The Filmfare Awards came and went last week but I missed the action for the simple reason that there are too much of them. Name the various awards show, you get them. I feel the uniqueness and inherent charm is missing. Going back in time when Filmfare Awards was the stuff dreams were made of. Read on why I loved the Filmfare Awards that was!!
It was a worldly affair. Gud ole romance turning into heavenly bliss. The days of yore as we would anxiously wait for days to watch the Filmfare Awards, nestled with the family on the old black-and-white TV set. It gave me goose bumps and was dying every second with excitement to watch our stars perform and receiving awards. It was the days much before Satellite TV entered our lives.
The Filmfare Awards was a grand and unique affair for there was only one award, moviegoers looked up to and unlike today, where we have lost count on the bevy of bodies awarding actors, singers and film makers. The black lady was unique in her own way and everyone wooed her for a year to cuddle her shape.
I remember how I couldn’t buckle my mind at school and chided by teachers for not concentrating on the blackboard. The culprit? Filmfare Awards that would be aired live on TV. I was terribly anxious as if the TV would break down or mysteriously disappear in the sky. And, I waited for 8 pm to watch the awards. There was no Twitter or Facebook to congratulate our stars. I was a good boy on D-Day lapping the food like a homeless kid.
It were the days when there was no superficiality and one would imagine what it would be like to touch the stars or nurturing the dream of one day standing on the podium to perform or receive an award. Dreams, no matter how ludicrous, were allowed with Filmfare Awards. There was a mystery about our stars, intriguing they were for they couldn’t be touched. A tale of Greek demi God and Godesses. Amitabh’s poise, Madhuri, Juhi Chawla or Aishwarya Rai’s ubiquitous charm. There was something about them for we couldn’t reach out to them. It gave us goose bumps. The Gods of cinema enthralling us and one could feel choked out emotions, hands shaking as they performed and bagged awards.
It was a yearly affair and missing on them means moments of gloom and doom where our world almost crashed. I was stunned watching the glitz and the treat of watching our stars live, popping out of the silver screen was unparalleled. Do they really look like that in real life! Can I shake the hands of Bachchan, AK, Shah Rukh, Salman or touch Madhuri, Juhi or Sridevi? What would I tell them if ever they pop out of the TV screen? It was their aura, charisma and sheer magnetism that drew us to them. Still remember Amitabh winning for Hum and he walked in his trademark, white shirt, black suit and shoes, waving to the crowd sitting at the back. The time he shared his Filmfare best actor award with Aamir and Sanjay Dutt. We were taught that humility pays and it adds charm to our favorite star. After all, why the need to do that! The young child in me failed to understand that and wondered whether he took the black lady home that night. Or, the joy of winning made him gone bonkers.
There were moments during the award night that stayed with many of us. The wardrobe malfunction when a heroine I had a solid crush one was subjected to and the screen went black as if you are being shot at gun point. I froze and emphatized with the heroine. After all, what she must be going through and scathing criticism she would be subjected to in tabloids and sensational magazines the next day. Or, the sheer disappointment of not seeing your favorite bagging the awards and you stayed put past midnight, watching with the hope of seeing them win. What a sore loser the fan boy in me became, ending up in hating the winners?!
My filmfare moments! There are many. AB winning the Superstar of the Millenium Award dressed in a funky colorful outfit and introduced by Manoj Bajpai, speaking in Shuddh Hindi. Moods and moments. What a great evening! As Bachchan name announced, the audience stood in reverence as the original sound track of Don was played. Manoj speaking his heart out on his hero worship for Bachchan and repeated the same in his own unique style, introducing Hema Malini as ‘Sundarta ki Devi’ for her Lifetime Achievement Award.
It was in 2000, the decade when cinema changed with moving times that somehow robbed the joy of Filmfare Award being a unique affair. Soon, there were several awards that fell like water melons or ripe mangoes from the tree. The uniqueness of Filmfare Awards was challenged. While some would say, the more the merrier, I feel the uniqueness of awards lost its sheen and charm where everything is available like hot Vada on social media like Twitter and Facebook. Some stars bagged awards just for the heck of it for gracefully performing, may be! Awards were specially conferred for good friends. It robbed the joy of waiting for one single award function that would make us revel at the stars in the sky.
The mystery of our stars were lost, somehow, a bit like the Tweets they send to us. As fans, we love our stars to be clouded in mystery and Filmfare awards of the earlier days, did the trick for us. Call me old fashioned but love my stars being out of reach in the sky and that they cannot be touched. They were extraordinary and perhaps, they still are!
How I remember that I save every single penny in the 90s to catch all the drama of Amitabh Bachchan, SRK, Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya posing with the black lady on the cover of Filmfare. I preserved the magazines like treasure. And, today, we have everything about the great night online. I love cinema and the stars that way! No tweet or Facebook status can take that joy of old days away from the heart. It was sheer magic.
Filmfare Awards led us to discover the best host in Shah Rukh Khan and his combo with Saif Ali Khan. Hope such moments never wean with time. Seeing my favorite stars performing during those unique Filmfare Award moments secretly nurtured the dream in me to become an actor. I dreamt of performing one day at Filmfare Awards and receiving the Black lady. Filmfare Award was the only one made dream possible, of becoming an actor and director.
Ah! Those moments of watching Madhuri performing to Dola re Dola, Aishwarya to Kajra re, Amitabh-Rani double whammy for Black and Anil Kapoor-Madhuri taking the pie for Beta. And, with comperes striving to be as funny and howlarious as much as they can. Some of them like SRK are natural while other fail miserably. The halcyon days were simple and therein lies the beauty.
Today, you name it, you get it! Awards all over the place and I am not surprised if tomorrow, there will be Twitter or Facebook Awards for films. It, somehow, takes away that magic. But, all is not lost! Filmfare Awards remain Filmfare and both fans, stars crave for it. Perhaps, Filmfare Awards need to reinvent itself to better those days when it teamed up with Manikchand for it was really the stuffs heaven are made of.
She’s the stuff dream and fairy tales are made of. A flawless beauty and angelic smile, her peachy grey-green eyes that would make anyone fall for. Like many, I had a huge crush on Aishwarya Rai. The tall girl who brought India to a stop as she walked gracefully to become Miss World. It was in 1994.
Aishwarya hit the marquee in 1998 with Aur Pyar Ho Gaya, her debut film, that didn’t earn her critical praise and the movie tanked at the box office. Yet, the flick showcased her beauty and flawless skin as she traipsed on the silver screen. As she grew as an actor, she gave notable performances in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Raincoat, Devdas, Guru, Guzaarish, Jodha Akbar and Taal. A director’s actor, she’s all the way and someone who understands her completely can extract the best like Mani Ratnam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali did, pushing her to extreme level. How I love the songs in Jeans, HDDCS and Guru!
