Gracing the cover of Dirty magazine, receiving a heartfelt note from stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania and getting dressed by couturiers Abu Jani, Sandeep Khosla and Gaurav Gupta — internet sensation and fashionista Uorfi Javed is having the time of her life.

“It’s a good feeling, but I don’t need any validation from anyone. I got popular because I did what I had to do, not because some designers are now dressing me up or I am attending big parties,” says Uorfi, talking to us minutes after attending Gupta’s store launch on Friday.

Trolling for her experimental sense of fashion have never affected the 25-year-old. “[For] anyone who says that I’m doing this for attention, I can only say, ‘How intelligent are they!’” quips the Bigg Boss OTT contestant, who recently revealed on social media that “no designers would give me clothes, which is why I started making my own”.

Not that she feels bad about it when she looks back on it. “I wasn’t a big name back then. I didn’t know what exactly I was doing, so how could people trust me with their brand? Now, they see my vision. Mujhe aise koi problem nahin hui ki mujhe un logon ne kapde nahin diye. But I have made my point,” Uorfi insouciantly explains.

Days after this post, dressed in an Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla creation, she attended the premiere of their fashion film, as her custom-made outfit — a red thigh-high skirt with an attached pallu and an ornate headgear — drew plaudits aplenty. “Abu and Sandeep had kept me in mind while making this outfit. The blouse screamed Uorfi Javed! I don’t wear anything if I don’t like myself in [it]. This outfit just went with my vibe,” she gushes.

For her magazine shoot, Uorfi was styled by Adajania. She shares, “Anaita wanted to shoot with me way before this magazine cover happened. I couldn’t believe when she first texted me. So, this (our collaboration) was meant to be.”

So, has Uorfi arrived? The actor responds: “Hanging out with famous people isn’t success. Only hard work can help you get work. Yes, I am fashionable, but right now, I have no work. I know these things take time.”

Her recent shoot for Dirty magazine, where Uorfi was dressed by designers Anamika Khanna and Rahul Mishra among others (and the same creative team that worked on actor Ranveer Singh’s photoshoot with Paper magazine), was said to have put a lot of detractors in their place. However, she clarifies, “It’s not like I did that shoot to shut people’s mouths or it gave me any high or kick. When I was contacted for the shoot, I was blown away by their passion and crazy ideas. I truly did it for our love of fashion. I was kept in loop for everything. Like, I was co-curating the looks, I was on calls and [sharing inputs with] designers. Everything was done considering me in mind and that’s how the shoot went.”

Mandana Karimi, who got married to Mumbai-based busi nessman Gaurav Gupta in January this year, has accused her husband and his family of domestic violence. The actress and reality TV star has also filed for divorce.

Amidst other allegations, the divorce petition states that Gaurav forced her to convert from Islam to Hinduism ahead of their wedding. She was also asked to quit acting. Mandana claims that she has now been barred from entering her marital home.

Talking to BT, she says, “My husband fell in love with me because I am a strong and independent woman, but I didn't know that Indian mothers-in-law are so controlling. I quit acting as my husband didn't want me to pursue it after marriage. I now realise that listening to him was my biggest mistake. I want to tell women not to quit work after marriage. I wanted mine to be a happy marriage, but I have been harassed. Now, I have been thrown out of my matrimonial house and I'm left with no money.“

EXCERPTS FROM MANDANA'S DIVORCE PETITION
Post marriage also, I was kept in the matrimonial house in Juhu as a prisoner. It was a big house and we all lived together as a joint family. It was my shared household and I was in a domestic relationship with all the Respondents. I was not given any privacy or any say in my own matrimonial house. I was not allowed to work. The Respondent No. 2 (Madhu Gupta, Gaurav's mother) continued with her insulting nature towards me. I was not allowed to meet my friends outside nor was allowed to have my friends in my matrimonial house.

I was going through depression at this juncture of my life. The Respondent No. 1 (Gaurav) told me that he intended to stay with me separately in their flat in Juhu. The Respondent No.1 told me that in order to avoid complications, fights and confrontations at home I should forthwith leave the matrimonial house. The Respondent No. 1 told me that he would immediately terminate the leave and licence agreement with the licensee and that he would move us into the flat... I didn't have any support system in Mumbai and my family was far away in Iran. Respondent No. 1 sent two bags filled with some of my old clothes leaving behind my jewellery, engagement ring and expensive belongings like watches, perfumes, shoes, dresses, wedding clothes/dresses, cosmetics etc. For quite a few days I continued to stay in the hotel. The Respondent No. 1 then told me that the process of vacating the licensee from the Juhu flat may take some time and that in the meantime I should go to Iran and stay with my family. The moment I left for Iran, the Respondent No. 1 reduced his interaction with me. I also learnt from some of our common friends that Respondent No. 1 had tricked me out of my matrimonial house with no intention of having me back in his life.

I was shocked and I immediately returned to India. I tried to contact Respondent No. 1, but he avoided to meet me. I thus visited my matrimonial house but was not allowed to enter my room which was locked and the security was directed to remove me out of my own matrimonial house. I thus again contacted the Respondent No. 1.The Respondent No. 1 met me and told me to stay in one Hotel in Bandra. By now, I had realised that the Respondents had conspired to just get rid of me and drive me out of my matrimonial house and also divest me of all my rights.

I have now come on roads and has been left without anything. I have been subjected to gross cruelty and harassment and have been put into severe pain and agony. I have been cheated and used as a commodity as per their whims and fancies.

