December`05 - CityMasala

CityMasala
December 2005
Free Copy
A Lifestyle and Entertainment Magazine for today’s South Asian
Fashion
Confessions of a
New York Gal
Internet
Predators
Keeping Our
Children Safe
Out Of the
Locker Room
Achieving The Cut
Bollywood
Hollywood
Mumbai Masala
Anika’s Zen
Temptation Called
City Masala
John Abra
ham
Disarmingl
y
Honest
December 2005
City Masala
December 2005
WE L C OM E
MEET OUR TEAM
Editor and Publisher:
Chhaya Sanghavi
Shaphali Jain
Content Contributors:
Ajay Jambhekar
Anika Sharma
FROM OUR DESK TO
YOURS:
IN THIS ISSUE
On the Cover
6
10
12
15
16
18
Cover Story: John Abraham: Disarmingly
Honest
Internet Predators: Keeping Our Children Safe
Bollywood Hollywood: Bollywood Masala
For Men: Achieving The Cut
Fashion: Confessions of a New York Gal
Anika’s Zen: Temptation Called
Javid Lateef
Kavita Trivedi
Inside:
Nandini Chakraborty
4
8
Preeti Thandi
Sandeep Sidhu
Vanya Shah
Vish Viswanathan
Zed Rehman
9
14
19
20
22
Achiever’s Club
Tech Talk: Smart Phones. How Smart
Are They?
Cricket: Ending on a Sour Note
Reel Talk: Movie Reviews
Wining and Dining
Exposed: Best Friend or Best Enemy?
Star Lite Star Brite: This Month’s
Horoscopes
Graphic Designer
Dawn Sallas
Published By:
CityMasala LLC
John Abraham!
Bollywood!
Wining & Dining!
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City Masala
Picture of John
Abraham on the Cover
provided by PETA.
Picture taken by John
Abraham’s brother,
Alan Abraham
We would like to thank you for the
overwhelming response to the premier
issue of CityMasala. CityMasala hit
the racks in early November. Requests
to restock the magazine poured in
as locations ran out of copies of our
premier issue in less than a week. Our
website has been flooded with requests
for subscriptions and the feedback we
have received has been enthusiastic and
unfailingly positive. Our quest continues to provide you with quality content
and entertaining features that relate to
you and your life here in the US.
We would also like to thank our advertisers for their continued support and
encouragement. They have been the
first to show their faith in CityMasala
and in what we want to bring to you.
In this issue we deal with internet safety
and vulnerability of those closest to us.
As parents, it is with the utmost trepidation that we allow our children to talk
to strangers, much less allow them into
our homes. Page 10 gives you a few
simple tips to keep the predators away.
John Abraham looks hotter than ever
and putting the cover page together was
pure pleasure! Read the Cover Story
and find out what he’s all about. Fashion brings an opportunity to kill with an
understated look. And Guys – PLEASE
take a look at your wardrobe – get out
of the locker room and take a chance
with what Achieving the Cut has to say
on page 15!
As always, we welcome your feedback
and comments at info@citymasala.
com. CityMasala is for your reading
pleasure, and your participation in its
development and growth is crucial. Talk
about CityMasala, rave about CityMasala, make your friends read CityMasala
and ask for your copy of CityMasala by
its name!
The CityMasala team wishes all of you
a festive holiday season and extends its
best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Chhaya Sanghavi and Shaphali Jain
3
December 2005
Achiever’s Club
Anandi Srinivas: Professional Classical Dancer and Teacher
H
er father is a professional flute player, her husband is a professional Mridangam percussionist and she is a professional classical dancer and dance teacher par excellence. Anandi
is a highly dedicated artist from Darpana, a famous academy of performing arts in Ahmedabad,
India. She also happens to be the proud owner of Navarasa Academy of Performing Arts in the
Tampa Bay area. She grew up amongst a host of talent in the Darpana campus and learned dance
under the watchful tutelage and encouragement of Mallika and Mrinalani Sarabhai. Anandi
became a professional classical dancer and a dance teacher at Darpana. She fell in love and got
married to one of her coworkers, Srinivas, in 1995. Her husband was offered an opportunity to
move to the U.S. but Anandi stayed on at Darpana, unable to give up her dance and her students
at the time. She joined her husband in the U.S. in 2004. Once she settled down in the U.S. she
opened the doors of Navarasa Academy of Performing Arts. She pours her passion into each
class that she teaches. Her academy offers classes Monday through Saturday between 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm. She also teaches
adults during the day. She offers private lessons as well as group lessons. Her students perform on a regular basis at events planned
by USF and the Hindu Temple. Anandi Srinivas may be reached at [email protected] or 813 494 5058 and 813 903
9606.
Farouk Dudha – Artist
F
arouk was born in India and moved to the United States with his parents and
brother when he was 3 years old. His family settled in Philadelphia. In the early 80s, Farouk was drawn by the graffiti he saw on the walls. He transferred this
interest in graffiti on walls to paper and experimented with ideas he derived from
magazines and other art forms. He made art out of the mundane wherever he went.
He drew on brown paper bags while helping out at his parents’ store and was often
appreciated for his efforts and asked if he had received formal training in art. He won a series of
awards and certificates for his art when he was attending high school, the most prestigious one
being a free art semester from the University of Fine Arts at University of Pennsylvania. This is
where his skill got harnessed. When he moved to Florida, with his family, he was accepted at the
Ringling School of Art and Design, one of the nation’s top five art colleges. He says that one of
his greatest blessings has been his parents’ encouragement. His work consists of oil paintings and charcoal drawings. He also does
wood carvings in styles reminiscent of India. Farouk may be contacted at [email protected] or 727-524 4013 for custom made
original gifts and unique art work. For all you gals looking for the cute “arty” kind, Farouk says he is single and looking!
Mahesh Patel: Host Radio Asia
Y
ou can tell that Mahesh loves to talk and has found his calling as a radio show host! His
charming personality and infallible willingness to help people make Mahesh the man he is
today. He moved to the U.S. from England in 1981. He talked to a friend about hosting a radio
show for Indians in Tampa in 1991 after which he rented an hour’s worth of time from a radio
station to air a show, “Radio Asia”. About 5 families (his friends) tuned in to hear the show.
The second show had a whopping audience of about 10-15 families. At the time Mahesh’s third
show was being aired, an Indian physician on his way to Tampa General Hospital stumbled
upon a hindi song playing on the radio. He listened to the songs and stayed tuned to the station
until Mahesh was back on air to give the radio show’s contact information. When the doctor
got to the hospital he told his secretary to send Mahesh Patel $500 to sponsor the next show.
The good doctor was none other than our own Dr. Pawan Rattan! Radio Asia airs on WXYB 1520 AM every Saturday from 11
AM – 2:00 PM. Call 727 725 5555 to make a request on-air or go to www.radioasiausa.com. Mahesh Patel may be reached at
[email protected].
