Gaining weight after pregnancy is natural. Then why fuss over Aishwarya Rai’s extra pounds, ask health experts. Regular crunches, low-impact exercises and small but frequent meals a day can help new moms get back in shape. But stay away from dieting. Gynaecologist Archana Dhawan says it is unfair to compare Aishwarya’s frame with those of Hollywood’s yummy mummies as the body structure of each person varies.

Don’t rush it

‘People have their own pace to lose weight, or they would have their own targets. Some can lose in six months whereas others take more than a year. As long as you are making a constant effort and you are feeding the baby regularly and doing exercise, you can lose weight,’ Dhawan, from the capital’s The Nurture Clinic, told IANS.

‘Whether it’s Aishwarya or any normal adult, everybody has a right to decide at what speed they want to lose weight. As long as you are losing it, good enough. As per geographical distribution, the body frame also varies across the world,’ she said. A proper exercise regimen is of utmost importance, says Amrapali Patil, CEO of Trim N Tone The Obesity Clinic. ‘Exercising after pregnancy helps to lose those extra pounds put on during pregnancy, alleviate postpartum depression. Unlike dieting, it doesn’t interfere with your breastfeeding,’ she said. Experts suggest yoga, indoor exercises and regular crunches to shed extra flab.

Talk to a doc

It is important to consult a physician before commencing any exercise programme as the post-pregnancy period is a delicate state. ‘Till six months, when women are breastfeeding, they should take high calorie diet. But after those six months, one should maintain a low calorie and low carbohydrate diet,’ said nutritionist Rekha Gonsalves. Since dieting can create a problem for mothers and indirectly to the newborn, regular exercise is the safest way out.

New mothers are advised exercise only after a certain period. ‘Weight loss of about half a kg a week is safe and won’t affect the milk supply if a woman is breastfeeding. It is safer to consult a physician to understand if one is ready for exercise. Also, it is safer to lose weight slowly. One should avoid a strict, restrictive diet,’ Gonsalves said. ‘One should wait at least six weeks after a vaginal delivery of baby and eight weeks after a caesarean section to start exercising. It’s best to start with low-impact exercises such as yoga, walking or swimming,’ she says.

Don’t do it too fast

For many women, pregnancy causes permanent mental and physical changes. Patil warns that ‘rapid weight loss can release toxins that are stored in the body fat into the bloodstream and in the breastfeeding mother’s milk supply.’ ‘Starting a diet too soon after giving birth can delay recovery and make one feel more tired, irritated and depressed. Losing weight too quickly can affect lactation and reduce the breast milk,’ she says.

Avoid transfats

In terms of dieting, saturated and transfats should be avoided. ‘The oils to avoid are saturated and transfats as these can contribute to heart disease and also diabetes. Saturated fats are found in meats and dairy products, and transfats are typically found in many fried foods, snack foods, and baked goods,’ Patil says. Small and frequent meals, with a lot of fluid and fibre in the diet, can do wonders.

‘Consuming low-fat milk, dairy products, wheat bread and whole grain cereal can help you lose weight,’ said Indu Bala Khatri, a consultant at Moolchand Women’s Hospital. 

Source: IANS

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For more on women’s health, visit our women’s health section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

These beauties rule Bollywood and our hearts and truly deserve a round of applause for their constant endeavours to try something new with their movies and their style. They have emerged as the top 10 Bollywood beauty icons of the nation (in no particular order).

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

The eternal beauty icon and a favourite of millions, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is considered to be among the most beautiful women in the world. Her enigmatic eyes and smile have stolen the hearts of many and she broke many of them when she got married to Abhishek Bachchan in 2007. Her comeback film after her pregnancy is highly anticipated by her fans and the film industry.

Chitrangada Singh

One of the hottest-looking actresses in B-town, Chitrangada made her debut with Hazaaron khwaieshen aisi in 2005. Her performance was lauded by greats like Shekhar Kapur who said she had outdone Smita Patel. She also won praises in Washinton Post for her performance. After a three-year hiatus, Chitrangada was back in the scene with Sorry Bhai! The film did not fare well but Chitrangada got many endorsement deals. Her item song in Joker was a hit with the audience.

Deepika Padukone

She epitomises the young, modern Indian woman and her giggly laughter is certainly infectious. In her debut film Om shaati om, she played a yesteryear superstar in the first half and a modern, carefree girl in the second, both with equal élan. She has always been in the news for her style statement or link-ups but Deepika’s confidence hardly wavers. This dusky bombshell has made her way to the top, both as a sought-after actress and a beauty and style icon.

Kareena Kapoor Khan

The media has followed Kareena’s style ever since her debut in Bollywood. Be it her size-zero figure, her attire at award functions or her beauty secrets. Kareena was one the few actresses who took the bold decision to appear onscreen sans any makeup in her film Dev. Probably because she knows she is naturally beautiful and does not have to depend on too many cosmetics to enhance her beauty.

Katrina Kaif

A treat to watch is what most will describe Katrina as. Looking perfect almost always, she carries off any look effortlessly. Be it playing an NRI, raunchy Sheila or the rustic Chameli, Katrina gets it right all the time. Her acting abilities are questioned repeatedly, yet she is one of the top actresses we have today in Bollywood. Her charm never fails to get the audience’s attention.

