| Aamna can never forget the day she made her debut on TV as Kashish in Kahiin To Hoga. Or the day when she ventured into the kitchen at the age of eight and cut her hand while chopping cabbage.
She recalls, "I didn't tell my mother about it because she had warned me against going anywhere near the knife."
Aamna loves life but despises liars. Her turn-on is work that challenges her creativity, elegantly tailored Indian suits (which she has popularised) and spicy food.
Thought for food
On the days I am not shooting, I wake up at 12 in the afternoon.
On other days, I wake up early and begin my morning with a glass of water. I follow it with a cup of tea.
For breakfast, I have omelettes, toast or cornflakes and fruits. And I can't do without cheese. When I seek some variation, I eat dosas and idlis at times.
I cannot function without a proper breakfast.
My favourite in non-vegetarian food is Chinese delicacies. I love chicken and fish as well. But lobsters and crabs are a no-no.
I carry my tiffin to the sets. It comprises biryani and chicken saalan. We love Arabic food because my mom is an Arab. At times, there is simple food like dal, chawal and sabzis in my tiffin. My mom always sends food for at least four people.
By God's grace, I don't have a tendency to put on weight.
Unlike my family, I am very much into tasty and masaledar food. Once in a while, I have steamed vegetables as well.
In the evenings, since I normally shoot at Sankraman studio, I order dosas and wadas from the canteen. I am not at all into diet food. A glass of juice or coconut water is a must. I consume lots of liquids â after every shot I must have coconut water.
I make sure that I have my breakfast, lunch and dinner on time. Due to my erratic work schedules, I don't get time to work out. But whenever I have the time, I jog for an hour.
I love having dinner at home â two rotis, vegetables and a dal. Pickles are a must with my meals because at home we eat non-spicy Arabic food. I also like sipping Coke with my meals.
My favourite vegetables are cabbage and ladyfingers.
My favourite vegetarian dishes are pav-bhaji and palak paneer.
My driver is a Punjabi; I relish the rajma he brings in his tiffin.
I always try the local cuisine of a place.
I love trying a new dish. I can cook a tasty biryani, pav-bhaji (my favourite) and salads with a variety of dressings. I enjoy cooking pasta and cakes. When I made a chocolate cake, it turned out pretty well.
I have always been, and continue to be, a dessert person. Even today when I go for a buffet, I eye the salads and desserts and not the main course. My favourites are gaajar halwa, dudhi halwa and besan halwa and all kinds of Bengali sweets. In western desserts, I relish cakes, chocolate mousse and chocolate brownies with ice-cream.
When I am abroad, I go crazy buying chocolates.
I studied at National College. My favourite hangout in those days was Jay Toast for its mouth-watering sandwiches.
I love eating at restaurants provided people are not staring at you. My favourite dish at Shatranj restaurant is Shatranj Napoli (chicken with noodles). I also recommend their butter chicken. For Chinese, I suggest China Gate, Golden Orchid and Dynasty. For sizzlers, I prefer Yoko's and Khyber serves the best fish dishes. I like going to Bombay Blue too.
I don't think anyone can cook better than my mother. When I invite my colleagues Deepak Parashar, Rajeev and others over, they, like me, keep heaping their plates with her Arab-style pulao.
For a break, I like going over to spend time with my relatives in Bahrain and Dubai. When a guest comes over, the main course comprises a spread of 20 dishes, laid out on a galeecha. It's accompanied by ten desserts and starters. On weekends especially, the families get together and lay out a very extravagant meal.
I like the food at Maldives. But in Malaysia, I had a tough time. I survived on salads.
My favourite cuisines are Chinese, Indian and Italian.
My list of favourite fruits would be incomplete without kiwis, grapes and watermelons. I like oranges, mosambi and papaya too.
I am a teetotaler.
My favourite spice is ginger-garlic.
My favourite gadget is the microwave; it's so convenient.
I think I resemble a carrot. I wish my cheeks had the colour of carrots.
On a hot summer's day, chhaas, salads and coconut water would be a good combo.
I love the rains. I was born on a rainy day and even today it always rains on my birthday. A long drive to Khandala, a hot wada-pav on the way, a meal at the Dukes and rains ⌠what more could one ask for?
When I was in Ladakh during winter, I ate momos for the first time. Initially, I found the taste weird but I acquired a taste for them. When I was shooting in Shimla for a music video a couple of years ago, I remember craving for tea and a warm snack to eat after every ten minutes.
I am not a chaat person, though I occasionally enjoy pani-puri.
When I eat out, my top priority is food.
I haven't had chhole bhature since the last four years. I remember in my college days, I was working in a boutique. We binged for 20-25 days on chhole bhature. Thanks to the overdoing, I have gone totally off chhole bhature.
For a romantic meal, the beach would be a perfect venue. A candle-lit Chinese dinner with my date for company would be ideal. Let's see ⌠the order would be a hot soup, Shanghai chicken, fried rice and a peppery, gravy dish. And to top it all, honey noodles. Yum. |
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Anupamaa
CID
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
