zeezest

It’s around 10:45 am, and Tahira enters wearing a quirky bomber jacket, her hair untamed, and not a hint of makeup. Her playful attitude carries over to her wardrobe and it’s evident. Acing the art of skinimalism, she's confident in her au-naturel look.Reviewing the outfits selected for the shoot, Tahira is apprehensive. “I have never worn these clothes before,” she remarks. A minute later, radiating an infectiously positive smile, she’s up for the challenge. An hour into the shoot, she’s feeling confident. “I never had this kind of spunk and attitude with hair and makeup. I was really scared to tread this path. I am taking an analogy from this, and this is what happens in real life. It’s just a new version of me which I have not experienced before,” she says, wearing a big smile on her face.So, it was indeed a beautiful disclosure to see her come out of her shell at the Zee Zest March 2023 Digital Cover shoot. She revealed elements of herself that the public eye hasn’t seen yet — unapologetically sensual with a powerful presence.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0191_1677827726834.jpg"><figcaption>Tahira Kashyap Khurrana is dressed in a Gauri and Nainika peach ruffle gown paired with statement earrings from Joolry. </figcaption></figure>She continues, “Whenever you want to broaden your horizons, you are so conscious about it. You have so many insecurities and you are doubtful. That’s what a challenge is and whoever crosses that challenge becomes a new version of themselves.” She admits that she’s a tad bit experimental but not to the extent of doing something dramatically new. “But after this photoshoot, why not?” she says.Given her impressive command of filmmaking, Tahira is a force to reckon with. She believes in creating memories everywhere (as her Instagram bio reads) and considers herself to be a compulsive storyteller. And what makes her the perfect fit for our Women’s Day special digital cover, is her deep understanding of human relationships, nuanced writing and empowering women-centric stories peppered with humour. “Humour is my coping mechanism in every situation. Even in the most tragic and saddest situations of my life, I just laugh. It’s dark humour and that’s just the way I am as a person. I think I have a funny bone or two,” explains the filmmaker, who prefers to choose humour for the earnest depiction of women in her films.“Some things are best said, and more impactful when they are not said directly but in a subliminal way. With humour as the context, that comes across more strongly,” she explains. However, she feels it’s still not enough and she’s got so much more to tell.<h2>It’s a great time for Indian cinema</h2>The critically-acclaimed author-filmmaker marked her debut in 2017 with the short film Toffee followed by Pinni, part of Netflix’s anthology series Zindagi in Short in 2020, and Quaranteen Crush, part of the anthology series Feels Like Ishq released in 2021. Inspired by directors such as Martin Scorsese, Shakun Batra, Zoya Akhtar and Hansal Mehta, Tahira, one of the most promising female directors in the Indian film industry, believes it's a great time for Indian cinema, but when it comes to theatres it has been testing.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0727_1677827747404.jpg"><figcaption>Tahira exudes the ultimate boss lady vibes in a Falguni and Shane Peacock gold trench coat accessorised with statement jewellery from Golden Window, Bling Sutra and Forest Of Chintaz.</figcaption></figure>Driven by the vision she has for filmmaking, she says, “Movies have not been doing that great and earning that kind of revenue that they used to in the theatres. On the positive side, we have the advent of OTT where we are getting to see diverse content, languages and culture for which India is actually known, and it's truly coming forward and we are cherishing it more now. We are getting to see so many varied actors and people bouncing back as well. I always try to see the positive in every situation and moving forward, the world of cinema globalisation has a whole new meaning altogether with the conversions of culture not just within India but globally.”Stressing the huge democratisation in Bollywood with the advent of OTT and regional movies becoming mainstream, she continues, “You are seeing different stories from different people and cultures and that’s what the beautiful part about cinema and storytelling is. It evokes an emotion in you and when there are visuals to it, you somehow relate more to it. I think for world cinema, it’s a great time when we are getting a sneak peek into each other’s lives. Today someone sitting in India from a middle-class family is also privy to European cinema, I think that is great thanks to OTT.”<h2>A league of her own</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0496-Recovered_1677827766281.jpg"><figcaption>Tahira is wearing an all-black Falguni and Shane Peacock co-ord set. </figcaption></figure>Tahira is bold, unfiltered, unapologetic and has created an identity of her own. But does she still feel the pressures of being married to one of the most popular stars Ayushmann Khurrana, we ask. She replies with a laugh, “Koi pressure nahi hai. I have no pressures of dressing up a certain way, looking a certain way, keeping my hair length a certain way. I have married an artist, and I perceive him as that and I am just happy that he gets all the love and attention from the world around, that just makes my heart swell with pride and happiness. I really do not take any pressure and I am not saying just for the sake of saying it. It’s not to do with anybody. You have your own set of complexes and I think that’s something that comes from within because of your situation, your internal environment rather than your external environment. If your internal environment is weak and shaky, you go down.”She confesses she did have insecurities in her 20s, but it had nothing to do with the pressures of being married to an actor and it was more about her acceptance of herself. She recalls, “And I really worked towards it. I think most of us deal with these issues and they are seldom to be blamed on any outside trigger or stimuli. It’s basically you being at peace with yourself. I don’t want to fit into any stereotypes.”But then, as a celeb couple how do Tahira and Ayushmann keep it real? Tahira, offering a glimpse behind the curtain, says, “Maybe just not being aware of this term ‘celeb couple’ is what keeps it real for us. It’s a very real household and I don’t even know if there’s any effort put behind it.”<h2>An honest take on star wives</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0737_1678087110532.jpg"></figure>When it comes to Tahira, she’s anything but an extension of her celebrity husband Ayushmann Khurrana, and perhaps one of the most opinionated women in the fraternity. So, we were curious about her take on why there are no ‘star husbands’? To which she says, grinning, “I don’t understand ‘star wives’. I absolutely don’t know what it actually means and how to get into this, what’s the qualification behind it. How much hard work do you need to put in to get this title? I am very sure those people who are termed as such don’t like it because everybody wants to be an individual in their own right and they are. These are terms coined by people and the media.” She pauses, and continues, “I really wish everybody becomes sensitive to each other and realises there is a human being behind that, and we need to cherish and move past this.”And while she’s an author, filmmaker, women’s rights champion and her husband is a Bollywood star, we were keen on how they keep their individual personalities and growth intact. It’s a no-brainer that art is something they both consume and are attracted to, but the ways of expressing it are different. “We have been very instrumental in each other’s growth; at the same time, we don’t impose our thoughts and opinions on each other. Art drives us both but then there’s a different way to express for each of us. He’s a performer, he’s also a poet, he likes to write. I am more of a storyteller. I love to write stories and direct.”<h2>The art of practising self-love</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0366_1677827787825.jpg"></figure>Her journey to self-acceptance can be chronicled through her battle with cancer, but the filmmaker refrains from talking about it. “I don’t want to think about my past because it’s already done. For the future, there’s no point overthinking.” She further explains that insecurities are basically how you feel about yourself and to justify that we blame it on people, outside situations, the environment, our bosses, our spouses, partners, neighbours, friends. “But the thing is coming from within, the problem is within. So, we really need to be aware and fix the thing, which is within us, the outside will correspond to that.” Of course, she’s aware of how society's perception towards women can wear them down. She suggests, “We should not be bogged down by any stereotype or a benchmark of beauty or success. We are individuals in our own right, and no one is a replica of each other, and we truly need to cherish ourselves.”We dive further into the subject of self-love and she says, “Some might call it a borderline narcissist or overrated. But if we give ourselves a little bit of self-love, it really helps us go through the day. Human beings are very complex, we really don’t need a critic to tell us what we can do and what not. We are so critical about our own selves that it just stops your creativity and yourself from expressing in the best possible way you could have.” But was she always like this? No. She confesses how she didn’t indulge in self-love for the longest time and used to look down upon herself. “For me, that was being a narcissist, but there’s a huge difference between self-love and narcissism. Self-love is truly constructive, while narcissism is very destructive.”<h2>A busy and challenging year ahead</h2>She’s a woman wearing many hats and doesn’t let her passions sleep. She’s the author of four books, with The 7 Sins Of Being A Mother and The 12 Commandments Of Being A Woman earning plaudits for her unfiltered approach to many facets of her life. At 40, she is the kind of filmmaker who is supremely talented with compelling projects ahead of her. Not only is her first feature Sharmaji Ki Beti, a female-centric comedy-drama, slated for release this year, but she’s also paired up again with Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga for an upcoming dramedy feature.2023 for her is all about facing new challenges and overcoming them with a smile. “That could be any way in the kind of storytelling I do, the kind of genres I have written so far. I would like to push my limits and tread into the kind of stories I have always wanted to do but was doubtful. So, 2023 is all about doing stuff that I always wanted to do, somewhere in the remotest corner of my heart but perhaps never expressed. I promised myself that I won’t be scared of judgements,” she signs off. <hr>CreditsEditor: Sumita Bagchi  Photographer: Kunal GuptaCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaBTS video: Gaurav TalekarVideo Edit: Media EdgeStylist: ​Neelangana VasudevaAssistant stylist: ​Foram KubadiaHair stylist: Poonam SolankiMakeup: Hinal DattaniMakeup Assistant: Ali HussainLocation: Silk Route, JuhuArtist PR: Keerat Publicity