The most beautiful woman on earth, she is someone who was at the end of unfair criticism, be it her first outing at Cannes and post baby weight. It’s extremely sad how they didn’t spare her and we all know how natural it is for someone who just delivered a baby to put weight but she gave a tight slap to her critics in her future outings at Cannes where she won hearts. What I love with Aishwarya is how she maintained a dignified silence whether the time she was at the receiving end or one of her relationships that made the media go crazy.
Somehow, I liked her in Rishi Kapoor’s Aa Ab Laut Chalen where she was restrained and acted decently. There are many who say that Aish is cold as a person and it’s something that I wouldn’t agree to since we don’t know her personally. Anyway, here the aim is not to decode Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as person and celebrity. I remember seeing her with Abhishek at the airport and at that time, they were co-stars during Kuch Na Kaho shoot. She was dressed in blue denims and a white long sleeve shirt. I didn’t recognize her at that time and was standing with friends saying, “I think I know this girl..she must be taking tuition with me.” I was laughed at and failing to recognize Aishwarya Rai. The time I gathered myself, her image kept playing in the mind and patting the silly me on the head. She is someone who emerges in a crowd not just because she is an actor but the persona, charm and dignity. I mean, you can be besotted with her charm.
I remember the time she was getting married to Abhishek and was in Mumbai where the TV crew stationed in front of the Bachchan household and Aish residence La Mer at Bandra. It created a frenzy of sort and everyone was going crazy. I recall Prahlad Kakkar, famous ad guru who spoke on Aish, her innocence and equal ease in front of the camera.
Today, Jazbaa is releasing and can’t wait to watch the woman many have worshipped on screen. Guys like me who would go crazy on hearing her name. From Aishwarya Rai to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the B-Bahu whom we all loved in Sarkar 2 with husband Abhishek and father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan. I don’t give a damn about critics on Aishwarya or Jazbaa but dying to watch her perform and see how much she changed. There are expectations because she is Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and she gonna rock but, may be, not like the earlier days but to re-define herself as an actor.
There were whispers that the time she was pursuing architecture at Wilson College in South Mumbai and dabbling at modelling, guys would stand at the gate just to get a glimpse of Aishwarya Rai.
Today, I welcome on the blog Mehroo Turel, former Miss India contest not once but twice and who represented India at the Miss Asia Pacific in the 90s. An accomplished woman, Mehroo is now settled in Hong Kong with her husband and children. Hope you enjoy our conversation that was done via e-mail.
Miss India contest 1994
It was in 1992 that a young, 17-year-old girl, hailing from the Dadar Parsi Colony, not only walked the ramp but was ranked among the Top 10 finalists. Meet Mehroo Mistry now Mehroo Turel, who was ranked fourth in the Miss India contest in 1992, the year that saw Madhu Sapre crowned with glory and she repeated her feat in 1994, where she participated in the competition with the likes of Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen in the competition. The girl from Dadar represented India for the Miss Asia Pacific in 1992.
Former Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific, celebrated blogger and entrepreneur, how does one introduce Mehroo Turel? A tough one as this interview tries to decipher the person behind this image.
Modelling for Ponds
Today, Mehroo Turel is nestled with her husband in Hong Kong along with her two kids and as she speaks to me about those days in the fashion industry, the now entrepreneur reminisces about her days as a model in the era which I call, ‘the best for the modelling industry’, how it was like to live in what was known as ‘Bombay’, blogging and of course, her community the Parsis, who contributed immensely to India’s advancement.
The top finalist, ranked at No.4 in Miss India contest in 1992 and No.6 in 1994, Mehroo is first quizzed on whether she doesn’t miss the arc light and glitz of the modelling industry. This is what she has to say, “Surprising but no I don’t miss it. I believe that every stage in life has its own purpose and priorities. It was fun doing the contest all those years ago, gave me instant fame and popularity, but for the present I am very happy doing what I am.”
Modelling for Times Matrimonial
It’s wishful thinking for her bevy of admirers, including me, on one day grabbing an offer to walk the ramp as a show stopper. Mehroo says: “yes! It would be fun, wouldn’t it? Specially to show off in front of my boys!”
Her precious pictures and portfolio from the days of modelling and Miss India is something that would make any child proud of their mother. She gives an insight, “ I remember when I first showed my old file where I have kept a small collection of my past ads, shoots and magazine articles to my elder son, he couldn’t believe it. “Are you serious Mummy? Is that you? Were you really Miss India No. 6?”
It’s something that made her children proud and excited, at the same time. How did Miss India happen for Mehroo and what’s the story, I am curious to know. The former Miss India candidly says, “It didn’t happen, as in no one approached me for it. I applied to an ad in Femina and got shortlisted. Simple!” As good as she gets.
Mehroo leads us briefly into the preparation of Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific, a brief peek into what went behind the scenes during the 90s. She says: “I wish I had more to talk about the ‘preparation’ or the ‘grooming’ but unfortunately there wasn’t much done in those days. I do remember getting some tips from established models like Lubna Adams (if I am not mistaken) on walking the ramp, poise and posture.”
She harks back to the past which I am sure seems only yesterday to her as she narrates the episode in her life. Mehroo recollects, “And I think one round – Western casual, was sponsored by some boutique who lent us clothes for that evening. We had to prepare and organise for everything else ourselves – our gowns for the Western formal and Indian rounds, our jewellery, accessories, make-up, shoes, everything. My parents had to spend quite a bit for the same but they were happy to support me.”
Posing for the shutterbugs.
The Miss Asia Pacific pageant happened to her much before the Miss India contest in 1994, two years back. She remembers her tryst with destiny in 1992, “Asia-Pacific happened two years before the Miss India 1994. I remember being called to Mrs. Vimla Patil’s office in Times of India and was asked if I was ok to go Philippines by myself. I said yes and then that’s about it. Every single thing from the visa to the costumes to getting there was a headache for me.”
For a 17-year-old whose claim to fame must have not been a child’s play at all, ushering into adulthood, straight from teens. The school mates and people in her locality must have serenaded her. Mehroo humbly terms it as, “Yes must be luck, I never took “You are so beautiful” as a compliment but when people would say “You are great example of beauty with brains” I loved it! I think it’s this combination plus support from my parents which helped me achieved success in a short time.”
