Blogging & Entrepreneurship with Miss Malini

Malini Agarwal better known in the Bollywood, Fashion and Lifestyle world as the very charasmatic, MissMalini, is a famous blogger and celebrity in her own right. So when ShethePeople in the first edition of Bombaywaali for 2018 posted an invite to  meet her in person on January 12th, I  was definitely not missing it.

Walking into Title Waves at Bandra, I see Miss Malini standing next to her book "To the Moon" happily posing for a click.  People who know me, will shake their head again in good humour for sure. Oh yes, I did walk up to her right there to ask for a selfie.  Never miss an opportunity in life, I say. What worst can happen, but a No!

Miss Malini took the stage with author Kiran Manral and as the evening unfolded, I realised that there was so much to learn from her. What endeared me more was the fact that like me, she chose to explore whatever came her way....and as we know, she made a success of it too from pioneering an Indian lifestyle blog and a website that touches 4 million lives from over 200 countries with a social media following of over 7.5 million.

So what does one do when you have an awesome woman like her sitting across you on a stage. Naturally, you whip out your mobile and start recording her conversation.  That is exactly what I did and I even asked a question.  Here are transcripts of what I recorded.

Miss Malini gave credit to her mother, Manjulika (a selfie with her was mandatory) for her support and what she has been able to achieve.  She shared, "Actually I have to give credit to my mom for that. When I wanted to become a back up dancer, she said 'okay, I am coming to watch with a handy cam'.  She would record everything but she would cut off everyone's heads and just film me, which is amazing. I could just go and try new things. I was lucky to be at a point of time in every career where something new was happening."

To a question on blogging as an entrepreneur, she responded "There is a difference between hobby blogging and entrepreneur.  So people who are blogging as a hobby, do it your own way.  As an entrepreneur, you need to think a little ahead and you need to make a business plan. You have to think about where I am going to be a year from now. What is my mission, what is my vision and how am I going to make money out of it and how can I make it sustainable. Step by step but the most important thing in this is to find that, whether it is  going to be an entrepreneur, what is the USP. Are you just selling to people, is it just content. Is your money going to come from advertising or from selling your product on the blog. You need to decide all those things,  You also need to decide what your benchmark of success will be, is it money, is it fame, is it influence or is it making a difference. So they are very different things so they may not all be money. There might be something you are doing as a project for social work or something, so there money is not the main thing, it is really about getting the message across. So first decide those things, question what your agenda is  and what you would measure as your metric of success".

A few tips she shared along the way in her own words were  >>"you really have to figure out what you really want to do on your blog or Instagram handle and then find the right tools to do it...."   >>"find the gap, or what are you doing differently, or what is the identity that you have that nobody else has out there"  >>"find something that speaks your voice, and  that is unique and that is what is going to make you stand out".  There is an A to Z in her book on digital brand building which will help you to understand more on reaching out to people.

I too, often wonder, why do we need to feed on stories mud-slinging and tearing films down. I may not like a film but I always believe that so much hard work goes into making one, that It was heartening to hear that there is someone out there like Miss Malini who prefers to use the positive vs the negative when reporting about Bollywood. Talking about Bollywood blogging, Miss Malini shared "Bollywood blogging is very complex. There is tabloid blogging, or there is reviewing or there is documenting a fly on the wall experience or doing much more lengthy pieces.  So what kind of content do you want to create. Having a personality and identity makes the biggest difference. The ones who stand out to me who have been Bollywood bloggers have been influencers."

Interestingly I could identify with her totally when she was asked about finding time for herself.  Like her I have always loved my job and the things I do today, that  her saying "I think the balance really comes from finding time to make things that are most important to you, your focus.  For me honestly, my job and what I do is so much fun. It is probably why I spend most time on it." seemed just right to me.

