By Papri Das

94.3 My FM CEO Harrish M Bhatia has turned author. Bhatia?s book was recently unveiled in Raipur by Chief Minister of Chattisgarh, Raman Singh.

Titled 'Jiyo Dil Se ? Live Your Dream,? the book is based on 94.3 My FM?s brand philosophy and narrates how one should live life by following one?s heart. The book chronicles the emotions sentiments and experiences of prominent achievers from all walks of life. From Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, World Champion cueist Geet Sethi, Bollywood divas Madhuri Dixit and Sonam Kapoor to Navjot Singh Sidhu, dance maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj and many more as role-models for various components of ?Jiyo Dil Se.?

Bhatia said, ?All of us deserve our place under the sun and there are enough and more opportunities today to live one?s dream. I have lived my life on certain principles and fortunately for me they manifested in our brand?s character too making it a wonderfully unique platform for me. I felt I owe to the youth of today to reflect on things in a positive, inspiring way for them to go out and live their dreams.?

In a style that?s chatty, ?Jiyo Dil Se? takes the reader through the basic ingredient of living life wearing one?s heart on one?s sleeve. The elements such as ?be your own role-model? and ?living life with a passion? among others have been so wonderfully penned that the book is like a perfect package for inspiration. So when the chips are down one could do with ?optimism? described so wonderfully in the book. Even when the going is good the author tells you to ?let loose? and ?spread happiness? by doing something good for the society.

The book is sure to connect with everyone and particularly the youth. It is bound to create an instant emotional connect with readers. Interestingly the spectrum of people talked about and exemplified in the book ranges from the literary Pritish Nandi to youth icons Ranvijay Singh and Chetan Bhagat.

By Papri Das

New age fashionistas have overhauled the stereotypical definitions in the fashion world.  What used to be ?it? and chic yesterday, no longer holds your eyes and casual wear isn?t to be taken casually, anymore. Forget getting a dress for an important dinner party, choosing clothes for a weekend get together with friends also asks for your special attention now. Just grabbing whatever from the wardrobe and matching it with some accessories won?t do any longer; there?s no room for slacking when it comes to your casual wear as well. So how does one keep innovating with their look?

Bollywood?s favourite designer Rocky Star answers this with his brand RS, which he launched exclusively with Shoppers Stop recently. ?I believe one can look glamorous everyday and by glamour I don?t mean expensive. My brand is all about bringing glamour to the consumer at an affordable rate. It?s about change and innovation and moving on to the next thing quickly. RS won't just have clothes for men and women, but a whole range of lifestyle accessories like deodorants, handbags and more,? says the excited fashion designer who recently showcased his collection at the IIFA awards in Malaysia.

?This year the stars played it safe on the green carpet in IIFA Malaysia,? Rocky adds as a side note. ?While they all looked gorgeous, they showed up in their comfort zones. I expected some daring and high end fashion at IIFA this year,? he adds.
A short glimpse of the collection on the ramp showed a very modern selection which were more inclined towards simple monochrome dresses that can be easily styled into different looks for a variety of casual occasions- from late afternoon movie dates to evening hangouts with pals. A few striped black and whites stood out amongst the dresses that gave away a smart and sexy appearance, further enhanced by the stylish hand bags also from RS.

?Rocky has done a very good job of bringing his Bollywood sensibilities to the modern buyer with affordability,? says Bollywood actress and RS brand ambassador Bipasha Basu, looking gorgeous in a bright red dress with frills around the deep V neck. ?He is a dear friend and it?s good to see how he has grown as a designer over the years. His experience and understanding of both worlds - the glamour of Bollywood and the functionality of the everyday life --- is reflected in his brand,? she adds.
The hotness meter reached alarming levels at the show when male models walked in flaunting the brand new RS men?s brief collection -- a first by any Indian designer. ?It is good to know that an Indian designer has come up with a men?s underwear collection and I feel obliged to be the first one to be associated with this first in Indian fashion world,? says Karan Singh Grover, brand ambassador for RS, who sported a funky T-shirt with embossed prints and a fitted jeans at the launch. The collection will be exclusively available in all Shopper Stop stores as well as their online shopping portals. So log on and shop away!

MUMBAI: Bengaluru based Royal Orchid Hotel was recoginsed as ?Bangalore Hot 50 Brands? during the recently concluded Bangalore Brand Summit 2015. The property has 28 businesses and leisure hotels in 20 popular destinations across India.

