The ‘Ready to Explore’ Mrunal Thakur on her radiant persona

Being an all-time national crush, stepping into the world of Mrunal Thakur has always been a dream of most individuals. So, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, we decided to skip the ordinary interview form and drove along with the ever-beautiful Mrunal Thakur to celebrate the rizz of her grace, talent, and style. With each turn, we discovered a new facet of her radiant persona, weaving together the threads of passion, perseverance, and the timeless essence of femininity.

Exhibit: What has been that anchor point in your life?
Mrunal: I think it was the release of ‘Love, Sonia’, when the film was screening at the film festivals, and people were appreciating it. It was my first film, and it was screened at the London Indian Film Festival. It was because of ‘Love, Sonia’ that I got to travel the world and experience what it feels like to take a trip to Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to attend the film screening at the United Nations, and it was lovely to meet people from various countries. Basically, that movie changed everything for me and kind of helped me to have a career in South Cinema. It’s because of ‘Love, Sonia’ that I met Nag Ashwin, the director of ‘Mahanati’, who saw the film at the screening and recommended my name for Sita Ramam.

Exhibit: When did you realise your potential interest in being an actor?
Mrunal: I discovered that I wanted to be an actor when I was prepping for a medical entrance exam. I still did that and almost got into BDS. I was supposed to be a dentist, and then I was like, no, something’s not right, so I opted for a Bachelor of Mass Media, and that’s when I realised that acting is something I want to explore.

Exhibit: What was your response when you got the recognition?
Mrunal: It wasn’t sudden; it took more than 10 years. I started with television and was in front of the cameras, but I didn’t have that stardom. It took me a lot to get it, and that’s one of the reasons why I value it so much. Also, in your head, you know the recognition could be temporary, and you learn to make peace with it. So I learned all that, and I give a lot of credit to my television journey because I learned how to deliver my dialogues or take the light from there. So, on a movie set, all this was not a problem for me. In ‘Love, Sonia’, I worked with Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkumar Rao, Anupam Kher, and Demi Moore, and getting recognised while working with such great actors was quite overwhelming.

Exhibit: What does exploration mean to you?
Mrunal: Oh, it means the world to me because when you explore, you discover who you truly are. Going out of your comfort zone is so important, we should not restrict ourselves from exploring new things. I’m the first girl child in my family to learn how to drive. If I had thought about why I should learn to drive, I would have sat at home. While exploring, I get to explore not just the world but different people and regions, and I discover my personality, likes, and dislikes.

Exhibit: If there’s a book written on you, what would it be called?
Mrunal: I love Michelle Obama’s book called ‘Becoming’, which means evolving. So, something on that note, it’s too early for me to even think about my book or an autobiography.

Exhibit: Do you like to go on a self-drive?
Mrunal: Yes, I like to go on drives, it’s very therapeutic. After a long day, you get so exhausted, and at such times, I make sure to go on a self-drive session when the entire world is asleep.

Quick Bytes

Ex: What’s the maximum speed you’ve hit on the road?
Mrunal: 170Km

Ex: Sedan or SUV?
Mrunal: I’m an SUV girl.

Ex: A quote that inspires you?
Mrunal: I’ve not come this far to only come this far.

Ex: What’s your go-to gadget for staying connected on the go?
Mrunal: Apple Watch

Ex: What’s one thing your fans would be surprised to know about you?
Mrunal: The fact that I love cars.

Ex: One must-have app on your phone besides WhatsApp?
Mrunal: Instagram.

Ex: Your favourite on-screen couple or a classic love story that has left an impact on you?
Mrunal: That would be Dilip Sahab and Vyjayanthimala from the film Madhumati, and I remember that film left such a great impact on me and my sister. We would keep roaming in the foyer, holding a candle and keep scaring each other. It’s got a ‘Chadh Gayo Papi Bichua’ song and a lovely story.

Ex: Who would it be if you could collaborate with any actor or actress from any era for a dream project?
Mrunal: Wow, that would definitely be Smita Patilji because I think she was way ahead of her time, and if I could also work with Irfan Sir, that would be a crazy combination.

Ex: One cuisine or dish from your travel diaries that you absolutely enjoy and would recommend to others?
Mrunal: I take so many road trips and travel a lot in the south as well. In Hyderabad and Vijay Vada and that side, the Biryanis are to die for. Also, the Chicken Chettinad and the Chicken Curry, it’s a never-ending list. So yeah, South Indian cuisine, I think it’s my comfort food now.

Arjun Kapoor – A Stellar Fusion of Talent and Charisma

Arjun Kapoor, the Ishaqzaada of Bollywood, is a cinematic maestro with a contemporary edge. His journey from the silver screen to the pulse of the new age is nothing short of captivating. In this exclusive interview, we drive beyond the ordinary frames and into the soul of the actor, exploring his perspectives on life, the digital age and the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema. So, get ready for an intimate rendezvous with the man who seamlessly blends modern allure with timeless charm.

Exhibit: How has technology influenced your journey in the film industry, from the early days in the Hindi cinema to marketing your movies? Are there any specific tech tools or platforms that have been instrumental in your success?

Arjun: When I commenced my career, filmmaking was not yet digital; it was in the process of transitioning. I believe I’ve been a part of that transformative journey, where we used to shoot on Kodak and Fujifilm, and now everything is digital. Consequently, the visual and audio aspects of filmmaking have undergone significant changes. The recording of sound, in particular, had a distinct quality back then, both in how it sounded and how it was perceived. Technologically, there has been a substantial evolution. VFX, which has become integral to cinema, especially in the last decade, has brought Indian cinema closer to the Western world. Marketing strategies have also evolved, shifting from traditional print media to a heavy reliance on social media, initially through platforms like Twitter and now predominantly through Instagram, though this may change in the future.
I feel that the pace of technological evolution is sometimes challenging to keep up with. It’s the ongoing journey for humanity, adapting to ever-evolving technology. While it has undoubtedly enhanced filmmaking and simplified marketing to connect with people, it has also introduced complications in terms of accessibility. The constant engagement in the digital realm has led to an overload of information, contrasting with the simplicity of having one or two touchpoints. Concerning filmmaking, technology has undoubtedly made the production of larger-than-life films more straightforward. However, I sense a slight reduction in the human touch, as there is a tendency to focus on massive stories while overlooking the importance of authentic human emotions.

Exhibit: How do you balance your presence on social media while maintaining a sense of privacy in the digital age? Tell us any tips or strategies you follow to protect your personal information and interact with your fans simultaneously.

Arjun: Recently, while I was shooting, I also took some time off from social media, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s very tough; I’ve had to psych myself up to do it. I started the new year with a goal to ensure I take enough breaks because I have an addictive personality. So, I need to question and check myself, and that’s what I did. I believe maintaining a sense of privacy is entirely up to you — what you want to share, post, or keep private. It’s a subjective matter. What you might consider private, I might find suitable for public consumption. It’s a personal choice, but you need to know your limits.

You don’t have to do something just because others are doing it. There are times when not much is happening in your life, and there’s no need to force a narrative to appear relevant. It’s an act, a facade, and it becomes tiresome after a while. Even when a lot is happening, you need to know when to tone it down, so you’re not overwhelming and irritating people. It’s something you have to figure out for yourself. My personal opinion has always been that “less is more.” It keeps people engaged and curious about you. It’s a tough balancing act, but I believe it’s the challenge every mainstream actor faces today — how to protect and present yourself while taking care of and nurturing yourself in privacy. Finding that balance is difficult. The generation after us might find it easier, having learned from our trial and error. We are the guinea pigs, figuring out how to strike that balance and make it work.

Exhibit: You’ve worked in different film genres, from comedy to thriller. How different is the experience, and which one do you enjoy more?

Arjun: Each genre brings its own highs, happiness, and excitement; selecting films feels like being a child in a candy store for me. I always look for new spaces to explore, avoiding repetition. While I haven’t done enough comedies, I’d like to delve into that genre more and enjoy that space. Action is always a lot of fun, but it depends on where you are in life. After an action film, you might want to relax with a comedy, and vice versa. It’s also influenced by directors, makers, and what inspires you at that point in your life, making the experience more enjoyable or interesting.

Arjun: How do you approach characters who have beliefs or behaviours drastically different from your own?