With a voice as powerful as her personality, the author-filmmaker is the ultimate go-getter. She’s bold, unfiltered, and a woman of substance. 

With a voice as powerful as her personality, the author-filmmaker is not just another star wife. She’s bold, unfiltered, and has an identity of her own. Read more on zeezest.com




Zee Zest Digital Cover March 2023 Tahira Kashyap Khurrana Interview

Tahira Kashyap Khurrana: The Power Of Being Unapologetically You

Tahira Kashyap Khurrana

Interview

Celebrity

Women Power

Digital Cover

Dare you ask Indian women, who is the finest of them all? And Milind Soman manages to be the undisputed choice! To make the celebratory month truly special, the OG heartthrob also makes a rare appearance as the Zee Zest Digital Cover Star for December 2022.   Not just for his good looks, but you can’t put Milind Soman in a box—and not because he appeared out of one when he swept all of us off our feet in Alisha Chinai’s Made in India video in 1995. As a model, runner and actor, just when you think he is settling down, he stuns you with something completely unexpected. A man who finds long-distance running easy and resting on a couch difficult, Milind believes he can take up any challenge by keeping himself in an optimal state of fitness at all times. Whether successfully completing the gruelling ‘Ironman’ at 50 and the even more difficult ‘Ultraman’ at 52 or cycling 1,000 km from Baroda to Delhi at 56 in 2021, Milind has always pushed his body and mind to achieve the next target that looks almost impossible to others. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_NSP_1615_1670237322955.jpg"><figcaption>Milind Soman looks dapper in a Shahab Durazi tuxedo.</figcaption></figure>Milind has a busy December ahead of him. There are marathons to run in Singapore and other Indian cities, and a cycling expedition from Mumbai to Bengaluru, which he plans to complete in six days by December 25. As he continues to push the boundaries of physical endurance, his wife Ankita Konwar gives him company in most of his adventures. In Milind’s words, Konwar anchors him by making him aware of who he is every day. We sneaked the unconventional couple off to The Residence Dhigurah, a resort located in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Maldives, for what turned out to be the year-end Digital Cover Shoot for ZeeZest.com.  Unlike other shoots, this shoot was packed with fitness and yoga challenges thrown at the crew before we got shooting. Not one to compromise on his daily running regime, Milind transitions from shorts to suits and sarongs in a jiffy leaving us rethinking the need for investing in hair and makeup products and realising the natural effect of a post-workout glow. Considering Milind was making a comeback to an editorial shoot after a hiatus, the mood board was sketched keeping the OG supermodel's sartorial hunger in mind. In a freewheeling chat that carried over from the Maldives to Mumbai, we got a peek into his mind, that otherwise races past our tepid imagination. <h2>Running wins</h2>When asked to choose between running, modelling and acting, he quickly picked running as his current favourite. He runs every day, whenever he finds time. “It gives me a lot of joy and helps me to connect with myself better. Maybe because it’s such a natural activity. Human beings are evolved to run. When you do things that you are meant to do, there is a connection with dharma,” says Milind. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_NSP_1923_1670237336148.jpg"><figcaption>A leap of joy; Milind is wearing a monochrome suit by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna.</figcaption></figure>He finds acting and modelling fun too. He loves that they allow him to explore various opportunities and considers them as part of his creative expression. “Even though I stopped modelling in 1995 and started doing television, I never lost touch with being able to do something new or something that was exciting for myself,” he shares. “In the media, they usually label me as swimmer-turned-model-turned-actor-turned-fitness expert but for me, there is no turning. Everything exists simultaneously. Whenever I do something, I enjoy that immensely,” he clarifies.<h2>On not attending fashion shows  </h2>“I actually have no reason to attend a fashion week. Even earlier, when I was modelling, if I wasn’t a part of the fashion show, there was no reason for me to attend the event,” says Milind. “I remember attending one in Delhi where we presented the brand, Deivee, that I had started and I walked the ramp too. A lot of my friends walked too, so that was fun,” he recollects. Also, in 2009, he remembers walking alongside Naomi Campbell for a charity event in Mumbai, which he enjoyed thoroughly. He later moderated a session with her in 2017 in New Delhi. According to him, the Indian fashion industry works as a business model, and lacks the creative art and expression. He explains, “If you look at fashion in the West, starting with Coco Chanel, 70-80 years ago, fashion was an artistic expression. We haven't seen this side of fashion in India. If you look at fashion weeks, it is a business model. I think we didn't go into understanding the true meaning, the depths of creativity and imagination of fashion here.” We quiz him further about if he were to walk the runway again, who would it be for? And he replies, “I don't really look around that much but if you’re talking about a well-made suit, I will definitely name Shahab Durazi, I think he's great with cuts and designs.”  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watch%20NSP_2115_1670237356732.jpg"><figcaption>Taking smart casuals to the next level; Milind Soman is wearing  Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M on his wrist. A pair of Paradiso model sunglasses by John Jacobs keeps the glare away from his eyes. His jacket is by Rimzim Dadu, sarong by Varnika Sangoi and jewellery by Sangeeta Boochra and Aquamarine Jewellery. </figcaption></figure>Not one to follow fashion trends or brands, ask him about three designers who have left a mark on him over the years and he names fashion icons Karl Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana and Vivienne Westwood. And supermodels that have impressed him? “Apart from Naomi Campbell, I also like yesteryear’s modelling superstars like Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista. Though they didn’t influence my work directly, I always admired their craft,” Milind shares.<h2>On the wellness industry’s evolution</h2>As we talk about how fitness and wellness have become trendy now, Milind shares a personal experience. “Six years ago, I remember approaching a brand that makes breakfast cereals to sponsor a sporting event. To my surprise, they said they were not a fitness brand. Imagine from that to now, more than even fitness, they have now adopted wellness as a plank and we are working together.” He also thinks mental health has taken centre stage because corporates are talking a lot about it. Commenting on celebrities talking about mental health, Milind says, “Sometimes you may have what it takes to become a celebrity, but many times you may not have what it takes to deal with it.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watch%20NSP_1796_1670237406729.jpg"><figcaption>On Milind's wrist is the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer Chronograph. His shirt is from Bloni by Akshat Bansal, sarong is by Varnika Sangoi and jewellery by Sangeeta Boochra and Aquamarine Jewellery. </figcaption></figure><h2>Coming full circle</h2>When he was a national swimming champion in his teens, no one knew him. Now he is famous as a fitness enthusiast and an influential voice in the space. The fame he earned as a model and actor may have contributed to his fitness popularity. Reflecting on his success with fitness, he comments, “Probably, it works for me, as no one else from this space I occupy, is doing what I am doing. For example, which really famous person has competed in the Ironman race or run more than 1,000 km from Delhi to Mumbai? My guess, none."<h2>Meeting the Prime Minister of India</h2>Milind participated in the Unity Run from Jhansi to New Delhi in August 2022. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) contacted him on Day 4 of his run, requesting if he could connect with people on the way to spread a message. He readily agreed. When he reached Delhi, the PMO had organised an event at the Red Fort. Later, he was delighted to receive a call to check if he would meet the Prime Minister the next day. “I was very impressed that our PM Narendra Modi took out time to meet someone like me without a specific agenda. That is being really organised, at least that’s how I see it,” says Milind. Recollecting the event, Milind candidly shares, “It’s kind of embarrassing as I later realised that I spoke mostly while he listened. I even asked him if he wanted me to stop and he said he was happy to listen to me. I remember speaking to him about how we can promote indigenous sports in India instead of focusing only on Olympic sports. We obviously connected on yoga and Ayurveda, topics which are close to both of us.