Madhuri Dixit Nene

Her smile can melt hearts, her dance can enchant anyone, and her acting can blow your mind. What else does one need to become one of the reigning queens of Bollywood? She left the industry and her fans in a state of shock and sadness when she decided to move to the US after marriage. But her recent comeback has once again rejoiced her fans who just don’t seem to get enough of their favourite beauty icon, Madhuri.

Priyanka Chopra

She can dance, she can sing, she can act and she is good at all of it! Her looks are smouldering and she can throw kicks and punches as convincingly as she can romance and cry on screen. Priyanka is a master of many trades. She started out as a teenager and conquered the world with her beauty by winning the Miss World title in 2000. Now an established actress, she is one of the few who can act as well as look glamorous at the same time.

Sonam Kapoor

Sonam is undoubtedly Bollywood’s style icon. She is more in the news for her clothes and accessories than her films. Her quirky yet classy fashion sense is a breath of fresh air which has impressed many girls to follow her stylish footsteps. Once weighing over 80 kg, Sonam managed to shed all the extra pounds and fit into her fabulous designer dresses that she now flaunts with much poise.

Sushmita Sen

She shot to fame when she beat Aishwarya at the Miss India Pageant and went on to pick up the Miss Universe Crown in 1997. She wowed us with her sexy sarees in Main hoon na and stole our hearts with her dance number Mehboob mere in Fiza. Sushmita is truly a self-made woman and her beauty has charmed many. She is hardly seen in any movies these days but her fan following hasn’t decreased nonetheless.  Her Bong-looks still have their magic!

Vidya Balan

The versatile Mrs Balan captured our attention from her very first film Parineeta. Her traditional attire and big brown eyes spoke volumes through the poster. She broke moulds by not following the trend of attaining the perfect figure, rather took pride in embracing her curvaceous body and inspired many Indian women to do the same.  She proved her mettle as an actor through her versatile roles in Paa, Kahani and The Dirty Picture for which she won various awards. 

Also read: Women’s Day Special: Fitter, Sexier Healthier

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When Aishwarya Rai Bachchan walked the red carpet at the Cannes Festival in 2012, the media saw one thing. Fat. More recently, when Marion Bartoli lifted the prestigious Wimbledon title a BBC commentator said ‘Do you think Bartoli’s dad told her when she was little ‘You’re never going to be a looker? You’ll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight.” Inverdale’s comments caused quite a furore and while he has apologised for his comments the question remains – why are women always talked about in terms of their looks? Rachel Hercman, a psychotherapist specialising in sexuality, dating and relationships writes more about this terrible cultural phenomenon: 

 Every day millions of women head out to war with their bodies, with a goal to destroy imperfect territory. This quest is shared by women of all ages, cultures and nationalities. It’s tiring, and the battle is costly emotionally and physically, but yet the fighting continues. For so many women, calling a truce with their body feels impossible, especially when the media sends messages that are contrary to one of unconditional love and acceptance.

 The Aishwarya Rai Bachchan episode brought into focus some of the pervasive attitudes that the media sends not only to women who are pregnant and post-partum, but women at all stages of life.  The pressure not only to be thin but to be flawless is reinforced through photoshopped magazine covers, movies, television shows, advertisements, and even Barbie dolls. Instead of women being in touch with their bodies- listening to hunger and fullness cues, riding the wave of life-cycle events like puberty, post-partum and menopause- women are fighting nature by starving themselves, manipulating their bodies, and hoping that if they bully themselves enough maybe they’ll start to actually like themselves.

Developing an eating disorder can be a potential outcome of feeling out of control, inadequate, unworthy, and terminally imperfect.  Sadly, eating disorders can be fatal and can lead to health problems even after one has recovered.  If there aren’t physical effects of the eating disorder, the emotional impact on well-being and consequent disconnect from life’s joys is tremendous. (Read: How your body image could affect your sex life)

Here are some general definitions of eating disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa: An intentional, extreme restriction of food intake due to a major fear of gaining weight. This fear can manifest as weighing oneself multiple times a day, preoccupation with nutrition facts and meticulous counting, and general obsessing about weight and body. Many women with anorexia nervosa will skip meals, not eat any meals at all, and keep detailed records of their intake. Other features of  Anorexia Nervosa include weighing  15% or more below healthy weight, have a BMI that is 17.5 or less and have missed three consecutive menstrual periods (unintentionally, not via medication). Anorexia Nervosa has the highest suicide rate of any mental illness. The percentage of women who die from Anorexia Nervosa varies in studies, but it can be anywhere between 4-10%.

Bulimia Nervosa: Regular episodes of serious overeating followed by purging. Purging activities can include ingesting laxatives, forcing oneself to vomit, over-exercising, and crash dieting. The bouts of binging are often accompanied by an out-of-control feeling and extreme guilt afterwards. Bulimics are often very self-depreciating of their weight and bodies, but are more difficult to identify because they tend to be average to overweight.

