Don't judge a book by its cover. This 15-year-old might look like an ordinary school boy but his talents are far-fetched. Meet Apurba Dutta who carves words on a pencil lead and converts it into an amazing piece of art. At 15, when most children of his age were busy spending time in sharpening creative skills, Apurba Dutta spends hours in removing wood around the pencil. He uses the lead to carve words on the lead’s surface. From names to alphabets, this artist has enhanced the humble pencil lead into artworks. He does not use any fancy materials to carve the lead. His solo companion is a surgical blade that he says, costs him Rs 5-6 and is easily available in the market. But he insists that using a surgical blade isn’t a cakewalk. Apurba insists that it should be carefully handled. “Working with a surgical blade isn’t easy. It can lead to cuts on hands if not held properly. Beginners often use gloves to avoid getting injury marks on their hands,” he says. Apurba spends 2-3 days to separate the wood from the lead. He works for an hour every day. He blames his school curriculum that does not allow him to dedicate time on art. After the wood separates from the pencil, he carves designs on the lead’s surface. However, it not a day’s job to make this art. He insists, “One needs perseverance and precision while handling lead. When I started working on lead initially, I could not retain its length, as graphite breaks easily. It is the game of finesse. The more carefully the lead is handled, the better are the results.” Apurba isn’t a trained artist. He used to previously work as a chalk artist. As a child, the only exposure he had in art was restricted to assignments that he made as part of his curriculum. But two years ago, he stumbled upon Sachin Singh’s videos on YouTube. It was Sachin, who he says, inspired Apurba to pursue this art. He followed what Sachin was doing. “Initially, I broke lead several times while removing the wood. I also got cuts on my hands. I realised very early that handling lead won’t be easy, but that did not demoralise me,” he says. His passion towards pencil lead art wasn’t taken so well at home. In fact, his parents and friends dissed his idea. “They thought that I had gone cuckoo. When the first time they saw me removing wood and retaining lead, they felt I was wasting my time. It was much later when I started duplicating my ideas on the lead, they recognised my artistic potential,” he shares. Apurba aims to pursue pencil art when he grows up. He also aspires to try new art forms and expand his skills.

According to Haarsh, the USP of Bharti TV is the content which is different from television. He said their YouTube channel will feature stuff which people cannot expect on the TV. After mesmerising audiences with their great comic timing, Bharti Singh along with her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa took their on- and off-screen partnership to another new venture. The duo has recently launched The Indian Game Show on their YouTube channel 'Bharti TV'. Haarsh who was working on the show's concept for the last two years, revealed about the show. He said, "It is a concept where we can break the monotony of the non-fiction genre on television. I wanted to do something new where all the celebrities can come and play." Keeping this in mind, the duo has made a change in its presentation. This is the first time in the history of a reality TV that a game show will see three hosts. Aditya Narayan will join the comedian couple as a host. The show will feature more than 75 stars from the world of entertainment and social media. Spilling the beans regarding Bharti TV, Haarsh shared, “To me Bharti is like a universe of talent, she is the only female comedian of India who has done all kind of shows from comedy to dance show and stunt-based to talent hunt shows. And we have seen how much the audience likes her as an entertainer. So the thought was to make her available for the viewers on YouTube and that too, free." He also revealed that their channel will offer exclusivity in terms of its content. "The USP of Bharti TV is the content which will be different from television. Stuff which you cannot expect on TV, you can see that on Bharti TV. If you subscribe to this channel you can view the content anytime anywhere in the world,” he added. Bharti and Haarsh have worked endlessly for the show for the last three months. Considering the pressure and participation of several celebrities, the show makers have put their best foot forward to offer the best foot forward. Several celebrities, such as Shivin Narang, Mubeen Saudagar, Jasmin Bhasin, Aly Goni and Paras Kalnawat, to name a few, will participate in the show.

