Ace cinematographer reflects on his 26-year journey in film world

Indian cinematographer and director, Ravi K. Chandran has worked on Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi movies. He has won the Film- fare Award for Best Cinematographer for movies such as Virasat, and Black, and the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – South for Kannathil Muthamittal. His best known works in Bollywood are VIRASAT (1997), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), yuva (2004), Paheli (2004), Black (2005), Fanaa (2006), and Saawariya (2007). Ravi has won two Filmfare Awards and one Southern Filmfare Award

Ms Nithya Ramesh Model, Actor and film critic interacted with Mr Ravi K Chandran for Opinion Express Magazine.

? Do you have a favorite experience in your work as a Director of Photography? What film are you most proud of?

There’s nothing like a favorite film experience because every film is by itself an experience, I have been shooting since 26 years, still everyday when you are on the set there is always a new challenge like light may not be correct or rain during shooting, some actors have to leave by certain time so in the morning we will be shooting the night scene or in the night we will be shooting a day scene according to the script all these issues happen. Everyday it’s an exciting shoot only if you don’t see your work as a problem then it’s not a problem. When you start seeing your work as a problem then it is a problem.

My favorite films are ‘Dil chahta hai’, ‘Black’, ‘Kannathil Muthamital’, ‘Ghajini’ and ‘Saawariya’. ‘Virasat is an important film in my career. each film has got a plus and minus but every film is part of life. you spend almost a year in a film. So if I do 20 films then 20 years of my life is gone. That is very crucial period of life. you have to leave your youth, family and go and travel, you end up eating food on roads, rains. Basically it is very important journey in every film and every film is an important film in life or career. So that’s how it is. I’m very proud of ‘Virasat’, ‘Kandu Kondain Kandukondain’, ‘Black’, ‘Kan- Nathil Muthamital’, ‘Minsara Kanavu’ and ‘Saawariya’.

? What type of film would you love to work on that you haven’t worked on yet?

See I haven’t worked on a periodic film like ‘bahubali’ with a lot of special effects and action film. I like that kind of film and it would be very exciting to do those kind of films.

? What do you look for when hiring your main team?

I normally work with the team who are with me for 2 or 3 years. When recruiting new team we generally ask for what kind of interest they have. I talk to them, I get to know what kind of interest they have in cinematography, what they actually want to become and what they really mean by they are interested in cinematography. Some people come and say that they like cinematography a lot and love it but if I ask them tell me a good cinematographer in India or internationally, they don’t know. They wouldn’t have watched any of those films of great cinematographers but they have all the updates about new film of their favorite actor or actresses. They know where to get good food but they don’t know about the job they want to do. It is like I love music but I don’t who is Illairaja or A R Rahman. If you were interested then you would know or find out about your interest. This generation has access to the best of internet, make use of it and seek for the information where your interest lies. Why I have to say this is because I come from a village, I used to come to Chennai to read about America’s cinematographer and then to become that I came and got registered myself for the American library. So every week I used to go and read and that is the kind of interest one should have. If you are interested in that subject then you should know much about it in depth. If I want to know the top 10 cinematographers in the world then I google it and watch their films. If I want to know about the lenses in the market then I buy it and test it. I grow with the technology.

For upcoming cinematographers I would like to say it is an evolving process. If you want to learn cinematography then you should learn the basics, composition, structure, colors and art of cinematography. Also there are many books available on the internet buy them online or borrow books and read them. The main thing is that you should read and get to know what you are dealing with.

? Where do you see the future of camera/lighting technology in film?

It’s growing every day. There’s no limitation. It is like a cocoon, you don’t know what it is. It just keeps growing. I would say technology is growing so much that you can shoot a small movie or video with 4K resolution on phone. New technology like virtual cameras, 360 degree camera and others are doing great in the market. Technology will never stop and will only keep growing.

? What film, besides the ones you’ve worked on, have you seen the most times in your life?

I have never watched my films again and again. If I do then I would want to redo the entire film again (….. laughs…..)

? What according to you is film making all about?
I would say that the film making is a privilege and not everybody can get a chance to do a film that was the case earlier because you had to rent cameras, equipment’s, processing till editing the footage. Now everything can be done on phone. If you want to be a film maker, you can shoot everything on your phone and see whether you can tell a story effectively. editing, sound design can be done on phone and computer and these are the two things that you will be requiring to make a film.

? How can one be a successful director?

If you want to be a director just make one Short film and see whether you can tell a story and if you are successful at that then try and tell more stories and upload them. Stories come from life and not from anywhere else. So you should look around for stories in life. Take personal stories that always translate into something else otherwise it will never works. If it is about thriller then there are thousands of movies made on that genre all over the world. If you think you are doing it for the first time, they have done it all. you name a subject they have done it all, unless you say something unique about your story in personal voice only then people look up to it and notice.