Binge Eating: Not just your typical holiday overeating; those with Binge Eating disorder regularly overeat in an excessive out-of-control way to a point that is beyond fullness and often has physical discomfort. Those with Binge Eating disorder often have the same guilt and shame as bulimics but don’t purge afterwards.

 So, what can you do to help this scary epidemic of women being at war with their bodies?

Watch your language: Pay attention to the way you describe and identify people, especially in front of young children who highly impressionable. Perhaps you can try complimenting people not only for their external features (e.g. ‘I love your hair) but also for their internal traits too (e.g. ‘You are so creative/thoughtful/funny/smart). Steer clear from gossiping about other people’s weight; it won’t make you feel better in the long run and will reinforce your own fears about what others are saying about your body.

Stand Up to the Media: When you see media headlines or stories that reinforce negative body image, speak up! Write letters to the editors. Comment on the articles. Share your thoughts through social media and initiate honest discussions about it both online and in person.

Emulate the Right People: Be selective in who your role models are. Yes, celebrities seem glamorous and living the good life, but many of them have eating disorders and body image issues too. You can be famous, rich and beautiful but still not feel like you’re enough.

Spread the Word: Look around your community and assess the level of awareness around eating disorders. Whether you’re on a college campus, in a suburban community, or in the middle of the city, see how you can get involved with community education. Sometimes just starting an e-mail thread and sending around links can generate good discussion and activism.

So, let’s put the sword down and stop the war on women’s bodies. Don’t underestimate the power that you hold in making your community a better and more loving place.

Rachel Hercman, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) is a psychotherapist specializing in sexuality, dating, and relationships. She works at the Medical Center for Female Sexuality in New York, a center that provides cutting-edge medical and psychological treatment for female sexual dysfunction, where she helps women improve their sexual functioning, body image and relationship satisfaction.  

Also read more articles on body image:

• How your body image affects your sex life
• ‘Afraid to be naked in front of boyfriend. What can I do?’ (Sex query of the day)
• 10 reasons losing weight is great for your sex life
• Firm ‘em up: Expert tips to get the breasts you want without surgery!
• Butt naturally: Expert exercises and tips to tone your butt
• Improve your sex life with these exercises

For more articles on body image, check out our body image section.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Aishwarya Rai was in the news recently for saying that she didn’t want to do a film with her husband Abhishek Bachchan until her daughter Aaradhya was at least old enough to go to school. She wanted one of them to be always there with the child. This is a common phenomenon in today’s world, with both parents working which raises the question – how important is it for a child to have a parent around all the time? These days with both parents working, there is going to be a generation of children who will be taken care of by nannies or grandparents or household help. Dr Leena Deshpande, a developmental paediatrician gives her view on the issue:

Do children need parents around? But, of course! Right from infancy when feeding and basic care like cleaning, hygiene, etc. are but second nature to a parent. In the growing stage, parents play an important role in a child’s development and overall personality. Parents are like solid pillars on which the children lean knowing that they always are there for them.

Even later when the child attends school, academic issues and friends and social behaviour are all dependent, directly or indirectly on the parents. The adolescent stage also needs parents in no small measure. The simple knowledge that the parents are present physically, mentally and emotionally in an unconditional manner means a lot to the child. (Read: New-age parenting: Understand your adolescent better!)

All that would be true in an ideal world. However, in a world where money rules and financial concerns predominate – one can’t be just sitting at home the whole day. Thus, the mother is forced to return to work, sooner rather than later, reluctantly handing the above duties/activities in some measure to the grandparents or maids or babysitters or nannies. This brings about some compromises in the above mentioned roles. The toddler who is forever active realises that the grandparents cannot keep up with their energy levels as the parents. The maid is more engrossed in work and cannot devote more than a token display of time and activity to the child. Parents returning from work are exhausted and while the basic necessities may be provided for, the stimulating atmosphere to help a child develop or grow may not be suitably provided.

However, that does not always push the argument in favour of a parent not working outside the home. A mother who stays at home may also be busy at home, especially in a nuclear family and the jet-setting pace of the city that she tends to use TV or other e-media as babysitters to entertain the child while she continues finishing her ‘work’. This can lead to a severe detrimental effect on the child’s behaviour, concentration and development.

So, yes, having a responsive and stimulating adult around the child in formative years is nothing short of priceless. This may be the mother but could be the father also as any interested, interactive adult can help in optimizing the child’s development.

But more importantly, it is not mere physical presence but the quality of time spent with the child that matters. Even if both parents are working, as long as they set aside quality time to spend with their child, there is no reason to believe that there will be a detrimental effect on the growth, personality and development. This quality time should be uninterrupted by TV, mobiles or e media.

There is nothing set in stone or gold about how a parent should behave or what is ideal. Each set of parents has to approach this individually and be able to work out what is best for their set of circumstances. What is ideal may not be practical but what is workable can be made as close to ideal as possible!!

In a school-going child’s life, a lot of events occur in school. Some are happy occasions while in some cases the children feel a need to vent out their feeling when they return home. Presence of a parent goes a long way in helping them to calm down. Returning to locked houses may make this process very difficult and disturbing. Inappropriate TV, and media that is unsupervised carries major risks. (Read: Tips for working mothers: How to spend more time with your child)

There is no agreed age when children can be left alone at home safely. Legally, in most countries it is 12 years of age, but age alone cannot determine this. Children mature at different ages and that has to be considered.

