In the movie Bahubali 2, the character of Amarendra Bahubali played by Prabhas feels that merely chopping off the fingers of a man trying to grope women is not enough punishment. He beheads him as capital punishment. Now that can happen in the make-believe world of movies where things are often glorified and gory-fied. But in a dignified cultured society with better sensibilities, matters have to be drastically different.

And that is exactly what some of our Bollywood stars showcased this month as they spoke fabulously about respect for women and their rights. “Respect and dignity towards women in society, a sense of equality as fellow citizens, as contributors in equal measure, without discrimination, is what needs to be inculcated amongst all of us,” said megastar Amitabh Bachchan while answering a question about the Nirbhaya rape case verdict.

Stressing that the true way to measure progress of a society was in empowering women, veteran actress Shabana Azmi remarked, “It isn’t that women should start acting like men or men should start behaving like women. There are differences between women and men, these need to be celebrated by giving them equal importance and opportunity in the society,”

But an unexpected clincher came on India TV from renowned singer Sonu Nigam who was on popular television host Rajat Sharma’s famed programme Aap Ki Adalat. Though he was there mainly answering questions about a recent controversy regarding loudspeakers on mosques during azaan prayers, the topic veered to an earlier controversy about ‘godwoman’ Radhe Maa.

But Sonu stood steadfast answering Rajat Sharma. “No one should utter profanities about a lady. Be it any lady. She could be my sister, or it could be you,” the singer commented, looking at the audience. “That’s not a done thing in any cultured society and I will stand for any lady who faces unfair comments,” Sonu added.

“I haven’t met or spoken to Radhe Maa, but I’ve heard she has been ostracized for her attire. Is attire a barometer to judge whether a person is spiritual or not? If a lady is covered from top to bottom, is she more spiritual person than one who is not? It’s wrong to judge any person from that perspective,” he concluded.

A recent special screening of the Arjun Kapoor–Shraddha Kapoor movie Half Girlfriend saw an unusual synchronization of minds that flummoxed many.

Tusshar Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Evelyn Sharma all came to the event, dressed in grey T-shirts and black slacks, with all three wearing white shoes.

Now, one might think it was a dress code of sorts. But turns out there was no such thing as a dress code for the event! So how did all the three actors come wearing the same colours? “Guess it was sheer coincidence,” laughs Evelyn Sharma, assuring “it wasn’t planned.”

Talking of Evelyn, Hindi Medium; the other film that released this week along with Half Girlfriend, features her famous Yo Yo Honey Singh number Sunny Sunny from Yaariyan in a little scene. “It was a pleasant surprise for me, as I got to know of it just recently. It made my day,” the teeny-bopper says with a smile.

And you thought only Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan had fans waiting for them outside their Bandra residences. Wait till you are surprised!

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

A week ago, the Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD) actress Evelyn Sharma was taken aback to find two fans from Punjab waiting for autographs and selfies outside her Bandra abode. When she was preparing to leave for a shoot, they walked up to her and told her they had been coming there from two days and standing below her building for a couple of hours to get a peek of the actress.

Evelyn didn’t know how to react to her new-found fandom. “I am used to being mobbed at airports and at events. But this was something new for me,” says the teeny-bopper. She happily posed for selfies and also checked with the security guard about the fan-claims. They turned out to be true.

But while Evelyn thought this would be a one-off thing, she is being surprised more than often. It seems, word has spread that Evelyn agrees for autographs and selfies and a bunch of fans have regularly begun gathering and waiting for her. At times, the fans want more!

Like one group didn’t let go of Evelyn till she sang a line from her famous Sunny Sunny song from Yaariyan. On another day, some fans insisted she flick her eyes the way she did for Ranbir Kapoor in YJHD, while they shot a video for their social media.

“It’s indeed flattering and sweet. I’m really happy that they all come by and click pictures with me. Sometimes it feels safer with fans around, knowing they have my back if anything happens to me. But at the same time it’s a bit scary, as there are around 20 complete strangers around me. So I don’t know whether I should look after myself or just be flattered about it,” she wonders.

Evelyn will next be seen in a key role in Imtiaz Ali’s next with Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. What can we say but that, maybe some of SRK-luck has rubbed on to her. 😉

Actress and fashion philanthropist Evelyn Sharma is known for her teeny-bopper zingy roles in movies like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Nautanki Saala. She has been a rage with her bikini song Sunny Sunny in Yaariyan. But at the recent Cinematics Arts Music Appreciation (CAMA) Awards in Ahmedabad, the gal turned a new leaf.

