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by Aparajita Jaiswal Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career 3 March 2022 Advertisement Advertisement In a candid interview with Manya Vadehra, Ahsaas Channa (actor) talks about acting in movies, television, and digital web shows. From Jugaadistan to shooting for Hostel days season 3, she gives us some worth noting down “deets” from her upcoming projects. She is a passionate actor and believer. Ahsaas Channa was born and brought up in Mumbai. She started her career as a child actor in films such as Vaastu Shastra and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, where she stepped into male roles. “I was three years old and I was a very active child. Anytime there was any scene playing on TV, I used to remember all the lines, and for a three-year-old to remember all the lines was kind of weird and it catches a lot of eyes. So, my mom noticed this, and she realized that I might do well if I start acting and she put me for auditions. I had auditioned for Vaastu Shastra, which was my first film, and for the part, they had wanted a boy because the whole film was about this boy, but they really liked my audition. So, the director requested my mom, you know, if it’s okay for me to play a boy. And at first, my mom was not very (convinced) and she had many reservations but eventually said that I was too young and she saw no problems” says Ahsaas. The film performed exceedingly well and Ahsaas was given several opportunities including advertisements. Ahsaas added “I think when I was around seven years old, my mom realized that this is it, this should stop, and I should start acting like a girl. That’s when I did Phoonk. This was my debut film as a girl.” In her acting journey, Ahsaas received several television roles such as Oye Jassie (Disney) and MTV Fanaah. “Television was great. It was a whole different experience. Honestly, I never wanted to do TV as much but at that time, I did not want to leave acting because I was studying, and a lot of things were there. So, I always made sure I did cameos on TV shows, or a Disney show that doesn’t take much time, just like a few months where they shoot all the episodes together. So, I tried to do that as much. Even in Fanaah, I had a cameo with a lead role. I think TV really teaches you a lot as an actor because there’s a lot happening. I think doing TV is the best if you don’t go to an acting school. So, I got to learn a lot from TV. I got to understand axis and lighting, professionalism, and all these things” says Ahsaas as she explains how television acting played an important and significant role in her career span. Digitally run web shows have become a new and revolutionary trend in today’s world. It has brought about novel concepts, story angles, and acting methodologies. When asked for an opinion about OTT and its difference from films and television, here is what Ahsaas had to say- “I’ve realized that there is literally no difference because everybody is doing the same thing everywhere, be it on TV or on OTT. We are all trying to tell a story and acting and becoming characters. The only difference, maybe, would be the time period; how long it takes us to shoot a web series or a TV series. I think TV takes longer, it binds you for a year or more and web series is like a month or two months at max. As it is rightly said, behind every successful person, is an inspiring story or person. For Ahsaas Channa, it is her mother. “She’s the reason I’m an actor today. She’s taught me everything. I never went to an acting school, she groomed me and worked on my craft with me. She’s also an actress and I’ve seen her act and work hard. So, she’s always been my inspiration.” While talking about her experience, Ahsaas also reveals some positives and negatives of being in the spotlight in show business. “One thing that we always need to look out for is that there are a lot of people running in the same race. They are trying to achieve exactly what you are achieving. So, the moment you lose yourself and become a little lazy, you can be taken for granted and somebody else is going to overtake. For an actor, I think there are many good things. My favourite thing is that I get to do things that I wouldn’t be able to do in real life, for example, I’ve never ever studied medical. But through Kota Factory, I was a medical student. So, an actor gets to do different kinds of things that they wouldn’t do in real life. Play different characters, be in different situations and get different kinds of experiences. I’ve never been to a hostel, but I’ve done two shows that are based on hostels. I got to live the hostel life through these shows. So, I think this is the best part of being an actor.” Ahsaas “goes with the flow” when it comes to preparing for a role. She says “I read the script a lot of times before I’m on the floor. Also, I read scenes with the writers and the directors and get their feedback”. Ahsaas does not follow a particular method to prepare for a role. She explains by giving an example- “In Jugaadistan, I’m a journalism student. I don’t know anything about journalism. I just started watching a lot of interviews, I read a bit about journalism and journalists. But that’s all. That’s the max I do. I feel like if I prepare too much then things become very mechanical.” Throwing light into her upcoming projects, here’s what she has to say about them- “ Jugaadistan is set in the college universe. The universe that I’ve already explored. But it’s still very different because we’ve tried to explore a very dark side of college and university. While it is a lot of fun, we are still exploring friendships, relationships, jugaads, and a college fest in the show. There’s a brilliant ensemble here as well and everybody has a story of their own. I’ve always wanted to work with Akarsh Khurana and when I got an offer for this, this was the first thing that caught my eye, that Akarsh is directing the show.” Ahsaas also gave details about Hostel Days season and two more upcoming projects. Ahsaas Channa is a hard worker and believes that one should not take things for granted but keep working, believe in oneself and make the