Indian filmmaker | Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryMaharshi Tuhin Kashyap on his Assamese film in the Oscars 2023 race: It feels absurd

Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap on his Assamese film in the Oscars 2023 race: It feels absurd

Written by: Charu Thakur

(December 22, 2022) Standing at an arm’s distance from his classmate in the morning assembly queue, it was a regular balmy morning for an eighth grader Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap. But little did the then Guwahati teenager know that the morning in the February of 2009 was set to change the course of his life. Within a few minutes into the assembly, the school erupted in a deafening celebration as Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire won eight Oscars. The announcement made the then 13-year-old Tuhin contemplate making a film for the very first time. “Slumdog Millionaire was a British production set in India with an Indian star cast. I wondered if someone from outside could come here and make a film that has won an Oscar, then why couldn’t we make an Indian film like that? That was the first time that I seriously thought about making a film,” says Tuhin who was so keen to hold that Oscars statue someday, that he scribbled a sketch of it on his vision board in his room. And now 15 years later, the filmmaker is an inch closer to realising his childhood dream as his 15-min Assamese film Mur Ghurar Duronto Goti (The Horse From Heaven) is a 2023 Oscars contender for Best Live Action Short Film.

Indian filmmaker | Mahrashi Tuhin Kashyap | Global Indian

Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap is an Indian filmmaker

A perfect expression of surrealism, the film tells the story of an Ojapali performer who believes that he has the world’s fastest horse, and wants to win all the races in the city. But in reality, it’s not a horse but a donkey. “Making it to the Oscars 2023 race feels as absurd as the film is,” laughs Tuhin who recently won the best short film prize at the Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK), the world’s oldest film school. “The screening of the film in Moscow was a beautiful moment as I realised that people in different parts of the world can connect to the film,” the final year student at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) says, adding that making it to Oscar race is a sort of validation. “The film got rejected at various international festivals, and many times I thought ‘Is this film a donkey that I think is a horse?’,” he guffaws. “But now I feel that it did connect with people, and that’s what matters to me.”

The 15-min film was made as a part of his second-year curriculum at SRFTI, and Kashyap never in his wildest dream thought that a college project would land up at the Academy Awards race. It all began at his grandmother’s funeral when he and his father met a man who couldn’t stop talking about his horse. “It was an absurd encounter with a man who went on and on about his horse. I remember asking my dad if you believe in this man’s story about his horse, to which he replied, ‘Maybe he doesn’t even have a horse. What he has, must be a donkey.’ I found it bizarre but somehow it stuck with me. So, when I had to pitch an idea for my project, I decided to make a film on the same idea,” Tuhin reveals, who initially had a hard time convincing his mentor Putul Mehmood of the idea. But as the script progressed, the film started taking shape.

Indian filmmaker | Global Indian | Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap

A still from The Horse From Heaven

The cause and effect of theatre

This love for direction and cinema has its roots in theatre, something that Tuhin began indulging in Class 4. He still remembers his first role – a beggar – that made him the talk of the school. His dad recognised his talent and took him to a summer camp. “I call it my first step into acting. That’s how my interest in theatre started developing. Soon, I became a part of children’s theatre and started working with Manik Roy sir. Taking up theatre changed things for me,” he tells Global Indian. But it was Slumdog Millionaire bagging eight Oscars that shifted things for Tuhin, who knew he had found his calling in filmmaking.

Film school calling

He learnt about the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune from one of his teachers and knew that he wanted to get in. “Someone told me that to get into a film school, one needed science. So, after Class 10, I took up science just so that I could make it to FTII or SRFTI someday,” smiles Tuhin, who also met Jahnu Barua’s art director Phatik Baruah to understand the nitty-gritty of filmmaking. “It was a ground preparation for me.” Around the same time, he started Deuka Films with a bunch of aspiring filmmakers who had “no idea how cinema is made.” They began experimenting with a basic DSLR and learnt to edit. Their first film Crossroads about child labour made it to the 2015 International Film Festival in Malta. “We were amazed something like this could happen, and this exposure helped me get into SRFTI.”

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When Tuhin enrolled in film school, he wanted to be the next Anurag Kashyap. “It was glamour that I was after. But SRFTI changed my perspective on cinema. It gave me time for myself, and I started dissecting my existence. Gradually, exploring my identity and my roots (Assamese) started becoming important to me. Now through films, I want to talk about my own identity. Being from the northeast is something I want to talk about and the collective consciousness we have as a community,” says the filmmaker who used Ojapali, an indigenous folk dance from Assam in The Horse From Heaven, which he says is now a dying art form. “I was keen to use this ancient storytelling form and translate it into cinema.”

Making to the Oscars’ race

The story and the form of storytelling both resonated with the audience all across the globe, so much so that it beat Varun Grover’s Kiss to win the top prize at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2022 (BISFF). Tuhin explains that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has designated BISFF as an official qualifying film festival for the live-action category, and any film that wins the top honours at BISFF automatically makes it to the Oscars race. It was in November that he received a confirmation that his film has made it to Academy Awards consideration. Despite being ecstatic about the news, Tuhin humbly believes that he’s “not in the position to be awarded Oscars yet.” “I will be glad if I get it, but I think I am yet to make my best cinema. But definitely, I have been a long way than I had imagined,” avers the man for whom connecting with people is more important than awards.

