Lakme Fashion Week kicked off the Summer/Resort 2010 Collections with Rocky S who came up in a palette of pastel hues like pink, peach, nude and turquoise and then moved to luxurious shaded tones which finally ended with ivory and black….and lots of gold trim and embellishment. All of it accessorized with diamonds from a new collection ‘Queenie for Giantti’ (a new line from sponsor Gitanjali Lifestyle) and the well known Bombay jewelry designer, socialiter and columnist. The showstopper for Rocky S was his all time favorite Bipasha Basu.
Deepika Padukone was the showstopper for the designers Shantanu and Nikhil who entered the sports arena with their new S&N label for Adidas Style Essentials. The collection called “Motochic” included track pants, shirts, muscle sleeve and body hugging Tees, skirts, tunics as well as trendy bags, belts and wallets, footwear and accessories. The entire collection was in (NYC) taxi cab yellow, black and white….and was presented on a runway/roadway, with flashing lights, road detours and the white line down the middle– keeping the models in and out of the traffic.
Check out Bipasha Basu and Deepika Padukone as they sizzle on the ramp for Lakme Fashion Week 2010.
Lux is the brand synonymous with beauty and film stars with biggies like Aishwarya Rai, SRK, Priyanka Chopra and Abhishke Bachchan being associated with the brand. Now, the latest entrant to join the honored bandwagon is none other than beautiful and gorgeous Katrina Kaif who has been chosen to endorse Lux’s sensuous new variant - ‘Lux Purple Lotus & Cream’, a soap infused with anti-ageing properties.
The new commercial has been shot in Bangkok and directed by Marco. Katrina has been styled by fashion designer Rocky S, the music has been composed by trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy and her makeup has been done by the beauty magician Subhash Vagal.
Katrina Kaif, as the new brand ambassador for Lux, said, “I feel honored to be chosen by Lux as the face of such an iconic brand. It is with great pride that I join the legendary Lux beauty brigade, and only hope that my association with the brand grows stronger in the years to come. It is the ultimate aspiration of any bollywood star to be associated with a renowned beauty brand like Lux. The new Lux variant, truly makes your skin softer than a petal. Since bathing is a daily ritual, it’s very important to use the right kind of soap that moisturizes your skin and leaves you feeling your gorgeous best! As an ardent believer of the age old saying that beauty starts with great looking skin, I would really urge all you women out there to experience this new variant and feel your skin become soft and supple.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sudhanshu Vats, VP, Home Care & Skin Cleansing, HUL said, “We are very pleased to have the gorgeous bollywood beauty Katrina Kaif on board, to endorse our new variant. Lux over the years has always been known for introducing exciting innovative variants for its consumers and here’s another such variant which is sure to appeal to consumers with its unique purple color and sensuous aroma. We look forward to this variant becoming a favorite amongst consumers across India.”
Both of them are probably the most stylish and most sought about actors in Bollywood, but unfortunately they are yet to be paired together. Talking about Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, the duo appear together for the first time in the special issue of Harper’s Bazaar, the world’s oldest fashion magazine with 29 international editions as it successfully completes one year in India.
The issue which was unveiled on February 23rd at a glittering ‘Inspiration Bollywood’ evening held at Lap, New Delhi, raises a toast to the most influential element for Fashion in India -‘Bollywood’.
BAZAAR’s anniversary issue includes a number of novelties with taller format and the glittering masthead.
Visiting India on the occasion of the first anniversary celebrations of Harper’s BAZAAR India, Kim St Clair Bodden, Vice President and Executive Director of Hearst Magazines International said “We are extremely proud to see that in merely one year, the magazine has found its way into homes and boutiques across India. With the success of the magazine, we renew our commitment to our readers that we will continue not only to evolve as a brand but also deliver challenging and relevant content. Our ability to develop editorial concepts that appeal to local sensibilities enables us to fulfill the growing demand for International titles in India.”
Sujata Assomull, Editor, Harper’s BAZAAR India said “It has been a year of fabulous style for us. Real style has always been the mantra of Harper’s Bazaar, working closely with Indian and international luxury brands and designers, we are all about fashion that works for you. This is why we chose Bollywood as the theme for our first anniversary issue. Bollywood has become the international style face of India and there is no question that in India fashion comes from the reel and not the ramp.”
Deepika Padukone’s soon to be released ‘Karthik Calling Karthik’ opposite Farhan Akhtar is getting rave reviews even before its release and with the film all set to hit the screens shortly, Deepika seems to be everywhere right from interviews to promos and on the glossy covers.