This is the first time both singers are working together. The new single is titled Jaane Kya Laage. Iconic Bollywood playback singer Alka Yagnik, who has sung more than 2000 songs in her long career span in 16 languages, has collaborated with singer and composer AMC Aman for his new single ‘Jaane Kya Laage’. This is the first time both singers have worked with each other. Talking about his experience with the charismatic singer, AMC Aman said, "Alka ji's a dream to work with and it’s a blessing working with her. I'm super excited and feel fortunate for the opportunity to sing with Alkaji for the first time." The song was recently released on AMC Aman's YouTube channel. Arafat Mehmood has penned its lyrics.

Paresh Rawal and Ratna Pathak Shah steal the show in Hum Do, Humare Do. Name: Hum Do Humare Do Director: Abhishek Jain Cast: Paresh Rawal, Ratna Pathak Shah, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao Platform: Disney+Hotstar Rating: 3 Hum Do Humare Do is based on family planning of a different kind. Instead of parents planning their family, the film revolves around Dhruv Mehra (played by Rajkummar Rao), an entrepreneur, who is on a lookout for fake parents to woo his love interest (Anya Mehra played by Kriti Sanon), a blogger. For his father’s role, Dhruv thinks of finding Purushottam Mishra (played by Paresh Rawal). Purushottam employed Dhruv as a servant on a dhaba as a child. Upon meeting him, Dhruv realises that Purushottam has feelings for his former lover, Dipti Kashyap (played by Ratna Pathak Shah). Dhruv then decides to meet Dipti and convinces her to act as his mother. Dhruv also knew Dipti when he was the servant in the dhaba, as she regularly visited the dhaba and convinced him to rename him from Bal Premi. It doesn’t take long for the director to establish the film’s plot. While the story may look as old wine served in new bottle, the film deserves an appreciation for Rawal and Shah’s performances. Their comic timing and on-screen chemistry makes it a good watch. The first half is filled with several comedy scenes. Some of the comedy sequences between Rawal and Manu Rishi Chadha (as Anya’s uncle) are rib-tickling. None of the comedy scenes look forced, which is why viewers get their dose of entertainment. Kriti Sanon as Dhruv’s love interest is looking beautiful as a happy-go-lucky girl and complements with Rajkummar. The second half of the film has a mix of emotions and drama with only a few comedy sequences. But the treatment towards the end could have been done better. The climax comes suddenly and looks forced. Some of the scenes between Rao and Shah are exceptional and bring the element of family bonding. For instance, the scene where Shah opens about her relation with her family and Rao’s feelings towards her will make your heart melt. But don’t expect too much rona-dhona as the director has played subtly with viewers. The film also stars Aparshakti Khurana (as Shanty) and Prachi Shah Pandya (as Anya’s aunt) in the supporting cast. While Pandya does justice to her role as an understanding mother, Khurana hasn’t got enough screen presence. In terms of technical aspects, the screenplay is fast-moving and the editing is fine. The treatment of climax could have been better – it comes suddenly and the rush does not do justice. Overall, the film is a dramedy that you can watch with your loved ones in your living room over a tub of popcorn.

