed farmers, taught me
to help others. We independent women
should help farmers in our own little
way. I thank Femina for bringing
such stories to the forefront. I would
certainly like to contribute to society
whether by creating awareness about
certain issues or by giving support
to the ones who’re desperately in need
of it.
Mehak N Acharya, Nagpur
While the fashion and beauty sections
are my most-liked bits, I also look
forward to the inspirational features
on women in Femina. Thank you for
letting me know that life isn’t limited
to the four walls of one’s house. This
isn’t the end but, just the beginning.
Sharbharii Das Gupta,
Dehradhun
THE BIG STORY

They have had us in splits within moments; we

have nodded our heads constantly, identifying
with what they say on stage. They have left us
wanting for more, long after their gigs ended.
This year, Femina’s humour issue brings you
some of the country’s most popular
stand-up comics, telling their tales in the
vein they know best
 CALL
THE always upto something; she just didn’t
imagine the innocence of it. This one
Soon, I started attending open mics but
was too chicken to go up on stage.

of time she ‘caught’ me on the internet

looking at X-rated content. Fortunately,
I was committing the lesser crime of
A comedian friend pacified me by saying
the audience wouldn’t really remember
me, whether I bombed or not; that

SATIRE downloading pirated music when the ad

popped up. Mom, if you’re reading this,
I wasn’t watching porn that day!
helped me calm my nerves, and I
gradually learnt to enjoy the adrenaline
rush every time I’d get up on stage.

SEJAL Bhat
Anyway, my interest/passion/career
choices kept fluctuating, and you could
say I was a jack of all trades. Name the
job, and I’ve probably held it. Whether
FROM CRACKING JOKES it was journalism (I hold a degree in the
ON HERSELF TO TRYING subject, FYI), or being a business analyst
ALMOST EVERY JOB, at Goldman Sachs, I’ve tried it all. But,
SHE TELLS HER STORY something was always amiss.
While switching jobs, a friend
discovered comedy as suggested I try my hand at stand-up.
Over time I realised all those
temporary callings were fantasies about
the destination, not the journey. With
comedy, for the first time, it became
about the journey. I enjoyed the process
of creating a joke, and refining it—that’s
the fantasy—about doing an honest job
and getting better. That’s how I finally
know I’m right where I belong!
—As told to Kalwyna Rathod

I a child, although I didn’t

consciously know it at the
time. I ended up going
through a series of education shifts, job
changes, and even career switches in my
hunt for a true calling. I enjoyed the
Growing up, I was considered process of creating
argumentative and always talked a joke, and refining
back to my parents. It was a thrill it_ that’s the
to beat someone in an argument with fantasy _about doing
a perfectly-crafted comeback. At school, an honest job and
I was generally hyperactive throughout getting better.
classes. I was a small kid who wouldn’t
swear and I remember being picked on
a fair number of times. I particularly
remember this one instance where
a kid was poking fun at my last name
and I retorted, ‘Please don’t push it or
this Bhat will crack’. It got more laughs
than the bully’s joke. I remember
thinking that if I made fun of myself
better than anyone else, I had won. Over
the years, comedy became my security
blanket, and I could comfortably be the
‘Bhat’ of my own jokes!
As the years rolled on, I pretended to
make up ambitions, as a way to convince
PHOTOGRAPH: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD

myself that’s what I wanted to be. One

day I was going to be a neurologist, the
next, an astronaut or a gynaecologist.
My focus even shifted to engineering
at IIT. But instead of prepping for the
entrance exams, I spent inordinate
amounts of time reading everything else
but my textbooks, and even listened
to music. My mom thought I was
THE BIG STORY
MARRY a‘WHO’LL
COMEDIAN?’
AISHWARYA Mohanraj
DESPITE HER PARENTS’
MISGIVINGS, SHE DECIDED TO
QUIT HER JOB AS A RESEARCH
ANALYST AND VENTURE INTO
THE FIELD OF STAND-UP
COMEDY. THE REST IS HISTORY
IN THE MAKING
f you ask me which
I comedians I grew up
watching, I’d draw a blank.
While I had a hushed
liking for it even as a kid, comedy and
I found each other much later in life.
Plan A was to have a normal (read:
conservative) career that was anything
but creative. This, of course, was
supported by society-approved logic,
and my mother’s words, ‘Comedian se
shaadi kaun karega?’ But that’s how you
a have stand-up comedian with
a sleeping (read: non-functional) MBA.
We’re all rushing to grow up: when
in school, college life seems better; in
college, having a job looks good. It’s only my mother was adamant on me being
when you hustle to get to that ‘dream
job’ that you find yourself wondering
what you’ve gotten yourself into! I just
couldn’t imagine myself sitting in front
of a computer all day, every day, doing
only what I was expected to do. To fill
this void, I started sharing jokes on
Facebook. Soon, writing humour pieces
on social media
I just couldn’t
imagine myself
sitting in front of
a computer all day,
every day, doing
only what I was
expected
to do.
became a hobby. With every new like
on my post, my confidence escalated,
drawing me towards the big question:
why not do an open mic? That was the
final pull.
I joined the comedy bandwagon in
June 2017, and quit my job in October
the same year. Of course, it was not
without my fair share of apprehensions:
‘Kyun karna hai? Job toh hai.’ You can’t
quit your job, right?. But the voice in
my head said ‘How about quitting now?’
when I applied to Comicstaan, and it
grew louder when I was selected. While
the potential bride, I managed to get
a year-long buffer from my father. My
first gig was at a cafe in Mumbai.
I prepped for a month in front of the
mirror before I stepped on stage,
I spoke about my school crush and
mother. Exactly 10 of my friends turned
up, and watched with an expression
as blatant as ‘Arre ek mauka to
de hansne ka’. As it turns out,
Facebook posts don’t do quite
as well when you read them
out loud, not without those
dramatic pauses, or that voice
you used in the elocution
contests. Fortunately,
as every comedian will
experience, first open mics or
shows will never be as funny as they
think, but give it time.
That’s precisely my giveaway to
aspiring comedians. You might be good,
even better than most, but you need
to remember that there will be days
when you will bomb. I assure you, your
audiences will be ruthless; they’ll tell
you that you weren’t funny, making sure
you hear them loud and clear. But take
that first step; it’s the only way you’ll
get better. The audience will not laugh
PHOTOGRAPH: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD
at everything; more often than not you
won’t know which jokes need work. You
have to keep going.
As for me, I am in the process of
creating more content to stay relevant.
So the next time you stumble upon one
of my videos, you should say to yourself,
‘Oh! Yeh comedy karti hai, yaad hai!’
—As told to Hemchhaya De
 THE

BACKUP
I believe I get my
humorous streak
from my mother, who
is quite the who
is quite the
situational comic.

MAN
ANIRBAN Dasgupta
LOVE FOR WRITING
HUMOUR ORGANICALLY
GREW INTO A PASSION
FOR HIM. HERE’S HOW
HE STAGES HIS JOKES TO
ENVELOP THE AUDIENCE
IN LAUGHTER
ou can call me Mr Runner-

Y up. In my group of friends,

I was not the funniest; on
the debate team, I was
the substitute—I was always the back-up
plan. I started off as a sales professional
before I steered into comedy, and
nothing much has changed since. The
plea that started as, ‘Kahin se bhi order aa
jaye’, now sounds a lot like, ‘kahin se bhi
inspiration aa jaye’.
My hometown, Kolkata, is a unique
place to pursue comedy. After seven
years of the culture of stand-up, the
craft is still not thriving! That’s just the
beauty of Cal; everything happens in its
own sweet time. I was studying in Pune quit comedy soon after. At the time my One evening, I had a gig at a hotel’s
when I felt comedy’s call, and I began job involved a lot of travelling, and every nightclub, and we had taken over the
following some popular comedians on time there was an important event, dance floor. In the middle of the event,
Twitter. Later, I landed a job in Mumbai I was away on business. I was trying a seemingly drunk (and visibly-agitated)
and could witness the rise of comedy to make a similar living with my jokes, lady decided to join me on stage. She
clubs. However, a job transfer made me before I quite my full-time job. As fate’s proceeded to interrupt my set, saying,
move back to Kolkata, and once again line-up would have it, the gigs dried up ‘This is a nightclub. Why are there so
comedy shrunk to virtual gratification, soon after I quit my job. many chairs?’ I replied, ‘You can dance
until an open mic event popped up. Over the years I have developed my to our jokes if you like’. Naturally, like
Typically, as a start, one would comic style. I believe I get my humorous her alcohol, my comeback didn’t sit too
expect a small setting of 20 to streak from my mother, who is quite well with her, and we began to argue.
25 people. Kolkata tunes in differently; the situational comic. Imagine this: she The two of us were in what felt like
PHOTOGRAPH: NISHANT THAWRANI

our first ever open mic took place in an
auditorium, in front of 20 people and
580 empty seats for a winning prize
of one lakh. The cash was to lure the
comedians to enroll, which it did—
three entries in total. To add insult to
injury, I lost, and I lost to someone who
wants me to give her a grandchild, so
whenever we talk, she finds a way to
bring it up. Once, we were discussing
cricket and she coolly said, ‘Oh Rohit
Sharma IPL jeeta, uske paas bhi bachcha
hai’; she always manages to crack me up.
Let me tell you what works for me.
a boxing ring. I guess she just wanted to
beat me to the punch…line!
The sphere of comedy is both,
welcoming and rewarding. Just have
fun on stage, lose yourself in that sea of
laughter, and bask in the validation.
—As told to Shruti Shukla
THE BIG STORY

PLAN C for COMEDY

hen you come from married, but I wasn’t quite ready. And
a Gujarati family, you
know nobody chooses
SONALI Thakker since both of us were unsuccessful in
clearing that final exam, we decided
a less-than-worthy to take up an ‘art’ to get our minds off
subject to study like ‘arts’. So LIFE WAS PRETTY CLEAR things. He enrolled in the East India
growing up, my life was a series of CUT UNTIL SHE DECIDED Comedy’s stand-up workshop, and
streamlined plans. I studied to be TO STRAY FROM HER I enrolled in a dance workshop. While
a chartered accountant (CA); that was CAREFULLY-CHARTED the both of us love stand-up, it never
plan A. After that, I had to be married; PATH ON THE ROAD TO really occurred to me that there was
that was plan B. After marriage comes DISCOVERY a place for women in comedy, rather
a child—preferably in that order, of I hadn’t come across a woman do
course. We don’t want any scandals in stand-up. Besides, I never really
a typical Gujarati household, do we? wanted to try. Working to get rid
So naturally, Plan B was to progress to of that stage fright wasn’t a part of
have children by the age of 28. Then, my plan, remember? And dancing
after all the plans were in effect, I’d felt more ‘lady-like’. Clearly, the
become a stock broker and take after conditioning lay intact. And while
my mother. my dance workshop was pretty damn
It’s funny how things don’t quite go cool, watching myself move in front
according to plans A and B, especially of those ceiling-to-floor mirrors was
for someone with a severe case of perhaps the best cure to stage fright
stage fright. In fact, our small Gujarati because bombing in front of a mirror
community in Dadar, Mumbai, used is far worse than bombing on stage.
to organise an annual get-together, At least with the latter, you can’t see
and I’d invariably be dressed to the yourself in real time!
nines (read: the nine-yard sari of A quick side-step from that bad
a bhaji waali) as part of the fancy joke, I began accompanying my
dress competition. Of course, I’d run partner to open mic nights, and a part
off stage in fright without a peep, and of me felt like I should get on stage.
maybe some tears, but that would be So, the following month, I signed up
the end of my mother’s hard work. In for an open mic, because, why not?
retrospect, my stage fright was not The first one was phenomenal; the
because I couldn’t perform in second was not. Of course, it wasn’t as
front of an audience, bad as bombing in front of the mirror,
but because When you come but when you know the audience
I couldn’t perform from a Gujarati family, can laugh but they just don’t want to
you know nobody
in front of people ever chooses laugh with you, the experience can
who’d had some a less-than-worthy really shake you. It’s a classic case of
context to my life. subject ‘It’s not you, it’s me’, but in this case,
to study.
PHOTOGRAPH: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD

