TV celebs talk about their favourite cities

TV actors are often seen travelling to various cities in order to promote their shows or on a vacation. And more often than not, one of the things which they are asked is what did they like the most about the place. Read on to know more about your favourite TV stars and their favourite cities.

Delhi has an international feel to it

Pratyusha Banerjee, of 'Balika Vadhu' fame, wants to work in a Delhi-based show. And considering how many films and TV shows are being set in Delhi, she might just get her wish soon. She says, “I have worked in shows that have been set in UP and Rajasthan, but now, I would like to work in a show in Delhi. In Delhi, the colony system is very interesting. Despite all the urbanization, I have seen that in many places, neighbours know each other, something that you don't get to see much in Mumbai. I think a Delhi-based family with its quirks would provide an interesting canvas for a show.“ Pratyusha keeps coming to Delhi on personal trips and tells us, “I am extremely fond of Delhi as a city. The culture is very rich. Connaught Place, with its many restaurants, provides an international feel to the city.Sitting on the rooftop area of a restaurant in CP, you can see the entire area, which just looks beautiful at night.“

Gauahar Khan: I bought my first piece of jewellery from Jaipur

Jaipur is one of Gauahar Khan’s favourite cities and she comes here for a visit frequently. Recently in town for a private event, she spoke to us about how she loves to shop in Jaipur and the story behind the first piece of jewellery, which she bought in the city. She said, “My work takes me all around the world and I’m lucky that I get to visit Jaipur very often because of that. I visit Jaipur once a month and it gives me a lot of pleasure to keep coming back here again and again.” Talking about her love for Jaipur’s jewellery, she said, “Jaipur is known for its beautiful jewellery. Years ago, when I had come here for a fashion show, I had purchased a diamond ring for my mom, which was the first piece of jewellery I ever bought. My mom treasures it very much.” Whenever in town, Gauahar loves to explore the local markets in the city to shop. She said, “There is so much to shop here. The colourful Rajasthani fabrics, jewellery and the velvet quilts can tempt anyone into buying them. I already have loads in my collection.” Gauahar, who will soon begin shooting for an upcoming film, says there is nobody she is seeing currently. “I’m happy being single at the moment. There is no one right now,” she told us. (Credits: Richa Shukla)

Adaa Khan on a Lucknow darshan

After gaining much popularity from her character Shesha in the show 'Naagin', actress Adaa Khan is now all set to try her hands in hosting a reality show. Adaa, who was in Lucknow for the auditions of 'India’s Got Talent' season 7 on Thursday, revealed that she has an old connect with the city. “My Nani was from Lucknow,” says Adaa, who though hadn’t got a chance to visit the city earlier. She was accompanied by her father on this visit. The actress reached a day before the event just to explore her nanihaal. “I was supposed to go for the Kolkata auditions, but thankfully somehow the plans changed at the last minute and the auditions were shifted to Lucknow. Since I landed a day in advance, I made the most of my trip by doing some sightseeing in the city and visited the Imambaras and a dargah.” Happy to play the role of a naagin in her show on air these days, Adaa says, “I have done shows like Piya Basanti Re where I have played the character of mature woman. So when Naagin was offered to me I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It’s a supernatural show and cannot be compared with a regular saas bahu serial. In fact, after watching such dramas on TV, my show is like a stress buster. Even children enjoy watching it because of the special effects and fight scenes.” When asked about her future plans, Adaa says she isn’t that ambitious. “I don’t believe in planning. So I am happy with whatever role I get to play.”

I prefer going to Lajpat and Sarojini, not malls

Actress Himani Shivpuri was in the capital for an event recently, and told us about her days at the National School of Drama (NSD). “We would spend most of our time in Mandi House, eating out in Bengali Market and at various dhabas in central Delhi. The taste of street food in north India can’t be found in Mumbai. There’s a panditji who sells paan in front of Doordarshan Bhawan. I still get many paans packed from him. I like shopping for ethnic wear. I don’t go to Delhi malls, because malls are the same everywhere. Instead, I shop at CP, Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini,” she said. Shivpuri used to live in Mayur Vihar after her marriage. She says, “Pehle toh Yamuna paar was looked down upon. Now Mayur Vihar is considered a posh area. I also love the way Gurgaon and Noida have grown into full-fledged cities with a character of their own.” Though she has been a part of many films and TV shows, she says her first love has always been the stage. “I am fortunate to have found work in TV and films. In the 1990s, when I made my debut, an artiste would get easily stereotyped. So I only got the roles of didis, bhabhis, chachis and buas. Character actor aloo jaisa hota hai. Kahin bhi daal do. But all these years, I never lost touch with theatre.”

‘My modelling career took shape in Delhi’

Model-turned-actor Upen Patel is far from being a regular in the Delhi party scene. So when we spotted him at a social gathering in the capital recently, we quizzed him about his long absences from the city. The actor told us, “It’s unfortunate, but now my schedule is such that unless I’m promoting a movie or attending some event, I don’t get to be in Delhi very often. In fact, I would love to come and shoot here, which is something I haven’t done, but that depends on the producers of course.” Upen said that Delhi has given him a lot of good memories. He added, “Coming back to Delhi is always special for me, because this is where I started my career. I did eight fashion weeks here and went from being one of the models to being a showstopper. So, Delhi has been the place where I spent some of the best times of my life. My modelling career took shape here and hence, it’s always nostalgic and special coming back here.”

‘Delhi believes in the power of jugaad’

After having portrayed the perfect son and the perfect husband in various TV shows, actor Hiten Tejwani recently made a move to the big screen. In a candid chat, the actor shares with us his experiences of shooting in Delhi.
Hiten says, “Shooting in Delhi is an altogether different experience, very different from Mumbai. In Mumbai, if you are unable to get something arranged during a shoot, it naturally becomes a big issue and a bone of contention. In Delhi, that’s not the case. Here people believe in the power of 'jugaad'. They will make a few phone calls, talk to acquaintances and by the end of the day, they get the thing done. I’m not saying it’s unprofessional here, but the entire thought process is different.”
Hiten says that in the years to come, a number of actors from Delhi will come up and star prominently in Hindi films. He elaborates, “More films are being shot and set in Delhi and North India and most of these films have protagonists from this region as well. Soon filmmakers will realize ki agar Delhi ka character hai, toh actor bhi Delhi ya North se hi hona chahiye. That adds to the character. People who have lived here will capture the local elements and mannerisms better.”

Sangeeta: I don’t miss a single chance of travelling to Jaipur: When at home, TV actress Sangeeta Ghosh likes to take charge of her household, which she says is a great stress buster for her. And whenever Mumbai’s chaotic lifestyle gets too much for her, she flies down to her home in Jaipur for a moment of solace. In the Pink City recently to spend some quality time with her husband and city-based polo player Shailendra Singh Rajput, the actress caught up with us for a quick chat.

