Shama Sikandar was recently in the capital to promote a new song 'Majnu 2' in which she will feature. She spoke to us and spilled the beans about her experience of working with Mika Singh and the transformation that the music industry has witnessed in the few years. After a long break, actress Shama Sikandar is back in the music industry. This time, she is dancing on the tunes of singer Mika Singh in his new song 'Majnu 2'. Calling it a wonderful experience, Shama said, "Its been quite a long time since we worked with each other. Mika is a friend to me so the experience has been great." In the early 2000s, Shama was seen in Abhijeet Bhattacharya's song 'Kabhie mausam hua resham'. So, when asked how things have changed in the music industry since then, she responded that there has been a tremendous transformation over the last few years. "There has been a 360° change in the music industry. We are living in an influencer dominant world today. Everything is social media related and things happen quickly. Now, people do not have patience to appreciate art and their attention span has reduced. If they don’t like something, they switch to the next thing. The industry is evolving for better and so am I," she said. Shama also pointed out that technically as well, the industry has transformed for better, which in turn has changed the perspective of looking at video shoots. "Earlier, focus was given on practicing the movements/choreography and ample time was dedicated to shoot films. But now, shooting happens instantly. Things have changed in terms of how we shoot and look at shooting schedules," she shared. Keeping up with the changing times, Majnu 2 was also shot in three days in a picturesque location in Malta. The song depicts the story of four friends while on a vacation. Besides Shama, the song also features South Indian sensation Laxmi Raai.

"Unfortunately this is not true, I am not a part of this Shaktimaan movie for now". As soon Sony Pictures India announced the news of Shaktimaan being made into a film, Dushyant Kapoor's name started surfacing. Dushyant had created Shaktimaan fan-made trailer in 2016. Since the show is a sci-fi movie and he has been making sci-fi web series since the beginning, the assumption of his fans was not that far-fetched. But Dushyant has finally confirmed that he is not the part of the film. He said, “I was stunned to see people asking me 'if I am a part of it or am I directing this film?'. Six years ago, I know you all believed in me when I created Shaktimaan fan-made trailer, you all put your trust in me in millions and Mr. Mukesh Khanna ji appreciated us too. To all of you guys across the nation and world, I want to say that I am feeling so blessed that you guys believe that I can be a part of such a huge phenomenon but unfortunately this is not true. I am not a part of this Shaktimaan movie for now. I wish I could be the one." Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna played the lead in show that continues to rule the hearts of children born in the 90s.

It is often said that you are what you wear. But what if you are disguising into a character and it becomes your biggest enemy. Ravinder Siwach’s upcoming short film ‘The Turban’ explores this theme and uses ‘turban’ as a metaphor to symbolise equality. Cast: Kartikeya Director: Ravinder Siwach Where to watch: OTT release planned for 2022 Rating: 4/5 Do you think what you wear speaks about your personality or reveals the truth about your religion? Religion and dressing sense might go hand in hand but it certainly cannot give an overview of your beliefs and values. Especially for those who identify themselves as an Indian instead of their religion. The Turban shares the same story involving a boy whose belief in equality and turban on his head is disguised as a threat. The film also highlights the flaws in society where people are misinterpreted for their clothes and not heard for the values they inhibit. The film is set against the backdrop of the 2020 North East Delhi riots involving CAA and NRC protestors. It carefully explores patriotism through the eyes of a college student (played by Kartikeya). But it is this belief that lands him in trouble when an attack involving a bunch of Muslim protestors misinterpret the turban on his head as his Sikh and kill him. Ravinder Siwach has boldly used turban to highlight it as a symbol of equality instead of a mere headgear. The film is produced by the national award winner Sandiip Kapur, who has previously made Bhonsle, Anarkali of Aarah and Jugaad. In terms of the technical aspects, the cinematography is done brilliantly. The screenplay is smooth and the editing is sharp, which justifies its duration of seven minutes. The film was shot in December 2021 and was completed within three days.