Cinema as an expression

Tuhin was barely a teenager when the first seeds of filmmaking were sowed in his young mind, and now years later, he is happy to have found his calling in its truest form. While he still has a long way to go, the filmmaker says that in this journey so far, he has learnt how important it is to believe in oneself and to never give up on your dreams. “If we know in our heart, what we are doing is the right thing. One should pursue it, despite what naysayers tell you.”

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A post shared by Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap (@the_hobo_storyteller)

While The Horse From Heaven has put Assamese cinema on a global platform, Tuhin believes that his film is just a speck in the “vibrant and experimental” cinema that Assam is witnessing these days. “My film might inspire aspiring filmmakers to take that chance and follow their dreams. But I don’t know if it will be a game changer as it’s a good time for the Assamese film industry. With the digitisation, the ball game has changed.” The 28-year-old, who is already working on two feature film ideas and a few non-fiction ideas, wants to use his craft to express himself and to inspire people to be themselves. “I want to talk about things that have an impression on me and what it’s about being from the northeast, a marginalised place. My work will inspire people to be themselves and who they are matters.”

A still from The Horse From Heaven

Tuhin opines that it’s inspiring to see his film making it to the Oscars race as it gives hope to filmmakers sitting in small cities in any part of the country that it’s possible to make their dreams come true. “I don’t know if my film has been a game changer but What it has done is that it has opened a window of opportunity for many people that anything is possible,” he signs off.

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Published on 22, Dec 2022

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Jay Sean: The British-Indian artiste completes 20 years in hip-hop music world

(April 16, 2024) Who can forget the peppy song Dance With You from the early 2000s? Then a 22-year-old, Jay Sean was among the few South Asian artistes who exploded on the music scene with a chartbuster that was set to change the course of his life. The song made the British-Indian artiste an overnight star, and as they say, the rest is history. Despite the changing time, he has kept himself relevant and the proof of it is that this year he completes 20 years in the music industry. "To be able to have 20 years in the music industry and have songs that have stuck as classics now, to me is always a blessing. The challenge is really just understanding how to evolve," he said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_50752" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Jay Sean[/caption] In the last two decades, the poster boy of the UK's Asian underground music scene has truly put Indian music and hip-hop on the global map. He was among the first few Indian artistes who opened the doors of South Asian music to the world, and is continuing to bring joy to music lovers across the world with his work. His latest song Heartless,

bal map. He was among the first few Indian artistes who opened the doors of South Asian music to the world, and is continuing to bring joy to music lovers across the world with his work.

His latest song Heartless, which was released a week ago, has already grabbed the attention of music lovers, and he knows his music works because he is being true to himself. "I understand what I have to offer to the industry, that if I write and deliver a song, it will always be a Jay Sean song. Regardless of how the production is changing, or even the melodies of the times are changing, it will still have my signature stamp on it," he added.

Growing up with music

Born as Kamaljit Singh Jhooti in London to Indian immigrant parents in a Punjabi Sikh family, Jay was raised in the Asian community of South Hall. From a young age, he was drawn to music, leading him to form a hip-hop band Compulsive Disorder with his cousin at the age of 11. A young Jay attended Latymer Upper School in the morning and wrote songs in the evening. "I remember watching Yo! MTV Raps from a young age. And that put me into writing because I just wanted to write raps. I used to go and find instrumentals when I was around 13, and I would write my own rhymes and record my own mixtapes. Me and my crew were making mixtapes, writing original lyrics over other people's beats, and that's what really got me into writing," he had said.

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But for his parents, music wasn't a traditional occupation and they encouraged him to focus on his studies. Someone who excelled in academics, he won himself a scholarship at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry to train as a doctor only to drop out in 2003 to pursue a career in singing. To kick start his career in music, he chose Jay Sean as his stage name. "Jay comes from my last name Jhooti and my grandmother used to call me ‘Shaan’ which is where Sean comes from," he revealed.

The poster boy of the UK's Asian underground scene

Life took a beautiful turn when one of his tracks One Minute fell into the hands of producer Rishi Rich, thus giving birth to the Rishi Rich project in 2003 that had Sean, Juggy D and Rich as its prime members. The trio exploded on the UK's Asian Underground scene with Dance With You, a chartbuster that made it to Top 20 hit. Such was the mania that even Virgin Records couldn't miss the chance of signing a £1 million deal with this rising star. Under Relentless Records, Jay belted out his first solo outing Eyes On You. The peppy beats and his velvety voice cast its spell on music lovers across the globe, making the song a Top 10 hit among all the Indian artists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uztB31eUw

Global hip-hop icon

2004 came with the promise of Jay Sean being the next big thing. Each of his singles made the right noise in the music circle and soon he was hailed as the Asian sensation. His experimental and creative fusion of contemporary R&B and Indian music hit the right chord with music lovers across the globe. But his fallout with Virgin Records gave him time to self-reflect and use it to write songs. After a hiatus of almost two years, Sean returned with a bang with his second album My Own Way, which debuted at number six in the UK with its hit song Ride It smashing records. He soon found himself nominated at MOBO Award for Best UK Male and Best R&B/Soul among music heavyweights like Chris Brown, Estelle and Ne-Yo, which spoke volumes about him gaining popularity as a household sensation.