In 1994, Mehroo brushed shoulders with faces like Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994 and the latter’s arch rival, Miss Universe Sushmita Sen who went on to carve their niche in the Hindi film industry. She was ranked just after Shweta Menon at No.6 in that year’s Miss India contest. There was also Madhu Sapre in the beauty pageant.
It was a mix of models, Mehroo says. In her own words: “I think we were a good mix of professional models, city and small town girls. Aishwarya Rai was already popular as a model and hence a familiar name and face to everyone. Even the judges knew her! We were sure that she was going to win the contest. Sushmita Sen was quite aloof but very determined to win.
There were some girls who were really serious about the contest and some like me who wanted to have a good time. While I did interact with some girls, I never had a chance to interact personally with Aishwarya or Sushmita. I did know Aishwarya briefly before the contest as we had done some modelling assignments together.”
Mehroo as a young model.
Mehroo harks back to the precious days not shying to give me a peek into the competition. She recalls, “But I wonder if anyone remembers the girl who stood third in the contest – Francesca Hart? Despite standing third, she was completely invisible under the Aishwarya Rai-Sushmita Sen limelight. I later heard that her conservative parents refused to send her to the Asia-Pacific contest which was why Shweta Menon who was No. 5 was sent.”
It was a moment of pride for India to make its presence felt at the global contests with Aishwarya and Sushmita taking the pie. Mehroo says in a very honest manner, “It was nice to see both the winners go and win the International pageants. Shocking actually as we won both the contests in the same year! Yes I did feel a pang of jealously wishing I had put in more effort, but I am never the one who hold regrets for too long and I moved on with my life.”
Not one to live with regrets, that’s the mark of Mehroo Turel, who is a winner in her own way. The humility, candidness of thought and the fact that she is a grounded ‘Bombay Girl’ is echoed through this interview.
She believes that her stint as a model and ‘Miss India’ played an important role in her life and defines who she is today. Mehroo believes, “Modelling and the contest built a lot of confidence in the self, improved my poise, posture and style, exposed me to the real world quite early in life besides giving me financial independence. I think these qualities helped me as I started building my career after my MBA. Interviews, role plays, group discussions became easier and even people management came naturally to me. I guess some of these traits would have passed on to this motherhood phase too, though I think the skills required in this job are very different.”
It was during the contest in Manilla that a young Mehroo shared the room with Miss USA and became friends with Miss Canada. It was both fun and exciting times for a 17-year-old, far away from the family cocoon and parents, to be on her own and exploring a whole new world.
She wilfully gives an inside view, “To start with, Miss USA was a whole foot taller than me so I never liked walking close to her! We never really had anything in common so didn’t gel. I actually befriended Ms. Canada.”
It’s something interesting coming from Mehroo, sharing the moments to be cherished with her ‘friend’ Miss Canada. She recalls, “Once we were chatting and giggling so much at a restaurant that she fell off her chair! We also got close when we went on an island trip together in a privately chartered helicopter. I felt like a VIP! I don’t think either of us was competitive.”
An obvious question one is tempted to ask to the former Miss India contestant what does she speaks to her contemporaries now, reminiscing on the glory days. This is what Mehroo has to tell, “No I am not in touch with anyone, but it would be nice if we had been.”
Mehroo Mistry as Miss India 1994
Much before the pageant, Mehroo has modelled for a number of brands and commercials. She says modelling was hard work before the contest happened. As one would imagine and keen to know, how the model scene evolved during those days, the ‘former beauty queen’ gets into flash back moments and takes us to those lanes of struggle in Maximum City. She narrates, “Modelling before the contest was hard work. I had portfolios made and did rounds of various ad agencies and professional photographers handing out my photo prints. No ‘e-mailing’ in those days so everything had to be done using leg work. I must have covered almost all agencies in South Bombay up to Dadar and a few in North Mumbai. My mum was my official chauffeur! She used to wait under the building in the car and I used to run up and around the building handing out photos. Each print cost me money, so I did not like giving more than 3-4 photos per agency! Those were the days! After the contest it was a lot easier.”
Mehroo Mistry at the Miss Asia Pacific.
As one would imagine that it was an era where e-mailing was alien, one has to struggle and almost depleting the energy to make things happen. Determination can be a big energy boost, unlike Red Bull. Ranked at No.4 in 1992, I ask whether it was a tough call to leave the world of fashion and modelling. Mehroo says “My modelling career peaked from 1991-1996. “After I started doing my MBA, I couldn’t cope up with the assignments and started refusing them. Slowly the offers started dwindling. I didn’t mind actually as I was quite tired of ‘posing’ by then and wanted to do something more intellectual,” she says with a twinge of honesty and intellect.
What would be the view of the former Miss India on the fashion industry today as one saw the kind of poise and charm displayed way back in the 90s? Mehroo says, “I really can’t comment much on this as I am not in touch with that world at all.”
She doesn’t bat an eyelid and flinch for a second telling, “Even as a model, it wasn’t something that I really enjoyed. Yes it was fun and gave good money for not so much work, but it was a brainless job.”
Modelling Days.
Mehroo gets candid when she shares with us, “Sometimes I wanted to shout out and tell my photographer to do a frame differently; sometimes I wanted to change the script of the ad. I felt like a mannequin being asked to do different things by different people and never allowed to think. Maybe that has changed today. I hope models have more ‘say’ in their work now.” It’s a priceless advice that newbies in towns must learn, one would say, from Mehroo.
It’s only natural to ask Mehroo if ever the thought crossed her mind to start a modelling school, if not now, may be in the distant future. In her ubiquitous style, she replies, “Nah! Not my thing. Kindergarten YES!”
For someone who was born, bred and brought up in the city of dreams, ‘Bombay’, it must be bliss living in the city that reverberates with cosmopolitan culture, wide roads, her abode ‘Dadar Parsi Colony’ and historic buildings. She takes us back to the innocent days in the city that never sleeps that saw her growing up from a child to a teen and adult. The Bombay Girl terms those days as ‘wonderful.’
Mehroo reminisces, “The colony was heaven. It was the only place where I could get away with wearing anything I liked and doing crazy things like riding my motorbike! I used to love cycling and practiced hard before any school or inter-school competition within the colony. Later, I started riding a bike at the age of 14. I learnt quickly from my father and uncle. Dad bought me my own Kawasaki Bajaj when I was 15 and I was the rage in the colony, zipping up and down the quiet lanes with my friends as pillion riders! I have had a couple of falls but that did not deter me from riding and once I had a licence, I rode all over the city.”