Beauty comes in different shapes and sizes. There are several beautiful elements in the environment that one ignores while managing hassles in life. This art show features works of nine artists who have captured natural beauty in their art works. Think about the last time you appreciated beauty of a delicate leaf or the art on the fur of a neighbour’s cat, the feathers of a bird or a bee’s wings. In our busy lives, we often miss out or ignore the beauty of nature. To remind people about the beauty that exists in natural surroundings, nine artists are showcasing their artworks around the nature and its creativity through colours. The exhibition titled ‘The World in our Backyard’ is being held in The Art Lounge, Gurgaon. All artists have captured the essence of nature in acrylic colours. Six artists are showcasing works in figurative art and two in abstract art. The show also features also features two sculpture artworks by Padma Shri Biman Bihari Das. Aparna Banerjee, curator of the show, defines the show a reflection of our mundane lives through art. She says, “This exhibition features several elements of nature that we generally ignore due to our mundane lifestyle, be it the afternoon sun, the chirping of birds, the squeaks of squirrels or the beauty in a fly’s wings. Artists have used figurative and abstract art to give a spotlight to these elements.” Among abstract pieces are four artworks. Nupur Kundu has presented the essence of a human or animal life or nature in two of her creations. Niren Sen Gupta is also showcasing abstract art using the technique of figurative abstract art. Describing Niren’s paintings, Aparna says, “His works are an interpretation of the mankind. They are a take on the people that we meet in our lives. He has tried to show that we meet several people in our life. But, the ones with whom we do not bond with blend in the crowd and became a part of it.” Another artist Uma Shankar Pathak has also given a spotlight to nature but his painting carries a deeper message about the loss mankind is doing to the environment. The Bihar-born artist, in his painting, has shared a high-tech city that envelopes green areas and animals, an image which he says, is rarely seen in modern cities. He says, “I have shown nature as the world in our backyard. However, I feel people acquire green areas from farmers to construct multi-storeyed buildings on them. When this happens, the construction destroys the greenery around the concrete structure and abandons animals from their shelter. The zebra in my painting symbolise the urban cities where such buildings are constructed.” The exhibition also features Abhipsa Pradhan’s paintings in Idital form, the tribal art of Odisha. The Odisha-born artist has used this art form to educate masses about the tribe and its culture. She says, “This painting reflects the journey of art over the years. This is the world I have grown into so it symbolises the title of the show. I have shown changes that have taken place in the world since my grandfather’s generation.” Abhipsa has taken a car as the centre piece in her artworks. She has embossed lacquer polish on ceramic using syringe and cone method and added it on a thick tussar silk. She has used Idital form around the car. In this form, the body structure is small but hands and foot are long. Besides these artists, the show also features Vimal Chand’s paintings on trees, two artworks by Sabya Khan and eight small paintings by Durga Kainthola.

Several pet food delivery platforms are offering healthy food under expert advice. Here’s what they have for your pooch… Cooking for your dog isn’t the same as humans. Who better than Sujata Bhattacharya would know. In 2018, when her beagle was battling severe health issues, she conducted a research to understand the reasons behind her dog’s condition. She discovered that neither was it getting a balanced diet nor was in proportionate quantities. This led her to start FurrMeals along with her friend Tarun Arora to help other pet parents facing similar issues. FurrMeals offers ready-to-eat meals for puppies, adults and senior dogs, based on dogs’ nutritional requirements under the guidance of an in-house nutritionist. “We cook with whole chicken, rice, pumpkin, egg, carrot, greens, chicken liver and heart, apple, chia and flax seeds, high quality cold pressed coconut oil, mint, egg shell powder, organic turmeric, ashwagandha and moringa in one of the recipes. We also have a chicken bone broth, a speciality, which is great for dogs’ bones and health. It is cooked for 13-14 hours and boosts with nutrients,” explains Tarun. Every item is carefully prepared in kitchen and the duo regularly conduct quality checks to ensure their quality. “The type of ingredients, cooking time, the quantity of herbs and protein content play an important role in the health and wellbeing of your pets. We follow strict protocols to retain quality of food, right from the procurement of ingredients till the delivery of the final dish. Even while cooking, chefs follow use steel utensils and follow COVID-19 protocols,” he shares. One of the concerns about packed meals is the use of preservatives. To negate out artificial colours and taste enhancers, the duo use thermal insulated packaging. “Our food is free from any sugar, salt, spices, preservatives, food colourings and artificial flavours. In fact, these dishes are so healthy that even a pet parent can consume them. But they will require salt/sugar and other spices while consuming these dishes,” explains Tarun. FurrMeals is not the only brand that provides home-made nutritious food. The pet food delivery industry has seen a tremendous innovation. Manvi Gupta’s brand ‘Nuts over Mutts’, for instance, serves fresh customised meals to dogs based on their health history. Manvi’s entry in this industry happened by chance. She shares, “A few years ago, my dog was battling stomach and skin issues. I consulted a nutritionist, who suggested me to try home-made healthy food. I innovated with recipes for my dog and started enjoying it. That’s how I decided to do quit my corporate job to convert my hobby as a full-time venture.” Manvi relies on a veterinary doctor for suggestions and guidance on the right ingredients, food alternates (for dogs who have a food allergy) and meal sizes. “Chefs prepare separate meals for puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs in our in-house kitchen. Meals vary in terms of nutritional requirements and not in their quality,” she explains. With four variants to offer — chicken; chicken and paneer; chicken and mutton; and only mutton, all meals lack salt and sugar. Instead chefs use cold pressed coconut oil, egg shell powder, home-dried Lakadom turmeric, chicken, black pepper powder and rice. To maintain their size and quality, meals are pre-portioned and vacuum sealed. Manvi dedicates a lot of time in choosing the ingredients. “We do not use basmati rice. We instead source a specific variety of rice from South India as it is extremely nutritious for dogs. Similarly, we use Lakadong turmeric. It is specially sourced from Meghalaya as it is great for dogs’ immunity and joint support,” she adds. Nuts over Mutts provides a standard meal size between 100-500 grams and offers meal plans at different prizes (subscription-based model). Their food do not involve any cooking while consumption, making it easier for pet parents to serve quality and nutrition. Woof Yums also provides customised balanced meals for dogs in all age groups. Jotvinder (Jojo) Singh, the brainchild behind the brand, started this venture for his love for dogs. As an advertiser in his former job, he started this entrepreneurial journey to provide balanced meals to dogs. He enrolled himself in a virtual course in ‘Puppy nutrition’ to learn the art of cooking for pets. The brand specialises in preparing customised meals using natural, healthy ingredients. "Meals are curated as per dogs’ health conditions and age," he says. Work in the kitchen starts as early as 3 am. “Most pet parents want food delivery by 8-8:30 am. Due to this, chefs start early,” he shares. Orders are welcomed through Woof Yums’ website. Explaining the process, Jojo shares, “Pet parents are asked to fill a form that includes a detailed information about the pet and its health history, among other things.” After the form is submitted, its copy reaches him, chefs, the veterinary doctor and nutritionist. He then consults the veterinary doctor and nutritionist who suggest him the right diet, keeping dogs' requisite health conditions in mind. “We have kids (dogs) who have thyroid, obesity, diabetes, arthritis and renal problems. Then there are puppies, adult and old dogs. Diet changes for a puppy and adult dog. For instance, a senior pet requires less protein and more glucosamine to treat arthritis. In that case, we recommend neck and face stock,” he explains.