Like Miss Malini, even I abhor the advertisements that talk about fairness creams. Forget about whether it works or not, but have you seen the way the advertisements are presented.  I recently saw one on fairness cream for men.  The man removes his head band and there is a fair skin under it while the rest of the face is dark from the sun.  Really !! I can clearly see the dark make up used for the face.  Terrible sharing for vulnerable men and women out there who have been told fairness matter. Miss Malini too believes that, "The problem with fairness creams is the emotional damage they do. Our skin is a representation of our rich history, why hide? Feel beautiful with the skin you are in."

Then it is Q&A time and I ask a good question and got her  book  "To the Moon" duly autographed that read "Continue to be the rock star you are!!" I guess my madness showed, because wow, in a few minutes Miss Malini had got me totally. I am going to cherish those words forever indeed.

My question to her :.

Hi Malini. It was a pleasure listening to you and especially about the blogging, because I do blog but as you said I do not focus on any blogging, particularly any topic till now and I will probably seek your help on that.  My question to you is that networking is important for entrepreneurs, I do know that, but how we go about it is really not the right way, I've seen.  Women think that walking into an event, meeting women, talking to them, sharing your cards,  and that kind of thing is really networking. But to me I am not very sure that whether you actually achieve what you set out to achieve in that way.  What tip would you give me if I were to walk in for a specific networking  for maybe growing my own business, or sharing my own story or learning more.

  

Miss Malini replied:

Great question. So the one thing I have learnt about networking is that the best thing you could do when networking is don't  spend that time talking about yourself.  When you go to a room of people you want to meet, go and understand their story. Ask them what they do, how they came up with the business, their plans are and tips because one they will be endeared by the fact that you care about their stories. So you are going to be memorable immediately and you will learn something from them.  I am a talker and the one thing I had to teach myself is to listen more talk less, because you are talking and you are not learning anything from them. Let someone else talk and then you will learn. So when you network, go in and ask people their stories and genuinely listen. It is more effective if you went and spoke to three people and had that kind of a conversation than you went and handed your cards to fifty people. In most cases it is going to be dropped somewhere and forgotten. People don't really use it until they really need someone's numbers, right. So go and have a genuine conversation and ask that person about themselves. They will always come back and ask you, your story.

I too truly believe that the more friends you make, the more people you meet, the more you talk to people and connect to, the more you get to learn..... and I do just that.  The number of stalwarts that I have met at #ShethePeopleTV #Bombaywali like  RJ Malishka, Tisca Chopra, Bachi Karkaria and many more has indeed been an enriching experience.  As the quote says -

"I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path

for a purpose. There are no accidents; we're all teachers - if we're willing to pay attention

 to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks

or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door"  ~ Marla Gibbs

...And that is a Bollywood grosser....

Often I wonder how a film should be judged as a success or not.  In my humble opinion today films whether they have content or not and run purely on personal likes for an actor/actress and the immense marketing strategies that make the viewer attracted towards it. Thereon making money is a done deal. That’s all that seems to matter in the long run for the makers.... and that is the definition of grosser today for me.

Belonging to an era where films were judged by the number of weeks they ran, and Silver Jubilee or Golden Jubilee were the words that announced the success of a film, compared to today where it is “x crores”. It is all about the top box office earners and it really does not matter whether the film is appreciated by the public or not. So who are the best judge on whether the film really is a hit or not. I suggest the makers who claim the crores should actually get into a local train and listen to the discussion the people have on the film trashing it from end to end if they have not been entertained enough. That’s where the truth of success lies, but that is not how it works, does it?  Once revenue from theatres is factored in it is immediately clear which film is the most successful notwithstanding the fact that the monies sometimes made are in just a week bringing in the crores by charging the public an exorbitant ticket price. Prices as high as Rs. 600 - Rs.1200 per ticket and well the public pours into the theatre even at that price because they want to see their favourite actor who can do no wrong. Some of them come out happy, some grumble searching for the lost amount under their seats. By then the film has done its deed, and the monies are made not forgetting huge amounts as satellite rights.