Say ‘Dil chahta hai’ is a personal story and was told brilliantly on screen and that’s what inspires me. It is difficult to direct without knowing the environment, body language. People think it’s very easy and it is not at all easy trust me

? How do measure an achievement in the film world?

I would like to say that there are no shortcuts for achievements. you have to get in depth and study about what your interest lies in because for every achievement you will be judged. For example there is a difference between a taxi driver and a professional race driver. To be a professional driver you need to learn the art, then practice, and then go on the tracks. you will have a coach to train you and he will judge you if you are eligible to race. And at the race you will be judged to win. So you will be judged everywhere and at every step. (….signs off….)

OE News Bureau ( Mumbai )

After four seasons and 60 shows, stage musical Mughal-e-Azam is in town to wow Delhiites. SHALINI SAKSENA of The Pioneer unfolds the bigness of this magnum opus

For all those who don’t know anything about this classic, here is some information. It was the play Anarkali, written by Imtiaz Ali Taj way back in 1923 and staged hundreds of times before it was released as a Bollywood film by K Asif, starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar on August 5, 1960. Though historians questioned its historical accuracy, the film became the highest grossing Bollywood film (Rs 55 million), a distinction it held for 15 years.

In 2004, the movie was released, in color. The opulence was such that even today, most remember the mirrors, Madhubala and the iconic number Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya… To recreate the movie on any other medium would be a disaster, director Feroz Abbas Khan was told. “The day I had decided to stage Mughal-e-Azam as a stage musical, people looked at me with scepticism. They felt it would be a decisive mistake. Mughal-e-Azam is a legacy of memories. And memories are fragile so one needs to tread carefully. If you disturb these, the reaction would be strong. I have done this with great respect to K Asif. If I had made a film, the comparison would have been direct. But since I am doing it in a different medium, I have unburdened the idea of who is acting in the play. The actors sing and perform live, it is not a recording. All I have done is keep the memories alive and add a few more,” Khan tells you.

In the process, he has created a completely new theatre experience. “Even in theatre, it had to match the scale, grandeur and quality of the film. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group (owners of the movie) and the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) wanted that it should have the same scale and imagination as of the movie,” Khan says.It was an uphill task even for Khan who is known for works like Tumhari Amrita and Mahatma vs Gandhi. The challenge here was to get so many live performers together and put out a show in just two-and-a-half months. “I was constrained by time.

But I had an extraordinary team and collaborators to bring it all together,” Khan says. This team includes choreographer Mayuri Upadhya and designer Manish Malhotra who has designed the around 600 costumes used in the show.

Upadhya, a Bharatnatyam dancer and director of Bengaluru based Nritarutya Dance Collective, feels that the challenges are innate to the title. “The biggest one was to create a team. I didn’t want to use my own team as I wanted to go with pure Kathak and maintain the authenticity. To audition 200- 250 dancers from all over the country, choose from them and ensure that they are in sync with each other was a challenge,” Mayuri says. Pyar Kiya toh…, the sheesh mahal and the dance steps were retained. But it was only after listening to MS Subbalaxmi that the inspiration came to her for choreographing Pyar Kiya…

“one can cheat through the camera in a movie. on stage, it is always about truth. But risks need to be taken. In the song Pya Kiya…. the magic is in Madhu bala’s eyes and her ada, not steps. But on stage, the challenge is that the actor has to sing and dance and move with a lot of energy. There was need to keep the audience glued in,” Mayuri tells you.

Then there were discussions on costumes with Manish, especially for Pyar Kiya… The song is the defining moment of this musical. Mayuri hopes that through musicals like this, people get an experience — whether it is watching a movie or a dance recital that changes their lives forever. “Musicals are entertaining and have artistic value and flavor. Musical dramas should be just a trend but something that stays with you forever. I am glad we have finally woken up to this,” Mayuri says.

When went to seek Shapoorji Pallonji Group director Deepesh Salgia’s go-ahead, his only demand was that the musical should be as grand or grander than the film. “When Feroz narrated the concept, I told him it had to be 10 times the scale of what he had then envisaged. That would be mandatory if my Group will become a part of this musical. The response thus far has been in our favor, a work of art watched by thousands last year,” Salgia adds. “People want entertainment. As long as the show is great, it will be loved. The skill lies in storytelling and not the format,” Salgia adds.

Khushroo Suntook, NCPA chairman, says he came aboard when Feroz was looking for a venue and told them he also needed a partner. “We agreed because we had not done anything on such a large scale. The show has the best artists from India and global technological props,” he adds.

But to bring this musical to Delhi was not easy for lack of a a venue to stage such a grand show. Even for Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, the entire set- up had to be done from scratch which incurred crores. “It’s not about profit for this artistic venture,” Suntook says. Perfection is such that for every lead artiste, there is a back-up. Also, as the show-makers are doing more than one show a day, there is could be need for another person to take over.