Exhibit: Well, it’s a character, so you have to agree to disagree. You have to let Arjun sit behind and be an observer. You cannot always bring your morals and scruples unless you relate to a character. For example, when you portray characters like Ki and Ka or Two-States, they are relatable, like you could meet people like Krish and Kabir. Then you might question what you would do if you were in their place. However, you don’t always need to align with them. As I said, you’re an actor, and that’s the whole fun. You get to be something you’re not, living vicariously through these roles. You have to set aside your moral compass because characters have their own actions and deeds. My first film, Ishaqzaade, taught me that. In my sequence with Parineeti, where I mistreat her completely, deciding to marry her and then making her realise on the first night of marriage that I just used her to humiliate her – it’s not something I correlate with at all.
I would never, even in my wildest dreams, imagine anybody doing that to anyone. It’s absolutely wrong, but that is the requirement of my character, Parma. His immaturity, arrogance, greed for proving a point, one-upmanship, and political power play blinded him to right or wrong. He saw an opportunity to completely destroy his opposition at that point in time. That’s not how I am; I don’t conduct myself in that way. I realised at a very early age when I started that you have to separate, segregate, and change your opinion when it comes to a character because Arjun might feel a certain way, but Parma doesn’t, and Parma and Arjun don’t come from the same thought processes.

Exhibit: You’ve undoubtedly had some incredible fan encounters. Can you share one of your most memorable or heartwarming fan experiences?

Arjun: Fan encounters are the most memorable or heartwarming experiences. There are so many; I mean, with fan clubs now, thanks to Instagram, they connect with you, touch base with you, and always engage with you. It’s heartwarming to know that people take time from their lives to follow everything you do. My ArjunZaades, as they are called, it’s always nice to meet all of them. It would be tough to pinpoint just one if I had to choose. For me, meeting Harshita, my first fan officially will always be emotionally etched in my memory. She followed me before my film was released and coined the term ArjunZaades. Sometimes, it’s just the simplest things. You could be sitting on a flight, and someone meets you, saying, “We saw Two States, and it’s exactly our life story.” Or you meet someone, and they say, “You did Ki and Ka, and now my wife always reminds me that I’ve got to help with chores at home.” Recently, I met a young girl obsessed with “Ek Villain Returns.” She doesn’t eat her food until she watches the Shamat song. Encounters like these touch you regularly. When we move out of our house and interact with fans, whether it’s fan clubs or just normal people who’ve consumed a film, like Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, meeting writers and directors who speak about their connection with your work, it’s tough to single out one specific thing. There are so many beautiful encounters I’ve had.

Exhibit: With the rise of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, there have been exciting opportunities for immersive storytelling and interactive entertainment. What are your thoughts on it’s impact on movie-making?

Arjun: Yes, of course, the digital space has created VR and AR, which will obviously lead to the rise of so many things, taking speed literally. It’s going to be fast, and people will be hungry to be entertained constantly because these augmented reality machines and virtual reality machines are going to become a daily part of life. You have to hold their engagement through the medium of cinema. But I always feel emotional storytelling, like connecting with somebody emotionally, no matter how boring it might sound. If there is a human story to tell, no matter how much technology exists, if you cannot connect with the heart, it’s going to be pointless. Growing with time is important, but you can’t leave the heart behind, and no film is going to work without the heart being in the right place. It’s definitely going to impact moviemaking in terms of making things complex and smoother at the same time, in terms of learning new technologies and using them to our advantage. But I just hope it doesn’t take away the storytelling.

Exhibit: Movies have the power to impact society and initiate change. Is there any particular social issue you feel passionately about and would like to address through your work in the future?

Arjun: Definitely, one of the main things I feel compelled to discuss is educational reforms. I would love to speak about how we can simplify the struggles students go through to access the best education possible. Our country has a bright future, incredible talent, and fantastic potential. However, I don’t think there have been enough films made about how we can encourage people to think differently. “12th Fail” was something very close to what I’m talking about, and I believe we need more films like that to inspire parents to be kinder to their kids and encourage them to pursue what they love. Take “3 Idiots,” for example; it resonated with me about finding a middle ground. So, it’s not necessarily a social reform or change, but it’s definitely a pressure in our lives that I would like to address when it comes to society. Another thing that I would like to talk about, apart from education, is corruption. I would love to do a film dealing with corruption because it’s an issue that constantly needs attention, considering the world is a tougher place to live in, and money makes the world go round. How do you stay righteous, and how do you resist going down the wrong path? It’s crucial to always connect with our audiences about the right versus the wrong, and corruption is something that always needs to be discussed in terms of reform.

Exhibit: How did gaming happen to you, how much of a gamer are you?

Arjun: My gaming journey began with Nintendo and Super Nintendo during my early childhood. I became captivated by collecting cartridges and playing games. The Game Boy, a portable device, further fueled my obsession. Super Mario, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat were always my favourites. Golden Eye on Nintendo 64, featuring James Bond, became a craze and a cult game. I also discovered a PC game that I’m addicted to called Football Manager. It’s not about playing football but rather managing a team. The Last of Us is another game that holds a special place in my heart. Recently, I’ve consciously reduced my gaming time due to its addictive nature—I used to play all night without realising it. Nevertheless, my love for football persists, making anything affiliated with it, be it PC’s Football Manager or PlayStation’s FIFA, a constant presence on my gaming list.

Quick Bytes:

What’s your go-to gadget for staying connected on the go?
Ans: I can’t survive without the phone and the AirPods, maybe the iPad mini now that I got obsessed with because the sizes were so small you can walk around with it.

What’s one thing your fans would be surprised to know about you?
Ans: I am an obsessive shopper. Whether it’s Tech or clothes, I’m obsessed with shopping. Also, I have a fear of ceiling fans. I think people who know me know that I don’t have any ceiling fans at home for that reason.

If your life was a Bollywood movie, what genre would it be, and what would the title be?
Ans: I would say a dramatic comedy, like a dramedy, like a slice-of-life kind of film and the title would be “Ajib Dastan Hai Yeh”.

What is the latest book/podcast that has influenced you?
Ans: I am obsessed with listening to Chelsea’s podcasts, and I have also been watching a show called “The Movies That Made Us”, in which people who made movies come and speak about the movies that inspired them to do movies.

What is your favourite workout playlist song?
Ans: Anything that comes with the name Daljit Dosanjh, he’s everybody’s favourite.

What are the latest tech buys that you have done?
Ans: I just changed the surround sound system in my house.

What’s the next car that your garage is waiting for?
Ans: No, no more cars. I would like to, but I don’t need more cars, so I’m very happy with what I have right now.

The Next Big Thing Siddhant Chaturvedi

Siddhant Chaturvedi – a Bollywood luminary and the heartthrob of the Gen Z generation, is back again with his magical razr sharp charm. The “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” star has a vibrant on-screen charisma as magnetic as his off-screen charm. From stealing hearts with his breakthrough performance in “Gully Boy” to leaving an indelible mark on the industry, Siddhant embodies youthful exuberance and uncontrolled passion. Let’s get into the enigmatic world of this rising star, where each frame tells a story, and every expression paints a canvas of Bollywood brilliance.

I love technology, and I spend at least an hour a day fooling around with it. Then music is a very integral part of my living.

ex: Siddhant, from Inside Edge, Gully Boy to Gehraiyaan and now ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan,’ you’ve worked in diverse genres. What excites you the most about exploring different roles and genres in your career?
Siddhant: The thing that excites me the most is the uncertainty and the challenges that the roles I’m playing offer. It helps me in exploring more and more about people, different characters, and about different walks of life. So I’m very curious and peculiar about choosing a character because it’s really boring for me if it’s closer to my personality. So yeah, that is the thing that I really keep in mind. And, for the first few films, I didn’t have a choice as I was a newcomer, and it was hard to get in. So whatever good things, at least what I felt was right at that time, I chose. For example, I auditioned for Gully Boy, and I got the role. Then, Bunty and Babli 2 and Gehraiyaan happened because those were the best choices, of that time. So, whatever limited choices I had, I went for them because they excited me a lot at that time and allowed me to explore something new.

ex: We know you’re a tech fanatic. What role does technology play in your daily life, and are there any specific gadgets or apps that you prefer to flip your day-to-day hustle?
Siddhant: I love technology, and I spend at least an hour a day fooling around with it. Then music is a very integral part of my living. I can’t sleep without music, so I have to have my speakers, earphones and AirPods everywhere. I use music as a gadget to also get into the feel of a scene or a character. I’m a gaming freak and use my PlayStation a lot. I make sure that I play every game that is coming out, but when I’m shooting, I try to avoid it as much as possible because it’s distracting.

ex: Your versatility as an actor shines through diverse roles. How do you approach character development, and what aspects of your personal experiences do you bring into your performances?
Siddhant: Well, versatility is something which I focus on because I feel actors should be like water and should be moulded in anything physically, emotionally, and vocally. I don’t like to be defined as an actor who does just the same kind of films because I also have different aspects of me which I really worked on when I quit CA and was working on myself, so I picked up martial arts, dancing, writing, singing and a lot of other things. The character development depends on the script as well as the director, and I rely on my director for that because they have a bigger vision than I have. Watching films of a similar kind helps me in the character development process. Also, since we started playing games with in-depth storytelling, I have become a great observer, and it has helped me in character development.

