Bollywood insiders react to Rakhi Vijan’s TV role resembling Radhe Maa

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Our films and television serials often make a mockery out of religious preachers. The latest are the press reports about television actress Rakhi Vijan playing godwoman Radhe Maa, nicknamed ‘Ghoongat Wali Mata’ in a daily soap Gangaa on &TV. So is playing godly personalities on television the new ‘in thing’?

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Sanjeev Gupta of Global Advertisers, patrons of Radhe Maa, is learning to take such nuances in his stride. “People mix piousness with frivolity nowadays,” he says. “And no amount of spirituality or knowledge seems to control their amateurish thoughts,” Gupta adds with sarcasm.

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Acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt terms the phenomenon as “unique”. Television superstar and popular film actor Ram Kapoor feels, “this is absolutely fine. You need to remember that all these characters in TV serials are fictional. They are meant to entertain and not to be taken too seriously.”

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Actress and firebrand social activist Pooja Bedi remarks, it’s all about entertainment. “From cops, judges, lawyers, religious figures, to religion itself… everything is susceptible to being caricatured.”

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She explains, that “the problem is not the world of entertainment. It’s us taking what’s meant to be entertainment, too seriously.” The spunky Priya Malik of Bigg Boss fame feels, “Radhe Maa is more famous for her antics than she is about religion. Plus, we live in a democracy and hence there’s nothing wrong with it.”

 

So there goes. Different people, different views. Sanjeev Gupta has the last word. “Even our Prime Minister Narendra Modi propagates diversity for a vibrant democracy. So what’s important is to show mutual respect and keep decorum even while one shows or portrays a difference of opinion.” True that.

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In the meantime, no amount of controversy, seems to be stopping the godwoman. Radhe Maa’s fame and reach only grows from strength to strength. This week, she contributed a sum to one Shree Sai Dwarkadheera Padyatri Mandal to help downtrodden people living in the hutments of remote areas in Borivali East in Mumbai. Woah!

Actress Soma Mangnaanii to produce TV series on beauty secrets

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Ever wondered how Rekha has managed to look enigmatically young throughout her life! What does Katrina Kaif do to be the best bod in Bollywood! What is it that makes Sonam Kapoor seem to have a flawless complexion! And what is the secret behind that neighbourhood bombshell who attracts stares and glares as she steps out of her house!

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Actress Soma Mangnaanii who was seen in the popular Zee TV show Jabb Love Hua, plans bring some of the most exciting revelations about beauty behind stars and laymen alike, with a television series on beauty secrets.

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While she is in talks with production houses as well as channels for the show, Soma reveals that “the unique part about the series is that it’s going to take the viewer back in time, when beauty was not only about looking hot and sexy, but also a thing about the feeling from within.”

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The actress is also the Secretary for BJP’s Sindhi Cell in Bandra, Mumbai. She earlier contested the local polls as an independent candidate from Bandra locality, and even hopes to represent the party in the upcoming BMC elections in February 2017.

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Apart from acting and politics, the multi-faceted Soma dabbles in painting, designing, luxury brands and runs an NGO called Muktangan International Foundation. She has also hosted the horse-racing programme The Winning Post on Ten Sports, done advertisements, Bollywood events, music videos, and even acted in the Kollywood superhit Lesa Lesa directed by Priyadarshan.

Actress Soma Mangnaanii keen to return to politics on BJP ticket

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Television actress Soma Mangnaanii who was seen in the popular Zee TV show Jabb Love Hua, and earlier contested the local polls as an independent candidate from Mumbai’s posh Bandra locality, is “seriously considering” to return to politics in the upcoming BMC elections.

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The actress is currently the Secretary for BJP’s Sindhi Cell in Bandra and hopes to represent the party in the upcoming BMC elections in February 2017. “Serving people and spearheading causes like women empowerment, job creation for developing classes and being a voice for them, gives meaning to my life,” says Soma.

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She is particularly impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s currency demonetization move, in an effort to cleanse the country from black money. “It is one of the boldest steps any PM has taken in the history of India,” she quips. “When I look at the changes Mr Modi is trying to bring, they make me feel, I should be part of the change to bring a better life to the people living around me.”

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Apart from acting and politics, the multi-faceted Soma dabbles in painting, designing, luxury brands and runs an NGO called Muktangan International Foundation. She has also hosted the horse-racing programme The Winning Post on Ten Sports, done advertisements, Bollywood events, music videos, and even acted in the Kollywood superhit Lesa Lesa directed by Priyadarshan.

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Rupali Suri starrer gets warm reception in Sweden

 

Fashionista and theatre actress Rupali Suri’s film ‘Dad… Hold My Hand’ recently premiered to a warm reception at Cinema Indien; a film festival organized under the India Unlimited programme by the Embassy of India at Stockholm in Sweden. The movie was so appreciated that a repeat screening was also arranged.

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But Rupali who plays a key role, does not sound ecstatic about the praise. Reason being, the writer-director of the movie Arun Frank is no more.

 

Frank, who spearheaded more than a dozen TV projects earlier, was no ordinary director. In the late 90s, Frank was dubbed ‘the most successful success machine’ for Indian television. He churned out serial after serial, soap after soap, like nobody’s business.