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_539A4015-7152-4939-959A-473C24BB762F_1670296536855.jpeg"></figure><h2>On travel adventures</h2>He confesses he never used to travel earlier, except for work. He says he is not a tourist and doesn’t enjoy sightseeing. “After marriage, we started travelling as Ankita likes to travel. We still don’t do sightseeing, but now we look for places where we can do things. She has learnt diving, so we dive a lot now,” shares Milind. “Recently, we were in Egypt to dive. We went to Europe to climb Mont Blanc and to Africa to run in a sanctuary and climb Kilimanjaro,” Milind says, summing up his travel habits. As an adventurer, he likes to challenge himself, and that’s why he doesn’t like visiting places where he has nothing to do. “The reason to challenge myself is also not to fall sick. I believe the human body and mind deteriorate if you don’t challenge them,” he explains. “If you still want me to pick places on my bucket list, they would be more places from Africa and the Arctic and diving sites around the world.” Explaining his choices, he says, “I prefer places that have some amount of romanticism and ultimate romanticism for me comes with ruggedness. There is no romanticism in lying on the couch watching TV. That’s why the greatest love stories come from struggle."<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watch%20NSP_1796_1670237633998.jpg"></figure><h2>Role model from the world of:</h2>Sports: Muhammad AliModelling: Naomi Campbell, Cindy CrawfordActing: Balraj Sahni, Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin ShahSwimming: Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>Looking back at ‘Made In India’</h2>Reminiscing about the music video that almost gave Milind a brand identity for the rest of his life, he says, “Those were the very early days of music videos in India. MTV had just come to India and Alisha Chinai and I were already collaborating on some videos. This particular one was the second after an English music video we did together.”  Milind had also shot for Ken Ghosh directorial and forgot about it. He adds, “Those were not the days of social media, not even 24x7 in-your-face traditional media.” It was only after two months, when he accompanied a friend travelling from overseas to a club in Pune, that he realised how big a hit the song was. The loudest cheer possible greeted them the moment they entered the club. That music video made Milind’s face recognisable across the country and the title became his tagline for the rest of his life.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watchNSP_1977White_1670308121665.jpg"><figcaption>Milind is wearing Omega's latest addition to the Seamaster Professional line, the Planet Ocean 6000M – Ultradeep with a Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna monochrome suit.</figcaption></figure><h2>When Milind met Ankita </h2>The couple met at Pasha, a nightclub at The Park, Chennai in February 2014. “I don’t normally go to nightclubs. It was one of those odd days when I succumbed to the hotel manager’s sudden request to drop by for a few minutes as it was a ladies’ night at the club. Even Ankita doesn’t go to nightclubs often. That day, we both were at Pasha at the same time. That was pure coincidence,” shares Milind. Recollecting the night, he says, “I was waiting for my young colleagues to finish drinking. Meanwhile, some girls came and requested me to dance. Suddenly, the dance floor was full. More people had come in by then. It was then that I saw Ankita across the room with her friends. I kept watching her. She is the one who came up to me and asked for a dance. I had no idea what to chat about, I found myself asking some random questions like what her parents did, whether she had any siblings and things like that. I don’t socialise, don’t meet people at parties and start conversations, this was rather difficult for me. I asked her for her number, she said she didn’t have a phone as she had just moved from Malaysia, with Air Asia starting operations in India then. I left my number with a friend of hers, and finally, she sent a message the day after that she had a nice time. I invited her for dinner. That’s our story in short.”<h2>The ‘age-gap’ marriage</h2>Milind feels Ankita challenges him in all the right ways. More than motivating and inspiring him, she makes him more aware of himself. And he likes that. “If I were with a person from my generation, it would probably be simpler. Here I look at something that’s almost alien to me, maintaining that equality in the relationship with someone so much younger teaches me about myself, every day. As we grow older, we develop an attitude, as we change over time. But we often don’t realise that. But I do, every day, when I speak to her. So, living with Ankita is a kind of exploration, though she may have a different view of it. It’s an opportunity to see the world of today, I just see it through her eyes,” says Milind, fondly summing up their marriage.<h2>His beautiful bond with his mother</h2>“We fight a lot. But I have learnt a lot from her, mainly, not to be judgmental,” says Milind about his relationship with his mother who is super active at 83 and does push-ups regularly.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_NSP_1667_1670237510316.jpg"></figure><h2>Favourite cuisine</h2>“I love Bengali food. Basically, I like freshwater fish. Though I have lived in Mumbai almost all my life, I don’t know why I have this fascination for Bengali cuisine. I like Japanese cuisine as well, not just the sushi and the sashimi, I love the soups and the noodles too. Basically, anything that’s made well, respecting traditions, I enjoy that. In fact, I don’t like fusion as much as traditional food, which is basic, staple and sumptuous. Milind names boneless Bhapa Ilish (Hilsa) as his favourite dish. But what he eats most often is Dal Khichdi. “It’s a complete meal. I have grown up with it. It’s easy to make comfort food, easy to digest and highly nutritious.”<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>Ankita’s take on Milind</h2><h3>As a husband</h3>“As a husband, he is the best partner. I don’t know what you look for in a husband as I never wanted to get married. After I met him, my perception towards marriage changed. It's been almost five years since we got married, and every day we learn new things about each other. It has been such a beautiful journey. He is such a big part of me. Our upbringing was so different, he grew up in a city while I almost grew up in the jungles but we are so alike, it is unbelievable. We have always been close to the earth and that’s one thing we can always connect on.“<h3>As a role model in fitness</h3>“I don’t know about others but I can talk about myself. I had adopted a very unhealthy lifestyle in the middle, so when I woke up, Milind would have finished running 25 km, which I saw on Facebook or Instagram. I would wonder how does he do 25 km every day so easily. I remember when I turned 25, I realised I was unhealthy I had become. So, I went to the gym, but it was shut for some reason. I didn’t come back and I went for a run instead. I have been running ever since. It has liberated and healed me, in a way, with each run I came closer to myself. All the credit goes to Milind. I remember when we were in Athens, one of our friends called us to run the marathon. Those days I was running the half marathon regularly but I wasn’t trained at all for the 42 km. Milind trained me for six days and we ran the marathon on the seventh day. He has been such an inspiration in every aspect, be it emotional, physical or spiritual. I want to be like him when I am 50.”<h3>About the age gap in marriage</h3>“I don’t feel that at all. It's only when someone asks me the question, I realise we are 26 years apart. To me, it has always been the companionship we share that is so authentic. I remember even when I told my parents about the wedding, my mother reacted that he was almost her age, while my father was not comfortable with the idea of me getting married to an actor; he had some preconceived notions about the entertainment industry. I was very clear that I wouldn’t go against their wish to get married to Milind, but I also made it clear to them that I would be with him and they should be comfortable with the idea.”</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><hr>CreditsEditor: Sumita BagchiPhotographer: Atul KasbekarCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaWatch Partner: OmegaEyewear Partner: John JacobsAssistant Photographer and BTS: Rahul SawantBTS Edit: Media EdgeStylists: Pyu MishraLocation: The Residence Maldives At Dhigurah