Champion of diversity

In 2008, Jay scripted history when he bagged a deal with Cash Money Records becoming the first South Asian singer and among few Indian artists to achieve the feat. The accomplishment opened an opportunity for the world to witness South Asian culture from close quarters. The deal bagged Jay his first collaboration with Lil Wayne, and the single became an instant hit zooming its way up the Billboard. This made him the first Asian British artiste to top the Hot 100 since Freddie Mercury of Queen in 1980.

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"Me getting to this point provides me the opportunity to show people what our culture is all about. Our community is just as or even more so musically inclined and now is our time to show the world that we are just like everybody else. The fact that my grandfather and my father had to hide their identity to assimilate into culture was unjust. They did not think that such barriers could be broken in their lifetime. I take it very seriously that I have one shot to make it – not just for myself, but my community," he said in an interview.

Smashing stereotypes

After winning three awards including Best Male, Best Urban Act and Best Album at the 2009 UK Asian Music Awards, he performed with Akon at the Grammy same year. Such was the craze around this British Asian sensation that he found himself on Number 35 in Billboard's Hot 100 Artists of the year. The year came to a stunning end for the artiste as he became the first South Asian to perform at the Madison Square Garden in New York. For the next few years, he belted out hits after hits with The Mistress, Do You Remember and All or Nothing. It was in 2015 that he reunited with Rishi Rich and Juggy D to restart the Rishi Rich project with their new single Freak.

In 2020, Jay resurfaced with a bang with Eyes on You 2 which reached No 1 on BBC Asian Chart. While his journey has had its shares of ups and downs, like any Asian, he too felt stereotyped in the initial years of his career. "I have experienced stereotypes and lack of equal opportunities. The reason being that certain people don’t look at you as an artist but take the whole package into mind and put you in a box. I experienced it a lot but I also took it upon myself to show people very early on in my career that there was no stopping me. When they would label me as a specific type of artiste, I would break out of that box and do something completely different every single time. It’s something I really love doing. Hopping onto different genres and expanding on what I can do as an artiste," he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idMkbS6LWA8

And now he is back with yet again foot tapping number Heartless, which coincides with his 20th year in the music industry. "I feel so blessed when I think about completing 20 years in this music industry. That is such a blessing because now everything is so disposable," he said.

Giving back

When he is not busy making music, he lends support to organisations and causes that resonate with him. For someone who was training to be a doctor in his graduation, medical field is closer to his heart. In 2004 and 2009, he supported the Aga Khan Foundation in the charity event Partnership Walk and Run by performing in Regent's Park. Around the same time, he performed at Justin Timberlake's charity concert to raise funds for the Shriners Hospital for Children, thus raising more than $9 million along with artistes like Taylor Swift and Alicia Key. In 2012, he joined Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, and recorded a song Here's Hope to create awareness.

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Chef Apurva Panchal redefines soul food at Palo Alto’s progressive Indian restaurant, Rooh

(April 14, 2024) Unlike most teenagers who make up their minds about their careers even before they start tenth grade, Chef Apurva Panchal decided at the cusp of having to make a choice, that he wanted to well, be a chef. Coming as he did from a family of bankers, his father was not quite happy about his decision but did not stop him. At close to midnight in Palo Alto, California, where he currently works as the head chef at Rooh, Chef Apurva spoke to Global Indian in an exclusive interview. He recalls, “I used to like watching cooking shows, so that is why I thought, why not try cooking as a career. I took the entrance exam, got selected, joined The Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, and the rest as they say, is history.” Learning from the best A lucky campus placement with the last word in hospitality, The Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, in Mumbai, taught him about all the nuances of hospitality. He worked there across banquets, the coffee shop, Shamiana, and Tanjore, the Indian restaurant later rechristened Masala Kraft. He says, “At The Taj, we were always taught to be a team that inspires

Indian restaurant later rechristened Masala Kraft. He says, “At The Taj, we were always taught to be a team that inspires us to grow. During the training, we learnt about goal-setting, having a vision, communication, encouragement, giving space, opportunities, and genuine feedback to the team members to grow and excel. I follow the same rule with my team.” Regarding the food, the importance of telling a story, and weaving in details about its history and origins was a vital part of cooking. “When you design the menu with a story to narrate, it encourages the guests to experiment too.”

[caption id="attachment_50709" align="aligncenter" width="378"] Chef Apurva Panchal dishes up progressive Indian cuisine at Rooh[/caption]

He worked with the Taj Mahal for 18 years. An offer from an overseas guest to come work in the US made Chef Apurva take the chance to explore foreign shores. He recalls, “I was at a phase where I wanted more out of my life and do something different. I took up the offer but the dream job was not so dreamy after all. It was not as great as it was made out to be and after two years of trying different things, I joined another restaurant. That shut down during Covid and I couldn’t even go back to India. Plus, my family was here with me, and my son was turning 21. I was looking for a job and Spice Klub, which has a branch in Lower Parel, in Mumbai, was on the verge of opening here, in California. I joined them and worked there for one-and-a-half years. Then Rooh was in expansion mode and after I met with the owners, I realised it was what I wanted to do. I joined them in 2022, and have been here since.”