most out of the opportunities one gets in life. #AhsaasChannatalksabouthermotherbeingtheinspirationbehindhercareer #actor #jugaadistan #AhssasChanna #Fashion #play #lutopia #magazine #LutopiaMagazine #actress #lionsgateplay #Bollywoodactress #lionsgate #jugaadistan SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aparajita Jaiswal Books and Beyond with Bound and Tara Khandelwal, founder of Bound 5 July 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement While pursuing her passion for books, in a freewheel chat with Aparajita Jaiswal, Tara Khandelwal shares her journey in building Bound from scratch through podcasts with famous authors on “Books and Beyond with Bound.” An ambition young woman with much to bring to the world, Tara Khandelwal has created a world of proximity between writers, readers and authors, leading to a sanctuary for the literary arts. Bookworm, Tara Khandelwal, an editor and writer, is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University and the Columbia Publishing Course. She has worked with organizations like Penguin, BloombergQuint and SheThePeople.TV . Although, her most prized achievement is as a founder of Bound which provides skill building for creativity through writers’ retreats, workshops, writing coaching and editorial services. Tara, alongside her co-founder, Michelle D’costa, has created a podcast called ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’. On this podcast, the ambitious and perspicacious Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa speak to India’s most profound contemporary writers like Manu Pillai, Lisa Ray, Avni Doshi and more, providing voracious readers insights into their favourite authors’ lives. Across international waters, many countries provide various resources for aspiring writers like writing retreats, writing courses, coaching and many more. Tara envisioned something similar and brought it home to India and created similar resources through Bound. “There was an emerging literary culture and people interested in the art of literature but education for the literary arts was international so I decided to plug that cap and started my journey through writer’s retreats, one of the first in India. This was to provide aspiring writers with quality and affordable education.” Her motive was to bridge the gap between readers and their favorite authors and also to provide authors with a platform to engage in teaching what they have procured from this field. After a couple of retreats, bound took to also teaching in various cities like Mumbai and Pune, online and in-person. They teach creative writing for fiction and poetry through meditative writing, screenwriting and various others, their mandate being skill building for creatives. To that end, Bound also provides editorial and mentoring services, enabling authors and writers to work on their projects on a one on one basis. The podcasts, books and beyond with bound, is an attempt to bring readers and writers closer to the authors they love and admire. “It was a dream project for us,” she says. They are almost done with their first season and are definitely going to begin recording their second season. “I wish there were more readers for all the writers out there. That’s one thing I’d like to change about the world.” Tara Khandelwal “Every author that I have worked with I admire for their strong and stellar work ethic.” When asked if as a kid she admired a particular author that encouraged her to pursue a career in this field Tara immediately replied with Enid Blyton. “I was four or five when I first started reading and I started with Enid Blyton. I remember being mind blown when I read my first book, The Secret Island. I didn’t understand the joy of reading at that age but I kept reading and reading from there on forward.” “Every part of my job is challenging but equally fulfilling but the most challenging part is innovating and finding new ways to grow.” Tara says that finding new ways to grow and starting new projects is always challenging but also scary as you never know what is going to happen. “Keeping up motivation is challenging,” she says. “I perceive success as hard work and pushing oneself out of their comfort zone. It is when you know you’re not being complacent and always striving for the next step. For me success would be setting new goals and working to achieve it and having a mentality to achieve resilience.” Tara Khandelwal Besides writing Tara also enjoys yoga as she likes to work out and keep fit and healthy. She also enjoys learning various things. In her free time she does classes and learns about new things and passing her time reading. When asked if she would ever write a book of her own after working to edit other authors’ work she says, “Never say never as never is not in my vocab.” So here’s hoping she does write a book with her profound skill set. Tara Khandelwal has also worked as an editor for Writers’ Side, the biggest literary agency in India, Hachette, Rupa and UK-based Eyewear Publishing, among many others all together. #TaraTaraKhandelwalBooksBooksandbeyondBoundWritersReadersAuthorsLiterary SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aparajita Jaiswal Shriya Saran Speaks Fondly Of Her Relationship With Her Loving Daughter, Radha 22 February 2023 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Shriya Saran, an Indian actress who works predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi-language films though aspired to become a well-known dancer, she became an actress with her film debut in 2001 with the Telugu film Ishtam, and had her first commercial success with Nuvve Nuvve. Saran subsequently appeared in several more Telugu films alongside Hindi and Tamil films. In addition to her work in films, Saran has been the brand ambassador for brands across India, endorsing beauty and health products. She was also the brand ambassador for Celebrity Cricket League for its first two seasons. Shriya Saran is a versatile actress with a standing in multiple film industries, having done films in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, Malayalam and Kannada. We are all looking forward to her upcoming projects, Kazaa with