Travelling to Jaipur is like taking a vacation: Though her shooting schedule keeps her busy in Mumbai, the actress doesn’t miss the opportunity to visit Jaipur. She tells us, “I don’t miss a single chance of travelling to the Pink City and I can say the same for any city in Rajasthan. My in-laws live in Pilani, extended family members live in Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur. So travelling to any of these cities is more like a vacation for me.”

Not very ambitious when it comes to my career: Sangeeta tells us, “When I am not working, I love to take charge of the kitchen, do the laundry and assist my help in cleaning the house. I keep a watch on every small bit, just the way an expert homemaker would. I am not very ambitious when it comes to my career, as I am more of a family-oriented person and want my family around me all the time.” When at home, TV actress Sangeeta Ghosh likes to take charge of her household, which she says is a great stress buster for her. And whenever Mumbai’s chaotic lifestyle gets too much for her, she flies down to her home in Jaipur for a moment of solace. In the Pink City recently to spend some quality time with her husband and city-based polo player Shailendra Singh Rajput, the actress caught up with us for a quick chat. Travelling to Jaipur is like taking a vacation Though her shooting schedule keeps her busy in Mumbai, the actress doesn’t miss the opportunity to visit Jaipur. She tells us, “I don’t miss a single chance of travelling to the Pink City and I can say the same for any city in Rajasthan. My in-laws live in Pilani, extended family members live in Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur. So travelling to any of these cities is more like a vacation for me.” Not very ambitious when it comes to my career Sangeeta tells us, “When I am not working, I love to take charge of the kitchen, do the laundry and assist my help in cleaning the house. I keep a watch on every small bit, just the way an expert homemaker would. I am not very ambitious when it comes to my career, as I am more of a family-oriented person and want my family around me all the time.”

It was bacause of polo that I met my man: Sangeeta spent only two days in Jaipur and tells us how she made the best of them. “I watched polo matches, met Micky’s (her husband) friends and relatives. I will always be thankful to the sport because of which I met my man. I’ll admit, I don’t know much about the technicalities of polo, but my husband wants me to learn the game. Someday when I have plenty of time, I would like to learn horseriding, but I’m not sure about playing polo. It’s a very tough game.” Sangeeta spent only two days in Jaipur and tells us how she made the best of them. “I watched polo matches, met Micky’s (her husband) friends and relatives. I will always be thankful to the sport because of which I met my man. I’ll admit, I don’t know much about the technicalities of polo, but my husband wants me to learn the game. Someday when I have plenty of time, I would like to learn horseriding, but I’m not sure about playing polo. It’s a very tough game.”

Kavita Kaushik: Delhi’s fashion is cooler than Mumbai

Actress Kavita Kaushik was recently in the capital to support her friend Nawab Shah, who was making his theatre debut. Co-incidentally, it was Kavita’s theatre debut as well. The actress, who studied in Delhi, told us, “During my college days, I was a mischievous student, so no one took me seriously. But I used to participate in a lot of debates. I love the food here. I come here mostly for work, but I get to meet my relatives as well.” Talking about missing Delhi, she said, “It’s been 15 years since I’ve been living in Mumbai and I miss the open roads and yummy street food of Delhi. I think fashion here is cooler than in Mumbai.”

I love going to Sarojini Nagar market in Delhi: Chhavi Pandey

Chhavi Pandey, who is currently seen in 'Silsila Pyar Ka', was quite upset when she was told that they won’t be going to Delhi for the promotional activities of the show. Talking about her disappointment, she told us, “I used to come to Delhi and Noida a few years back to shoot some of my shows. But it’s been a long times since I visited the capital. When we were told that we would be going to Delhi, I was very excited, but due to our hectic schedule in Mumbai, the Delhi trip didn’t materialize.”

Taking about her favourite spots in the city, she said, “I am a shopaholic and I love going to Sarojini Nagar market when I am in Delhi. I am very good at bargaining and good at picking up stuff at flea markets.”

I loved the Kanpur Zoo: Sampada

Model and actress Sampada Vaze who was last seen in shows like 'Hum-Tum' and 'Komedy Ka King Kaun', was on a sabbatical following her marriage in 2007 to businessman Chris George. Sampada shifted to New York a year after her marriage, but unfortunately, things did not work out in her marriage and the couple decided to separate. Now Sampada is back in India, and playing Sumitra in the serial 'Siya Ke Ram'. “I shifted back to Mumbai and wanted to make a fresh start. Right now, I want to just focus on my work,” said Sampada, who was in Kanpur on Friday to promote the show. Playing mother to the protagonist at such a young age doesn’t seem to bother the pretty actor-model much. “This is the first time I am playing a mother’s role on screen. Ashish Sharma and Karan Suchak, who are playing the roles of Ram and Laxman, respectively, are almost my age, and on the first day of the shoot I was shocked to know that I have to call them ‘putra’,” said Sampada,” adding, “It was awkward for me initially but later it felt normal. After all it’s work and I chose to do this role.” Her comeback show has not been able to generate good TRPs but Sampada says she is confident that things will improve. “I agree that there are lot of mythological serials that are on air these days, but I’m sure each one has their own speciality,” she said. Being an army officer’s daughter, Sampada has lived different cities across the country but this was her first visit to Kanpur. “I have heard a lot about Kanpur. When I was coming here, my father told me that yahan ki sweets are very popular. He also told me about the zoo and that it’s a beautiful place. That’s why I planned a visit to the Kanpur zoo. I really loved the natural environment of the zoo,” said Sampada who later also shopped for leather shoes and jackets and sweets in the city.

TV actors Rittesh Mobh and Deeksha Sonalkar were in town to promote their show Police Factory. But this was not just a promotional visit, as the actors decided to go around the city, taking a walk on the streets and even riding an auto! Rittesh, who plays a trainee cop in the show, said that the city’s architectural beauty and spicy food are a major charm. And for Deeksha, Rajasthan’s rich history is a major attraction. Deeksha said, “I find the state’s history very fascinating. I had played a Rajput princess in my last show Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap. I got to know more about Rajput warriors and their lives and fell in love with the state’s history.” She added, “I have seen Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer and want to explore more about the princely state of Rajasthan.” Rittesh, who is a Gujarati, said he found Rajasthani culture very close to his own culture. “There is hardly any difference between Rajasthan and Gujarat, as both of these states are known for their colourful heritage and food. I equally like daal-baati churma as I savour my Gujarati food.” The duo later headed to Ajmer. Rittesh said, “Whenever I come to Rajasthan, I make it a point to visit the dargah. And this time, I did not have to do any special planning. After the promotions, I can easily go and spend some time at the dargah.”