ex: The title of your upcoming film, ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan,’ suggests a sense of exploration and discovery. How does the film resonate with your own journey in the film industry, and what do you hope the audience takes away from this modern-age ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ adventure?
Siddhant: I think I would say that I found myself rather than being lost in the industry because I found my passion and the more I work, I realise that I am in love with what I do. And also, I think I have just found myself here, and, there’s no other place I would want to be. I think I was lost a little bit after my CA exams when I really didn’t know what to do, but I’ve found myself recently. So I’m trying to just be here and take it all in. And about the aspects people can take away from this modern-age ‘Dil Chahta Hai’? I think let’s not put pressure on this film. Dil Chahta Hai is a legendary film and we can never match up to that ever. However, I would say there’s a common factor as both the films are about friendship. So I think one thing that you’ll take away from this film is friendship and how friendships have evolved in the new digital age.

ex: Working with Ananya Panday and now Adarsh Gaurav in ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, how do these collaborations contribute to your growth as an actor, and what unique qualities does each co-star bring to the set?
Siddhant: I’m only as good as my co-star. Adarsh is very focused on his craft. He’s very, disciplined, punctual and particular about things. He is passionate about films as well as music and loves wandering in nature. I think that’s something that I would take away from Adarsh. And, about Aranya, I think she constantly wants to grow and make herself better. She is a director’s actor and gives her 100 per cent to whatever character she is playing. You can mould her the way you would, and when you guys will watch the film, you’ll see she has done a great job. So these are the things I would like to learn from Adarsh and Ananya.

ex: Your journey so far has been impressive. How do you keep challenging yourself with each project, and what goals do you set for yourself as an actor in the new year 2024 or in the evolving landscape of Bollywood?
Siddhant: Well, it’s always evolving. The goal is to keep doing good work, keep playing different characters, and also try to retain myself in the process, without getting it to my head. And my next film is an action film, so it’s every boy’s dream to be shooting and kicking butts on screen. So, yeah, that’s something that I’m really excited about. The goal is to just be there on the box office charts. That’s my aim right now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll restrict myself to that. If something is fitted for a digital platform, I would love to do it.

ex: What’s your favourite workout routine or exercise, and do you have a guilty pleasure snack that you treat yourself to afterwards?
Siddhant: The best workout for me is playing sports, be it cricket, football or whatever. I just want to be outdoors, running, jumping, climbing; that’s what I love, and it gets difficult in the city to find places to do that, but I make sure that I take some time out.
Other than that, I like animal flow as a workout because it feels like a character, be it a crab walk, monkey walk, or a frog walk. So I do like getting into stuff like that as it helps me mentally to kind of ease down and get relaxed. Also, I do these kinds of workouts usually while listening to tribal music. About my guilty pleasure snack, it would be a packet of crispy biscuits, not too sweet, and I dip it in Nutella while I’m watching a film. I can not watch a film without food. So, I like to have banana chips, sukha bhel, peanut butter and biscuits, bread butter with sugar and jalebi with vanilla ice cream while watching a movie.

QUICK BYTES

ex: Your Instagram game is strong. If you had to describe your social media presence in three emojis, which ones would they be, and why?
Siddhant: The namaste emoji is one of my favourites, then a heart emoji is something that I only send to people who are close to me and, for some reason, an alien emoji.

ex: Your style game is always on point. Can you share a fashion tip or go-to accessory that adds the extra ‘oomph’ to your look?
Siddhant: I would say that I really like comfortable clothes, on the little baggier side. I like chains; that’s something that I add to my look. I’m not a collector, but I really like good watches. I have a couple of them, and I keep repeating them. I’m not a big fan of rings. I don’t know if ever noticed that or not, but I like wearing quirky socks as well.

ex: We’ve seen your poetic side on social media. If your life had a title poem, what would it be?
Siddhant: It would be “The man who could do everything”. Also, if I had to make up one and if I could use a poem title that is already there, then it would be “After Apple Picking”. It is a poem that I’m inspired by. Even a poem called “If” by Rudyard Kipling is a very good title because that’s what my life is. Whenever I feel low, I like to go back to this poem because it is a very strong and inspiring poem.

ex: Amidst your busy schedule, how do you unwind? Any quirky hobbies or guilty pleasures you indulge in to relax?
Siddhant: It’s not a quirk, but guitar because I love music. I play the guitar, and I write poetry, so I like turning my poetry into songs with my guitar, which I never release as it is just for me.

ex: What’s the most interesting or unexpected message you’ve received from a fan online?
Siddhant: A female fan of mine used to keep sending me voice notes about her life for a span of six months as if I was her diary. I never read it, but I used to hear it. It was very weird and strange because she was almost having a conversation as if I was responding to everything. And she used to update me about everything in her life. So I blocked her, so she got another profile and continued sending videos, messages, and voice notes to me as if I was her boyfriend.

ex: If you could create an AI version of yourself, what tasks would you delegate to ‘SiddhantBot’ to make your life easier?
Siddhant: I like to be present for everything. I think I’d be jealous if that bot got to live my life, even for a bit. I would want my bot to take the CA final exams and complete it because I can’t do it anymore, and it kind of is a thing that is in my head where I would want to complete it as I don’t like leaving things unfinished. I think the bot can do that better because it’s an AI, and it can remember things faster.

The Heart And Drive Of P. V. Sindhu

Step onto the court of dreams with the rhythmic beats of a shuttlecock dancing through the air as we venture on a journey with the trailblazing force of Indian Badminton, the dazzling PV Sindhu. In the court where sweat mingles with passion, and every smash is a testament to grit, Sindhu’s story unfolds a symphony of skill, determination, and the soulful pursuit of victory. Join us as we dive into the heartbeat of a badminton maestro, where each stroke is a brushstroke on the canvas of her illustrious career.

ex : How does it feel to be an inspiration for so many aspiring badminton players around the world?
PV Sindhu : It feels good because many people take me as an inspiration and look up to me. When I was young, I used to look up to many people and wanted to be there someday. And today, when I’m there, and people look up to me, it feels terrific to know once upon a time, I was also one of them.

ex : Badminton requires quick reflexes and decision making, so is it safe to conclude you are a fast decisionmaker in everyday life?
PV : On court, yes, because we have to make decisions very quickly as we don’t have much time to think about it. We’ve to change in a second, no matter what happens, because you keep playing rallies, but in between the rallies, you have time to think, and we change the game accordingly. When I’m offcourt, I definitely take some time.

ex : You have a lot of silent power when you play, just like the XC60, you manage to stay calm and collected in high pressure situations. How do you do that?
PV : I go into the match thinking that I need to give my best because that’s what I’ve trained for. And I won’t deny that there won’t be pressure. Yes, there will be pressure, but we’ll have to stop thinking about others or what others are thinking. You have to go into the court thinking that you have to play your game and give you 100%. You have to focus on one point at a time and not think about the match because anything can happen at any moment. If you’re leading, you can’t think that the match is in your favour, or if you’re failing, you can’t think the match is done. So, every point is important, and you have to be focused and play your game.

ex : It’s too early to ask, but post-badminton, do you have any plans in mind?
PV : I feel there are many more years to go, and after that, I have a job as a Deputy Collector in the Andhra Pradesh Government. I’m also constructing a sports school cum academy in Vizag on the land the state government gifted me when I won an Olympic medal.

ex : Badminton has seen technological advancements like shuttlecock sensors. How do you think technology has impacted the sport?
PV : I think it’s good to have something innovative and new. Recently, while I was playing, there was a robot who was doing the shuttle control. Also, during a recent tournament, robots were helping us with carrying our bags as well as the shuttle cocks. So when we want to take a new shuttle cock, we can just take it from the robot, and then it replaces with a new one.

ex : One thing that you would like to change about professional badminton?
PV : I would like to improve a few things, like helping prospective talents to have good coaches, and it should start from the grassroots levels. I know there is support and talent, but we must go to the places, cities, as well as rural areas. And once it starts from the grassroots levels, there will be a lot of people coming forward.

ex : Can you tell us about your favourite badminton memory or match that has left a lasting impact on your career?
PV : Yes, winning a medal at the Rio Olympics 2016 is one of my favourite badminton memories, and there are some sad ones too, when I was injured in 2015 and was in a state of mind where I was unsure of my comeback.

ex : The XC60 has 6 intelligent airbags and several ADAS features for a safe and secure driving experience. Given the intensity of your career, what are some measures you actively take to prevent injury and ensure your body’s safety?
PV : Injuries are part of a sportsperson’s life, and I think to avoid them at some level, you have to strengthen your body, your legs, your arms, and everything. Also, every time you’re dealing with injuries, you must heel completely before you go back to the game.

ex : What advice would you give to young athletes who aspire to reach the same heights in their respective sports?
PV : Whichever sport it is, I want them to enjoy playing and enjoy what they do. It shouldn’t be like a burden, and they shouldn’t regret it later thinking, “Oh, why didn’t I do that? Or, Why didn’t I do this?” Whatever it is, you have to give your best and enjoy playing sport. And they need to understand that it’s not just a few months of hard work. It takes lots and lots of years of hard work to come to a level.

ex : The automotive industry is shifting towards electric vehicles. Have you considered going electric for your personal transportation needs?
PV : Currently, I don’t have an electric car, and as I’m busy with training and get tired often, my dad drops me to the court and picks me up when I’m done. But in future, I would definitely consider buying an electric car as it is good for the environment.