Fast-forward to adult you know it actually is you! The stage

life, when I was clearing fright came screaming back. But of
my CA exams (#adulting101, course, I did find my way to the stage
amirite?). It was only during my once more—the rebel in me didn’t
final exams that I hit a roadblock, let up. And it’s been six incredible
so my mum wanted to move to plan comedy-ridden years. Besides, who
B—marriage. I was dating my now doesn’t love a good Gujju joke every
husband (who I met at my CA classes) now and then, right?
when my mother wanted me to get —As told to Charlene Flanagan

come on the stage
everyday problems
DARK
SIDE
unnoticed. I was neither here nor there.
I went on to study psychology to be
of a counsellor, but I found myself drifting
towards the world of comedy.
the I first started frequenting open mics
LOON
during my college years. I studied how
comedians would come on the stage and
dress their experiences and everyday
problems in humour. It was during
SUMAIRA Shaikh those moments that I felt drawn to the
mic; I wanted to be my funny best on
SHE WAS THE NON-NOISY stage, too! Soon after, I signed up for
an open mic, wrote a short script, and
STUDENT WHO
hopped on stage. All but one joke sat
ANYONE COULD HAVE
well with the audience. You could call it
MISSED. TUNE IN AS SHE
the cornerstone of my comedy empire;
SHOWS US HOW TO
the response it garnered kept me going.
LAUGH OUT LOUD Although I don’t consider myself
particularly funny, I fuel my sarcasm to
f you saw me while a point that it has a rather mean bite.
I growing up, funny would
be the last adjective to
cross your mind. I was
simply a non-noisy student with average
While at home, I’d always get a lot of
laughs at the expense of my siblings and
cousins, I can’t take all the credit. Some
families sing, some dance, mine
grades in the score slab of 70, who went make jokes. Humour is genetic—
I studied how
comedians would
and dress their
experiences and
in humour.
a family trait. My mum has a knack for
mimicry, no matter if she’s encounter
the subject just once; I can’t match up
to her. I’d describe my father’s sense of
humour as situational—it’s a knack that
only he’s managed to master. In fact,
that’s how we always got past fights or
tense moments—with humour! As they
say, the family that laughs together,
stays together, so in my house, fights
rest largely on verbal wars—we joke,
we argue, and we roast each other if it
comes to that.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise then
that most of my comedy is heavily
influenced by family members. And
while the jokes are somewhat personal,
they’re relatable. In fact, I have a popular
bit on gambling. The premise of the
joke is how I bet on my grandma who
is in the hospital. The gist of it is that
you don’t really care about what’s going
on in life if you put money on it—the
focus then becomes all about winning
or losing money. Besides, there’s a whole
lot of honesty attached to the joke,
which is probably why it work so well.
The audience understands and relates to
the joke; people who get it, love it!
Towards the end of my college years
I put up a random video of me playing
Raatraazi on YouTube, and it got some
attention. That got me thinking that
PHOTOGRAPH: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD
maybe I should give this a real shot.
But naturally, when I told my parents
that I was going to try my hand at
comedy, they probably thought I was
just pulling a fast one on them. They
did, of course, give me a year to explore
(this is probably the gestation period for
comedy). Now, the funnier I am, the
more seriously they take me.
THE BIG STORY
is that I can fabricate
TRUE I
feel like I’ve always been
funny. Even in school,
I was the funny guy,
though, not the typical
LIES class clown. I loved to amuse myself, so
I’d note down funny incidents around
me. That’s just always been my style, and
it’s translated into my stand-up.
SHASHWAT I remember once in English class the
teacher was taking us through a short
Maheshwari story that alternated between pictures
and text. It was the story of a girl. On
LOVES TO KEEP one page she was dancing with her
THE AUDIENCE ON father, in the next, she was dancing with
THEIR TOES, TELLING her boyfriend. After we read it, I asked
HIS JOKES WITH the teacher, who was only too happy
AN UNMATCHED with what she thought was a genuine
STRAIGHT- query, ‘Ma’am, on page 57 she’s wearing
FACED DELIVERY. blue boots; on page 58 she’s wearing
EVERYBODY LIES, red stilettos. When did she have time to
AND MAHESHWARI change?’ The entire class, including my
CERTAINLY TAKES teacher, burst out laughing.
ADVANTAGE OF I discovered stand-up in college at
THAT FACT BITS (Pilani). I didn’t know if anyone
was doing stand-up in India at the time.
What I love
most about stand-up
stories. People don’t
know that all
my material is based
on lies.
It was only the established international
comedians I’d heard of, and one of them
was Louis CK. Watching him made
me want to do stand-up professionally.
Around then, someone told me about
comedian Praveen Kumar, a BITS
alumnus. I reached out to him and he
told me about the open mics happening
in Delhi. For my first open mic, I went
to Delhi from Kanpur. The response was
great, so the next day, I did another one.
After that, I was sold and knew that
I could keep doing it.
My parents already knew that
I have followed my heart, so they let
me be. I quit my first job because I felt
completely out of place, despite their
‘Fun Commando’ engagement activities,
their mandatory Fun Friday sessions
for new employees. I would ditch
the session to play table tennis in the
cafeteria, so it was a clear misfit.
I still needed to pay the bills, so while
working with a portal in Gurgaon,
I participated in many open mics.
I later moved to Mumbai for a stint
with Filter Copy, and delved into the
scene there. But, would you believe that
the one thing I got really good at was
quitting jobs? In fact, I’d like to take this
opportunity to quit my current project.
Sir, if you’re reading this, I resign.
What I love most about stand-up is
that I can fabricate stories. People don’t
know that all my material is based on
lies. But that’s probably because life is
boring in general. So, I make it up and
pass it off as real experiences. But hey, it
gets me laughs, so I’m not complaining!
Apart from fabricating more lies,
PHOTOGRAPH: KARIMA KHAN
I’m working on a podcast for those
interested in my everyday boring life,
and it may or may not feature guests.
It’ll probably be best if you tune in.
—As told to Anindita Ghosh
THE BIG STORY

THE

NAME
fresh off a breakup, inappropriate jokes
like, ‘It’s not your fault. The blood
doesn’t reach his brains because his
T-shirt was so tight’ have been made.
And while humour comes naturally
to me, I’ve always liked performing.
I knew comedy was my calling. The very
concept of stand-up is that you get on
stage in a room full of people and share
your opinions, hopefully followed
by a joke, and nobody talks back.
I find it hard to imagine anything more

GAME
When I was little, I danced at every
wedding, birthday, and funeral I went
to. Honestly, they never got a chance to
say, ‘beta uncle aunty ko dance dikhao’,
UROOJ Ashfaq because even before the guests could get
past the door, I was dancing.
TAKES US DOWN HER I took things a step further when
HALLWAY OF HAPPINESS, I began participating in open mics ‘for
AND SHARES A FEW fun’. I had my psychology degree in
LAUGHS ALONG THE WAY hand, and was all set to study further,
but my first gig was an absolute hit.
The high of performing, and that too,
’ve been stuck with the well, was so impactful that I decided
narcissistic and validating than that.
I’m a psychology student. Believe me,
I know. And while I do display some
narcissistic tendencies, what
I really wished for was to be liked by
all. Comedy served that purpose. If
I could make people laugh, they would
like me—it’s therapeutic, in an odd sort
of way. So now, I write the jokes that
make the whole world laugh (sort of),
do things I love, and spend time with
people that make me love myself.

I name Urooj my whole

life. Of course, this means
every conversation takes at
least 10 minutes longer than it should
to keep going. Of course, with highs
come the lows, and I bombed at all my
performances for two months after, but I had my
psychology degree in
hand, and was all set
because people can’t move past my to study further,
name. I’m met with ‘What does your but my first gig was
name mean?’, ‘Isn’t that a boys’ name?’, an absolute hit.
‘Wait, are you Muslim?’, ‘You don’t look
Muslim’. By now, as soon as we’re past
the ‘names’ stage, I chime right in:
‘It means ascension’, ‘Yes, it is’, and
my favourite, ‘Sorry, I forgot to wear
my burqa today’. You can call this
a preemptive strike!
After my older sister, my parents
thought their second (and last) child
was going to be a boy. Don’t judge, they
were simply looking for some variety.
Then they had me, but were too lazy
to change the name they had decided
upon. Apparently, laziness breeds
gender neutral and progressive names—
as they still try to convince me. In
hindsight, being the butt of many jokes
has taught me to laugh at myself—an
unappreciated quality of a comedian!
Looking back, I’ve come to realise
PHOTOGRAPH: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD

that more than a defense mechanism,

humour is a part of me. In fact, my
parents are quite funny. There have
been instances when my family sat
around a dinner table and cracked jokes
during a financial crises; sentences like
‘Enjoy the food while you still have it!’
have been spoken. When someone’s
THE BIG STORY
THE
COMEDIAN
THAT WAS
KANEEZ Surka
COMEDY WAS AN INTRINSIC
PART OF HER UPBRINGING,
AND SEEMED LIKE THE LOGICAL
CAREER CHOICE TOO
umour was an integral part
H of our household, growing
up. My dad was always
funny; in hindsight, they
are all uncle jokes now, but growing up,
there was never a dull moment. I recall,
at 10, I had prepared a three-minute
skit wherein I order a pizza in three
different accents—Italian, Scottish,
and British. When other parents were
getting their children to sing and dance
in front of ‘Sharma’ uncle, my parents
would make me do this bit. That was
the first time I performed comedy, and
I even wrote it myself!
I studied law at a university in South
Africa, where I was born and raised, but
didn’t take it seriously. After graduating,
I moved to India and decided to do
my post-graduation. I also intended to
do theatre because at the time, like in
South Africa, India didn’t have a comedy
scene. The only way I saw myself doing
comedy was through acting. I joined
an improv course in 2005, and we did
a bunch of shows at the NCPA. Cyrus
Broacha and Kunal Vijaykar happened
to be watching. They were putting
together their satirical show, The Week
That Wasn’t, and approached me for
a part. It was my first gig in India.
Around the time I began doing
comedy, I got married and dropped
the idea of law. I always wanted to get
married because that’s what we were
conditioned to do. My plan was to be
a housewife and do comedy on the
side because it was convenient. I had
to shoot just once a week for The Week
That Wasn’t, and had the rest of the time
to play the dutiful housewife. During
this time, I joined an improv course
under Adam Dow, and was shooting
three times a week. Then, in 2011,
I got divorced because I wasn’t happy.
Fortunately, that’s when the comedy
scene was opening up. This was around
the time the Indian recreation of Whose
Line Is It Anyway? was in the pipeline,
and invited comics for auditions, and
I lapped up the opportunity.
When I went to the US to study
improv in 2013, I tried stand-up comedy
for the first time. And the rest is history
in the making. What I love about our
brand of celebrity is that we’re not
a glamorous one; we are the people’s
people. Nothing is kept from them,
and we don’t have to project an image.
We don’t have to shave, don’t do our
eyebrows or moustaches, and we get to
make content about it. You got to love
We don’t have
to shave, don’t
do our eyebrows
or moustaches,
and we get to
make content
about it.
it! Besides, there is space for everyone,
thus nothing can hold you back. And
remember, certain people are going to
hate you, no matter what.
I remember this one particular
show in 2014. I was performing at
a management college not realising
I was telling 18-year-olds about divorce,
motherhood, and pregnancy. Of course,
this wasn’t something they could relate
to, and a few boys started slow clapping
at the back. I told them I’d get off stage
if they weren’t having fun. There was
silence till one of them suddenly said,
‘okay’! In fact, every time I bomb on
stage, I tend to take a step back on it. By
PHOTOGRAPH: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD
the end of a less-than-funny gig, I end
up at the fag end of the stage! But, these
experiences don’t stop me; setbacks
shouldn’t stop you either.
I’ll leave you with this—find your
niche, work on your craft, and the
laughter will find you. You only have to
have courage to rip off that Band-Aid!
—As told to Nikshubha Garg
THE BIG STORY
DR HECKLE
& MR CHIDE
RAUNAQ Rajani
HIS FORAY INTO COMEDY
STARTED WITH BEING THE
CLASS CLOWN, A TRULY
UNDER-APPRECIATED
TALENT
hen I was eight,
I started at a new school.
Naturally, nobody likes
being the new kid, so
I used comedy as a defence mechanism.
As any typical backbencher, I realised
that cracking jokes was a good way to
fit in. Of course, back then, I didn’t have
a routine (I didn’t know what a routine
was), so my humour was situational.
My friends often put me on the spot
saying, ‘Raunaq, you’re the funny kid.
Why don’t you tell us a joke?’ While
I didn’t have jokes in my back pocket,
I realised that I should! That’s when
I developed a routine, so to say. The
jokes had to be relevant, so they usually
featured impressions of teachers and
other classmates.
While I was quite the entertainer in
school, at home, I didn’t stand a chance
considering I lived in a joint family.
My older sister was an over-achiever,
and there were plenty of cousins to be
pitted against. I accepted my fate, but
decided to do it with a smile! Take this
one instance, post my grandfather’s
death–us male family members had our
heads tonsured as a sign of respect. But
I had a patch of hair at the crown left
untouched, so I was walking around
catching Wi-Fi signals. What’s crazier
is that my grandfather had a bald
patch at the exact same spot, so
if anything, this act was highly
disrespectful to him. When I pointed
this out, my family was obviously
displeased. It took them a while to get
used to me being the way I am.
In 10th grade, I signed up for
extempore, seeing it as my last chance to
entertain. So for my first stand-up act in
front of a live audience, I just parodied
what the other participants were doing.
Every student in the audience was
tearing up with laughter, and I basked
in it. I was summoned by my English
teacher the following day, for what
I assumed was going to be a serious talk,
but it turned out, she was impressed
with my ability to have the audience in
splits for the whole four minutes of my
performance. In fact, she introduced
me to stand-up comedy. I watched some
YouTube videos and was amazed to see
people doing this professionally. It was
something I had to try.
My comedy is based on my
observations; yes, I realise that not
While I was quite
the entertainer
in school, at home,
I didn’t stand
a chance, considering
I lived in
a joint family.
everyone is going to appreciate my
observational humour. And no, I won’t
change my style because it’s taught
me a whole lot, despite almost getting
attacked once for putting my foot in my
mouth on a political topic.
As a stand-up comedian, I’ve had
to overcome a lot, my self-doubt and
insecurities being my biggest hurdles.
After almost nine years of performing
on stage, I have come to realise that
I first need to read my audience, before
attempting to make people laugh. What
I will leave aspiring comedians with
is this—find your voice, develop your
PHOTOGRAPH: LABEL
style, and you will find your audience.
I still have my bad days, but as they say,
bad shows are good teachers!
—As told to Kalwyna Rathod
THE BIG STORY
CREATIVE
CANNON
NEETI Palta
FROM BEING A TOMBOY
TO OFFERING SOUND
EFFECTS AND SHOOTING
OFF HER MOUTH, SHE’S
COME A LONG WAY
ou know how people show
Y potential for a particular
skill from childhood?
In my case, I grew up
with a very painful older brother
who had no qualms beating the
crap out of me. To be fair to him, I was
always a tomboy so he never thought
he was beating up a girl. I remember
being the scrawny one, and obviously
could not beat him back. The years
I consider my golden years are the ones
when he had braces. I could literally
smack him on the mouth and run like
crazy to save myself. I used to write
nasty limericks for my brother.
I would wait for him to go to the loo
and I’d stand outside and recite what I’d
written. He would burst out and I would
run. It was therefore diagnosed that
I was either going to be a long distance
sprinter or a comedian. I would like to
believe that was the origin.
Then later, my mother thought
I would be a misfit in a regular job, so
suggested I take up advertising and it
turned out to be great! I spent a good 12
years in the field, and retired as senior
creative director at J Walter Thompson.
I was doing well for myself but it was
a lot of grief with clients giving briefs
as well as dictating the headline to
me! Once, for this particularly difficult
client, I remember spending 48 hours
straight in office to meet their theme
brief, and going into their office with
In my head
I was leading a
superman-like life _
the only difference
being by day I was
a writer, by night
I was a comic.
multiple options. Suddenly, instead
of discussing the creatives, they went
back to discussing the briefs! At that
moment, I stormed out of their office,
but had to storm back in because I had
left my chappals behind. It really ruined
the effect, man! After resigning from
there, Sesame Street happened, and I
totally fell in love with muppets. I spent
five seasons with it and loved it.
I remember being a fan of the
improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
I remember attending a show with Colin
Mochrie and Brad Sherwood in India,
where they needed volunteers for every
round. I was called for a sound effects
round, where I did the sound effects for
Colin when they played out a situation.
For instance, if Colin said I opened the
car door, I’d go like ‘aaaaiiiiinnnnn’. He
went on to crack jokes on my sound
effects, like ‘Oh my God that’s a creaky
car, I must first oil the car,’ but I was
relentless. I went ‘chinki chinki’ for the
oiling effect. I am really onomatopoeic
in life as well so this round was tailor-
made for me; I had a blast. When I was
getting off the stage, Colin said, ‘Such an
innocent face but such a devil!’ It was he
who suggested that I try stand-up.
At that point, I didn’t even know that
aisa kuch hai India mein. I got lucky there
because a few people who ran open mics
approached me, asking me to try it out.
I went on stage full of confidence and
I did really well. Gradually, I picked up.
In my head I was leading a Superman-
like life—the only difference being by
day I was a writer, by night I was
a comic, not a superhero.
That’s how it started. I am a fairly
happy person, and I only want to make
PHOTOGRAPH: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD
people laugh. I have no aim of changing
any thought processes. I can’t even
convince my own people to let me have
a puppy, what will I go and change the
thought processes of the world? Besides,
I always remind my mom about how she
used to warn me not to talk to strangers;
now, I make a living out of it.
—As told to Shraddha Kamdar
 PHOTOGRAPHS: 123RF
* SOURCE: 2018 SURVEY OF MORE THAN 800 MEN AND WOMEN IN THE US AND EUROPE BY SUPERDRUG ONLINE
HTTPS://ONLINEDOCTOR.SUPERDRUG.COM/AVOIDING-AWKWARD-SEX/

