He wears a doctor's hat every day but when he is not attending patients, Dr. Prithipal Singh Sethi spreads positivity through his artworks. His latest show ‘SoulScapes’ is his way of expressing his thoughts and sharing hope during the pandemic. Dr. Prithipal Singh Sethi has been healing the society as a general physician as well as an artist. In his latest solo show ‘SoulScapes’ being held place at Shridharani Art Gallery at Triveni Kala Sangam in New Delhi, he used colours to spread hope during the pandemic. The artist has drawn inspiration from nirvana, dreams, birth, night vigil, cascade, spring, transience, cosmos, spring, storm, faith, butterflies, and birds, to name a few. But unlike moroseness that the pandemic inflicted upon people, these artworks can heal art lovers. Describing his artworks and the colourful palette used, the artist says, “As a doctor, I have not forgotten the role of healer. The society needs healers to wash away ills and diseases. Through my paintings, I have tried to heal the society and give people hope that sadness is a temporary phase.” Dr. Prithipal’s forte lies in abstract expressionism where instead of using any forms, he used colours to define moods, light and application of strokes. This is evidently depicted in the hues and shades that he has used in this show. In one of his artworks titled ‘Genesis’, the artist has shown the birth of life using feathery brush and light colours. In ‘Angry hill’, the artist has paid an ode to Maharana Pratap’s horse, Chetak. Though he had to show a war and Chetak as a warrior, the artist has subtly depicted anger and bloodshed. “I have shown a horse like figure standing atop of Haldighati. I have created the scene of a war by showcasing Mughal army with red, yellow and green flags,” he explains. Concepts of ‘chid aakash’ or ‘universal subconsciousness’ have been showcased using tones of blue, yellow and white. He explains ‘Sree’, one of his artworks, as his way of showing that when mind firmly goes in the state of meditation, the slate of life becomes blue and the person becomes one with the universal consciousness. In the artwork, the artist has used Lord Ganesh and Om to symbolise consciousness. “With meditation, whether it is for art, medicine or music, the purity of mind begins. I have shown purity of mind using the blue colour at centre of the painting. As it gets matured, the mind becomes one with the universal consciousness. This possibility can only be achieved by the grace of Ganesha, depicted through the towering head on the top of the slate,” he adds. With minimalistic abstraction, the artist has taken references from Krishna and Shiva in his artwork titled ‘introspection’. “I have used Krishna’s feather and Shiva’s third eye to represent consciousness and wisdom, respectively. When they work together, you have introspection,” he says. Another artwork, ‘One star’ is inspired by the sakhi of Guru Nanak, Ekyum Kar. Migration 2020 is the artist’s way of sharing struggle and migration that labourers faced due to the pandemic-induced lockdown. “I have used light tones to show migration so that people can find hope looking at this piece,” he shares. Dr. Prithipal’s journey as an artist began on a dreamy note. At 23, he dreamt of making a painting. When he narrated his dream to his sister, she gifted him a canvas, paintbrush and colours the next morning. Though art started as a hobby, he matured as an artist after he took a two-year part-time art course at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in 1994. In the earlier years of his artistic career, he explored with figurative art. He took inspiration from real-life instances that the society was encountering as subjects of his artworks. He was also inspired by burning of brides and freedom at midnight, both of which he later painted on the canvas. “Freedom at Midnight is about independence, and it was my first big oil on canvas painting. I showed the map of India as the jumping horse. On the left side of the horse, I showed the dark past that India had overcome during the British Raj. On the right side of the canvas, I showed a nest and the horse marching towards it,” he recalls. It was later that he converted from figurative to abstract expressionism. In 2017, the artist fructified his dream as an artist when the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) announced artworks from doctors to celebrate its diamond jubilee celebrations. Ten of his paintings in landscape art were showcased along with the works of four other doctor-cum-artists from India. The show also saw participants from other countries. “That, for me, was the turning point,” he says. The show will end on October 20, 2021.

