NRIs moving from the US to India: How much salary to expect

‘Madhuri Dixit to return to India, bag, baggage and doc in tow’

After staying in the USA since 1999, Madhuri Dixit will be moving back to India.

Dixit moved to Denver, US, after she married surgeon Shriram Nene in 1999, but visits India to work fulfill her commitments and assignments. They have two sons Arin and Ryaan. Dixit, 44, said that she and her husband would like their sons to be raised in India.

"It would be a great experience culturally for them. This is where their roots are. They are at an age where they can adapt quickly. They’ll be giving up their friends here [in America], but they are looking forward to making friends there [India]. I want them to learn Hindi and Marathi. I think it will be an exciting time for them too,” she said.

That story probably made news only Madhuri Dixit because of its star power. The fact that NRIs from the US are moving back to India is no shocking development. NRIs have, in the last few years, been relocating to India in large numbers, in search of better personal and professional lives. And if you are an NRI considering that move, there is one important thing that you must understand very well: the salary you will get in India.

Kris Lakshmikanth, Founder CEO of The Head Hunters India Pvt Ltd. says, “When it comes to compensation, we find that NRIs have inflated expectations. They mainly go by hearsay; their friend or friend’s friend who returned to India has told them a tall story about Indian salaries. They want to go by that yard stick.”

USD will not convert to INR

The first thing to remember is that you will not make the rupee equivalent of your US salary in India. The cost of living in India is significantly lower than that in the US. This also means a lower labour cost in India. These factors will determine your India salary.

Achyut Menon, head of Options Executive Search Pvt Ltd also adds, "In the nineties, people who were posted to India got expat salaries. But those days are over. In the last 10 years, India has become an attractive market for global companies who are not just looking to set up offshore centers here, but also to capitalize on the growing, educated and highly aspirational middle class consumer

segment. Added to that is the availability of skilled labour within India itself. Companies no longer need to pay expat salaries.”

According to the last available index dated July 2011, a Big Mac costing USD 4.07 in the US costs USD 1.89 in dollar terms in India (Rs 85 converted at an exchange rate of Rs 45). It means that the ig Mac costs 54% less in India; the cost of living is 54% lower in India. Read another way, this means that the rupee is undervalued by 54% to the dollar and that on the basis of PPP, one dollar would actually be worth Rs 21 instead of Rs 45.

So if you are drawing a salary of USD 100,000 in the US, you can expect to draw Rs 21 lakh in India, give or take.

Kajol: Most desired mom

Madhuri Dixt who is now returning to India from Colorado, USA, has bagged a couple of commercials. One is for a fabric softener where she is shown playing with a child.

Well here is news from an advertising world insider.Parvez Qureshi who makes commercials and corporate movies says that of all the married actresses who are now available for commercials like Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, Sonali Bendre, Karisma Kapoor, Kajol and Juhi Chawla, Kajol apparently is the most referred mom among the Bollywood mothers especially for commercials.

Kajol who is already endorsing a lifestyle range with husband Ajay Devgn and a couple of food products is apparently approached for most commercials featuring the 30-plus moms.

However since she comes with a much bigger price factor than the other heroines, the makers or the product owners approach the other married actresses.

It is said that Kajol is the leading name because her equity is attached to makers like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra who still find central roles for her in their movies.

Kajol is the mother of two. Her son and daughter are named Nysa and Yug. It has been reported that she says she wants to have one more child.

Singer Shankar Mahadevan declares “Shweta Subram” as winner

Shweta Subram

Singing sensation Shweta Subram is quickly making her mark on the Bollywood platform by performing at the IIFA Awards with Salim Sulaiman and now by blowing away Shankar Mahadevan with her vocal talent.

Shweta was selected as a winner in a global online singing competition created by his online music school, the Shankar Mahadevan Academy.

Thousands of talented contestants entered from around the world. Shweta was amongst the top 30 finalists. Shankar Mahadevan personally went through each of the top 30 finalists and selected 3 adult winners and 3 kids winners.

Shweta sang the song Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya for this competition. She made it through the top 30 and was eventually selected as a winner by Shankar Mahadevan.

Through this victory, she will receive a personal 1 on 1 musical training from Shankar himself, a certificate from Shankar Mahadevan Academy, and promotion on Shankar Mahadevan and Shankar Mahadevan Academy fan pages.

