Books form an integral part of any book lover?s life. To anyone else, they may look like pages full of countless words but for the self-confessed bookworms, these are stories that transport them to a completely different world of fiction, fantasy and magic. Today on Exec Lifestyle, we spoke to KV Sridhar, Monica Tata, Prasana Krishnan, Rajat Barjatya and Rajshree Naik to find out what their favourite books are.

Mumbai: The 5^th Gionee Star Global Indian Music Awards (GiMA) powered by Hungama.com and Kelloggs Chocos took place in the presence of the cr?me de la cr?me of the music and film fraternity, in a spectacular ceremony at Reliance Media Works, Film City, Goregaon, Mumbai.

The ceremony hosted by Mika Singh and Manish Paul featured stellar performances by celebrated musicians and Bollywood stars including Atif Aslam, Arijit Singh, Pritam, Shraddha Kapoor, Benny Dayal with the Slumgods, Sonu Nigam, Ankit Tewari and Shankar Mahadevan among others. There was a special act by the Music Composers Association of India (MCAI) where Sonu Nigam, Suresh Wadkar, Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan, Sapna Mukherji and Nitin Mukesh among several other stalwarts of the industry paid tribute to Anandji Virji Shah who received the Lifetime Achievement Award - Popular.

The ?Lifetime Achievement Award - Classical? went to Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia presented to him by classical legend Pandit Jasraj. The ?Global Musician Award? was bestowed upon music legend Ustad Zakir Hussain. Daler Mehndi took home the ?Wizcraft Honour for Best Live Performer? and a Special Award for ?Best Music Initiative? was awarded to the Red Bull Tour Bus.  

Queen and Ek Villain tied with 3 awards each leading the film category. A. R. Rahman won awards for Best Film Album for Highway and Best Fusion Album in the non-film category for Coke Studio at MTV Season 3. Armaan Malik won awards for Best Music Debut in both the Film as well as Non-Film category. Shankar Mahadevan won his first award ever for Devotional music.

The ceremony also saw the debut performance of the band NAFS, created by maestro A. R. Rahman. Speaking on the occasion, A.R. Rahman said, ?For me to give a platform to the next generation is my mission and this is one of the first initiatives to represent India internationally. The inspiration behind was Stevie Wonder. It has been my privilege to showcase NAFS at GiMA for the first time ever. ?

 Speaking on the occasion Wizcraft International Entertainment, director, Sabbas Joseph said, ?It has been an absolute honour to bring together some of the world?s finest musicians on a platform like GiMA. We?ve had the privilege of seeing greats like Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Jasraj, Usaat Zakir Hussain and A.R. Rahman on the same stage today. This is truly a great moment and one that will be treasured for years to come. ?

The award show will be telecasted on Star Plus on 15^th March 2015 at 8pm. 

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By Ritwika Gupta

Satiating the palate with some delectable food is what many a people live for! The world is a food paradise and every season, we look forward to new dishes that could tingle our taste buds! India is a volatile market and the way we bring food to our plates is constantly evolving every year. Thanks to rapid globalization, we are now aware of new food ideas and our expectations are higher than ever before. Chefs have a daunting task of keeping up with customers? changing tastes and today?s top culinary leaders gave me a lowdown on the food trends and cuisines that will gain momentum in 2015.

Local Sourcing of Ingredients & Quality, Organic Food

With an increasing demand for healthier and a variety of food options, the rules of how food is being sourced and marketed in the menus are changing.

?In 2015, organic brown rice, multi-grain roti, laccha paratha and healthy items are on the rise. We are sourcing a lot of local ingredients. We have started growing our own vegetables in local farms and use them in the dishes. Similarly for meat, instead of using imported lamb chops, we will be using everything that is available in India,? says Four Seasons Hotel head chef - Indian cuisine Vikram Arora.

Elaborating on local sourcing of ingredients, Four Seasons Hotel executive sous chef Anshuman Bali informs, ?Chefs nowadays are foraging; we are looking for locally available organic ingredients. More and more people are asking for organic dishes and menus are being planned according to that. Organic food is a trend to look out for in 2015.?

Quality ingredients are also gaining popularity fast alongside healthy food recipes this year. Grand Hyatt Mumbai executive chef Hermann Grossbichler emphasizes that quality fruits, vegetables, green leaves, grains and freshly prepared food with quality ingredients will succeed this year.

He adds, ?I love when a chef wants to be creative and prepares something new but creativity must never be second to our constant aim to serve the highest quality food to guests. True quality in terms of ingredients right down to the freshness of the finished product will be a top priority in 2015.?

Small Sized Portions

According to Chef Bali, small sized portions of food will be the rage in 2015. Eating smaller portions of food is one of the easiest ways to cut down on calories in order to maintain a healthy consumption pattern. It keeps a tab on our diet and helps us to lose weight. Bali says, ?Portions are getting smaller as people are becoming more calorie conscious. We are even using small cutlery and utensils to serve the guests as well.? Chef Arora also feels that small portion food is an emerging trend amongst both consumers and restaurateurs. He says, ?Gone are the days of eating three full heavy meals a day. Practising to eat small portions will help you lose weight. Eat only when you are hungry. There is no point of over eating."