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon recently shared a post on Instagram on wrapping up her shooting for her upcoming film, Adipurush. The film also stars Saif Ali Khan and Prabhas. Actress Kriti Sanon recently shared on Instagram the news of wrapping up the shoot of her upcoming film, Adipurush. In the post, the actress shared some cute moments with her film director, Om Raut. The actress posted three images: celebrating her successful shooting through cake-cutting, cute picture with the director and the last one is a beautiful note from Om Raut where he wrote, "Dear Kriti, Today was the last day of our collaboration. God willing many more to come. Until next time!!!". Making no qualms about it, the actress engaged her fans, giving them a much awaited dose of excitement. Kriti captioned the post, " Can't believe this journey has come to end so soon! My heart sinks as I let go of this super special character that I'm extremely proud to have played :JANAKI!...Thank you @omraut for giving me Janaki and believing I could carry the weight and responsibility that the character came with... Your vision is extraordinary and I can't wait for the world to see it! A film I'll always be extremely proud of #Adipurush". The superstar with her infectiously emotional attitude towards the role displays a sense of gratitude to her director for finding her a perfect fit to essay the character. Additionally, she also reposted Om Raut's lines, "Dear Kriti, it was magical watching you play Janaki. Can't believe your part is wrapped up. What a lovely journey!!!". Adipurush is an Indian historical film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana. It will roll on the floors on August 11, 2022.

The film is the Hindi remake of Vikram Vedha. This is the first time that Hrithik will share the screen space with Saif Ali Khan. On the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan in an Instagram post announced his return to the set after two years. The actor has started shooting for the Hindi remake of Vikram Vedha. In the post, the 47-year-old actor shared a video of himself making a slow-motion, heroic entry on the set along with his team. Referring to his team as the ‘actual hero’, Hrithik wrote, “Hero walking on to set after 2 years. I am walking in front of him”. The actor has always resonated with netizens. His signature wit and wisdom have often sparked excited social media conversation, speaking volumes for Hrithik Roshan’s stardom and fandom. Hrithik Roshan has an exciting slate ahead. The actor will also be seen in Fighter with actress Deepika Padukone, the next instalment of Krrish. He will also be seen in the sequel of War. Vikram Vedha was originally a Tamil film that released in 2017. It was written by Pushkar-Gayathri and saw Vijay Sethupathi as Vikram and R Madhavan as Vedha.

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha has announced his next film, a social drama, titled 'Bheed'. The film will be a socio-political drama starring actor Rajkummar Rao in the leading role. While talking about the film, Anubhav said, “Bheed is one of those titles that the whole team jumps at the moment you propose it.” This is the first time the filmmaker is working with Rajkummar. On his collaboration with the actor, Anubhav said, "To me, casting was crucial. Raj is a very intriguing actor. He is one of the very few actors who can be so successfully transparent in a story. There always was a keen desire to work with him and I am looking forward to it." Rajkummar shared his excitement and said, “I am thrilled to be working with Anubhav Sinha. It's a matter of great honour and privilege to collaborate with a filmmaker who has such a distinct voice. This is an important subject and the character needs me to stretch myself as an artist, beyond my comfort zone. I can’t wait to start shooting and lose myself in this universe.” Bheed marks Anubhav’s reunion with Bhushan Kumar after the success of Thappad. It is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Anubhav's Benaras Mediaworks. Taking about his relationship with Anubhav, Bhushan shared, “Anubhav and I have a long standing relationship since Tum Bin. And every outing together is even more exciting than the last one. Thappad is a film I am incredibly proud of and I can’t wait for Bheed to kick off. It’s another of Anubhav’s deeply stirring stories and I am so proud to join hands with him yet again on this one.” The film is expected to go on floors in November, as the unit continues their extensive pre-production for the next few weeks. It will be shot across Lucknow.

