Saffolalife urges people to take #SmallStepsToHealthyHeart

This year, on the eve of World Heart Day, Saffolalife inspired India to embrace a fresh, new perspective on heart health. It showed how simple lifestyle changes, specifically staying active, eating better, and being happy, are actually #SmallStepsToHealthyHeart. In order to make this thought come to life, it brought together three celebrity experts from different relevant fields- fitness guru Shilpa Shetty Kundra, celebrity chef Kunal Kapur, and popular comedy actor Cyrus Sahukar- to show people how to they can start taking steps in their respective lifestyle activities. While Shilpa emphasized the importance of staying active for a healthier heart, Chef Kunal stressed on the need to eat right, & Cyrus spoke on how simply being happy can have a positive impact on your heart health.

 

Currently in India, with hectic schedules and sedentary lifestyles abound, most people believe that achieving heart health is a daunting task. As a result, they are stuck in a state of inertia and their heart health suffers. However, recent findings from the World Heart Federation reveal that even small lifestyle changes like being active, eating better, and staying happy can make your heart up to 50% healthier. Therefore, Saffolalife took it upon itself to show people how they can start their journey to healthier hearts through small, simple steps. Saffolalife has launched the “Healthy Lifestyle Score”- a unique tool that correlates key lifestyle indicators like activity levels, food habits & stress levels to one’s heart health. The Healthy Lifestyle score was developed by Medical Nutrition Foundation and the Saffolalife Research Study was conducted across 5 key cities of India by Nielsen.

 

At the event, the three celebrity experts also discussed the key findings of the Saffolalife Study 2016. As per the Saffolalife Study, The Healthy Lifestyle Score of India was found to be 68, (the Healthy Lifestyle Score for India has been calculated basis research in 5 cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore & Chandigarh). The 3 key components within the Healthy Lifestyle Score are: the Eat Better Score, Happiness Score and Active Score. India’s Eat Better Score was at 58, the Happiness Score was at 55 and the Active Score was at 35. The low Active score indicates the secondary lifestyle we lead these days. While the Eat Better Score and Happiness Score is higher, it still has huge scope of improvement. Small steps towards a healthy lifestyle on an everyday basis can go a long way in making our heart healthier.

 

To further drive home this thought, Saffolalife got the celebrity experts to share lifestyle tips on maintaining heart health. Addressing the crowd, actress and fitness guru Shlipa Shetty Kundra said, “It’s great to be a part of the Saffolalife endeavor that is inspiring people towards a better heart health through simple, small steps which are enjoyable yet effective. I believe that the most important thing is to choose a physical activity that works for you and your routine, so that you can make it a habit.”

 

Celebrity chef Kunal Kapur was quizzed about the changes one needs to incorporate in their diets for a healthy heart. “Well, I believe in the saying “eat your way to a healthy heart” and trust me it is not difficult. Small things like having more fibrous foods, not skipping a meal, eating small portions & drinking lots of water go a long way in ensuring that our body remains fit & heart remains healthy. I am happy that Saffolalife is inspiring people to take such small steps towards a healthier lifestyle”, said the chef.

 

VJ, comedian and actor, Cyrus Sahukar spoke about the benefits of being happy. “With our demanding lifestyles these days, the one thing we can really do for ourselves is choose our reactions to the things around us. It is all about finding joy in the little things. The Saffolalife campaign shows how the simple act of being happy, laughing or spending quality time with your family can help in having a healthier heart as well ”.

 

Ranbir Kapoor's favourite song channa mereya out

Movies and master classes a huge hit among Mumbai cine-goers at 7th Jagran Film Festival

The vibes at Mumbai’s Cinepolis theatre were infectious on day three of the 7^th Jagran Film Festival when movie buffs had an incredible dose of regional, Indian and international cinema at India’s largest traveling film festival.

Like the previous two days, day 3 was equally interesting and engaging. Line-up for the day opened on an international note with Spanish Classic, ‘Strawberry And Chocolate’, followed by the Vietnamese film, ‘Yellow Flowers On Green Grass’, the Spanish movie ‘Oedipus King’, the Italian film, ‘The Surprise’, the Spanish film, ‘Suite Habana’ by Fernando Perez and the Dutch, ‘The Sum Of Histories’ by Lucas Bossuyt  in the World Panorama section.

The film aficionados juggled across different screens to catch some of their favourite films such as the Bengali film, ‘Cholai’, Rajat Kapoor’s ‘Private Detective’, Marathi movie, ‘Sairat’, ‘Bhalla@Halla.Kom’, Bengali film ‘Atin Ela And Char Adhyay’, ending the day with Sonam Kapoor’s blockbuster ‘Neerja’ under Indian Showcase.

In the Retrospectives /Tribute category, the screening of V Shantaram’s ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje’ was received. Th e screening was  followed by a documentary on V Shantaram’s leife and work by his daughter Madhura Jasraj ‘Portrait of a Pioneer’’ and Shyam Benegal’s ‘Nishant’. Under the section ‘Maker on Maker’ a documentary on Girish Kasravalli art and craft titled ‘Life In Metaphors’ along with his award winning Kannada film ‘Thaye Saheba’ was appreciated by the people.

Special sessions under ‘The Knowledge Series’ were a smash hit with festival delegates. ‘Finding Money For Films’ by Actor Rajit Kapur and Lohita Sujith, Director corporate communicati ons motion picture association India A session by Motion Pictures Academy of America and Asia Pacific Screen Awards guided aspiring young scriptwriters and filmmakers how to generate money to produce films.

The excitement reached a new high with the presence of National award winning actor Manoj Bajpayee, a great supporter of Jagran Film Festival. Having been part of interesting short films, the versatile actor feels proud to associate with the coveted festival every year and watch short films.

The star cast of the film ‘Bhalla@halla.com Manoj Pahwa, Yashpal Sharma, Inshika Bedi and Seema Pahwa, was greeted with excitement by the festival delegates. Speaking about the day, Festival’s Strategic Consultant, Manoj Srivastava said,’ Its a great feeling watching youngsters take part with such excitement in understanding the process of film making and appreciating Cinema of all hues and shades at the festival.”