Gracy Singh: Wish I could live in Mumbai in the day and in Delhi at night: Whenever actors come to Delhi, they tell us that eating Dilli ka khana is on top of their list of things to do in the capital. But when Gracy Singh, who's from Delhi, was in town recently to promote Santoshi Maa, all she wanted was ghar ka khana! “Delhi has lots of beautiful memories. I come here once a month. I yearn for homemade, typical Punjabi food when I am in Mumbai, so I love having it whenever I am here. I miss the winters here too. I wish there were a bridge between Delhi and Mumbai so that I could live in Mumbai through the day and in Delhi at night,“ she laughs. Gracy , who is also a trained Bharatnatyam dancer, often comes to perform in the capital, and says that the city's audience is quite appreciative of the classical arts. Whenever I've performed in Delhi, I've observed that when artists take the final bow, people come to the stage, acknowledge us and clap for us. They don't leave the auditorium,“ she says. While Gracy's originally from Shalimar Bagh, her family is currently living in Gurgaon. “There's so me renovation going on at our Shalimar Bagh residence, so my family's living in Gurgaon. I don't even remember the address of our Gurgaon place!“ she ex claims.

I was fascinated by Hawa Mahal: Siya Ke Ram actress Bhargavi: Marathi actress Bhargavi Chirmule, who is seen playing the role of Sita’s mother on the show Siya Ke Ram, was in Jaipur recently to promote her show. The mythological show also marks her debut in the Hindi TV industry. Says Bhargavi, “I couldn’t have asked for a better show to begin my journey in Hindi television. People idolize Sita and look up to her as an ideal woman, someone who had a strong sense of individuality. Sunaina (Sita’s mother) is the reason behind Sita being a woman of substance. My character has an important role in Sita’s upbringing and nurturing.” Being a Marathi actress, did she find it difficult to deliver Hindi dialogues? “I worked on my Hindi diction for this role, and moreover, since I know Sanskrit, it was not that difficult speaking in the right accent for my role,” adds the actress. It was Bhargavi’s first visit to Jaipur, but she couldn’t get the time to take a trip of the city. “I managed to see Hawa Mahal, which is simply breathtaking in its appearance. I wanted to go for shopping also and buy things of my choice. Kuch ho nahi paya… Next time when I come to Jaipur, I will make it a point to put some time aside for a tour of the city,” Bhargavi said.

Vivian Dsena talks about his hometown Ujjain!

TV actor Vivian Dsena admitted that he visits his hometown Ujjain 5-6 times a year. He likes everything about it right from weather to the incredibly delicious food and describes it as "The best food I have eaten in my life".

Madhya Pradesh has become a new hub for TV industry. The actor is happy about that. "MP has untouched beautiful locations and therefore it is a perfect spot for TV hub. Also, all the temples in Ujjain are treat for eyes. The natives set an example of 'Atithi Devo Bhava'. From a local normal chaiwala to big hotels they feed you so well with love and perfection. MP tops all the states when it comes to food. People who have traveled India and world swear by MP's food."

Vivian is glad that Madhya Pradesh is as a state is becoming important nationally as well as the state has still hold on to his authenticity.

He says,"MP becomes important state with the pace it is growing. The best thing is even after skyscrapers and advance technology the authenticity remains the same. When you modernized with technology somewhere you tend to lose your authenticity. MP has not lost it. Daalbaati still has the same taste of my childhood. The culture remains the same. Still Diwali and Holi is celebrated like when it was celebrated 20 years back. That thing you miss in metro city. MP has developed but still has the authenticity of food, culture and festivals".

In Vivian's opinion, like the advertisement says, Madhya Pradesh is heart of India.

Drashti’s Rajasthan connection

TV actress Drashti Dhami, who is married to a Marwari, has got a lot of stuff from Rajasthan in her house. The actress, who was recently in town, said, “Since my in-laws are from Rajasthan, they keep visiting their family members here quite often and pick up stuff from here. From Jaipuri razai and jewellery to even bandhej saris, I have a lot of Rajasthani things in my collection. Also, I love raj kachori.” Ask her about her Rajasthan experience, and the actor immediately recalls the shoot in Bikaner for her current show 'Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani'. “It’s a nice place with lots of forts and palaces. I have spent almost a month in Bikaner shooting during the summer. Moreover, shooting in the scorching heat would tire me out, and I would sleep like a log after reaching the hotel. That was also a kind of experience of Rajasthan for me!” said Drashti with a smile.

Quite content with the way her career has progressed, the actress does not want to participate in shows like 'Big Boss'. “I won’t be comfortable doing such reality shows. They are a big no-no for me,” signed off the actress.

Gaurav Gera: I grew up in the ‘real Gurgaon’: Comedian Gaurav Gera’s ‘Shopkeeper’ webisodes on Facebook and Youtube need no introduction, and ever since word got out about his Dubsmash videos, they were lapped up by fans. So much so that even Alia Bhatt and Shahid Kapoor made their Dubsmash debut with ‘Shopkeeper and Chutki’ to promote their last film. If you don’t know what this is all about, then you probably live under a rock, but here’s a quick recap – Shopkeeper and Chutki are characters from Gaurav’s Youtube series, and both played by him, where one is a crazy shopkeeper and the other is a woman called Chutki, for which Gaurav dresses up in drag.

Gaurav is a Gurgaon man – he grew up in the city when it wasn’t what it is today. When we spoke to Gaurav, he was in Shimla with his family where he drove down to take some time off from making videos. He talks about the city, Chutki and how he never expected his videos to go viral. “I’m a Gurgaon boy and I’ve grown up in the city, though I mostly am in Mumbai. I grew up in Sector 4, which is the real Gurgaon. It was only in 1992 that we shifted to New Gurgaon, so I’ve seen the whole place grow. Every year, when I came back, I’d see something new happening. It’s still growing, which is superb,” Gaurav tells us. Though he’s visited Delhi, he doesn’t think much of it, and would prefer Gurgaon any day. “Delhi is all about rishtedaari and Mumbai is all about dosti yaari. I can’t compare Delhi and Gurgaon because I’ve hardly ever stayed in Delhi. So, if you ask me how people travel in Delhi, I wouldn’t know what to tell you. All I know is that Gurgaon is a superb city and gone are the days when we used to hear that only Delhi is better connected in terms of transport,” he says.