This time the girl has been chosen for the cover page of the 50th issue of glossy magazine ‘Maxim’. The issue has Deepika get candid about being surrounded by men right since her early days when she was a badminton player and then a model. She also gives some preferences on how she would want her ideal date to be. Deepika also discusses her current favorite movies.
On the personal front, I find this photoshoot of Deepika is quite dull and boring and very unlike the way ‘Maxim’ presents its girls. The ‘X’ factor is missing here! Check out for yourself and let us know your thoughts on this…..
With just one film for a release, Freida Pinto has reached a destination where many actresses dream to even after doing a lot of films. She acquired a worldwide fame with her million-dollar performance in the Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
Where the truth behind her linkup with Dev Patel is yet to be discovered, the girl has chosen to be Valentine’s Brand Ambassador… on the cover of the latest edition of Elle. The issue has Freida talk everything under the sun, right from brands, films to her life.
Talking about brands, this gorgeous lady says, “Chanel has always been an effortless brand- their simple, clean cuts will have you look super fashionable. Karl (Lagerfeld) has been great. If I ever need something, he will make it happen.”
She reveals about her personal front saying, “I realized that I’d gone straight from the craziness of Slumdog into my films, so, this is my time to relax.”
With love in the air this season, every cine lover needs to grab a copy of his own to get more of Freida!
Vidya Balan has a string of movies to her credit- Parineeta, Munnabhai, Salaam-e-ishq, Guru, Eklavya, Heyy Babyy, Halla Bol, Bhool Bhulaiya, Kismet Konnection and most recently Paa. All these movies have given her critical acclaim for her acting talents, but nothing could give the sensuous tag to her the way the most recent ‘Ishqiya’ has given her.
She had been trapped being called as “Behenji” type actress who was constantly being criticized for her dressing style, but with ‘Ishqiya’ she has sent the message through that “she can be seductress too” signaling that she is ready to fit in current trend.
February sees her on the cover story of ‘Verve’ and ‘The Man’. For the latter, she was styled by Vikram Phadnis and her makeup was done by Shreyas Mhatre.
Here is an excerpt from her interview with ‘The Man’:
“I am a good listener but I rarely give advice. When the good times are between two people, the problems too should remain between them. A relationship is never perfect; you have to work at it. You can’t be running in opposite directions at the first sign of dissent.
There is no perfect person you can connect with at all levels. A guy can’t be a looker, intelligent, sensitive, the guy that your friends and family like, a guy who likes the things you like and all that. Sometimes, if he is all that and he is available he may not have a sense of humour. May be he seems perfect on the face of it, but when you get to know him, the problems start. No two human beings are a perfect fit. That’s the joy and beauty of being in a relationship.
When the dressing debacle happened two years ago, I was bothered by it. Until then I’d only been heaped with praises and then suddenly, the criticism came in truckloads. I didn’t know how to deal with it. Then I looked at it objectively — they did have reason to criticise me. Most of it was exaggerated. I am clearly not a fashionista.
As an actor people expect me to look my best all the time. I didn’t realise that people were actually happy seeing me the way I am. It was not just about clothes — I was going through a period of confusion where I was giving a certain vibe. I was unsure, not happy with the way I was looking and trying to be someone I am not.”
Check out Vidya Balan for the two magazines.
Deepika Padukone replaced bubbly Preity Zinta as the brand ambassador for BSNL 3G last year. She continues to do so and has come out with a new photoshoot for the promotion of the brand. Deepika’s breakup with Ranbir Kapoor may have shattered her personally but she is not letting it affect her professional commitments in any way. Check out her latest pics for the latest promotion of BSNL 3G broadband Services.
‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ had created stirs 22 years back as it exuded the essence of unity and nationality of India. This year, as India completes 60 years of its Republic, the song has been re-created as ‘Phir Mile Sur’ featuring more than 60 known personalities, including actors Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Salman Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Juhi Chawla. In all, the song features 22 superstars, 18 musicians, 13 artistes and singers and 15 other known personalities. The song has been composed by jazz artists Louis and Geno Banks.
The earlier version of the song featured vocalists Bhimsen Joshi and Balamurali Krishna, sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, tabla maestros Allah Rakha and Zakir Hussain, sportsmen Narendra Hirwani and Prakash Padukone and film personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Lata Mangeshkar, Mithun Chakraborty, Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Kamal Haasan, Sharmila Tagore, Tanuja and Waheeda Rehman.