Soul food

Rooh, which means soul in Urdu, subscribes to a food philosophy of giving a modern touch to rustic and traditional recipes. Added to that is Chef Apurva’s own firm belief that you should cook with all your heart. Rooh is a fine-dining restaurant serving progressive Indian food, located in Palo Alto and San Francisco, in the US, New Delhi, and Columbus, Ohio.

As the Head Chef for the Palo Alto venue, Chef Apurva experiments to his heart’s content with local produce, and traditional Indian spices. The outcome is a unique blend of reinvented Indian food served in a contemporary style. In #fineiningindian, a newsletter published by Chef Michael Swamy, he says, “The diversity of Indian food is the source of my motivation for imprinting my personal identity on each dish. Indian food is so diverse that there is something in it for everybody. Also, globalisation has amplified the exposure to good Indian food. The canvas is so wide that creativity is not limited. In most of the dishes, we use a lot of ingredients. So, playing with ingredients, methodology, and presentation defines my food at its best. I like to keep things simple, but not too simple, it gets boring. Every plate should revolve around a story to make it more appealing and interesting. Cooking is … about simple food made desirable with local ingredients.”

This vision translates into dishes like the Avocado Bhel – where locally sourced avocado, fresh green garbanzo or cholia as we know them here, and edamame – come together in a Californian version of the popular Mumbai snack, the bhel puri. Raw jackfruit, served as a gravy-based dish in several Indian homes, is presented in the avatar of a cutlet with a mustard kasundi mayo. Chef Apurva is all praise for the variety and quality of local produce available in his town. “From artichokes, avocados, and asparagus to fresh turmeric and turnips… I use everything seasonal and differently.”

Synergy between the east and the west

Besides the Avocado Bhel, some of his innovations include beef seared and braised French style, a Rajasthani Laal Maas gravy, with caramelised turnips and carrots. The Lamb Shank Biryani, cooked the Lucknowi way; the evergreen paneer – pin-wheeled with a stuffing of an Indian pesto made with coriander and basil leaves and cashewnuts; and a Burrata salad served with khandvi and olive oil-marinated tomatoes and pickled ginger, along with homemade cumin khari biscuits and stuffed kulchas are popular choices. He says, “I use ingredients not usually found in Indian cuisine – za’atar, togarashi, tobiko or fish eggs, and I try to create umami flavours. I enjoy working with fresh produce that grows locally.”

Where then does he see global trends in food move towards? He says, “All across the world, chefs, restaurants, and diners are coming back to the originality of the food. Chefs can’t afford to fool around anymore because diners know a lot more about the food they are ordering and what they want. With a healthy balance of flavours, cuisines are moving towards more rustic, traditional and home-style cooking that is not oily.”

Chef Apurva Panchal | Rooh | Global Indian

Another passion of Chef Apurva’s is teaching. He has remarked elsewhere that had he not been a chef, he would have been a teacher. What would he like to do in the years ahead then? Cook, or teach? He says, “I have not decided yet. Sometime in the future I would like to teach at a hospitality institute. But for now, I am happy at Rooh.”

While travelling Chef Apurva likes to eat at:

The Tanjore Tiffin, Mumbai: Appams with the choice of gravies
The Vishala, Ahmedabad: Thali
ukhara, ITC, Delhi: Dal Makhani/ Kebabs
Southern Spice, Taj, Chennai: Kori Roast

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Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj: Creating a delicious solution to plastic pollution with Edible Cutlery

(July 3, 2024) National Geographic, in a report produced in partnership with the National Geographic Society shared, “Plastic cutlery is everywhere, and most of it can be used only once. Billions of forks, knives, and spoons are thrown away each year. But like other plastic items—such as bags and bottles—cutlery can take centuries to break down naturally, giving the plastic waste ample time to work its way into the environment.” Once seen as a solution to reduce paper and bamboo consumption, plastic cutlery has now become an environmental crisis. Billions of plastic forks, knives, and spoons are discarded into landfills, oceans, and waterways each year leading to a significant environmental cost and a substantial carbon footprint. Australia based entrepreneur Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj is doing his bit to tackle this problem. [caption id="attachment_52819" align="aligncenter" width="767"] Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj and team after winning the second place in the City of Canning - Plus Eight Sprint program[/caption] With dreams of a sustainable future, he has founded his venture, Edible Cutlery, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional disposable cutlery that is completely biodegradable. Made with natural ingredients the cutlery can be eaten after consuming food or drink. “It’s my dream company. I always wanted

Indian " width="767" height="767" /> Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj and team after winning the second place in the City of Canning - Plus Eight Sprint program[/caption]

With dreams of a sustainable future, he has founded his venture, Edible Cutlery, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional disposable cutlery that is completely biodegradable. Made with natural ingredients the cutlery can be eaten after consuming food or drink. “It’s my dream company. I always wanted to do something for Mother Earth and give back to nature, and the venture serves this purpose, he tells Global Indian. “It is based on the idea of reducing waste in a sustainable and unique way,” he adds.