For Anarkali, Priyanka Barve and Neha Sargam have been roped in and for both it is a lifetime opportunity. “It is a nerve racking but exciting and unforgettable experience for a singer, artiste,” says Sargam, a singer, dancer and actor with singing being her first love. Hailing from Bihar, she comes from a musical family. Acting never entered her mind till one of the producers approached her for a TV show Chand Chhupa Badal Mein on Star Plus. After TV, came theatre.

Barve has a similar journey. “When I was offered this role, I did not want to give so much time to the show. But after six months, Feroz sir wanted to discuss it again. I had seen Phantom of The opera when I was 21 and was blown away by its grandeur. When I realized that this show too would be at that large a scale I decided not join,” Barve says.

The costumes designed by Manish Malhotra are heavy and rich, some- times difficult to lift. “But now that we have done four seasons and I am used to it,” Barve says. Her favorite parts are Pyar Kiya… and Khuda Nigehbaan Ho Tumhara. The first is something she waits for as an act. “There is this energy and transformation that takes place in Anarkali. She is scared of Akbar but here, in this song she has a devil may care attitude and expresses her love for Salim. The second song is touching,” Barve tells you.

Director Khan is happy with non- Bollywood leads and feels having stars from films “would have been a disaster,” Khan opines. “A theater actor can go into cinema but for a film actor to get into theatre is next to impossible. I had a girl from TV who was excited about the show. But the first day she came half-hour late and that was her last day. The discipline of theatre, the integrity with which you have to work since it is live, is crucial. In theater, you work with humility,” he says. But viewers will not be disappointed, whether it is Pyar Kiya… with the mirrors sequence or any other aspect of the show. “It is a visually stunning musical,” Khan says.

– Shalini Saksena 

After four seasons and 60 shows, stage musical Mughal-e-Azam is in town to wow Delhiites. SHALINI SAKSENA of The Pioneer unfolds the bigness of this magnum opus

For all those who don’t know anything about this classic, here is some information. It was the play Anarkali, written by Imtiaz Ali Taj way back in 1923 and staged hundreds of times before it was released as a Bollywood film by K Asif, starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar

On August 5, 1960. Though historians questioned its historical accuracy, the film became the highest-grossing Bollywood film (Rs 55 million), a distinction it held for 15 years.

In 2004, the movie was re-released, in colour. The opulence was such that even today, most remember the mirrors, Madhubala and the iconic number Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya… To recreate the movie on any other medium would be a disaster, director Feroz Abbas Khan was told. “The day I had decided to stage Mughal-e-Azam as a stage musical, people looked at me with scepticism. They felt it would be a decisive mistake. Mughal-e-Azam is a legacy of memories. And memories are fragile so one needs to tread carefully. If you disturb these, the reaction would be strong. I have done this with great respect to K Asif. If I had made a film, the comparison would have been direct. But since I am doing it in a different medium, I have unburdened the idea of who is acting in the play. The actors sing and perform live, it is not a recording. All I have done is keep the memories alive and add a few more,” Khan tells you.

In the process, he has created a completely new theatre experience. “Even in theatre, it had to match the scale, grandeur and quality of the film. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group (owners of the movie) and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) wanted that it should have the same scale and imagination as of the movie,” Khan says.

It was an uphill task even for Khan who is known for works like Tumhari Amrita and Mahatma vs Gandhi. The challenge here was to get so many live performers together and put out a show in just two-and-a-half months. “I was constrained by time. But I had an extraordinary team and collaborators to bring it all together,” Khan says. This team includes choreographer Mayuri

 Upadhya and designer Manish Malhotra who has designed the around 600 costumes used in the show.

Upadhya, a Bharatnatyam dancer and director of Bengaluru-based Nritarutya Dance Collective, feels that the challenges are innate to the title. “The biggest one was to create a team. I didn’t want to use my own team as I wanted to go with pure Kathak and maintain the authenticity. To audition 200-250 dancers from all over the country, choose from them and ensure that they are in sync with each other was a challenge,” Mayuri says. Pyar Kiya toh..., the sheesh mahal and the dance steps were retained. But it was only after listening to MS Subbalaxmi that the inspiration came to her for choreographing Pyar Kiya...

“One can cheat through the camera in a movie. On stage, it is always about truth. But risks need to be taken. In the song Pyar Kiya.... the magic is in Madhubala’s eyes and her ada, not steps. But on stage, the challenge is that the actor has to sing and dance and move with a lot of energy. There was need to keep the audience glued in,” Mayuri tells you.

Then there were discussions on costumes with Manish, especially for Pyar Kiya... The song is the defining moment of this musical. Mayuri hopes that through musicals like this, people get an experience — whether it is watching a movie or a dance recital that changes their lives forever. “Musicals are entertaining and have artistic value and flavour. Musical dramas should be just a trend but something that stays with you forever. I am glad we have finally woken up to this,” Mayuri says.