Fusion Trends

In 2015, one will also get to witness a mix and match of different cuisines and ingredients in order to create fusion recipes. Chef Arora adds, ?There is a rising trend of ?desi international cuisines?. A lot of international food restaurants have opened in the past few years. Owners know that there is a market and that is why you can find different joints of cuisines everywhere.?

Agreeing with the same, Waters Beach Lounge director Aziz Lalani says, ?A fusion of Indian and international cuisine is something we are looking forward to in 2015. Chicken wings are equally popular as chicken tikkas.? Water Beach Lounge is situated in Goa and offers grilled Italian food. Lalani elaborates, ?We have guests from all over the world visiting our restaurant and I can tell you that foreigners love Indian food. As a result, fusion cuisine will be a fascinating trend in India this year.?

Asserting that Indians are foodies by nature, Chef Bali feels that the current local cuisine in India has gone into a bit of a fusion state, which will continue in 2015. He cites the example of the restaurant ?Masala Library,? which offers a fusion of Indian and western food, served in an unconventional style.

Chef Arora feels that people also want a novel touch to existing dishes. He states, ?People are experimenting with ethnic sweet dishes. Rather than having plain ice-creams, people are having shrikhand but made with different flavours like chocolate and butter scotch.?

International Cuisines in India

Grossbichler feels that Mexican and Moroccan food have been underrated for sure in the last couple of years but sure to pick up on popularity in 2015. He also adds that international cuisines like Italian, Chinese, Javanese and Thai will continue to remain popular in 2015 but they have becomes far too expensive. Grossbichler expresses, ?We need a higher variety of imported food at a lower cost if we want to say serve good international food in this country. Our imports have become way too costly for the restaurant to re-sell for the local audiences.?

Presenting a different perspective on international cuisines, Thai Sous Chef of San Qi, Seefah Ketchaiyo feels that this year could open doors to experimenting with authentic international cuisines. She explains, ?I think bringing authentic dishes to the plates could be a promising trend for this year. For instance, Thai dishes are often adapted to the Indian taste here. People still do not really know what authentic Thai food is. My attempt this year would be to use authentic ingredients to make people aware of the real taste of Thai cuisine.?

Low Fat Diet

People are cutting down on junk and fast food these days. As such, low fat meals are certainly going to trend this year. Chef Ketchaiyo opines, ?Although junk food is popular and cheaper, people are thinking about their health first.? She adds that people will prefer veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains and lean protein.

Lalani speaks about today?s youngsters who have become cautious of the health properties of a dish. ?The youth today measure each and every calorie in the meals. As such, we are going to incorporate nutritional values and indicate how healthy each dish listed in a menu is, without sacrificing the taste and quality,? he says.

Chef Bali says that people are going to large extents in order to sustain healthy eating. ?The trend this year is to alternate certain ingredients. For example, replacing ghee with olive oil or replacing normal rice with brown rice. Eating clean would also involve the consumption of more vegetables and less sodium,? he says.

Artistic Presentations

Chef Ketchaiyo explains that artistic presentation of food will be a priority this year. She candidly confesses, ?We are also focusing on new presentation so that people will not get bored when they come to San Qi.?

According to Chef Grossbichler, minimalistic and contemporary look of cuisines will be important in 2015. He feels that less is more and that should be kept in mind during the presentation of dishes. However, he is also quick to add that a strong focus should be put on quality and great artistic presentations must be secondary to the true taste of the product.

On a similar note, Chef Bali feels that novelty in presentation catches attention but one should not deviate from the flavor and authenticity of the food. He says, ?Most of the time, the essence of the food changes when experimenting with presentations in attempt to do something new. The concept of the restaurant also matters when considering the presentation of the dishes.?

Declining Trends

While fat free cuisine is rising fast along with fusion and organic food, there are some culinary trends and dishes that will see a decline in 2015.

Chef Grossbichler feels that Bruschettas, the Italian dish consisting of grilled bread topped with tomatoes, will become less popular this year. He explains, ?The problem with Bruschettas is that they are done with the wrong bread and with a topping that?s been sitting for eight hours in a fridge. Customers are becoming more discerning and they want to spend their money well. Everything mediocre will be on a decline this year.?

Chef Bali believes that there is a certain decline in the processed food category this year. He shares, ?Few years back, there was an upsurge of ready-to-cook meals which you could just warm up in your microwave and eat instantly. However, people are getting more health-conscious and they are aware of the amount of preservatives in it. As such, these ready-to-cook meals will see a drop in popularity.?

Elaborating on Bali?s stance, Chef Arora reasons that people prefer natural items and ingredients that can be made at home. He says, ?Thanks to the cookery shows on television and internet, people are getting ideas on how to make products organically. For example, black pepper sauce that is available in the market can actually be made at home and people prefer that.?

