Dick Bruna

Inspired by Crafty Chica's recent blog post on random photos I woke up this morning (I'm having a day off so it's ok to indulge) and decide to post all the photos I have of me and famous people. Not that I've met many but if I was on Facebook I would post them there and since I'm not, they are just hidden away on my computer....but no more!! I shall be adding any future ones to this post so I can have a gallery condensed in one place. 

Sadly there are no dates (I forgot to do that) and they are in no order of importance apart from image number 1....Dick Bruna, the man who invented Miffy. He is a genius and for me, the most exciting famous person ever. When I heard he was in Londinium I literally had to chase him around town to all the various bookshops he was at until I could finally get in the queue to meet him. What a legend!

Abhishek Bachchan

 Abhishek Bachchan was the first Bollywood star I interviewed and what struck me was that when he entered the room he commanded instant attention. He was like a hologram, and probably the most well dressed person I've ever seen - totally pristine suit, expensive watch, all round A'List vibe around him.

John Abraham

Where to begin? Bollywood hunk John Abraham is the best looking man on the planet, when I heard he was filming in Brick Lane one Sunday morning I dropped everything and hung outside his trailer until the lovely crew knocked on his door and asked him to come out and meet me!!!! I'm not ashamed, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Hrithik Roshan

I interviewed Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan about his waxwork that had just been unveiled at Madam Tussauds and he looked like a waxwork himself. He was the perfect interviewee, a total talker but very interested and switched on.

Raj&Pablo

Raj & Pablo are my favourite DJs, without them my life wouldn't be the same, their weekend show on BBC Asian Network is a must listen and their monthly Bollywood clubnight is one of the most fun nights out in town. That's my good friend Bosun with us.

Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore

 Soha is Sharmila's daughter who is a Bollywood super sensation. Someone as A'List as this is hard to talk to as there really is nothing to say but her daughter, also a Bollywood actress was sooooooo approachable, I wish she was one of my friends.

Sarfraz Manzoor

I met Sarfraz when I recently filmed a snippet for BBC Newsnight - he's a journalist but I only got myself photographed with him because my sister is a big fan!

Tasmin Lucia Khan

And another journalist, this time a TV newsreader - she's currently on ITV's Daybreak. I interviewed her about what it was like to care for someone who has cancer and I was very impressed. She spent all morning at a photoshoot then went to work (she was presenting BBc 60 Seconds then) until midnight whilst she was fasting for Ramadan. 

?????

This is a random desi rnb? hiphop? dance music star? I interviewed him in Birmingham at an Asian music awards event. I can't remember his name but I'm sure he had a Canadian accent and his music had a Sean Paul/Jamaican vibe?? Anyone recognise him?

Barbie

When I heard Barbie was at my local toy store I had to get down their with my niece who was only a few months old (she's 6 years old this month!) Note her hat, it's a pink wollley one with curly blonde hair attached, this is what they sell in Bangladesh to make kids look pretty!

Rastamouse

This Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter said to me last week when I took this at Hampstead Theatre 'you do know I'm actually not Rastamouse, I'm Reggie Yates?'......who is he fooling.....he IS Rastamouse whether he admits it or not (he voices the character, that's enough for me).


So there you have it, some photos of me and famous people. I know, I haven't met many but I'm proud of these pics anyway! More to follow maybe if I ever meet any more!!

How to make a Bollywood movie

Opening scene of my Bollyflick!

I don't just like making crafty stuff. I also like to dabble in a spot of home movie making too. And here's my latest escapade. A bollywood blockbuster with a special message! (You'll need to watch it in full by following the link to see what I'm talking about!)


After viewing, you may be so hooked, that you're wondering how you too can become Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna in your own home movie?


Well here's the essential Need to Know for how to make your own DIY Bollywood masala film:


LOCATION

It's all about the white stuff

Breathtaking surroundings, stunning architecture, picturesque palaces, fabulous forts, magnificent mansions, all these wonderful places enhance the dreamy escapist elements that help make a Bolly flick into a superhit. But there's one place that has traditionally been a staple location for Bollywood - the snowy backdrops of the Swiss Alps.