Talking about his favourite place to hang out in the city, Gaurav says, “I love Sector 29 and I’ve had some great times there. I’ve been a regular at Downtown and Bikanervala is my favourite place to eat.” About his videos going viral, Gaurav never thought anyone would be interested in making a Dubsmash video on him. “I wanted to make it big, but I didn’t know how it will take shape and where it will go. I never thought people will make a Dubsmash because of my Youtube videos. So when I noticed that people were making these videos, I was very surprised. I thought they’d want to make a Dubsmash of a hit song or a famous movie dialogue, like a Sholey dialogue, not me,” he says, adding, “Initially when I began I thought, ‘mera kaun banayega yaar.’ I’m just fun to watch, why would anybody want to make a video on me? But to my surprise, it just took off. I think Dubsmash and I worked for each other. It created a curiosity among people, and the ones who didn’t know about my videos were now curious and looking them up.”

To play Chutki, all Gaurav has to do is put on lipstick, without even looking at himself in the mirror. But he doesn’t give credit to Chutki or him dressing up in drag for the popularity of his show. “If I was just playing a woman’s character, people would be put off. It is the concept that works. It’s the feel of the videos. It’s the craziness of a man doing eccentric stuff while he’s home alone, creating content that TV channels spend crores of rupees on. So it is this craziness which is selling. The dressing up in drag part is a very small part of it. Chutki is just one character. I have five male characters with her. So I wouldn’t even give that much bhaav to Chutki, she’s just a part of it. I don’t even do the makeup, I just put on lipstick. If I tell you it’s a girl’s character, you will believe it because I’ll be convincing in my act.” Gaurav doesn’t plan to do any fiction shows in the future as he feels that they’re just not for him. On the current status of shootings in Delhi and Gurgaon, Gaurav says, “A lot of fiction shows are shot in here. There was absolutely nothing in my time. Being part of a fictional show and doing repetitive stuff is not for me. I work according to my timings and till the time I’m happy with the concept, I will make money on the go. I don’t want to stick to a single city. I want to be able to travel and go anywhere I want to go. I can travel to Dubai or Singapore or any other place in the world as long as I can do what I love doing.”

Coming to Delhi is a gastronomic treat:

Sudeep Sahir, who is seen in 'Dream Girl', says he always looks forward to visiting Delhi. Sudeep, who has been born and brought up in Delhi, says that he always makes it a point to come to the city during the winters. “My parents stay in Delhi and I try and visit them at least once a month. However, I always make it a point to visit during the winters. Not only is the weather pleasant around this time, but the city looks beautiful and has a different kind of charm,” he told us. Celebs always swear by the delicious Dilli ka khaana and how they yearn for it back in Mumbai. Sahir is no exception. “One thing I miss about Delhi when I’m in Mumbai is the aloo tikki and aloo chaat. Whenever I’m in Delhi, I make sure I eat to the fullest so that I don’t miss chaat when I’m in Mumbai. The moong dal laddoos you get with mooli and chutney is something you get only in Delhi and I always have a portion of it when I’m here. Coming to Delhi is always a gastronomic treat,” he added.

I love Delhi’s tandoori momos:

Srman Jain, who recently joined the cast of 'Mere Angne Mein', always enjoys visting North Campus. “I am a huge fan of the tandoori momos you get here. There are so many varieties of momos you can eat in Delhi. I have many cousins and friends in Delhi and whenever I’m here, they always take me to the university area,” he said, adding, “I had started working while I was in college in Mumbai. So, I haven’t lived the college life where one bunks classes, hangs out with friends and goes for movies. Seeing the students in North Campus, I always think about what college life would have been like. Even though I don’t have any regrets, it’s always great to see happy faces.”

Madirakshi excited to be back in Jaipur:

Actress Madirakshi, who is making her debut on Indian television with her upcoming epic show 'Siya Ke Ram', was in town to promote her show. The actress said, “I have come to Jaipur earlier many times with my friends for weekends and I remember staying in huge palace-like hotels. This is the first time I have come for work and I am really feeling excited to be back here.” Originally from Bhopal, Madirakshi has lived in different cities, including Indore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad. During her stay in Delhi, she used to visit Jaipur quite frequently. Madirakshi has done a couple of films down South. Working as an interior designer in Hyderabad, Madirakshi never thought of becoming an actress. Said Madirakshi, “It just happened by chance. I was chosen by the makers of the show and was asked to appear for a screen test. And I’m really glad to be playing this important character. The show will bring the epic story of Ram and Sita alive, from Sita’s perspective.” Before reprising the role of Sita, Madirakshi watched Ramanand Sagar’s teleserial 'Ramayan', which was hugely popular during the 80s. “The Indian audience has an emotional attachment with the epic and its characters as well. Soon after the screen test, I watched all the episodes of Sagar’s Ramayan so that I could pull it off and make it look more convincing.” With no fear of being typecast in the role, Madirakshi considers it as an opportunity. “Nobody can say no to such character. This is my debut on Indian television and if people remember me as Sita even after the show, there would be no better reward,” admitted Madirakshi. Believe it or not, the svelte actress cannot do without her box of chocolate powder and ghee. Confessing her love for it, she said, “I find it almost impossible to resist sweets. And that is the reason I always carry a box of chocolate powder and ghee in my suitcase whenever I travel. Kuch bhi khila do lekin meetha hona chahiye. Aur kuch na mile toh mera chocolate powder hai na!”

Rajasthani thali is my biggest temptation: The actress, who was in Sikar to attend a private function, talks about her fascination with Jaipuri jootis and bandhani dupattas. For television actor Kamya Punjabi, who is a big time foodie, Rajasthani thali is her biggest temptation. Kamya, who came to Sikar for a day to attend a private function, says, “It is an absolute delight to have a Rajasthani thali, with variety of curries, chutney, pickles and desserts.

In fact, khane se pehle, thali dekhkar hi mera pet bhar jata hai." The actress, who loves to party, got acquainted with Rajasthani lifestyle and culture during the wedding celebrations of her younger sister in Jaipur. “I developed a bond with the Pink City a few years ago when my sister, Mala, got married to a tele director based in the city. The memories of week-long celebrations at different heritage locations still remain fresh in my mind.” And this is not all. From the colourful bandhani dupattas, to spicy food to marvellous architecture, she can’t get enough of these things. But what she cannot forget is her temptation for shopping. “During my sister’s marriage, I went on a shopping spree. Since we stayed almost 4-5 days for the wedding, we had shopped a lot. My fetish for shoes became a talking point when one day I came back home with 40 pairs of Jaipuri jootis. Everyone was amazed to see me with a huge bag full of fancy Jaipuri jootis. As I could not wear all of them, you will find a few pairs from that collection in the shoe rack.” Kamya, who was a Big Boss contestant in Season Seven, has been rigorously following the latest Season 9. But despite big names in the show, Kamya does not find it entertaining. She says, “Honestly speaking, I did not find any one entertaining in the show. It has become boring. They are very big names but koi bhi passion ke sath game nahi khel raha hai. There is no favourite character in the show, but I do like Aman’s attitude who has maintained his composure through thick and thin.”

