Rite to wellness

Actress Raageshwari takes HB readers through a Buddhist practice that promises to show the ageing process

Saregama, India’s flagship Music and Entertainment Company, recently launched Temple Wellness division with a film ‘5 Ancient Tibetan Rites’ demonstrated by RaageshwariLoomba, well-known actor, singer, and television personality. The 5 Ancient Tibetan Rites are an ancient and potent set of practices which were formulated over 2500 yrs ago, and are mostly practiced by Tibetan monks. They work mainly on the seven key chakra’s and endocrine system, thus slowing down the ageing process, reset our body to optimum functioning and fill us with a dynamic, youthful energy.

The film goes on to demonstrate how to do the rites through a demo class, lists their benefits, methodology, rules of practice and culminates in a real time ‘Do it Along’ section with RaageshwariLoomba.

“There is a sudden emergence of awareness amongst people at large especially the younger generation to embrace healthier life style. The move is a boon to humanity, which not only keeps one fit and energetic and youthful. I have been religiously practising the 5 Tibetan Rites and the results are for all to see in this inspiring film. I am extremely pleased to be associated with Saregama in uncovering this fountain of youth for the benefit of people,” says Raageshwari.

The singer recalls how when her face was paralysedher parents didn’t allow her to call a private doctor to her home. She says, “In the hospital, I found worse-off cases of paralysis. It broadened my perspective on life.”

Now, Raageshwari credits yoga with her recovery. She learnt yoga under ZubinZartoshimanash, a BKS Iyengar yoga teacher. She says, “Treating my body as a temple gave me my face back and healed me.”

About six months ago, she embraced the Tibetan Rites and says it should be done with great love and care. “There is great harmony in the rhythmic pattern,” she adds.

Note : Between each rite, bend in Vajrasan and breathe five times, then sit and breathe five times.

Rite 1 – Slows ageing, increases energy

The speed of the chakra spin is a key to vibrant health. The first rite works on all seven Chakras by coordinating their spin so they are in complete harmony. It distributes pure Prana energy to the endocrine system, and in turn to all organs and processes in the body which is one of the major requirements for vibrant health, rejuvenation and youthfulness. It is the key rite to reset one’s body to optimum functioning.

When you start doing the whirls, keep it to three counts to begin with. As you get comfortable, you can increase one count of each rite. Stand straight with your hands jutting outwards and turn clockwise from left to right slowly. You will reach 21 counts eventually.

Rite 2 – Induces vitality, trength

The second rite works msainly on the Manipura or solar plexus chakra, situated in the abdominal region. This cChakra is the centre of vitality and vigour. It also regulates the functioning of the pancreas and digestive organs. As a result it’s curative in curing digestive disorders, diabetes and fluctuations in blood pressure. This rite also strengthens the abdominal muscles and acts as a powerhouse by constantly supplying vitality and bestowing balance and strength.

Lie down straight and flex your legs, bringing power into them and point your toes out as you raise them 90 degrees. Do a stomach crunch simultaneously. Lift your head and chest as much as you can, so that your head reaches your knees. When you reach the 90 degree point, flex, heels jut out and toes point towards your head. Placate your body, come back and rest. Then do the next count.

Rite 3 – Joyfulness, flexibility

This rite energises the Vishuddhi or throat chakra which activates the pituitary & thyroid glands. Harmonization of these two major glands regulates the metabolism rate, controls water balance in the body via the control of re absorption of water by the kidneys & optimizes the functioning of our sexual organs. On an emotional level it fills one with a feeling of unlimited happiness and freedom that allows our abilities and skills to blossom. It also alleviates anxiety and suppressed fears.

This rite also strengthens the spinal column and makes one more flexible.

Kneel down and look up straight and rest your hands under your butt. Then pull your chin up looking towards the sky, while bending backwards as comfortably as you can. You’ll feel a great stretch in your neck, chest and stomach. Then slowly come back, touch your chin to your chest and repeat the rite.

Rite 4 – Clarity, development

The fourth rite works on the Swadisthana or sacral chakra associated with our re productive organs. It activates our lower abdominal and pelvic area, thereby awakening our sexual energy, and general state of pleasure. It also strengthens the lower back. When this Chakra is harmonized it brings clarity and development of a strong personality. This rite also helps weed out our negative base qualities that hinder our development.

