DLD‰‰†‰KDLD‰‰†‰DLD‰‰†‰MDLD‰‰†‰C Forrest Gump Hrithik’s roshan THE TIMES OF INDIA meets ET? Preity comes shining Friday, August 8, 2003 ko Koi Mil Gaya! through in Delhi Man sings lullabies for pigs Page 8 Page 10 He’s on song — but has met and plays music for his pigs with an animated reaction. as this ‘‘calms them down Raymond Collier, a farmer and might even make them who sings lullabies and pla- grow bigger.’’ A spokesper- ys classical music for the 20 son for the Council says th- pigs on his farm at its officers had at Hampshire, visited the site, has incurred the but found that the wrath of his neig- lullabies and mu- hbours, who have sic were ‘‘not loud complained to the enough to consti- Fareham Borou- tute a nuisance.’’ gh Council about In other words, the noise. it’s not worth losi- Collier, 63, says ng sleep over lul- he sings lullabies labies for pigs! OF INDIA ENTERTAINMENT PLUS SOFT DRINKS, HARD BATTLES Consumers apart, the reported presence of pesticides in soft drinks gives MPs, vendors and star-endorsers cola for thought Times News Network — it’s business as usual, the worry li- ngers. For, the consequences can pinch he fallout has been immediate. WITH PESTICIDES, ARE COLAS STILL COOL? the pocket in the long run. ‘‘Customers Alarmed by the recent Centre for baat kar rahe the iske baare mein,’’ reve- TScience and Environment (CSE) Here’s what our stars who endorse colas ne bola... als Raja, who sells an assortment of bev- report which indicates the presence of erages, including colas, at his kiosk op- pesticides in 12 major brands of soft dr- ■ KAREENA KA- ■ SALMAN posite the ISBT, ‘‘So far, business has inks sold in Delhi, Lok Sabha MPs have POOR: What non- COLA CONTROVERSY KHAN: Why been normal, but we are worried about sought a ban on these beverages. More- sense! I have gro- ask me? You the future.’’ A similar sentiment is exp- over,an immediate freeze has been ann- wn up drinking co- must ask the ressed by Akram, a roadside vendor ne- ounced on colas — whose credentials las and I am still masses whether ar Regal cinema: ‘‘Peenewale toh cold dr- vis-a-vis hygiene are now suspect — bei- alive and kicking. they want to dr- inks lenge hi, but the exact impact will ng served in Parliament. Do I look sick? ink colas or not. be known over the next few days.’’ Not surprisingly,official agencies re- ■ SOURAV GAN- Or talk to the pe- The reaction of consumers, in turn, sponsible for testing the purity of food GULY: This is a ople who manu- appears to be varied. Says Tanya Mehra, and beverages are on high alert. After very delicate issue. facture colas. I a graphic designer, who has a cola after all, with reports of toxins in milk, adult- I would rather not don’t know mu- work every day, ‘‘It’s okay, yaar.’’ Adds eration of bottled water,and now pestic- comment on the ch about develo- businessman Dhruv Kothari, ‘‘These ides in colas, can the consumer afford to matter at this poi- pments. For us, findings might dissuade people from dr- drink anything, if at all? ‘‘While we cer- nt of time. endorsements inking colas for a few days, but public tainly lift samples of soft drinks from ti- ■ HRITHIK ROS- are just a comm- memory is short.’’ But not everybody is me to time, we have never detected the HAN: I am no lon- ercial thing. in the mood to go easy on the pesticide presence of pesticides in colas,” says ger a brand amb- ■ BIPASHA problem. Says Vikrant Sakhalkar,an ev- PFA director ASL Bansal, “At the same assador for a cola. BASU: It is dic- ent manager,‘‘I will reduce my intake of time, we follow PFA norms, which are Moreover, I have just heard about the ey for me to say anything. Let me spe- soft drinks. Life is short. I don’t want to stipulated by the government.’’ matter involving pesticides. I can’t ak to the company concerned first. make it any shorter.’’ That sums up the Meanwhile, while vendors selling col- comment till I know the facts. (As told to AFSANA AHMED) hard facts about soft drinks. as insist that — pesticide or no pesticide [email protected] House that! Marshals No shaadi till 2004? Why knot? to evict unruly MLAs Scientific soothsayers counter what the stars say about shaadi dates this year ALLEN O’BRIEN Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding, makes his vie- ARUN KUMAR DAS state assemblies across the co- Times News Network ws clear: ‘‘There might not be any ‘auspicio- Times News Network untry have their own marshals, us’ dates between December 16 and January there is no reason for Delhi to uly 25. Ostensibly,the cut-off date for sha- 12, but I have been booked by numerous Hin- inally, an answer to the be an exception,’’ maintains Jadis this year.Says who? Say the stars and du families for the period between October 1 question ‘who will guard Chopra. The marshals requisi- the pundits who literally practise the prover- and December 15. Also, in the period between Fthe MLAs?’ Big Brother tioned are expected to be drawn bial theory that marriages December 16 and January —in this case, the Delhi assem- from the Delhi Police, and will are made in heaven. Clos- 12, I will be involved with bly Speaker —will be watching work on deputation with the as- er home, five down-to-Ear- Sikh, Punjabi and Arya of course, but to aid him in the sembly secretariat. th streams of science — Samaj weddings.’’ exercise of maintaining decor- While Chopra is vociferous Indian astrology, Western Tarot-card reader Mee- THE WEDDING ZINGER! Delhi Times captures the spark in the sartorial style of Diya um in the assembly will be aro- in the view that unruly behavi- astrology, palmistry, num- nakshi Rani is of the firm und 150 marshals, whose job is our by MLAs ‘‘will not be toler- Mirza as the Bollywood beauty showcases a Ragini Singhania creation to launch erology and I-Ching — see view that ‘‘what the stars to evict unruly MLAs who disr- ated,’’ Jagdish Mukhi, the Opp- Celebrating Vivaha 2003, a wedding exhibition to be staged at the Taj Palace between no rhyme or reason as to foretell has no bearing on upt proceedings. House that? osition leader in the Delhi asse- why marriages can’t be so- something as personal as August 8 and 10 (To send this photograph to a friend, log on to www.timescity.com/delhi/) Over to Delhi assembly speaker mbly,has a different take on the lemnised now. marriage.’’ Similarly, astr- Subhash Chopra. issue. ‘‘Elected bodies should ‘‘There is no rule which ologer Ajay Bhambi says, ‘‘We have already submitted not run on the basis of the str- can stop marriages from ‘‘Yes, Jupiter entered Leo a written application to lieuten- ength of marshals. While there being solemnised,’’ main- on July 31 and will stay th- WHERE ARE THEY NOW... ant-governor Vijai Kapoor, req- is no doubt about discipline be- tains astrologer Bejan Da- ere for a year,but marriag- uesting the appointment of 150 ing maintained in the House, ruwala. Pandit Radhakris- es can be solemnised after marshals, who will function members should not do anyth- han of the Sanatan Dhra- October 17, when Jupiter under the control of the Speak- ing which requires marshals to ma Ram Mandir says the NEELABH completes a full constella- The good ol’ bad guys? er,’’ infor- be pressed into service.’’ Devi Dayal Panchaang re- tion.’’ Logically-speaking, ms Chop- NEELABH Incidentally, fers to a ‘taara doobna’on compatibility more than VINOD NAIR hind him. ‘‘He was recently honoured with a ra, ‘‘As thi- the introdu- July 26, meaning that sub- WEDDING PLANNER dates make a marriage ti- Times News Network lifetime achievement award in Canada,’’ says ngs stand, ction of sequent dates are ‘inauspicious’ for marriage. ck. As Daruwala puts it, ‘‘What is the guaran- a family member. Better late than never. For, the Delhi marshals ‘‘Still, as pundits, we will solemnise a marri- tee that a marriage will succeed if one gets hey add that dash of excitement to the ex- Chopra has dedicated a lifetime to films. assembly doesn’t apart, pla- age if need be. Only,such marriages will not married later instead of now?’’ As they say, Tperience of being entertained. Yet,it is the The Bollywood baddie with the bad Hindi have its own ma- ns are afo- be in accordance with the Shastras.’’ jab miya-biwi razi toh kya karega qazi? hero who walks away with the applause at the accent we love to love, Bob Christo believes in rshals and, whe- ot to imp- Amrish Pershad, the wedding planner for [email protected] end of three hours of riveting drama. Rare is living in the present. ‘‘Bored of doing the sa- never the asse- art a bra- the irony that defines me old roles, I quit.’’ mbly is in sess- nd new lo- these few good men, But he hasn’t severed ion, we are for- ok to the who are famous for the his connection with ced to secure Delhi ass- bad and ugly images As one sifts through the sepia-toned co-stars. ‘‘Working wi- the requisite embly.‘‘We they portrayed on the pages of reel history, yesteryear’s th Mithun and Dhar- manpower propose to silver screen. Even to- screen baddies spring back to life.