Armaan’s love for 'Dilli ka Khaana': Armaan Kohli considers himself ‘aadha Dilliwallah’ as he has a house in GK II and is often in the capital for work and to visit friends. The actor, who was here recently to attend a friend’s book launch and participate in a friendly cricket match with politicians, said that whenever he is in Delhi, he takes out time to eat ‘good food all over the city’. He said, “Be it Khan Market or CP, my friends have restaurants at all the popular places and whenever I am here I go out to these places to have good food. I will be coming here soon for the promotions of my next film. Initially, I was thinking of taking all my co-stars out, but now I feel it won’t be possible this time.”

I have been coming to Gurgaon since the time 32nd Milestone was the party place: Telly actor Karan Kundra always enjoys a trip to the capital. Even if he doesn’t have any professional commitment here, he flies down to the capital to party with his friends. In Delhi for the promotion of his upcoming show, Karan tells us, “I belong to Jalandhar and it didn’t have many options for students to party. Since most of my friends’ sisters and even my sisters were studying in Delhi, we used to come here to meet them over the weekend and explore places.” Karan tells us that he has explored most of the party places across NCR and still remembers partying in Gurgaon’s 32nd Milestone. “I have been coming to Gurgaon since the time 32nd Milestone was the party destination. The city was like a jungle and when I go there now, I am unable to find my way around because it has changed so much. But 32nd Milestone used to be a phenomenon and we used to go there a lot. Now Cyber Hub has taken over and Gurgaon has developed a lot,” he says. The actor says that his family also owned a house in Palam Vihar which they later sold off. “We owned a house in Palam Vihar that we sold off later. But when I was trying to find my way to that house, it was quite difficult,” he adds.

Vinti doesn’t want to miss out on shopping in Jaipur:Television actress Vinti Idnani was on her maiden Jaipur trip recently. Popular as Myra of Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Vinti was here to promote her new show, and she said she wanted to make the best use of her trip. She said, “It is my first visit, and my co-actor Jatin, who is from Rajasthan, has told me so much about the famous food and shopping markets here. I want to finish the promotional activities as soon as possible so that I can head to the market. A trip to Jaipur is incomplete without shopping. Since morning, I have been requesting my team members to take me out for shopping. Jaipur mein bahut kuch hai dekhne aur khareedne ko.” Vinti, who enjoys being a tomboy in real life, is happy that she has finally got an opportunity to play a tomboyish character on screen. Talking about her new role, she said, “I find the character quite close to my real self. I didn’t face much problem playing the role as I am very much like Nandu in real life. I’m someone who can kick, fight and teach any ruffian a lesson with her strong punches. The only problem I faced was while learning how to ride a bike.” Vinti will be seen playing a traffic policewoman, who is free-spirited, hates men and stands up for what she believes is right. She said, “Playing a traffic policewoman in the show was an exciting experience. It is only bike riding that I had to learn, which gave me nightmares. It was a difficult task. My ankles are still aching and I sustained a few minor injuries too while learning. Also, I attended classes to learn Delhi wali Hindi. Since I am from Mumbai, we speak a very different Hindi. Shooting for the show was a learning experience.” Vinti was last seen in a film titled Uvaa which didn’t do well at the box office. But that has not disheartened her. “The movie had some veteran actors like Om Puri and Jimmy Sheirgill, and I got to learn a lot about acting from them. When I did Bade..., people said that my character will get sidelined as the story mainly revolves around Ram Kapoor, Sakshi Tanwar and Sonia Balani. Lekin aisa kuch bhi nahi tha. I enjoyed playing my role and had a good chemistry with Sakshi and Ram Kapoor on the sets.”

Sucheeta: There is some karmic connection between me and Udaipur: TV actress Sucheeta Trivedi recently celebrated her birthday in Udaipur. This year, she chose to celebrate this special moment in the serene surroun ings of the Lake City. Having been part of shows like 'Baa Bahoo Aur Baby', 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki' and 'Comedy Circus', Sucheeta is currently seen on 'Mere Angane Mein'. Once a year or twice, the actress comes to the Lake City, Udaipur. “It is not about the scenic beauty of the place, but I feel there is some kind of karmic connection between me and Udaipur. My grandmother was a big devotee of Shrinathji. And I still remember coming to Shrinathji temple and offering puja with her as a kid. I am glad that I am still following it,” adds the actress. “I’m a god-fearing person and always believe that whatever one gets in one’s life, one should always be thankful to the Almighty. Generally, I choose my birthday to thank god for all his blessings. This year too, I reached Udaipur a day before my birthday, then took part in early morning mangla aarti, offered puja and also participated in sewa. It’s just my way of celebrating my special day.” Sucheeta then spent her day visiting markets, buying stuff for herself. She says, “The city has so much to offer. But what attracts my attention is silver jewellery. I bought a pair of silver anklets for myself.” A travel buff, Sucheta wants to go for an India tour, mainly visiting places like Kashmir and Ladakh. India is full of beauty and I want to explore all these places which are less crowded and loaded with natural beauty.”

Harshad drives to his hometown for shoot: Harshad Arora will soon commence the shoot for his next project Swadheenta. The entire star-cast will apparently be moving to Delhi by the end of this month to shoot for it and return to the city only in the beginning of next year. However, moving to his hometown isn’t the only thing that he is kicked about. Harshad is looking forward to his road trip to the Capital. He loves adventure and will travel to Delhi by car. The actor says, “I prefer flying since it’s easy and quick, but my love for driving took over this time.”

Jaipur girl Jigyasa Singh recalls her Amber Fort and City Palace outings: Jaipur is such a peaceful city as compared to Mumbai, where it’s a daily struggle to survive,’’ says Jigyasa, who got nostalgic talking about her Jaipur days and her Amber Fort and City Palace visits with friends. As much as she wants to stay in touch with them even now, her grueling shooting schedule makes it difficult for her.

The Jaipur girl, who is currently seen playing the title role in the show 'Thapki Pyar Ki', adds, 'Kya kare, bahut busy rehti hoon shooting mein.'
Jigyasa wishes she could go back to her college days when she would relish pyaaz ki kachori in the rains with her friends.

Her favorite hangout spots in Jaipur are Amber Fort and City Palace. “I have lost count of the number of times I visited these two places when I was staying in Jaipur.

Another historical place that I loved visiting with my friends was Nahargarh Fort.” Talking about getting used to her new life in Mumbai, Jigyasa says, “Initially, it was tough shooting for 12-14 hours daily for the show.

