2 Saturday,March12,2011 WEEKEND 3

GURINDER CHADHA: MY FIRST Film director. CONTENTS Film director juggles work and family life By Laurna Robertson takes OMBINING being a mum to three-year-old C twins and a top British heart from film director, travelling all over the world for premieres and glitzy parties, Leona Lewis may seem impossible. However, Gurinder Chadha has THERE has been great got it nailed. surprise in some quarters Not only does the director of that Leona Lewis, blockbusters like Bride and pictured, has been named Prejudice; Angus, Thongs and the most inspirational Full Frontal Snogging and Bend woman in London of the past It Like Beckham have the century. perfect teammate in her “I love what I do and being a And by the time her third movie with my friends. We played all But diary fan Bill Cameron reckons director husband Paul Mayeda mum.” was kinds of games. it’s fair enough. Berges –but her toddlers also Despite their limited work hours, released, Gurinder was a house- “When you consider one of the love travelling and accompany the couple currently have four hold name. My first school front-runners was Maggie her around the world. projects on the go. The story about Indian girl Jess’ It was a lovely little place called Thatcher, I reckon Londoners got it “We’re always in an aeroplane “We’ve been working on a passion for playing football, Clifton Infant School in . right. and they love it although they historical film about the transfer despite her family’s disapproval, I remember loving going there “At least Leona puts her heart into normally get a bit confused of power between Britain to took the film world by storm in and especially loving the school her singing ... the jury’s still out on about which country they are India, a stage adaptation of 2002 –and made dinners. All we got at home was whether Maggie actually had 6/7 COVER STORY going to land in –for some Bend It Like Beckham, a and huge stars. Indian food and if we did go one.” reason they always think it’s children’s film set in India with But football isn’t something British it was sausages and chips. HIT: Gurinder’s films include hits our screens as stars Italy,”said the 51-year-old from Comic Relief elephants and a script for Gurinder is passionate about. I loved the roast dinners we Bend It Like Beckham. Where Gurinder take a desert trek across Kenya London. Dreamworks Animation called “My friend Guljit Bindra is mad used to is now “We have a great schedule the Monkeys of Bollywood. about Manchester get, the pies and the Home: going when we are at home – FUNNY “It’s all a bit crazy but we push United and puddings. I live in Primrose Paul and I work hard when Hill, London with my STUFF each other on.” she I love cooking to this husband and our lovely Romack and Kamiko are at approached day and in our lovely children. In spite of the heavy workload, Last 5 FOOD nursery, then in the evenings we the family are taking a long me about house we cook different kinds of breads. father and I was terrified. holiday: spend all our time with them. weekend to come to a Director’s doing a every kind of I went to Thailand After these jobs I graduated to But the first film I remember for a wedding. I’ve Adam Cut event at the University of film. cuisine from proper Harrods where I worked in the consciously seeing was The Wizard eaten so much delicious never food in my life. MacKenzie Aberdeen next Friday. “My roast dinners to men’s hats department. I learned Of Oz with my sister. We went all Favourite puts a modern TV program: “I’m going to be talking relationship Mexican food. about all the different kinds of the way to Ealing to see it and Modern spin on the about my work, the ups with my hats and I once sold a when it started in black and white Family. I love it. classics. and downs of the father My first handkerchief to playwright Tom I couldn’t believe it. I started Last film watched: industry, showing clips heavily holiday Stoppard. kicking the back of Diaries. I really liked it. and taking questions. influenced When I was little the chair in front and Last “I’ve never been to Jess and her we used to go on My first music throwing a tantrum. music listened to: My favourite Aberdeen before so father –there day trips to the It was Sugar Sugar by My big sister was not song at the moment and the Black is Usher MAKES SENSE: For those drivers who can never quite GARETH ON TV we’re excited to see is definitely a seaside towns like The Archies when I impressed. Then it Eyed Peas track OMG. 7 the sights.” lot of me in Brighton and South End was about 12 or 13. I changed to colour Regrets if remember how high their vehicle is. the rebellious On Sea rather than big holidays. and I felt really daft. any: treads Gurinder started loved it –it was such That I didn't ’Medical drama making character of Jess.” We used to pack these big boxes a huge hit and really have children earlier could have had so I path’ documentary Don’t miss Gurinder Chadna in full of Indian food for the catchy. Everyone was My big break more. JIM Wilson has LENT is upon us ... well-worn films in the mid conversation with Alan Marcus beach. singing it. I think my big break been in touch to well, some of us 1980s because on March 18 at Kings College We used to go to India quite a was making my first tell the Diary about anyway. she was