It feels good because many people take me as an inspiration and look up to me. When I was young, I used to look up to many people and wanted to be there someday.

QUICK BYTES

ex : If you could compete against any historical badminton player, living or not, who would it be?
PV Sindhu : I would love to play with Lin Dan (Chinese former badminton player). I’ve played with him, but I would love to play with him again. And if I’ll have to change something, it would be the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, when I played with Carolina and got silver.

ex : In a parallel universe where you’re not a badminton superstar, what do you think you’d be doing as a career?
PV : When I was young, I thought of becoming a doctor, but now I would say Badminton is much better.

ex : If a movie is being made, whom would you like to see portraying you on-screen, except Deepika Padukone?
PV : Honestly, I don’t have a particular name apart from Deepika Padukone, but I would love to see someone who knows how to play badminton and understand sports. I said Deepika because she’s tall-lean, has an athletic body and was a badminton player earlier. At the same time, Prakash sir is my mentor now and being his daughter, she knows what it takes to be a badminton player.

ex : What is your favourite tournament location?
PV : St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, where I won The World Championship in 2019.

ex : Describe Volvo XC60 in three words.
PV : Comfortable, beautiful, and very spacious.



TARA SUTARIA – Enchanting Beauty

Stars do shine without darkness, and Tara Sutaria is a great example – With a voice that can serenade the ears and a charisma that dances through every frame, Tara has not only graced the silver screen but also our hearts. She’s a multi-talented sensation who effortlessly glides between the realms of acting and music. Join us as we embark on a harmonious journey through the life and artistry of this Bollywood diva, where dreams blend with reality, and the stage is always set for a star-studded symphony.

Exhibit : Hey Tara, Welcome to Goa! You’re shooting for Exhibit Magazine again today, What’s the vibe & how are you feeling?
Tara Sutaria : Thank you so much! I am so excited to be in Goa, It’s one of my favourite places in the country. Really happy to be back!

Ex : Today we’re going to ask you some quick questions. The first one is: Snapchat stories or Instagram stories?
Tara : I am actually not on Snapchat so Instagram!

 

 

Ex : What’s your go-to comfort food?
Tara : It’s this Parsi dish that I grew up loving & I still love. In fact, whenever I am travelling & come back home, it is the first thing I like to have. It’s like a really nice soupy broth with meat & rice. It’s really simple & delicious.

Ex : If you were to star in a remake of any classic Bollywood movie, which one would it be?
Tara : Oh Gosh! I think ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand’.

Ex : Describe your style in one word!
Tara : My style in one word would probably be – Classic.

Ex : A clumsy moment you cannot help but laugh about?
Tara : I was on one of my terraces and a guest was walking into my living room. The glass door was shut and I ran to welcome him and banged into the glass and fell backwards! I think that’s probably my clumsiest moment.

Ex : Would you rather Netflix binge or YouTube scroll?
Tara : Netflix! All the way.

 

 

Ex : Share one of your quirky or weird habits
Tara : I am always humming songs and it can irritate others sometimes. I am originally a singer so I am always either humming a song or snapping my fingers!

Ex : If your life had a theme song which one would it be?
Tara : I think it would be this French song called ‘La Vie En Rose’.

Ex : Call a person or text a person?
Tara : A little bit of both! I used to text more than I call but now I am doing both.

Ex : If you could wear only one outfit forever, what would it be?
Tara : I think a white maxi dress.

Ex : Would you rather have unlimited pizza or unlimited sushi?
Tara : Unlimited Pizza.

Ex : Selfies or Portraits?
Tara : Portraits.

Ex : Always speak in rhyme or only communicate by singing?
Tara : I love music so It has to be singing.

Ex : Never use social media again or never watch TV again?
Tara : That’s a tricky one… I wish for neither! But I guess never watch TV again as I’ve begun to enjoy communicating with others on social media.

Ex : If your life had a colour, what shade would it be?
Tara : I love White!

Ex : Always have a bad hair day or always wear a mismatched pair of shoes?
Tara : Oh Gosh! Never have a bad hair day, so I think I’ll go with mismatched shoes.

Ex : If you had a superpower solely to deal with Mumbai traffic, what would it be?
Tara : I think we all wish we had a superpower to deal with Mumbai traffic! I wish I could just skip it and explore the city.

Ex : What’s your favourite holiday destinations?
Tara : There are quite a few favourite holiday destinations. They keep changing every few years. I recently went to Paris and absolutely loved it. There’s always London and the Maldives!

Raj Shamani | Creator Of The Month

Ex: You wear multiple hats as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and social media influencer. How do these different roles intersect in your life, and how do you balance them?
Raj: I think my job everywhere is same honestly, if you look closely my job is to be the Chief Support Officer, as an entrepreneur I support my team so that we can achieve our vision, as a speaker and as an influencer I support my audience/listeners by brining best knowledge from the top leaders of the world so that they can achieve their Indian Dream. So balancing gets easy if your why as an individual is aligned, and my why is to take India forward by creating more leaders.

Ex: What inspired you to become an entrepreneur, and what challenges did you face in starting your own business? How did you overcome them?
Raj: The best thing that happened to me was I saw my father losing his factory in fire and then he started from nothing to building a small business to provide a very comfortable life for his family and building his non profit for thousands of underprivileged kids, so I saw what power of entrepreneurship can do, and how it can change lives of people around you. So that inspired me to definitely be the entrepreneur and second was because I applied to work in 70 different consumer goods companies and none of them hired me so I was young and still wanted to work and out of lack of options I started my own business early 😂 The biggest challenge I faced was hiring good people, because when you are starting out you don’t have a brand, you don’t have a great track record and you don’t even have money. So convincing great people to join you becomes the biggest challenge. That’s why I ask everybody to build their personal brand because that makes things easier comparatively.

Ex: As a motivational speaker, what topics do you typically focus on, and what is your approach to inspiring and motivating others?
Raj: I believe this the once in a decades kind of opportunity for India, but India will only thrive if we build more world class brands and world class leaders from our country. and that’s why:
I talk about brands & leadership,
1. how to build your brand to achieve leadership in the market,
2. how to build your personal brand as a leader
3. how to create content to become a leader in the market so that you get a competitive advantage over others.

Ex: As one of the youngest Indians to represent India at the United Nations, can you tell us about your journey and how you became involved in international diplomacy at such a young age?
Raj: I didn’t know about international diplomacy at that age honestly, all I knew was united nations has goals to make humanity better and i wanted to contribute in that, so out of 13 goals i tried my luck into social entrepreneurship and then UN took me in for that and asked me to prepare projects and give speeches at UNs vienna Headquarters. and anybody can apply by going to united nations career page on their website. its just i got lucky to be in the selected few.