But I am now enjoying every bit of it. At the moment, I am focusing on my role.” When the actress was offered the role of a girl who stammers, the first thing that came to her mind was how to portray the character convincingly. “I made sure that it was not reduced to a caricature so that people who actually have this problem don’t think that they are being mocked. I had to do a lot of rehearsals to get into the skin of the character,’’ she says.
When asked if she would like to do a negative role in the future after playing a docile girl, Jigyasa says, “Yes, I am open to the idea as I love experimenting with new roles.”

Shekhar misses the carefree Delhi: Film and TV actor Shekhar Suman was recently in the city as part of a play 'Ek Mulaqaat', where he played the protagonist. Suman learnt acting and stagecraft from Delhi. “I worked as an actor with the Shri Ram Centre Repertory Company. In those days, I would try my best to impress Delhi’s theatre audience, which I have always felt, is very critical. It can pan even the most noted actors.” When asked what he likes about the city, he said, “The roundabouts. I roamed around the city with my then-girlfriend, aur aaj bhi unhi ke saath ghoom raha hoon, as she is my wife now.” He adds, “I used have butter chicken at Pandara Road, have sweets at Bengali Market, hang out in Defence Colony and take part in bike races near the airport.” However, he says that now he feels alienated whenever he is in the city. “The character of the city has changed. Now, the environment is so politicised and the rate of crime has also gone up. The infrastructure has made it into a labyrinth. People were more carefree in the Delhi that I knew.”

<strong>Gujarat&rsquo;s really special for Gurmeet &amp; me:<br /> <br /> Gujarat has always been special for you, isn&rsquo;t it?</strong>: On this trip, I got a chance to visit Gandhinagar &ndash; and I enjoyed meeting and interacting with collegians from the state. I&rsquo;ve got a deep connect with Gujarat. Gurmeet and I were in Vadodara for the shoot of our first telly show Ramayan &ndash; we stayed there for months. So, it remains special! I keep visiting Gujarat for festive occasions or shows. Not just that, I have many good friends who are Gujaratis. And when it comes to Gujarati food, I am well-versed. In fact, I love khaman and not dhokla &ndash; which most visitors think are same.<br /> <br /> <strong>Why is it that you don&rsquo;t prefer doing run-on-the-mill daily soaps &ndash; where viewership is high?: </strong>Taking up a family drama isn&rsquo;t that big a deal &ndash; all you have to do is rona-dhona , there&rsquo;s no acting element involved. I prefer something which is more challenging like comedy. In my current show, Yam Hain Hum, I play a mythological character, Yamraj&rsquo;s wife Dhumorna. Also, I have taken up comic roles post Ramayan because comedy is like walking on the sharp edge of knife &ndash; timing, act, dialogue delivery &ndash; everything needs a right balance. It is tough and that&rsquo;s why I enjoy it. <strong>Over the years, is there anything that&rsquo;s changed between you and Gurmeet?: </strong>Nothing has changed between us. We share the same chemistry we had when we dated. We have grown both on personal and professional fronts together. The advantage of having a partner from the same industry is that he understands your work. Gurmeet supports me, praises me and at the same time is my biggest critic and that&rsquo;s what keeps us going. <strong>What&rsquo;s the secret to your fitness: </strong>When you have a motivating fitness freak like Gurmeet as your partner &ndash; you ought to keep up with similar fitness levels. He keeps an eye on my workouts, motivates me to take up newer fitness regimes, diets. That&rsquo;s how I manage to fit.

<strong>Aahana&rsquo;s first Metro ride from Delhi to Gurgaon: </strong>Aahana Kumra, who was recently shooting in Delhi for &#39;Agent Raghav&#39;, decided to take public transport in Delhi for the first time.<br /> <br /> She had to travel to Gurgaon to meet a friend and since traveling in a car would have taken a lot of time, she decided to take the Delhi Metro. &ldquo;I had to meet this friend of mine in Gurgaon and at first I had thought I would go by road. But then I realized I am in Delhi and if I go from Delhi to Gurgaon by car, it wouldn&rsquo;t be a wise move. I thought going from Karol Bagh to Cyber Hub, I would probably grow old. I was like &lsquo;Forget it dude! I am going to jump in the Metro&rsquo;. Since the Metro station was right there, I took the train. When I first entered the Metro, I thought it was as crowded as a Mumbai local,&rdquo; she tells us.<br /> For a first-timer traveling in the Metro, Aahana was scared to travel alone. &ldquo;There was so much crowd. First I took the train to Rajiv Chowk, then changed there and took the train to MG Road. Since the Metro&rsquo;s gates open for a short while, I just jumped into the general compartment. I was so freaked out. I wouldn&rsquo;t take a Mumbai local at 7.30pm. But I had decided to travel in the Metro and that too in Delhi, so I was quite scared,&rdquo; she shares. &ldquo;But I somehow made my way to the women&rsquo;s compartment. I felt safe there. Even though people were really cordial when I was making my way to the women&rsquo;s coach, I was somehow a bit apprehensive. I just put my head down and walked. I wore a jacket and a cap to hide myself. I usually travel in disguise,&rdquo; she adds.<br /> Aahana&rsquo;s next stop after taking the Metro was Cyber Hub. &ldquo;My chachu stays in Gurgaon. I met my cousins at Cyber Hub. I made it there in an hour. There was this local band that was singing some Punjabi folk music at the place we went to there. This is something you don&rsquo;t get to hear in Mumbai. Mumbai is more about pop and funk music. You don&rsquo;t get to hear too much of Punjabi and Hindi music. I felt close to my roots when I was there,&rdquo; she adds. Aahana recalls her first visit to the foodie hub and says, &ldquo;I had gone to Cyber Hub when Yudh had just gone on air.<br /> <br /> There&rsquo;s so much happening here, like open air gigs and you have the option to choose where you want to go to. It&rsquo;s like Singapore&rsquo;s Clarke Quay. In fact, Sharad (Kelkar, her co-star) also came down to Cyber Hub with his friends and then my cousins and his friends all partied together.&rdquo; Aahana Kumra&#39;s visit to Delhi is incomplete without a visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. The actress took out time to pay her obeisance at the gurudwara. Aahana told us, &ldquo;Whenever I go to Amritsar, I always go to the Golden Temple. When I am in Delhi, I always go to Bangla Sahib. This time I went to the gurudwara and sat for the ardaas. It was very soothing and calming.&ldquo; Not only this, Aahana also tried out some of the Dilli ke pakwaan during this trip. &ldquo;I like the food, music and ambience in restaurants here. I prefer going out in Delhi than in Mumbai.