It couldn’t get bigger and better than that with the adrenaline rush. Imagine Mehroo riding high on her Kawasaki with full power and she says, “I felt so powerful and independent, not the same feeling you get when you drive a car. The colony was a haven where I always felt safe. I had my school there and my college wasn’t too far either so I was quite spoilt never having to travel and enjoying the lush green and the fresh air. Five Gardens is an icon in the colony and as a child, I played on its really tall but rusty slides and creaky swings, then that gave way to endless evenings walking my dogs or having nonsensical conversations with friends sitting on the railings, eating pani-puri and ragda-chaat. Even today, I use that area for my walks whenever I head back home for holidays. I think the colony really grew on me ‘cause’ I got married there too!”
‘Bombay’ is now Mumbai and a city that never ceases to move in jet speed like the super fast trains and doesn’t shy away in its transformation. Who better than someone who lived in the city and crossed the seas? For sure, there are certain aspects that she misses a lot in the city. Her words shows the love that she has for her city. For Mehroo, ‘Bombay has had a massive transformation, one that is visible every time I visit. I think it is much more noticeable because I don’t live there so that when I visit I stand back for a minute and say “Whoa, when and how did that happen?” It has become much more crowded and polluted and unfortunately the same has happened to my colony too.’
It’s something that gnaws her, “I feel sad to see a new building or a new construction every time I visit. Once I could have crossed the colony roads shutting my eyes as we barely had any traffic, now one has to watch every step, even the footpaths are missing in some places! Once I am home in Dadar, I do not like to move out, as the city outside the colony is even worse. Terrible traffic jams, noise and people’s rage is visible everywhere.”
The sunshine lady.
One’s roots matters the most and Mehroo is not saying the contrary in our conversation. She affirms: “The only reason I come home every year, maybe even twice a year, is to visit my family and to show and teach my children their family and culture. It is difficult to teach a child about one’s religion and culture when one is away from it. That’s one and then I do like to go to my favourite haunts like the colony library, the agiary (fire temple) Dadar TT circle, Matunga market, Udipi joints to eat dosas. Fortunately, I have managed to stay in touch with my school friends with whom I have spent more than 10 years of my school life and together, we re-live memories when we meet.”
A crazy city that doesn’t limit itself to limits and local trains, Horns OK Taxis and fast life defines Mumbai. There was Bombay and now there is Mumbai.
Mehroo is a great fan of ‘South Bombay and loves the ‘historical British buildings’ which is a preserved identity and rich heritage as well as ‘the openness of space interspersed with gardens – something that North Bombay lacks. Nariman Point sitting by the rocks, Worli sea face having vegetable toast sandwich, Marine Drive and even Shivaji park beach where mum used to take us as kids for a bit of swim and sand castle building! Street foods are what I miss, especially the chaats –bhel, sev puri, the makkai-butta (corn), chutney-cheese sandwich, dabeli (lots of somethings put inside a bread roll), chana-sing, kala-khatta ice lollies and all the unhealthy cheap roadside snacks one can think of!’
In this e-mail conversation about the city, one would say that destiny played a part in her life between professing a love for Taj Mahal Hotel and where she found herself working at a later stage. She exclaims, “Oh and before I forget I used to love going to the Taj (Taj Mahal hotel) for random reasons. I needed to use the loo or visit the bookshop, I was using any random reason to confidently give my car to the valet and then walk in with a sense of purpose. There was nowhere to go obviously but I enjoyed the cool, plush interiors, all the important looking people dressed in suits and sarees floating around and I just sat in the lobby area for some time lost in my thoughts. Who knew that I would be working for this hotel one day! As a TAS (Tata Administrative Service Officer), I used to be in Sales and Marketing when I started off and loved showing off the property to potential clients. The old wing of Taj – The Heritage Wing fascinated me the most, with every room different from the other. It has character that no other hotel can match. In fact I was working at the Taj when I quit my job (or rather took a sabbatical) in 2006 when my son was 2 years old.”
Like they say, a place that we love is window to the soul where we get a sense of comfort and peace. Mumbai is one place where I share a bond, if I may call it so, with Mehroo. For someone who experienced the city in its unique charm during the earlier days-I am much a late comer here-Mehroo shares some unique moments and what it felt like to stay in the city as a localite.
“I used to drive almost everywhere in the city and during my modelling days felt safe coming back home by myself. Bombay has a vast network of roads and ‘gullies’ and I was proud of knowing most of them, the short-cuts, the high traffic lanes, the dockyard road, everything! Nowadays, it is all flyovers everywhere. Our politicians seem to think that that is the answer to our ever increasing traffic. To an extent yes if you take them, but if one has to go under them to reach a destination one is doomed to an hour of sitting in mid-traffic without moving a muscle!,” she places her argument in the right place.”
Mehroo at the Navjote ceremony with parents.
One couldn’t agree more with Mehroo who confesses, “I still haven’t used the famous Worli-Bandra sea link yet.” Travelling in local trains is something everyone be it a new entrant in the city or locals, should indulge to experience the real ‘Bombay’ or ‘Mumbai for that matter.
She was one of your fellow commuters in the life line in the city and that’s what she has to say. “Oh and yes I did travel by local trains too when parking used to be a problem. That was quite an experience when I first started. I always used ladies compartment and second class too. It was fun being lifted in and out of the coach even before the train halted, with a sea of determined working ladies crushing you to death or nauseating you to their varied smells! I didn’t mind though and soon became one of them. My above average height compared to Indian standard always helped! ” she quips.
From Miss India to Motherhood, Mehroo today is brand name and celebrated blogger who always put humongous effort in her writing space. Veering between dollops of humor and humility, she muses, “Brand name and celebrated blogger’ – WOW that’s a bit too much I would say, but thank you! For starters, I am now just ‘Mehroo Turel’. I used to be Mehroo Mistry Turel in my corporate working life. The ‘Mistry’ or ‘mystery’ went away when I got my son’s passport done and that meant changing my surname officially in mine too.”
Mehroo’s first birthday with parents in Bombay.
The Mistry’ or ‘mystery’ remains, one would think but love how she plays with words, injecting fun in our entertaining conversation. She continues, “Within 3 months of me quitting my job, we moved to Hong Kong where I had my second child. I wish I had started blogging then, as I had so much to say and so much to ask, which I did using mommy forums. Since I was staying away from home, I started writing lengthy emails to my immediately family letting them know what we were up to, our life, the kids, just talk in general.”