When went to seek Shapoorji Pallonji Group director Deepesh Salgia’s go-ahead, his only demand was that the musical should be as grand or grander than the film. “When Feroz narrated the concept, I told him it had to be 10 times the scale of what he had then envisaged. That would be mandatory if my Group will become a part of this musical. The response thus far has been in our favour, a work of art watched by thousands last year,” Salgia adds. “People want entertainment. As long as the show is great, it will be loved. The skill lies in storytelling and not the format,” Salgia adds.

Khushroo Suntook, NCPA chairman, says he came aboard when Feroz was looking for a venue and told them he also needed a partner. “We agreed because we had not done anything on such a large scale. The show has the best artists from India and global technological props,” he adds.

But to bring this musical to Delhi was not easy for lack of a venue to stage such a grand show. Even for Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, the entire setup had to be done from scratch which incurred crores. “It’s not about profit for this artistic venture,” Suntook says. Perfection is such that for every lead artiste, there is a back-up. Also, as the show-makers are doing more than one show a day, there is could be need for another person to take over.

For Anarkali, Priyanka Barve and Neha Sargam have been roped in and for both it is a lifetime opportunity. “It is a nerve racking but exciting and unforgettable experience for a singer, artiste,” says Sargam, a singer, dancer and actor with singing being her first love. Hailing from Bihar, she comes from a musical family. Acting never entered her mind till one of the producers approached her for a TV show Chand Chhupa Badal Mein on Star Plus. After TV, came theatre.

Barve has a similar journey. “When I was offered this role, I did not want to give so much time to the show. But after six months, Feroz sir wanted to discuss it again. I had seen Phantom Of The Opera when I was 21 and was blown away by its grandeur. When I realised that this show too would be at that large a scale I decided not join,” Barve says.

The costumes designed by Manish Malhotra are heavy and rich, sometimes difficult to lift. “But now that we have done four seasons and I am used to it,” Barve says. Her favourite parts are Pyar Kiya... and Khuda Nigehbaan Ho Tumhara. The first is something she waits for as an act. “There is this energy and transformation that takes place in Anarkali. She is scared of Akbar but here, in this song she has a devil may care attitude and expresses her love for Salim. The second song is touching,” Barve tells you.

Director Khan is happy with Non-Bollywood leads and feels having stars from films “would have been a disaster,” Khan opines. “A theatre actor can go into cinema but for a film actor to get into theatre is next to impossible. I had a girl from TV who was excited about the show. But the first day she came half-hour late and that was her last day.

The discipline of theatre, the integrity with which you have to work since it is live, is crucial. In theatre, you work with humility,” he says. But viewers will not be disappointed, whether it is Pyar Kiya... with the mirrors sequence or any other aspect of the show. “It is a visually stunning musical,” Khan says.

Glamour girl Piya Sharma is a rock star of showbiz in India Piya Sharma is a very charming and confident anchor, actress and model and human being. The emcee star was born in Patna, Bihar but is a true blue Punjabi from her roots and larger-than-life spirit, attitude and persona. Piya bravely fought all odds and pursued the path of modeling and anchoring, a field of work that may look all easy and glamorous from the face of it, on the outside, but requires tons of hard work. With dedication and commitment exerted by her in 8+ years of her event hosting and modeling career, she is one inspiring self-made woman.

Ms. Super Sharma has done all kinds of print advertisement assignments and marketing campaigns being the face of various product lines and generously endorsing brands. This stunning lady, who loves to add her magic to any event with her alluring presence and work; has walked the ramp and hosted mainstream events like product launches, fashion shows, dealer meets, business meets, conferences and seminars etc for reputed brands like Vodafone, MTS, RBS, Accenture, Max Life, Apolo Munich only to name a few.

She has been a successful ambassador for top-notch companies creating brand value and positioning, playing a significant role in several corporate films and brand shoots. You may be surprised and well impressed to know that she has graciously done more than 1000 PR, business and Social events as a lead anchor, model and performer for noted firms including Valvoline, HT Media Ltd., Johnson Tiles, Kargil India etc.

Piya was first getting hands on job experience before realizing that she is meant for something bigger and more impactful. She was the marketing head in an event management company and then one thing led to another, making her one of the most sought after name in the media industry, nationally and internationally. Yes, she has given smashing performances as a host not only on the Indian Soil for Indian and expat companies, but also been an elegant and attractive anchor and overall element for events and productions overseas.

Sharma was a part of acclaimed 2017 Silver Screen drama – ‘Zindagi ki mahek‘ on the popular TV Channel Zee TV. Apart from shows, promotional print projects and shoots, she has been an integral part of a Music video called ‘ladki selfie queen’ with singer-rapper Abhinniks.

When a lavish gathering like grand birthday parties or big fat Indian weddings comes in mind, you need a confident, mature and beautiful energy to take over and get the show going; and Sharma has been a favorite among known event organizing brands like Katalyst, Akshara Communications, Moksh AEPL Plan my shaadi, Creative Star events, Musical Dream Events, Saiworx Entertainment, JR Events and many more.

