Where: 1078-1082, Mayfair Venue, High Road, Romford RM6 4BD
What: The legendary Pakistani folk singer Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi continues his UK tour and will perform the greatest hits from his very distinguished career. Tickets include a VIP meet and great option.
What: Ketan Kansara headlines an unforgettable evening celebrating the music of Indian cinema from the 70s, 80s and 90s. He will be accompanied by the band D26, along with fellow singers Anuradha Shukla, Sharon Smith and Manisha Sharma
www.becktheatre.org.uk
VOICES FROM THE KILN
When: Tuesday January 18
Where: Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Way, Chichester PO19 6AP
What: A performance that interweaves Bharatanatyam dance, film, text, and clay to expose the fragile edges of memory that unearth fragments of lives, both real and imagined, which silently leave their imprint on clay and the human body.
www.cft.org.uk
Soumik Datta
SOUMIK DATTA: ARTS RISING
When: Thursday January 20
Where: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
What: Music maestro Soumik Datta pairs an interactive film with musicians, dancers, and the sound of his sarod in an energising and uplifting show that explores the meeting point between the climate emergency and social injustice.
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
EVENTS
UPLIFTING KUNDALINI YOGA & MEDITATION CLASSES
When: Mondays, January 10, 17, 24 and 31
Where: Telegraph Hill Centre, Kitto Road, London SE14 5TY
What: Public Kundalini yoga classes to work on your energy through physical movement and meditation, as taught by Yogi Bhajan. No previous experience with kundalini or any other types of yoga is needed. The class is open to all ability levels and students are asked to bring their own mats.
What: A family friendly dinner and dance headlined by singers Malkit Singh and Juggy D. The evening also includes a DJ, performance by dhol group Eternal Taal, three-course meal and giveaways.
www.eventbrite.com
BOLLYWOOD CHARITY NIGHT
When: Saturday January 8
Where: The Florrie, 377 Mill Street, Liverpool L8 4RF
What: A Bollywood themed charity with music, dance, and authentic Indian cuisine. Those attending are encouraged to wear traditional outfits and all proceeds go to the Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
What: Formal event aiming to provide a platform for people seeking partners in marriage. Advisors will be available to support and assist individuals who feel shy or unable to initiate discussions with others.
www.eventbrite.com
TEA AND TOUR
When: Saturday January 22
Where: The London Muslim Centre, 46 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JX
What: Free event open to all faiths that includes tea, snacks, and a tour of one of Europe’s biggest mosques. There will also be a chance to view exhibitions on the Islamic faith.
www.eventbrite.com
THEATRE
LIFE OF PI
When: Until Sunday February 27, 2022
Where: Wyndham’s Theatre, 32-36 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DA
What: A theatre play based on Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, which revolves around the sole human survivor of a shipwreck stuck on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger, as they battle to survive an epic voyage across the ocean. The cast includes Hiran Abeysekera, Mina Anwar, Nicholas Khan, Payal Mistry and Raj Ghatak.
www.londontheatre.co.uk
SLEEPING BEAUTY
When: Until Sunday January 16
Where: The Alhambra Theatre, Morley Street, Bradford BD7 1AJ
What: Pantomime headlined by popular television personality Dr Ranj Singh and comedian Billy Pearce. The familiar fairy tale is given an interesting twist in the family-friendly show filled with laughs.
What: Stand-up comedy special headlined by top talents Anuvab Pal, Kane Brown, Esther Manito and Guz Khan. Expect plenty of jokes and lots of laughter.
What: Acclaimed stand-up comedian Sukh Ojla continues her solo tour of the UK with her show, where she talks about subjects including mental illness, moving back in with her parents, identity and living a double life.
www.luventertainment.co.uk
AHIR SHAH: DRESS
When: Thursday January 27
Where: Arts at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ
What: The double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee returns with a new stand-up show about significance, insignificance, and scurvy.
www. oldfirestation.org.uk
NISH KUMAR – YOUR POWER, YOUR CONTROL
When: Wednesday February 2
Where: Bonus Arena, Myton Street, Hull HU1 2PS
What: The popular stand-up comedian embarks on a brand-new stand-up show that tackles important subjects such as political upheaval, Covid, current uncertainty and why he is taking it personally.
What: A brand-new stand-up show with the popular comedian about the hair we want, the friends we have, and living the vast difference between virus and viral.
www.sindhuvee.com
CLASSES
FULL DAY SIMPLE INDIAN COOKERY COURSE
When: Saturday January 8
Where: Hounslow, London
What: A trip to the local Indian shop to learn about ingredients will be followed by a practical hands-on cooking course learning how to make a variety of Indian dishes, along with learning how to use spices to add a depth of flavour.
www.cookingwithmonisha.com
BENGALI COOKERY CLASS WITH AKLIMA
When: Tuesday January 11
Where: Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR
What: Cookery class will see chef Aklima teach some of her favourite Bengali dishes followed by a sit-down meal. The in-person class is for 12 participants only and they will be emailed the recipes afterwards.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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