It was a tight schedule; an overnight shoot and Raai was on her way back from an event at Thodupuzha. But if we expected her to be grumpy, we would have been wrong.

Photos: Toonus

There she was, walking in confidently, looking every bit the star she is. Her long almond coloured hair trussed to perfection, dressed in grey leggings and a casual top with a hint of gold on her eyelids, Raai knows her style and how to get it right. We decided to talk on our way to the location in Mattancherry. Just like the coiled roads of the old town, the hectic life of a celebrity is put forth. Ignoring Kochi’s rush hour traffic outside, Raai Laxmi opened up about life, cinema, controversies and fashion.

Mollywood

I ask Raai about her busy schedule, and she says, “I just landed from abroad and had to attend an event here. There are a couple of films that I am working on in Tamil, but nothing concrete in Malayalam.”

When it comes to Mollywood and the Big Ms – Mammootty and Mohanlal, Raai has a million words. “There are no similarities between them. They are both from different categories, but both have made me comfortable while working with them”, Raai talks about the two big stars in Malayalam industry. Her latest in M-town, Rajadhiraja, was a hit and so was Annan Thambi, 2 Harihar Nagar, Oru Marubhoomikadha and many more. Raai proudly declares that Malayalam cinema changed her career. Her debut with Mohanlal in Rock’n Roll is enough proof. Ever since then, she has had back-to-back offers for roles that extract potential. Raai looks for the strength and not the length of the role. Be it a dance number or a special appearance, she makes sure that she gets the deserved attention.

Perfection

The effort to attain perfection does not stop with acting. Raai Laxmi has clear opinions about how she is portrayed as a celebrity to the public. As she gets ready for the shoot, the makeup artist and stylist receives a steady stream of suggestions and instructions from her. She’s very poised as she models. As dramatic as shadows, she can change expressions in a single turn and can pull off different stances with panache. She wore a cropped top with a high waist skirt dappled in so many colours.

She was carrying it off with an upbeat personality. Then the mood is suddenly transformed as she gets into a classic navy blue bandage dress. Talking about transformations, we come to the topic of her name change. “It’s not exactly a change; I just re-shuffled my name a bit.” She says that no one, even at home has ever called her Lakshmi. It has always been Rai or Lakshmi Rai for those who know her. “Raai” certainly suits her bold personality better than “Lakshmi”, we think.

Controversy

It was not just the transformation from “Lakshmi Rai” to “Raai Laxmi” that had her name flashed across the news. Raai is no stranger to controversies and gossip either. News about her is news to her. She mostly ignores it and thinks that if reading the gossip column makes someone happy, then let them be – as long as it does not affect her. What is important to her is the fans, and she keeps them happy by trying to do what they like – sharing her latest photos on Facebook or retweeting their wishes on Twitter. Her goal is to entertain, and she would do it in style.

Fashion

Fashion and personal style, Raai believes is integral to her career, and she does have a good fashion sense. It is important to be conscious about what you wear when you step out, especially for a celebrity. At a public event, there are many people who capture your look in photographs or videos and these images stay forever.

She also says that glamour is important for a movie to be successful, and she has never shied away from it. Though she stepped into films from modelling, Raai hasn’t walked a lot of ramps. Now, she often appears as a showstopper.

We remember her presence at the Chennai Fashion Week. If you ask her for fashion advice, Raai just says that fashion is all about flaunting confidence and a stylish look with ease. Her personal style concentrates on well-fitting clothes that accentuate her curves.

The shoot is in full-swing until the wee hours of the morning, but not a shade of exhaustion passes over Raai Laxmi’s face. She has no reservations as she enjoys a glass of Sulaimani with the team. Despite long hours of work, the photographer is delighted to capture so many effortless expressions on the same face. And then you realize, it’s not all about the glamour and fun. The same is true for Raai Laxmi and her journey through acting. But, she is perfectly happy with where she is today.

The post Mollywood’s Lucky Raai appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Lucky’s wanderlust has taken him places and made him dabble with professions you wouldn’t associate with passionate musicians. He embarked on a journey that was strikingly similar to western pop legend/actor Johnny Cash. If Johnny Cash showed the western world what happens when rural sensibilities and values mix musically with the urban environment, then Lucky Ali would be his Indian counterpart.

So, what makes Lucky Ali tick? Delve deeper and the mystery unravels…

He was born Maqsood Mehmood Ali to Bollywood comedian Mehmood Ali and Mahelaka. The name ‘Lucky’ was his father’s tribute to him, celebrating the first big break he got, the day his son was born. “But I was not lucky for myself. I think luck is just a misnomer, and success solely depends on hard work and how you present it in cinema,” says Lucky.

Lucky went to boarding school at a very tender age, and this resulted in a big disconnect with his family. During his childhood, the faces of his family members were all a blur, especially his father’s. On one occasion, he recognised the popular comedian Mehmood, before realising it was his own father! Definitely not a compliment to the role Mehmood played as a father, and the impact it had on his son.

But, despite Mehmood’s hectic work schedule and the time he spent away from his family, he managed to inculcate some lasting values that Lucky cherishes even today.  “My dad was strict – just like the coconuts you have in Kerala, tender within, but hard on the outside. He taught me to keep things simple and express things genuinely, without beating around the bush,” says Lucky.

Lucky was fortunate enough to be born into a respectable family, but found it difficult to keep pace with expectations that were larger

than life. Being a free spirit, he was a little hazy about his goals, and ambiguity pervaded his mind when it came to making a distinctive career choice. “I had no idea whether I wanted to be an actor, a singer or a merchant naval officer. I had a tough time convincing my dad that I was not a looser and that I could put in the hard work necessary to achieve my goals.”

His strikingly simple, yet soulful ballads brought him immeasurable fame only because he played music that was true to his heart. “My success came as a big surprise to my dad, and that’s when I realised that I actually did it for him,” says Lucky, reflecting on what he achieved to please his father.

He chanced upon love early in life and wasted no time in tying the knot, knowing full well he was not a one-woman man. Today, he is a husband to three wives, a father to four children with the fifth on the way. This works for him because he treats all his wives and children equally, with the love and respect they deserve.

Always the non-conformist, Lucky did not want to be shackled by the music industry. The till of the land and breeding of horses held as much appeal to him as the performing arts. “I want to pick up things and do some work, not just go to an office and sit there,” says Lucky.

He has a new project in the offing in Bangalore, which is neither a song nor a movie – it’s a way of life. It is a holistic experience that promotes a symbiosis of organic agriculture, good health and good food, coupled with spa treatments. Lucky sees this as an opportunity to meet different people, connect with them and learn from them.

Lucky lives by the principle that ‘there’s so much to do in life, and so little time to do them’. He has greatly enjoyed the rollercoaster that has taken him places, given him new experiences and brought him home to a loving family. He has lived life to the fullest and stands by the intriguing life he has led. “I’m just passing by; you never know if there’ll be another tomorrow,” says the philosopher in Lucky.

The post The Troubadour of Hope appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.