The day three ended on a high note with a Panel Discussion on reviewing  ‘Cinema: What You Need To Know’. The interactive and thought-provoking session was moderated by Mayank Shekhar and Ajay Brahmatmaj had media influencers Prashant Sisodia (NDTV), Rachit Gupta (Filmfare) participating.

LAUNCH OF THE MAX ELITE MODEL LOOK INDIA 2016

MAX, the country’s largest fashion forward brand, in its third year of association with Elite brings Elite Model Look (EML), one of the world's most prestigious modeling platforms to India. This will give a once in a lifetime opportunity to Indian models to showcase their best.

Modeling, in India, is seldom taken seriously as a profession. Main reason for this misunderstanding is the lack of the correct platforms and mentors. Max has collaborated with EML to provide a streamlined career path for aspiring models. Max Elite Model LookIndia , for the last two years, has been nurturing and guiding young modelswho want to make it big on both Indian and international runways.

Max Elite Model Look India 2016 team is touring India (Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Chandigarh) with sixcastings that will take place from 27th August to 1st October, aiming to offer maximum opportunities for girls and boys to participate in the most renowned modeling contest and become part of the world’s most prestigious agency.

18th Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI)

The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star is less than a month away from offering the city a movie extravaganza unlike any other. In its 18^th edition, the festival announced its stellar line-up for the year at its annual press conference held on Thursday, 29^th September in Mumbai. The festival is set to kick off on 20^th October. The press conference began with the announcement of the festival’s new brand identity.

Jio MAMI with Star, Festival Co-Chairperson, Kiran Rao said, “It’s been a very exciting year for the Academy.  Firstly, we are now a year around presence.  We launched the MAMI Film Club in May with a conversation between Sir Ian McKellen and Aamir.  We’ve followed that up with India premieres of films such as Brahman Naman and India in a Day.  The Academy is committed to bringing you great film content and conversations not just in October but through the year. We’ve also got a new identity.  Mumbai is a mosaic of islands and communities, of over 16 million people, their hopes and dreams.  We wanted to find an identity that reflects this great city and the festival.  If you look closely at our new logo, you will see two fish creating a geometric pattern that forms the Devnagri representation of MAMI.  This identity also works well for us because we are always fishing for talent!”

Mrs. Nita M. Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation & Co-Chair, MAMI Board of Trustees said, “Welcome to Jio MAMI – the 18th Mumbai Film Festival. Cinema acts as a game changer, inspiring and influencing lives and making a positive contribution to the society. The advent of digital technology is taking filmmaking to a higher level, with innovative opportunities and techniques for creative expression and viewership. I have no doubt that this digital way of life will help the world of content creation in a big way. Let this edition of the much-awaited Jio MAMI festival continue to add value to the film fraternity and audiences in India.”

Uday Shankar, CEO, STAR India said, “I have always believed that the media and entertainment industry has a very important role in shaping society and cultural consciousness. We at Star believe in the potential of stories to stimulate imagination and influence societal change moving the nation forward. MAMI brings such exemplary stories to life with world class cinema especially curated for the festival. This will be our third year of association with MAMI and together we hope to connect the city to world-class content and provide an amazing platform for young, creative talent.”

The festival, as it does every year, identifies the contribution of great minds in the world of cinema. The ‘Excellence in Cinema Award’ provides a great opportunity to highlight, applaud and promote works of such individuals. This year, the Indian Excellence in Cinema Award will be conferred to the noted director and screenwriter of several award winning movies like Sparsh and Chashme Baddoor, Sai Paranjpye. The Government of India awarded Sai with the Padma Bhushan title in 2006 in recognition of her artistic talents. Jia Zhangke, known as the leading figure of the “Sixth Generation” movement in Chinese Cinema and one of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers working today will be the recipient of the International Excellence in Cinema Award.

Actor, Director Dibakar Banerjee said, “Each year, the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star gives two Excellence in Cinema awards.  This year, our international award goes to Chinese director Jia Zhangke.  Jia Zhangke belongs to the sixth generation of Chinese filmmakers.  His work has offered a unique perspective on a transitional generation.  He combines this with a humane concern for the working class and poor.  Jia Zhangke has directed 13 films in 21 years. His works continue to break boundaries and move the world.”

Filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj said, “Our Indian Excellence in Cinema award goes to filmmaker Sai Paranjpye. Sai Paranjpye’s career has spanned over four decades. Her are milestones in Indian cinema. Sai’s cinema is defined by certain humanity. Her films didn’t have oversized heroes and villains.  She told slice of life stories about common people. Her work continues to inspire generations of filmmakers.”

Director Zoya Akhtar announced the jury for the Jio MAMI with Star’s competition category, India Gold.  “One of the primary functions of the festival is to serve as a gateway to the best of Indian cinema.   Here’s our India Gold jury.  This section also carries award money of 45 lakh. Joining the jury this year is composer Mychael Danna who won both the Oscar and the Golden Globe for Life of Pi. Time magazine film critic Stephanie Zacharek, Taiwanese film director and photographer Yonfan and the head of the jury is Turkish film director Reha Erdem, who has been called Turkey’s most philosophical and contemplative filmmaker,” said Zoya Akhtar.

Director and scriptwriter Vikramaditya Motwane announced the jury for International Competition and said, “This section also carries award money of 45 lakhs and the jury are: Film maker Anurag Kashyap, one of Hindi cinema’s most compelling creators, Producer Christine Vachon whose films include Carol, Still Alice and Boys Don’t Cry, Chris McDonald, President of Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North America, Writer Director and photographer Tala Hadid. Her short film ‘Tes Cheveux Noirs Ihsan’, won an Academy Award. And the Head of the Jury is Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes. Miguel’s last film ‘The Arabian Nights Trilogy’ had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. His earlier film Tabu won the Fipresci prize at the Berlin Film Festival in 2012”

Introducing a new programme at the festival that brings films from one, select country every year, Director Anurag Kashyap said, “This year, the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star will include a new programme, Country Focus. This year the country in focus is Turkey. The festival will screen 10 films from Turkey, which represent the different strains of cinema in the country.  The selection will include films of the Turkish New Wave and directors like Zeki Demirkubuz and Nuri Bilge Ceylan.  It will also have classics like The Bride from 1973.”