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December 2005
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December 2005
Cover Story
DISARMINGLY HONEST!
John Abraham
BY PREETI THANDI
He has a pair of intense penetrating eyes. His disarming macho looks make heads turn and make women rave ecstatically. Yet what
strikes you most about John Abraham is an innate honesty that comes through. He portrays his role seamlessly as the sensual and sensitive lover in Jism, the perfect and meticulous criminal in Dhoom and most recently, the Gandhian idealist in Deepa Mehta’s Water.
What counts to him most is being honest to his role. From an MBA/ Media Planner to a supermodel, moving on to becoming an international celebrity, he has walked the ramp of success with quite the touch of modesty. John Abraham was cornered (every woman’s
dream?) while attending the Opening Night Gala of Deepa Mehta’s Water at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival 2005.
Hounded by fans and media alike, John connected with Preeti Thandi in a rendezvous for CityMasala to talk about his life and career.
CM: From a media planner to an international
celebrity… did you ever
imagine your career
would shape up the way
it has?
John: Water is just one
movie that is kind of
global. The idea is to
do more global cinema,
more international stuff. We don’t know what our destiny holds
for us. So let’s see what destiny has in store for me.
CM: Are there any regrets?
John: Not really, you learn from your
mistakes and that’s exactly what I have done.
CM: Where did you
grow up and study?
John: I was born in
Bombay, brought up
in Bombay, studied in
Bombay. I am a complete Bombay boy.
CM: What drew you towards the script?
John: Firstly, it was Deepa Mehta! Having Deepa Mehta on your
resume is great. I was pretty excited that she offered me a movie
in the first place. Secondly, when I read the script of ‘Water’ I
found it to be very provocative. I think
John Abraham and Lisa Ray in Deepa Mehta’s WATER
any film that disturbs
you and gives you food
for thought when you
get out of the theatre
has done its job and
‘Water’ has done its
job.
CM: What have you imbibed from your parents?
John: I think values,
integrity and honesty.
CM: You have portrayed
various character shades.
Which one have you
enjoyed most?
John: I have enjoyed
every different kind of movie I have done. But my first love is always going to be my first movie, Jism. It is the most intense role
that I have done but Deepa’s granted me an insight into a kind of
movie where acting is probably really understated and there’s a
lot to learn from it.
CM: You don’t come from a classically trained acting background, how do you manage to act so well?
John: I think it’s being honest to the role. If you understand what
the director wants and you understand the director’s brief then I
think you will be honest to your role. I think the audience underCity Masala
stands honesty and can see it.
CM: How did you prepare for the role of the Gandhian idealist,
Narayan, in Deepa Mehta’s Water?
John: First of all the clothes I wore! I’ve never worn such
clothes in real life so I had to learn how to wear a dhoti and kurta.
I had a pair of Gandhi specs on and I kind of enjoyed it. I learned
how to play the flute for the movie. I learned Sanskrit shlokas.
Sanskrit is a very difficult language. I also learned poems from
Meghdoot by Kalidas for the movie. Besides that I was fine.
6
CM: What is your
biggest passion in life?
What drives you?
John: What drives me
is when I ride a bike.
That’s my biggest passion. I am a biker in
my heart and I believe
that I live to ride. (No
wonder you were so
good in Dhoom…) Oh,
you saw it? (Yes I’ve
seen most of your films
except Viruddh…) Oh that’s beautiful, it’s arguably one of my
best films. I think besides riding I am now getting a kick out of
the overseas audience really appreciating the kind of films I am
doing so the idea is to do more international films now.
CM: Who is the single most important person in your life whom
you cannot live without?
John: There are a lot of important people in my life. My family is
very important to me. There’s no one I can’t “can’t” live without.
December 2005
Cover Story
DISARMINGLY HONEST!
dren who have cancer - Make a Wish Foundation, and with the
home for the aged. We also feed stray dogs and that is through
my mother. There’s a lot of suffering on the roads of India.
CM: What
projects are
you working
on currently?
John: I am
working on a
lot of Indian
projects. The
next international movie I
am doing is
going to
be shot in
Afghanistan
and it is
called Kabul
Express.
CM: What advice would you give someone who wants to get
into your profession?
John: Study, educate yourself. Just do your education and after
that specialize in whatever you want to do, whether it’s film
making or acting. I would not advise anybody to go to acting
school because I think it’s all a big fuss, I think it all comes from
inside. You either have it or you don’t.
What is your best asset?
Simplicity.
What is your worst liability?
I need to convert all my liabilities into assets.
What turns you off?
When women are abusive.
CM: Are wedding bells sounding soon for you and Bipasha
Basu?
John: Not for the next five years.
CM: You are also involved with PETA and other social activities:
John: Yes, I am involved with PETA in a big way. It started off
years ago when I was still a model. I am an animal lover and am
pre-dominantly vegetarian. I also work with terminally ill chil-
City Masala
John Abraham
7
What do you like to brag about?
There is nothing worth bragging about.
What do you like to complain about?
That I have nothing worth bragging about.
December 2005
Tech Talk
By Vish Viswanathan
Smartphones - How Smart are they?
Imagine this: It’s Monday morning and you are at a client site for a meeting. Your client is running late
and you have been requested to wait in the lobby. How would you like to use this time to catch up on
your emails, read the latest news, check your stock portfolio, find a restaurant in the area (with all the
delay, the meeting could run well into the lunch hour!), and go over the meeting agenda one more time?
Sounds impossible? Not with the new “Smartphones” and the technology they offer!
A Smartphone is a single handheld device that offers email, calendar, contact management, and all the
cell phone functionality. So, travel light, get rid of that PDA, the pager and the cell phone, and opt for
the Smartphone.
There are several cellular phones in the market today that claim to be Smartphones such as Nokia 6682,
Nokia 6630, Audiovox SMT 5600 etc., but these are simply cell phones with some “smart” capabilities.
On the other hand, there are several PDAs claiming to be “smart”, iMate Pocket PC and Phone, iPAQ
hw6515 etc. (to name a few), but they leave a lot to be desired.
The devices reviewed here are true Smartphones with balanced PDA and cellular phone functionality
and are focused more on business productivity rather than lifestyle enhancement features, but they offer
their share of cool effects!
Nokia 9300
Nokia is giving business
users something to
write home about with
its new 9300
smart phone-literally. On
the outside,
the Nokia 9300
looks like a
standard (albeit
slightly large) candy bar handset, but once
opened, the device reveals a full keyboard
and a 640x200 pixel 65K color TFT screen
that can be viewed from almost any angle.