Even before Ranveer Singh bared it all, there was Milind Soman. The OG trendsetter tells us how to run the extra mile and make heads turn!

Milind Soman continues to win hearts, whether as a model or fitness influencer. Here’s an exclusive interview with Zee Zest's December 2022 Digital Cover Star.

Zee Zest Digital Cover Star December 2022 Milind Soman

Milind Soman: The OG Heartthrob Is Back!

Milind Soman

Models

 Celebrity Interview 

Travel  

Maldives

Vacation 

Just a few days after we concluded our Digital Cover shoot with Hansika Motwani, the news broke that she is slated to get married to her mystery beau, Sohail Kathuria. Whether it is fate or pure coincidence, we aren’t sure, but it was indeed good fortune that she is the cover star for our November 2022 Wedding Special. Her official comment on all the hullaballoo about her wedding was: “I am getting married soon.” She took to everyone’s favourite social media platform, Instagram, to share images from her romantic proposal that had the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220331_1668342111332.jpg"><figcaption>Hansika Motwani is dressed in a Rudrakh Dwivedi black sequinned gown which is paired with  Hublot Big Bang One Click Steel Pave timepiece.</figcaption></figure>There is a childlike enthusiasm and earnestness about Hansika that shines through as she transforms into a resplendent diva in each of the three looks. The three high-fashion couture looks were curated to channel a different avatar of the young actor, a charismatic and glamourous diva who knows how to keep you captivated with her aura.  As a child actor who has evolved into a successful actor, the use of the word ‘child’ feels reductive. With 55 films and counting, Hansika has an enviable career graph and her starting off as a child actor is purely coincidental. “It started really young for me and I am fortunate that it started that early. Now that I look back, it all worked in my favour because it gave me ample time to work and establish myself over the years,” she says. In case you’re trying to recall Hansika’s early work, look up television shows like Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and Hrithik Roshan-starrer, India’s very own extraterrestrial film, Koi… Mil Gaya. “I have to thank my mother for ensuring that I had as normal a childhood as possible. I used to go to school, sit for my exams and then go for my shoots. She made sure I always had some playtime with children of my age,” says Hansika, as she looks back at her days as a child actor. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220107_1668342148894.jpg"><figcaption>Hansika is wearing a structured lilac dress by Geisha Designs with  Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu Steel Pave.</figcaption></figure>If one were to draw a comparison, the career trajectory of Sridevi comes to mind—by the time the legendary actor was 32, she too had worked in more than 55 films in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Undoubtedly, Hansika looks up to the late actor but stays humble about her own future. “Sridevi is a legend and she's always been an inspiration for me, but what direction my career will take is something that only time will tell. I just know that I can choose the right scripts and hopefully at the right time. Hence, it's just destiny. But I would love my career to move in the same direction too.”<h2>An impressive body of work</h2>For those who don’t know and those who follow, today, Hansika Motwani is a name to be reckoned with in Tamil and Telugu films. Her first film ever was Desamuduru in 2007, in which she was paired against Pushpa-fame’s Allu Arjun. She later starred opposite Himesh Reshammiya in Aap Kaa Surroor, but it was in the southern states where she truly built her career. She acknowledges that the south film industry presented greener pastures for her where her career flourished. But that is not to say mainstream Hindi films do not interest her; there are big projects in the offing for Hansika, which includes a multilingual blockbuster scheduled for a 2023 release. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220537_1668342198306.jpg"><figcaption>Hansika looks glamourous in a Bennu Sehgall couture gown paired with Hublot Square Bang Unico King Gold.</figcaption></figure>Hansika’s extensive body of work includes yet to be released Tamil horror film, Guardian, and a Disney+ Hotstar release, My3, an adaptation of a Korean series, in the pipeline. She also has a long list of co-actors that would make many industry veterans envious—the list includes Arvind Swamy, Mohanlal, Dhanush, Siddharth, Simbu, Vijay and others. She reminisces working with Mohanlal, another legend, in the 2017 Malayalam film, Villain: “My mom always said you've never attended a film school, but work in a Malayalam film and you'll feel like you've gone to film school because of the fantastic actors you’ll get to work with.” So in awe was Hansika that she remembers how Mohanlal could sense the camera was panning around both of them in a scene. “He knew the camera was there and he knew to shift slightly to accommodate a direct shot. He's just extraordinary and his experience speaks volumes. It was truly amazing to work with him,” she adds. <figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>Hansika Motwani On Her Co-Actors</h2>Allu Arjun: He’s a great dancer and has a really great sense of dressing. Dhanush: He’s very versatile and can get into any character effortlessly. Samantha Prabhu: I think she is a warrior and a fighter. She's a fantastic actor and I think she's so inspiring.Suriya: He is a charmer and has a great screen presence. Arvind Swamy: Everything about him is great. He’s evergreen so I really can’t pick just one thing.Rana Daggubati: Again, he has a great personality and also very charming. Genelia Deshmukh: I just have one thing that comes to mind for Genelia, it’s cute! Cute! Cute! </td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>South film industry in the limelight</h2>As an actor who predominantly works in the south, Hansika is aware of the sudden boom in the popularity of south Indian blockbusters. She’s always stood by the fact that regions don’t matter; these are all Indian films at the end of the day—this is the recognition that regional films deserve.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220290_1668342266957.jpg"></figure>“Cinema is changing and so are audiences. It's amazing how all kinds of audiences are accepting cinema in any language,” she says. She too cannot ignore the impact OTT platforms and their boom during the lockdown have had on the consumer pattern for regional content. “People want to enjoy what they are watching and for that content has to be good,” she states.It all begins with the script. “I’ve always believed that the script is where the secret to a film’s success lies,” Hansika says. People not only have more options but want to consume different and newer kinds of content. “This success is not just Tamil or Telugu films but also for other regional languages that are also producing some good stuff. Even the remakes work!” In a fast-paced digitized world, true quality content is also what will drive people to the big theatres, according to her.<h2>What drives Hansika Motwani?</h2>“I am a greedy actor and my approach to work is always, ‘why not’ rather than why. So, it often doesn’t matter where a film project comes from,” Hansika explains her philosophy towards work. It’s also the reason she has managed to rake in impressive titles under her belt. She refuses to let herself be boxed in by labels, a feat that many in the industry struggle with, just because of this alternative approach. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220170_1668342362371.jpg"></figure>Very aware of the fickle nature of the entertainment industry, Hansika is more than happy to keep pushing herself to prove her mettle on a loop. “I think it is my privilege that at the age of 30 I have the opportunity to build this body of work. The beauty of my work is that every day I get to be a different person, so I will never get bored of my work. I will still be acting but I can always switch genres as long as I am in front of the camera.” An exhausting task, but for her, if it’s not exhausting then she’s not doing something right. She is very clear that there is no substitute for hard work. She says, “I want to work hard because the rest of the crew can work smart—that’s the perfect balance I believe in.”<h2>On a lighter note</h2>For all her earnestness and measured answers, Hansika accepts the fact that she is a very moody person who hates eating and considers it a chore. But at the same time, she enjoys a bit of travelling. Time off from a packed and hectic schedule means daily meditation and annual vacations for Hansika. “Every year, for 10-15 days, I take off to another country for a vacation to center myself. But acting is what drives me and motivates me.” <h2>Rapid fire with Hansika Motwani</h2>Your favourite movie: Andaz Apna Apna or Hera PheriYour favourite vacation destination: New York or ParisYour favourite Indian period drama: Lagaan, because I think I was really young when I first saw the film and I was on the edge of my seat. I just enjoyed that film.<hr>CreditsEditor: Sumita BagchiPhotographer: Atul KasbekarCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaAssistant Photographer and BTS: Rahul SawantBTS Edit: Media EdgeStylists: Nayaab Randhawa and Shubhangini GuptaMakeup artist: Reshma MerchantHair stylist: Savita SankpalLocation: Black Frames StudioArtist Reputation Management: Think Talkies

