Freida Pinto - From Rag's to Ramp

Luck by Chance the title of Zoya Akhtars latest film is fully apt for the biggest export of India this year to the West , Ms.Freida Pinto. The average looking simple girl from Malad (Aamchi Mumbai) is the talk of social and entertainment circuits across Hollywood,London,Milan,Paris.Freida is jetsetting across countries to attend award shows,walking the ramp,giving lectures on woman empowerment etc etc.

Freida who did her Bachelor of Arts from St.Xaviers college Mumbai has regularly featured in several television and print ads.She was first seen on the ramp during the Lakme Fashion week 2007, her 5 feet 5 inch stature made her "not tall enough" for ramp, but Wendell Rodericks took a chance on her. In fact, Freida walked the ramp for Wendell and was so intimidated by the crowd that she scurried back half way. Reports suggest it was during the Lakme fashion week, the casting crew of Danny Boyle finalized Freida as she had a very elegant but simple look .After bagging a role in Slumdog she did a fast track acting course from Barry Johns Acting School (the same person who trained SRK).

What accomplished actors like Aishwarya Rai,Shilpa Shetty and Mallika Sherawat could not do through their top class agents in West , Freida has been able to do it with just 15 minutes of screen time & average performance in the Oscar Winning movie of the year SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.She has poved time and again in the recent past that “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”

I was quite intrigued with her meteoric rise in HOLLYWOOD and did a little bit of research on how is life treating our very own Freida Pinto after the Oscar run.Mind you guys the list and accomplishment are growing everyday :

a) Woody Allen is casting Freida in his next film which will resume shoot from July this year.Allen has given a miss to his favourite muse Scarlett Johnson who has featured in all his recent movies. The yet untitled film will also star Naomi Watts, who's cast opposite Josh Brolin while Freida will star along with Sir Anthony Hopkins.

b) Freida has been on the covers of virtually every established magazine across the globe right from Vogue ,Cosmopoliton ,Maxim .The fashion magazine Vogue has lauded her as a 'style icon' for her fashion choices at the coveted red carpet events attended by her.

c) Freida created ripples when she made an appearance on the ramp at the Dolce and Gabana show in Milan along with Scarlette Johnson who is the spokesperson of D&G.If reports are to be believed Scarlette has developed a complex against Freida as she has not only replaced Johnson in the Woody Allen film but also garnered more appreciation for her walk in the Milan Fasion week.

d) Freida has reportedly landed herself a deal with cosmetics giant Estee Lauder.Freida will be the brand's first Asian spokeswoman,. Previous Estee Lauder ambassadors have included Liz Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow.As per reports the deal is worth 200000 pounts(that is steep).

e) Last month Manisha Koirala along with her phirangi boyfriend Chris Dorris (Sports consultant) visited the Palm Springs International Film festival.Nobody achknoledged her presence but in the same event Freida Pinto was the special guest .Freida was seen talking to Hollywood legends like Clint Eastwood and Dustin Hoffman.

f) On the personal front Freida has broken ties with her boyfriend of last four years Rohan .Rohan was a constant support to Freida during her struggling days (which lasted just 1 year).Rohan did publicity and marketing for her and even fixed her dresses before the fashion shoots.Poor Boy, he was dumped and as per the latest rumour's Freida and her 18 year old co start Dev Patel are more than friends.

So friends that’s a total account of Freida after the Oscars.She is an example on how your career can grow rapidly if you are at the right place at the right time.Most importantly her recent run can be attributed to only one thing and that is LUCK …Pure Luck !!!!

Whatever the reasons, one thing is for sure Freida Pinto is here to stay and am confident that she will win an Oscar for the Best Actress in the Woody Allen Film next year.

There is a maxim which statesthat "Your achievements in life are directly proportional to TIME and DESTINY ".I can only say that Freida Pinto's Time has come and she is living her life to the fullest.

Best wishes to you Freida ..May you bring one more OSCAR ……Jai Ho!!!!