Amitabh Bachchan, who released this album, expresses his gratitude and says, “I was part of the old Mile Sur… and now yet again I am fortunate to be part of this one. We have integrated many tunes together and that’s precisely the message of this video.” Featuring in the video is well known musician Sivamani, who says, “I wanted to do something unique for this so I started playing drums on water. This has never been done by any artist.
Vindu Dara Singh may have created nationwide stir after winning the season 3 of the reality show ‘Big Boss’, but his better half, wife Russian model Dina Umarova, wins everyone by her stunning pics in bikini for the 2010 Cloud Nine calendar of the famous fashion photographer Manish Chaturvedi.
Last year, the calendar was shot in Mahabaleshwar. This year, the setting was the sun-kissed beaches of Naigaon (on the outskirts of Mumbai).
Vindu Dara Singh had been earlier married to the Bollywood actress Farah, the elder sister of actress Tabu. They have since divorced and have a son Fateh Randhawa.
After 7 years of his divorce with Farah, he got married to Dina Umarova, a Russian model with whom he has a daughter Amelia.
Check out Dina in bikini for the calendar and also at the launch of the calendar in Mumbai.
South siren Shriya Saran may not have made it big in Bollywood but the hottie is creating sensations by her sensuous photoshoots. She created stirs at the Chennai International Fashion Week in December when she walked the ramp in a sexy dress that revealed her ample cleavage.
Now, she features on two magazine covers this month. On is on the January edition of the south film magazine ‘South Scope’ where her curly tresses cascade down her nape to her bare back as Shriya holds onto the dress from sliding down. The punchline of the cover aptly says, “Sensuous Shriya bares her soul”.
She is also there on the covers of ‘Jade’ where she exudes a naughty and playful look and says, “Meet Shriya Saran: When success is sexy.”
Check out the two magazine covers with Shriya…..
Celina Jaitley’s love and support for gays is quite well-known by now. Now, the actress has taken yet another step in expressing her support for the lesbians. Now, she has decided to hold a pan-India transgender talent contest named V-care Indian Super Queen along with her transgender friend Laxmi Narayan Tripathi. Celina announced this contest recently at a press conference. The final round will take place in Delhi on February 21st and Celina has offered Rs 50,000 to the winner from her side.
Celina went so emotional at the press conference that she even said, “I wish I had taken part in this contest instead of Miss India.” Guys, don’t you think that Celina’s love for the
Indian Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) section is going just a bit too far??
Last year, ace photographer Dabboo Ratnani had shot with 48 stars celebrating the completion of a decade of his calendar. This year he is back with usual count of 24 stars, but in black and white shades. Besides some of his old favorites, there are quite a few new names added to the list.
Talking about the calendar to NDTV.com, Dabboo says, “All the stars are comfortable with whatever I decide. They never question me, because we have faith in each other. So whenever I discuss a concept with them, they are happy to go along. I usually share three or four different ideas with the actor. If they are not convinced, we work on it. It is important to be confident about each other; only when the model is able to relate to the picture will he or she be able to give 100 per cent to it.
I have been doing the calendar for many years now. It makes me push myself to the next level. Way back in 2000 when I first shot the calendar, I gave away just a few to my close friends and people I worked with. But the response was so encouraging that I felt it was something I had to do on a regular basis. Every year the calendar pushes me to outdo my last year’s work. This also helps me evolve as a photographer. All through the year I am shooting for agencies, magazines and movies but the calendar is my creative outlet.
Our space had given you the pics of Deepika Padukone and Shahrukh Khan from the calendar. Now, we bring you some new pics of Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Vidya Balan and what Dabboo has to say for each of them.
Ratnani is all praise for Katrina: “She is very attractive and photographs really well. She puts in a lot of effort for every picture she does. She will keep on giving the shot till it is completely done. Katrina will go to any extent to make the pic look stunning.”
He talks about Priyanka Chopra saying, “She is extremely photogenic. She gives her best in ever photoshoot and loves being in front of the camera. We have been working together since Priyanka’s modelling days and the chemistry we share is simply brilliant.”
Ratnani, who makes Vidya Balan too shed her inhibitions, says about the lady, “This is one of the hottest pictures of Vidya ever. I think she is always open to experiment. She trusts me completely and because of this trust she is very comfortable in my working environment.”