Ever imagined munching 14 different varieties of hygienically-prepared samosas under one roof? If not, do try samosas in various stuffing from egg to keema, barbeque chicken to tandoori chicken, corn and cheese to daal and water chestnuts to potatoes at this eatery that promises something for everyone. When Diksha Pande and Amit Nanwani thought of starting their entrepreneurial journey in the food industry, they came to know that several multinational companies were experimenting with American foods. But Indian snacks never gained the spotlight. Even among Indian players, the humble samosa was not given impetus it deserved. This bothered the duo, who later diverted their attention to the favourite Indian tea-time snack. “We came to know that India exports samosas to more than 140 countries across the world. Within India as well, nearly six crore samosas are sold every day. The fact that there was not even a single Indian brand solely focusing on serving samosas in different flavours under one roof led to the birth of Samosa Party in 2017,” says Amit. The Bangalore-based brand serves samosas in 14 distinct flavours. The menu has been decided on the basis of people’s tastebuds and geographical area. Amit explains that these distinct flavours are adapted from different parts of the country. “We have created our menu basis regional preferences. For example, if you go to Kolkata, people usually enjoy water chestnut (singhara) samosas. In Dehradun, noodle samosas are rage. In Rajasthan, people love to indulge in daal samosas and in Chennai and Hyderabad, onion samosas and mutton keema samosas are popular, respectively,” he clarifies. Within aloo samosa, the brand serves four distinct varieties. “Our Punjabi aloo samosa is for people who love spicy food, whereas khoya and aloo samosa (with raisins and dry fruits) is for those who crave for a sweeter version. We also have a spicy version as Jodhpuri aloo pyaaz samosa, which is our take on aloo pyaaz kachodi from Rajasthan. There is desi aloo samosa with peas, a staple version enjoyed in Delhi-NCR,” he explains. Besides these, one can find mutton keema, corn and cheese, onion patti, tandoori chicken, barbeque chicken and egg samosas. Samosas are considered unhealthy, as they are stored in unhygienic environment. Sometimes, the product is good but the experience gets compromised, as they are often wrapped in newspapers or paper bags while being sold. Use of pre-mixes further deteriorates their freshness. The brand is cautious of the quality they serve to customers. They maintain high quality standards while sourcing the ingredients, as well as preparing and serving the final product. All ingredients are sourced from certified vendors. In fact, the brand's quality and auditing team performs audits on these vendors and after ensuring that they have followed hygiene practices, they are taken onboard. The brand also refrains from using any food preservatives and maintains hygiene practices at all levels. Explaining the dos and don’ts, Amit says, “The oil that we use is changed regularly. Our chefs fry samosas after receiving the order so that they final product does not become stale and soggy. They refrain from making stuffing beforehand and storing them in a chiller. This helps in keeping them fresh till they are delivered to customers. We follow these attributes, despite the pandemic, along with other hygiene practices such as use of masks and gloves.” The brand is also working on some trials to launch fully-baked samosas as well. It also plans to open more stores in NCR and launch itself in Hyderabad.

Mental health affects lives of young and old alike. A study conducted in 2017 found that nearly 45.7 million people suffer from depression and 49 million from anxiety disorders. With the pandemic, this number has increased exponentially. One company is doing all it takes to make a difference in people’s lives. Read on to find out more… When the pandemic started taking a toll on mental health of their loved ones, Sakshi Shah and Lawrence Bamania, both alumni of IIT-Kharagpur, took upon themselves to raise awareness about mental health issues. They founded GoodLives to familiarise people on mental health issues and their aftermath. But spreading the message wasn’t as easy as the duo had imagined. Sakshi points out that people were scared to speak up. “People were unwilling to talk about mental health problems. Though some agreed that they were experiencing tough times, they were paranoid to seek help. The fear of being judged by their parents and friends lingered on,” she says. Keeping these fears in mind, the company organised therapy sessions to involve and engage people. “We thought engaging people in talks will let them know that they are not alone and someone is there to help them. The prime idea to start this company was to make mental health solution affordable and accessible,” she adds. The company till date, has made difference in lives of young and old alike. It uses an algorithm to allow users to find a specific therapist for their problems. This tool has been introduced after understanding that everyone’s struggles and sufferings are unique. The algorithm allows seekers to find a therapist basis their condition(s). A team of psychiatrists and psychologists are then assigned to seekers that marks the initiation of the session. In every therapy, a therapist dedicates an hour to an individual, basis which a report is given and a further recommendation on therapies, if needed, is provided. Since solutions cater to mental health conditions, one size fits all does not apply. “There is not a customised solution that can be adopted, as each case varies. It is only after understanding an individual’s problem(s), a therapy is suggested,” she says. A typical session involves a therapist who listens to an individual’s problems and helps re-discover ways to improve the latter’s life. “While talk-based therapy is a popular form, expressive art therapy (drama, music and art) is also used in cases where a receiver is too shy to open up. The purpose of a session is to explain people how the world can be stabilised around them and what steps they can take at home to curb their anxiety levels,” she shares. Mental health impacts interpersonal relationships, social circle, community and goals, cognitive and physical health. In children, the situation is equally bad. So, what steps should be taken to tackle this issue in children? Sakshi points out that there is a need to introduce mental health as a subject in schools. “Though schools have counsellors who provide sessions to children, it is important to include mental health as part of their curriculum. It is also important to engage parents as well to develop an emotional quotient and create an understanding among them,” she says. Every year, 10 October is celebrated as World Mental Health Day.

