Curious Case: By Radhika Bhirani

Radhika Bhirani rbhirani@gmail.com ~~~ Nature. Natural. Au naturel. Three terms that come naturally to the mind about Yami Gautam. Not just courtesy a close look at her Instagram profile, but also by virtue of multiple chats and conversations with the actor, who is as 'hatke' as some of her film choices. In her Instagram birthday post, the girl glows. In the light of the love of her family, of her fans and of her religious and spiritual pursuits. "My family and roots are the two things most dear to me! Taking blessings from Mata Bajreshwari Devi, Kangra, on my birthday made a very special morning before making way to work," wrote the actor, who has turned 32, and is in her native Himachal Pradesh to shoot Bhoot Police. Tagged along is a beautiful picture in which Yami poses against azure blue skies with the temple's white facade painting a pretty background. She looks simple and sweet, with a tika on the forehead, and a red Mata ki Chunni draped around her neck. J

Radhika Bhirani rbhirani@gmail.com There I was flashing the dimples, decked up in a satisfactorily pleated seedhe palle ki sari on Karwa Chauth, trying to drive away the seemingly endless, and all-pervasive blues brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic in my own way. Three days later, the smile was gone. And I'm still waiting for its return. The morning was usual. Waking up. Throwing the blanket away. Getting out of bed. Slipping the feet into the slippers. Heading to the restroom. And there, right when I looked into the mirror and yawned, something seemed amiss. I'd usually look no less than a roaring Lion King. But here I was, trying to make sense of a face that had turned droopy, lopsided, crooked, and whatever else you can find to go with those in the English thesaurus. A sense of panic gripped my mind and heart. What could have gone so wrong, so suddenly? The fear of this unknown, unexplained and unexpected visitor was palpable as I tried whatever I had recently learnt of stro