Eating Healthy Is the Way Forward in 2015

Well, the Indian food scene is an ever evolving palette and looks like healthy food trends are sure to be winners this year. ?People who eat healthy food look better, have more energy and are generally more positive, it just shows!? exclaims Chef Grossbichler.

According to Chef Arora, dishes, which are low on carbohydrates, high in protein and involve the usage of less oil, will be the most sought after this year. While he agrees that eating healthy is the way forward in 2015, Chef Bali informs us that while swapping ingredients could give us healthier alternatives, the dish will not taste the same once we change an ingredient.

?The choice is ours to prioritize what we want more in the New Year ? taste or health?? he concludes with a smile.

By: Ritwika Gupta
 

His zest for life is eternal and his vivacious personality almost infectious. Meet the hair icon of India - Jawed Habib ? the renowned hair stylist, who has made a mark for himself in a career spanning over 25 years.

Known for his association with fashion and celebrities, Habib has also authored best-selling hair books, is a hair consultant, an architect of a unique range of hair products and winner of numerous tresses awards. Habib shot to fame with his drive to make hair color fashionable across all sections of society in India.

A die-hard optimist, Habib?s career journey has been very exciting so far. Shedding some light on his younger days, he says that he was always inspired by his father but it was his experience at the London Hair Dressing School that helped him choose a career in hairstyling. It was here that he learnt the art of systematic approach to the hair profession.

?I decided that I wanted to become a hair dresser when I went to a famous hair dressing school in London. There was no looking back for me from there,? Habib shares.

Talking about the evolution of the hair and beauty industry over the years, Habib says, ?Personal grooming has become more of a basic need than a luxury, as it was thought five or so years ago. Today?s generation is image conscious. Considering today?s fast paced life, people do not have time for themselves. They would like to be groomed in the shortest possible time, in the best possible ways and at the most affordable prices possible. Everyone needs to look presentable at all times ? whether it is your workplace, your office or business or home.?

With trends changing at the drop of a hat, hairstylists are required to keep their abilities and skills up to date. ?If you want to stay in the business, your skills better adapt. Clients are so active about the ongoing trends that they bring in photographs on their smart phones of the hairstyle or color they have in mind,? Habib informs.

His skills, aesthetic sensitivity and solid expertise, helped him understand the needs of growing Indian market. Moreover in India, Bollywood has for long exerted a deep influence on popular Indian fashion. This year, Habib predicts that boho waves, long tails, braids and twists, big buns and bombshell blowouts are some of the trends to watch out for.

?Any haircut or new look adorned by an actor in a hit movie immediately becomes a prime tresses trend for a stylist to reproduce. But one has to understand that it?s not easy to replicate the look as the actor usually spends two hours behind that look. When it comes to a normal person, he or she cannot spend two hours on styling hair in their day to day life.?

The amount of chemicals that one puts in their hair these days is almost unbelievable. From hair rebonding, straightening, highlights and perming, the various chemical treatments impact the quality of one?s hair. While Habib agrees that these chemical treatments do cause damage, he is quick to point out that if the hair is healthy and the treatments are done by a professional, it will not damage the hair to a great extent. ?You need to deeply condition your hair after a treatment by applying a weekly hair mask,? the hair expert advises.

In order to maintain and take good care of hair, it is necessary to use high-quality products according to Habib. And that?s where Jabib Habib Hair Yoga comes in! Through Hair Yoga, Habib is introducing the ancient service of 'Champi' or head massage using oils specially created by the house of Jawed Habib, which will help improve the overall hair health and texture.

?This year, we are coming up with Jawed Habib Hair Yoga, which will have 12 products like a shampoo, serum and oil etc. These products will take good care of different types of hair ranging from dry, oily, curly, frizzy and even coloured-treated hair,? he shares.

Apart from his celebrity image, Habib is also an entrepreneur with 480 salons across 92 cities in India. Habib confesses that the secret behind his success was the attitude that he and his staff adopted over the years.

Habib believes that education can change any profession. The expert hones his skills and learns every day. He attributes his success in this profession to education. ?Learning our job well is of utmost importance. This gives an edge to us over others,? he signs off with a confident smile on his face.

Mumbai: No one wants to be left out single! Who doesn?t like receiving gifts, chocolates, roses and feel loved. To encourage its users to go ahead and try their luck at love, Vee one of the safest socializing app in the market, launched its all new and exciting brand campaign called ?#beingsinglesucks?.

The campaign is currently running on the Vee Facebook page and is getting an incredible response from the users. The campaign touches upon the feeling of how you need someone to hug in a cold winter day, someone to talk your heart out to. The campaign encourages the single people to make an effort and find a date.

If not anything long term, you will get to know a new person, engage in meaningful conversation and have a fun filled date this Vday. It also helps you gain self-confidence and feel good about yourself. So, this Valentines, stop being shy and jump into the dating pool with your well-rehearsed jazzy pick-up lines and amazing clothes! This year, make an effort to find someone.

Doll up and go somewhere romantic and make the date that you have been imagining about for months, a reality. Who knows what you may find! A good friend or maybe a boyfriend!