Abhi,Govinda, Kareena

This letter of mine is published in the Stardust of July.
So this time Big B saved Abhi and Rakeyesh mehra, but we are forgetting that Abhishek was never well behaved, in the beginning of his career he had slapped a journalist on the shooting, then also Big B intervened.Abhishek has got many lease in his professional life due to his father,otherwise he is nothing more than a flop star. Had he been an ordinary mortal, nobody would have given him a second look or chance. After 20 movies I think even a pillar can look presentable,so nothing great about him.
I have been reading Govinda's interview from the very beginning and he always comes across a very human and ethical person, so this incident of slapping came as a complete surprise to me and still is a mystery.
Between the two debutants Sonam is way ahead of Deepika,she is a classic beauty in the mould of Rekha, while Deepika can be compared to Zeenat and Hema who were quite wooden in expressions and were all glamour in their hey times.
Whats happening to the morals in our film industry? Girls are changing and flitting around boygriends like clothes. Deepika first had Nihar, then Dhoni,then Yuvraj and now Ranbir. And the classic case is that of Kareena,she went to town with Saif without even telling Shahid, that they are through. She has lost all her charm and apeal with many of her fans ( if any she had) with this .
Industry is turning ruthless day by day, like Sunny deol not getting any heroine or Bipasha refusing to work with Govinda, I just hope that old days return when people cared more for people than money.

Balaji Soaps need to learn from smarter serials

Printed in DC-16 june-2007-got me best letter prize
K serials have completely lost their credibility and entertainment value,being just repetitive.Virudh is far better in its storyline,presentation and aesthetic value. It has a very different story line augmented by strong characters playing different roles. It has all the emotions without being melodramatic.I also like Durgesh nandini. Its protagonist Durgesh behaves in a sane manner,not taking cudgels on everybody's behalf, the way all other heroines do.Its both funny and pathetic to see Prerna, Tulsi and Parwati, doing everything in their families despite having a big 'pariwar'. And in the bargain they end up destroying their own marriages !If they cant manage their own husbands and children,how they can look after others? This remains a puzzle to me.

TV soaps shouldnt focus only on negatives

printed in DC-26 may-2007
Kasamh Se on Zee TV has lost its charm.Manno bhabhi has left and Jigyasa has been replaced. Jeete Hain Jiske Liye was a good serial but has become monotonous with the focus on Shalini threatening everybody.There are pleasant memories in life that these serials could capture, but they focus only on negativity.I would prefer to see serials that also teach us something-how to decorate homes on low budget,nurture relationships or maintain health.

Media power

printed in Filmfare-june-2000 -got me a prize
It is generally accepted that media can make or break a star.And that gossip affects a star's status and market value. The media too gleefully endorses the view.
But two of the biggest stars of our industry have defied the norm and how. First Big B shunned the media and still ruled showbiz for years,infact when his fall came, the media couldnt save him at all. So much for media power.
The second star is Salman Khan. There are stories galore in the press about his so called haughtiness,misbehaviour ,rudeness and what not.He is never praised for his stunning looks,personality or his talent.
He has to his credit more hits than any other star.The point is that he is immensely popular despite a terrible image in the media. So please, give the credit where it's long overdue.
A star is a star,no matter what is written about him

the important side of relation ship

Printed in woman's era-Nov I
This refers to How To Survive (sep II) , the writer has taken a very important side of relationships and anaysed it in a very realistoc way. Kudos to hiom! In families not only DIL even sons are differntiated> I myself being the elder DIL faced lots of problems and rules and regulations in all the spheres of life, whether important or even trivial things like where to sit,where to go, when to sleep, when to talk. Same happens for the elder son also,he is supposed to have all the duties and no rights,and even after devoting his whole life to his siblings and parents, he is not given the satisfaction of being or brother,still lacking in their eyes.Its like more you do, more you are asked,but with the younger ones, family tends to be on the pampering side and they are lucky to have only rights,no duties.In " the dangers....." writer has written a very6 poignant line--the society which insulates itself...so true,it touched heart, what type of decadent life we are living, without any values,feelings,sensitivity with just the materialistic pleasure at the top of our mind. I hope these type of writeups make people sit up and think.

In woman"s era-august I-2006

Amazing is the only word to describe June II issue. Stories are as good as articles and recipes are even better. The great Indian Family is the most articulate,well researched article, i have recently come across. My heartfelt thanks to the writer.
It mad every pleasant and informative reading,plus a new understanding and desire to have a family like those of Padma, Anubha etc.
But i fully believe and agree with Jyoti, i myself at 50, with both the children married and settled, would like to live in some senior citizen home, somewhere with like minded people, surrounded by nature and provided with medical,entertainment and other housekeeping facilities, free of the stress of maintaining a house and relationships.
If there is any energy left, better put it to the use of society. Identity Crisis- I could full identify with the protagonist, having done the same, which most of the women do to keep peace in the family