Royal Orchid Hotels managing director Chander Kamal Bajlee said, ?This is very encouraging for all who work with the brand and for people who have worked so hard to create such strong home grown identities. This is also in line with the Prime Minister?s vision of ?Make in India? so we are definitely headed in the right direction with our vision and the initiatives that follow.?

Royal Orchid Hotels primarily operates 5 and 4 star hotels, enabling it to target the discerning business and leisure traveller. It currently operates 28 hotels across India in Bengaluru, Mysore, Hospet, Shimoga, Mumbai, Pune, Mahabaleshwar, Goa, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Mussoorie, Gurgoan- Delhi, Bharuch, Bhuj, Baroda, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Haridwar and one on Lake Victoria, Tanzania and one in Nairobi.

Its other accolades include: National Tourism Award 2008-09 organised by the Ministry of Tourism, ?Hotel of the Year? in the First Class Business Hotel category at the Golden Star Awards 2010 and Pegas Awards for Excellence amongst others.

By Papri Das

India Today Group consulting editor and popular news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai, couldn?t have asked for a better way to ring in his 50th birthday on 24 May -- playing cricket with his best buddies! ?Celebrated my birthday by doing what I always once did on birthdays - played a cricket match! Can't think of a better way to ring in the 50th year of life,? said an excited Sardesai in posts on social networks, as he took a trip down memory lane, sitting in a room overlooking the CCI stadium in Mumbai.

To Rajdeep, cricket is special for more than one reason -- his own passion for the game as a player back when he was in college, and his father Dilip Sardesai, who was well-known test cricketer. ?It was here back in 1965, ironically the year of my birth, that my old man scored a double century against the Kiwis, one of the great innings of Indian cricket. I miss him but feel that his spirit guides me through good times and bad,? quipped the only veteran journalist with a profile for himself on cricinfo.

As much as Rajdeep was excited to get in the thick of action, his fitness - or the apparent lack of it - almost played spoilsport. ?The mind was willing, the body struggled. The fitness levels varied, but the enthusiasm made up for the failing waistlines. We had great fun and eventually the match was tied! And probably fixed too!? he added in jest.

Known for his rather grave on-screen personality, it was amusing to see Rajdeep?s old friends teasing him over returning to the pavilion after his short brief knock of a measly 15 runs. ?Happy half a century in life boss Rajdeep Sardesai! Though you got out for just 15 runs today at Bombay Gymkhana,? joked his friend and former Ranji cricketer Shishir Hattangadi. ?Let's meet here again when you hit a century in life in 2065," he added.

Rajdeep?s birthday was an occasion for old buddies from south Mumbai?s Campion School to raise a toast to him. Musician Sanjay Maroo, Mohieranjan Patel, Rahul Patel, Asit Oberoi and Uday More joined in to wish him the best in life. Rajdeep also got together with his brother-in-law and sister Shonali Sardesai's husband Taimur Baig for a lavish meal at the eclectic European cuisine restaurant Indigo in Colaba, Mumbai.

His wife and well known journalist Sagarika Ghose, who matches Rajdeep?s sense of humour, couldn?t help commenting, ?After all the old monk consumed over 50 years, the birthday cake had to have a bit of rum.?

Rajdeep, we at Indiantelevision.com can only raise another glass to you and say, ?Bottoms up.?

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews television shows, films and live events that you simply cannot miss! Check out our recommendations for this weekend (1-3 May 2015)

About Town:

A chill is sure to run down your spine as you dive into the worlds of five witnesses who recount their versions of the incident involving the kidnapping and beheading of Hans Christian Ostro, a Norwegian trekker that marked of the beginning of turmoil in Kashmir in the 1990s. Under Shubhrajyoti Barat?s artful direction, watch the conflict between reality, assumption and rumours come live on stage with The Song Of The Swan. Catch this heart thumping theatrical performance live at 6 pm on Sunday in National Centre for Performing Arts, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point.

Movies

If theater is not your cup of tea, and your idea of fun is a weekend outing with the whole family, go for the big budget family entertainer Gabbar Is Back that is to hit the screens this friday. Named after the most infamous villain in indian cinema?s history, ?Gabbar?, director Krish has given a Bollywood twist to the Tamil blockbuster Ramana, and shaped his vigilante hero Gabbar Singh Rajpur, played by B?town khilari Akshay Khanna. The movie also features the gorgeous Shruti Haasan.