gas
passed
accidentally
fell off the bed
urinated
accidentally
threw up
2.3% 45.8% 13.5% 11.8%
accidentally
COMMON AWKWARD
SEXPERIENCES FOR WOMEN
to say
prefer not
26.6%
ALL ABOUT YOU passion
BEDROOM
BLOOPERS
A romp between the sheets is fun, but what if you
encounter awkward situations during the act?
Neeti Jaychander tells you how to deal with them
Y
ou would assume that sex
with your partner is always
“perfect”, with no glitches.
However, that’s far from
the truth. A few situations are not
in one’s control, and bedroom faux
pas are more common than you
think. We tell you what could go
wrong and how you could turn it into
a lighter moment.
Nature’s call
This is possibly your worst nightmare,
and one that you think would gross
him out. Fear not—according to
experts, this is normal. “The reason
some women feel like urinating or
unintentionally urinate just before
or during orgasm, is that penetration
can often put pressure on the bladder.
During sex and orgasm, the bladder
can contract, releasing urine at the
same time,” says Chennai-based
sexologist Dr Santanam Jagannathan.
She also states that sometimes
women release fluid pools during
orgasm, which could be confused
with urine.
What to do: Planning will come in
handy. A simple solution would be
vacating your bladder before sex so
that you are not unsettled during
the act. In case you feel an urge
while you are at it, excuse yourself
and use the loo. “Most men are
cool about it, even if you have to
repeat the foreplay. Worst-case sce-
nario: if you do end up peeing dur-
ing sex, just shrug it off as a natural
body phenomenon, clean up, and
move on,” says Jagannathan.
Gassy glitches
Strange noises (not the ones that
turn your significant other on) can
catch you unawares; imagine letting
out a belch while kissing or hearing
his stomach growl almost comically
in response to the sweet nothings
you’re whispering in his ears. Sounds
like quite a scenario, doesn it? “My
boyfriend and I have odd hours at
work, and we meet at odd hours as
well, so there’s a good chance one
of us is ravenous, or full on a meal.
This means that letting out some
extra wind is definitely a possibility.
We have both farted around each
other, sometimes right in the middle
of a very intense sexual moment.
Our stomachs have also let out a tell-
tale rumble, if hunger is getting in
the way of our passion.,” says Gargi
Singh*, a 26-year-old freelance
illustrator from Chennai.
What to do: It might seem like
a buzz kill in that moment, but it
shouldn’t be taken seriously. “Yes,
it’s embarrassing, but if your partner
cares about you, it’s not the end of
the world. These are all bodily activi-
ties, and no one does it on purpose.
Laugh about it, cuddle a bit, and
you’ll find it’s perfectly okay,”
states Singh.
Animal instinct
The million-dollar question that
probably plagues pet owners across the
world–is it all right to have your dog
watch while you have sex? Answers
psychologist Manjula MK, “Experts
have concluded dogs and cats consider
things like sex normal unlike human
beings who think of it as a private
act.” However, the jury’s still out on
this. Your partner and you may feel
extremely uncomfortable if you are
being watched by your pet when you
are in the throes of passion.
What to do: First things first, if
you feel so strongly about it, make
sure your pet is safe and secure, and
doesn’t have access to your room—
so bolts in place, please! If your pet
does happen to wander in, and it
bothers you, swiftly carry it out,
and keep it a confined space until
you are done. “On the downside,
the endorphins released during sex
may send out signals to your dog
that you’re upset or angry, so you
may want to be a bit watchful about
how your pet reacts to it. If it seems
disturbed, aggressive, withdrawn or
its behaviour changes for the worse
immediately after watching you and
your partner in the act, ensure you
don’t repeat it and antagonise them.
In this case, prevention is definitely
better than cure,” Manjula MK says.
Safety first
Sometimes, in the middle of heated
sex, the condom can slip off–and if
you’re lucky, it’s accessible and you can
pull it out. However, if the penetration
has been deep, and your partner’s just
pulled out with the condom missing,
you are stuck in a tricky situation
What to do: Firstly, stay calm. If
you work yourself up, your vaginal
passage may contract, making it
more difficult for you to yank out
the condom. First try to remove it
ON THE DOWNSIDE, THE
ENDORPHINS RELEASED
DURING SEX MAY SEND
OUT SIGNALS TO YOUR
DOG THAT YOU’RE
UPSET OR ANGRY, SO
YOU MAY WANT TO BE
A BIT WATCHFUL
A giggle between the
sheets is a great way to
lighten the mood
yourself by squatting on the floor,
inserting a finger and taking it
out gently and gradually. Don’t
use any pointed tools like tweezers
as there is a possibility of you
injuring yourself. If you’re still
unable to get the condom out
seek professional help from
a gynaecologist. “While the condom
itself is not a problem because
you can seek professional help to
remove it, the real issue is the
fact that you’ve put yourself at
risk of STDs and unplanned
pregnancies. So, to stay safe, get
your partner and yourself tested
to rule out any of these,” Dr
Jaggannathan advises.
Sex-perimenting
It’s common for couples to try new
positions to spruce things up in bed.
Ever thought what if your attempt
backfires? Says Kaveri K, a 35-year-
old advertising professional, “After
having spend five years together, my
husband and I find ourselves willing
to experiment in the bedroom. But
sometimes things can go wrong! For
starters, once we were so focussed on
getting it technically right, we were
not turned on enough due to lack
of foreplay and spontaneity. Owing
to that the penetration just wasn’t
happening, since he’s found it hard to
get inside. And in this one instance,
I ended up getting injured by pulling
a muscle!”
What to do: No one is a gold-medal
gymnast; perhaps it’s time to
cut yourself some slack on the
flexibility front. “Give a new
position time and effort to ease
into; don’t expect to get it right ini-
tially, even straightforward sex takes
time. Don’t push your partner or be
pushed into doing something that’s
beyond your physical capacity. Baby
steps are fine. If you’re unwilling
to take time and effort because
the spontaneity matters more,
stick to positions that you know
are reliable, and work for you,”
Kaveri opines.
ALL ABOUT YOU love

SECRET GAMES
How do you know
your partner is
keeping things from
you? Hemchhaya
De shares how to
read tell-tale signs

T all, dark, and

mysterious—that
may be your idea
of a dream date, but, too
much mystery can also spell
trouble. There is no denying
that it’s impossible to share
every minute detail in
a relationship, but a certain
level of transparency is
healthy. However, what if
you find yourself in
a situation wherein your
partner is overly secretive?
“I was in love with a man
who seemed affectionate
and loyal. Initially, he made
me feel like a queen—
showering me with gifts,
frequently taking me out for
dinner, and calling me every
hour to know how
I was doing. Yet something
was amiss—for instance,
he never introduced me to
his parents or sister,” recalls
Vaani Pinto, a former airline
staff member, based in
Chennai. Suspicions grew
stronger as he continued to
avoid discussing his family
with her. Pinto then decided
to do some sleuthing herself.
She got his address from
friends, and landed at his
residence while he was at
work. To her utter dismay,
she found that her partner
was a married man with
kids—a fact he skilfully hid.
From concealing illicit
sexual activity, problems
at work, to debts, there are
several secrets which,
when unravelled, can
leave you shattered. Look
out for the signs below.
BODY TALK
Picture this: You strongly
feel your partner is keeping
things from you, and decide
to confront him with
direct questions. When
you do so, take note of his
expressions—sometimes
they can give away all you
need. Experts say that
there are a number of facial
expressions and associated
reactions which indicate
someone is lying, and a
few of these can be caused
WHY IS HE
LYING?
ƒ His past relationships may
have scarred him. For instance,
he might have been honest or
transparent, but this quality
may not have been
appreciated or reciprocated.
ƒ He might be suffering from
low self-esteem. This can be
a genuine concern, according
to experts. Due of low self-
esteem, he might be covering
up his flaws.
ƒ He finds it difficult to trust
anyone easily. Again, this may
have been caused by past
experiences. His ex might
have betrayed him. And that
has made him extra secretive.
ƒ He may have grown up with
controlling parents and
speaking up was discouraged.
So he is used to keeping
things to himself.
by nervousness. “Look for
reduced eye contact. Check
if he’s frowning—eyebrows
lean towards centre of the
forehead,” says Shamim
Deshmukh, a Mumbai-
based psychologist and
graphologist. She also says
a person's eyes darting
back and forth, shifting
towards the right ear as if
he is “constructing a picture
in his mind” is suspicious.
The signs in totality are
part of a physiological
reaction that indicates
he’s uncomfortable facing
your questions. “A sudden
stiffness in the body to
quell his nervous energy is
also common,” says Ritika
Aggarwal Mehta, consultant
psychologist at Jaslok
Hospital and Research
Centre, Mumbai.
 IT'S YOUR FAULT

Reema Singhania*a food

entrepreneur based in
Kolkata, remembers how
her ex used to resort to
a barrage of counter-
accusations when she tried
to call his bluff. The man
was accused of harassment
by several women in his
workplaces—he changed
jobs frequently—but she
was kept in the dark for
the longest time. But when
Singhania found out, all
hell broke loose. “He began
listing out my previous
affairs as if I had cheated on Confrontation is an
important step

DEALING WITH
A SECRETIVE
PARTNER
ƒ Don't assume the worst.
Don’t be too suspicious
either. Ask yourself if you are
reading too much into it.
ƒ Tell him how his 'secrets'
are affecting you. Needless to
say, if you constantly feel
that your partner is hiding
things from you, you may
start to feel exasperated.
ƒ Don't be too
confrontational; take
a solution-oriented approach.
If you start blaming him, he
may not open up about why
he is being secretive. Instead,
think how you can help him
explain his behaviour.
ƒ Try to know why he's lying;
there may be some genuine
concerns. Sit him down for
a heart to heart chat. Try to
delve into his past.
ƒ Seek couple counselling, if
him. However, the fact is,
I never hid my past from
him.” Experts say this
is common behaviour
of people who are bent
on hiding things from
their near and dear ones.
“In fact, he may accuse
you of lying to him,”
warns Mehta.
GOING
OVERBOARD
It’s not out of place for
your significant other
to not live up to certain
expectations. However, if he
overcompensates, consider
this as a red flag. Pinto faced
it with her partner. “Once,
he missed a date due to
work deadlines. The next
day, he got me flowers with
a gift and began cosying
up. I did think it was too
MONEY
MATTERS
Disclosing every financial
detail is not a parameter of
a successful relationship.
But, a reluctance to
share any transactions
or downright lying about
money may indicate that
he is dealing with a fiasco.
“My ex was in a debt trap.
He was robbing Peter to pay
Paul! Whenever I tried to
ask him how much money
he owed, he would say
that he had already paid
creditors off. Of course, this
was far from the truth,” says
Meera Saha, a teacher in
a private school in Kolkata.
Experts say sometimes
people can lie because
they are too embarrassed
about certain aspects of
their lives, such as their
it up with lies–they may
believe telling the truth
will only make matters
worse,” explains Mehta. In
other words, try to find out
what your partner is really
embarrassed about.
INFORMATION
OVERLOAD
Is your man suddenly
overloading you with
unnecessary details about
where he was or what he
was doing? Experts say you
shouldn’t take these voluntary
disclosures as a sudden burst
of “truthfulness”; it could
just be subterfuge and bluff.
Essentially, he could be
offering a barrage of useless
information to distract you
and cover up his guilt. “Note
the tone of his voice; he
could be talking excessively,
PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK
*NAMES CHANGED ON REQUEST

things go out of hand. Maybe
your partner would be more
comfortable opening up to
a counsellor, who can also
help in diagnosing what’s
ailing him.
much for a missed date,”
she says. Deshmukh states
“compensating in kind” is
the standard practice of
those economical with
the truth.
weak financial situation.
“Some may even fear being
judged. So, either they try
avoiding certain topics or
when pressured into talking
about it, they may cover
repeating phrases or giving
surplus information. The
person could also be changing
conversation topics rapidly
in order to distract you,”
cautions Mehta.
ALL ABOUT YOU life

WHICH MARVEL
SUPERHERO
IS YOUR
PERFECT
BOYFRIEND?