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In fact, there was a time when he simultaneously directed television projects, rushing to and fro from one set to another and shooting with various production units at the same time. It was as if Frank was in a race against time. Little did he realize that his life actually would not give him much more time.

 

“This feature film is Mr Frank’s directorial debut in Bollywood. It was a project extremely close and special to him,” reminisces Rupali, mourning the maker’s demise. “I wish he was there to witness the response his film is getting,” she says.

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Rupali plays the lead’s fiancé Ria in the film starring Denzil Smith, Ratna Pathak and Jayesh Kodwani. Produced by Wet Grass Films and presented in association with Bad Girl Films (UK), ‘Dad… Hold My Hand’ is made entirely in English and shot in London and Mumbai. The film is expected to do more rounds of festival circuits, before releasing in India and the West.

 

Fashionista Rupali Suri reveals hot showstopper traits!

 

With the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016 fever refusing to die down, we can’t help but look at that certain magic that metamorphoses our Indian models into spectacular ramp queens.

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Chic Bollywood sensations Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra have been some of the hot favourites of our designers for the runway.

 

Fashionista Rupali Suri who has been a new-age showstopper feels, that “though the fashion industry is a bit biased towards actresses, it’s also a boon to a whole lot of new entrants” on the glam scene. An actress herself, Rupali points out that it takes quite a few stunning qualities in a model to emerge as a showstopper.

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So what are the basic requisites of dazzling on the runway? “First of all one has to have that feminine charisma and persona, a decent height and electrifying stage presence. Plus, one has to carry herself in the designer’s grand attire with exuberance and confidence, at the same time, effortlessly match with the theme of the show,” says Rupali.

 

True that! An intelligent supermodel is the one who understands the brand sensibilities and is in step with the brand image of the designer and his designs. After all, that’s the element which brings in the eyeballs and the business for the fashion industry.

Society Mandate – Cover Story – March 2014

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Mandate Cover Story - 12 Inside Pages

Evelyn Sharma – Fashionista with a Bollywood tadka

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Best known as ‘Lara’ in Ayan Mukerji’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, alongside Ranbir Kapoor, under Karan Johar’s banner Dharma Productions, Evelyn Sharma played a sexy ditz who wraps a most charming Ranbir around her little finger and stunned the audience with her sensuous performance of hit song Ooh La La. The film is blockbuster, having broken records at the box-office last year and Evelyn is on cloud nine, marking YJHD as her second hit movie after Rohan Sippy’s Nautanki Saala opposite Ayushman Khurrana only a few weeks earlier!

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Currently the 23-year-old half-German half-Indian supermodel-turned-actress is busy promoting her next film, T-Series’  Yaariyan, where she will be romancing Humse Hai Life teen heart-throb Himansh Kohli. She plays an angelic dream girl and will be seen donning a bikini for the first time in the sexy beach song Sunny Sunny with superstar Yo Yo Honey Singh for this fresh college movie, which happens to be the directorial debut of Super Cassettes icon Bhushan Kumar’s enterprising wife Divya Khosla Kumar.

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The two hit movies old actress will celebrate Yaariyan as her fifth release in one year on January 10, 2014 and has already been signed for more projects such as David Dhawan’s multi-starrer Main Tera Hero with Varun Dhawan, Anupam Kher, Illeana D’Cruz and more; as well as Neeraj Pathak’s Bhaiyyaji Superhit with Sunny Deol and opposite Arshad Warsi.

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Taking a strong stand in the Bollywood industry and shooting straight into the Times of India’s Most Desirable List, Evelyn has fast emerged a sought-after fashion icon for events, brands and designers. The names go from designers Nishka Lulla, Rocky S, Falguni & Shane Peacock and Wendell Rodricks to rock bands like Euphoria and jewelry brands like Gehna who have longed for the beauty to be their muse. Besides her endorsements such as Parachute Advansed, Biba, Anandam World City or innerwear brand Bodycare Creations, the rising star was recently signed as the new face for Blenders Pride, and is seen opposite Priyanka Chopra on the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour hoardings.

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As if this isn’t enough, Evelyn is also actively involved in supporting various causes, such as children charities, animal rescue, clean environment and breast cancer awareness. In her spare time, the multifaceted actress makes music, loves dancing and trains in kickboxing. So you see, this girl literally kicks ass! Lol.

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Some magazine COVERS we have arranged for our Bollywood PR client Evelyn Sharma

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The Fashion Ethics, January 2014

 

Phegency magazine, Pakistan, January 2014

 

Screen scorcher Evelyn Sharma basks In Frost

 

So you thought one can only bask in the glory of the sun, eh? Think again!

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This weekend, actress and fashionista Evelyn Sharma is burning the web screens in a short fashion film called In Frost premiered on the Fashion TV website.

 

The three-minute slick-flick featuring vignettes of the screen scorcher is produced by Vatsal Mehta and directed and edited by Maul Gohel, who was chosen among 25 international fashion and advertising photographers to win top honours at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

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It has Evelyn basking in morning light, wearing modish outfits from ace designer Nishka Lulla. The pretty gal moves like a dream while the sun rays and its hues penetrate her – striding with grace and confidence – as if burning with ambition under warmth of the rising sun.

