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HT Rewind 2024: Manasi Parekh on the resurgence of Gujarati cinema and why her National Award win surprised her.

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HT Rewind 2024: Manasi Parekh on why her National Award win caught her off guard, and the revival of Gujarati cinema

Manasi Parekh, recipient of the Best Actress National Award, talks about her amazing 2024 that gave her both commercial success and critical acclaim.

To casual Hindi viewers, Manasi Parekh is the star of popular TV shows like Sumit Sambhal Lega and Gulaal, among others. But years after she was shot to fame with Hindi television, the actor made her name in her home state – Gujarat – with some critically acclaimed films there. The dividends were reaped in 2024, a remarkable year for the actor when she broke box office records and won a National Film Award. In conversation with HT, Manasi looks back at her annus mirabilis and the revival of Gujarati cinema. (Also read: Manasi Parekh reacts to winning National Film Award for Best Actress: Big win for me as a working mother)

On her amazing 2024
Manasi saw the box office success of her Gujarati horror comedy, Jhamkudi, which earned around ₹25 crore at the box office. Later in the year, she became the first person to win the Best Actress National Award for a Gujarati film as she won it for her 2023 release, Kutch Express. “It has been an amazing year,” Manasi says. First Jhamkudi broke all Gujarati box office records of the last two years. That was a good success, and then the win happened. It made us believe that we are on the right path.”

The National Award win was so unexpected, says Manasi, that she had even forgotten that she had applied for the award. “It was absolutely unexpected. One works with the hope that this film reaches the zenith of what it has to achieve. When we were making Kutch Express, we knew something special was happening. We had applied for the National Award as everyone else does, but we didn’t know the process after that,” she says.

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“We were shooting two months ago when the announcement happened, and friends from the industry started messaging. I was so confused because I had forgotten that we had even applied. At that moment, when you are completely caught off guard, it’s so special. If you make a film with the intention of winning an award, you are constantly thinking about it. But when you don’t know all that, it’s very amazing,” the actor adds.

Kutch Express was produced by Manasi and her husband, singer-filmmaker Parthiv Gohil, with some help from their friends. “My husband and I produced the project, and our friends invested in it. It’s almost completely crowdfunded in that sense. We just believed that it had to be made in our own language. So, the win feels much sweeter,” she says.

On Gujarati cinema’s revival
Many were surprised that Manasi is the first to win a Best Actress National Award for Gujarati cinema and the actor sees this as an honour. She tells us, “Hindi cinema is the mainstay but then you have the National Awards where Nithya (Menen) and I win it for regional films, Rishab Shetty wins it for Kantara. You just realise that they are making the effort to recognise talent apart from Hindi cinema.”

But the actor argues that since Gujarati cinema had seen a lull earlier, it is only natural that none of the stalwarts from the industry won any award. “Gujarati cinema has come around in the last 10-12 years, honestly,” she explains. “Before that, it was dormant for a long time. Films were being made, but they were not being correctly distributed. It’s a very adolescent industry right now. Great directors and writers are stepping in, and now it has revived.”

Looking forward to 2025, Manasi hopes to continue doing good work, regardless of language and medium. “All I want to do is tell good, important stories,” she says, signing off.

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Fashion

In a lavender Manish Malhotra saree, Hania Aamir sports her most gorgeous ethnic ensemble to date. View its astounding cost.

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Hania Aamir serves stunning ethnic fashion inspiration in lavender Manish Malhotra tissue saree. Wondering how much it costs? Scroll down for all the details.

Hania Aamir is leaving fashion lovers spellbound with her stunning ethnic diaries. The Pakistani actor has been rocking back-to-back traditional outfits by Indian designers, turning her Insta feed into a goldmine of fashion inspo. For her latest look, the 27-year-old slipped into six yards of grace and looked straight out of a royal fairytale. Let’s break down her saree look and steal some style tips for your ethnic wardrobe. Hania Aamir stuns in lavender saree
On Monday, Hania took to Instagram and uploaded a series of gorgeous snaps accompanied by the caption “gave mermaid.” Draped in a dreamy lavender saree, the star looked absolutely breathtaking while serving some striking glam poses. Let’s take a moment to soak in her ethereal beauty.

Hania’s saree is crafted from luxurious tissue fabric and features intricately embroidered borders, showcasing stunning zari work, beads, and sequin detailing throughout. Draped to perfection, she let the pallu elegantly cascade from her shoulder, adding a regal charm to her look. She teamed it up with a matching embroidered blouse, complete with delicate handmade tassels at the back.