<strong>Chai Pe Chutkuley comes to your city to present some of the best stand-up acts! </strong>Lucknowites will now get a fantastic opportunity to witness live some of the best stand-up comediens in the country .SAB TV brings together popular stand-up artistes &shy; Ahsaan Qureshi, VIP and Rajiv Thakur to Lucknow for their show &#39;Chai Pe Chutkuley&#39;. The event is all set to provide innovative and fresh content with non-stop laughter to Lucknowites which can be experienced live along with one&#39;s family . To be part of the show, all that you have to do is give a missed call on 08820888208 and you can watch the show live over some tea and snacks. &#39;Chai Pe Chutkuley&#39;, launched last year, gives an opportunity to local talent to perform on a larger platform. In this one-of-a-kind initiative to reach out to its audience in smaller pockets of India, the channel attempts to promote a healthy interaction between the viewers and the channel for fostering a special bond which goes beyond mere numbers and statistics. So, come be a part of this unique show Sunday, September 13, at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Gomti Nagar , 5 pm onwards.

<strong>Nikhil Chinapa: I have always found the people of Jaipur warm and charming: </strong>The majestic forts and palaces of the state continue to fascinate the VJ.VJ, DJ, host and actor Nikhil Chinapa Pink City is happy to have his share of history every time he visits the place. His passion for music took him far and wide but whenever he comes to Jaipur, he connects with it very well.During his recent visit to Jaipur, Nikhil said, &ldquo;I may have lived in the historical city of Agra for a few years, but the thrill of visiting Jaipur at regular intervals has not diminished.&ldquo; Nikhil had been to the city for shootings and musical shows many a time. Reminiscing about his first visit to Jaipur on a school trip, Nikhil says, &ldquo;I was then studying in the 6th standard in Agra back in 1984. We visited the major historical places like City Palace, and Amber Fort.We watched a film at Raj Mandir theatre. I don&#39;t remember the movie, but never forgot the experience of watching a movie in this theatre. Over the years, I have visited Jaipur several times for shoots and also for several parties. I have loved every experience and have always found the people of Jaipur warm and charming.&ldquo; Nikhil also has a lot to say about Rajasthan. &ldquo;The state is known for its vibrant art, culture and heritage. And I&#39;ve always had a fascination for the forts and palaces. I try and imagine what they must have been like in their heyday and it boggles my mind! The riveting stories of its rulers, kings and princes and the battles that were fought over the centuries also fascinate me.&ldquo; Nikhil, married to DJ Pearl, enjoys a special bond with his wife. &ldquo;Pearl inspires me to be a better DJ. She has an incredible sense of sound and a very refined taste in music. In comparison, I&#39;m a bit of a barbarian. Since we are both in the same profession, it really helps a lot.&ldquo; A fitness freak, Nikhil follows a strict health regime. &ldquo; As I am travelling most of the time, I have to very careful about my health. I try and eat healthy and drink lots of water. If I&#39;m very tired, I make sure I hit the gym. It flushes out the toxins out of my body and resets my body clock. Thankfully I sleep very well, in flights, cars and hotel rooms.&ldquo; Along with music, Nikhil has also tried his hand at acting. On being asked about his experience, he says, &ldquo;I enjoyed acting, but it isn&#39;t my strongest attribute. I&#39;d still happily dabble in it, but I wouldn&#39;t chase it like I chase music festivals.

<strong>Deepika&rsquo;s first Delhi performance</strong>: Deepika Singh aka Sandhya of &#39;Diya Aur Baati Hum&#39; recently performed at the Janmashtami celebrations in the capital. The actress, who belongs to Delhi, told us that this was the first time she got to perform in front of Delhiites. She said, &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t had the time to come to Delhi after I started acting in the show. What I usually do is take a flight to Delhi, stay here for the night, and then fly back early morning. Even this time it was a short trip but I got to dance in front of my Delhi fans. It was really nice because I saw how much my fans here like me!&rdquo; With talks about Delhi being developed into a film and TV hub, isn&rsquo;t Deepika looking forward to shooting here for any show? &ldquo;Now that I&rsquo;m married, I don&rsquo;t think it will be possible for me to take up something that will be shot completely outside Mumbai. I&rsquo;ve been hearing about these reports and even my husband (TV director Rohit) has been offered shows based in Delhi. But I don&rsquo;t see myself moving back to Delhi,&rdquo; she told us.

<strong>And Simran returns to Mumbai from Chandigarh:</strong> Simran Kaur, who was enjoying her married life with hubby Sikandar Singh in Chandigarh, is planning to get back to work in Mumbai. Simran was last seen playing a witch in Anamika. After the show wrapped up, Simran got married in November 2014 and decided to move to Chandigarh with her husband, who is a pilot. She says, &ldquo;I took a break from work and explored Punjab and the northern regions of India. I also travelled to New York and Thailand in the past few months. My husband is a pilot and he travels a lot, so now, I feel I want to get back to work and move back to Mumbai.&quot;

Hunar moves back to Delhi: No, the actress isn’t going on a break, but has bagged a show, which will give her an opportunity to stay in her hometown Delhi for six months at a stretch. Hunar Hali will be seen in the TV show Swadheenta, which is being shot entirely in the capital. We hear that she is excited about spending time with her family, which has been difficult ever since she moved to Mumbai to pursue her acting dreams.

TV celebs talk about their favorite cities : Choreographer-actor Jason Tham, who will be seen as agent Bikram in TV show 'Agent Raghav', got nostalgic when he visited Delhi while shooting for a few episodes for the new crime-drama series. Jason, who was born in New York and brought up in Delhi, remembered his childhood days while he was in the capital earlier this week. “Jantar Mantar is one of the most prominent tourist places but for me it’s a flashback of my childhood. I have come here so many times with my family and friends and every time I would stare at every structure here with great wonder. "All of them still have the same effect on me. In fact, more since I hardly get to see them now,” Jason, who currently resides in Mumbai, said in a statement. Jason has previously appeared in shows like 'Dil Dosti Dance' and 'Dosti... Yariyaan... Manmarziyan'. 'Agent Raghav', which will feature actor Sharad Kelkar in the title role, will premiere on Saturday on &TV.

Niti: Fans proposed to me when I went to Delhi malls: Niti Taylor, who plays Nandini in 'Kaisi Ye Yaariaan', was recently in the city to spend time with her family. The actress told us that it was the first time that she had got a week’s leave to be with her family in Gurgaon. “My sister delivered a baby girl and most of my time was spent in babysitting. But I also organised some meetings with my fans in malls in Delhi and Gurgaon. I had just tweeted that I would be at those malls at a particular time and I didn’t expect a huge crowd. But I was literally mobbed! Some fans had even come down from Punjab to meet me and I even got a lot of marriage proposals!” she told us.

