Talk about a singing-dancing star. Ali Zafar, who was last seen in Tere Bin Laden, is on a high and justifiably so. While Ali gained popularity in India after his role in the comic caper, he was already well-known in his home country Pakistan as a singer and composer. So it was at a recent concert across the border that Ali found himself

While it’s always experiment that rules fashion weeks, this time there was something more to it as well. Amongst the innovation and novelty which is a priority for designers, something tried and tested also held a strong place. And that seems to be the reason behind the fact that many designers never leave out goddess gowns.
Like most fashion weeks, gowns ruled in the recently concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week too.

Young minds are ruling city’s crime scene. Recent figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau show that while youth aged between 18-30 years were behind 57 per cent of all crimes in Delhi, 12 per cent of criminals caught in the capital were educated. And 85 to 93 per cent of these were first timers, who were younger than 25.

There are as many ways to prepare tea as there are people. When it comes to tea, the rule followed in our side of the world is: to each his own. Well, variety isn’t bad, or is it?

As a member secretary of the Planning Commission, Sudha Pillai’s is a highly demanding job. But if you expect her to kick off her shoes and retire once at home then you’re sadly mistaken. Once home, the hi-flying bureaucrat takes up the palette and canvas and dons the artist’s cap with aplomb. We caught up with her on the sidelines of her exhibition, Avril II — Joy of Living, at the PBC Art Gallery in the city’s electronic hub, Nehru Place.

Looking back on his growing up years, he says, “I was locked up in prison at a very young age. But in that solitude, I found time to pen lyrics and discover my musical talents.” He goes on to reflect, “Even though I was not given a long sentence, the period of my life between 1999 and 2002 was literally spent in prison. Alone in my cell, I would write songs, and when I was finally released in 2002, the songs led me to a recording studio,” he says.

Some social issues can irritate to the extent that it’s difficult to stop oneself from being involved in them to resolve things. Something similar happened with professional Preeti Chandel, who after working with the corporate sector for more than 13 years took up the cause of road safety and started “Encourage India” that aims to spread awareness about road safety in various parts of the city.

Following the World Cup victory youngsters have taken the brand adage, “team jeetti nahi usey jeetana padta hai”, literally. And they support their favourite IPL teams by proudly flaunting the “official” jerseys, T-shirts. And as IPL 4 gains steam the sale of official team merchandise, both on the Web and in stores, is steadily picking up, signifying that avid fans are sporting their team emblem on their sleeves.

Tuition fee hike in schools has become a cause of concern for many parents. Recently, parents of some children studying in the Ramjas School moved the Delhi High Court seeking a fee reduction, alleging the school had notched up an annual profit of `5 crores and there was no justification for a fee hike. Annoyed by the school’s rampant commercialisation of education by demanding extra fees without even prior notice, city parents are left hassled without any option.

The buzz around Dum Maro Dum has hardly been about anything other than Deepika Padukone’s sizzling act in the film’s title song. However, it’s not just the leggy lass who’s benefited because of the film. Rana Dagubbati, the six-footer hunk is also garnering a lot of attention for his debut flick. Rana, who has a cosy twosome with Bipasha Basu in Dum Maro Dum, has the producers queuing up to sign him for their films, and he’s even touted as the next big thing.