Making meals fun with flavoured edible cutlery

Edible Cutlery’s eco-friendly cutlery line of spoons, sporks, straws, cups and bowls come in a variety of flavours and colours to suit every taste. “Our edible cutlery is perfect for picnics, barbecues, and other outdoor events. We believe in providing our customers with quality and convenience, and we strive to make every meal a memorable one with an eco-friendly, tasty, and fun option,” tells the entrepreneur.

Edible Cutlery offers a variety of flavours like chocolate, cheesy garlic, oregano, or green mango, enhancing every meal with an extra layer of enjoyment. For instance, one can pair chocolate-flavoured cutlery with ice cream to savour it after dessert, or choose cheesy garlic cutlery to complement dishes like pasta.

[caption id="attachment_52820" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Indian Entrepreneur | Abhinav Nagaraj | Global Indian Product range of Edible Cutlery[/caption]

Recently, Edible Cutlery closed its first crowdfunding round. “I am so glad to see how people are supporting us and validating our ideas and concepts,” says Abhinav happy about the developments.

Turning heads

To promote his dream company, Abhinav recently flew from Australia to Japan with his team to participate at SusHi Tech Tokyo, a global startup program where startups from across the world showcase their innovations and create new connections. “It was great for networking, and the pitch night gave us a chance to introduce our brand to hundreds of attendees, including founders, investors, and distributors,” tells the entrepreneurs.

To participate in the international conference his venture had to qualify in a selection procedure set by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation in Western Australia (WA). “Three WA startups were selected to represent the state at the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global Startup Program from the many startups who had expressed their interest for the program and applied for it. The fact that the department chose us as one of the three startups bestowing their trust and support means a lot to us,” says Abhinav.

[caption id="attachment_52821" align="aligncenter" width="707"] Indian Entrepreneur | Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj | Global Indian Team Edible Cutlery at the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global Startup Program[/caption]

Running a business as an expat in Australia

“There were challenges, but the Australian government is supportive and encourages businesses for economic growth and development,” he tells. “It is good to have an Australian citizen as a shareholder in your business venture if you are an expat but not a mandatory requirement. Expats are eligible to get ABN (Australian Business Number) to conduct business,” he mentions.

Abhinav has been finding the business ecosystem of Australia quite constructive. “Most of the time, I have been supported and fortunately, I got investors and mentors to help me build my dreams,” he remarks. However, one major challenge was understanding the Australian market and mindset which he aced with time.

While Abhinav was pursuing his master’s degree in marketing in Australia, he had indulged in some entrepreneurial projects. Experiences garnered from those along with few job experiences after passing out proved to be good stepping stones for him as an expat entrepreneur.

From India to Australia

After earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering in India Abhinav worked in a few companies, before moving to the University of Western Australia in 2019 to study marketing. “This was a fresh start for me and just the beginning of a new journey,” he tells. As a student of engineering and later marketing, he always had a knack for entrepreneurship.

While studying as an international student in Australia, Abhinav had started offering marketing services as a freelancer, enjoying the part-time stints. After completing his studies, he joined a company called Heat Exchangers WA in a role that required knowledge of both marketing and engineering. “I knew from the very beginning that I was the perfect fit for the role,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_52822" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Indian Entrepreneur Abhinav Nagaraja | Global Indian Abhinav Nagaraja during a presentation at the City of Canning - Plus Eight Sprint program[/caption]

He worked there for two years before dipping his toes into entrepreneurship – his ultimate passion, and laid the foundation of his first business venture, Aeozo. Later, he started two more ventures, Pro Shakes and Edible Cutlery, being fortunate enough to attract angel investors and business partners who believed in his acumen and vision.

Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj considers his movement to Australia a turning point. “Throughout these years, I have learned a lot, especially since starting my entrepreneurial journey. I know there’s much more to come and a lot more to explore,” he remarks adding, “I believe in constantly moving forward with more strength and knowledge. My aim is to take my startups to the next level while contributing positively to the planet.”

Managing multiple ventures

Talking about his other business venture Abhinav shares, “Aeozo is a marketing company helping over 100 businesses across Australia to level up their marketing. Creating a company like this was always on my list.”

His second business venture, Pro Shakes, is a healthy drink brand that combines the protein with the deliciousness of a shake to offer a healthier option for people looking for taste and energy. “I had a chance to meet two individuals who were running the business with this interesting business idea on a small scale from kiosks. They had the idea, and I had the acumen and knowledge to build a brand, so we partnered and created Pro Shakes,” he tells.

[caption id="attachment_52823" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Indian Entrepreneur | Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj | Global Indian Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj[/caption]

Handling all the three ventures is overwhelming sometimes for him and Abhinav credits supportive co-founders, investors and a great team for making it possible to manage the operations successfully.

“My vision has been to bridge the gap between the demands and the available options. Whether it’s Aeozo, Pro Shakes, or Edible Cutlery, my primary goal is to offer superiority and quality over what’s already available. I believe that it’s not just about building brands but about crafting value for users and stakeholders,” he signs off.