Aimed squarely at corporate citizens, the
Nokia 9300’s features will not disappoint
with its built-in office apps for documents,
spreadsheets, and presentations, as well as a
PDF viewer. The handset also has a whopping 80MB of free user memory (compared
to the Sony Ericsson 910’s 64MB and the
Treo 650’s 23MB), so you’ll have plenty of
room to store contacts, appointments, and
more. If that’s not enough, there’s an MMC
slot for expanding memory up to 2GB. Other
features include an integrated speakerphone,
five-way conference calling, an MP3 and
multimedia player, an infrared port, a Web
browser, and USB connectivity. The only
downside is that this device doesn’t have a
built-in camera, which is strange, as even
low-priced bargain phones offer that feature
these days.
Cingular Wireless has announced the
availability of the U.S. tri-band (GSM
850/1800/1900 MHz) version in November
2005.
BlackBerry 7290
The real beauty of Research In Motion (RIM)
BlackBerry devices is their simplicity. In that
regard, the 7290 hits the nail on the head. It’s a
quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) GSM/GPRS
world phone with a color screen and traditional
BlackBerry form factor. The most distinguishing
feature of the 7290 is a Bluetooth radio to support
hands-free functions, so you can use it with a Bluetooth wireless headset.
Like all recent BlackBerrys, it
works well as a phone and continues to offer the best e-mail
experience of any Smartphone,
and performs more than adequately as an Internet device.
It measures 4.5 x 2.9 x 0.9
inches and weighs just 4.9 oz.
Like its predecessors the 7290
retains the broad, short, and flat
form factor that makes room for a
generous size screen—240x160 pixels (2.16 x
1.41 inches) supporting over 65,000 colors—and
the full 32-key QWERTY keyboard that has been
BlackBerry’s hallmark.
Companies with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server
can “push” mail from a corporate e-mail box to
the handheld with no human intervention. The application and services suite include wireless e-mail,
voice and SMS, a connected organizer (calendar,
contacts, task list, memo pad, calculator), and wireless Internet.
The bottom line – 7290 is yet another excellent
product from RIM. A great choice for any user who
doesn’t care about games or music or snapping
pictures with their phone—but does want an unparalleled e-mail experience and a great mobile phone
all in one. This one is all about business.
Treo 650
The PalmOne Treo 650 is the hottest
smartphone in the market and quite
simply, one of the best Smartphones
available today.
Treo 650’s compact size (4.4 x 2.3 x
0.9 inches) and its svelte form fits well
in the hand, making it one of the most
comfortable cell phone/PDA hybrids
I’ve ever used—the unit also weighs in
at a reasonable 6.3 ounces. In addition
to this, its interface makes computing
or calling a breeze. Admittedly, it’s not
perfect. Apparently, PalmOne couldn’t
find room for Wi-Fi or a decent amount
of storage—but it is still an extremely
handy device.
The most impressive new feature of the
Treo 650 is its improved display, which now measures 320x320 pixels
with more than 65,536
colors. Bluetooth is
another new addition
for this Treo, and that
should please a lot
of users who missed
not having it before. It
lets you connect to wireless headsets,
printers, and other peripherals, as well
as sync wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled PC.
The Treo 650 runs Palm OS 5.4 and
has only 23MB of memory, which is
its biggest drawback. It takes just a few
business applications to use up this
space. You can buy a storage card, of
course, but that’s an extra expense.
The PalmOne Treo 650 is available in
a quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900;
GPRS/EDGE) world phone version and
in a dual-band CDMA version.
The Treo 650 is a pleasure to use and
the best choice around nowadays for
a well-balanced Smartphone that does
not let its PDA or cell phone functions
overwhelm each other. If you’re looking for a way to cut down on the number of devices you carry around, give it
a try. Chances are the convenience and
usefulness will win you over, too.
So, how smart are they? And which
one is the smartest of them all? You
are the best judge since the answer
depends on your needs and lifestyle.
Please feel free to provide feedback to
[email protected]
City Masala
8
December 2005
Cricket
By: Javid Lateef
Ending on a Sour Note…
At the time of writing this article, India has defeated Sri
Lanka in a very emphatic fashion. A team that has cohesiveness and a certain air of professionalism that it seemed to lack
a few months ago will become a topic that I will address in
future columns. For now, I will concentrate on a central figure
absent in this revival of Indian cricket - Sourav Ganguly.
In the past few weeks we have been privy to the Indian
coach’s opinion about Ganguly, Ganguly’s reply to it, and the
way the BCCI has dealt with the whole situation. The Indian
public has a way of anointing cricket idols to such a high pedestal, that when they do fall from grace, they are completely
disowned. Ganguly, at age 33 finds himself in this position
right now. He is a man and a cricket player, struggling for his
identity.
Let us examine the man and the player that he is. 84 Test
Matches, 279 ODIs at an average of over 40 in both accumulated over a period of over 20 years. No mean feat, extraordinary in fact, but when we look more closely at the last few
seasons we can see why he can no longer be part of a squad
that is eyeing a world cup championship in 2007.
a below average fielder, a man who chooses to field with his
feet rather than bend down to get the ball. His bowling was
effective in the beginning but in the last 2 years he has done
nothing of note.
The most public row with the current coach of the Indian
team, Greg Chappell, has not endeared him in any way whatsoever in the eyes of the cricket loving public. He is at a crossroads right now. Scoring a century in a Duleep Trophy match
and getting knocked on the noggin by a rookie pace bowler on
an Indian track is not going to get him back in reckoning for a
recall into the squad (at least I hope not!).
In conclusion, let us remember this great cricketer for who he
was and his contribution to Indian cricket. I sincerely hope
that he relinquishes any hope of acquiring a berth in the Indian
squad and concentrates on how he can contribute to Indian
cricket by being a mentor to the youth who are part of his new
venture in Calcutta. I do understand that there are those of
you out there that have a different view on this whole issue
and I want to reiterate, that this is my opinion, one that has
been derived upon by empirical and logical means (mine… of
course!).
Ganguly’s last batting performance, of any worth, was in
Brisbane in 2004. A brilliant century that set the tone for
an amazing series down under. I do not want to detract
from the fact that he has been India’s best captain ever,
both in ODIs and test cricket. His record speaks for
itself. He was brilliant in the early part of his international
career, flaying bowling attacks to all parts of the field, but
once the cricketing community realized that bowling into
his ribcage was his Achilles heel, he has only managed big
scores against the minnows of world cricket. He is at best,
City Masala
9
December 2005
Our Children
By: Shaphali Jain
KEEPING THEM SAFE AND CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS:
OUR CHILDREN
all of these thoughts to them so that they realize
how real the dangers are and how lucky they
are to be loved and cherished by us.
December is a busy time, made more so due
to the festive holiday season. Coupled with the
mad holiday rush and countless social engagements that we cannot seem to shake off, it is a
time when we are most likely to lose track of
what our children are up to. School work can
slow down and they
may have more free
time on their hands.
Where are they most
likely to go? What are
they most likely to do?
