Once, there lived an Elephant. Her humble abode was what they refer to as ‘God’s own country’. She was gentle, caring and did not harm anyone. She was pregnant, and had a month old foetus growing inside of her. One day, she was hungry and walked out in search of a few morsels. All she wanted was some ‘Food’. She trusted those whom she met along the way, and did not harm anyone. Her only aim was to find a little bit of food, enough for herself and a little bud, growing inside of her. 

However, humans had other plans. A pineapple was offered to her, which the elephant gladly accepted with complete trust. But lo! It turned out to be a deadly trap, as the pineapple was filled with firecrackers. Little did the poor soul know that those people, whom she blindly trusted, would lead her to a tragic injury and ultimately - a very unfortunate death. 

Even in torment, she did not harm. She did not ravage the streets or village. She did not trample or crush people in a fit of rage. Instead, she quietly walked up to the River side, and tried to heal the pain. For days, she tossed and turned, crying her heart out. She stood in the river water hours, trying to save herself from the excruciating pain. Alas! She lost the battle. Despite believing some wretched humans, and displaying kindness even in her final moments, all she got back in return was - Pain, Mistrust and ultimately - Death. And with her demise, a young life lost this battle as well, rather prematurely. 

This is human race at it’s worse. Since the beginning of 2020, cases of animal abuse have come from every part of the country - be it the brutal killing of a Pregnant dog in Odisha (April), stray cats being killed by a Psychopath on the streets of Mumbai (May) or a pregnant Elephant losing her life due to a disgusting act committed in Kerala. Not that 2020 has been the only year where we’ve witnessed such heinous crimes. Those who’ve worked on animal rescues, horrific cases of brutality and witnessed animals going through torture - they have endless stories to narrate from the years gone by. And yet, despite all the rage and anguish, the criminals go home, completely free of any charges or severe punishment! Meanwhile, as you read this, an animal is being hit, dragged or pelted by stones, in some corner of the country. While all that some people can do is walk away in dead silence, and consider it as yet another "Yeh toh roz hota hai' incident. 

One can make a change, only if they are willing to. Willing to speak up when they see an act of abuse. Willing to take a stand, and save a life! Willing to be a voice for the voiceless. One can only pray and hope that the authorities shall take a strong stand against this disgusting act. Without an impactful action, there will always be a section in this society, who will continue to feel empowered by such neglect. Such ignorance will give them the mileage to carry on and clearly, this brutality (animal abuse of all forms) won't stop.

Artwork by Bratuti

How difficult is it to understand that - Animals are not your property. They aren’t your source of entertainment. Try offering a helping hand, and stand by them. Make a difference! I hope, this incident teaches people to open their eyes. Despite all the inhumanity displayed by human beings, animals will continue to 'trust' the not-so-trustworthy race. Their loyalty, trust and love won't change. So, who's the 'real wild animal' here? Where's the so called 'humanity'? Think about it!

All Lives Matter. Learn to coexist!

Farewell, gentle one! Both you and the little one deserve a better place, away from the shackles of inhumanity and mistrust of some really cruel people. May god bless your pure soul.

As we get ready to welcome a brand new year, it's that time when we look back and reflect at those 365 days of the year gone by. Days when we discovered ourselves. Our strengths and weaknesses. Days when we learnt to let go, and those when we loved ourselves even more. Every year brings in a plethora of things - surprises, highs, achievements, lows, discoveries, excitement, nervousness and more. 2019 was no different! Yet, it was different in more ways than one for every individual, including me.

In 2019, personally, I experienced a multitude of emotions and discovered many sides to my personality. Learned a lot, and also learned to let go of certain flaws. Made new friends, and further learned to prioritise those who matter. Broke off ties with people possessing negative energy. Understood why quality time with loved ones is never enough, and prioritised their needs to the fullest. Further, bettered myself at multi-tasking and managing the work-life balance. Learned to love myself for all that I am. Discovered 'patience' in an all new light.

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Encouraged positive thoughts and decided to make it an everyday habit, because the world can definitely do with more positivity. Understood that there might be days when you feel empty and hit a low. When nothing seems to work in the right direction. On those days, I realised the importance of taking time out for self care and indulging in things that I loved. Pushed myself to ensure I am always there to make my parents smile and feel happy from within. Continued my quest to take fitness more and more seriously, especially by learning new techniques and variations. Danced my heart out at some occasions, and promised myself to do more of it in the year to come.

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In 2019, I tried my hand at new things, and realised why learning makes me truly happy from within. I challenged myself against the fear of Math and didn't stop till I emerged victorious. Experienced days when I stumbled, faced hurdles and even cried myself to sleep; only to wake up with the clear thought of turning the tide on a new day. I took time out to travel with my loved ones. Discovered new places that this beautiful world has to offer. Interacted with people, including those I've always been in awe of, and took back perils of wisdom that stayed with me. Got various opportunities to engage with people across different age groups, encouraging them to follow their dreams and give themselves a chance to become familiar with all that the digital world has to offer.