Table rite/Crab rite: Lie on the mat with your legs absolutely straight, toes perpendicular, back straight, hands flat on the ground close to your butt. Bring your knees closer, keeping your soles on the floor. From that position, raise the entire body in a table position i.e. neck, stomach, hips and knees in a straight line. The body is supported by your arms and feet. Now throw your neck back and return to the original position, straightening your back. Repeat the rite in a rhythmic pattern, never moving the position of the hands.

Rite 5 – Body toning, tranquility

This rite is an overall body toning and strengthening exercise. This posture stretches the shoulders, legs, spine and whole body; It builds strength throughout the body, particularly the arms, legs, and feet. It also relieves fatigue and rejuvenates the body while improving the immune system, digestion and blood flow to the sinuses.  It calms the mind and lifts the spirits.

Rite similar to Suryanamaskar: Stand up, then bend down, touching your fingers to your feet. Put your hands on the floor andwalk forward, using just your hands. Stop when you feel a great stretch at the back of your thighs. Now moving the weight onto your hands, swing down, raise your chest and look up. Balance yourself on your toes and hands only. If you feel the stretch at the back of your legs, face and arms, then your upward dog is correct. Swing the body back, raising your butt to the sky, so you become a mountain or a downward dog. Keep your heels always touching the floor and your eyes looking at them. Repeat the rite in an unvarying rhythm.

Sophie Chaudhary

Vidya Balan

HB talks to Vidya Balan about The Dirty Picture, her struggles in Bollywood and the love of her life.

Silk is every woman’s wild side. And yet she is soft where it matters. She gives every man who walks in her path sleepless nights. I leave the rest to your imagination

She debuted as a shy girl in ‘Parineeta’, but the directors and producers knew from that moment that Vidya Balan is going to be the next big name in the industry. And from the way she has been rising to the top, guess she knew it too.

She managed to sign on some great movies — Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Guru, Ishqiya, and Paa. Of course, there were the duds in between — Kismat Konnection and Hey Baby, for instance, but she’s managed to put every sceptic in their place with her ability to carry off any kind of role with panache. Whether it is the distraught sister fighting for justice in Who Killed Jessica Lal or Amitabh Bachchan’s mother in the critically acclaimed Paa in 2009 for which she walked away with the Filmfare Best Actress Award, she managed it all with ease.

And now with The Dirty Picture, where she plays a role modeled on the life of troubled southern actress/item girl/siren Silk Smitha, it looks there’s just nothing left to conquer professionally.

Her personal life too seems on the upswing. Vidya has been dating UTV head honcho Siddharth Roy Kapoor and there are rumours that there has bee a secret wedding.

And Hello Bollywood gets the actress talking about all of it.

When shooting The Dirty Picture, did you ever worry about it being perceived as obscene?

No. I have never enjoyed being a woman more than in The Dirty Picture. It celebrates a woman in all her colours, like a rainbow. I am happy that I got to work in such a bold film. I do hope that this adds another shade to me as an actor.

Silk is every woman’s wild side. And yet she is soft where it matters. She gives every man who walks in her path sleepless nights. I leave the rest to your imagination.

Were you confident from the beginning that you would be able to play Silk Smitha?

I wasn’t very comfortable in the beginning, but I grew confident with every passing day. Milan and Ekta were always by my side and got me through this. I was very sure I was in safe hands. And believe me, it has turned out beautiful.

Romancing three men in the movie, how did it feel?

I am Silk, Ek Se Mera Kya Hota. I have worked with Naseer Saab earlier in Ishqiya. Obviously, my nervousness was less visible in front of him. He is very encouraging. I was a bit sceptical with Emraan in the beginning. I thought that he was a very serious person. But I was wrong. After a few days, the roles were literally reversed. His mouth never remained shut.

Most of my love scenes are with Tusshar. He is a positive to be around. Even while he was not shooting, I made sure he was around. He made me feel very comfortable in those difficult scenes.

Silk Smitha was known as a soft porn star. Are you afraid that you might inherit the tag after this film (just as Emraan Hashmi got the serial kisser label after Murder)?

I am an actor portraying Silk’s character. I don’t think there will be a tag.

You struggled a lot to make it big in Bollywood…

I faced a long period of rejection. I am thankful to my friends and family, whom I could turn to support. I am someone who prays a lot as that is the way I have been brought up. I would say my early days in the industry were the true test of my prayers, which is why; very early in my life, I realised the true meaning of surrender. At one time, I was even scared to look at the mirror because that reminded me of all the ugly words people used to say to me.