Her writings earned her accolades and praise from the family. She lets us in the secret, “My mum-in-law once complimented me saying that “Mehroo, you write so well, I feel like I am there with you.” I was too busy, though, to think of anything else. From Hong Kong we moved to UK and then luck brought us back here. In early 2012, my boys were 8 and 4 years old and were well-settled into their routine and I felt like I was ready to do something more. Going back to work was out of question and I was just so happy doing what I did.”
Mehroo striking a pose.
Her blog took shape when someone prodded to translate her thoughts into words. She lets the cat out of the bag, “It was when a friend happened to mention about writing a blog. He was quite fascinated about the whole Miss India story and said that others would like to know too. I started researching, wrote a few things when I could. If you see my first couple of posts – they are quite short and precise. I wasn’t sure how much to say, how much not too, it being a public forum. I read about blogging, followed some bloggers with similar purpose, learnt the software to be used and then finally one fine day I launched my blog! Well, nothing happened instantly ‘cause’ no one knew about the blog. For a while, I only ran it through family members. Soon, the compliments came pouring in – after all they were family J Then gaining confidence I put it up on my facebook page and that started it all!” I kinda agree and I am sure, all of you will, how her blog made our day.
Hailing from a Parsi family, the rich culture reverberates in Maximum City where the community contributed a lot. From Dadabhai Naoroji to Madame Bhikaiji Cama and Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, Parsis are known to be close-knit and I narrate to Mehroo an anecdote at the Parsi colony where I witnessed the unique community life. She takes pride, “Honestly, I love being a Parsi. My upbringing has been in a traditional Parsi home following rituals and traditions that have been passing down over generations. I studied in a Parsi school- The J.B. Vachha school, which for a very long time, gave admission to Parsis only but then opened its doors to all communities. We had some lovely Parsi teachers whom we remember with a lot of affection and respect and who were passionate about imbibing the right values and education to students. We even had Parsi prayers recited on special occasions on the school loudspeaker. Living in a Parsi colony gives one a sense of connection to the roots and culture that one often doesn’t experience living outside it.”
Mehroo shares the common linkage between Parsis and Gujrati as a language. “We speak in Gujarati which is our acquired language after we fled persecution in Iran and landed in Gujarat. We have a beautiful fire temple within the colony and I get a lot of peace and solace going there. When we were in school, I used to describe the interiors to my non-Parsi friends who couldn’t go inside. When we learnt history in school, I was proud of the fact that I belonged to the same community that had given birth to such philanthropists and with more existing in the society that trend continues. In fact, I pride myself on working with the Tata group and was in awe of Mr. Ratan Tata on the few occasions when we met,” she says.
Everyone be it in the media, political lounge or conversation been debating on the community which is dwindling. Who better than a Parsi, proud of her roots and rightly so, to air her views! Mehroo reflects, “There are lots of opinions about this sensitive question regarding increasing our tribe. Yes, our community is dwindling due to a lot of inter-caste marriages, unmarried youngsters and childless couples. I don’t think we can enforce a rule nor do we have any magic power to increase our tribe. I have married within the community and I try my best to inculcate the same culture and tradition in my children, who I hope would continue the tradition over the next generations. I am not sure how many years we are going to last but I believe that till we do, we should retain our ‘uniqueness’. After all, what’s the point in retaining a community if you have to dilute it any way,” she brings a fresh element to the fore.
The Parsi culture is vibrant in the city through its food, history, culture and café, of course the Nowroze celebration in the household. Mehroo gives us a first-hand account of celebration in her home which is delightful. The vibrant lady on what I feel is the finest community in India, “We have certain rituals and customs that we follow at home. Like lighting an oil diya at all times in our prayer area, doing chawk or rangoli outside our homes every day and wearing our sacred ‘sudreh’ (muslin vest) and ‘kusti’ (sacred woollen thread) at all times after our Navjote (Initiation into the Zoroastrian religion) is done.”
The unique Parsi dishes which many of us-I am one of them-are fortunate to taste in the home of our Parsis friends is a delightful story that Mehroo spells about her rich culture and tradition. “Besides, we have our own customary food that we prepare on certain occasions. While most are an infusion of Indian culture after having lived for so many years on this soil, they still have a typical flavour that one can only find in Parsi cuisine. ‘Dhansak’, for instance, is a brown rice and lentils dish that is probably the most popular outside the community too. Normally, one would have this every Sunday as it is quite filling and it’s customary to get a good afternoon’s nap post this! Others include ‘dhan dal’ which is white rice and yellow dal with ‘patio’ which could be fish or prawn curry, eaten on happy occasions like birthdays and New Year, etc. There are several others dishes like ‘khichri sauce’, ‘mutton pulao’, ‘patra ni machhi’ and one loves going for Parsi weddings or Navjotes to savour these delicacies without going through the effort of making them!,” she tells.
Mehroo has kept the tradition alive at home, “I try and replicate these dishes at home, too, though I learnt cooking at a much later stage in life and I think I can dish out a decent meal. Parsis are also very fond of sweets and ‘lagan nu custard’ and ‘caramel custard’ are the common favourites. These, I avoid making at home as I strive to promote healthy eating habits for my family.”
Nowroze-the Festival of Spring is considered to be one of the most important in the Parsi calendar on March 21. “It has significance for me personally as well as I had accepted my then boyfriend-now husband’s marriage proposal on that day!” she fondly remembers.
“We also have our Parsi New Year in the month of August. Typically, I like to make ‘sev’ (vermicelli) or ‘ravo’ (semolina) in the morning, followed by a thorough cleaning of the house, wearing new clothes and visiting the fire temple,” Mehroo says.
It makes for family time for Mehroo who says, “Evenings are generally entertaining with, either a dinner plan or a community event. These are the days that I most miss living in my home town, as it is just not the same when one is celebrating outside. When I was in school, we used to get the day or the whole week off and there would be a general feeling of happiness and cheer in the whole colony as fresh flowers were bought and homes decorated in traditional ways. We do have an active Zoroastrian community in Hong Kong and try to take our children there if the day falls on a public holiday.”
Mehroo Turel has carved her own niche, balancing career and family life, keeping the tradition by staying connected to her roots. Today, she is busy with her creative venture, Summer and you can check it on Facebook. A woman of substance and rooted, who has chartered her own course in life, be it as Miss India, entrepreneur, mother and wife. A winner in her own way, that’s Mehroo Turel.