Follow Abhinav Bijavara Nagaraj on Linkedin
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The Order of Merit: Kabir Bedi, India’s cherished actor embraced in Italy

(January 12, 2023)“Kabir keeps on playing, decade after decade, an extraordinary role in promoting better relations between India and Italy. His popularity is widespread across all generations in Italy. This is the reason why the President of the Republic of Italy has decided to present him one of Italy’s highest decorations - The Order of Merit. Kabir is very special for all of us Italians,” the Consul General of Italy, Alessandro de Mas said after reading aloud the Scroll of Honour signed by the Italian President Mattarella and counter-signed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in an event overlooking the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The acclaimed Indian actor was awarded the Merito della Repubblica Italiana (The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic) recently. [caption id="attachment_48197" align="aligncenter" width="437"] Kabir Bedi after receiving the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic[/caption] Bedi's journey of life has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride, attracting widespread attention due to its myriad ups and downs. His influence hasn't been limited to Bollywood, where he made a mark with over 60 films and Hollywood, but went far beyond. In fact, his innings in Italy has by far been the most successful one, where people

as been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride, attracting widespread attention due to its myriad ups and downs. His influence hasn't been limited to Bollywood, where he made a mark with over 60 films and Hollywood, but went far beyond. In fact, his innings in Italy has by far been the most successful one, where people are immensely in love with the talented actor.

Household name in Italy

“I was awarded the “Order of Merit of the Italian Republic” (Merito della Repubblica Italiana), the most prestigious Italian civilian award,” an elated Bedi had tweeted soon after receiving the award.

Bedi is a household name in Italy. The recent honour got conferred on him, 13 years after he was knighted as Cavaliere (Knight) of the 'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana' in 2010. “It was a very emotional award for me. Being presented the Order of Merit, Italy’s highest honour, is the fulfilment of my life’s work in Italy. It’s even higher than Cavaliere (Knight), which they gave me thirteen years ago. This double honour was a goose-bumps moment for me,” the Global Indian added in his tweet.

Rendezvous with Italy

Bedi's connection with Italy began in the late 1970s when he starred in 'Sandokan,' a six-part Italian television series. The show depicted the story of an Asian pirate who fell in love with the daughter of an English Lord.

Following his role in Sandokan, Bedi appeared in six successful television series in the country. In 2022, he was honoured with the Filming Italy Movie Lifetime Achievement Award at the Italian Pavilion, an initiative led by the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual (DGCA) of Italy’s Ministry of Culture.

[caption id="attachment_48198" align="aligncenter" width="562"] Indian Actor | Kabir Bedi | Global Indian Kabir Bedi in Sandokan[/caption]

Reflecting on his career, the actor highlighted in one of the interviews that becoming a star in Bollywood meant conforming to the singing and dancing stereotypes, which had led him to seek career prospects abroad. "It was the Italians who changed the course of my career by providing me the opportunity to come to Italy, offering me the iconic role of Sandokan," he remarked.

Journalism and advertising before acting

Kabir Bedi was not always an actor. He used to work for All India Radio (AIR) as a freelancer, and even worked at advertising agencies before becoming an actor.

Growing up he had seen his parents really passionate about India's freedom and helping refugees, but they didn't have much money. So, Bedi had to work while studying in college. During the day, he focused on his studies, and at night, he worked as a freelance English newsreader at the radio station in New Delhi. Later he moved to Bombay and became a copywriter with Lintas Bombay and Ogilvy & Mather.

The Beatles and the life-changing experience

While Bedi was a newsreader at New Delhi, something amazing happened. He got a chance to interview the famous English rock band, The Beatles, quite by chance.

The band was in Bombay, and the people in the media were highly excited about it. Bedi who was only in his teens then wanted to talk to his favourite band as a media person. When he sought permission from his boss, he and everyone around thought that it was impossible because lots of journalists wanted the same thing, and they thought Bedi to be too small and inexperienced. But Bedi wouldn't give up. Finally, he was given a special pass and a recorder and he went to the hotel where The Beatles were staying.

Young Bedi convinced The Beatles' manager to let him interview the band by saying that he was a radio journalist with AIR and that the Indian government wanted the interview. They agreed. The interview went on air and Bedi was in seventh heaven. Later, he was heartbroken to discover that the radio station had deleted the interview due to lack of storage space as they didn't have enough money for new tapes.

[caption id="attachment_48199" align="aligncenter" width="456"] Indian Actor | Kabir Bedi | Global Indian Kabir Bedi[/caption]

After graduating from St Stephens, Bedi moved to Bombay with a little money in his pocket, looking for new opportunities. He cashed in on his knack for writing and spent five years as a copywriter with Lintas Bombay and Ogilvy & Mather before stumbling into the field of acting.

Stumbling into acting

At Lintas, Bedi was working with legendary ad man Alyque Padamsee, who was also a noted theatre actor and producer. Padamsee decided to give Bedi a chance in acting by casting him in Girish Karnad’s play Tughlaq. The play was a huge hit and straight and soon, Bollywood offers started pouring in for Bedi. He grabbed them with both hands but remained associated with theatre, performing both in India and abroad.