Mostly As: Iron Man

He can literally fix
anything and his vast
amount of wealth would
allow you to concentrate
on more important things.
Iron Man will never give
up on you; he's a lover and
a fighter.
Who wouldn’t like a superhero for a boyfriend?
Mostly Bs: Thor
Answer this quiz to find out which droolsome Marvel man would You need a guy who'll
always take care of you
make the perfect loverboy for you! and be there at the drop of
a hat. Thor has mastered
Q What do you look for in C) Old-fashioned B) Stand in between inter-dimensional travel
a boyfriend? D) Sarcastic you and the problem and can kick the tar out of
A) Intelligence C) Solve the problem anyone in the universe.
B) Strength Q What kind of date would with logic and
Mostly Cs: Captain
C) Honour your perfect boyfriend plan? conviction
America
D) Humour A) Fancy dinner at an D) Come up with Chivalrous and brave with
expensive restaurant a ‘plan’, and even if it a heart of gold, they don’t
Q One personality trait he B) Outside, under doesn’t work figure out get much better than this
guy! He'll protect you, of
must have? the stars a solution on the go course, but he'll also listen,
A) Determination C) Movie and dinner empathise and try to fix
B) Loyalty D) Having fun at Q In school/college, he anything wrong in your life.
C) Bravery a dance club would have been voted to
Mostly Ds: Star Lord
D) Happy-go-lucky be most likely to… You like your superheroes
Q In a difficult situation, A) Be a politician with a side of rebellious,
PHOTOGRAPHS: 123RF

Q What type of humour do your perfect boyfriend B) Be a pro athlete bad-boy charm. His
fun-loving, sarcastic
you prefer? would… C) Be a teacher
personality is a perfect
A) Witty A) Quickly jump into D) Be a stand-up match for yours.
B) Situational action comedian
ALL ABOUT YOU celeb cheat sh
heett

BALANCE IT OUT RIGHT MIX

Jacqueline Fernandez’s fitness mantra Deepika Padukone has one of the fittest
is simple—eat right, sleep right, and bodies in Bollywood, but achieving it
exercise regularly. “I ensure that requires hours of uninterrupted workout
I maintain a healthy diet, get adequate and eating right. Besides hitting the
sleep and stay positive and relaxed. gym, the actor enjoys running and
When it comes to fitness, I prefer to cycling. She eats clean
focus on flexibility, stamina, and strength. food, preferably ghar
I build my stamina through cardio ka khana, to ensure
exercises, pole exercises, and stretching her nutritional
exercises for flexibility. I only eat fresh, requirements are
healthy, and met. On
nutrient-rich maintaining
foods. And health and fitness,
when I cannot she said, “While
hit the gym, I believe that when you
I dance to stay are in the glamour industry, you have to
active,” she said look your best, I also believe that being
in an interview. skinny is not ‘hot and happening.’

DISCIPLINED

FIT AND FINE

DEDICATION

Bollywood actors go all out to ensure they are

in top shape. Radhika Sathe-Patwardhan makes
note of a few who inspire millions

W hat is common between Deepika Padukone,

Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Jacqueline
Fernandez, and Disha Patani? Besides leading the
world of glamour, they are fitness fanatics. If you are
looking to take the route to good health, here’s
a sneak peek into these divas’ regimens.
fitness levels is no mean
KEEP AT IT
feat. The actor’s
It is known that
exercise routine is a mix
Sonakshi Sinha
of cardio, Pilates, weight
dropped oodles of
training, spinning,
weight before entering
cycling, swimming,
the film industry.
tennis, and hot yoga. In
However, maintaining
a scenario where she
cannot workout owing
to her hectic schedule,
she decides to approach
food differently. In an
interview with
a newspaper
she said,
“I do gorge
on my
mom’s
delicious
food, but when
Alia Bhatt
never
compromises
on working g out.
So much so s
that she eensurese
SET THE RIGHT TO
ONE
E
that she
One look at Disha Patani’s social
exercises e even
e
media feed, and it’s evident
when she is
there are no shortcuts to good
ood
travelling. From
health. Her daily fitness
Pilates annd short
o
routine includes “dancing,
and long spine
gymnastics, going to the
massages to
gym at the right time and
yoga, headstands
some yoga,” she said in an and splits, like
interview. The actor prefers most others, the
cardio exercises in the star too
morning and weight training g in experiments with
the evening. Her regimen is a range of
supported by a protein-rich diet. activities. She is all
for eating healthy
and drinks lots of
water. Incidentally,
Bhatt turned
PHOTOGRAPHS: INSTAGRAM

it starts showing on the vegetarian a

body, I stop.” Her couple of years
mantra? Exercise ago, and, she
consistently, and “loves the
eat healthy in right new diet.”
portion sizes.
 Braided tote,
`2,290, Zara
TELL-ALL
Travel the world through the
eyes of designers who have
created collections inspired
by different locales

nia
Califor
SHIVAN & NARRESH

Beaded
bracelet, `999,
Bina
U

Lace dress, Bali

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ashtra
Mahar

S
A
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rk nia
RABANI & RAKHA

Silk blended
coat, price Embroidered
t
Gujara
on request, portfolio,
Oscar de la `1,299, Nika
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Renta
N
U

Slip ons,
`4,999, Toms
 FASHION front row

Oversized
shirt,
`2,590,
Zara RELAXIN’
AWAY
Tie-dye patterns that are sharp reminde
ers
of sun, sand, and beaches have become
wardrobe staples this season

Acetate Tie-dye
phone case, tote,
`2,199, `15,999,
Wildflower MZ

STRADA
Wallace
Tassle

S
earrings,

COLLINA
`399,

CO
BaubleBar

Crinkle
dress,
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Topshop

Longline
hoodie,
`2,999, Levi’s
PRABAL GURUNG

Classic tie-
dye sneakers,
`5,999,
Vans
FASHION front row

Fit and
flare dress,
`13,999,
Eliza J
Lace top,
`2,590,
Zara

ERDEM
ALEXANDER WANG
ALEXAND
Lace
Crystal barrette,
bralette,
`799, Tasha `1,699,
Free
People

CHANTILLY
FOREVER Every romantic’s dream, lace
patterns are in trend, and we
can’t get enough h of them

Lace trim
scarf, price
on request,
Valentino Lace-effect
pendant,
`599,
Filigree

Lace minaudiere,
Lace pumps, `2,599,
price on Nordstrom.
ERDEM

request, com
Christian
Louboutin
 FASHION front row

SURF’S UP
Scuba gear reminiscent of California
Polyblend
windrunner,
waves are the current runway heroes. Take `8,222, Nike @
Nordstrom.com
cue from our top
p picks
p

Gemstone
neckpiece,
`3,599, Gorjana
CALVIN KLEIN

Seersucker
tank top,
Highwaist bike `799,
shorts, `3,999, Bond-Eye
Girlfriend
Collective
LIM

Pleated head
wrap, `1,799,
PHILLIP

Tasha Cateye sunglasses,

P

`8,999, Adam
Selman x Le Specs

Flat sandals,
`2,990, Zara

Holoographic
sh
shoppper, price
oon reequest,
MCM
FASHION jewellery

OUT OF
YOUR SHELL
Break the monotony this season with
tortoise shell jewellery; the classic textured
material is here to make you shine

8
7

1. Acetate strap watch, `21,985,

Tory Burch 2. Resin belt, `16,350,
Black & Brown 3. Statement
earrings, `3,353, Ettika 4. Adrian
choker, `20,420, Gas Bijoux
5. Tortoise shell neckpiece,
`5,067, Argento Vivo Femme
6. Drop earrings, `2,235, Bracha
7. Monogram keychain, `2,533,
Moon and Lola 8. Tortoise shell
earrings, `799, H&M
FASHION accessories

Rain bucket hat,

Print bucket hat,
`16,768, Eric
`2,161, Trouvé
Javits

Canvas bucket hat,

`2,189, Madewell

OVER
MY HEAD
The bucket hat is enough to turn any
outfit splashy and adventurous. Here
are some of our favourites

Packable bucket
Wool bucket hat,
hat, `19,376,
`4,397, Noake
Helen Kaminski

Reversible bucket
hat, `1,415,
Logo bucket
Tucker
Transparent hat, `19,002,
bucket hat, `1,252, Valentino
Steve Madden

Cotton blended
bucket hat, `2,414,
Brixton Essex

Bow bucket hat,

`25,338, Prada
FASHION hotlist

SIMPLY SWEET
Black and white is a classic
combination, and Lyla’s latest
collection plays on the very fact.
With white as the base, and
nature-inspired embroidery
detailing in black, one can
choose from kurtas with flared
anarkalis, angrakhas, skirts,
GOING PLACES
Reebok India collaborated with a Los
shirts, and dhoti pants. The Angeles streetwear brand, Pleasures,
comfort of cotton and fluidity to introduce a 12-piece footwear and
of georgette integrated with apparel capsule. Each item featuring
intricate floral thread work, T-shirts, shoes, anoraks, shorts, and
makes the silhouettes what we pants, features logos of both the
call—free flowing. brands, and subtle references from
PRICE: `1,299 onwards Reebok’s advertisements.
AVAILABLE AT: Shoplyla.com PRICE: `3,999 onwards
AVAILABLE AT: Shop4reebok.com

LAUNCHES

Trending
Femina’s round-up of the latest news, views, and buzz in fashion
WE LOVE

RAIN OVER ME
Get monsoon-ready with Truffle
Collection’s latest line of sliders. The
shoes offer great comfort, and details
like studs, make these a complete A fashion business
package. In addition, the brand has also
introduced a variety of sneakers—chunky platform, 6Degree, recently
and ergonomic—in animal prints under launched a multi-designer
the same line.
PRICE: `1,499 onwards
store—Closet—in Bangalore.
AVAILABLE AT: Trufflecollection.co.in Meanwhile, another
multi-designer store,
Amiraah, opened its doors
FLY HIGH for the people of Kanpur. It
Irasva’s latest jewellery line Skyward
Bound is inspired by wings, and
curates haute selections
comprises a range of rings, earrings, of labels like AM:PM and
pendants, and bracelets, in white, pink,
and yellow-gold. The pieces perfectly
Namrata Joshipura.
complement an elegant gown for
a high-end party, or a graceful lehenga
for a wedding.
PRICE: On request
AVAILABLE AT: Irasva.com
BEDAZZLED MAKE A WISH
Are you contemplating what to present
Be it earrings, neckpieces, or bangles,
take your pick from Abu Jani-Sandeep your mother, sister, or friend on her
Khosla’s latest collection, White birthday? Fret not. Fizzy Goblet, in
Whisper. From chikankari embroidery collaboration with O.P.I, has introduced
to floral motifs, the ornaments are a gift box comprising a pair of juttis, a nail
delicate and beautifully crafted, and polish, pouch, and a birthday card
make for a perfect statement piece to make your loved ones feel special.
no matter the outfit. Interestingly, the shades of the juttis are
PRICE: On request inspired from the bright and pastel hues
AVAILABLE AT: Abu Jani Sandeep of nail paints.
Khosla store, Mumbai PRICE: `3,600
AVAILABLE AT: Fizzygoblet.com

TIME IS MONEY
With themes, Opera and
Classique (the fashion-
oriented and essentials line,
respectively), Marie Claire
has introduced two new
ranges of watches for
women on the go. Pick from
dials in fun colours, and gold
and rose-gold hue straps.
PRICE: `1,699 onwards
AVAILABLE AT: Marie Claire @
Flipkart.com

HAPPY FEET
Who says rain shoes have to be
boring? Melissa’s latest waterproof line
will not only help keep your feet dry and
mud-free, the colour-palette comprising
neons, pinks, blues, and neutrals (made
from melflex) makes these shoes a trendy
and funky pick. You can opt for rain boots,
flip flops, flats, ballerinas, wedges, and
mules for different occasions.
PRICE: `4,999 onwards
NEW MEASURES AVAILABLE AT: Melissaindia.com
Alexander McQueen’s Autumn/Winter
’19 collection featuring apparel, shoes,
jewellery, and bags, is anything but
boring. With sharply-tailored suits,
long-sleeve dresses, and military coats,
among other exquisite designs, the
brand’s latest range spells innovation
and modernism.
PRICE: On request
AVAILABLE AT: Alexandermcqueen.
com
FASHION watch

About Time
This distinctive satin-brushed stainless steel bracelet personifies elegance

Forever Fendi Watch

It comes with polished FF logo central links and a folding buckle
Price on request
FASHION unstoppable at any occasion

Blindingly
BRIGHT Collared
blouse ,
`5,905,

APC
Vince
After inundating runways, neon has invaded our Camuto
wardrobes too. Since the trend shows no signs
of slowing down, here’s how you can flaunt OFFICE
the palette for various occasions

Crepe
mini dress,
`18,912,
Staud

Dual-
coloured
sunglasses, Ankle-length
price on pants,
request, `1,999,
Emporio Only
Armani

STYLE TIP
Pair your ankle-
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a white blouse to
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Wide legged
jumpsuit,
`10,315,
Julia Jordan
Neon
pink
watch,
`6,995,
Skagen

Hoop
earrings,
PRABAL GURUNG

DATE `13,143,
Alison Lou

Tapered
pants, price
Strappy sandals, on request,
Ankle strap `3,733, Gucci
sandals, Steve Madden
`7,471,
Vince Camuto
 Crossbody
bag, Erin sandals,
`2,840, `3,584,
Lola Lodis Steve Madden Tie front
Los Angeles jumpsuit,
`11,959,
Harlyn

Mini dress,
price on
request,
Retrofête

Midi dress,
`2,790,
Zara

NAEEM KHAN
PARTY
Neon
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watch,
`10,999,
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STYLE TIP
Wear nude flats
with a printed Tassel
BRUNCH midi dress for earrings,
`2,840,
a comfy brunch
Baublebar
CUSHNIE

Tailored
shorts,
`4,858,
Endless Rose
Sungalsses,
`8,888,
The Monk
Crossbody
bag, `35,505,
MCM

Eyelet skirt,
`37,224,
Sulphur
Unisex Satin
clogs, pumps,
`4,295, Tie-dyed visor,
`20,793, price on
Crocs request,
Prada
Attico
FASHION details

