Hyderabad Blues

Their Man Down South

Canada is setting up its first Consulate General down south in Bengaluru and 59-year-old Sidney Frank is to be its First Consul General. The office in Bengaluru would serve as a visa and immigration point for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. 

The soft-spoken Sidney Frank will be joined by his wife Ivy Lerner-Frank who is currently Trade Commissioner in the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi. As I sit down with Sidney Frank for a cup of tea in Hotel ITC Kakatiya, he tells me that the last time he visited Hyderabad was in 2005. The change that he's noticed here is the buzz about the city and of course the traffic owing to the Metro works. As conversation veers around Canadian interests in agriculture, trade, transport and urban planning, higher education, research and aviation, Frank talks of the first time he came to Bengaluru as a back-packing tourist in 1980. "I loved the city and told myself, I'd like to work here one day and I'm lucky to be the first Consul General. It's a special kind of joy to be the first, you know," he says.

Frank proudly points out that it was the Canadian company Bombardier that built the coaches of the Delhi Metro. The diplomat later pulls out a Blackberry phone from his pocket and says, "This is Canadian too and it is the most secure phone one can ever own." As one points to the outdated QWERTY model, he smiles saying he will get to the touch phone soon.

Frank who met with leaders of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh says that Chandrababu Naidu "is quite the hero" for having managed to bring in e-governance so successfully during his earlier stint as CM. "And of course, he sports a goatee like I do," laughs Frank.

Tapping Talent

Canada is looking at greater collaboration with India in infrastructure and is looking for a new template in bilateral investment. "Firstly, we are trying to persuade the Narendra Modi government to implement the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act which was signed by the UPA 2 but not implemented," says the diplomat. This would apparently bring in more certainty for Canadian investors. The bilateral trade between India and Canada currently stands at $5.8 billion which the latter hopes to increase in the coming years.

Talking of "cordial relations" with Prime Minister Modi, Frank says that Modi might be visiting Canada in the early part of 2015. The reason Canada is setting up a high commission in Bengaluru is to attract trade, students, tourism in south India as well. "Traditionally, Canada has had several immigrants from Punjab and Gujarat but now we are looking to add to this from the south as well. Bengaluru and Hyderabad are recognised for their quality of education and IT, Chennai is a manufacturing hub. So these are cities we looking to tap for talent," says Frank.

Paradise Biryani

Asked whether Canada would look to attract Tamil and Telugu film-makers, Frank says that there is definitely a desire to get Indian movies filmed in Canada. "I was really impressed with way Spain was showcased in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaraa. In fact I felt envious that I did not do any of things that the three protagonists do in the movie when I visited Spain," says the Canadian Consul General with a smile. On Frank's wish list when in Hyderabad was of course to have biryani at the city's famous Paradise restaurant. 

And this is exactly what actor Aamir Khan did when he was in the city to promote PK. He visited the Paradise restaurant in HiTec City and relished the chicken and mutton biryani. At the press meet earlier, Aamir stated that he could not afford missing Hyderabad's famous biryani even if it meant missing his flight. Interacting with fans and media, Aamir spoke about how he too was wary of going nude for the transistor scene in PK. "But once I did it, it did not feel lewd or awkward. Just natural." Aamir hastened to clarify that there is no vulgarity in PK and that it could be watched by all sections of the audience. Anushka Sharma spoke of how Aamir's deadpan expressions while playing pranks often fooled her. Anushka said she once missed a party because he fibbed that he would not be going. "Since I was tired from the shooting, I thought I too would skip the party. 'The next day he asks me why did you not turn up? We had a great time'. I was ready to kill him!" exclaimed Anushka. Aamir was full of praise for innovative Telugu and Tamil film-makers and said he had tremendous respect for director S S Rajamouli's work. 

Tall Tales

When asked how it felt to act opposite Anushka who is taller than him, Aamir immediately stood up and measuring his height with the actress remarked, "Look I am taller than Anushka." Aamir attributes his good looks to his mother who is 80 now "but looks very young even now" according to the actor. "Also, I drink a lot of water. Many people feel it's too simple a tip but it's true, Most often, people forget to drink water but don't realise how important it is for the skin and all organs of the body," says Aamir. 

"Sapney dekhna zaroori hai. I believe in hope. I believe in love, all the positive things. That's what keeps me going," says the actor. 

James Bond in Pakistan

The speculation about Sania Mirza's marriage continues. While she is seen partying with champion colleagues such as Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic, there is not even a whisper about hubby Shoaib Mallik these days. The Pakistani cricketer in the meantime is hanging out with a special friend, actress Humaima Malick, who recently starred in Raja Natwarlal opposite Emraan Hashmi. 

Sania's father Imran Mirza has often lambasted the media for speculating about his daughter's marriage and says all is well between the couple. During a promotion of Pix channel's Pix School of Bonding, Sania said her "James Bond" was in Pakistan. But actions speak louder than words as people say and the buzz has it that the marriage is now all but over. Observers say the Indo-Pakistan couple seems to be keeping up appearances for the sake of the public but has not been seen together in about a year.

The Andhra Lunchbox

The fact that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is extremely fitness conscious is well known. So at a lunch that the CM recently hosted, it did not surprise many when his attendants served him ghar ka khaana instead of the lavish fare laid out for the scribes. Bland food such as khichdi, dal, greens and curd rice formed his meal. Naidu even offered spoonfuls from his dabba to curious journalists. But most of them quickly went back to the more scrumptious buffet after having politely obliged Naidu. 

Meanwhile

Actor Pawan Kalyan is in the news again. His office released a press note stating that his Jana Sena Party has been recognised by the Election Commission as a political party. Will this mean that Pawan Kalyan will finally come out of hiding and start being more active politically?