Talking sport

For a man who has as winning a way with commentating as Harsha Bhogle, is it any wonder that his first book would be called The Winning Way? But wait, this book is not Bhogle’s doing alone. It has been co-written with his corporate consultant wife Anita who, says Bhogle, has actually done “70 per cent” of it. “That’s because he keeps a hectic calendar,” pipes up Bhogle’s better half. In the book, the authors take tales from cricket, golf, tennis and other sports to find a connect between attaining goals, sustaining the winning habit and even losing. “I don’t know how many couples can co-write a book, especially when one is as unorganised as me and the other an exact opposite,” he says. Well, opposite or not, two is clearly better than one chez Bhogle.

Spanish sounds

Tanvi Shah, who rode the charts with the hit number Pappu can’t dance (in the movie Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na), is extremely pleased with herself. After she won a Grammy for writing the Spanish lyric for A.R. Rahman’s song Jai Ho in Slumdog Millionaire, Shah seems to have truly set a trend. A newly released film in the south features an exotic Portuguese song and the singer is thrilled with that. Says Shah, who can sing in Spanish and Arabic, “Songs in foreign languages bring people and cultures together. And the response is fantastic.” Last heard singing the incomprehensible Boom Boom Roboda number in Robot, the Rajinikanth vehicle, Shah is clearly in her elements when serving up foreign ditties. So we say (with apologies to ABBA) gracias for the music!

Street art

Kisalay Vora wants to bring art to every nook and corner of major Indian cities. The Mumbai-based artist, who graduated from JJ School of Arts, plans to instal art works at important junctions in cities that will reflect civic, cultural, environmental and everyday issues faced by the people. Vora plans to collaborate with artists from abroad and will also work with the municipal corporations of the respective Indian cities to get his project off the ground. “It’s my dream to paint my city, every wall and pavement, and spread awareness about human rights, religious exploitation, pollution and so on,” says Vora. A noble intent, indeed.

No hard feelings

Let’s hear it for Salman Khan. His old flame — the present young Mrs Bachchan — is pregnant, but Khan is not pounding away at the piano in the old jilted hero style. Instead, he is looking ahead to a rosy future for Abhishek and Aishwarya. “I want Abhishek and Ash to create an entire cricket team,” Salman told The Telegraph. “And a lot of good wishes to the grandfather,” he said. Salman may not share a great personal rapport with Abhishek, but he has an excellent professional relationship with Bachchan senior. The two even worked in God Tussi Great Ho a year after Ash and Abhishek got hitched in 2007. Salman, tussi great ho!

Food dude

Veteran actor Chunky Pandey is known for his quirks. And he is sure maintaining that reputation after his return to Bollywood following a long hiatus. In a new and as yet untitled film, Pandey essays four different roles — that of a Sikh, a Nepali, a Parsi and an Italian. And the “method” actor that he is, he seems to have devised his own unique method to get under their skin. Believe it or not, he has taken to eating food that is particular to the community the character belongs to! So it is dhan sak while he plays the Parsi, momos when he plays the Nepali, sarson ka saag is the fare when he dons the turban of a Sikh, and naturally, lots of pasta to be put away when he becomes an Italian. Now, whoever thought that the way to a character’s heart was food!