Amitabh bacchan

In Deccan chronicle-3June 2007
This is with reference to the the report" bachchan is not a farmer ;UP court" ( June-2) it is sad to read about a person of Amitabh Bacchan's stature giving a false declaration of being a farmer to get land, that to land which was meant for the poor,landless farmers of UP and Pune. People should be given iconic status only when they prove themselves to be good human beings.Mr. bacchan may be a stalwart in the film industry but where money matters are concerned, he has no principles. A probe is required in this land scam and all those guily should be punished without any bias.

published in cine blitz-may 07-got a prize

CB is the only magazine with substance. I just love the fearless style of writing and Felini,Hurricane Hansa's pet friend. It reminds me of my old favourite journalists like Devyaani chaubal. Earlier i adored Amitabh bacchan,but no more. Their whole family seems to be so calculating and artificial. Instead give me any time our new KBC host Shahrukh ! he comes across as a very caring, affectionate,humble and endearing person.Amitabh has lost all his credibility by endorsing whatever comes his way, including Mulayam singh. i request you to give us more articles about old stars also like Amol palekar, Girish karnad, Om puri and some new ones like Nandita das and Atul Kulkarni etc.

M.F. Hussain

Society---august 07
Thanks for giving us an interview with Mr. Ashok pandit.I have always been a big fan of his serials and always wanted to know about him.I fully agree with him on the issue of painting nudes of our goddesses.It pained me a lot to see thecelebrities and few magazines supporting Mr. hussain in the name of freedom of artistic expression.But how anyone could be great if he doesnt respect others feelings.and if its a poetic licence,then why doesnt he take the same liberty with his prophet.Just like, people are condemning Mr. Modi left and right,completely forgetting and sidelining the innocent people burnt alive in the train, nobody goes into the reason that why the riots happened in the first place. Here I am not condoning riot or Mr. Modi, but trying to make people see the reason. Rioters had some reason even if itwas misguided one, but what reason the people who burnt the bogey had?Its a sad state of secularism in our country that majority is being sidelined and anti hindu sentiments are considered secular.

deccan chronicle-got a prize also-july 07

Kserials have completely lost their credibility and entertainment value, being just repititive."VIRUDHA" a serial on sony is far better in its storyline presentation and aesthetic value.It has a very different story line augmented by strong actors playing different roles.Characters are well defined and true to people in life, made of flesh and blood. It has all the emotions without being melodramatic.
I like Durgesh Nandini also.Its protagonist durgesh and Lukshya have a very fresh look about them, very endearing couple.Durgesh is shown to be an intelligent girl who cant be taken for granted by anybody, she has immense presence of mind and common sense,so uncommon in todays serials.besides she behaves in a very normal way not taking cudgels on each and everybody's behalf, the way all other heroines like Prerna,Saloni all seem to be doing.Its funny and pathetic both to see prerna, Tulsi, parwati , all doing everything in the family inspite of having a big pariwar, then why have a pariwar?And always they seem to worry about others families and in the bargain destroying their marriages, what sort of signal they want to give? If they cant manage their own husbands and children, how can they look after the whole pariwar, its a puzzle to me.

woman's era -jan 08

In NovII issue, one reader wrote about NRI children visit ,in the same context one more issue is cropping up very frequently is how the old generation should live, because most of them are just existing, not living.Since many of the young professionals arestationed abroad,may be for few years, but for parents its a difficult situation. Either they dont want to live in other countries due to various reasons and problems as the case ay be like;frequent medical requirements,unknown environment,sometimes not being physically strong to shoulder the responsibility of the house which anyway their children expects them to do) or they cant because of the visa problems.Here in Hyderabad I have met many parentsliving alone feeling melencholy and cheated at the autumn of their lives. As when they most need the care and emotional support of their children, they are left alone to fend for themselves.But this also I know that solution doesnt lie in living with children only as sometimes living together brings with itself a host of other problems. It would be better if we remove the stigma attached to old age homes and bring up some senior citizen localities with less frill, more utility oriented and customised services. For this governmant and NGOS may join hands and pool in their resources to bring dignity and happiness to the life of seniors at a reasonable cost.Ideally a senior citizen needs to live in a place close to nature, but with all the assistance in medical,housekeeping and entertaining needs.

woman's era-march II

In your Jan II issue, " A Sweet Atumn " by K. Rangachari was very heart warming. The way elder daughter comes around and the though process of younger one is very touching.In every issue woman's era comes up with atleast one story about how to be a success in a relationhip and gives insight to hitherto unknown depths of emotion and understanding.I would request you to keep us giving us stories about the importance of relationships and how they can be better maintained.All relationships in life-like-husband wife,mother daughter,daughter-in-law versus inlaws,siblings, friends are very important,Today it has become a fashion to give importance to only those whom you need at that particular time of your life, but then need based relationships are not true.One has to learn to be true and right in all the spheres of life and everything becomes easy. This is what gandhiji taught us so many years ago, but we are still struggling with that.

Decaan-april 08-vent your anger

It is very disconcerting to see everyday the same pamphlets and again and again, it is a sheer wastage of such an important commodity like paper and very much against environment conservation, besides it doesnt even help the people who are advertising. I think there should be some regulation about it, like they can be inserted in sunday paper only or something like they should be on recycled paper only. I get many fliers everyday and I just put them in trash feeling sad.
renurastogi