This year, the festival acknowledges the contribution of women in the film industry and in order to strengthen its efforts to ensure that these women get the recognition they deserve, the festival introduces new awards.

Announcing the new award at the festival this year, Siddharth Roy Kapur, MD, Disney India said, “This year, Oxfam India in partnership with the festival has instituted an award for 10 lakh rupees for Best Film on Gender Equality.  The award category focuses on films that challenge gender based social norms, which lead to gender inequality and hence to the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.  The Indian film industry is one of the most significant influencers in Indian society.  Oxfam India aims to encourage and recognize professional filmmakers who make cinema, which promotes positive gender norms and inspires people for a future where violence against women and girls no longer exists.  This is only open to Indian films programmed at the festival.”

Filmmaker Karan Johar said, “We are also thrilled to announce a special award this year called the MAMI MasterCard Best Indian Female Filmmaker 2016 award. This award for 15 lakh rupees is also for Indian films only. This award aims to strengthen the female voice in Indian cinema. Over the last five years, we’ve made some progress here but it’s much too little. The representation of both genders onscreen can only benefit with the inclusion of more female voices.  This award is a step toward that.”

Announcing the few names from the international films line-up that will be screened at the festival this year, Director and Producer, Rohan Sippy said, “Few of the exciting titles in our International Selection are: ‘I, Daniel Blake’ by Ken Loach, ‘Swiss Army Man’ by Daniels, ‘Certain Women’ by Kelly Reichardt, ‘Graduation’ by Cristian Mungiu, ‘Things to Come’ by Mia Hansen-Love, ‘Elle’ by Paul Verhoeven, ‘Neruda’ by Pablo Larrain, ‘Mostly Sunny- A Documentary on Sunny Leone’ by Dilip Mehta and ‘Hema Hema: Sing Me A Song While I Wait’ by  Khyentse Norbu from Bhutan.”

Present at the press conference, Film Producer, Manish Mundra said, “Some of our Indian titles are: ‘A Death in the Gunj’ By Konkona Sen Sharma, ‘Lady of the Lake’ by Haobam Paban Kumar, ‘Loev’ by Sudhanshu Saria, ‘Autohead’ by Rohit Mittal, ‘The Cinema Travellers’ by Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya, ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ by Alankrita Shrivastav.”

Jio MAMI with Star, Festival Director, Anupama Chopra said, “This year, the JIO MAMI 18^th Mumbai Film Festival with Star will also be bigger and hopefully better.  The MAMI Movie Mela will now be two days.  Our section for children Half Ticket will be open to the public on certain days.  Our experimental film section is now called The New Medium.  It includes some very exciting titles that offer new ways of seeing film.  We also have a Word to Screen Market, which puts book publishers and content creators into the same room.  And our book award now includes books on cinema in Hindi also. The festival will screen over 175 films from 54 countries.  The festival is going to be a movie feast.  This is an inclusive film festival so no matter what your taste is – there will be a film for you.”

Jio MAMI with Star, Creative Director, Smriti Kiran said, “With every passing year, we at Jio MAMI with Star strive to bring exciting programmes that will appeal to everyone; from filmgoers to aspiring filmmakers. To continue this tradition, the festival will introduce new programmes and screenings that will bring the best of cinema around the world to Mumbai. We have some of the greatest minds in the global film industry joining us in championing the festival. While the film screenings remain at the heart of the festival, the roster this year will also feature programmes that will touch upon various aspects of the entertainment industry. We are thrilled to announce Jio MAMI with Star 2016 programming line-up with you today and we look forward to putting up a spectacular show!”

Manav Gohil's entry in Chidya Ghar

Small screen heartthrob Manav Gohil, who was last seen in Sab TV's Yam Hai Hum, will be seen entertaining the audience in Sab TV's on going show, Chidiya Ghar.

 

He will be seen as Gomukh’s friend who is arrives in Chidya Ghar as a businessman, but in reality he will be a runaway criminal who comes to India to avoid cops. On the other hand, Gomukh would know about his reality but being his childhood friend he will not inform the family. How will Gomukh handle this situation?

Sonali Bendre ups her fashion game

The gorgeous Sonali Bendre is very selective of the public appearances she makes - However, her recent appearance at the launch of a book had the fashion critics raving. Sonali experimented with her casual look and teamed Berskha track pants with a COS tshirt , YSL sandals and a Prada messenger bag.

Baahubali is in animated series now

Amazon Prime Video along with acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli, Graphic India and Arka Mediaworks, today announced a partnership to extend the magnum opus ‘Baahubali’, a film that earned over ₹600 crores in worldwide box office collections, into a new multi-episode animated series titled – “Baahubali: The Lost Legends”.

“S.S. Rajamouli is one of the most visionary movie minds in current times and we are thrilled to have him launch this exclusive series, Baahubali: The Lost Legends,” said Nitesh Kripalani, Director and Country Head, Prime Video India. “The animation series will allow our customers to discover hidden stories and legends from the Baahubali world. And now for the first time, customers can watch the exclusive trailer first on www.Amazon.in”

“What we managed to showcase in the film was just the tip of the iceberg,” said director S. S. Rajamouli. “From the minute I started working on this story, I knew the world of ‘Baahubali’ can’t be encompassed into a film or two, simply because there’s so much more to tell and animation is another way to do that. We are happy to be collaborating with Graphic India and Amazon to bring the ‘Lost Legends’ to audiences through Amazon Prime Video.”

“Filled with political intrigue, betrayal, war, action and adventure, this animated series will take audiences on new adventures beyond the film, as we learn for the first time the events that shaped Baahubali from a young prince into a legendary hero,” added Graphic India Co-Founder & CEO, Sharad Devarajan. “Amazon Prime Video is the perfect partner to help us reach Baahubali’s millions of fans through their unparalleled digital reach.”

CEO of Arka Mediaworks, Shobu Yarlagadda said, “Having created so many iconic stories and characters, there is no one more equipped than Graphic India, to take the story of Baahubali forward. We are very excited for what's to come.”

As a part of festive celebrations, customers can watch the exclusive teaser trailer of Baahubali: The Lost Legends, the animated series, exclusively on www.Amazon.in only on October 1 and 2, 2016.