Phil Dubord, a law
enforcement officer for the past 21 years, has
been selected by the FBI and placed on a special Task Force called Innocent Images which
combats online child exploitation. He has some
extremely startling, albeit valuable pieces of
information to share about keeping our children
safe.
Phil urges extreme caution when it comes to
children putting up their profiles on the Internet. This is a big NO NO! Perpetrators monitor
the Internet in a manic fashion to scope out the
innocent young ones. Our children are brought
up to be respectful, honest and trustworthy. The
perpetrators take advantage of these qualities.
Children, who tend to trust people, even on the
Internet, may be persuaded to give out all of
their personal information. This opens up the
door for a perpetrator to begin the process of
manipulating the child. Typically, at this time
the perpetrator begins to “groom” the child.
He may pay them lavish compliments about
how smart they are or how beautiful they are.
Remember, this is a grown man (statistics
show that female perpetrators are extremely
rare) who knows what to say to a child to gain
complete access to them. He will then chat
about how far they may have gone sexually. He
will ask them if they have anyone they can talk
to. Once the child lets on that he has no one to
talk to or is vulnerable, the prey is targeted and
pursued mercilessly.
As the pedophile becomes more comfortable
City Masala
Websites to learn more on this topic:
www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety2.htm
www.ncmec.org
with the child, and vice versa, he will then start
sending her graphic pictures. Pictures that will
make it seem like it is acceptable for a 40 year
old man to have sex with a 12 or a 13 year old
girl. This is usually followed up with setting up
a date, time, and place to meet. He will make
it sound so appealing to the child (Let’s meet
at the mall. I will buy you all of your favorite
things) that the child, already neck deep in the
relationship, is unable to find a way out.
Sounds scary and completely unbelievable?
Are you thinking “I have a boy; I don’t need
to worry about these problems”? Can’t happen to our children? Statistics show that girls
and boys between the ages of 12-15 are the
target prey for these perpetrators. They do not
differentiate on the basis of race, color, sex or
nationality. Girls are more vulnerable because
they tend to get involved emotionally and boys
are vulnerable because they tend to be more
experimental and may be battling with issues
relating to their sexuality, self esteem, peer
pressure etc. Whatever the reasons may be, we
as parents are required to be more vigilant than
ever before.
Phil Dubord holds presentations in schools and
with parents educating both children and adults
about the dangers that exist on the Internet.
These dangers are very real and though pedophiles are not everywhere, they are definitely,
very much present on the Internet.
Our mission as parents is to protect our children. It is also to make them more independent
so they are better able to survive
and cope in the real world. If we
bring them up in a world that is too
controlled, sheltered and closed,
they may grow up into individuals
whom others can manipulate and
take advantage of. We need to let
them be independent but also keep
a watchful eye on them in a covert
manner. We need to have them trust
our unconditional love and support.
We need to be able to communicate
10
Phil’s advice: “If you don’t hug your
child, someone else will. If you don’t talk
to your child, someone else will”.
• Ensure that the computer with Internet access is in a room that is in a common area of
the house. Do not allow your child to have
a computer with Internet access in their
rooms. No exceptions.
• Encourage an open dialog with your child
at all times.
• Don’t undermine them and don’t over react
when they do come and admit to something
they may have been foolish enough to get
themselves into.
• Irrespective of how you were brought up,
take the time to talk to your children about
sex so they don’t feel the need to get answers to their questions themselves. Chances are they’ll get the wrong answers from
the wrong people.
• Get to know your child’s room. Snoop
around. You may be amazed at what you’ll
find.
•Drop off and pick up your children even
when they are old enough to go out on their
own, skating, mall trips etc. so you can
maintain control over unknown areas such
as parking lots.
•Get to know your child’s friends’ parents
so you can ascertain their value and belief
system.
•Get to know your child’s friends’ computer.
How freely can they access the Internet and
do your child’s friends have a computer in
their room?
In the Mall and Public places:
• Don’t ever let a little boy go into the Men’s
room by himself, especially in a mall or a
movie theatre. There are many malls that offer family facilities, the safest option.
• In situations when such facilities are not
available, teach your son to always use a
stall, not a urinal, and to lock the door.
• Tell your son that if someone approaches
him, he should leave immediately and come
and tell you.
• Try to avoid the main bathrooms by the
food court in a mall. They are the most likely to have people lurking in them.
December 2005
City Masala
December 2005
B O L L YWO O D
By Nandini Chakraborty
Hai Daiyya…
Hrithik Roshan had a very close brush with death. While performing a flying stunt for his latest movie, Krrish, the wires snapped
and Hrithik went hurtling down toward a busy Singapore street. Fortunately, it was raining and local
shopkeepers had put up canopies in front of their stores. The canopies broke Hrithik’s fall and the actor
walked away with minor cuts and bruises.
Kitni door…kitni paas
Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee,were
recently spotted in New York City earlier this
October shooting for Karan Johar’s latest,
Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna, which also stars the
Big B, Little B, Miss Z and Arjun Rampal.
(One day I will regale you with my sob story of
how my sister actually met SRK,in NYC…and took pictures with him!!!!!!)
Kaale mein kuchh daal hai
Hollywood is remaking a Chinese film about a blind girl who gets eye
transplants, but ends up seeing much more than just the living. Hmm…kinda
sounds like Naina, doesn’t it? Come to think of it Urmila Matondkar could
also see dead people.
I can talk Inglis, I can walk Inglis
Munnabhai, MBBS is to be remade in Hollywood under the banner of 20th
Century Fox, titled Gangsta MD. Last I heard, Chris Tucker was to take on
the lead role, and it was to be directed by Mira Nair.
FYI, the sequel to the original Munnabhai is due out soon. This time he
takes law school by storm. Bole to…?
City Masala
12
December 2005
H O L L Y WOO D
Everyone is jumping the Hollywood bandwagon these days, or should we say BollywoodHollywood collaborations. Ram Gopal Varma will be directing a Bhoot remake called
Within, starring unnamed Hollywood actors.
There’s also Salman Khan’s movie, Marigold, that’s still in production with little known
American actress Ali Larter. I wonder what accent Salman plans to use this time to impress the masses.
BTW, Ash’s Mistress of Spices is apparently just as dismal as Bride and Prejudice.
Bangali mein kehte hai…
Looks like the offspring of Bong celebrities are getting in on the action in their mother tongue. Abhishek Bachchan is starring in his
second Bengali film: Antar Mahal, directed by Rituparno Ghosh(director of Chokher Bali). It also stars Soha Ali Khan (Sharmila
Tagore’ daughter), Rupa Ganguly (Draupadi), and Jackie Shroff, who got so comfortable with the language that he did his own dubbing!
