Leaving behind the hasty year behind, everyone is hoping for new beginnings and here is someone who has been climbing ladders, going places with her kitty full. Aishwarya Lekshmi was a new face and now we know her as the bubbly Rachel from her first movie to the brave Appu from Mayanadhi who stole our hearts. It’s been three years since she has set herself a place in the industry.

Three years back, she did her very first cover shoot with us and now from a versatile new comer she has established herself in the industry and is ready to make an impact in Mollywood as well as Tollywood after a short break. And here we are making our journey back along with hers.

2020 was a year of lots of hope and resolution but everything happened so sudden. It took time to accept & understand what was happening. Suddenly having to stop work and not meeting friends and have to sit at home took a toll on me but with time it became the new normal, she says.

Beginning the new year with an unplanned bash at Varkala with her friends, she doesn’t have any new year’s resolutions for this year other than planning to take care of her body and stay healthier.

Being clueless and getting guidance from the guru himself, she is in the dream project of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, it was an easy breezy audition I had, she says. Set to have new releases awaiting in 2021 including two Malayalam movies and a Tamil movie, the busy bee is running around completing her schedules.

Even though she struggled during the shoot due to the cold weather, it was amusing to work with Dhanush and a technically perfect crew of Karthick Subbaraj’s ‘Jagame Thandhiram’, lots of learning had happened she says.

The romantic duo of Mayanadhi is back with ‘Kanekane’ this year and it won’t be nothing like the latter. It’s an intense family drama with a touch of romance.

Doing a female character centric movie doing the title role has hold her for more responsibilities. In ‘Archana 31 Not Out’ we can see her in the title role. There was no pressure but had fun on the set and it would be a fun drama genre movie, she says. The movie poster was even ranked by film companion.

Apart from the projects, she also had words for scenarios currently happening around including cyber bullying. She says that the problem comes into light only when a major episode occurs but that’s not the case usually. It happens whenever you upload a pic, there will always be people who are ready to comment such things and sadly it’s a daily occurrence. It has hurt me in the beginning but now I just don’t care.

Even she has had bad experiences, not in the recent past, but when she was a kid. There is always someone who thinks that they can touch somebody else’s body without their permission. We never forget what has happened. These incidents with details of what has happened, it gets imprinted in your memory. The thing is that we grow out of it as time goes, she says when asked about the recent issue happened to an actress at a popular mall.

We have been pushing ourselves a lot, to meet societies standards of what is actually called success. All of us should calm a bit down. It’s okay if things happen in our time and not societies time. Only things that matter are how happy you are when you go to bed and what you can do to change what is actually troubling you at that point of time. If we can sort that bit, everything else will fall into place, is her new year’s note as she signs off.

Photographed by: Jinson Abraham
Styled by: Sany Sabu
Words by: Abhirami Chandran

Hair & Makeup: Ralph Daniels 
Costumes: Dinu Elizabeth Roy

On Aishwarya:
White | Strapped box pleated Crop top
Pale green | High-waisted Parallel pants
Camel suede | Open-front Longline
From Aham Designer Boutique

White | Heeled Sandals with Slingback from Lee Cooper

White | Enamel Gold plated earrings
Rose Gold | Plated finger ring
from Planet Jewel

Car from Highlander Garage 
Image Retouch: Jemini Ghosh
Cover Layout: Umarul Adil K N
Location: Kochi Marina, Bolgatty Palace & Island Resorts 

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Words by: Rheanna Mathews    Photographs from: Jinson Abraham

Aishwarya Lekshmi is the newest face in the Malayalam film industry with her first movie yet to premiere, but with two other movies already in the pipeline.

A model since 2012, remarkably, she is also a doctor doing her house surgeoncy. And for an issue with ‘Wellness’ as the theme, someone who is a doctor, model, and actor seems tailor-made for the cover shoot.

She makes her first appearance in Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, opposite Nivin Pauly, and directed by Althaf Salim. Her experience in modelling has stood her in good stead, however, giving her a base of technical knowledge that newcomers are usually unfamiliar with.