Nothing can stop Bollywood actor Maniesh Paul from spreading his wings. After donning several hats of that of a radio jockey, singer, TV host, stage performer and podcaster, he will soon be seen on TV screens as a reality show host. We spoke to the actor, who got candid about his life. Excerpts… What kept you going during the lockdown? I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love spending time with them. I generally don’t find time to spend with them because most of the times I am travelling or shooting. The pandemic, in a way, was a blessing for me. I kept myself busy during the lockdown. I read, wrote poems, sang songs and made podcasts. I think we need to channelise ourselves to something positive rather than thinking that things are not working. How do you prepare yourself as a host before coming on the stage? I don’t follow a script. In fact, I cannot remember lines as I tend to get conscious. I believe in performing impromptu acts. I also try to be conversational as it makes the interactions engaging. Of all the roles that you have played so far, which role is close to your heart? The role of being an entertainer in close to my heart. Who is your favourite host? Amitabh Bachchan sir because the way he engages audiences, that is hands down the best thing a good host can do. Which genre are you keen to work in? I love thriller movies. Do you regret about something? I don’t have any regrets in my heart. I don’t keep a scope for negativity around me. I enjoy what I do. I try giving my best shot and even if I miss an opportunity, I don’t regret. It’s all in destiny. If something is destined to happen, it will and I am a firm believer in destiny. What is your dream role? I love Amitabh Bachchan sir’s role in Deewar and I wish someday I get that role. Do hosts get stereotyped? Sometimes, hosts do get stereotyped. But I think it is some people’s lack of vision. What is your message for the youth? Just stay positive and never give up. I feel sad when I hear about some of my friends who gave up because they couldn’t achieve what they wanted to. One should not give up so easily. It is important to stay focussed.

Sony Entertainment Television recently launched its upcoming show India’s Best Dancer in Delhi. Read on what the season 2 has in store for its audiences… Glitz, glamour and dance performances – the national capital witnessed an entertainment-packed afternoon. Sony Entertainment Television recently launched the second season of India’s Best Dancer with actor Maniesh Paul, who will also host the show. The channel gave the audiences a glimpse of the contestants. Four contestants, namely, Akash Tambedkar, Varun Dagar, Mohana Srivastava and Muskaan Singh, mesmerised audiences with their killer moves. While Mumbai-born Akash performed hip hop, Haryana-born Varun stole the show with his street dancing moves. Mohana, who is a professional lawyer, took the stage by storm with her killer belly dancing moves and Muskaan wooed audiences by performing Kathak. While interacting with the journalists, Maniesh was at his candid best. He said that the real reason that the show is back is due to the talent that is found in every nook and corner of our country. “The show is back to enable children to showcase their talent. Entertainment is essential to map the success of a show. So, the channel told me too to join the show,” he says with a smile. The actor promised that the season will be one-of-a-kind. “Since I am new, I will add that flavour in the show. Besides me, I think the contestants that we have shortlisted were exceptional. The competition is fierce this time and audiences will be able to see that while watching the show. That is why even the tagline is #BestKaNextAvtar,” he adds. The pandemic did not deter the spirit of the show. In fact, Maniesh says that it was shot during the pandemic, keeping all the norms in mind. While highlighting about the arrangements, the actor said, “The channel kept all the social distancing and other measures in mind. Even the set was sanitised regularly. People were asked to wear masks when they were not speaking their lines.” This is not the first time that the Mickey Virus actor is hosting a dance reality show. So, it was natural to ask if he wanted to learn any dance form. Apt comes his reply, “I would like to learn belly dancing.” The actor has worn the hat of a host several times. However, he says being a host is not as easy as it looks. “Being a host is not easy. I try to observe things, watch a lot of shows and read a lot to prepare myself. But simultaneously, I ensure to get connected to the contestants. I try controlling their nerves and keep them positive,” he shares. The second season of the show will see Malaika Arora, Geeta Kapur and Terence Lewis as judges. They will be called E.N.T specialists, i.e., entertainment, newness and technique. While Malaika will assess the ‘entertainment' quotient in each act, Geeta will look for ‘newness' in the moves and Terence will look out for perfection in the ‘technique' used. India's Best Dancer will start airing from October 16, every Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.

