If you could reverse your age, would you change anything about how you have lived so far?
I don’t want to reverse my mind. Physically, I want to be more fit than what I am. That’s about all. I don’t want to change my past... not that everything was hunky-dory and a bed of roses. The way you should not be proud of your success and achievements, the same way, you should not be proud of your wounds.
People bring up Sholay and Deewaar (cult films, both of which he co-wrote with Salim Khan). The one who had written it is somebody else. In these 50 years I have become another person. Can I honestly claim that I have written it? Thik hai, he was a very close relative. Uske bade mein soch ke faida kya hai? Matlab kya hai? You can’t live on your past. It’s not possible. Abhi kya rahe ho woh batao. Jo nahin kiya woh important hai. Jo kar liya woh important nahin hai.
Your work is also like your children. They have grown up and they have their own life. Your work also has its own life. Your poem which is very popular or your film which is popular, it’s not only because you had written it....
Javed Akhtar is both a child at heart, with his unbound enthusiasm for life, and a guardian with words of wisdom at his fingertips. Definitely the most sought-after guest at a recent retreat at Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa, in Gangtok, the celebrated poet, screenwriter and lyricist had constant audience, all eager to soak in his golden tips on life and living.
@tajguraskutirgangtok
Thank you @modhuramodhura 💙
What are you learning from the next generation?
Everyday is a learning experience. I learn so much from my kids as I have learnt from my mother and I learn from everyone I come in contact with. When we began, I think fashion was very nascent in India. We didn’t have the kind of materials we have today. So, we had to work with whatever was available. Even the dialogues were given to us right on the sets. We never had bound scripts. So, we just worked spontaneously. Now of course, it’s much more comfortable because everything is worked out. How are you going to look? What are you going to wear? Which scene will happen where? So, it’s a much more disciplined kind of industry, but we still made lovely films then and we make lovely films now.
@madhuridixitnene
She came. She saw. She conquered. With the romance of her megawatt smile. That eternal grace and elegance and the legendary poise. Madhuri Dixit. Looking beautiful in a Chikankari sari by @shantanugoenkaofficial , she was the cynosure of all eyes at the launch of Shantanu’s flagship store at Chakraberia Road (north) on Monday evening. The store was packed and everyone hearts went dhak dhak at the glimpse of the superstar who was till the evening of June 24, a mirage for most present.
Thank you @prabhaagarwalpr for a candid click. And, @shantanugoenkaofficial , what a beautiful store! I went click-click too!
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How would you describe the last 10 days of your life?
It’s actually beyond everything I have ever imagined. I have been working on films for years and years and then this film happened. With this film, I attempted that I will look at it as a three-four month phase in my life and make the most of it and put my heart and soul into it and what happens later is not in my hands. So, to have managed to keep that attitude and then there was the journey of the film being completed for a year, then the selection... and to be honest, for me, that was it... getting selected and getting to go to Cannes as a lead actress of a film, that it would elevate even further, I had no idea. I had not anticipated it.
@cup_o_t , thank you for opening up your Goa paradise for this special shoot!
This shoot wouldn’t have been possible without the support of @smita_rcee , @tinamjee , @makeup_abhijithchanda , @stylebysumit , @sanjay_ram05 ! #teamwork !
@cup_o_t played the muse for some of my clicks!
@rishtabyarjunsaluja@einaahluwalia@outhousejewellery
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Link in my bio.
Did you try to fight that feeling?
A small part of me did and still does. I want to believe that I am quite strong, but there were days that became really tough and I would give myself a day and then would start from where I left it.
When you have played for 19 years, you always think khelna hi hai aapne, you have to go to the camp... that small fight was there and it is a little bit less acute now, but it’ll always be there and hopefully with time, the fight will become a lesser of a hassle for me and I’d happily move on.
What I have realised is that for an athlete it’s never easy because we do not know anything else and when you cap the national team duty on it, it’s just an immense privilege and is something that a lot of players never dream of... it’s half my life and I do not know anything else. When there’ll be a national team announcement for the next camp and my name won’t be there, I am not sure how I am going to react, but I try to look at a silver lining that I had a great career. I was those fortunate ones who could sustain years. Not many players can. In the world, there are very few players who have played 150 games for their country and it’s an absolute honour. You shouldn’t feel anything else but gratitude.
What a lot of us try to do is, we try not to get swayed by what people are thinking. That was the reason why I didn’t speak to my family first... I don’t want people’s opinions because they will never know.... I am pretty sure that there are people who thought I should have retired three years back and I am sure there are fans who will think I shouldn’t have retired now. I respect that but it’s just the feeling. They will not know the ground reality....
It is not easy. Thierry Henry once said an athlete dies... I think that’s scary, but this is life. It had to happen and it was my call when it should happen and it should happen when I am at peace.
A frame of friendship. Rukmini flanked by Neha and Prasenjit. Neha has given Prasenjit a custom-made shirt. “This is the first time Neha has designed for me and it is special. We started our journey together and that is why this shirt is all the more special for me. We share a great bond and that adds more meaning to this collaboration. I have also worked extensively with Rukmini and one that thing that has remained constant is her personality,” says Prasenjit.
Rukmini shares that she shares a great bond with both. “I have known both of them for almost 10 years and have seen both of them grow and have closely seen both their journeys. The aesthetics that I have always associated with, Neha and Prasenjit have always matched with that. What works for all three of us is that, which is my mantra, I genuinely prefer keeping my personal and professional life separate and I also keep my personal life, private. I think Neha and Prasenjit do too. We are no-nonsense, no-drama kind of people. I genuinely believe in energies. They are now more than family and it’s wholesome. They are simple and sorted people, exactly like I am and that’s the best part. I have a bit of a perfectionist streak and both of them strive to do their best too,” she smiles.
The trio had one common friend. Sonika Chauhan, who tragically lost seven years back. “Sonikadi got Prasenjit, Rukmini and me together. I think she brought us together because she knew we would vibe so well. We can be completely honest with each other. When people are honest with you, it helps you grow too and that is positive reinforcement. We’ve got each other’s back, always. If you see Prasenjit and me on the sets, you won’t even believe that we are friends, we fight so much! (Laughs) I think Rukmini enjoys the fights! It’s full of entertainment,” laughs Neha.
My favourite picture from the shoot!
@nehagandhibinjrajka@makeupartist_prasenjit@rukminimaitra@thebargecompany