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Lived new characters on-screen and learned something new from each role.  Understood why not just achievements, but also being thankful for every little joyous moment on a rather normal day matters too. Why having gratitude for all that I have been bestowed upon is extremely important. Moreover, the year taught me how to love, it's true meaning, and gave me the chance to experience the true beauty of 'romance' like never before, and that too, beyond the filters of what Bollywood has taught us all these years (yeah well, this was a first for me)!

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As the year comes to a close, I thank god for everything! For the people in my life, the opportunities, projects, achievements, honours, interactions, the ever growing digital family and for every moment that made me smile. I am also thankful for the moments where I experienced a range of emotions - be it anger, sadness or fear; because they taught me to become stronger than ever. I truly believe - the universe conspires when you really wish for something! And so in 2020, which I strongly feel would be a landmark year, I pray we all are blessed with happiness, luck and lots of love around us. May we continue to work hard towards our goals, and witness dreams turning into a reality.

The passion for my little darling venture only led to double the hard work, sleepless nights, long hours at work (but that's the fun part) and of course, watching it grow - one baby step at a time. Of course, we all know how it started as a simple blog and well, that part wasn't as difficult as the next twist. Turning a personal blog into a full fledged professional website came with it's own set of hurdles. In fact, a whole lot of them. But c'mon, who said the road to seeing your venture do well was gonna be easy? Clearly, there is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs, go through the process of hardships, rough times and struggle, only to rise like a phoenix. Well, I still believe I am a work in process, and as I speak, we are continuously working to ensure the Dancebee's virtual world keeps on growing. But, patience is a key element of success. You certainly cannot expect things to take a turn overnight.

Looking back at our journey so far, I feel overwhelmed and blessed. There have been so many people who had our back and supported me at every step. Of course, it all started with the kind blessings and support of the almighty god and my wonderful parents. They encouraged me to take risks and follow my heart. And no, by blessings, I don't mean 'funding'. Those who come from simple, middle class homes will agree that there ain't no overnight financial funding and stardom for bright, young 'aam millenial' entrepreneurs. You gotta build your own empire and go through the grind of ups and downs. It was through my early use of social media that I learned I wasn't alone. Many other young women entrepreneurs across the globe faced similar struggles and emerged victorious. A big thank you to all those female role models who empowered girls my age and encouraged us to dream big.

Here's a shoutout to all our readers, followers, well wishers and supporters. The ones whose thoughtful messages and constant reminders of "We've got your back" encouraged us to challenge ourselves and go the extra mile. The ones who became a part of our HUGE digital family. The ones who stood by us and our work, come storm or sunshine. This anniversary month, we celebrate the spirit of our most beloved supporters - YOU. Here's to the journey so far, and a promise - To keep chasing dreams, follow our heart, stick to our ethics, raise the bar and keep working hard to take our baby venture a notch higher in the super cool new year ahead. Thank you for all the love!

And of course, this gratitude note would be incomplete without a special mention.  This one's for my wonderful team. Heartfelt gratitude to each and every member of the team, who have been an integral part of this beautiful journey. After all, team work makes dreamwork!


Love,
The Dancebee

One certainly cannot stop admiring the way Deepika Padukone honestly voices out her opinion. Uninhibited, frank and courageous; the actress never takes a step back. Having interviewed her, I can vouch for the fact that she is one of the very few actresses who doesn't make a fuss about every little thing and dares to tackle each question with an intelligent response. In the past, be it while dealing with messy questions posed by certain media members or giving it back to those who try to unnecessarily target her, Padukone has won accolades for putting up a brave front and dealing with such obstacles in her own style. She is not afraid to come out of the closet and deal with such circumstances like just another girl. And her recent revelation not just shows her courage, but also makes us realize that she is indeed an epitome of girl power.

Photo Credit: Filmfare

In a recent first person interview to Hindustan Times, Padukone confessed that behind all the hard work and moments of sweeping away awards last year, she suffered from depression and anxiety; two words that most people dread. I am quite sure that most individuals, who are crushed in this fast paced life and everyday routine, are suffering or have dealt with symptoms of depression in the past. But, we live in a society that will label you faster than they can perhaps boil a vessel full of water. So, they just learn to join hands with silence and not utter a word. Forget even trying to talk to a friend, family member or even a counselor.

"In early 2014, while I was being appreciated for my work, one morning, I woke up feeling different. A day earlier, I had fainted due to exhaustion; it was all downhill from there. I felt a strange emptiness in my stomach. I thought it was stress, so I tried to distract myself by focusing on work, and surrounding myself with people, which helped for a while. But the nagging feeling didn't go away. My breath was shallow, I suffered from lack of concentration and I broke down often."