Upendra and Sudeep, Music school with Sharman Joshi and a show with Dharma. In a Candid interview with Aparajita Jaiswal she relays how grateful she is to be a part of cinema and having lived in a country that is so beautifully united even though we have such diverse cultures and inhabit disparate worlds of thought. She talks about taking a flight from Delhi to Hyderabad and how that experience changed her life, opening her to a range of cultures and then eventually learning multiple languages including Tamil. “This journey has taught me everything that I am today and it has made me stronger. It has made me understand the power of cinema and how beautiful it is. I’m so grateful that I’m part of cinema. Also, I feel it’s beautiful how language changes the flavour of people. Every language has a different sense of humour and different ways of telling stories but one thing that unites cinema is that one ‘camera’ that we act for and that one ‘action and take’. It’s magic that happens and that’s what makes us alive. I am so grateful I’m part of the cinema.” Shriya Saran speaks about her experience working with Ajay Devgn, one of Bollywood’s gems and a legend. “With Ajay Devgan, I have worked in Drishyam 1, Drishyam 2 and RRR. Thankfully with Krishna’s blessings, they have all been very big hits. It was a pleasure working with someone as trained and as articulate as he is. He lights up the camera, he lights up the screen and he’s a very giving actor. He speaks with his eyes and expresses so beautifully with his eyes. He’s a wonderful actor. He gives a lot to the actor he works with too. It’s just amazing to work with him.” Today’s world and today’s cinema is perceivably about beauty and the visual arts. Shriya talks about going back to her pre-pregnancy shape, being a public figure. “It’s a visual medium and I’m an actor. Visually, everything has to be perfect when I’m on stage and when I’m in front of the camera. So, there is the stress of losing weight and today, we live in an Instagram world where everything has to be perfect. There are filters and what not. I feel like it’s about the pressure that you put on yourself today. Today, I’m very respectful of my body and I love what my body has done for me. I’m very grateful for it, I’m very grateful to Krishna for my body and for my health. I’m moving towards being healthy, doing a lot of yoga, dance and kathak. It’s more about competing with my own self and being a better version of myself than trying to look like somebody else.” Therapy for mental health issues amongst men and women in today's age and climate is a must and a rising issue. Shriya Saran comes forward to speak more about it. “I think that it is very interesting that mental health is being addressed, thanks to a lot of people. Somebody who really came forward and spoke a lot about it is Deepika Padukone and then Alia Bhatt’s own sister spoke about it. I was talking to Ishaan and his wife spoke a lot about it. So, a lot of people who talked about it were more honest about what they were feeling before it was supposed to be not cool to talk about it but now it’s more normalized and I’m very grateful to all the beautiful people who came out and spoke about mental health.” Shriya Saran also talks about women empowerment and how it should be about equality more than anything else. “I think women empowerment for me is all about getting equal rights for women and men and respect. Just giving us equal opportunities and actually stop asking questions like ‘How will you work now that you are with child?’ Or ‘How will you work now that you are married?’. Just creating a space which is very favourable and easy for women to work.” Women empowerment means strengthening women with all the rights of social, economic, and educational needs. It is to create an environment having no gender inequality for women. It is to empower them with equal rights in the family, society, community, and workplace. Everyone loves seeing Shriya and her relationship with Radha on her Instagram. She speaks very fondly of her as she says, “‘The mother’ has changed everything in me. Radha is everything to me. She’s my life, she’s my sunshine. I see her feet on the sand when she runs and when she touches water, her little fingers and she says these little little words: ‘Mama’, ‘Papa’. It’s just beautiful, every day’s a new day. I love her. She’s making me a better person. I love my work more now and I feel like today, I want to make her proud and everyday I’m at work, I’m on the set, I want to make her proud. I want her to watch my films one day and say ‘I love what you’ve done, Mama. I’m very proud of you.’" SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

By Aadhya Venkatesh Honing skills and stepping beyond comfort: Sunayana Fozdar talks work, fitness and more 30 June 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Actor and performer Sunayana Fozdar ventured into the Indian TV industry after doing films in the south. Her most current as Anjali Mehta in the hit show Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashma has garnered her lots of love and applause from the audiences. Sunayana believes that the TV industry is more fast-paced due to the daily telecast and allows one to polish their skills. She enjoys the production process of both TV and Cinema and wishes to work in both worlds. Sunayana believes that hard work combined with discipline and consistency is the key to success. She advises against falling for the glittering glamour of the industry and pushes aspiring actors to learn and better themselves. She wishes to take up Reality TV shows in the future and believes that "It is the best way to connect with your audiences and let them get to know who you are." When it comes to skincare, Sunayana believes that both health and skincare routines contribute significantly to a healthy mind. She does different things like walking, dancing, running, CrossFit, etc., but most of all, she loves to walk. Her skincare routine is fundamental, and she believes in keeping the skin clean and hydrated. Sunayana avoids using makeup when she doesn't have to and always sleeps with bare skin. She believes that letting the skin breathe is