Text: Devika V Menon    Photos: FWD Media

Arjun Lal is a familiar face to the Malayalam industry, but as an ambitious kid in a middle-class family. Yes, he’s the same person who made his debut in the industry with the award-winning movie Thanmatra.

He has come a long way since then. He had decided to take a break from movies, since he wanted to focus on his education and then choose up acting as his career. But, he says that people still recognise him, as Mohanlal’s son from the movie.

Arjun Lal was scheduled for an exclusive shoot with FWD Life, which is when I had the chance to interview him, a quick rapid fire session, just to get to know him a little better.

Mohanlal or Mammootty?

Mohanlal, always.

Suits or shorts?

Suits. Makes you look classy.

Mundu or Pants?

Pants. No questions asked.

Music or Movies?

Movies. The real reason I wanted to become an actor!

Cars or Bikes?

Cars, for now. I don’t really know how to ride a bike.

Love or Lust?

Both. *chuckles* Don’t we need both?

Someone who means a lot to you?

My wife! Wait, wife who? *evil grin*

‘First impression is the best impression’ or ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover’?

First impressions. That’s how it ought to be.

What does ‘past’, ‘present’, and ‘future’ mean to you?

Past is in the past, something I don’t regret. What’s happened, has happened. Only the present and the future should matter, which for me is movies.

Favourite holiday destination?

Ah, I can’t really choose one. But my top three would be Amsterdam, Manali and Dubai. Will I get into trouble for these options?

Pasta or Sadya?

Pasta. I am a huge fan of continental food!

Favourite app?

Even though I’m a digital marketing person, I rarely use apps on my phone. But if had to name two, then I’d probably pick Instagram and Book My Show.

Digital Version: https://goo.gl/Bs9vlq

The post A quick tête-à-tête with Arjun Lal appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

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.

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