One cannot help but notice the way Ranbir Kapoor owns every character that he plays. Known for his unique choices in the selection of roles that he has played so far, he might have seen the highs and lows of his stardom/career but his talent has never been questioned and rightly so. Even in the underrated films like Bombay Velvet, whereby he plays the character of Johnny Balraj, a street fighter/boxer with ultimate finesse and Roy, a movie based on a rather weak plot with a lot of loopholes, he plays the twisted character of Roy in a way that does not fail to catch the viewers' attention. 

Read on to know about our favourite movies and the characters played by the extremely talented superstar of our generation, Ranbir Kapoor. 

P.S. The movies are in no particular order of preference.

1. Barfi - Murphy 'Barfi' Johnson, a fun-loving chap who is a troublemaker and always on the radar of a local cop Sudhanshu Dutta made us laugh and cry at the same time by his rib-tickling antics. Despite being deaf and mute, he doesn't want you to sympathise with him and in fact, wants you to join him in his escapades. Ranbir, yet again after the thumping success of Rockstar, delivered the performance of a lifetime in this movie, making it is hard to imagine anyone else play that character, outdoing him.

2. Rockstar - Janardhan Jhakhar (Jordan), a budding musician who was called a 'halka aadmi' by the canteen guy in his university (who later went on to become his manager) as he felt Janardhan have not been through the pain that the other famous musicians in order to become successful.  At a later stage, Janardhan falls in love with the hottest girl (played by Nargis Fakhri) in his University who gives him the identity of Jordan/JJ and he goes on to become a 'Rockstar'. However, the story is not as simple as it appears. The movie revolves on all the different stages of his life and career- from being a shy and unappreciated guy facing "social drama" and becoming homeless to a celebrated singer to spirituslism "jab jagg mein kuch nahi bhi nahi tha, wohi tha, wohi tha.. wo jo mujh mein samaya wo jo tujh mein samaya, maula wohi, wohi maaya" and eventually reaching the heights of success. But, with success alone does not come peace of mind as he struggles with his"kaahlipann" (emptiness). Jordan is the mouthpiece of our suppressed emotions"Mitti jese sapne ye jitna bhi palko'n se jhaaro phir aa jatay hein" , voice of the rebel, and the perfect depiction of Man VS. Society,  "Tum logo ki is duniya mein har taraf insaan hai ghalat.. mein sahi samajh k jo bhi kerta hoon, tum kehte ho ghalat.. Saadaa haqq aithay rakh!"

The music of this movie is phenomenal and raises the bar higher. The compositions do justice to the lyrics and carry the narrative forward."Jo bhi mein kehna chaahun barbaad karein alfaaz meray.. Mein bhi tou bhi sabhi hain sheeshay, khudi ko hum sabhi mein dekhein.. Kabhi mujhe lagay k jese saara he ye jahaan hai jaadu, fizza, ghatta, hawa, bahaarein.. mjhe karein isharay ye.. kese kahun kahaani mein in ki".

Not only the writer of the movie, Imtiaz Ali deserves credit for the depth that the character of Jordan exhibits but the way it has been executed by RK gives it a timeless appeal. Like Barfi, Rockstar also earned Ranbir a lot of critical acclaim besides commercial success. He walked away with almost every major best actor trophy for his act!

3. Tamasha captures Ved Sahni's journey from not being able to chase his dreams due to parental pressure and eventually losing his edge while not being able to conform to the societal norms and fit into the role of a "regular" guy/ "hero", who works as a Project Manager in a firm. The very tagline of the movie, "why always the same story?" questions the monotonous to the extent of being lethal lives that we lead, perhaps, because of "log kya kahein gy".