important. "When you are mentally in a good position, your skin will glow, and your body will be happy". For fitness, Sunayana does not believe in following fad diets. She eats everything from cakes to chocolates but in moderation. Eating simple food and drinking a lot of water is her go-to tip for fitness and being physically active. She promotes doing anything that personally suits you and your mindset, along with eating right and sleeping adequately. When asked about the trolling she receives over social media, Sunayana said, "When you ignore something, it fizzles out". She doesn't let the trolling get to her and maintains a positive attitude by surrounding herself with friends and family. "Eventually, if you are on the right path and focus on work, everything else will fall into place". Her main inspiration in life has been her mother. She always pushed Sunayana to get out of her comfort zone. "She has been a single mom, and you can imagine the hurdles and strength she's had". Sunayana likes to believe that she has the same strength and is a reflection of her mother. SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aparajita Jaiswal A look into actor, producer and designer Shama Sikander’s journey 30 June 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement “Life is my biggest role model and people are my biggest inspiration.” In our recent interview with Shama Sikander , the actor gives us a gist of her acting journey. From filming movies (like Prem Aggan, Mann, Dhoom Dhadaka, Seven) to television shows (like Ye Meri Life Hai), Shama seems to have learnt extensively from her experiences. “My projects have taught me a lot about humans and life other than acting as well. Acting comes naturally to me. I feel ecstatic when I’m in front of camera. One gets a chance to put to life a character with their own imagination. Shooting films need more time and therefore, are a bit of an ease in comparison to television. Television is all about delivering the product. Nowadays, T.V shows are equally well made but films have their own charm. Overall, the journey has made me stronger and given me the courage to fight for myself.”, says the actor. A multitasker at hand, the actor adds two more achievements in her bag- owning a production company and a women’s wear fashion label named Saisha. Shama says “It feels empowering to own a production company. As for fashion, at the time I was going through a phase where I was looking for a change in my life. Hence, I wanted to venture into something other than acting as well so I started Saisha. It feels good and creative to be a designer.” Another cherry on the cake is the actor’s dream to start directing films and shows “sometime soon”. Having clarity in terms of future goals and plans in certainly a “plus-plus” and the actor seems to have a definitive agenda. “I am currently focusing on acting and working on a peppy dance-music video. I’m going through a couple of more scripts as of now and keeping my eyes open to collaborating on some good projects as a producer too. I want to utilise my acting ability to draw an impact in the coming years.” Moreover, the actor claims that she is rejoiced at the response her recent music video Majnu 2 alongside Mika Singh is receiving. Since the longest, being a public figure and in the spotlight has its set of positives and negatives. According to the actor, the “ups and downs” are a part of the job. Keeping such a mindset and reminding oneself of the true purpose as to entering the space and help actors in staying clear of negative thoughts and emotions. Shama deepens the conversation further when asked about her biggest role model to which she remarkably responds- “Life is my biggest role model and people are my biggest inspiration. We inspire each other through our vulnerabilities and strength all the time.” Shama ends the interview in a beautiful note by reminding her fans to love themselves through all the thick and thins existing in the universe. SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aparajita Jaiswal Actor Kangna Sharma gives a sneak peek into the movie of her life 30 June 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement “After Sunset, there is Sunrise. So Don’t Give Up !” Kangna Sharma (actor) started off her journey as a model in 2012. However, the actor did not always plan to enter the show and modelling business. She reveals that even though she aspired to become an army officer, “destiny had its own plans” as she “switched to the glamour world”. From modelling to featuring in music videos such as Yaarr Ni Milyaa by Harrdy Sandhu, Parde Mein Rehne, and more, the actor claims that she has developed fondness and passion towards such projects, which gave her the “confidence” to officially become an actor with her film debut- Great Grand Masti. Having experiences in film, television and web show acting, Kangna gave us an insight into the differences between shooting for different platforms. She claims- “ The tv industry and web series are like siblings. However, there is a huge difference between both . We have to put more efforts and be cautious when shooting for TV Industry because it reaches everyone on a daily basis. In Web-series and movies, more time is given and thus, we can rectify the takes if needed.” A balance-keeper between her personal interests and professional work, Kangna can smoothly manage a fresh workout routine or her dancing and singing with her busy schedules. When Kangna was asked about her alternate career options, her answer was a big-shot inspiration. She reveals, “If not the show industry, I would definitely be into social work. I want to work for people in the society. I would open an NGO and give my entire time to help people in every possible way”. Everyone has future plans and goals, and Kangna is no different. She reveals that she is currently working on music and web series and wishes to open her own production house so as to produce movies. Kangna ends the interview on a beautiful note with a message for her fans which says- After Sunset, there is Sunrise. So Don’t Give Up ! SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Naisargi Devdher Spring Of Glitz & Glam 