MIX AND
COACH FW S/S19

MATCH
Patchwork details are not only fun but also
easy to replicate. We zoom in to the runways
to help you get a better look

LOEWE FW S/S19

MARANT FW S/S19
SCOTT FW S/S19
ETRO FW S/S19

Patchwork
midi dress,
`2,790,
Fuzzi

Denim
jacket,
`3,799,
H&M

Highwaist
jeans,
`6,999,
Topshop Patchwork
. sweatshirt,
`2,790, Zara
.
.
 Colour shocks make for vibrant beauty looks that captivate and energise.
Noopur Arya, senior trainer, Givenchy, and hairstylist, Sanjana Ghedia, show
Eden Noronha how to play with pulsating hues
Photographs by Vinay Javkar
BEAUTY feature

METALLIC STRIPED CAMI DRESS, FOREVER 21, `1,599

STREAK SHOW
Short defining strokes at the right places can add an interesting
dimension to a regular makeup look. Set the base in a dewy
finish. Highlight the waterline with an electric blue eyeliner, and
extend the lines outwards for a dramatic effect. Keep the lids
neutral, and bring on those falsies. Create a fruity pink pout, and
define half of the upper and lower lip with blue pencil. Go in for
a sleek ponytail to rock this look.
 BLACK DISTRESSED SHIRT, ANAMIKA KHANNA, PRICE ON REQUEST

CENTRE SHOCK
Let your hair be the focus of your look with a high bubble ponytail,
and a riot of colour. Set your bubble ponytail up at the crown, and
spritz pink hair colour spray on every alternate bubble of the
ponytail. Choose a matte base to keep the skin fresh, and opt for
subtle highlight and contour. Draw sharp strokes under your
eyebrows with red pencil, and amp up those lashes with mascara.
Finish using a purplish-pink gloss on the lips.
BEAUTY feature

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Shock them all with a dual-toned pout. Flaunt hydrated skin,
and highlight the high points of your face. Swipe your lashes
using blue mascara. Dab some apricot blush on the cheeks.
Paint your upper lip with a matte blue lipstick, and wear
a matte orange lipstick on the lower lip. Finish with
holographic lip gloss for a fun touch.
 GREEN SILK FRONT KNOT BLOUSE, KAZO, `1,390

PURPLE HAZE
A romantic gaze that features vivacious colours is magnetising.
Highlight and contour your skin for sharp features, and
a healthy glow. Add a hot pink eyeshadow to the area above
your crease. Pat metallic violet eyeshaow over the lids. Define
the upper and lower lash lines with pink eyeliner, and power up
those lashes using volumising mascara. Gloss up that pout,
and let your hair down.
BEAUTY feature

LIGHTNING STRIKE
NAILS: THE WHITE DOOR

Sport an electric bolt element for a supercharged avatar. Bring on

the nail extensions, and go in for a pink and yellow ombre base
colour with an element of lightning. Sport fresh dewy skin with
a glossy coral pout. Create a silver bolt on the corner of one eye for
an artistic flair. Set your hair back using a styling gel.
BEAUTY feature
ORGANZA PUFFED SLEEVE BLOUSE, ZARA, `3,990; BLACK FAUX LEATHER CAMI DRESS, FOREVER 21, PRICE ON REQUEST;

SHOOT SUPERVISOR: SANJANA SALUNKHE; ART DIRECTOR (DIGITAL AND BEAUTY): SAMEER MORE.
MODELS: NEHAL CHUDASAMA (TIMES TALENT) AND SOWMYA (INEGA);
STYLIST: PRACHITI PARAKH; ASSISTED BY: JHARNA CHANDRA;

VIBRANT SUNSET
Incorporate hues of an evening sky for a fresh appeal. Keep
the base dewy and contoured. Spread fuchsia eyeshadow over
the crease, and dab a bright orange eyeshadow on the lids.
Seal the deal with pink mascara. Tie the look together with
coral blush and a glossy fuchsia pout. Sport two French braids
for an added edge.
BEAUTY trial-a-trend

Bare
Innisfree
My Real
Squeeze Mask
Nudestix
Concealer

BEAUTY
Pencil

Benefit Cosmetics
Hoola Quickie
Cream-To-Powder
Indulge in neutral shades for a fresh, no-makeup Contour Stick

Etude
look this monsoon, says Shruti Shukla
House
Dear GET THE LOOK
Darling
Water
Tint
1 Use a hydrating sheet mask
the night before to not only
pamper your face, but also
for clearer, poreless skin. The
following day, wash with
a gentle cleanser, and apply
light-weight moisturiser.
Colour-correct with a
concealer; dab on a cushion
foundation to set the base.

Sephora
2 Contour your cheeks and
jawline for a well-defined
look. Then, highlight your
Collection
Wonderful
cheekbones, the bridge
Cushion of your nose, forehead, chin
Foundation and Cupid’s bow to achieve
a silky finesse.

The llook
Th k WEAR A LIP TINT
PARISIAN CLOSEST TO
PASSION
SI THE COLOUR
OF YOUR LIPS
W
Wear it to FOR A NATURAL,
A DAY O
OUT BLUSHED POUT

Glamglow Kiko Milano

Forest
Essentials
Ligh t Day
R eflect the refreshing
spirit of the season
with an au naturel makeup
3 For the eyes, start by filling
in the brows. Opt for brow
powder in the shade of your
Poutmud Waterflower Magic Lotion
Fizzy Lip Highlighter Palette Madurai palette. This look from hair colour for a seamless
Exfoliating Jasmine Calvin Luo’s Spring Summer fusion. Use an angled brush to
Treatment & Mogra 2019 showcase at the New apply, and follow the natural
York Fashion Week is brow shape to get a neat look.
PHOTOGRAPH: CALVIN LUO/IMAXTREE.COM

inspired by the 2008 French Dust highlighter on the inner

release—Female Agents corner of the eyelids to make
(Les Femmes de l’ombre). them pop. Finish with a jelly
It shouldn’t come as textured, moisturising mascara.

L’Oréal Paris
a surprise then that it
celebrates the subtle shades
of romance with such
4 Exfoliate your lips with
a scrub for a plump-looking
pout. Perfect the look with
Brow Artist
Genius Kit fervour. Come, fall in love! a flirty tint.
BEAUTY hair spotlight

Taapsee Pannu

URBAN
TWIST
Keep your style cool and collected with
textured locks and a chic accessory,
says Eden Noronha
Want to let your hair down, but worried
about flyaways? Add volume and
bounce to your tresses, and up the ante
with a knotted headband for a mane
that will flow freely, and stay in good
shape at the same time. Pair it with

PHOTOGRAPH: YOGEN SHAH

an Indo-western ensemble, sport it on
your weekend getaway, or add a boho
vibe to an everyday outfit. This versatile
hairstyle is the perfect choice to keep
you stylish in the midst of this season’s
humidity. Taapsee Pannu shows us how
to pull off this hairdo effortlessly.

IF YOU LOVE THIS

HAIRSTYLE AS MUCH Philips BHB862
AS WE DO, TAKE NOTE. Electric Hair Curler

R
inse your hair using a nourishing Wella
shampoo, and follow with Professionals
Alan Truman Moroccanoil EIMI Sugar
a moisturising conditioner. Mix Professional Carbon Hydrating Lift Sugar
a dollop of smoothening hair serum with Rat Tail Comb 4 Styling Spray For
a pea-sized amount of styling cream, and Cream Voluminous
apply it on your mane. Choose Texture
a small barrel curling
iron to add the OGX Coconut Kiehl's Olive
Milk Conditioner Fruit Oil
desired curly texture.
Create a centre PICK Nourishing
Shampoo
parting, and wrap A SATIN
IN
tiny sections of your HEADBAND
AND
hair around the iron
to tong the mane
TO REDUC
DUCE
into loose, FRICTIO
ION
voluminous curls.
Wear a knotted
headband like a crown. Using the end of
a rat tail comb, gently tug up strands
from the crown area above the hairband d
so that the hair is not sitting flat from th
he
roots. Spray on some volumising
hairspray to set the look. Innisfree Camellia Essential Hair Oil Serum
BEAUTY mandate
MAKEUP
How do I make my
pout look fuller
and lipstick last
longer, so
I don't have to
keep reapplying it?
— Shristi Prasad, Mumbai
Use a lip plumper like
peppermint essential oil;
let it sit for a while. Outline
lips with a liner in the shade
closest to your lipstick to
create a well-defined pout.
Then, simply fill in with
a lip tint, and blend the liner
inward. Follow with some
gloss in the centre of the
lips to make them appear
naturally full. Applying
a lip primer will ensure your
lipstick lasts longer.
KAPIL
BHALLA
Renowned celebrity
makeup artiste
YOU ASK
The one-stop panel for all your skin, makeup, and hair questions
Send in your queries to femina@wwm.co.in
SKIN
My scalp is itchy
and flaky from
using hair dye.
How do I solve
the issue and
be cautious?
— Sharmila Bhardwaj, Noida
Never go in for a hair dye or
colour that contains PPD
(para-phenylenediamine).
Instead, opt for vegetable
hair dyes. Use a baby
shampoo for two weeks,
and apply fresh aloe vera
gel to calm the scalp.
A hydrocortisone and
salicylic acid-based lotion
will help remove flakes, but
do consult a dermatologist.
If you have sensitive skin,
get a skin analysis.
Dr JAISHREE
SHARAD
Celebrity cosmetic
dermatologist and CEO
of Skinfiniti Aesthetic Skin
& LASER Clinic, Mumbai
HAIR
I have a round
face shape and
small forehead.
Which fringe
style will
complement it?
— Sunita Bajaj, Ahmedabad
A side-swept look will suit
you best; you can’t go
wrong with it. However,
if you have a round and
fuller face, a fringe will be
restrictive as it reduces
length of your face. In such
a case, wispy bangs are
a good idea. Adding
a few layers can sometimes
help add definition to your
look. Opting for
a graduated long bob
can be trendy, too.
SAVIO
JOHN PEREIRA
Celebrity hairstylist and founder
and creative director of Savio
John Pereira Salon
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 The good fight
Mariam Rauf, 22, speaks to Nikshubha Garg about getting past the trauma of being sexually abused
as a child, and working towards creating awareness among kids now
C
onsider this: In
India, a child is
sexually abused
every 15 minutes
(National Crime Records
Bureau, 2017). This
alarming statistic makes one
squirm, but unfortunately,
the knowledge surrounding
child sexual abuse, and the
steps taken to tackle it are
limited, finds Mariam Rauf,
22, a survivor. “Films have
somehow managed to create
this persona of abusers
wherein they are well-built
human beings who come
along wearing masks, and
pull children into vans.
However, the reality is that
most abusers are known to
the child and his/her family,
and their presence raises
no eyebrows.”
Rauf, a Kottayam (Kerala)
resident, was three when she
was first abused, and it wasn’t
until 14 that it stopped.
Her offenders included
a local shopkeeper, a doctor,
and a relative at different
points of time. “I felt angry,
scared, confused, ashamed,
and blamed myself for the
incident. Children usually
don’t possess the right
vocabulary to report abuse,
and I was no exception,”
she says.
Years later, Rauf moved
to New Delhi to pursue
Sociology at Lady Sri Ram
College, and here, she
was exposed to various
“Shame often holds survivors back.
Through PSE, kids learn that the
person who breaks body safety
rules is the defaulter.”
social issues plaguing the
country. A curious teenager,
she attended a panel
discussion on a usual day
at college, and it changed
her life forever. During
the discussion, a panellist
happened to reveal that
over half the children in
the country have faced some
form of abuse. “It was not
only an eye-opener, but also
unsettling to hear. I left the
auditorium, and realised
that the talk resonated
with me because I was
a survivor.” Rauf, 19 then,
read up on abuse, and she
knew she had to take up the
cause to help children.
Currently, she is
petitioning to make
Personal Safety Education
(PSE) compulsory in Kerala
schools, (the initiative
has received over 41,000
signatures) and then
plans to expand it to the
rest of the country. PSE
refers to a set of modules
that aim at enhancing
people’s understanding of
keeping themselves safe.
It involves building and
utilising life skills like self-
esteem, confidence, critical
thinking, and problem
solving. One of the key
aspects of PSE is teaching
children that it is not their
fault. “Shame often holds
survivors back. Through
PSE, kids learn that no
matter what the situation is,
the person who breaks body
safety rules is the defaulter,”
she elaborates.
The 22-year-old is
delighted with the response
that she has been receiving
from parents and teachers
alike. Until now, at least
10 schools (private and
government) have adopted
PSE as part of their
curriculum. The goal in
the near future is to increase
the number of personal
safety educators. “PSE
promotes the kid’s ability to
say no. One of my colleagues
told me about this fourth-
grader, who ran out in the
rain during a practice session
for a ceremony to be held at
school. In order to stop him,
the teacher grabbed him
from behind. Instantly, the
kid told the teacher that his
personal space cannot
be intruded upon, and
drew a circle around his
body. When I hear of
such instances, I know
I am moving in the right
direction,” Rauf concludes.
REALITY cover girl

Naysayers may have dismissed her as just another pretty

face, but the veritable Kriti Sanon has proven she is here
to stay with her body of work. She chats with Natasha
Dsouza about life as an outsider in the film industry,
learning curve, secret talent, and celebrity status.
Photographs: Jantin Kampani
GLAZED OVER SIZED JACKET, `24,000, LABEL PARNIKA
REALITY cover girl