Sharad Kelkar: I ate butter chicken, kebabs and paranthas in Chandni Chowk - Sharad Kelkar was recently shooting in Delhi for his show 'Agent Raghav' and since the cast and crew of the show opted for a guerrilla shoot without vanity vans, the actor got to meet his fans and also got to savour some special Delhi food. “It was my first shoot in Delhi. It was fun without the vanity vans and the heavy lights. We had to go and change in the washrooms of restaurants in the areas we were shooting and so, we also got to eat a lot. Every restaurant we went to offered us a lot of free ka khana. I got to eat butter chicken, kebabs and paranthas in Chandni Chowk during the shoot,” he told us. “When we are in Mumbai, we follow a diet plan and eat carefully. But while I was here, I indulged in a lot of delicacies. But since I work out every day, it didn’t show much,” he added.

Satish Kaushik on Noida: Actor, theatre artiste and director – Satish Kaushik has donned all these hats. Best known for his comic roles, the actor has been touring UP for the promotion of his upcoming TV show 'Sumit Sambhaal Lega'. He talks to us about how Noida gets the best of both worlds – UP and NCR and the changing attitude of the audience in UP. Talking about Noida, Kaushik says, “Noida enjoys a big advantage because of its proximity to Delhi, which means it stands to get the best from NCR while retaining the qualities of a typical UP city. So, you have malls, shopping plazas, and swanky cars here, which are a hallmark of a big city like Delhi. And you also have people with a grounded mentality, which is typically specific to a small city. It gets the best of both worlds. On top of that, it has a film city which means it can develop as a centre for production in the future.” Kaushik says that now the audiences in other cities in UP have started showing greater maturity, which augurs well for the industry. He says, “There has been a marked shift in the attitude of the audience of non-metro cities. The audiences in these towns are changing because of the enormous educated-youth base. This means they want better content for television. This feedback will reach the creators of the shows and based on customer demand, they will have to create better shows.”

Manasi Parekh Gohil: Shopping in Delhi is much better than in Mumbai: Manasi Parekh Gohil is excited about playing a Delhi-based character in her next show 'Sumit Sambhaal Lega'. Recently in the city, the actress spoke to us about why she prefers shopping in Delhi than in Mumbai. “I’m usually in Delhi for work. I really want to explore the city. Two months ago I was here for a music performance and we stayed near the Army Cantonment area. At that time, I shopped at Khan Market and realised that the food and clothes in Delhi are much better than what you get in Mumbai. I went to a branded store here and I found that the range and collection was much better than what we get in Mumbai. Also, the junk jewellery you have here is a lot better than what is available in Mumbai,” she told us. Just like most celebs who come here rave about Delhi’s winter, Manasi added, “I think people in Delhi like to dress up a lot. The climate also supports you. Mumbai mein if I walk in leather boots people will think I am mad. You can’t wear boots or jackets or layers in Mumbai.”

Vinita Joshi wants to go shopping in Jaipur

TV actress Vinita Joshi, who was in Jaipur to promote her new show 'Mohi', says that she visited the city for the first time. On being asked about Jaipur, Vinita said, "Who does not know about Jaipur? But it is a bit surprising that I have never come here before. I have only seen Udaipur. People from all across the country and even abroad come and visit Jaipur. Now, I feel, I should draw up a plan to be back here again, and explore the city as much as I can. Lekin abhi meri koshish rahegi ki main Jaipur se kuch shopping zarur karun. I have heard that Jaipur is a shopper's paradise. And like any other girl, shopping is a major weakness for me." The actress also revealed that she's been to Udaipur often.

Tina Dutta: Jaipur is a must-visit for all art lovers:

The actress visited Jaipur recently for a two-day visit. Talking about the city she said that Jaipur has inspired her to take up Rajasthani art. "Jaipur is a must-visit for anyone who admires art... The entire city is an inspiration to artistes. Last night, I visited a restaurant that had this traditional Rajasthani ambience with beautiful paintings. I just fell in love with it. Being a painter myself, I would love to paint Rajasthan-inspired art on my canvas," Tina said. The actress also loves enjoying the Rajasthani thaali when in the pink city. "My mom loves shopping and she always picks a lot of stuff whenever we come to Jaipur. I have six sets of lehenga-odhni and many gotta-patti and bandhej saris in my wardrobe from this city. But I can't seem to have enough of it. So, I'll find myself some time for shopping when I come here next," she said.

Mayank Gandhi talks about his first Delhi Metro ride

TV actor Mayank Gandhi was in Delhi to finalise the dates for his wedding to Mihika Varma in August 2015. Though he didn't reveal much about his personal life, he did speak about his first Delhi Metro ride. "This time, I also got a chance to travel in the Delhi Metro from CP to Gurgaon. I was in CP for a meeting and my car broke down. My phones also had turned off and I couldn't call a cab or anybody for help. What I did then was that I bought a cap from a shop and covered my face, and took the Metro, which was jam-packed. I had to act as if I was a common man, and even though some people were trying to see who I am, I just pretended that I was just a normal person. I had to act in real life too and that was quite an experience!," explained the actor.

Jay Bhanushali thinks Delhi's infrastructure is the best in the country

Jay Bhanushali was recently in Delhi promoting his show 'Dance India Dance'. When asked about what does he like the most about the national capital, he said, "My wife is from Delhi. 'Abhi mujhse koi Aapko kaun si cheezein achchi lagti pooch raha tha, hain Dilli ke baare mein aur kya buri lagti hain?' Maine bola ki main Dilli ke baare mein bura nahi bol sakta kyunki yeh Mahhi ka maayka hai. But I love Delhi. People here get quite excited and the infrastructure is something no other Indian city can match. In fact, you can even compare the city's infrastructure to international cities."
Jay further added that the one thing Mumbai lacks are tourist spots. "If you come to Mumbai, I will tell you, `Beta, Mumbai mein ghoomne ke liye kuch nahi hai'. Lekin Dilli mein itni saari jagah hain jahaan aap ghoomne jaa sakte hain. Wohi Juhu beach hai hamaare paas aur Gateway of India," he opined.

Nandish Sandhu: I love the concept of HKV

TV actor Nandish Sandhu says that he has visited the national capital a "zillion" times and binged on Dilli's street food every time. Nandish said, "You find chaat, kebabs and Mughlai delicacies in Mumbai as well, but what you don't get there is the characteristic Delhi taste, which makes those dishes yummy... I went to Hauz Khas Village on Tuesday and I loved the place. The concept of having a whole lane next to a picturesque lake, offering great food, is so amazing. Even Mumbai doesn't have anything like that." He even revealed that he loves to visit Delhi in the winter which is his favourite season. On being asked if he would like to live in Delhi, the actor said, "If I were to live anywhere in NCR, I would pick Gurgaon over Delhi as I feel the Millennium City is cleaner and has better infrastructure than Delhi."