I’d like to see a Bengali film with all the Bong babes of Bollywood: Sushmita Sen, Bipasha Basu, Rani
Mukherjee, Rimii Sen, etc. I often wonder whether the kids who are half Bengali and involved in the
film industry actually understand or speak their mother tongue: Saif & Soha Ali Khan, Kajol & Tanisha
Mukherjee, Meghna Gulzar, Abhishek Bachchan???
Buff Bollywood
Have you noticed how even the extras in Bollywood are worth more than a second glance? Nowadays they give the heroes and
heroines a run for their money. Each and every one of them sports a six-pack and lean, svelte bods. How the image of Bollywood
has changed!
The past three decades didn’t do much as far as the movie star image was concerned. Love handles were more obvious than lovers
and temple bells took a back seat to bell bottoms. There were very few celebrities who actually took the time to look good. An
actor’s waistline seemed to be directly proportional to his bank balance!
Women used to swoon over Rajesh Khanna in the late 60s, early 70s – handsome, charming, eloquent, and man, could he woo a
lady! Remember him lip synching to “Meri Sapnon ki Rani”? Now think of him later singing “Jai Jai Shiv Shankar”…how he
changed over the course of five years! The lamb chops, the comb over, the paunch, the works!
Just the other day I was watching some forgettable movie from the early 90s. The hero’s attempts at elocution matched his seemingly single-digit IQ, the heroine was a mall hair chick who oozed more fat than oomph, and the extras…well, they could have
passed for tribals. Fortunately, the collective consciousness of Bollywood went in for an extreme makeover.
Now the leading celebrities of Bollywood are Perfection Personified. Be it natural or artificial, these icons have it all: perfect
faces, perfect hair, perfect bodies, perfect teeth…you get the picture.
Even the heroes and heroines of yesteryear are looking better than they did in their heydays. For example, Hema Malini, Sri Devi,
Rekha, Dimple Kapadia, Dev Anand (oops…my bad!). Anil Kapoor no longer has a mullet, Jackie Shroff seems to have had
implants, Feroz Khan & Rakesh Roshan have gone for the shaved pate look. And the one and only Aby Baby is finally comfortable in his own skin. For a while, the angry-young-man-turned-middle-aged no longer looked cool. But now he’s graduated to the
status of “Sexy Senior Citizen.”
I don’t think that we can attribute their natural beauty to just good genes, personal trainers, Vicco, Fair and Lovely, or Boroline.
I’m sure that the majority of Bollywood has gone in for a facelift, tummy tuck, implants, caps, liposuction etc. Net result? The
adulation of a billion people. But hey, I guess that’s the price of fame.
City Masala
13
December 2005
REEL TALK
Bollywood Movie Reviews
By Kavita Trivedi
Kyon Ki Dir: Priyadarshan Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Rimi Sen, Jackie Shroff and Om Puri
Anand (Salman Khan) is a charming and handsome young man who is about to marry
his sweetheart (Rimi Sen). However, fate intervenes with tragic consequences and lands
Anand in a mental institution, where he meets Dr Tanvi (Kareena). Their doctor-patient
bond blossoms into love and Tanvi finds herself struggling with her professional and
personal feelings. Tanvi takes on a rigid society and medical system to keep their love
alive. Inspired by the South Indian movie ‘Thalavattam’, director Priyadarshan returns to
make an emotional and heart-warming story after a string of comedy hits such as ‘Hungama’ and ‘Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya’. The film tackles the issue of a person suffering from
a psychological disorder. Salman Khan takes on another challenging role in Kyon Ki and
evidently aims to exceed expectations with yet another powerful performance. Kyon Ki
pairs Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan for the first time ever on the silver screen. Jackie
Shroff and Om Puri make their presence felt in supporting roles. Himmesh Reshamiya has composed a melodious soundtrack and
after his chart topping success in ‘Tere Naam’, ‘Aitraaz’ and ‘Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya’, he lives up to his reputation with music for
Kyon Ki. ‘Dil Keh Raha Hai’ is a popular and soulful number from this movie.
Kyon Ki is a passionate love story that deals with fate and emotions. Not to be missed!
Garam Masala Dir: Priyadarshan Cast: Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Rimi Sen, Paresh Rawal
Mac (Akshay) is a handsome and good-for-nothing flirt - a real Casanova who finds
himself in possession of a flat where he juggles his time between three gorgeous air hostesses, Priti (Daisy Bopanna), Puja (Nargis) and Sweety (Neetu Chandra), despite being engaged to Anjali (Rimi). However, his former best friend and now sworn enemy, Sam (John
Abraham), is hell bent upon revealing all to Anjali. Paresh Rawal plays Mambo, the cook,
whose mission is to keep the air hostesses away from each other and the truth. After his
intense performances in Jism, Dhoom and Aetbaar, John Abraham breaks away from the
norm and tries his hand at comedy for the first time. His performance is refreshing. Akshay
is charming and his role as a notorious playboy is a mirror image of his former self. The
movie also has a sensational special appearance by Neha Dubia in an item number. The
music provided by composer Pritam is hip and youthful, with a mixture of Bollywood and western beats. ‘Aadaa’ and ‘Dil Samunda’
as well as the title track, are the best out of the soundtrack. Garam Masala is a hilarious comedy with a great star cast. Highly recommended for all comedy lovers.
Shaadi No 1 Dir: Dhavid Dhawan Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Sharman Joshi, Esha Deol,
Ayesha Takia, Soha Ali Khan
After the recent success of Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya, comedy king, David Dhawan
returns with a sure-fire hit. Raj (Fardeen), Veer (Zayed) and Aryan (Sharman) are fun
loving guys who are married to, religious Bhavna (Ayesha), ambitious wannabe actress
Diya (Esha) and women’s activist Sonia (Soha), respectively. With all three men viewing life very differently from their respective wives, it’s not long before three beautiful
bombshells; Madhuri (Ria Sen), Dimple (Sophie Chaudhury) and Rekha (Arti Chabaria), enter their lives and wreak havoc and mischief. Will our three heroes be able to
resist temptation? Under the watchful eye of trouble maker, Lucky Bhaiya (Sanjay Dutt),
there is plenty of chaos to make their wives suspicious- and their lives suicidal! The
film reunites David Dhawan, and producer Vashu Bhagnani, after 6 years. The duo, who
were behind the successful no.1 franchise, with the hits Coolie No 1, Hero No.1 and Biwi
No.1, return with their next instalment of comedy and laughter. The music is provided by ace maestro Anu Malik, who joins forces
with remix composer DJ Aqeel, producing 5 rocking numbers including ‘Chand Ko Tod Doonga’ and ‘Aiyashi, Aiyashi’. Tipped as
becoming one of the biggest hits this Diwali, David Dhawan reclaims his crown as the comedy king of Bollywood. Worth Watching.