From using cow dung to preparing compost at home, planting saplings in disposable cardboard boxes to getting soil from nearby locations, working professionals have tried several techniques as first-time gardeners since the pandemic. Shruti Wahi, a product manager at an MNC has had new additions in her family. From being a mother to two children, she now has 30 of them since to the lockdown. She introduces them as flower- and fruit-bearing plants that she grew during the lockdown. Her home in Sonipat looks nothing less than a mini nursery with chillies, spinach, okra, beans, tomato, bitter gourd, capsicum and lemon growing under one roof. Gardening has been a life changing experience for her. It has allowed her to bond with her daughters. She follows zero-budget natural farming, which she explains is a chemical-free way of raising plants. “I don’t use any chemicals at any stage. To make compost, I mix vegetable peels, neem leaves, coco peat and cow dung and keep them aside in a box for a month. I then prepare amrit jal, a concoction of jaggery, lime and natural fruit juice, and mix it with the ingredients in the box, before adding them in plants,” she adds. Many working professionals in India like Shruti have started gardening as a hobby to kill boredom. Nishant Dahiya, Founder, Osho Vatika Nursery, who also owns two other nurseries in Gurgaon has evidently seen a transition in plant buyers. “Work-from-home has helped young professionals to spare time in doing other things. Earlier, most of my clients were companies and retired people. But since the pandemic, most of our clients were between the age group of 25-35 years as new buyers,” he adds. Mittesh Gaiwala, Director and Creative Head, GreenLands Nursery, Mumbai says, “Definitely every business was affected in the pandemic phase, luckily for us, many people were buying plants. The trend is further increasing. Plant parent clubs have been formed, nature bathing is on to-do list of every age and having indoor plants in space deprived urban homes and cities have increased.” For Rashmirekha Changmai, a lecturer at Dibrugarh University, Assam, gardening started as a hobby out of her love for indoor plants. During the lockdown, she used the time she got while delivering online lectures in gardening. Though she started it as a hobby to add visual appeal to her home, her interest grew from being a plant grower to a plant nurturer. It was through experience, she says, her interest in plants’ nutrition developed. “At one point, some of my plants died because I had put ample fertiliser. Also, I forgot to change the direction of some of the plants, because of which they died due to excess heat. Then I ensured to transfer them in another balcony where sun rays weren't harsh,” she says. Her second-floor home has a variety of plants from ghost peppers to basil, tacoma, bougainvillea, curry leaves, orange and roses. She now refrains from using fertilisers and instead adds tea leaves and vegetable peels as compost. Alternative methods and do-it-yourself (DIY) techniques have emerged as heroes. People have not refrained to experiment with things readily available at home. For instance, Sandeep Kalshan, a corporate employee, faced issues in finding pots during the lockdown. So, he upcycled unused bottles of cold drinks, fruit juices and phenyl and used discarded paint buckets and crates as planters. He referred to online videos and found readymade solutions. “Availability of soil was an issue. I stumbled upon the idea of taking soil from an under-construction site,” he shares. Since seeds were not easily available, Sandeep exchanged his portulaca plants with his neighbours and received stem cuttings from them. This way, he grew hibiscus, rose, giloy, tulsi and curry leaves easily. He also made compost on his own. He initially used vegetable peels. It was after a few experiments that he discovered that onion peels and water, as well as egg shells and water are the greatest sources of potassium. “Unlike compost which takes months to prepare, these mixtures get ready within 2-3 days,” he says. Sakshi Malhotra also uses DIY techniques. This Indore resident grows fenugreek, mustard, coriander and spinach in discarded cardboard boxes and packs them with soil and fertiliser. Though the technique is great and saves money, planting seeds in a box isn’t a cakewalk. Sakshi insists that the planting process requires a lot of care. “One has to be careful that a plastic sheet is placed in a cardboard box before soil and fertiliser is added. Otherwise, the box will get soggy as soon as it will get in contact with water. It is also important to pierce small holes at the base of the sheet to allow excess water to flow out. The holes at the base of the sheet save the plant from getting infected by fungus,” she clarifies.