 

The stillness of a foggy sky in the backdrop seems to take her into dreamy rewind mode with a beautiful sepia tone at times, giving a retro feel to the scenes, yet maintaining a contemporary pace for the film.

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She is styled by Hasnain Patel with make-up by Shubhash Singh. A mesmerizing score by Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell titled Blurred Lines plays in the background.

 

Though the film is called In Frost – more than frosty, we find it piping hot. Watch it and judge for yourself.

 

Evelyn Sharma to match dance steps with Arshad Warsi

 

Evelyn Sharma seems to have all the luck by her side. From starting out as a fashionista and graduating to Bollywood success with super hits like Nautanki Saala! and the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD), she’s now turning a new leaf.

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Evelyn has been signed by director Neeraj Pathak for Bhaiyyaji Superhit starring Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta and Arshad Warsi.

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Pitted as the leading lady opposite Arshad, she plays a cute, sexy but traditional Indian girl. But what the actress is most excited about is matching dance steps with him!

 

Apart from being a powerhouse performer, Arshad is well-known for being a great dancer. And Evelyn feels this gives her a great chance to hone her dancing skills too. Nowadays, the gal is often spotted at a dance rehearsal hall in Andheri, Mumbai. We wonder if that has something to do with the challenge of dancing with Arshad.

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Meanwhile, having bagged a role with various shades, comedy, songs, dance and all, Evelyn is glad to work with director Neeraj Pathak. “He spotted me in YJHD and invited me to his office for a meeting. He compliments me for my talent and thinks I am a quick learner. I feel honoured with the praise.”

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And what does her hero Arshad think of her? “When I first shot with him in Jaipur, it was a scene where I was performing a puja in the house. And Arshad was quite amused by my Hindi accent,” she winks.

 

Evelyn Sharma’s bikini dance moves with Yo Yo Honey Singh!

 

Aishwarya Rai did it in Dhoom. Priyanka Chopra did it in Andaaz, Don, Dostana and for Pitbull. Katrina Kaif did it in Boom and in Spain with Ranbir Kapoor (wink). Deepika Padukone did it in Cocktail.

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This holiday season, actress Evelyn Sharma has got a pretty good reason to join the Bollywood bikini brigade with a sizzling beach song. The gal will hit the silver screens in a scorching hot two-piece bikini for the first time ever with superstar Yo Yo Honey Singh’s song Paani Paani for her next movie Yaariyan; the directorial debut of T-Series’ head honcho Bhushan Kumar’s wife Divya Khosla Kumar.

 

Laughing off the recent rumours that plastic surgery must have gotten Evelyn her perfect figure, the young actress says: “I love to dance! In movies, on stage and to stay fit! Dance is a great workout too! It keeps your body toned and stamina high!”

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To the question if she felt uncomfortable in a two-piece, she winks: “What’s better to wear on the beach than a swimming costume! The song is full of fun, sun and yaariyan! I really enjoyed the shoot with Divya ji! She knew exactly how to make us feel comfortable and get our energy going with every take!”

 

Evelyn surprised the audience with her sweet Seeta role and cabaret like song Dil Ki Toh Lag Gayi earlier this year in the hit movie Nautanki Saala opposite Ayushman Khurrana; and went on to showcase her dancing skills to Ooh La La, playing a vivacious character alongside Ranbir Kapoor in Ayan Mukherji’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani; one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Attagirl!

Stranded Evelyn Sharma boards an overnight train!

 

Some Bollywood stars are known to go out of the way to accommodate their producers, sometimes braving risks and weather. We often hear such episodes of professionalism about Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. Joining the list now is the Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani actress Evelyn Sharma.

 

Recently, on her way to shoot for Divya Khosla Kumar’s Yaariyan in Darjeeling and Sikkim, Evelyn’s flight was rerouted from Bagdogra to Guwahati airport because of a bad storm, leaving her stranded alone with her luggage.

 

Shooting was scheduled for the next day and since she knew it’s a big hassle for any producer to reschedule location shoots, the actress decided to bravely take an overnight train from Guwahati to Siliguri to reach her sets on time.

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“Luckily, God sent an angel in the form of one of the nicest persons I have ever met; to guide and guard me the whole journey – from going to the railway station, arranging for a ticket on a completely booked train, guarding me for 10 hours on the journey, inviting me for lunch in Siliguri and safely dropping me to the car which brought me to the shoot in Sikkim,” a grateful Evelyn reveals, though concealing the name and gender of this ‘mystery person’.

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“Without the timely help, I would have been lost in Guwahati, as my phone was dead and the flight personnel did not help at all,” she adds.

 

Needless to say, her entire film crew was highly impressed with Evelyn’s bravery of taking the train alone in the night, just to make sure she reached on time.

 

Yaariyan is the directorial debut of T-Series’ head honcho Bhushan Kumar’s wife Divya Khosla Kumar and releases on January 31 next year.