“I really must thank Bollywood for getting me known through my first few big hits because that led to the Italian discovery. It was a huge decision for me to leave the security of the corporate world, where I was doing pretty well, and enter the uncharted waters and the perilous jungle of the Bollywood film industry. So that was certainly a decision that paid off, but at that time it was very scary,” Bedi remarked in an interview.

Love for Literature and lessons of life

In 2021, Bedi released his autobiography, ‘The Stories I Must Tell’. “My story is about my making, unmaking and remaking. My rise, ruin and resurrection,” he said after its release. Kabir had always loved writing. His father, Baba Pyare Lal Singh Bedi, was a philosopher and author while his mother, Freda Bedi, is considered the first western woman to take ordination in Tibetan Buddhism. “My mother was a very good writer, and my father was a very good speaker and thinker,” Bedi shared. Apart from his parents’ influence, he learned a lot of the craft of creative writing during his time as a copywriter.”

[caption id="attachment_48201" align="aligncenter" width="464"] Indian Actor | Kabir Bedi | Global Indian Kabir Bedi with his book[/caption]

One of India’s most flamboyant stars, Bedi doesn’t hold back in his book. “Yes, I have lived a very flamboyant life. I’ve done a lot of extraordinary things. I’ve been in extraordinary relationships. But my life is not just about the triumphs. It's also the tragedies,” he said. The darkest moment in his life was the suicide of his son, followed by the repercussions of a series of bad investments, which he had to learn to overcome.

“The way I did it was by remembering the spirit with which I had started my life,” he said “And also the meditation techniques I had learned as a Buddhist monk in Burma.” Bedi lives by the example of his parents, whom faced great financial adversity with great equanimity while he was growing up.

Giving back and setting an example

Bedi serves as the honorary brand ambassador for Italian charity Care and Share Italia. This organisation looks after and educates street children, from school to university, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

He is also the brand ambassador for Rotary International South Asia for its Teach Programme and the Total Literacy Mission in India and South Asia. As the brand ambassador of the international organisation, Sightsavers he spreads awareness on eye health and care.

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He emerged from his low phase to begin a bright new second innings in his career, winning awards in India and abroad, and becoming the most beloved Indian in Italy is an example of the 77-year-old’s strong persona. He stands as an inspiration for people struggling to emerge winners in their own stories.

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Candida Louis: How this biker girl rode 28,000 km Bengaluru to Sydney to pay tribute to Alistair Farland

(December 28, 2021) Vrooming on her Bajaj Dominar, Candida Louis revved up on the open road solo for a trip from Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha to Sydney. It was August 2018 and she covered 28,000 km across 10 countries. Not just an ordinary road trip across continents, it was an emotional tribute that culminated into an epic journey. The 31-year-old biker girl’s journey was homage to an Australian biker who died riding a motorcycle from Alaska to South America. “I won a photography contest and was invited to the US where I first heard about Alistair Farland, an Australian biker who died in a highway accident in North America. It’s every parent’s wish to see their child return home after a trip. I kept thinking about Alistair’s parents after the tragic incident, and just couldn’t shake off that feeling. So, I decided to take a trip from Bengaluru to Sydney to meet his parents, and complete the trip on his behalf as a tribute to him,” Candida tells Global Indian in an interview. [caption id="attachment_18277" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Candida Louis is Sydney[/caption] It was a personal voyage yet sponsors were ready to help, and Candida made the journey as a part of

size-full" src="https://stage.globalindian.com//wp-content/uploads/2021/12/candida1.jpg" alt="Biker Girl | Candida Louis | Traveller | Global Indian" width="1080" height="720" /> Candida Louis is Sydney[/caption]

It was a personal voyage yet sponsors were ready to help, and Candida made the journey as a part of the Change Your World Fund travel project. “I have taken many international road trips before, but this was special,” adds Louis who stayed with Alistair’s family for a week in Sydney, and visited his grave. “It felt like I managed to finish the trip for Alistair,” she adds.

“Travel is empowering. Your perspective on life changes. I have realised how we are just a speck in the universe. Getting to know people and multi-cultures is what makes it exciting,” adds the girl on a mission to educate the world on the importance of travel.

The Hubli-born girl has always been enchanted by travel. “I would accompany my dad on road trips to Goa from Hubli on his bike - it gave me a sense of freedom,” says Candida. This passion for exploration extended to her youth and when her dad gifted her a bike on her 21st birthday, she was ecstatic. While her love for travel was simmering, Louis, like everyone, opted for a steady job. Her days as a financial analyst with Oracle were a good balance of work and travel. The 31-year-old then began questioning herself when she moved to Infosys. “With crazy timing, immense world load, the urge to be outdoors was even stronger,” reveals the biker girl.

[caption id="attachment_18278" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Biker Girl | Candida Louis | Traveller | Global Indian Candida Louis on her road trip in Australia.[/caption]

Travel opens up new perspectives

Without further ado, she packed her bags and went biking from South to North India on a three-month sabbatical. It gave her a sense of purpose. “I knew this was my calling. I wanted to see the world and experience it first-hand. That trip made me realise that I could never go back to a desk job. On my return, I quit and went on another trip across India,” declares the biker who covered 32,000 km and 22 states in four months.