27 August 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement In the midst of monsoon receiving a cup of hot tea is like reviving life on every corner of your stick nerves. Well, that’s exactly what Soniya Bansal seems to be presently grooving warmer than the cosy cover of your winter bed. From candidly being vocal about late teens and being surrounded by artists to her FASHION CUTS , it seems to be welcoming a new season of her in this article !!! From getting termed as an outsider to being recognised as a ‘Pageant’ the journey is filled with boundaries that need to be crossed over, these takes her through variety of experiences. “Experiences are not just to be categorized as really exuberating or bitter to face. I don’t actually take all of it very personally overloading it on my bosom, as it depends on how audience perceives a woman’s aura and character to be. Anyways, it’s now that I fathom the truth in various manners. Being a fresher, the experiences, however, were horridly cold as only response to inquiries made was meeting up people from various groups on being suggested to running doors for work. That’s the major difference today when I have work no one actually suggests meeting up rather they just walk up to my door with work in hand!” From engaging in moves to modelling for path breaking magazines and finally grooving the media for her very particular sense of fashion, she has blazed all the roles. Being a woman there are several words said directly or non-verbal language indicated to showcase certain level of discrimination, all of which are setbacks for an artist and that woman in particular. To which she simply smirked and nodded, continuing to express, “Being completely honest not just being a woman but a self-born star in this industries, I have faced several such questions and allegations that made me lose self-esteem and majorly I wanted to quit the industry. It was then when I realised that whatever field it be, the domination of pre-existing groups is extremely common. Then why should I digress from a field that I am already excelling in because certain mass number that doesn’t want to alter their perceptions! So I decide to move on with it.” Laughing over all of the jokes she gracefully said, “Knowledge is the key to every action of your life. Thus education is must.” In continuation she added, “I perused Master of Arts in Psychology, giving me liberty to understand people around observing artists around simply driving the motivating force within to act and become a model. There were no definite plans; it was just that I finally found what I am born for!!” The firm belief that she has in evolution of ideas from childhood to adulthood simplifies life when she exclaims, “It’s not necessary that all that we aspire to become as a child falls in our way like flowers in the path of Buddha! Those aspirations are going to change and we should welcome all our might because we do it for our personal profits!!!” Finding this thought queer and willing to converse about the numerous shifts it always wonderful to exaggerate the way she simply juggles between work life and personal life. To comment on which she put across the thought, “When I am active with my closed ones, I have the ability to survive a sinking ship. If one isn’t active in her personal life then how will she be active in her professional life? That’s the basic necessity to kick-off a career in an industry like ours. If one doesn’t have brain power then the other aspects just seem foggier than snow ranged mountains leading to vision and thoughts of self that aren’t visible clearly to people, they start despising you completely ending up in a cycle of regrets!” Mentioning about family, the society at large agrees that, nepotism to say has a magnanimous role in the industry. Soniya on the other hand, stands staunch in the industry today, neither has she had any Godfathers in the industry nor does she have any family member reaching the industry. In these circumstances in her accordance, there is always a need to have someone surrounding a fresher to support. The need arises from the past events of her life. She never had anyone to guide her way through to what acts to perform or work to look for, she had no option other than to work however talking about this day she knows the alternatives with all ends due to the life events, mistakes as well the success that she has achieved. Thus reinforcing, “The industry of films and theatre is an extremely difficult one to survive in!” However, only a fighter can survive through when one keeps struggling even when she has projects in hand because the fate can never be trusted, she might end up with zero projects one morning unknown of where to begin from or sometimes just clueless of audience’s approval of the work performed. The audience, however is a judge to everything, they also are variable deciders of schemas of body images that an industry portrays. Soniya, a fitness enthusiast elaborated on complete essence of work outs. “Due to work loads and several shifts, I do skip gyms for a day or certainly for a week if nothing progresses well, however, the moment I resume the sessions of muscle enhancers, I assure myself of stretching my limits to the farthest extent possible to cover up what I missed out on. This is also what makes me mentally fit as I am not worried about my health or overcoming injuries in general. As they say ‘A FIT BODY TRACES A FIT MIND’!! However, there is no assumed connection of body image and acting skills. For me at least, any person can act without having to worry about people body shaming him. That’s exactly what makes differences in tackling the negative outburst of audience. I believe in tackling such negative outbursts on meeting the critic rather than just a distinct criticiser who I probably would never even meet because that man sitting in some random corner of another city has no clue regarding my life. Particularly that is why for me, fashion is something that is classic and unique to me but also at the same time comfortable for me rather than revealing attire wore to impress the audience largely.” The simplicity with which she spoke about all of it is very