When he entered the industry with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya, he was immediately declared “too chocolaty” for our palates. But after revealing his rugged side in films like Rajneeti, Rockstar, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year and slipping in roles like that of Barfi and Sid (Wake up Sid) with ease, Kapoor scion and Bollywood’s blue-eyed boy Ranbir has not only displayed his versatility but also shown his potential as a performer and his affinity for challenges.

While Judy Balan’s debut book Two Fates explored the intricacies of marriage and divorce, her second and latest Sophie Says is her take on new age relationships told through the experiences of Sophie, a representative of 20-something urban generation and a break-up coach with commitment issues.

Actor John Abraham is a proud man these days. He got rave reviews for his portrayal of Manya Surve in Shootout at Wadala, his debut film as a producer Vicky Donor took home three National Awards.

Negative publicity helps films. It enhances curiosity, garners interest and that’s what has worked for Punjabi film Sadda Haq, which hit the screens yesterday. The film got banned in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and Jammu just a day before its scheduled release on April 5 as the state governments in Punjab and Delhi showed concern that the film allegedly glorifies extremism.

Gangsters and organised crime have always fascinated storytellers. While some of the biggest books and movies in the West have gangsters at their core — The Godfather, Scarface, Carlito’s Way, The Untouchables, The Gangs of New York etc. writers and filmmakers in India too have a strong underworld fixation.

Their films challenge the laws of storytelling and force the audiences to imagine, analyse and introspect. Of course these films are entertaining — quite cerebrally — brilliantly woven, and made on a shoestring budget, but more importantly they hit a nerve with people disgruntled with the state of affairs. They are the new age indie filmmakers.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That is the mantra in today’s world. Upcycling is emerging as the new catchphrase as designers are experimenting and utilising waste to create almost everything — right from furniture to clothes. And why not? Upcycling utilises discards, conserves resources, sparks creativity. In fact, it adds age and edge to an item. And it’s eco-style at its sexiest and most responsible best.

Spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s life mission is to guide people toward becoming the best human beings they can be. And the key to this, he believes, is love and compassion. At ‘The Teachings by His Holiness, The Dalai Lama’ session at the Taj Mahal, Delhi, he spoke about how spiritual development helps cope with hurdles in life and the secret to happiness.

While Holi is all about colours, sweets, meeting and greeting your loved ones, the festival seems to be incomplete without a heady dose of Holi songs. Our films have time and again celebrated the spirit of this colourful festival through a variety of songs.

If Indian football is to be made sexy, then it needs to get Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif to play the sport, Bollywood actor Suneil Shetty recently remarked. While his suggestion got support from people who feel that glamour can indeed help football gain popularity in this cricket-obsessed nation, there are others who feel what we need is a passion for the game, grooming of young sports enthusiasts and sport stars as inspiration.