All Garam, No Sharam Awards

Oh great, it’s the end of the year. So along with this wretched cold weather that has taken over California (yes, sunny freakin’ California has freezing temperatures), we’re about to be hit with countdown after countdown on every single site (read: boring).  You’ll be “treated” to the “which-khan-reigns” awards (best actor), “which-actress-dared-to-bare” (best actress) and a whole range of similar categories. But those awards were so 1927. We all know who’s gonna bag top notches this year and frankly, if the obvious ones don’t then some other Khan bought their award for a higher price. But something changed in 2011; things seem sexier and bolder this year. The actresses and actors have been slightly risqué with their presentation to the world. And thus, I decided this year that I wasn’t gonna countdown the usual falanah. Welcome to the “All Garam, No Sharam Awards”. Yes I’m devoid of shame this December, courtesy of one Vidya Balan, as I count down the most garam actors and actresses based on an asset that they have put on view in 2011. Nothing will be left this year; backsides, front-sides and a whole range of other sides. Besharami has no limit as I heat up this rather cold winter!

Check back tomorrow for the first installment!

Got "Inked?"

Election Season is in full swing in India and today, April 30th, Maximum City Mumbai had its day out to cast its ballot. And while I personally expected a superb voter turnout, Mumbaikars totally fazzled the media, the candidates, the rest of the country and myself with only 46% of registered voters only turning up to vote. One would think that after the 26/11 attacks and all the events that followed, Mumbaikars would have taken full advantage of this voting opportunity. However that doesn't seem to be the case. Clearly, Mumbaikars have lost the spirit and anger they possessed post 26/11 and have gone back to their self-obsessed attitudes. Or perhaps they simply couldn't be bothered to get out of the house in the wretched heat- India is currently going through a heat wave reporting record high temperatures, and instead chose to sit in their a.c. fitted houses instead. Sadly, the country has taken the heat for its people numerous times, and when it came down for its citizens to do the same, come out and vote, they didn't feel the need to "take the heat." For the life of me, I cannot seem to fathom how they could NOT have wanted to even vote. It makes absolutely NO sense. Voting is not only a birth right for every Indian citizen, but also a constitutional right. This one day every four years, Indian citizens are allowed to come out and speak their minds about the manner in which their country runs. It simply saddens me, that about 60% of Mumbai decided it wasn't worth it. They complain nonstop about their leaders, of which 17% own criminal records, but yet they won't come out to oust them. Mumbaikars, if you came out and did you "thang," props to you, if not, shame on you.

The Bollywood brigade came out in full force to vote and stand behind what they all had been advertising about all over the media waves. The likes of Sonam Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, Shakti Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Hema Malini, Esha Deol, Javed Akhtar, Ranbir Kapoor, the Bachchan clan, Karan Johar, John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan, Gulzar, Boman Irani, Sonali Bendre and husband Goldie Behl, Prem Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sanjay and Maanyata Dutt, Rakesh Roshan, Amrita Rao and a whole lot more all casted their ballots depite the scorching heat. Hint Hint Mumbaikars. If the stars, who are known for their personal nakhres can come out and do their thing for the country, why couldn't you? Tut-tut. As John Abraham said to those who didn't come out to vote, "If you don't vote, you can't complain for the next four years." I agree. You didn't get "inked" and hence, you ain't got no right. That said, the celebs made the middle-finger-ink a fashion statement to beckon with this year. A whole range of them stuck up their middle-fingers, figuratively and literally, as the media snapped pictures of them. Check it out!

Photo Credit: [Proud to be Indian] SantaBanta.com