Every team is a competition for us - Garima Jain

Actress Garima Jain speaks on cricket! Why did you choose to be part of Goa killer? How is it playing?

> I chose Goa Killer in MTV BCL because it is a new team and I wanted to invest my time to a new team and this year it will be like an experimenting year and next year we will be even stronger. Whenever we say Goa the first thing comes in my mind is water so I have this inclination towards water animals and I am a Shark too. So definitely it's great playing with Goa Killer and I really love it.

Is it tough to take out time for projects like this?

> Of course, it is very tough and very taxing because I shoot for Shakti and my set is in Naigaon so it's like you dedicate 12 hours of working on set and then travelling and then you go fro the practice, you play, you exercise so much. It's quite taxing. At the end, the result is very sweet and I have fallen in love with this sport. Anyway, I have always been a multitasker and I love multitasking. And also it's a way to get in shape so treated it as a workout.

Since when you love cricket and share your passion for the sport.

> Well, honestly since my childhood days I used to hate cricket. People used to watch cricket and I was like don't you have any work other than this but I think the love and liking for the sport grew last year when I played for BCL which happened on Colors so yes, I learned what is cricket all about and I started playing and with that time being I started enjoying it and also started loving cricket. Now it has become my passion and after shooting for hours if we are getting to play cricket, it's worth!

What will the main tasks and responsibilities be in the team?

> There are many tasks and responsibilities. Any sport for that matter requires teamwork. So yes, responsibility towards the game, towards our players and towards proving ourselves that we are no less.

What do you think the main challenges will be?

> I think the main challenge will be since it's a new team, to prove ourselves. I don't know about this year but last year Delhi Dragon was the strongest team and I believe Chennai and Mumbai will be quite strongest this time since there has been a lot of shuffling. Every team is a competition for us.

How much practice you do on day to day basis?

> Well, again it depends but we try and practice for at least 2 hours a day.

To build up more stamina and energy what is the physical training you are undergoing now please share...

> We do a lot of stretching exercises and we have got a physiotherapist who's there to help us of any injury or inflammation. There's a diet plan for the players so we started eating healthy. We are already on diet. We have started playing and having a lot of water. We have been having energy bars, protein shakes and all of that.

How is it working with Marinating Films (Anand Mishra)?

> Well, it's a two years association and I am totally loving it. They are very friendly and I am glad that they have come with something like this and more of such leagues should happen. There are people who play football in the TV industry and who are really good players, there are people who play good badminton and everything. So now I think Marinating Films should come up with something different. It could be Kabaddi also and I am really excited by the way. Goa Killer has fantastic owners in Manik Soni and Alan Kapoor.

Who is your favourite cricketer and why?

> Definitely Sachin Tendulkar goes without saying. I don't know off late I started liking Virat Kohli too and I have a crush on him but otherwise, also I have seen him playing and he is superb when it comes to his sport. I love the passion, the dedication and the energy that he shows on the ground. I have seen him playing live as well. He plays football too and I have seen him and he had a phenomenal stamina on the ground and he was very aggressive on the field but one has to be if you really have that passion in your mind that you have to win and have to make this happen every player should have that. So I really love that and he is sporty that ways. He takes everything in a good way. Nobody likes facing failure but that one particular respect should be in a player only then you can win. You should have the motivation and you should have confidence in your team and you should keep boosting up the team and keep motivating them towards being healthy and towards giving your best.

Our relationship is mature enough to survive long distance: Rohit Purohit on bond with Sheena Bajaj

Actor Rohit Purohit is away shooting in Umbergaon for Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s Porus. While long distance may be a dangerous option for many couples, it is not so for Rohit and his girlfriend Sheena Bajaj. The actor says that his shooting schedules have often kept him away from Mumbai, and Sheena understands this. “I think that our relationship is mature enough to handle it now...I have been shooting out since Razia Sultan days, that too in low network place like Umbergaon. But Sheena is an extremely supportive partner. She understands this situation and rather motivates me to keep my focus on work,” he says.  

Sheena says that she doesn’t visit the set often. “I don’t visit the set very often, I just went once. I feel the long distance keeps our relationship more alive. He was away during Arjun for a long time. Even during Raziya Sultan and now Porus. But he took a break for more than a year between both shows, so we got time together,” says Sheena.  

However, she admits that it does get tough. “I get bored when he is not around as I hardly have any friends. I spent time with my family. Also, when he is bored, he comes to meet me at home and spends time with my family,” she says.  

Talking about their relationship, Sheena adds, “We have a great bond of friendship more like bros, where we do fun stuff together like horse riding and sword fitting and we chill when we meet.”

Varun Dhawan's October gift to fans this Valentine's Day

Shoojit Sircar and Varun Dhawan have given a sweet and striking gift to the legions of their fans: Introducing them to the world of October with a special video launched digitally today!

Shoojit Sircar's unique take on love will make you wonder about the beautiful journey of life and relationships. 