With an incredible roster of films, Hansika Motwani is always busy with her next project. Now, with her impending nuptials to a Mumbai-based businessman, life’s set for more excitement for the actor.

Hansika Motwani is our Cover Star for November 2022. We catch up with her about her career so far and her plans for the future. Read the interview here.

Cover Story | November 2022 | Hansika Motwani A South Superstar

In The Big League: Hansika Motwani

Wedding

Hansika Motwani

Cover Shoot

South Indian

South Indian Films

Tamil Movies

Telugu Movies

In the quest to find the most suitable Digital Cover star for the Homegrown edition of September we found a name that has truly made India proud. Sonu Sood, a philanthropist, and actor, who won the hearts of millions of Indians with his boundless passion for changing lives in the last few years. He is more of a front-page personality than a page-3 one making headlines with his awe-inspiring, life-transforming journey; a reel hero, who emerged as a real-life superhero for millions of Indians in distress during the Covid-19 pandemic, and its equally painful aftermath. Sonu may have spent most of his acting career playing negative characters, but his almost single-handed effort to help migrant thousands of labourers reach their homes during the pandemic’s first wave followed by supplying oxygen and other essential medical equipment to thousands of needy patients during the second wave earned him a messiah-like status among the masses. Now that the worst of the pandemic is (hopefully) behind us, his NGO — Sood Charity Foundation — is setting up efforts to help the underprivileged with education and jobs.   <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD__DSC7301_1664003082655.jpg"><figcaption>Sonu Sood is wearing a sherwani with a pocket square and brooch by Raghavendra Rathore. His ring and footwear are from Tribe by Amrapali and Vaibhav Mitali, respectively. Sonu is also wearing Big Bang Integrated Ceramic in sky-blue by Hublot.</figcaption></figure>For someone who is busy balancing his reel and real-life passions with equal zeal, Sonu makes a lasting first impression at the Zee Zest digital cover shoot at ITC Grand Maratha, Mumbai where his warm greetings and hugs to the entire crew establish how he connects with people instantly and with ease. My first question: How tall are you? He stood up, put his hands around my shoulder, and said 6'3.5". And with that begins a one-of-a-kind shoot where we see Sonu don three bespoke, handcrafted outfits from some of the most popular homegrown designers-- Nivedita Saboo, Karan Torani and Raghavendra Rathore. Throughout the shoot day, we saw the superhero who has starred in several movies like Yuva (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Dabangg (2010), Shootout at Wadala (2013), R… Rajkumar (2013), Happy New Year (2014), Devi (2016), Kung Fu Yoga (2017), and Simmba (2018),  address incessant calls that sought his help, during the breaks. And that leaves us imagining the power of this one-of-a-kind celebrity who is worshipped as a messiah and a deity, for helping the needy single-handedly. Though a private suite was reserved for the shoot, the occasional selfie requests from guests in the corridor or lift never went unanswered. After all, Sonu Sood belongs to the people of India.  When we finally sat down for our chat, we spoke about charity, movies and life in general. Edited Excerpts: <h2>1. How do you look back at your incredible acting career in the South Indian film industry? </h2>I always believed in films down South. I have done close to 60 movies in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada. Entertainment has no language. People spend a lot of money and time watching movies in theatres. Filmmakers still believe in fulfilling that core responsibility of entertaining the theatre-going audience. I remember when I started doing films down south, a lot of my friends used to say, “Tu Hindi speaking ho ke bhi, Bollywood chhod ke South ke movies kyun karta hain?”. I always chose films that excited me as an actor or in the content. That’s why many a time I decided to opt for South films over Bollywood films. Some of them did really well and that cemented my position in South cinema.  <h2>2. What are your thoughts on S.S Rajamouli? </h2>S. S. Rajamouli is technically brilliant, a great narrator, and believes in massy entertainers like Baahubali and RRR.  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_14922_SONU_SOOD5119_1664003028251.jpg"><figcaption>Sonu looks dashing in a textured blazer with red pocket square by Nivedita Saboo. On his wrist is the Big Bang Unico Red Magic by Hublot.</figcaption></figure><h2>3. Why do you think Bollywood movies are not doing well in the theatres recently? </h2>Cinema is always larger than life. When an individual goes to a theatre to watch a film, they want to be that actor on screen. Somewhere, if we fail to create that larger-than-life image, we fail to connect with that theatre-going audience. The South Indian film industry has always catered to it, I’m sure Bollywood will also do the same.  <h2>4. Tell us about your maiden home production… </h2>The project we are starting our production house, Shakti Sagar Productions, with is called Fateh. We have already done 16 months of prep and writing. I didn’t want to roll a movie till our homework was right. Some of the best researchers and content creators have worked on the project. Now that we are set to roll, I am very excited. I am glad that the hours we spent researching the subject are helping us sail through smoothly. It’s a film based on cybercrime, a threat that the country is facing, and how a common man is sucked into the mess unknowingly. The film’s message is powerful, it can guide the audience to be careful and not get cheated. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_14922_SONU_SOOD5297_1664003059791.jpg"><figcaption>Sonu sood rocks a Karan Torani ensemble paired with shoes from Escaro Royale and ring from Tribe by Amrapali. He is also sporting the Big Bang Integrated King Gold by Hublot.