For more articles on diseases and conditions, check out our diseases & conditions section and for videos, check out our YouTube Channel. 

There are very few Indian actors who’ve achieved global recognition like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Thrust into the limelight when she appeared in a Pepsi commercial with Aamir Khan, the actress went on to win the coveted Miss World title, the same year her contemporary Sushmita Sen won the Miss Universe title. But there’s so much people don’t know about her. Did you know that the actress got 90% in her HSC, is trained in classical dance and music and even considered following a career in medicine? Here are five things we love about this gorgeous actress:

She is a loving mother

Recently, the actress went on record to say that she wouldn’t consider working in a movie with hubby Abhishek until their daughter Aradhya is old enough to attend school. Her reasoning was that one parent should always be there with her child. In today’s crazy, Mammon-worshipping, dog-eat-dog world where everyone is in a rush to pull in a few extra bucks, this is an amazingly human gesture. Most experts say that it’s vital for a parent to be around for the child. Developmental paediatrician Dr Leena Deshpande said, ‘Do children need parents around? But, of course! Right from infancy when feeding and basic care like cleaning, hygiene, etc. are but second nature to a parent. In the growing stage, parents play an important role in a child’s development and overall personality. Parents are like solid pillars on which the children lean knowing that they always are there for them.’ So hats off to Ash for being such a sane-headed, amazing mother to Aradhya.

She didn’t rush to lose weight post pregnancy

Most celebrities live under immense scrutiny and the spotlight forces them to look picture perfect at all times. When Ash didn’t rush to lose her pregnancy weight she was attacked from all quarters for having a little extra baggage. She was called Gol Bachchan and other such crude remarks. Thankfully, she had enough sense to not fall for such disgusting remarks and lost weight slowly and gradually. A recent magazine cover shows that the actress is back to her gorgeous slim self and we applaud her decision to lose weight in a healthy manner and not being influenced by brickbats and idiots.

She fights for social causes 

Celebrities have immense influence over the masses and it’s rather pleasing when they use that influence for good causes. Ash has done that continuously throughout her career. She was a brand ambassador of the Pulse Polio Campaign which helped eradicate the disease in India and was also an ambassador The Eye Bank Association of India and pledged to donate her eyes once she passed away. She is also a Goodwill Ambassador for Smile Train, an organisation that provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries for children. She is also an ambassador of the UNAIDS – the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hiv/aids.

She is a strong feminine figure

Everyone faces ups and downs in life; it’s how you deal with them that matters. Aishwarya’s darkest moment probably came when she had to deal with the abusive relationship she was in with Salman Khan. Later on she would describe the chapter as a ‘nightmare’ in her life. And she dealt with the issue with remarkable poise refusing to react to the slights she and her family faced during those dark times. ‘I have maintained a dignified silence about him and his wrong doings but he (his family and friends) has repeatedly attacked the respect, dignity and pride of me and my family with irresponsible rumour mongering’, she had told PTI. ‘I stood by him enduring his alcoholic misbehaviour in his worst phases and in turn I was at the receiving end of his abuse (verbal, physical and emotional), infidelity and indignity. That is why like any other self-respecting woman I had ended my relationship with him almost two years ago’, she added. It takes guts to get out of an abusive relationship and we tip our hats to Aishwarya for doing it.

She follows a very healthy lifestyle to stay fit and beautiful

While the actress has been blessed with remarkably good looks she follows a very healthy lifestyle. She abstains from fried foods, junk, packaged food items, alcohol and smoking and eats her fruits and veggies (ensuring she gets a healthy dose of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals). She also drinks lots of water to keep her skin hydrated. Insiders suggest that despite appearing for numerous beauty products, the actress prefers natural remedies instead of expensive beauty products. She uses a mix of besan, milk and haldi (turmeric). Also she uses yoghurt to moisturise her skin and uses freshly crushed cucumbers as a face-pack. It’s amazing to see that despite her global exposure, Ash remains a true Indian at heart. 

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• Katrina Kaif’s beauty secrets 
• Beauty secrets of top 10 Bollywood actresses! 
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• Beauty secrets of Kareena, Aishwarya, Halle Berry and other style icons 
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• Style your ponytail the Natalie Portman way 
• Hollywood celebrities Madonna and Anne Hathaway’s beauty secrets 

For more celeb beauty secrets, check out our celeb beauty secrets section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

According to societal norms, the ideal relationship requires the man to be older by a few years than his woman. Even though you may find most couples follow this norm, there are also a few where the woman is older than the man. Celebrities such as Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan or Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar may instill our faith that such a relationship can work while the break-up of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore may let us believe that it was destined to doom from the very beginning. Dr Anjali Chhabria, a practising psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience, talks about the challenges faced by such couples and how they can make it work.

Hurdles in an older woman-younger man relationship

Social stigma: Since it is not an ideal setting, such couples have to deal with the stigma attached with it. ‘Relations with your family and friends can become more challenging as not all readily and happily accept this kind of a relationship,’ warns Dr Anjali. Here’s how to make a relationship work living in a joint family.