fed up Centre. lot too to visit my grandparents My first TV film with the BFI his mate’s Sarah Green swears of British Asians but that was never really classed show grant. I did that revolutionary fitness she heard a couple of having no My first home as a holiday. I used to love this without any practical plan to lose weight. ladies who lunch representation on It was a terrace in Southall and show called Double SCARY: Song Of The film experience. That “He showed me this talking about what DVDs you they were screen. it’s still there. It was the first My first job Decker. A lot of the South terrified Gurinder. film became a hit exercise where giving up for After several house my parents ever bought It was stacking toilet rolls, people in it went on and then I was able shake your head slowly the duration. documentaries, she and I was in a box room with my washing powder and biscuits in to be big TV stars. to go into . from side to side. “Oh I used to give up often 15 directed her first sister in bunk beds. Tesco at Southall when I was 14. I also loved Blue Peter like everyone I found the technical side really “I asked him how chocolate for Lent,” We give our feature film in I lived there from when I was It was good as I knew else and a show called Vision On. difficult at first and when I look he has to do it. said one. verdict on horror 1993, working three until I was 11. I was always everything there was to know back at my early work I often “He said: ‘Every time “Then I decided I would Let Me In BUSY: Gurinder Chadha with , avoiding chores by running out about all of these three things. My first film think how I should have done someone suggests be far happier just has a hectic schedule. then a giving Bhaji On The into the back garden and I also worked in a bakery and I I remember as a tiny kid I went to things differently. I’m still another pint up Lent.” way home.” Pass Beach. through the back gate to play learned how to make lots of see Songs Of The South with my learning. kebab on the the Dairy Milk. Might work. FAVE: Gurinder WALKS FIVE MINUTES with ... loves Modern Family. 16 Bid for a cabinet position AS THE Dons get ready for there are plans afoot at Visit St Cyrus for a SINGER-SONGWRITER and Sixties icon Do you read reviews of discovered, my life would have been their Scottish Cup clash Pittodrie for urgent action lovely beach and Marianne Faithfull is a former quite different. But I’ve accepted it all. clifftop stroll ’The Rolling your music? against St Mirren, diary fan if the Dons lose. convent schoolgirl who found fame Tim B can’t help but be “They are going to rename I really try to read good reviews and cynical. with the 1964 single As Tears Go By, ignore bad ones, that’s what I do. I get Did your connection with the trophy cabinet. It will written by Rolling Stones stars Mick Stones changed these things called Google Alerts, the Rolling Stones change He tells us: “Apparently just be known as the TRAVEL Jagger and Keith Richards. which is everything that mentions my your life? cabinet.” After surviving a descent into drug name. And sometimes it’s nice, addiction and homelessness, she went on to my life forever’ sometimes it’s really nasty. Oh yeah. As Tears Go By changed my 18/19 produce numerous and has just life, that’s what changed my life. released her 23rd solo offering, Horses And Did negative comments Gorgeous Madeira High Heels. what we did. New Orleans is a great place to Do you listen to that song is a plant-life The 64-year-old, who was born in London, work because there are so many great concern you more when paradise now? now splits her time between Paris and musicians there, like George Porter Jr from you were younger? GREAT GUY: Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Co Waterford in Ireland. She embarked on The Meters. He would never have been able I play it on stage. I don’t actually listen Oh yes, I was very much more a new world tour this month. to play on the record if we hadn’t gone there. to the record, no. I don’t listen to my vulnerable then. If you hadn’t got that records much. record deal, what would Why did you choose to record Is there a theme that runs If you could give advice to 20 MY WORLD the new in New through the album? you have done? Is there a preference for your younger self now, music or acting? would Orleans? I don’t really think so. It’s stuff that’s I would’ve been the same, I’m sure. I The diary is now open for all offers of funny Sax legend what would it be? love performing, I love singing, I love my No - music is my life. I never want to record where I live. I never interesting me now. It’s very much now. And I stories, bits of gossip and anything remotely All I would say really is just don’t take life. It’s just what I want... I sometimes That’s what’s kept me alive and kept love to hit Cuba made a record in Ireland, and I haven’t done loved writing the song about Dublin and Paris amusing or titillating. E-mail your gems to drugs. It was a total waste of my time. do a little bit of longing for what I me happy and it’s very important. one in Paris. I like to go out to work, so that’s (title track Horses And High Heels), and making STILL ON THE ROAD: Marianne Faithfull. Dublin as elegant as Paris in its own way. didn’t have, I do. Like if I hadn’t been But I do love acting too. [email protected]