Huma Qureshi has started the new year with a bang. The Maharani actress' three releases will soon open the doors for audiences in February. The new year has started with a bang for actress Huma Qureshi. After all, it is the first time that three of the actress' projects will release in February. The first one being Mithya, a psychological thriller, set to release on 18 February on Zee5. Surprisingly, Huma will share the screen space with Bhagyashree's daughter Avantika Dassani. Huma will also be seen kicking some butts in Valamai with Tamil superstar Ajith. The film will release on 24 February in four languages. Huma will also do a special appearance in Gangubai Kathyawadi. The film is directed by master director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and is slated to release on 25 February. Says Huma, “2021 has been a special year for me, in terms of work and 2022 looks no different. I hope I get the same love and appreciation from my fans. It's humbling to be able to meet the audiences with three different projects in just a month. God is kind.” Seems like Huma is here to enthral the audiences of all mediums be it OTT or big screen. We can’t wait to witness the Maharani actor in three different avatars. Besides this, the actress will also be seen in Monica O My Darling, Double XL and the second season of Maharani later this year.

The actor will soon be seen in 'Rudra: The Edge of Darkness'. Here's what the trailer has in store for audiences. Several actors, in the past, have explored OTT platforms but Ajay Devgn's was keeping himself away from it. But the wait is over. The actor will soon be seen in DisneyPlus Hotstar psychological crime drama 'Rudra: The Edge of Darkness', whose trailer was launched recently. The two minute clip leaves audiences on the edge of their seat. The drama looks packed with action, suspense and thrill. Though Ajay will essay the role of a police officer, yet this role looks distinct from the ones that he has played before. Besides Ajay, audiences will also sees Raashi Khanna, Esha Deol, Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tarun Gahlot, Ashish Vidyarthi and Satyadeep Misra in pivotal roles. The drama is adapted from British TV Series 'Luther'.

Mirzapur-actor Rasika Dugal has started the shoot of the second schedule of 'Spike' in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. Rasika Duggal will soon be seen in a new OTT series, her first sports drama. The actor has already begun its shooting in Palampur. The schedule was earlier timed to begin on the actor's birthday on 17 January. However, due to the rising number of Omicron cases, the production team decided to postpone it. In the series, Rasika will play the role of a volleyball coach. She actor will be stationed in Dev Bhoomi for five days. To get in the shoes of a volleyball coach, the actor took a three-months training in volleyball in Mumbai before the shoot. Sharing the news, Rasika said, "After much back and forth, several obstacles and many efforts at realigning our dates and our energies, we have finally managed to start the second schedule of Spike. As we inch closer to the end, I am curious about how this story will come together. I am always a tad nervous when I go back to a character after a break. But it's always great to embrace that nervousness and work with it. Let's see what experiences this schedule brings with it! After all, the hills always inspire magic." Besides this series, she will also be seen in Delhi Crime Season 2 and Lord Curzon Ki Haveli. She also has a few more unannounced projects in her hat.