Expectations differ: Though you may start on a good note, there may be differences due to the age gap. ‘Women gain mental maturity faster than men which could lead to differences between the couple, not just in terms of expectations but also in interests and understanding,’ says Dr Anjali. Here are 10 common mistakes that ruin a relationship.

Insecurity: Since the man is younger, the woman may fear losing him to other younger women while younger men tend to feel more insecure and possessive about their women, especially when she is older than him.

Socialising problems: Due to the age gap between the two, it can be a hurdle to socialise with friends. ‘Socialising with each other’s friends can sometimes be difficult as both age groups may have different interests,’ adds Dr Anjali.

Tips to make it work

Cherish memories: When you feel your relationship is hitting a rough patch, relive older moments you spent together. ‘Remind yourself each time what made you fall in love with each other. This will help strengthen your bond in times like these,’ advises Dr Anjali.

Mutual respect: It is important both of you respect one another in the relationship and one does not feel superior than the other. When there is mutual respect, there are less ego clashes and verbal fights too don’t take a nasty turn. Listening is also an important factor to make a relationship work. Read more…

Adjust: ‘Couples should keep in mind the changes that come with age – physically, mentally and emotionally. This will help you understand each other and adjust better to the situation,’ says Dr Anjali.

Limit expectations: Do not expect too many changes in your partner as this will only lead to disappointment. Over-expectation can be one of the reasons why couples break-up. If there is a major issue bothering you, discuss it with your partner to work things out in a better way.

Overcome insecurity: According to Dr Anjali, ‘To overcome insecurity, one must feel comfortable in their own skin and not view age as a barrier. Both of you should be involved in each other’s interests and passions without doubting your love.’

‘Of course, such a relationship can work but both must understand and overcome difficulties with maturity and patience,’ concludes Dr Anjali.

Image source: Getty Images

For more articles on love and relationships, visit our love and relationships section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.

Image source: Fawad Khan/Facebook, Red Chillies Entertainment/YouTube, Deepika Padukone/Facebook, Jacqueline Fernandez/Facebook, Kangana Ranaut/Facebook, Priyanka Chopra/Facebook, Nargis Fakhri/Facebook, Getty Images, Bollywoodlife

Superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be seen on Vogue India’s March 2015 cover page. The actress who was away from all the movie action until she began work for ‘Jazbaa,’ was otherwise only seen in endorsements and TV commercials. She is now gracing the fashion magazine’s cover page with a dramatic 70s look in a black and white set up.

On the cover page, Aishwarya’s style is aimed at being high-end, with a furry jacket and a dramatic wavy hair-do. The short fringes are definitely a big switch from her usual long, hairstyle. However, we aren’t quite sure if the forehead fringes do justice to her facial features. It does come across like there is way too much happening. With gorgeous and stunning features such as hers, simplicity rocks the boat.

Director at Bharat & Dorris and celebrity make-up and hairstylist Suraj Godambe says, ‘There was a time when anything looked good on Mrs Aishwarya Rai Bachchan but now this style appears over the top and in fact simplicity works best for her.’ He insists a style more sleek would have worked better, ‘Keeping it layered with a textured length as well as longer bangs would have been a suitable option. These layers in a straight style give a great definition to the look.’ Are you a fan of short hair? Here are some celebrities who joined the bob bandwagon.

Are you thinking of going the fringe way yourself? Here are some easy guidelines you can follow. 

Image source: Vogue India/Facebook

Aishwarya Rai is making a comeback with a power-packed role in ‘Jazbaa’. If you’ve seen the trailer, you must have seen her kick and throw punches. This is her first film after her pregnancy and the actress got enough flak for her post pregnancy weight. But this song is a slap on all her haters’ face. The actress looks svelte and is seen exercising in the video. Ash shows off some yoga moves too.

Shot in Mumbai, the song showcases Ash working out and taking part in a school race with her daughter. Her superwoman image is established when she’s shown doing side lying scissors among other exercises and eventually winning the race. You too can do this exercise to tone your inner thighs.

If this hasn’t impressed you enough, watch her do planks with absolute ease. Ash is certainly proving her critics wrong by getting back in a fit avatar and rocking a fab body. This exercise is great for your abs. Here’s how to do it.

According to the makers, the entire song was shot in one day which meant that Ash had to do these cardio exercises time and again the whole day till things wrapped up. Boy, it surely requires stamina to do so. You know how you feel after just an hour of sweating it out in the gym. Now imagine doing that the whole day whilst looking pretty in the sunny streets of Mumbai. Way to go Ash!

Watch the song video below:

Image and video source: Zee Music Company/YouTube

One of the most prettiest faces at Cannes every year is hands down Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Even if her choice of clothes has been highly criticised, the beautiful faces make up for what the clothes lack. But this year, that is 2016, the pretty face wore a lilac/purple?? lipstick.. Which made her look something like this–

Joey : Ichiban lipstick for men! #Aishwarya #FRIENDS pic.twitter.com/3mpJEeS5xu

— Delhi Buoy (@FakeUpSid) May 15, 2016

And as the tweet suggest, it looks something like this —

And that has made us lose our mind. Aish, are you trying to start some kind of a fashion trend? Or is it just some fashion experiment that went horribly wrong?