Evelyn appeared at the event in an all-new retro-traditional avatar. Decked in a black chiffon Ritu Kumar sari, with dazzling gold zari embroidery, she made a huge fashion statement with her beauty, smokey eyes, hair tied in a bun and a gorgeous backless blouse.

Stealing the show and eyeballs, Evelyn picked up the Youth Icon Of The Year Award, amidst awe-gazes and stares aplenty. “I need to be careful. Too much attention can get to the head,” she laughed as she got off the stage.

Evelyn Sharma is on cloud nine. Her music video Party Nonstop with Kangna singer-music producer Dr Zeus along with Punjabi singer Jasmine Sandlas (of Kick’s Yaar Na Mila fame) and rapper Ikka (of High Heels fame), has crossed three million hits on YouTube within just about three days.

Though Evelyn has only acted in Party Nonstop, her publicist Dale Bhagwagar reveals that Evelyn has a secret fetish for music. “She doesn’t only write lyrics and sing, but can also play a tune or two.” The actress had earlier released her own cool English song Something Beautiful with international artist Brooklyn Shanti.

“From the handsome price she has received for Party Nonstop, Evelyn has just bought a piano for herself,” Dale divulges and adds, “Don’t be surprised if she churns out her own music soon.” Aha!

Meanwhile, a lot is happening in Evelyn’s life. A while ago, the gal gave her first international speech at US president Donald Trump’s National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. Next, she built houses for the poor under the Habitat for Humanity organization in Karjat on the outskirts of Mumbai. Her latest Bandra fundraiser for her charity organization Seams With Dreams was a grand success too.

And soon, Evelyn will be seen in Imtiaz Ali’s next with Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. Seems like her jawaani life is all deewani on a nautanki overdrive for her yaariyaan with sunny sunny times. Now what’s missing is some ishqedarriyaan with a prince charming making an entry to say,‘main tera hero’. :p Maybe someone, Evelyn could play her piano for? 😉

The charismatic Manisha Koirala, who was Anil Kapoor’s love and obsession in the memorable song ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’ from the illustrious R.D.Burman’s last movie 1942: A Love Story, seemed nostalgic about the composer this week. Manisha was delighted when at a recent event, senior award-winning journalist Chaitanya Padukone presented her a copy of his authored book R.D.BurMania.

“What a musical masterpiece genius Panchamda came up with. Even today, his amazing melodies soothe the heart,” said Manisha, who is playing the legendary Nargis Dutt in the biopic on Sanjay Dutt, being directed by Rajkumar Hirani.

The actress who has proved to be an exemplary strong-willed cancer survivor, had another reason to smile. The book has its ‘foreword’ penned by showman Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who was then the ‘songs director’ of 1942: A Love Story.

Incidentally, when Bhansali made his directorial debut with Khamoshi, it was Manisha who featured as the lead opposite Salman Khan.

They say, beauty is skin deep,

For it the world weeps,

Evelyn now lets you peep,

Her secrets safe you can keep.

Evelyn Sharma wants to get personal with her fans; inside out. More personal than her interactions on social media. And for this direct connect, the actress and fashion philanthropist has come up with a unique idea. She has gone online with her secrets.

Evelyn has launched a brand new website called EvelynsSecrets.com, where her way of getting intimate is sharing her personal beauty secrets with the public. “It’s my way to give something back for the love and support I’ve been getting,” quips the spunky lover of wellness and travel.

What’s more! Whenever she gets time, Evelyn chats with her fans on the site, and even encourages them to share their beauty secrets with her. A first for any celeb indeed!

So is all the beauty information only going to be for the sake of educating? Or is Evelyn planning to convert it into a business model in the future? “You never know what the future holds,” she quips and reveals her dream of owning a spa. Aha.

By now we sure know Evelyn is a lady of many faces. The Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani actress was recently seen speaking at Donald Trump’s National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. A few days later, she headed to the little city of Karjat adjoining the Sahyadri Western Ghats near the banks of the River Ulhas in Maharashtra. Here she helped build a home for an underprivileged family, along with members of the Habitat for Humanity organization.

Canadian world music Bhangra band En Karma has teamed up with Sanjay Seran, the lead vocalist of Vancouver-based Delhi 2 Dublin music group, and released their new single “She Kills” on all major digital outlets this week, through India’s largest music label T-Series.