</figcaption></figure><h2>5. How did the cult character of Cheddi Singh in ‘Dabangg’ come about? </h2>Most of Cheddi Singh’s dialogues and other famous lines from Dabangg were written by me. All the filmmakers and actors who have worked with me know that I am very good at writing dialogues, screenplays and scenes. Even in Fateh, I have done the same. Cheddi Singh was inspired by my college days when I used to live with students from Bihar as my roommates. We created the character based on them. Even ‘Bhaiyyaji Smile’ was a real character we had in our college in Nagpur. They were always very fond of having their photographs clicked and had photographers accompany them. And they would always say ‘Bhaiyyaji smile‘. We put it in the script three days before the shoot started!  One day, while shooting in Wai near Pune, Salman took me out for dinner and suddenly said, “Sonu, tu bahut lamba hain yaar, teri taange toh gaadi mein fit ho jayegi na?” I replied, “Salman, kya hain na, kanoon ke haath aur Sonu Sood ki laath dono bahut lambi hain bhai.” He said, “Arre yeh bahut kamaal ka dialogue hain, use karte hain picture main.” The next day we were shooting when the famous dialogue was incorporated into the film. We just replaced Sonu Sood with Cheddi Singh. This is how Cheddi Singh became a cult character on screen. <h2>6. How did you decide to launch the Sood Charity Foundation?  </h2>I lost my mother in 2007 and since then I have been doing my bit to help people. But I wanted to do it on a scale that could touch a lot of lives. I realised that time had come when, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the whole country got in touch with me; someone needed medical attention, someone education or a job. I wanted to do everything. So, from that day, we thought of creating a family that would cater to every need of the needy. At Sood Foundation, if people connect with us, we try and change their lives. We get connected with new people every day and most importantly, they are usually not from wealthy families. They are also the ones who were helped during Covid-19, so there is a different emotion attached to them. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_14922_SONU_SOOD4928a_1664002994867.jpg"></figure><h2>7. What is your biggest realisation from all the relief work you have undertaken during the past couple of years? </h2>Umeed aur koshish. ‘Hope’ and ‘effort’ are two of the most important words I have experienced in life. When someone has hope that someone can save a life and you put an effort towards that, there is nothing more special than that.  Every day I meet people who have come from all over the country — from Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Odisha — I see hope in their eyes. Often, I hear them say they didn’t have money to buy train tickets to come to Mumbai, but when they told the ticket collector they were coming to meet me, he would let them travel for free. That hope keeps me on my toes always and I try to put in genuine efforts and God somehow guides you when you are changing the lives of so many people. There are miles to go, but the journey is on. <h2>8. How does it feel to have an aircraft with your image on it? </h2>It takes me down memory lane when I came to Mumbai on an unreserved ticket from Delhi. I didn’t know a single person in the city. Recently, when I travelled in that aircraft with my name and face painted on it, I missed my parents the most. They were not around to see that; I wish I could take them on the flight. But I know wherever they are, they would be happy.   <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD__DSC7368_1664003137110.jpg"></figure><h2>9. Tell us about your new initiative to help IAS aspirants… </h2>I have a lot of friends who are in administrative services. Many of them are from environmentally challenged backgrounds like Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. They want to work for the country but they don’t have the resources. So, I thought why not give them a platform where they get what they deserve? IAS preparations are very costly and not easily accessible to most people. Anyone from any part of the country can connect with us and we will make sure that we help them prepare for the exams. Last year, we helped 40,000 aspirants. Over the last one and a half days, we have received close to 12,000 entries. Even if 50 can clear from this, just imagine what they can do for the country.<h2>10. How does one get a fit body like Sonu Sood? </h2>To get a body like Sonu Sood is not very difficult. You have to love yourself. When I explored fitness during my engineering college days, I was pretty excited to go to a large gym, having not experienced anything like that in a small town like Moga, where I came from. I suddenly felt this is the world I belonged to. I never thought I would be an actor; fitness kept me going. When I look back, I think fitness played a major role in my career and helped me survive the difficult times. I think fitness is not just about the body, it’s about the mind also.  Every day of mine starts with working out. Since the day I started working out till date, I have never missed a single day at the gym unless I am unwell or I don’t have access to a gym. I consider 22 hours as my day, and the other two hours are for exercising.  <h2>11. What are your thoughts on the Zee Zest cover shoot and the looks curated for you?  </h2>I thank Raghavendra Rathore for this beautiful black sherwani. It’s always essential to have a break sometimes from the casual look of denim and tees and today was the perfect occasion to wear formal. Credits: Editor: Sumita BagchiPhotographer: Atul KasbekarCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaAssistant Photographer and BTS: Rahul SawantBTS Edit: Media EdgeStylist: Pyu MishraHair stylist: Rajendra ChawanMake up artist: Junaid Shaikh for Hakim AalimLocation: ITC Maratha MumbaiArtist Reputation Management: Raindrop Media