I am all for doing  what one wants and not giving a damn about what the world thinks, just like Aish.  But a lilac lipstick with a beautiful gown like that? Nah!

Image  source: YouTube/ Taylor Jackson

GIF source: MakeAGif

Images: Media and Shutterstock
Read this in Hindi.

One thing all mothers know that when it comes to motherhood, we are all the same. Whether celebs, working moms or stay-at-home moms, we all have similar struggles and our own hacks to make life easier. However, some moms make it all look like a cakewalk with their grace and how well they parent their kids. Whether it is looking like a fashionista right after you give birth, or raising confident, positive children, some Indian celebrities are moms we all want to be like. Here are a few celebs who give all us mothers major mom goals.

• Kareena Kapoor: Even though Kareena Kapoor is a fairly new mommy, the way she carries herself and her equally stylish son, Taimur, is awe-inspiring. Kareena has been the news ever since she was pregnant and was sporting that pink, healthy glow. Now as a new mother, she does not shy away from partying, working, going out and wearing clothes that are just stylish as ever. And no, she hasn’t lost all the baby weight, and honestly, it does not look like she worries about it much. Way to go, Bebo!
• Shweta Tiwari: This mother to a teenager became a second-time mom with her second husband. Her son, Reyansh Kohli, is about a month old and is already making news. We all can learn lessons from Shweta Tiwari on how to manage a teenager and a newborn. Also, Shweta Tiwari practices babywearing, so extra points for that.
• Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: One look at any picture of Aishwarya with her daughter, Aaradhya and you can see that she is a doting mother. The way she handles her career, all the travel it involves while being a hands-on mom is commendable. There are several pictures of her holding her daughter in her arms, shielding her from paparazzi. She is the perfect mama bear.
• Sushmita Sen: She has been giving mommy goals since years. From the time she adopted her first daughter, Renee to her drool-worthy Instagram posts, documenting all the fun she has with her 2 daughters is simply a-mah-zing!! Single mom who goes to places, and does it in style — who wouldn’t want to be her.

Do you have any mothers that you adore? Share it in comments, please.

Image: Shutterstock

Not that we need any more reasons to love her, but Aishwarya Rai Bachchan presents us with such aww-worthy moments with her family, we can’t help loving her all the way more. On her 44th birthday today, we take a look at some of Aishwarya’s pictures with her family –Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya’s mom, her late dad and of course, her munchkin daughter, Aradhya Bachchan. These have been handpicked by Abhishek Bachchan on his Instagram!
1) This picture perfect couple looks like a selfie that Abhishek has taken perhaps?

Yessssss! C’mon India!!! #jaihind

A post shared by Abhishek Bachchan (@bachchan) on Jun 4, 2017 at 11:01am PDT

2) The family that plays Holi together, stays together!

My girls.

A post shared by Abhishek Bachchan (@bachchan) on Mar 24, 2016 at 9:23pm PDT

3) Seems like this precious moment was captured by Abhishek on Aishwarya’s dad’s birthday. Sadly, Aishwarya’s dad, Krishnaraj Rai, passed away in March this year.

Happy Birthday Rockstar!! #Coolest #FatherInLaw #Birthday

A post shared by Abhishek Bachchan (@bachchan) on Nov 20, 2014 at 10:14am PST

4) She may be a world-famous celeb, but there are certain things that are universally enjoyed by every mother-daughter in the world!

Happiness.

A post shared by Abhishek Bachchan (@bachchan) on Jun 22, 2017 at 11:44am PDT

5) Aishwarya with the entire Bachchan clan on Big B’s birthday

Happy Birthday!! #BigB

A post shared by Abhishek Bachchan (@bachchan) on Oct 10, 2014 at 1:00pm PDT

Read: Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya: How this adorable Tollywood couple works out

Image source: Instagram/@Bachchan

Images: Instagram/zeeaishwaryarai

Taimur Ali Khan, Jhanvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Aradhya Bachchan, Suhana Khan, Aryan Khan, AbRam Khan –the next gen of Bollywood is here. We really can’t blame the paps who go crazy catching every moment of these star kids’ lives– stepping out of gyms, mingling with the powerful, announcing their debuts, travelling to exotic locales, attending the hottest parties or just accompanying their super famous parents wherever they go. They’re everything you expect these top pedigree kids to be– cute, hot and with all the chutzpah their parents exude. But it’s not just this that makes these kids endearing. Even with the fame, money and the God-like status that their parents are given by Indians, these kids make their parents immensely proud. Jhanvi and Sara are all set to make their film debuts, Aradhya impresses us with her good behaviour even in front of cameras and crowd, Shah Rukh’s kids are family goals and Taimur is, well, incredibly cute. We’re not sure what parenting techniques these Bollywood parents use, but kudos to them for raising such wonderful kids! Love them or hate them, we’re sure you’re  going to see much more of these Bollywood celeb kids in the coming years.