Switzerland is a popular holiday destinations with Indians because of this very fact; thousands of Bollywood movies have been shot there. Regardless of the storyline,dream sequence songs just seem to work well in the snow, you'll often find couples one minute in the noisy streets of Delhi and the next minute, serenading each other on a mountain top.


On a recent visit to the the Swiss Alps I encountered tour groups of Indians keen to go to the very spot their fave Hindi film songs were shot. And at the bottom of the slopes, I discovered the perfect post tour refreshments to make them feel at home:

Masala tea and samosas are the just the thing to warm you up after prancing around in the snow!

Of course these days who needs to go to Switzerland when global warming is resulting in freezing cold winters across the globe i.e. London where today it hailstoned despite being May.....


A few months ago when the Capital was covered in snow I found my own replica Switzerland in the guise of Greenwich Park.


GLAMOROUS HEROINE

Transform into a Bollywood babe with big hair and lashings of eyeliner

From the earliest heroines like Nargis who ruled the screens in the 1950s through to more classic divas like Rekha to recent babes like Bipasha Basu, Bollywood beauties all have these things in common - beauty, style, grace, charm, an ability to dance, seduce, be dutiful and appeal to the hearts of millions with her overall loveliness. How did I manage this transformation? With a retro wig and layers of MAC make up!


HANDSOME HERO

Velvet jackets and vintage clobber are a must for the main man

What makes the ultimate Bollywood hero?
Big pecs are a good start as the man in question will need to battle with villains, impress the leading lady with his dance moves (topless scenes are common) and be the most romantic man in the world, knowing how to organise candlelit meals in secluded spots is a compulsory skill. If the delicious John Abraham is too busy body building to hire, than you can cast a fine Englishman in the lead instead as long as he's prepared to lip sync accordingly.

DANCING & ROMANCING

Graphics in the vein of Batman, the 1960s TV series, are a welcomed addition

So now you have your Jodi - the leading couple, they need a chance to dance - it's how they seal the deal of falling in love. You don't need to be too coordinated but your facial expressions do need to evoke some passion. Dance alone and together and of course if you can run hand in hand, across a field and convince the audience you are more than just acting, you may receive a Filmfare nomination.

ACTION

Guns are not always necessary!

Shootouts, confrontations, fight scenes, thugs being beaten up people who leap out of their wheelchairs, grab the yobs by their ankles and fling them across the room; when it comes to action in Bollywood, they are the most creative scenes in film history. Hypnotic and well choreographed, in some films, like last year's Wanted there are over 100 different ways in which a goon can be defeated.

But action doesn't just mean violence, stunt work can be less intensive - all that matters is that you do it yourself!


EMOTION

pyaar, ishq....whatever you call it,lurve is always a sub plot if not main plot!

Karan Johar is the king of emotion when it comes to Bollywood, known for his heart tugging tear jerkers, such as Kal Ho Naa Ho (my fave film), Khabi Kushi Khabie Gham and the recent My Name is Khan, a viewer is set to embark on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish when they watch one of his masterpieces.
But my film is all about the 'L' world so pyaar, ishq..whatever you wanna call it, runs through the whole film.

SOUNDTRACK

If it gets you moving on the dancefloor than it's a winner. The appeal of a soundtrack is as important as the plot. If the tracks don't cut it with the fans, your film may flop. My film uses the delightful and sweet 'Hum Aur Tun' from 1970's action romance Daag, which my mini movie is based on.


PROPS etc

Extras? If you can't get 'em, make 'em!

Think carefully about your props, product placement is fine, in Jaan-e-Man, there were numerous references to a malt drink called Bournvita, I was so hooked that I tracked some down in India and bought it back to the UK - a much more energising version of Chocolate Horlicks - sweeter and more addictive!

Have lots of wannabe star extras loitering around, if you can't find anyone then making them is fine too!

Finally you need a video camera and someone who can edit it all together to create the final cut. Today YouTube.....tomorrow Film City.....a girl can but dream.....