rediff.com
News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Getahead » What turns Gul Panag on
This article was first published 13 years ago

What turns Gul Panag on

Last updated on: January 17, 2011 18:36 IST

Image: Gul Panag
Photographs: Maxim India

The Turning 30 actress tells rediff.com's Sonil Dedhia and Abhishek Mande just what is it she looks for in a man, the one wierdest travel experience she's ever had so far and much more

Actress, twitter goddess and a total superstar, Gul Panag is one girl in a league of her own.

Gul spoke with Rediff.com's Sonil Dedhia and Abhishek Mande in separate interviews and had the two men struggling for questions in their super-fast rapid-fire rounds.

What is your favourite cuisine?

Mexican! No actually my most favourite has to be rajma-chawal that I just had. Then Mexican

Your favourite drink

Beer!

What's your favourite hangout?

My home.

What kind of music do you enjoy?

Rock

Which is your favourite movie of all time?

Snatch and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron

Your favourite book is...

Not any one in particular

Makeup you can't live without?

Lip balm, to keep my lips ready for all purposes!

Don't want to be a twitter Goddess or Bollywood star

Image: Gul Panag
Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani

Your biggest challenge is...

Getting time to exercise every single day despite my killer schedule

The defining moment when you realised you were famous?

When they announced my name in Miss India eleven years ago

Given a choice, twitter goddess or Bollywood star?

Neither. I'd like to be a regular person

Your idea of a perfect day

Go off-roading in an SUV with drinks and lots of sandwiches

And your idea of a perfect date?

The very same!

'Nice teeth in men turn me on!'

Image: Gul Panag

Your passion is...

Oh there are far too many things -- adventure sports, rafting, reading riding bikes, watching films

What men turn you off?

Men who are unfit, and those who keep talking about themselves!

Turn-ons?

Fitness, humility, nice teeth and a great sense of humour

If you weren't an actress, you'd be a

Lawyer

You can't leave home without...

These days it has to be the cell phone

Do you cook?

Yes! I cook great Mexican and Italian

What is your biggest fear?

I have no fears! I'm not scared of heights or water nothing really.

Getting high in Finland

Image: Gul Panag
Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani

You're a travel freak -- so what's your favourite route in India and why?

Drive to Ladakh but a lot of people have taken to it, so I now have to discover a new route

The first thing you do when you check into a hotel

See how clean the loo is

Your memorable vacation and please don't say Finland, we've heard a lot about it already

But it is! I had the most amazing time there. Apart from everything else they serve you something called Glogi which is berry liqueur heated with berry juice. So it's minus 28 degrees outside and you feel all warmed up when you have it.

Watch Gul's interview in Rediff.com's Mumbai office

The one place that took me by shock

Image: Gul Panag
Photographs: A still from Hello Darling

The one place that took you completely by surprise

Moscow! It has such beautiful architecture that even if you point an average camera, you end up with great pictures.

The one place that took you by shock

Bangladesh -- because there is no middle class there. All you can see are Mercs and auto rickshaws, nothing in between. So there's just the privileged and the under-privileged.

The one weirdest travel experience EVER!

I always have this fantasy landing up at places unreserved. I did that in Barcelona. That I realised was a bad idea because we had to go from hotel to hotel looking for a room.

'Don't get laid after 30!'

Image: Gul Panag
Photographs: A still from Turning 30

Five things that single women travellers must keep in mind while travelling in India.

  • Pepper spray
  • Good shoes that can be used for kicking
  • Swiss army knife
  • Good map
  • Lots of other girls like 20!

Five things you shouldn't do after turning 30

  • Do not get laid -- because if you haven't already you're a loser.
  • Do not have unprotected sex -- that holds true for people of all ages
  • Stop sucking your thumbs!
  • Never say yes unless you mean to and of course unless you're a diplomat then it means maybe!

 

'Get an education'

Image: Gul Panag
Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani

The one incident that you absolutely cringe when you think of

(Long pause, cringes) Nah! No can't talk about it

Your first love

Currently it is my bike Royal Enfield, which I always ride with a helmet!

Yeah! What was all that being a sardarni and not wearing helmet talk about on twitter?

In Delhi it isn't compulsory to wear helmet for women and Sikhs. And I am both so I was doubly immune. I was there to promote my film and was about to wear a helmet when someone said 'Madamji photo achchi nahi aayegi'. So I said 'I'm here to promote my film and I am supposed to look good so here you go!'

Facebook or twitter?

Twitter because Facebook asks too many things off you. Twitter is one-dimensional.

The one gadget that you'd absolutely kill for

Gadget Iphone encsed in a Mophie juice pack so I don't have the problems of having a weak battery life

The corniest thing anyone has ever said to you EVER!

Oh come on... no one says corny things anymore!

The one advice you'd give young girls and boys who want to be part of showbiz

Definitely get an education because you may need to fall back on it!