Sreejita De welcomes 2014 with food fiesta at The Westin

Check the slideshow above Venue: The Grand Ballroom at The Westin Mumbai Garden City, Goregaon. Time and date of the year: Around 9ish on 31 December 2013. Occasion: New Year’s Eve celebrations My guest: Sreejita De – Mukta fame of Uttaran on Colors channel. The above-mentioned venue was abuzz with frenetic activity. Dynamic AGM Anurag Bhatnagar and affable EAM Nishant Agarwal welcomed us and their team made us comfortable as I waited for my guest. I was shown around their different venues - Prego, their Italian restaurant sported a serene Zen theme, Indian restaurant Kangan had a live ghazal program, Grand Ballroom offered Masquerade party with belly dance and Seasonal Tastes was high on food with 365 dishes. As I watched the organizers issuing passes (Rs.10k per couple) and Venetian masks to the revelers making a beeline for the Masquerade ball, Sreejita arrived and we were handed bewitching masks and ushered to the alfresco venue where round tables for seating and food counters for the massive buffet were impeccably laid out. After photo shoots here we decided to settle for Seasonal Tastes, the all-day dining perched on the 18th floor of The Westin, which boasted of laying out 365 dishes (North Indian, Conti, Asian and Lebanese), each dish in honor of a day of the soon-to-end year. Impressed were both of us by the undulating spread at various counters. The Bong beauty is a good cook herself and can effortlessly dish out mouth-watering fish and chicken Bengali specialties as also aloo gobhi, bhendi and dal. Though a North Indian cuisine lover, the young actor decided to first dig into continental. So roasted chicken in a cheesy sauce, crumb-fried chicken and roulade sat on the plates with glasses of orange juice for in-between sips. A shopoholic that she is, branded stuff in watches, shoes and accessories take precedence while shopping, she says. We next move towards oriental live counters where Thai curry, Burnt Garlic Rice, Nam Prik Pla (Thai style fried pomfret) and more await us. Sreejita who has done Bollywood as in Yash Raj films’ Love ka The End is happy her next film Monsoon Shootout was screened at Cannes festival. “I would love to do offbeat movies. My dream role would be the one played by Priyanka Chopra in Fashion as it showcases different shades, ups and downs of life and difficult to perform. Once Uttaran is done with, I intend to concentrate on films,” says the confident girl. In the meanwhile she gives her 100 percent to her small screen role and Ajay Chaudhary (Vishnu) happens to be her favourite co-star. The only child to her parents, she comes across as a courteous (she handed me the plate first saying ‘elders first’), level-headed and mature person. Sreejita who came to Mumbai seven years back from her hometown Kolkata, and attained popularity as Mugdha in Uttaran, is a Kathak dancer, has also trained kids and would love to participate in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. With two dates behind her, she is single right now but ready for a swayamvar (laughs) in real life – not publicly as in the TV reality show, she affirms. She reveals she has recently become moody, “Probably due to hectic shooting schedules, sometimes I get irritated and snappy for nothing.” I was spared; despite Sreejita having to navigate through dense traffic taking almost two hours to reach the venue, during which I would have called her at least four times…on the verge of irritation point, isn’t it? Yet she was sweet. So, to keep her good mood going, I promptly veer her towards the most tempting counter where an array of western desserts like Strawberry Mousse cake, classic Italian Tiramisu, Chocolate Mudcake, Christmasy Yule Logs, Mango Flan, Meringues, Panacotta… the list was endless… were attractively displayed. The fun session was Fondue where Srijeeta turned into a kid dipping strawberries in white chocolate fountain. But what we unanimously attacked were the Indian mithais of Kajukatli, Sandesh (nalan gur), Rossogollas (yes, the Bong’s favorites were all there). Just as 2013 turned blissfully to 2014 this is the New Year wish she would like to convey to all her fans: Hope for a better India where women are more secure, pray for safety and harmony. Understand and treat girls with more value and respect; consider men and women as equals. Rapid Fire Qs with Sreejita: Foodie? Fave cuisine….. junk food you can’t resist… Yes. North Indian and Chinese. Paani Puris. Sweet dish… Brownies with chocolate sauce. A reality show you would like to take part in… Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Single or dating? Single right now (and ready to mingle, we guess). Fave actor… Ranbir Kapoor. You are paranoid about… Depth of water. Your pet peeve… Bitching and back-biting. Dream destination…. LA. Fitness mantra… Eat a lot, don’t diet; you will derive energy and be active which in turn will increase metabolic rate and burn fat faster. Beauty secret… Be happy and think positive. Stressbuster… Dancing and watching nature. Your idea of fun… Driving by myself or going on long drives. One thing few people know about you… At times I am moody.