The shades of Ved's character, Ranbir's flawless expressions as he breathes life into the character by displaying a whirlpool of emotions and his chemistry with the lead actress, Deepika Padukone are hard to miss. Every time an introspect like us would watch this movie,  he'd see it from a new perspective. It would not be wrong to say that 'Tamasha' is an ode to the theatre as an art form and a metaphorical representation of the 'Tamasha' within and around each of us as we lead our lives struggling between who we are 'supposed' to be and who we are or want to be. "Tou koi aur hai, jaanta nahin.. saamne is jahaan k ik niqaab hai". The best part is that it is a journey towards self-discovery but it depicts all the different stages of the process of self-realisation in a realistic way as it does not happen overnight or by a chance encounter with a girl only as he accepts it not after realising it himself after having denied it. "Tujhe tou pyaar ho gya hai pagli.. par kisi aur se", that is, his other self. So, to those who think it's merely a tale of a girl giving a sense of identity to a guy we'd rather suggest, go watch it again with eyes open wide because the movie offers much more than that. Ranbir is at his best in the scenes where he enacts his dual personality. 

4. Wake Up Sid chronicles the journey of Siddharth Mehra (Sid) from a high school brat to the recognition of his inner potential as he enters professional life after meeting Aisha Bannerjee, a mature and independent girl who comes to Bombay to start off her career as a writer and becomes his best friend and love interest in a rather unconventional way.

Sid is the voice of every desi (Pakistani/Indian) teenager. Even if you've passed the teenage, (like us.. *sigh*) the charm of this carefree yet endearing guy is inescapable.

5. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (Samra's choice) - It was one of the highest grossing films of Bollywood features Ranbir Kapoor as Kabir Thapar (Bunny), a self-obsessed flirt who believes in the no strings attached theory in relationships and does not want an average life with "22 tak parhai, 25 pe naukri, 26 pe chokri, 30 pe buchay, 60 pe retirement aur phir... maut ka intezaar" for himself. The dilemma with many of us, isn't it? No matter how carefree Bunny appears, he is quite serious when it comes to following his dreams of traveling the world like a gypsie but whether he feels content while traveling the world  all by himself or sees "ek ticket mein do mazay" is what you have to watch it out for. Besides, the chemistry of the lead cast and the supporting characters makes it all the more realistic and entertaining.



5. Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year (Deepika's choice) - At an early stage of his career, only a visionary like Ranbir Kapoor who sees beyond commercial cinema and yearns to play a different character every time could take the risk of playing the character Harpeet Singh Bedi, an ambitious salesman who is ambitious yet polite and expresses his intention in a few simple words, "Risk toh Spiderman ko bhi lena padta hai ... main toh phir bhi salesman hoon".  The film tanked at the box office but was yet touted as one of his best performance to date.



You've cast a spell on us already. Here's to 9 years of stardom and many more to come. Here's wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Ranbir! May you continue to rise higher and higher. <3 

Join us in the movie marathon by watching these movies and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil's OST and teasers all over again and do not forget to share your favourite performances of this coming of age actor, the one and only, Ranbir Kapoor. 

We are amazed to witness the evolution of so many new brands led mostly by women, which cater to natural and handmade products, sprouting up in Pakistan and India over a short period of time. One such Pakistani brand is YellowBerry. Recently, we had the chance to have a Q&A session with Zara Tahir of YellowBerry. Chartered Accountant by profession and a soap maker by passion, Zara is an amazingly talented girl, who hails from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Infused with interesting combinations of different natural ingredients and Essential Oils, her gorgeous soaps scream L.U.X.U.R.Y! Read on to know more about her evolution as a soap maker as she shares her goals, some interesting anecdotes of the challenges that she met as a soap-maker and tips and tricks for purchasing natural skincare products as well as the brand’s best sellers and new products in the pipeline.

Face packs have been in use since time immemorial and are one of the effective methods to take care of skincare woes. I am a face pack hoarder and unintentionally, I have a face pack for every concern in my stash, WHOA. So, a couple of months ago when it was way too humid here and I was experiencing my occasional acne bout, I had to pick this face mask up. Keep reading to know if it was a hit or miss. 

About The Product:

Why Indulge in Pure Suds Skin Treats Black-Out Face Gel Mask?

Activated Bamboo Charcoal, Rose-Geranium Essential Oil, Tea Tree Hydrosol, Lavender Hydrosol, Glycerine. 

My Experience:

Pure Suds Black Out Face Gel Pack comes in a plastic jar with a gold coloured screw lid that shuts tight. The packaging is sturdy which makes the jar perfect to travel with. The pack is jet black in colour and as the name suggests, it has a gel-like consistency. The pack is ready to use and requires no mixing.