While spreading her wings gave her the quintessential freedom, she did face resistance initially from her parents. “It wasn’t an easy decision to quit my job. For my parents, a job meant security and financial stability. They were aghast that I was leaving all for biking. But I was adamant. I asked them to give me a year to prove myself, and told them if things didn’t work out, I would resume my job,” reveals Candida whose bargain paid off, and she bid farewell to her corporate life.

The initial journey was bumpy as women bikers were not a norm in 2015. “The only job I got was that of a store manager at bike rentals. However, Wicked Ride (a bike rental in Bengaluru) gave me a chance, and specially created an opportunity for me to lead tours. This opened doors,” chirps Candida. In no time, she was planning and organising bike tours across India, and has led more than 40 trips across seven countries ever since.

[caption id="attachment_18279" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Biker Girl | Candida Louis | Traveller | Global Indian Candida Louis with her group of bikers.[/caption]

The sensation across border

Her road trip from Bengaluru to Sydney made Candida a social media sensation. Louis kickstarted her journey from Bengaluru, moved to the East Coast, headed towards North-East before entering Bhutan. She then rode the beautiful roads of Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia from where she loaded her bike on a ship to Perth and then rode to Sydney.

It was the best of experiences, as people cheered her throughout. “I remember posting on social media, and found over 100 people waiting for me at Vidhana Soudha to flag off my journey. Often, people were waiting on highways to show their support,” recalls the girl who has 159k followers on Instagram. She started using Facebook to keep her friends and family updated, and found innumerable supporters. “I was an accidental content creator. But over the years, content has helped me find sponsors,” says the adventure enthusiast. However, she warns amateurs about the risks. “It can be tricky as there are days where you don’t know how you are going to make money. During the pandemic, I didn’t make money for seven months. It’s a risk you take for something you love,” adds the girl.

[caption id="attachment_18280" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Biker Girl | Candida Louis | Traveller | Global Indian Candida Louis[/caption]

In the past six years, Candida has become patient and accepting owing to her travel. Confined to her home during Covid 19, she adapted by spending time with family, doing art and hiking. “Being a biker, you are mostly on the road. So, the pandemic was a blessing in disguise as I got to be with my parents. I didn’t miss being on the road much as I like being in the moment,” says the avid gardener.

For someone who has been on the road for a very long time, she recalls an incident in Cambodia as one of her most special moments. "When I was riding in Cambodia for a month in 2017, 20 days into the trip and I started missing Indian food. As we were riding through one of the remotest areas, it was impossible to find that. But we happen to find an Indian man on a tractor while stopping at a water stream who told us that many Indians work in a nearby factory. He invited us for lunch and we had sumptuous rice and sambhar. I think it was one of the best moments for me," says an ecstatic Candida.

When Candida started as a woman biker, she was among a handful to take the road less travelled. Every passing day, more women are breaking gender stereotypes and venturing into riding but she says there’s still a long way to go. “There are 4,000-5,000 female bikers right now in India, a very small number,” she says, adding that family support is the real game-changer. “I am happy that my parents have been my biggest support system. But many are not getting such support,” she adds. “Do not give up on your dreams,” is her advice, “It took me 10 years to prove myself. Nothing comes easy and it needs constant dedication, hard work, and passion. Just keep going.”

[caption id="attachment_18281" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Biker Girl | Candida Louis | Traveller | Global Indian Candida Louis[/caption]

Candida has travelled across continents on her hot wheels, knows how to fix almost any problem herself, but Covid 19 has been a spoiler. However, her fingers are crossed for her next big adventure. “With the Omicron strain, many trips are getting cancelled. But if all goes well, I will be riding to Europe in 2022,” says the girl who is following her dreams, one ride at a time.

How to chart your own road trip across continents

Visa: Since Indian passport isn’t too strong, it’s best to get visa for all the countries you are planning to travel to before the commencement of the journey.
Fuel: Finding petrol pumps across the countries is quite simple. In remote places, if you might not find petrol pumps, petrol in bottles is always easily accessible.
Police checkpoint: Every country has their own rules, but one needs to show passport, visa, bike registration number at most checkpoints while entering a country.
Documents needed:

Passport: It is stamped at all border crossings while entering and exiting countries.
Carnet: In simple terms, it acts as a customs document for your motorcycle and has all details about your bike number, engine number and bike registration number. For India, you can get it from WIAA, for Europe, you can get it from ADAC and for the US, you can get from Boomerang. This document keeps you away from paying heavy tax that are levied on imported vehicles on road and states that the bike will return to India in a year.
International Driving Permit: You can get this document by submitting your passport, visa, flight tickets and filling a form to the Regional Transport Office. This is valid for one year.
Motorcycle Registration: Make sure to carry the original document, however, do carry photocopies that you can hand out at borders.

Biker’s checklist

Travel as light as possible.
Only carry the essentials.
Pack more food and water, and less of clothes.

Women’s checklist

Always have a GPS tracker on the bike.

Follow Candida Louis on Instagram

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