Post script: I stumbled on Mehroo’s blog in 2013 and was hooked to her writings. She became a blog friend and absolutely love her posts on Miss India contest. Check it here and it’s in three parts. It’s been a long time that I wanted to feature her in the blog interviews. We were in touch via e-mail and dropping a line on her blog. It took me a long time and I reverted back with the questions after a couple of months. At that time, Mehroo was in holiday and when she sent the answers, it was totally worth it. I am grateful to her for giving me her time, sending the super awesome answers. It was a delight reading the incredible answers and as we spoke, I agree on that, it would have been great for a one-to-one with lot more details. Superb answers by Mehroo. She has also given me some fabulous pictures which I am glad to put here. The pictures belongs to Mehroo and it can’t be reproduced without her permission. It is a long interview but totally worth it. At the end, you will love reading it.
Initially, I was planning to do a Q& A format but it would have been an injustice to Mehroo for making such a superb effort in sharing her experience and taking the time. I discussed with her and must say that I appreciate how she respects my craft, giving me the freedom to present her. A thorough professional she is.
The Boob-y confession: I’ve been a regular reader of TOI, right from my student days in Pune and Mumbai and till now, I regularly surf their website looking for hardcore news. Wait! Did I say hardcore news! Should have said, hardcore soft porn? Okie, it’s my inflated ego that I keep exaggerating stuffs. I feel squeezed like the orange, taking on TOI, being a journalist based out of India. Yet! I cherish (ed) the aspirations of working for the prestigious Benett and Coleman group, one day. Don’t take me seriously! I am no sexual bigot, it’s just that I am hallucinating with this post.
TOI has been my favorite newspaper and I was in awe of them, owing to their high standard of journalism and the kind of human-cum-feature stories they would come up with in the not-so-distant-past. But, now! I am not very sure about that. Now, I understand why accusations of pen pushers and whistle blowers are directed with a punch against my tribe. The OMGs! Actress have sex in car, show boobs, showcase assets is a matter of laughing-stock. I mean, seriously! Is that feature or news in the first place! I wonder whether I am in the right profession!
Entertainment! Seriously! Deepika’s cleavage show! Guys, are you serious when your EQ is all about the lady’s cleavage. And, the country I am based in, I fork 25 bucks to get a late copy of Sunday Times shipped from India, which is sold for five bucks. Am I a fool to fork out five times more money to get a late copy of my ‘favorite’ newspaper? It makes me shudder when you defend and justify yourself that it’s a compliment to Deepika. It’s downright sexist and it doesn’t make ‘news’ sense to me. It’s not even sensationalism and you’ve gone to an extreme step by living up to the adage, ‘sex sells.’ It’s not even that but a scathing attack on the dignity of a professional woman who is proud of her femininity. Mind you! Being comfortable in one’s body, doesn’t mean someone is indulging into skin showing as the newspaper is trying to portray but rather she is expressing pride in who she is. She is proud of her body, but,ToI, you make it look so cheap.
Deepika served you right when she placated, Yes! I am a Woman, I have Breasts and a Cleavage. You Got a Problem?! Don’t Talk about Women Empowerment when You don’t Know How To Respect Women. Deepika Padukone deserves and commands respect for taking a stand against something which is demeaning and humiliating, to say the least. It’s so unfortunate that many women in the film and fashion industry face such kind of cheap thrills under the name of journalism. Sorry, it’s not. Before going to print, one should have checked the facts and quality of news.
It pains me to say that TOI is going the down slide when we see such stuffs appearing as news. Not so recently, someone wrote something sexist in the name of entertainment, ‘advantage of women being a virgin till they marry.’ It’s another thing after protests that the story was removed. But, the damage was done. Sad that the paper with the biggest circulation in the world has reached this stage. I am tempted to ask, ‘What’s gone so horribly wrong?’ Is there no such thing as editing and news filtering, with sub-editors being the last line of a newspaper’s defense?
Objectification!You name it, you get it! The latest victim today is SRK ‘We don’t go into frenzy seeing SRK’s abs.’ Mind you, I am no prudish and know that some people enjoy picking up a mag seeing glamour and sexy pictures. But, seriously, this is not even glamour but an act of over selling yourself. Surely, you are not that desperate to sell your newspaper since your office is not housed in some dingy corner down the road. It’s no standard of journalism. Let’s not speak about ethics. I feel a shudder down my spine since I have seniors whom I respect a lot and who made careers at TOI and one of them is a respected columnist. But! But! such sexism cannot be tolerated. Good that someone took the cause of not just the females but males in the industry. Yet, sometimes back, Aishwarya Rai’s Karva Chauth was breaking news. Or years down the road, Amitabh Bachchan’s family boycotted the Filmfare Awards when one of your sister company, Mumbai Mirror, published an untrue story about Aishwarya Rai suffering from stomach tuberculosis and therefore cannot conceive. It’s slanderous against woman! The irony was a refusal of apology and the rare feat is repeated in Deepika’s case, four years’ later.
Nowadays, I prefer to read Hindustan Times who has upheld its standard of journalism, features and entertainment. Hope ToI will pick up the thread where they left or may run the risk of being sunk into oblivion with the adage, ‘Has-been newspaper with high standard’. It will break my heart to see ToI going down the road like that. I want the good old Times of India which made me rush to hold it in my hands, enjoying a cup of coffee on a lazy Sunday.
Or else! I’ll prefer a pirated copy of Akshay Kumar’s Entertainment, any day. Let’s skip the booby trap ToI and cleavage show. Certainly, it doesn’t honor our profession as journalists.
The amazing journey of life, coupled with its tragedy, bears an uncanny ressemblence to romance in motion. Which better way to romanticize the tragedy of life than on celluloid and in a conversational tone and who better than Rituparno Ghosh who made tragedy beautiful, sexy and romantic!
Film-maker Rituparna Ghosh’s death sent ripples of shock across the film industry and among lovers of wonderful and meaningful cinema, At the onset, let me confess that I haven’t seen much of the film-maker’s movies and caught up
Preity Zinta (left) and Amitabh Bachchan in the film. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
with only two of his movies made in Hindi, Choker Bali and Last Lear made in English. Like in his movies, it is tragic to follow the genius’s work so late and it has to with the fact that I am alien to one of the most beautiful languages in India, Bengoli. It came as an impediment since it is a personal loss for not watching the movies of the genius called Rituparna Ghosh. Hence, I shall stick myself to Ghosh’s Raincoat and Last Lear that are considered to be two of his fantastic movies made. What I love with Ghosh is how he shot both movies in a conversational tone. It is tough to make movies where your characters keep speaking in a natural manner since the camera keep rolling and hovering over the head of the actors. This tend to make the actors conscious that they are being watched and it shows in their performances and body language. But, not with Ghosh. That was sets the film maker apart from its contemporaries.
