Posted:
BizAsia meets Vivian Dsena & Vahbiz
Dorabjee in London post AVTA 2014
by Amrita Tanna
26th October 2014 1:31 pm
@Amr1ta amrita@bizasialive.com
The Asian Viewers Television Awards,
of which BizAsia were exclusive
online partner, kicked off in London
on 18th October, with an array of
Indian television stars being
awarded. The very popular Vivian
Dsena, who played RK in Madhubala
- Ek Ishq Ek Junoon' received the
Male Soap Personality of the Year
trophy and flew to the city, with his
wife Vahbiz Dorabjee (who was most
recently seen as Alak in
Saraswatichandra'), to collect the
award and be a part of the star-
studded evening. The couple have
been in London for the week that
followed and BizAsia caught up with
them post the event for an exclusive
rendezvous.
You've been in London since the first
ever Asian Viewers Television Awards
took place in London just under a
week ago. How does it feel being
here?
Vahbiz : Well, ask the man who won!
Many congratulations, Vivian!
Vivian : Thank you very much. God's
been very kind. I've won a couple of
awards in Mumbai but this was a
prestigious one. Coming to the UK,
London and winning an award in
another country. I think it was a very
proud moment for us both.
These awards were voted for by the
fans. Is there a message you have
for them for this?
Vivian : For me as an actor and a
professional, my fans are everything
for me. These are the people who
made me. Whatever I am today,
whatever identity I share with the
masses, it's all because of my fans.
Post the award ceremony, you have
stayed on in the capital. What kind
of thing have you been upto?
Vivian : Well, I think we've seen quite
a bit of London.
Vahbiz : Well, Vivian is not very
interested in touring around but we
still made it to Madame Tussauds,
the London Dungeon, the London
Eye. We've had a good time. We've
had a mix of everything. We've been
shopping like crazy people. We also
went to see The Lion King which was
a real highlight. We both loved it. It's
a musical, of course, and it's one of
kind and really worth watching.
We've also done some different stuff
too like shopping around Oxford
Street. We've had a great time
because we've had other actors with
us so all of us friends were together.
It's definitely a memorable trip.
Vivian : We also had a Diwali party
last night at a friend's place.
Vahbiz : Yep, so we've had a feel of
Diwali also and we didn't miss India
much.
Diwali in London is obviously a little
colder than in India, and it probably
also feels a little like Christmas.
What would your plan be if you were
back home for Diwali?
Vahbiz : Usually, every year, Diwali is
celebrated in a big way. We have
taash parties every night, there are
firecrackers and there'd food, mithai.
We do our pooja, we wear new
clothes. This time all this is missing
but we did do some crackers last
night at our friend's house.
Vivian : It was good, we had a good
time.
You're here for a few more days and
no doubt you'll be doing some more
shopping. What kinds of places do
you like to go and eat while in
London?
Vivian : I think we've been to quite a
lot of places.
Vahbiz : Yes, thanks to a friend of
ours. He's taken us around quite a
bit. He took us to a place called
Bombay Palace. We love Indian food
and we dig Indian food wherever we
go. It was really good food. We also
went to a place called Busaba on the
first day. We thoroughly enjoyed the
food there and at Bombay Palace.
Vivian : I'm not too fond of Chinese
or Thai food but I really loved the
food at Busaba.
Vahbiz : We also went to the floating
boat restaurant, Feng Shang
Princess, my Mama took us there.
Very beautiful and amazing food.
Vivian doesn't like Chinese but he
really liked this.
What do you most love about
London?
Vivian : London, I think the first thing
we both loved was the weather.
Vahbiz : Yes, currently we love the
weather.
You've been lucky there because
usually it's a lot colder at this time of
year.
Vivian : Well the weather takes the
cake. It's a complete winner. The
shopping, the food... but there are
two weathers I love; the winters and
the rains.
Vahbiz : It's a break for us from the
humidity of Mumbai. I don't mind the
sun or the heat but in Mumbai the
heat and humidity kills us. Here in
London you can do everything so
peacefully. It's all so surreal and so
clean. I'm loving the weather and
London is a gorgeous place to shop,
eat and the entertainment. I would
love to hop on a bus and go and see
the castles and everything and
explore the history.
Have you been able to explore any of
that history during this trip?
Vivian : Not much of it but we did go
to the London Dungeon. There, its
divided into sections where you can
really learn about the history of
London. It tells the full story of how
London was built and how the plague
happened and how it was overcome.
I think that the Dungeon explains
quite a bit of the history.
Vahbiz : I have been coming to
London since I was a child. I have
family here. I've also been to
Edinburgh and travelled Scotland so
I've seen parts of the UK, not just
London. This is the first trip that I am
on in London where I've been
chilling out and shopping. Otherwise
during my trips I am visiting
Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, etc.
I've seen all these places.
What would you say is special about
this particular time in London for
you?
Vahbiz : First of all this trip is most
special because I made it with
Vivian. I've always wanted to bring
him to London but for some reason it
always kept getting cancelled. This
time it's been an honour because he
received an award at the AVTAs. It's
been work and pleasure. This time,
it's special also because we're with
friends. As a child, my visits here
were always with family.
