{"id":316876,"date":"2023-09-20T11:26:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T11:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/popularindinews.com\/?p=316876"},"modified":"2023-09-20T11:26:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T11:26:21","slug":"huma-saqib-varuns-love-letters-to-kashmir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/popularindinews.com\/celebrity\/huma-saqib-varuns-love-letters-to-kashmir\/","title":{"rendered":"Huma, Saqib, Varun’s Love Letters to Kashmir"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘From the time we landed to the time we left, we got so much love that I didn’t feel like coming home.’<\/strong><\/p>\n

On September 13, Saqib Saleem posted on Instagram, ‘History was made yesterday when almost in 4 decades there was a fashion show in Srinagar and who better to do it than @varun_bahl.’<\/p>\n

‘Thank you, Varun for getting Huma and me back to our roots. Back to our maternal home. For making us a part of this magical show… I love you.’<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Saqib and his actress sister Huma Qureshi were the show stoppers for Varun Bahl’s collection, aptly titled Love Letters to Kashmir<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bahl’s father is from the Valley, and the couture showcase was an ode to his Kashmiri roots and ancestry.<\/p>\n

Huma and Saqib have also spent a lot of time in Srinagar as their mother Ameena Qureshi was born and grew up in the city.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Huma was gorgeous in a custom-made bridal lehenga<\/em>, dressed up with beads, sequins, tassels, nakkashi<\/em> and dabka<\/em> work, set off by a retro hairdo and a scalloped veil.<\/p>\n

Saqib complimented her in a black sherwani, his neckpiece as eye-catching as Huma’s statement necklace and sheesh patti<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Flashbacking to the Srinagar style night and the time he spent in the city with Rediff.com<\/em><\/strong> Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya<\/strong>, Saqib says, “The three days I spent in Srinagar, I feasted on all that I had loved as a kid, from Rista<\/em> to Tabak Maaz<\/em>. Also, Kashmiri Rajma<\/em>. Whatever I ate, I posted on Instagram. Soon my trainer was calling to say, “Sir, kya kar rahe ho?<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It was a beautiful fashion show, out in the open, in the garden of The Lalit Grand, with the palatial hotel in the background and the Dal Lake in front.<\/p>\n

We had an audience of 400-500, with people from all walks of life, including representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir government.<\/p>\n

I had invited Sudhir Mishra, who was shooting a series there, saying it would be nice if he could come, and he was there.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When Huma and I were walking the ramp, it felt as if all of Srinagar had turned up to welcome us.<\/p>\n

We were the showstoppers for Varun Bahl, who has been a friend for 18 years.<\/p>\n

He believed that I had it in me to become an actor and urged me to come to Mumbai and meet casting director Shanoo Sharma.<\/p>\n

Since Varun and I go back a long way, when he told me he wanted us to walk for him, my immediate response was, “Okay, tell me when and where.”<\/p>\n

When I learnt that the fashion show would be in Srinagar, I was ecstatic.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My mother is from the Valley, and till I was in school, every summer vacation was spent there.<\/p>\n

I loved going to Srinagar, which is one of the most hospitable places in the country.<\/p>\n

In college, I even played cricket at the state level for Jammu and Kashmir.<\/p>\n

So, this was a homecoming of sorts for us, going back to our maternal roots.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

While there, we took a shikara ride.<\/p>\n

I was reminded of all the times my cousins and I had sat by the Dal Lake or driven along it.<\/p>\n

Then, there was the food.<\/p>\n

I’ve always been crazy about Kashmiri cuisine and growing up, food was an important part of our day.<\/p>\n

I have relatives all over Srinagar and while having breakfast at one uncle and aunt’s place, my cousins and I would be planning where to go for lunch and what to have for dinner.<\/p>\n

The three days I spent in Srinagar, I feasted on all that I had loved as a kid, from Rista<\/em> (Kashmiri meatballs in a saffron flavoured red curry) to Tabak Maaz<\/em> (fried mutton pieces).<\/p>\n

Also, Kashmiri Rajma<\/em>; the beans are smaller and the taste very different from the Rajma<\/em> served in North India.<\/p>\n

Whatever I ate, I posted on Instagram.<\/p>\n

Soon my trainer was calling to say, “Sir, kya kar rahe ho?<\/em> (Sir, what are you doing?) All the hard work we have been putting in will go down the drain.”<\/p>\n

I felt momentarily guilty since as an actor you become conscious of your abs.<\/p>\n

I told him to let me enjoy myself, promising that I would get back in shape once I was back in Mumbai.<\/p>\n

The people there are so loving and helpful.<\/p>\n

From the time we landed to the time we left, we got so much love from the airport authorities to the hotel staff and the team handling the show, that I didn’t feel like coming home.<\/p>\n

Amazingly, this time Srinagar didn’t feel any different from Mumbai.<\/p>\n

When I was around eight to 10 years old, I remember being told to get home before it got dark.<\/p>\n

We didn’t stay out beyond 8 pm and always had to carry our identity cards around.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there were no untoward incidents with me or my family, but there was always that apprehension that something could happen.<\/p>\n

But this time, there was just so much positive energy and heart-warming happiness.<\/p>\n

After the show, the dinner went on till almost 1.30 am and it was great to see people milling around, enjoying themselves.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We used many local models, they were happy and excited to be a part of the show.<\/p>\n

Kashmiris speak Hindi with a distinctive accent and will say, “Aap khana mat kahiyeye<\/em>” when what they really mean is we will not let you go without eating.<\/p>\n

I have been trying to perfect that accent, maybe I can use it in a film sometime.<\/p>\n

I was in Pahalgam last year for the shoot of my spy thriller web series Crackdown<\/em>.<\/p>\n

We shot portions in the snow and it was a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

I wanted to stay a day longer and go to Pahalgam again. But work called me back.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<<\/p>\n

Not just fashion, even films have returned to the Valley.<\/p>\n

Christopher Nolan’s epic biographical drama, Oppenheimer<\/em>, opened to full houses.<\/p>\n

Now, Jawan<\/em> is going housefull.<\/p>\n

Someday, I want to go there with my own film.<\/p>\n

It would make my mother really happy and I can do anything to make her happy.<\/p>\n

I also want to go and shoot a film in the Valley, but we need a good script.<\/p>\n

We have seen Kashmir in many Hindi films in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.<\/p>\n

But in the last 30 years, we haven’t seen much of the Valley on screen.<\/p>\n

It is a pity because if Switzerland is beautiful, then Srinagar is just as beautiful.<\/p>\n

As soon as I got back to Mumbai, I jammed with some writer friends on some ideas for a film.<\/p>\n

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale\/Rediff.com<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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