Baahubali: The Lost Legends is set before the Kalakeya invasion depicted in the movie, when Baahubali and Bhallaladeva are still both young princes of Mahishmati.  Two brothers competing to rule the greatest kingdom of its age and the epic adventures they must endure to prove they are worthy to one day wear the crown. Under the watchful eye of Sivagami, and the warrior, Katappa, one shall rise to be King of the throne, while the other shall become King of the people.  The animated series will feature new, never before revealed stories about the characters from the film including Prince Baahubali, Bhallaladeva, Kattapa and Sivagami as well as dozens of new characters that will expand the world of Baahubali and reveal hidden secrets for millions of fans.

The series will follow the relationship between the two cousins as they journey across the Kingdom of Mahishmati, uncovering hidden mysteries, stopping ancient terrors and defending their people from danger.

The animated series was conceived by S. S. Rajamouli, Sharad Devarajan and Arka Mediaworks, who will all be Producers along with Jeevan J. Kang, Graphic’s EVP Creative and the lead character designer for the new animated series. Graphic’s senior animation writer, Ashwin Pande, will also be a Producer.

Digibooster launched: It's time for a new platform to buy and sell innovative content

We are finally in the digital  age, where information is  just a single click away and  brick and mortar businesses  are giving way to online  stores reaching across  boundaries of geography and  even time.

As the way of doing business  changes across industries, is  it not time for media and  entertainment professionals,  looking to buy or sell  content to also follow suit?
Digibooster is one such new  content market that  facilitates ease of  transactions between  production houses and  companies and individuals  looking to buy innovative  video content. 

Here, all forms of video  content including films, TV  series, Web Series, Animation  etc can be showcased and are  available for viewing by  representatives of verified  companies. Thus, in the  digital world, Digibooster is  the latest go-to place for IP  owners and Potential Buyers  to meet and explore  opportunities.

Says Nandini Mansingka, co-founder of Digibooster, "The advantages offered by  platform such as this are several. For starters, the content owners have full control and flexibility regarding the information they share and they get to decide which buyers to engage in a  discussion with at their own  discretion. The buyers benefit as they are free to contact the sellers directly without any pressure for 'window shopping.' We hope that content creators as well as buyers get onto Digibooster enthusiastically. Innovative content is the need of the hour."  The greatest advantage of  course is that while  Digibooster is based out of  Mumbai, India’s financial hub,  the focus is on developing  global business. Moreover,  the usual time constraints of  ‘work place hours’ don’t  apply and Digibooster is open  24x7, 365 days, as opposed to  physical markets like MIPCOM,  FILMART and Cannes Film  Market.

9Apps ties up with Disney to offer 300 mobile games in India

9Apps, part of Alibaba Group, has tied up with Disney India’s Interactive business to host and promote over 300 popular mobile games from its gaming catalogue. As India’s most popular third-party Android app market, 9Apps will now showcase games that include Inside Out Thought Bubbles, Mickey Cup, Minnie Cake Factory, Toy Story: Smash It!, Where’s My Water?, Lion King, Cricket World Cup Fever, ABCD2, Arjun: The Prince of Bali and many more.

Announcing the association, Mr. Ebrahim Popat, Country Manager, 9Apps said, “With over 250 million   monthly active users around the world and a strong presence in India, our association with Disney India’s Interactive business aims to target the local market and add value to our loyal and vast user base in the country. We are glad to see more top players like Disney India choosing 9Apps as a medium to popularise their games. This is a positive indication that our capacity in providing customised promotion service has been recognised by both – key players and the industry.”

It is the first time Disney has partnered with a third-party app market in India to promote some of its most popular games world-wide.“Technology plays a key role in furthering the reach of our beloved content amongst consumers on a platform of their choice. We have a great selection of gaming content based on our beloved characters and rich franchises, and with its growing popularity in India, 9Apps is definitely an association of choice to promote our rich catalogue of games and widen our consumer touch-points,” said Sameer Ganapathy, VP & Head, Interactive - Disney India.

The collaboration falls under 9Apps' Top Developer Program, an initiative under which 9Apps aims to foster an ecosystem for digital content developers to reach out to their target audience. Last quarter, 9Apps also launched a $20million InDev Program to help Indian independent and startup developers with specially designed solutions, especially in user acquisition and monetisation. 9Apps is one of the most popular Android app marketplaces with more than 250 million monthly active users who generate over 800 million app distributions every month and 26 million app downloads every single day.

Football fans are you ready to cheer with Abhishek Bachchan, in London

What if you could win a chance to experience…one of the biggest matches of this Premier League - the Chelsea VS Manchester United match, LIVE, at Stamford Bridge in London, with Abhishek Bachchan, on October 23^rd? And do good at the same time? Just for Rs. 300?

 

Buy My Time is a first of its kind Internet Company, based out of Bengaluru and Mumbai that uses online raffles to bring once-in-a-lifetime experiences to celebrity fans – at the same time, raising funds for charities. It enables everyone to have life-changing experiences with personalities/celebrities that they admire. These experiences are not only entertaining, adventurous and inspirational but also help give back to society at the same time.

 

This experience with Abhishek Bachchan is the first of many. Majority of the proceeds raised through ticket sales of this experience will be donated to the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled. The trust supports the visually impaired, disabled and underprivileged by providing them with education, vocational training and placement-based rehabilitation to help them achieve personal independence. (http://www.samarthanam.org/)

 

The experiences will straddle multiple categories – from Movies – Indian and International, Sports, Business, Fashion, TV, Food, Music, Arts, Lifestyle and more.

 

Sampath Kumar, MD, Buy My Time says – “The inspiration for the concept came to me from the yearly lunch Warren Buffett auctions for the benefit of Glide Foundation. It is amazing how it has empowered the Glide Foundation over the years – raising more than $3 million dollars this year alone.

 

The value of giving is at the very core of Buy My Time’s business model. The brand’s vision is to create once-in-a –lifetime experiences that are also empowering in the social context. It rests on 3 key pillars – Celebrities, Experiences and Charities.