Ex: Social media has become a powerful platform for communication and influence. How have you leveraged social media to spread your message and connect with your audience? Any tips for aspiring social media influencers?
Raj: I really believe if you want to create an impact at large you need either access to capital or access to distribution. for a lot of people like me who come from no background, getting access to capital is very difficult. thats why i believe social media is the best place to start building your distribution for free. I believe gone are the days of Amecian Dream, it’s time to for ‘The Indian Dream’ and that’s what I want people to believe in and go for it. So I am trying to achieve my Indian dream by hustling every day and creating more leaders at work and I show that through my social media which ends up helping me in building distribution. The tip I have for young content creators is ‘

Ex: What has been the most rewarding experience of your career so far, either as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, or UN representative? Can you share a memorable moment?
Raj: The most rewarding moment of my life till now has not been the professional one but a personal one that happened 2 years back where I gifted a credit card to my mom and told her to never look at shopping bill ever again and spend at whatever she wants to. First time in life this happened as since childhood I would always ask money from my mom and she would say don’t tell dad. this time it was me telling her ‘spend as much as you want, and don’t tell dad’ shh 🤫

Ex: Balancing personal and professional life can be challenging, especially with such a demanding schedule. How do you manage to find time for yourself and maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Raj: I am very bad at it, I don’t have a balanced life. I go with the notion that if you have really bug dreams then you need be obsessed, so I barely find time for balance in life. I need to learn better to maintain a balance life but I think my excuse is I am young and I can afford to be obsessed right now 😛 And with all due respect I am not asking anyone else to follow what I do, they should try to find what works for them. This way of life works for me till now 🙂 Maybe I will change in the future, maybe not. 😉

Ex: Can you share some of the key lessons you have learned throughout your entrepreneurial journey and how they have shaped your approach to business?
Raj: No.1 lesson I have learnt is that no one is above and no one is below, at the start of our careers we feel that others are bigger than us maybe a boss, maybe a unicorn startup founder, maybe someone famous. But reality is they are exactly like us just in different time of their journey but all people are same, no need to feel inferior infront of anyone.
Another lesson I have learnt is that: India is not a price sensitive market, everybody says in India people are price conscious but I don’t think so, I believe Indian consumer is value conscious not price conscious, if they get value for their money they are ready to pay for a premium product and premium brand. I don’t think Indians leave a good quality product just because of price.
One more lesson I learnt in Indian business is, people say India is a trust deficit country, people don’t trust new products easily or other people easily. I believe that is not true, in India infact almost everything works on trust, business works on trust(because lack of understanding of legal paperwork), customer buys on trust (because lack of education on products), a lot of peer to peer funding works on trust (because lack of proper credit/financing options), so when everything works on trust in our country. how can we talk about being a trust deficit country. It’s just once we lose trust it’s difficult to get it back, but I think overall people put in the trust forward and are accepting of new things. 🙂

Ex: Many young people look up to you as a role model. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs, speakers, and individuals who aspire to make a difference in the world?
Raj: A lot of young people in India are worried about their reputation when in reality they don’t have any, they have just gotten it from probably the family they come from, or the school they went to or the money they inherited. As an individual probably people don’t have much reputation but they are scared of losing reputation and that’s why they don’t take risk. so if you are willing to take risk and forget about where you come from and ready to build your reputation from scratch by exploring and experimenting new things then you will grow really really fast and will have an edge over other people. and the other advice I wanna give is no matter what you do just be consistent, if you are consistent for couple of years you will end up winning regardless of talent, competition, time, money etc.

Ex: What are your future goals and aspirations? Where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?
Raj: Everytime I give an interview, I pray to god that please this question should not come haha because honestly I dont know. I never put any timelines, I have a dream and I want to achieve that dream, whether it will be 5 years, 10 years or 50 I don’t know. I am more of a journey person, I love the journey. My dream is to make a really global consumer brand out of India – that’s what I am trying to build through House of X and help others become leader by showing them my journey of failures and success as I try to build a global brand.

Ex: Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience or any upcoming projects or initiatives you are currently working on that we should know about?
Raj: In my new startup House of X, I am working on three brands from scratch those are very close to my heart, I am building a perfume brand with my favorite popstar, building a kitchen appliances brand with my favorite chef and building a beauty brand with my favorite beauty & fashion creator. Apart from that, like a good content creator I would say that: if you want to know more about my next moves, you need to Subscribe & follow me @rajshamani on your favorite social media platform hahaha

July 2022 – Top 10 releases of the month

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect

Madhavan has risen from being a cute romantic hero of the early 2000s to being the first A-list actor to make an OTT debut, and now he has added one more star on his shoulder by writing and directing the upcoming film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. The biographical film is based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, a former scientist and aerospace engineer of the ISRO, who was falsely charged with espionage and arrested.

Release: 1st July (in theatres)

Genre: Biography

Directed by: R. Madhavan

Stranger Things S4 Volume 2

 

Stranger Things S4V1 revealed a few new characters, two of whom are quite brutal, the villains of the story – Vecna in the upside-down and number ONE in the laboratory. At the end of the S4V1, we saw Nancy fall into a new dimension while trying to climb the rope of the new world. Volume 2 of the Season 4 consists of two episodes of about 2 hours each called ‘Chapter 8 – Papa’ and ‘Chapter 9 – The Piggyback’, respectively.

Release: 1st July (Netflix)

Genre: Science Fiction Horror

Created by: The Duffer Brothers

Thor: Love and Thunder

 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are going crazy over the release of Thor: Love and Thunder. The 29th superhero film in the MCU is based on the Marvel Comics character Thor and is the direct sequel to Thor: Ragnarok (2017). The film shows the story of Thor returning to action after spending a brief time looking for inner peace. In the process, he recruits Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster to stop Gorr the God Butcher from eliminating all gods.

Release: 8th July (in theatres)

Genre: Superhero

Directed by: Taika Waititi

Boo, Bitch

We have seen Lana Condor as Lara Jean Covey in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, and now she’s returning with yet another mind-boggling character. Her upcoming mini-series – Boo, Bitch is a supernatural comedy which depicts the story of a high school student who lives a life of a wallflower and wakes up one morning only to find out she’s a ghost. The series is labelled as a mini-series, and it will have eight episodes.

Release: 8th July (Netflix)

Genre: Comedy

Created by: Tim Schauer, Kuba Soltysiak, Erin Ehrlich and Lauren Iungerich

Jaadugar

 

Jeetu Bhaiyya is back again with another movie, and this time he plays the magician’s character. His recent release, Panchayat 2, is already breaking the records and the audience across genres appreciates his performance. With Jaadugar, the actor is looking forward to expanding his movie resume. In the film, Jitendra Kumar plays a role of a Jaadugar with no athletic skill and must win a football trophy to marry his love interest.

Release: 15th July (Netflix)

Genre: Sports Comedy

Directed by: Sameer Saxena

Shabaash Mithu

We have seen films/documentaries based on many cricketers, be it an MS Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar or the most recent one, Kabir Khan’s 83, but what about the female cricketers? Yes, we have two films in the pipeline based on the female cricketer’s life journey, and one of them is Shabaash Mithu, based on the life of former Test and ODI captain of the India women’s national cricket team, Mithali Raj, and it stars Taapsee Pannu in the titular role.

Release: 15th July (in theatres)

Genre: Biographical Sports Drama

Directed by: Srijit Mukherji

Hit: The First Case

The remake of 2020 released Telugu-language action-thriller film with the same name, which starred Vishwak Sen and Ruhani Sharma in the lead role. The Bollywood remake of the movie stars Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra in the lead role and follows the same plot where the lead character Vikram Rudraraju (Rao), a police officer of the Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) who is tasked to investigate the missing case of a young girl.

Release: 15th July (in theatres)

Genre: Action Thriller

Directed by: Dr Sailesh Kolanu

Indian Predator: The Butcher of Delhi

Recently, Netflix India declared they are on the other side of the success and trying to rise from their current situation in India. However, the company has done great homework over the course and observed what the Indian audience wants to watch! After “House of Secrets – The Burari Deaths”, now they’re all set to release their next true-crime documentary “Indian Predator: The Butcher of Delhi.” In the end, Netflix realised good documentaries could prevent them from drowning.

Release: 20th July (Netflix)

Genre: True Crime Documentary

Directed by: Ayesha Sood

Shamshera

 

June was all about Ranbir Kapoor. We witnessed the actor being the part of the two trailer launches (Brahmastra and Shamshera) and, of course, the pregnancy announcement with his wife, Alia Bhatt. When people experienced the trailer for Brahmastra, they were in awe, but when they saw the trailer for Shamshera, they hailed him like a king. The period drama film is set in the 1800s and tells the story of a dacoit tribe and their fight for independence against British rule.

Release: 22nd July (in theatres)

Genre: Period Drama

Directed by: Karan Malhotra

Vikrant Rona

Since the theatres opened after the pandemic South Indian movies are going on another level. With every new release, they’re coming up with a masterpiece, be it a Pushpa, KGF, Vikram or 777 Charlie. Vikrant Rona is a fantasy action-adventure film which stars Sudeep in the title role alongside Nirup Bhandari and Neetha Ashok. The movie is based on incidents in which people from a remote village start witnessing a series of unexplainable supernatural events.

Release: 28th July (in theatres)

Genre: Fantasy Action

Directed by: Anup Bhandari

Movies for Mothers Day

Mother’s Day is celebrated worldwide on different days and months, usually in the months of March or May. In India, Mother’s Day will be celebrated on 8th May this year. The celebration is to honour and recognise the significance of mothers, maternal bonds, and mother’s impact on a family or individual. Our film industry has time and again saluted mothers through various movies. Let us have a look at some of them. 