Vivian : My answer has to be Vahbiz.
Whenever I travel, I like to travel with
her. I hate to travel when I'm alone.
Whenever I've travelled abroad so
far, it's always been with Vahbiz. We
both love each other's company.
Since we're married, it's all the more
reason because you can be very
romantic in this kind of weather.
(smiles) Before I met Vahbiz, I used
to not be so bothered about shopping
and clothes. I used to wear anything
I felt like and wouldn't care about the
world. She's the one who's
transformed me from a boy into a
man. She's taught me how to handle
yourself as an actor and as a public
figure. She's brought a lot of
consciousness in me. Great to travel
with and all the more fun, she's a
blessing.
The AVTAs have brought Vivian to
London for the first time but if they
were to ever move on to another
country, where would you like to go?
Vivian : I think next on my list is
America.
Vahbiz : Yeh, that's one part of the
world that I've also not visited. I
wouldn't mind if it was somewhere in
the US as we still need to discover
that part.
Vivian : We've been to Dubai,
Maldives... the next should be
America.
Your final thoughts about the
capital?
Vivian : Well, it's great to be here. The
weather has stolen everything. The
quality of life here is much better, it's
cleaner, there's a lot of awareness
for hygiene and health which is great
to see. The people are nice. The
language people use is very pleasing
to the ears.
Vahbiz : I love the British accent, it's
just so cute.
Vivian : The hospitality on the whole
is also very good here. Some of the
places I've been to have been very
nice... especially with the coffee I
drink. It's not on the menu so I have
to explain it and then they make it
just the way I like it. Thank God I
speak the kind of language they do.
At least it's Thai or Chinese so I can
get away with it. (Laughs) It took me
so long to explain to a person in
Thailand that I wanted my coffee a
certain way. It was my bad fortune
that the person was a Thai native
and so I had to play dumb charades
with him to explain.
Vahbiz : London is a gorgeous city
and we'll definitely miss the weather.
We'll miss the food and the scenic
beauty. Whenever I'm in Bombay
town I always feel that I'm in London
because it's built by the British. And
now here, I feel like I'm in Bombay
town.
Vivian : I've done my research in fact
that London is only 4% less humid
than Mumbai but we fully feel
humidity there (laughs).
Vahbiz : We have to finally say thank
you to the fans because it's due to
them that Vivian go an award and we
were able to come here to receive it.
BizAsia extends a special thanks to
the couple for letting us share in
their experience of London and for
taking the time to talk to us. We wish
them a safe journey back to Mumbai
but hope that they will return very
soon.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Dorabjee in London post AVTA 2014
by Amrita Tanna
26th October 2014 1:31 pm
@Amr1ta amrita@bizasialive.com
The Asian Viewers Television Awards,
of which BizAsia were exclusive
online partner, kicked off in London
on 18th October, with an array of
Indian television stars being
awarded. The very popular Vivian
Dsena, who played RK in Madhubala
- Ek Ishq Ek Junoon' received the
Male Soap Personality of the Year
trophy and flew to the city, with his
wife Vahbiz Dorabjee (who was most
recently seen as Alak in
Saraswatichandra'), to collect the
award and be a part of the star-
studded evening. The couple have
been in London for the week that
followed and BizAsia caught up with
them post the event for an exclusive
rendezvous.
You've been in London since the first
ever Asian Viewers Television Awards
took place in London just under a
week ago. How does it feel being
here?
Vahbiz : Well, ask the man who won!
Many congratulations, Vivian!
Vivian : Thank you very much. God's
been very kind. I've won a couple of
awards in Mumbai but this was a
prestigious one. Coming to the UK,
London and winning an award in
another country. I think it was a very
proud moment for us both.
These awards were voted for by the
fans. Is there a message you have
for them for this?
Vivian : For me as an actor and a
professional, my fans are everything
for me. These are the people who
made me. Whatever I am today,
whatever identity I share with the
masses, it's all because of my fans.
Post the award ceremony, you have
stayed on in the capital. What kind
of thing have you been upto?
Vivian : Well, I think we've seen quite
a bit of London.
Vahbiz : Well, Vivian is not very
interested in touring around but we
still made it to Madame Tussauds,
the London Dungeon, the London
Eye. We've had a good time. We've
had a mix of everything. We've been
shopping like crazy people. We also
went to see The Lion King which was
a real highlight. We both loved it. It's
a musical, of course, and it's one of
kind and really worth watching.
We've also done some different stuff
too like shopping around Oxford
Street. We've had a great time
because we've had other actors with
us so all of us friends were together.
It's definitely a memorable trip.
Vivian : We also had a Diwali party
last night at a friend's place.
Vahbiz : Yep, so we've had a feel of
Diwali also and we didn't miss India
much.
Diwali in London is obviously a little
colder than in India, and it probably
also feels a little like Christmas.
What would your plan be if you were
back home for Diwali?
Vahbiz : Usually, every year, Diwali is
celebrated in a big way. We have
taash parties every night, there are
firecrackers and there'd food, mithai.