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS : As per yesterdays reports rumours are Freida is going under knife to enhance her body features…Freida please dont do this ,do not forget that only because of this Body and Face you have reached such great heights…(Remember Koena Mitra and her failed NOSE JOB)

The Power Broker - Amar Singh

Amar Singh the quintessential politician and founding leader of Samajwadi party has set an precedent to the term “NETWORKING” in coalition politics. From a small-time politician to a career in making deals, and now as a super-strategist, and kingmaker, Singh's progress has been spectacular.

What is the background of Amar Singh? Why he is the one of the wealthiest politician in India? How did he develop connections with Bollywood(Especially the Bachchan family)? These are some questions which were bothering me, and I decided to go into details and share it with you guys…………..

Amar Singh started his political life in Calcutta by becoming the secretary of Burabazaar District Congress Committee. He was one of the members with whose help the late Madhavroa Scindhia won against Jagmohan Dalmiya in the BCCI Election in Calcutta. Sometime during his stint as secretary, Amar Singh got a chance to Mr.Vir Bahadur Singh who was smitten by his communication skills and one liner. Later when Mr.Vir Bahadur became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh he played an important role is providing loan through financial institution at 1% to first generation entrepreneurs like Mr.Amar Singh. With this money and his connections with political bigwigs Amar started a factory that makes ETHYL Acetate (Ab Pata Chala Itna Paisa ,Rolex Watch Kaha se aataa hai).

He was nominated in All India Congress Committee by Madhavrao Scindia. With his rise in power and success in chemical business, Amar became the talk of the political and social circuit of Delhi.He was inducted as Director of the Sahara group and many other companies. He got a chance to meet Jaya Bachchan when he was a co member of Central Board of Film Certification and from there on started the great Amar – Amitabh Jugalbandi.

This was a little bit about his background .What makes me sad is that now Amar Singh has become a Opportunistic Leader whose loyalties change in accordance to his desire to remain in power.The Samajwadi Party which is GHOST DIRECTED by him and not Mulayam is playing dirty politics to acquire minority votes and stay in limelight.

It may be recalled Amar Singh was the first person to oppose Sonia Gandhi’s Candidature for Prime Minister Office as she was then “NOT A LEADER BUT A READER” for him in 2004.Now the same Amar Singh has joined hands with the Congress when the Left disassociated itself from UPA due to the Nuclear Pact disagreement.

What really disturbs me is the way in which people are aligning to the Samajwadi Party and wanting to fight for this LS elections without having a particular ideology or vision in mind. Can you believe it people like Sanjay Dutt(Mumbai Bomb Blast Accused), Raju Srivastav (Comedian),Manoj Tiwari(Bhojpuri Superstar) taking a plunge into politics just because AMAR BHAIYA told them to do so.

Sach main Amar Singh has the uncanny knack of becoming the Brother of all Bollywood Stars in no time. Though he is revered by many for his leadership qualities and is politically shrewdness, he has also been accused time and again of many corruption charges. He was barbaric enough to comment that the late Mohan Chand Sharma had done a fake encounter in Delhi. He was recently accused of doing changes in his official residence in Delhi ,which is a heritage bunglow.He has undervalued his assets and has not paid taxes. The list is countless , but still Amar Singh “THE NETWORKING MAN HE IS “comes out with a clean chit on all fronts.

While his state Uttar Pradesh is going from Bad to worse he is busy attending the Stardust and Filmfare awards. I won’t be surprised if in a year, 200 days he can be found in the Pratiksha/Jalsa Bungalow of the Bachchans.Now he has a new address in Pali hill that of Sanjay Dutt who has joined Samajwadi Party after suddenly realizing that something needs to be done for the people of the country (Bloody Joke).

I just hope that Amar Singh uses his intelligence, political shrewdness, eloquence and hands-on, if somewhat aggressive management style to uplift the poor of UTTAR Pradesh by visiting the villages and town there and not the Yash Raj Studios and Ambani residence in Mumbai.

Strange are the ways Indian politics work. One thing is for sure Amar Singh is a POWER BROKER and a KING MAKER.

Cheers …

PS – ONE MORE REQUEST, PLEASE VOTE……………….JAGO RE