Karan Arjun

We cannot not talk about this movie, the bond a mother shares with her sons Karan and Arjun. “Mere Karan Arjun Aayenge” is definitely the most iconic dialogue of Indian cinema to date. This movie starred Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Rakhee in lead roles.

Deewar

“Mere Pass Maa Hain” is still used as a reference in our conversations. The role of the mother essayed by Nirupa Roy to her sons, played by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor. 

Mom

Sridevi’s character Devki sets out to get revenge on her stepdaughter’s rapists, who are acquitted by the court. The role of a strong mother who would go miles for justice was well played by the legendary actress.

Mimi

Journey of a surrogate mother who decides to still have the baby when the couple backs out. For sure, a story that had not been told before in Bollywood. Kriti Sanon aces the role of Mimi and the struggles she has to go through.

Nil Battey Sannata 

A relationship between a mother, Chanda, played by Swara Bhaskar and her daughter Apeksha played by Riya Shukla. When Apeksha starts hating her studies, Chanda takes admission to her class to motivate her. Though it did not do well at the box office, it should be watched for its unique storyline and simplicity. 

Tribhanga 

A tale of three mothers of three generations that brings them closer in an unfortunate situation. Tanvi Azmi plays mother to Kajol, who plays mother to Mithila Palkar, a to-be mother. When Tanvi Azmi slips into a coma, Kajol looks back at her strained relationship with her mother and grapples with regret.

English Vinglish 

Story of a mother of two who is not so well versed with English. Her journey to learn English, rediscover herself, and reassert her value in her family. Shashi, the main lead, is played by Sridevi.

The Sky Is Pink

Based on a real-life incident where a mom goes beyond leaps and bounds and does whatever it takes to save her daughter from a life-threatening disease. Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Zarina Wasim and Rohit Saraf play the lead characters in the film. 

 

Exhibit Tech Awards 2021

After what seems like an eternity, Exhibit hosted Exhibit Tech Awards 8.0 at Sofitel, BKC, Mumbai, on 16th December 2021. We started with selecting our nominations over two months ago. Our office is filled with ringing phones and endless mail trails—technology brands connected with our entire team to nominate their best products across all the categories.

When we spread the word on social media, we were suggested by many tech brands and their products by our trusted followers. The criteria were simple; the product should be available on sale in 2021 and ideally should be launched in the same year, matching our award categories. The pandemic had many brands slowing their launches last year, and thus some categories saw little to no launches in the past year. We aren’t the government, and hence we bent some rules to allow these products to be nominated in their respective categories. 

Before we knew it, our team sorted products bombarding our office premises. From TWS earbuds to 85-inch televisions, the mix of products never fails to get our dopamine flowing. This is the eighth time we are hosting Tech Awards, but every time feels like the first time. Thanks to technology changing its pace in an ever-changing tech world. Newer products, newer brands and many unique products were just the start of the process.

A week of what seemed like a decade went by sorting the products that met our criteria. Finally, our nominations were in place, and the rest of the products were returned to their respective brands. Some categories like wearables and TWS earbuds had more entries than we anticipated. We had the best of our techies listen to the earbuds, test the wearables, and further shortlist the ones worth being the best of the rest. 

 

Our web, social media, editors and marketing team came together as a total unit to make these nominations live on our website. We spread the word through many posts on social media, articles on the web and several emails to the respective brands. Exhibit.tech hosted a dedicated page for all the nominations, with the ability to vote for all our visitors.

The rules were simple, sign up and vote. Voters were restricted to vote only once through each IP, email ID and phone number. We wanted the voting process to be as fair as possible. And, so it was. Although some companies did opt to share the voting links among their employees and tried to increase their probability, voters across the globe are a number hard to beat. We saw an overwhelming response, and our servers were clogged for a few minutes. Votings were kept live till 10th December 2021. We witnessed IPs from across the globe voting across categories. 

While the people of this world were busy voting their preferred products under each category, we had the best of professionals joining our jury panel. Meet our Jury – (Jury team and a few lines about each Eg. Arun Prabhudesai, a famous youtube tech celebrity in India with over 10.5 million followers) Our Jury brainstormed on the products nominated for a month. It was not an easy task with most Jury members located in other cities across India. Jury members risked their lives travelling, meeting and brainstorming the winners under each category.

Criteria for winning under each nomination was 60% decided by public voting and 40% by jury members. Many categories had nominees battling in a neck to neck competition, and the Jury had a hard time choosing one over the other. The Jury finalised their decisions on 8th December after hours of deliberation. Votes from the public and the Jury were counted, and our winners were decided.

 

Exhibit Tech Awards – The Event 

 

Sofitel, BKC, Mumbai, was looking ready on 16th December 2021 to host the Exhibit Tech Awards 8.0. Being an invite-only event had the registration personnel scrutinising the attendees with invites, masks, vaccine certifications and everything else to ensure that the event attendees and awardees were in a safe place. Thanks to management at Sofitel, BKC, Mumbai, everyone was accommodated on their respective seats under proper social distancing guidelines. Attendees from the world of technology, Bollywood, social media influencers, bloggers and many more brought liveliness to the event. After being seated, Exhibit Tech Awards 8.0 commenced on time, adhering to strict state guidelines. 

The open lawn at Sofitel, BKC, Mumbai, was our choice for the event, considering that temperatures are pleasant in Mumbai during this time of the year. Red carpet attendees were greeted and interviewed by Miss Nashpreet Singh. Before we knew it, our attendees included Mr Arjun Kapoor, Miss Tanisha Mukherjee, Miss Sanya Malhotra, Miss Ekta Maru, Mr Aryan Bajwa, Miss Claudia Cecelia and many more. A beautifully displayed Volkswagen Tiguan stood amongst the stars adding zeal to the event. The bar was open before the event started, and spirits were high. We started the show by greeting the audience, attendees, personnel, partners, and Exhibit group to arrange an outdoor event. The audience was filled with known faces across technology brands anticipating their brand and products to win. 

The event started with introducing the hosts, followed by Jury introductions. Before we move further, here is our Jury – Chief executive, Reliance Digital – Mr Brian Bade, fashion and style himself – Mr Shane Peacock, a popular youtube tech and auto celebrity – Mr Arun Prabhudesai, additional DG of police and cyber security expert – Mr Brijesh Singh, ace photographer – Avinash Gowariker, joint MD at Future Retail Ltd and a tech enthusiast – Mr Rakesh Biyani, the man behind timeless tunes – DJ Aqeel, tech and gaming youtube celebrity with over 22million followers and counting – Mr Ujjwal Chaurasia and last but not the least the founder and CEO of Exhibit group – Mr Ramesh Somani. 

Mr Ramesh Somani facilitated the Jury members with their gift hampers. We also started by thanking our presenting partner – Reliance Digital, which has been our pillar since Exhibit tech awards 1.0; A big shout out to Volkswagen for coming back as our driven-by partner and the all-new beautiful Tiguan parked in all its glory, our celebration partner 100 pipers and gifting partner – Carerra for making this event possible in an ongoing pandemic. This was soon followed by a sneak peek of our past Exhibit Tech Awards mashup video featuring prominent brands and celebrities.

Nominations and Winners

 

We started the event with Mr Shane Peacock announcing the winner of smart wearable of the year. The nominations for this category were Apple Watch Series 7, Realme Watch 2 Pro, OPPO Band Style and Noise ColorFit Pro 3. The winner for smart wearable of the year was the Apple Watch Series 7. 

 

Second up were the nominations for Home Theatre of the Year. The competitors were JBL Cinesystem 500SI, Sony HT-S40R, Yamaha YHT-3072, Zebronics – Zeb-Juke Bar 9800DWS Pro Dolby Atmos, and Samsung’s Premiere. Mr Brijesh Singh, our honourable Jury member, presented the award to the winner for Home Theatre of the Year – Sony HT-S40R. 

Before we knew it, Mr Arjun Kapoor informed us that he had to be at another event. Thus, Mr Ramesh Somani and Mr Kaushal Neverekar – President &  Chief Business Officer – Reliance Digital and Mr Ashish Gupta – Brand Director, Volkswagen India, awarded Mr Arjun Kapoor – the Techy Celeb of the Year award. Mr Arjun Kapoor was honoured to receive the award and thanked the Exhibit group for the same. 