The film reportedly sees Varun Dhawan surpass all previous performances and  milestone he has set so far along with the young talent Banita Sandhu who is making her acting debut in the film. 

Tell us what you think!  

Produced by Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar, October stars Varun Dhawan and Banita Sandhu. A Rising Sun Films Production, directed by Shoojit Sircar the film is set to release on 13th April 2018.

Staying away from my family is tough: Salil Ankola

Actor Salil Ankola, who is part of Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s Karamphaldata Shani, is busy shooting in Umbergaon for the show. The actor says that staying away from his family is not easy. “I have been shooting in Umbergaon for the past one and half years almost and initially the days and work hours were hectic but now it's sorted. But still being away from my family, friends, my life in Mumbai and my dog Muffin is a feeling I don't like. It's been tough! My wife Ria accompanies me all the time so there is a bit of solace,” he says. 

However, he still loves being an actor. “An actor can live so many lives and he can portray so many characters which a normal person cannot. That's the best part and that makes everything worth it,” he says. 

However, Salil agrees that being an actor and a public figure comes with its own set of responsibilities. “I have been a cricketer for so long and now I am an actor. These are the two professions that are the lifeline of our country's residents. We have millions of followers, who follow our each and every step and also copy us in every way. So, it's very important that we influence them the right way,” he says, adding, “We need to be careful especially with the teenagers and the young crowd, who are the future of our country.” 

Talking about fans, Salil says that he has often had interesting experiences with them. “From playing cricket for India to being an actor on TV and featuring in music videos, I have had various fans and various fans experiences. I have got love letters written in blood to marriage proposals…you name it and I have experienced it. However, my most recent fan experience was kind of embarrassing. I was in a flight back to Mumbai and was sitting in the first seat in the aisle with my wife Ria. Lots of people were shaking my hand and moving forward. One such guy, who probably was in his mid-forties, came up to me and shook my hand. He then told the other passengers behind him to make space. Then, to my surprise, he did a Sashtaang Namaskar, by lying flat on his stomach with hands stretched in a namaskar at my feet, like we do in a temple. He said, "Suryadev mujhe aashirwaad dijiye aur meri saari sankate door kijiye, main aapka bhakt hoo". I have never been so embarrassed ever in my life!” he says. 

Salil says that now TV shows are also no longer regressive and are spreading the right message of equality. “Our country has adapted and progressed leaps and bounds when it comes to viewership in urban areas and is open to a lot of bolder topics. The rural audience still has not reached that level of acceptance, though things are changing fast with people's mentalities,” he says. 

In fact, the actor says that there are a lot of changes in the TV industry too. “Now there are lots of channels and hence it gives a chance to a lot of actors to show their talent. Also, nowadays it's tougher to get TRPs and maintain them as the choice is wider. Secondly, with the trend of web series catching up, we are moving towards bolder subjects, stories and experiments, where there is no third party interferences in the casting,” he says. 

Talking about the kind of roles that he wants to take up, Salil says, “In my career in TV, I have done various roles as the lead. I am looking forward to some kind of an Indianised Game of Thrones series which will be fantabulous. I am even keen on taking up a mature love story which will be very demanding to perform. A father and son spy series set or a fantastic comedy will also be interesting. Basically, anything that will get me out of my comfort zone,” he says.

I am fortunate to be starting my BCL journey with the winning team: Pratham Kunwar

Actor Pratham Kunwar will be playing in Ekta Kapoor and Anand Mishra’s MTV BCL for Delhi Dragons. The actor is thrilled to be part of this team as it has been winning since the past two years. “Luckily, I’m playing for Delhi Dragons, they are the champion team for last two years. And I'm very fortunate to start my BCL campaign with the champion team. It is great playing with them,” he says. 

He adds, “This is my first year in BCL and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. The organizers have planned it very well and have done a great job. Congratulations to Marinating Films for this great BCL tournament.”

 The actor says that it is not tough for him to take out time for practice. “I love this sport and enjoy every bit of it. Mostly, we practice in the night so I can take out time easily,” he says. 

Pratham adds that his main aim will be to make sure to not let down his team. “Delhi is winning since the last two years, so already there are many good players in the team. I have to match up to their energy levels. I’m a batsman but I have to be good in all departments. Whatever my captain and team require from me, I'm there to give it to them,” he says. 

Pratham says that since all actors work out daily, stamina is not something that he is concerned about. “we actors are already very health conscious and gym freaks. So, we don’t have to do anything extra to build stamina. We also have an expert for the team, who looks after our fitness,” he says. 

Pratham’s association with the game goes way back. “Cricket is in my blood. I have played a lot of cricket in my school and college time and I have represented many clubs in MCA tournaments. Being in the television industry, BCL is the best platform to show your cricketing talent and skills,” he says.  

And who is his favourite cricketer? “There is only one God in Cricket and that’s none other than Sachin Tendulkar,” he says.