Just think of those stars in the 60s and 70s. Take the example of Rajendra Kumar who was considered as one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and had to struggle through 25 weeks of his film running to be declared Jubilee King. An interesting fact I read somewhere was that for the premier of one of his films, he was asked if he wanted any seats for his relatives or friends. Thinking that it would be complimentary, he asked for ten and believe it or not the money was deducted for the tickets he took for his relatives and friends from his cheque. Today which actor would allow this I wonder? Agreed times were different, but today is there any actor who can claim the title of “jubilee king” and besides 'blockbuster' or “silver jubilee” is a title not every successful film can enjoy and hence they remain just “box office grossers”.

Then there are those films that you can’t ignore. At a time when film budgets would never hit the grosser mark, Mughal-E-Azam was made at an unbelievable budget of Rs 1.5 crores and went on to gross much more. Then there is Sholay that ran for six years to a packed audience and then there was a Lagan that too ran to packed houses to a silver jubilee, which was a rarity in times when films did not run till the second week even. The key words here being ‘packed audiences’ Then here we have a Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge boasting of 20 years running in one theatre in the corner of Mumbai in a morning show making me wonder whether it is just there to make a milestone history or genuinely running to packed houses. Much as I loved the film, I am totally doubtful that it is making any money. I am guessing that the theatre owner is definitely personally in love with the movie or being paid to run it. Why otherwise? If someone explains to me, then I will fall in love with Raj and Simraan all over again. Till then I remain yours sceptical!!

Films actually are the most vibrant medium for telling stories and that’s what seems to have been a little lost today. There is a story line in the films but the masala and the heroism overpowers the story to such an extent that all you come out remembering is the violence, the chases, car blowing up and a song that might touch your heart.  The glamour and grandeur from Mughal-e-Azam to Jodha Akbar and Bajirao Mastani, however, has not changed much if you look closely and cannot be ignored too. We also have the women centric epics ranging from Mother India, Aandhi, Arth to a No one Killed Jessica, Mardani, Dirty Picture and a Mary Kom making their mark as do hero centric films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Bahubali, 3 Idiots, etc.

Not to forget the immense influence songs have on the audience in sometimes deciding the films they want to watch. Songs and dance are what sometimes also make and break the film almost determining the success. Few films without any songs and dances succeed but for the exceptional ones like Itefaq, Kanoon in the past to Bhoot and A Wednesday a few years did manage to stand ground. Even then today the audience seems to have lost its patience with songs and at the end of the movie a song that the makers probably spent large monies on screens to the audience leaving the theatre before it even ends. Then there are some unfortunate films with a promise ending up putting the viewers to sleep. Films like Jai Ho, Action Jackson, Bang Bang, Happy New Year turn out to be massive let downs, leaving you with moments that defy logic and sensibility but yet surprisingly have made the bucks just on star power like most films do today.  The confusion of “so is this also a grosser” just does not go away. It rings in your head because you just can’t understand or accept it because you just don’t get the point.

Setting the bar at 100 crores wasn't just enough before a new release crossed the mark to raise the bar to Rs. 200 crores and thereon to Rs. 300 crores. Gone are the days when films make way into the audience’s heart for its meaningful content and story line. Gone are the days when a film ran for more than two weeks in a theatre. Either you saw it or just had to wait for it to make its way on television once the film is sold to the TV channels for huge amounts as satellite right. It is all about the stars and the opulence that attracts the audience to the theatre and rest is a history of clambering for that “Bollywood grosser club” by the makers, as for the audience it is just one big mystery.

Background score in films- it matters !!

I accidentally pressed the mute button! And the TV went silent........ only action, no sound......and it was then that I realized what sound meant to a film and even more what background score meant…It brought back a memory of a film with the most unusual background score. Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja, a 1975 film with Biswajeet as the hero, fighting Shatrughan Sinha the villain. Those were the days when the words Dhishoom & Dhishkyaun a punching sound effect was used in fight scenes and the sounds were clearly dubbed by a human.  However in this film the filmmaker decided to get unique. After all Dhishoom, is a sound when you hit with your hands, so he thought what should be the sound effect if you are kicking the villain with your shoes…and so there goes Biswajeet to the man-made sound of “Boot, boot” ……and goes on to alternate between Dhishoom and Boot Boot. I almost collapsed in my seat laughing. No, I am not lying cause I never ever forgot this!!!