When I first received the pack, I was totally expecting it to smell not so pleasant. But, upon removing the lid, I was encapsulated by the enchanting rose-geranium aroma. The aroma is not strong therefore people with sensitive noses will not be bothered. 

To use, I scoop out the required amount on a small plate and apply an even layer on clean and dry skin. I let the pack sit for 7-8 minutes as the instructions on the pack read and tadah, upon rinsing I am greeted with a skin that looks fresh, supple and toned. The excess grime and oil are removed and neither does the skin feel parched nor stretchy. I have observed that while the pack is on the skin, it causes a bit of warm tingly sensation around the nose area and I was informed regarding this by Mrs. Doshi, the founder of the brand. According to her, it's the working of the active ingredients in the pack and the sensation subsides quickly and I was delighted to find her claim about the product to be true. The sensation does subside within a short span and causes no redness. However, a patch test is recommended for any allergies. 

This pack is enriched with a stellar ingredient like bamboo charcoal, which has the ability to absorb minerals, grime, excess oil and keeping acne at bay. I have used the pack consistently for over 5 months (2 times a week) and can confidently say that it does help in treating acne, preventing further breakouts and drawing out impurities from the skin without dehydrating it. However, as per product claims, I didn't notice any difference in blackheads and whiteheads. I have also observed that the mask leaves a black tint due to the presence of bamboo charcoal which could be removed using a toner. 

Yays:

• Availability.
• Didn't help in treating blackheads and whiteheads. 
• Leaves a black tint but that can be easily removed by using a toner. 

In today's day and age, our evolving lifestyle, eating and drinking habits, pollution and a lot more contribute to a tired and dull face. And, waking up to that is the worst beauty nightmare for any girl/woman. Thus, it is advised to go for face detox at least once a week. Today, I will be talking about two products namely, Organicmill Facial Toner and Detox Clay Mask that claim to help in achieving the goal of detoxing. So, keep reading to know if the products were actually able to do their job.

About the Brand:

Organicmill is 100% chemical and preservative free organic skin care beauty range. Products are freshly prepared on order basis.

I recently did a Brand Story on the brand which could be read HERE, in case you wish to learn more about the brand.

Ingredients:

Ylang Ylang, Tea Tree, Licorice, Vitamin E, Rose, Frankincense, Yarrow.

My Experience:

Organicmill Facial Toner comes in a simple plastic bottle with a white coloured flip top cap allowing you to exercise control over the amount of product required for usage. Since I have not travelled with the bottle, I cannot comment if it's leak proof. The toner has a gold brown colour and smells majorly of ylang ylang (which happens to be one of my favourite EOs, btw!) with lower notes of rose and frankincense. The smell is a bit overpowering, so it might bother the olfactory senses of people with sensitive noses, however, I really like the fragrance as I find it very refreshing.

I use the toner in three ways: the first way is to use it just as a toner post cleansing your face followed by a mild cleanser. The second way is to use it in place of your everyday moisturiser during the day and the third way is to use it by mixing with the detox clay mask from the same brand or any other powder based face mask. I'd be briefly sharing my experience using the product in all the three ways below:

The toner is loaded with the goodness of ylang ylang EO, which is extracted by boiling its flowers. Ylang ylang is known to balance the moisture in different skin types accordingly. The addition of tea tree and frankincense makes it a great choice for oily and acne prone skin so the people with this skin type are in for a treat. The toner works great for all skin types and the fact that it works in more ways than one makes it an instant pick me up.

Ingredients: 

Bentonite Clay, Kaolin Clay, French Green Clay, and Rose Clay.

My Experience: 

With a simple, no-frills packaging, the mask comes in a reusable jar. Since it’ is an acrylic jar with an inner disc to further protect the content, the jar is sturdy, hence making it travel-friendly.

Dry powdery in texture, the mask is dull rose in colour, with no distinct fragrance. I scoop out the required quantity of the mask in a clean bowl using a dry spoon (please avoid using wet spoon/fingers) and create a thin paste using facial toner by the same brand.

