Best of Weekender: From a candid chat with Astad Deboo to a toast to our Desi Girl Priyanka Chopra Jonas

When dancer Astad Deboo was moved by the plight of migrant workers during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he choreographed ‘Boundaries’, as an ode to the migrant workers. Though Astad is based out of Mumbai, the entire act of ‘Boundaries’ was choreographed with his Delhi-based dancers, Shamshul, Pradeep, Govind, and Vicky online.

His signature style of dance is characterised by intense ‘mukhabhinaya’ or facial gestures along with ‘mudras’ or hand gestures, as well as fluid body movements.

Check out our interview with this brilliant dancer and read all about his achievements over the years.

If you are a fan of actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, aka Desi Girl, Pee-Cee, and Piggy Chops, you might like to know that this is her birthday weekend.

Priyanka has been one of Bollywood’s leading ladies over the last two decades, ever since she made India proud at the 2000 Femina Miss World beauty pageant.

She has starred in over 60 films till date and has made her mark in Hollywood as well. What’s more, she was appointed as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in 2010 and 2016 respectively and has worked towards helping support underprivileged children across the world.

In 2018 Priyanka married Nick Jonas of the popular Jonas Brothers Trio in an intimate ceremony in Jodhpur, and changed her name to Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Don’t miss our compilation of inspirational and moving quotes by the talented actor on her 38th birthday and enjoy her really inspirational ones like, ’When life gives you lemons make grape juice then sit back and let people wonder how you did it.’

Mini-monies, weddings-in-shifts, masks to match bridal wear, disposable makeup tools —this is the new normal on the wedding scene during the times of the coronavirus. Gone are the days of luxe décor, lavish buffets, elaborate guest lists and priceless wedding gowns.

Today, in its pared down form, wedding planning is all about staying safe and preventing the spread of the virus.

During the recent lockdown due to the pandemic, The KnotWorldWide (TKWW), a global wedding technology platform, conducted a survey among 233 engaged couples in India over April and May 2020. The survey revealed how weddings and ceremonies are being planned at the moment.

Read all about the findings of the study on the wedding industry in our interview with Ankur Sarawagi, India Country Head, TKWW, and his views on how marriages will be conducted in the foreseeable future.

When the judges on the recent season of the reality show, America’s Got Talent (AGT) gave a standing ovation to Indian dancers, Shakir Khan and his cousin Rihan, the two youngsters suddenly had the whole world rooting for them.  

America’s Got Talent returned this year with all the usual excitement, thrills and feel-good performances that viewers enjoy watching each season. Simon Cowell was back as a judge along with Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum.

The young duo from Rajasthan essayed a brilliant performance and managed to wow the judges on the show. Now, they are waiting for the next round of AGT which is scheduled to happen soon.

Read all about the talented young boys in our interview where they talk about their dance moves and how they plan to hone their skills in the days to come.

As lockdowns due to the pandemic are now underway in many cities, it is important to know how you should stock up your pantry and refrigerator in the healthiest way possible.

From stocking up on fats that you may need to buying plant-based proteins to storing fresh fish fillets in your freezer, our nutritionist has many tips on how to handle the lockdown with ease.

Don't miss reading all about the foods that will last for many weeks in your pantry and keep you strong and healthy too.

Are you happiest when you are spending time with your family over a long meal and sharing your experiences? Do you admire Amitabh Bachchan for his ability to rise like a phoenix and keep himself relevant over decades? If you could change one thing about yourself would you like to be less frank?

If yes, meet Krishna Kumar Karwa, Promoter and MD, Emkay Global Financial Services, who feels the same way. He leads the Research, PMS and Corporate Advisory divisions at Emkay.

As for his motto, ‘Dream big, stay positive, work hard and enjoy the journey’, he believes it is the best way to stay happy and productive even during these difficult times.

Don’t miss reading all about his heroes, his greatest loves, regrets and much more in his responses to our Proust questionnaire.