Like a good comedy, I do believe that timing is everything. It is the background score that makes you ready to feel and anticipate what we can't see yet and then our imagination begins to take flight and makes up the rest. The score send chills down the spine making the hair stand on end as the different sounds, like that of thunder, a creaking chair, or footsteps on wooden staircase, which of course by themselves are not frightful but when combined with these effects manipulates the mind to anticipate and maximize the terror unfolding on screen. This in itself then becomes another ball game.

Those were the days when sounds of walking down a staircase for example, were made by people stomping their feet or coconut shells cut in half and stuffed with padding used to make horse hoof noises in a recording studio. Then there also came Hitchcock's deadly film “Psycho” that changed the sound of horror music, and the famous stabbing shower scene became a must in every horror film made in Bollywood. I remember one such funny shower scene from Purani Haveli or one maybe its another Ramsay Bros film (I forget the name but the not the scene) which I must share. Of course its a shower scene where the deadly half-cut hand comes crawling out of the batroom drain to the clanging of the drain cover, crawling across the floor, until it strangles the bathing beauty (ha ha ha)!!! With every moving scene background score became relevant whether it was the traffic noise, a running train, a screeching car, slamming of doors, swishing of curtains, gunshots,  rain, thunder, lightning especially those for the fight and rape scene so Bollywood.  Sholay is perhaps the best film to understand background score. How can one forget that outstanding scene where Gabbar kills the family and Master Raju stands turned to stone with the swing swinging to and fro as Gabbar rides his horse downhill with the clip clop sound creating  a sense of one actually being there and feeling the pressure and fear? Or when glass bottles are broken for Basanti to dance on or the very first scene when the train pulls into the station? Without these crucial background noises, our films would feel unnaturally quiet and feeling-less. And who can forget that piano, a permanent fixture in the haveli, playing ominous tunes in the dead of night or the tinkling sound of the chandeliers swaying back and forth. Who can forget the empty swing of the film Mahal or the white saree-woman walking around the haveli with candelabra in the hand to deadly background scores or songs. On the other hand, there was also the sweetness of the flute? Remember Rajendra Kumar in Geet or Jackie Shroff's Hero, where the flute is suggestive of the love between him and the heroine.

I for one always felt that one of the major reasons for the failure of any film was ineffective background music. I for one, yes, pay complete attention and appreciate the sounds in film and am always aware when the soundtrack fails the scene and never forget it either…… but other film-goers I am sure, most likely, don’t even notice and probably not care either. If they did they would realize that it plays a huge role in creating the entire ambiance of the films. It is the soul of the film and carries the story ahead and merges with the story. Just imagine scenes without ambiance sound. Take a few of films for example. Can you imagine Dhoom without its dhoom dhoom and bikes roaring sounds or even Jaws stalking the waters without that deadly music build-up or imagine Sholay’s scene between Amitabh & Jaya without the mouth-organ playing or the very silence before AK Hangal says “itna sanaata kyon hai bhai”. Most filmmakers know this and use it to their advantage to heighten drama.

Action and  emotions are entwined and when the score is used skillfully it can cover up for a lot in a film, but some of the film makers just ignore that aspect using ready made ghise-pitte tracks used for hundred years or totally mismatching the scenes........ and yes as I said before, I do notice.  If film makers realize that there are more like me out there paying attention to the background score of every scene then maybe, just maybe, they would treat  background music with a bit more of seriousness for the entire film. After all the background music can make or break the best of a film if not used effectively in a film.

Films.......Make .....remake !!!

A news item in the paper today “Twenty two years on and it’s….. “, and again remake time for Shahrukh Khan’s Darr that got me thinking.  Why would a director or an actor attempt to recreate magic that’s immortal on celluloid? Can anyone other than King Khan go K..K…K…Kiran again?? The list of remakes, however, is endless as Zanjeer becomes Zanjeer, Hero becomes Hero, Mr.India becomes Mr. X, Himaatwala becomes Himaatwala again, Golmaal becomes a Bol Bachchan, Don becomes Don again and again. Have creative juices really disappeared from the industry or is it just pure laziness or is it just let’s try it one more time. Sometimes I think yes and sometimes I think it’s neither of these and wonder.