Several art and cultural events have been rescheduled due to the rising number of Omicron cases. The following are some of them: India Art Fair 2022 Known as the biggest event in the history of art, there has always been a lot of excitement around India Art Fair. This year too the situation was not different. However, the rising number of Omicron cases has put the fate of several art galleries and independent artists on line. The organisers have decided to reschedule the event from 3-6 February 2022 to 28 April-1 May 2022. The move comes after a yellow alert was issued in the capital. The organisers decided to keep the Delhi Government’s restrictions and the rising cases of Omicron in mind before taking the final call on the event's commencement. However, the organisers in an Instagram post confirmed that the change would not apply to the venue and safety measures being adopted at the event. Jaipur Literature Festival The 15th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival has also faced the brunt of the Omicron variant. Teamwork Arts have rescheduled the event that was originally scheduled to run between 28 January to 1 February 2022. The festival will now take place between 5-14 March 2022 and the on-ground programme will start from 10 March to 14 March. Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts, in a press statement confirmed the news. He said, “Keeping in mind the advent of the new variant and the sharp rise in the number of cases across the country, we have thought it best to reschedule the Festival and hold it in March 2022. We remain committed to bring the Festival back to Jaipur as an on-ground, immersive experience, promoting dialogue, discussion and debate on books and ideas.” Life. Soul.Games Art Alive Gallery has postponed Life.Soul.Games that marks the beginning of the gallery’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The exhibition features recent works of Sakti Burman, Maite Deltiel and Maya Burman and was originally scheduled from 15-22 January 2022. However, it will now take place from 15-22 April 2022.

She has played several roles, sometimes of a beggar, bhutta seller, maid and even a tenant, but she isn’t a professional actor. She is an undercover detective who disguises characters to unmask the truth. Meet Akriti Khatri, a real-life jasoos. As a child, Akriti was always inquisitive about her surroundings. During her school and college days, her friends relied on her to dig out information on boys that they were interested in dating. She obliged them happily as finding out information about people’s lives was her favourite hobby. But as she grew up, she never thought of becoming a detective. In fact, Akriti graduated in science, and went on to do an MBA. However, destiny had some other plans for her. One day while reading a newspaper, she stumbled upon a few advertisements of a detective agency. Since she was curious, she called the number given under the advertisements and asked them how she could become a detective. The lady on the other side of the phone asked her to come for an interview. And that’s how got her a job in a detective agency. But after working under someone for a few years, she decided to be her own boss. In 2016, started her full-time detective agency ‘Venus Detective Agency’ and managed to carve a niche in this male-dominated industry. However, people were not kind to her. “There were a lot of judgements. People expected me to settle for a white-collar job,” she recalls. That did not shackle her spirit and she remained determined and fearless. As soon as she became an entrepreneur, she has been handling corporate and personal cases - love affair, child custody, employee cheating, scandals, cybercrime and due diligence, to name a few. But she points out that being a detective is not easy and different from how the profession is portrayed in movies. “There’s a lot of blood and sweat that goes into digging out all sorts of information on a person who is under surveillance. It’s not like a typical 9 to 5 job. A detective is required to be on his/her toes all the time,” she says. When asked what an ordinary day looks like? Apt comes the reply, “There is nothing ordinary about this profession. Every day comes as a challenge and no two days are the same. We are required to find out who the investigated person is meeting, where he/she goes and also about his/her friends, job, eating and partying habits, connections as well as net worth. The detective can do this himself or involves another person working under him to collect this data.” Akriti insists that detectives rely on proof and recorded data. Collecting this accompanies a major risk of getting caught. However, escaping such a situation lies in the hands of a detective. “It is important for a detective to be smart. We don’t have ID cards while we are investigating into a case like police or journalists have. We are vulnerable to suspicion. There have been instances where I have found out that my cover has been blown. The best thing to do at that time is to leave the premise. In case, someone is unlucky to get caught, he/she should always be ready with a strong story in his/her mind to escape such a mishap,” she explains. Akriti enjoys solving cases creatively. She credits her former boss for allowing her to think out of the box. “When I used to work with my former boss, I used to find different ways of doing the same thing and he trusted me to take that step. Now, as a boss, I inculcate the same values in my employees,” she says. Besides handling cases, she also trains women aspiring to be detectives. Her agency has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur and Chandigarh, where she deploys local people, keeping the language barriers in mind.