What I love with Choker Bali is how he extracted the very best from Aishwarya Rai and proved that the latter can act very well, given an author-backed role. Rituparna Ghosh spoke unabashedly about a women longing for sex without the character shedding her clothes to stand naked on bed. The characters uniquely spoke of their desires without any fear of being judged by society. This is what Rituparno Ghosh always stood for and never flinched in telling the world that he stood what he deemed to be right and he is perhaps, one of the few directors who lent dignity and credence to the LBGT community. His films portrayed gays and lesbians in the most dignified manner and his death is certainly a huge shock and loss to LBGT community.
The second film, I shall speak is The Last Lear starring Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Shefali Shah and for which the movie not only won the National Awards for Best Feature Film but gave Big B a special stardust award for best actor. The movie again captured the actors in conversational tone, whether between Big B and Preity, Preity and Shefali. The characters were made alive on screen and Rituparno Ghosh perfectly described the sexual union between the eyes of the characters played by Amitabh, Preity and Shefali Shah. The film carries oodles of sensuality that was perhaps not portrayed with so much deft by any other film-maker. Bachchan plays a theatre actor, preity a film actress and Shefali. the former’s mistress.
It’s sad and almost tragic like his films that Ritu-da as he is called in film circles had to go so early in his life and his movies will be sorely missed by all lovers of good cinema. It is no mean feat that out of 20 films directed, he bagged 12 national awards. I think Ritu-da career is similar to that of Guru Dutt who achieved so much at a young age. The film-maker was imbibed with a sensitivity in the kind of movies made that gently strike a chord with the gay community and I find it amazing of his immense contribution of drawing the sympathy of heterosexual people like me to the cause of homosexuals and lesbians. He has always believed that there is a thin line between ‘him’ and ‘her’ and refuse to comply in the blurred distinction of man and woman.
I have a confession to make and, at the same time, an appeal to all my Bengoli friends who followed the work of Ritu-da: Since I am largely oblivious of Ritu-da’s body of work, please not only comment but educate me on the work of the master-genuis.
With Love
Ritu-da, you shall always be remembered,
for striking a chord and touching our hearts.
Your movies lives through us.
V
PS: You, Bengoli folks, well versed with Ritu-da’s work, I need lines and paragraphs on the work of this great artist. Yes. recommend his movies to me. Thanks:)
Comparisons are as odious and inevitable. So what if you are talented? So what you are the son of Amitabh Bachchan? Junior B, Abhishek Bachchan turns a year older today. After a spate of flops, Junior Bachchan entered the 100 crores club last year with the entertaining BOL BACHCHAN bearing his namesake.
How do you describe Abhishek Bachchan? Son of the great Amitabh Bachchan and the wonderful Jaya Bachchan or husband to the beautiful and ravishing Aishwarya Rai or super cool dad to beautiful Aradhya. Supercool and devoted son, husband or dad. When you come from such a powerful family and coming from the Bachchan lineage, there are bound to be comparisons even 12 years after you made your debut as an actor. Unfair but part of the entertainment industry! You gotta be strong as a creative artist and a person to bear with such comparisons and Junior B faced them all with dignity. He started with JP Dutta’s Refugee in 2000 opposite Kareena Kapoor, a film that many termed as the wrong launchpad since candyfloss romance was the taste of the season. However, despite being a novice Abhishek did justice to the role and proved that he is an actor to stay. It was a difficult role to perform and some critics lauded his skills as an actor. Refugee remained one of my favorite Abhishek movie and the intensity that he portrayed as an actor is something that remained with me. At the same time, one Hrithik Roshan stole the thunder against all odds with Kaho Na Pyar Hai. True, Roshan was also the son of actor Raakesh Roshan but the latter was no Amitabh. Hrithik got away with the crime of comparison and all sky rocketed comparisons were piled on Abhishek.
There were a few films that flopped at the BO that compelled critics to write Abhishek off as an actor and they debated whether he was really cut off to become an actor. All his moves, be it dance, facial expressions, romance were compared with his father. There were wrong career moves such as Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, Dhai Akshar Prem Ka and Shararat among so many movies. Finally, Mani Ratnam saw his potential in the critically and commercial acclaimed Yuva where Abhishek stood out in the negative role. As Lallan, Abhishek gave a stellar performance and critics had to mince their own words. There was no looking back as he delivered fine performances in Bunty aur Babli, Dus, Sarkar 1& 2 and Dostana. If B&B and Dostana showcased his comic antics as an actor, he emerged as a commercially viable actor in Sarkar and other movies that followed. Abhishek was able to carve his own niche with Sarkar and was already following the footsteps of his father to emerge as a seasoned actor. In 2007, he teamed up with his favorite director Mani Ratnam and would be wife, Aishwarya rai in Guru, a movie that was inspired by Dhirubhai Ambani. The movie fetched him laurels where Abhishek has put on oodles of weights to portray Guru to the hilt and it showed his credential as an actor. Guru can certainly be termed as one of his best films till date and he showed his versatility through the brooding intensity and the nuances in his character. It was a film that will be remembered for decades to come as Guru showcased Abhishek potential and maturity as an actor. It was clearly an award-winning performance.
However, there were some bad choices of films made after that and the forgetables, Raavan and Dilli 6 came to our minds. But, can we blame Abhishek for making the wrong career moves? Who would doubt the capability of Mani Ratnam and Rakesh Mehra after making movies like Raavan and Rang de Basanti. Ashutosh Gowarikar Khele Hum Jee Jan se was a period film that focused on Bengali freedom fighter Surya Sen. Nevertheless, Abhishek did made the mistake of appearing in duds like Game and Players.
Bol Bachchan couldn’t come at a better time when his credential as an actor was being questioned and he delivered a stupendous performance which has won him several awards. The best thing about Bol Bachchan is that Abhishek gave new meaning to comedy and has again proved that he is a versatile actor who is here to stay and that he just need a good role and a director who completely understand his potential as an actor.
What next for Abhishek Bachchan? There is no doubt that he is a versatile actor and not just the son of Amitabh Bachchan. His biggest forte is comedy and he should bank on what constitute his forte and there is no doubt that a good script and a good director will ensure that he will win many hearts among the audience. His comic timing is awesome.
It’s been long that he hasn’t team up with his father, Amitabh and they sizzled on-screen with B&B, Sarkar series, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and who can forget the powerful number Kajre Re. I feel that Abhishek should never ever say no to small budgets but meaningful cinema that put at the forefront his wonderful talent. Sometimes, Box office collection is not what makes a powerful actor.
