By Jigar Ganatra

From journalist to fashion designer, author, dialogue writer and now a chat show host, Niranjan Iyengar has tasted success consistently over the years. With a flair for sharing experiences, he takes us on the journey he has lived over the year and speaks about the upcoming second season of his show ?Look who?s talking with Niranjan.?

Excerpts:

Tell us about your journey so far in the film industry
Things have come my way and have happened with time. Neither did I plan my journey, nor did I follow one path. It all started ever since I was a journalist and unlike the journalists today, I shared a rapport with many artists from the film industry. My work brought me close to a lot of stars and ever since then we have been together.
I have always been in love with the movies and hence I have been closely associated with many from the fraternity, and that?s how every project happened ? be it the book on Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, dialogues for Kal Ho Na Ho or any of my other works.

Juggling between films to television and vice versa, how does it work?
I have been associated with television as a writer, but never had a plan to face the camera as a chat show host. I have done two shows on television and hence had an understanding of the difference between two mediums. I was clear that the pace in the television industry is very different, unlike in films. Though the medium has its pros and cons, there is great flexibility and liberty in television than movies. However, I believe there is still a lot to learn about the dynamic television industry and I?m in the process of it.

Tell us about the author in you
A book on the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham was unplanned, although I did realise during the making that there were several reasons to write one. I was travelling with the team and noticed that the movie's star cast was amazing. Hence, as an author, I wanted to give a perspective on how the movie was made, which is a reflection to the journey I experienced with the crew ? from the idea of the movie to its release. That?s how it all started for me an author.

Can we expect another book from you soon?
Any writer would love to write. I take writing very seriously and it takes a lot of time. I believe one needs to live the moments to write on any subject. Currently, I am busy with projects, but eventually I will write a book. I have too many ideas, but I?m not planning to write, at least for a decade. I think bookshould be written when you have a certain amount of distance on the subject matter. For me to write about movies, I need to distance myself from it for a while, which is when I would be able to pen my thoughts.

Tell us something about the show and Niranjan as a host
Look Who?s Talking has a very different flavour and approach to it. The title of the show is different and was given by someone from the channel and everyone in the team liked it. The production house had the idea and offered me to host the chat show. Initially, I wasn?t very confident about facing the camera, but I was told that I could do a great job with it. Karan Johar, a close friend of mine, had a lot of faith in me. He suggested that I take up the opportunity. That?s how I gained confidence and built it episode after episode. This season the confidence has reached a great level and I?m happy about it.

As a host of the show, what ideas did you have in mind?
Since the beginning, I was very clear that I wouldn?t do anything against my personality. I wanted to be myself and present it in the most comfortable manner. This was my contribution to the show. I have known the stars for a long time and hence I did not want to look at them as stars, on this show. However, I wanted to engage with them as a friend. The idea was to keep a conversational tone and bring out the personality behind the stars. I did not want to go by any order.
Hence, the stars and I actually spoke for a couple of hours, which then becomes the episode. I believe that?s the show's USP.

What can be expected from the upcoming season?
From an audience perspective, I can say that one can look forward to the same discovery I?m making. They would love the show if they enjoyed those moments along with me. Further, the locations in this season are different to the previous and every episode is different and unique. There are a lot of stars and different personalities whom I have interacted with, starting with Varun Dhawan. However, I do have some on the ?dream list? and I wish I interview them, especially Aamir Khan.
Look who?s talking with Niranjan ? season 2 will air from 23 August at 9 pm on Zee Cafe.

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews television shows, films and live events that you simply cannot miss! Check out our recommendations for this weekend (21 and 23 August).

Live Act:

If you are in mood for some theater this weekend, try this sassy take on modern contemporary living and infidelity through Unfaithfully Yours, directed by Raell Padamsee.

Set in 1990, two strangers Akash and Preet meet each other at a wedding. They fall in love but both of them are married to other people. They continue to meet each year during the same time and spend a day together post which they return to their regular lives. The play shows how over the years their relationship nurtures between themselves and their respective partners. The play also stars veteran TV actors Rohit Roy and Mona Singh.   

Turn up at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium in August 23 at 7.30pm to catch this drama.

Movies:

Good news super hero lovers. The wait is over as your favourite gang of superheroes, the Fantastic Four are here to save the day this weekend. Directed by Josh Trank, this isnt a sequel to the 2005 movie, but fresh rendition of the concept, that releases this Friday.

Whats special about this new adaptation? Well, for starters the film features not only Doctor Doom, but more of the FF?s classic villains, like Galactus and the Mole Man. So comic book lovers and CG fanatics have very good reason to throng the theaters with their friends and catch this action packed film.                                   

By Papri Das

Tanishq has launched the second edition of the Farah Khan Collection. The jewellery range is an extension to the elaborate diamond jewellery collection line launched last year. Designed by renowned celebrity jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali, the collection is a take on the royal rhapsody of the Persian and Mughal aesthetics in a contemporary perspective.

Unveiled by Farah Khan Ali and Titan Company head of jewellery division Sandeep Kulhalli, inspiration was brought to life as beautiful models sashayed down the runway, draped in striking outfits, complemented by the stunning diamond jewellery designed by Ali.

Overjoyed with her second collaboration with the brand, she said, ?I am extremely elated to announce the launch of the second edition of the Farah Khan for Tanishq line.?

When asked about her thought behind the collection, Ali said, ?This collection is a recreation of a glorious era of grandeur, splendor and preciousness. Using intricate floral and bird motifs, it marks a royal celebration of exotic new forms, inspired by striking silhouettes and enchanting colors.?

The diamond accessories that the models sashayed in were crafted in 18k gold with diamonds and other precious stones like rubies, emeralds, pearls, citrine, amethysts and topaz amongst others. With an assortment of chandelier earrings, cocktail rings, pendant sets and bracelets, the collection has taken a step forward by adding multi finger rings, ring-earring sets, ear cuffs and front back earring sets to cater to the fashionable trend in jewellery today. 

Speaking about the target clientele for the collection, Kulhalli said, ?This collection is for the Indian woman, who considers jewellery to be an extension of her personality. We are pleased to have Farah back in the Tanishq family as we celebrate the success of this stunning range of jewellery. We are confident this second edition will be as successful as the first one, if not more, and have an appeal amongst women of diverse age groups across India.?

The versatile collection can be paired with both ethnic as well as western outfits.

In this episode of Talking Point enjoy a candid chat with the effervescent Anita Kaul Basu. From her days as a journalist, to setting up one of biggest production houses in Indian television, Big Synergy with her husband Siddharth Basu, Anita shares what an exciting joyride her career has been so far. An exemplar of a modern day woman, Anita talks about the balancing act of career and family, the benchmarks of indian reality shows, and why there?s a dearth of original reality TV shows in India.

This episode of Talking Point takes you to BBC Worldwide India?s office to have a chat with their General Manager and Senior Vice President Myleeta Aga. Over the last few years BBC Worldwide India has been doing some ground breaking work, be it as a format producer or content producer. Myleeta shares her journey with the organization. In this episode, catch her talk about how audience in india are gradually becoming more open to radical content on television channels moving to seasonal style of shows in fiction, and why India can have its own Game of Thrones in a couple of years