Zee Zest catches up with Sonu Sood to talk about all things cinema, charity, and Cheddi Singh.

Zee Zest catches up with Bollywood actor Sonu Sood and finds out why he likes South cinema and what led him to do charity work.

Zee Zest Digital Cover | September 2022 | Sonu Sood acting philanthropy 

The Dreamer, The Achiever, The Saviour: Sonu Sood

 Bollywood

Sonu Sood

 Celebrities

“My dream role? I am a greedy actor. I am someone who wants to do it all,” Huma Qureshi tells us. “But being a superhero would be my dream role.” We’re chatting with the Maharani 2 actor on the sets of Zee Zest’s August 2022 digital cover shoot at the newly launched Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai hotel. She’s dressed in a plain black t-shirt and a comfy pair of track pants, her hair tied in a ponytail, and a bare face that tells us she's comfortable in her own skin. It is a dressed-down, cosy attire for a rainy mid-week afternoon before she transitioned into the chic style diva for the digital cover shoot. We started with multiple rounds of rapid-fire questions to break the ice, and I was comforted by her casual and friendly demeanour peppered with a unique sense of humour and sarcasm. That set the stage for a candid conversation about her travels, experiments with movies, becoming a positive thinker, and leading her life on her own terms.  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_17_AUG_20222284_1661487550073.jpg"><figcaption>Our cover star Huma Qureshi is wearing a multicoloured dress from Zara with a Lable Jenn leather belt, and  a trench coat by Kh House of Khadar. She has accessorised the ensemble with a pair of E3K earrings and Soeazi nails. She is wearing Coach Audrey, a sleek rose gold watch paired with rich burgundy mother of pearl dial, adorned with sparkling crystals.</figcaption></figure>“People often think that I am a very serious person. But I am a goofball and you should never take me seriously,” she asserts. A few responses to our rapid-fire Q&A, and there is no doubt that she’s funny—but there is also no way we can take her lightly. There is no mistaking that her dynamic personality and jauntiness also come with a strong work profile. Huma shot to fame with her debut role in the multigenerational crime saga Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). Her badass portrayal of a mafia’s wife won the actor several awards. She and her fellow actors garnered global recognition when Gangs of Wasseypur was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012; after all, it was the first mainstream Bollywood film to be selected for the Director’s Fortnight. She has won critical acclaim for her roles in Dedh Ishqiya and Shorts. And that’s just Hindi films. She won the ‘best actress in a leading role’ award by one of India’s leading publications for her performance in SonyLiv’s Maharani, a political drama series on OTT. Huma as the protagonist managed to mesmerise the audience with her powerful and magnetic aura. Cut to 2022, Huma’s Valimai (in Tamil and Hindi) has garnered a lot of appreciation; and now, she’s ready to reel in the success of the second season of Maharani.   <h2>Conforming is not the norm for Huma</h2>Huma’s not the one to try and fit in; instead, she stands out, knowingly or unknowingly, courtesy of her game-changing approach to life. “I never took any of the stereotypes seriously since I valued dedication and hard work. I firmly believe that you get what you give, thus I always gave my all and [have] received nothing less,” shares Huma, who seems to have made her peace with the fact that her work will do the talking on her behalf. This is evident in her unconventional role choices. If you have watched Dedh Ishqiya, Ek Thi Dayan, Badlapur, Dobaara, Kaala, or Army of the Dead (her Hollywood debut), you’ll notice that each character has a distinct personality. At one point she’s the companion of a con-woman; at another, she’s playing a mother looking for her daughter’s whereabouts in a totalitarian regime; and then there she is acing a Qawwali performance in the recent Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Gangubai Kathiawadi with her killer expressions. “I enjoy exploring and experimenting with new roles and scripts, so I select a project that allows me to learn a new character and become a better version of myself,” shares Huma, who looks at each work opportunity as a chance to learn new things and skill sets. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_17_AUG_20222351_1661487440748.jpg"></figure>Based on her experience in the industry playing diverse and eclectic roles, Huma also feels that at this point, we are walking the talk when we say that women today should be empowered in more ways than one. “The audience is quite appreciative of how well women are doing in every aspect of life,” she says.   <h2>Well-being comes first</h2>"Health and wellness have always been top priorities for me; but in 2022, I started prioritising mental wellness too,” shares Huma, who swears by the mantra: ’my body, my rules’. In 2021, Huma debuted on TV as the host of Zee Zest’s <a href="https://zeezest.com/shows/fit-fab-feast-with-huma-qureshi-4">Fit Fab and Feast </a>with Huma Qureshi, where we watched her ace fitness challenges like a bawse. And in 2022, her focus on mental well-being has been evident. Scour through her Instagram profile and you’ll know there’s more than what meets the eye. She’s adventurous, creative, affectionate, ambitious, and straightforward. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_17_AUG_20222440_1661487458341.jpg"><figcaption>Huma's donned a white mesh off-shoulder ruched midi dress by Herin, paired with Zevar King earrings and nails by Soeazi. She is is wearing Coach Cary 34mm watch that sparkles with bright rainbow-hued pavé crystals.</figcaption></figure>She recently opened up about how battling her inner demons gave her the confidence to embrace herself in the most authentic way and her life decisions. Curious to know how that happened, we enquired about Huma’s secrets for mental and physical wellbeing. “I make sure to set out time for my wellbeing. I combine HIIT (high-intensity interval training) with yoga for my workout. And my physical and mental health have greatly benefitted by my practice of yoga and meditation,” she explains. But her biggest therapy, and stress reliever, has been her dog. Her lightness of being and optimistic attitude toward life becomes ever more evident through her poetic endeavours. Soaking in the little moments and joys of life, and weaving them into poetry, Huma is clearly a dreamer, who is manifesting her own desires one step at a time. Loving, living and dreaming, Huma often gives wings to her gypsy soul by bringing alive her hidden melancholic poet.  “I want to go where the seas meet the skies, mountains kiss sunshine, and winds whisper sweet-nothings in my ears,” reads one of the verses she posted on her social media account. Perhaps, this is Huma’s way of expressing herself. Or maybe, it’s a beautiful escape from the strenuous limelight. Either way, it’s hard to ignore this whimsical side of Huma.  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_17_AUG_20222280_1661487476729.jpg"></figure><h2>Thinking positive </h2>A key point in taking care of one’s mental health is to cultivate a positive outlook on things. Huma acknowledges the power of positive thinking and says that it has allowed her to communicate with the universe. “Because attraction is defined by what you think or say, optimistic thinking has enabled me to achieve much in life.” But it doesn’t take much time for positivity to turn toxic at times. The need to always be positive at any cost, in any situation, can get tricky, and Huma quite agrees. “It is not easy to change your negative thoughts to positive ones. It is genuinely not easy to do, but I believe we do it most of the time,” she reassures.  <h2>Matters of size </h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_17_AUG_20222101_1661487388100.jpg"><figcaption>The 'Maharani 2' actor is sporting a Dhruv Kapoor ruffle shirt with a Massimo Dutti satin skirt. Her look is paired with a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, hand cuffs and a pair of earrings by Zevar King, and nails by Soezi. On her wrist is Coach Preston 36mm bejewelled watch studded with pavé crystals across the dial, bezel and bracelet.</figcaption></figure>Come to think of it, our cover girl's already a real-life superhero—not force-fitting herself in society’s moulds and inspiring people to bring the change they want to see. Sure, Huma tasted success early in her film career, but criticism wasn’t far behind. She faced negative comments online regarding her body weight. While it did affect her initially, over time, she stopped reacting to body shamers. “I am not doing something to make them happy or to get friendly with them so that they write good stuff about me. That is their opinion and I leave it up to them. That is their opinion and I leave it up to them,” she said in an interview with Hindustan Times. Huma is clearly paving the path for body positivity—living her life on her own terms, loving the person that she is, and celebrating herself unapologetically are her ways of dealing with all that hate. “Celebrating yourself is really important. If you won't, who else will!,” states the Maharani 2 actor. The confidence she channels today comes after nearly a decade of proving her mettle as a talented actor and performer. Also, by being at the receiving end of criticism for her weight and dealing with it. When not making our jaws drop with her excellent dialogue delivery and charisma, Huma is busy advocating body positivity and smashing stereotypes in her own unique way. She’s also raising eyebrows with important questions like ‘why can’t we respect and appreciate individuality?’ and ‘why does there have to be a box? And why is it important for us to fit into that?’. To continue to champion this cause and her belief that every person is beautiful, Huma is now gearing up for Double XL. It will be her debut film as a producer and will address the pressing issue of body shaming, which she has been a victim of, time and again. Huma is all about finding joy, not sticking to stereotypes, and doing whatever she deems fit—be it related to her body, mind, life, or career; and we’re totally digging this oh-so-relatable Maharani! Aren’t you?  Credits: Editor: Sumita Bagchi   Photographer: Atul Kasbekar Creative Consultant: Mitrajit Bhattacharya Watch Partner: Coach Assistant photographer and BTS video: Rahul Sawant Video Edit: Media Edge Stylist: Aastha Sharma, Wardrobist Assistant stylist: Reann Moradian and Nida Shah Hair stylist: Ajay Vishwasrao Makeup: Susan Emmanuel Location: Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai Artist PR: Pearl Media

For most of us, she already is a real-life superhero, showing us the real meaning of self-love and confidence.

Zeezest.com digital cover star for August 2022, Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi talks about self-love, wellness, self-care, and more.