Years ago, Mandana Karimi left her motherland Iran to make it big in India's glamour industry. Now, the leggy lass is all set to put her career on hold for love. Mandana, who got engaged to businessman Gaurav Gupta in July 2016, will enter holy matrimony early next year. She says, “I am getting work offers, but my priority is marriage and family. It will be a close-knit affair.“

About allowing her career to take a backseat, she elaborates, “Many people have warned me against it, but marriage is what matters most to me. I don't want to have an amazing career and not have a family to celebrate my success with. When Gaurav proposed, I thought of how he has been with me through my ups and downs. People find me hot and sexy, but he looks beyond that. I came to India to find a career and found the man of my dreams.“

Is she keen on going the family way? “I wouldn't marry if I didn't want children. I most definitely want to have a family,“ the actress says.

Mandana is clear that post marriage, she will be more choosy, professionally. “I am not focussing on work anymore; I'd rather go with the flow and take up more meaningful films. Having said that, marriage will not make me less independent,“ she says.

Iranian beauty Mandana Karimi, who got out of Bigg Boss (BB) on Saturday night after being locked up for three-and-a-half months, started promoting Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3, that is directed by Umesh Ghadge with Tusshar and Aftab Shivdasani in the lead, just a few hours later.

The first thing you notice on seeing her walk in your direction is that her bikini curves are missing! She has lost five kilos during the reality show ordeal, but her face unmistakably wears a pretty pink glow. So have you seen KKHH 3? “No,“ she wails, “I got to bed at 5 am and I have just been told that I have a screening of my movie for the Bigg Boss gang. So I guess, I too will see the film with them.“

Ask her whether she fretted over Ekta Kapoor's court case against her and Mandana replies, “At first, I didn't understand the implication. When you are locked up, it is hard to keep up with the news. However, when I learnt about it from Tusshar and Aftab who came on my show, I knew that I wasn't in the wrong. I had signed a contract to stay inside the house till I was evicted and everyone knew that. I guess no one believed that I would survive the entire duration.“ But wasn't it foolish on her part to miss the promotions of her first big Bollywood release? “To the contrary,“ she replies, “Being locked up inside the BB house was godsend. For 105 days, I was top of mind for hundreds of thousands across the globe. That according to me is the best publicity for the film.“

Ask her whether she is upset at having lost out to Prince Narula and she says, “No, I think I'm a winner. During my 105-day stay, I won 11 nominations and survived eviction till the end. That means I am already a winner. I met so many fans when I got out and all of them said, 'Mandana, we respect you because you are a strong woman. You managed beautifully inside the house despite all the odds being stacked against you.“ Her face breaks into a big smile as she says, “In my head, I was also Bigg Boss' favourite. However, Salman Khan is a very fair host and he never shows his bias.“

Talking of how she is going to miss the reality show for a long time to come, the actress continues, “I loved being on the show. Though I had no friends in the house and was perhaps the most hated person inside, I will miss everything from the swimming pool to the kitchen. I will miss those cameras and tasks. However, what I will miss most are my chats with the Bigg Boss.“

Suddenly, tears stream down her rosy cheeks and when you tease her that she was labelled the cry baby of the show and accused of weeping copiously for TRPs, she petulantly quips “I'm a sensitive girl, not a dramebaaz. Even Bigg Boss understood that.“

One hears that the first thing she got after she came out of BB was a big hug from her boyfriend. “Yes, that's true,“ she says, “Inside the house, no one gave me any hugs or presents. As you know, people kept their distance from me. Even when I took ill, I got no visitors. I truly missed getting affection. But when I came out, my boyfriend (Gaurav Gupta) gave me a warm hug. It was very emotional.“

Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3, produced by Alt Entertainment, is currently playing in theatres across India.

Exploring new realms of fantasy with sculpt ed structures and silhouettes, Gaurav Gupta concluded the Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 with a beautifully dramatic grand finale at Mehboob Studios. Adding to the grandeur of the celebration of 15 glorious years, was the showstopper and Lakmé Absolute face Kareena Kapoor Khan, who played muse to the designer's vision.

Gaurav's designs were a display of craftsmanship with an artistic use of a colour palette that was minimal yet vibrant, with moondown gray, albatross black, showtime ivory and reminiscent red. Whether it was the silhouettes, colours, embroidery or fabrics, the collection - inspired by Lakmé's beauty statement Sculpt for its latest launch of Lakmé Absolute Lip Pout range of matte and crème lipcolours - left a lasting impression on the audience.

Each look on the runway was completed with the new range lipsticks and accentuated through structured hairdos. The models strutted down the runway with well-defined matte and crème lips in a stunning palette of rich plums, deep reds and feminine pinks. Backstage, the playful sculpted looks were crafted by Lakmé makeup expert Daniel Bauer in collaboration with the brand's salon hair experts.

Talking about the show, Purnima Lamba, Head of Innovation, Lakmé said, “For a beauty statement as strong and striking as Sculpt, Gaurav has done absolute justice with his avant-garde vision. He has lent his fine artistry to create a super structured line and I'm still warped in the realm of fanta sy that he created at the show.“ Gaurav added, “When I was briefed about the theme for this season, I immediately thought of sharp, structured and detailed silhouettes. I loved of creating this collection. It is a complete extension of who I am and my vision was beautifully brought to life by the stunning Kareena Kapoor Khan.“

Kareena said, “This has been the most outstanding grand finale ever. For someone like me who loves to pout, this one is even more special because it's all about the playful pout. The shades and textures are so vibrant, that it's sure to become the biggest trend of the season.“