 

The world around us is changing as we speak – not only are aspirational experiences no longer an urban phenomenon, there is also a worldwide movement to democratize ‘giving’ across cultures and countries. And we all are aware of the influence that celebrities and personalities wield on our psyche. Our attempt is to bring this influence to precipitate social change in the country.”

 

Buy My Time is not just partnering with like-minded celebrities like Abhishek but also has a clear perspective on the kind of charity partners it is associating with –NGO’s, charitable and philanthropic organisations that have a strong vision, implementation plan and are result oriented with proven past records.KPMG(security advisory partners vetting charities and winners) and  Ernst& Young (Compliance Partners)are helping them bring this vision to life.

 

Abhishek Bachchan says - As you guys know, I am an ardent supporter of Chelsea. And this match is especially exciting as we are facing off against Man Utd with Jose Morinho on their side. And when you add an interesting concept like Buy My Time and powering philanthropy to the mix, it only gets better. I am really looking forward to sharing this amazing experience with the winners. (Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vGvz-wwDWg)

 

Mahantesh G.K Founder and Managing Trustee, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled says “Our vision is to work towards an inclusive society free from discrimination, where persons with disabilities live with dignity and respect. Associating with Buy My Time empowers this vision.,

 

To participate all you have to do is log on to buymytime.com and buy a raffle ticket. Each ticket is just for ₹. 300 only. The more tickets you buy the more good you do and the closer you are to your dream experience.

 

The 4 winners will be finally selected through an online, automated process which is transparent and unbiased. They will have some of the best seats in the house on this all-expense paid trip with all aspects taken care of Buy My Time.

 

This experience with Abhishek is just the beginning. There are many amazing experiences planned for the coming year –Exploring the Tokyo fashion landscape with Sonam Kapoor, to having VIP music experiences. Log on to www.buymytime.com to know more.

 

INTERVIEW with Tapsi Pannu

कोणी छेडायचे तर मला माझीच चुकी वाटायची – तापसी पन्नु

-          हर्षदा वेदपाठक

डेव्हीड धवन दिग्दर्शित चष्मे बद्दर या चित्रपटाद्वारे पदार्पण करणारी तापसी पन्नु तिच्या गोड लुक्समुळे अनेकांच्या लक्षात राहीली खरी. परंतु त्या स्विट गर्लची ओळख तिने, बेबी या चित्रपटात ऍक्शन भुमिका करुन पुसुन काढली खरी. तर पिंक या चित्रपटात ती आजची शहरी मुलगी साकारताना दिसतेय. तिच्या या भुमिकेबद्दल तिच्याबरोबर केलेली बातचित...

चष्मे बद्दुर या चित्रपटानंतर तापसीने, दक्षिणेतील काही चित्रपटांमध्ये काम केलं आहे. आणि आता ती चक्क अमिताभ बच्चन यांच्या बरोबर पिंक या चित्रपटात काम करत आहे, “माझी लक लाईन माझ्या लाईफ लाईनपेक्षा अधिक दमदार असावी कदाचित. माझ्यासाठी चष्मे बद्दुर या चित्रपटाद्वारे कारकीर्दीची सुरवात करणे एक चांगला निर्णय होता कारण त्यामुळे कमर्शिअल अभिनेत्री म्हणुन मी ओळखली गेली. तेच जर मी बेवी किंवा पिंक या चित्रपटाद्वारे काम करायाला सुरवात केली असती तर लोकांनी मला आर्ट चित्रपटाची हिरोईन म्हणुन बाजुला केले असते. मी एक व्यावसायिक अभिनेत्री आहे, जी अभिनय करु शकते हे लोकांच्या  लक्षात आले. भुमिकांच्या बाबतित मी खुप सबुरीने निर्णय घेते. शुजीत सरकार यांचा रनिंग शादी डॉट कॉम हा चित्रपट मी केला होता. माझे ते काम पाहुन त्यांनी मला पिंक या चित्रपटासाठी विचारले. सगळ्या कलाकारांची निवड होईपर्यंत कोणालाही त्या चित्रपटात अमिताभ बच्चन आहेत हे सांगीतले गेले नव्हते. चित्रीकरणाला सुरवात करण्यापुर्वी आम्हाला त्याची माहिती दिली गेली. आणि तो आम्हाला एक धक्काच होता.  मी दिल्लीची मुलगी आहे, पिंकचे कथानक देखिल दिल्लीतच घडते. तसेच माझ्या भुमिकेत अनेक पापुद्रे असल्याने मी त्या भुमिकेसाठी होकार भरला”.

पिंकमध्ये तापसी, मिनल अरोरा या तरुणीची भुमिका निभावत आहे. जी मॉलस्ट्रेशन विरुध्द आवाज उठवते. मुलींची छेडछाड होणे हि एक सामान्य बाब असल्याचे ती मानते. “ते तर प्रेत्येक मुलीच्या रोजच्या जिवनाचा ऐक भाग आहे. माझ्याबरोबर कधी मॉलस्ट्रेशन झाले नाही परंतु मी बरयाचदा शारिरीक छेडछानीचा सामना केला आहे.आज असं वाटतं की, मी तेव्हाच त्यांना धडा शिकवायला पाहिजे होता. तेव्हा मी कॉलेजमध्ये होती आणि आम्हाला घरातुन काही सांगीतले जात जात असे, त्यात गल्लीतुन चालु नये, लहान कपडे घालु नयेत, अनोळखी लोकांबरोबर बोलु नये हे सांगीतले जात आसे. त्यामुळे आमच्याबरोबर काही घडलं तर त्यामध्ये आपलाच दोष आहे असे वाटत असे. बालपणापासुनच मुलींना असे काही शिकवुन त्यांचा एक माईन्ड सेट तयार केला जातो. छेडछेड किंवा कमेंन्ट पास करणे हा तर दिवसाच्या परिक्रमेचा एक भाग असायचा. ते माझ्या कॉलजचे दिवस होतेत आणि मला आठवतय, की गुरु नानक यांच्या जन्मदिवसाचा तो कार्यक्रम होता. कोणी मला कोठे हात लावु नये म्हणुन मी कॉलेजची बॅग पाठामागे लावुन त्यावर हात ठेवुन चालली होती. तर मला कोणी तरी टच केलाच. घाबरली होती मी पण, तरी सगळं बळ ऐकवटुन मी त्या माणसाला हात पिरगळला....पिरगळ होती आणि मागे बघायची माझी काही हिम्मत नव्हती. दिल्लीत तर बसमध्ये पण कोणी अंगाला चिटकत असे, तर कोणी जवळुन अंग घासुन जात असे. त्यावर माझी चुकी असल्यासारखी मी गप्प बसत असे. दिल्लीत असताना तर मी काहीच करु शकली नाही. मला हिम्मत आली ती मुंबईत आल्यावर”.

