Naam Me Kya Rakha Hai?

2020 has been a year of addressing and recognising mental health. I don’t even need to tell you why. This year, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that we paid attention. Some of us opened our hearts and ears to people with troubled experiences or their fight with loneliness.  However, the D word, aka depression, has also been a male dominant space (for the lack of right expression).  As funny as the Yashraj Mukhate’s Shehnaaz Gill remix is, it’s true. Women have often asked themselves, “Kya karoon main marjaun? Meri koi feeling nahi hai?”  Years after years, women and their feelings have been oppressed to a level that they themselves have stopped recognising the problem. Their sense of right and wrong is questioned, repetitively.  Criminal Justice Behind The Doors throws a light on just that.  Starring Pankaj Tripathi, Kirti Kulhari, Jisshu Sengupta and Anupria Goenka in pivotal roles, Criminal Justice season 2 wakes you up to realise how women, educated or uneducated, working or homemakers,

Sushant Singh Rajput passed away. He was 34. He was dead by suicide. What happened before he took that step? What led him to take that step? Why he had to take the step? These questions won’t be answered.  Honestly, they shouldn’t be answered too.  In my career of six years, I met him thrice. Or maybe more. I don’t have a distinctive memory that I can state. All I know is that he was an enthu cutlet. Every-time I would pose a question towards him, he would put on this accent and swag and give elaborative answers.  His charming smile, which refuses to leave my mind right now, had the same effect back then. He was gorgeous to look at. And his craft, I don’t even have to talk about it when Mr. Bachchan himself praised him in his tribute to the actor.  “on one of my meetings with him, I asked him how did he manage to give that iconic shot of Dhoni hitting a six winning the International tournament, to absolute perfection..he said he saw that video of Dhoni, a hundred time

Meera Pandit (Deepika Padukone) and Jay Vardhan Singh (Saif Ali Khan) made Love Aaj Kal (2009) a memorable affair. I didn’t like the film instantly. It grew on me. Actually, that’s my relationship with every Imtiaz Ali film.  But what made Love Aaj Kal etch a memory? The music, the chemistry and the true love concept.  11 years later, Imtiaz Ali brings Love Aaj Kal in a new avatar. The Tinder Love, if we may call it. Our protagonists have changed. The legacy is carry forward by Saif’s daughter Sara Ali Khan as Zoe and Bollywood’s new obsession Kartik Aaryan as Vir. Kartik also plays Randeep Hooda’s 1990 version. (Randeep Hooda - his screen presence just adds to the beauty and so good to see him back in action.) Love Aaj Kal 2 started off its promotion with the new version of the “Twist” song. The story is much more twisted than the footsteps in the dancing number. Zoe is career-oriented but commitment phobic. She carries the insecurities of her mother. She’s an overthin

(Picture courtesy: Shutter Stock) I wake up, look at your photo, and while I know you are never coming back, I still kiss it... I lost you. Lost you forever. I wish it was me instead. I take deep breaths but the shorter ones are heavier on my chest as they remind me how I skipped them with a brush of your fingers on my skin... You had told me how soft my skin was but now, they are wrinkled. I remember you would hold my hand and tell me how beautiful you were going to make my life. But did you know you were going to leave me too soon? You made me learn about the beauty that you could see in me and trust me, I am trying finding it but I cannot. Now all I see are grey hair, teary-eyes and some kids around waiting for me to tell them stories. Oh, Riva is an adult now and she keeps asking me about how I met you. I know she is in love but she just does not admit. She reminds me so much of me, the younger me, the one who wore heart on her sleeves but an absolute idiot in

Disclaimer: This piece is a personal view but that doesn’t mean physical abuse in the name of love is okay. Say no to physical abuse of any form. Let love be and feel like love. Thanks!  Dear Kabir Singh,  When I first saw you, I was terrified. I wanted to stay as away as possible but you made it sure that my only friend, guide and teacher was you. Everyone, like me, was afraid of your unapologetically bullying behaviour. While some girls thought I’m lucky to have you around always, it was somewhat suffocating and lonely because I never had anyone to speak about you or against you. I was so scared that I couldn’t tell you that you are wrong at so many levels.  Eventually, I adjusted to your obsessive overpowering behaviour. I started falling for you. I started mistaking your anger as your love until the day you pushed me away irrespective of no fault of mine. They are my parents. They will think of only good. They will want me to have a good future, they will hope to ma

(Photo credit: Neha Thureja/Instagram) Metro ke dhakko Me kharch ho rahi zindagi, Ab jeeye Kya bachaaye Kya, Kaash tu hoti, safar baaton me katt jaata... Ki ye safar Kuch English wale suffer jaisa hai, Anjaan logo Me dekh raha hu Me khud ko, Roop toh badle hue hai par gham Ek jaisa hai, Metro ke dhakko Me dard Nahi hai, Par dhakke uss dard ko taza kar rahe hai, Joh hum kahin kamre ke kone me roz chodh aate hai, Un sapno ki tarah joh zimmedari ke bhoj tale, siskiyaan lena bhi bhool chuke hai... Metro ke dhakko Me kharch ho rahi zindagi, Adhuri hai ya puri? Kaash Tu hoti, haath pakadkar adha pura sapna dekh hi lete. Soch hi lete ek pal ko ki yeh haath chutenge Nahi, Ki roothne ka toh sawaal hi Nahi, Ye duniya me jaat paat ka bawaal befizul hai Aur anth Me sirf pyaar hi rahega... Bolo rahega na? Aise hi pucha karti thi na tum? Bol do Woh Sach joh mujhe sunna hi Nahi hai aur keh do - Arre mazak tha- Bas ussi tarah Jab tumne Kaha ki pehli Nazar Me maine tumhe King