City Masala
14
December 2005
Achieving the Cut
By Zed Rahman
Men and fashion. Yes, I know. I have
somehow managed to place these contradictory words together (albeit in a very
short sentence)! There is a common myth
that goes like this: men shop like hawks,
they swoop, they see, they capture, they
flee. On the rare occasion when men do
make an effort to shop, their shopping
skills only seem to be as good as a blind
ferret’s. Not a lot of men wish to talk
about fashion and it would appear not
many really care about it either. You can
find an endless array of magazines, malls,
and beauty products for women but the
same is severely lacking for men.
Could it be that men really don’t care
about fashion? Do we not want to look
good? Of course we do, but, how do we
step into this glamorous world? If you ask
a woman how she learnt to tie her hair a
certain way, apply her make up or even
dress up as well as she does, she would
say that she picked up tips from movies
and beauty magazines, and not to mention,
endless discussions with friends throughout a weekend. Women can even identify
with supermodels and put themselves
into outfits worn by the latest top model
irrespective of the discomfort they have to
bear. We, as men, find this difficult to do.
Identifying with male models makes us
feel uncomfortably effeminate. Instead, we
envision ourselves behind the wheel of a
Ferrari. You would be hard pressed to find
a group of men who gather over a weekend to discuss what would make them
look like Johnny Depp, George Clooney
or Brad Pitt. Forget it. It’s not going to
happen – they’d rather talk about how
Beyonce manages to shake her butt three
times to a beat. And personally, I don’t
have the luxury of asking another man if
my hair looks good today. It’s actually a
short cut to getting punched in the face.
that claim to be for men. Their articles
always seem to revolve around sex, sports
and women! OK, so a guy thinks about
sex every six seconds, but what about
the other five?
I’ve always admired Pierce Brosnan who
has what I call ‘The Cut’. This is a term I
have invented to define a male individual
whose posture and sharp dress sense
complement the tailor’s finishing cuts and
lines on the attire. Brosnan, to me, is sophistication personified. Men should strive
to achieve ‘The Cut’: to find something
that not only makes them look charismatic
but also illustrates a sharp sense of design
constructed around their own aura.
Personally, I love fashion. I crave its colors, I lust after the designs and I desire its’
need to make me look unique. I am also
one of those people who pay an obscene
amount of money for a watch. A watch on
a man’s wrist can define how he thinks,
how he appreciates Swiss craftsmanship,
and most importantly, how small things
can make huge statements. Some of my
friends find my obsession with fashion
rather disturbing. However, these are the
very same friends who claim Britney
Spears is musically gifted.
Style isn’t just created, it is made to mature. It takes a considerable amount of effort, time and money to harness a look that
makes a statement. To invest in a nice pair
of Zegna shoes or a Prada suit doesn’t necessarily show you have taste. It does show
you have deep pockets and that you are
willing to buy beautiful things that, when
well-matched, will make you look good.
Men don’t like change and often feel
comfortable with a look that can get them
through at least a decade. Women change
their look by the season – Why? Because
change is good! Change highlights their
spontaneity and change gives them an
excuse to go shopping again. They’ve also
unlocked a secret to fashion: you can only
look as good as you feel.
So what are the future prospects for men’s
fashion? Men are well known for endorsing products that relate to their profession.
There are great sportsmen, musicians,
writers, and actors – but how many can
you name who stand for fashion? I honestly don’t know of that many and male
designers themselves don’t really count.
They never promote their products with
their own faces. We need for someone to
stand up and say, “Hey – get out there and
take some time to look good. Shop well,
dress well and impress all and sundry.
Look sharp. Look inspirational. Look
dangerous”. I believe its time that men had
the audacity to create a fashion religion
of their own. To show that men can dress
just as well as women can and to end the
unequal race to see who dominates the
world of fashion.
Although, knowing women, they’d
somehow extend the finishing line so men
would never win – let us hope they trip
over their high heels instead.
Forget it. It’s not going to happen
– they’d much rather talk about how
Beyonce manages to shake her butt
three times to a beat.
We just don’t have a medium through
which we can tell men what to do, what
to wear and how to effectively express
themselves. I even hate men’s magazine
City Masala
15
December 2005
City Chic
by Vanya Shah
Confessions of a New York Gal….
Last week, I went to a wine and cheese party with a friend of mine in downtown Manhattan. I was once again mesmerized by the
casual chic and the ‘unintentional’ fashion zing that surrounded me.
Some girls looked like they had just rolled out of bed and pulled on the first thing that they could lay their hands on from their
cluttered closets and some looked like they were dressed for spring, when it was actually a cool 63 degrees. I had spent the last 3
hours at a Beauty Salon getting made up and yet, compared to these girls, I felt over dressed and boring in my $250 Ann Taylor suit
which, up until today, had been one of my favorites!
Is it possible to be in Jeans and a summer top in the middle of November? Can you dress to kill wearing something that you bought
for under $75? You bet!!!
Nina in her frayed bottom jeans
and her simple yet unique silver gray strap top reminded me
that it’s always warm indoors.
Every building has heat so why
not wear a strappy top in the
middle of autumn or winter?
She always uses the “layering” technique. She layers
her slinky blouses with a nice
warm sweater and a woolen
coat, both of which she sheds
when she is indoors. She
swears by a good pair of jeans
and boots, and wears them
with a vintage Tee to help
a friend move or with a
slinky 70’s top to a swanky
Soho affair.
Malaika was dressed in a tan colored
tank top and a beautiful layered
brown chiffon skirt. Both, she
claimed sheepishly, cost her less
than $75!! And she looked like a
million bucks.!
Simple spaghetti strap top
printed chiffon & lace with
dark anitque wash jeans.
Step out with confidence.
Pretty In Pink
Hot pink halter top with Jeans, throw in a
couple colored bead necklaces.
I convinced some of the girls to let me take a few pictures to prove to my readers that the trick to
looking cool, confident and charismatic is ‘not trying too hard’ but letting your own individual
aura come through…..
TIPS for this holiday season: over dressed is OUT, casual chic is IN.
Jeans: Gap, Hollister, Levi’s, Lucky Tank Tops/ Camisoles: Gap, Old Navy, Forever 21
Blouses: H&M, Forever 21, S.A.L.T NYC
Skirt: S.A.L.T NYC
City Masala
16
December 2005
City Masala
December 2005
Anika’s Zen
By Anika Sharma
Temptation Called!
temptation that called and begged for me to cave in.
What took me totally by surprise was, however, my change of heart.
Call me a tease if you must, but I had really enjoyed flirting with
these men in the past! Now, it seems, something has changed within
me, something that holds me back. Not succumbing to the temptation is, amazingly, not an effort at all. Could it be that I really am
happy in my marriage? Could it be that our marriage has been able
to withstand the test of time? Could it be that I have truly stopped
looking? This is more than can be said about most of the men I met!
Undoubtedly, many of them are still seeking – either a few moments
of pleasure or a willing companion - and would continue their quest
after I moved on, having clearly communicated my disinterest in
anything other than a friendship.
