Aditi Singh Sharma
Favourite music album: Dil Chahta Hai
My favourite album of all time would be Dil Chahta Hai by music directors Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. I remember when this album had released, it was a breath of fresh air. The album proved to be a game changer for music in our industry.
Every song had a something new to it and I could listen to it endlessly. A.R. Rahman’s Dilli 6 is another album which had such a huge impact. Every song, be it Rehna Tu or Arziyaan, demand more than one listen.
Aditi is a singer
Vicky Ratnani
Favourite restaurant: La Petite Maison
One of the most recommended restaurants, which I can remember, is La Petite Maison, in London.
This is a modern French bistro, a chef-driven eatery. I was happy to meet the chef who explained to me that the menu was inspired by the cuisine of the South of France. They have a great variety of dishes from small plates to mains set in a modern, classical bistro style. The produce is of the best quality; and they have a decent variety for vegetarians as well.
Vicky is a chef
Ian Fernandes
Favourite performing artiste: Gazzo
British street magician Gazzo is one artiste you must watch when you are travelling to the United States. His show has both — magic and comedy — and his work is unlike anything that you may have come across. He manages to enthral you for single every minute of his show. He may be a street performer, but that shouldn’t take away any credit from him. I saw him work in Keywest Florida about two years ago and since then I have been following him closely.
Ian Fernandes is a magician
Celina Jaitley
Favourite movie: Birdcage
This film has the distinction of being quite possibly the funniest film that I’ve ever seen. It is a delightful story about a gay couple pretending to be a straight couple to impress the family of the son’s fiancée. There are moral lessons in this comedy to live and let live and to judge people on their character, not their sexual orientation.
Despite the stereotypical portrayal of a gay person, it has been done aesthetically. I wished having Nathan Lane as a mom for many years after that. The late Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are phenomenal and hilarious.
Celina Jaitley is an actress
Rita Joshi
Favourite author: Alexander McCall Smith
In The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith has created a feisty black woman detective, Precious Ramotswe, who lives in Botswana and solves local cases — thefts, missing husbands. The early chapters portray delightfully the lives of the working class, their rustic homes and the flora and fauna. Precious marries a chauvinistic musician who forcibly aborts her baby and abandons her. She decides to empower herself and becomes a detective with a mission to help others. With evocative descriptions, humour and interesting cases for Precious to solve, the book is unputdownable.
Rita is the author of The Simla Paintings and Other Stories
Rehan Poncha
Favourite TV show: No Reservations
One of my favourite series on TV is the Emmy Award winning show No Reservations. Food and travel are a huge passion for me, and being a professional athlete, my travel was always linked to sport — first swimming, now golf.
The show’s got so many cool places that have got on my must-visit-soon list! In the series, Anthony Bourdain travels the globe to explore the cities, villages and countries that offer amazing surprises. He stops by both familiar culinary hotspots and out-of-the-way gems in his global quest for the ultimate dining experience. Along the way, he offers his perspective on both the food and the local customs he comes across in his travels. I don’t know if it’s on Indian TV, but you can get the episodes on YouTube. It’s a really good show!
Rehan is an Olympian swimmer
—Complied by Aarti Bhanushali and Julie Sam