How did Ekta Kapoor zero in on you for Silk?

I have no idea how she thought of me, or how Rajat Aroraa wrote such a beautiful script. If I do a good job, I take the responsibility. I thank the vision, the great writing and the support. Before shooting began, I had told everyone that for this film, I was going to go through it either holding Milan’s hand or with him holding mine. I don’t know which way it worked; all I knew was that I had to trust Milan completely and all I can say is that it has worked. Hats off to Ekta for the kind of work she is doing. Every film of hers is so different and I have great admiration for her. We both started together in the TV serial Hum Paanch and we have come a long way…God’s been kind.

Do you always try to play different characters?

People love to see something different, and I am thankful that my directors and producers have seen enough potential in me to give me such roles. After seeing a lot of struggle in the industry, I am glad that finally I am performing to people’s expectations.

Would you say you are very choosy about your roles?

It is true that I am choosy but that is because I choose to do what I believe in. It has paid off so far and I hope it will continue to do so. Last year, after Paa the year before, I had just one release — Ishqia. This year I had just a release –No One Killed Jessica. The Dirty Picture is my second movie this year. Incidentally, it released on 2 December, the birth anniversary of the late Silk Smitha. Kahani directed by Sujoy Ghosh will be released next year in January.

You’ve been criticised a lot for your sense of dressing?

When the dressing debacle happened two years ago, I was bothered by it. Until then I’d only been heaped with praises and then suddenly, the criticism came in truckloads. I didn’t know how to deal with it. Then I looked at it objectively — they did have reason to criticise me, even though most of it was exaggerated. I am clearly not a fashionista. In fact, I realised later that people wanted to see me for who I am and not as someone else.

Is that the reason you are usually seen in saris?

Yes. I think a sari is a complete woman’s attire. I don’t feel ashamed of my choice. I love wearing saris and I think I look my best with a sari. I love Sabyasachi and I usually wear his designs.

Is marriage the next thing on the cards?

I am in a very happy place with Siddharth. Yes, I want to get married. I want to be a bride. But I am not married yet.

Is he your perfect man?

No one is perfect. A man can’t be a looker, intelligent, sensitive, the one your friends and family like, the one who likes everything about you. No two human beings are a perfect fit. That’s the joy of being in a relationship.

Are you a sexually aggressive person in real life like Silk?

I am a very passionate person, and I don’t want o say anything more. We leave it at that.

Are you a fitness freak?

I don’t want to be a size zero, at least till I have to play a character who looks like that. I have always loved my curves and curves love Silk…so I don’t follow a very strict diet or exercise routine.

We have never seen you sporting heavy make-up?

I use heavy make-up only during shoots. Otherwise, I am very simple and love to keep myself like that. I prefer minimal make-up because I want to look natural. I don’t want to copy someone and then be criticised for it.

Who are your favorite actors?

I would say both Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah because they are so humble and not at all complacent.

Porn star Sunny Leone wants to romance Salman

Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone whose original name is Karen Malhotra arrived in India to take part in ‘Bigg Boss 5’. Her presence is expected to make a great difference to the show.

‘Bigg Boss 5’ is running low in TRPs and Sunny is expected to boost up the TRPs of the reality show. The Punjabi girl who is brought up in Canada will make her entry with a traditional lehenga Choli.

She is eyeing Bollywood and she even expressed her desire to work with Salman Khan.

Talking to reporters, Leone said, “I would love to work with the host of `Bigg Boss` – Salman Khan. I am looking forward to meeting him.”

Salman Khan has introduced many Bollywood actresses in the past. So possibility is quite high of Sallu introducing Sunny Leone in films.

Suhana helps dad Shahrukh to quit smoking

Shahrukh Khan has been a chain smoker from the past. Several times he was fined for smoking in public place and even his family is highly disturbed with his bad habit but now he is destined that he will soon get rid of this bad habit.

He has currently cut down to six to seven cigarettes a day. Helping him in his endeavor is his little daughter Suhana who doesn’t like her father smoking the butt.

As reported, “I have come down to six to seven cigarettes a day,” Shah Rukh said. It is daughter Suhana who is helping her dad kick the habit. “Today, when I was leaving home she wasn`t happy to see me carry a pack.

But one needs time to even give up a habit you have developed for so many years,” says the ‘RA.One’ star. “Actually, I am sick of carrying cigarettes,” he says.