My trip to India is nearly over and I still do not have a trophy
to bring home. Did I even come close to getting one? You bet I did!
In my two-and-a-half-months in India, I must have met at least seventy men (I knew almost all of them from before I moved to the US)
and three women. This is not because I don’t like women. Somehow,
I just seem to have more male friends. Strange but true!
I am convinced that almost all the men that I met with were pretty
apprehensive about seeing me again. After all, the Punjabi genes in
me would have seen to it that I gained subsequent weight after I got
married. To top that, having had a baby eight months ago… well,
one can paint a pretty clear picture in one’s head! What they couldn’t
have known was the fact that I work out at the gym consistently and
have been doing so for the past six months. Perhaps, I did this in anticipation of my trip to India? Perhaps, I wanted to stir some waters
this time? Perhaps, the mother in me wanted to indulge in just a little
bit of ‘feel-single-again flirtation’? To tell you the truth, I completely
enjoyed watching their jaws drop! It was such a lovely feeling that I
basked in its warm pleasure. It made all those hours of sweating in
the gym really worth it.
Let’s ponder upon my favorite topic – marriage. Why are we so blind
that we do not realize that marriages need work? It needs constant
nurturing, whether it be emotional, physical or spiritual. Why do we
not put in more effort into one of the most important relationships in
our life? A little bit of ‘Moulin Rouging’ in the bedroom is not going
to hurt!
There are a few men whom I am going meet, again, before I return
to the US. I may not even think twice about spending the night with
them. The only difference will be that my night will be spent sipping
coffee and talking about the days that have gone by. I know that I
have had temptation stare me in the face and that I stayed strong.
That is, for now. Perhaps, my next trip will be different; it may find
me as the seeker! Who knows? For now, let me indulge in that coffee
just for one night!
We went out for walks. We went out for drives. We went out for
dinners to the best restaurants that Bombay has to offer. In the candle
light, I saw their eagerness increasing. Most of them had easily
forgotten those whom they left behind at home, to come and see me.
Lust is such a powerful emotion, isn’t it? It is such a ‘here and now’
feeling. No past, no future, just the present. No strings attached. I
was flattered to see the lust so naked in their eyes. In another time
or at another age, I would have thought nothing of giving in to this
City Masala
18
December 2005
Wining and Dining
Enjoy and Enhance the White Wine Experience
By Ajay Jambhekar
Sauvignon Blanc - So-veeyohng Blahng
ethnic cuisines, as well as traditional
French fare.
The Drink Pallet: The beauty of this
versatile wine is that it enhances the
food it accompanies. While a Chardonnay may well be at home in the living
room, a Sauvignon Blanc’s place is
definitely in the dining room.
An important factor which contributed
to its rising popularity was the introduction of the synonym Fumé Blanc in
the late 1960’s. Sales under the name
Fumé Blanc still continue to surpass
sales of wines labeled Sauvignon
Blanc. By either name, Sauvignon or
Fumé Blanc is easily identified by pronounced aromatic flavors with smoky,
green olive and herbaceous qualities.
They range in style from light and dry
to full and sweet. The best approach
is to taste, taste, taste and experiment
with this ever-so-versatile white wine.
Pinot Grigio - Pee-no Greeghio
The Drink Pallet: The Pinot Grigio,
because of it lightness and drinkability,
is fast gaining on Chardonnay as the
nation’s house white. It is the Italian
name for what the French call Pinot
Gris, a light, crisp delicate wine that
does not interfere with the flavors of a
mild tasting dish. It is a delight to drink.
This round, lightly floral wine, with a
refreshing crisp taste, always makes me
want to take another sip.
The Food Pallet: Pinot Grigio tastes
quite different depending on where it is
grown. This Italian wine is grown high
in the foothills of the Alps in the Valley
of the Adige. The soil is thin here and
produces a light, crisp, delicate and very
refreshing wine. This makes it ideal for
pheasant, shellfish and delicate tasting
fish like sole and catfish. The California
Pinot Grigios are grown in much richer soil and therefore are
somewhat more full bodied and fruitier in taste. They go well
with chicken, wild turkey, partridge and quail.
The Food Pallet: This wine has the
capacity to enable plain, simple seafood, and will hold up nicely
to herbal preparations (thyme, rosemary, basil, tarragon, coriander and white meats such as chicken, veal, turkey and pork). The
wine has vibrant flavors that go surprisingly well with spicy and
Dining Out: Restaurant Review
By: CityMasala Staff Writer
Kiran India Kitchen
If you’ve been missing and
craving the flavor of Indian
Chinese food here in the Tampa
Bay area, your hunt may finally be over. Kiran India Kitchen
is a brand new restaurant boasting the only collection of Indian
Chinese food in the area. Although they carry a complete range of
North and South Indian cuisine, the Indian Chinese cuisine may
help to set them apart from other Indian restaurants. They offer Chilli Chicken as an appetizer,
Chilli Garlic noodles, and a host of other mouth
watering Indian Chinese dishes. We decided to
try the Palak Paneer, Butter Chicken, a mix Tandoori Grill, plain Naan and Keema Naan for dinner. We also went for the Chilli Chicken and the
Chilli Garlic noodles, (our eyes were obviously
bigger than our stomachs!) and we opted to take
these home with us to enjoy later. The food was
City Masala
19
good and the Keema Naan especially, was excellent. The owners,
Kiran and Sudeer Vanthenapalli
are extremely attentive hosts. Kiran enjoys cooking tremendously
and maintains strict vigil in the kitchen to ensure and contribute
to the quality of food. Sudeer mans the front along with a crew of
courteous wait staff. Kiran also owns and operates Kiran Groceries which she has been running for the past
two years. Her true love, her husband says, lies
in cooking, and that is how this restaurant came
about. Kiran India Kitchen is located at 5651 E
Fowler Ave. Tampa, FL 33617. The phone number
is: 813-988-3170 and the website is www.atkiran.
com. They have a lunch buffet from Tuesday to
Sunday and are open for dinner from Tuesday to
Sunday from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
December 2005
E X POSE D
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR WEBSITE:
WWW.CITYMASALA.COM/EXPOSED
I moved in with my boyfriend in his parent’s penthouse apartment
home this summer while his parents had gone to India. One night when my
boyfriend was traveling on work, I went out for a party with some of our
friends. I ended up having too much wine so my boyfriend’s friend dropped
me home. He and I kissed in the elevator on our way up even though we knew
it was wrong. I never said anything to my boyfriend, but I know that the building staff knows what
happened!! There was a live camera in the elevator…
A long time ago, I went out
with three different guys at the
same time. I don’t know why I did
it but I did. I really liked all three
of them and couldn’t make up my
mind about which one to stick to.
I felt very guilty though and while
trying to make my mind up, I ended
up breaking it off with all three of
them!