While she thought it might just be a passing phase, she admits that things began to get worse. All this at a time when Padukone was basking the in the glory of four consecutive successes in a year and shooting for Farah Khan's Happy New Year. It was only after a chat with her mother and an emotional breakdown that she went ahead and met a psychologist, only to realize that she was suffering from anxiety and depression. After being a little reluctant to opt for medication, Padukone learned to deal with her condition and admits that things are much better today. After a two month break, she got back to work and began shooting for her next, Piku, helmed by Shoojit Sircar. Sometime later, a friend of the actress committed suicide due to depression and that's when Padukone decided to discuss this issue in public.

"There is shame and stigma attached to talking about depression. In fact, one in every four people suffer from anxiety and depression. The World Health Organisation has stated that this will be the most widespread epidemic in the next few years. We talk about all kinds of aliments, but this is probably one of the deadliest mental disorders. Nothing, including life, makes sense to people suffering from it. Overcoming it has made me a stronger person and I now value my life much more. Accepting it and speaking about it has liberated me. I have stopped taking medication, and I hope my example will help people reach out for help.  I feel that at times, the patient just wants to talk, and isn’t seeking advice. But, well-wishers saying things like, ‘Don’t worry, it will all be alright,’ might be detrimental." 

The reason why I can't stop lauding Padukone is that being an icon to many, especially young girls and boys in the country, it takes guts and real courage for someone to fight against this issue and talk about her own experience at the same time. Yes, depression is a reality and if we keep shying away from it, things will never change. Maybe after taking a cue from her confession, youngsters who look up to her may just muster up the courage to admit what they have been going through. Like Padukone stated, it is not always about beauty, plush homes and the best of cars. It is about mental health. Maybe after reading about her experience, families of those suffering may just learn to come out and support the patient. Because they really need you.



Keeping all this in mind, the actress is working on an awareness campaign, along with her team, which will be revealed soon. We are quite sure Padukone's campaign will help several patients break the ice and talk about their problems, without worrying about the social stigma.

As for Padukone, I just have one thing to say,
More power to you, girl. Bravo!

Love,
The Dancebee

On this day thirty-two years back, on a pleasant Wednesday afternoon, a star was born. A little boy, who would go on to become a talented, humble and amazing human being. A star, whose shine would reach out to millions across the globe.

Falling in love with him is easy, and staying in love with him is a lot more easier. The man, whose killer looks and charming smile can make thousands of girls go weak in their knees. Despite going through major ups and downs in life, he successfully managed to come out of everything as a winner. His hard work is evident in almost all his films and stage performances. He can dance like a dream, and just like me, he worships the art form. Blessed with the perfect amount of humour, intelligence, good looks, style and charisma, the man is none other than Shahid Kapoor.

Happy Birthday to the man who is and shall always be my favourite India actor! Here's to many more accolades and fabulous performances in 2013.

Love,

The Dancebee

First of all, I would like to wish all my lovely readers and everyone else - Happy New Year! We survived the much hyped apocalypse (I never believed them) and made it to 2013. I hope you all enjoyed the New Year's eve with your loved ones.

2012 was a great year for me. Old memories, new beginnings, meeting new people and finding new opportunities. It wouldn't have been possible without some people. My family, friends and of course, You. Yes you, the readers. This blog went live in March last year and I cannot thank you enough for all the love and blessings that you have showered upon me. From feedback via email to compliments on twitter, it is your support that keeps this blog going. In 2013, I hope this blog continues to live up-to your expectations.

Attending blogger events and meetings is always good fun. Sometimes with my college lectures and recordings, it does become difficult to attend all of them. But, I tried to attend some and meeting fellow bloggers has always been the highlight of such events. The Indian bloggers community is one big family and talking to fellow bloggers is a great stress buster. Writing for Indian fashion bloggers has also been a great experience. I discovered a lot about my own writing skills (especially my knowledge about red carpet appearances).

The year was also kind in showering me with awards. From dance to blogging, I earned some awards in all that I do. Last week, I was told that I have won the people's choice Best Indian Blogger 2012 award on IOchoice (Indian Social media awards). I was quite taken aback, considering there are so many Indian blogs. It wouldn't have been possible without your support, readers. A big thank you to everyone who voted for me. This truly was one of the best NYE gifts of 2012.

There is so much to talk about 2012 and I can go on writing. To sum it up, God has been kind. I hope he continues to bless me and all the good people across the globe. 

May 2013 be a good year for all of us.

It feels like just yesterday, when we saw a young, sweet looking boy in a movie promo on TV. Back then Twitter and Facebook didn't exist (I am talking about 2003), so we never got to know much about the response that this particular movie promo got. People thought, it's just another college flick that will hit the theatres and soon be forgotten, but little did they know that it will mark the arrival of a new superstar. While the media was busy going gaga over some star sons, a young boy, whose brilliant dance moves made people go mad, became a new favourite amongst all the girls (and even boys, who wanted to become like him). Today, after winning several awards, becoming an inspiration for his fans and winning several hearts across the globe, the boy has come a long way. Yes! The young boy is none other than - Shahid Kapoor, who completes 9 glorious years in the industry today.