The auction will include Rolex's 18k yellow gold and diamond Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Wristwatch, Audemars Piguet's limited-edition watch released as an ode to ace F1 racer Michael Schumacher, coloured gemstones and creations by iconic silver manufacturers. Indian auction house AstaGuru is set to auction vintage Indian jewellery, art decorative pieces and hallmark silver collectables at its upcoming online auction on October 26-27, 2021. The show is titled as ‘Heirloom Jewellery, Silver & Timepieces’. The jewellery section at the auction will feature 50 pieces in traditional Indian and western designs. Some of these include exquisite gemstones, such as natural pearls, fancy diamonds, Burmese rubies, Zambian emeralds and coloured gemstones, as well as rarely found old-mine Colombian fluted emerald beads. Besides this, authentic pieces in traditional gold jewellery and creations by silver manufacturers of the 19th and 20th century, including Hamilton & Co., Hunt & Roskell, Mappin & Webb, and Carrington & Co. will also be auctioned. Describing the collection, Deepak Krishnamoorthy, Deepak Krishnamoorthy, timepiece expert, AstaGuru says, “The collection includes pieces like bracelets and brooches inspired by western design movements such as Art Deco. It also presents an array of the most desired and highly coveted gemstones from across the world.” The auction will also feature limited edition watches from Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Phillippe, ranging from vintage watches, dress watches, as well as state-of-the-art pieces. The collection also includes a rare pocket watch as well as a vintage carriage watch. The watch from Rolex is an 18k yellow gold and diamond Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Wristwatch. The one from Audemars Piguet is a limited-edition watch, released as an ode to ace F1 racer Michael Schumacher, and Patek Phillippe’s collection includes a Gondolo wristwatch. It features a platinum case with a silver dial with applied index batons indicating hours. Though the pandemic has hit several industries, many auction houses in India and abroad have successfully conducted live and online auctions. Deepak feels that this auction will also present a fantastic opportunity for seasoned and budding collectors to explore vintage jewellery and exceptional timepieces under one platform. “The interest for vintage jewellery among collectors has seen exponential growth in recent times and the upcoming auction, with lots dating as far back as the early 20th century, is a fantastic opportunity to collect beautiful pieces that are a hallmark of Indian culture and aesthetics,” he says. The auction carries 133 lots for bidders.

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has supported dancer-cum-actress Sudhaa Chandran on Instagram after the latter pled to PM Narendra Modi explaining her plight at the airports. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has come out in favour of renowned dancer and actress Sudhaa Chandran hailing the veteran actress for her professional achievements. In an Instagram post, Kangana said, "Sudhaa Ji is a veteran artist…. A great dancer and actor…. Inspite of losing her leg she achieved great heights in the field of dance… hope she gets due respect”. Sudhaa had recently made a plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi explaining her plight at the airports. She had shared a video on social media wherein she openly spoke about the harassment she faces on being asked to remove her prosthetic leg at the airport security every time she travels. Sudhaa had stated, “Every time that I go on my professional visits, each time, am stopped at the airport and when I request them at the security, to the CISF officers that please do an ETD (Explosive Trace Detector) for my artificial limb, they still want me to remove my artificial limb and show it to them. Is this humanly possible, Modi ji? Is this what our country is talking about? Is this the respect that a woman gives to another woman in our society? It is my humble request to you Modi ji that please give senior citizens a card that says they are senior citizen”.

Bollywood actors Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi were spotted as showstoppers of the British brand, Marks and Spencer at a fashion week in Delhi. Among festive hustle bustle, Delhi witnessed a dash of glamour recently when Bollywood actors Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi were spotted in the city. The actors were there to promote British brand Marks & Spencer’s latest collection at a fashion show. Neha, who recently had given birth to her second baby, looked pretty as a picture. She wore a deep green embroidered round neck dress with contrast colour paisley print from the brand. She completed her look with high heeled boots. Talking about her look and association with Marks and Spencer, Neha said, “Marks & Spencer has been a constant in my wardrobe for over a decade now. From my early days, it was my go-to for must-haves and fashion staples, and now I am wearing their India special occasion wear. I also love the evening wear for men, like what Angad is wearing.” Angad set the stage on fire in a velvet teal peak label blazer. The Soorma-actor paired it with black shirt and dark trousers from the brand’s latest collection. Angad mentioned the brand's evening wear for Indian men a sartorial treat. “Some pieces like the bandgala and Bandi jackets are a great addition to their existing product range. This collection helps make dressing up for any occasion easy,” he said. The brand showcased a combination of smart autumn-winter, loungewear and festive fare in the form of flowing dresses, chic pant suits and beautiful tops. It also launched opulent velvet bandh galas, dinner jackets, waist coats, premium shirts in rich sateen and ornate prints, tailored trousers and top notch polo t-shirts.