How much does her saree cost?
Can’t stop swooning over Hania’s gorgeous saree? We’ve got all the details you need to add this stunner to your collection. Her six yards is straight from the shelves of ace designer Manish Malhotra and is priced at ₹3,95,000.

Hania accessorised her ethnic look with dazzling diamond jewellery, including statement drop earrings, a chic choker necklace, a sleek bracelet, and a stunning ring adorning her finger. Her dewy makeup featured shimmer eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascara-coated lashes, blushed cheeks, a luminous highlighter, and glossy nude lipstick. With her long, luscious tresses left loose in a side partition, she perfectly finished off her look.

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Lifestyle

Dimple Kapadia’s “excellent” natural haircare components are the keys to her most beautiful hair: Egg with onion juice

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Celebrities’ haircare secrets are always a mystery; but we’ve got the scoop. Here are some tips from veteran actor Dimple Kapadia, known for her luscious hair.

Ever wondered what the secret to Dimple Kapadia’s ‘glossy and shiny’ locks is? You’re in luck as the Bollywood A-lister shared the haircare tips and tricks she’s picked up over the years in a 2021 interview with Vogue India, and they are pretty much the best hair care advice you will ever get. The best part? Dimple’s inexpensive haircare tips could help you achieve healthy, beautiful locks without breaking the bank. Also read | What Sharmila Tagore does for ‘radiant, naturally glowing skin’ at 79: Her top 3 traditional Indian skincare ingredients

‘Oil your hair and do not colour it’
Speaking about her ‘glossy and shiny’ hair, the actor credited the ‘habit of oiling’ that started in her childhood, and said, “Oiling goes a long, long way. I oil my hair overnight, then get a head massage with a homemade hair pack, which is a mixture of eggs (5 whites and a whole egg) and a banana. I leave it on for 10-30 minutes and then wash it through with lukewarm water… the habit of oiling was prevalent throughout my childhood, and it helped as I have always had very dry, thick and coarse hair. Without the amount of professional styling I’ve had over the years, it would not look so glossy and shiny.”

‘Onion juice is excellent for the hair’
Dimple, 67, added, “My secret hair oil recipe is a concoction of almond and sandalwood oil as a base, with geranium, rosemary and lavender essential oils. This is the legacy I’ll pass down to my grandchildren – oil your hair and do not colour it… onion juice is excellent for the hair but I think, the safer option is to use the onion extract oils you get now.”

Diet for healthy hair
Dimple’s healthy hair diet included fish that can provide essential nutrients for promoting hair growth and maintaining healthy locks. The actor said that she ‘ate a lot of fish growing up’ as her family lived in a coastal area, adding that ‘really helped’ her hair.

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Dimple suggested that you ‘include lots of protein in your diet, eat balanced meals and include seeds and nuts’ to provide your hair with the essential nutrients it needs to stay healthy, strong, and beautiful.

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Music Industry

Check out Diljit Dosanjh’s extravagant outfit on his birthday, which includes a 1.2 crore diamond watch and a 10 lakh Balenciaga jacket.

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Diljit Dosanjh’s refined sartorial taste is reflected in his exlcusive pieces, from clothing to accessories.

As Diljit Dosanjh turns 41, let’s take a look at his stylish wardrobe. The singer captures the hearts with his melodious, toe-tapping tunes but he also enthralls the hearts of fashion enthusiasts with his high-end wardrobe. Diljit is not only a music sensation but also a sartorial icon. While he dominates the music charts, his luxuriously dapper style firmly places him on the fashion radar as well.

He sets himself apart with a wardrobe that’s nothing short of exclusive. Here’s a glimpse into some unique pieces that showcase his lavish style, offering a sneak peek into the world of high-end fashion he effortlessly dominates.

Diljit owns an exclusive jacket from Balenciaga. The limited-edition racer jacket is available exclusively, with only 3 pieces worldwide. The jacket costs $12,300, which is approximately Rs.10,44,915. The uber-cool oversized neon yellow-back leather jacket amps up his style game.

Diamond encrusted watch

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Diljit approaches his accessories game with king-like style, as he is the proud owner of a gold, diamond-encrusted piece, and the cost is sure to leave everyone dizzy in disbelief. The custom-made Audemars Piguet costs Rs.1.2 crore. He wore this watch to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he was the guest.

Continuing with his high-end style, Diljit effortlessly masters the accessory game. His collection is not just about bling and glam, but also features suave statement-making chunky pieces that elevate his overall look. Gucci’s chunky pendant chain, priced at Rs.2,40,000, is a perfect example of his bold and refined style. He carries this pendant with a fierce aplomb.

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