similar to the simplicity with which she enacts a character. These characters have different underlying psyche, to acquire a role of those, she never utilises any substance that might justify the character however impact her negatively. Thus for her all roes hold equal importance and never does she take back the role with her. This congruence of her with the work life makes the reader flabbergast over so much about her choices and inspirations. “For me one actor I admire the most and always will is Shah Rukh Khan .” One might imagine what she carries along since childhood if she admires the legend Badshah since 90s’. No eye tear can be as magical as her innocent and honest words when she narrates, “I remember my dad explain me ‘BE WHOEVER YOU WISH TO, BUT NEVER LIE OR HURT ANYONE IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING WHOEVER!!” Being humane none can resist but ask her to inspire youth being a role model not only because of her work and performances but also because of her intellect and temperament. “You know the youth needs to understand that Deepika Padukone has done critically acclaimed films to reach a state of worthiness and so has Ranveer Singh . He goes bare clothes for a shoot doesn’t actually mean the follower too should for gaining fame. That’s not how it works. Walk and act according to the situation. That makes them what they are. It will be the same for you too!” “EVEN DISNEY CAN’T RESIST THE CHARM OF FLOWER. HOW COULD ANYONE RESIST SONIYA’s SPRING!” SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aadhya Venkatesh Building Opportunities And Expanding Horizons: An Interview With Actor Or Writer Meghana Kaushik 30 June 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Meghana Kaushik is a multitalented actress and writer who aspires to do great work in the entertainment industry. Wishing to leave her mark, she thrives on the competition she faces. Meghana identifies the kind of work that she needs to do to justify her talent. "As an artist, your goals are clear to you", she says. While speaking about recognizing opportunities, she said that one must always be prepared for the golden opportunity, ready to strike it with complete determination when it does occur. Stemming from the need to create such 'golden opportunities' for herself and others, she began writing for the screen. "As a writer, I can tell stories and narratives that I, as an actor, would like to act in". Meghana also believes that writing stories that she believes in will allow her to talk about subjects that need to be voiced. Meghana comes from theatre and has trained with Barry John as she always believes in improving her craft. Her foray into acting has been a learning curve. Belonging to a family with no connection to the industry, she had to learn everything about the process from scratch. The downside to this is that she has been dropped from many projects because she is not well-connected or comparatively well-known. She hopes that she can eventually work with creators that "cast actors based on their talent instead of social media follower count". Wishing to travel the world with her career, she wants to stand out in her field. She sees herself on the world stage, winning internationally acclaimed awards for her work while simultaneously creating a space of recognition for Indian talent. Currently, she is working on two feature films, one of which she is co-writing. Her inspiration in the field ranges from Madhubala, Waheeda Rehman, Sridevi and Alia Bhatt in the Indian film industry to icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Natalie Portman, and Emily Blunt, amongst others. One of the easiest roles Meghana has played to date has been Nikita from Love, Lust, and Confusion. She believes that the character helped bring out her alter-ego, a person who was free-spirited, fashionable and non-judgmental about life and choices. Meghana strives to be a leader in a world full of followers. She urges those around her to remain positive in their lives and not let our differences and flaws bring us down. She propagates empowerment through acceptance of personal flaws with flair and grace. "Set yourself small goals to start with, and love yourself first" is the mantra she wishes to share. In a message to the youth, she pushes them to take charge and pave the way for the world to become a better place. She champions everyone to use their energies to protect fundamental human rights and promotes education for all. "We always need to be mindful and dream big. It is pertinent that we do not get caught up in mediocrity". All Meghana wants is for people to get over being lazy and take charge of their own lives, ultimately initiating a change that starts at the individual level. SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aadhya Venkatesh If you can dream it, you can achieve it – In conversation with Donal Bisht 21 August 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement As a big believer in dreaming big and working hard to achieve your dreams, Donal Bisht was a Journalist and Anchor who pursued her dream of acting and modelling. In college, her seniors pursuing film studies always called her to work in their short films and music videos. Despite being pushed towards being an actor, Donal believed she wanted to pursue the media industry and work as a journalist. She even established herself in the field with a four-year-long career but eventually realised that "the work did not make my heart happy and did not satisfy me". It was then that she dropped everything and came to Mumbai to pursue her passion for acting. "I really believe in destiny". She has been in the show business for five years and has only been climbing the ladder of success. Having started with TV shows, Donal did four years of back-to-back TV with shows like Ek Deewana Tha and Roop . She then realised that to achieve creative satisfaction, she had to do something different. "I did a South bilingual film in Kannada and Telugu. The shift, I would say creatively, is great when you do different things", she said. She never knew Telugu and didn't have any exposure to the language. But after multiple workshops and extra efforts