Interview with Maharani 2 Actor Huma Qureshi | Zee Zest Digital Cover Aug 2022

Huma Qureshi: The Maharani Who Aspires To Be A Superhero 

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There’s something very encouraging about watching your favourite Miss India take centerstage 20 years later, armed with a sparkling smile and crown, with her husband and kids. It’s a sign of innate confidence and happiness that we want real-life queens to wear more than figure-hugging gowns and contoured faces. And that’s why Neha Dhupia, who was recently felicitated at the finale of Femina Miss India 2022 for completing 20 years of winning the Miss India crown, is the perfect Zee Zest Cover Star for July as we celebrate heartfelt conversations and causes. With Neha on set at the cover shoot, there’s action all around. What clothes to pick, what course to give the mood board, what careers to pursue, what camera angles work best, and a lot more.  A slew of no-holds-barred conversations that show her involvement and passion for putting her best self out there is the reason why we adore Neha.<h2>She’s done it all </h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_1687_1657186150567.jpg"><figcaption>Neha Dhupia is wearing a Sonakshi Raaj outfit with a statement necklace from Joolry and ring from Anayah Jewellery.</figcaption></figure>Not many would remember but she featured in Euphoria’s music video for the song ‘Sha Na Na Na Na’. The curly-haired Neha in that video went on to compete in Miss India beauty pageant in 2002 and won! She represented India at the Miss Universe pageant. Her first film was with Ajay Devgn—Qayamat: City Under Threat. She also went on to do critically acclaimed films such as Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Shootout at Lokhandwala, and Dasvidaniya. In 2016, she started her podcast No Filter Neha, a chat-show format podcast where she speaks to the who’s who of the Indian entertainment industry—including Karan Johar and Sourav Ganguly. She produced the last season from home during the peak of the pandemic in 2020.  Most recently, she played ACP Catherine Alvarez in the OTT-release film A Thursday. “It’s a huge change to let an eight-month pregnant woman be on screen,” Neha says of her role in A Thursday.  Always on her toes, Neha has already finished shooting two projects—a short film for Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment and a comedy film for Anand Tiwari and Dharma Productions. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_horizontal%20website%20banner_1657186203718.jpg"><figcaption>Neha looks queenly is this emerald Gauri & Nainika dress with statement earrings from Joolry.</figcaption></figure>Her unfiltered conversations on her podcast are just another reason why Neha continues to win our hearts with her refreshingly candid ways in an era where most actors use filters to look and sound good. But if you ask her, Neha will tell you that this is your opinion of her and not hers necessarily. And yet, she is unafraid to share her own truth—whether it is acknowledging that she didn’t succeed in many of her early auditions in Bollywood or dealing with her post-pregnancy body. Neha’s journey as a model, actor, TV show host, and podcaster sets her apart from others who tread on the tried and tested path.  <h2>Ageing with grace </h2>Our conversation with Neha is peppered with throwbacks to the early days of her career and comparing that to now. As a 40-something, with experience on her side, Neha finds growing older liberating. She accepts that her career choices, during the initial years, were dependent on what her peers and people she looked up to were doing. “There were times that it was difficult to gauge which parts of me were appreciated more. Those moments were important turning points for me,” she admits, saying that it finally pushed her to accept herself as she was. “The coolest part about getting older is that you're extremely comfortable in your skin. And one of the reasons is that you've been living with yourself for so long and somewhere down the lane you get tired of living up to expectations, and it's very refreshing to just be yourself,” she adds. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_1642_1657186132619.jpg"><figcaption>Neha looks fresh and fantastic in this Limerick by Abirr n' Nanki kaftan and jewellery by Abhilasha Prey Jewellery and Tribe Amrapali. Her footwear is from Paio.</figcaption></figure>Raw, refreshing and unabashed—this is the person a lot of people relate to when they think of Neha Dhupia. She explains, “I'm a little more risqué in my choices when it comes to my work. I also think that by being myself I've given myself more relevance and length to my career. When I started working, I always thought I’d be doing mainstream commercial films,” she says, adding that this was also when she fit presumptuous stereotypes that came with being in the Indian film industry. “At that point, I never thought that 18 years later, I would be eight months pregnant with my second child and still acting,” she says. The mother of two—her second child, son Guriq was born in October 2021—is enjoying the success of her recent film, A Thursday, an OTT release. She plays a pregnant cop, a role that was reconfigured for her. Being part of modern storytelling, as she calls it, is exciting as it's more inclusive. “We’ve survived a pandemic where entertainment is the last thing on one's mind when you have to make it. And the first thing on someone’s mind when you want to consume it,” says Neha, speaking of change. The pandemic was a time of introspection for the industry where everybody was focused on reevaluating and reassessing what needs to be done. “New, interesting and never-before-explored subjects and concepts have had the opportunity to be told. The most satisfying feeling is that these stories have worked. The trial and error of the business are continuous, especially now in the digital age,” she explains. <h2>Always on her terms </h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_1910_1657186181898.jpg"><figcaption>Neha is wearing a Gauri & Nainika dress with statement earrings from Joolry.</figcaption></figure>From an era of shooting films where every scene was rehearsed before the final take to doing Reels for Instagram—Neha considers herself blessed to be on the evolutionary journey. “I love this job. I don't want to do anything else,” she says with great passion. “I have always enjoyed the choices I made in life, and I also have had many offbeat choices in my career, in my style, in my personal life (I became a mum, much later in life), and here I am. I think, as long you are true to yourself without hurting anyone along the line, you’re not in a bad space.” Neha has always consciously shed labels to that she is cut from a different cloth. “People have expectations from you all the time. But the whole idea of living your life is to minimise these.” She considers herself to be a perfectionist, “who strives for as much perfection in a minimal amount of time.” A big part of this is to find balance in life. “Things are expected out of me as a professional and then things are expected out of me as a mom. It is my aim to give attention to both and make sure that I embrace each one with as much love and care and responsibility,” she adds. Like any other woman in the country, the elusive work-life balance is the ultimate goal for Neha. She runs through a daily timetable that ensures she gets her me time as well time with her husband and keeps her children on a routine. “The balance needs to be maintained,” she reiterates stating that her relationship with her husband needs to be prioritised while balancing their parental duties. “I can't be with my kids and take work calls or vice versa. It’s counterproductive,” she says, adding it helps find balance when you set boundaries. <h2>Messy momma and proud of it </h2>Neha is a hands-on mother—this conversation and her social media are proof. She chuckles as she says, “I am a mess at home! I do not look like what I look like on a magazine cover. Most of the time I am working on 10% brain capacity because 90% is taken up by my children.” But she wouldn’t change it for the world. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_1777_1657186165753.jpg"><figcaption>Neha Dhupia is wearing a Sonakshi Raaj outfit with a statement necklace from Joolry anf ring from Anayah Jewellery.</figcaption></figure>She tells us how her two pregnancies were different from each other. “With my first one (daughter Mehr), I was taking advice from everyone. With my son, I'm kind of learning from my own experience,” she explains. It is a more relaxed approach with Guriq that comes from experience and knowing that every little thing won’t always go as planned, but there is no need to panic. “I've just decided that I'm going to run with the cuteness that they come with. I look at them and then my heart is full. My eyes can’t get enough of them, and my arms just want to hold on to them. They are two pieces of my heart that are beating outside of me. I wake up and I think that I must have done something right in my life and I feel so blessed,” she gushes about her children. Parenting is a subject that she feels strongly about and that’s why she started the community, Freedom to Feed—which stemmed from the stigma she faced while feeding her daughter. “It started with one voice talking about breastfeeding and now I'm very proud to say that we're 25,000 parents strong,” she adds. The conversation has expanded to important discussions about child development. Currently, Neha’s aim is to get her strength back and she’s back into fitness in a big way. “I am on track and on the track running to help me get back in shape,” she says adding that fitness is a big part of her life and her aim is to be at a level of fitness and health that makes her happy.  <hr>Credits:Editor: Sumita Bagchi  Photographer: Atul KasbekarCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaAssistant photographer and BTS video: Rahul SawantEditing: Media EdgeStylist: Anshika VermaAssistant stylist: Tanazfatima CharaniaHair stylist: Poonam SolankiMakeup: Mita VaswaniLocation: JW Marriott Juhu MumbaiArtist PR: Think Talkies

…our hearts for more than 20 years with her infectious smile and her #no-filter conversations. The former Miss India schools us on how to speak your heart out. 

Actor and mother of two, Neha Dhupia spills the beans on being a professional in Indian film industry and how to be on a growth path. Read on zeezest.com.

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DIGITAL COVERS

Tahira Kashyap Khurrana: The Power Of Being Unapologetically You

Milind Soman: The OG Heartthrob Is Back!

In The Big League: Hansika Motwani

The Dreamer, The Achiever, The Saviour: Sonu Sood

Huma Qureshi: The Maharani Who Aspires To Be A Superhero

Neha Dhupia: She Came, She Stayed, She Conquered…