I Love Nandita Das She Is An Amazing Actress!

Although, younger South Asian actresses, such as Shilpa Shetty and Aishwarya Rai, are receiving more international media attention. I believe Nandita Das is more talented. Everyone talks about how pretty Shilpa and Aishwarya are, but I firmly believe Nandita Das is a beautiful woman she is stunning! Nandita is very fastidious, she is more of an independent art house actress, and she is respected for her acting abilities. I admire Nandita because she has been able to navigate between Bollywood and Hollywood. I would love to see Nandita in a major blockbuster mainstream Hollywood film that would be amazing!

I think Nandita’s success proves, a darker skinned South Asian actress, can have success in Indian cinema, and international movies. In South Asian cinema, the actresses tend to be fair skinned and have Eurocentric features. Nandita is a beautiful, brown skinned, South Asian woman, and she has a huge audience in India and internationally.

Nandita has a solid career, she has appeared in Indian films and western movies. I remember, the first time I saw Nandita act, she was in Deepa Mehta’s lesbian drama “Fire”. I thought Nandita’s performance was so strong in “Fire” she was very brave to be in the film. There were protests in India and even violence because some South Asian men were enraged that the movie involved South Asian actresses in a lesbian film. After “Fire” Nandita appeared in the acclaimed film “Earth”. Nandita is such a talented actress she has a new movie out called “Before The Rains”.

“Before The Rains” is set in 1937 India in the state of Kerala. Kerala is a very interesting Indian state because it is a matriarchal society and women are in control not the men. The women in Kerala have the power since literacy and higher education is available for women.

Okay I will admit the plot for “Before The Rains” is a bit derivative. How many times does there have to be a movie about a young beautiful South Asian woman in a doomed marriage? Are South Asian men being stereotyped as being pernicious and abusive to women? I have to admit I yearn to see more movies with South Asian men in more tender roles in Western cinema instead of just being evil husbands.

What is the real issue with the interracial love theme is it to create controversy or to provide texture to the film? I kind of wonder if the screenwriters or producers can think outside of the box a little bit more? Also, how can the stunning Nandita Das be just a maid? The only reason “Before The Rains” is even worth watching is because Nandita Das is in the film if she wasn’t in the movie I wouldn’t care about the film at all. I think Nandita deserves better roles to showcase her talent.

Nandita’s character in “Before The Rains” is a young beautiful South Asian maid Sajani she is in a loveless marriage to a callous South Asian man. Sajani wants more out of her life she desires excitement and pleasure. The Indian husband in “Before The Rains” is evil he beats Sajani after he finds out that she is involved in an interracial love affair with a white man. Sajani falls in love with her white boss LLinus Roche’s character Henry Moores.

The village people find out about Sajani’s interracial affair and all hell breaks loose. The movie was released in North America recently. Also, I have more good news Nandita is directing her first feature film called “In Such Times” I am so excited!

Weight Loss Update: I Lost Eleven Pounds In The Past Two Months!!!

Today I had a doctor’s appointment so I was a bit nervous. I haven’t bothered to go on the scale because I was so scared for a long time. For the longest time I have been terrified  about checking my weight because I just stand thinking about possibly gaining weight. The unknown is better for me because I can relax a bit and just workout without trying to focus on numbers.

I was stunned when my doctor told me since April 2008 I have lost eleven pounds! I was worried for no reason at all I am definitely losing weight at the same pace as earlier in the year.

I thought I had lost only between three to six pounds but I am so thrilled! My doctor also informed me that I now weight 194 pounds. I started to work out in December 2007 and now I have lost forty one pounds in six months! I am cognizant of the fact I am average height I am only five feet eleven inches tall. I have broad shoulders so although weighing 194 sounds like a lot for me that’s actually very good. I definitely much fitter now and lighter. I don’t feel tired during the afternoon and I have much more energy.

My doctor says he is proud of me for sticking with my weight loss program. I actually do feel really good. I feel like I have more self confidence and esteem. I usually have issues with my body image and self esteem but today I feel really good. I am a work in progress. There are still times when I hate myself and I refuse to look into the mirror. There are still moments when I want to destroy the mirror with my fists and smash the glass into a billion pieces. I still wish I looked perfect but I guess I just got to keep on trying. I still don’t have the rock hard abs or the perfect body.

I worked out every single day since last week Monday so today I have decided not to workout. However, tomorrow I will back on the treadmill, lifting weights, completing push ups, sit ups, and leg curls. The important thing I have to remember is just to keep it up. I also have to remember to keep on eating rice cakes, oatmeal, continue to cut down on my sugar intake, and stay away from salt. I must confess I still have a weakness for ginger ale! I love ginger ale but I also realize it is important to live a little and moderation is the key.