YASHCHOPRA
Ifthere’sonethingIndiancinemaisknown for, it’s our song-and-dance
routines.And,forthelastfewdecades, where have most of our leading
ladiesandgentlemendonemostofthis dancing? Well, in Switzerland,
ofcourse.AllthankstoYashChopra,regarded by many as one of India’s
finestfilmmakers.Ifyou’rethinkingsnowcapped mountains,
shimmeringlakesandsprawlingmeadowsofgreen,you’rethinking
ofa YashChopralocation.AtoweringfigureinIndiancinema,hislove
offoreignlocalesinspiredgenerationsoffilmmakerstoshootin
picturesqueEuropeanlocations.HemadeIndiansbelievethattheydidn’t
deserveanylessthanexoticforeigngetaways,leadingtopeople
streamingintoEuropeforweddings,honeymoonsandholidays–
exploringthechurches,bridgesandparkswheretheirfavouritemovie
charactersromanced,and,ofcourse,railwaystationswherethey
indulgedinsometrademarkslow-motiontrainchasing.JAMESBOND
IF YOU HAD TO STEAL SOMEONE’S FLYER MILES, JAMES BOND WOULD PROBABLY
BE THE BEST OPTION. THE DEBONAIR AND IMPECCABLE AGENT OF THE BRITISH
SECRET SERVICE HAS MORE THAN JUST A LICENCE TO KILL. GRANTED THAT ALL
THE BULLET-DODGING AND PSYCHO-WRESTLING HE HAS TO DO ISN’T EXACTLY IDEAL,
BUT THERE IS AN UPSIDE: HE HAS TRAVELLED TO SOME OF THE MOST AWE-INSPIRING
LOCATIONS ON EARTH. HE HAS DEFINITELY MADE HIS FANS WANT A CHUNK
OF THE GOOD LIFE – MARTINIS ON THE VIRGIN GALACTIC UPPER CLASS OR PRIME
SEATS AT FESTIVAL HOUSE IN ALPINE BREGENZ IN AUSTRIA (THE LARGEST “FLOATING
STAGE” IN THE WORLD). LONDON ALSO HAS EXHIBITS DEDICATED TO THE SUPERSPY’S
ADVENTURES THAT FEATURE THRILLING SPEEDBOAT RIDES, AND SHOPS THAT SELL
SOME OF HIS SIGNATURE CLOTHING AND WATCHES. AUDIENCES ARE QUITE TAKEN
WITH HIS WAYS OF TRAVELLING – AFTER ALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE!RUSKIN BOND
If you love writing that has clarity and incredible
pragmatism packed into every sentence, Ruskin Bond
probably already has your heart. An Englishman who
is a pahari at heart, the Mussoorie-based author writes
of characters who audiences can always relate to, and uses
his wit and humour to express his longing for a certain kind
of childhood. People also find great joy in reading about life
in the hills and the stories of the local people – especially
in Mussorie and Dehradun in Uttarakhand – making them
ideal, serene getaways that feature
on every bucket list. In his prized
ability to engage so intimately
with the reader, Bond’s books
become a quiet and
ever-present travel
companion with the
occasional but
unintended travel
recommendation.,SPHOTOGRAPHS: BYRON PATCHETT, CATHERINE WILLIAMS, VICHARAM, BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA, GLYNLOVE
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