The actor will be seen in Scott Z. Burns’ anthology series 'Extrapolations' for Apple TV+. The show also stars Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harrington and David Schwimmer. After making a striking impression in The White Tiger in the role of Balram Halwai, actor Adarsh Gourav has bagged his second major project. He will be seen in Scott Z. Burns’ anthology series for Apple TV+ titled Extrapolations. The eight-episodes series also stars Hollywood's big wigs, including Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harrington, Tahar Rahim, Matthew Rhys, Daveed Diggs, Gemma Chan and David Schwimmer. It explores the stories of how changes to the planet will impact love, family and work, both personally as well as at human level. Expressing his joy, Adarsh says, “This is beyond anything I can express, to be honest. But to be working with such an incredible team at such an early juncture of my career is truly rewarding. I’m elated to be part of this project and grateful that I will be working alongside some of the very best in the business," and adds, "I have grown up and looked up to each of my co-stars and to now be sharing screen space with them is incredible. This story is such an important one to be told for our current generation and is tied in with realities of today.” The show is written, directed and executively produced by Scott. Other executive producers include Ellenberg, Greg Jacobs, Dorothy Fortenberry and Lindsey Springer. Micheal Ellenberg’s Media Res has helmed it. Adarsh recently flew off to New York where the show is currently expected to go into production. After wrapping Extrapolations, the BAFTA-nominated actor will start his next, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan with Ananya Pandey and Siddhant Chaturvedi.

This abstract artist expresses her emotions through the language of colours and allows her audiences to embark upon a journey of their own. Imagine revealing your emotions through colours and sharing them on the canvas as an artwork. It might be an arduous task for someone who does not understand the language of colours, but for Harleen Kaur, it is a cakewalk. The 23-year-old artist has used colours to depict her feelings that she faced while making these artworks. Her ongoing showcase ‘Immutable snapshots of emotions’, which happens to be her debut show, reveals her emotional state of mind in the most colourful manner. Each artwork has been inspired by the artist’s life. She learnt this from her favourite abstract artist, Mark Rothko, who looked at art and kept himself as a part of the work. "Keeping his idea in mind, I have created these artworks using my emotional state as the focal point of all works,” she says. The artist has used varied colours and hues. She has expressed anger and frustration through bright colours such as blue, black and grey, whereas empty canvas reveals her acceptance towards life. Though her works depict her frame of mind when these artworks were created, one cannot judge their meanings, as her emotions cannot be explained through any language. Describing the artworks and her choice of colours, she says, “All these works are subjective. Since I made most of these canvases between 2020-2021, I was irritated and agitated due to the pandemic-led restrictions. I expressed my anger by using dark tones of blue and black. Scribble depict complications. The part of the canvas that is left blank shows that sometimes it's ok not to play with things and leave situations as they are.” Besides brighter shades, Harleen has also added yellow to depict warmth and happiness. One of her artworks, Sunflower field, is her take on a warm day at the sunflower field when the breeze brushes through her hair. Peace and tranquillity is explained through the use of monochrome tones. “The use of grey and black represent the sound of the wind brushing through the trees. I have tried to capture the sound in the painting. I felt that these colours would do justice to my emotions,” she explains. The artist has used mixed media to add texture. Though oil and acrylic colours dominate canvases, one can see the use of charcoal and soft pastels in some artworks. In some of these pieces, she has added collage paper and charcoal dust. Harleen’s journey as an artist began at the age of eight when her parents introduced her to art. As a child, she started with figurative art. However, as she grew old, she felt trapped practising this art form. “Figurative art did not allow me to speak my mind,” she recalls. By the time she was in college, she realised figurative art cannot be her medium of expression, as she always had an inclination to explore beyond the composition of a painting. She looked up to Freud’s (Lucian Frued’s) paintings while making figurative pieces. “I liked the way he applied oil painting using thick brush strokes. I was always more interested in manner in which colours and tones were used instead of focusing only on the objects while painting them. So, though I was painting real objects, every work was an abstract work for me as its value and composition mattered,” she says. Harleen's works are displayed at Triveni Kala Sangam.