Sarah Jane Dias
Favourite album: Urban Hang Suite by Maxwell
Maxwell’s first album Urban Hang Suite continues to be my favourite. He released it in 1998 and I just rediscovered it. It’s Maxwell at his best and his voice sounds like butter. It’s a very soulful, smooth, sexy RnB. I recently discovered it and it was on my playlist for a week.
— Sarah Jane Dias is an actor
Vicky Kaushal
Favourite film: 12 Angry Men
My favourite film is a black and white movie released in 1957. Anybody who is aspiring to be a director, script-writer or an actor, or is just a cinephile, must definitely watch 12 Angry Men. The movie concerns 12 jurors who are convinced that a murder trial is not what it seems to be in court. When I want to watch a film, but I don’t know which one, then it’s my go-to movie. In Hindi, Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander is my all-time favourite.
— Vicky Kaushal is an actor
Vasudha Sharma
Favourite performance: Pangea
I recently witnessed a performance at a hall in Mumbai last week by a band called Pangea, a progressive drone/soundtrack/metal band from Mumbai, India. They play rock music but it is strictly instrumental. There’s just a guitar, bass and drums but yet they are so melodic. The vibe they present every time is perfect as a band. These guys are currently underrated and I hope they get increasingly popular.
— Vasudha is a singer
Piyush Jha
Favourite book: Different Seasons by Stephen King
I read Different Seasons first when I was in school and it left an indelible impression on me. In contrast to Stephen King’s normal “horror” genre fiction, Different Seasons has four simple non-supernatural novellas and each explores a season metaphorically. Each story is equally compelling and the characters are thrown into situations that challenge their way of life so much that they emerge from their ordeal forever changed.
Three of the novellas have been turned into equally brilliant films including The Shawshank Redemption (based on Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption), Apt Pupil and Stand By Me (based on The Body). The book shows King’s mastery over the written word and the ease with which he tells stories that can stay with you for a long time. Should he have chosen not to be a genre fiction writer, he would still have had a fair amount of success. Not only have I read the book number of times, but I’ve also seen the films based on the book many times over.
— Piyush Jha is an author and screenwriter
Mira Manek
Favourite restaurant: Shoryu on Carnaby Street
For someone who often can’t decide between tea and coffee, picking one cuisine or dish or restaurant is tricky! But I do go through obsessive fads and if there is one that’s lasted for quite a while it’s ramen bowls. I absolutely love the different textures and ingredients that go into this piping hot large soup. I often make a trip to my local Shoryu on Carnaby Street, UK, where the addition of soy milk makes it more wholesome, there’s a spicy chilli oil and small sesame seed grinders on the table, again more taste and texture, and nori sheets, tofu slices, spring onions and lots more atop the broth. Intensely satisfying, especially after a yoga class.
— Mira Manek is a food blogger
Sapna Pabbi
Favourite TV show: Friends
I’m a crazy hardcore fan of Friends and I’m glad it’s still being played on TV. I remember this one time I met a guy from a channel at an event and I followed him to tell him to get the show back on air anyhow! I know every single dialogue of the show and have seen every episode. My favourite one being “The One with Unagi”. Ross is my favourite character, because he is actually serious about life. When I was in London, I used to watch it at least twice every day.
— Sapna Pabbi is an actress
— Compiled by Julie Sam and Aarti Bhanushali