EMERALD GREEN EMBELLISHED BLAZER,`60,000, NAMRATA JOSHIPURA

“MY PARENTS
ALWAYS KNEW I
WANTED TO BE AN
ACTOR, AND WERE
SUPPORTIVE
AS LONG AS I
COMPLETED MY
DEGREE.”
METALLIC CO-ORD SET, PRICE ON REQUEST, SWAPNIL SHINDE; LEOPARD PRINT BOOTS, `4,999, BATA
S
REALITY cover girl
he may not have had Bollywood connections to
boast of, yet Kriti Sanon entered showbiz, and
proved her mettle with a series of successful
films. Tall at five feet nine inches, and gorgeous to
boot, Sanon began her career with modelling and
made heads turn with her debut in Heropanti, for
which she won the Fimfare Award for Best Female
Debut. Soon after that she captured the hearts
of filmmakers and fashion mavens alike, while
staying in complete control of her career, wowing
the audiences in films like Bareilly Ki Barfi, in
which she plays a headstrong girl from a small
town looking to better her life. A string of awards
followed as well, Filmfare Glamour and Style Award
for Future of Fashion (Female) in 2017 and HELLO!
Hall of Fame Award for Rising Star of the Year in
2018. With a hit in Luka Chhupi this year, the
clever, bold, and spunky star is looking forward to
a few more releases. Over to her.
You were an engineering student. What
made you turn to showbiz?
Sometimes, you don’t know what you want to do
in life, unless you try it out. I hadn’t tried acting
before, but realised I could do so when I began
doing TV commercials. It was only when a few
of my directors suggested I polish my acting skills,
and try for films, that I thought maybe I’m meant
for this.
Were your parents supportive of
the choice?
I come from a middle-class family—my dad’s
a chartered accountant, and mom is a professor.
Although my family members are academically
inclined, they believe that people should follow
their dreams. My parents always knew I wanted
“THE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES REDUCES,
WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE A FAMOUS SURNAME.”
to be an actor, and were supportive as long as
I completed my degree, so that I would have
something to fall back on.
What was your childhood like?
I was a shy, obedient, and studious kid. When we
had visitors, I used my mom’s dupatta as
a shield to hide behind. I loved dancing, and
my favourite song to dance to at all birthday
parties was Ankhiyaan Milaoon Kabhi Akhiyaan
Churaoon (Raja). Madhuri Dixit was a favourtie,
I loved to move on her numbers all the time.
I’m also a trained kathak dancer.
Walk us through your initial days
in Mumbai.
My father was working in Mumbai a few years
ago, and I lived with him. I didn’t have friends in
the city and felt lonely, but that changed when
I made a few while modelling and doing ramp
shows. A few months later, my father moved back
home, and that’s when the loneliness reached its
peak. I’d randomly call mom and start crying. In
times like that it’s important to have a few people
you can fall back on, as they motivate, and make
you feel better.
What was the biggest challenge you
faced in Bollywood as an outsider?
The number of opportunities reduces when you
do not have a famous surname. Even meeting
people presents a greater hassle for those without
connections. The most you can do is message
filmmakers and tell them you would like to meet
them, but, at times, they don’t even respond. It’s
challenging to figure out your first project as not
many people know you; it takes a while for the
audience to register your name. When you’re
a star kid, you are known well before your debut.
Some of them sign their second film before the
first one is even out. However, a lot depends on
how talented you are, and how people connect
with you on screen.
After five years in the industry, do you
feel like you’re now a part of it?
I have worked with some amazing people, and
portrayed different characters. Heropanti gave
ASYMMETRICAL SLEEVED JUMPER, PRICE ON REQUEST, GAURI AND NAINIKA
REALITY cover girl

“SHAH RUKH SIR IS WARM

me the best platform as a newcomer. Dilwale
was like a dream come true, as it gave me an
AND UNDERSTANDING, opportunity to work with talented personalities
like Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan, and
AND BEFRIENDS YOU IN Rohit Shetty. Raabta opened me up as a person,
THE FIRST FIVE SECONDS. and as an actor. Just as I was getting typecast in
glam roles, I bagged Bareilly Ki Barfi. The film
HE IS ONE OF THE MOST opened up many more opportunities. Luka Chuppi
CHIVALROUS PEOPLE I’VE released recently, and now, I have three more
lined up. The last five years have been the best
EVER COME ACROSS. ” of my life.

Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale drew flak from the

audience. Is it harder to take in failure
when films as big as that doesn’t do as
well at the box office?
It’s more about perception because Dilwale was
my highest grossing film; for me, it did well.
A limited number of people watched Heropanti,
but that changed with Dilwale. For a newcomer
like me, the fact that I got a chance to be seen by
so many people, was a huge success in itself.

Tell us your experience of working with

Shah Rukh Khan.
It was nervous and jittery in the beginning. In my
first scene, I had to yell at him, and I was thinking
to myself, how am I ever going to pull it off since
I admire him so much. But Shah Rukh sir is warm
and understanding, and befriends you in the first
five seconds. He is one of the most chivalrous
people I’ve ever come across. The fact that we are
both from Delhi helped!

Which movie did you have the steepest

learning curve in?
I opened up as an actor in Raabta. I tried different
ways of doing a scene, and had to learn a number
of skills such as horse riding, chocolate making,
scuba diving (I am terrified of being under water),
EMERALD GREEN EMBELLISHED BLAZER,`60,000,NAMRATA JOSHIPURA

and sword fighting. I’ve worked the hardest for

the film because the characters were layered, and
I knew I had to do justice to them.

What roles are you most

comfortable with?
Any part that’s similar to my personality, like
the urban-Delhi-girl, comes naturally to me.
But when you do a film where you have to learn
a dialect, or you have to be somebody you’re
not, that’s when it gets exciting. I get drawn to
characters that make me question how I’m going
to pull it off.
What’s your secret talent?
I write poetry. I used to write a lot more when
I was in school and college, but then my medium
of letting out my emotions changed to acting.

Being famous means getting papped

everywhere, and link-up rumours
fly thick and fast. How do you
deal with them?
It gets annoying at times, but I have gotten used
to getting papped. I make sure I’m decently
dressed, and don’t bother much. I’ve reached
a point where even if I get clicked wearing PJs
and a ganji, I’m okay with it. With link-up
rumours, one shouldn’t bother because it’s a part
and parcel of this industry. As long as the people
close to you know what’s happening in your life,
nothing else matters.

You’re a fashion inspiration to many

youngsters. How does that make you feel?
Great! I started off as a model, but some of my
old pictures make me cringe. Over time, I’ve
learnt what works for me. My style has evolved,
and comfort is priority. I do want to stress on
the fact that style is personal. Don’t be afraid of
experimenting, and getting out of your comfort
zone, because that’s when you learn what works
for you.

A fashion trend that you’re currently

obsessed with?
I am crushing on neon colours this season.

What is your go-to beauty regime?
My skin goes through a lot of damage as I end up
shooting for long hours outdoors. I wear a good
sunscreen when I’m outdoors which I reapply
frequently. Before going to bed, I remove all
moisturiser or facial oil that will keep your skin
plump and radiant. When my skin feels irritated,
I use aloe vera gel to calm it down.
How do you deal with trolls?
PRACHITI PARAKH; STYLING INTERNS: RITIKA SHIRKE, KASHISH GAUR, JHARNA
MAKEUP: ADRIAN JACOBS; HAIR: AASIF AHMED; ASSISTANT FASHION EDITOR:
ASYMMETRICAL SLEEVED JUMPER, PRICE ON REQUEST, GAURI AND NAINIKA;

makeup. Before applying a product, I ice my face By not paying attention to them. Everybody seems CHANDRA, TWINKLE JOSHI; SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR: MEETESH TANEJA

for that beautiful glow. Also, it’s important to to have an opinion in today’s world. Constructive
have a night-time skin ritual that includes a good criticism is always welcome, and I listen to that,
but there’s a lot of negativity on the internet, for
which, thankfully, there’s a block option.
“I DON’T PAY
ATTENTION TO
Any dream role? Which directors you’d
like to work with?
TROLLS. EVERYBODY Imtiaz Ali, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Rujkumar
Hirani, Karan Johar, Vishal Bhardwaj, the list goes
SEEMS TO HAVE AN on. For a dream role, I would like to do something
OPINION IN TODAY’S on the lines of Jennifer Lawrence’s character in
Silver Linings Playbook. I would also love to play
WORLD.” Julia Robert’s role in Pretty Woman.
REALITY what it takes to be
“PEOPLE LOVE
INSULTS WHEN
THEY’RE NOT
ON THEM” There’s no ambiguity that her favourite
topics to write jokes on are the tragedies
of her life. Standup comic Prashasti Singh
gets candid with Shraddha Kamdar on
why it works with the audiences
I
t seems she simply has to go up on stage,
talk about the tragedies of her life, and she’ll
have the audience in splits. Or she makes it
look as easy as that. No, I am not joking, she
has pulled it off multiple times in her new
career as a standup comic, where the jokes
are centred around her parents, her job, her
love life, or the lack of it. In one of her acts, she
says that since childhood she had a feeling that
her father was the superhero, and, her mother,
his clumsy sidekick.
For engineer-turned-standup comic
Prashasti Singh, her new-found craft is all
about being honest, and talking of things
that she as experienced in life. The idea has
worked well, it’s what clicks with the audiences
and she feels it is her USP. Even if she has to
comment on social situations or her workplace
gender equations, the best way for her is to
make it self-deprecating. “That way, I become
the mirror of the society, I become the biased
person, I become the person with a sexist point
of view. It is much easier to write jokes on my
biases, and have the audience laughing at me,
rather than commenting on a third person,”
she says.
In Singh’s profession, the ability to laugh at
oneself can prove to be an asset, and in doing
so, encouraging others to join in. She says that
comics find humour in really odd situations,
and most of their comedy comes from pain,
anger, or some sort of angst. “Although I am
not laughing at it in the present tense, in
retrospect, it still requires me to laugh at how
pained I was at that time. My biggest strength
is to laugh at myself or to make a complete
fool of myself and still not care about what
people will take away from that, and it works
for a lot of other successful comedians as well,”
she says.
For a person who was living it up in the
corporate world after pursuing an MBA from
IIM Lucknow post her engineering degree,
navigating the waters of being a standup comic
may not have been a piece of cake, but she
planned it well. She juggled both for over eight
“MY BIGGEST months before she decided to ditch her cushy
STRENGTH job to pursue her passion for standup comedy.
IS TO LAUGH Only when she felt she was able to make this
AT MYSELF ‘Act II’ financially viable, did she decide to
OR TO MAKE make the switch. A year down the line, Singh
still finds that her mother is often unable to
A COMPLETE digest it. She didn’t speak with Singh for
FOOL OF a while, then tried to convince her to do it for
MYSELF AND two months if she was so “bored”. Now, Singh
STILL NOT CARE confesses her mother has become milder in
ABOUT WHAT her approach, but has not given up. “Just this
PEOPLE WILL morning a random acquaintance of my mother
called, letting me know of a job opening.
TAKE AWAY I know who is behind it all. My mother thinks
FROM THAT.” that if she could find me a job which is not
hectic, I may take it up, and leave this life. That’s
why her approach now is to make other people
call me, and give lucrative offers,” Singh laughs.
Since her father has been the biggest
influence in life, Singh says that had he
been around, she would have had a tougher
conversation with herself, constantly jostling
with the thought whether he would have
been happy with her career shift. Her mother,
thankfully, was milder. “It was a legitimate
concern on her part, since our parents have
spent all their lives finding stability, and now
both her kids are foraying into fields that she
perceived as financially uncertain. (Singh’s
brother is dabbling in music.) I made the move
only when I could give her the assurance of
financial stability,” she says.
And these are the things Singh compiles
her acts on. At the end of one of her
performances, she mentions to the people
that if they accidentally stumble upon their
truth, like she did, she hopes they have the
courage to live it and face it. Does she have any
advice for such youngsters? “I have immense
empathy for anyone who is still thinking about
switching professions. I am nobody to question
anyone sitting on the fence. The concern is
valid, especially for someone with too many
responsibilities. What we forget is that we are
not happy. Most of my generation works like
that, we get great jobs we are not happy doing,
but in the evening, we will go drink, and on
weekends we’ll go shop, and try to manufacture
that happiness for us. But it doesn’t work that
way. This is where you need to dig a little
deeper, then decide.”
Ask Singh to imagine a scenario where
the audience is not reacting well to her
jokes, and pat comes her reply, “I don’t have
to imagine, it happens a lot! Early on in my
career, I recall once I drove down to Navi
Mumbai for a gig. At the time I was doing
well, not ‘bombing’ too much, and had
prepared a safe set. Three minutes into the
act I realised there is no saving grace, and
by the eighth minute I had tears in my eyes,”
she narrates, saying no matter how much she
deconstructed it, she would not be able to
pinpoint the reason.
“That’s the nature of comedy. At open mikes
and trial gigs, you realise that if you write 10
jokes today, six or seven will not work. That
is the process of joke writing. You do multiple
versions of multiple jokes, before it actually
becomes funny.” As a new comic, it used
“IF YOU WRITE to affect her to the point that she would be
10 JOKES bogged with the thought. Now, she is more
TODAY, SIX secure, and has learned to distinguish the
fact that when the audience does not laugh,
OR SEVEN it is simply rejecting the joke, not the person.
WILL NOT Slowly, she mentions, one also learns that
WORK. THAT IS a good gig affects you similarly. “I need
THE PROCESS to remind myself that it is just my work.
OF JOKE Tomorrow will be a new day.”
WRITING. YOU Shooting straight
DO MULTIPLE What’s your trick to get the audience to
VERSIONS warm up to you?
OF MULTIPLE It’s a tip, not really a trick. Once we get into
JOKES, BEFORE the script it is difficult to break out of it, so it’s
IT ACTUALLY better to talk to people at the beginning, and
build yourself as a person rather than
BECOMES a joker. Make friends with the room, and find
FUNNY.” the people you are going to crack the jokes on.
People love insults when they’re not on them.
REALITY what it takes to be

today, it is not necessary I will face it tomorrow.

Secondly, there is immense inspiration around,
if you just know how to look.

Which comedians do you admire?

Many. I relate to Allie Wong a lot. When she
talks I go ‘Oh my God!’ I need to sit with her…
(laughs) and cry with her that even I feel angst
over the topic she touches upon. In India, both
Biswa (Kalyan Rath) and Kannan (Gill) do
different stuff, but are genuinely funny.
I would think that these two engineer boys can
do comedy so I can too. Aditi (Mittal) was great
inspiration, because it makes a difference when
you see a woman doing comedy.
More recently, (Abhishek) Upmanyu and
Zakir (Khan) started doing comedy, again
Hindi is what works as well. I come from an
enginnering, MBA background where we
are taught to discard Hindi. Thus, I had to
often talk in a language that I don’t think in
(English). My natural language is Hindi. So
when these boys broke the barrier of talking
in Hindi and articulating their thoughts in
their preferred language, it was a big leap in my
head—that thoughts are more important
than language.