Inspired or otherwise!!! .A remake is a remake no matter how much of mix and match you do… and hey we are still around. We are those very people who have seen the earlier version and will be around to see the new one too. Besides the remakes are claimed to be “different”  with the songs choreographed differently na, and I am expected to dance with joy?  Really, when I am sitting there thinking the steps of the song is so unconnected to the words!!! So what if the hero is singing “chunaari chunaari” and there is no chunaari seen for miles.. I ask why, oh why does the ever melodramatic sick mother, or villain taking the sister hostage, two best friends fighting over one girl and illogical sequences that is so Bollywood go missing….. And either use the original songs to revive the magic (we are alive you know yet) otherwise please do spare us unnecessary tracks and definitely do not add item numbers.  It’s too repetitive, distracting the storyline, boring and a waste of time and today everyone is in a rush.

If makers do not understand the heart of the film and what made it tick, obviously a remake is bound to fail. After all it’s we, the audience that kept the memories alive of favourite bits of the movie you chose to rehash, re-cook and serve it up again.  You should realise, that a movie in its totality is very rarely loved. It’s a song, a dance move, a dialogue, a scene, an actor that make it all a success and memory, so  careful when you cut, edit  or try to visually recreate the magic. Then there is that belief that the actor will use his own mannerisms,  his style and persona to give a dialogue/film a new look but that too, my friend, can fail miserably. Remember what “Jab tak baithne ko na kaha jaaye sharafat se khade raho ... yeh police station hai ... tumhare baap ka ghar nahi” sounded like when Amitabh Bachchan said it (shivers down the spine) and then here comes Ram Charan Teja… and need I say more!!!!

History sometimes however does repeat itself too and remakes do perform superbly such as Agneepath, Don, Devdas. Why? Simple, it was Hritik and Shaharukh !!!!! These films did justice to the characters and the story of the originals and the casting was just right. Then we have the disastrous ones, remade from English movies such as a Kante/Reservoir Dogs, Ek Ajnabee/ Man on Fire, The Killer/Collateral, God Tussi Great Ho/Bruce Almighty. Obviously the makers think “kaun dekhta hoga yeh sab English, Korean, Japanese films” and that too in the far flung remote areas of our country, but guess you forgot about that up to date net savvy urban audience.  I somehow do believe, remakes are for sharing with the younger generation the magic of cinematic success in a revised format true to times of today….but if you are thinking that you have cracked it then just don’t forget with the advent of the internet every movie is out there and being watched and so easily connected to what is being seen on celluloid.  Imitation is the best form of flattery and re-hashing the drama just because the film is in another age and time zone justified. Yes, I got that, but at end of the day I am going to compare?

That is when I begin to question and ask, what is the need for me to watch the same old wine in a new bottle?  Why would I want to see some young actor rehash and crush my memories of say an Amitabh Bacchan in Zanjeer or Don?  So what if the hero is singing in the valleys of Switzerland instead of the Film City sets or cars are flying into the sky instead of rolling down a hill …and so what if hero is throwing twenty people into the air to fall in slow motion instead of breaking through brick walls in the studio……End of the day, a remake is a remake…..is a remake.

Fitness...living it king-size

I have always wondered what the future will hold for if I continue living the life the way you do. Things are not the same anymore, right from the way people behave with each other, towards nature, the food chain, even the air we breathe. As for me I am just a few years, if not a few minutes, from disaster. I have thrown away the key and closed my eyes to worrying if I will live through the next day. Why? Simple I am living life king size each day!!