The next category to announce their nominations was Gaming Gear of the Year. Nominations included – HyperX Pulsefire Haste Mouse, Predator XB3 Monitor, Logitech G Pro Wireless Mouse, Seagate FireCuda 530 with Heatsink. Mr Arun Prabhudesai, a youtube influencer, announced Seagate FireCuda 530 with Heatsink as the winner. 

The headphone of the year was our next category in the queue. Nominations included – Jabra Evolve2 75, Apple Airpods Max, Sennheiser IE 300 and Bose Quietcomfort 45. Mr Avinash Gowariker presented this award to the winner – Jabra Evolve2 75. 

As a breather, the event shone lights on an audio-visual spectacle of Tech Fashion tour, an exciting amalgamation of Tech and Fashion from the past six years. 

Soon we ventured into the category of Premium TV of the Year. The nominations for the same were The Frame by Samsung, LG OLED G1, VU Masterpiece 85″, Mi QLED TV 75″ and Hisense 55-inch QLED TV (55U6G). Mr Kaushal Neverekar, President and Chief Business Officer, Reliance Digital, presented this award to LG OLED G1. 

One of the most popular and strenuous to judge categories was TWS earbuds of the year. There were numerous nominations – Jabra Elite 7 Pro, Jabra Elite 7 Active, AIWA 80X FANC, Realme Buds Air 2, OPPO Enco X, Devialet Gemini and Galaxy Buds Pro. Mr Ashish Gupta, Brand Director Volkswagen India, announced the Galaxy Buds Pro winner.

Gaming laptop of the year had most of our voters and judges brainstorming to choose one as a winner. The result was a tie, and the nominations for the same included Acer Predator Helios 300 11th Gen, Victus by HP 16″, Lenovo Legion 5 Pro and MSI GP76 Leopard 11UG. The tie winners Acer Predator Helios 300 11th Gen and Victus by HP 16″ were presented their awards by the beautiful Miss Ekta Maru. 

The most popular gadget that is least thought of in our daily use was the next category – Wireless router of the year. Nominations under this category were DLink – R15, Linksys Max-Stream Mesh WiFi 6, Tenda AC10 and Motorola MH7022 Whole Home WiFi Mesh System. The winner was DLink – R15, and the handsome Mr Arjan Bajwa presented the award. 

With the growing versatility of televisions, our unique product category was 4K TV of the year. Nominations included VU Cinema TV Action Series, Realme Smart TV 4K 50″, LG C1 Series, Samsung Crystal 4K UHD and Mi TV 5X 55″. The gorgeous saree Miss Tanisha Mukherjee presented the award to Miss Devita Saraf, CEO of VU Televisions for VU Cinema TV Action Series as the winner under this category.

We all love automobiles. The audience was presented with a glimpse of all the madness we as a team witnessed riding and driving at our sister concern BBC Top gear India. It was an insane rush of some of the best beauties on wheels. Bikes, cars, roads and their exhaust notes were the perfect audio-visual nirvana for automobile enthusiasts.

One of the most talked-about categories of Exhibit Tech Awards was the Budget Smartphone of the Year (Below 20k). Nominations were tough competitors, namely Moto G60, Redmi Note 10 Pro Max and Nokia G10. Our Jury member Mr Arun Prabhudesai announced Motorola G60 as the winner. 

Moving on from budget smartphones, the next category and one of the most selling ones across Indian markets is Budget Television of the Year. The nominations – Hisense 55A73F (Tornado Series), Acer Boundless Series 43-inch, Intex LED 5012, Xiaomi Mi 5x and Samsung Crystal 4k UHD. The winner of this category – Xiaomi Mi 5x was a crowd and Jury favourite for the value proposition it brings to the table.

The professional camera of the year is one category that sees the same players in the industry. Nominations here were pretty new products from the camera giants of this realm – Canon EOS M50 Mark II, Nikon Z7 II, Panasonic Lumix and Fujifilm GFX 50S II. Looking stunning, Miss Claudia Ciesla presented the award to our winner – Canon EOS M50 Mark II.

Tech Leader of the Year is another category at Exhibit Tech Awards, witnessing loads of competition. Competing against the best among the best, Mr Madhav Sheth, CEO, Realme India, was awarded this honour. Due to travel and covid reasons addressed the attendees via an audio-visual presentation and thanking note.

Our next category was Storage Device of the Year with nominators SanDisk Expand Wireless Charger Sync, Toshiba Canvio Flex 4TB Portable External HDD and Seagate One Touch with Password and WD My Passport SSD. Presenting the winner WD My Passport SSD was our Jury member Mr Arun Prabhudesai. 

Luxury Tech of the Year saw many products that made no sense together apart from their price tag and target audience. Nominations ranged from Acer Concept D, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon, Sennheiser IE 900, Apple Watch Series 7 Hermes, Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Samsung Neo QLED TV. Mr Krissan Barretto presented the award to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. 

Our founder and CEO, Mr Ramesh Somani, presented our awardees starting with Innovative Tech of the Year. Nominations were a mixed bag, including Jabra PanaCast 50, Hypervolt GO, Zhiyun Weebill 2 Pro, Apple Macbook Air M1 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. The winner for this category was Jabra PanaCast 50 for its exciting innovations. 

Following the innovations in the tech industry was the award for Innovative Tech in the Auto industry. Mr Ramesh Somani presented this award to JK Tyres for their Smart Tyre technology. 

We have been A-1 since Day-1 when it comes to recognising influencer talent. The Exhibit group has recognised talent all across India for the past three years, and everyone present at the event was given a little glimpse of our IP – InfluencEX Awards

Lenovo ideapad slim 51 was awarded the winner for WFH Laptop of the Year. It was a tough competition among the nominations – HP Pavillion Aero 13, Acer Swift 3, Realme Book (slim) and the winner of this category. This category was introduced thanks to the new working habits during an ongoing pandemic.

Our next category is for workaholics around the globe. A machine that will work tirelessly irrespective of your work, flight and sleep schedules. The nominations for the Business Laptop of the Year included Dell Latitude 9520, Acer TravelMate P2, Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and MSI Summit E16 Flip A11UCT. Being a crowd favourite and aligning with Jury votes, the winner for this category was Dell Latitude 9520.

Camera Smartphone of the Year is one category with numerous nominations. Our top picks nominated were Motorola Edge 20 Pro, Vivo X70 PRO+, Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G, Mi 11 Ultra 5G and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. Vivo X70 PRO+ was awarded the best among the rest in this category by Mr Kaushal Neverekar, President and Chief Business Officer, Reliance Digital. 

With the gaming craze hitting the youth and young at heart in India, our next category was interesting – Gaming Smartphone of the Year. Nominations included Realme GT 5G, Motorola Edge 20 Pro, Oppo Find X3 Pro, Asus ROG 5, iQOO 7 Legend and Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. Mr Vijay Mahar presented the winner – Asus ROG 5 as the best gaming smartphone of the year. 

The A+ tier is the Premium Smartphone of the Year award. Nominations were heavy hitters like the OnePlus 9 Pro, Realme GT NEO2 5G, Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G, Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Vivo X70 Pro+. Miss Ekta Maru presented the award to Apple iPhone 13 pro as the year’s premium smartphone. 

 

All the winners were called on stage alongside our founder and CEO, Mr Ramesh Somani, Mr Kaushal Neverekar – President &  Chief Business Officer – Reliance Digital and Mr Ashish Gupta – Brand Director, Volkswagen India, for a group photo. The awardees were in plenty and filled the stage from one end to the other. 

Last but not least, the dynamic trio of Mr Ramesh Somani, Founder and CEO, Exhibit group, Mr Kaushal Neverekar – President &  Chief Business Officer – Reliance Digital and Mr Ashish Gupta – Brand Director, Volkswagen India presented the stunning in red Miss Sanya Malhotra as the disruptive talent of the year awardee. 

Exhibit Tech Awards

After months of public and jury voting, Mr Ramesh Somani thanked the attendees and the awardees for winning their awards. The event ended on a high with a bar and dining open to all present. Our partners were thanked for their association, and the 8th edition of Exhibit Tech Awards was a great success with happy smiling faces all across the open lawns at Sofitel, BKC, Mumbai. 

 

The star behind the flipping cars: In conversation with Rohit Shetty.

Intro: From being a filmy young boy who started his journey at age 16 to being known as “Ye voi jo gaadia udata hai”, Rohit Shetty’s journey as one of Bollywood’s most successful directors has been nothing short of magical. In a candid interview with Ramesh Somani, Rohit unveils his lesser-known side and first-hand insight into the world behind his lens.