वडीलांच्या सावलीत सुरक्षित  राहणारी तापसी मुंबईत आल्यावर बरयापैकी आत्मनिर्भर झाल्याचे सांगते. आता तर तिचे वडील देखिल तिचा सल्ला घेतात. “तुम्ही विश्वास ठेवा माझ्या वडीलांनी मला ओव्हरनाईट स्टेची कधीच परवानगी दिली नव्हती. आणि विचार करा मी त्या वातावरणातुन सरळ दक्षिणेत जाते. तेथे चित्रपटात काम करते. आणि पुर्ण अडीच वर्ष तेथे एकटी राहते. त्या दरम्यान घर घेण्यापासुन, ते सजवेपर्यत मी सगळं ऐकटीने केलं. माझ्या बहीणीला माझ्या घरी बोलावले तिचे पालन पोषण केले आणि त्यानंतर मी मुंबईला शिफ्ट झाली. स्वताच्या कमाईने मी घर आणि गाडी विकत घेतली. बहीणीला बिझनेस सेट करुन दिला. खरं तर मी ठरवलंच होतं की, जेव्हा मी कमावती होईन तेव्हा पासुन बहीणीला पॉकेट मनी देत जाईन. माझी पहिली कमाई चार हजार होती. आता तर माझी बहीण देखिल स्वताच्या पायावर उभी राहीली आहे. मात्र कमालीची बात तर हि आहे की, माझ्याबद्दल माझ्या वडीलांचा दृष्टीकोण आता बदलला आहे. अगदी काही महिन्यापुर्वी त्यांना बॅन्केचे लोन घ्यायचे होते. आणि घरची प्रॉपर्टी विकायची गोष्ट झाली. तेव्हा त्यांनी माझ्याकडे सल्ला मागितला. आणि मी त्यांना माझ्या वाट्याची प्रॉपर्टी विकायला सांगीतली. ते पैसे वापरायला सांगीतले आणि उरलेले लोन मी चुकते करीन हे सांगीतले. वडीलांना हे समजावताना मी आयुष्यात काही तरी मिळवले आहे असं मला वाटु लागले”.

पुन्हा ऐकवार पिंक या चित्रपटाकडे वळताना ती सांगते, “या चित्रपटातील सगळीच दृष्य दमवणारी होतीत. खास करुन कोर्टातील दृष्ये, मला दररोज सेटवर जातान, मी सॅक्सच्युअल मॉलस्ट्रेशनची शिकार झाली आहे त्याच मानसिकतेने जावे लागे. माझ्याबरोबर ती घटना घडली आहे  या विचारानेच मला टॉर्चर व्हावे लागे. चित्रपटात तुम्ही माझ्या डोळ्यात जे पाणी पाहता ते ग्लीसरीनशिवाय आलेले आसु आहेत, मी भुमिकेत स्वताला इतकं समर्पीत केलं होत. पिंक हा चित्रपट आम्ही तेहतीस दिवसात चित्रीत केला. आणि त्यानंतर मला ऐका आठवड्याची सुट्टी घ्यावी लागली. मी इतकी एक्झॉस्ट झाली होती. माझी अवस्था अशी झाली होती की, मी लहानसहान गोष्टीवरुन उगाचच रडु लागायची. मी इतकी कमकुमवत झाली की, ऐका क्षणाला ती घटना माझ्याबरोबरच झाली की काय असे मला वाटु लागले होते. मी देवाचे आभार मानते की, आम्ही दिल्लीतच चित्रीकरण करत होतो आणि माझ्या डीप्रेशनमधुन मला बाहेर काढायला माझे कुटुंब माझ्याबरोबर होते. शुटींगनंतर मी माझ्या मित्र मंडळींना सेटवर डीनरसाठी बोलवत असे. मुंबईमध्ये जेव्हा आम्ही कोर्टाची दृष्ये चित्रीत करत होतो तेव्हा माझे आईवडील माझ्या बरोबरच होतेत. त्याने मला फार मोठा दिलासा मिळाला, नाहीतर या भुमिकेने मला आताबाहेर भेदुनच टाकले असते”.      

Abigail Eames's fan moment with Badshah

Abigail Eames, the British child artiste who makes her Indian debut in Shivaay had a fan moment during the music video shoot of the title track Bolo Har Har Har.

Abigail was in India for the dubbing of Shivaay recently and though she was not scheduled to go to the shoot, Abigail, landed up on the shoot as she wanted to meet Badshah. She has been introduced to the Indian music scene by the crew while shooting.

Abigail and Badshah shared some time talking about music while Badshah was doing his elaborate special tattoo for his look in the Bolo Har Har Har music video. The track has received rave reviews from the Music Pundits as well as the audience across the country and rest of the world. Badshah is very happy with the way the music video and the track have turned out and is being received by listeners. 

Clearly from today's generation, Abigail is absolutely thrilled that her film has such a powerful song. She has also asked for the English translation and made BOLO HAR HAR HAR a favourite on her playlist.

Farhan Akhtar to perform at Enchanted Valley Carnival

The wait is finally over as India’s largest multi genre music and camping festival ‘Enchanted Valley Carnival’ confirms that Farhan Akhtar with his band ‘Farhan Live’ will be performing at the debut Bollywood Stage.  The two-day festival offers a memorable experience with a mix of music, adventure and entertainment at the Enchanted Village. Fans can witness a spectacular performance and listen to his latest hits. With Bollywood on one side, EVC is making it groovy with International techno artists like Carlo Lio, Jeremy Olander and Stephan Bodzin. With such a varied mix of genres, we are certain that a lot more surprises are in store.