All around me people are pumping away their physical self and even their diet is causing the food chain to worry about their own existence. There are of course others who just lack the drive, ahem a bit like me, not really caring when a film star turned size 0 or 6 packs. Mujhe kya karna hai..as if Karan Johar or Abbas Mastaan or Sohail Khan are  waiting around the corner to sign me on with Amitabh Bachchan…(kaash!!!)..

Anyways, it may seem a bit silly to most as to why I don’t care as all around us the war cry of “staying healthy and fit” rings. Pray, why ? for what? After all its just this one life na…Char din ki zindagani...and besides these days I am singing “Teri hai zameen, tera aasma..tu joh chahe toh hame rakhe..tu chahe toh hame mare…..so is worrying going to help…Yeah yeah, I know if I take care of myself then I can live a healthy life and maybe live longer and not suffer…..is anyone out there giving me a guarantee??? No na, so then why can’t I believe that if you have the will to live, the will to be happy, the will to do good for others then the body is healthier than any of those you put posters up in your room.. Can I then counsel others to make their life more fulfilling? Is this the question also ringing in your mind, then it’s time for  Ma Hira  to guide you? Hey who said I have to practice what I preach. Preaching is an art and not many can do that remember. I can always preach but not practice. So lets take this one step at time. Taking the first step is always the toughest and giving up? That’s easy. So do I exercise..yes..I went for Shaimak Davar classes for over 14 years and enjoyed every class..made new friends…loose weight?  Nahin re..that did not happen at all. Naturally because I was in the highest of spirits and happy…So  do I jog? Of course, each day 5 miles...in my dreams of course!!!!..Forget about how many minutes of exercise people tell you that you need and just fit in as much as you can into your day. It’s your body and your heart and no matter how you get it, whether by just sweeping the house or watching television, aarey believe me, any physical activity will help de-stress, burn those unwanted calories, and will definitely make the heart race like a big drum…pant pant pant….…Sleep well because it’s proven that that lack of sleep increases hunger pangs and trigger overeating. On the other hand, leave the eating of nutritious meals once in a while with the family over fun conversations about each other’s boring boring daily routines. Okay that does it..enough about the healthy lifestyle gyaan… Let me share what makes me tick and stay upbeat and content. Its finding happiness in achievements of others, it’s all about laughter, positivity and being there for my dear ones be it friend or family always in whatever they want to do. I am happy when my husband sings on stage, I am happy when my friends come with me to encourage him, I am happy when a friend gets a big role in a film or serial, I am happy when someone achieves something they wished for. Even thought I am still struggling with starting a second innings and no one is helping!!! hmmmm! So be it. The key to good health is simple..finding happiness in every little moment of your life..Most importantly, whenever with friends, don’t be afraid to laugh out loud. Who cares if those sitting on the tables around you give you the “you manner less people” look.  Obviously they have not yet learnt to laugh or live life or don’t have mad friends like I do.  Hastu ha,lifestylesr daam..khushiyan ya gam.. Remember the saying “two men looked out of the prison window. One saw mud the other saw stars”.  So if you are already doing that..yeah and more power to you! If not, then why wait? Spread the smiles and watch them come back right at you!! Death will come but once. Life is a breeze..blow along!!

 

 

LIGHTS....CAMERA....ACTION.............

Rolling down a hill, dangling from a wire,

Falling from a tree top, jumping over fire

Rehearsals and retakes over and over again

Its hard work, no fun and lots of pain

Hand under the head, arm over shoulder

Raise it a little higher, drop the boulder

Oh god! Take the shot, there goes the sun

Dab the war paint, fire that gun,

Hot sand, warm breeze, swaying trees

Summersault in the lake, ride the seas

Hit and flip, swing high, slap the face

Break an arm, lift the sword,hold that gaze

Tears flowing,now laugh a little more

Much more punch needed here for sure

Change the angle, pan to the side

Little to the left, no to the right, slightly wide

Make-up, costumes, fittings and props

Make believe villages, houses and shops

Editing, post production, final cut, edit done

Now the time for finding a place under the sun

  

Friday release, will it hit or flop

Wait till the curtain drops

Back to the storyboard once again

It’s the passion for the game!!

Lights camera action