With her Glitz and Charisma she has also handled a versatile range of events like Press meets, exhibitions, seminar etc. She has also taken in the lead in corporate HR activities like employee day, family day celebrations and large-scale team building gatherings, off sites trips, R & D events etc. organized by who’s who of the market. In the Pipeline, she has 2 music videos, a few Punjabi and Bollywood movies, along with current media, brand product shoot and social assignment commitments.

Inputs from Mumbai Bureau & fashion desk of OECEL.

Language, in fact, is an amazing tool of unhampered eloquence in ‘Firaaq’. The characters in the riot-torn city speak in three languages Hindi, English and Gujarati. They do so without design or self-conscious purpose. The outstanding words do not stand outside the characters’ ambit of everyday [removed]some- times colloquial, otherwise poetic).

Even when the narrative pauses to debate the polemics of communal politics among the characters, we the audience are one with the pause. This is excellence without the silent sound of applause. The spoken words are not designed for the camera. They are said be- cause they have to be expressed.’Firaaq’ first and foremost deserves the highest praise for the remarkably even-pitched writing by Nandita Das and Shuchi Kothari. No character jumps out of the screen in trying to make its presence felt.

The people who live in Nandita’s film are the?people we know in one way or another. And yet?they are here, special in a very unobtrusive?way. The narrative episodes, written with finesse and passion, are constructed to accentuate the post- communal friction among people who till the other day were neighbors.

There is a mixed-married Hindu-Muslim couple. Before the day is done the husband (played with silent sincerity by Sanjay Suri) has made peace with his environment and the fact that his name is Sameer Sheikh, not Sameer Desai. Sameer in the context of the film’s volatile communal statement becomes a metaphor for the Hindu-Muslim divide which is now a looming reality in middle class lives.?The tact and grace with which ‘Firaaq’ weaves through the communal tensions of un- related characters all joined by their collective fear of a communal backlash are signs of a time when cinema and society at large need to do a serious rethink on their responsibilities. ‘Firaaq’ throws forward an assortment of unrelated characters zigzagging across a do- main of doomed conscientiousness. Nandita Das’s narrative doesn’t attempt to unravel the enigma of a disaster-borne civilization. It looks at the people, even the lowest and scummiest of them (including Paresh Rawal who bravely plays a middle class businessman who happily looted a Muslim shop and shared in his brother’s participative glee in a gang rape) with a kind of reined-in empathy that makes even the seeming perpetrators look like victims. The villains, if any, are the administrative personnel shown to be running around abetting the violence. If this is a simplification in story- telling then it can’t be helped.

Celluloid depictions of troubled times have to somewhere find tangible figures to blame for the in- justice. Otherwise we would come away from a certifiable masterpiece like ‘Firaaq’ wondering if there’s any sense of justice left in this chaotic world of self-serving brutality.

Das’ narrative is propelled forward by powerful characters played by actors who not only know their job but?also know how to make their jobs look like anything but professional hazard. It would be criminal to pick performances.  Deepti Naval (looking like a ravaged guilt-ridden?avatar of the nurturing foster-mom Sharmila Tagore in Shakti Samanta’s ‘Amar Prem’), Paresh Rawal (as a trashy unscrupulous bourgeois broker) and of course the redoubtable Naseeruddin Shah (as an aged classical singer caught in a sub-?lime time-warp) deliver performances that glisten with glory and sensitivity. But there are dozens of other known and unknown ac- tors furnishing Das’ gripping drama with an inner voice that screams in protest without overstatement. The interactive drama bringing together people during crises never lapses into hysteria and homilies. The beauty of the drama of the disinherited is never diluted by clinging on to the inherent drama of any given situation.

Like life, Nandita Das’ narrative moves on with confident steps creating for itself a kind of compelling circumstance when crises are a giv?en, compromise a compulsion and surrender to fate the only means of survival. Haunting and powerful in its depiction of a time when humanity is frozen in anguish and terror, ‘Firaaq’ draws its tremendous strength from the screenplay and characters which seem to observe life’s keenest and meanest blows without flinching. Here’s a film that must be seen not be- cause it tells a story that touches every life. But because it touches our lives with such persuasiveness without resorting to Overstatement.

– OE News Bureau

Mannara Chopra is an Indian film actress and model who predominantly works in Hindi and Telugu films. She is the cousin of famous actress Priyanka Chopra. She made her Bollywood debut with the film Zid in 2014. After completing her education, Mannara moved to Mumbai, where she started her career in modeling and moved into advertising. She made 30-35 commercials, three of them alongside her cousin Priyanka Chopra, including one for Dabur Amla Hair Oil, which she said won her “instant recognition” and landed her an offer in Telugu films. She had also appeared in Amit Trivedi’s song ‘”Bas bajna chahiye”, the theme song for Gaana.com. Besides, she has worked as a fashion designer and as an assistant choreographer, being trained in dance forms like hip hop and belly dancing. She has done four more films post ZID. In a candid discussion with Nithya Ramesh, Mannara speaks about her personal and professional life.