We heard you don’t take the term

How do you react when you see the
audience squirming when you touch
upon taboos?
Comedy comes from tension. A typical joke
consists of setting up something, and then the
humour comes putting a flip on it by saying
something so completely unexpected that
the audience laughs. You make the audience
go, ‘Say, what?’ and that breaks the tension.
For instance, women generally squirm on the
topic of sex. But I as a comic need to be patient
because I am prepared that the punch line will
be worth it. The idea with dark, edgy humour
that makes people uncomfortable, is that the
trade off will be worth it. When the joke comes
‘female comedian’ well.
I won’t get offended if you call me a female
comic, since it is true, I am a woman, and
a comic. The problem lies in the culture that
you are putting my gender first and my art
later, whenever you address me as ‘female’.
Barring a very few industries, nobody uses this
term. For example, you are not called
a female strategist or female marketeer or
female software engineer. When you say it
“I WON’T GET casually, you think you are not seeing much
OFFENDED into it, but subconsciously you are putting the
IF YOU CALL gender first. It should not be a label, because
you don’t do it for men.
ME A FEMALE
COMIC. THE
PHOTOGRAPHS: OML ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD

in the end, there should be no debate in their
heads. It should be universally funny. PROBLEM LIES
IN THE CULTURE
Where do you look for inspiration? THAT YOU ARE
I remind myself of my privileges, however
small they are. Whatever it is, there is so much
PUTTING MY
going for me. Most of the times I tell myself GENDER FIRST
that this is a very first world problem I want AND MY ART
to solve—passion, individual choices—it’s an LATER.”
evolved stage of life. If I am facing a tough time
What are you working on currently?
On my live comedy, but along with that I am
looking to populate more on YouTube and
preparing myself for hour-long gigs, because
it is not one hour of content, but one hour of
holding the audience’s attention. I recently
started working with digital projects. A couple
of show pitches, fiction and nonfiction, are in
the pipeline. I see myself as a performer and
a writer, and I am keeping my canvas big.
REALITY interview
THROUGH A
‘COMIC’ LENS
Mounica Tata takes her audience through a rollercoaster of emotions with her illustrations and
comics. She tells Nikshubha Garg why they are ideal to put forth a point
O
ne of Mounica Tata’s comics
showcases a family portrait with
each member rambling away
before a picture is to be captured.
Another, talks about the horrors
of spraying deodorant on the armpits right after
shaving them. Go through a few more, and you’ll
find one which appropriately brings out the
pleasure of paani puri. Scroll further, and there
are umpteen capturing nostalgia.
The 30-year-old, who goes by the Instagram
handle @doodleodrama, is one of the most
popular Indian illustrators on social media. She
kick-started DoodleoDrama in 2013 on Facebook
as a means to share comics with friends and
family, and today, the page has over 84k followers
on the platform, and 66.8k on Instagram. Tata,
armed with a postgraduate degree in mass
communication from Christ College, Bengaluru,
leaned towards art since childhood, and enjoyed
keeping herself engaged in the process. However,
drawing took centre-stage during her master’s
degree. “I made silly caricatures of friends and
teachers, and also included comics about college
life. That love of telling stories through comics
continued.” Ask her what makes her illustrations
popular, and she says, “Their honesty.” Having
worked as an editor, copywriter, and client
executive (in that order), she quit in 2016 to take
up illustrating full-time.
“COMICS Along with multiple drawings that are
HELP ME enough to bring a smile to your face, and drop
BREAKDOWN (temporarily, of course) harsh realities of life,
SUBJECT she also addresses political and social issues
that deserve attention. While a few drawings
MATTERS AND call out the societal pressure on women to fit
MAKE THEM into a certain box, a few highlight the “phallus
DIGESTIBLE.” privilege”. Talking about why comics/illustrations
are an effective way to convey a message, she
REALITY interview

states, “Comics help me breakdown subject

matter and make them digestible. Also, we are
a very visual generation with short attention
spans. Hence, I feel, it’s better to serve
perspectives and opinions in easy, bite-sized
formats like comics and illustrations.”
Undoubtedly, her popularity comes from
followers who relate to her illustrations, and
knowing that she has been able to make
a difference, encourages her to never stop. “After
I shared my experience with menstrual cups,
a number of women wrote to me that it inspired
them to try them out. When I spoke about
#dateforone where the idea was to take yourself
out on dates, and spend time with yourself
regardless of whether you’re in a relationship or
not, many responded saying it helped them shed
their inhibitions and go for it.”
When one chooses to put him/herself out
there, especially on social media, along with
good comes the bad, and Tata is no exception.
However, with time, she has learnt to deal with
those who spew hate. “I can always choose to play
safe and make art that doesn’t raise eyebrows, but
I chose to (and continue to choose) talk about “I DON’T
issues that affect and bother me. Trolls and haters FOLLOW
are just a side effect which I will have to learn to TRENDS
deal with. I tell myself, ‘eat the biryani, throw out OR CHASE pressure would just kill my art. I am eternally
the elaichi!’” she guffaws. grateful to my audiences for liking my work for
With social media having become a powerful
A NUMBER what it is, and allowing me the space to be me,”
tool today, there are umpteen influencers who (LIKES PER she adds.
are no less than celebrities, with followers of POST). THAT Tata has tasted success for the hard work
each increasing with every passing day. Does KIND OF she puts in on a daily basis, but one can’t
that not instil fear of losing fame? “That is a legit ignore that it’s imperative for a profession to
fear. That is also the reason why I don’t take the
PRESSURE be financially viable for it to be sustainable. In
popularity (in terms of number of followers) too WOULD JUST her case, it’s coming along. “Branching out is
seriously; social media is ever evolving. I’d like to KILL MY ART.” important. Having multiple income sources
believe that people who truly enjoy my work will from illustrations (client work, merchandise, and
stick around. Platforms brand partnerships), and not relying too heavily
and technology will on social media platforms worked for me. It’s a lot
change, people stay,” of learning and unlearning. Self-awareness and
Tata says. accountability are crucial. The best part about my
The young influencer job is that I get to draw and the feedback keeps
also admits that if she me going. Not to forget, I enjoy the flexibility.”
were to consciously An ardent follower of illustrators like Kruttika
put in an effort to stay Susarla, Jamie Squire, Anjali Kamat, and Svabhu
relevant, she’d probably Kohli among others, Tata admires their ability to
stop creating, and opines tell a story or capture a moment/feeling through
that being consistent art. What’s she looking to explore next? “There’s
and genuine with work so much more to say and reiterate what’s already
helps one stay afloat. been said. I want to continue talking about
“I don’t follow trends or topics that already find a place on my feed till it
chase a number (likes rings loud and clear from every household and
per post). That kind of individual,” she signs off.
REALITY interview
WOMAN
OF
METAL
Ravija Singal, the youngest Asian
woman to bag the Ironman Australia
title, talks to Arya Chatterjee about
her training, goals, and how letting go
of negativity is the key to success
I
n December 2018, Ravija Singal,
a 19-year-old resident of Nashik,
became the youngest Asian woman
to win the Ironman title in Busselton,
Australia. The Australian Ironman
is an annual triathlon covering a distance of
3.86 km in swimming, 180.2 km in cycling,
and a full marathon of 42 km running along
the Australian East Coast. Anyone can sign up
for it on ap.ironman.com. The BA psychology
student from HPT College in Nashik, won
the title in her second attempt. She is
extraordinarily talented, and showed sheer
perseverance and determination to win. Over
to the young sportsperson.
How do you feel being the youngest
Asian woman to win the title?
Extremely blessed! And the fact that everyone
wants to know my story is amazing. I believe
that it’s more about the entire process rather
than only about what happened on the day of
the race. Growing up, I always looked up to
my dad (police commissioner Ravinderkumar
Singal, French Ironman 2019 title holder) and
being on the same podium as him makes me
feel immensely grateful.
At what age did you start participating
in competitive sports?
My dad started me with swimming when I was
just three years old. Since then, my younger
brother and I have been exploring various
sports. It was in my fifth or sixth standard
when I started training for competitive sports.
What I’ve learnt is that you require a lot of
“I HAD TO discipline to get where you want to be. You
DEVELOP AN need to eat properly and maintain your body.
APPROPRIATE The game requires a lot of sacrifice.
TECHNIQUE Swimming, running, or cycling—which
AND one is your weakest link?
LEARN HOW TO Running was my biggest problem. You see,
CONTROL MY
swimmers don’t usually run and runners
don’t swim. I had to develop an appropriate
BREATH.” technique and learn how to control my breath.
I had to run in a way that wouldn’t damage my
REALITY interview
“I FACED NEGATIVE COMMENTS DURING
MY SECOND ATTEMPT. IF I WOULD’VE LET
THEM AFFECT ME, I WOULDN’T BE HERE TODAY.’”
ankles and knees. At times, I used to run 30
kilometres five times in a month.
What role did your father play in your
decision to participate in the race?
Not many know this, but my dad and I started
training together for the Ironman in France.
We participated together and I lost the cut off
in cycling by five minutes. I was somewhat
relieved that the entire stress of working out
daily was over. My parents always told me if
I was quitting because I failed, then I needed
to introspect. Finally, I decided to try again
because I didn’t want to disappoint them or
have any regrets later in life.
How long did it take for you to prep for
the triathlon?
I started training in December 2017 after the
All India Swimming Games in Chandigarh.
I’d reached a certain level of saturation
when it came to swimming, and needed
a fresh start. My coaches, Mufasa Topiwala
and Taher Kachwala, suggested the Ironman,
the toughest triathlon there is, which had to be
completed in 17 hours, and I accomplished the
goal in 16 hours and five minutes.
As a teenager, what did you have to let
go of to pursue something so huge?
I had three training schedules over eight-and-
a-half hours every day, so I lost out on a lot. The
sun affected my skin adversely and I became
prone to break-outs. I never really battled with
physical fatigue, but was rather separated from
a ‘normal life’. I used to call my friends at 2 am,
in the middle of a breakdown, wondering what
I was doing. Kudos to them for supporting me
despite me not being socially active.
In your journey, did you ever reach
a breaking point?
Before my first Ironman commenced,
there was a party for all the participants.
I thought, okay, I get to be girly! I was
applying foundation when I realised it didn’t
match my skin tone since I’d tanned a lot.
I was so emotional, I simply started crying.
Most people don’t realise it, but it’s hard to
always stay positive when you’re on such
a journey. Some days are more negative than
positive. You have to learn to embrace them
and start on a fresh note the next day.
What advice would you give young
female athletes like you?
Always believe in yourself. I believe that,
‘An entire sea of water can’t sink a boat unless
it gets inside the boat.’ The negativity of the
world can’t put you down unless you let it.
I faced negative comments during my second
attempt. If I would’ve let them affect me,
I wouldn’t be here today. Letting go of
negativity is the key to success.
So, what’s next for you?
I haven’t set eyes on anything yet. I’m still
trying to figure myself out.
 BEET THAT!
Rich in vitamins A, B6,
and C, antioxidants, iron,
potassium, calcium,
folate, dietary fibre and
manganese, beetroots are
truly versatile as well.
In the news for a while now
as a functional food that
promotes good health,
beetroot powder is simply
beetroot in powdered
form, and, even if you care
nothing for its healthy
properties, it makes a great
natural food colouring for
red velvet cake! It can also
be sprinkled on salads
and added to water to
make a nutritious drink,
and to smoothies to up
their goodness. Best of all,
it can be made at home.

Beetroot powder
Ingredients
2 medium beetroots

Method
Wash and peel the
beetroots. Slice thinly and
uniformly using a mandolin.
Spread the slices in a single
layer on baking trays.
Preheat the oven at the
lowest temperature setting.
Place the trays of beetroot
slices in the oven
and bake for a day
to dehydrate them.
When the beets are crisp,
remove from the oven,
cool, and grind to a fine
powder. Leave the mixer jar
closed for 10 minutes for
the powder to settle before
PHOTOGRAPH: MARILYN BARBONE/ 123RF

opening the lid.

Transfer to an airtight
container and refrigerate.
Use as needed!
The powder can be stored
in the refrigerator for
up to a month.
LIVING food

FROMTHE
HEARTOFSINDH Create these classic Sindhi dishes with recipes from
Chef Kanchan Ahuja from Juss By Sindhful, Mumbai

BAINGAN RAITA

5 small ½ tsp
brinjals, mustard seeds
sliced fine
10 curry leaves
500 g plain
yoghurt 1 green chilli,
finely chopped
½ tsp oil
Salt, to taste

Calo
counrie
200 t:
(per scalories
ervin
g)
SERVES: 6 > PREP TIME: 5 minutes + soaking time > COOKING TIME: 15 minute

1. Place the brinjals in a saucepan with half a litre of water over a medium flame. Bring to a boil and cook
until the brinjal slices are soft. Drain, and mash the slices with a fork.
2. Beat the yoghurt until smooth, and add the mashed brinjals.
3. Heat the oil in a small saucepan, add the mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add the curry leaves
and green chilli, and stir for one minute. Add this tempering to the yoghurt-brinjal mixture.
4. Season to taste.

TIP: CHILL THE BAINGAN RAITA BEFORE SERVING.

