Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 24, 2018)

Isabelle Kaif’s Kat-walk of fame
Katrina Kaif’s sister Isabelle may be gearing up for her Bollywood debut but the Brit beauty is no stranger to the big screen. After featuring in the 2014 Canadian romcom Dr Cabbie, the 32-year-old debutante kicked off her Hindi launch vehicle, the Stanley D’Costa-directed Time To Dance, in early June with a 50-day London schedule. The film features her as a competitive ballroom and Latin dancer, while her co-star Sooraj Pancholi plays a street dancer showcasing the Salsa, Zumba and Bachata styles. In a recent interview, Isabelle revealed that the best advice she has received from her illustrious sister is “to not get caught up in the hectic nature of the work. To take it day by day, and to give my best every day.”

Isabelle had started making heads turn even before she kicked off prep for her film. After pairing up with Kat for a photoshoot, she’s joined her for several public appearances, the most recent being the star-studded wedding reception of Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja on May 8.


Nupur Sanon’s sweet treat
Kriti Sanon’s singer-sister Nupur, who is presently in talks with several filmmakers, is preparing for her big Bollywood launch with acting lessons and hitting the gym regularly. Then, there’s big sister Kriti for guidance. “I was surprised when I saw her in Bareilly Ki Barfi for the first time. I felt that she had become mature as an actor and there was so much honesty that to me it seemed very effortless. I just loved her in it,” Nupur says, adding that she looks up to her actress-sister. “Let’s just say that we’re 80 percent best friends and 20 percent ‘chhoti mom-daughter’. She’s always there to listen to me and goof around with me. But she can also be strict and lecture me about late nights,” says the aspirant.


Aisha Sharma has got it covered
Tum Bin 2 actress Neha Sharma’s younger sister Aisha had started dabbling in modelling while studying engineering in Delhi. Four and a half year on, she is set to make her Hindi film debut opposite John Abraham in Nikkhil Advani and Bhushan Kumar’s action-packed thriller Satyameva Jayate, directed by Milap Zaveri. Aisha says that cinema has always been her first love. “I love watching movies and Neha’s presence in the industry definitely gave me that push — if she can do it, maybe I can as well,” she reasons. Among other things, she considers Neha her style influence.

“She told me not to let success go to the head and failure to one’s heart. She’s fiercely protective of me and didn’t want me to go through the kind of struggles she did,” Aisha says.

Aisha, who plays a vet in her Bollywood debut, loves animals in real life too. “The script is fantastic and has all the ingredients of a commercial blockbuster,” she adds.

Surilie Jasraj Singh and her Yami mummy
After her Punjabi debut with the late comedian-actor Jaspal Bhatti’s Power Cut in 2012, Yami Gautam’s younger sister Surilie Jasraj Singh is foraying in Bollywood with National award-winning filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi’s yet-untitled next on the Battle of Saragarhi. She is playing Havildar Ishar Singh’s (Randeep Hooda) wife, Jiwani, and started shooting for the film.

“Growing up, I did plays and was into singing and dancing, while Yami was the shy one. She was studious and wanted to be an IAS officer whereas I was always clear about joining the film industry. Having said that, she has inspired me in many ways, She is like a second mother to me,” Surilie says, adding that her favourite Yami film is Kaabil. “I was completely awestruck by her performance and had seen her work really hard on that film. I wonder if I would ever be able to perform like that.”