But when asked whether she prefers acting or modelling, she doesn’t mince words. “Modelling”, she says, “involves painting a pretty picture – being perfect at all times. Acting is a much happier space.”

In keeping with her first vocation, however, she has developed a number of ways to balance her work and other aspects of her life. Between projects, she signed up for a month-long acting workshop to keep herself busy.

And when it comes to her acting projects and her house surgeoncy, there is no multitasking involved. It’s either the one or the other at a time, drawing her full focus. And when things get a little too hectic, a relaxing ayurvedic massage in Kochi or a quiet weekend getaway at Bangalore are what get her rested and back on track.

Through it all, Aishwarya supposes it’s her attitude that carries her forward. Exposed to the Art of Living at a young age, she practises it in life ensuring that she meets each new dawn with a smile. This, she says, is the reason for what her friends call, her “unreasonable” happiness. A quick jaunt to the mall, endless conversations at friends’ homes and quiet moments of meditation are all that is needed to keep her happy, she says. And when these don’t do the trick, there’s always her fail-safe, Nutella.

Digital Version: https://goo.gl/uLcXW6

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Model: Niyaz
Photographer: Jinson Abraham
Stylist: Lakshmi Babu
Makeup & Hair: Subi Ganesh
Costume: The Raymond Shop, NH Byepass, Ernakulam
Accessories: ALDO, Lulu Mall, Edapally
Retouch: Nimal

Digital Magazine : https://goo.gl/uorGj9

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[youtube video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMRXsmGrVg&feature=youtu.be]

Images: FWD Media

Digital version : https://goo.gl/UTljhU ||https://goo.gl/Gp02DF

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An actress making her way through an extremely judgemental world to find her own footing in the movie industry, Anjali Ameer is the first transwoman to play the lead in an Indian film. In comfortable gender-fluid attire that hung from her frame with ease, she recalls the experience of shooting for the FWD Life’s cover as unique and unforgettable.

The latest issue of FWD Life features three stunning personas on the cover. Siddharth Menon, playback singer, and former Thaikkudam Bridge band member; Ketaki Narayan from Veeram; and Anjali Ameer. The fashion special issue had Gender Fluidity as the theme for the cover. With a line of fascinating gender-fluid clothing from Alan Alexander Kaleekal, the cover had a thought to be conveyed and a story to be told.

Shooting for the Cover

Her first time being on the cover for FWD, she recalls the shoot giving her memories of many new experiences be it in regard to the attire, the idea or the shoot itself. “I’ve done covers wearing lehengas and sarees before, this was a different experience.” She says. “Usually the clothes are very tight fitted and pretty uncomfortable as well. The genderfluid clothing we shot in was really comfortable. And most often, I’ve only had to do solo shoots, so this was my first time working with other people to be on the cover.”
“For me the theme felt really relevant on a personal note. I was glad to see that the lines were blurring and that the clothing was not stereotyped. It means that people are actually accepting and trying new things. The designer had something to convey through his designs, which he did, I feel.”

Working as a Team

The theme for the cover this time was Gender Fluidity, breaking the barriers of gender specific clothing. The idea was to go beyond the assumed black and white of the gender binary, exploring the grey area and the vibrant spectrum within it. A cover featuring three artists from different points of the spectrum, that is what the cover this time showcases.
“It’s one thing to do a cover on your own, coordinating with two others, in this case Siddharth and Ketaki, was a different and unique experience.” Says Anjali about the cover shoot. “They were both really professional and very comfortable to work with. Working with the team was easy. They were really helpful and tried to make me feel comfortable. All in all, I had a good time at the shoot.”

“Ketaki was extremely easy to work with. I felt like she was the easiest of the lot to work with, maybe because we bonded pretty easily. We ended up playing games and having a lot of fun before the shoot actually began. Siddharth was also really easy to work with. It was a very comfortable shoot as there was no ego or anything of that sort that kept us from working together with ease.” she added.