On February 5, I wish Abhishek a very happy wala budday and hope that the wonderful talent and powerhouse of energy will scorch the 70 mm screen with entertaining, commercially viable films that will befit his status as an actor.
Who is a super model today in the circuit? Certainly, there are so many young, hot, beautiful but sizzling sirens scorching the ramp is very hard to count on our fingers. I don’t remember the last time when I propelled myself to watch a model or am interested the buy the latest copy of GQ or Femina as a man to see the beauty that will send my adrenaline rushing down my spine. The death of super model and veejaying anchor of Channel V and MTV, Sophia Haque came a shocker to not just the tinsel down but mango people like us who were kids in the 90s and exposed to the big, dreamm world of VJs, models. I remember turning into a huge fan of MTV, Channel V and in the mid 2000, Zoom was added to my list of preferences. As we wondered what happened to the first supermodels of India such as Sophia and Viveka Babajee– though the likes of Sophia, Anupama Varma, Kamal Sidhu, Neha Bhasin and Anusha Dandekar are way bigger than Viveka- and then we hear some news on TV or newspaper that send us in a tizzy. The person is no more and it reminds us that we are turning grey.
I remember catching up on MTV and Channel V solely to watch Sophia Haque, Anusha Dandekar, Mini Mathur and Anupama Verma and watch the TV channel airing the model shows very week to simply admire the likes of Mehr Jessia, Neha Bhasin, Kamal Sidhu, Sheetal Mallar, Laila Rouass, Madhu Sapre and Anupama Verma as well as Neha Pandey (Chunky’s wife whose name is escaping my mind and many more. And, we were glued! These girls held poise, flamboyant personas that is simply lacking in today’s model. After all, they were India’s first super models and a symbol of growing Indian economy. Their symbol was not just an aura of sex or sex symbol but they signified much more and were inspiration to so many girls who were keen to walk the ramp. As a guy, these were the reasons I started buying Femina and yes I did! As I flipped through the cover and pages to catch a glimpse of these beautiful women dressed and mind you, they lived up to the dresses beautifully designed for them. The dresses were made for these women and they were ‘women of substance, whether it’s wearing a short skirt, bikini or the Indian traditional dress, they lived up to them.
In my college days, I remember staying till late along with my girl friend and at times with my best buddy to watch Sex Talk hosted by Kamal Sidhu, that was the time Zoom was launched in India. Sex Talk was the first of its kind in India, bold and bare-it-all dangerous talk show on sex that created hysteria and send ripples among the young, adult and college going population. It was brutally honest and a genuine attempt to uncover the skeleton that we hide so preciously in our closet. Kamal Sidhu was perfect and honest to the core in the show that spoke in a direct and frank manner about sex and the various positions of the Kamasutra. It was a show that we could not afford to give a miss in the growing India where the buzz word was be honest in bed. It was not a pervert show but spoke of a grim reality as to what happens in the confine of our wall. Sex was no longer a sin word and who better than Kamal Sidhu on the provoking chat show to tickle our intimate bones. She was perfect to the hilt and an amazing host that could connect with Gen X.
The kind of aura, unparallel charm and poise displayed by these women were something to die for. When they walked the ramp, one knew that they will scorch the ramp and not leave an ever dying impression. It was an amazing display of fireworks. These are women we cannot forget and they left us spellbound as we asked for more and one can’t help asking whether they are for real. They played real hard to get!!! And, we were alive when both Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen made India proud by bagging the Miss World and Miss Universe title. So did the likes of Lara Dutta. When they spoke during the competition and the interviews they gave sent signals down our brain as we knew they are the women with whom we can strike an intelligent conversation with. If only, we were lucking! India, the modelling circuits and TV channels were lucky to have them. They represented a dream to millions of men and women, an aspiration to take the world by storm.
It’s been long India didn’t win the much coveted Miss World and Miss Universe title. You ask why??? Well, the answer lies in the question, you bet! There have been and there are good models on the circuit and today, every girl is a model. There is a need to revisit the excellence portrayed by these women and a serious re-thinking is needed.There is a need to revisit the grooming process, poise displayed by our first super models. The problem is that there is a PR and advertising over drive to hard sell the new age women, the women of my generation. Well, I prefer the old wine any day!
It’s been long haven’t posted anything and trust me on dat, it gets to you. It’s a tragedy considering that my keyboard not working and typing on the virtual tool can be so tiring and frustrating. Just came from the Akshay Kumar-John-Deepika Padukone and Chitrangadha Singh starrer Desi Boyz. The movie is an entertaining flick and paisa vasool, particularly in the second half. Review will come. One word on Chitrangadha. The lady’s beauty is jaw-dropping and what a wonderful actor she is!!! Whoa!!1
Movie on other things in life. So Baby B betiya and Mom Aish was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday. And the Bachchan legacy continues. I think it is indeed commendable for the Bachchan family to bring a daughter home and it is time for us to stand for the girl child. It is sad that our mindset haven’t changed and despite all progress achieved in various walks of life we still prefer a boy to a girl. This is disgusting and hypocrite.
I know someone in my family who told his wife if a boy is born, they won’t have any children and if a girl is born they will plan for other children till a son is born in the family. This is simply sad. Both men and women have achieved significant progress and it is time for us to acknowledge that the woman deserve the same treatment in relation to us, guys. Lets face it: Women are discriminated and branded a slut if she is modern in outlook, approach and the clothes she wears. The truth is that we have become so egotistical and we can’t tolerate the fact that women has achieved so much progress. We, men have grown insecure and the reason we behave in that manner is that we fear that our sexual power will be eroded.
I really admire the few men who give everything to have a daughter and believe in the equality of both sexes. I know that my opinion will be derided for many of you will tell me, come to the reality dude. It can never happen. But, I say it can happen. If you can smoke so can the woman. If have the right to your partner so can your women. She has a right to live her life in her own way without you branding her a slut. Similarly, in a relationship it is her right to demand that she can do her own things and to respect her space.
In fact,laws should be made tougher so that the girl child is not only born but have access to the same facilities and education as her brother. I am really incensed when I see behaving saying that the brother should be given better facilities than boys. Just because someone is the fairer sex that doesn’t mean that she should be discriminated again.
I dream of the day when the birth of the girl child will bring the greatest joy and happiness in the life of a couple irrespective of race, caste or social status.
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Which better way to romanticize the tragedy of life than on celluloid and in a conversational tone and who better than 
There is a need to revisit the grooming process, poise displayed by our first super models. The problem is that there is a PR and advertising over drive to hard sell the new age women, the women of my generation. Well, I prefer the old wine any day!
Vishal Bhidu 