1) Jhanvi Kapoor

pic.twitter.com/ZbVzav9ayW

— SRIDEVI BONEY KAPOOR (@SrideviBKapoor) November 21, 2017

Sridevi’s elder daughter is set to make her debut in Karan Johar’s Dhadak, remake of the Marathi hit Sairaat. While the announcement of her film along with Shahid Kapoor’s brother, Ishaan Khattar, was made only later this year, Jhanvi has been making her presence felt at all the right places. Her on-point airport looks, toned-body-after-workout looks and her glam dressed up appearances at social dos are the result of carefully managed PR under the aegis of her superstar mother, we’re sure.

2) Sara Ali Khan

Here’s #SaraAliKhan’s look from #Kedarnath @iprernaarora @gattukapoor @pragyadav @guyintheskypictures @tseries.official @balajimotionpictures

A post shared by KriArj Entertainment (@kriarj) on Oct 7, 2017 at 11:14pm PDT

Her looking stunning in her debut Kedarnath is just one of the reasons she has been in the news. Like Jhanvi, paps love capturing Sara candidly as she steps out of her gym after rigorous workouts. If her resemblance to her mom, Amrita Singh, is anything to go by, we can’t wait to watch her on the big screen.

Check out these Divorced Bollywood dads who give us major parenting goals.

3) Suhana Khan, Aryan Khan, AbRam Khan

A madly happily childly dance for Aryan & Suhana by lil AbRam on this day of kids.

A post shared by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) on Nov 14, 2017 at 12:24pm PST

So many of Shahrukh’s social media posts this year were mostly about his kids. There’s no doubt he absolutely dotes on Suhana, Aryan and AbRam. Do we see 3 stars in the making?

4) Taimur Ali Khan

Taimur Ali Khan spotted in town! Cutie pie will turn 1 year old on about a month! pic.twitter.com/6A6ObM7yVN

— Kareena Kapoor Khan (@KareenaK_FC) November 19, 2017

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan’s 1-year-old son has already won the most adorable baby of 2017 award. We think Taimur was even more popular than his dad who had 1 flop film to his credit this year and his mum who’s busy getting fit post pregnancy for her upcoming Veere Di Wedding.

Taimur Ali Khan is such a cutie patootie, I can’t ! pic.twitter.com/S81o9Vhaw4

— Nur Izzati A.R (@eizzatiey96) November 28, 2017

Here is what Kareena Kapoor is doing to beat hair loss after pregnancy.

5) Aradhya Bachchan 

Happy Birthday our darling little Princess.

A post shared by Abhishek Bachchan (@bachchan) on Nov 15, 2017 at 11:15pm PST

DAY 2- STILL SLAYYING Mama Aishwarya AT HER DUTY! #CannesQueenAishwarya pic.twitter.com/2kihxQ69GF

— A. (@Catestyy) May 20, 2017

It’s not just birthday parties or her airport appearances, Aradhya has the unique distinction of attending the Cannes festival, thanks to her power mum Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In fact, Cannes 2017 was the 6th time she walked the red carpet at Cannes.

So, who is your favourite star kid?

These are the Indian Bollywood celebs who became parents in 2017.

Image source: Twitter/@SrideviBKapoor, Instagram/@kriarj, Instagram/@iamsrk, Twitter/@KareenaK_FC, Twitter/@eizzatiey96, Instagram/@bachchan, Twitter/@Catestyy

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Tuesday said she is happy to continue making a small contribution in bringing about a larger and effective change for children born with clefts. Aishwarya is the global goodwill ambassador of Smile Train, an international cleft charity. It celebrated the completion of 500,000 free cleft lip and palate reconstructive surgeries for children born with clefts within 18 years of starting its India programme.

“I am proud to be associated with Smile Train for all these years and extend my heartfelt congratulations to them for changing the lives of half a million cleft patients in India. “Supporting this work of Smile Train through The Aishwarya Rai Foundation has been my small personal contribution in the larger picture of honourable, effective change in the lives of cleft patients. I look forward to continuing this journey of giving new reasons to smile to children born with clefts,” the former beauty queen said in a statement. Looking elegant in a pristine white ensemble, Aishwarya joined 100 doctors, former patients and their families, including Pinki Sonkar of Oscar winning documentary “Smile Pinki” at the event.

Smile Train also launched the Train in India initiative under which medical professionals from other countries in South Asia will be trained in cleft care at its partner hospitals.

According to recent news reports, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are planning to get engaged in July-August! Now, while that’s great news for most of us fans, there have been many naysayers who believe that the relationship won’t last long. The reason? The huge age gap between Priyanka Chopra, 35, and Nick Jonas,25. According to societal norms, the ideal relationship requires the man to be older by a few years than his woman. Even though you may find most couples follow this norm, there are also a few where the woman is older than the man. Celebrities such as Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan or Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar may instill our faith that such a relationship can work while the break-up of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore may let us believe that it was destined to doom from the very beginning. Dr Anjali Chhabria, a practising psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience, talks about the challenges faced by such couples and how they can make it work.

Hurdles in an older woman-younger man relationship

Social stigma: Since it is not an ideal setting, such couples have to deal with the stigma attached with it. ‘Relations with your family and friends can become more challenging as not all readily and happily accept this kind of a relationship,’ warns Dr Anjali. Here’s how to make a relationship work living in a joint family.