 

Farhan Akhtar commented to say, “I'm excited to perform with my band ‘Farhan Live’ at Enchanted Valley Carnival this December. With Bollywood as part of EVC for the first time, I’m excited to be one of the first ones to unveil it. Looking forward to all the madness that awaits.”

 

In its fourth edition, EVC promises to go bigger and better with two additional music genres- Bollywood and International Pop that makes it a perfect blend of international and homegrown talent.The festival lets you experience interesting aspects of Indian culture through Bon Fires, Painting and Art workshops, Drum Circles and even Silent Parties!

Ranveer attends hairstylist's salon launch

Ranveer Singh, the friendly and flamboyant superstar, is also known to be generous and supportive. His kindness has touched the lives of people in his staff often, helping them in multiple ways.

One such person that Ranveer has encouraged for a few years is his hairstylist, Darshan Yewalekar. They worked together for the first time while shooting Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela and ever since, Darshan has become Ranveer’s preferred hair stylist. Over the course of this time, Darshan has been working towards setting up his salon. Ranveer has encouraged him and supported him in his endeavor to become independent.

Now, as Darshan’s salon opens its doors to customers, Ranveer made the inauguration  a special event with a popular live interaction on social media.His starry presence and testimony will go a long way in driving interest and business to this new venture in a competitive atmosphere. Set to open in Mumbai’s tony suburb Bandra, Darshan is grateful for this superstar- friend’s support in this endeavor. "Because Ranveer is busy, I asked him if he could just tweet about the launch of my barbershop, D Shave. He replied 'Are you mad! I will do the opening.' Ranveer has been very supportive in my dream project. He always pushes me to outdo myself. I feel blessed to have him by my side,” said Darshan

While this is not the first time Ranveer has been generous and supportive towards people he cares about, this won’t be the last either. His all heart persona shines through with such actions naturally, and these gestures mark his relationship with his colleagues and staff. Ranveer says, “ Darshan has worked with me since Ram Leela and over time, I’ve begun to see a great evolution in his skills as a hair stylist. He is a natural talent. He is a thorough professional and a team player and has contributed immensely in my every endeavour . I think it’s fantastic that he is going independent, it's the right time and with Darshan's vision and attitude I think he will shine. His new enterprise has a unique and promising concept. I will always support him , he is like family to me . I wish him luck and success with his salon”

Ajay and Kajol's US Tour Ends on a High

Ajay and Kajol's trip to New York, Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco for promotions of their upcoming production Shivaay has ended on a high.

The actors promoted Shivaay with American press, met some affluent Indian families at gala events set up by the organizers and visited the Google and Facebook HQ too.

While Kajol does visit the US for work commitments and shootings, Ajay visited the country after ten long years and their fans were thrilled to see the couple together. So much so, that Google had to hold a lottery for its employees to attend the talk hosted at their HQ with Ajay and Kajol.

The actors gave it their all by visiting four cities in three days over a hectic schedule and interacting with hundreds of press and thousands of fans. Looks like the Devgn’s are leaving no stone unturned to make the most of their US tour!

As the organizers who bought Shivaay to USA, It was a pleasure working with Ajay Devgn and Kajol. Despite a hectic schedule the stars made it to all the cities even in a tight time frame. We wish Shivaay all the best for the release and would like to once again thank Ajay Devgn and Kajol in believing in us and putting down such an amazing tour in such tight schedule.

Zindagi Channel to launch new prime time linp in coming month

Zindagi has been a category creator in the Indian entertainment space. Having garnered discerning and premium audiences, Zindagi, over the last 27 weeks has maintained its position as the No. 1 Premium Entertainment Channel with 710 average GTVTs. (Source: BARC Alpha Club ratings; TG: NCCS A1, 6 Metros, Period: WK5’ To WK 32’2016, AV GTVTs). The channel has announced its evolution, with a new primetime line- up in Delhi today that will start from October 3, 2016.

Addressing the conference Dr. Subhash Chandra (Chairman-ZEE & Essel Group), said, “It’s an unfortunate decision we had to take to stop all programming from Pakistan. We at Zee, have tried for the past 24 years to bridge the gap, however, the one-way street is not working. We took a decision in our hearts right after the Uri attack. Our team met and agreed for the same. We at Zindagi want to respect the sentiments of our viewers, and of our country, and that is why we had to take this step.”

“Zindagi has been the reason for the rise of a number of stars from Pakistan but when we requested them to at least condemn the attacks without naming their country, none of them came forward.” He further added. 

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL), Chief Business Officer, Mr. Sunil Buch said, “Zindagi was launched with the promise of bringing the best shows from across the world to Indian television screens. Our compelling content has always been, and will continue to be our calling card. A thought leader in premium entertainment with a distinct character, Zindagi presents finite world stories with bold narratives which unveil universal emotions. The Alpha Club numbers give us resounding encouragement that we are on the right path of providing premium entertainment. What sets the channel apart is its consistent commitment to show Finite, Real, Vibrant, and Premium world stories. Zindagi will enhance its slate of shows from 3rd October 2016. Hand-picked stories from India, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Latin America and Korea, amongst others, will now be available on the channel. For our bi-lingual premium audiences, for the first time ever in India, Zindagi will also soon be available on a dual feed of Hindi & English. It will also be the first channel in the entire Indian TV industry to offer live streaming on Periscope, simultaneously with the linear TV feed.”

At Zindagi, every show is not just a story…but a reflection of our life experiences! Each story is not only beautifully crafted but also delivered with impeccable direction and utmost sensitivity in terms of treatment and portrayal of the characters. Audiences relate to these endearing and powerful characters and index it to their own life journey savoring every moment. Sunil adds, “The channel's positioning ’Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi’ does justice to the brilliant brand name, and mirrors the essence of the word Zindagi. Anywhere in the World, Life is a finite procession of moments and it’s important that we live each and every one of them. There is no sense in doing Rewind – Play and lose our today, our moment in the quest of analyzing / living in the past. That’s the top line of the channel, literally, amongst a plethora of only base lines that exist for brands across the world. Again a departure from traditional base lines associated with most brands/channels and true to the thought leader grain of Zindagi.”