 VADI ALOO BAINGAN

1 tsp turmeric
3 tbsp oil
2 potatoes,
2 Amritsari vadis cut into one-inch
(kept whole) pieces
3 tomatoes, pulped 2 tsp coriander
powder
2-inch piece ginger
1 tsp red chilli
2 green chillies powder
2 medium onions, 2 brinjals, cut into
finely chopped one-inch pieces
3 small brinjals, 1 tbsp chopped
finely chopped coriander leaves,
to garnish
Salt, to taste

Calo
counrie
350 t:
(per scalories
ervin
g)
SERVES: 5 > PREP TIME: 20 minutes > COOKING TIME: 40 minutes

1. Grind the tomatoes, green chillies, and ginger to a pulp. Set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a pressure cooker over a medium-high flame. Fry the vadis until brown, remove, and set aside.
3. In the same pressure cooker, fry the onions until light brown.
4. Add the tomato pulp, the finely-chopped brinjal, salt and turmeric.
Place the lid and let it cook for four whistles. Turn off the heat and allow the cooker to cool.
5. Open the cooker, add the potatoes, coriander and red chilli powders, and return to the flame. Cook until dry. Add the big brinjal
pieces, vadis, and three glasses of water. Season to taste, close the cooker, and cook for two whistles, after which turn off the heat.
6. Garnish the dish with chopped coriander leaves before serving.

TIP: SERVE THIS DISH HOT WITH RICE.

LIVING food

BHEE PAKODAS

6 garlic cloves
1 tbsp mint leaves,
1-inch piece ginger finely chopped

2 green chillies 1 tbsp coriander

leaves, finely
20 ml oil chopped

1 onion, finely chopped Salt, to taste

250 g bhee 300 ml oil, for

(lotus stem), frying
cleaned and boiled

2 potatoes, boiled For the batter:

250 g besan
2 tbsp coriander
seeds, crushed ½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp red chilli

powder
½ tsp garam masala
Salt, to taste

CALORIE COUNTS ARE APPROXIMATE

Calo
c rie
500 count:
(per s alories
ervin
g)
MAKES: 12 pakodas > PREP TIME: 20 minutes > COOKING TIME: 20 minutes

1. Grind the garlic, ginger, and chillies coarsely. Set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a small pan over a medium flame, add the onion and fry until pink.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY JUSS BY SINDHFUL

3. Add the garlic-ginger-chilli paste, cook for a minute, and remove from the flame.
4. Mash the bhee and potatoes together. Add the onions,
crushed coriander seeds, red chilli powder,
garam masala, mint and coriander leaves, and salt to taste.
Mix well and shape into flat roundels. Set aside.
5. Mix the besan, baking soda, red chilli powder, and salt with enough water to make a thick batter.
6. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan. Dip the roundels in the besan batter, and deep fry them in hot oil.
Remove from the flame, and set aside.

TIP: FRY THE PAKODAS AGAIN JUST BEFORE SERVING.

LIVING quick bites

Aloe vera
Since the healing aloe vera
gel is tasteless, the honey and
lime juice in this variation lend
it an interesting texture.

INGREDIENTS
¼ cup fresh aloe vera pulp
2 cups fresh yoghurt
1 tbsp lime juice
Black salt powder, to taste
3 tbsp honey
6 ice cubes
5 mint leaves
½ tbsp crushed cashew nut
½ tbsp crushed pistachios

For the garnish:

Crushed nuts
Aloe vera slices

METHOD
1. Place all the ingredients in
a mixer and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into tall glasses.
3. Garnish with crushed nuts
and aloe vera slices.

CREAMY AND LUSCIOUS

Pomegranate,
pineapple and
cucumber
Whether the weather beats you down or you want to celebrate an occasion,
The tanginess of pineapple,
you can’t go wrong with lassi. We bring you our favourites from nutritional value of cucumber,
Lassis of India–Smoothies with a Twist by Radha Bhatia and the balance of sweet and
tart in pomegranate come
together to make this drink
a heavenly option.
Honey,
INGREDIENTS
basil, ginger, 1 pineapple, sliced
and mint 1 tbsp sugar
1 cucumber, sliced
The combined health
benefits and medicinal 2 cups fresh yoghurt
properties of the ingredients 6 ice cubes
would give any wonder
drug in the market stiff
For the garnish:
competition! And,
of course, it tastes 1 tbsp pomegranate seeds
delicious. Edible flowers
PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY LASSIS OF INDIA–SMOOTHIES WITH A TWIST
INGREDIENTS METHOD
1 tbsp honey 1. Place the pineapple slices
4 chopped mint leaves on an oven tray and sprinkle
1 cup fresh yoghurt the sugar over. Bake in
Black salt powder, to taste a preheated oven until the
sugar melts. Cool the slices
For the garnish: completely.
10 fried basil leaves 2. Blend the baked pineapple,
1 tsp ginger juliennes cucumber, yoghurt, and ice
Edible flower petals cubes until smooth.
3. Pour into tall glasses and
METHOD garnish with the pomegranate
1. Blend all the seeds and edible flowers.
ingredients well.
2. Pour the lassi into
serving glasses, and
These lassis
garnish with the fried basil
leaves, ginger juliennes,
are perfect,
and edible flower petals. whatever
the weather
LIVING travel
ADVENTURE
PARADISE
Think Mauritius is all about romantic walks on the beach and candlelit
dinners at plush resorts? Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy introduces you to
an action-packed side of this tropical escape
A
zure blue waters, white sandy
beaches, and sugarcane fields
welcome you in Mauritius, the
place that inspired Mark Twain
to pen this— “Mauritius was
made first and then heaven; and
heaven was copied after Mauritius.” A visit to
this pristine place will leave you spellbound with
its mesmerising natural beauty and the amazing
activities that it offers. While this island nation is
one of the most popular honeymoon destinations
in the world, it is not just for those on a romantic
getaway. Mauritius also boasts of adventure
activities, hiking trails, and water sports for the
much-needed adrenaline rush of a fun-filled
vacation. We help you plan a thrilling trip to
(Clockwise) The beautiful South
Island of Mauritius; white sandy
beaches; gigantic statue of Lord
Shiva at Ganga Talao
this country off the southeast coast of the
African continent.
Island hopping
If you love long drives with the ocean on one
side and green fields on the other, exploring
the islands of Mauritius is a must-do. Start
your trip with the North Island tour and visit
Fort Adelaide, which offers a bird’s-eye view
of the capital, Port Louis. From skyscrapers
to mountain ranges, this spot gives you an
unobstructed view of the city. For some retail
therapy that includes local art and craft, head
to Le Caudan Waterfront, where you can shop,
drink, and eat along the harbour.
The South Island of Mauritius is not just

TTHE SOUTH ISLAND OFFERS A HOST OF
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES. FOR A PANORAMIC
VIEW, GO TO TROU AUX CERFS, THE ONLY ALIVE
AND DORMANT VOLCANO SITE IN MAURITIUS.
pristine, it offers a host of adventure activities as
well. For a panoramic view, go to Trou aux Cerfs,
the only alive, and thankfully dormant, volcano
site in Mauritius at a height of 600 m. Do as the
locals do, and jog around the stretch, soaking
in the breathtaking vistas surrounding you. If
you’re looking for a little more of an adrenaline
rush, visit the La Vallee Des Couleurs (Valley of
Colours) Nature Park, which is a perfect blend
of natural beauty and adventure. After you’ve
soaked in the natural wonder of the 23-coloured
earth (multi-hued soil formed from volcanic
ash) and the numerous waterfalls in the park,
head to the third-longest zipline in the world,
which not only offers an aerial view of the park,
but also an experience that comes closest to
flying like a bird. The park also has a suspended
bridge, which works as a thrilling skywalk. You
could also hike across the park and swim at one
of the private waterfalls. If you don’t feel up to
exploring it on foot, opt for a self-driven quad
bike or jeep tour. Set aside at least half a day to
see everything that the park has to offer.
Since a majority of the Mauritian population
is Hindu, the country has a few religious spots
(Left) Scuba diving in the beautiful
Mauritian waters; parasailing is
one of the popular activities here
that have turned into tourist attractions as well.
You could visit the sacred crater lake of Ganga
Talao with its temples and gigantic statues of
Lord Shiva and Ma Durga, during your South
Island tour.
Water baby
If you’d rather be in the glistening blue waters
of Mauritius than admire it from the shores,
you have plenty of water sports and activities
to choose from. Head to Ile aux Cerfs, a leisure
island near the east coast of Mauritius, which
is accessible via a jetty ride. Once there, try
parasailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and
speed boat rides. Or try your hand at golf while
you enjoy an uninterrupted view of the Indian
Ocean. Snorkelling is another popular activity
in Mauritius. Experience being surrounded by
beautiful corals and colourful fish swimming
around them! Most beach resorts stock
snorkelling gear, but if you want to go deeper,
sign up for a seabed walking tour. Head to Belle
Mare, where a short boat ride takes you to the
spot where you can experience this. Non-
swimmers, fret not, this activity is for you too.
A giant helmet is placed on your head before
you go underwater, which is connected to
LIVING travel
(Clockwise) The UNESCO World Heritage Site of
Le Morne Brabant; the 23-coloured earth at La Vallee
Des Couleurs; a catamaran cruise; sugarcane fields
CATAMARAN RIDES
INCLUDE BARBEQUE
MEALS, UNLIMITED DRINKS
AND EVEN DOLPHIN
SPOTTING AS YOU CRUISE ON
THE GLEAMING WATERS.
an oxygen tank to help you breathe normally.
A guide then takes you around to show you
the various coral reefs and marine life. You
can even feed the fish and get photos
clicked underwater. For those looking for
something more adventurous than this,
scuba diving is your answer. You, however,
need to undertake training before you take
the plunge, so find a diving school associated
with the Professional Association of Diving
Instructors (PADI) or the Mauritius Scuba
Diving Association (MSDA), the certifying
boards for dives.
Another fun way to explore the underwater
world is to take a submarine ride. A company
called Blue Safari offers a service where you
can be in a real submarine that goes 35 m deep
into the ocean. Visit a shipwreck, marvel at the
different species of fish, and explore the rich
corals as you sit in the glassed-cabin. You also
have the options of riding a subscooter solo
or with another person. It goes a few metres
underwater and gives you a glimpse of the
magical marine life of the Indian Ocean.
Staying at a beach resort in Mauritius is
a good idea, especially if you love water activities
as most of them offer sports like kite surfing,
kayaking, stand-up paddleboard, windsurfing,
and more. Catamaran cruises are also popular
in the island with several operators offering this
QUICK FACTS
z Mauritius offers free
visa on arrival to Indian
tourists. A return ticket is
necessary to get one at
the airport.
z Mauritian Rupee (MR) is
the official currency but
USD, GBP, and Euros are
also accepted.
z Hiring a car in Mauritius
is easy and affordable. An
Indian driving licence is
acceptable and cars are
driven on the left side of
the road.
z You will find hotels of all
tariffs here, so pick one
according to your budget.
z Apart from seafood,
curries are also popular
here. Their most-loved
local street food, however,
is dholl puri, a vegetarian
dish inspired by the
Indian paratha.
service. Most of them include barbeque meals,
unlimited drinks, and a visit to the beach
with some even offering dolphin spotting as
you cruise on the gleaming waters.
Mixed bag
Have more time at hand? With an abundance
of sugarcane fields, Mauritius is a large producer
of rum and you can witness this by paying a visit
to the Chamarel Rum Distillery, which is located
close to the Valley of Colours Nature Park.
The Black River Gorges National Park has
several species of flora and fauna, and gives you
many hiking trails to explore with the added
bonus of swimming in the river. Le Morne
Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK, SAMBIT SATPATHY
is a basaltic mountain with a summit of 556 m
above sea level, and is visited by local trekkers,
and tourists for the breathtaking views it offers.
While half of the hike is easy, the rest of it
requires a guide and even special equipment.
If you plan to trek all the way to the top, look for
an authorised guide. Tamarind Falls, Le Pouce,
and Trois Mamelles are other natural beauties
you can explore. No matter what your interests
are, you will find something to do in this land
of natural wonders.
THE BUZZMAKERS

WHICH OF YOUR FILMS

IS THE CLOSEST TO What have you learnt
YOUR HEART? from your sex
UnLimited Girls will always
be special because I explored education platform,
my creative language in an Agents of Ishq?
unlimited way. It was a film People share their sexual and
replete with questions and romantic experiences and
insights about feminism questions with incredible
that came from my own lived frankness on the site. One of
experience and quest. our big learnings is that
I wanted to explore heterosexual men don’t have a
feminism’s histories, legacies, place or way to talk about their
and futures with respect confusions and feelings. There
to love and desire, and the is also shame—either about sex
contradictions involved in itself, or about not having sex
living by certain policies too. But most of all, Indians
and philosophies. really want to have honest,
open, non-judgemental
conversations about sex, love,
and desire.

HAVE YOU EVER

E
THOUGHT
G
OF MAKING
OOD
A BOLLYWOO
FILM?

What makes you

laugh out loud? PAROMITA I would like to
make a fiction
ngs,
film full of song

VOHRA
My nine-year-old niece. fantasy, and laarge--
Her goofiness is the heartedness. A All in
purest form of fun. the tradition of
o far
Otherwise, I like humour older ones, wh here
that’s droll and self- there was a ceertain
innocent celeb bration
o

deprecating. Hasan
Minajh makes me laugh,
especially all the older
characters he speaks
with who diss him. I also
like witty and absurd
humour like in The
Marvellous Mrs Maisel.
A different perspective
of city and pleasure
ma. Ass
in Hindi cinema
a die-hard SRK K fan,,
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and I think you knoow the
writer, Paromita Vohra, talks about her answer to who o I hope
p
would be a parrt of the
favourite film, experience of writing a comic Whyy curb
film at least! W
book, her sex education platform, and more one’s fantasiess, I say!
y!

HOW DID YOUR COMIC BOOK, PRIYA’S MIRROR Tell us about your
COME ABOUT? future projects.
An art installation called The
When Ram, the creator of Priya, asked me to write the comic
Love Latika is in the works. It will
I said ‘yes’ in about 30 seconds. Partly, it was my curiosity about
be a room full of love-sex-poetry
working on a new thing, as I’d never written a comic before.
PHOTOGRAPH: BENDI VISHAN

that will play inside flowers

Priya’s Mirror is a story about the possibilities in the idea of
on a magic creeper. Also, I am
love, rather than power, to create change. What I loved about
writing a book about living
working on a comic was that it allows you to talk about huge
alone, an animated video essay
ideas in an emotional way without sounding corny. It’s a powerful
on the history of marriage law.
combination of putting dramatic ideas and actions
in compressed frames. —As told to Anindita Ghosh