Words: Susmitha Suresh   Photos: FWD Media

Digital version : https://goo.gl/HGTOLN

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FWD life April fashion special issue, with the sub-theme of fashion and innovation, had Gender Fluidity as the theme for the cover. The cover features three stunning artists Siddharth Menon, playback singer, and former Thaikkudam Bridge band member; Ketaki Narayan from Veeram; and Anjali Ameer, the first transwoman in India to play a lead role in a film.

An actress based out of Pune, Ketaki Narayan made her Mollywood debut in Jayarajan’s movie Veeram alongside Kunal Kapoor. She did a music video titled ‘Thirayai’ that went on to become the talk of the town earlier on. With a cheerful persona and a playful constitution, she struck pose after pose at the shoot for the cover of FWD Life’s Fashion Special Issue alongside Siddharth Menon and Anjali Ameer.

Working With Siddharth Menon & Anjali Ameer For FWD

Ever the fun loving person that she is, she describes the whole experience as gaining two new friends while talking about Siddharth and Anjali.”I met Anjali for the first time at the trial for the shoot. We played games and even doodled a bit. I could connect with her a lot. It’s always nice to meet new people. Siddharth was also very comfortable to work with during the shoot. I’d like to think I left after making two new friends there.”

It’s not been long since Ketaki entered the Malayalam Industry, and as such, it was her first time associating with FWD. “I found that everyone involved in the shoot was very clear about the look and the idea they wanted to portray. It didn’t feel like I was working with the crew for the first time. I was that comfortable.” she says regarding the shoot. “The costumes by Alan Alexander Kaleekal were very comfortable and complimented the idea behind the shoot perfectly. There was a sense of freedom throughout the shoot that enabled us to give it our very best.”

The Need For Gender Neutrality

The theme for the shoot was Gender Fluidity. The unisex clothing line by Alan Alexander Kaleekal showcased that the concepts of gender within the frameworks of clothing is only as limited as our thoughts. The shoot tried to highlight the need for gender neutrality within apparels in an increasingly widening and more defined spectrum of gender definitions that exist in society. Gender is no longer a binary phenomenon.

“What I feel is that any piece of clothing that comes from a designer is reflective of his or her experiences in life, the people he or she meets. I think what we wore was a derivation of all those experiences and thoughts of Alexander.” says Ketaki. “A shoot on Gender Fluidity is a first for me. But at the same time, the topic felt so relevant to the current backdrop of our country. It felt like something people should be aware of naturally. We see the discrimination on a day to day basis, be it against women, men or transgenders. You can see it everywhere, whether it’s while you’re traveling by train or at your workplace, this discrimination is a very real part of our lives. So I think it’s a very good topic, and I’m glad that I’m a part of this.”
“If people were to recall their basic human values, a lot of problems like this can be avoided. We just need to treat each other with respect, regardless of how they differ from us.

“I would love it if FWD came up with more covers like this, that is with themes that are socially relevant, and I’d love to be a part of it. Even if I’m not, I’d love to read it” She adds laughing, always ending the conversation on a positive note.

Words by Susmitha Suresh    Images by FWD Media

Digital version: https://goo.gl/HGTOLN

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Best of Both Worlds:Plush in burgundy, she dons and Indo-Western saree paired with an off shoulder blouse. Adding dainty details to the attire of fusion is the flayered pallu.

In Line of Thought Keeping it minimalistic, she’s wearing backless gown with a webwork of narrow strips.

The Grace of Fauna She looks poised in a peach mermaid gown with a neckline of a different touch.

Taking a Plunge:Nothing’s more classic than a lady in red.She’s wearing a velvet gown with a sensuous slit that rides till the thigh.

Model: Rithi Rai
Photographer: Jinson Abraham
Costume Design & Styling: Ela by Jisha
Hair and Makeup: Blessy Mary Chacko
Retouch: Jemini Ghosh
Location Courtesy: Vanani by Jade & Eagles Nest Farm House, Bangalore

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