on sets, she managed to get well versed in the dialogues and expressions. "I used to keep the first AD with me to do the lines thoroughly, in and out". She broke through the language barrier and had her proud moment when people asked her if she was a natural Telugu speaker. Now that her film is in the post-production stage, Donal is excited to see herself in the role. Once her film was on the verge of completion, she entered the Big Boss house and became one of the most respected contestants in her two weeks there. "People come to me and say they want to become like me and love my personality". Having done four back to back soap shows, she now wants to venture into the world of web shows, which she is doing through her MX player original Show, Zakhm. Zakhm is a "romantic thriller show where I play Kavya, a healer who heals people's wounds". She is excited about the release of the show. Donal is also a TEDx speaker and always urges her fans to dream. "Dreaming is very important. If you can dream, you can achieve". She says that once a person has an unrelenting dream that they strive to achieve, persistence will take them forward on their journey. Those who dream can achieve whatever they aspire to. The one mantra she follows in life is to leave no stone unturned. She believes that persistence is critical and that a person should never stop. "First try to fly. If you can't fly, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl, but you do the best". Running and Weight Lifting are her preferred modes of workout. She runs on the treadmill for 20 minutes a day and believes that fitness is what you eat, and one must take care of what suits them and what doesn't. Along with exercise, she also recommends her audiences watch their food intake and monitor what they eat because, more often than not, it is a particular fruit, vegetable, or seafood that causes allergies and bloating. "Observe your body and the way it reacts to food". Donal's favourite travel destination is her family home in Delhi, where she goes for all significant occasions. Other than that, one place she hopes to visit soon is Paris, which is her second favourite place. #donalbisht #coverstory #interview #fashion #actress SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Rupashree Ravi Neha Bhasin: ‘I want to take Indian music to the same global level as international artists like Michael Jackson, Beyonce’ 30 June 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Singer and songwriter Neha Bhasin has carved a unique artistic identity over the years as a pop artist and folk musician in India. Known for her popular film songs ‘Kuch Khaas,’ ‘Dhunki’ as well as ‘Hum Naye Geet Sunaye’ from the girl group, Viva! she has established herself as a powerful vocalist and independent artist, who has broken many stereotypes of the music industry. In a recent interview, Bhasin shared details about her upcoming singles and collaborations, the struggles of being an independent artist, and her future goals. She also spoke about her biggest inspirations and what she wishes to achieve in the ever-changing industry. “I started my journey as an independent artist right after Viva! but I released my first album in 2010. I’ve been very fortunate to not just sustain myself but balance a great career between Bollywood music and also my own independent music. Of course, you need good music, funds, and the right support system. I believe what really matters is the connection you share with your audience and the music that you're producing while maintaining the consistency of the good stuff that you produce. It’s not easy, but consistency is the key,” she said. Bhasin shared with us that she enjoys a wide range of music genres. Since she was young, she always enjoyed listening to pop rock and classic rock bands like Aerosmith and Pink Floyd. Old school artists like Prince have influenced her musical career. She cites Michael Jackson as her biggest musical influence during the start of her career and Adele as her all-time favourite. “I love keeping myself updated with the world's music space. I listen to current dance genres and I’ve also recently warmed up to a lot of Sufi music. Many artists have inspired me like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Queen, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi. So many artists from Billy Joel to BTS have moved me. Among Indian artists, I would say Kishore da, Asha Ji, Lata Ji, Reshma Ji, Noor Jahan Ji are my favourites. Some current artists I love are Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Charlie Puth, and Sam Smith It's typical to put them in one word because I feel every great artist has a great impact on your life but I think the reason why I started loving music was Michael Jackson,” she shared. When asked if any album or single is in the works, she said, “Yes, I'm working on my next single. Singles, rather and some folk song originals. Once they're ready I would know which is the next one for release. I’m always working on new music.” On artists that she would love to collaborate with, she mentioned singer and composer Amaal Malik. She expressed her interest to collaborate with Punjabi artists and also shared that she is currently in talks with composers Yuvan Shankar Raja and Devi Sri Prasad from the south industry. She hopes that there will be some big stops coming this year with regard to international collaborations, although it is a bit far-fetched at the moment. As a public figure who has been a part of the industry for many years, Bhasin has been very vocal about social issues like sexism and body shaming and has taken part in a lot of campaigns. “I've had different sizes of bodies in the span of my career. At the very beginning, I was actively body-shamed by the people that I worked with. Body positivity is something I really believe in. It’s something I was very sensitive about because it really impacted my life. I suffered from body image issues and food disorders for a very long time. So, I understand the impact it has on a young person's mind. I hate the word ‘plus size.’ I feel like your body is a beautiful armour that God has given for your soul's residence. It should be appreciated and loved. I think it's my responsibility to put out the right message especially, being a victim of body shaming myself. Hence, I'm active about it,” she said. The award-winning singer shared that her biggest goal or mission as a musical artist is to produce great music that means something in the world. She shared, “The kind of music that I grew up listening to, that gave me goosebumps and changed my life, made me the artist I am today. I want to be the change that I want to see in the industry. My job is not to preach to people or to change them, but to live by example. That's what I'm doing and that's what I’ve always done. I hope to make my label bigger and have more resources to produce good music. As of now, I'm the only artist who’s in it. I'll be happy if we can get more artists in the future. My mission is to take Punjabi folk music global. I've kind of resurrected a dead genre and I want to make that bigger and better.” Her ultimate dream to achieve in the music industry is to live a legacy of great work and for people to remember her work as legendary music. She wants to take India to the same global level as international artists like Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and Madonna and have worldwide concerts with great production value. “Of course, my ultimate dream is to win a Grammy and release my English album, which is something that I’ve not done much about till now except for writing good music,” she added. SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aadhya Venkatesh Exploring Acting Beyond Soaps; Uncovering Neha Marda, Her Struggles And Experiences 30 June 2022 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Known for hit Indian television Shows like Balika Vadhu and Doli Armaano ki, Neha Marda is working towards leaving her mark on the Indian Television Industry. She believes in infusing her heart into her work and propagates meticulous work as a road to success. Neha believes that "hard work will pay you back in this industry" and says that one must know what they deserve to ensure they get exactly that from their work. She deems that your work allows you to leave your mark in front of the audience and the makers. The journey is equally easy as it is difficult. Her experience in the industry has allowed her to gain perspective and confidence. She says that her view of observing everything around her has changed through her craft, allowing her to feel a wide range of emotions. Her work allows her to be more vocal and poetic, which she adores. Neha is currently working on new projects and hopes her career allows her to be more authentic and free-spirited. She aspires to reach her audiences at an emotional level and wants to explore films, OTT, and television. She wishes to work until her last breath and hopes her acting connects her to different people and places. Having played various characters, especially that of a protagonist, makes it easier for Neha to slip in and out of roles and characters, especially those that she has been playing for a long time. She has been fortunate to play different versions of the quintessential Indian daughter-in-law. She had the pleasure of playing different versions of the same type of character. "Kabhi college se nikal ke bahu to kabhi gaon se nikal ke bahu ya kabhi city bahu so ghuma fira ke I was playing bahu". Even though daily soaps give an actor a place in people's hearts, Neha wishes to diversify from the forum and do something different. She wants to experience various journeys through characters. Her favourite character to date has been Urmi from Doli Armano Ki, as she enjoyed the character and the character's arc immensely. SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Aparajita Jaiswal Glass Slippers And Glittery Masks! 27 July 2020 LIFESTYLE Advertisement Don’t get too comfortable girls! You never know when the other shoe falls off too. Well when Alfred Tennyson said, “‘It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all,” I strongly disagree. Sometimes the best charmers are the ones needed to be kept on lock down. Men would say anything to get the girl. Beware of the dogs! Be with a guy that ruins your lipstick not your mascara! Although, as challenging as atoning can be, the rewards make it worth the time, but most people find it difficult to admit that there was fault to begin with and find it easier to pretend it never happened or that it’s not going to be a bother at all. But the problem with hiding your sins is that they always come back to haunt you. All masks eventually have to come off and with them so do the gloves. We all wear different masks for different reasons. Some masks we put on because it’s truly who we want to be while some masks we wear because we hope to stay hidden. Some we wear because we cannot bear to see what’s underneath or because it is what someone else wants us to be. But that’s the problem with wearing them is that they can be ripped off at any moment. Every journey is fraud with twists and turns. The ultimate challenge is to stay the course, move on from the past and forge your path into the future. Because one false move can spell disaster. #tisbettertohavelovedandlostthantoneverhavelovedatall #AlfredTennyson #MasksGirlUltimatechallengeAlfredTennysonsaid SEARCH Countdown To History: Omega Unveils Paris 2024 Olympics Countdown Clock And Special Edition Timepiece LIFESTYLE Juggling Law And Fashion: The Inspirational Journey Of Riddhi Nahata, A Multifaceted Influencer LIFESTYLE Join Shruti Yogi On Her Enchanting Journey From Kumkum Bhagya To Wanderlust Saga LIFESTYLE Personal Growth And Relatability: Ishita Khanna's Key To Influencer Success LIFESTYLE 6 Disadvantages Of Being Pretty LIFESTYLE POPULAR POSTS Advertisement Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Unveiling the Myth: Does Pretty Privilege Truly Exist 17 April 2024 LIFESTYLE By Anushka Sharma How Do Some People Not Get Acne No Matter What 15 April 2024 LIFESTYLE By Anushka Sharma Kate Middleton’s Story Has Only Gotten Worse With Time 18 March 2024 LIFESTYLE By Rini Pathak The Skill Of Ageing Gracefully: Secrets From The Land Of Longevity 17 March 2024 LIFESTYLE RELATED POSTS Advertisement