Ramesh Somani:  You love powerful machines that tear up the road, and you are unstoppable just like the Jeep. How has been your journey?
Rohit Shetty:  My journey has been, I would say, adventurous. It was quite filmy, like a boy who starts his journey at 16 and has seen a lot in life. Dad is one of the finest action directors of his time, and I wanted to be like him, so I started doing car stunts at the age of 18. All I ever wanted to be was an action director, so I started with it, and I got to work with Ajay’s father, a renowned action director. I learnt a lot from him, and then I was working as an assistant director. Gradually, it started with being an action director and then every other thing happened with the flow. Before working as an AD, Ajay, with whom I was working, started his production. Then came a turn in my life where he said now you direct a film and that’s how everything happened. That’s why you see in all my movies that cars blow up and action scenes because the action director is still there inside me.

Ramesh Somani: You’ve had a long history with cars. You’ve driven them, blown them apart, sent them hundreds of feet in the air. Which moment is your favourite one among them?
Rohit Shetty: I have done more than 100 stunts with a car. We have blown up more than 200 vehicles. To be honest, I have even lost count of it. I also do a show called Fear Factor and because of that, what has happened to me is I love action. I have met the action teams worldwide, like how food lovers meet other food lovers who have the same taste of food or fashion, but I met many action teams when I was doing Fear Factor. At that point, I created my group, which is also from around the world. If there is some specific stunt I want to do or want some stunt guy to do it, I call them from Cape Town, Bulgaria, and multiple places like those and work together. In my latest movie Suryavanshi, I have a bike stunt in which the stunt guy is from Bulgaria. The other for the car stunt is from Cape Town so that’s how these come together and shoot for me. We had a CGI shot with drifting, so they did it. Coming back to your question, the Guinness book of the world record for a topple is for Casino Royale. You will not believe the Bulgarian driver name Kaleem. He was shooting and did a 7 round, but the record is for eight topples, so if we had two more, we would have broken the world record for it.

Ramesh Somani: Do you love adventure and sports? Driving on rugged terrains? What have you been itching to do next?
Rohit Shetty: I just want to go to the next level, and now because we have a team, it is like a family. As you say, the world is small. Now we work along with worldwide people. Sometimes we have people from abroad coming here for shoots, and we have our people going there. Hence, I just want to keep increasing the level. If you see the Hollywood projects, they have bigger budgets and more sophisticated equipment, and we here don’t even have a proper drifting school like the ones in South Africa or America. I want to open an action school where people can train, and we can create worldwide drivers under one roof and not only that, I want to expand Hindi cinema when action is concerned.

Ramesh Somani: If you have to take this Jeep to an off-roading destination – where will you dash out to?
Rohit Shetty: I have never been to the Himalayas. I would take this Jeep to the Himalayas, and I have not even visited Leh and Ladakh. I think I am the only director who has not shot in Leh and Ladakh.

Ramesh Somani: Which is the most recent car you crashed while shooting, and how did you do it?
Rohit Shetty: The most recent car crash was a few days ago, it was a Honda Accord and we were shooting for a noodle ad. There is a team that was working with my father at that time and my team as well. The driver who skids the car is my father’s team member’s son so basically, we have three generations of drivers with us. People think that we topple cars, and it’s straightforward, but that’s not the case. It is a dangerous thing we do, and many mechanisms go under the process. The main priority is the driver’s safety. We put a cage around the car, which is like piping. It’s used so that after the vehicle is toppled, it does not crash. We will make sure the whole unit is safe and precautions are taken. One example of this is we had a stunt with a Lexus SUV, so for that, a lot of things had to be considered, like the engine weight and the platform through which it is going to be jumped. We have to gauge how much speed it should be jumped so that it lands appropriately, and so much science goes behind this. Still, in our country, there is no respect for it.

Ramesh Somani: Difficult people or difficult situations, what’s your mantra to handle them calmly?
Rohit Shetty: Difficult people and difficult situations; to be honest, I have not faced anything like that till now. My mantra, though, is that we have to stay firm with difficult people and polite people. At work, you lose your temper sometimes, but it’s natural. My team, which is working with me, has been with me for over five years. They are married and are still working with
me. Some have been working for more than 15 years, so they know my temper.

Ramesh Somani: Your garage is very envious. Let’s start with the Urus. How do you like it and what’s next in your buy?
Rohit Shetty: I like the one I am driving right now, the Jeep Wrangler. I am buying the first assembled Indian Wrangler. As our PM says, we should be an Atmanirbhar Bharat, and I am happy and thrilled to be buying this car. It is a great car to drive and the pricing is exceptional. It is how a Jeep should be. The most important thing while driving the jeep is that you should be able to see the bonnet. Another dream car that I have is G63.

Ramesh Somani: What does the word legend mean to you? What do you think are the qualities one must possess to be legendary?
Rohit Shetty: It all started gradually. When I started, I wanted to become an action director who was in love with cars since he was a kid. When I started doing stunts for my films after 2-3 movies, I realised that I am becoming like a brand to everyone who connects you with cars. Now people recognise me with “Ye voi jo gaadia udata hai”. But this was not the plan. I was working on my movies, but then I realised I have become like a brand. It is sporadic that what you love becomes your profession, and now that I have reached this position, I feel the most important thing is honesty towards my life, fans, movies. Whatever I do, it has to be honest. My first movie that crossed the 100cr mark was in 2010, and it’s been 11 years since each of my films has crossed that mark. And it’s not that I am some great director. It’s the people I work with, like the actors, technicians and the entire crew, that make it possible.

Ramesh Somani:  Movie making requires significant teamwork, and you are the captain, some leadership advice you would like to share?
Rohit Shetty: Being a leader, the most important thing is there are a lot of sacrifices involved. If somebody does something wrong, you have to stand by their side and say, I am with you, which makes it unique. As a leader, how my character will be my team will behave accordingly. If my team is working for 18 hours, I’ll see that I am working for 20 hours. The leader has to work more than the team. Another most important thing is to treat them as a family. I make sure that salary and all are fine, but the team also knows that I am there for them whenever they need me.

Ramesh Somani:  The pandemic halted the world for the better part of the last year; things are slowly but steadily coming back to normal; how has the return to work been for you?
Rohit Shetty:  Pandemic hit us all. After a month or so, no one knew what was going on. When will things get to normal? How will things happen from now? I had a company to run, I didn’t know what to do, my film was about to be released, and we had to hold it back because the theatres were shut. I mean, people are still asking when the movie will come, and all, but what I had in mind was that the world wouldn’t get over, right? I went out to shoot Fear Factor in July. I did not meet my family as my mother lives with me, and she is old. I did not want to risk her life, but I was shooting, and life has to move on. That time was also tricky. I had to stay in isolation for 45 days during the shoots, but I started working, and that is the only way, and now if you see we are not out of the pandemic, but people are working currently, going to offices and now we have accepted it that we have to live with it.

Quickies

Ramesh Somani: What do you enjoy more? Directing or hosting?
Rohit Shetty:  Directing, for sure.
Ramesh Somani: If you could sum up your experience as a director in one hashtag, what would it be?
Rohit Shetty:  #Magical
Ramesh Somani:  If you could choose just one car for the rest of your life which one would you choose?
Rohit Shetty:  Range Rover
Ramesh Somani:  Who is your favourite director that you look up to?
Rohit Shetty: There is not just one, but if I have to name a few, Raju Hirani, Shankar, Rajamouli, James Cameron and Michael Bay.
Ramesh Somani:  One actor/actress you wish to direct?
Rohit Shetty: I want to make a full-fledged film with Mr Amitabh Bacchan.

Ramesh Somani: Would you choose an EV or a petrol engine in the long run?
Rohit Shetty: It depends. I have not driven an EV. If the EV gives me the same kind of performance as a petrol engine, then definitely go for an EV.
Ramesh Somani:  What app do you check first when you get up.
Rohit Shetty: Instagram
Ramesh Somani:  Which Books inspire you, and which ones are currently on your reading list?
Rohit Shetty:  Goldy, Vijay Anand Autobiography.
Ramesh Somani: Which are some of the best roads you have driven on? What’s the farthest you have gone or travelled on a single trip?
Rohit Shetty:  Cape Town, I love the roads there.

Ramesh Somani:  There is so much tech that is used in movie-making, especially yours. Tell us some of the cool techs that you use.
Rohit Shetty:  There are many things, but the most exciting thing we use is a crane named a Boult, it moves within seconds, and then there is this camera I love called the Phantom.
Ramesh Somani: Your upcoming film “Cirkus” starring Ranvir Singh recently got a release date of 31 December 2021. How excited are you about the movie?
Rohit Shetty: It is quite a mix of all things. It’s based in the ’60s and ’70s, and it’s a funny entertainer. We are trying to get a new feel to it with many special effects, and it’s like a fairy tale world.
 
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