I have a moderately oily T-Zone and dry cheeks, forehead and this mask does a great job of hydrating the skin when used with the toner from the same brand. Besides hydrating the skin, the mask also removes impurities and detoxes effectively. My skin feels super fresh and the complexion is brightened up instantly as though I just had a nice facial. It’ is very rare that I get this impressed with a face mask! The mask is made using finest of clays which are known for their detoxing properties. It  leaves the pores clean and the skin nourished from within. Bentonite clay and Kaolin clay are known to benefit oily and acne prone skin.

People with dry skin can also mix the mask with milk/yogurt for optimum results.

Yays:

Nays:

Price and Availability:

The toner is priced at INR 300 for 100 ml whereas the mask is priced at INR 400 for 70 gm. The products are available for purchase at the brand’'s Facebook page HERE. For queries/questions, please get in touch with the brand owner Mrs. Dishi Jain on +91 9971648091.

Will I recommend:

Yes, of course! These products are real superstars. They work effectively giving stupendous results.

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were sent to me as PR samples for review purposes, however, the opinions expressed hereby are strictly unbiased, based on my personal experience with the products.

3. The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop:  

In the summer of 1972, Famagusta in Cyprus is the most desirable resort in the Mediterranean, a city bathed in the glow of good fortune. An ambitious couple are about to open the island's most spectacular hotel, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots work in harmony. Two neighbouring families, the Georgious and the Özkans, are among many who moved to Famagusta to escape the years of unrest and ethnic violence elsewhere on the island. But beneath the city's façade of glamour and success, tension is building. 

When a Greek coup plunges the island into chaos, Cyprus faces a disastrous conflict. Turkey invades to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority, and Famagusta is shelled. Forty thousand people seize their most precious possessions and flee from the advancing soldiers. In the deserted city, just two families remain. This is their story. (x)

BUY HERE: Used / New

4.  Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie:  

The morning of August 9, 1945 breaks dreary and unspectacular in the city of Nagasaki. Nonetheless, twenty-one year-old Hiroko Tanaka is elated: she is in love. Her emerging romance with the displaced German Konrad Weiss offers release from the greyness of wartime deprivation. In this time of heightened xenophobia, their affair must be kept secret, particularly as Hiroko’s father has recently been outcast for questioning the patriotism of sending children on kamikaze missions. As Hiroko and Konrad furtively plan for a future after the war, there is no way they can comprehend the unspeakable devastation bearing down upon them. (Read complete synopsis here)

BUY HERE: Used / New

5. The Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam:  

In the dying days of a brutal civil war, Sohail Haque stumbles upon an abandoned building. Inside he finds a young woman whose story will haunt him for a lifetime to come. . . . Almost a decade later, Sohail's sister, Maya, returns home after a long absence to find her beloved brother transformed. While Maya has stuck to her revolutionary ideals, Sohail has shunned his old life to become a charismatic religious leader. And when Sohail decides to send his son to a madrasa, the conflict between brother and sister comes to a devastating climax. Set in Bangladesh at a time when religious fundamentalism is on the rise, The Good Muslim is an epic story about faith, family, and the long shadow of war. (x)

BUY HERE: New 

6. Twilight In Delhi by Ahmed Ali:  

Set in nineteenth-century India between two revolutionary moments of change, Twilight in Delhi brings history alive, depicting most movingly the loss of an entire culture and way of life. As Bonamy Dobree said, "It releases us into a different and quite complete world. Mr. Ahmed Ali makes us hear and smell Delhi...hear the flutter of pigeons’ wings, the cries of itinerant vendors, the calls to prayer, the howls of mourners, the chants of qawwals, smell jasmine and sewage, frying ghee and burning wood." The detail, as E.M. Forster said, is "new and fascinating," poetic and brutal, delightful and callous. (x)

 BUY HERE: New

That is all, folks! There are a bunch of sellers on Amazon.in that offer used books and they levy shipping if the order total is below INR 399. I bought the used books from a seller called Flickster. I am happy with the quality of books, so I consider my shopping experience to be pleasant. As for books, there was slight yellowing of pages, but no browning, torn pages and stains. In fact, one of the books was as good as new!

If you are into reading into do tell us about your new buys or your current read.

Till next time,
Deepika.