Shifting from modelling to acting was a conscious decision?

Modelling to acting was a very interesting journey. It was exciting to play some completely other character than my own unlike modeling which is all about being yourself, showcasing your own attitude.

You were always inclined towards creative field?

I was attracted towards creative arts from a very early age, I majorly owe this inclination to my sister who I saw playing various roles. Off course family plays a major part of our life and career choices.

You have trait of showbiz?

Fashion designing or choreography is all about creativity. Both need an intricate eye for something unique and different, it’s all about aesthetics.

What is special in acting professional?

I being able to be in the skin of a completely different person is the most enthralling experience in acting. It makes you be in another person’s shoes, even if for a short time but it personally is a very enriching experience.

Being part of the established family in showbiz is an advantage?

Being a superstar’s cousin comes with a lot of advantages as well as responsibilities. It’s challenging to be able to live up to expectations but yes it definitely helps to make wiser choices and be in the right circle of people.

You are a solo or team person?

For me it’s always about team work. I’m a people’s person,I enjoy being around people. It’s always a pleasure to meet new teams of such hardworking and talented people. It’s always a pleasure.

Your first experience of facing live camera?

At first, facing the camera is overwhelming. But for me my affair with camera is always overwhelming. I love it!

Share your chemistry of working with super stars in Bollywood?

I have worked with Salman khan for a Suzuki commercial, so would love to work with him .have worked with director Imtaz Ali for a Parle Marie Tvc so he is my favorite. In south I wanted to work with Puri Jagan who launched faces like Kangana, Ileana in south also known for his Hindi film Buddha hoga tera baap. I consider myself to be very lucky to be working with him in his upcoming film ROGUE.

Update on your future projects?

Two of my films just got released last year in Telugu Jakkana and Thikka. Now this year had a New film (A grand release Puri Jaggarnath film )-ROUGE. It’s a bilingual film while will mark my debut in Kannada industry too other than releasing in Telegu.

Your preference is family or work?

For me I prefer to choose a balanced lifestyle. Work while I work but I need my time out with family and friends too. I like it fast when it’s fast but I can’t do without my own personal space, it recharges me. Home is where the heart is. For me it needs to be colorful and happy. I love minimalist decor; colors make homes bright and positive.

 – Interview conducted by Ms Nithya Ramesh for Opinion Express

She is a role model for Indian women who knows how to balance between work and home. Model Ruhani Sharma says that while modelling is an extremely challenging profession, she knows how to prioritize and look after her daughter. Now, a resident of Hong Kong, Ruhani won the Mrs India Queen 2013. “Modelling is an extremely hectic profession but it is important to maintain a balance and give time to the family,” she says.

She has loads of international experience in big shows across PAN-Asia, Europe and USA and her celebrity status in Asia adds an X-factor. Her achievements have been captured the imagination of New York and the very prestigious magazine of NY “Prime time” interviewed her and the same was published in their February edition 2015.

She has been associated with Asian Film Awards (Oscars of Asia) for last three years, walking the red carpet with Bollywood and Asian film celebrities regularly.

Besides, recently she walked at marquee events like Los Angeles Fashion Week (October 2016), London Fashion Week House of Ikons (Sep 2016), Dubai Fashion Week London (Jan 2016), Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Doha (Dec 2015), Africa Fashion Week London (Aug 2015), London Fashion Week House of Ikons (Sep 2015), New York Fashion Week (Sep 2015) Ruhani has been walking for top designers at various London Fashion Weeks for last couple of years. She was highly complemented by the designers for her amazing presence on the ramp, her personality and the way she showcased their clothes on the ramp.

From an engineer to assisting a cult director like Ram Gopal Verma, it has been brisk journey for Nithya. She is a 23-year-old qualified Industrial engineer from RV College of Engineering with 2 years of experience in the IT world worked for Cognizant (Bangalore). She was born in Kerala and after she turned four, her family moved to Bangalore. She is currently working as an assistant director with Ram Gopal Varma for Sarkar 3.

Since childhood, her dream was to become an actress and she has been getting a lot of offers from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam industry but she is waiting for the right script to target the audience who always believe in the right story and cast.

“While working with Cognizant, I got connected with Director Puri Jagannadh who introduced me to RGV who I always admired since a kid for his breathtaking movies like Shiva, Rangeela, Bhoot, Phoonk, Sarkar and Raktha Charitra,” says Nithya. “After talking to me for a few hours about my Horror scripts which I had written since my engineering days RGV was impressed with scripts and my passion for films and advised me to first learn the art of film making which would help me understand the technical and casting aspects of film making and offered me the role of an assistant director for Sarkar 3 and I moved to Mumbai,” she adds.

