Jiah Khan: Terrified of dancing with Shahid Kapur

The much talked-about dance for Ken Ghosh's untitled film choreographed by Justin Timberlake's choreographer Marty Kudelka almost didn't happen. Reason? Jiah Khan got two cold left feet when she realised that she would have to match steps with Shahid Kapur for one of the most intricate dance items ever shot in this country. Finally, Jiah took a deep breath and took the plunge.

"It was the most fabulous experience of my life. Shahid looked like Justin Timberlake and I looked like Britney Spears. We even danced in their style," Jiah exults. "Learning my steps from such a well-known choreographer was a dream come true. Marty has definitely brought in a freshness to our song and dance routine."

In her film with Shahid Kapur, directed by Ken Ghosh, Jiah Khan plays a choreographer. "It is a dance film, and my first film with a co-star of my own age. So, I finally got to romance someone of my own age. Shahid is an amazing dancer. I don't know how he does it. I was scared because I had to match his steps. I knew I would not be able to match him. But I know I can hold my own. Two days before we shot the song, I stopped sleeping. I was terrorised."....Continue

Maha home problem

Since 1977, Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (Mhada) has been synonymous with affordable housing. Although the last few years did not really see ‘affordable’ housing coming up, the situation changed drastically three months ago when Mhada came out with its first ‘one-room-kitchen set’ at Malad-Malvani. Around 850 flats were sold, with almost a lakh Mumbaikars trying their luck at the lottery. The last year ended with a bang when Mhada announced its ‘town plan’ of 3,500 flats for lower and middle-income groups at Sion, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, Dahisar and Chembur and high-end premium flats at Versova.

But that's the end of joy. Buyers would get their keys only after making full and final payment. Presently, the least expensive LIG flats available at Dahisar and Ghatkopar are priced at Rs 3.5 lakh, the expensive HIG Versova flats at Rs 32 lakh to Rs 42 lakh and the MIG flats are priced between Rs seven to 16 lakh, and a one-time payment might push people to avail of bank loans.....Continue

Licensing policies continue to stifle India

All across India, adulteration of fuel oil by mixing petrol with much cheaper and subsidised kerosene is a common practice, thanks to the major difference between the price of the two. As a result, the highly subsidised kerosene, meant for the poor, ends up being sold illegally in the open market; while the oil retailing firms continue to lose billions of dollars every year due to the subsidy, which continues to be a tool for vote-bank politics even when it’s no more a secret as to how it is misused and how much pollution it causes.

Forty-five years of license raj had done much harm and stifled this nation. Though things have changed for better in the last seventeen years of an 'economically independent' India since the advent of liberalisation, the remaining reminiscence of licensing continue to stifle the path to prosperity of the aspiring common man and put him at harm's way. After all, there’s no other economy where the price of junk scrap would be in lakhs and the prohibitive pricing of the quality liquor would drive the poor man to drink things equal to poison. Time to allow the invisible hand of the market economy do the talking.....Continue