When the lockdown restrictions eased, Yamini Malhotra packed her bags for a quick vacation. The Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin actor, along with her mommy dearest, went to Lonavala and Pawna Lake for two days.
“I’m having good fun. Firstly, my mom has come to visit me in Mumbai. This is the first time that she has travelled in one and a half years. Ever since COVID began, last year she had not stepped out of home. Secondly, we could travel together, even if it was for a short period. More than me, I wanted her to enjoy and breathe fresh air, which is why we went for this road trip to Lonavala and Pawna Lake. The weather was amazing and the scenic beauty was to die for. Wherever we turned our heads, it was lush green and beautiful. It is a must go to the Ghats during the monsoon,” she adds.
Yamini says short breaks are important for an actor. “They are such a breather and help you relax as well. Mumbai life is tough, traffic, crowded places, etc, and shooting schedules are also very hectic. Short breaks rejuvenate your entire system,” says the actor, adding that since the pandemic restricted travel, so taking one after so many months was bliss but felt very different too.
“It’s not the same anymore. That terror of Covid remains in your subconscious. We preferred not to go to any crowded places or restaurants. Since we were on a road trip, we tried to find secluded places where there was not many people and had only scenic beauty,” she says.
A passionate traveller, Yamini loves everything about exploring and experiencing something new. “I love road trips. So many unexpected can happen on such trips, it is no less an adventure. It also feels good to see new places and new people. In India every 50 kms, the terrain, the culture, the language, the dressing style, change. So it’s fun to soak in all the different shades of our country,” adds the actor, whose favorite places are Goa and Uttarakhand in India. Her favourite international destination is Dubai.
About the travel essentials in her bag, more so now amid the pandemic, she shares, “Now sanitizers and masks are must carry. But, to tell you the truth, there are no travel essentials for me. I actually want to pack everything (laughs). My friends laugh when they see me carrying one big suitcase packed for a two-day trip. I want matching footwear and handbags with all my clothes, and then my own pillow, sheet, towel, toiletries, my Bluetooth speaker, tripod, and diet coke cans.”

Monsoon is here. The season often brings back fond memories of spending rainy days with family, friends and gorging on good food. Many love the music of rain drops and enjoy drenching in the downpour. Some of us have romantic memories attached to rain as well. Celebrities too walk down memory lane, reminisces the special time spent during monsoon. They also share about their love for monsoon and the food they enjoy during the season.

Arun Mandola

I am a nature lover. Every Year I wait for the monsoon because this is a time when I connect with nature. During the monsoon, it feels like birds, animals, trees, mountain sky, everything comes alive. It’s become a universal wonder when rain water touches soil and that fragrance is the best fragrance on earth. I love pakodas and ginger tea during the monsoon. I remember my mother always made those yummy aloo paranthas during rainy days and those are my best memories.

Nikhil Malik

I love the monsoon. The smell of the soil when the first drops of rain touch the earth is amazing. When I used to be in Delhi during monsoon, mom made pakodas and coffee. Having a good conversation over good food is what I miss these days. The atmosphere is very peaceful during monsoon and I forget every problem and tension in my life during that time. It is one of the best times of the year, it keeps me nice and calm.

Prateik Chaudhary

My fondest monsoon memories about the rains would be a trip down Lonavala with my childhood friends. Being a Mumbaikar, you can say it’s like a tradition to visit Lonavala during the monsoon season. So during my childhood days, during monsoon I even used to make those trips to Tiger point and eat bhajiyas, maggie and chai. Listening to good music while enjoying a long drive during monsoon makes me happy.

Gaurva Mukesh

I have grown up in a joint family. I remember every time it used to rain we cousins used to go to the terrace and block water from flowing out of the pipes. This was done to make sure that the terrace is filled with water and looks like a pool. And then we used to play in the pool. My favourite monsoon food is paneer and dal pakoda with tea.

Sanjay and Binaiferr Kohli have resumed the shooting of their horror comedy “Jijaji Chhat Parr Koii Hai”, and the latter shared the audience can expect a lot of drama in the upcoming episodes.
The show went on-air on March 8, 2021, and features Hiba Nawab, Shubhashish Jha, Anup Upadhyay, Jitu Shivhare, Sucheta Khanna, Vipin Heroo, to name a few.
“The first season garnered a lot of positive response and the audience was really looking forward to the second season. We started it with great fan fare and then it stopped suddenly due to covid, so people were waiting for it to resume back. The new season has a frightening angle. It left the audience intrigued, and they can expect some spooky and fun track in the upcoming episodes, but I can’t reveal them,” she said.
The ace producer is happy that work has started, and revealed that they are taking all the precautions. She added, ‘?”All the tests are coming negative. The rates of RTPCR have gone down of the positive numbers. People are taking care of themselves and we are making sure all the safety protocols are being followed.”
She further said, “It’s with God’s blessings that everything has started successfully and may God continue to put his hand over us and bless us and maybe deliver what audiences expect us and audiences keep having faith and love for us.”
What to expect from the show? “People have very high expectations from all our shows, whether it’s ‘Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!’ or ‘Jijaji Chhat Parr Koii Hai’ or ‘Happu Ki Ultan Paltan’. We are going to make the audience laugh lots” Binaiferr concluded.