“I have always consider RGV, Puri Jagannadh and Thriekoti Peta as my mentors since the day one of me entering the film world. They always supported me to go ahead with my passion. Not to forget I always had my dad and mom who supported my passion for films and always wanted to see me succeed in films, My dad would sit with me during the weekends to discuss my script and also helped me with new ideas to add to my script, Recently I had lost my father in a road accident after which I had a lot of hurdles in my life and I am slowly trying to overcome them with my confidence to be a successful director in future and someday want to make my dad proud,” Nithya avers.

Puri Jagannadh recently launched the first look of “Never Invite” which is a horror flick. Along with scripting and directing, Nithya also plays the lead role. “Never Invite” will be released in April and jointly produced by USA based production house Earth Kraft Films. The film is being released in four languages Tamil, Telugu, Kannada & Malayalam. Apart from the short film, she is working on a feature film with a horror script which is a multilingual to be made in all regional languages with a complete new set of talented technicians and casting for feature film and the story is based on true incident that happened in Rajasthan. “For now, I can just say that the story is all about a doll and some ugly incidents that took place in Rajasthan. I have recently tied up with a Hollywood production house in USA for a feature film and will be travelling to California to get involved with the Horror script and will be working with Kathy smith on the casting part, We plan to cast few familiar faces from Hollywood and plan to shoot the film in Spain and London.

Right now I signed up a International album for Bollywood as a the main lead and music is by the famous music director Sunny Viswanath from Kerala and the song is sung by a well known and eminent singer from Bollywood,” she says. Apart from direction, she will be producing three short films in all regional languages.

This is basically to give life to all the upcoming directors, actors and other technicians. The selection process will be run through a lot of famous names from the film industry and the best script will be chosen and given a chance for direction and acting.

(Opinion Express Entertainment Desk – Inputs from Diwakar Shetty)

MODEL & ACTOR

Location: United States

Height: 5’7”

Languages: Gujrati, French, Spanish, Hindi

Degrees: Tufts University, BS, Medford, MA Biology and Philosophy Columbia University, MA, NY, NY Media and Technology in Education Universidad Complutense, Academic Scholarship, Madrid, Spain Studied Spanish Language and Culture

SHEETAL SHAH has been a filmmaker and an educator for the past 10 years and an actor and performance poet for the past 8 years. Right now she is the NY representative to the UN for the human rights NGO Nord-Sud XXI with whom she has been doing work on climate change at the UN and various global climate hang conferences including closely working with Bolivia frothier conference in Cochabamba. She is the best actress recipient for the 2005 SAMA and has performed in TV, film and theatre including at Lincoln Center, VH1 and The Daily Show. As a performance poet she has been part of the group poetic people power (www.poeticpeoplepower.com) for the past four years performing at venues throughput NYC. Her most recent gigs were a commercial on ZeeTV and host for the WHCC World of Colors concert.

PERFORMER SKILLS

Performance Skills: Dancing, Voiceover, Host, Medical Equipment, Improvisation

Athletic Skills: Aerobics, Swimming, Tennis, Soccer, Track & Field, Track & Field

Accents: New York (Brooklyn), Middle Eastern, West Indian, British, Spanish, Indian/South Asian, Southern, French, Jamaican, New York (Bronx)

Spoken Languages: Gujrati, French, Spanish, Hindi Musical Instruments: Tabla, Djembe

Dance: Club/Freestyle, Hip Hop, Robot, Capoeira, Salsa, Belly, Modern

TRAINING

Maggie Flanigan Studios, NY, NY, Acting, Movement, Shakespeare, Voice and Speech, Maggie Flanigan, April Yvette Thompson, Scott Hudson, Susan Schuld, Nate Flowers, Danielle Liccardo, 2006 Two-year Acting Conservatory Program. LAByrinth Theatre Master Class, NY, NY, Acting, Movement, Stage Combat, 2008 Kristin Linklater, NY, NY, Voice and Speech, Kristin Linklater Basic to Intermediate Voice and Speech workshops Brooke Thomas and Mary Egan, NY, NY, On Camera Commercial Training, Casting Directors Brooke Thomas and Mary Egan “On Camera Commercial Intensive” course.

AWARDS

South Asian Media Awards, Best Actress, 2005

International superstars RDB and Nindy Kaur have been continuously touring across the world, shooting music videos for their forthcoming album Worldwide, working on new Bollywood projects, and attending esteemed events in the industry.

Every year Toronto is host to Toronto International Film Festival. Founded in 1976, the Toronto International Film Festival is now one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, screening between 300-400 films. This year marks the 34th annual festival.

On September 14th, RDB singers Manj Ral & Nindy Kaur were seen walking the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival party, hosted by Entertainment Tonight Canada. Sponsors of this grand event were L’oréal, Global, The Bay, and Liberty Grand. This spectacular event took place at the Yorkville Rooftop, in Toronto.