Caught on Video
The Juggler
I am suspicious and jealous. I can’t help it. I went through my boyfriends things last
month, after he left for work and found a beautiful love letter from his ex-girlfriend that he had
saved between pages of a book. I got so annoyed; I stole the letter, brought it home and trashed it. I
am sure he wonders what happened to it but I never said a word.
In his drawers
When I first came to the US, I was really homesick. I missed my parents, my friends, and especially,
my girlfriend, a lot. I discovered that I could make international calls from my supervisor’s desk after
every one had gone home. Everyone thought I was a hard worker as I would stay late at work. I would
talk to my girlfriend, my friends and my parents almost every evening and that helped me feel less
lonely. Of course, every morning, when I walked in to work, I was also very scared that my supervisor
would have received the telephone bill and that I would be fired in front of every one. That didn’t happen and I worked there for over three years. My girlfriend is now my wife who moved to the US two
years ago. I thank that job of mine everyday for having helped me get through the first year of my very
lonely life here.
Telephone Extravaganza
I chat online ALL the time because my husband is too
busy with his stocks and watching their rise and downfall
I like peeking in through online. I have a bunch of online friends whom my huspeople’s windows. If cur- band knows nothing about - he does not complain as this
tains or blinds are pulled keeps me busy. Recently, I met one of my online friends
and there is only a little and had a pretty good time with him. I am still with my
crack to see through,
husband but will be meeting my internet friend again
that entices me even
tomorrow at 11 AM after my husband goes to work.
further. I wonder what
they want to hide from
the rest of the world and
the more they want to
hide, the more I want to
see what they have to hide.
Curtain Hater
City Masala
Internet two-timer
Do you have something you cannot wait to share with
us? Log on to www.citymasala.com and share your deepest darkest
secrets with us. You have the option to submit your “exposed”
experience anonymously. We reserve the right to edit your contribution as well as the right not to publish it!
Editor, City Masala
20
I used to live away from home
and received a call from my best
friend who wanted to find out if
I would meet with her married
boyfriend and show him around.
I agreed to meet with him. I was
very curious about him and decided
not to judge him or my best friend.
When I did meet up with him, I
could relate with my best friend
completely. He was one of the most
charming and persuasive men I
had ever met in my whole life and
before I knew it, I wound up in a
relationship that took me three long
and painful years to get out of. Of
course, I lost my best friend’s trust
and the friendship too.
Best Friend or Best Enemy
I was flat broke one time and
stole from my brother’s wallet. My
brother discovered that money was
missing from his wallet. He blamed
the servant and fired the servant. I
did not own up.
Too chicken to confess
December 2005
City Masala
December 2005
HOROSCOPE
Star Lite Star Brite Astrology
By Astrologer Sandeep Sidhu
Zodiac of the Month
Sagittarius Nov 22nd -Dec 21st Ruled by: Jupiter, Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire, Lucky Day: Thursday
Always an optimist, you are a thrill seeker and a risk taker. You are not bound by limits. A natural adventurer, you love to explore the
world and meet new people. You possess a strong love for knowledge, whether it be reading the latest novel or speculating over the ins and outs of philosophy. Like a sponge, you have an inherent need for new information. You possess a
strong yet erratic sex drive. Wild and passionate sex should officially be listed as your sport. Those around you should
respect your need for freedom if they don’t want you to run for the hills. December 2nd-14th ‘05 This is a period which
promotes growth and is a good time to begin new ventures and projects or expansions of current affairs (not just the
ones that relate to the heart!).
Aries: 20th March-19th April
There is a strong urge for more freedom
in your chart where fulfilling your own
desires is prominent in your life. Your creative nature and original
ideas will attract opportunities out of the blue. Buy
a new wardrobe for it will
enhance the way you feel
and will also lure the opposite sex into
unbridled passion.
Leo: 23rd July-22nd Aug
This period may make you more daring
than usual and you may find yourself taking some risks, especially when it comes
to money. Make sure you
don’t blow it all in one
go or you may regret it
later. Keep your pride
in check as you may act
carelessly and alienate others because of
Taurus: 20th April-20th May
your pride and arrogance. This is a time
Financial resources undergo
for meditation, selflessness and sacrifice.
great and sudden fluctuations. If you haven’t had
Virgo: 23rg Aug-22nd Sept
much luck in generating
A deep desire for freedom
bags of cash then this transtrongly highlights your life,
sit allows you to explore new methods.
especially in your career,
Your throat and neck areas are more sensiwhere you are no longer
tive so keep them warm.
content with doing routine tasks. An end
to a long-term project is in sight, accomGemini: 21st May-20t June
panied by well-earned praise, celebration
You may feel restless and
and success.
impatient with what you
want out of your life. Curb
Libra: 23rd Sept-22nd
rebellious tendencies to
Oct
upset others and focus
Sudden endings and new
your energy on practical
beginnings in love and
goals that bring you a good return. This
relationships can occur
is a favorable time to learn new things.
now. You are finally free from the past
Wishes may be fulfilled however, not
situations and are brought in touch with
always as you may expect.
new people who broaden your horizons
and play an important part in your life.
Cancer: 21st June-22nd July
This time is for new beginnings to start
Life at home may be
a new cycle with a sense of purpose and
unpredictable and erratic
willpower.
at times. Avoid losing your
temper without knowing
Scorpio: Oct 23rd-Nov
all the facts. Ensure that
21st
communication with everyone is clear and
Sudden unexpected events
concise in order to avoid any unnecessary
may take place which force
confusion and arguments. Don’t be afraid
you to take stock of your life. You need to
to tap into your youthful energy and let
separate the obligations from the restricyou hair down.
City Masala
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tions without forgetting to fulfill your
responsibilities.
Capricorn: 22nd Dec19th Jan
You may want to refine
and redesign your career
however; you may find
yourself restricted in this
task by difficult bosses and superiors. You
are advised to cut out the waste and do
everything necessary to bring things back
into balance in every aspect of your life.
Aquarius: 20th Jan-18th Feb
You may find that dreams
and ideals you have long held
on to come crashing down
around you. Reflect upon
your life’s purpose and what
you hope to achieve in the years to come.
People who are very different from you as
well as friendships from the past may play
a very important role in your evolution.
Pisces: 19th Feb-19th Mar
Your chart highlights the
need for you to be on guard
against self destructive behaviors. You may find yourself wanting to
find a way to escape through denial or by
turning to alcohol or drugs. Expect to be
shaken up or to be blinded by a shocking
revelation.
About Sandeep Sidhu: Sandeep is a certified astrologer and Tarot reader with the
New Age Foundation. He is a multi-disciplined practitioner qualified in Natural
Health and Holistic Therapies and is a
counselor and therapist accredited in
emotional and psychological health.
www.mindbodytherapies.co.uk
December 2005
CityMasala
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City Masala
December 2005
City Masala
December 2005