 

Karisma Kapoor, Sunjay to renew marriage

After a long period of separation, Karisma Kapoor and her husband Sunjay Kapoor are again set to being a new innings. They have decided to patch up, dump their past and work hard to sort out the differences and start a new married life with two children, Samaira and Kian. Lolo after parting ways from Sunjay shifted her base to Mumbai.

But this Diwali has shown Karisma  a new ray of hope to rekindle her marriage with Delhi based businessman Sunjay. During Diwali, Karisma Kapoor has spend four, five days in Delhi at Sunjay’s house.

“Lolo had a great time in Delhi. She stayed in Sunjay`s house for about four to five days. She has not looked so happy in a very long time. She clicked pictures with Sanjay and her kids and sent them across to Kareena, who was in London for the launch of her wax statue at Madame Tussauds”, informs a source.

Sunjay’s closeness with other woman is the main reason of contention between the two but now Sunjay has decided to leave his bad habits and concentrate only on his family.

Both of them dig the past and moved forward to form a new happy and blissful married life. Karisma’s return to celluloid again has grabbed her many promising roles.

She will be seen in Vikram Bhatt’s ‘Dangerous Ishq’ and Soham Shah’s ‘satte Pe Satta’ remake.

A serial on Emraan Hashmi in Pakistan

Emraan Hashmi’s massive fan following just got dizzier. Hum TV, a leading Pakistani television channel, recently started a prime time (8pm) show , “Mein Tum Aur Imran Hashmi”.

Featuring popular television actors Noor Ul Hassan, Neelum Munir, Rubina Ashraf and Tipu Shah, the serial is about Chanda, who is infatuated with Emraan Hashmi. She watches, hears and hums Hashmi’s hit songs all day from his hits, “Jannat”, “Aashiq Banaya Aapne”, “Zeher” and “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai”.

She even has his picture framed on the wall, much to the dismay of her prospective suitors. Emraan’s name has been incorrectly spelled, presumably to evade copyright issues.

However, on watching the show it is evident that the producers are keen to capitalise on Emraan Hashmi’s popularity.

This is the second time that a television show has been named after an actor, the first being “Kya Meri Shaadi Shah Rukh Se Hogi?” on Geo TV.

 

Amar Singh visits Aishwarya in hospital

Politician and former Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh who is a family friend to the Bachchan visited Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in hospital. Dressed in white Kurta-pyjama, Amar Singh straightway headed to the fifth floor of the hospital where Ash was admitted. After he left, Goldie Behl and his wife Sonali Bendre came to see Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and the little one. Among other visitors were filmmakers Apoorva Lakhia and Bunty Walia.

 

Gaga gifts her shades for SRK’s daughter

International pop star Lady Gaga has left special gift for Shah Rukh Khan – she gave away her sunglasses to the superstar for his 11-year-old daughter Suhana, a huge Gaga fan. “Lady Gaga is all heart and soul. Gave me her glasses for my daughter. yippeee..brownie points unlimited,” Shah Rukh posted on his Twitter page.

Gaga has gifted the same shades to Suhana that she wore during her press conference in the capital Friday afternoon. Incidentally, it is Suhana thanks to whom Shah Rukh got hooked to Gaga’s music.

“My daughter is a big fan of Lady Gaga. She listens to her music and introduced me to her music, and I am also a fan of her now,” King Khan told reporters at the F1 after-party in Greater Noida Sunday night. Shah Rukh’s hope of working with Gaga for a song for his film “RA.One” remained unfulfilled due to time constraints, but he was delighted when he got to meet her for the chat show, to be telecast on UTV Bindass in November. Of his experience of chatting with Gaga, SRK told reporters: “It (the interaction) was very nice. She (Gaga) was very sweet. I sat with her for a couple of hours and exchanged a lot of good things about life. She is very deep, very sweet.”

Himesh teams up with Lil Wayne

Ever since Himesh Reshammiya reversed his decision to sing and compose only in films that feature him as an actor, a floodgate of opportunities have opened up for him.

For his international album “@ Da Edge”, he will jam with American rapper Lil Wayne. “Yes ‘Lil Wayne’ and I are collaborating,” Himesh said.

He has already recorded a remix track with Romanian musician Edward Maya. Himesh has invited Wayne to sign a duet for “@ Da Edge”, and the two are working on a song titled “Come To Me Now”.

It will be released not only as part of Himesh’s album but also as a single in the US for Wayne fans. Through Wayne’s fans, Himesh hopes to establish a musical market in the US. “Come To Me Now” will release next year.