When Huma Qureshi was asked if she would like to helm a biopic on India's culinary legend and Padma Shri awardee Tarla Dalal, ahead of the latter's tenth death anniversary, she was thrilled and nostalgic. The one person who came to her mind was Meryl Streep (she created an uncanny version of Julia Child in Julie & Julia, and with a spot-on accent). Both the film and Streep have been Qureshi's "forever favourites".
So, while there was no question of declining the opportunity, Qureshi knew she would have to work hard to convincingly look the part; to come close to looking like the legendary chef whom an entire generation grew up watching. But the odds were stacked against her-Qureshi is a hardcore non-vegetarian as against Dalal who was the exact opposite. Neither was non-vegetarian fare ever cooked in the Dalal household nor was anything ordered from outside. In fact, Dalal converted her non-vegetarian husband [Nalin Dalal] into a vegetarian after she saw him having meat with his colleague. Next was the issue of height; while Qureshi stands tall at five feet five inches, Dalal was petite at five feet two inches. The latter's dainty personality remains as much in public memory as her recipes so it was important to get that right. Also, Qureshi, with her longish face and a sharp bone structure, looked nothing like Dalal, whose wide jawline held that peculiar toothy grin that was so popular.
Denne historien er fra July 23, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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Denne historien er fra July 23, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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GMC will have full executive, legislative and judicial autonomy
With full executive, legislative and judicial autonomy, the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) adopts a unique model that is distinct from the prevailing administrative system in Bhutan.
CITY OF DREAMS
With the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City along the Indian border, Bhutan proposes an economic gateway for the world to India and southeast Asia, without disturbing its comfortable relationship with China
Charms of an ideologue
Sitaram Yechury gave the left much larger visibility than what was warranted by its strength
Mainstream challengers
Collaboration between Engineer Rashid and the Jamaat-e-Islami has caused unease in the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party camps
How Modi learned to love the bomb
Narendra Modi is the first Indian prime minister ever to not be on record on nuclear disarmament. His attention has been devoted to building our nuclear capabilities and delivery systems without mentioning universal disarmament.
Seats for AAP? Not even a needlepoint
One of the most dramatic scenes of the Mahabharat is the Bhagavad doot, wherein Krishna goes to the court of Dhritarashtra seeking the forfeited kingdom back for the Pandavas. When that is denied, he seeks five villages for the five brothers. That denied, he seeks one village for all five. No, says the arrogant Duryodhan, not even a needlepoint of land. The road to Kurukshetra began there.
Chase For The Mace
The next three years throw up a gamut of challenges for Indian cricket; winning the World Test Championship is the most important
Two-horse race
Can the NC-Congress alliance reshape the future of Jammu and Kashmir?
Man-eaters don't spare women
Critics say Narendra Modi’s decade-long rule has been one of jobless growth. Factories produced more, companies earned more, owners profited more, the government earned more; but fewer hands were hired, or those who were hired got work for fewer days. Putting the last two together, economists said the Indian economy generated fewer ‘man-days’.
Decolonising the mindset
The vision of a Viksit Bharat hinges on India T breaking from the shackles of a colonial mindset and embodying the freedom of being unapologetically Indian. The laws of any nation are the cornerstone of its growth. The legal system offers the stability and adaptability essential for a country to thrive. The laws must be simple to understand and specific in their consequence.