Expectations differ: Though you may start on a good note, there may be differences due to the age gap. ‘Women gain mental maturity faster than men which could lead to differences between the couple, not just in terms of expectations but also in interests and understanding,’ says Dr Anjali. Here are 10 common mistakes that ruin a relationship.

Insecurity: Since the man is younger, the woman may fear losing him to other younger women while younger men tend to feel more insecure and possessive about their women, especially when she is older than him.

Socialising problems: Due to the age gap between the two, it can be a hurdle to socialise with friends. ‘Socialising with each other’s friends can sometimes be difficult as both age groups may have different interests,’ adds Dr Anjali.

Tips to make it work

Cherish memories: When you feel your relationship is hitting a rough patch, relive older moments you spent together. ‘Remind yourself each time what made you fall in love with each other. This will help strengthen your bond in times like these,’ advises Dr Anjali.

Mutual respect: It is important both of you respect one another in the relationship and one does not feel superior than the other. When there is mutual respect, there are less ego clashes and verbal fights too don’t take a nasty turn. Listening is also an important factor to make a relationship work. Read more…

Adjust: ‘Couples should keep in mind the changes that come with age – physically, mentally and emotionally. This will help you understand each other and adjust better to the situation,’ says Dr Anjali.

Limit expectations: Do not expect too many changes in your partner as this will only lead to disappointment. Over-expectation can be one of the reasons why couples break-up. If there is a major issue bothering you, discuss it with your partner to work things out in a better way.

Overcome insecurity: According to Dr Anjali, ‘To overcome insecurity, one must feel comfortable in their own skin and not view age as a barrier. Both of you should be involved in each other’s interests and passions without doubting your love.’

‘Of course, such a relationship can work but both must understand and overcome difficulties with maturity and patience,’ concludes Dr Anjali.

Image source: Getty Images

Superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be seen on Vogue India’s March 2015 cover page. The actress who was away from all the movie action until she began work for ‘Jazbaa,’ was otherwise only seen in endorsements and TV commercials. She is now gracing the fashion magazine’s cover page with a dramatic 70s look in a black and white set up.

On the cover page, Aishwarya’s style is aimed at being high-end, with a furry jacket and a dramatic wavy hair-do. The short fringes are definitely a big switch from her usual long, hairstyle. However, we aren’t quite sure if the forehead fringes do justice to her facial features. It does come across like there is way too much happening. With gorgeous and stunning features such as hers, simplicity rocks the boat.

Director at Bharat & Dorris and celebrity make-up and hairstylist Suraj Godambe says, ‘There was a time when anything looked good on Mrs Aishwarya Rai Bachchan but now this style appears over the top and in fact simplicity works best for her.’ He insists a style more sleek would have worked better, ‘Keeping it layered with a textured length as well as longer bangs would have been a suitable option. These layers in a straight style give a great definition to the look.’ Are you a fan of short hair? Here are some celebrities who joined the bob bandwagon.

Are you thinking of going the fringe way yourself? Here are some easy guidelines you can follow. 

Image source: Vogue India/Facebook

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Aishwarya Rai is making a comeback with a power-packed role in ‘Jazbaa’. If you’ve seen the trailer, you must have seen her kick and throw punches. This is her first film after her pregnancy and the actress got enough flak for her post pregnancy weight. But this song is a slap on all her haters’ face. The actress looks svelte and is seen exercising in the video. Ash shows off some yoga moves too.

Shot in Mumbai, the song showcases Ash working out and taking part in a school race with her daughter. Her superwoman image is established when she’s shown doing side lying scissors among other exercises and eventually winning the race. You too can do this exercise to tone your inner thighs.

If this hasn’t impressed you enough, watch her do planks with absolute ease. Ash is certainly proving her critics wrong by getting back in a fit avatar and rocking a fab body. This exercise is great for your abs. Here’s how to do it.

According to the makers, the entire song was shot in one day which meant that Ash had to do these cardio exercises time and again the whole day till things wrapped up. Boy, it surely requires stamina to do so. You know how you feel after just an hour of sweating it out in the gym. Now imagine doing that the whole day whilst looking pretty in the sunny streets of Mumbai. Way to go Ash!

Watch the song video below:

Image and video source: Zee Music Company/YouTube

One of the most prettiest faces at Cannes every year is hands down Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Even if her choice of clothes has been highly criticised, the beautiful faces make up for what the clothes lack. But this year, that is 2016, the pretty face wore a lilac/purple?? lipstick.. Which made her look something like this–

Joey : Ichiban lipstick for men! #Aishwarya #FRIENDS pic.twitter.com/3mpJEeS5xu

— Delhi Buoy (@FakeUpSid) May 15, 2016

And as the tweet suggest, it looks something like this —

And that has made us lose our mind. Aish, are you trying to start some kind of a fashion trend? Or is it just some fashion experiment that went horribly wrong?

I am all for doing  what one wants and not giving a damn about what the world thinks, just like Aish.  But a lilac lipstick with a beautiful gown like that? Nah!

Image  source: YouTube/ Taylor Jackson

GIF source: MakeAGif