Shweta Subram is one of Canada’s finest vocalists. Her focus is Urban and Bollywood music. Shweta has performed across the world, shared the stage with elite names in Bollywood, featured in various TV shows and advertisments in India, and was awarded the as the Best Singer in North America by Sangam KalaGroup. After releasing her debutsong Jee Le Live Life, Shweta performed with Bollywood maestros Salim-Sulaiman at the prestigious IIFA awards. Born in Dubai, schooled in Ottawa, and now based in Toronto, she is trained by prominent gurus of Hindustani and Carnatic music styles in India.

Mausam screenings cancelled at TIFF

Mausam (Seasons of Love), a story about star-crossed Indian lovers and the directorial debut of noted Indian actor Pankaj Kapoor, has been withdrawn from the Toronto International Film Festival lineup.

TIFF officials announced Tuesday September 13 that all screenings and the press conference for the anticipated film — which had earned one of the festival’s prestigious gala spots — have been cancelled.

“We are extremely disappointed that the studio has informed us that the film will not have received the necessary regulatory approvals in India, forcing us to cancel all screenings of Mausam,” TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey said in a statement.

Mausam tells the story of a Punjabi Hindu named Harry (Shahid Kapoor) who falls in love with Aayat, a beautiful Muslim girl from Kashmir (Sonam  A. Kapoor) in rural Punjab. Though romance blossoms between the two, a variety of forces prevent them from being together.

Producers received special permission from the Indian Air Force to shoot scenes of the film at Gwalior airbase, as Kapoor plays an Air Force pilot.

As part of the deal, movie studio Eros International Media Limited agreed to give the IAF final approval on Mausam before it submitted the movie to the Indian film board for official certification.

In Mausam, Shahid Kapoor portrays an Indian Air Force pilot. To shoot scenes at India’s Gwalior airbase, producers agreed to give the IAF final say on the film before it was submitted to the Indian film board. TIFF According to Indian media reports, the IAF has objected to a dramatic aerial sequence featuring Kapoor in a fighter jet and is withholding approval until edits are made.

“We are very disappointed not to be able to present the world premiere of Mausam in Toronto and accept full responsibility for our absence,” said Mausam producer Sheetal Talwar, who added that the entire team offers its “deepest apologies to our audience in Toronto.”

In recent years, TIFF has helped increase the profile of Indian cinema by hosting the world premieres of prominent Indian films and holding special festival-related talks and panels featuring Indian filmmakers and stars.

“Toronto audiences have been powerful champions for the promotion and growth of Indian cinema abroad and it’s a shame that our festival audiences will be left disappointed,” Bailey said.

It’s the latest setback for Mausam. In August, a U.K. launch event for the film’s soundtrack — slated to feature performances by the two stars — was cancelled because of the London riots. The film opened in theatres across India on September 16.

Bollywood divas on ramp for Delhi Couture Week 2011

Delhi Couture Week 2011 was all glamour and glitter as the Bollywood stars not only graced the occasion but also scorched the ramps in dazzling creations by talented designers.

On the third-day of the ongoing Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week in the capital, Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor displayed the creation of Indian designer Manish Malhotra.

Shraddha Kapoor displayed a creation of Indian designer Anju Modi on July 24, 2011 and Sonakshi Sinha looked ravishing as ever as she walked the ramp in the creation of Indian designers Shantanu and Nikhil.

For the first time, yesteryear actress Sharmila Tagore walked the ramp in a ghaghra designed by Indian designers Ashima-Leena.

Though Madhuri Dixit did not walk the ramp she was present during the Indian designer Varun Bahl show on July 22.

Check out Bollywood beauties on ramp for Delhi Couture Week 2011.

“My relationship with John Abraham is over for good” : Bipasha Basu …

Actor John Abraham had recently spoken about his past relationship with Bipasha Basu, on national television. Now, buzz that is doing the rounds is that Bipasha Basu is completely heart broken. On hearing this, Bips has furiously reacted to the media reports saying that it is sheer waste of time talking about past relationships.

“Waking up to stories about my life everyday is no fun! Making me sound tragic when I am in a happy place is not ok with me! (sic)” Bipasha posted on her Twitter page.

Though John chose to remain silent about his eight year long relationship, It was Bipasha who had admitted that she had parted ways with him. However, John blurted out everything the famous Simi Garewal’s talk show “India’s Most Desirable”.

“What happens between two people is supposed two stay between the two when its over. That’s the dignity that I have grown up with and the respect I deserve. I don’t need to be on a talk show to prove anything! My relationship with John Abraham is over for good for reasons known best to the both of us,” Bipasha tweeted.

“My break up happened almost a year ago! Why are these stories coming up now? Is it a PR exercise for a film or over imaginative journalism?” she added.

The couple parted ways long time back, though the news reached the media ears only on May this year.