On set with Alia Bhatt

My profession is to shoot content for ad films. Today I am with Alia Bhatt. And most often defending upon the actor and the budget, the service differs.

Today I have booked myself in the executive level, nothing short of first class. First, it's cheers with a Virgin mojito to Alia and her director, Gauri Shinde. 

Spread over 2 days, the catering team laid out a full spread of chaknas, wafers, biscuits for munching. For the calories conscious, there were nuts and chanas, for the kind who favoured savouries, they were actually spoilt for choice. 

This was after we had consumed a King's breakfast of Kheema, omelet and sausages. I actually felt that they thought we were a malnutrioned lot, who needed sustenance..

As the day sped by, we were kept on our toes. Too short a time, so much to shoot. Plus there was the photoshoot and my interview. Stress made another team work double shift, the Kraft Services, who kept our adrenaline in check with tea, coffee, nimboo pani, juices...

The Sindhi cuisine had this cordoned off area choking, but with a deadline looming large, everybody vacated fast. The shoot after all, was primary. 

Towards evening as the energy began dropping, fresh fruits and salads were being distributed..

At the end of the shoot, I was not sure whether I was tired keeping the long hours or just exhausted, munching and filling my stomach. But honestly, no complaints. After all, we work for our bread!!!!

Anika's birthday party

Today's kids, specially Mumbai kids, have a lot of demands when it comes to celebrating their birthday party. And lo behold the hapless mom. Gifts, games, food, location, time... all these factors need a lot of management skills.  Today, I salute Vrushali Telang, who pulled off a great party for her 5 year old daughter, Anika.

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The spacious room welcomed us with an accessory counter. From hair braids to bracelets, from rings to hair bands. The colourful display of yarns and flowered objects, made all of us forget our age and we all queued up to get our personalised jewellery. 

There were several counters for games. The kiddies began running around, trying to win some prizes while hitting the bull's eye with the gun or hitting the runaway balls. 

 

An event organiser soon announced games for the kids, as well as the mamas and papas. A jugglery act had the kids in awe. 

Planning a kid friendly menu that can appease adults too, is a mean task. But rising to the occasion, Vrushali laid out a Chinese spread which also had pasta salad. So from noodles to pasta, from chicken to paneer, there was something for all...

 

Return gifts are actually a mama's nightmare. From simple pencils, erasers and pencil box during our time, to finding a suitable gift that suits all, is a serious time consuming, brain wracking ordeal. 

We had a fabulous time. A birthday party on a Sunday afternoon is a grand way to spend a relaxed day. And now I need to take my friend to the spa. After organising such a lovely party, she needs some serious R and R.