At a time when bands are looked upon as a thing of the past, En Karma’s presence comes with a new lively dash of electrifying energy. Founded in British Columbia, Canada, the band’s distinct sound is the work of Pip Dhaliwal (on the drums), Nick Chowlia (keyboards), Inder Kooner (vocalist), Ricky Thinda (bass) and Karm Cooner (on the dhol).

Based on the band’s core mantra of friendship, the song’s video has the boys jamming out the beats to a vibrant fusion of world music and Bhangra, delivering a sound that fans would love.

Drawing on their UK influences for live band arrangements, infused with the contemporary sway of North America, the band first gained popularity with their self-titled debut album ‘En Karma’ reaching the No.1 position on the iTunes World Music charts.

Featuring the lead single “Tohar Naal Jeena” with K.S.Makhan, H.Dhami and Delhi 2 Dublin, the debut album established En Karma’s brand. It was followed up with another album ‘Enkarmafied’, which also scaled the iTunes World Music charts, reaching No.2 and breaking new ground with its catchy tracks “Dil Naal Khedey” and “Tu Nach.”

The band has also given live performances at various shows and music festivals, apart from the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, proving that the traditional drum and dhol still have a long way to go on the international music scene.

Normally clad in a typical red gown, ‘godwoman’ Radhe Maa turned up at a recent charity event in a stylish frilled red mermaid dress, replete with a red purse to match… the kind one normally sees models and film actresses wearing at premieres and glam parties. This surprised quite a few personalities who reacted to her fashionable attire.

“God in the true sense is faith and belief. People who follow her (Radhe Maa); if they are okay with it then who are we to complain,” asks Bollywood actor Aarya Babbar. “Faith only requires a pure soul; no dress-code,” he adds.

Television actor Pankit Thakker feels, “She looks cool in the outfit. Thank god she is not in the media industry, otherwise she would have been competition to many with her grace and charm.” He makes it a point to state that “we should stop judging people based on their choice of clothing. The way I see it, this looks like an extension of her personality.”

But international chess master Dhyani Dave begs to differ. “Trying to change the mainstream idea of orange or red clothes with a mermaid dress doesn’t go well,” she quips. Bollywood’s walking-talking encyclopedia, actor-filmmaker Viveck Vaswani counters, “a person in the services of God can wear anything, because it’s not an issue with God.” Aha! Interesting thought that.

Fiery actress Kashmera Shah who once wore some of the most fashionable outfits on India’s No.1 reality show Bigg Boss agrees, “We are all children of God. So let her wear what she wants. Clothes can’t depict your passion for God.”

“If one carries oneself with dignity and lives to serve others then who are we to judge their spirituality by what they wear,” questions Shawn Valentino, author of Showstopper Lifestyle from Hollywood. “If their lifestyle is in accordance with their core beliefs, then it is their actions not their dress that ultimately decides their relationship with the divine. She should be commended for showcasing her style as she wore it gracefully,” Shawn adds.

TV actor Pranav Sachdeva is on a different kind of high. A simpleton in real life, he remarks that he’s “thoroughly enjoying being devilish in reel life.”

After playing a double-faced character in the daily soap Agar Tum Saath Ho on the revamped Zindagi channel, Pranav is again playing dual roles in a new play called Delhiciously Chekhov, starring veteran actor Tom Alter.

Being staged exclusively in the Indian capital, Delhiciously Chekhov is a tribute to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, the Russian playwright and short-story writer, who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of short fiction in playwright history.

“I play a father in the first half who wants to make a man out of his 19-year old son and so, takes him to a woman,” says Pranav. “As if that is not eww enough, the second half of the play has me playing a notorious bachelor, giving a live and practical demonstration on how to seduce a beautiful young woman with a little help from her husband.”

“I know what you would be thinking. That this fellow is the scum of the earth. But to me, a good actor is a person who can even play that,” Pranav quips like a smart alec, defining his most obnoxious roles.

The play’s director Raj Upadhyay praises the actor for being able to carry off roles that may make the audience feel uneasy in their seats. “Pranav creates fire on stage with his presence and energy. He explores his characters like someone is finding water in a desert. His sense of improvisation is remarkable.”

Turns out, Delhiciously Chekhov is not the only play the actor is doing. Come March, and Pranav will be playing the role of another veteran actor Asrani’sson in a comic play called The Makkhi-Choos.