Zindagi’s uniqueness lies in the quality of its content and the increasing global sensibility amongst its evolved audiences. This reflects in the new primetime slate that will launch this festive season from October 3. The new shows include a light-hearted Turkish drama, ‘Little Lord’ at 7.30 PM, which is an endearing tale of a parent-child relationship seen through the lens of a six year old, Mehmet. And, the Turkish blockbuster Fatmagul is the story of an innocent girl whose fairytale life is turned into a nightmare when she gets raped and is forced to marry the accused will continue to entertain viewers at 9.00 PM. Three Indian originals that push societal thinking are also a part of the new offerings and includes a rip-roaring comedy by Sunjoy Wadhwa’s Sphere Origins’ titled ‘TV Ke Uss Paar’ at 8.30 PM that is a tongue-in-cheek sitcom on the world of daily soaps and a reality check on how today’s society is obsessed with television. The three endearing romances from India includes Anupam Kher’s first fiction production on TV called ‘Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par’ that will air at 10.00 PM and produced by his company, Actor Prepares. It is the story of a 24 year old boy, Arya who leaves behind his girlfriend, Niyati, and his family to come to Bombay to fulfill his dream of being a star! Gulshan Sachdeva’s Film & Shots have produced the next love story, ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ to air at 7.00 PM. That centres around the journey of a rich Delhi girl, Neema, who marries a simple, middle class boy, Ravi much against her father’s wishes and how they dealing with her meddling father.   After the phenomenal success of Feriha, Zindagi will soon premiere its second season.  And that’s not all…coming soon for the movie buffs on Sunday, ‘ZINDAGI AWESOMES’’ will feature the most iconic films that have defined Indian Cinema.

7th Jagran Film Festival day two

Following an impactful day, the 7^th Jagran Film Festival took the movie aficionados with surprise as they were overwhelmed with watching iconic Indian and international films, to attending workshops and interacting with film wizards.

On day two, the films that were showcased and applauded by the movie buffs in the World Cinema section were two Spanish films, Habanastation and Zoe, directed by Ian Padron and Ander Duque respectively and also English film Pop Up, directed by Stuart McBratney, German film Hear The Silence, Portuguese film, Letter, directed by Sergio Graciano and Mexican-Spanish film Eddie Reynolds and The Iron Angels, directed by Gustavo Moheno.

The popular Indian Showcase section witnessed critically-acclaimed films including Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan’s Lens, Hansal Mehta’s Aligarh, Aparna Sen’s Arshinagar, Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar, K D Satyam’s Bollywood Diaries and Bauddhayan Mukherji’s The Violin Player whereas the Retro/Tributes category showcased films including V Shantaram’s Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding, Algimantas Puipa’s Garden Of Eden, Kireet Khurana’s Maker On Maker and Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai.

For film aspirants, a session that featured revolutionary and renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in conversation with Ajay Brahmatmaj was the highlight for its immense takeaways. Director-producer-actor Anurag Kashyap touched upon his journey as a filmmaker while also speaking about economics of filmmaking, film budget, taxes, number of screens, content films, acting, short films and venturing into bhojpuri cinema among others.

On his interest of attending film festivals, Anurag Kashyap said at the event, “It's for my own survival. It has helped in my growth as a filmmaker and a producer. Personally, it helps me evaluate and expand my own market."

Ritesh Shah, writer of recently released film Pink, has also graced the film festival. He revealed technical elements of script writing and motivated the aspiring writers. He shared his experiences of writing Pink, which took the audience by surprise. 

Mira Nair’s Queen Of Katwe generates Oscar buzz

 Mira Nair’s ‘Queen of Katwe’ has already generated rave critical reviews at various premieres and festivals. And it looks like Queen Of Katwe is already en route for a presence at the next Oscars!

The stars of the film Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo presented the film at a special screening in New York hosted by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences.

“Queen of Katwe” is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl ‘Phiona Mutesi’ from the streets of Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and opens in India on 7^th October,2016.

Oscar-winner Lupita, who plays Phiona's fiercely protective and indefatigable mother, Harriet, said that while she was not yet a mother, she learned about the selflessness of motherhood.

'It's almost like your heart is dislocated and running around and just feeling the fear, inhabiting the fear of a mother letting her chicks out every day to survive,' she said.

Director Amol Gupte rolls out India's first kid's action adventure film Sniff

Leading Indian studio, Eros International’s Trinity Pictures, India’s first franchise studio rolled out its first feature film, Sniff, a big-scale kid’s live action-adventure film this month. A fresh new genre introduced in Indian cinema, the film went on floor on September 5, the day marking the commencement of Ganesh Chaturthi festival and will be shot across various locations in Mumbai.

Helmed by acclaimed director, Amole Gupte, of Taare Zameen Par and Stanley Ka Dabba fame, the man behind several acclaimed children-centric films, reputed to spot talent in children and introduce fresh new faces in Indian film industry (Darsheel Safari in Taare Zameen Par, his son Partho in Stanley Ka Dabba, etc.), is all set to launch his next discovery Khushmeet Gill, an 8-year-old ‘wonder’ boy who plays the lead character in this family entertainer that revolves around a young Sikh boy, who is a spy in the making along with his curious gang of extraordinary cohorts.

Amole Gupte commenced the shoot with his young star in Mumbai with a Ganesh Aarti sung by Shankar Mahadevan. Music in the film has been composed by Mujtaba Aziz Naza, son of the famous Qawwali singer Aziz Naza. 

Shamita Shetty to perform on Shilpa Shetty’s songs in Cape Town

Shamita Shetty loves dancing, which was quite evident after she showcased her dancing skills on the popular reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9. 

The dancing star follows the footsteps of her dearest sister Shilpa Shetty when it comes to dance! Buzz is that Shamita will be performing on Shilpa’s songs at a stage show in Cape Town to be held at the end of this month. Shamita is looking forward to perform on Shilpa’s chartbusters and has been rehearsing rigorously for the same, as its one of the biggest shows in Cape Town. 

In one of her recent interviews, Shamita said that dancing is fun and it keeps her happy and stress-free. 

Shamita adds, "I love dancing ... I have grown watching the typical Bollywood numbers .Shilpa is one of the best dancers the industry has and I used to love dancing to her songs and now I get the opportunity to do it on stage".