Artist Prabhakar Kotle has always allowed his creativity to flow freely. After a long gap of 15 years, the artist is set to unveil his show at Treasure Art Gallery, Defence Colony, New Delhi. In a tête-à-tête, he spilled the beans about his life, artistic style and the upcoming showcase. Artists, art connoisseurs and critics recognise artist Prabhakar Kotle’s works as abstract art. But the 76-year-old artist calls them as art and not abstract art. According to him, his artworks allow him to express his thoughts without any figurative structure on paper. “Abstract art is all about abstracting something and making a picture. Painting is my language. I don’t take a subject and paint something that is recognisable. Subject emerges out of my language,” he says. The artist defines abstraction as a kind of art that involves abstracting something out of concrete. Concrete, he says, pertains to thoughts through which an artist expresses himself/herself. In his latest show set to take place at Treasure Art Gallery, the artist has used the power of colours to reveal the concrete. Titled as The Mind’s Eye, the show will showcase 58 of his artworks that were created during the pandemic. Amongst canvasses and works on paper and drawings are three intriguing installations that add to Kolte’s repertoire of creativity. Describing the showcase, he says, “I created 150 pieces during the pandemic, of which 58 are on display. All are done in acrylic colours and some of them are big pieces.” The show can be viewed between 9 Oct–10 Dec 2021. His pathway to art As a child, Kotle’s maternal uncle was his inspiration that helped him discover art. He observed his uncle’s artworks who used the power of colours on paper to unwind. “I was intrigued by the use of colours and figures that he used to copy from his surroundings while painting. So, in 10th standard, I decided to pursue art as a career,” he says. His family supported his decision but his uncle didn’t. However, it didn’t impact his opinion. In 1968, he secured a seat in JJ School of Art, Mumbai, where he started learning art professionally. While he was excited to unveil the new chapter in his life, he didn’t like the idea of his school’s teaching style – copying things around him to create art. “It felt wrong to copy something. Though I was doing this work as a child in my home but I expected to learn something different at my art school. I felt if I had to do this, there was no need for me to join an art school,” he says. Within two years, he realised that figurative art was not his passion, as it didn’t allow him to think freely and creatively. Though he was uncertain about the path that he wanted to take, he was reluctant to follow the herd and copy the things that he saw around him. This behaviour wasn’t taken well by his teachers. He was often scolded for his actions. Tired of the mundane practice followed at his art school, Kotle resorted to reading art books. He discovered Picasso’s art books in the fourth and fifth year of his college. He also started studying works of Paul Klee, the Swiss-German artist. It was Klee’s works he says, that gave him the direction to move on in his artistic journey. “I still remember reading Klee’s words: ‘artist is a part of nature. He should behave and create like the nature’. That became my mantra. Since then, I decided to paint what I wanted to and found solace in abstract art,” he shares with a smile. Other passions When not painting, the artist enjoys teaching students, reading, poetry and writing. But he does not enjoy writing about random things. “Writing and poetry is also about my art. Sometimes, I use colours to define my artworks and sometimes, I use the power of words,” he says. On asking if he will ever transition to figurative art, apt comes the reply, “I may stop painting, but I will never go back to figurative art.”

After wrapping two films consecutively, Kiara Advani dives into marathon schedules next two films. After the success of Shershaah, actress Kiara Advani has cemented her position amongst the top-most actresses in the business. From winning the Smita Patil Global Memorial Award to bagging a spot in most-in demand actors across the globe, along with entering the Fab Four League of top Indian actresses, she has achieved several feats one after the another. The actress is now too busy with her jam-packed schedule. Having shot for three films (Bhool Bhulaiyya 2, Shashank Khaitan's next and Jug Jugg Jeeyo) at a time right after the extensive and exhaustive promotions of Shershaah, she continues to grind for her upcoming films without any break. After wrapping Bhool Bhulaiyya 2 and Shashank Khaitan's next earlier last month, Kiara began the marathon schedule for Jug Jugg Jeeyo in the beginning of October which will go on till mid-November. After that, she will instantly dive into her first pan-India film directed by S Shankar, co-starring Ram Charan.