The event was high profile and ultra-exclusive; There were meet and greets with Hollywood & TV celebrities, as well as, film directors & producers. Check out Manj & Nindy Kaur walking the red carpet below.

RDB & Nindy Kaur were also seen attending the Toronto International Film Festival two years ago as Singh is King was showcased during the festival. Additionally, RDB created the music which was used for the feature film Cooking with Stella, which was directed by Dilip Mehta.

Manj stated, “We were there representing the Bollywood Industry and the great success of our collaborations with main-stream artists in Bollywood.” He also went onto state, “This year we attended the Toronto International Film Festival in support of the film West is West, [the second part to East is East,]. Next year we will also have another huge film to look forward to at the film festival.” On a concluding note, Manj asserted that, “We need to show the world how we are making a huge movement within the mainstream film industry with our music. We are always breaking barriers for the South Asian industry with our collaborations.”

Music wasn’t the only reason RDB & Nindy Kaur stood out. They are true fashion icons as well. Nindy Kaur’s outfit was from Frontier Delhi. Her jewelry was by Mahavir in Mumbai, and gorgeous footwear provided by Rocia in Mumbai. Manj rocked the red carpet with a stylish outfit by D&G and Etro clothing.

The most anticipated release from the RDB camp is their forthcoming album, Worldwide, which is set to release in the later part of 2010. Recently we gave you a sneak peak at RDB’s video shoot in Miami. But most importantly,

RDB & Nindy Kaur are always there for the fans. You About RDB: Manj, Kuly & Surj comprise RDB, a group that has come a long way in becoming one of the leading Punjabi producers, musicians, singers, and entertainers in the world. These British born brothers were introduced to music at a very young age by their father who taught them to sing religious songs and play the harmonium in their Gurdwara.

RDB, which stands for Rhythm Dhol Bass, was designed by these three brothers to create a new genre of music. They brought different musical styles together and fused them with Punjabi folk music ultimately constructing the "RDB sound". They are extremely talented and amazing entertainers who have worked along side several celebrity singers and actors, not only in the east coast but also in the west; Akshay Kumar, Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy are only a few of them.

About Nindy Kaur: Nindy Kaur, also the wife of acclaimed singer and producer Manjeet Ral of RDB, began singing at the age of 10. Raised in the U.K. and surrounded by the beats and rhythms of Birmingham’s Bhangra bands, she grew up as a child who would save her lunch money to buy every single Bhangra album upon release. It was in 2004 was when Nindy Kaur made her stage debut as she toured the United States with Shezad Roy & Sukhbir. Nindy’s debut release was the track “Aja Sajana” which was featured on the album “Danger 3” by Untouchables Records. From there she also released “Gur Nalo Ishq” and “Gidha Pao,” which were both featured on DJH's debut album. Nindy has also made her Bollywood mark with hit tracks such as Aloo Chaat, Boliyaan, and Om Mangalam. Currently she is in the studio with RDB working on their album Worldwide and future Bollywood projects.

About Three Records: The Three Records label itself has been uniquely setup "by musicians for musicians." This pioneering combination of music and business hopes to give each artist more creative space and a better musical understanding than ever offered before. The labels main aims are to expend the current UK Asian genre of music to a larger market of customers, outlets, media companies, and distribution networks worldwide. Having offices in both the UK and North America, combines with in-depth market knowledge, this proposition of worldwide expansion is more of a target than anticipation. With many global paths and mainstream collaborations to come, Three Records and its artists are bound for success.

New York Couture Week is one of the most anticipated and highly-respected events of the year. Of course, the glitz and glamour is show-cased by the big-time, banner-spreading names like Gucci, D&G, and BCBG. I was hanging out backstage, at the Starlight Roof of the world-famous Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, and I bumped into designer Jorge Diep of the Dominican Republic. While we were speaking he told me, "I moved to Mexico City when I was 16 years old to study fashion design," and then proceeded to say, "I want to vis-it Dubai and India. I think India is beautiful and so are the women."

What astonished me the most about Jorge was the fact that his entire collection was Indian-inspired. The models started to walk the ramp with Kurtis made of silk to sari-inspirited gowns. The models were adorned from head to toe in Indian jewelry, from sets of gold & bangles. The perfect toppers were the beautifully arranged bindis on the model's faces and colored mendhi on their hands. While we were speaking he told me, "I moved to Mexico City when I was 16 years old to study fashion design," and then proceeded to say, "I want to visit Dubai and India. I think India is beautiful and so are the women."

About the Author:

Having worked in the South Asian music industry for nearly five years, Tirusha Dave has created quite the name for herself. Not only does she hang out with South Asian musicians such as RDB, Nindy Kaur and Jay Sean - but she's also had the opportunity to interview the "Who's Who" of Bollywood like John Abraham & Malika Sherawat. A published writer in seven different countries, Tirusha's goal is to shed light on the South Asian media & entertainment industry - always keeping our readers in the loop of the hottest sounds, films, fashion, and much more!