We do our pooja, we wear new
clothes. This time all this is missing
but we did do some crackers last
night at our friend's house.
Vivian : It was good, we had a good
time.
You're here for a few more days and
no doubt you'll be doing some more
shopping. What kinds of places do
you like to go and eat while in
London?
Vivian : I think we've been to quite a
lot of places.
Vahbiz : Yes, thanks to a friend of
ours. He's taken us around quite a
bit. He took us to a place called
Bombay Palace. We love Indian food
and we dig Indian food wherever we
go. It was really good food. We also
went to a place called Busaba on the
first day. We thoroughly enjoyed the
food there and at Bombay Palace.
Vivian : I'm not too fond of Chinese
or Thai food but I really loved the
food at Busaba.
Vahbiz : We also went to the floating
boat restaurant, Feng Shang
Princess, my Mama took us there.
Very beautiful and amazing food.
Vivian doesn't like Chinese but he
really liked this.
What do you most love about
London?
Vivian : London, I think the first thing
we both loved was the weather.
Vahbiz : Yes, currently we love the
weather.
You've been lucky there because
usually it's a lot colder at this time of
year.
Vivian : Well the weather takes the
cake. It's a complete winner. The
shopping, the food... but there are
two weathers I love; the winters and
the rains.
Vahbiz : It's a break for us from the
humidity of Mumbai. I don't mind the
sun or the heat but in Mumbai the
heat and humidity kills us. Here in
London you can do everything so
peacefully. It's all so surreal and so
clean. I'm loving the weather and
London is a gorgeous place to shop,
eat and the entertainment. I would
love to hop on a bus and go and see
the castles and everything and
explore the history.
Have you been able to explore any of
that history during this trip?
Vivian : Not much of it but we did go
to the London Dungeon. There, its
divided into sections where you can
really learn about the history of
London. It tells the full story of how
London was built and how the plague
happened and how it was overcome.
I think that the Dungeon explains
quite a bit of the history.
Vahbiz : I have been coming to
London since I was a child. I have
family here. I've also been to
Edinburgh and travelled Scotland so
I've seen parts of the UK, not just
London. This is the first trip that I am
on in London where I've been
chilling out and shopping. Otherwise
during my trips I am visiting
Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, etc.
I've seen all these places.
What would you say is special about
this particular time in London for
you?
Vahbiz : First of all this trip is most
special because I made it with
Vivian. I've always wanted to bring
him to London but for some reason it
always kept getting cancelled. This
time it's been an honour because he
received an award at the AVTAs. It's
been work and pleasure. This time,
it's special also because we're with
friends. As a child, my visits here
were always with family.
Vivian : My answer has to be Vahbiz.
Whenever I travel, I like to travel with
her. I hate to travel when I'm alone.
Whenever I've travelled abroad so
far, it's always been with Vahbiz. We
both love each other's company.
Since we're married, it's all the more
reason because you can be very
romantic in this kind of weather.
(smiles) Before I met Vahbiz, I used
to not be so bothered about shopping
and clothes. I used to wear anything
I felt like and wouldn't care about the
world. She's the one who's
transformed me from a boy into a
man. She's taught me how to handle
yourself as an actor and as a public
figure. She's brought a lot of
consciousness in me. Great to travel
with and all the more fun, she's a
blessing.
The AVTAs have brought Vivian to
London for the first time but if they
were to ever move on to another
country, where would you like to go?
Vivian : I think next on my list is
America.
Vahbiz : Yeh, that's one part of the
world that I've also not visited. I
wouldn't mind if it was somewhere in
the US as we still need to discover
that part.
Vivian : We've been to Dubai,
Maldives... the next should be
America.
Your final thoughts about the
capital?
Vivian : Well, it's great to be here. The
weather has stolen everything. The
quality of life here is much better, it's
cleaner, there's a lot of awareness
for hygiene and health which is great
to see. The people are nice. The
language people use is very pleasing
to the ears.
Vahbiz : I love the British accent, it's
just so cute.
Vivian : The hospitality on the whole
is also very good here. Some of the
places I've been to have been very
nice... especially with the coffee I
drink. It's not on the menu so I have
to explain it and then they make it
just the way I like it. Thank God I
speak the kind of language they do.
At least it's Thai or Chinese so I can
get away with it. (Laughs) It took me
so long to explain to a person in
Thailand that I wanted my coffee a
certain way. It was my bad fortune
that the person was a Thai native
and so I had to play dumb charades
with him to explain.
Vahbiz : London is a gorgeous city
and we'll definitely miss the weather.
We'll miss the food and the scenic
beauty. Whenever I'm in Bombay
town I always feel that I'm in London
because it's built by the British. And
now here, I feel like I'm in Bombay
town.
Vivian : I've done my research in fact
that London is only 4% less humid
than Mumbai but we fully feel
humidity there (laughs).
Vahbiz : We have to finally say thank
you to the fans because it's due to
them that Vivian go an award and we
were able to come here to receive it.
BizAsia extends a special thanks to
the couple for letting us share in
their experience of London and for
taking the time to talk to us. We wish
them a safe journey back to Mumbai
but hope that they will return very
soon.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Book Talk
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
